UFC veterans in MMA, karate and kickboxing action Feb. 22-25

Check out which veterans of the UFC are competing in combat sports across the globe this weekend.

This week, the UFC returns to Mexico for UFC Fight Night 237.

The event at Mexico City Arena in Mexico City features a flyweight clash between former champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] and [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag].

Many other combat sports events are taking place that feature several familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

Check out which veterans of the global MMA leader are competing Feb. 22-25.

Scroll below to see how the UFC veterans fared last week, and see the names and details of this weekend’s competitors.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

UFC veterans in MMA action Oct. 13-14

Check out which veterans of the UFC are competing in combat sports across the globe this weekend.

This week, the UFC keeps the show at the home base in Las Vegas for UFC Fight Night 230.

This week’s event at the UFC Apex features a featherweight clash between [autotag]Sodiq Yusuff[/autotag] and [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag].

Elsewhere, many other combat sports events are taking place that feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

Check out which veterans of the global MMA leader are competing in MMA Oct. 13-14.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

UFC Fight Night 220 post-event facts: Nurullo Aliev makes history for Tajikistan

Check out all the facts and figures from UFC Fight Night 220, which saw Nurullo Aliev put Tajikistan on the map of the UFC win column.

UFC Fight Night 220, which took place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, is likely an event the promotion will want to put in the rear-view mirror as quickly as possible.

Three fights, including the original headliner, were called off within 48 hours of the card beginning, resulting in a 10-bout lineup that saw [autotag]Brendan Allen[/autotag] (21-5 MMA, 9-2 UFC) finish [autotag]Andre Muniz[/autotag] (23-5 MMA, 5-1 UFC) by third-round submission in the makeshift middleweight main event.

For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 220.

UFC Fight Night 220 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Brendan Allen’s $11,000 tops card

UFC Fight Night 220 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 220 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $104,000.

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

The full UFC Fight Night 220 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Brendan Allen[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Andre Muniz[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Augusto Sakai[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Don’Tale Mayes[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Tatiana Suarez[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Montana De La Rosa[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Mike Malott[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Yohan Lainesse[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Trevor Peek[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Erick Gonzalez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jasmine Jasudavicius[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Gabriella Fernandes[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jordan Leavitt[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Victor Martinez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ode Osbourne[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Charles Johnson[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Joe Solecki[/autotag]: $6,000
def.[autotag]Carl Deaton[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag][Nurullo Aliev[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Rafael Alves[/autotag]: $4,500

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 2207 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2201 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: $1,157,500
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $15,676,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 220.

UFC Fight Night 220 results: Nurullo Aliev decisions Rafael Alves despite point deduction for biting

Nurullo Aliev got an ultra-rare point deduction for biting his opponent at UFC Fight Night 220, but it didn’t stop him from the win.

Lightweight prospect [autotag]Nurullo Aliev[/autotag] remained undefeated in his octagon debut at UFC Fight Night 220, but it didn’t come without an odd bit of controversy.

Aliev (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) was deducted a point by referee Mark Smith for biting [autotag]Rafael Alves[/autotag] (20-12 MMA, 1-3 UFC) in the opening round at the UFC Apex, but it didn’t stop him from getting his hand raised by majority decision with scores of 29-27, 29-27 and 28-28.

During an exchange on the mat where Alves was in bottom position, he attempted to push away the head of Aliev. His fingers went in the direction of the mouth, though, then moments later Alves winced and complained to the referee that he’d been bitten.

After a halt in the action, Smith consulted the Nevada State Athletic Commission to look at the replay. There was no conclusive evidence of the bite on the footage because of the angle, but Smith said he inspected visible bite marks of Alves’ finger. He opted to take a point, which changed the complexion of the fight.

Aliev, who is the fifth-youngest active fighter on the UFC roster at 22, would go on to dominate the second round with his wrestling. Alves came out desperate in the third and landed a big shot on the feet before a guillotine choke attempt, but he was eventually reversed and Aliev rode out the fight to the final bell to take the fight on the scorecards.

Michael Bisping did not ask Aliev about the biting incident in the post-fight interview, but rather celebrated his position as the first fighter in UFC history from Tajikistan to get a win in the octagon.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 220.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Jan. 2-8)

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 Jan. 2-8.

Undefeated Tajikistani sensation Nurullo Aliev set for UFC debut vs. Rafael Alves

At UFC Fight Night 220, Tajikistani sensation Nurullo Aliev will make his promotional debut against Rafael Alves.

Rising Tajikistani fighter [autotag]Nurullo Aliev[/autotag] has his first UFC assignment.

One of the most highly touted fighters from the most recent season of Dana White’s Contender Series, Aliev (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will take on former Titan FC champion [autotag]Rafael Alves[/autotag] (1-2 UFC) in a lightweight bout at UFC Fight Night 220. The event takes place Feb. 25 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Aliev, 23, entered the national spotlight on DWCS in September when he dominated short-notice replacement Josh Wick by first-round TKO. After the fight, Aliev was offered a UFC contract. Since the fight, his Instagram following has grown to a massive 355,000 followers.

Alves, 32, is coming off a thrilling battle against Drew Dober. Though he lost that fight, it was preceded by a slick submission win over Marc Diakiese.

With the addition, the UFC Fight Night 220 lineup includes:

  • Nikita Krylov vs. Ryan Spann
  •  Jordan Leavitt vs. Victor Martinez
  • Hailey Cowan vs. Ailin Perez
  • Denys Bondar vs. Ode Osbourne
  • Cortney Casey vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
  • Darrius Flowers vs. Erick Gonzalez
  • Lucas Almeida vs. Andre Fili
  • Don’Tale Mayes vs. Augusto Sakai
  • Brendan Allen vs. Andre Muniz
  • Yohan Lainasse vs. Mike Mallott
  • Trevor Peek vs. Alex Reyes
  • Nurullo Aliev vs. Rafael Alves

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UFC 277 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: 2022 total passes $5 million

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 277 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $313,500.

DALLAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 277 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $313,500.

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 277 took place at American Airlines Center. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

The full UFC 277 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Alex Morono[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Matthew Semelsberger[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Rafael Alves[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Hamdy Abdelwahab[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Don’Tale Mayes[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Drakkar Klose[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Rafa Garcia[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Michael Morales[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Adam Fugitt[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Joselyne Edwards[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Ji Yeon Kim[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Nicolae Negumereanu[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Ihor Potieria[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Orion Cosce[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Blood Diamond[/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 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $5,253,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $11,420,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 277.

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Photos: UFC 277 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos from the UFC 277 ceremonial weigh-ins in Dallas.

Check out these photos from the UFC 277 ceremonial weigh-ins which took place at American Airlines Center in Dallas. (Photos by Matthew Wells, MMA Junkie)