UFC on ESPN 21 post-event facts: Derek Brunson climbs all-time wins list

Check out all the facts and figures from UFC on ESPN 21, which saw Derek Brunson beat Kevin Holland in the main event.

The UFC continued its busy March run on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 21, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a main card that aired on ESPN following prelims on ESPN2.

[autotag]Derek Brunson[/autotag]’s (22-7 MMA, 13-5 UFC) resurgence as a middleweight contender continued in the main event when he largely dominated [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] (21-6 MMA, 7-3 UFC) en route to a unanimous decision, moving him into a tie for the third most wins in 185-pound history.

For more on the numbers behind Brunson’s win, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 30 post-event facts to come out of UFC on ESPN 21.

UFC on ESPN 21 video: Max Griffin melts Song Kenan with vicious KO, declares ‘I’m a star’

Max Griffin made the most of his UFC on ESPN 21 co-main event spot with a brutal knockout.

[autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag] made the most of the UFC on ESPN 21 co-main event spot he slid into earlier in the day.

Griffin (17-8 MMA, 5-6 UFC) scored a brutal first-round knockout of [autotag]Song Kenan[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC) in Saturday’s co-headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, which gave him back-to-back wins in the welterweight division.

After the pair felt each other out and traded strikes in the first few minutes, Griffin landed a huge right hand that backed Kenan up toward the fence. He followed with another shot that put him down, then one more on the grounded foe to spell the knockout at the 2:20 mark of Round 1.

Check out the replay of the finish below (via Twitter):

Griffin came into the fight with Kenan highly motivated after becoming a father for the first time in recent weeks. His fight got boosted to the co-main event when Gregor Gillespie vs. Brad Riddell was pulled from the card earlier in the day due to COVID-19 protocols.

His performance showed his level of focus, and he was thrilled with his body of work in a big spot.

“I got the call this morning to be moved to the co-main event,” Griffin said in his post-fight interview with Paul Felder. “I started crying. I started showing my emotions. The world is going to see that I’m a star. This is on ESPN.”

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UFC on ESPN 21 predictions: Who’s picking Derek Brunson to upset Kevin Holland?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN 21 main card, featuring Derek Brunson vs. Kevin Holland.

Brunson
vs.
Holland
Gillespie
vs.
Riddell
Buys
vs.
Ruiz
Lopez
vs.
Yanez
Griffin
vs.
Kenan
Hunsucker
vs.
Tuivasa
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2021: 23-19
holland2021
Holland
(72%)
gillespie2021
Gillespie
(78%)
buys2021
Buys
(64%)
yanez2021
Yanez
(78%)
kenan2021
Kenan
(62%)
tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
(88%)
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2021: 27-15
trophy copy 2020 Champion
holland2021
Holland
gillespie2021
Gillespie
buys2021
Buys
lopez2021
Lopez
kenan2021
Kenan
tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2021: 26-16
trophy copy 2018 Champion
holland2021
Holland
gillespie2021
Gillespie
buys2021
Buys
yanez2021
Yanez
griffin2021
Griffin
tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2021: 25-17
brunson2021
Brunson
gillespie2021
Gillespie
buys2021
Buys
yanez2021
Yanez
griffin2021
Griffin
tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2021: 25-17
holland2021
Holland
gillespie2021
Gillespie
buys2021
Buys
lopez2021
Lopez
griffin2021
Griffin
tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2021: 25-17
holland2021
Holland
gillespie2021
Gillespie
ruiz2021
Ruiz
yanez2021
Yanez
kenan2021
Kenan
tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2021: 24-18
holland2021
Holland
gillespie2021
Gillespie
buys2021
Buys
yanez2021
Yanez
griffin2021
Griffin
tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2021: 24-18
trophy copy 2017 Champion
brunson2021
Brunson
gillespie2021
Gillespie
buys2021
Buys
lopez2021
Lopez
griffin2021
Griffin
tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Simon Head
@simonhead
2021: 23-19
trophy copy 2019 Champion*
holland2021
Holland
gillespie2021
Gillespie
buys2021
Buys
yanez2021
Yanez
griffin2021
Griffin
tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2021: 23-19
holland2021
Holland
gillespie2021
Gillespie
buys2021
Buys
yanez2021
Yanez
griffin2021
Griffin
tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2021: 22-20
trophy copy 2014 Champion
holland2021
Holland
gillespie2021
Gillespie
buys2021
Buys
yanez2021
Yanez
kenan2021
Kenan
tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2021: 21-21
holland2021
Holland
gillespie2021
Gillespie
buys2021
Buys
yanez2021
Yanez
griffin2021
Griffin
tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2021: 21-21
holland2021
Holland
gillespie2021
Gillespie
buys2021
Buys
yanez2021
Yanez
kenan2021
Kenan
tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2021: 20-22
brunson2021
Brunson
gillespie2021
Gillespie
buys2021
Buys
yanez2021
Yanez
kenan2021
Kenan
tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
BetMGM
Betting Favorites
Bet now!
holland2021
Holland -175
gillespie2021
Gillespie -250
buys2021
Buys -350
yanez2021
Yanez -225
griffin2021
Griffin -200
tuivasa2021
Tuivasa -400

[mm-video type=video id=01f132cftcgpnxkm5v playlist_id=01eqvpne7c1q486dvv player_id=01eqvpqbw4ymnv0rjh image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f132cftcgpnxkm5v/01f132cftcgpnxkm5v-e4f8aed2f2e23a1c9be6061b1c98c1d4.jpg]

The UFC is back in Las Vegas this week with a middleweight showdown leading at the top of the card.

UFC on ESPN 21 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN2.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

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In the main event, [autotag]Derek Brunson[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 12-5 UFC) takes on [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] (21-5 MMA, 8-2 UFC) at middleweight. Holland is a -175 favorite at BetMGM, and he has a 10-3 lead in the picks from our 13 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Gregor Gillespie[/autotag] (13-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) meets [autotag]Brad Riddell[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in a lightweight bout. Gillespie is a -250 favorite and one of two unanimous picks from our staff members on the main card.

In a women’s strawweight fight between promotional newcomers, [autotag]Cheyanne Buys[/autotag] (5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is a big favorite at -350 against [autotag]Montserrat Ruiz[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), and she’s got a hefty 12-1 lead in the picks.

[autotag]Gustavo Lopez[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at bantamweight. Yanez is a -225 favorite and has a big 10-3 picks lead.

[autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag] (16-8 MMA, 4-6 UFC) is a 2-1 favorite against [autotag]Song Kenan[/autotag] (16-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC), but their fight is our closest from a picks perspective with just an 8-5 lead for Griffin.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Harry Hunsucker[/autotag] (7-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) steps up on less than a week’s notice at heavyweight against 4-1 favorite [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC). Tuivasa is our other unanimous pick on the main card at 13-0.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Holland (72 percent), Gillespie (78 percent), Buys (64 percent), Yanez (78 percent), Kenan (62 percent) and Tuivasa (88 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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UFC on ESPN 21: Make your predictions for Derek Brunson vs. Kevin Holland

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 21 event in Las Vegas.

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 21 event in Las Vegas.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC on ESPN 21 main card staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC on ESPN 21 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streams on ESPN+.

Make your picks for the fights below.

UFC books Max Griffin vs. Song Kenan for March 20 Fight Night event

Welterweights will collide on March 20.

A UFC Fight Night is planned for March 20, and the lineup already has its first fight.

Welterweights [autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag] and [autotag]Song Kenan[/autotag] will square off at the event, which does not yet have a known location or venue at this time.

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

On Nov. 7, Griffin (16-8 MMA, 4-6 UFC) bounced back from two consecutive losses when he fought Ramiz Brahimaj at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. In the third round, Griffin splattered Brahimaj’s ear with a punch that nearly detached it completely from his opponent’s head. The gory sequence caused the fight to be waved off at the discretion of the cageside physician.

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Over the span of his most recent four fights, Griffin beat Brahimaj and Zelim Imadaev – two wins that are separated by losses to Alex Morono and Alex Oliveira.

China’s Kenan (16-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has won four of his most recent five outings. Most recently he knocked out Callan Potter. Kenan also holds UFC wins over Bobby Nash, Hector Aldana, and Derrick Krantz.

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UFC on ESPN+ 26 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Top earners net $10,000

UFC on ESPN+ 26 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that launched after the UFC’s deal with Reebok.

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 26 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $130,000.

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+ 26 took place Saturday at Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. The entire card streamed ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN+ 26 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Jimmy Crute[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Karolina Kowalkiewicz[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Marcos Rogerio de Lima[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Ben Sosoli[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Brad Riddell[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Magomed Mustafaev[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Zubaira Tukhugov[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Kevin Aguilar[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Joshua Culibao[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Jake Matthews[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Emil Meek[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Song Kenan[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Callan Potter[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Tyson Nam[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Loma Lookboonmee[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Priscila Cachoeira[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Shana Dobson[/autotag]: $4,000

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: $707,000
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: $31,711,500

Fight Tracks: The walkout songs of UFC on ESPN+ 26 with Bruce, Iggy, Bowie … and Snap!

Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 26 event in Auckland, New Zealand.

While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a UFC win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.

Inside, see what the fighters from UFC on ESPN+ 26 went with as their backing tracks in Auckland, New Zealand.

Kai Kara-France vs. Tyson Nam, two more bouts official for UFC on ESPN+ 26

UFC Auckland is just about filled after this latest batch of three fights announced.

Three more bouts have been made official for UFC on ESPN+ 26

[autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag] (20-8 MMA, 3-1 UFC) will make a quick turnaround when he takes on [autotag]Tyson Nam[/autotag] (18-10-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in a flyweight bout. MMA Junkie confirmed the matchup after an initial report from Stuff New Zealand.

City Kickboxing’s Kara-France was defeated by Brandon Moreno at UFC 245 earlier this month, snapping his eight-fight winning streak. Eager to compete at home, Kara-France will get his wish when he takes on Hawaii’s Nam.

Nam stepped in on short notice in his UFC debut in September to replace an injured Alex Perez and take on top contender Sergio Pettis. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

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Two more Australian fighters will compete at UFC Auckland, as [autotag]Callan Potter[/autotag] (18-8 MMA, 1-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Song Kenan[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 3-1 UFC), and [autotag]Jamie Mullarkey[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) faces [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag] (8-5 MMA, 1-2 UFC). These bouts were reported by The Sydney Morning Herald.

UFC on ESPN+ 26 takes place Feb. 22 (Feb. 23 locally) at Spark Arena in Auckland. The card is set to be streamed live on ESPN+.

With the addition, the latest UFC on ESPN+ 26 card includes:

  • Paul Felder vs. Dan Hooker
  • Vinicius Moreira vs. Tyson Pedro
  • Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Ben Sosoli
  • Jake Matthews vs. Emil Meek
  • Magomed Mustafaev vs. Brad Riddell
  • Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Xiaonan Yan
  • Jimmy Crute vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
  • Shana Dobson vs. Rachael Ostovich
  • Kevin Aguilar vs. Zubaira Tukhugov
  • Kai Kara-France vs. Tyson Nam
  • Song Kenan vs. Callan Potter
  • Jamie Mullarkey vs. Jalin Turner