Tag: Sean Woodson

UFC 314 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Michael Chandler, Paddy Pimblett combine for $12,000

Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett combined for a $12,000 payout under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program at UFC 314.

MIAMI – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 314 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $300,500.

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 314 took place at Kaseya Center. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC 314 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jean Silva[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Nikita Krylov[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Virna Jandiroba[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Chase Hooper[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Darren Elkins[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Sedriques Dumas[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Su Mudaerji[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Mitch Raposo[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Marco Tulio[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Tresean Gore[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Nora Cornolle[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Hailey Cowan[/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: $2,579,500
2024 total: $8,280,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $33,597,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

UFC 314 video: Dan Ige gets TKO over Sean Woodson in controversial stoppage

Watch the replay of Dan Ige’s controversial TKO stoppage win over Sean Woodson at UFC 314.

MIAMI – [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] left UFC 314 victorious, but not without controversy.

The veteran UFC featherweight defeated [autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag] on the final preliminary bout of the card at Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla. It was a very close fight where both fighters had their moments in the first two rounds.

In Round 3, Ige (19-9 MMA, 11-8 UFC) wobbled Woodson (13-2-1 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) and proceeded to look for the finish. Woodson was backing up, looking to avoid further damage. He then shot for a takedown and, while holding a single leg, took a few shots, and that’s when referee Andrew Glenn stopped the bout. Woodson stood up and immediately protested the stoppage.

You can watch the replay of the stoppage below:


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Up-to-the-minute UFC 314 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

Dark horse no longer: Sean Woodson fixated on kicking off breakout year at UFC 314

Sean Woodson is stepping out of the shadows and into the spotlight at UFC 314.

[autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag] has been in the shadows, quietly rising up the ranks of one of the UFC’s most talent-filled divisions.

But on April 12 at UFC 314, Woodson (13-1-1 MMA, 7-1-1 UFC) and his 6-foot-2, 145-pound frame will step fully into the spotlight as he faces his first ranked challenge, promotion-No. 15 [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag][autotag] (18-9 MMA, 10-8 UFC).

“I’ve been patient,” Woodson recently told MMA Junkie. “I’ve had the utmost and belief in myself. I don’t rush sh*t. I don’t rush nothing. I’ve been more than confident that my time will come. I’ve just got to keep putting in the work and staying focused and doing what I do. Eventually, I’ll be undeniable. After this fight, god willing it goes my way, I’ll be right there damn near a 10-fight unbeaten streak.

“2024 was a great year for me. I fought three times. I was 3-0. I feel like it really has me set up for 2024 to really be my year. 2025 is my breakout year, the year where I really make some noise and get everybody talking about me and really force my hand and force the UFC to give me the big fights to lead me to the title.”

Woodson, 32, has done it his way. Frequently asked why he doesn’t compete at a higher weight class with a lesser weight cut, Woodson has stuck to his recipe – and it’s worked. He’s been loyal to those who have been loyal to him. That right there might be the secret to his success.

“I take pride in being a guy who just trains at his hometown, local, no-name gym, sort of say,” Woodson said. “We don’t have a huge reputation. I train at Wolves Den in St. Louis, Missouri and I do my strength and conditioning at Project Deliverance with my guy Matt Owen. Nobody knows about us, but I take pride in that. It’s given me extra motivation to be a guy in his hometown of St. Louis knocking off all these guys from these world class really reputable gyms. I mean that’s pretty much it. That’s something I really hang my hat on is not having the resources that all these other guys have.

“I’m not in one of these big gyms that has 10-20 other UFC fighters day-in and day-out. I’m the only UFC fighter in my gym and I take pride in going around and knocking off all these other guys in big gyms. Those guys who as soon as they get to the UFC and they leave their team and run to go link up with a bunch of other UFC fighters, I think that kind of is my own opinion, but that says something about the confidence in themselves that they have. They need to be in a room with a bunch of other guys who are in the UFC to feel like they are doing the right thing or whatever.”

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Woodson is confident he’s headed to the top, but also recognizes the threat that is Ige, a perennially-ranked fighter who very well might have his back against the wall coming off consecutive losses.

“All his losses are to top contenders,” Woodson said. “He’s coming off two losses in a row, but those were against Diego, who is fighting for the title, and Lerone Murphy, who is 15-0. Him losing two in a row is not really that bad coming against those guys. But him losing two in a row, I feel like he knows his back is against the wall. I’m expecting the best Ige to date. I know he’s training hard and really got a chip on his shoulder, not trying to drop three in a row. As fas as his style, he’s known to be super durable. But one thing about being super durable is that you’ve had to show that you’re durable, if that makes sense. The only way you show you’re durable is taking a lot of shots. When I watch his fights, what I notice is that he’s getting hit a lot. He’s getting hit a lot by guys who I don’t feel are the caliber of striker that I am.

“He don’t have the reach that I have. I feel like that’s going to be a big factor in this one. He’s 5-foot-7. I’ve fought guys who are 5-foot-7 before. I feel like he’s the best 5-foot-7 guy I’ve fought but I feel like I’m really going to be able to take advantage of the striking advantage on the feet. I feel like he’s going to try to be pressuring me and try to press me up against the cage and drag me to the floor. But I think that’s what every guy’s game plan is against me. That’s the style I’ve been going up against my whole career and guys I prepare for. He’s the toughest guy I’ve fought to date but I feel I’m more than ready.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

Streaking UFC featherweight Sean Woodson open to future lightweight move

6-foot-2 featherweight Sean Woodson is all-in on his title run, but he knows his stay in the division could be on a clock.

[autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag] is all-in on a run at the UFC featherweight title, but he knows his stay in the division could be on a clock.

Woodson (13-1-1 MMA, 7-1-1 UFC), who is in the midst of a seven-fight unbeaten streak inside the octagon, is among the tallest fighters in his weight class at 6-foot-2. His unique body type has proven to be an effective advantage, and he thinks this is where he belongs.

The 32-year-old is currently looking for a high-profile name at 145 pounds that can help him break into the rankings in 2025, and his goals are clear. However, he is always monitoring his physical wellbeing, and if unforeseen issues begin to surface with his weight cuts, Woodson wouldn’t hesitate to make a change.

“Health is No. 1,” Woodson told MMA Junkie Radio. “Within these next few years, if I start to seriously have some issues and feel some things to make me want to move up, then I won’t ignore it or fight it. But right now, there’s no real reason to other than everyone else saying their opinion of, ‘Go up to ’55. You’re a weight bully – move up.’ I’ll move up whenever I feel like it.”

Woodson is coming off a first-round TKO of Fernando Padilla at UFC on ESPN 63 in December. He hasn’t tasted defeat since June 2020, and thinks this is his prime.

Nothing is forever, though, and Woodson admits he does see the day when featherweight is no longer his home.

“For sure (I will eventually move up),” Woodson said. “Not even like the (weight) cuts are so extreme now that I have to do it now, but as long as I keep making the cut to ’45 relatively easy, I’m going to stay here. I’ve already put in a pretty nice-sized body of work here, so it doesn’t really make sense for me. I’m right here about to crack into the rankings.”

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MMA Junkie Radio #3531: Guest Sean Woodson, UFC 311 preview, Khabib on a plane, more

Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”


Monday’s episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,531, the guys bring on guest UFC featherweight [autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag]. They also looked ahead to UFC 311, looked back at UFC Fight Night 249 and discussed the latest news. Tune in!

Sean Woodson wants ‘fireworks’ fight with Giga Chikadze on path to UFC title contention

Sean Woodson thinks a fight with him and Giga Chikadze would inevitably deliver.

[autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag] thinks a fight with him and [autotag]Giga Chikadze[/autotag] would inevitably deliver.

Woodson (13-1-1 MMA, 7-1-1 UFC) has been on a role after scoring four-straight wins, most recently a first-round TKO of Fernando Padilla at UFC on ESPN 63 last month.

Unbeaten in his past seven fights, Woodson thinks he’s earned an opportunity at a ranked opponent, and sees Chikadze (15-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) as the perfect dance partner. Chikadze hasn’t competed since a unanimous decision loss to Arnold Allen at UFC 304 in July.

“I was looking at the rankings, and between who’s matched up and just what I feel like would be a good fight is me and Giga,” Woodson told MMA Junkie Radio. “I want Giga Chikadze next. He’s due for a fight. He hasn’t fought for a while. He’s another 6-foot tall featherweight, and if we’re talking styles and matchups for fireworks, and making exciting fights, I feel like that’s a no-brainer, me and him. All we want to do is strike.

“We both have striking backgrounds. Neither one of us are going to be shooting for takedowns or hunting submissions. We’re both going to be hunting the knockout, and I just feel like that’s a no-brainer as far as exciting fights, and it’s a very realistic matchup for me being on the streak that I’m on and him being on the backend of the rankings. That’s the fight I want next. I want it bad.”

Woodson competed three times in 2024, and looks to replicate his successful year in 2025 – but against higher-level competition.

“That’s my ideal pace for the year,” Woodson said. “I want to get in three a year, per year, every year if I can. That’s my goal for 2025 is to get three more wins, except all three of the wins being against ranked opponents. With three ranked wins and three solid performances, I feel like that sets me up 2026 to be one or two away from a title shot, as crazy as it sounds.”

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Sean Woodson: I’m a bad matchup for champ Ilia Topuria after UFC Tampa

Sean Woodson has but one setback in his MMA career, and it’s long been in the rearview mirror.

TAMPA, Fla. – [autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag] has but one setback in his MMA career, and it came long enough ago that he’s seen some UFC careers start and finish in the time since he lost to Julian Erosa.

Since then, over 4.5 years, the 32-year-old featherweight has gone 6-0-1. But the most recent victory, a knockout of Fernando Padilla with just two seconds left in the first round at UFC on ESPN 63, might have been his most crucial one yet.

Woodson (13-1-1 MMA, 7-1-1 UFC) had to survive some early adversity against Padilla (16-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., but rallied quickly for his first finish since 2021.

“He was on me early and he cracked me hard a few times, but I just knew I had to weather the storm and I would find my range and start landing on him,” Woodson said at his post-fight news conference. “… I felt disrespected (before the fight) and I was mad throughout this whole camp and I just was bottling it up, bottling it up – and I just knew come fight night, I was going to use it and use it wisely. That dude was going to have to put my lights out or going to keep coming.”

Woodson hasn’t lost since a D’Arce choke tapout to Julian Erosa in June 2020. Heading into the fight with Padilla, he was working off of three straight decision wins on the heels of a split draw midway through 2020.

Because Padilla is at least close to Woodson in height, he expected a different kind of fight to play out.

“It was different for sure, because I’m 6-foot-2 and everybody I fight at featherweight is going to be shorter than me,” Woodson said. “I think he’s probably the only guy left at featherweight that is also 6-foot. But I spar tall guys all the time. We’ve got a bunch of tall guys on my team. I’ve been boxing all my life. I felt like fighting another tall guy like myself was really going to throw me off or throw me for a loop – nothing. I was more than prepared for it.

“… 100 percent yeah, (I feel disrespected). I’m big on self accountability – my fault. I’m not the biggest talker. That was my first finish in like three years. Winning is good, but when you’re winning decisions, you’re not going to get that respect. You’re not going to get the notoriety. I feel like I haven’t got the respect I deserve, but I feel like they know me now and they’ll respect me now.”

Even though a seven-fight unbeaten streak at featherweight seems to warrant at least a discussion about a title shot, Woodson thinks the names he’s beaten don’t have him in the conversation yet.

Still, he said he’s now willing to start taking steps he hasn’t been keen to jump at prior to this. And he thinks

“I will go anywhere in the world,” Woodson said. “At first I was big on ‘I don’t want to fly overseas.’ (Now) I will go anywhere. I will fight anybody ranked above me. Dana (White is) big ‘on earn what you kill.’ I’ve heard him say that. I feel like I’ve set myself up for a big fight and I’ve earned it and I deserve it.”

But does he deserve the champ, Ilia Topuria? Maybe not yet, Woodson surmises, but perhaps soon. And he likes the matchup – a lot.

“He’s super good – what he’s done so far is,” Woodson said. “But I’m not going to hold my tongue at all. I don’t feel like he’d be able to do me the way he’s done other people at all. He’s too small, too short. I’m a bad matchup for him. I saw online somebody say he gets up to like 187 (pounds), 190 (outside of camp). I don’t believe that at all. I don’t even get that big. He carries himself like he’s better than he is.

“I will say that I would love to fight him. I know I’m a long ways off from that, but I want that fight bad. I would love to fight him one day. I know it sounds crazy. I haven’t had the best (resume). I ain’t fought (big names), whatever. But I’m telling you right now, they do not do me like he’s done everybody.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 63.

UFC on ESPN 63 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: 2024 total tops $8.2 million

With 2024 a wrap for the UFC, see a breakdown of how much money was paid under the Promotional Guidelines Compliance program.

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 63 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $208,500.

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 63 took place at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. The card aired on ESPN2 and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 63 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Cub Swanson[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Bruno Silva[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Dustin Jacoby[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Vitor Petrino[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Daniel Marcos[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Navajo Stirling[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Tuco Tokkos[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Ottman Azaitar[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Joel Alvarez[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Drakkar Klose[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Fernando Padilla[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Felipe Lima[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Miles Johns[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Miranda Maverick[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Jamey-Lyn Horth[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Davey Grant[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Ramon Taveras[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Piera Rodriguez[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Josefine Knutsson[/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 $4,630; 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 $32,000 while title challengers get $42,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-63 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $8,280,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $31,017,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 63.

Sean Woodson def. Fernando Padilla at UFC Tampa: Best photos

Check out these photos highlighting Sean Woodson’s TKO win over Fernando Padilla at UFC on ESPN 63.

Check out these photos highlighting [autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag]’s first-round TKO win over [autotag]Fernando Padilla[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 63 from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. (Photos by Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)

UFC Tampa video: Sean Woodson floors Fernando Padilla with beautiful combination

Sean Woodson ended a lanky battle with a bang at UFC Tampa.

[autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag] wants entry into the UFC rankings, and he might have earned just that Saturday.

At UFC on ESPN 63 from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., Woodson (13-1-1 MMA, 7-1-1 UFC) floored [autotag]Fernando Padilla[/autotag] (16-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) with a four-punch combination and finished the fight with three more punches on the ground. The stoppage came at 4:58 of Round 1.

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Two of the tallest featherweights in UFC history with Woodson at nearly 6-foot-3 and Padilla at 6-1, the two fighters traded blows for as long as the fight lasted

As the clock wound down in Round 1, Woodson landed a right uppercut-to-left hook combination. As Padilla backpedaled, Woodson cracked him with another right-left combo. Three more punches on the ground was enough for referee Andrew Glenn to intervene.

After the fight, Woodson called for a spot in the UFC rankings. The win was his fourth in a row and he hasn’t lost in seven appearances.

Padilla has alternated wins and losses through his first four UFC appearances.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 63 results include:

  • Sean Woodson def. Fernando Padilla via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:5
  • Felipe Lima def. Miles Johns via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27
  • Miranda Maverick def. Jamey-Lyn Horth via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28
  • Davey Grant def. Ramon Taveras via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27
  • Piera Rodriguez def. Josefine Knutsson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 63.