Tag: Molly McCann

UFC 304 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Leon Edwards, Tom Aspinall lead with $42,000

Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall fetched maximum $42,000 payouts under the Promotional Guidelines Compliance for entering UFC 304 with belts.

MANCHESTER, England – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 304 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $307,500.

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 304 took place at Co-op Live. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC 304 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]King Green[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Christian Leroy Duncan[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Arnold Allen[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Giga Chikadze[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Nathaniel Wood[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Daniel Pineda[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Bruna Brasil[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Molly McCann[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Jake Hadley[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Caolan Loughran[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Muhammad Mokaev[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Oban Elliott[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Preston Parsons[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Modestas Bukauskas[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Marcin Prachnio[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Sam Patterson[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Kiefer Crosbie[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Mick Parkin[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Lukasz Brzeski[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Shauna Bannon[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Alice Ardelean[/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 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $4,575,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $27,312,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.

UFC 304 results: Bruna Brasil punishes Molly McCann en route to upset win

Bruna Brasil troubled Molly McCann on the feet and the ground to earn the decision win at UFC 304.

MANCHESTER, England – [autotag]Bruna Brasil[/autotag] troubled [autotag]Molly McCann[/autotag] on the feet and the ground to earn the decision win at UFC 304.

Brasil (10-4-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC) proved to be too much for McCann (14-7 MMA, 7-6 UFC), defeating the fan favorite by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) on Saturday. The women’s strawweight bout was part of the UFC 304 preliminary card at Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

Round 1 opened up with a strong leg kick from Brasil. McCann pressured and walked Brasil down. Brasil landed a hard accidental low blow which caused a momentary pause in the action. McCann continued to walk Brasil down, but was caught with two straight liver shots which folded her. Brasil tried to capitalize on a hurt McCann, but McCann wisely clinched. However, Brasil reversed her and landed a takedown. McCann got up and landed a takedown of her own at the end of Round 1.

McCann had ground to make up in Round 2 as she started off with a lunging combination. McCann clinched Brasil against the cage and slammed her down for a big takedown. Brasil quickly stood back up, but McCann engaged her in the clinch right away. This time, it’s Brasil who got her to the ground with a trip as she worked in top position. McCann got back up and attempted a spinning back kick, but with met with a big counter right which sat her.

Both women land hard jabs to kick off Round 3, but McCann was taken down once again after initiating the clinch. McCann was able to work her way back up, and unloaded a barrage on Brasil – including her signature spinning back elbow. Brasil capitalized on her forward momentum by landing yet another takedown. McCann jumped on Brasil’s back and briefly secured a rear-naked choke, but was dumped by Brasil who survived the late onslaught.

Dana White’s Contender Series alum Brasil has now split her four octagon appearances. McCann goes 1-1 since dropping down to 115 pounds.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 304 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.

Bruna Brasil def. Molly McCann at UFC 304: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Bruna Brasil’s unanimous decision win over Molly McCann at UFC 304.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Bruna Brasil[/autotag]’s unanimous decision win over [autotag]Molly McCann[/autotag] at UFC 304 at Co-op Live in Manchester, England. (Photos by Ben Roberts, Getty Images; UFC; MMA Junkie)

Molly McCann searching for continuation of ‘happy f*cking days’ against Bruna Brasil at UFC 304

Molly McCann has had a piece of hardware wrapped around her waist before, and she’d love to remember what it feels like.

[autotag]Molly McCann[/autotag] has had a piece of hardware wrapped around her waist before, and she’d love to remember what it feels like.

To do it at the highest level in the UFC, as opposed to the belt she won for Cage Warriors in 2018, the Liverpudlian suspects she’s got a little work ahead of her – work she said she’s prepared to start next week with a home game at UFC 304.

McCann (14-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC), a former flyweight, will have her second UFC bout at strawweight against Bruna Brasil (9-4-1 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at UFC 304 in Manchester, England, next Saturday. Her divisional debut could not have gone much better – she tapped Diana Belbita with one second left in the opening round with a bonus-winning armbar.

McCann is about a 3-1 betting favorite, but said she knows Brasil is dangerous based on her win a year ago over McCann teammate Shauna Bannon.

“She’s dangerous. She’s got good finishes. She’s an all-’rounder. Striking is her game,” McCann recently told MMA Junkie. “I’ve trained for her like she’s the hardest opponent I’ve ever faced. She’s evasive. I like to fight Brazilians, and they like to fight me.

“A fight is a fight and it can go any which way. If the fight goes the way that we’ve prepared and planned for, and if I execute the game plan, it’s a brilliant night for Molly McCann. If Bruna Brasil shows up a little bit different, it might take a little bit more time to figure out. I prepared for three (rounds) of war, and if I can get it done within that time, happy f*cking days.”

Those “happy f*cking days” eventually will turn into title contention if McCann has her way. After back-to-back spinning back elbow bonus-winning finishes in 2022, McCann hit a skid with consecutive submission losses to Erin Blanchfield and Julija Stoliarenko.

The sting of two straight setbacks helped usher in a stay-busy grappling match at Polaris 26, and the armbar there was predictive of her February submission of Belbita.

“I stay active outside of fight camps,” McCann said. “I do jiu-jitsu competitions. I keep evolving. I can get to the top five now, but my grappling and my MMA style has to keep evolving to beat the top five girls. A fight’s a fight – I could still chin one of them; they could chin me. I could sub one of them; they could sub me.”

Now that she’s at 115 pounds, McCann has to put a proverbial target on the back of Chinese champion Zhang Weili, but the weight class is a luxury of riches when it comes to top-shelf women’s fighters.

To wit, McCann has finishes in her most recent three wins, all for post-fight bonuses, and she and Brasil both sit outside the top 15.

“The strawweight division’s brilliant. Even watching Tecia (Pennington against Tabatha Ricci) the other month – you’ve got an OG there who’s been out of the game, had a child. You’ve got an up-and-coming prospect. I love both girls. I think the decision was wrong. But you look at that and you think, ‘Oh my God, it’s fair game. Anyone who wants to bring it – you watch Gillian Robertson and Michelle Waterson – anyone who wants to bring it is bringing it.

“I love it. I love how respectful this division is. I think this division is a really respectful division. I don’t think there’s much bravado here. It’s like Murderer’s Row. Head down. I’ve only got a few hours left, a fights left, and I feel like I’m really coming into my (fighting) IQ prime.”

McCann said she’s midway through her current UFC deal. At 34, she might not be thinking about retirement yet, but likely is closer to hanging up the gloves than she is to the start of her career.

And like virtually everyone in her profession, she’s got those title aspirations still, and also aspirations for when she walks away.

“I’ve got an eight-fight deal. There’ are four fights left,” McCann said. “I’d like to get up there in them, and then the dream would to be win a world title and then just retire and have kids. My journey’s not f*cking like that, but we’ll see.”

UFC 304 (pay-per-view/ESPN/ESPN+) takes place July 27 at Co-op Live in Manchester.

[lawrence-related id=2754707,2747691]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 59.

Ahead of UFC 304, Molly McCann credits Paddy Pimblett for helping her through personal setbacks

It’s no doubt hard enough to train for a fight in the UFC and win it when everything goes exactly as planned.

To do it when you’re being put through life’s wringer at the same time is another thing entirely. That’s what [autotag]Molly McCann[/autotag] has been experiencing.

But McCann (14-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC), a former flyweight who returns later this month at strawweight at against Bruna Brasil (9-4-1 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at UFC 304 in Manchester, England, said if not for her training partners, particularly UFC rising star [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag], things for this camp in front of her home fans might not have gone as well.

She dealt with, she said, a death in the family and a major relationship issue.

“Training wise, (it’s been) unbelievable,” McCann told MMA Junkie on Thursday. “Personally, I feel like I’ve took the biggest Ls in my life. We’ve just had a lot going on personally that’s been quite tough. But I feel like any fight camp I ever had, (this one) was amazing. And nothing went wrong. I’ve ended up losing and the ones where I’ve had to overcome adversity behind closed doors, they’re the ones where we win.

“In the gym, I’m thriving. At home now, I’m thriving. But I personally took some big Ls this week. I just lost a family member. She was young. I called off my engagement, and then the TV show comes out and it’s all about my relationship. I was just like, for f*ck sake – I’ve got to see it all the time. But we did the right thing for both parties, and the right thing for my career. It’s all bittersweet, but it’s for the right reasons.”

Pimblett told MMA Junkie his support for McCann was a completely natural instinct.

“It goes without saying,” Pimblett said. “She’s like my big sister. If she ever needs anyone to talk to or ever needs anyone, I’m always there for her. I just look at that as being a good little brother. Anything she ever needs I’ll be there for her. It’s as simple as that.”

McCann said she doesn’t feel like she should keep her struggles outside the cage to herself. To that extent, she gives up a little expectation of privacy by sharing things like the end of her engagement.

But that, too, comes with a change in her view toward the people around her.

“I feel like everyone kind of knows (my issues),” McCann said. “I just probably needed to put it out there to the world, I suppose. But it’s been quite easy, to be fair. My gym, my family and my training partners have been out of this world. When your career comes first, your career comes first. You’ve just got to get on with it and just try and not be toxic or hate other people, and I think that’s why I’ve done so much therapy the last year and grown so much that it’s been OK and I’m proud of how I’ve got through since February.

“That was always the thing: That the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. And when things take you from that, you have to realign. My dream and my goal is to be a world champion, and to do it again, or one step closer to it, being with your best friends, fighting 30 minutes from this bedroom, 30 minutes down there, I’m going to get to fight in Manchester and absolutely live the dream.”

McCann said Pimblett, who will fight Bobby Green on the same card, has mellowed out a little with two young daughters in tow.

“He’s just a bit more soft toward women, I think,” McCann said. “He’s got two little girls and going through the breakup, he’s really been there for me – like big bro. I know he’s my little bro, but he’s being big bro when he’s come through with flying colors. I feel like when he’s stressed or when I’m stressed, it’s nice when we get to do this together.”

After a three-fight winning streak against Ji Yeon Kim, Luana Carolina and Hannah Goldy, the latter two of which led to $50,000 post-fight bonuses. She tapped to a kimrua against Erin Blanchfield in late 2022 and an armbar against Julija Stoliarenko a year ago.

But in February, she beat Diana Belbita with an armbar for another bonus and her third straight win by finish.

UFC 304 (pay-per-view/ESPN/ESPN+) takes place July 27 at Co-op Live in Manchester.

[lawrence-related id=2754707,2747691]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 59.

Video: What’s Molly McCann’s ceiling in UFC strawweight division after debut win?

Molly McCann thinks the best of her career is yet to come after introducing herself to the UFC strawweight division in emphatic fashion.

[autotag]Molly McCann[/autotag] thinks the best of her career is yet to come after introducing herself to the strawweight division in emphatic fashion at UFC Fight Night 235.

McCann (14-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) dropped down from her longtime home of women’s flyweight to 115 pounds with a first-round submission of Diana Belbita this past weekend at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. She said afterward that the performance was a reflection of what she has always been capable of, but she wasn’t competing at the proper weight class.

The Brit looked strong and tenacious during her performance against Belbita, and the 33-year-old made it clear with her comments afterward that she’s only in this to become UFC champion.

[lawrence-related id=2713494,2713453]

Can McCann rise into title contention and eventually challenge for a belt? The was a topic of discussion on the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique” with panelists Nolan King, Danny Segura, Brian “Goze” Garcia and host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

Check out the video segment above, or the complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below.

Molly McCann relieved by UFC strawweight debut win after ‘the hardest 14 months of my life’

Molly McCann reflects on her UFC strawweight debut win over Diana Belbita at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 235.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Molly McCann[/autotag] can breathe a little more easy after a successful strawweight debut.

The fan-favorite fighter foought for the first time at 115 pounds Saturday at UFC Fight Night 235. In dominant fashion, McCann (14-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) submitted Diana Belbita (15-9 MMA, 2-5 UFC) with an armbar in the first round of their bout.

It was an emotional moment for McCann, who was hoping to reinvent herself in a new weight class after off consecutive stoppage losses at 125 pounds.

“It’s just been the hardest 14 months of my life,” McCann said at the UFC Fight Night 235 post-fight press conference. “My biggest dream was to fight at MSG, and (I) got destroyed. I got co-main event at London and got destroyed.

“I had to really dig in deep to see if I really wanted it. My coach pulled me aside and asked, ‘How much do you really want to be a champion? It’s going to cost that to make this weight and to achieve at this weight.’ Every single person online doubted me. Every single person gave me hell. That’s icing on top of the cake, that performance. It’s not going to shut them up, obviously, but I couldn’t have done any better. It was mixed martial arts.”

McCann is looking to return to the cage this summer. She’s determined to be a UFC champion and wants to start climbing her way up the rankings.

“My hand is a little sore. I’ll have that X-rayed, and I’ll have a look, take a week off, go back to the gym, and then assess when it’s best for us,” McCann said. “I hear July is in Manchester, and I’d really like to have a go then. I’m not one to call anyone out. I’m a company woman who takes any fight she’s given. Let’s hope that the matchmakers are fair, stylistically. Let me work through the rankings.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 235.

UFC Fight Night 235 post-event facts: Randy Brown is on the rise

Check out all the facts from UFC Fight Night 235, which saw Randy Brown continue his run of success in the loaded welterweight division.

The UFC opened its four-event February schedule Saturday with UFC Fight Night 235, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

[autotag]Nassourdine Imavov[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC) achieved his first octagon main event win to close out the card when he outworked [autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) to a majority decision in their matchup of ranked UFC middleweights.

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 Fight Night 235.

UFC Fight Night 235 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Drew Dober’s $21,000 tops card

UFC Fight Night 235 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 235 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $170,500.

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

The full UFC Fight Night 235 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Nassourdine Imavov[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Randy Brown[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Muslim Salikhov[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Natalia Silva[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Viviane Araujo[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Aliaskhab Khizriev[/autotag]: $4,000
vs. [autotag]Makhmud Muradov[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Charlie Radtke[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Gilbert Urbina[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Molly McCann[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Diana Belbita[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Charles Johnson[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Azat Maksum[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Themba Gorimbo[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Pete Rodriguez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jeong Yeong Lee[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Blake Bilder[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Luana Carolina[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Julija Stoliarenko[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Marquel Mederos[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Landon Quinones[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jamal Pogues[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Thomas Petersen[/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 2351 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: $615,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $23,322,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 235.

UFC Fight Night 235 video: Hear from each winner, guest fighters backstage

Check out what the UFC Fight Night 235 winners and guest fighters had to say backstage at Saturday’s event.

LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 235 took place Saturday with 13 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 235 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 235.