Tag: Scott Holtzman

Farewell, fighters: A list of former UFC champs and more MMA notables who retired in 2022

The MMA world said goodbye to more than 35 notable fighters in 2022, from former UFC champions to future UFC Hall of Famers and more.

MMA is a constantly evolving sport with a revolving door of athletes entering and exiting. Currently fighters from the era that helped make the sport so popular are beginning to trickle away from competition and hang up their gloves to move on to the next chapters in their lives.

If there’s one thing that’s well known about combat sports retirements, though, it’s that they often don’t last long. The urge to compete and, perhaps more importantly, get a payday will continue to drive fighters back, even well beyond their expiration dates.

In 2022, there was an uptick in notable fighters announcing they are retired, and we have a list of those who opted to walk away last year.

Now retired, Scott Holtzman proud of UFC run: ‘I wasn’t supposed to be here’

Scott Holtzman is proud of his MMA career, even though he didn’t get a win in his retirement fight at UFC on ESPN 42 in Orlando, Fla.

[autotag]Scott Holtzman[/autotag] thinks in many ways, he overachieved.

The lightweight hung up his gloves Saturday and put an end to a 10-year MMA career. Unfortunately for Holtzman (14-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC), he wasn’t able to walk away with a victory after a decision loss Clay Guida (38-19 MMA, 18-16 UFC) at UFC on ESPN 42 in Orlando, Fla.

But despite not getting the ideal ending, the 39-year-old Holtzman is at peace with his retirement decision.

“All of my losses (were to) just killers – title picture (opponents),” Holtzman told reporters at the UFC on ESPN 42 post-fight press conference (via Bro Bible). “All killers. I got into the UFC when I was 30 years old. I was just a guy from Tennessee, an athlete. I started getting pretty good at fighting and just rode the wave and all of a sudden I’m up here in the UFC with these world champions, jiu-jitsu black belts and Division-I wrestlers. I’m just a kid from Tennessee, just an athlete. It’s a been one hell of a ride. I’ve had a lot of great opportunities in the UFC, and through fighting I’ve met some of the best people in the world.”

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Holtzman fought in the UFC from 2015-2022. He holds a win over Jim Miller and shared the cage with many other notable names like Beneil Dariush, Josh Emmett and Mateusz Gamrot.

Holtzman said he is proud of what he achieved in his time in the UFC and leaves the organization with no regrets.

“I wasn’t supposed to be here,” Holtzman said. “All I ever really wanted to be was a professional athlete, and I ended up doing that.

“I hung in there with some of the best guys in the world. I was just outside the top 15, and that ain’t bad. There was a lot of reflection going on. I really enjoyed the process and really trying to take it day by day. There were a couple of times I got sad in the weight cut, and I’m like, ‘Hey, man. It’s your last one. Let’s just enjoy it. You’ll never get to do it again.'”

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UFC on ESPN 42 post-event facts: Rafael dos Anjos first to reach 8-hour fight time milestone

Rafael dos Anjos became the first fighter in history to log eight hours of octagon fight time in his win at UFC on ESPN 42.

The UFC returned to Orlando, Fla., for the first time in nearly four years Saturday with UFC on ESPN 42, which took place at Amway Center and saw nine out of 14 fights end in a stoppage.

Stephen Thompson (17-6-1 MMA, 12-6-1 UFC) earned the most memorable result of all in the main event. The longtime welterweight contender went to war with Kevin Holland (23-9 MMA, 9-6 UFC). He emerged on top by fourth-round TKO due to corner stoppage and netted another Fight of the Night award in the process.

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 on ESPN 42.

UFC on ESPN 42 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: A record for non-PPV card

UFC on ESPN 42 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

ORLANDO – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 42 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $297,500.

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 on ESPN 42 took place at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 42 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Stephen Thompson[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Bryan Barberena[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Matt Schnell[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Eryk Anders[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Kyle Daukaus[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Phil Rowe[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Emily Ducote[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Clay Guida[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Scott Holtzman[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Marc Diakiese[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Jonathan Pearce[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Darren Elkins[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Natan Levy[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Genaro Valdez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Francis Marshall[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Marcelo Rojo[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Istela Nunes[/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 $42,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-42 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $7,932,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $14,109,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 42.

UFC on ESPN 42 results: Clay Guida spoils Scott Holtzman’s retirement by wrestling to split decision

Clay Guida spoiled the UFC retirement party of Scott Holtzman by winning a close split decision in Orlando, Fla.

UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Clay Guida[/autotag] still possesses a wrestling game that can frustrate opponents.

In Scott Holtzman’s final UFC bout, Guida (38-19 MMA, 18-16 UFC) leaned on what he does best to convince two of the three judges he was the winner, earning two 29-28 scores on the official scorecards. Holtzman (14-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) made a solid account for himself in the striking department, but only one judge sided with his performance.

The lightweight bout was part of the UFC on ESPN 42 preliminary card at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla.

With the crowd chanting Guida’s name, the two lightweights got right into the action at the beginning of the fight. Holtzman took control of the center of the cage after the initial exchanges, looking to land big punches as Guida attempted to mix things up with kicks and takedowns.

In the second, Guida found early success in the clinch, as he pursued takedowns more aggressively. Holtzman gave up a few takedowns, but was able to get back up and separate without taking much damage. On the feet, Holtzman continued to win striking exchanges, but Guida stuck to his wrestling attack.

Holtzman stepped on the gas early in the last round, landing nice punches as Guida waited for his chance to get back to the clinch, and did exactly that with a few big takedowns to control the final minutes of action. Although clearly frustrated, Holtzman was unable to mount significant offense in the final moments of the fight.

Guida’s wrestling attack convinced two of the official cageside judges that he did enough to win a split decision.

Guida returns to the win column after a first-round submission loss to Claudio Puelles in April. Prior to that setback, he locked up a submission of his own to defeat Leonardo Santos last December.

Holtzman, 39, who attempted to leave his gloves in the cage to signal his retirement, will walk away with seven wins under the UFC banner. “Hot Sauce” picked up victories over Cody Pfister, Michael McBride, Darrell Horcher, Alan Patrick, Dong Hyun Ma and Jim Miller.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 42 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 42.

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Clay Guida def. Scott Holtzman at UFC on ESPN 42: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Clay Guida’s split decision win over Scott Holtzman at UFC on ESPN 42.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Clay Guida[/autotag]’s split decision win over [autotag]Scott Holtzman[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 42 at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. (Photos by Nathan Ray Seebeck, USA TODAY Sports)

Clay Guida booked for 60th pro fight, faces Scott Holtzman at UFC Fight Night in December

At the UFC Fight Night event targeted for Orlando, Clay Guida will make his 60th pro walk and his 33 in the promotion.

The next time UFC Hall of Fame’s [autotag]Clay Guida[/autotag] steps inside the octagon, it’ll mark a milestone.

One fight shy of 60, Guida (37-22 MMA, 18-14 UFC) will hit the mark Dec. 3 when he battles [autotag]Scott Holtzman[/autotag] (14-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) at a UFC Fight Night event targeted for Orlando.

Two people with knowledge of the booking recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. The news was first revealed by Holtzman.

In addition to his 60-fight milestone, Guida, 40, will make his 33rd appearance in the UFC. Despite his longevity in the sport, Guida continues to find spurts of success. He’s 2-2 in his most recent four, alternating wins and losses. He most recently competed in April when he was submitted by Claudio Puelles in Round 1.

Holtzman, 38, looks to turn his luck around after back-to-back losses to Beneil Dariush and Mateusz Gamrot. Both were by knockout. Prior to the recent skid, Holtzman won consecutive fights against Dong Hyun Ma and Jim Miller.

With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for Dec. 3 includes:

  • Derek Brunson vs. Jack Hermansson
  • Tracy Cortez vs. Amanda Ribas
  • Matheus Nicolau vs. Matt Schnell
  • Eryk Anders vs. Kyle Daukaus
  • Francis Marshall vs. Marcelo Rojo
  • Natan Levy vs. Genaro Valdez
  • Marc Diakiese vs. Michael Johnson
  • Clay Guida vs. Scott Holtzman
  • Emily Ducote vs. Angela Hill
  • Clay Guida vs. Scott Holtzman

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UFC on ABC 2 medical suspensions: Mackenzie Dern, five others face potential 6 months

Mackenzie Dern and five others could be out up to six months due injuries sustained during Saturday’s card.

Six fighters face potentially lengthy layoffs as a result of injuries sustained in their UFC on ABC 2 bouts.

On Tuesday, MMA Junkie acquired a full list of the UFC on ABC 2 medical suspensions handed out by the Nevada Athletic Commission from MixedMartialArts.com, the Associate of Boxing Commission’s official recordkeeper.

Among those potentially suspended for 180 days is co-headliner [autotag]Arnold Allen[/autotag], who perhaps suffered a broken left hand in his victory over [autotag]Sodiq Yusuff[/autotag].

Fan favorite [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] also could be out up to six months due to a potentially broken thumb suffered in her win against [autotag]Nina Nunes[/autotag].

[autotag]Julian Marquez[/autotag], who defeated [autotag]Sam Alvey[/autotag] by submission, will need his right hand cleared in order to avoid the mandatory 180 days off.

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Also handed a six-month suspension was UFC lightweight veteran [autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag], who will need his left foot cleared after his decision loss to [autotag]Joe Solecki[/autotag].

Both [autotag]John Makdessi[/autotag] (face and foot) and [autotag]Ignacio Bahamondes[/autotag] (nose and hand) received six-month suspensions for multiple potential injuries sustained in their back-and-forth preliminary card war.

The card was headlined by middleweights [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag] and [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag], who received matching 21-day suspensions for facial lacerations.

The full list of UFC on ABC 2 medical suspensions:

  • Marvin Vettori: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days due to left eyebrow laceration.
  • Kevin Holland: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days due to left eyebrow laceration.
  • Arnold Allen: Suspended 180 days or until left hand x-ray is cleared by an orthopedic doctor; also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • Sodiq Yusuff: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days.
  • Julian Marquez: Suspended 180 days or until right hand x-ray is cleared by orthopedic doctor.
  • Sam Alvey: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • Mackenzie Dern: Suspended 180 days or until right thumb x-ray is cleared by an orthopedic doctor.
  • Nina Ansaroff: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • Joe Solecki: No suspension.
  • Jim Miller: Suspended 180 days or until left foot x-ray is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Scott Holtzman[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • John Makdsessi: Suspended 180 days or until subtle nondisplaced fracture of the right zygomatic arch is cleared by a maxillofacial doctor and right foot displaced fracture of the second metatarsal is cleared by an orthopedic doctor; also suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • Ignacio Bahamondes: Suspended 180 days or until nose x-ray is cleared by a doctor and left hand x-ray is cleared by an orthopedic doctor; also suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • [autotag]Jarjis Danho[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Yorgan De Castro[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • [autotag]Jack Shore[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Hunter Azure[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Luis Saldana[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Jordan Griffin[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days.
  • [autotag]Da Un Jung[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]William Knight[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days.
  • [autotag]Impa Kasanganay[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Sasha Palatnikov[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days.

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UFC on ABC 2 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Venum era begins

UFC on ABC 2 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 on ABC 2 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $182,500.

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 on ABC 2 took place at the UFC Apex. The main card aired on ABC following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC on ABC 2 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Arnold Allen[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Sodiq Yusuff[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Julian Marquez[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Sam Alvey[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Nina Ansaroff[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Joe Solecki[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Scott Holtzman[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]John Makdessi[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Ignacio Bahamondes[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jarjis Danho[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Yorgan De Castro[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Jack Shore[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Hunter Azure[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Luis Saldana[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jordan Griffin[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Da Un Jung[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]William Knight[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Impa Kasanganay/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Sasha Palatnikov[/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.

Mateusz Gamrot vs. Scott Holtzman added to UFC Fight Night on April 10

A lightweight matchup between Mateusz Gamrot and Scott Holtzman is the latest addition to UFC Fight Night on April 10.

[autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag] will be in search of his first UFC win when he takes on a gritty lightweight.

Gamrot (17-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) faces [autotag]Scott Holtzman[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) at UFC Fight Night on April 10 at a location and venue to be announced.

A person with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Reporter Kuba Voranek was first to report the news.

Poland’s Gamrot is a former two-division KSW champion. Currently training at American Top Team, the formerly unbeaten fighter suffered his first career loss when he was edged out by Guram Kutateladze in his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 180 in October.

Winner of five of his past seven, Holtzman is coming off a first-round knockout loss to Beneil Dariush at UFC Fight Night 174 in August. Prior to that, the MMA Lab fighter notched back-to-back wins over Dong Hyun Ma and veteran Jim Miller.

With the addition, the April 10 lineup includes:

  • Darren Till vs. Marvin Vettori
  • Nina Ansaroff vs. Mackenzie Dern
  • Jarjis Danho vs. Yorgan De Castro
  • Ignacio Bahamondes vs. John Makdessi
  • Norma Dumont vs. Bea Malecki
  • Sam Alvey vs. Zak Cummings
  • Jordan Griffin vs. Luis Saldana
  • Arnold Allen vs. Sodiq Yusuff
  • Hunter Azure vs. Jack Shore
  • Kyle Daukaus vs. Aliaskhab Khizriev
  • Shamil Gamzatov vs. Da Un Jung
  • Mike Perry vs. Daniel Rodriguez
  • Impa Kasanganay vs. Sasha Palatnikov
  • Mateusz Gamrot vs. Scott Holtzman

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