Tag: UFC on ESPN 9

UFC on ESPN 9 medical suspensions: Two fighters face potential 180-day layoffs

Two fighters face potential lengthy suspensions as a result of their UFC on ESPN 9 fights on Saturday.

Two fighters face potential six-month suspensions as a result of their UFC on ESPN 9 fights Saturday.

The Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) handed [autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] and [autotag]Vince Morales[/autotag] potential 180-day terms for injuries sustained in their respective bouts.

UFC headliners [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] and [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] were each suspended, with Woodley getting 45 days due to a facial laceration. Burns, who was victorious after a five-round unanimous decision, was handed a potential 30-day suspensions.

MMA Junkie obtained a list of the UFC on ESPN 9 athletes’ medical suspensions from the NAC on Monday. Fighters can return sooner than the duration of their suspension if cleared by a doctor.

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UFC on ESPN 9 took place Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event simulcasted on ESPN and ESPN+.

The complete list of UFC on ESPN 9 medical suspensions:

  • Gilbert Burns: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
  • Tyron Woodley: Suspended 45 days or until left eyebrow laceration is cleared by physician; no contact for 30 days
  • [autotag]Augusto Sakai[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Blagoy Ivanov[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
  • Spike Carlyle: Suspended 180 days or until left knee MRI is cleared by an orthopedic physician; no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Roosevelt Roberts[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Brok Weaver[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Antonina Shevchenko[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Gabe Green[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Klidson Abreu[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days; no contact for 30 days
  • [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Casey Kenney[/autotag]: No suspension
  • [autotag]Louis Smolka[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
  • [autotag]Chris Gutierrez[/autotag]: No suspension
  • Vince Morales: Suspended 180 days or until right orbital fracture is cleared by opthalmologist with minimum 45-day suspension; no contact for 30 days

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Augusto Sakai says unintentional UFC on ESPN 9 fence grab didn’t change fight’s outcome

Regardless of it being an accident, Augusto Sakai says his UFC on ESPN 9 fence-grab didn’t impact the final outcome.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Augusto Sakai[/autotag] won Saturday night, but not without a little bit of controversy.

Entering the third round of his UFC on ESPN 9 fight against Blagoy Ivanov, the judges’ scorecards were close. Two of the three judges scored the fight a tie at one round apiece. The third judge had Ivanov (18-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) up two rounds to nothing.

As the final round’s clock wound down, the margin of error was thin. One big move could steal the fight for either competitor. Ivanov gained an advantageous position for a takedown, but upon the attempt, Sakai (15-1-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) grabbed the fence.

The takedown was prevented and referee Jason Herzog elected not to take a point away. After the fight concluded, Sakai was named the victor by split decision.

At a post-fight news conference, Sakai explained the grab, saying it was unintentional. Fence grab or not, Sakai doesn’t think it factored into the final outcome.

“It was something completely subconscious,” Sakai told MMA Junkie. “It was involuntary. I didn’t really plan on it. It was something I would never have done on purpose. It wouldn’t have changed the result of the fight. I won the fight.”

With the victory, Sakai, 29, remains unbeaten under the promotion’s banner. According to Sakai, the win over Ivanov should propel him into a top 10 matchup next.

“I’d really like someone ranked in the top 10,” Sakai said. “Whoever is available, I’m ready to go.”

Check out the full UFC on ESPN 9 post-fight news conference scrum with Augusto Sakai in the video above.

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Roosevelt Roberts says weigh-ins beef with Brok Weaver due to ‘ignorance’

Take a look inside Roosevelt Roberts’ submission win over Brok Weaver at UFC on ESPN 9 in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Roosevelt Roberts[/autotag] beat Brok Weaver with a second-round submission Saturday on the main card at UFC on ESPN 9 in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Roberts, who won for the second straight time.

Result: Roosevelt Roberts def. Brok Weaver via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:26
Updated records: Roberts (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Brok Weaver (15-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Key stat: Roberts landed 71 percent of his total strikes.

Roberts on the fight’s key moment

“I knew eventually I was going to get something. Once I got the guillotine, I see he got out, and I got the rear-naked choke, and he got out of that, I knew that I was wearing him down. I was just being patient and waiting for my time.”

Roberts on the bad blood with Weaver

“We had a little heated exchange yesterday … it wasn’t so much that he missed weight. My problem was that he missed weight and he came back there mugging me, talking (expletive) to me, like I’m the reason he missed weight. If you’re going to miss weight, come back there and be respectful. I’ll be respectful, too. You want to be ignorant? You’re going to get ignorance out of me, too.”

Roberts on what he wants next

“Matt (Frevola)? I need that. Ever since we were supposed to fight, now all I see is red. When I hear his name, when I see his face, I just want to go up to him and start fighting right there. But I can’t. I want to get paid for it. So I’ve got to wait for that contract. … I’m the real deal, everybody. All you 155ers out there, I’m ready and I’m about it. Whoever wants it, sign that contract. Send it over and you know my signature is going to be on there.”

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

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UFC on ESPN 9 salaries: Tyron Woodley, Gilbert Burns top list of highest paydays

UFC on ESPN 9 headliners Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns topped the list of fight night paydays.

The UFC on ESPN 9 headliners were paid as such, respective to the rest of the card.

According to a Nevada State Athletic Commission (NAC) document acquired by MMA Junkie on Monday, former UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] topped the list of highest earners with a $200,000 paydays, despite his loss to [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag], who earned $164,000.

Two other fighters earned six figures. Co-main event winner [autotag]Augusto Sakai[/autotag] earned $100,000 in a winning effort against [autotag]Blagoy Ivanov[/autotag]. Former UFC women’s flyweight title challenger [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag] took home $120,000 for her victory over [autotag]Antonina Shevchenko[/autotag] in the featured prelim bout.

UFC on ESPN 9 took place Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card and prelims simulcasted on ESPN and ESPN+.

The full list of UFC on ESPN+ 29 salaries included:

  • Gilbert Burns: $164,000 (includes $84,000 win bonus) def. Tyron Woodley: ($200,000)
  • Augusto Sakai: $100,000 (includes $50,000 win bonus) def. Blagoy Ivanov ($60,000)
  • [autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag]: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag]: $12,000
  • [autotag]Roosevelt Roberts[/autotag]: $44,000 (includes $22,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Brok Weaver[/autotag] $12,000
  • [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag]: $66,000 (includes $33,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag]: $25,000
  • Katlyn Chookagian: $120,000 (includes $60,000 win bonus) def. Antonina Shevchenko: $35,000
  • [autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag]: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Gabriel Green[/autotag]: $12,000
  • [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag]: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Klidson Abreu[/autotag]: $18,000
  • [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag]: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag]: $31,000
  • [autotag]Casey Kenney[/autotag]: $54,000 (includes $27,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Louis Smolka[/autotag]: $48,000
  • [autotag]Chris Gutierrez[/autotag]: $40,000 (includes $20,000 win bonus) def. [autotag]Vince Morales[/autotag]: $20,000

The figures do not include deductions for items such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Additionally, the figures do not include money paid by sponsors, including the official UFC on ESPN 9 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay. They also do not include any other “locker room” or special discretionary bonuses the UFC sometimes pays. They also do not include pay-per-view cuts that some top-level fighters receive.

For example, UFC officials handed out additional $50,000 UFC 249 fight-night bonuses to Burns and Dern for “Performance of the Night,” and Royval and Elliott for “Fight of the Night.”

In other words, the above figures are simply base salaries reported to the commission and do not reflect entire compensation packages for the event.

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Casey Kenney ready to take ‘baddest mother effer’ status right to title shot after UFC on ESPN 9

Take a look inside Casey Kenney’s submission win over Louis Smolka at UFC on ESPN 9 in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Casey Kenney[/autotag] beat Louis Smolka with a first-round submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 9 in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Kenney, who got back in the win column after a decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili in February.

Result: Casey Kenney def. Louis Smolka via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 3:03
Updated records: Kenney (14-2-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Smolka (16-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC)
Key stat: Kenney now has half of his career wins by stoppage, including five by submission. The win was his first finish in the UFC.

Kenney on the fight’s key moment

“If you fight me like Smolka, and a lot of guys fight, that’s what’s going to happen. … (The finish) is something I’ve been drilling. We were drilling it all week. My front chokes have always been nasty – I just haven’t been in a position to lock one up. I knew if I hurt him, he was going to shoot in. … Smolka has had a history of exposing his neck, and if you expose your neck to me it’s going to be a short night.”

Kenney on title aspirations

“I am one of the baddest mother effers on the planet. Any organization I’ve been in, I’ve taken their belt – multiple ones. So that’s exactly what I plan to do here in the UFC. I’m an exciting fighter. I don’t put on boring fights. Any time I step in there, it’s going to be fireworks, and that’s why I love this sport. There isn’t anything I’d rather be doing.”

Kenney on what he wants next

“Put me on ‘(Fight) Island.’ Sign me up next weekend. There’s a lot of big bantamweight fights. I truly believe I’m the best in the world, and I’m coming for that belt. I think (a tournament for the vacant bantamweight title) is a decent idea.”

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

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MMA Junkie Radio #3057: UFC on ESPN 9 recap, reaction to Jon Jones-Dana White feud, more

Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radion with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” as they recap UFC on ESPN 9 and more.

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

On Episode No. 3,057 of the podcast, the guys recap UFC on ESPN 9, as well as discuss the latest MMA news and notes.

THE RUNDOWN

  • The biggest story at UFC on ESPN 9 was the outstanding performance by [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] as he dominated former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley for a unanimous decision win in the main event. Did Woodley have an off night, or is Burns just that good?
  • UFC light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] has openly threatened to vacate his title and has asked for his release as his public feud with Dana White has escalated. If the UFC gives Jones a pay increase to fight Francis Ngannou, will that open the flood gates for other fighters?
  • In comparing Jones to the UFC’s biggest draw, Conor McGregor, we take a closer look to dissect just how much Jones is worth to the company?
  • UFC on ESPN 9 featured the smaller 25-foot octagon inside the UFC Apex. What effects did it have on fights throughout the night?
  • UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] has openly offered Conor McGregor a shot at his title, assuming it doesn’t happen with No. 1 contender Jorge Masvidal. There’s also the possibility of a rematch with Colby Covington. So what’s next? We discuss.

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

Daniel Rodriguez wants to keep on rolling after eighth straight win at UFC on ESPN 9

Take a look inside Daniel Rodriguez’s win over Gabe Green at UFC on ESPN 9 in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag] beat Gabe Green with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 9 in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Rodriguez, who came to the UFC on short notice in February and now has eight straight wins.

Result: Daniel Rodriguez def. Gabriel Green via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Updated records: Rodriguez (12-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Green (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Key stat: Rodriguez won the striking battle 175-127.

Rodriguez on the fight’s key moment

“I know the guy. He’s tough. He took some serious shots and he kept pushing forward, and that’s everything I expected out of him. I won – I’m happy with that.”

Rodriguez on another UFC win

“It’s a good feeling. I took the first fight (in the UFC) on short notice, and I thought it wasn’t going to happen. This time, I thought it wasn’t going to happen. I’m really grateful to be fighting while there’s no other sports going on and the whole world’s watching. It feels good to pull off a victory.”

Rodriguez on what he wants next

“(I’m going to) keep on fighting. Just heal up a little bit – my leg’s feeling a little (sore). … I just got through a war. So (let’s) see where I’m at. I’ll be ready to fight again soon.”

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

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Chris Gutierrez wants Andre Ewell or Miles Johns after leg kick-heavy UFC on ESPN 9 win

Take a look inside Chris Gutierrez’s submission win over Vince Morales at UFC on ESPN 9 in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Chris Gutierrez[/autotag] beat Vince Morales with a second-round TKO Saturday to open up the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 9 in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Gutierrez, who won for the third straight time and got his first finish in the UFC.

Result: Chris Gutierrez def. Vince Morales via TKO (leg kicks) – Round 2, 4:27
Updated records: Gutierrez (15-3-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Morales (9-5 MMA, 1-3 UFC)
Key stat: Gutierrez outstruck Morales 60-8 and landed 36 strikes to the legs.

Gutierrez on the fight’s key moment

“I just started landing (the leg kicks). We went in there with a game plan – it’s secret; I can’t really say what it was. It just started landing, and then my coach kept calling it. If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.”

Gutierrez on his Guatemalan roots

“A couple fights back I made history in Guatemala, I became the first Guatemalan fighter to ever step foot in the octagon. So just to be making history says a lot, and I’m proud to be that person.”

Gutierrez on what he wants next

“I would like either Andre Ewell or Miles Johns. Andre Ewell fought one of my teammates, and it was a controversial win that he got. I feel like my teammate Jonathan Martinez got the win. I just feel it’s a good fight for the fans – both of them.”

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

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Valentina Shevchenko praises ‘my inspiration’ Antonina after sister’s defeat at UFC on ESPN 9

Antonina Shevchenko may have tasted defeat at UFC on ESPN 9, but she received huge praise from her sister, UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina.

Fighting behind closed doors presents many challenges for fighters, but as well as dealing with an empty crowd, [autotag]Antonina Shevchenko[/autotag] also had an absentee from her corner at UFC on ESPN 9.

Reigning UFC women’s flyweight champion [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] is a regular presence in her sister’s corner for her fights, but she was unable to be in attendance on Saturday night at the UFC Apex as Antonina fell to a unanimous defeat to the woman Valentina defeated in her most recent appearance, Katlyn Chookagian.

“Bullet” finished Chookagian in the third round of their flyweight title fight at UFC 247 in February as Shevchenko made the third successful defense of the UFC women’s 125-pound belt. But her older sister was unable to repeat the feat, as Chookagian used her little-seen grappling skills to dominate Antonina sister en route to a landslide decision victory.

Despite seeing Antonina fall to her second defeat in four UFC appearances, Valentina heaped praise on her sister as she shared her admiration for her sibling on Twitter.

No matter what, I will always love you my dear sister! You are my inspiration, my support and the dearest person in whole world! I feel so bad I couldn’t be at your corner this time because of my injury. But I am always by your side.

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Brandon Royval wants to quit his day job despite disappointment at UFC on ESPN 9

Take a look inside Brandon Royval’s submission of Tim Elliott at UFC on ESPN 9 in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag] beat Tim Elliott with a second-round submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 9 in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Royval, a former LFA flyweight champion who won for the third straight time in his promotional debut.

Result: Brandon Royval def. Tim Elliott via submission (arm triangle choke) – Round 2, 3:18
Updated records: Royval (11-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Elliott (15-11-1 MMA, 4-9 UFC)
Key stat: Elliott landed four takedowns and outstruck Royval 40-22, but Royval made the most of his opportunity the final time the fight hit the canvas.

Royval on the fight’s key moment

“I felt a little slow out there, and I felt that was a little bit of my main problem out there. I’m not completely embarrassed with my performance, but I know I can do better than that.”

Royval on disappointment in a submission win

“I was kind of bummed at my performance, honestly. I think I’m an exciting fighter, and I think I can do a lot better than that. I think I can do a lot better than just winning that way. I shouldn’t get taken down like that. I shouldn’t be losing those scrambles. I should be knocking people out and turning heads.”

Royval on what he wants next

“I want to be able to quit my job, first and foremost. I think I’ve been saying it over and over again, but I want to make this my life. I want to be in the gym. I’m in the gym full-time, but I’m there full-time with like three hours of sleep and I’m working these jobs just so that I can make it and pay my mortgage and all this stuff. I want to make MMA my full-time life. I’ve put a lot of work in. I’ve been training since I was 16 years old. I just want to get out of this sport what I put in. I put in a lot of stuff. I put in a lot of love, and I just want to get that out of it.”

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

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