Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
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 June 13-19.
The UFC is beginning to work on its April schedule.
A featherweight fight between [autotag]Pat Sabatini[/autotag] and [autotag]Gavin Tucker[/autotag] is back on the books.
Following a November bout cancellation, the two fighters are matched up again – this time, for a UFC event April 9 at a location and venue to be announced. Verbal agreements are in place with bout contracts expected to be issued in the coming days.
Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking, but asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Sabatini (16-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and Tucker (13-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) were expected to fight Nov. 20 at UFC Fight Night 198 in Las Vegas. However, Tucker withdrew and Sabatini instead fought Tucker Lutz, whom he defeated by unanimous decision.
The victory was Sabatini’s fifth in a row and his sophomore UFC appearance. His other UFC wins include a unanimous decision win over Tristan Connelly and a submission of Jamall Emmers.
Canadian featherweight Tucker will be looking to bounce back from a 22-second knockout loss to Dan Ige in March. The defeat snapped a three-fight winning streak of victories over Seungwoo Choi, Justin Jaynes and Billy Quarantillo.
The matchup is the first known booking for the April 9 event.
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Check out all the facts and figures from UFC Fight Night 198, which saw a near-record 10 fights end in a decision.
UFC Fight Night 198 took place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and with 10 decision results, it turned out to be one of the more forgettable events of the year.
It won’t be remembered that way for [autotag]Ketlen Vieira[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), though, as she put a signature win on her resume when she outworked [autotag]Miesha Tate[/autotag] (19-8 MMA, 6-5 UFC) to a unanimous decision in the women’s bantamweight headliner.
For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 35 post-event facts to come out of UFC Fight Night 198.
All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were broken 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 Oct. 18-24.
Pat Sabatini is going to need to keep these Tuckers straight.
[autotag]Pat Sabatini[/autotag] is going to need to keep these Tuckers straight.
Sabatini (15-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC) was set to take on [autotag]Gavin Tucker[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) next month at UFC Fight Night 198. But Tucker is out, and a fight for Sabatini against [autotag]Tucker Lutz[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) now is in the works, a person with knowledge of the new matchup told MMA Junkie. The person requested anonymity because the UFC has not yet made a formal announcement.
Lutz was scheduled to fight [autotag]Lando Vannata[/autotag] (12-5-2 MMA, 4-5-2 UFC) a week earlier at UFC Fight Night 197. His shift to the Sabatini fight leaves Vannata without an opponent. It is not yet known if Vannata will remain on the card against a new opponent or will fight at a later date.
UFC Fight Night 197 takes place Nov. 13 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. UFC Fight Night 198 takes place at the same venue a week later on Nov. 20. Both cards will stream on ESPN+.
Lutz dropped his pro debut in 2015, but is on a 12-fight winning streak since then. After a pair of wins on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020, he made his promotional debut in May and took a unanimous decision against Kevin Aguilar at UFC 262.
Sabatini has won four straight fights. After he won the CFFC featherweight title in December 2020, he signed with the UFC. He won his promotional debut in April with a decision over Tristan Connelly. In August, he submitted Jamall Emmers in the first round.
With the change, the UFC Fight Night 198 lineup now includes:
The UFC Fight Night 197 lineup includes:
With the year winding down, the UFC is filling out the remainder of its 2021 schedule.
A featherweight fight is the latest addition to the UFC’s upcoming schedule.
As part of the promotion’s Nov. 20 event, former CFFC champion [autotag]Pat Sabatini[/autotag] will seek his third UFC victory when he battles Canadian standout [autotag]Gavin Tucker[/autotag]. The event is scheduled to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Two people with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the booking Thursday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Sabatini (15-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has gone 4-0 since he suffered a gruesome arm injury mid-fight in February 2020. Three of his four fights since then have ended inside the distance including his most recent win, a heel hook submission of Jamall Emmers in August.
Tucker (13-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) will look to rebound from a quick, 22-second knockout loss to Dan Ige that occurred on March 13. Prior to that defeat, Tucker won three straight fights over Billy Quarantillo, Justin Jaynes, and Seung Woo Choi.
With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup includes:
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Check out the four bonus winners from UFC on ESPN 30.
The UFC handed out four post-fight bonuses after Saturday’s card, including four individual performances and a promise from UFC president Dana White to send the “TUF 29” bantamweight finale competitors an extra undisclosed bonus as well.
After UFC on ESPN 30, four fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out the winners below.
Jamall Emmers entered 50-50 guard against Pat Sabatini at UFC on ESPN 30 – and paid the price when he suffered an injury.
[autotag]Jamall Emmers[/autotag] paid the price Saturday when he engaged in 50-50 guard with [autotag]Pat Sabatini[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 30.
After he dropped Sabatini (15-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC) with a short uppercut, Emmers (18-6 MMA, 1-2 UFC) followed his opponent to the canvas and eventually worked for a toehold. In doing so, Emmers opened himself up for a heel hook from Sabatini – and paid the price when he tapped out at 1:53 of Round 1.
UFC on ESPN 30 took place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card aired on ESPN/ESPN+ after prelims on ESPN+.
A painful scream accompanied Emmers’ tap. As Sabatini untangled himself from his writhing opponent, it was evident Emmers’ agony extended beyond the outcome of his fight. An injury was sustained, though to what extent was unknown. Emmers remained on the mat through the official decision as on-site medical professionals tended to his leg.
Forced the tap! @PatSabatini145 w/ the impressive submission finish! #UFCVegas35 pic.twitter.com/4oIUoWST8L
— UFC (@ufc) August 28, 2021
In his post-fight interview, Sabatini expressed disappointment the fight ended in such a gruesome way and wished Emmers well. The win was Sabatini’s 11th by submission, but his first finish in the UFC.
As for Emmers, he lands back into the loss column after a win against Vince Cachero in August 2020.
The up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 30 results include:
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A featherweight matchup between Pat Sabatini and Jamall Emmers is in the works for UFC Fight Night on Aug. 28.
A UFC featherweight matchup between [autotag]Jamall Emmers[/autotag] and [autotag]Pat Sabatini[/autotag] is being targeted for August.
Emmers (18-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is expected to meet Sabatini (14-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at a UFC Fight Night event on Aug. 28, which doesn’t currently have an announced location or venue.
Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the booking Wednesday but asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
After getting edged out by featherweight contender Giga Chikadze in his promotional debut at UFC 248, Emmers notched his first octagon win when he defeated Vince Cachero in August. He was scheduled to face Chase Skelly at UFC Fight Night 185 on Feb. 20, but was forced to withdraw just seconds before making the walk to the cage due to back spasms that he suffered backstage.
Sabatini, a former CFFC featherweight champion, made good in his promotional debut when he defeated Tristan Connelly via unanimous decision at UFC 261 in April. The Pennsylvania-based fighter has won six of his past seven, with his lone loss coming due to an arm injury in February 2020.
With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for Aug. 28 includes:
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A featherweight matchup between Pat Sabatini and Jamall Emmers is in the works for UFC Fight Night on Aug. 28.
A UFC featherweight matchup between [autotag]Jamall Emmers[/autotag] and [autotag]Pat Sabatini[/autotag] is being targeted for August.
Emmers (18-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is expected to meet Sabatini (14-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at a UFC Fight Night event on Aug. 28, which doesn’t currently have an announced location or venue.
Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the booking Wednesday but asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
After getting edged out by featherweight contender Giga Chikadze in his promotional debut at UFC 248, Emmers notched his first octagon win when he defeated Vince Cachero in August. He was scheduled to face Chase Skelly at UFC Fight Night 185 on Feb. 20, but was forced to withdraw just seconds before making the walk to the cage due to back spasms that he suffered backstage.
Sabatini, a former CFFC featherweight champion, made good in his promotional debut when he defeated Tristan Connelly via unanimous decision at UFC 261 in April. The Pennsylvania-based fighter has won six of his past seven, with his lone loss coming due to an arm injury in February 2020.
With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for Aug. 28 includes:
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