Tag: Melsik Baghdasaryan

UFC 284 medical suspensions: Yair Rodriguez, Josh Emmett among lengthiest terms

Five fighters, including both co-main event participants, were suspended six months for injuries sustained Down Under at UFC 284.

Five fighters face 180-day medical suspensions as a result of injuries sustained at UFC 284 in Perth, Australia.

On Monday, the Combat Sports Commission of Western Australia publicly published a full list of medical suspensions. While the commission discloses the duration of the suspensions, it does not reveal specifics of fighters’ injuries.

Co-main event participants [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag] and [autotag]Josh Emmett[/autotag] were among the five fighters who received six-months suspensions, the longest term given to any fighters on the card.

UFC 284 took place Feb. 11 at RAC Arena and was headlined by a lightweight title fight between Islam [autotag]Makhachev[/autotag] and [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag].

See below to check out the medical suspensions given to each fighter. It’s important to note fighters can return sooner than the conclusion of the suspension listed if they are cleared by a doctor beforehand.

UFC 284 post-event facts: Islam Makhachev leads promotion in winning streaks

Check out the numbers to come out of UFC 284, where Islam Makhachev’s title defense gave him the UFC’s longest active winning streak.

The UFC made its return to Australia after more than four years Saturday with UFC 284, which took place at RAC Arena in Perth and marked an historic event.

In the headlining act, [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) successfully defended his lightweight title for the first time when he earned a unanimous decision win over featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (25-2 MMA, 12-1 UFC) to extend his winning ways inside the octagon.

Additionally, [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) claimed interim featherweight gold in the co-main event when he scored a slick second-round submission over [autotag]Josh Emmett[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) to set up a future showdown with Volkanovski.

For more on the numbers to come out of the title fights, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 287.

UFC 284 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Makhachev, Volkanovski net $42,000 each

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 284 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $263,000.

PERTH, Australia – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 284 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $263,000.

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 284 took place at RAC Arena. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC 284 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Josh Emmett[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Jack Della Maddalena[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Randy Brown[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Parker Porter[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jimmy Crute[/autotag]: $6,000
vs. [autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Modestas Bukauskas[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Tyson Pedro[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Josh Culibao[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Melsik Baghdasaryan[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Kleydson Rodrigues[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Shannon Ross[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jamie Mullarkey[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Fransisco Prado[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jack Jenkins[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Don Shainis[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Loma Lookboonmee[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Elise Reed[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Blake Bilder[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Shane Young[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Zubaira Tukhugov[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Elves Brenner[/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 $32,000.

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 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $895,500
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $15,414,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 284.

UFC 284 video: Josh Culibao overcomes nasty groin kick, squeezes Melsik Baghdasaryan into submission

In a heated UFC 284 prelim bout, Josh Culibao defeated rival Melsik Baghdasaryan after a punishing groin shot.

[autotag]Josh Culibao[/autotag] overcame adversity en route to victory Saturday at UFC 284.

In a featherweight bout on the preliminary card at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, Culibao (11-1-1 MMA, 3-1-1 UFC) defeated rival [autotag]Melsik Baghdasaryan[/autotag] (7-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) by rear-naked choke submission at 2:02 of Round 2.

Before the fight even started, the bad blood flowed. At Friday’s ceremonial faceoffs, Baghdasaryan shoved Culibao in the neck area before the two fighters were separated.

In the opening round of their fight Saturday, further transgressions deepened hard feelings. Baghdasaryan drilled Culibao in the groin with a nasty spinning back kick. Culibao was visibly injured, as he stood up and sat down over and over again, as he tried to get himself right. The doctor came in for a conversation and concluded with Culibao the action could continue.

In Round 2, Culibao grabbed the left foot of Baghdasaryan during a kick and dumped his opponent to the canvas. All in one fluid motion, Culibao pounced, moved to the back, and snatched the neck. Moments later, Baghdasaryan tapped.

Culibao is unbeaten in his most recent four fights, since a submission loss to Jalin Turner in his promotional debut in 2020. The loss for Baghdasaryan was his first since his professional MMA debut in 2014.

The up-to-the-minute UFC 284 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 284.

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Josh Culibao def. Melsik Baghdasaryan at UFC 284: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Josh Culibao’s second-round submission win over Melsik Baghdasaryan at UFC 284 in Perth, Australia.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Josh Culibao[/autotag]’s second-round submission win over [autotag]Melsik Baghdasaryan[/autotag] at UFC 284 at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. (Photos by Jasmin Frank, USA TODAY Sports)

Photos: UFC 284 official weigh-ins

Check out the photos from the UFC 284 official weigh-ins at the UFC host hotel in Perth, Australia.

Check out the photos from the UFC 284 official weigh-ins at the UFC host hotel in Perth, Australia. (Images by Jasmin Frank, USA TODAY Sports)

Melsik Baghdasaryan: Knocking out Josh Culibao at UFC 284 will make Australian fans cheer for me

Melsik Baghdasaryan plans on winning the crowd over at UFC 284.

[autotag]Melsik Baghdasaryan[/autotag] plans on winning the crowd over at UFC 284.

Baghdasaryan (7-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) meets [autotag]Josh Culibao[/autotag] (10-1-1 MMA, 2-1-1 UFC) on Saturday’s prelims at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Baghdasaryan is heading into enemy territory when he squares off with Australia’s Culibao, but he’s confident that he’ll earn the fans’ cheers after he gets his hand raised.

“The guy is Australian, which is normal if they say ‘boo’ or something,” Baghdasaryan told MMA Junkie on Tuesday (Wednesday locally). “But I don’t care what they say. We’re going to the ring, and we have to fight. They say ‘boo’ or they say ‘bravo,’ it doesn’t matter.”

He continued, “If you knock the guy out, no one is gonna say ‘boo.’ They’re gonna clap for you.”

Baghdasaryan, who hasn’t competed since a decision win over Bruno Silva in November 2021, was forced to withdraw from two fights in 2022 due to injuries. He hopes to make up for lost time in 2023.

“This year I’m planning to fight a couple of fights as soon as possible,” Baghdasaryan said. “So I can jump a little bit because of that one-year break. So I need to fight as soon as possible to jump, going forward with long steps.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 284.

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Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Oct. 31-Nov. 6)

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 Oct. 31-Nov. 6.

Joanderson Brito vs. newcomer Lucas Alexander targeted for UFC Fight Night 212

This week’s UFC return has a late change to the lineup in Las Vegas.

This week’s UFC return has a late change to the lineup in “Sin City.”

[autotag]Joanderson Brito[/autotag] (13-3-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) was set to fight [autotag]Melsik Baghdasaryan[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) until he suffered a broken hand. Now Brito will fight promotional newcomer [autotag]Lucas Alexander[/autotag] (7-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 212.

MMA Junkie confirmed the targeted new matchup with a person with knowledge of the booking, who asked to remain anonymous since it hasn’t been formally announced by the UFC. UFC Fight Night 212 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

Alexander, from Brazil, got some eyeballs on him in February with a TKO win on UFC Fight Pass at the debut fight card of Anthony Pettis’ new MMA promotion. The win was the 27-year-old’s fifth straight.

Brito made his way to the UFC starting on Dana White’s Contender Series in August 2021. In January, he dropped a decision to Bill Algeo in his promotional debut, which snapped a 12-fight unbeaten streak. But in April, he bounced back in a big way with a 41-second knockout of longtime UFC fighter Andre Fili and picked up a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.

Baghdasaryan has been out of action for 11 months. After a DWCS win in 2020, he picked up 2021 UFC wins over Collin Anglin, which won a $50,000 bonus, and Bruno Souza. He was set to return against T.J. Laramie in April, but pulled out. And for the Brito fight, he’s out again.

With the change, the UFC Fight Night 212 lineup now includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Alexa Grasso vs. Viviane Araujo
  • Jonathan Martinez vs. Cub Swanson
  • Askar Askarov vs. Brandon Royval
  • Dusko Todorovic vs. Jordan Wright
  • Misha Cirkunov vs. Alonzo Menifield
  • Brandon Davis vs. Mana Martinez

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)

  • Lucas Alexander vs. Joanderson Brito
  • Jacob Malkoun vs. Nick Maximov
  • Raphael Assuncao vs. Victor Henry
  • Sam Hughes vs. Piera Rodriguez
  • Tatsuro Taira vs. CJ Vergara
  • Mike Jackson vs. Pete Rodriguez

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 212.

UFC 268 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Venum era total passes $5 million

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 268 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $325,500.

NEW YORK – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 268 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $325,500.

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 268 took place at the Madison Square Garden. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

The full UFC 268 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Frankie Edgar[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Shane Burgos[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Andreas Michailidis[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Al Iaquinta[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Chris Curtis[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Phil Hawes[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Nassourdine Imavov[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Ian Garry[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jordan Williams[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Chris Barnett[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Gian Villante[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Dustin Jacoby[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]John Allan[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Melsik Baghdasaryan[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Bruno Souza[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ode Osbourne[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]CJ Vergara[/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 $32,000.

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 2021 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $5,112,500
Program-to-date total: $5,112,500