Tag: UFC on ABC 6

Mick Maynard’s Shoes: What’s next for Robert Whittaker after UFC on ABC 6 knockout win?

Robert Whittaker delivered a destructive KO in the UFC on ABC 6 main event, and is close to another chance at regaining middleweight gold.

[autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] was the shining star of UFC’s debut event in Saudi Arabia when he emerged on top in the headliner of Saturday’s UFC on ABC 6.

Former UFC middleweight champion Whittaker (26-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) produced his fastest finish in more than nine years when he halted short-notice replacement Ikram Aliskerov (15-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) less than two minutes into the opening round at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.

[lawrence-related id=2750781,2750607,2750311]

After the win, Whittaker dubbed himself the “boogeyman” at 185 pounds, and made it clear he’s coming for the belt he lost nearly six years ago.

What’s next for Whittaker? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future after UFC on ABC 6.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6.

Ikram Aliskerov pledges rebound, says no regrets for short-notice UFC on ABC 6 loss

An old adage says “no risk, no reward,” and Ikram Aliskerov rolled those dice recently.

An old adage says “no risk, no reward,” and [autotag]Ikram Aliskerov[/autotag] rolled those dice recently.

He was all set for the UFC on ESPN 58 co-main event against Antonio Trocoli in Las Vegas 10 days ago when word got around that Khamzat Chimaev was out of his UFC on ABC 6 headliner against Robert Whittaker. Instead of taking the fight with Trocoli, who was a late replacement, he left Vegas for Saudi Arabia to fight Whittaker in a nationally televised main event.

It was a tall ask to begin with, but Aliskerov (15-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) ran into a buzzsaw in former middleweight champion Whittaker (26-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) and was knocked out in the first round. It was his first loss in more than five years to, coincidentally, Chimaev.

After a pair of first-round knockout wins to open his UFC career, Aliskerov posted on social media that he’ll right the ship.

“Alhamdulilla, no excuses. I don’t regret anything,” Aliskerov posted. “It was a big experience against one of the best in the sport. I’m young, I’ll work on my mistakes, learn and get back into business soon. Thank to everyone for support messages.”

Whittaker has only three losses in the past 10 years: two to Israel Adesanya in title fights, and one to current champ Dricus Du Plessis in a title eliminator.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on abc 6.

[vertical-gallery id=2750485]

[vertical-gallery id=2750476]

Daniel Rodriguez accepted risk vs. Kelvin Gastelum at UFC on ABC 6 but ‘that’s why there’s weight classes’

After his UFC Saudi Arabia loss, Daniel Rodriguez opens up about accepting the fight vs. Kelvin Gastelum up a weight class.

[autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag] exited UFC on ABC 6 with a positive mindset, but also the thought his fight would’ve gone differently if opponent [autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag] fought at welterweight.

The bout took place at middleweight rather than welterweight after Gastelum showed up overweight for fight week and asked for the switch. Rodriguez, along with the UFC, negotiated new terms with Gastelum. However, Rodriguez ultimately lost the bout by unanimous decision at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“That’s why there’s weight classes,” Rodriguez wrote on his Instagram story after the fight.

Rodriguez also posted a pair of selfie videos. During the first, Rodriguez pointed out Gastelum’s strong cardio, something he hypothesized would not have been a factor had the cut to welterweight transpired.

“So, sh*t didn’t really go my way. It’s the fight game,” Rodriguez said. “That sh*t happens. I took the risk. There’s no way I was going to come all the way out here and not fight. I guarantee if that fight was at 170 pounds, he wouldn’t have had the energy to take me down. He wouldn’t have been as strong. And he wouldn’t have been able to take most of my punches. I ain’t going to dwell on it and sh*t. I thugged it out and kept it G. I repped the city and I can’t wait to come home. Shout out to all the fans. Y’all some real ones. To my family and my kids, I can’t wait to come home. I miss you guys and I’m going to bounce back. F*ck it.”

[lawrence-related id=2750956,2750721]

Shortly thereafter, Rodriguez posted a second video with a more upbeat approach, where he voiced the positives that came from the experience despite the loss. He revealed that he received a new contract with a pay bump ahead of the fight, plus received 30 percent of Gastelum’s purse.

“All right, y’all. I’m done complaining about the fight. F*ck it. It happened,” Rodriguez said. “I knew the risk. With the risk, came great rewards. I lost the fight but I gained so much more in return: a ton a respect from the fight community, a nice raise, six-fight contract, 30 percent of his f*cking (purse). I can’t even be mad. Yeah, I wanted the win but I want so much more in the end. I knew the risk. I took it, put on a hell of a show. The fans love me. I love y’all. My kids are proud. My family is proud. I lost but I won. F*ck it. I can’t wait to get home from the airport and love life baby. Let’s go.”

Rodriguez, 37, has lost three-straight fights. It’s unclear what his next move is. As for Gastelum, he’s won two of his most recent three. UFC CEO Dana White voiced disappointment in Gastelum’s pre-fight behavior during a post-fight news conference.

[vertical-gallery id=2750485]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6.

Bisping, Chiesa light up Kelvin Gastelum for ’empty promise’ at UFC on ABC 6: ‘Hold your head in shame’

Bisping, Chiesa light up Kelvin Gastelum for ’empty promise’ at UFC on ABC 6: ‘Hold your head in shame’

There was little word mincing from a UFC Hall of Famer and perennial welterweight contender Saturday after UFC on ABC 6.

There was little word mincing from a UFC Hall of Famer and perennial welterweight contender Saturday after UFC on ABC 6.

[autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag] (19-9 MMA, 13-9 UFC) outworked Daniel Rodriguez (17-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) for a unanimous decision on the main card in Saudi Arabia. Gastelum was the betting favorite in the fight. But the bout contract was signed for welterweight. During fight week, Gastelum came in heavy – way heavy – and despite Rodriguez saying he offered a 180-pound catchweight, Gastelum apparently couldn’t hit that.

The fight settled in at middleweight, where Gastelum has spent much of his career after multiple welterweight attempts years back that resulted in weight misses, fight cancellations and plenty of drama. But in late 2023, he successfully moved back to 170 pounds, and the presumption heading into UFC on ABC 6 was that it was his new division.

His miss and request to fight a full 15 pounds up without alerting the UFC, or his opponent, until deep into fight week drew the ire of plenty, and after the event, UFC Hall of Famer and former middleweight champion [autotag]Michael Bisping[/autotag], who was an analyst for the fight on the ABC broadcast, lit into Gastelum – who has a win over Bisping.

“(Rodriguez) was restricting in calories (during his camp),” Bisping said on the ESPN+ post-fight show. “He wasn’t taking on the carbohydrates so that you recover from a training session – you lose muscle and all the rest of it because he was taking it seriously. He wanted to weigh in at 170 pounds, whereas Gastelum clearly wasn’t doing that throughout the training camp. So therefore, you’re stronger, you’re more athletic, you recover from your training sessions quicker, and you come into the fight stronger and heavier.

“Both men had a tremendous fight. I thought Daniel Rodriguez should be proud of himself – really, really pushed Gastelum to the limit. Gastelum, even though he was heavy, still managed to keep a good pace for 15 minutes. The takedowns in Round 3 were kind of essential because Rodriguez was starting to find the mark on the cage. It was a great fight. It really was. Both men should be proud of themselves. But Kelvin Gastelum, regarding the weight situation, he should be ashamed of himself.”

Bisping was joined on the post-fight show by current UFC welterweight [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag], who took aim at Gastelum, as well. He honed in on Gastelum’s post-fight interview in the cage with Daniel Cormier, in which when asked about the weight miss offered an apology to Dana White and the UFC, said he was trying to be a company man, and that it never would happen again.

But Chiesa seemed to imply Gastelum knew all along he wasn’t going to fight at welterweight.

“The pace that Kelvin Gastelum upheld through the course of the 15 minutes of that fight tells me you didn’t try to make weight, because if somebody really suffered trying to make weight and they miss, they’re not able to sustain that type of pace,” Chiesa said. “That tells me he didn’t try. And the fact that he really deflected Daniel Cormier’s question in the post-fight interview … He asked, ‘Hey, what was up with the weight miss?’ and Kelvin completely deflected from it and delivered once again – and I hate to be hard on the guy, but I have to; it’s part of my job – you delivered another empty promise that it won’t happen again.

“This has happened too many times with Kelvin Gastelum. He should not be allowed to sign a contract to fight at welterweight ever again.”

Gastelum won Season 17 of “The Ultimate Fighter” more than 11 years ago at middleweight. He dropped to welterweight for his next one, but after two fights at 170, he missed weight for the first time. A couple fights later, he missed by 10 pounds for a fight against Tyron Woodley. He was ordered up to middleweight, but returned to 170 one fight later.

It wasn’t long before he was back to scale issues, though, and at UFC 205, he didn’t even attempt to get on the scale for a fight with Donald Cerrone. At that time, White said he’d never fight at 170 in the UFC again.

And at middleweight, he stayed for years until a return to 170 in December – despite White saying that he’d never allow it – and a submission loss to Sean Brady. After the weight debacle in Saudi Arabia, White once again is offering up words of disappointment, but it remains to be seen in which division Gastelum will fight next.

“We’re talking about being a professional mixed martial artist,” Bisping said. “I always say there’s only two things you can control: That you show up on weight – that’s No. 1 – and that you’re in shape. If you don’t show up on weight, and if you’re tired after one round, go and find something else to do, because this ain’t for you, because you’re supposed to be one of the best professional mixed martial artists on the planet.

“You sign a contract – both of you do. They sell tickets on it based upon that. You might be fighting for a world championship. If you don’t show up on weight, 15 pounds over, hold your head in shame.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on abc 6.

[vertical-gallery id=2750485]

[vertical-gallery id=2750476]

Alexander Volkov surprised Sergei Pavlovich accepted UFC on ABC 6 fight: ‘I’m a terrible matchup for him’

Alexander Volkov reacts to his victory over Sergei Pavlovich in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC on ABC 6.

[autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag] was surprised to find himself standing across the octagon of fellow countryman and former teammate [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag].

The two Russian heavyweight contenders clashed in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC on ABC 6, which went down at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Volkov (37-10 MMA, 11-4 UFC) defeated Pavlovich (18-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in a dominant unanimous decision – something he expected, which is why he was surprised Pavlovich took the fight.

“I’m stylistically a very bad matchup for Sergei, so his manager should be more honest with him about the fights that he should or shouldn’t accept,” Volkov told reporters at the UFC on ABC 6 post-fight press conference.”I didn’t spar this way with Sergei when we used to spar together, and what I mean is that unorthodox way. There were other things that we prepared in camp that I think they would’ve worked, as well.

“I think this was an attempt from his side to get a fight quick and fight after a loss. Like I said before, stylistically, I’m a terrible matchup for him.”

Volkov and Pavlovich didn’t end on the best terms. There was bad blood heading into the fight as both fighters felt slighted that the fight was accepted by both parties. Volkov claims he was told that Pavlovich accepted the fight first, which he didn’t take kindly, and the inverse is said from Pavlovich’s perspective. After the fight, Volkov tried to shake Pavlovich’s hand, but got a shove instead.

As far as what’s next, Volkov said there’s been talk about getting a title eliminator bout now that he’s on a four-fight winning streak. However, nothing is set on stone and his willing to flow with whatever the UFC decides to do with the division.

“I would really like to fight for the title, but I’m also an employee of the UFC, and I’m going to have to not go with my wishes, but go with what they say is right,” Volkov said. “There’s been kind of an unwritten agreement that that’s going to be the case, but who is it going to be or where is it going to be, we don’t really know yet.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6.

UFC on ABC 6 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Ikram Aliskerov gets $4,000 in main event save

UFC on ABC 6 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ABC 6 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $186,000.

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 ABC 6 took place Saturday at Kingdom Arena. The main card airs on ABC following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC on ABC 6 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Ikram Aliskerov[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Shara Magomedov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Antonio Trocoli[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Volkan Oezdemir[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Nasrat Haqparast[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Jared Gordon[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Felipe Lima[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Muhammad Naimov[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Rinat Fakhretdinov[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Nicolas Dalby[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Muin Gafurov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Kyung Ho Kang[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Magomed Gadzhiyasulov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Brendson Ribeiro[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]ChangHo Lee[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Xiao Long[/autotag]: $4,000

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 $40,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-40 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $3,637,000
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $26,374,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6.

Robert Whittaker eager for UFC rematch vs. Dricus Du Plessis, cites improvement: ‘I want to run it back’

Would a UFC rematch between Robert Whittaker and Dricus Du Plessis go differently?

[autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] wants to challenge himself once again, and he thinks he’s earned the opportunity to do so.

In his UFC on ABC 6 victory Saturday in Saudi Arabia, Whittaker (26-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) starched Ikram Aliskerov (15-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) with a TKO stoppage at the 1:49 mark of Round 1.

“You hope for the best and prepare for the worst, right?” Whittaker told reporters after the event. “I was preparing for an absolute 25-minute slugfest. I was preparing for war – a dogfight. I told you before, I have the mentality of being the hunter. I’m going to go in there and I’m going to stalk my prey. I want to be the predator. I feel like I accomplished that.”

Over the course of his past 18 fights, Whittaker’s only losses have come to two men: Dricus Du Plessis and twice to Israel Adesanya. Despite his losses, Whittaker has continued to conquer all other tasks.

After he called to be the UFC 305 backup for the Du Plessis (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) vs. Adesanya (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) title fight Aug. 17 in Perth, Australia, promotion CEO Dana White approved. Whittaker explained why he thinks a second crack at the titleholder would go differently than the first.

“I’d like to think that (a rematch would go differently),” Whittaker said. “Look at the paperwork. Since that fight, I’ve only improved. I’ve only gotten better. I’m not saying that if I was on, I would’ve beaten him. I’m not going to take that away from him. He turned up on the night and beat me fair and square and now he’s the world champion because of it. He’s a good fighter. He’s good at what he does. But I know I can do better. Will I beat him? Maybe he gets his hand raised again, but I know I can do better and I know I didn’t put my best foot forward in that fight and I want to run it back because of that.”

[lawrence-related id=2750752,2750700]

As for Adesanya, Whittaker says he’s still on “that list.” But at this point, the title is on his mind. Whittaker wants to prove he’s the best in the world.

“Adesanya is still on that list, mate,” Whittaker said. “But I honestly feel like my goal in martial arts, in mixed martial arts, in combat sports, is to live up to my own potential. That’s the only thing I want to achieve. I know how good I am. I’m the most dangerous middleweight on the planet. Everyone knows that. But I have big shoes to fill. That’s the only thing I ask for, every time I fight, every time I step in that octagon, is just to allow me to do live up to my own potential. Tonight, I feel like I did that.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6.

Dana White ‘not thrilled’ with Kelvin Gastelum after UFC on ABC 6 weight issues

UFC CEO Dana White is shaking his head after Kelvin Gastelum showed up heavy in Saudi Arabia and cruised to a win over Daniel Rodriguez.

UFC CEO Dana White isn’t happy with [autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag].

Gastelum (19-9 MMA, 13-9 UFC) showed up heavy to UFC on ABC 6 fight week in Saudi Arabia, so much so that his welterweight bout vs. Daniel Rodriguez was shifted up 15 pounds to middleweight.

Rodriguez (17-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) voiced his displeasure with the circumstances at a news conference prior to the fight and White echoed the same sentiments after Gastelum won by unanimous decision Saturday.

“I’m not thrilled with Kelvin Gastelum right now,” White told reporters at a post-fight news conference. “This guy has missed weight like three times in his career. You’ve got kids taking fights on a week notice, jumping off cards, coming over here and making weight, and Kelvin doesn’t make weight. It’s extremely disappointing.”

Gastelum apologized for the botched weight cut during his in-cage interview, but as he even noted himself, it’s not the first time he’s run into issues and apologized.

He’s officially missed weight three times on the scales during his 11-year UFC tenure and has bounced between middleweight and welterweight. Gastelum successfully made weight in December at 170 pounds. It’s unclear what weight class he will compete in next.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6.

UFC on ABC 6 bonuses: Robert Whittaker’s statement KO nets extra $50,000

After UFC on ABC 6, four fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances in Saudi Arabia.

The UFC handed out four post-fight bonuses after Saturday’s card, including one to its former champ headliner.

After UFC on ABC 6, four fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances in Saudi Arabia. Check out the winners below.