UFC 312 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Dricus Du Plessis, Zhang Weili lead with champ money

The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program has now paid out nearly $32 million to athletes since its deal began with Venum.

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 312 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $254,500.

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 312 took place at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2/Disney+ and ESPN+.

The full UFC 312 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag]: $42,000
[autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag]: $42,000
[autotag]Tatiana Suarez[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Tallison Teixeira[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jimmy Crute[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Rodolfo Bellato[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jake Matthews[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Fransisco Prado[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Gabriel Santos[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Jack Jenkins[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Tom Nolan[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Viacheslav Borshchev[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Wang Cong[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Bruna Brasil[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Aleksandre Topuria[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Colby Thicknesse[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Rong Zhu[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Kody Steele[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jonathan Micallef[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Kevin Jousset[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Quillan Salkilld[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Anshul Jubli[/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 2025 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $871,500
2024 total: $8,280,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $31,889,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 312.

Rodolfo Bellato vs. Jimmy Crute prediction, pick, start time for UFC 312

Will Jimmy Crute end a lengthy skid to get back on track against Rodolfo Bellato on the UFC 312 main card?

[autotag]Rodolfo Bellato[/autotag] and [autotag]Jimmy Crute[/autotag] meet Saturday on the UFC 312 main card at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. 

Last event: 2-3
UFC main cards, 2024: 8-8

Rodolfo Bellato vs. Jimmy Crute UFC 312 preview

Bellato (12-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) will look to make it five straight wins in his first appearance since December 2023. Sidelined due to injury, Bellato returns after impressing on Dana White’s Contender Series and then winning his debut by stopping Ihor Potieria in the second round. … Crute (12-4-1 MMA, 4-4-1 UFC) is in need of a win, as he enters winless in his last four appearances with three losses and one draw. Crute, 28, was last in action at UFC 290 in July, where Alonzo Menifield submitted him. The last victory for Crute came by way of first-round finish of Modestas Bukauskas in October 2020.

Rodolfo Bellato vs. Jimmy Crute UFC 312 expert pick, prediction

Filling out the main card is a light heavyweight matchup between Bellato and Crute.

Looking like a character from “The Incredibles,” Bellato has proven to be a fun fighter in victory or defeat. I’ll be curious to see what Bellato looks like after an injury layoff, but I’m even more curious to see how Crute looks after coming back from a premature career retirement.

Crute appears to have been active in the last calendar year, cross-training at well-respected gyms like Bang Tao Muay Thai.

I wouldn’t be shocked in the slightest if Bellato can survive the early storm and make things ugly for the win. But despite not knowing where Crute’s head is at, I believe that the Australian is the more talented fighter skill for skill.

It’s not a confident pick, but I’ll take Crute to control the grappling and force a stoppage by Round 3.

Rodolfo Bellato vs. Jimmy Crute UFC 312 odds

The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the Brazilian, listing Bellato -164 and Crute +134 via FanDuel.

Rodolfo Bellato vs. Jimmy Crute UFC 312 start time, how to watch

Bellato and Crute are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 10:40 p.m. ET. The fight will stream on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 312.

MMA Junkie’s Fight of the Month for December: A bloody women’s bantamweight war

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best fights from December 2023.

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best fights from December 2023: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Fight of the Month award for December.

At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting on your choice.

Nominees

UFC on ESPN 52 medical suspensions: Headliners, Bobby Green among 12 fighters facing 180 days off

A dozen UFC Austin competitors including Arman Tsarukyan, Beneil Dariush, and Bobby Green have been given lengthy suspensions by Texas.

UFC on ESPN 52 took place Saturday at Moody Center in Austin, Texas and featured a dozen fights.

Of the 24 competitors on the card, 12 fighters were suspended 180 days due to injuries sustained in their bouts, according to documentation from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), the commissioning body that oversaw the event.

Among those who received the lengthiest suspensions are both sides of the main event, Arman Tsarukyan and Beneil Dariush, as well as co-main eventer Bobby Green.

The TDLR does not reveal injury specifics, just the duration of the suspensions. Fighters are permitted to return to competition prior to the conclusion of their suspension durations should they be cleared by a doctor beforehand.

Check out the 24 medical suspension durations below:

UFC on ESPN 52 post-event facts: Clay Guida sets dubious record with 18th octagon loss

Check out all the facts from UFC on ESPN 52, which saw a record two slam KOs and Clay Guida tying the UFC record for most losses.

The UFC’s third-to-last event of 2023 went down as one of the best of the year. UFC on ESPN 52 delivered with nine stoppages in 12 fights.

[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] (21-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) capped off the night with the quickest finish of the bunch. He dropped and stopped [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) just 64 seconds into their high-stakes lightweight headliner, solidifying himself as a top contender.

For more on the numbers behind the card, which featured a number of historic feats, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC on ESPN 52.

UFC on ESPN 52 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Four fighters get max non-title money

UFC on ESPN 52 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

AUSTIN, Texas – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 52 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $225,000.

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 52 took place at Moody Center. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 52 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Rob Font[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Joaquim Silva[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Clay Guida[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Dustin Stoltzfus[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Punahele Soriano[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Miesha Tate[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Julia Avila[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Cody Brundage[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Zach Reese[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Drakkar Klose[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Joe Solecki[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Rodolfo Bellato[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ihor Potieria[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Jared Gooden[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Wellington Turman[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Veronica Hardy[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jamey-Lyn Horth[/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 $4,520; 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 $52,000 while title challengers get $52,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-52 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $7,689,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $22,208,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 52.

UFC on ESPN 52 video: Rodolfo Bellato TKOs Ihor Potieria with insane Comeback of the Year contender

Rodolfo Bellato delivered a Comeback of the Year contender when he rallied to finish off Ihor Potieria by TKO at UFC on ESPN 52.

AUSTIN, Texas – [autotag]Rodolfo Bellato[/autotag] delivered a Comeback of the Year contender on Saturday when he rallied to finish off [autotag]Ihor Potieria[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 52.

After a high-paced first round in the light heavyweight division at Moody Center, Potieria (19-5 MMA, 1-3 UFC) landed major damage in the early stages of the second round, dropping Bellato (12-2 MAM, 1-0 UFC) and hitting him with huge shots to put the fight on the cusp of being stopped.

Bellato refused to quit, however, and managed to survive enough to get back to his feet. Potieria was nothing short of exhausted, and Bellato started to pour on the strikes. He then landed a takedown, moved to mount and unloaded until referee Jacob Montalvo stopped it at the 4:17 mark of Round 2.

Check out the replay of the wild finishing sequence below (via X):

After going through two seasons of Dana White’s Contender Series to secure his UFC contract, Bellato, 27, delivered in his debut. He said his comeback was based purely off instinct, which made the result all the more impressive.

“I don’t remember nothing, you know?” Bellato said in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. “I was knocked out over here. But I trained a lot and in my mind I never stopped. I’m so happy for my debut. I believe so much in my jiu-jitsu. When I went to the ground I feel so good. I don’t remember, but that was so good.”

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 52 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 52.

Rodolfo Bellato def. Ihor Potieria at UFC on ESPN 52: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Rodolfo Bellato’s second-round TKO win over Ihor Potieria at UFC on ESPN 52 at Moody Center in Austin, Texas.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Rodolfo Bellato[/autotag]’s second-round TKO win over [autotag]Ihor Potieria[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 52 at Moody Center in Austin, Texas. (Photos by Dustin Safranek, USA TODAY Sports)

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Oct. 30-Nov. 5)

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 or officially announced by the promotions from Oct. 30-Nov. 5.

Fresh Ink: Meet the 14 fighters the UFC signed in October 2023

Find out who joined the UFC in October and learn more about them here.

The UFC roster is bigger than ever – and it continues to expand.

Fresh faces appear on nearly every card, whether onboarded as short-notice opening fillers, “Dana White’s Contender Series” signees, or rare straight-up additions. Sometimes it’s hard to keep track of the hustle and bustle of the mixed martial arts news beat, but here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got you covered.

“Fresh Ink” is your list of fighters added to the UFC roster the previous month and provides background on who they are and where they came from.

Check out the October 2023 list below.