UFC veterans in MMA action Oct. 4-7

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

This week, the UFC returns to action with UFC Fight Night 229 in Las Vegas.

Last week, the promotion took a week off after 17 consecutive weekends with a fight card. At the UFC Apex, lightweights [autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag] and [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] will collide in the main event.

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. 4-7.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

Ex-UFC champ Renan Barao set to return vs. William Gomis at ARES FC 7 on June 25

Former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao will return to action this summer in Paris.

Once again, Renan Barao is scheduled to make his first appearance in since his departure from the UFC.

Barao (34-9) will face William Gomis (9-2) at ARES FC 7 on June 25 in Paris, the promotion announced via Instagram on Tuesday. The event airs on UFC Fight Pass and takes place at Le Dome de Paris – Palais des Sports in Paris.

Barao, 35, has not competed since his exit from the UFC in 2019, but it has not been for lack of trying. The former UFC bantamweight champion has been scheduled to fight on three other occasions, but each booking fell through due to various reasons. His most recent attempt to return was with [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag]’s promotion to face Horacio Gutierrez at Eagle FC 44 in January.

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Barao dropped five straight fights leading to being cut from the UFC in 2019. Prior to the bumps in the road that eventually led to the long skid, the Brazilian won 33-straight fights en route to claiming the interim title by defeating Urijah Faber at UFC 149. Barao was later promoted after Dominick Cruz vacated the title, and he would go on to defeat Faber again to record his only undisputed title defense at UFC 169.

Gomis, 24, hails from France and will enter the contest as a winner of his previous seven bouts. His two previous wins came by stoppage, submitting Baba Boundjou Nadjombe at Hexagone MMA 2 and scoring a TKO win over Arip Yakubov in March at UAE Warriors 28.

ARES FC 7 features two title fights at the top of the card. Abdoul Abdouraguimov will defend his welterweight title against Karl Amoussou in the main event and Akhmed Salamov will face Jose Galindo for the vacant middleweight title in the co-main bout.

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Former UFC champ Renan Barao headlines Taura MMA 12 against Bobby Moffett

Renan Barao has a date and opponent for his first bout outside the UFC.

[autotag]Renan Barao[/autotag] has a date and opponent for his first fight outside the UFC.

Former UFC bantamweight champion Barao (34-9) takes on fellow octagon veteran Bobby Moffett (13-5) in the main event of Taura MMA 12 on Nov. 22 in Atlantic City, N.J. The news was first reported by Combate and later announced by the promotion.

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Barao will compete for the first time outside the UFC in almost 10 years. The Brazilian joined the promotion in May 2011 and was released from the UFC in December 2019 following a five-fight losing skid.

The 33-year-old is currently 2-8 in his past 10 bouts. His most recent win was a unanimous decision victory over Phillipe Nover in 2016. Barao was once regarded by many as one of the best fighters pound-for-pound in the sport. At the height of his career, when he completed his first UFC title defense, Barao was on a 32-fight unbeaten streak.

Meanwhile, Moffett’s UFC tenure lasted less than a year. He competed three times for the Las Vegas-based promotion, compiling two defeats and one no contest. Moffett most recently fought in August 2019, losing a split decision to Enrique Barzola.

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Former UFC champion Renan Barao signs with Taura MMA

Renan Barao has a new home.

[autotag]Renan Barao[/autotag] has a new home following his UFC release.

The former UFC bantamweight champion signed a fight deal with Brazilian MMA promotion Taura MMA. The news was reported on Monday by MMA Fighting, and the promotion later confirmed the signing in a press release.

A date, location and opponent are yet to be determined for Barao’s debut with Taura MMA.

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Barao (34-9) was released from the UFC in December 2019 following a five-fight losing streak that extended from 2017 to 2019. The 33-year-old is currently 2-8 in his past 10 bouts. His most recent win was a unanimous decision victory over Phillipe Nover in 2016.

The Brazilian was considered by many to be the best bantamweight on the planet when he was at the height of his career. When Barao defended his 135-pound belt for the first time against Urijah Faber at UFC 169, Barao was unbeaten in 32 bouts – a run that spanned almost nine years.

Barao joins a list of former UFC fighters that have recently signed with Taura MMA that includes Antonio Silva, Rousimar Palhares, Guto Inocente, and Will Chope.

Taura MMA has hosted nine events thus far in its history and currently has cards scheduled on Oct. 23 and Oct. 30. The promotion launched in late 2017.

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100 of the most fascinating UFC facts from the past decade

Some of the most significant in-fight moments and records in UFC history have occurred and been etched in stone over the past decade.

The past decade of UFC action has seen a lot unfold, and it is arguably the most important in the organization’s history from in terms of evolution.

Only within this era have statistics truly come to the forefront. After so many years of fights, the groundwork for what’s viewed as meaningful and the history attached has finally been laid out. The athletes and techniques have evolved, too, meaning new methods of causing damage and finishing fights are attempted and pulled off with a higher rate of frequency.

That evolution is apparent in the history books, because some of the most significant moments and records in UFC history have occurred over this past decade.

Let’s dig into the archives.

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EVENT FEATS

Sajik Arena in South Korea

The UFC held 363 events in 159 difference venues across 26 countries over the past decade.

“UFC 243: Whittaker vs. Adesanya” in October 2019 had the highest announced attendance in company history at 57,127.

“UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor” in November 2016 sold a largest live gate in company history at $17.7 million.

“UFC Fight Night 121: Werdum vs. Tybura” in November 2017 had the most total fight time of any event in company history at 3 hours, 4 minutes and 18 seconds.

“UFC Fight Night 55:: Rockhold vs. Bisping” in November 2014 had the least total fight time of those events at 1 hour, 3 minutes and 51 seconds.

The UFC canceled four events over the decade: UFC 151 in September 2012; UFC 176 in August 2014; UFC Fight Night 97 in October 2016 and UFC 233 in January 2019.

Michael Bisping def. Luke Rockhold at UFC 199

“UFC Fight Night 55: Rockhold vs. Bisping” and “UFC 224: Nunes vs. Pennington” in May 2018 each featured 11 stoppage results, the most for any card in company history.

“UFC on FOX 7: Henderson vs. Melendez” in April 2013, “UFC Fight Night 45: Cerrone vs. Miller” in July 2014, “UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2,” in June 2016 and “UFC 218: Holloway vs. Aldo 2” in December 2017 each featured eight knockout results, the most of the decade.

“UFC on FUEL TV 10: Werdum vs. Nogueira” in June 2013 featured eight submission results, the most for any card in company history.

Seven events each featured 10 decision results, the most for any card in company history.

“UFC Fight Night 134: Shogun vs. Smith” in July 2018 and “UFC on ESPN 4: Dos Anjos vs. Edwards” each featured nine consecutive decision results, the longest streak on a card in company history.

“UFC Fight Night 79: Henderson vs. Masvidal” in November 2015 and “UFC 222: Cyborg vs. Kunitskaya” in March 2018 each featured five split-decision results, the most for any card in company history.

Henry Cejudo def. Marlon Moraes at UFC 238

“UFC 238: Cejudo vs. Moraes” in June 2019 featured a total of 1,818 significant strikes landed, a single-event record for the company.

“UFC 223: Khabib vs. Iaquinta” in April 2018 featured seven fighters who landed 100 or more significant strikes, a single-event record for the company.

“UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2” in June 2016 featured 15 knockdowns, a single-event record for the company.

“UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor” in July 2015 was the only event in company history to feature two knockouts stemming from flying knee strikes.

“UFC 228: Woodley vs. Till” in September 2018 was the only event in company history to feature two kneebar submission results.

“UFC 217: Bisping vs. St-Pierre” in November 2017 marked the only event in history to feature three title changes.

Next page: General feats

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UFC releases former bantamweight champion Renan Barao

A fighter who once went a decade without losing was cut after dropping eight out of his past 10.

Former UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Renan Barao[/autotag]’s tenure in the company has come to an unceremonious end.

The Brazilian competitor, who will turn 33 in January, was recently released by the company. MMA Junkie confirmed an initial report by Combate through a source with knowledge of the situation.

After losing his MMA debut in 2005, Barao went on an incredible run of 32 consecutive victories. That included his first two fights under the Zuffa umbrella with the WEC in 2010, then his first seven in the UFC.

Barao (34-9 MMA, 9-8 UFC) won an interim bantamweight belt with a unanimous decision over former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber at UFC 149 in 2012. He defended the interim championship twice before reigning champion Dominick Cruz’s lingering injuries caused him to relinquish the title, as Barao became full champion.

Barao won a rematch with Faber at UFC 169 in just 3:42 via TKO, and some were beginning to call him the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter.

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But then came one of the most stunning declines in MMA history. Barao lost what was then considered a major upset to T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 173, as Dillashaw took the belt via fifth-round TKO.

That kicked off a 2-8 run for Barao that was filled with one mishap after another. At UFC 177, he was schedule to rematch Dillashaw, but a weight cut gone awry forced him to pull out the day before the fight.

He bounced between bantamweight and featherweight, twice missing weight along the way, and dropped his last five fights. The most recent one was a decision at featherweight to Douglas Silva de Andrade on the early prelims of last month’s UFC Sao Paulo card.

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UFC on ESPN+ 22 medical suspensions: Jan Blachowicz, two others facing six-month suspensions

Jan Blachowicz and two others are looking at hefty medical suspensions after UFC Sao Paulo.

Three fighters, including headliner [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag], are looking at hefty medical suspensions after UFC on ESPN+ 22.

Blachowicz, who appeared to injure his left foot in his five-round victory over Ronaldo Souza, will need to get clearance on both feet in order to return to in-cage competition. Blachowicz is tentatively suspended 180 days, with a minimum of 30 days and no contact for 21 days.

[autotag]Sergio Moraes[/autotag] and [autotag]Jared Gordon[/autotag], the lone fighters to suffer knockout losses on the card, are facing similar suspensions. Moraes, who suffered a third-round knockout loss to James Krause, will be suspended 180 days or until he’s cleared by a neurologist.

Gordon, who was brutally finished early in the first round by Charles Oliveira, was suspended 180 days or until he’s cleared by a otolaryngologist (ENT).

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Check out the full list of UFC on ESPN+ 22 medical suspensions, per a CABMMA record acquired by MMA Fighting.

  • Jan Blachowicz: Suspended 180 days or until x-rays of both feet are cleared by physician; also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag]: Suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days.
  • [autotag]Paul Craig[/autotag]: Suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days.
  • [autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag]: Suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days.
  • Jared Gordon: Suspended 180 days or until cleared by otolaryngologist; also suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days.
  • [autotag]Andre Muniz[/autotag]: Suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days.
  • [autotag]Antonio Arroyo[/autotag]: Suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days.
  • [autotag]Wellington Turman[/autotag]: Suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days.
  • [autotag]Markus Perez[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]James Krause[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • Sergio Moraes: Suspended 180 days or until cleared by neurologist; also suspended 60 days with with no contact for 45 days.
  • [autotag]Ricardo Ramos[/autotag]: Suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days.
  • [autotag]Eduardo Garagorri[/autotag]: Suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days.
  • [autotag]Francisco Trinaldo[/autotag]: Suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days.
  • [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag]: Suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days.
  • [autotag]Randy Brown[/autotag]: Suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days.
  • [autotag]Warlley Alves[/autotag]: Suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days.
  • [autotag]Douglas de Andrade[/autotag]: Suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days.
  • [autotag]Renan Barao[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • [autotag]Ariane Lipski[/autotag]: Suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days.
  • [autotag]Isabella de Padua[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]Tracy Cortez[/autotag]: Suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days.
  • [autotag]Vanessa Melo[/autotag]: Suspended 14 days with no contact for seven days.

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UFC on ESPN+ 22 post-event facts: Charles Oliveira enhances status as all-time great finisher

All the notable stats and figures to come out of UFC on ESPN+ 22, which took place in Sao Paulo, and saw Jan Blachowicz beat Ronaldo Souza.

The UFC made its final stop in Brazil this year on Saturday with UFC on ESPN+ 22, which went down at Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo with a 12-fight card that streamed entirely on ESPN+.

[autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (25-8 MMA, 8-5 UFC) continued to build momentum as a light heavyweight contender in the main event when he entered enemy territory and defeated Brazil’s own [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag] (26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) by split decision.

For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 40 post-event facts to come out of UFC on ESPN+ 22.

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General

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The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $192,000.

Debuting fighters went 2-2 at the event.

[autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag], [autotag]James Krause[/autotag], [autotag]Ricardo Ramos[/autotag] and [autotag]Randy Brown[/autotag] earned $50,000 UFC on ESPN+ 22 fight-night bonuses.

UFC on ESPN+ 22 drew an announced attendance of 10,344. No live gate was reveled for the card.

Betting favorites went 10-1 on the card. One fight ended in a draw.

Betting favorites improved to 20-17 (one fight had even odds, one ended in a no contest) in UFC headliners this year.

Total fight time for the 12-bout card was 2:36:04.

Main card

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Blachowicz improved to 6-1 in his past seven UFC appearances dating back to October 2017. The only defeat in that stretch came to Thiago Santos.

Blachowicz has earned four of his eight UFC victories by decision.

Souza suffered consecutive losses for the first time in his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since November 2018.

Souza was unsuccessful in his light heavyweight debut.

Souza has suffered four of his five UFC losses by decision.

[autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag] (26-11-1 MMA, 10-9-1 UFC) vs. [autotag]Paul Craig[/autotag] (12-4-1 MMA, 4-5-1 UFC) ended in the third split draw UFC result of 2019.

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Oliveira (28-8 MMA, 16-8 UFC) improved to 7-1 since he returned to the UFC lightweight division April 2017. He’s 9-3 (with one no contest) in the organization at 155 pounds.

Oliveira’s six-fight UFC winning streak at lightweight is tied for the third longest active streak in the division behind Tony Ferguson (12) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (11).

Oliveira’s six-fight UFC stoppage streak is the longest active streak in the company.

Oliveira’s 15 stoppage victories in UFC competition are second most in company history behind Donald Cerrone (16).

Oliveira has been awarded 15 fight-night bonuses for UFC bouts, the tied with Nate Diaz and Joe Lauzon for second most in company history behind Cerrone (18).

Oliveira has been awarded nine “Performance of the Night” bonuses, the most in company history.

[autotag]Jared Gordon[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) fell to 1-3 in his past four fights dating back to February 2014.

Gordon has suffered all four of his career losses by knockout.

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[autotag]Andre Muniz[/autotag] (19-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) improved to 13-1 in his past 14 fights dating back to February 2014.

[autotag]Antonio Arroyo[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) suffered the first decision loss of his career.

[autotag]Markus Perez[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over his past six fights.

Perez has suffered all three of his career losses by decision.

Preliminary card

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Krause (27-7 MMA, 8-3 UFC) extended his UFC winning streak to six. He hasn’t suffered an octagon defeat since February 2016.

Krause improved to 4-0 in the UFC when competing at welterweight.

[autotag]Sergio Moraes[/autotag]’ (14-6-1 MMA, 8-5-1 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since September 2018.

Moraes has suffered all three of his career stoppage losses by knockout.

Krause landed a knockdown for the first time in his UFC career.

Ramos (14-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) was successful in his featherweight debut.

[autotag]Eduardo Garagorri[/autotag] (13-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) had his 13-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.

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[autotag]Francisco Trinaldo[/autotag]’s (24-7 MMA, 14-6 UFC) 12 UFC victories in Brazil are the most in company history.

[autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] (24-10-1 MMA, 5-5-1 UFC) fell to 1-5 (with one no contest) in his past seven fights dating back to November 2014.

Green has suffered four of his five UFC losses by decision.

[autotag]Warlley Alves[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) suffered the first submission loss of his career.

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[autotag]Douglas Silva de Andrade[/autotag] (26-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) was successful in his return to the UFC featherweight division.

De Andrade has earned three of his four UFC victories by decision.

[autotag]Renan Barao[/autotag]’s (34-9 MMA, 9-8 UFC) five-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since September 2016.

Barao fell to 2-8 in his past 10 fights after going on a 33-fight unbeaten streak that lasted more than nine years.

[autotag]Isabella de Padua[/autotag] (5-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) suffered the first decision loss of her career.

[autotag]Vanessa Melo[/autotag] (10-7 MMA, 0-2 UFC) has suffered six of her seven career losses by decision. That includes both of her UFC defeats.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.

UFC on ESPN+ 22 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Charles Oliveira the lone $20k recipient

UFC on ESPN+ 22 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that launched after the UFC’s deal with Reebok.

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 22 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $192,000.

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 on ESPN+ 22 took place Saturday at Ginásio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo. The entire card streamed ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN+ 22 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag]: $15,000

[autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag]: $15,000
vs. [autotag]Paul Craig[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag]: $20,000
def. [autotag]Jared Gordon[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Andre Muniz[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Antonio Arroyo[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Wellington Turman[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Markus Perez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]James Krause[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Sergio Moraes[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Ricardo Ramos[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Eduardo Garagorri[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Francisco Trinaldo[/autotag]: $15,000
def. [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag]: $15,000

[autotag]Randy Brown[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Warlley Alves[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Douglas Silva de Andrade[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Renan Barao[/autotag]: $15,000

[autotag]Ariane Lipski[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Isabella de Padua[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Tracy Cortez[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Vanessa Melo[/autotag]: $3,500

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Reebok’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 $3,500 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,000; 6-10 bouts get $5,000; 11-15 bouts earn $10,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $15,000; and 21 bouts and more get $20,000. Additionally, champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000.

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 2019 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $6,703,000
2018 total: $6,901,000
2017 total: $6,295,000
2016 total: $7,138,000
2015 total: $3,185,000
Program-to-date total: $30,337,000

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Fight Tracks: The walkout songs of UFC on ESPN+ 22 with Queen, Foo Fighters and bucking the Eminem Curse

Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 22 event in Sao Paulo.

While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a UFC win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.

Inside, see what the fighters from UFC on ESPN+ 22 went with as their backing tracks in Sao Paulo.