Tag: Matheus Nicolau

UFC on ESPN 44 post-event facts: Max Holloway joins 20-win club, sets other records

Check out the numbers from UFC on ESPN 44, where Max Holloway hit more milestones – including being the first to land 3,000 octagon strikes.

The UFC returned to Missouri after six years Saturday at UFC on ESPN 44, and the card delivered with half the fights ending by stoppage.

One of the bouts to go the distance was the main event, where former champion [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] (24-7 MMA, 20-7 UFC) once again displayed his greatness in ending the winning streak of [autotag]Arnold Allen[/autotag] (19-2 MMA, 10-1 UFC) with a unanimous decision. In the process, “Blessed” made more history to add to his one-of-a-kind octagon resume.

For more on the numbers to come out of the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC on ESPN 44.

UFC on ESPN 44 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Four fighters get max non-title payout

UFC on ESPN 44 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 44 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $254,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN 44 took place at T-Mobile Center. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 44 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Arnold Allen[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Azamat Murzakanov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Dustin Jacoby[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Tanner Boser[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Pedro Munhoz[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Chris Gutierrez[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Rafa Garcia[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Clay Guida[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Bill Algeo[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]T.J. Brown[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Zak Cummings[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Ed Herman[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Gillian Robertson[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Piera Rodriguez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Daniel Zellhuber[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Lando Vannata[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Denise Gomes[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Bruna Brasil[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Gaston Bolanos[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Aaron Phillips[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Joselyne Edwards[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Lucie Pudilova[/autotag]: $6,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $44,000 while title challengers get $44,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-44 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $2,230,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $16,819,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 44.

UFC on ESPN 44 pre-event facts: Will Arnold Allen crack Max Holloway’s historic chin?

Check out the numbers behind UFC on ESPN 44, where Max Holloway brings an insane durability record into his main event with Arnold Allen.

The UFC returns to Missouri for the first time in exactly five years on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 44, which takes place at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo., with a main card that airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.

In the main event, the stakes don’t get much higher than the clash of featherweight contenders. Former longtime UFC champ [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] (23-7 MMA, 19-7 UFC) looks to begin another run toward the belt when he takes on [autotag]Arnold Allen[/autotag] (19-1 MMA, 10-0 UFC), who is unbeaten inside the octagon thus far.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts from UFC on ESPN 44.

[lawrence-related id=2633163,2626848]

UFC on ESPN 44’s Matheus Nicolau saddened potential title eliminator vs. Brandon Royval landed on prelims

With a potential UFC title shot on the line, Matheus Nicolau is bummed his bout vs. Brandon Royval landed on the prelims of UFC on ESPN 44.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The UFC’s flyweight division consistently produces some of the most exciting fights in the sport, which is why [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag] is disappointed that his potential title eliminator bout at UFC on ESPN 44 landed on the prelims.

A winner of six straight, Nicolau (19-3-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) takes on Brandon Royval in an important fight for the division between two top five competitors, according to the promotion’s flyweight rankings. With champion Brandon Moreno now set to take on Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 290, the winner of the flyweight bout between Nicolau and Royval (14-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) could be next in line for a title shot.

“Big fight, big challenge, also a great opportunity and I’m ready,” Nicolau told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “I feel ready. I can’t wait for Saturday night. I trained a lot, everything went perfectly here. No injuries at all. I’m coming from a good fighting streak, so I’m ready to go.”

Although Nicolau is on a much longer winning streak than Royval’s back-to-back wins, his opponent’s recent losses came to the current champ and title challenger. Due to his strength of schedule and back-to-back victories in 2022, Royval is ahead of Nicolau in the rankings.

Numbers next to their names are one thing, but Nicolau is more concerned with dealing with the hyper-aggressiveness of his opponent, which he believes will leave some opportunities to capitalize upon.

Nicolau believes fans are in for a treat when the cage door closes at T-Mobile Center, but he admits the placement of their bout on the card put a damper on his excitement.

“I don’t know why they put us on the prelims, but I think there’s a reason,” Nicolau said. “But I was kind of sad, not just because of me and Royval, but because of all of the flyweight division, you know? It’s a big fight for the flyweight division. I think we need more eyes on us, especially that fight. I see that fight being really, really exciting for the fans. But it’s all good, man. My focus here is to win that challenge, and that’s what I’m going to do. Doesn’t matter if it’s the first fight of the night or the last one, the job is the same.”

Regardless of the placement, Nicolau will be hunting for a finish, and with that, he believes he should be called to face the winner of Moreno and Pantoja later this year.

“Especially if I have a dominant victory and if I can finish the fight before the third round, I think I do deserve the title shot after this fight.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 44.

[pickup_prop id=”32857″]

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Feb. 6-12)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from Feb. 6-12.

Top UFC flyweight contenders Matheus Nicolau, Brandon Royval set for April clash

Two of the top 125-pound fighters in the UFC are set to collide in mid-April in Kansas City.

Two of the top 125-pound fighters in the UFC are set to collide in mid-April.

[autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag] and [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag] will meet at the UFC Fight Night event April 15 in what could be a potential flyweight title eliminator. The event takes place at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo., the promotion announced Wednesday.

A person with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the bout to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Sports Illustrated first reported the fight.

Currently in his second UFC stint, Nicolau (19-2-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) has won six fights in a row, including four since the promotion brought him back. Victories include Manel Kape, Tim Elliott, David Dvorak, and Matt Schnell.

Royval (14-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has won back-to-back fights, victories over Rogerio Bontorin and Matt Schnell. After the Schnell win in February 2022, Royval was booked against Askar Askarov and Amir Albazi, but both fights were canceled.

With the change, the UFC Fight Night lineup for April 15 includes:

  • Max Holloway vs. Arnold Allen
  • Edson Barboza vs. Billy Quarantillo
  • Chris Gutierrez vs. Pedro Munhoz
  • Matheus Nicolau vs. Brandon Royval
  • Dustin Jacoby vs. Azamat Murzakanov
  • Bill Algeo vs. TJ Brown
  • Bruna Brasil vs. Denise Gomes
  • Martin Buday vs. Jake Collier
  • Gillian Robertson vs. Piera Rodriguez
  • Lando Vannata vs. Daniel Zellhuber
  • Danaa Batgerel vs. Brady Hiestand
  • Joselyne Edwards vs. Lucie Pudilova
  • Gaston Bolanos vs. Aaron Phillips

[vertical-gallery id=2613050]

UFC on ESPN 42 post-event facts: Rafael dos Anjos first to reach 8-hour fight time milestone

Rafael dos Anjos became the first fighter in history to log eight hours of octagon fight time in his win at UFC on ESPN 42.

The UFC returned to Orlando, Fla., for the first time in nearly four years Saturday with UFC on ESPN 42, which took place at Amway Center and saw nine out of 14 fights end in a stoppage.

Stephen Thompson (17-6-1 MMA, 12-6-1 UFC) earned the most memorable result of all in the main event. The longtime welterweight contender went to war with Kevin Holland (23-9 MMA, 9-6 UFC). He emerged on top by fourth-round TKO due to corner stoppage and netted another Fight of the Night award in the process.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC on ESPN 42.

UFC on ESPN 42 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: A record for non-PPV card

UFC on ESPN 42 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

ORLANDO – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 42 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $297,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN 42 took place at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 42 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Stephen Thompson[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Bryan Barberena[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Matt Schnell[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Eryk Anders[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Kyle Daukaus[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Phil Rowe[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Emily Ducote[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Clay Guida[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Scott Holtzman[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Marc Diakiese[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Jonathan Pearce[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Darren Elkins[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Natan Levy[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Genaro Valdez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Francis Marshall[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Marcelo Rojo[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Istela Nunes[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $42,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-42 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $7,932,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $14,109,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 42.

Matheus Nicolau def. Matt Schnell at UFC on ESPN 42: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Matheus Nicolau’s win over Matt Schnell at UFC on ESPN 42.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag]’s second-round knockout win over [autotag]Matt Schnell[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 42 at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. (Photos by Nathan Ray Seebeck, USA TODAY Sports)

UFC on ESPN 42 predictions: No unanimous picks in Orlando

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN 42 main card in Orlando, which features Stephen Thompson vs. Kevin Holland.

Thompson
vs.
Holland		 Barberena
vs.
Dos Anjos		 Nicolau
vs.
Schnell		 Pavlovich
vs.
Tuivasa		 Dolidze
vs.
Hermansson		 Anders
vs.
Daukaus
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
190-112		 holland2022
Holland
(52%)		 dosanjos2022
Dos Anjos
(72%)		 nicolau2022
Nicolau
(72%)		 tuivasa2022
Tuivasa
(62%)		 hermansson2022
Hermansson
(52%)		 daukaus2022
Daukaus
(60%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
200-107
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 holland2022
Holland		 dosanjos2022
Dos Anjos		 nicolau2022
Nicolau		 pavlovich2022
Pavlovich		 dolidze2022
Dolidze		 daukaus2022
Daukaus
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
191-116		 holland2022
Holland		 dosanjos2022
Dos Anjos		 nicolau2022
Nicolau		 pavlovich2022
Pavlovich		 dolidze2022
Dolidze		 daukaus2022
Daukaus
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
189-118		 thompson2022
Thompson		 dosanjos2022
Dos Anjos		 nicolau2022
Nicolau		 tuivasa2022
Tuivasa		 hermansson2022
Hermansson		 anders2022
Anders
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
187-120		 thompson2022
Thompson		 dosanjos2022
Dos Anjos		 schnell2022
Schnell		 tuivasa2022
Tuivasa		 dolidze2022
Dolidze		 anders2022
Anders
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
187-120
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 holland2022
Holland		 dosanjos2022
Dos Anjos		 nicolau2022
Nicolau		 pavlovich2022
Pavlovich		 dolidze2022
Dolidze		 daukaus2022
Daukaus
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
185-122		 thompson2022
Thompson		 barberena2022
Barberena		 nicolau2022
Nicolau		 tuivasa2022
Tuivasa		 dolidze2022
Dolidze		 anders2022
Anders
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
184-123		 thompson2022
Thompson		 barberena2022
Barberena		 schnell2022
Schnell		 pavlovich2022
Pavlovich		 dolidze2022
Dolidze		 anders2022
Anders
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
177-130
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 thompson2022
Thompson		 dosanjos2022
Dos Anjos		 nicolau2022
Nicolau		 tuivasa2022
Tuivasa		 hermansson2022
Hermansson		 anders2022
Anders
Nolan King
@mma_kings
177-130		 holland2022
Holland		 dosanjos2022
Dos Anjos		 nicolau2022
Nicolau		 pavlovich2022
Pavlovich		 hermansson2022
Hermansson		 daukaus2022
Daukaus
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
168-139		 thompson2022
Thompson		 dosanjos2022
Dos Anjos		 schnell2022
Schnell		 tuivasa2022
Tuivasa		 dolidze2022
Dolidze		 anders2022
Anders
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
150-157		 thompson2022
Thompson		 dosanjos2022
Dos Anjos		 nicolau2022
Nicolau		 tuivasa2022
Tuivasa		 dolidze2022
Dolidze		 daukaus2022
Daukaus

The UFC is back on the road this week in Florida with big-name welterweights atop the lineup.

UFC on ESPN 42 takes place Saturday at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, two-time welterweight title challenger [autotag]Stephen Thompson[/autotag] (16-6-1 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] (23-8 MMA, 10-5 UFC). Holland nearly is a 2-1 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Thompson is +160. Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers are taking Thompson, though, at a 7-4 clip.

In the co-feature, former lightweight champion [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] (31-14 MMA, 20-12 UFC) meets [autotag]Bryan Barberena[/autotag] (18-8 MMA, 9-6 UFC) at welterweight. Dos Anjos is the biggest favorite on the card at -575, but he’s not unanimous. Two of our staff pickers have Barberena in an upset.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag] (18-3-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) meets [autotag]Matt Schnell[/autotag] (16-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC) in a key flyweight fight. Nicolau is a big favorite at -370 and has an 8-3 picks lead.

[autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) in a heavyweight bout. Pavlovich is a -230 favorite at the betting window, but Tuivasa has a slim 6-5 lead from our staff members.

[autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) is an underdog in his middleweight fight against -190 favorite [autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag] (23-7 MMA, 10-5 UFC). But our staff members are thinking upset with Dolidze picked at a big 8-3 margin.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Eryk Anders[/autotag] (14-7 MMA, 6-7 UFC) takes on [autotag]Kyle Daukaus[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) at middleweight. Daukaus is more than a 2-1 favorite, but Anders is bucking the trend and has a 6-5 picks lead.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Holland (52 percent), Dos Anjos (72 percent), Nicolau (63 percent), Tuivasa (62 percent), Hermansson (52 percent) and Daukaus (60 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 42.

[listicle id=2600303]