UFC 291 post-event facts: Justin Gaethje’s insane bonus streak continues

The best facts to come out of UFC 291, which saw Justin Gaethje add to his bonus run and Derrick Lewis retake the octagon knockout record.

UFC 291 arguably was the event of the year on paper coming in, and the fights lived up to the hype with nine finishes in 11 bouts at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

The main event delivered perhaps the best knockout of the year so far when [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] (25-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) got revenge on [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] (29-8 MMA, 21-7 UFC) in their lightweight “BMF” title rematch courtesy of a brutal second-round head kick finish.

A number of historic feats occurred throughout the lineup. For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 291.

UFC 291 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Poirier, Gaethje net $32,000 for ‘BMF’ title fight

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 291 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $271,500.

SALT LAKE CITY – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 291 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $271,500.

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 291 took place at Delta Center. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC 291 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Marcos Rogerio de Lima[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Gabriel Bonfim[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Trevin Giles[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]CJ Vergara[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Vinicius Salvador[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Roman Kopylov[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Claudio Ribeiro[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jake Matthews[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Darrius Flowers[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Uros Medic[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Matthew Semelsberger[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Miranda Maverick[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Priscila Cachoeira[/autotag]: $6,000

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 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $5,051,500
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $19,640,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 291.

UFC in 2022: A ridiculously robust look at the stats, streaks, skids and record-setters

Check out a full recap of 2022’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 producer Michael Carroll, here are some of 2022’s most significant milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances in the octagon.

Nasrat Haqparast undergoes hand surgery after UFC 271 loss to Bobby Green

Nasrat Haqparast is looking to ensure the best version of himself turns up in his next UFC fight after suffering back-to-back losses.

[autotag]Nasrat Haqparast[/autotag] is looking to ensure the best version of himself turns up in his next UFC fight after suffering back-to-back losses.

Following his unanimous decision defeat to Bobby Green this past Saturday at UFC 271, Haqparast (13-5 MMA, 5-4 UFC) underwent surgery on his left hand.

According to the lightweight fighter, there have been lingering issues with the hand for his past four fights in which he’s gone 2-2. He decided to get the damage repaired and revealed on social media that he had surgery this week in Los Angeles (via Instagram):

Finally after the last 4 fights, training camps and years of pain with a broken hand I got surgery from the best hand surgeon in the world. Thank you Dr Shin ! Now it’s time to get healthy, recover and in summer I will be back as a new fighter inshAllah ! I fought my last couple fights with a half body. I’m ready to come back fresh and new !

Haqparast, 26, had won five of six fights since encountering his recent struggles. He fell short on the scorecards against Green at UFC 271 after dropping another decision to Dan Hooker at UFC 266 in September.

The German fighter did not provide a timeline on his potential octagon return immediately after surgery.

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MMA Junkie Radio #3235: Guest Kenny Florian, UFC 271 recap, more

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


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

On Episode 3,234, the fellas bring on guest [autotag]Kenny Florian[/autotag]. They also looked back at UFC 271 and Israel Adesanya’s title defense and discussed the latest news, including A.J. McKee vs. Patricio Freire, Kayla Harrison, Dustin Poirier and more. Tune in!

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple PodcastsSpotifyStitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

Henry Cejudo can see Khamzat Chimaev ‘easily beating’ Israel Adesanya

Henry Cejudo explains why he’s so confident in Khamzat Chimaev’s ability to dethrone UFC champ Israel Adesanya.

UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] has been unstoppable at 185 pounds, but [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] believes there’s one man who can dethrone him.

Adesanya (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) retained his title against Robert Whittaker this past Saturday at UFC 271, notching his fourth successful title defense. The champion has cleared out most of the division, including the likes of Marvin Vettori and Whittaker twice each.

But after seeing Whittaker land four takedowns against Adesanya, Cejudo is confident that [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) would have his way with the champ.

“The guy that will stop (Adesanya) is actually a (170) pounder, and his name is Khamzat Chimaev,” Cejudo said on “The Triple C & Schmo Show.”  I believe Chimaev is just a whole other animal, dude. His wrestling, his confidence. I mean, this dude – from what I’ve heard from a lot of people, this dude literally trains like nobody has ever seen before. When you’re a wrestler, and you’re like that, and he’s driven, I don’t think there’s nobody on the planet … I can see him easily beating Israel Adesanya.”

He continued, “This is the reason why: Because he can take him down, and he has that Khabib (Nurmagomedov) control.”

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Although Chimaev is currently a welterweight contender, he has competed at middleweight numerous times throughout his career. In a tweet he later deleted, Chimaev claimed that Adesanya has zero wrestling and would be “easy work” after watching his win at UFC 271.

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Maxim Grishin’s old-school Russian fight philosophy had him unworried about Knight’s weight miss

Take a look inside Maxim Grishin’s win over William Knight at UFC 271 in Houston.

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HOUSTON – [autotag]Maxim Grishin[/autotag] beat William Knight with a unanimous decision Saturday to open the preliminary card at UFC 271 in Houston.

Take a look inside the fight with Grishin, who got back in the win column after a loss to Dustin Jacoby nearly a year ago.

MMA Junkie Radio #3234: UFC 271 fall-out, Joe Rogan’s choice, remembering Tim Lane

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

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

On Episode 3,234, the fellas discuss everything that happened at UFC 271 and what to make of middleweight champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag], where [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] stands in the heavyweight division, and whether or not Joe Rogan made the right decision not to be a part of the event. They also remember longtime Xtreme Couture coach Tim Lane. Tune in!

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple PodcastsSpotifyStitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

After submission win, Jeremiah Wells tries to laugh off ’embarrassing’ stumble to start fight

Take a look inside Jeremiah Wells’ submission win over Blood Diamond at UFC 271 in Houston.

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HOUSTON – [autotag]Jeremiah Wells[/autotag] beat Blood Diamond with a first-round technical submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 271 in Houston.

Take a look inside the fight with Wells, who won for the fourth straight time – all by stoppage.

Michael Chandler says Israel Adesanya played it safe against Robert Whittaker: ‘Go fight, don’t you dare spar’

Michael Chandler expected more from Israel Adesanya at UFC 271.

[autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] expected more from [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] at UFC 271.

Chandler explained that after “The Stylebender” inked a new lucrative UFC deal, he should have shown more of a sense of urgency to finish his fight against Robert Whittaker in Saturday’s main event.

Adesanya defeated Whittaker via unanimous decision, outpointing him en route to his fourth successful title defense. Although Adesanya started out strong by dropping Whittaker in Round 1, “The Reaper” was able to get back in the fight and make the remaining four rounds competitive.

Whittaker landed multiple takedowns in the fight and even thought he did enough to dethrone Adesanya. Chandler, who’s coming off a “Fight of the Year” barnburner against Justin Gaethje, provided a live reaction throughout the fight and seemed rather disappointed in Adesanya’s performance.

Check out what Chandler had to say on Adesanya’s fight by scrolling below.