Tag: Uros Medic

Uros Medic knows Ian Machado Garry won’t fight him but in his ‘humble opinion,’ would knock him out

Uros Medic explains why he doesn’t think Ian Machado Garry is worthy of the hype after his UFC on ESPN 55 knockout of Tim Means.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Uros Medic[/autotag] sees some winnable fights for himself in the UFC welterweight rankings.

After scoring a first-round knockout of veteran Tim Means on the main card of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 55 at the UFC Apex, Medic (10-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has now won two of three fights since moving up to the welterweight division from lightweight.

Medic is wise enough to realize he’s unlikely to land a fight against a ranked name next, but when he looks at the current top 15, he sees a number of favorable matchups – especially with undefeated [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] (14-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC).

“I’ve seen a lot of guys that I don’t find them as a big threat, mainly Ian Garry,” Medic told MMA Junkie and other reporters post-fight at UFC on ESPN 55. “He’s a big name and he won’t fight me exactly yet. But I would look at some of his fights and think, ‘How is this guy ahead of me in the rankings.’ In my humble opinion I would knock him out.

“He’s an interesting personality online. I don’t know him personally. Maybe he’s not a bad guy. He’s definitely a target for bullying.”

If it’s not Garry or a similar ranked name, Medic, 31, will continue to push forward in his career and try to deliver performances that prove worthy of that opportunity.

He understands the 170-pound division is among the toughest in the UFC, but he’s ready to put his best foot forward and either thrive on fail, which was his mindset stepping into the octagon with a much more experienced foe in Means.

“I feel bad for the other guy a little bit,” Medic said. “But this is what we signed up for and this is part of the gig. We’ve all been on that side and we’ve all been on this side as well. We’ve all done the walk of shame and the walk of fame. So I’m happy that tonight is the walk of fame for me.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

UFC on ESPN 55 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $25 million

UFC on ESPN 55 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 on ESPN 55 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $175,000.

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 ESPN 55 took place at the UFC Apex. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 55 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Bogdan Guskov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Karine Silva[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Ariane Da Silva[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Jhonata Diniz[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Austen Lane[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]David Onama[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jonathan Pearce[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Uros Medic[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Tim Means[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Victor Henry[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Rani Yahya[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Austin Hubbard[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Michal Figlak[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Don’Tale Mayes[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Caio Machado[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ketlen Souza[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Marnic Mann[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Chris Padilla[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]James Llontop[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ivana Petrovic[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Na Liang[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Hayisaer Maheshate[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Gabriel Benitez[/autotag]: $11,000

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 $4,550; 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 $55,000 while title challengers get $55,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-55 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $2,640,000
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $25,377,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

UFC on ESPN 55 video: Hear from each winner, guest fighters backstage

Check out what the UFC on ESPN 55 winners and guest fighters had to say backstage at Saturday’s event.

LAS VEGAS – UFC on ESPN 55 took place Saturday with 13 bouts on the lineup. We’ve got you covered with backstage winner interviews from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

You can hear from all the UFC on ESPN 55 winners by checking out their post-fight news conferences below.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

UFC on ESPN 55 video: Uros Medic flattens Tim Means with uppercut TKO

Things were a little lackluster at the UFC Apex until Uros Medic bludgeoned Tim Means with a brutal uppercut knockout.

[autotag]Uros Medic[/autotag] woke up the UFC Apex with a brutal knockout over a seasoned veteran.

Opening up the UFC on ESPN 55 main card, Medic (10-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) knocked out [autotag]Tim Means[/autotag] (33-16-1 MMA, 15-13 UFC) with an uppercut and follow-up punches at 2:09 of Round 1. The event took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

With the win, Medic bounces back from an upset loss to Myktybek Orolbai in November. Medic has now won three of his most recent four outings.

Means, 40, has now lost three of his last four outings. Prior to Saturday, he was coming off a knockout win over Andre Fialho in September.

The up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 55 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

Tim Means vs. Uros Medic prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC on ESPN 55

Tim Means clashes with Uros Medic in a battle of welterweight finishers on the UFC on ESPN 55 main card.

[autotag]Tim Means[/autotag] and [autotag]Uros Medic[/autotag] meet Saturday on the UFC on ESPN 55 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.

Tim Means vs. Uros Medic UFC on ESPN 55 preview

Means (33-15-1 MMA, 15-12 UFC), who turned 40 in February, snapped the first three-fight skid of his career this past September with a Fight of the Night-winning third-round TKO of Andre Fialho. Despite Means’ reputation as a gunslinger, the bonus was his first since 2015 and just his third overall in 27 UFC fights. Means’ knockout against Fialho was his first finish with his hands since late 2018. … Medic (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC), a Dana White’s Contender Series product, returned to welterweight after three UFC fights at lightweight. Medic’s spinning backfist finish of Matthew Semelsberger in July 2023 came after a 14-month layoff. Medic needs a rebound after a submission loss to Myktybek Orolbai in November.

Tim Means vs. Uros Medic expert pick, prediction

Last event’s results: 4-1

Overall picks for UFC main cards in 2024: 28-29-2

Kicking off the main card on ESPN is a potential welterweight war between Tim Means and Uros Medic.

Although I can understand why many are favoring the younger fighter in this spot, I believe that Means is livelier than the betting spread leads on.

Despite both men being susceptible to the southpaw blindspot that exists over their lead shoulders, Means’ game – which has more layers and depth to it – appears to translate well in southpaw vs. southpaw matchups. Moreover, I believe that Means’ propensity to work the body could pay some serious dividends in this fight.

Add in Means’ quiet wrestling and grappling advantages inside of the smaller octagon of the Apex, and I find myself taking another flier on an old dog to get it done.

An abrupt knockout from Medic early wouldn’t shock me, but I’ll officially side with Means to survive the early storm and produce a finish in round 3.

Tim Means vs. Uros Medic odds

Medic is a moderate -340 favorite, according to FanDuel. That’s the most favored Medic has ever been in his UFC tenure. Conversely, Means has only been as much as his +250 underdog status one other time before in the UFC, when he was a ‘dog against Kevin Holland.

Tim Means vs. Uros Medic start time, how to watch

As the main card opener, Means and Medic are expected to make their walk to the octagon shortly after 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. local time in Las Vegas). The fight airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

For more detailed analysis from Dan Tom, check out his weekly show, “The Protect Ya’ Neck Podcast.”

Uros Medic: ‘Somebody is going to get oiled up’ if I get snubbed of bonus at UFC on ESPN 55

Uros Medic thinks he’s been shafted of two bonuses so far in his UFC career, and he won’t tolerate it happening again.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Uros Medic[/autotag] thinks he’s been shafted of two bonuses so far in his UFC career, and he won’t tolerate it happening again.

Medic (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) believes he should’ve received $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses for his knockout wins over Matthew Semelsberger and Omar Morales. It didn’t happen either time, though, which resulted in much frustration.

He now enters Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 55 matchup with Tim Means (33-15-1 MMA, 15-12 UFC) at the UFC Apex (ESPN, ESPN+), and if he wins the welterweight bout the way he envisions, he will be angry if snubbed.

“Whoever was there to see the chaos in the arena after my spinning backfist (against Semelsberger), then not award me with a bonus (was upsetting),” Medic told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “I’ll make sure to cement that this time so they can write the three checks out, and somebody is going to get oiled up (if not).”

After five octagon appearances in his career thus far, Medic said he feels comfortable and confident in his position in the promotion. He is keen to test his skills against Means, who has more than five times the professional experience of him.

Getting his hands on an established foe is something Medic has been craving, and he expects to do something spectacular this weekend.

“It’s going to be a good fight,” Medic said. “He is a veteran. You’ve got to respect that. This is a sport where men die young, so when you see an old man, you’ve got to respect that. I’m excited.

“I’m sure it’s going to be a good scrap, but the nature of the sport, it’s not a lot of wear and tear. I believe the youth is going to play a big role. He did fight some younger guys and he won against some younger guys, so I would never count him out. But I’m pretty confident in my ability to finish fights. He gets hit. I hit pretty hard.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.

UFC in 2023: A ridiculously robust look at the stats, streaks, skids and record-setters

Check out a full recap of 2023’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 2023’s most significant milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

UFC Fight Night 232 post-event facts: Brendan Allen on an all-time submission streak

Check out all the facts from UFC Fight Night 232, which saw Brendan Allen put him name in the books with Royce Gracie and Demian Maia.

The UFC closed its November schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 232, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and saw 10 of 14 fights end in a stoppage.

One of those finishes belonged to main event winner [autotag]Brendan Allen[/autotag] (23-5 MMA, 11-2 UFC), who submitted [autotag]Paul Craig[/autotag] (17-7-1 MMA, 9-7-1 UFC) with a rear-naked choke in the third round of their middleweight clash, extending his winning streak to six and putting him in the discussion among the more serious contenders in the weight class.

For more on the numbers behind Allen’s performance, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 232.

UFC Fight Night 232 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Top earners get $16,000

UFC Fight Night 232 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 232 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $158,500.

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 Fight Night 232 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 232 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Brendan Allen[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Paul Craig[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Michael Morales[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Jake Matthews[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Chase Hooper[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jordan Leavitt[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Payton Talbott[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Nick Aguirre[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Luana Pinheiro[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Myktybek Orolbai[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Uros Medic[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Joanderson Brito[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Jonathan Pearce[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jose Johnson[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Chad Anheliger[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Christian Duncan[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Denis Tiuliulin[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Mick Parkin[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Caio Machado[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jeka Saragih[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Lucas Alexander[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ailin Perez[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Lucie Pudilova[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Trey Ogden[/autotag]: $4,500
vs. [autotag]Nikolas Motta[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Rafael Estevam[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Charles Johnson[/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 2321 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: $7,464,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $21,983,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 232.

UFC Fight Night 232 video: Myktybek Orolbai debuts with suffocating stoppage of Uros Medic

Myktybek Orolbai delivered a memorable debut at UFC Fight Night 232 with his neck crack submission finish.

There’s another promising international addition to the welterweight division after [autotag]Myktybek Orolbai[/autotag]’s sensational debut against [autotag]Uros Medic[/autotag] at UFC Fight Night 232.

Kyrgyzstan’s Orolbai (12-1-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) made his first octagon appearance on four days’ notice and was overwhelming in his performance against Medic (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) en route to a neck crack submission at the 4:12 of Round 2 on Saturday at the UFC Apex.

The Team Alpha Male product used dominant wrestling to drain the life out of Medic for nine minutes until he took the back, locked in the submission and forced a quick tap.

Check out the replay below (via X):

Orolbai was emotional after the triumphant performance, and he spoke about hopes for a bright future, which he said he will spend at lightweight moving forward.

“I took the fight on short notice, and the game plan was to come in and do everything that I was able to do,” Orolbai said through an interpreter during his post-fight interview with Paul Felder. “This is just the beginning for me. I’m going to be fighting at 155. I was only able to do 170 on short notice, but fans can expect to see a lot more from me, including much more striking.”

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Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 232 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 232.