Tag: Mounir Lazzez

UFC parts ways with eight fighters, including two after decade-long tenures

Eight fighters are no longer on the UFC roster including two fighters who have been with the promotion for approximately a decade each.

Eight fighters are no longer on the UFC roster, including two athletes who were with the promotion approximately a decade each.

Whether it was the impending wave of fighters who will be signed to compete on “Dana White’s Contender Series,” Season 7 or simply performance or contract-based decisions, the promotion parted ways with these fighters in recent weeks.

Algorithm-based Twitter account UFC Roster Watch first published the transactions when the promotion removed the fighters from official rankings eligibility.

Unless denoted, it is unclear whether each athlete was released or fought out their contract.

UFC 283 post-event facts: Jamahal Hill sets striking record in bloody title win

According to the numbers, Jamahal Hill delivered a record-setting beatdown of Glover Teixeira to claim gold at UFC 283.

The first numbered UFC event of 2023 proved to be a good one. Two new champions were crowned Saturday at UFC 283 at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro.

The main event of the organization’s return to Brazil after nearly three years saw [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) deliver a lopsided beatdown of [autotag]Glover Teixeira[/autotag] (33-9 MMA, 16-7 UFC) to win a unanimous decision and claim the vacant light heavyweight champion.

In the co-headliner, [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (21-5-2 MMA, 9-2-2 UFC) proved to be the better man to [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] (21-3-1 MMA, 10-3-1 UFC) when he produced a sensational showing for the third-round doctor’s stoppage TKO to become undisputed flyweight champ and win their rivalry 2-1-1.

For more on the numbers behind both title fights, as well as the rest of the card, check out MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 283.

UFC 283 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $15 million

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 283 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $359,500.

RIO DE JANEIRO – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 283 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $359,500.

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 283 took place at Jeunesse Arena in Brazil. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC and ESPN+.

The full UFC 283 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Glover Teixeira[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Jessica Andrade[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Lauren Murphy[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Paul Craig[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Ihor Potieria[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Brunno Ferreira[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Thiago Moises[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Melquizael Costa[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Gabriel Bonfim[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Mounir Lazzez[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Jailton Almeida[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Shamil Abdurakhimov[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Luan Lacerda[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ismael Bonfim[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Terrance McKinney[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Nicolas Dalby[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Warlley Alves[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Josiane Nunes[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Zarah Fairn[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Daniel Marcos[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Saimon Oliveira[/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: $496,500
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $15,015,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 283.

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Gabriel Bonfim def. Mounir Lazzez at UFC 283: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Gabriel Bonfim’s first-round submission win over Mounir Lazzez at UFC 283 at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Gabriel Bonfim[/autotag]’s first-round submission win over [autotag]Mounir Lazzez[/autotag] at UFC 283 at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro. (Photos by Jason da Silva, USA TODAY Sports)

UFC 283 video: Gabriel Bonfim joins brother in win column with 49-second submission

Gabriel Bonfim joined his brother Ismael in the winner’s circle at UFC 283, then promised they will both hold UFC titles.

RIO DE JANEIRO – [autotag]Gabriel Bonfim[/autotag] made it an epic night for his family when he joined his brother [autotag]Ismael Bonfim[/autotag] in the UFC 283 winner’s circle courtesy of a quick submission win.

After his older brother delivered a Knockout of the Year contender earlier in the night at Jeunesse Arena, Bonfim (14-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) put on a performance of his own against [autotag]Mounir Lazzez[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) in their welterweight bout.

Bonfim jumped on a guillotine choke against his oncoming opponent and forced Lazzez to tap out just 49 seconds after the bout began, keeping his undefeated record intact.

Check out the replay of the finish below (via Twitter):

With the win, Bonfim was riding high after making an impression in his debut. He said this is just a sliver of what’s to come from his family name, and predicts he and his brother will both eventually hold UFC gold.

“The Bonfim brothers are here to become champions,” Bonfim said through an interpreter in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. “One at lightweight. One at welterweight. We’re here to make history.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 283.

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Mounir Lazzez vs. Gabriel Bonfim added to UFC 283 in Rio

UFC 283 has its first official fight: Mounir Lazzez vs. Gabriel Bonfim.

UFC 283 has its first official fight.

[autotag]Mounir Lazzez[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) will take on [autotag]Gabriel Bonfim[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on Jan. 21 at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro.

A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie after an initial report by Bonfim’s management on social media.

Winner of four of his past five, Tunisia’s Lazzez rebounded from his loss to Warlley Alves in January 2021 by sweeping the judges’ scorecards against Ange Loosa in a striking clinic at UFC on ESPN 34 in April.

Bonfim will make his UFC debut at home against elite striker Lazzez. The undefeated Brazilian punched his ticket to the UFC earlier this month when he submitted Trey Waters by Von Flue choke at Dana White’s Contender Series 53.

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Mounir Lazzez vs. Gabriel Bonfim added to UFC 283 in Rio

UFC 283 has its first official fight: Mounir Lazzez vs. Gabriel Bonfim.

UFC 283 has its first official fight.

[autotag]Mounir Lazzez[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) will take on [autotag]Gabriel Bonfim[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on Jan. 21 at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro.

A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie after an initial report by Bonfim’s management on social media.

Winner of four of his past five, Tunisia’s Lazzez rebounded from his loss to Warlley Alves in January 2021 by sweeping the judges’ scorecards against Ange Loosa in a striking clinic at UFC on ESPN 34 in April.

Bonfim will make his UFC debut at home against elite striker Lazzez. The undefeated Brazilian punched his ticket to the UFC earlier this month when he submitted Trey Waters by Von Flue choke at Dana White’s Contender Series 53.

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UFC’s Mounir Lazzez uneasy discussing Daniel Kinahan after in-cage praise of alleged Irish mob boss

The U.S. government recently put a $5 million bounty on Daniel Kinahan’s head, so why was a UFC fighter praising him after a win?

LAS VEGAS – UFC on ESPN 34 winner [autotag]Mounir Lazzez[/autotag] had just been interviewed by Daniel Cormier inside the octagon, and while Cormier was ready to end it, Lazzez still had more to say.

He even went out of his way to grab the mic so he could say it.

“I would love to thank my coaches and my brother, Daniel Kinahan,” Lazzez said. “Without him, I would never be the man that I am today and to my career to this point. Thanks a lot.”

It was a curious choice of words in a UFC cage and with a nationally televised ESPN audience watching.

Kinahan, 44, is a suspected Irish mobster from Dublin wanted by the U.S. government. On Monday, the Treasury Department announced that it has imposed sanctions on Kinahan and other key members of the Kinahan Organized Crime Group, which is alleged to partake in narcotics trafficking, money laundering, firearms trafficking, and murder.

The Treasury Department also is offering a reward up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest of Kinahan, who’s become a major figure as a boxing promoter through MTK Global, with a roster that includes Tyson Fury, Terence Crawford, Josh Taylor, and more – although MTK Global issued a statement that Kinahan will have “no future involvement” with the company in the wake of the U.S. sanctions.

U.S. Department of State wanted poster for Daniel Joseph Kinahan issued on April 12, 2022.

Following Lazzez’s win, reporter Alan Dawson opened his scrum by asking for an explanation of him praising Kinahan in the octagon.

“That man is a friend and adviser,” said Lazzez, who is represented by MTK Global. “He’s the one who picked me up every time that life kick me down. He’s a real man of his word. He’s the one who teach me what does it mean, family, a real friend. It’s someone I cannot thank him enough for what I am today and who I am today. He teach me the real manner. He teach me how to be responsible in my family and my friend. That’s why I said that, all the credit and shoutout to him.”

When asked if he was aware of the sanctions placed on him five days earlier, Lazzez said, “No, I don’t know that.”

As earnest as Lazzez was to thank Kinahan inside the cage, it became evident he didn’t want to discuss things further as the line of questioning continued.

“I think I’m here to entertain people, and I give the credit to whoever deserve credit,” Lazzez said. “I’m not involved in this kind of stuff. I don’t know about, and I will investigate how it is and how it goes. …

“I don’t follow really this kind of news. I focus on the sport, I focus on my family, I focus in entertain people, and that’s most important.”

Lazzez’s controversial remarks came after he scored a unanimous decision win over Ange Loosa to move his overall record to 11-2 and UFC mark to 2-1.

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Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos out of UFC on ESPN 34; Ange Loosa steps in to fight Mounir Lazzez

After falling short on Dana White’s Contender Series, Ange Loosa will finally get his shot in the UFC.

After falling short on Dana White’s Contender Series, [autotag]Ange Loosa[/autotag] will finally get his shot in the UFC.

Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos has been forced out of UFC on ESPN 34, and Loosa (8-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will step in on short notice to face [autotag]Mounir Lazzez[/autotag] (10-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) at the UFC Apex on Saturday.

Two people with knowledge of the booking confirmed the news to MMA Junkie on Tuesday. They asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Ryan Frederick of the Wrestling Observer first reported it.

Loosa failed to earn a UFC contract when he lost an entertaining battle to Jack Della Maddalena at Dana White’s Contender Series 39 this past September. However, the 28-year-old Sanford MMA fighter was able to rebound with a unanimous decision win over ex-UFC fighter John Howard just 10 days ago at XMMA 4.

Meanwhile, Lazzez will return for the first time since suffering a TKO loss to Warlley Alves in January 2021. Prior to that, “The Sniper” scored an impressive win over Abdul Razak Alhassan in his UFC debut in July 2020 on “Fight Island.” Lazzez was scheduled to face Niklas Stolze this past July, but visa issues forced him out of the bout.

With the change, the UFC on ESPN 34 lineup now includes:

  • Vicente Luque vs. Belal Muhammad
  • Chris Barnett vs. Martin Buday
  • Mounir Lazzez vs. Ange Loosa
  • Brandon Jenkins vs. Drakkar Klose
  • Rafa Garcia vs. Jesse Ronson
  • Caio Borralho vs. Gadzhi Omargadzhiev
  • Pannie Kianzad vs. Lina Lansberg
  • TJ Laramie vs. Pat Sabatini
  • Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Wu Yanan
  • Jordan Leavitt vs. Trey Ogden
  • Sam Hughes vs. Istela Nunes
  • Miguel Baeza vs. Andre Fialho
  • Heili Alateng vs. Kevin Croom
  • Devin Clark vs. William Knight

UFC on ESPN 34 news: Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos withdraws from fight against Mounir Lazzez

UFC on ESPN 34 has lost a fun matchup.

UFC on ESPN 34 has lost a fun matchup.

[autotag]Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos[/autotag](23-7 MMA, 9-3 UFC) has withdrawn from Saturday’s welterweight matchup against [autotag]Mounir Lazzez[/autotag] (10-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) at the UFC Apex due to personal reasons. Lazzez is expected to remain on the card.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the news but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. MMA Fighting was first to report the withdrawal.

Dos Santos rebounded from a split decision loss to Muslim Salikhov with a lopsided decision win over Benoit Saint-Denis this past October at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi.

Meanwhile, Lazzez will look to return for the first time since suffering a TKO loss to Warlley Alves in January 2021. Prior to that, “The Sniper” scored an impressive win over Abdul Razak Alhassan in his UFC debut in July 2020 on “Fight Island.” Lazzez was scheduled to face Niklas Stolze this past July, but visa issues forced him out of the bout.

With the change, the UFC on ESPN 34 lineup now includes:

  • Vicente Luque vs. Belal Muhammad
  • Chris Barnett vs. Martin Buday
  • Mounir Lazzez vs. TBA
  • Brandon Jenkins vs. Drakkar Klose
  • Rafa Garcia vs. Jesse Ronson
  • Caio Borralho vs. Gadzhi Omargadzhiev
  • Pannie Kianzad vs. Lina Lansberg
  • TJ Laramie vs. Pat Sabatini
  • Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Wu Yanan
  • Jordan Leavitt vs. Trey Ogden
  • Sam Hughes vs. Istela Nunes
  • Miguel Baeza vs. Andre Fialho
  • Heili Alateng vs. Kevin Croom
  • Devin Clark vs. William Knight

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