Check out all the facts and figures from UFC Fight Night 206, which saw six of 11 fights end in a finish including a shutout.
The UFC closed its May schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 206, which went down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and saw six of 11 fights end in a finish.
The main event was among the bunch to go to the scorecards. [autotag]Ketlen Vieira[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) edged former UFC champ [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] (14-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) by split decision in the women’s bantamweight headliner, marking her second consecutive win over a former UFC champion.
For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 206.
The best facts and figures to come out of UFC 266, which saw Volkanovski and Shevchenko defend while Nick Diaz suffered a loss.
UFC 266 was a loaded lineup on paper and proved to be one of the best of the year in practice. The promotion put on a spectacular event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with a main card that aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.
Both champions at the top of the card retained their belts. [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (23-1 MMA, 10-0 UFC) defeated [autotag]Brian Ortega[/autotag] (15-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) by unanimous decision to defend the featherweight title in the headliner, while [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] (22-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC) produced a fourth-round TKO in the co-main event against [autotag]Lauren Murphy[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) to retain her women’s flyweight strap.
For more on the numbers behind the decorated champions, as well as the winners and losers from the rest of the card, check below for 65 post-event facts to come out of UFC 266.
Aspiring title contender Omar Morales eager to fight on same event at which the UFC featherweight belt will be disputed
[autotag]Omar Morales[/autotag] will be close proximity to UFC gold next month.
The rising UFC featherweight has been booked to fight Jonathan Pearce on Sept. 25 at UFC 266 in Las Vegas, a pay-per-view event headlined by Alexander Volkanovski’s second title defense of his UFC 145-pound title against Brian Ortega.
It’s no secret Venezuela’s Morales (11-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) wants to get his hands on the belt in the future and he finds it good to be on the same card on which the belt of his division will be disputed.
“Of course I love that because I’m living part of that,” Morales told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I’m seeing those fighters, seeing where I want to be, seeing the type of fighters I want to fight.
“For me, it’s a great experience because I start studying them and seeing how they carry themselves. And once you experience all that in all levels of the UFC, seeing them in fight week and in the octagon, it takes away some anxiety and you’re just left with the desire of wanting to be there.”
[lawrence-related id=597650,660179]
Morales began his UFC career at 155 pounds, notching dominant wins over Dong Hyun Ma and Gabriel Benitez. He then moved down to featherweight in late 2020, but was unsuccessful, suffering his first professional defeat to Giga Chikadze in a unanimous decision.
Since then, the 35-year-old bounced back with a win over Shane Young back in March. Despite the success, Morales thinks he hasn’t been able to fully show his potential, but he’s confident that will change at UFC 266.
“Since I joined the UFC, I felt really good in my debut against Dong Hyun Ma and since then I wasn’t able to feel my normal explosiveness,” Morales said. “But I figured out what was happening to me and I’ve taken care of all those issues, and for this fight I’m going to come out explosive like you’ve seen me in my previous fights.
“It’s something that I don’t talk about, but it was health issues that I didn’t know were affecting me. But right now, I’m healthy and I feel good. Now I just have to work to keep going up the rankings, and of course a title in the future or a rematch that doesn’t let me sleep.”
[autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] has received a two-month suspension as a result of his second-round knockout loss to [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] in the main event of UFC 260.
MMA Junkie obtained the full list of medical suspensions from MixedMartialArts.com for UFC 260, which took place this past Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Miocic, 38, is among eight fighters to receive a medical suspension of 60 days or greater. Five fighters, [autotag]Gillian Robertson[/autotag], [autotag]Jamie Mullarkey[/autotag], [autotag]Fabio Cherant[/autotag], [autotag]Omar Morales[/autotag], and [autotag]Shane Young[/autotag], were handed 180-day suspensions as a result of their respective UFC 260 bouts.
Additionally, former UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] faces 45 days away from competition. [autotag]Thomas Almeida[/autotag], who was knocked out by [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] on the pay-per-view main card, received a 60-day medical suspension.
Four fighters, [autotag]Miranda Maverick[/autotag], [autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag], [autotag]Abubakar Nurmagomedov[/autotag], and [autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag] received no suspension. All four fighters won their fights at UFC 260.
The full UFC 260 medical suspensions include:
Francis Ngannou: Suspended 30 days, with no contact for 21 days.
Stipe Miocic: Suspended 60 days, with no contact for 45 days.
[autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days, with no contact for 14 days.
Tyron Woodley: Suspended 45 days, with no contact for 30 days.
Sean O’Malley: Suspended 21 days, with no contact for 14 days.
Thomas Almeida: Suspended 60 days, with no contact for 45 days.
Miranda Maverick: No suspension.
Gillian Robertson: Suspended 180 days or until right hand X-ray is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 21 days with no contact.
Jamie Mullarkey: Suspended 180 days or until right hand and wrist X-ray is cleared by a doctor.
[autotag]Khama Worthy[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days, with no contact for 30 days.
Alonzo Menifield: No suspension.
Fabio Cherant: Suspended 180 days or until right ribs X-ray is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 30 days with no contact.
Abubakar Nurmagomedov: No suspension.
[autotag]Jared Gooden[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days, with no contact for 21 days.
Michal Oleksiejczuk: No suspension.
[autotag]Modestas Bukauskas[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days, with no contact for 21 days.
Omar Morales: Suspended 180 days or until right tibia and right thumb X-rays are cleared by a doctor; also suspended 14 days with no contact.
Shane Young: Suspended 180 days or until left tibia/fibula X-ray is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 28 days with no contact for 21 days.
[autotag]Marc-Andre Barriault[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days, with no contact for 21 days due to right eyebrow cut.
[autotag]Abu Azaitar[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days, with no contact for 45 days.
UFC 260 took place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card streamed on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.
We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC 260, featuring a heavyweight title rematch between champion Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou.
(Updated at 11:50 a.m. on March 23, 2021, to include Omar Morales vs. Shane Young fight and poll not included on original publication.)
We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC 260 event in Las Vegas.
Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC 260 main card staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC 260 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
Cory Sandhagen was victorious in the UFC on ESPN+ 37 main event, but his win came at a cost.
[autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] was victorious in the UFC on ESPN+ 37 main event, but his win came at a cost.
Taking on fellow top bantamweight contender [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag] on Saturday, Sandhagen (13-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) picked up a second-round TKO via a spinning wheel kick and punches. Against Moraes (23-7-1 MMA, 5-3 UFC), however, Sandhagen sustained an eye injury that could put him out of action for 180 days.
On Monday, MMA Junkie obtained the full list of suspensions from MixedMartialArts.com, the Association of Boxing Commissions’ official record keeper.
Also receiving potential six-month suspensions are [autotag]Tom Breese[/autotag], [autotag]Rodrigo Nascimento[/autotag], [autotag]Impa Kasanganay[/autotag], [autotag]Tony Kelley[/autotag], and [autotag]Omar Morales[/autotag] for injuries suffered in their fights Saturday.
UFC on ESPN+ 37 took place at Flash Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The event streamed on ESPN+.
Below is the full list of UFC on ESPN+ 37 medical suspensions:
Cory Sandhagen: Suspended 180 days or until cleared by an ophthalmologist; Also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
Marlon Moraes: Suspended 45 days for TKO with no contact for 21 days.
[autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest.
[autotag]Makwan Amirkhani[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for “hard bout” with no contact for 21 days.
[autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for “hard bout” with no contact for 21 days.
[autotag]Ben Rothwell[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days for a right eyebrow laceration with no contact for 21 days.
[autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest.
[autotag]Markus Perez[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days for a knockout with no contact for 45 days.
[autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest.
[autotag]Alan Baudot[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for TKO with no contact for 21 days.
[autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for left eyelid laceration with no contact for 21 days.
[autotag]Youssef Zalal[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest.
Tom Breese: Suspended 180 days or until right knee MRI and left tibia/fibula x-rays are cleared by a doctor; Also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
[autotag]K.B. Bhullar[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days for TKO with no contact for 30 days.
[autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest.
Rodrigo Nascimento: Suspended 180 days or until cleared by an ophthalmologist; Also suspended for 30 days with no contact for 21 days for right scalp laceration.
[autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest.
Impa Kasanganay: Suspended 180 days or until cleared by an ophthalmologist; Also suspended 60 days for knockout with no contact for 45 days.
Tony Kelley: Suspended 180 days or until right elbow MRI is and right tibia/fibula x-ray are cleared by doctor; Also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
[autotag]Ali Alqaisi[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest.
[autotag]Giga Chikadze[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest.
Omar Morales: Suspended 180 days or until right elbow MRI, left tibia/fibula X-ray, and left ankle X-ray are cleared by a doctor; Also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
[autotag]Tracy Cortez[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest.
[autotag]Stephanie Egger[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest.
[autotag]Tagir Ulanbekov[/autotag]: Suspended seven days for mandatory rest.
[autotag]Bruno Silva[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days for right eyebrow laceration with no contact for 21 days.
The lineup for the UFC’s Oct. 10 show continues to grow with the addition of a featherweight bout.
The lineup for the UFC’s Oct. 10 show continues to grow with the addition of a featherweight bout.
A bout between [autotag]Giga Chikadze[/autotag] (10-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and the unbeaten [autotag]Omar Morales[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has been added to the card, according to a report from Milenio.com. The UFC has not yet made a formal announcement of the booking.
The UFC’s Oct. 10 show is expected to take place at “Fight Island” – Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Broadcast details have not yet been announced, but the “Fight Night” event is expected to either air and stream on ESPN and ESPN+ or stream in full on ESPN+.
Chikadze has five straight wins and was supposed to be back in action this past Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 32 in Las Vegas. He was forced out the week of the fight against Alex Caceres, but now has a new bout booked. After a third-round submission loss in August 2018 in a Dana White’s Contender Series bout, Chikadze has gone on a five-fight run. After back-to-back stoppage wins under the Gladiator Challenge banner, he has decision wins over Brandon Davis, Jamall Emmers and Irwin Rivera in the UFC.
Morales punched his ticket to the UFC with a second-round knockout of Harvey Park 13 months ago on Dana White’s Contender Series. The Venezuelan hadn’t been super active in his MMA career leading up to that with just seven fights in nearly seven years. But in the UFC, he has back-to-back wins over Dong Hyun Ma and Gabriel Benitez, the latter of which came in May.
With the addition, the UFC’s Oct. 10 lineup now includes:
All the notable stats and figures to come out of UFC on ESPN+ 29, which saw Glover Teixeira beat Anthony Smith in the main event.
The middle event in the UFC’s three-card return from the coronavirus pandemic went down Wednesday with UFC on ESPN+ 29, which streamed on ESPN+ from VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.
In the main event, [autotag]Glover Teixeira[/autotag] (31-7 MMA, 14-5 UFC) delivered a drubbing of [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag] (32-15 MMA, 8-5 UFC), battering him until a fifth-round TKO to take a step further up the UFC light heavyweight pecking order.
Teixeira has made quite a mark on the divisional record books over the years but had a particularly special accomplishment against Smith. For more on the numbers behind his fight and the rest of the card, check below for 45 post-event facts to come out of UFC on ESPN+ 29
Teixeira, [autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag], [autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag] and [autotag]Hunter Azure[/autotag] earned $50,000 UFC on ESPN+ 29 fight-night bonuses.
UFC on ESPN+ 29 drew an announced attendance of zero for a live gate of $0.
Betting favorites went 4-6 on the card.
Betting favorites fell to 5-5 in UFC headliners this year.
Total fight time for the 10-bout card was 2:05:23.
Main card
Glover Teixeira def. Anthony Smith
Teixeira’s four-fight UFC winning streak in light heavyweight competition is tied with Jon Jones, Ryan Spann and Magomed Ankalaev for the longest active streak in the division.
Teixeira became the second fighter in UFC history to earn a four-fight winning streak at 40 or older. Dan Henderson also accomplished the feat.
Teixeira’s 14 victories in UFC light heavyweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Jones (20) and Ryan Bader (15).
Teixeira’s 11 stoppage victories in UFC light heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Teixeira’s victory at 1:04 of Round 5 marked the second latest stoppage in a UFC light heavyweight bout behind Teixeira’s loss to Alexander Gustafsson (1:06 of Round 5) at UFC Fight Night 109.
Smith fell to 4-2 since he moved up to the UFC light-heavyweight division in June 2018.
Smith fell to 8-4 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in February 2016.
Smith has suffered 13 of his 15 career losses by stoppage.
Ben Rothwell def. Anthony Smith
[autotag]Ben Rothwell[/autotag] (38-12 MMA, 8-6 UFC) improved to 2-2 since he returned to competition in March 2019 after a nearly three-year layoff.
Rothwell earned his first decision victory since June 12, 2010 – a span of 3,623 days (nearly 10 years) and 12 fights.
[autotag]Ovince Saint Preux[/autotag] (24-14 MMA, 12-9 UFC) was unsuccessful in his heavyweight debut.
Saint Preux fell to 2-4 in his past six fights dating back to February 2018.
Saint Preux has suffered nine of his 14 career losses by decision.
Dober (23-9 MMA, 10-4 UFC) has earned six of his nine UFC victories by stoppage.
[autotag]Alexander Hernandez[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) has suffered both of his UFC losses by knockout.
[autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) fell to 1-1 since he returned to the UFC flyweight division in February 2019. He fell to 6-4 in the weight class under the UFC banner.
Borg has suffered four of his five career losses by decision.
Andrei Arlovski def. Philipe Lins
[autotag]Andrei Arlovski[/autotag] (29-19 MMA, 18-13 UFC) improved to 8-9 (with one no contest) since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in June 2014.
Arlovski’s 18 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Arlovski’s total fight time of 4:48:42 in UFC heavyweight competition is the most in divisional history.
[autotag]Philipe Lins[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) suffered the first decision loss of his career.
[autotag]Thiago Moises[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has earned nine of his 13 career victories by stoppage.
[autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag] (19-16 MMA, 11-12 UFC) fell to 0-2 since he returned to the lightweight division in October 2019. He hasn’t earned a victory in the weight class since September 2016.
Johnson fell to 3-8 in his past 11 fights dating back to August 2015.
Johnson suffered the ninth submission loss of his career. He’s been tapped out in all but one of his career stoppage losses.
Preliminary card
Sijara Eubanks def. Sarah Moras
[autotag]Sijara Eubanks[/autotag] (5-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) improved to 1-2 since she moved up to the UFC women’s bantamweight division in May 2019.
Eubanks has earned all three of her UFC victories by decision.
[autotag]Sarah Moras[/autotag] (6-6 MMA, 3-5 UFC) fell to 2-5 in her past seven fights dating back to July 2015.
Moras has suffered five of her six career losses by decision.
[autotag]Omar Morales[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has earned both of his UFC victories by decision.
Kelleher (21-10 MMA, 5-3 UFC) has earned 17 of his 21 career victories by stoppage.
Azure (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) had his eight-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.
[autotag]Chase Sherman[/autotag] (14-6 MMA, 3-5 UFC) was successful in his return to the UFC for a second stint. He earned his first victory with the promotion since July 2017.
Sherman has earned 13 of his 14 career victories by stoppage.
Sherman’s two knockout victories stemming from standing elbows in UFC competition are tied with Travis Browne and Alan Jouban for most in company history.
[autotag]Ike Villanueva[/autotag] (16-10 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has suffered nine of his 10 career losses by stoppage.
Villanueva suffered his first knockout loss since Sept. 16, 2011 – a span of 3,162 days (nearly nine years) and 14 fights.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
Glover Teixeira and Anthony Smith are facing months-long medical suspensions as a result of their UFC on ESPN+ 29 headlining clash.
[autotag]Glover Teixeira[/autotag] and [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag] are facing months-long medical suspensions as a result of their UFC on ESPN+ 29 headlining clash.
Teixeira (31-7 MMA, 14-5 UFC), who defeated Smith by fifth-round TKO, will not fight for 180 days unless he’s cleared by a physician. He will be mandated to serve 45 days of that suspension regardless of doctor’s clearance.
The Florida State Boxing Commission, which oversaw the event, has suspended Smith (33-15 MMA, 8-5 UFC) a minimum of 60 days. MMA Junkie obtained a list of the UFC 249 athletes’ medical suspensions from the Florida Boxing Commission on Thursday.
Other fighters facing potential 180-day layoffs include [autotag]Ovince Saint Preux[/autotag], [autotag]Alexander Hernandez[/autotag], [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag], [autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Omar Morales[/autotag] and [autotag]Gabriel Benitez[/autotag].
UFC on ESPN+ 29 took place Wednesday at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
The complete list of UFC on ESPN+ 29 medical suspensions included:
Glover Teixeira: Suspended 180 days unless cleared by physician; minimum suspension 45 days.
Anthony Smith: Suspended minimum 60 days; additional suspension to be determined pending test results.
Ovince Saint Preux: Suspended 180 days unless cleared by physician; minimum suspension 30 days.
[autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days.
Alexander Hernandez: Suspended 180 days unless cleared by physician; minimum suspension 60 days.
Ricky Simon: Suspended 180 days unless cleared by physician; minimum suspension 30 days.
Five fighters made north of six figures Wednesday at UFC on ESPN+ 29, not including several who earned post-fight bonuses.
Veteran fighters [autotag]Andrei Arlovski[/autotag], [autotag]Ben Rothwell[/autotag] and [autotag]Glover Teixeira[/autotag] walked away from UFC on ESPN+ 29 having pocketed a solid chunk of change Wednesday.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Arlovski (29-9 MMA, 18-13 UFC) led all fighters with a disclosed payout of $325,000 for his win over [autotag]Philipe Lins[/autotag]. As a result of his split decision win over [autotag]Ovince Saint Preux[/autotag], Rothwell (38-12 MMA, 8-6 UFC) earned $260,000. For his fifth-round TKO win over [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag], Teixeira (31-7 MMA, 14-5 UFC) earned $230,000.
Two other victorious fighters also took home six-figure disclosed paydays: including the aforementioned Smith, as well as UFC lightweight [autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag].
The disclosed UFC on ESPN+ 29 salaries from the Florida State Boxing Commission, which oversaw the event at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., first were reported by MMA Fighting.
The full list of UFC on ESPN+ 29 salaries included:
Glover Teixeira: $230,000
def. Anthony Smith: $130,000
Ben Rothwell: $260,000
def. Ovince Saint Preux: $95,000
The figures do not include deductions for items such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Additionally, the figures do not include money paid by sponsors, including the official UFC on ESPN+ 29 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay. They also do not include any other “locker room” or special discretionary bonuses the UFC sometimes pays. They also do not include pay-per-view cuts that some top-level fighters receive.
