Tag: Umar Nurmagomedov

UFC Fight Night 217 post-event facts: Sean Strickland joins exclusive three-division club

Sean Strickland accomplished something only two other men in history have done with his win at UFC Fight Night 217.

The UFC kicked off another busy year of action Saturday with UFC Fight Night 217. It was the first of an expected 42 events from the promotion in 2023, and it went down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Although six fights on the card ended in a stoppage, the main event went the distance as [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (26-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) managed to outwork and outpoint [autotag]Nassourdine Imavov[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) to win a unanimous decision on short notice in the light heavyweight headliner.

Fore more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 217.

UFC Fight Night 217 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $14.5 million

UFC Fight Night 217 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 217 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $137,000.

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 217 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 217 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag]: $16,000
[autotag]Nassourdine Imavov[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag]: $11,000
[autotag]Damon Jackson[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Punahele Soriano[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Roman Kopylov[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Ketlen Vieira[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Raoni Barcelos[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Claudio Ribeiro[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Abdul Razak Alhassan[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Javid Basharat[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Mateus Mendonca[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Mateusz Rebecki[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Nick Fiore[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Allan Nascimento[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Carlos Hernandez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Dan Argueta[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Nick Aguirre[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Charles Johnson[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jimmy Flick[/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 2177 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2171 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:

  • “UFC Fight Night 217: Strickland vs. Imavov” – $137,000

Year-to-date total: $137,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $14,656,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 217.

UFC Fight Night 217 results: Umar Nurmagomedov flattens Raoni Barcelos in first to remain undefeated

Out of nowhere, Umar Nurmagomedov stopped Raoni Barcelos in the first round on the main card of UFC Fight Night 217.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] remains undefeated after picking up a brutal knockout finish over Raoni Barcelos.

Nurmagomedov (16-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) didn’t rush things against Barcelos (17-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC), but the knockout still came in the closing seconds at 4:40 of the first round.

The bantamweight bout opened up the UFC Fight Night 217 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The pair exchanged range-finding punches and kicks early. Nurmagomedov’s primary attack was front kicks and snappy head kicks as Barcelos stayed in range offering a few punches of his own. In the latter half of the round, Nurmagomedov’s striking set the tone while evading a pair of Barcelos’ takedown attempts.

Just when it felt like the fight would reach the second round, Nurmagomedov changed everything out of nowhere.

After stepping in with a kick to the body, Nurmagomedov followed through with a crisp left hook that caught Barcelos clean on the jaw, sending him crashing to the mat. Barcelos was completely out on the way down, and Nurmagomedov landed a couple of hammerfists before referee Jason Herzog rushed in.

Check out video of the finish below (via Twitter):

During his post-fight interview, Nurmagomedov immediately apologized for the follow-up punches, as he said he was not aware Barcelos was completely out. He then turned his attention to calling out anyone who wants to compete against him in March.

Nurmagomedov remains undefeated in his pro career as he picks up his fourth win under the UFC banner. He has finished three of his opponents in the promotion, including two first-round finishes. As expected due to recent reports, his cousin UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, was notably absent from his corner.

Barcelos, who won a unanimous decision over Trevin Jones in his previous outing, leaves with his third loss in the promotion and his fourth overall in his professional career.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 217 results include:

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UFC Fight Night 217 video: Hear from each winner backstage

Check out what the UFC Fight Night 217 winners and guest fighters had to say backstage at Saturday’s event in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 217 took place Saturday with 11 bouts on the lineup. We’ve got you covered with backstage winner interviews from the UFC Apex.

You can hear from all the UFC Fight Night 217 winners by checking out their post-fight news conferences below.

UFC Fight Night 217 predictions: Who’s picking Sean Strickland over Nassourdine Imavov on short notice?

Check out our staff members’ picks for UFC Fight Night 217, which features Nassourdine Imavov vs. Sean Strickland in Las Vegas.

Imavov
vs.
Strickland		 Ige
vs.
Jackson		 Kopylov
vs.
Soriano		 Pennington
vs.
Vieira		 Barcelos
vs.
Nurmagomedov
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
202-120 (2022)		 imavov2023
Imavov
(51%)		 ige2023
Ige
(62%)		 soriano2023
Soriano
(68%)		 vieira2023
Vieira
(67%)		 nurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov
(88%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
215-112 (2022)
trophy copy 2018, 2022 Champion		 imavov2023
Imavov		 jackson2023
Jackson		 soriano2023
Soriano		 vieira2023
Vieira		 nurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
209-118 (2022)		 imavov2023
Imavov		 jackson2023
Jackson		 soriano2023
Soriano		 pennington2023
Pennington		 nurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
204-123 (2022)		 imavov2023
Imavov		 ige2023
Ige		 soriano2023
Soriano		 pennington2023
Pennington		 nurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
203-124 (2022)		 imavov2023
Imavov		 ige2023
Ige		 soriano2023
Soriano		 vieira2023
Vieira		 nurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
201-126 (2022)		 imavov2023
Imavov		 jackson2023
Jackson		 soriano2023
Soriano		 pennington2023
Pennington		 nurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
201-126 (2022)		 imavov2023
Imavov		 ige2023
Ige		 soriano2023
Soriano		 vieira2023
Vieira		 nurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
200-127 (2022)
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 imavov2023
Imavov		 jackson2023
Jackson		 soriano2023
Soriano		 pennington2023
Pennington		 nurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov
Nolan King
@mma_kings
192-135 (2022)		 imavov2023
Imavov		 ige2023
Ige		 soriano2023
Soriano		 vieira2023
Vieira		 nurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
190-137 (2022)
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 imavov2023
Imavov		 ige2023
Ige		 soriano2023
Soriano		 vieira2023
Vieira		 nurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
181-146 (2022)		 strickland2023
Strickland		 ige2023
Ige		 soriano2023
Soriano		 pennington2023
Pennington		 nurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
161-166 (2022)		 imavov2023
Imavov		 ige2023
Ige		 soriano2023
Soriano		 vieira2023
Vieira		 nurmagomedov2023
Nurmagomedov

The UFC kicks off its 2023 with a home game, and a short-notice light heavyweight fight tops the lineup.

UFC Fight Night 217 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, [autotag]Nassourdine Imavov[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (25-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC). The fight is taking place at 205 pounds instead of middleweight after Strickland stepped in for Kelvin Gastelum on just five days’ notice. Strickland lost to Jared Cannonier in the UFC’s final event of 2022 a month ago.

Imavov is just a slight favorite at -130 at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Strickland is +110. But Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have Imavov with a near-unanimous picks lead at 10-1.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) meets [autotag]Damon Jackson[/autotag] (22-4-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) at featherweight. Ige is a slight -125 favorite at the betting window, and it’s close with our pickers, too. They’ve got Ige with the narrowest possible lead at 6-5.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Punahele Soriano[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) is just a -150 favorite at middleweight against [autotag]Roman Kopylov[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC), but he’s one of our two unanimous picks at 11-0.

[autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag] (14-9 MMA, 11-5 UFC) takes on [autotag]Ketlen Vieira[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) in a key women’s bantamweight bout. Vieira is a slight favorite at -125, but she’s got a decent 7-4 lead from our pickers.

And to open the main card, bantamweight [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (15-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) is the biggest favorite on the entire event at nearly 10-1 against [autotag]Raoni Barcelos[/autotag] (17-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC). Not surprisingly, Nurmagomedov is our other unanimous pick at 11-0.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Imavov (51 percent), Ige (62 percent), Soriano (68 percent), Vieira (67 percent) and Nurmagomedov (88 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 217.

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UFC Fight Night 217’s Raoni Barcelos wants Merab Dvalishvili with win over Umar Nurmagomedov

Raoni Barcelos already has a name in my mind if he can get past Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Fight Night 217.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Raoni Barcelos[/autotag] already has a name in mind if he can get past [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag].

Barcelos (17-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) meets Nurmagomedov (15-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 217 main card opener at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

The Brazilian sees bouncing the highly touted Nurmagomedov out of the ranks of the unbeaten as a catapult to the upper echelon of the division.

“Get a win over him, and it shows me what I’m coming here for,” Barcelos told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at Wednesday’s media day. “Step by step, I’m going to walk into what I want to do, and that’s a title shot.”

The name Barcelos is targeting is [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag], who was booked to face him at UFC on ESPN 19 in December 2020 before Barcelos was removed from the bout due to a medical suspension from his fight the month before.

“If I win against Umar, I have some names,” Barcelos said. “One of them is Merab. He was calling my name before. … If this year the title shot doesn’t come, for sure the next year.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 217.

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UFC Fight Night 217’s Umar Nurmagomedov says Khabib ‘cannot go away’ from coaching

Umar Nurmagomedov opens up about not having Khabib in his corner at UFC Fight Night 217.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] won’t have Khabib in his corner at UFC Fight Night 217.

Nurmagomedov (15-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) faces Raoni Barcelos (17-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in Saturday’s main card opener at the UFC Apex. The card streams on ESPN+.

[autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag], who along with Javier Mendez won MMA Junkie’s Coaches of the Year for 2022, recently announced that he’ll be stepping away from coaching. But his cousin, Umar, still expects to work with him and said all this means is that Khabib will be traveling less.

“This guy my brother and with me. He cannot go away,” Nurmagomedov told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at UFC Fight Night 217 media day. “I was calling him, talking to him about this fight, about cutting weight. This guy just stopping too much fly (traveling). When I go home, I’ll be training with him. I will go to his home and say to him, ‘Hey,let’s go to training.’ But even this guy is all the time training. He cannot stop.”

Nurmagomedov’s training partners, UFC champ Islam Makhachev and Bellator champ Usman Nurmagomedov, recently captured gold in their respective organizations. While the unbeaten prospect expects to have a similar career trajectory, he’s had a hard time finding opponents.

“I try. I tried to call guys, but nobody want to take this fight with me,” Nurmagomedov said. “I talk with Sean Shelby, I was taking with him, and he said, ‘Hey, I cannot find fight for you.’ And when they asked me if I would fight with Barcelos, I said, ‘Yes, I don’t care with who.’ Even if somebody will be doing their debut, I will fight. I want to be active.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 217.

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Video: UFC Fight Night 217 media day interviews

Before UFC Fight Night 217 on Saturday, the main card fighters are scheduled to speak to reporters at media day.

LAS VEGAS – The 2023 schedule for the UFC begins on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 217, which takes place at the UFC Apex and streams on ESPN+.

A makeshift light heavyweight main event serves as the final act on the card. Sean Strickland (25-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) replaced the injured Kelvin Gastelum on five days’ notice against Nassourdine Imavov (12-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) in the headliner.

Before fight night arrives, though, the 10 athletes from the main card spoke to reporters Wednesday at media day, and MMA Junkie was in attendance.

If you happen to miss any of the individual sessions on the live stream, check below for the archived videos of each media day.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Nov. 21-27)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from Nov. 21-27.

Undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov gets next UFC assignment, will face Raoni Barcelos in January

Umar Nurmagomedov will look to make it 4-0 in the UFC in January.

Undefeated UFC bantamweight [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] has his first fight of 2023 booked.

The younger cousin of [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] will step into the UFC’s octagon for the fourth time when he faces off against [autotag]Raoni Barcelos[/autotag] on Jan. 14. A source with knowledge of the booking confirmed the matchup with MMA Junkie following the first report from ESPN. Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz also publicly acknowledged the pairing.

The UFC Fight Night event will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and is headlined by Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nassourdine Imavov.

The 26-year-old Nurmagomedov (15-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) is off to a hot start in his young UFC career. After finishing his first two opponents, Sergey Morozov and Brian Kelleher, he went the distance with Nate Maness in June, winning a unanimous decision.

Barcelos (17-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) has been under the UFC’s banner since July 2018. During that stretch, he has defeated six opponents, including a unanimous decision win over Trevin Jones in October.

With the addition, the Jan. 14 lineup includes:

  • Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nassourdine Imavov
  • Raoni Barcelos vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
  • Jarno Errens vs. David Onama
  • Carlos Hernandez vs. Allan Nascimento
  • Geoff Neal vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov
  • Jimmy Flick vs. Jeff Molina
  • Raquel Pennington vs. Ketlen Vieira
  • Daniel Argueta vs. Isaac Dulgarian
  • Dan Ige vs. Damon Jackson

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