Tag: Max Griffin

UFC on ESPN 21 predictions: Who’s picking Derek Brunson to upset Kevin Holland?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN 21 main card, featuring Derek Brunson vs. Kevin Holland.

Brunson
vs.
Holland		 Gillespie
vs.
Riddell		 Buys
vs.
Ruiz		 Lopez
vs.
Yanez		 Griffin
vs.
Kenan		 Hunsucker
vs.
Tuivasa
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2021: 23-19		 holland2021
Holland
(72%)		 gillespie2021
Gillespie
(78%)		 buys2021
Buys
(64%)		 yanez2021
Yanez
(78%)		 kenan2021
Kenan
(62%)		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
(88%)
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2021: 27-15
trophy copy 2020 Champion		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 lopez2021
Lopez		 kenan2021
Kenan		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2021: 26-16
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 griffin2021
Griffin		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2021: 25-17		 brunson2021
Brunson		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 griffin2021
Griffin		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2021: 25-17		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 lopez2021
Lopez		 griffin2021
Griffin		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2021: 25-17		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 ruiz2021
Ruiz		 yanez2021
Yanez		 kenan2021
Kenan		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2021: 24-18		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 griffin2021
Griffin		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2021: 24-18
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 brunson2021
Brunson		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 lopez2021
Lopez		 griffin2021
Griffin		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Simon Head
@simonhead
2021: 23-19
trophy copy 2019 Champion*		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 griffin2021
Griffin		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2021: 23-19		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 griffin2021
Griffin		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2021: 22-20
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 kenan2021
Kenan		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2021: 21-21		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 griffin2021
Griffin		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2021: 21-21		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 kenan2021
Kenan		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2021: 20-22		 brunson2021
Brunson		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 kenan2021
Kenan		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
BetMGM
Betting Favorites
Bet now!		 holland2021
Holland -175		 gillespie2021
Gillespie -250		 buys2021
Buys -350		 yanez2021
Yanez -225		 griffin2021
Griffin -200		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa -400

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The UFC is back in Las Vegas this week with a middleweight showdown leading at the top of the card.

UFC on ESPN 21 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN2.

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

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In the main event, [autotag]Derek Brunson[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 12-5 UFC) takes on [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] (21-5 MMA, 8-2 UFC) at middleweight. Holland is a -175 favorite at BetMGM, and he has a 10-3 lead in the picks from our 13 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Gregor Gillespie[/autotag] (13-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) meets [autotag]Brad Riddell[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in a lightweight bout. Gillespie is a -250 favorite and one of two unanimous picks from our staff members on the main card.

In a women’s strawweight fight between promotional newcomers, [autotag]Cheyanne Buys[/autotag] (5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is a big favorite at -350 against [autotag]Montserrat Ruiz[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), and she’s got a hefty 12-1 lead in the picks.

[autotag]Gustavo Lopez[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at bantamweight. Yanez is a -225 favorite and has a big 10-3 picks lead.

[autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag] (16-8 MMA, 4-6 UFC) is a 2-1 favorite against [autotag]Song Kenan[/autotag] (16-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC), but their fight is our closest from a picks perspective with just an 8-5 lead for Griffin.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Harry Hunsucker[/autotag] (7-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) steps up on less than a week’s notice at heavyweight against 4-1 favorite [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC). Tuivasa is our other unanimous pick on the main card at 13-0.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Holland (72 percent), Gillespie (78 percent), Buys (64 percent), Yanez (78 percent), Kenan (62 percent) and Tuivasa (88 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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UFC on ESPN 21: Make your predictions for Derek Brunson vs. Kevin Holland

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 21 event in Las Vegas.

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 21 event in Las Vegas.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC on ESPN 21 main card staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC on ESPN 21 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streams on ESPN+.

Make your picks for the fights below.

UFC’s Max Griffin tattooed a sliced ear on his elbow to commemorate his gruesome win

It’s his newest “SouvenEar.”

UFC welterweight [autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag] got some new ink, and like a lot of tattoos, it marks a special moment.

What is it? It’s an ear being sliced in memory of the ear he destroyed in his bout against Ramiz Brahimaj last month at UFC on ESPN+ 40. Griffin got it tattooed on the outside of his elbow

Griffin (16-8 MMA, 4-6 UFC), who connected with some nasty blows that almost sliced off Brahimaj’s left ear, picked up a third-round TKO win as a result. Brahimaj’s ear was hanging on, and the referee stepped in and stopped the bout to prevent further damage. It was a gruesome sight.

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Well, now that memory lives forever on Griffin’s body. It’s certainly a highlight of his career that led to an important win as he was 1-4 in his past five bouts prior.

Below is Griffin’s sliced ear tattoo (via Twitter):

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

UFC books Max Griffin vs. Song Kenan for March 20 Fight Night event

Welterweights will collide on March 20.

A UFC Fight Night is planned for March 20, and the lineup already has its first fight.

Welterweights [autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag] and [autotag]Song Kenan[/autotag] will square off at the event, which does not yet have a known location or venue at this time.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the booking Tuesday but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

On Nov. 7, Griffin (16-8 MMA, 4-6 UFC) bounced back from two consecutive losses when he fought Ramiz Brahimaj at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. In the third round, Griffin splattered Brahimaj’s ear with a punch that nearly detached it completely from his opponent’s head. The gory sequence caused the fight to be waved off at the discretion of the cageside physician.

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Over the span of his most recent four fights, Griffin beat Brahimaj and Zelim Imadaev – two wins that are separated by losses to Alex Morono and Alex Oliveira.

China’s Kenan (16-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has won four of his most recent five outings. Most recently he knocked out Callan Potter. Kenan also holds UFC wins over Bobby Nash, Hector Aldana, and Derrick Krantz.

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Max Griffin explains why his mother was far from happy with his UFC on ESPN+ 40 win

Max Griffin chats to MMA Junkie Radio to relive his gruesome TKO finish of Ramiz Brahimaj, and reveals how his own mother hated how he won.

Picking up a big win in the octagon is always a moment to celebrate for the fighter’s friends, family and teammates, but one person in that group wasn’t at all happy with Max Griffin’s TKO victory over Ramiz Brahimaj at UFC on ESPN+ 40 – his mother.

Griffin (16-8 MMA, 4-6 UFC), whose fighting moniker, rather appropriately, is “Pain,” almost tore Brahimaj’s left ear clean off his head as he connected first with a big punch, then with a nasty close-range elbow that left Brahimaj’s ear hanging off.

It meant referee Mark Smith immediately waved off the bout, with Griffin earning the TKO win. But while the Sacramento, California native was happy to snap a two-fight skid and pick up a stoppage win, Griffin revealed to MMA Junkie Radio that his mother wasn’t so impressed with the nature of her son’s win.

“Yeah, my mom was mad!” Griffin grinned. “For hurting somebody! I was like, ‘Mom! It happens!’ and she was like, ‘Well, it’s not something to be proud of. You’ve dished out the most gruesome injury in UFC history!’ They said it was worse than the Leslie Smith ear and that other guy that fought Kimbo (James Thompson), so that must be the worst ear, worst appendage injury, in MMA history, or close.”

Griffin’s mother was repulsed by the graphic scene that followed the conclusion of her son’s fight, and Griffin admitted that even he was taken aback by the sheer amount of damage he inflicted on Brahimaj’s ear. Once he realized the extent of the damage, he knew the fight was over.

“I wasn’t expecting it. I saw a little bit, (then) hit him with the elbow. (The team) were calling out for the elbow. Actually, they told me to disengage and they said to throw that elbow, and I waited to get that overhook and, wham!” he recalled. “When I looked, I saw that ear from about an inch away and was like, ‘Oh my god! It’s over!’ Then Mark Smith was there right at the same time. I knew it was over. What I’d seen, oh yeah! That fight’s over! I didn’t want to hit him again and make it any worse. I jumped on the cage (and) I had his freakin’ blood all over my face. I looked at the pictures and I had his blood in my teeth. It was crazy, bro!”

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

Max Griffin on getting high praise from Dominick Cruz for his footwork

UFC welterweight Max “Pain” Griffin chats to MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George Garcia and Brian “Goze” Garcia as he looks back at his injury TKO win over Ramiz Brahimaj at UFC on ESPN+ 40.

UFC welterweight Max “Pain” Griffin chats to MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George Garcia and Brian “Goze” Garcia as he looks back at his injury TKO win over Ramiz Brahimaj at UFC on ESPN+ 40.

UFC on ESPN+ 40 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $36.5 million

UFC on ESPN+ 40 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+ 40 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $146,500.

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+ 40 took place at UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN+ 40 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Glover Teixeira[/autotag]: $15,000
def. [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag]: $15,000

[autotag]Andrei Arlovski[/autotag]: $20,000
def. [autotag]Tanner Boser[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Raoni Barcelos[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Khalid Taha[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Giga Chikadze[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jamey Simmons[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Claudia Gadelha[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Trevin Giles[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Bevon Lewis[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Alexandr Romanov[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Marcos Rogerio de Lima[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Darren Elkins[/autotag]: $20,000
def. [autotag]Eduardo Garagorri[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Ramiz Brahimaj[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Gustavo Lopez[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Anthony Birchak[/autotag]: $4,000

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

Video: Max Griffin nearly severs Ramiz Brahimaj’s ear at UFC on ESPN+ 40 (GRAPHIC)

The scene at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas was not for the squeamish.

UFC on ESPN+ 40 was an all-around bad night for [autotag]Ramiz Brahimaj[/autotag].

The welterweight twice was on the wrong end of low blows during his preliminary card bout with [autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag] on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Then, by the early part of the second round, a huge mouse puffed up underneath his left eye, only to have another strike pop it open and stream down blood.

And we still haven’t gotten to the bad part of the night for Bahimaj (8-3  MMA, 0-1 UFC).

A Griffin (16-8 MMA, 4-6 UFC) elbow to the side of the head literally turned out to be of the slicing variety. It nearly severed Brahimaj’s left ear clear off his head. 

Refereee Marc Smith waved the fight off as soon as he realized the severity of the situation, giving Griffin the TKO win at the 2:03 mark of Round 3. Griffin snapped a two-fight skid with the win. The UFC did not show a replay of the gruesome scene. 

Twitter, of course, was there with the images and video clip. This isn’t for the squeamish, but you can see them below.

 

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Max Griffin vs. Ramiz Brahimaj targeted for UFC’s Nov. 7 event

A welterweight matchup between Max Griffin and Ramiz Brahimaj is in the works for the UFC’s Nov. 7 event.

A welterweight matchup is in the works for the UFC’s Nov. 7 event.

[autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag](15-8 MMA, 3-6 UFC) is expected to face [autotag]Ramiz Brahimaj[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on that date a location that has yet to be announced.

MMA Junkie confirmed with multiple people with knowledge of the situation that verbal agreements are in place. The people requested anonymity because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Bout agreements are expected to be finalized shortly.

MMA DNA first reported the contest.

Griffin is coming off back-to-back losses to Alex Morono and, most recently, Alex Oliveira at UFC 248 in March. Prior to that, he picked up a majority decision win over Zelim Imadaev in April 2019.

Brahimaj was scheduled to make his UFC debut against Takashi Sato on June 27 but was forced to withdraw when one of his cornermen tested positive for COVID-19. The Fortis MMA prospect has won two of his past three, most recently scoring a 55-second submission over Carlos Martinez at LFA 62 in March 2019.

With the addition, the latest Nov. 7 lineup includes:

  • Brendan Allen vs. Ian Heinisch
  • Vanessa Melo vs. Sarah Moras
  • Kyle Daukaus vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
  • Dustin Jacoby vs. Justin Ledet
  • Trevin Giles vs. Bevon Lewis
  • Felipe Colares vs. Gustavo Lopez
  • Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Max Griffin

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