UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo explained

UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo
Promotion:Ultimate Fighting Championship
Venue:UFC Apex
City:Enterprise, Nevada, United States
Attendance:Not announced[1]
Followingevent:UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier

UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo (also known as UFC on ESPN 31 and UFC Vegas 44) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on December 4, 2021, at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.[2]

Background

A bantamweight bout between Rob Font and former WEC and two-time UFC Featherweight Champion José Aldo served as the event headliner.[3]

Jimmy Crute and Jamahal Hill were expected to meet in a light heavyweight bout at, but they were eventually rescheduled for this event.[4]

A heavyweight bout between Tanner Boser and Sergei Pavlovich was scheduled for this event.[5] However, the bout was scrapped due to travel issues.[6]

A middleweight bout between Maki Pitolo and Duško Todorović took place at the event.[7] They were originally scheduled for, but Pitolo pulled out due to undisclosed reasons.[8]

A women's strawweight bout featuring Montserrat Ruiz and Mallory Martin was expected to take place at the event.[9] However, Ruiz pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Cheyanne Vlismas.[10]

Brad Tavares was expected to face Brendan Allen in a middleweight bout.[11] He eventually pulled out in mid November and was replaced by Roman Dolidze.[12] In turn, Dolidze was forced to pull out due to complications in his recovery from COVID-19 and was replaced by Chris Curtis.[13]

A light heavyweight bout between William Knight and Alonzo Menifield took place at this event.[14] They were previously expected to meet at and UFC 260, but the contest was cancelled both times due to positive COVID-19 tests from Menifield and Knight, respectively.[15] [16]

A welterweight bout between Matt Brown and Bryan Barberena was scheduled for the event.[17] However, on November 23, Brown was removed from the contest due to testing positive for COVID-19.[18] He was replaced by Darian Weeks.[19]

Philipe Lins was expected to face Azamat Murzakanov in a light heavyweight bout at the event.[20] However, Lins withdrew from the event due to undisclosed reasons and he was replaced by Jared Vanderaa, therefore changing the bout to heavyweight.[21] Shortly after the weigh-ins, officials had announced that the bout had been cancelled due to Vanderaa not being medically cleared.[22]

A welterweight bout between Jake Matthews and Jeremiah Wells was expected to take place at the event.[23] However, just hours before taking place, the bout was cancelled after one of Wells' cornermen tested positive for COVID-19.[24]

Results

[25]

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[26]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UFC on ESPN 31 post-event facts: Jose Aldo's win comes with unique record. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Mike Bohn. 2021-12-05. 2021-12-06.
  2. Web site: NAC approves UFC 269, two other UFC events for December in Las Vegas. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King. 2021-10-20. 2021-10-20.
  3. Web site: UFC targets Rob Font vs. Jose Aldo for December headliner. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King. 2021-09-27. 2021-10-01.
  4. Web site: 2021-09-06. Shaun Al-Shatti. Jimmy Crute vs. Jamahal Hill targeted for UFC event on December 4. 2021-09-07. mmafighting.com.
  5. Web site: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tanner Boser added to UFC event on December 4. mmadna.nl. Marcel Dorff. 2021-10-02. 2021-10-03.
  6. Web site: 2021-11-10. Tanner Boser vs. Sergei Pavlovich off UFC on ESPN 31 due to travel issues. 2021-11-11. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun and Nolan King.
  7. Web site: Maki Pitolo vs. Dusko Todorovic rescheduled, this time for December 4 in Las Vegas. mmadna.nl. Marcel Dorff. 2021-11-13. 2021-11-13.
  8. Web site: With Maki Pitolo out, LFA champ Gregory Rodrigues steps in to face Dusko Todorovic at UFC Fight Night 189. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun. 2021-05-21. 2021-05-21.
  9. Web site: Mallory Martin vs. Montserrat Ruiz added to UFC event on December 4. mmadna.nl. Marcel Dorff. 2021-09-07. 2021-09-08.
  10. Web site: With Montserrat Ruiz out, Cheyanne Buys steps in to face Mallory Martin at UFC on ESPN 31. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun. 2021-11-16. 2021-11-16.
  11. Web site: Brendan Allen vs. Brad Tavares added to UFC Fight Night on Dec. 4. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun. 2021-09-14. 2021-09-14.
  12. Web site: Roman Dolidze steps in for Brad Tavares to fight Brendan Allen at UFC Vegas 44. mmafighting.com. Alexander K. Lee. 2021-11-18. 2021-11-18.
  13. Web site: Dolidze out, Chris Curtis faces Brendan Allen at UFC Vegas 44. mma.uno. Steve Duncan. 2021-11-23. 2021-11-23.
  14. Web site: UFC makes another attempt for Alonzo Menifield vs. William Knight, this time on December 4th. mmadna.nl. Marcel Dorff. 2021-11-20. 2021-11-20.
  15. Web site: Alonzo Menifield tests positive for COVID-19; UFC Fight Night 186 bout vs. William Knight postponed. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King and Mike Bohn. 2020-02-25. 2021-02-25.
  16. Web site: William Knight out of UFC 260 due to COVID-19 protocols; Alonzo Menifield meets Fabio Cherant. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King. 2021-03-24. 2021-03-24.
  17. Web site: Bryan Barberena vs. Matt Brown added to UFC event on December 4. mmadna.nl. Marcel Dorff. 2021-09-21. 2021-09-21.
  18. Web site: Matt Brown forced out of UFC Vegas 44 fight against Bryan Barberena after positive COVID-19 test. mmafighting.com. Damon Martin. 2021-11-23. 2021-11-23.
  19. Web site: Darian Weeks to face Bryan Barberena this weekend at UFC Vegas 44. cagesidepress.com. Alex Behunin. 2021-11-30. 2021-11-30.
  20. Web site: Philipe Lins meets Azamat Murzakanov at UFC event on December 4. mmadna.nl. Marcel Dorff. 2021-11-16. 2021-11-16.
  21. Web site: Jared Vanderaa meets debuting Azamat Murzakanov on December 4. mmadna.nl. Marcel Dorff. 2021-11-28. 2021-11-28.
  22. Web site: Alexander K. Lee. 2021-12-03. UFC Vegas 44 weigh-in results: Rob Font vs. Jose Aldo official, one bout cancelled. mmafighting.com. 2021-12-03.
  23. Web site: Jake Matthews vs. Jeremiah Wells added to Dec. 4 UFC event. mmafighting.com. Alexander K. Lee. 2021-10-12. 2021-12-04.
  24. Web site: Jeremiah Wells announces withdrawal from UFC Vegas 44 after cornerman tests positive for COVID-19 . mmafighting.com. Alexander K. Lee. 2021-12-04. 2021-12-04.
  25. Web site: UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo. Ultimate Fighting Championship. 2021-10-01.
  26. Web site: UFC Vegas 44 post-fight bonuses: Clay Guida picks up 10th performance check just shy of 40th birthday. mmafighting.com. Steven Marrocco. 2021-12-05. 2021-12-05.