After upset of Aalon Cruz in Norfolk, Spike Carlyle ready to fight at UFC 248

Take a look inside Spike Carlyle’s TKO win over Aalon Cruz at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in Norfolk, Va.

NORFOLK, Va. – [autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] beat Aalon Cruz with a first-round TKO Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in Norfolk, Va.

Take a look inside the fight with Carlyle, who pulled the upset over the nearly 2-1 favored Cruz in both fighters’ UFC debuts.

Result: Spike Carlyle def. Aalon Cruz via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:25
Updated records: Carlyle (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Cruz (8-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Key stat: Carlyle came at Cruz from the opening bell and outstruck him 29-2 to get the quick win.

Carlyle on the fight’s key moment

“The finish came early, but I’m known for that. I’m a fast starter and I ended it with an exclamation point. I’m happy about that and hopefully I get rewarded for it.”

Carlyle on making his UFC debut

“What an awesome experience this has been. The UFC has taken great care of me. I’m so happy to be here and had a blast today. … This fight is no different – the octagon or any other promotion I’ve been in. It’s a fight. I’ve been doing this since the womb.”

Carlyle on what he wants next

“I can’t wait to fight on a main card and really get the full force and enjoy that energy. I think my suspension is for six or seven days, so put me in Vegas next week. Just kidding – but maybe. If I can cut the weight, I’m good to go whenever. Everything feels perfect. I’m just getting better and better and entering my prime.”

To hear more from Carlyle, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

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5 biggest takeaways from UFC on ESPN+ 27: Sorting out the flyweight mess and more

Thoughts and analysis on the biggest storylines to come out of UFC on ESPN+ 27, where Deiveson Figueiredo won the main event by TKO.

What mattered most at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in Norfolk, Va.? Here are a few post-fight musings …

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1. The flyweight mess

The UFC flyweight division endured its worst-case scenario with [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] (18-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) stopping [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag] (28-6 MMA, 15-4 UFC) with strikes in the second round of the main event, thus keeping the title vacant because the Brazilian missed weight by 2.5 pounds for the contest, making him ineligible to claim the belt.

Figueiredo is a good fighter and went out there and performed as he needed to under the circumstances, but his win puts the weight class in a troublesome state going forward. From Day 1, when one of the inaugural 125-pound bouts between Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall was improperly scored, the weight class has not gotten off the ground in a way anyone had hoped.

From Johnson’s inability to get over with the casual audience, to Henry Cejudo’s decision to relinquish the strap, to this situation with Figueiredo, it’s been challenge after challenge. The UFC has as good an excuse as ever now to put the death blow on the weight class and dissolve it all together, but I don’t think that will happen just yet. Only time will tell, though.

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UFC on ESPN+ 27 rookie report: Grading the newcomers in Norfolk

Fighters from around the globe dream of the day they’ll step into the octagon the first time – so how did the seven newcomers perform on Saturday?

Fighters from around the globe dream of the day they’ll step into the UFC octagon for the first time. For seven athletes, Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 27 event marked that special moment in their career.

Check out this week’s rookie report to see what kind of first impression they made on the sport’s biggest stage from Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va.

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Spike Carlyle

Division: Featherweight
Result: Spike Carlyle def. Aalon Cruz via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 1.25
Record: (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Grade: A

[autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] certainly isn’t an average MMA featherweight, and he gave us a glimpse of his potential with an impressive quickfire finish of fellow debuting prospect Aalon Cruz.

“The Alpha Ginger” danced his way to the octagon and giggled his way through Bruce Buffer’s introduction before blasting Aalon Cruz to a first-round TKO defeat in a performance that was as impressive as it was clinical.

After Cruz had started with a succession of range-finding kicks, Carlyle stunned Cruz with a superb leaping left high kick of his own as he closed the distance and looked to rough up the taller, leaner man at close quarters.

Cruz looked to grab a double-leg, but the California native stuffed the takedown and connected with a huge elbow behind the ear that clearly rocked his opponent. A host of elbows later, Cruz was on the mat with Carlyle unloading a barrage of punches until the referee dived in to call it after just 85 seconds.

All in all, it was hugely impressive against a man who had produced a highlight-reel performance in Dana White’s Contender Series to earn his UFC deal. Carlyle proved he certainly deserved his, then showed his unique personality with a short, to-the-point post-fight interview with Michael Bisping.

Carlyle looks like a man who’s going places, and we may find out more about how fast and how far when he gets his next assignment, which might come pretty quickly.

UFC on ESPN+ 27 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Deiveson Figueiredo’s pay downgraded after missing weight

UFC on ESPN+ 27 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that launched after the UFC’s deal with Reebok.

NORFOLK, Va. – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 27 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $119,500.

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+ 27 took place Saturday at Chartway Arena. The entire card streamed ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN+ 27 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

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[autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag]: $30,000

[autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Zarah Fairn[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Megan Anderson[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Norma Dumont[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Darrick Minner[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Kyler Phillips[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Gabriel Silva[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Brendan Allen[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Tom Breese[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Luis Pena[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Steve Garcia[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Jordan Griffin[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]TJ Brown[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Aalon Cruz[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Ismail Naurdiev[/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: $826,500
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: $31,831,000

Fight Tracks: The walkout songs of UFC on ESPN+ 27 with Queen, Steppenwolf, Chili Peppers

Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 27 event in Norfolk, Va.

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+ 27 went with as their backing tracks in Norfolk, Va.

UFC on ESPN+ 27: Spike Carlyle post-fight interview

Sean Brady talks to meadia after his UFC on ESPN+ 27 victory.

Sean Brady talks to meadia after his UFC on ESPN+ 27 victory.

Video: “Alpha Ginger” Spike Carlyle wins UFC debut with wild elbow combination

The “Alpha Ginger” sure looked like an alpha in his UFC debut on Saturday.

[autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] sure made a statement for his first UFC bout.

The “Alpha Ginger” had a successful debut at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in Norfolk, Va. on Saturday night. The 26-year-old featherweight stopped Aalon Cruz with brutal elbows in the first round of their preliminary-card contest. The official stoppage came at the 1:25 mark.

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Granted, some of the strikes in the finishing flurry seemed borderline, but there’s not denying this was an impressive performance.

With this result, Carlyle (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is now on a five-fight win streak. Watch the finish that got Carlyle his first win inside the octagon below.

UPDATE: Cruz’s management team clearly believes the finish occurred due to illegal strikes, and says they will file an appeal with Virginia’s athletic commission:

UFC on ESPN+ 27 takes place Saturday at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va. The card streams on ESPN+. 

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Spike Carlyle ready to show why he’s a terrible matchup for Aalon Cruz at UFC on ESPN+ 27

Spike Carlyle thinks his upcoming matchup vs. Aalon Cruz plays in his favor.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – [autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] might be giving up quite a bit of height and reach, but thinks his upcoming matchup plays in his favor.

Carlyle (8-1 MMA) makes his promotional debut Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in Norfolk, Va., against fellow debutant and Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner [autotag]Aalon Cruz[/autotag] (8-2 MMA).

Cruz secured his UFC contract with a devastating flying knee. But Carlyle, who’s known for his aggressive style and high finishing rate, is confident that stylistically, he’ll have the upper hand.

“Aalon is tall, rangy, and I watched some footage from his last loss (and) another win, so I’ve studied him,” Carlyle said. “Obviously in his last fight, he was primarily striking. But I know he’s comfortable going to the ground, as well. Unfortunately, this is a terrible matchup for him and you guys will see why on Saturday night.”

Known for his entertaining walkouts, Carlyle, who’s spent time at Treigning Lab and Kings MMA in California, likes to put on a show both inside and outside the cage. His finishes have come both on the feet and on the ground, showing he’s comfortable wherever the fight goes.

Saturday night, Carlyle is ready to introduce himself to the masses.

“I’m the Alpha Ginger. I’ve been a martial artist my whole life,” Carlyle said. “I think I represent all aspects of the fight game, meaning I don’t believe I’m just a martial artist or just a fighter, just an athlete – but I’m the complete manifestation of all of them.”

‘The Alpha Ginger’ Spike Carlyle replaces Steven Peterson, meets Aalon Cruz at UFC on ESPN+ 27

The UFC has signed “The Alpha Ginger,” and he’ll be making his short-notice promotional debut in Norfolk.

[autotag]Aalon Cruz[/autotag] won’t be facing his originally scheduled opponent, but he will stay on the UFC on ESPN+ 27 card.

With [autotag]Steven Peterson[/autotag] out, Cruz (8-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) now faces fellow promotional debutant [autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag]. A person with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the booking Thursday. The person asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an announcement.

Florida’s Cruz was signed to the UFC following a brutal flying knee knockout victory on last summer’s season of “Dana White’s Contender Series.” The 30-year-old fighter is riding a four-fight winning streak.

Carlyle (8-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) or, as he’s known to some, “The Alpha Ginger,” makes his UFC debut on a little over three weeks’ notice. A veteran of LFA, Carlyle has also won his most recent four outings.

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UFC on ESPN+ 27 takes place Feb. 29 at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va. The card will stream on ESPN+.

The latest UFC on ESPN+ 27 lineup now includes:

  • Joseph Benavidez vs. Deiveson Figueiredo – for vacant flyweight title
  • Mickey Gall vs. Alex Oliveira
  • Megan Anderson vs. Norma Dumont
  • Zarah Fairn vs. Felicia Spencer
  • Kyler Phillips vs. Gabriel Silva
  • Brendan Allen vs. Tom Breese
  • Sean Brady vs. Ismail Naurdiev
  • Spike Carlyle vs. Aalon Cruz
  • T.J. Brown vs. Jordan Griffin
  • Alex Munoz vs. Luis Pena
  • Giga Chikadze vs. Mike Davis
  • TJ Brown vs. Jordan Griffin
  • Serghei Spivac vs. Marcin Tybura

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