UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns
The poster for UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns
Information
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateMay 30, 2020 (2020-05-30)
VenueUFC Apex
CityEnterprise, Nevada, United States
AttendanceNone (behind closed doors)[1]
Event chronology
UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns UFC 250: Nunes vs. Spencer

UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns (also known as UFC on ESPN 9 and UFC Vegas) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on May 30, 2020 at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.[2][3]

Background

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, this event was originally expected to be held on May 23, but eventually was pushed back to May 30 at a yet TBD location.[4] UFC president Dana White stated that he intended for the event to take place in Las Vegas. However, if the Nevada state government did not allow the fight to happen due to restrictions put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he would look to have the event take place in Arizona instead, since professional sports were allowed to return on May 15 without fans in attendance.[5] White confirmed on May 20 that the event would be held at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, despite no official announcement from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) regarding permission for combat sports.[2] The NSAC approved the return of mixed martial arts events to the state on May 27.[6]

A welterweight bout between former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns was long rumored to serve as the event headliner.[7] On May 22, Dana White confirmed the main event and entire card to be broadcast on ESPN.[8]

Additionally, the event included fighters that were pulled from other events previously cancelled, as well as the following bouts:[8]

On May 26, Kevin Holland was forced to withdraw from his scheduled welterweight bout with Daniel Rodriguez due to injury.[9] He was replaced by promotional newcomer Gabriel Green.[10]

At the weigh-ins, Brok Weaver weighed in at 157.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit of 156 pounds. He was fined 20% of his purse, which went to his opponent Roosevelt Roberts and their bout proceeded at a catchweight.[11]

Results

Main Card (ESPN)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Welterweight Gilbert Burns def. Tyron Woodley Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 50–44, 50–44) 5 5:00
Heavyweight Augusto Sakai def. Blagoy Ivanov Decision (split) (27–30, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Catchweight (150 lb) Billy Quarantillo def. Spike Carlyle Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Catchweight (157.5 lb) Roosevelt Roberts def. Brok Weaver Submission (rear-naked choke) 2 3:26
Women's Strawweight Mackenzie Dern def. Hannah Cifers Submission (kneebar) 1 2:36
Preliminary Card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Women's Flyweight Katlyn Chookagian def. Antonina Shevchenko Decision (unanimous) (30–25, 30–25, 30–25) 3 5:00
Welterweight Daniel Rodriguez def. Gabriel Green Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Light Heavyweight Jamahal Hill vs. Klidson Abreu No Contest (overturned) 1 1:51 [a]
Flyweight Brandon Royval def. Tim Elliott Submission (arm-triangle choke) 2 3:18
Bantamweight Casey Kenney def. Louis Smolka Submission (guillotine choke) 1 3:03
Featherweight Chris Gutiérrez def. Vince Morales TKO (leg kicks) 2 4:27
  1. ^ Originally a TKO (knee to the body and punches) win for Hill; overturned after he tested positive for marijuana.[12]

[13]

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[14]

Reported payout

The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the NSAC. It does not include sponsor money and also does not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses. The total disclosed payout for the event was $1,157,000.[15]

^ Weaver was fined 20% ($2,400) of his purse for missing weight, which went to Roberts.

Aftermath

On August 5, it was announced that the NSAC issued temporary suspensions for Jamahal Hill and Tim Elliott, after they tested positive for marijuana in their respective pre-fight screenings.[16] On September 3, the NSAC announced that Hill's victory was overturned to a no contest due to the violation. He was suspended six months and fined 15% of his fight purse. Meanwhile, Elliott was suspended four and a half months and fined 15% of his fight purse. The reduced suspension was due to his fight being taken on short notice.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ Staff (2020-05-31). "UFC Fight Night – Tyron Woodley vs. Gilbert Burns start time & broadcast details". fightnewsaustralia.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  2. ^ a b Farah Hannoun (2020-05-20). "Dana White says UFC's May 30 event to be held at Apex in Las Vegas". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  3. ^ Thomas Gerbasi (2020-05-31). "UFC Vegas results". ufc.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  4. ^ Nolan King (2020-05-12). "UFC eyes May 30 as new date for event originally planned May 23". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  5. ^ Tristen Critchfield (2020-05-17). "Dana White: Arizona targeted for May 30 UFC event if Las Vegas isn't open". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  6. ^ Nolan King (2020-05-27). "Nevada Athletic Commission approves first Las Vegas UFC events since COVID-19 outbreak". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  7. ^ Ariel Helwani (2020-05-19). "Tyron Woodley to fight Gilbert Burns at UFC Fight Night on May 30". espn.com. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  8. ^ a b Staff (2020-05-22). "Dana White announces full UFC on ESPN 9 lineup for May 30 in Las Vegas". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-05-23.
  9. ^ Nolan King (2020-05-26). "Kevin Holland injured, out of UFC on ESPN 9 bout vs. Daniel Rodriguez". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  10. ^ Nolan King (2020-05-26). "Gabriel Green expected to replace Kevin Holland at UFC on ESPN 9, meet Daniel Rodriguez". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  11. ^ Staff (2020-05-29). "UFC on ESPN 9 weigh-in results: Woodley, Burns official, but one fighter misses". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  12. ^ a b Marc Raimondi (2020-09-03). "Four UFC fighters suspended, fined for positive drug tests". espn.com. Retrieved 2020-09-03.
  13. ^ "UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  14. ^ Stephie Haynes (2020-05-31). "UFC Las Vegas bonuses: Dern's record-setting kneebar wins POTN". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  15. ^ Nolan King (2020-06-01). "UFC on ESPN 9 salaries: Tyron Woodley, Gilbert Burns top list of highest paydays". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
  16. ^ Danny Segura (2020-08-05). "Three fighters get temporary NAC suspensions extended after positive marijuana tests". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
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