Tag: Shana Dobson

UFC Fight Night 185 medical suspensions: Derrick Lewis among 10 facing lengthy layoffs

Headliner Derrick Lewis is among 10 fighters who could be facing lengthy time off after UFC Fight Night 185.

Despite notching a huge victory at UFC Fight Night 185, [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] may be forced to sit out for a long period of time.

Lewis (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC), who scored a big knockout win of [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) in the second round of their main event clash in Las Vegas, will need doctor clearance for his right hand and wrist or he could face up to six months on the sidelines.

Also facing potential 180-day terms is [autotag]Charles Rosa[/autotag], who suffered a unanimous decision loss to [autotag]Darrick Minner[/autotag]. Rosa (13-5 MMA, 4-5 UFC) must have an X-ray on his right hand.

Surging heavyweight [autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) also needs an X-ray on his right hand after stopping [autotag]Aleksei Oleinik[/autotag] in the first round.

MMA Junkie obtained the full list of suspensions from MixedMartialArts.com, the Association of Boxing Commissions’ official record keeper.

The full list of UFC Fight Night 185 medical suspensions includes:

  • Derrick Lewis: Needs X-ray of right hand and wrist, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 21 days with 14 days no contact.
  • Curtis Blaydes: Suspended 60 days with 45 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Yana Kunitskaya[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Ketlen Vieira[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact due to right forehead laceration.
  • Darrick Minner: Suspended 21 days with 14 days no contact.
  • Charles Rosa: Needs X-ray of right hand, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 45 days with 30 days no contact due to forehead laceration.
  • Chris Daukaus: Needs X-ray of right hand, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days
  • Aleksei Oleinik: Suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Phil Hawes[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact due to left eyebrow and right cheek lacerations.
  • [autotag]Nassourdine Imamov[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Andrei Arlovski[/autotag]: Needs X-ray of right foot, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 45 days with 30 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Jared Gordon[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Danny Chavez[/autotag]: Needs X-ray of right foot, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 45 days with 30 days no contact
  • [autotag]John Castaneda[/autotag]: Needs X-ray of right hand, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 21 days with 14 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Eddie Wineland[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact due to left eyebrow and nose lacerations.
  • [autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Nate Landwehr[/autotag]: Needs X-ray of nose, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 45 days with 30 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Casey O’Neill[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Shana Dobson[/autotag]: Needs left eye cleared by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 45 days with 30 days no contact due to blurry vision.
  • [autotag]Jamall Emmers[/autotag]: Needs MRI of lumbar, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 21 days with 14 days no contact due to back spasms.
  • [autotag]Aiemann Zahabi[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Drako Rodriguez[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days with 45 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with 14 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Jared Vanderaa[/autotag]: Needs doctor clearance for nasal bone fracture, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 45 days with 30 days no contact due to eyebrow laceration.

[vertical-gallery id=589890]

UFC Fight Night 185 post-event facts: Derrick Lewis’ stats hits legendary status

Derrick Lewis now has the second most wins of any heavyweight in UFC history after his knockout at UFC Fight Night 185.

UFC Fight Night 185 went down Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and the event, which streamed on ESPN+, produced a candidate for “Knockout of the Year.”

[autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) added another incredible highlight to an already remarkable reel when he flattened Curtis Blaydes (14-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) with a picture-perfect uppercut in the second round of the heavyweight headliner, tying the record for most knockouts in UFC history.

“The Black Beast” already had a solid resume coming in, but it’s even greater now. For more, check below for 40 post-event facts to come out of UFC Fight Night 185.

MMA Junkie’s 2020 ‘Gym of the Year’: Elevation Fight Team enjoys notable success in COVID-hit year

Colorado-based Elevation Fight Team delivered consistent success despite the challenges of operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic, and its resulting restrictions, hit gym owners and teams hard in 2020. But, despite the challenges arriving from the onset of COVIF-19, MMA’s elite gyms still managed to help fine-tune their fighters to deliver memorable performances throughout the year.

One gym, in particular, enjoyed an excellent year, with Colorado’s Elevation Fight Team delivering an impressive series of results as the Denver-based gym led its big names to a positive 2020.

The gym added a new championship belt to its honor roll when [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] stepped in on short notice and finished Tony Ferguson to capture the interim lightweight title at UFC 249. Unfortunately for Gaethje and his team, “The Highlight” wasn’t able to upgrade to the undisputed title when he lost to Khabib Nurmagmedov later in the year, but following Nurmagomedov’s subsequent retirement, Gaethje looks well placed to challenge for undisputed gold once again in 2021.

Elsewhere, the gym’s two star heavyweights went undefeated, as [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] and [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] both were 2-0 for the year, with all four victories coming in UFC main events.

Overeem’s back-to-back TKO finishes of Walt Harris and Augusto Sakai gave him his first unbeaten calendar year since 2015, while Blaydes followed up a 2-0 year in 2019 with another in 2020, with victories over former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos and ex-Bellator champ Alexander Volkov. A four-fight winning streak sends Blaydes into 2021 with real momentum.

[lawrence-related id=577333,577614,577585]

It was also a big year for evergreen welterweight [autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag], who returned to his prolific fighting ways in 2020 by fighting, and winning, three times. Magny picked up a trio of unanimous decisions over Li Jingliang, Rocco Martin and former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler to put him in a solid position heading into the new year.

While its established stars cemented its elite credentials, Elevation’s emerging talent also enjoyed successes. Most notably, lightweight [autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag] continued his impressive rise toward the lightweight elite by adding two significant victories to his record. Dober’s back-to-back finishes of fellow highly rated prospects Nasrat Haqparast and Alexander Hernandez saw him end 2020 with an honorable mention in the MMA Junkie/USA TODAY Sports lightweight rankings.

Elevation’s [autotag]Shana Dobson[/autotag] produced one of the biggest upsets of the year when she defeated Mariya Agapova at UFC on ESPN 15, while bantamweight contender [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] bounced back from a submission loss to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 250 with a second-round TKO finish of Marlon Moraes in his first UFC main event at UFC Fight Night 179 in October.

It all added up to a positive year for the Colorado collective, which deservedly earns our accolade as MMA Junkie’s “Gym of the Year” for 2020.

[listicle id=577225]

UFC in 2020: A ridiculously robust look at the stats, streaks, skids, and records

Check out a full recap of 2020’s most significant footnotes and milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

Now that the year has come to a close, and with a major assist from UFC research analyst and live statistics producers Michael Carroll, here are some of 2020’s most significant milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

Shana Dobson vs. Casey O’Neill added to UFC Fight Night on Feb. 20

Shana Dobson will welcome undefeated newcomer Casey O’Neill to the UFC.

[autotag]Shana Dobson[/autotag] will welcome an undefeated newcomer to the UFC.

Dobson faces [autotag]Casey O’Neill[/autotag] on Feb. 20 in an event that does not currently have a confirmed location or venue.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the booking Sunday but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

With her back against the wall having lost three straight, Dobson (4-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) cashed in as a massive underdog when she rallied to stop Mariya Agapova at UFC on ESPN 15 in August, earning a “Performance of the Night” bonus.

O’Neill (5-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who trains out of Tiger Muay Thai, is a former Eternal MMA strawweight champion. The 23-year-old is coming off a second-round finish of Christina Stelliou at UAE Warriors 13 in September and is currently spending time at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.

With this addition, the updated Feb. 20 lineup includes:

  • Chris Daukaus vs. Aleksei Oleinik
  • Danny Chavez vs. Jared Gordon
  • Shana Dobson vs. Casey O’Neill

This bettor lost significant cash on one of the biggest upsets in UFC history

Yikes!

A bettor put $25,000 on the line to win $1,775 during UFC Fight Night on Saturday, and that bettor lost, according to The Action Network’s Darren Rovell.

For the women’s flyweight division on Saturday, the bettor saw Mariya Agapova (-1400) as such an overwhelming favorite that it was worth putting all that money on the line to make such a small sum. But Shana Dobson caused problems for Agapova in the octagon — which, in turn, caused major issues for the bettor in the sports books. That bettor played victim to one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.

Dobson finished the fight in the second round by taking Agapova to the ground and delivering sequence of strikes to the head, which forced the referee to call the fight for a truly stunning result.

What an exiting outcome for Dobson. But for the bettor? Yikes.

[vertical-gallery id=942933]

UFC on ESPN 15 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $35 million

UFC on ESPN 15 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that launched after the UFC’s deal with Reebok.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 15 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $88,000.

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 15 took place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 15 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Pedro Munhoz[/autotag]: $10,000
[autotag]Frankie Edgar[/autotag]: $20,000

[autotag]Marcin Prachnio[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Mike Rodriguez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Mariya Agapova[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Shana Dobson[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Dwight Grant[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Amanda Lemos[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Mizuki Inoue[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Austin Hubbard[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Joseph Solecki[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Ike Villanueva[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Carlton Minus[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Matthew Semelsberger[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Timur Valiev[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Trevin Jones[/autotag]: $3,500

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Reebok’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 $3,500 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,000; 6-10 bouts get $5,000; 11-15 bouts earn $10,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $15,000; and 21 bouts and more get $20,000. Additionally, champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000.

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 2020 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $4,052,000
2019 total: $7,370,500
2018 total: $6,901,000
2017 total: $6,295,000
2016 total: $7,138,000
2015 total: $3,185,000
Program-to-date total: $35,056,500

Fight Night: Shana Dobson pulls off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history

Betting the underdog would have led to a gigantic pay day.

After earning a Performance of the Night bonus in her UFC debut in June, flyweight Mariya Agapova was expected to walk away with an easy victory on Saturday night in Las Vegas over Shana Dobson. Agapova was a staggering -1400 favorite in the fight, and Dobson had lost each of her three UFC fights leading into Fight Night at the Apex.

Instead, Dobson pulled off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history, cashing as a +800 underdog with a second round TKO finish. Dobson weathered Agapova’s quick start in the first round, and after establishing a strong position on the ground in the second, Dobson forced the referee to wave off the fight with a flurry of strikes to Agapova’s head.

Dobson’s win is the biggest upset since Holly Holm shocked the world and beat Rona Rousey in 2015.

UFC fighters watching the action showed love to Dobson on Twitter.

[vertical-gallery id=942933]

[jwplayer M6Cu7jc2-q2aasYxh]

Can you believe someone bet $25,000 on Mariya Agapova at UFC on ESPN 15?

This is insane considering the reward for the risk involved.

[autotag]Shana Dobson[/autotag] scored one of the biggest upsets in the UFC history Saturday night and, in the process, cost somebody a lot of money.

Dobson, who entered UFC on ESPN 15 as a +800 underdog, defeated massive favorite [autotag]Mariya Agapova[/autotag] by second-round TKO  Just how big of a favorite was Agapova? As high as -1400.

To put that into perspective, you’d have needed to bet $1,400 on Agapova to make $100 had she won. But get this: According to sports business reporter Darren Rovell, a bettor placed a $25,000 bet on Agapova at those -1400 odds all so he/she could make … a whopping $1,775.

Seriously (via Twitter):

In the women’s UFC flyweight division tonight, a bettor at @SuperBookSports bet $25,000 on heavy favorite (-1400) Mariya Agapova. She lost to Shana Dobson in a huge upset.

The bet would have netted $1,775 if Agapova won.

Listen, I’m no sports betting expert, but that’s a terrible bet – and it has nothing to do with hindsight. I understand the basic premise of risk vs. reward, and win or lose, it’s insane to put up $25,000 with the hope of not even clearing two grand in winnings. That’s way too much risk with very little upside.

Insane.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

[vertical-gallery id=547338]