Macy Chiasson hopes for UFC 295 vs. whichever top contender left out of title picture

UFC contender Macy Chiasson is ready to take on whoever misses out of the vacant bantamweight title fight.

DALLAS – [autotag]Macy Chiasson[/autotag] is ready to take on whoever misses out on the vacant bantamweight title fight.

Since Amanda Nunes retired, an unofficial three-woman race between [autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag], [autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag], and [autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag] for the next bantamweight title fight has emerged.

Whatever direction the UFC goes, Chiasson (8-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) wants the fighter who doesn’t get the title opportunity. The “Ultimate Fighter 28” winner is currently recovering from a wrist injury, and would love to return on the UFC 295 card Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden.

“That would be tight. I would like that,” Chiasson told MMA Junkie. “I would really like that. I really want to be on that MSG card in November in New York. Whatever they have planned, I would love to have the opportunity to fight one of those girls that gets kind of knocked out (of the title picture).

“So, other than that, I really want to break into the top five. It’s been a long time coming, and I’ve had ups and downs and injuries, highs of highs, and lows of lows, and I’m ready to be in that position. I’m 32 now and I’ve been in the UFC almost five years, I’ve had 10 fights so, I’m ready to start pushing for that spot.”

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Putting herself in the shoes of the matchmakers, Chiasson thinks the UFC should go with former champion Peña vs. Pennington as the vacant bantamweight title fight.

“I think Raquel is up-and-coming for that title shot because she’s been a vet for a long time. She’s been around. She beat me at 145, and I think she’s deserving of that spot,” Chiasson said. “She beat (Irene) Aldana so, I think it’s ‘Rocky’s’ time to go back and fight for that title with Julianna.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Month for July: Former champ falls to standing finish

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best submission from July 2023.

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best submissions from July 2023: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Month award for July.

At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting for your choice.

Nominees

With Amanda Nunes’ retirement, Mayra Bueno Silva confident she’s ‘the new face of the bantamweight division’

Mayra Bueno Silva calls herself ‘the new face’ of the UFC women’s bantamweight division.

Amanda Nunes’ retirement from MMA might’ve seemed like a big loss in the combat sports world, but for others, including UFC women’s bantamweight contender [autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag], it was a gain.

With arguably the greatest female fighter of all time out of the picture, Bueno Silva (11-2-1 MMA, 6-2-1 UFC) feels like there’s an opportunity for her to create her own legacy without being overshadowed by Nunes’ presence. Coming off a submission win over former champion Holly Holm this past weekend at UFC on ESPN 49 in Las Vegas, Bueno Silva feels like the top lady at 135 pounds.

“I showed everybody that I’m the new face for the bantamweight division,” Bueno Silva told MMA Junkie. “I need the title shot now.”

With Nunes gone, the chance to defeat the now-former two-division UFC champion left some potential challengers upset. Bueno Silva has all the respect for Nunes, but she’s not sad at all to have missed out on fighting her.

“No, of course not, Amanda would kill me,” Bueno Silva said, laughing. “Amanda, thank you so much, you finished now. Take care of your family, everything good. I promise that I take the belt, the Brazilian belt.”

In terms of what’s next, Bueno Silva wants to fight Julianna Peña for the vacant UFC women’s bantamweight belt. She knows Raquel Pennington has been mentioned as a possible opponent for Peña, but quite frankly, she thinks she’s by far the most attractive fight.

“Nobody wants to watch Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña,” Bueno Silva explained. “Nobody wants this. The fight to do now is Mayra Bueno vs. Julianna Peña because I showed my fighting is more exciting.”

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Video: Did Mayra Bueno Silva lock up vacant UFC title shot after beating Holly Holm?

If not Mayra Bueno Silva fighting for the vacant UFC women’s bantamweight title, then who?

[autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag] upset former women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm with a second-round submission in the UFC on ESPN 49 main event.

It was Silva’s fourth win in a row and the biggest of her career, and now she wants a shot at the 135-pound title that was vacated when dual champ Amanda Nunes retired in June.

Is Silva one of the two who should fight for the belt, or are there two stronger candidates?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of special guest Eric Nicksick of Xtreme Couture, Mike Bohn and Brian “Goze” Garcia answers those questions with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

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You can watch the segment in the video above, as well as this week’s full episode below.

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, July 18: Mayra Bueno Silva leaps forward

Mayra Bueno Silva tapped former UFC women’s bantamweight champ Holly Holm, causing big moves in the division in this week’s rankings update.

The UFC women’s bantamweight division has a new contender.

[autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag] pulled off the biggest win of her career at UFC on ESPN 49, and made it look relatively easy. Considering her opponent was former bantamweight champion Holly Holm, many were shocked to see Bueno Silva tap the former champ in the second round.

Entering the week at No. 11 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie women’s bantamweight rankings, Bueno Silva takes a huge leap forward, landing at No. 4. Holm previously held the spot, but she takes a step backward, along with the rest of the division as Bueno Silva establishes herself as the new name to watch out for in the title picture.

Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings above.

Mick Maynard’s Shoes: What’s next for Mayra Bueno Silva after UFC on ESPN 49 win?

Mayra Bueno Silva put herself in position for a title shot by beating Holly Holm at UFC on ESPN 49, but should she get it?

(ALSO SEE: Mick Maynard’s Shoes: What’s next for Holly Holm after UFC on ESPN 49 loss?)

[autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag] continued her impact on the women’s bantamweight division on Saturday when she took out former champion Holly Holm in the UFC on ESPN 49 main event.

Silva (11-2-1 MMA, 6-2-1 UFC) remained undefeated in the weight class and notched her biggest win to date with a second-round submission of Holm (15-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Afterward, she called for a shot at the belt that recently was vacated by Amanda Nunes.

There was a back-and-forth on social media and in interviews between Silva and former titleholder Julianna Peña in the aftermath of the event, possibly setting the stage for a showdown between them.

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Is it the right move for the division, though? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on Silva’s future after UFC on ESPN 49.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 49.

UFC on ESPN 49 post-event facts: Mayra Bueno Silva ties Ronda Rousey’s longstanding record

Check out all the post-fight facts from UFC on ESPN 49, where Mayra Bueno Silva put herself in the same category as Ronda Rousey.

UFC on ESPN 49, which took place Saturday at the UFC Ape in Las Vegas, had a slow start to the event, but ultimately ended with a bang.

[autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag] (11-2-1 MMA, 6-2-1 UFC) continued her rise up the women’s bantamweight contender list when she scored a second-round submission of former champion [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC) to become a true title contender.

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 49.

UFC on ESPN 49 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Holly Holm tops card with $11,000

UFC on ESPN 49 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 49 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $126,500.

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 49 took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 49 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Jack Della Maddalena[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Bassil Hafez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Fransisco Prado[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ottman Azaitar[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Junyong Park[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Albert Duraev[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Norma Dumont[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Chelsea Chandler[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Nazim Sadykhov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Terrance McKinney[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Melsik Baghdasaryan[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Tucker Lutz[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Viktoriia Dudakova[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Istela Nunes[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Melquizael Costa[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Austin Lingo[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Evan Elder[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Genaro Valdez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Azat Maksum[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Tyson Nam[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Alexander Munoz[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Carl Deaton[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ailin Perez[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ashlee Evans-Smith[/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 $49,000 while title challengers get $49,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-49 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $4,555,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $19,144,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 49.

With Holly Holm win, Mayra Bueno Silva calls for vacant title fight vs. Julianna Peña: ‘I deserve it’

Mayra Bueno Silva wants to fight Julianna Peña for the vacant UFC women’s bantamweight title.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag] knows exactly what should be next following her latest triumph inside the octagon.

The Brazilian impressively submitted former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm in the main event of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 49, which took place at the UFC Apex. With a high-profile win under her belt and on a four-fight winning streak, Bueno Silva (11-2-1 MMA, 6-2-1 UFC) is confident she should fight Julianna Peña for the division’s vacant title, not Raquel Pennington.

“Raquel, no, because the UFC gave her a chance to fight with me, and she didn’t want it,” Bueno Silva told reporters at the UFC on ESPN 49 post-fight press conference. “So if she doesn’t want it, it’s Julianna Peña and me because I am a fan of Julianna. Raquel too, but she didn’t want to fight with me, so now I don’t want to fight with her. Julianna deserves it. I deserve it. UFC, let’s go.”

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Peña reacted to Bueno Silva’s win over Holm (15-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC), saying she could beat her and Pennington the same night. This gave Bueno Silva a good laugh at the press conference, and fired right back at the former champion.

“She’s funny,” Bueno Silva said. “I love you, Julianna, but I will smash you. I will smash you. You and Raquel at the same time. Look at my fight and look at her fight. Oh, Julianna, shut up.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 49.