FURY Pro Grappling 8 announced: Aljamain Sterling, 7 other UFC veterans to compete

The grappling series run by CFFC continues its tradition of a year-end event full of UFC notables.

FURY Pro Grappling’s tradition of a year-end card filled with UFC notables past and present continues.

Eight UFC veterans, including former UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag], have been booked for the FURY Pro Grappling 8 lineup, the promotion announced Tuesday.

FURY Pro Grappling 8 takes place Dec. 30 at 2300 Arena in Philadelphia and streams on UFC Fight Pass.

Sterling will compete against [autotag]Kevin Dantzler[/autotag], a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who is 5-0 under the FURY Pro Grappling banner. Dantzer previously defeated Sterling’s friend and training partner Merab Dvalishvili at FURY Pro Grappling 2 in October 2021.

The co-feature is a big one, at least physically, as former UFC heavyweight [autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag] grapples current UFC heavyweight [autotag]Alexandr Romanov[/autotag]. Also on the card are [autotag]Eryk Anders[/autotag], [autotag]Kyle Daukaus[/autotag], [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag], [autotag]Pat Sabatini[/autotag], and [autotag]Charlie Campbell[/autotag].

The full FURY Pro Grappling 8 lineup includes:

  • Aljamain Sterling vs. Kevin Dantzler
  • Chris Daukaus vs. Alexandr Romanov
  • Eryk Anders vs. Kyle Daukaus
  • Niko Price vs. Pat Sabatini
  • Amanda Mazza vs. Elyse Shaw
  • Fatima Kline vs. Cindy Ung
  • Charlie Campbell vs. Lee Moringo
  • Aidan Burke vs. Santo Curatolo
  • Paul Capaldo vs. Cameron Scalio

UFC 290 post-event facts: Alexandre Pantoja benefits from rare split decision title change

The best facts from UFC 290, which featured a record amount of sub-minute finishes and saw Alexandre Pantoja win gold in rare fashion.

The UFC’s 11th annual International Fight Week closed on a memorable high Saturday with UFC 290, which took place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

After a explosive and entertaining lead up to the night’s title fights, one belt stayed put while another changed hands.

In the main event, [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC) dismantled [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) en route to a third-round TKO for his fifth featherweight title defense. The co-headliner saw [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] (26-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) capture the flyweight strap with a split decision win over [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (21-7-2 MMA, 9-3-2 UFC) in a Fight of the Year contender.

For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 290.

UFC 290 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Robbie Lawler nets $21,000 in retirement bout

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 290 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $319,500, the highest number of 2023.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 290 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $319,500.

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 290 took place at T-Mobile Arena. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC 290 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

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[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Val Woodburn[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Robbie Lawler[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Tatsuro Taira[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Edgar Chairez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Denise Gomes[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Jimmy Crute[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Vitor Petrino[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Marcin Prachnio[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Cameron Saaiman[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Terrence Mitchell[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jesus Aguilar[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Shannon Ross[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Kamuela Kirk[/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: $4,428,500
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $19,017,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.

UFC 290 results: Robbie Lawler scores 38-second knockout of Niko Price in emotional last MMA bout

Robbie Lawler went out on top with a knockout of Niko Price – and broke down in tears during a special UFC tribute afterward.

MMA retirement bouts don’t typically end well for those riding off into the sunset. But for [autotag]Robbie Lawler[/autotag], his career was capped off in fairytale fashion at UFC 290.

In what was declared ahead of time as his final MMA bout, Lawler (30-16 MMA, 15-10 UFC) knocked out [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC) with some vintage clinch work 38 seconds into Round 1. The welterweight bout closed out the preliminary card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

As he walked to the cage to the “Last of the Mohicans” theme song, Lawler displayed rare glimpses of emotion. When he stood on the apron before he entered the cage, Lawler slowly turned in a full circle as he nodded, seemingly soaking in the moment.

The fight itself would last less than a minute. Lawler and Price engaged in the clinch. After a few uppercuts and an overhand, Price crumped to the canvas unconscious. Lawler walked off, much to the delight of the crowd.

After the fight, the UFC and commentator Joe Rogan played a special video highlight package of Lawler’s career, as he stood in the cage – a deviation from the norm. As Lawler watched his 22-year career compressed into a professionally produced four-minute video, tears rolled.

Upon the video’s conclusion, the fans erupted into the loudest cheers of the night to that point. Lawler thanked them for their support over the years.

Lawler retires with a legacy as one of the consensus best welterweights in UFC history. A former champion who defended his title twice, Lawler engaged in numerous battles throughout his stints with UFC, Strikeforce, Elite XC, IFL, and more.

His UFC 289 (2015) battle vs. Rory MacDonald was inducted into the Fight Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame on Friday. Other memorable battles include his knockout of Nick Diaz, his title-clinching performance against then-champion Johny Hendricks at UFC 181 in 2014, and his all-out brawl with Carlos Condit at UFC 195 in 2016.

Other career wins for Lawler include Donald Cerrone, Matt Brown, Josh Koscheck, Matt Lindland, Melvin Manhoef, Frank Trigg, Murilo Rua, Chris Lytle, and Tiki Ghosn, among others.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 290 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.

Robbie Lawler def. Niko Price at UFC 290: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Robbie Lawler’s first-round knockout win over Niko Price in his retirement fight at UFC 290 in Las Vegas.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Robbie Lawler[/autotag]’s first-round knockout win over [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag] in his retirement fight at UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photos by Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA TODAY Sports)

UFC 290 video: Full pre-fight press conference faceoffs

Check out the full UFC 290 pre-fight press conference faceoffs from Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – Stars of UFC 290 came face-to-face for the first time on fight week Thursday following the pre-fight press conference.

With the 11th annual International Fight Week festivities ramping into high gear, fighters took the stage to answer questions from the media and then faced off for the first time ahead of the event which takes place at T-Mobile Arena and airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+.

Featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag], interim featherweight champion [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag], flyweight champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag], [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag], [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag], [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag], [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag], [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag], [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag], [autotag]Val Woodburn[/autotag], [autotag]Robbie Lawler[/autotag] and [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag] participated in the press conference, and then faced off with their opponent.

Watch the video above to see the full faceoffs ahead of UFC 290.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.

‘Legend-getter’ Niko Price ready to ruin Robbie Lawler’s retirement fight at UFC 290

Niko Price thinks the best way to show Robbie Lawler respect in his retirement fight is by sending him out on a loss at UFC 290.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag] thinks the best way to show Robbie Lawler respect in his retirement fight is by sending him out on a loss.

Former UFC champ Lawler (29-16 MMA, 14-10 UFC) is set to walk away from the sport following Saturday’s welterweight bout with Price (15-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) at UFC 290 from T-Mobile Arena. It serves as the featured prelims on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+ prior to the pay-per-view main card.

It’s always a tricky assignment for the opponent booked against an all-time great when they say farewell to MMA, but for Price, it’s not exactly a new situation. He fought Donald Cerrone at the tail end of his UFC tenure, as well, so he’s comfortable in this spot.

“It’s just another fight,” Price told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC 290 media day. “I’ve got to fight a few legends. It’s nothing new to me. He’s an opponent, and I’m going to try to get in there and punch him in the head.”

[lawrence-related id=2657025,2656934]

No matter the storylines going into UFC 290, this is a critical fight in Price’s career. He has just one win in his past five octagon appearances dating back to May 2020 and is under some pressure to get the job done to maintain good standing in the promotion.

It’s also important for Price to be in a position to keep getting assignments like the one with Lawler. He greatly enjoys facing the biggest and best names in MMA, and if he wants more opportunities, he needs to prove a point.

“If a ranking comes I’m not crying, but I want to fight all the legends,” Price said. “I want to be the legend getter, not the legend killer. I just want to get in there with all of them. Who knows what’s next? Only God knows the answer to that question. But I’m ready for any of them.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.

Video: ‘UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez’ media day interviews

Before UFC 290 on Saturday, the title-fight competitors, main card and more are scheduled to speak to reporters at media day.

LAS VEGAS – The UFC returns to “Sin City” on Saturday for UFC 290, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

Before fight night arrives, though, the main card and featured prelim athletes spoke to reporters Wednesday at media day.

If you happen to miss any of the individual sessions on the live stream, check below for the archived videos of each media day.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.

UFC 290 pre-event facts: Alexander Volkanovski can score rare type of title defense

Check out the most notable UFC 290 pre-event facts as champ Alexander Volkanovski returns to 145 pounds after losing to Islam Makhachev.

The UFC’s 11th annual International Fight Week festivities are upon us, all of which concludes Saturday with UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+.

A tentpole of the UFC’s yearly schedule features two championship fights at the top of the bill. In the main event, [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (25-2 MMA, 12-1 UFC) and [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) meet in a featherweight championship unification bout, while in the co-headliner, flyweight [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (21-6-2 MMA, 9-2-2 UFC) takes on streaking challenger [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] (25-5 MMA, 9-3 UFC).

For more on the numbers behind both title fights, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC 290.

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Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (April 17-23)

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 April 17-23.