Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Check out which veterans of the UFC are competing in combat sports across the globe this weekend.
This week, the UFC is idle following its first pay-per-view event of 2024, UFC 297.
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 Jan. 26-28.
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.
Who of these former UFC fighters could get a second chance with the promotion in 2024?
It’s hard to make it to the UFC.
Thousands of professional fighters try every year – and most fail. For a small percentage, however, they sign their names on the dotted line to fight for the biggest MMA promotion in the world.
Sometimes the opportunity comes a bit too soon. Other times, they’re faced with difficult matchups that time proves were bigger challenges than originally anticipated.
When the pink slip comes and a fighter departs the promotion, there is often a phrase they hear on the way out: “Go get a few more wins, and the UFC will consider bringing you back.”
Easier said than done.
For the vast majority, they won’t be back. However, it’s not impossible. A number of fighters have done it over the years. Just look at former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno. He was released from the promotion, built his way back, became a contender, and then won a UFC title.
Current roster members Nicolas Dalby, Dustin Jacoby, Modestas Bukauskas, Kurt Holobaugh, Roosevelt Roberts, and Rhys McKee are among those who have reinforced the possibility.
With the new year upon us, here are 20 former UFC fighters who could return to the promotion in 2024.
Note: Fighters considered for this list had to have competed in at least one UFC bout.
Although he went 2-1 in the UFC, Saidyokub Kakhramonov was suddenly released from the promotion. Now, he says he’s a changed man.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Saidyokub Kakhramonov[/autotag] hopes the UFC is willing to give him one more chance.
With a 2-1 promotional record at the time of his UFC departure, Kakhramonov (11-3) was a surprising release to many. He defeated Trevin Jones and Ronnie Lawrence, and was on his way to a win over UFC-ranked Said Nurmagomedov before a come-from-behind submission U-turned the performance into defeat.
Now with dominant wins for XMMA and Karate Combat, Kakhramonov likes to think he’s back on the UFC radar, particularly due to his maturation outside the cage.
“I just felt like I needed to grow up a little bit, be more mature, and just choose better people around me,” Kakhramonov told MMA Junkie following his win Friday at Karate Combat 43. “That was the issue. I needed better people around me to tell me what’s wrong and what’s right. Right now, I’m at that place where I have the right people around me. It’s a small circle and we’re going to do some great things in 2024.”
The improvements inside the cage have mirrored the personal changes he’s made, according to Kakhramonov. He still feels like he’s one of the best bantamweight fighters in the world, regardless of the banner.
In an effort to become more appealing, Kakhramonov has made it his focus to keep his fights standing, even if it means the approach is a tad more risky.
“I’m going to have to just knock people out,” Kakhramonov said. “The rest is good. I’m going to have to just beat them up standing up. When you’re fighting, I know I can wrestle anybody. To me, it’s like, ‘Why choose 50-50, when I can drown you?’ I know I can do it, so I choose that path just to get the win. But I’m going to have to just kill people.”
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Kakhramonov, 28, has struggled to find fights back on the regional scene, likely due to his UFC success. He’s picked up a new job to help pay bills, but says he’s constantly in the gym despite the lack of fighters lining up to fight him.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with the fighters these days,” Kakhramonov said. “Nobody wants to fight. I’m always looking for a fight. We’re always trying to fight and people don’t want to fight. They’re scared. I get it, you know. I fought some tough guys in the UFC. I made them look like nothing. I wouldn’t fight me neither.”
Kakhramonov praised Karate Combat up and down for their event Friday at World Market Center. He defeated Gabriel Stankunas by third-round TKO and cut an emphatic promo on the microphone afterward.
While it’s possible he continues to do one-off for promotions like Karate Combat and XMMA, Kakhramonov admits the UFC is still where he wants to be.
“At the end of the day, I’m an MMA fighter,” Kakhramonov said. “I love to fight. As long as there’s a fight, I’m there. MMA, yeah, that’s my thing. Of course, I’d be lying if I said, ‘No, (I don’t want to return) to UFC.’ It’d be an honor to be back in there again.”
Check out the latest fight card from XMMA, a promotion which has centered around pairing notable names from the UFC and beyond.
XMMA is back for its first event of 2023 and putting on another card filled with notable names.
This time, seven UFC alumni and two former Bellator standouts are on tap for the event Wednesday. XMMA 6 will take place at John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and streams free on YouTube.
The promotion launched in January 2021 with XMMA 1 in West Palm Beach, Fla., and was headlined by Andre Fialho vs. James Vick. XMMA 2 took place in July 2021 with a Ben Saunders vs. Ramsey Nijem main event. XMMA 3 followed shortly thereafter in October, headlined by Cody Gibson vs. John Dodson. XMMA 4 took place on April 2, headlined by John Dodson vs. Francisco Rivera. The most recent show the promotion put on was XMMA 5 in July, headlined by Will Brooks vs. Luis Pena.
Keeping with notable names as top-billing, XMMA 6 features nine major promotional notables from years past. Scroll below to see which UFC alums and other fighters are currently scheduled to compete.
Saidyokub Kakhramonov is that he got his walking papers from the UFC after he went 2-1 with the promotion.
[autotag]Saidyokub Kakhramonov[/autotag] is puzzled that he got his walking papers from the UFC.
According to the 27-year-old, he’s been released by the promotion after just three fights. He most recently was submitted by Said Nurmagomedov this past December in a fight he was in firm control of.
But prior to that, Kakhramonov (10-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) won his first two octagon bouts against Trevin Jones and Ronnie Lawrence, which is why his release came as a surprise to him.
“Before you see my name on the ufc Roster watch lol UFC releasing me after 1 lost smh. I never had fair shake in the ufc 3 fights almost in 2 years. Every time I walked into cage it felt like my debut. Sh*t 3 fights in 2 years? Feels like they brought me in to lose.”
https://twitter.com/SaidYokubMMA/status/1623208684527697920?s=20&t=ooUqAZGbnW6vb73mXjThqA
Kakhramonov says he wasn’t given a reason for why he was released. He had his eye next on unbeaten Japanese prospect Rinya Nakamura, who knocked out Toshiomi Kazama in Round 1 this past Saturday at UFC Fight Night 218 to win the “Road to the UFC” bantamweight tournament.
“Nope. First told us wait until May or shop around then yesterday they said they want to release me. I was actually looking at that newcomer Japanese fighter Nakamura. Looked amazing I thought that would be a great challenge for me.”
Nope. First told us wait until May or shop around then yesterday they said they want to release me. I was actually looking at that new comer Japanese fighter Nakamura. Looked amazing I thought that would be a great challenge for me.
— Saidyokub Kakhramonov (@SaidYokubMMA) February 8, 2023
Drew Dober tied Dustin Poirier for the most knockout wins in UFC lightweight history with his finish of Bobby Green at UFC Vegas 66.
The UFC closed out its 2022 schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 216, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
The main event of the 42nd and final fight card of the year saw [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] (16-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) squeak out a split decision win over [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (25-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) in a matchup of middleweight contenders.
For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 216.
UFC Fight Night 216 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 216 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $204,500.
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 Fight Night 216 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.
The full UFC Fight Night 216 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
* * * *
[autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag]: $16,000
[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Damir Ismagulov[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Alessandro Costa[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Alex Caceres[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag]: $21,000
[autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Cody Brundage[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Cory McKenna[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Cheyanne Vlismas[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Matthew Semelsberger[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jake Matthews[/autotag]: $16,000
[autotag]Said Nurmagomedov[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Saidyokub Kakhramonov[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Rafa Garcia[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Hayisaer Maheshate[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Rinat Fakhretdinov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Bryan Battle[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]David Dvorak[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Sergey Morozov[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Journey Newson[/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 2167 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2161 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: $8,351,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $14,529,000
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 216.
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Check out what the UFC Fight Night 216 winners had to say backstage at Saturday’s event.
LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 216 takes place Saturday with 13 bouts on the lineup. We’ve got you covered with backstage winner interviews from the UFC Apex.
You can hear from all the UFC Fight Night 216 winners by checking out their post-fight news conferences below.
At UFC Fight Night 216, Said Nurmagomedov found himself in some trouble. He then flipped the switch to submit Saidyokub Kakhramonov.
Things didn’t look great for [autotag]Said Nurmagomedov[/autotag] at one point – but it’s the final outcome that matters.
At UFC Fight Night 216, Nurmagomedov (17-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) came out on top against [autotag]Saidyokub Kakhramonov[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) when he won their bantamweight preliminary card bout by submission at the 3:50 mark of Round 2.
The event took place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
The first round was competitive. Nurmagomedov nearly pulled off a guillotine choke in the opening minute, but Kakhramonov popped his head out and ended up on top. The rest of the round, Kakhramonov largely outwrestled Nurmagomedov until the final bell.
In Round 2, Kakhramonov shot for a takedown nearly immediately. He laid heavy on Nurmagomedov and took the back. From the side, he landed a barrage of punches – over and over. Nurmagomedov did just enough to keep referee Keith Peterson away.
Nurmagomedov got up and Kakhramonov shot again. This time, Nurmagomedov baited him to stick his neck out. Nurmagomedov snatched the neck, rolled Kakhramonov, and got the tap – in impressive comeback fashion.
Guillotine choke out of nowhere 😮 #UFCVegas66 pic.twitter.com/kmD155a5gW
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 17, 2022
Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 216 results include:
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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 Oct. 3-9.
