UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till
UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till (also known as UFC on ESPN 14 and UFC Fight Island 3) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on July 26, 2020 at the du Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.[2]
| UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
The poster for UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till | ||||
| Information | ||||
| Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship | |||
| Date | July 26, 2020 | |||
| Venue | du Forum | |||
| City | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |||
| Attendance | None (behind closed doors)[1] | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background edit
This event was the fourth and final UFC Fight Island event that took place on Yas Island, following UFC 251, UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige and UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2, as part of a plan to facilitate the hosting of events involving fighters impacted by U.S. travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
A middleweight bout between former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker (also The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes welterweight winner) and former UFC Welterweight Championship challenger Darren Till served as the event headliner.[3]
The event also included fighters that were pulled from other events previously cancelled, as well as the following bouts:
- A light heavyweight bout between the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Maurício Rua (also 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Champion) and Antônio Rogério Nogueira.[4] The pairing previously met at PRIDE Critical Countdown 2005 and UFC 190, with Rua winning both fights.[5] The bout was scheduled for the original May 9 date of UFC 250 that later became UFC 249, but cancelled due to the relocation of the event.[6] Nogueira announced that he planned to retire after this bout.[7]
- A women's bantamweight bout between former title challenger Bethe Correia and Pannie Kianzad.[8] This bout was also scheduled for the original May 9 date of UFC 250 and removed for the same reasons as the fight above it.[6]
- A welterweight bout between Danny Roberts and Nicolas Dalby.[9] They were scheduled to meet at UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Edwards, but the event was the first of five to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] However, Roberts was forced off the card due to injury and replaced by returning veteran Jesse Ronson.[11]
- A heavyweight bout between Tom Aspinall and Jake Collier.[9] This fight was also scheduled for UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Edwards and removed for the same reasons as the previous one.[10]
A welterweight bout between Ramazan Emeev and Shavkat Rakhmonov was expected to take place at the event. However, Rakhmonov was forced to withdraw due to injury on July 2 and replaced by Niklas Stolze.[12][13]
Umar Nurmagomedov was expected to face Nathaniel Wood in a bantamweight bout at this event. However, he pulled out on July 3 after his uncle, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov (also the father of former UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov), died from complications related to COVID-19.[14] He was replaced by promotional newcomer John Castañeda.[15]
A women's strawweight bout between former Invicta FC and UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza and Marina Rodriguez was scheduled for UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige nine days earlier. However, a Rodriguez cornerman tested positive for COVID-19 and the bout was cancelled. Rodriguez had her test come back negative, but the bout was scrapped due to precautionary reasons.[16] They were rescheduled for this event.[17]
Justin Tafa was expected to face Raphael Pessoa in a heavyweight bout at this event. However, he pulled out on July 15 due to unknown reasons and was replaced by Tanner Boser.[18]
At the weigh-ins, Francisco Trinaldo weighed in at 160 pounds, four pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit. His bout proceeded at a catchweight and he was fined 30% of his purse, which went to his opponent Jai Herbert.[19]
Results edit
| Main card (ESPN / ESPN+) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Middleweight | Robert Whittaker | def. | Darren Till | Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 48–47) | 5 | 5:00 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Maurício Rua | def. | Antônio Rogério Nogueira | Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Heavyweight | Fabrício Werdum | def. | Alexander Gustafsson | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 2:30 | |
| Women's Strawweight | Carla Esparza | def. | Marina Rodriguez | Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Paul Craig | def. | Gadzhimurad Antigulov | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 2:06 | |
| Welterweight | Alex Oliveira | def. | Peter Sobotta | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Khamzat Chimaev | def. | Rhys McKee | TKO (punches) | 1 | 3:09 | |
| Preliminary Card (ESPN / ESPN+) | |||||||
| Catchweight (160 lb) | Francisco Trinaldo | def. | Jai Herbert | TKO (punch) | 3 | 1:30 | |
| Welterweight | Jesse Ronson | vs. | Nicolas Dalby | No Contest (overturned) | 1 | 2:48 | [a] |
| Heavyweight | Tom Aspinall | def. | Jake Collier | TKO (punches) | 1 | 0:45 | |
| Featherweight | Movsar Evloev | def. | Mike Grundy | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Heavyweight | Tanner Boser | def. | Raphael Pessoa | TKO (punches) | 2 | 2:36 | |
| Women's Bantamweight | Pannie Kianzad | def. | Bethe Correia | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Ramazan Emeev | def. | Niklas Stolze | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Bantamweight | Nathaniel Wood | def. | John Castañeda | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
- ^ Originally a submission (rear-naked choke) win for Ronson; overturned after he tested positive for metandienone.[20]
Bonus awards edit
The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[22]
- Fight of the Night: No bonus awarded.
- Performance of the Night: Fabrício Werdum, Paul Craig, Khamzat Chimaev, Jesse Ronson, Tom Aspinall and Tanner Boser
Records set edit
The event's 15 bouts tied UFC 2 for the most on a single card in UFC history.[23]
Khamzat Chimaev broke the record for quickest turnaround between UFC wins at 10 days (not including one-night-tournaments during the UFC's early days).[24]
Aftermath edit
On November 18, it was announced by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) that Jesse Ronson was suspended for 20 months after he tested positive for metandienone in an out-of-competition test conducted on July 22 and didn't disclose his use of the substance in his onboarding documents prior to re-joining the UFC. His suspension is retroactive to the test failure, meaning he'll be cleared to compete on March 22, 2022. They also announced that Ronson's victory was overturned to a no contest due to the violation.[20]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Andreas Hale (2020-07-25). "What time is UFC Fight Night? Robert Whittaker vs. Darren Till TV channel, live stream schedule, odds". dazn.com. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
- ^ a b Farah Hannoun (2020-06-09). "UFC 'Fight Island' is ... Yas Island, Abu Dhabi". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ Parviz Iskenderov (2020-05-29). "Robert Whittaker vs Darren Till to headline July 25 card on UFC Fight Island". fightmag.com. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
- ^ Nolan King (2020-06-04). "Dana White: UFC books Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Mauricio Rua 3 for July 25". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ Staff (2020-02-20). "Shogun and Minotouro face off for the third time at UFC 250 in São Paulo". globoesporte.globo.com. Retrieved 2020-06-18. (in Portuguese)
- ^ a b Staff (2020-04-09). "Jose Aldo among Brazilians out of UFC 250 and beyond because of visa issues during pandemic". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ Mike Bohn and John Morgan (2020-07-21). "Antônio Rogério Nogueira plans to retire after trilogy bout with 'Shogun' Rua at UFC on ESPN 14". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
- ^ Marcelo Barone (2020-05-23). "Ultimate plans to reschedule fight between Bethe Correia and Pannie Kianzad for July, on Fight Island". globoesporte.globo.com. Retrieved 2020-06-18. (in Portuguese)
- ^ a b Mike Heck (2020-06-18). "UFC announces full lineups for July events on 'Fight Island,' including four title fights". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ a b Farah Hannoun (2020-03-24). "Dana White: All called-off fights, including Tyron Woodley vs. Leon Edwards, are being rescheduled". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ Staff (2020-07-03). "Jesse Ronson takes short notice match against Nicolas Dalby on July 25 in Abu Dhabi". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2020-07-03. (in Dutch)
- ^ Alexander K. Lee (2020-07-02). "Danny Roberts, Shavkat Rakhmonov off of July 25 UFC 'Fight Island' card". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
- ^ Staff (2020-07-05). "Niklas Stolze replaces Shavkat Rakhmonov against Ramazan Emeev on July 25 in Abu Dhabi". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2020-07-05. (in Dutch)
- ^ Amy Kaplan (2020-07-03). "Umar Nurmagomedov, Tagir Ulanbekov delay travel to Fight Island following the passing of Khabib's dad". fansided.com. Retrieved 2020-07-04.
- ^ Nolan King and Simon Head (2020-07-09). "UFC taps John Castaneda to replace Umar Nurmagomedov, will fight Nathaniel Wood on 'Fight Island'". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
- ^ Danny Segura and Nolan King (2020-07-03). "Marina Rodriguez vs. Carla Esparza removed from July 15 UFC event after positive COVID-19 test". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-07-04.
- ^ Staff (2020-07-05). "Carla Esparza vs. Marina Rodriguez reset for July 25 UFC show in Abu Dhabi". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
- ^ Nolan King (2020-07-15). "Justin Tafa off July 25 UFC 'Fight Island' event; Tanner Boser expected to face Raphael Pessoa". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
- ^ Staff (2020-07-24). "UFC on ESPN 14 weigh-in results: 15-fight card set, but one fighter heavy". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
- ^ a b Nolan King (2020-11-18). "UFC welterweight Jesse Ronson gets 20-month USADA suspension after failed drug test, win overturned (updated)". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
- ^ "UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ Jay Anderson (2020-07-26). "UFC Fight Island 3 bonuses: six fighters earn 50K Performance of the Night awards". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
- ^ Casey Olson (2020-07-24). "UFC Fight Island 3: Robert Whittaker vs Darren Till". si.com. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
- ^ Mike Bohn (2020-07-25). "UFC on ESPN 14 results: Khamzat Chimaev makes history with second UFC win in 10 days". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-07-25.