Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Check out a full recap of 2020’s most significant footnotes and milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.
Now that the year has come to a close, and with a major assist from UFC research analyst and live statistics producers Michael Carroll, here are some of 2020’s most significant milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.
Check out the full list of medical suspensions from this past Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 39 event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
[autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag] and [autotag]Uriah Hall[/autotag] are among five fighters that could be facing a lengthy suspension after damage sustained at UFC on ESPN+ 39.
Hall stopped Silva in the fourth round in the night’s headline bout in what was announced as Silva’s final UFC fight. Though Hall was victorious, he will require x-rays in both hands and his right foot, and is required to refrain from any contact until Dec. 1.
Silva, who suffered a broken nose in his TKO loss to Hall, may also be sidelined until spring, unless he’s cleared by a doctor.
On Tuesday, MMA Junkie obtained the full list of suspensions from MixedMartialArts.com, the Association of Boxing Commissions’ official record keeper.
Also looking at a potential 180-day suspension is co-headliner [autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag], who defeated Andre Fili via unanimous decision. Mitchell, who claimed that he broke his left hand in the first round, needs an x-ray to confirm his suspicion.
All fighters on the card were given a mandatory seven-day suspension for rest. The list of UFC on ESPN+ 39 medical suspensions beyond the minimum includes:
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UFC on ESPN+ 39 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that launched after the UFC’s deal with Reebok.
LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 39 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $145,000.
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+ 39 took place at UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.
The full UFC on ESPN+ 39 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
* * * *
[autotag]Uriah Hall[/autotag]: $15,000
def. [autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag]: $20,000
[autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag]: $15,000
[autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Maurice Greene[/autotag]: $5,000
[autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Charlie Ontiveros[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Thiago Moises[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag]: $15,000
[autotag]Alexander Hernandez[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Chris Gruetzemacher[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Victor Rodriguez[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Jack Marshman[/autotag]: $5,000
[autotag]Jason Witt[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Cole Williams[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Dustin Jacoby[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Justin Ledet[/autotag]: $5,000
[autotag]Miles Johns[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Kevin Natividad[/autotag]: $3,500
Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Reebok’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 $3,500 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,000; 6-10 bouts get $5,000; 11-15 bouts earn $10,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $15,000; and 21 bouts and more get $20,000. Additionally, champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000.
In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.
Full 2020 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
Year-to-date total: $5,550,500
2019 total: $7,370,500
2018 total: $6,901,000
2017 total: $6,295,000
2016 total: $7,138,000
2015 total: $3,185,000
Program-to-date total: $36,555,000
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See the top Twitter reactions to Greg Hardy’s win over Maurice Greene at UFC on ESPN+ 39.
[autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag] earned one of the more notable wins of his career thus far when he beat [autotag]Maurice Greene[/autotag] on Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 39.
Hardy (7-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC), the controversial former NFL star, scored a second-round TKO victory over Greene (9-5 MMA, 4-3 UFC) in their featured heavyweight matchup, which took place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Hardy’s victory over Greene at UFC on ESPN+ 39.
Former NFL standout Greg Hardy continued to show improvements in his MMA game when he beat Maurice Greene at UFC on ESPN+ 39.
Former NFL standout [autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag] continued to show improvements in his MMA game Saturday when he beat [autotag]Maurice Greene[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN+ 39.
Hardy’s (7-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) power proved once again to be an X factor in his favor, because he dropped Greene (9-5 MMA, 4-3 UFC) and subsequently finished the fight by TKO at the 1:12 mark of Round 2. It was the first time in Hardy’s career that he’s earned a stoppage outside of the opening frame.
The heavyweight bout was part of the UFC on ESPN+ 39 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It streamed on ESPN+.
Hardy looked to apply pressure early and landed a big right hand that caused Greene to back up. Hardy swarmed with punches near the fence then picked up Green’s leg and pulled him to the mat. He established top control, where he worked away with chipping shots and took some minutes off the clock before Greene worked his way back to the feet. They settled into a striking rhythm or the remainder of the round, with Greene moving around the outside and Hardy getting inside in attempt to land.
In the second round, Hardy started to find his range. He landed a stiff lead right hand that dropped Greene to the canvas, and he jumped on top. Greene did his best to avoid the follow-up blows, but Hardy was relentless with the attack and forced referee Herb Dean to step in.
Unquestionable power! 😤@GregHardyJr sits Greene down on a jab and doesn't let up.
[ Co-main next on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/9puT2wJ4n2
— UFC (@ufc) November 1, 2020
With the win, Hardy has now suffered just one defeat in his past four fights. He was excited about the performance after the fact.
“Get in, get out and get it,” Hardy said in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. “I will do it again next week.”
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN+ 39 results include:
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UFC on ESPN+ 39: Maurice Greene virtual media day interview
UFC on ESPN+ 39: Maurice Greene virtual media day interview
Former NFL standout Greg Hardy will make his seventh UFC appearance when he meets Maurice Greene in October.
[autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag] and [autotag]Maurice Greene[/autotag] are on a heavyweight collision course, pending bout finalization.
The UFC is working on a fight that would pit Hardy (6-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) and Greene (9-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) against each other Oct. 31 in a location and venue to be named later.
MMA Junkie confirmed the targeted booking with multiple people with knowledge of the situation. The people request anonymity because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Hardy will look to ride his momentum from a unanimous decision win against Yorgan De Castro at UFC 249 in May. The former NFL pro-bowler has had ups and downs since signing with the promotion in late 2018. Hardy has lost to Alexander Volkov, been disqualified against Allen Crowder, and had a win over Ben Sosoli reversed due to mid-fight inhaler use. He also holds TKO wins over Juan Adams and Dmitry Smolyakov.
Greene most recently competed in June when he snapped a two-fight losing skid. After two competitive rounds against Gian Villante, Greene pulled off an unusual choke from his back and earned a third-round submission. In his six UFC appearances, Greene has only gone the distance once.
With the addition, the Oct. 31 lineup includes:
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Ahead of his main event Saturday, watch Aleksei Oleinik’s finish over Maurice Greene at UFC 246.
[autotag]Aleksei Oleinik[/autotag] continues to prove why he’s one of the most dangerous submission artists in the sport.
Oleinik (59-13-1 MMA, 8-4 UFC) faced [autotag]Maurice Greene[/autotag] at UFC 246 looking to avoid the first three-fight losing skid of his career.
It’s no secret Oleinik wanted to take the fight to the mat, and he did just that when he dragged Greene down straight into back mount. He transitioned into side control, but Greene actively defended from bottom, using a triangle choke attempt to get back up. But Oleinik took him right back down and transitioned into a deep scarf hold. Greene toughed out of it to survive the round.
In Round 2, Greene came out aggressively and landed several combinations on Oleinik. Both men were visibly tired, but Oleinik walked through Greene’s strikes, stacked him against the cage and took him down. After dropping some ground and pound, Oleinik moved to mount once again. But this time, he grabbed hold of Greene’s arm to secure the armbar for the submission win.
Oleinik returns Saturday when he meets Derrick Lewis (23-7 MMA, 14-5 UFC) in the UFC on ESPN+ 32 headliner. The event takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Before he faces Lewis, relive Oleinik’s finish over Greene in the video above.
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Fabricio Werdum and Paul Craig were among those who name-dropped their preferred next opponents at UFC on ESPN 14 in Abu Dhabi.
Earning wins in the UFC is certainly no easy task, but what comes next is often even more important: the post-fight callout.
So after Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 14 event in Abu Dhabi, who took advantage of their time on the mic? See below for this week’s Callout Collection – and just how realistic each one is.
* * * * *
First up, let’s take a look at the preliminary card …
Wants to fight: [autotag]John Dodson[/autotag]
The callout: “I’d love to come back here, it’s been an absolutely amazing experience. If the UFC do keep this venue here up and running, I’d love to get back on here. I’d like a rematch with John Dodson at some point, but I understand that (the matchmakers) won’t give that to me necessarily, so just whoever the matchmakers want me to fight, I’ll take whoever the UFC give me.”
The reality: [autotag]Nathaniel Wood[/autotag] knows that he’s unlikely to get a rematch with John Dodson straight away, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to plant the seed in the matchmakers’ minds. The Brit was set to face undefeated debutant Umar Nurmagomedov on “Fight Island” but the death of his uncle – and father of cousin Khabib – Abdulmanap meant he withdrew from the event. Wood stayed on the card and showed off his evolving striking game against game debutant John Castaneda. Wood will have to take on, and beat, more established opposition before he can get his rematch, but after another performance full of positives, the Brit is trending in the right direction again.
Next up: Rising featherweight targets fellow hot prospect.
Dustin Poirier was the biggest winner at UFC on ESPN 12, both figuratively and financially.
[autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] was the biggest winner at UFC on ESPN 12, both figuratively and financially.
After gutting out a grueling unanimous decision win over [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] in the main event Saturday, Poirier (26-6 MMA, 18-5 UFC) took home a $300,000 disclosed purse. Add on his “Fight of the Night” bonus, and Poirier pocketed $350,000 total for his efforts.
MMA Junkie on Monday obtained a list of fighter salaries from the Nevada Athletic Commission for UFC on ESPN 12, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Poirier, 31, was among three fighters to earn a six-figure paycheck. Joining him were Hooker, who earned $110,000, and [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag], who pocketed $180,000 after defeating [autotag]Mickey Gall[/autotag], who made $50,000.
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The total disclosed pay for the 10-fight card was $1.14 million.
The full list of UFC on ESPN 12 salaries includes:
The figures do not include deductions for items such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Additionally, the figures do not include money paid by sponsors, including the official UFC on ESPN 12 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay. They also do not include any other “locker room” or special discretionary bonuses the UFC sometimes pays. They also do not include pay-per-view cuts that some top-level fighters receive.
For example, UFC officials also handed out a “Fight of the Night” bonus to Poirier and Hooker – and two $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonuses to Hansen and Erosa.
In other words, the above figures are simply base salaries reported to the commission and do not reflect entire compensation packages for the event.
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