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 or officially announced by a promotion from July 24-30.
Another pairing of notable Latin American fighters is headed to Noche UFC.
Another pairing of notable Latin American fighters is headed to Noche UFC.
[autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag] and [autotag]Santiago Ponzinibbio[/autotag] will collide Sept. 16 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The bout falls on Mexican Independence Day and will feature some of the best Mexican fighters on the roster.
Rodriguez’s manager AJ Ariosa, of First Round Management, and an additional source recently informed MMA Junkie of the matchup.
Born in America but with a proud Mexican heritage, Rodriguez (17-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) looks to snap a two-fight skid. Argentina’s Ponzinibbio also looks to rebound in his first appearance since an April TKO loss to Kevin Holland.
Both men are known for their striking prowess and willingness to trade, which could make this bout an early Fight of the Night candidate among avid UFC followers. The have a combined 34 finishes including 24 knockouts.
With the addition, the Noche UFC lineup includes:
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for the Noche UFC.
Santiago Ponzinibbio would like to see the UFC return to Argentina.
Before it’s all said and done, [autotag]Santiago Ponzinibbio[/autotag] wants to fight again on home soil. The veteran welterweight is hoping the UFC revisits Argentina in the future so he can get a chance to fight in front of his people.
“Of course, that’s a dream of mine,” Ponzinibbio told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “That’s always brought up whenever I have the opportunity to talk to the people from the company, and that’s always in my plans, so we’ll see when things line up for it to come together.”
Ponzinibbio (29-7 MMA, 11-6 UFC) got to do just that almost five years ago at the height of his best UFC run. He got to headline UFC Fight Night 140 in Buenos Aires against Neil Magny. That night, Ponzinibbio knocked out Magny to extend his winning streak to seven in a row.
Although he’s now 36, Ponzinibbio is confident he’ll get another chance to fight in Argentina.
“We’re going to make that happen one way or the other,” Ponzinibbio said. “We got plenty of time.”
Ponzinibbio is coming off a KO loss to Kevin Holland in Miami in early April. It was a defeat that halted momentum from his Performance of the Night winning KO over Alex Morono in December.
Ponzinibbio believes he could’ve fought out to see a decision and disagrees with the stoppage.
“The truth is that it wasn’t a KO. It was a dramatic fall, but I wasn’t knocked out,” Ponzinibbio said. “I could’ve kept fighting. When I stood up, I told the referee that I wasn’t (knocked out). I understand that it’s up to his interpretation, and he has to make a quick call. The fall was a bit dramatic, and I would’ve liked for the fight to continue.
“I was fighting well. I was comfortable. I just made two mistakes, but besides that I had good control, and I was doing well. But this is MMA. One second can change everything. You just need to take the lessons and focus on what’s next.”
As far as what’s next, Ponzinibbio would like to fight as soon as possible. He’s training hard and waiting for the UFC call.
“We’ll see what the UFC offers me,” Ponzinibbio said. “I’m always working, and I just want to fight again as soon as possible. I’d like to get in two more fights this year. I want to be active and continue to put on wars in the octagon. That’s what I do.”
[lawrence-auto-related count=2 category=420036286]
UFC Español commentator and fellow welterweight Santiago Ponzinibbio shares his prediction for Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington.
[autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] has impressed many in his most recent performances, and that includes fellow UFC welterweight and UFC Español commentator [autotag]Santiago Ponzinibbio[/autotag].
Edwards, the current champion of the UFC’s 170-pound division, is expected to defend his title for the second time later this year against long-time contender Colby Covington. Although a tough task, Ponzinibbio (29-7 MMA, 11-6 UFC) sees Edwards retaining his belt and beating Covington.
“I like Edwards, and I think I’ll go with him,” Ponzinibbio told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “He’s had very good evolution. He’s got good reach. It’s a southpaw fight. He has a good kicking game. He showed that against Kamaru (Usman). He’s got good hands and a very good defense. He improved a lot on the grappling. I see him very complete, and I pick him to be the favorite.”
[lawrence-related id=2625790]
Although the fight between Edwards and Covington might be competitive to most on paper, many questioned the UFC’s decision to give Covington another title shot even after not fighting for over a year.
Ponzinibbio agrees with the critics and thinks Belal Muhammad was much more deserving of the opportunity.
“It doesn’t make a difference what I think the company should do, but I think it’s wrong,” Ponzinibbio said. “It’s wrong because Colby Covington is a fighter who turns down many fights, always. Even when he was here (at American Top Team).
“He rejects a bunch of fights and fights whenever he wants to, and I believe there are fighters who are doing more and have more merit.”
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]
With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best fights from April 2023.
With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best fights from April 2023: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Fight of the Month award for April.
At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting on your choice.
Check out the stats to come out of UFC 287, where Israel Adesanya made history by doing something no middleweight had ever done.
The UFC’s long-awaited return to Miami after more than two decades delivered a memorable moment with Israel Adesanya making history by reclaiming middleweight gold from Alex Pereira in the UFC 287 headliner at Kaseya Center.
Adesanya (24-2 MMA, 13-2 UFC) avenged his TKO loss to Pereira (7-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) from November with a highlight-reel second-round knockout in the main event to become the first two-time titleholder in the storied 185-pound division.
For more on the numbers behind Adesanya’s win, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 287.
Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 287 took home the second-highest UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout of the year thus far.
MIAMI – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 287 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $274,500.
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 287 took place at Kaseya Center. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
The full UFC 287 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
* * * *
[autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag]: $42,000
[autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag]: $21,000
[autotag]Rob Font[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Santiago Ponzinibbio[/autotag]: $16,000
[autotag]Christian Rodriguez[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Raul Rosas Jr.[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Chris Curtis[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Luana Pinheiro[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Michelle Waterson-Gomez[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Joe Pyfer[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag]: $16,000
[autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Ignacio Bahamondes[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Trey Ogden[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Steve Garcia[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Shayilan Nuerdanbieke[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Sam Hughes[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jaqueline Amorim[/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 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
Year-to-date total: $2,045,500
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $16,564,500
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 287.
Kevin Holland found the left hook he needed to put Santiago Ponzinibbio down and out in the third round at UFC 287.
[autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]’s fight-ending accuracy and power was on display once again on the main card of UFC 287.
At 3:16 of the final round, Holland (24-9 MMA, 11-6 UFC) sparked Santiago Ponzinibbio with a beautiful left hook to faceplant the Argentina-born fighter. The welterweight bout was part of the UFC 287 main card at Kaseya Center in Miami.
Holland utilized strikes from distance throughout the first round. Mixing up punches and kicks to the body, Holland was effective at keeping Ponzinibbio (29-7 MMA, 11-6 UFC) just out of range to easily return fire. When Ponzinibbio decided it was time to charge forward, he did land nice leg kicks and a few solid overhand punches.
Holland, who is known for talking during his fights, asked Ponzinibbio after an exchange if he smelled marijuana in the arena before continuing to land strikes.
In the closing sequence of the first round, Ponzinibbio caught a kick from Holland, but a backfist sent Ponzinibbio to the canvas.
HOLLAND ROCKED HIM 👀 #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/6CoopDmNAz
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 9, 2023
In the second round, Ponzinibbio continued to work the legs of Holland as he dealt with heavy forward pressure from his opponent. Holland’s left jab found its mark throughout the round, using it to set up a nice combination that hurt Ponzinibbio.
With five minutes to go, Ponzinibbio came out attacking with hard leg kicks. Holland stayed light on his feet and circled while pumping out left hand strikes. Ponzinibbio was having his best round of the fight, until Holland changed things in an instant.
Holland looked for a right hand after catching the kick, and then charged forward with a hard left hook that dropped Ponzinibbio face-first into the mat. The follow-up punches landed with no response, prompting the referee to rush in to stop the fight.
During his post-fight interview, Holland called out Jorge Masvidal, who competes in the co-main event of the pay-per-view.
“Hey Jorge, if you don’t retire after Gilbert Burns gets done whooping your ass tonight, I would definitely love a chance for that BMF belt,” Holland said.
"See you soon, boy."
Kevin Holland with a message for Jorge Masvidal after his win at #UFC287 🍿 pic.twitter.com/8GQhHoHt1i
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 9, 2023
Holland returns to the win column, snapping a two-fight skid in impressive fashion. A pair of setbacks to Khamzat Chimaev and Stephen Thompson followed back-to-back stoppage wins over Alex Oliveira and Tim Means.
Ponzinibbio entered on the heels of a stoppage victory over Alex Morono, but was stopped, bringing his record to 2-4 over his last six bouts.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 287 results include:
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 287.
Check out the best photos from Kevin Holland’s third-round knockout win over Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC 287 in Miami.
Check out the best photos from [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]’s third-round knockout win over [autotag]Santiago Ponzinibbio[/autotag] at UFC 287 at Kaseya Center in Miami. (Photos by Rich Storry, USA TODAY Sports)
Check out our staff members’ UFC 287 main card picks, featuring Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 2 and Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal.
| Pereira vs. Adesanya |
Burns vs. Masvidal |
Font vs. Yanez |
Holland vs. Ponzinibbio |
Rodriguez vs. Rosas |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 41-28 |
 Pereira (61%) |
 Burns (80%) |
 Yanez (67%) |
 Holland (70%) |
 Rosas (84%) |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 44-25 |
 Adesanya |
 Masvidal |
Yanez |
Holland |
Rosas |
| Matt Erickson @MattE 43-26 |
Adesanya |
Burns |
Yanez |
 Ponzinibbio |
Rosas |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 42-27 |
Pereira |
Burns |
Yanez |
Holland |
Rosas |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 42-27/em> |
Adesanya |
Burns |
Yanez |
Holland |
Rosas |
| Matthew Wells @MrMWells 40-29 |
Adesanya |
Burns |
Yanez |
Holland |
Rosas |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 40-29 |
Adesanya |
Burns |
Yanez |
Ponzinibbio |
Rosas |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 39-30  2017 Champion |
Adesanya |
Masvidal |
Yanez |
Holland |
Rosas |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 39-30 2018, 2022 Champion |
Pereira |
Burns |
Yanez |
Holland |
Rosas |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 38-31 2014 Champion |
Adesanya |
Burns |
Yanez |
Holland |
Rosas |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 38-31 |
Adesanya |
Burns |
Yanez |
Holland |
Rosas |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 36-33 |
Adesanya |
Burns |
 Font |
Ponzinibbio |
Rosas |
The UFC is back in Miami for the first time in a long time, and a middleweight title rematch tops the card.
UFC 287 takes place Saturday at Kaseya Center in Miami. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
[lawrence-related id=2630446,2630463,2627375]
In the main event, middleweight champion [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) puts his title on the line for the first time against former champ [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] (23-2 MMA, 12-2 UFC), whom he beat to win the belt this past November. Pereira also holds two kickboxing wins over Adesanya.
Despite that, Pereira is the underdog at the betting window with Adesanya around a -150 favorite. The vast majority of our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers are picking Adesanaya to get the belt back at a rate of 9-2.
In the co-feature, [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] (21-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) takes on [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] (35-16 MMA, 12-9 UFC) at welterweight. Both fighters hope a win will make them a candidate to leapfrog Colby Covington as the next challenger for champ Leon Edwards. Burns is the biggest favorite on entire card, by far, at 5-1. Only two of our pickers have Masvidal in an upset.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 5-0 UFC) is a near 2-1 favorite against [autotag]Rob Font[/autotag] (19-6 MMA, 9-5 UFC) at bantamweight, and he’s a near unanimous pick from our staff members at 10-1.
[autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] (23-9 MMA, 10-6 UFC) meets [autotag]Santiago Ponzinibbio[/autotag] (29-6 MMA, 11-5 UFC) in a potential middleweight slugfest. Holland is around a -250 betting favorite, and he has a big 8-3 picks lead.
And to open the main card, [autotag]Christian Rodriguez[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Raul Rosas Jr.[/autotag] (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at a 137-pound catchweight (Rodriguez missed the bantamweight limit on the scale). Rosas is more than a 2-1 favorite, and he’s the lone unanimous pick on the main card.
In the MMA Junkie consensus picks, Pereira (61 percent), Burns (80 percent), Yanez (67 percent), Holland (70 percent) and Rosas (84 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 287.
[vertical-gallery id=2631167]
[pickup_prop id=”32744″]
