Tag: UFC 256

UFC 256 post-event facts: Deiveson Figueiredo, Brandon Moreno make history with draw

The best facts and figures to come out of UFC 256, which saw Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno fight to a draw in the main event.

The UFC’s 2020 pay-per-view schedule came to a close Saturday. UFC 256, which took place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, marked the 11th and final numbered card of the year.

[autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] (20-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) emerged as the last champion to defend this calendar year when he fought [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (18-5-2 MMA, 6-2-2 UFC) to a majority draw in the main event, keeping his belt in the process.

For more on the numbers to come out of the event, check below for 40 post-event facts from UFC 256.

UFC 256: Tony Ferguson was absolutely insane not to tap out after this disgusting arm bar

This video is not for the faint of heart.

Arms should not bend like they did when Charles Oliveira ripped at Tony Ferguson in a vicious arm bar at UFC 256 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday. It was, in a word, disgusting.

To make the situation even more insane, Ferguson continued the fight after nearly getting his arm snapped in half. He didn’t tap out — he finished the fight. Oliveira (30-8 MMA, 18-8 UFC) took down Ferguson (25-5 MMA, 15-3 UFC) in upset fashion. Clearly, the move took a toll on Ferguson, who didn’t throw that left arm for the rest of the match.

Here’s a look. Word of warning, it’s gross. Really gross.

I don’t know whether to praise Ferguson for going the distance — or whether to scold him. That was insane.

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Charles Oliveira eyes Conor McGregor-Dustin Poirier winner after continuing climb at UFC 256

Charles Oliveira believes he’s earned the right to face the winner of the upcoming Conor McGregor-Dustin Poirier fight.

LAS VEGAS – With a one-sided victory over Tony Ferguson at UFC 256 on Saturday night, [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] has finally reached rarified air: the elite stratosphere of the lightweight division, which means he’s keeping company with some of the biggest names in the sport and the highest-profile fights.

It’s been a long way up for Oliveira (30-8 MMA, 18-8 UFC), who clearly wants to rock ‘n’ roll. A member of the UFC roster since 2010, he’s won eight fights in a row and is closing in on the short list of contenders for the belt still held by the recently retired Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The way Oliveira sees it, Nurmagomedov is going to stay retired. And as such, only one fight makes sense for him next: Whoever takes the highly anticipated UFC 257 main event between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier.

“Khabib swore on his father’s grave that he wasn’t going to come back, so when a man does that, I don’t think he’s going to come back,” Oliveira said through an interpreter at the UFC 256 post-fight news conference. “(Justin) Gaethje can fight whoever, but I want the winner of Conor and Poirier. I have eight wins in a row, seven of those I finish the fights, and I don’t let it go to the judges hands, I finish fights. I deserve (it), I’m in the position to be fighting for the belt.”

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As for a preference on which opponent he’d like to face? Well, Oliveira acknowledges that a bout with McGregor is the one that would bring him the most money. But at the end of the day he’s all about getting the belt, so as far as he’s concerned, whomever it may be, bring it on.

“I don’t really think there is a preference,” Oliveira said. “I want to fight for the belt. That’s been my dream and my team’s dream. Obviously fighting Conor comes with a lot of other things, a lot of money that maybe a fight with Dustin wouldn’t involve, but if you want to win the belt it really doesn’t make a difference.”

As that plays out, for now, Oliveira is just glad he has the opportunity to prove himself.

“I think everything happens at the right time,” he said. “Look at the fight tonight: This is the guy everyone calls ‘The Boogeyman,’ and we went in there and we had an amazing fight. I’ve been telling everyone I’m going to be the champion. People don’t believe it, so I have to show them.”

For more from Oliveira, watch the video above.

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Brandon Moreno ‘ready to take the rematch’ with Deiveson Figueiredo after UFC 256 – but first family time

Brandon Moreno didn’t become the first Mexican-born UFC champion like he hoped, but he sees another opportunity coming his way soon.

Not long after his UFC 256 instant classic with flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] was overwhelmed with feelings – physically and mentally.

“To be honest, I feel too much pain in all my body, but at the same time, I feel so happy,” Moreno said on the ESPN+ post-fight show.

Hard to blame him.

On Saturday night, Moreno went to war with Figueiredo in the “Fight of the Night” and what could be the “Fight of the Year.” Unfortunately for Moreno, though, his dream of becoming the first Mexican-born UFC champion was put on hold after the fight was declared a majority draw.

“Obviously I wanted the title. I wanted to bring that happiness to my country, to my family. But it is what it is,” Moreno said. “I’m so happy to take this opportunity. I’m ready to go home with my family, with my kids. That’s all I need.”

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That’s understandable considering Moreno – and Figueiredo – fought 21 days earlier at UFC 255, setting up the fastest title fight turnaround in company history.

Both Moreno (18-5-2 MMA, 6-2-2 UFC) and Figueiredo (20-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) had big moments in the fight, particularly during a frenetic fourth round. For Moreno, he expressed some regret at not pushing the pace more during the fifth round, which two of the three judges gave to Figueiredo. He also looks forward to running it back.

“I think I expected a little bit more power from him. Obviously he has power. It’s obvious because when he threw punches to my body, I felt it. When he threw kicks to my forearms, I felt it definitely,” Moreno said. “But I started to get more confidence during the fight, and I started to feel comfortable. I think I needed to put more pressure in the fifth round, but it is what it is. Right now I have this weird draw. I’m not happy, but at the same time I am happy because I know it was a nice fight.”

He continued, “Obviously after these last eight weeks of 2020, I need to rest. He has all my respect. He fought the same time as me. He took this fight on short notice. He is a champion. Normally the champion takes a long time to rest and recover his body; he does not. He took the fight. I have too much respect for him. I need to rest and spend some time with my family. But definitely in 2021 I am ready to take the rematch.”

Good news for Moreno: UFC president Dana White wants the same thing.

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UFC 256 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: 2020 total won’t surpass $7 million

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 256 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $220,500.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 256 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $220,500.

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 256 took place at UFC Apex. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.

The full UFC 256 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag]: $40,000
vs. [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag]: $30,000

[autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag]: $20,000
def. [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag]: $15,000

[autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Virna Jandiroba[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag]: $15,000

[autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag]: $20,000

[autotag]Cub Swanson[/autotag]: $20,000
def. [autotag]Daniel Pineda[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Rafael Fiziev[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Gavin Tucker[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Tecia Torres[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Sam Hughes[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Chase Hooper[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Peter Barrett[/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: $6,373,500
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: $37,428,000

UFC 256: Charles Oliveira post-fight interview

UFC 256: Charles Oliveira post-fight interview

UFC 256: Charles Oliveira post-fight interview

Dana White: Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno rematch ‘absolutely, positively’ next

Dana White intends to book an immediate rematch between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno after UFC 256.

LAS VEGAS – UFC president Dana White wants to book an immediate rematch between “absolute (expletive)” savages [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] and [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] after UFC 256.

Figueiredo (20-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) and Moreno (18-5-2 MMA, 6-2-2 UFC) put on an all-time title fight in Saturday’s headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. They fought to a majority draw in an epic back-and-forth battle.

Both men went through tremendous punishment in the five-round contest, but the result begged a second fight to decide a conclusive winner. White agreed to as much, and said he intends to put them back in the octagon as soon as possible.

“We’ve got to give these guys some time off – but you absolutely, positively do that rematch,” White told reporters, including MMA Junkie, post-fight at UFC 256. “That’s another fun fight for us all to look forward to in 2021.”

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As far as the fight itself, White said he thought the result should’ve been different. He pointed to a point deduction against Figueiredo that came after a low blow as the reason for the draw.

“I had Figueiredo winning the fight,” White said. “(After) the point deduction, the whole fight turned. Moreno started coming on stronger. He probably won that round without the point deduction. That’s when the whole fight started to turn.”

It’s unknown when the rematch between Figueiredo and Moreno will happen. White said both men can “take as much time as they need” after two bouts in 21 days.

The initial bout was a memorable way to close the UFC’s 2020 title fight schedule, though. It already is being discussed as a potential “Fight of the Year,” alongside the brutal UFC 248 title bout between Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

White didn’t give a definitive opinion on the best UFC bout of the year, but said both were tremendous fights.

“Joanna and Weili was really good, too,” White said. “It was just so long ago people need to remember how really damn good that fight was.”

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UFC 256 scorecard: One judge’s inexplicable fifth round led to Figueiredo-Moreno draw

Deiveson Figueiredo won the fifth round, according to two judges, but one saw it differently, which proved the difference.

We got an instant classic Saturday night at UFC 256, as flyweight champion [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] and [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] battled to a majority draw. The fight was an absolute barnburner from start to finish and should reopen the debate for “Fight of the Year” after it seemed Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk seemed to have it locked up back in March.

If there’s something that was disappointing about the UFC 256 main event, it’s that we didn’t get a winner, and that’s for two key reasons.

One:

  • Referee Jason Herzog deducted a point from Figueiredo after a hard kick to the groin in the third round.

As a result of this, all three judges scored the round 9-9, meaning they essentially all had it in favor of Figueiredo. Now, in the immediate aftermath of UFC 256, there seems to be some debate about whether Herzog should’ve deducted a point in the first place, but you have to remember that Figueiredo had previously committed a foul with an eye poke. And his kick to Moreno’s groin was absolutely nasty. It’s not hard to see why the ref would deduct a point after that.

Two:

  • Judge Junichiro Kamijo scored the fifth round 10-9 in favor of Moreno as part of his 47-47 overall score.

Plain and simply, this was atrocious. Nobody who watched the fight with proper eye sight would score that round for Moreno. Kamijo was the only judge to do that. Even after the fight, Moreno said he regretted not pushing the pace more in the fifth.

Without that inexplicable 10-9, Moreno would’ve won a majority decision. So when you look at the scoring, Kamijo is the reason why we ended up with a draw that should’ve have been.

Check out the full scorecard below:

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.

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UFC 256: Dana White post-fight press conference

UFC 256: Dana White post-fight press conference

UFC 256: Dana White post-fight press conference