UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen explained

UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen
Promotion:Ultimate Fighting Championship
Venue:du Forum
City:Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Attendance:None (behind closed doors)[1]

UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen (also known as UFC Fight Night 179, UFC on ESPN+ 37 and UFC Fight Island 5) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on October 11, 2020 at the du Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.[2] [3]

Background

Without fans in attendance, the promotion did not have to worry about the local timing of the event, so the plan was to proceed with normal timing for prime time hours on the east coast of North America. The main card was scheduled to begin at 4:00 am (October 11) local time in Abu Dhabi, with a full preliminary card beginning at approximately 1:00 am Gulf Standard Time.[4]

A bantamweight bout between former WSOF Bantamweight Champion and UFC Bantamweight Championship challenger Marlon Moraes and Cory Sandhagen served as the event headliner.[5]

A featherweight bout between Edson Barboza and Jeremy Stephens was briefly linked to the event.[6] However, Stephens declined the fight after indicating he did not feel the date allowed him adequate time to prepare and safely make the required weight. Barboza was scheduled to face Sodiq Yusuff instead.[7] In turn, Yusuff pulled out of the fight on September 21 due to undisclosed reasons.[8] He was replaced by Makwan Amirkhani.[9]

A flyweight bout between promotional newcomer Tagir Ulanbekov and Bruno Gustavo da Silva was expected to take place four weeks earlier at .[10] However, due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pairing was rescheduled and took place at this event.[11]

Rodolfo Vieira was expected to face Markus Perez in a middleweight bout at the event.[12] However, Vieira pulled out on September 21 due to an injury sustained during training.[13] He was replaced by former KSW Welterweight Champion Dricus du Plessis.[14]

A middleweight bout between Abu Azaitar and Joaquin Buckley was expected to take place at the event.[15] However, Azaitar pulled out on September 26 due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Impa Kasanganay.[16]

A middleweight bout between Tom Breese and KB Bhullar was briefly scheduled to take place at a week earlier, before being moved to this event.[17] [18]

A featherweight bout between Seung Woo Choi and Youssef Zalal was scheduled for the event. However, it was announced on October 2 that Choi withdrew from the fight. He was replaced by promotional newcomer Ilia Topuria.[19]

A heavyweight bout between Sergey Spivak and Tom Aspinall was expected to take place at the event. However, Spivak withdrew from the bout in early October due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer Alan Baudot.[20]

A women's bantamweight bout between Tracy Cortez and Bea Malecki was also scheduled for the event. Due to undisclosed reasons, it was announced on October 2 that promotional newcomer Stephanie Egger would replace Malecki.[21]

bantamweight winner Alejandro Pérez was expected to face Thomas Almeida in a bantamweight bout at the event. However, it was announced on October 2 that Pérez had been forced out of the bout after he tested positive for COVID-19.[22] He was replaced by Jonathan Martinez and the bout then moved to a week later, where it took place at featherweight.[23]

Results

[24]

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[25]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UFC schedule 2020: Every upcoming event including Israel Adesanya's UFC 253 fight in Abu Dhabi and Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Justin Gaethje. talksport.com. Marc Williams. 2020-09-14. 2020-09-17.
  2. Web site: UFC 253 kicks off Fight Island return in Abu Dhabi. mmafighting.com. Guilherme Cruz. 2020-09-04. 2020-09-05.
  3. Web site: Sources: UFC 253, 254 to be held at Fight Island. espn.com. Brett Okamoto. 2020-09-04. 2020-09-05.
  4. Web site: UFC Fight Island - Everything you need to know. ufc.com. Press Release. 2020-09-17. 2020-09-17.
  5. News: UFC targets Marlon Moraes vs. Cory Sandhagen for the October 10th card. globoesporte.globo.com. Raphael Marinho. 2020-08-06. 2020-08-06.
  6. News: UFC plans Edson Barboza vs. Jeremy Stephens for October 10th event. globoesporte.globo.com. Raphael Marinho. 2020-08-06. 2020-08-17.
  7. News: UFC changes plans, and Edson Barboza faces Sodiq Yusuff in October. globoesporte.globo.com. Raphael Marinho. 2020-08-16. 2020-08-17.
  8. Web site: Without an opponent Edson Barboza awaits definition from the UFC for duel at Fight Island. uol.com.br. Staff. 2020-09-21. 2020-09-22.
  9. Web site: With Sodiq Yusuff out, Edson Barboza meets Makwan Amirkhani on UFC's Oct. 10 card. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Mike Bohn and Nolan King. 2020-09-27. 2020-09-27.
  10. Web site: Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Bruno Silva slated for UFC event on Sept. 12. mmafighting.com. Newswire. 2020-07-18. 2020-09-09.
  11. Web site: Who is fighting against whom? KW 36/2020. gnp1.de. Alexander Petzel-Gligorea. 2020-09-06. 2020-09-09.
  12. Web site: BJJ specialist Rodolfo Vieira meets Markus Perez on October 10. mmadna.nl. Staff. 2020-09-06. 2020-09-09.
  13. Web site: Markus Perez dares Khamzat Chimaev to step in after Rodolfo Vieira withdraws from Oct. 10 fight. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King. 2020-09-21. 2020-09-22.
  14. Web site: UFC sets former KSW champion as opponent of Markus Maluko, October 10. globoesporte.globo.com. Raphael Marinho. 2020-09-24. 2020-09-24.
  15. Web site: Abu Azaitar faces Joaquin Buckley at UFC event on Oct. 10. mmadna.nl. Staff. 2020-08-22. 2020-08-23.
  16. Web site: Impa Kasanganay replaces Abu Azaitar at UFC on ESPN+ 37, takes on Joaquin Buckley. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Danny Segura. 2020-09-26. 2020-09-26.
  17. Web site: KB Bhullar makes short notice debut against Tom Breese at UFC on ESPN 16 in Abu Dhabi. mmadna.nl. Staff. 2020-09-27. 2020-09-28.
  18. Web site: Edmonton's K.B. Bhullar to make UFC debut on Fight Island in October. sportsnet.ca. Canadian Press. 2020-09-28. 2020-09-28.
  19. Web site: With Seung Woo Choi out, Youssef Zalal meets Ilia Topuria at UFC on ESPN+ 37. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun. 2020-10-02. 2020-10-02.
  20. Web site: Frenchman Alan Baudot signs for the UFC!. lasueur.com. Guillaume. 2020-10-01. 2020-10-02.
  21. Web site: Stephanie Egger vs Tracy Cortez on UFC Fight Island. gnp1.de. Elias Stefanescu. 2020-10-01. 2020-10-02.
  22. Web site: Alejandro Pérez and Thomas Almeida fight postponed in UFC due to COVID-19. milenio.com. Carlos Contreras Legaspi. 2020-10-02. 2020-10-03.
  23. Web site: With Alejandro Perez out, Thomas Almeida now faces Jonathan Martinez at UFC on ESPN+ 38. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun. 2020-10-08. 2020-10-08.
  24. Web site: UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen. Ultimate Fighting Championship. 2020-09-23.
  25. Web site: UFC Fight Island 5 bonuses: Joaquin Buckley leads quartet of highlight-reel performances. mmafighting.com. Alexander K. Lee. 2020-10-11. 2020-10-11.

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