Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
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.
Jose Aldo’s temporary tattoo at UFC Fight Night 183 was a nod to a special forces unit in the Brazil Navy.
[autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] puzzled the audience at UFC Fight Night 183 when he stepped into the octagon with what looked to be a newly inked tattoo on his chest.
By the time the end of the fight had arrived and Aldo (29-7 MMA, 11-6 UFC) had earned a unanimous decision win over Marlon Vera in their bantamweight co-headliner at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, though, it was gone.
The temporary tattoo was a logo for a special forces unit in the Brazil Navy, where Aldo has done some boxing training in the past. He wanted to honor them with the patch.
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The move by Aldo raised some questions about whether Aldo coming in with unapproved body art would be in violation of the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance policy. He said it wasn’t his intention to be sneaky, though, and apologized if the surprising temporary tattoo caused unintended issues.
“The truth, I didn’t know if I needed permission because it’s the Navy Seals, and I put it there in the hotel before I came here, and I warmed up for three hours without a shirt,” Aldo told reporters, including MMA Junkie, through an interpreter post-fight at UFC Fight Night 183. “Nobody told me anything. I don’t think it’s a problem because it doesn’t have any sponsor information. If I caused any problems, I apologize.”
The win for Aldo against Vera snapped his three-fight losing skid in UFC competition. It was the former longtime UFC featherweight champion’s first win at 135 pounds, and afterward he took aim at ex-divisional kingpin T.J. Dillashaw as his suspension nears its expiration in January.
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Free agent Anthony Pettis said he’s keen to find out “what my worth really is” after finishing his UFC contract, but what’s the best fit?
Former UFC and WEC lightweight champion [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] fought out his UFC contract this past Saturday with a unanimous decision win over Alex Morono at UFC Fight Night 183. Afterward, Pettis said he’s keen to find out “what my worth really is.”
There are seemingly several good options for “Showtime,” but what is the best fit for him going forward? MMA Junkie staff members Farah Hannoun, Simon Head and Mike Bohn debate in this edition of “Triple Take.”
Check out Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”
Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here!
On Episode 3,115, the fellas welcome [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag], who was removed from this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night 183 after testing positive for COVID-19, which canceled his bout against Dhiego Lima. Muhammad updates on how he’s doing and plans to rebook the fight. Also on the show, the guys unpack what went down at UFC Fight Night 183, the latest MMA news and notes, 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 Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.
Take a look inside Deron Winn’s win over Antonio Arroyo at UFC Fight Night 183 in Las Vegas.
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LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Deron Winn[/autotag] beat Antonio Arroyo with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 183 in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Winn, who snapped a two-fight skid with a mild upset win.
Check out all the facts and figures from UFC Fight Night 183, which saw Stephen Thompson beat Geoff Neal in Las Vegas.
The UFC closed out its 2020 schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 183, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
The 41st and final headliner of the year saw [autotag]Stephen Thompson[/autotag] (16-4-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC) put on a classic striking clinic against [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) to secure a unanimous decision victory in the matchup of ranked welterweights.
For more on the numbers behind the card, as well as the rest of the event, check below.
Anthony Pettis discusses his fighting future after finishing his UFC contract on an up note.
LAS VEGAS – Former UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] is a free agent – but he’s not rushing to make a decision on his next move.
Saturday at UFC Fight Night 183, Pettis (24-10 MMA, 11-9 UFC) rallied to defeat Alex Morono via unanimous decision (29-28, 28-28, 29-28) in what was the final fight of his UFC deal. After his victory, Pettis elected not to make any immediate decisions on his fighting future.
“I don’t know,” Pettis told MMA Junkie at the UFC Fight Night 183 post-fight news conference. “I think that was the risk of taking this fight and not re-signing (a) UFC contract. Usually, I re-sign my UFC contract (with) three fights to go or two fights to go. This time, I’m like, ‘I’m 33 years old. I’ve been in this (game). This is my 11th-and-a-half year with this company, man. I’ve been with this company for a long time.’
“I love this place. I grew up under these lights. They made me who I am, but at this point, I’m just going to take my time, go to Christmas, have my New Year’s and then see what happens at the beginning of 2020 – and see what happens in 2021.”
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Pettis entered UFC Fight Night 183 having lost two of his previous three fights. Despite UFC president Dana White’s recent revelation the promotion will sever ties with approximately 60 members of its roster in the coming weeks, Pettis said he never considered his job at risk.
“Nah, not really,” Pettis said. “If I were to have let that get to my head, then I would’ve fought a different fight out there. … I don’t think my job was at stake. I’ve earned the right to be fighting where I’m at. I can fight with the best of them. I beat the guy in the main event of this card, ‘Wonderboy.’ He’s a great fighter.
“So I just feel like it’s me finding my groove outside the Octagon is what’s going to get me these fights and let me keep going. My goal right now is to get a win streak going. This is my first win streak in a long time.”
UFC Fight Night 183 took place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streamed on ESPN+.
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Rob Font beat a former WSOF champ Saturday night, and he wants a former UFC champ next.
LAS VEGAS – After a signature win over former World Series of Fighting champ Marlon Moraes at UFC Fight Night 183, [autotag]Rob Font[/autotag] wants another big name.
The Boston bantamweight and member of the “New England Cartel” along with Calvin Kattar thinks he could be the right man to welcome former two-time UFC 135-pound champ T.J. Dillasahaw back into the octagon.
“I would love to fight that guy – big name, huge name,” Font said. “If I don’t get that fight, I would love to headline a card – either like a big name, some type of headliner. I would even fill in for the champ.”
It remains to be seen whether Font (18-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC) will get a fight with Dillashaw, who will become eligible for reinstatement from a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency suspension on Jan. 18. But with three straight wins, it’s just as plain Font has come of age.
“It feels good to beat a top guy,” Font said. “Everyone was always giving me (expletive), letting me know I wasn’t finishing or beating the top guys. I just beat a top guy so I’m just happy.”
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Not only did the win over Moraes mark his third straight victory, but it was also a return after a year away from action due to a leg injury. Like everyone else in this year of pandemic restrictions, Font admits he went a little stir crazy in the meantime.
“A year off after injury, it was tough. It was tough – a year of sitting around the house going crazy,” Font said. “(I was) limping around with one leg trying to shadow box, holding the sofa and trying to throw kicks, and just practicing my kung-fu, basically. It was tough. But once I got done with the rehab, once I got to the strength and conditioning phase, I’m just happy, man.”
The wait paid off Saturday. There was some outcry on social media that referee Marc Goddard could have waved off the bout earlier since Moraes took a beating. Font said it could have been stopped faster, but he also understands officials have a difficult job.
“You know, reffing is a tough job,” Font said. “He was going in and out, in and out, in and out. So yeah, I felt like, ‘C’mon man, hurry up and stop the fight.’ I could hear my corner going, ‘Keep going, keep going.’ I’ve got to rewatch some of it, but I’m not complaining. When I landed the elbow, I knew it was done.”
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UFC Fight Night 183 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 Fight Night 183 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $170,000.
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 Fight Night 183 took place at UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.
The full UFC Fight Night 183 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
* * * *
[autotag]Stephen Thompson[/autotag]: $15,000
def. [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag]: $5,000
[autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag]: $20,000
def. [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag]: $15,000
[autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Khaos Williams[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Rob Font[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag]: $5,000
[autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag]: $5,000
[autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag]: $20,000
def. [autotag]Alex Morono[/autotag]: $10,000
[autotag]Pannie Kianzad[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Sijara Eubanks[/autotag]: $5,000
[autotag]Deron Winn[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Antonio Arroyo[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Taila Santos[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Gillian Robertson[/autotag]: $5,000
[autotag]Tafon Nchukwi[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Jamie Pickett[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Jimmie Flick[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Cody Durden[/autotag]: $3,500
[autotag]Christos Giagos[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Carlton Minus[/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: $6,543,500
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: $37,598,000
Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 183 event.
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.
See what the fighters from UFC Fight Night 183 went with as their backing tracks in Las Vegas.
