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Michael Johnson said he’ll beat whoever he has to beat to climb his way toward UFC lightweight title contention.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag] beat Darrius Flowers with a unanimous decision Saturday on the main card at UFC Fight Night 236 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Johnson, who has alternated wins and losses his past six fights dating back three years.
Check out all the facts from UFC Fight Night 236, which saw Rodolfo Vieira become the all-time octagon leader in arm-triangle choke wins.
The UFC’s lengthy stretch of events rolled on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 236 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
[autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag] (24-8 MMA, 11-6 UFC) emerged victorious in the main event when he scored an upset of [autotag]Joe Pyfer[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in their middleweight bout.
For more on the numbers from the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 236.
UFC Fight Night 236 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 Fight Night 236 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $236,500.
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 Fight Night 236 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.
The full UFC Fight Night 236 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
* * * *
[autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Joe Pyfer[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag]: $21,000
[autotag]Robert Bryczek[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Ihor Potieria[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Brad Tavares[/autotag]: $21,000
[autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Darrius Flowers[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Rodolfo Vieira[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Armen Petrosyan[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Carlos Prates[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Trevin Giles[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Bolaji Oki[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Tim Cuamba[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Loma Lookboonmee[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Bruna Brasil[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Marcin Prachnio[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Devin Clark[/autotag]: $16,000
[autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Jeremiah Wells[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Bogdan Guskov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Zac Pauga[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Hyder Amil[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Fernie Garcia[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Daniel Marcos[/autotag]: $4,000
vs. [autotag]Aori Qileng[/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 2361 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 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
Year-to-date total: $850,000
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $23,557,000
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 236.
Check out what the UFC Fight Night 236 winners and guest fighters had to say backstage at Saturday’s event.
LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 236 took place Saturday with 14 bouts on the lineup. We’ve got you covered with backstage winner interviews from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
You can hear from all the UFC Fight Night 236 winners by checking out their post-fight news conferences below.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 236.
Michael Johnson still has a lot left in the tank.
[autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag] still has a lot left in the tank.
Johnson (21-19 MMA, 13-15 UFC) enters his 29th octagon bout when he takes on Darrius Flowers (12-6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 236 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas (ESPN+).
The 37-year-old Season 12 “Ultimate Fighter” finalist showed serious potential earlier in his career when he defeated Tony Ferguson and knocked out Dustin Poirier, but has struggled in recent years. He’s had a lot of inconsistencies throughout his career, but hasn’t lost his desire to compete.
“(I’m) just keeping my mind on the goal, and that goal is to be victorious – to get in here, enjoy the process, and see where it goes from there,” Johnson said at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 236 media day. “I’ve been in this sport for a long time, and I’m not finished by a long shot.”
Johnson will look to rebound from his knockout loss to Diego Ferreira this past May, and says he’s had plenty of time to do so. He spent some time training with Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix in preparation for Flowers.
“You’ll be looking for the best Michael Johnson you guys have seen to date,” Johnson said. “I’ve been training for this fight since like November, maybe even a little bit before that, because I was trying to get into the octagon late last year. So, I’ve been preparing all year. I’m in great shape, my mentality is great, and I’m ready to go in here, enjoy this process, and get the win.”
[lawrence-related id=2713753,2713767,2713600,2713553]
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 236.
The best facts about UFC Fight Night 236, where Brad Tavares can tie multiple key records in middleweight and overall UFC history.
The UFC continues its busy February schedule Saturday with UFC Fight Night 236, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.
For the third straight event, middleweights take stage in the headliner as [autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag] (23-8 MMA, 10-6 UFC) returns from a career-long layoff to share the octagon with the surging [autotag]Joe Pyfer[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in a five-round bout.
For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC Fight Night 235.
* * * *
Check out all the facts and figures from UFC Fight Night 224, which saw Mackenzie Dern rack up another $50,000 bonus in the main event.
The UFC closed out its May schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 224, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
In the main event, [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) defeated [autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag] (15-13 MMA, 10-13 UFC) by unanimous decision in the Fight of the Night, with the grappling specialist landing a career-best 126 significant strikes over the course of five rounds.
For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts about UFC Fight Night 224.
UFC Fight Night 224 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 Fight Night 224 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $179,500.
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 Fight Night 224 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.
The full UFC Fight Night 224 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
* * * *
[autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag]: $21,000
[autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Emily Ducote[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Andre Fialho[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Hayisaer Maheshate[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Viacheslav Borshchev[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Diego Ferreira[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag]: $21,000
[autotag]Karolina Kowalkiewicz[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Vanessa Demopoulos[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Gilbert Urbina[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Orion Cosce[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Rodrigo Nascimento[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Ilir Latifi[/autotag]: $16,000
[autotag]Chase Hooper[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Nick Fiore[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Natalia Silva[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Victoria Leonardo[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Themba Gorimbo[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Takashi Sato[/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 2241 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: $3,214,500
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $17,803,500
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 224.
Check out live play-by-play and official results from UFC Fight Night 224 in Las Vegas.
LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 224 took place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
In the main event, Mackenzie Dern (13-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) takes on Angela Hill (15-13 MMA, 10-13 UFC) in a women’s strawweight bout. In the co-feature, Anthony Hernandez (11-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) meets Edmen Shahbazyan (12-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) at middleweight.
To discuss the show, be sure to check out our UFC Fight Night 224 discussion thread. You can also get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site reporter Ken Hathaway (@kenshathaway ) on Twitter.
Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC Fight Night 224 main card, featuring Mackenzie Dern vs. Angela Hill.
| Dern vs. Hill |
Hernandez vs. Shahbazyan |
Ducote vs. Godinez |
Buckley vs. Fialho |
Ferreira vs. Johnson |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 73-51 |
 Dern (79%) |
 Hernandez (54%) |
 Godinez (74%) |
 Buckley (69%) |
 Johnson (52%) |
| Matt Erickson @MattE 81-43 |
Dern |
Hernandez |
Godinez |
Buckley |
 Ferreira |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 78-46 |
Dern |
 Shahbazyan |
 Ducote |
Buckley |
Ferreira |
| Matthew Wells @MrMWells 77-47 |
Dern |
Shahbazyan |
Godinez |
Buckley |
Ferreira |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 74-50 |
Dern |
Hernandez |
Godinez |
Buckley |
Johnson |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 74-50 |
Dern |
Hernandez |
Ducote |
Buckley |
Ferreira |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 72-52  2014 Champion |
Dern |
Shahbazyan |
Godinez |
Buckley |
Ferreira |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway -70-54 2018, 2022 Champion |
Dern |
Shahbazyan |
Godinez |
Buckley |
Ferreira |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 68-56 |
Dern |
Shahbazyan |
Godinez |
Buckley |
Ferreira |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 68-56 |
 Hill |
Shahbazyan |
Godinez |
Buckley |
Johnson |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 68-56 |
Dern |
Shahbazyan |
Ducote |
Buckley |
Johnson |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 65-59 2017 Champion |
Dern |
Shahbazyan |
Ducote |
Buckley |
Ferreira |
The UFC is back in its “Sin City” home base with a slightly delayed women’s strawweight bout at the top of the card.
UFC Fight Night 224 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) takes on [autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag] (15-12 MMA, 10-12 UFC) in a women’s 115-pound matchup that was supposed to take place this past week at UFC on ABC 4 until it was pulled to headline this card. Jiu-jitsu ace Dern nearly is a 2-1 favorite at most sportsbooks, and she’s got a big lead in the picks from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, who have it as a blowout for her at 10-1.
In the co-feature, [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] (10-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) meets [autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) in a middleweight matchup. Hernandez is a big favorite at nearly 3-1, but only three of our staff members are picking him and have Shahbazyan in an upset at 8-3.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Emily Ducote[/autotag] (12-7 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and [autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) fight at a 120-pound contract weight, granted due to the short notice for Godinez, who stepped in for Polyana Viana. Godinez is a mild favorite, and she’s got a 7-4 lead in the picks.
[autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC) is a 2-1 favorite at middleweight against [autotag]Andre Fialho[/autotag] (16-6 MMA, 2-3 UFC), and he’s also our only unanimous pick on the main card at 11-0.
And to open the main card at lightweight, [autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag] (21-18 MMA, 13-14 UFC) will try to get back to .500 in the UFC when he takes on [autotag]Diego Ferreira[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC). Ferreira is a -150 favorite and has a big 8-3 lead from our pickers.
In the MMA Junkie consensus picks, Dern (79 percent), Hernandez (54 percent), Godinez (74 percent), Buckley (69 percent) and Johnson (52 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 224.
