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2020 in UFC
2020 in UFC
from Wikipedia

2020 in UFC
A poster or logo for 2020 in UFC.
Information
First dateJanuary 18, 2020 (2020-01-18)
Last dateDecember 19, 2020 (2020-12-19)
Events
Total events46 (5 Cancelled)
UFC11
Fights
Total fights456
Title fights19
Chronology
2019 in UFC 2020 in UFC 2021 in UFC

The year 2020 was the 28th year in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States.

Partnership

[edit]

Starting in 2021, a partnership between the UFC and Dapper Labs's Flow platform for MMA fans to own, maintain and trade UFC-branded collectibles was announced on February 26, 2020.[1]

Onwards from April 2021, the UFC announced Venum as their exclusive outfitting partner on July 11, 2020.[2]

2020 UFC Honors awards

[edit]

Starting in 2019, the UFC created year-end awards with "UFC Honors President's Choice Awards" for categories "Performance of the Year" and "Fight of the Year" being chosen by UFC CEO Dana White. The other "UFC Honors Fan Choice Awards" are for categories "Knockout of the Year", "Submission of the Year", "Event of the Year", "Comeback of the Year" and, from 2020, "Debut of the Year" in which fans are able to vote for the winner on social media.[3]

Winners receive a trophy commemorating their achievement along with a set of tires from sponsor Toyo Tires.[4]

2020 UFC Honors Awards
Performance of the Year Fight of the Year Knockout of the Year Submission of the Year Debut of the Year Event of the Year Comeback of the Year
Winner Joaquin Buckley
defeats
Impa Kasanganay
UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen
Zhang Weili
defeats
Joanna Jędrzejczyk 1
UFC 248
Joaquin Buckley
defeats
Impa Kasanganay
UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen
Khabib Nurmagomedov
defeats
Justin Gaethje
UFC 254
Khamzat Chimaev
defeats
John Phillips
UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige
UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno Beneil Dariush
defeats
Drakkar Klose
UFC 248
Nominee Kevin Holland
defeats
Ronaldo Souza
UFC 256
Dustin Poirier
defeats
Dan Hooker
UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker
Cody Garbrandt
defeats
Raphael Assunção
UFC 250
Ariane Lipski
defeats
Luana Carolina
UFC 285
Jiří Procházka
defeats
Volkan Oezdemir
UFC 251
UFC 249: Ferguson vs. Gaethje Chase Hooper
defeats
Peter Barrett
UFC 256
Nominee Cody Garbrandt
defeats
Raphael Assunção
UFC 250
Josh Emmett
defeats
Shane Burgos
UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Volkov
Kevin Holland
defeats
Ronaldo Souza
UFC 256
Mackenzie Dern
defeats
Hannah Cifers
UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns
Khaos Williams
defeats
Alex Morono
UFC 247
UFC 250: Nunes vs. Spencer Daniel Rodriguez
defeats
Dwight Grant
UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar
Nominee Charles Oliveira
defeats
Kevin Lee
UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira
Deiveson Figueiredo
draws with
Brandon Moreno 1
UFC 256
Khaos Williams
defeats
Abdul Razak Alhassan
UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos
Jimmy Flick
defeats
Cody Durden
UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal
Jordan Leavitt
defeats
Matt Wiman
UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori
UFC 251: Usman vs. Masvidal Damon Jackson
defeats
Mirsad Bektić
UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley
Ref [5][6] [5][7] [8][9] [8][10] [8][11] [8][11] [8][11]

2020 UFC.com awards

[edit]
2020 UFC.COM Awards
No Best Fighter The

Upsets

The

Submissions

The Newcomers The

Knockouts

The

Fights

1 Deiveson Figueiredo Roxanne Modafferi
defeats
Maycee Barber
UFC 246
Ariane Lipski
defeats
Luana Carolina
UFC 285
Khamzat Chimaev Joaquin Buckley
defeats
Impa Kasanganay
UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen
Zhang Weili
defeats
Joanna Jędrzejczyk 1
UFC 248
2 Jan Błachowicz Shana Dobson
defeats
Mariya Agapova
UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar
Mackenzie Dern
defeats
Hannah Cifers
UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns
Joaquin Buckley Cody Garbrandt
defeats
Raphael Assunção
UFC 250
Deiveson Figueiredo
draws with
Brandon Moreno 1
UFC 256
3 Kevin Holland Julian Erosa
defeats
Sean Woodson
UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker
Aljamain Sterling
defeats
Cory Sandhagen
UFC 250
Brandon Royval Sean O'Malley
defeats
Eddie Wineland
UFC 250
Dustin Poirier
defeats
Dan Hooker
UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker
4 Gilbert Burns Khaos Williams
defeats
Alex Morono
UFC 247
Khabib Nurmagomedov
defeats
Justin Gaethje
UFC 254
Khaos Williams Kevin Holland
defeats
Ronaldo Souza
UFC 256
Josh Emmett
defeats
Shane Burgos
UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Volkov
5 Khamzat Chimaev Justin Jaynes
defeats
Frank Camacho
UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Volkov
Charles Oliveira
defeats
Kevin Lee
UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira
Jiří Procházka Khamzat Chimaev
defeats
Gerald Meerschaert
UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley
Dan Hooker
defeats
Paul Felder
UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker
6 Valentina Shevchenko Marlon Vera
defeats
Sean O'Malley 1
UFC 252
Jimmy Flick
defeats
Cody Durden
UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal
Jamahal Hill Khaos Williams
defeats
Abdul Razak Alhassan
UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos
Justin Gaethje
defeats
Tony Ferguson
UFC 249
7 Brandon Moreno Daniel Rodriguez
defeats
Tim Means
UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2
Jack Hermansson
defeats
Kelvin Gastelum
UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2
Youssef Zalal Beneil Dariush
defeats
Drakkar Klose
UFC 248
Rose Namajunas
defeats
Jéssica Andrade 2
UFC 251
8 Glover Teixeira Jan Błachowicz
defeats
Dominick Reyes
UFC 253
Thiago Moisés
defeats
Michael Johnson
UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira
Ilia Topuria Jordan Leavitt
defeats
Matt Wiman
UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori
Frankie Edgar
defeats
Pedro Munhoz
UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar
9 Charles Oliveira Daniel Pineda
defeats
Herbert Burns
UFC 252
Deiveson Figueiredo
defeats
Joseph Benavidez 2
UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2
Tom Aspinall Calvin Kattar
defeats
Jeremy Stephens
UFC 283
Jon Jones
defeats
Dominick Reyes
UFC 247
10 Israel Adesanya Brandon Royval
defeats
Tim Elliott
UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns
Germaine de Randamie
defeats
Julianna Peña
UFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Aldana
Chris Daukaus Beneil Dariush
defeats
Scott Holtzman
UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Oleinik
Vicente Luque
defeats
Niko Price 2
UFC 249
Ref [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

2020 by the numbers

[edit]

The numbers below records the events, fights, techniques, champions and fighters held or performed for the year of 2020 in UFC.[18]

Events
Number of Events PPV Continents Countries Cities Fight Night Bonuses
41 11 4 4 9 167
Total $8,350,000
Longest Event Shortest Event Highest Income

Live Gate

Lowest Income

Live Gate

Highest

Attendance

Lowest

Attendance

UFC 251

3:07:27

UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai

1:17:33

UFC 246

$11,089,129.30

UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs. Figueiredo

$402,958

UFC 246

19,040

UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2

6,449

Title Fights
Undisputed

Title Fights

Title Changes Champions Remained

in Their Divisions

Number of

Champions

Number of

Interim Champions

Number of

Title Defenses

18 0 10
FLY – Deiveson Figueiredo
FW – Alexander Volkanovski
LW – Khabib Nurmagomedov
WW – Kamaru Usman
MW – Israel Adesanya
HW – Stipe Miocic
WSW – Zhang Weili
WFYW – Valentina Shevchenko
WBW – Amanda Nunes
WFW – Amanda Nunes
13 2 15
Champions
Division Beginning of The Year End of The Year Division Beginning of The Year End of The Year
Heavyweight Stipe Miocic Stipe Miocic Bantamweight Henry Cejudo Petr Yan
Light Heavyweight Jon Jones Jan Błachowicz Flyweight Henry Cejudo Deiveson Figueiredo
Middleweight Israel Adesanya Israel Adesanya Women's Bantamweight Amanda Nunes Amanda Nunes
Welterweight Kamaru Usman Kamaru Usman Women's Flyweight Valentina Shevchenko Valentina Shevchenko
Lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov Khabib Nurmagomedov Women's Strawweight Zhang Weili Zhang Weili
Featherweight Alexander Volkanovski Alexander Volkanovski Women's Featherweight Amanda Nunes Amanda Nunes
Fights
Most Knockouts

at A Single Event

Most submissions

at A Single Event

Most Decisions

at A Single Event

Total Number

of Fights

Total Number

of Cage Time

UFC Fight Night: Hall vs. Silva

7

UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2

5

UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira
UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal

9

456 83:33:19
Knockouts Submissions Unanimous Decisions Split Decisions No Contests
139 82 185 35 5
Fighters
Number of

Fighters

UFC

Debutants

Releases /

Retired

Fighters

Suspended

Number of Fighters

Missed weight

(At the end of Dec 31, 2020)
576
123 93 40 46
Champion feats[18]
  • No UFC championships changed hands during the 2020 calendar year, marking the first year without a title change since 1999.
  • With his 14th title‑fight victory, Jon Jones set a new UFC record, surpassing the previous mark of 13 held by Georges St-Pierre.
  • Amanda Nunes became the first fighter to defend titles in two divisions while holding both championships simultaneously.
  • Joseph Benavidez became the first fighter to go 0–4 in undisputed championship bouts.
  • Khabib Nurmagomedov became the first fighter to win three consecutive title fights via submission.
  • Deiveson Figueiredo recorded the fastest turnaround between UFC championship fights at 21 days
Fighter feats[18]
  • Aleksei Oleinik became the first fighter in MMA history to have victories in four separate decades (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s)
  • Jon Jones became the first fighter to record 20 victories in a single UFC weight division, a feat later matched by Max Holloway in 2023.
  • Priscila Cachoeira's 40 second knockout at UFC Fight Night 168 was the fastest finish in women's flyweight history.
  • Angela Hill’s six bouts from March 23, 2019 to February 23, 2020 were the most in an 11‑month span. The record was later surpassed by Kevin Holland, who competed seven times between May 2020 and April 2021.
  • Israel Adesanya reached eight UFC wins in 755 days, the shortest span in which any fighter has achieved that mark.
  • Charles Oliveira's fifth guillotine-choke submission set a new record for the most in company history.
  • Curtis Blaydes set a new UFC heavyweight record by landing 14 takedowns in a single bout.
  • Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker's 390 combined total strikes landed set the record for the most in a lightweight bout.
  • Khamzat Chimaev set the modern UFC record for the shortest timeframe to earn two victories, winning twice in just ten days.
  • Paul Craig became the first fighter to win via triangle-choke submission in three separate bouts.
  • Shana Dobson's win over Mariya Agapova marked the biggest betting‑odds upset in UFC history at +1250.
  • Hannah Cifers became the first fighter to suffer four consecutive losses in a calendar year.
  • Khamzat Chimaev set the modern UFC record for the shortest timeframe to earn three victories, winning three times in 66 days.
  • Glover Teixeira became the first in history to have five straight wins at the age of 40 or older.
  • Glover Teixeira set division records for the most submissions (6) and most finishes (12) in UFC light heavyweight history.

Releases and retirements

[edit]

These fighters have either been released from their UFC contracts, announced their retirement or joined other promotions:

Month Day ISO Fighter Division Reason Ref
January 1 China Wuliji Buren Bantamweight Released [19]
7 Canada Jordan Mein Welterweight Signed with Bellator MMA [20]
9 United States Kyle Bochniak Featherweight Released [21]
11 Brazil Thiago Alves Welterweight Released [22]
15 South Korea Jin Soon Son Bantamweight Released [23]
22 United States Gina Mazany Women's Bantamweight Released [24]
28 France Nordine Taleb Welterweight Signed with ARES FC [25]
30 United States Desmond Green Lightweight Released [26]
February 3 United States Alex White Featherweight Released [27]
11 United States Ben Saunders Welterweight Released [28]
Canada Brad Katona Bantamweight Released [28]
United States Brandon Davis Featherweight Released [28]
Peru Carlos Huachin Bantamweight Released [28]
United States Daniel Spitz Heavyweight Released [28]
Serbia Darko Stošić Light Heavyweight Released [28]
Russia Grigory Popov Bantamweight Released [28]
Mexico Hector Aldana Welterweight Released [28]
Brazil Kalindra Faria Women's Flyweight Released [28]
Czech Republic Lucie Pudilová Women's Bantamweight Released [28]
New Zealand Luke Jumeau Welterweight Released [28]
Mexico Martin Bravo Featherweight Released [28]
United States Nathan Coy Welterweight Released [29]
Mexico Polo Reyes Featherweight Released [28]
Poland Salim Touahri Welterweight Released [28]
12 United States Juan Adams Heavyweight Released [30]
13 Brazil Júnior Albini Heavyweight Released [31]
25 Sweden Daniel Teymur Featherweight Released [32]
March 6 Canada Chad Laprise Welterweight Released [33]
19 France Cyril Asker Heavyweight Released [34]
South Korea Dong Hyun Ma Lightweight Released [34]
Brazil Isabella de Pádua Women's Flyweight Released [34]
Austria Ismail Naurdiev Welterweight Chose not to re-sign [34]
United States Jodie Esquibel Women's Strawweight Released [35]
Russia Khalid Murtazaliev Middleweight Released [34]
Canada Kyle Prepolec Lightweight Released [34]
Brazil Marcos Rosa Mariano Lightweight Released [34]
United States Matthew Lopez Bantamweight Released [34]
Brazil Talita Bernardo Women's Bantamweight Released [34]
Finland Teemu Packalén Lightweight Chose not to re-sign [36]
United States Tonya Evinger Women's Bantamweight Released [34]
29 United States Trevor Smith Middleweight Released [37]
May 10 United States Henry Cejudo Bantamweight Retired [38]
June 7 United States Charles Byrd Middleweight Retired [39]
19 Afghanistan Siyar Bahadurzada Welterweight Retired [40]
27 Poland Oskar Piechota Middleweight Released [41]
July 1 United States John Gunther Middleweight Released [42]
26 Brazil Fabrício Werdum Heavyweight Chose not resign [43]
Germany Peter Sobotta Welterweight Retired [44]
28 Brazil Antônio Rogério Nogueira Light Heavyweight Retired [45]
August 7 United States Corey Anderson Light Heavyweight Signed with Bellator MMA [46]
United States Ray Borg Bantamweight Released [47]
9 Russia Roman Bogatov Lightweight Released [48]
12 United States Paige VanZant Women's Flyweight Signed with BKFC [49]
13 United States Evan Dunham Featherweight Released [50]
United States Max Rohskopf Lightweight Released [51]
16 United States Daniel Cormier Heavyweight Retired [52]
20 Australia Callan Potter Lightweight Released [53]
Brazil Klidson Abreu Light Heavyweight Released [33]
England Nad Narimani Featherweight Released [53]
September 2 United States Ricardo Lamas Featherweight Retired [54]
3 United States Todd Duffee Heavyweight Released [55]
11 United States Austin Springer Featherweight Released [56]
18 United States John Dodson Bantamweight Released [57]
21 Brazil Duda Santana Women's Bantamweight Released [58]
Scotland Stevie Ray Lightweight Retired [59]
October 2 Brazil Iuri Alcântara Bantamweight Released [60]
United States Jeff Hughes Heavyweight Released [60]
Russia Khadis Ibragimov Light Heavyweight Released [60]
Italy Mara Romero Borella Women's Flyweight Released [60]
7 Australia Ben Sosoli Heavyweight Released [61]
Australia Nadia Kassem Women's Strawweight Released [61]
United States Dequan Townsend Light Heavyweight Released [61]
Wales Brett Johns Bantamweight Signed with Bellator MMA [62]
15 United States James Vick Welterweight Released [63]
19 Russia Zelim Imadaev Welterweight Released [64]
24 Russia Khabib Nurmagomedov Lightweight Retired [65]
29 Peru Enrique Barzola Bantamweight End of contract [66]
November 13 Wales John Phillips Middleweight Released [67]
United States Justin Ledet Light Heavyweight Released [67]
United States Bevon Lewis Middleweight Released [67]
16 Brazil Jussier Formiga Flyweight Released [68]
20 Brazil Anderson Silva Middleweight Released [69]
December 4 Canada Cole Smith Bantamweight Released [70]
7 United States Rachael Ostovich Women's Flyweight Released [71]
8 Russia Gadzhimurad Antigulov Light Heavyweight Released [72]
United States Matt Wiman Lightweight Released [72]
Russia Saparbek Safarov Middleweight Released [72]
23 United States Anthony Pettis Welterweight Signed with PFL [73]
United States Erik Koch Welterweight Released [74]
Tunisia Jessin Ayari Lightweight Released [75]
24 United States Mark De La Rosa Bantamweight Released [76]
Cuba Yoel Romero Middleweight Released [77]

Debut UFC fighters

[edit]

The following fighters fought their first UFC fight in 2020:

Month Day ISO Fighter Division Event
January 18 United States Aleksa Camur Light Heavyweight UFC 246
United States Ode' Osbourne Bantamweight
25 Brazil Herbert Burns Featherweight UFC Fight Night 166
United States Jamahal Hill Light Heavyweight
United States Nate Landwehr Featherweight
United States Tony Gravely Bantamweight
February 8 United States Austin Lingo Featherweight UFC 247
United States Khaos Williams Welterweight
Morocco Youssef Zalal Featherweight
15 United States Brok Weaver Lightweight UFC Fight Night 167
United States Daniel Rodriguez Welterweight
United States Shanna Young Women's Bantamweight
23 Australia Joshua Culibao Featherweight UFC Fight Night 168
29 United States Aalon Cruz Featherweight UFC Fight Night 169
United States Darrick Minner Featherweight
United States Kyler Phillips Bantamweight
Brazil Norma Dumont Women's Featherweight
United States Spike Carlyle Featherweight
United States Steve Garcia Lightweight
United States T.J. Brown Featherweight
March 7 United States Jamall Emmers Featherweight UFC 248
14 Czech Republic David Dvořák Flyweight UFC Fight Night 170
May 13 United States Isaac Villanueva Light Heavyweight UFC Fight Night 171
Brazil Philipe Lins Heavyweight
16 United States Irwin Rivera Bantamweight UFC on ESPN 8
Brazil Rodrigo Nascimento Heavyweight
30 United States Brandon Royval Flyweight UFC on ESPN 9
June 13 United States Anthony Ivy Welterweight UFC on ESPN 10
United States Christian Aguilera Welterweight
United States Gabriel Green Welterweight
United States Gustavo Lopez Bantamweight
Kazakhstan Mariya Agapova Women's Flyweight
Uzbekistan Zarrukh Adashev Flyweight
20 United States Justin Jaynes Lightweight UFC on ESPN 11
United States Max Rohskopf Lightweight
27 United States Jason Witt Welterweight UFC on ESPN 12
United States Jinh Yu Frey Women's Strawweight
United States Kay Hansen Women's Strawweight
United States Kyle Daukaus Middleweight
July 12 Czech Republic Jiří Procházka Light Heavyweight UFC 251
Russia Maxim Grishin Light Heavyweight
Kazakhstan Roman Bogatov Lightweight
Kazakhstan Zhalgas Zhumagulov Flyweight
16 Greece Andreas Michailidis Middleweight UFC on ESPN 13
United Arab Emirates Khamzat Chimaev Welterweight
Lithuania Modestas Bukauskas Light Heavyweight
Tunisia Mounir Lazzez Welterweight
19 Iraq Amir Albazi Flyweight UFC Fight Night 172
Brazil Carlos Felipe Heavyweight
Canada Malcolm Gordon Flyweight
Georgia (country) Roman Dolidze Middleweight
26 England Jai Herbert Lightweight UFC on ESPN 14
United States John Castañeda Bantamweight
Germany Niklas Stolze Welterweight
Republic of Ireland Rhys McKee Welterweight
England Tom Aspinall Heavyweight
August 1 United States Cody Durden Flyweight UFC Fight Night 173
United States Nate Maness Bantamweight
United States Vincent Cachero Bantamweight
United States Carlton Minus Lightweight
United States Jordan Wright Middleweight
8 United States Alexander Muñoz Lightweight UFC Fight Night 174
Jordan Ali Alqaisi Bantamweight
United States Joaquin Buckley Middleweight
United States Johnny Muñoz Jr. Bantamweight
United States Peter Barrett Featherweight
15 United States Chris Daukaus Heavyweight UFC 252
United States Danny Chavez Featherweight
United States Kai Kamaka III Featherweight
United States Parker Porter Heavyweight
United States Tony Kelley Featherweight
22 United States Matthew Semelsberger Welterweight UFC on ESPN 15
Russia Timur Valiev Bantamweight
United States Trevin Jones Bantamweight
29 United States Austin Springer Featherweight UFC Fight Night 175
United States Bill Algeo Featherweight
United States Impa Kasanganay Middleweight
September 5 United States Ray Rodriguez Bantamweight UFC Fight Night 176
12 Moldova Alexander Romanov Heavyweight UFC Fight Night 177
United States Kevin Croom Featherweight
Guam Roque Martinez Heavyweight
19 United States Jerome Rivera Flyweight UFC Fight Night 178
United States Sarah Alpar Women's Bantamweight
Canada T.J. Laramie Featherweight
27 Brazil Danilo Marques Light Heavyweight UFC 253
Slovakia Ľudovít Klein Lightweight
United States William Knight Light Heavyweight
October 4 England Cameron Else Bantamweight UFC on ESPN 16
Serbia Duško Todorović Middleweight
United States Jordan Williams Middleweight
France Nassourdine Imavov Middleweight
11 France Alan Baudot Heavyweight UFC Fight Night 179
South Africa Dricus du Plessis Middleweight
Georgia (country) Ilia Topuria Featherweight
Canada KB Bhullar Middleweight
Switzerland Stephanie Egger Women's Bantamweight
Russia Tagir Ulanbekov Flyweight
18 Philippines Mark Striegl Bantamweight UFC Fight Night 180
Poland Mateusz Gamrot Lightweight
Georgia (country) Guram Kutateladze Lightweight
25 Australia Jacob Malkoun Middleweight UFC 254
Uzbekistan Liliya Shakirova Women’s Flyweight
United States Miranda Maverick Women's Flyweight
United States Phil Hawes Middleweight
Kazakhstan Shavkat Rakhmonov Welterweight
31 United States Adrian Yañez Bantamweight UFC Fight Night 181
United States Charlie Ontiveros Lightweight
United States Kevin Natividad Bantamweight
United States Victor Rodriguez Bantamweight
November 14 United States Jamey Simmons Featherweight UFC Fight Night 182
Japan Kanako Murata Women's Strawweight
United States Ramiz Brahimaj Welterweight
21 United States Dustin Stoltzfus Middleweight UFC 255
United States Jared Gooden Welterweight
United States Louis Cosce Welterweight
Hong Kong Sasha Palatnikov Welterweight
28 United States Josh Parisian Heavyweight UFC on ESPN 18
December 5 United States Jordan Leavitt Lightweight UFC on ESPN 19
12 United States Sam Hughes Women's Strawweight UFC 256
19 United States Cory McKenna Women's Strawweight UFC Fight Night 183
United States Jamie Pickett Middleweight
United States Jimmy Flick Flyweight
Cameroon Tafon Nchukwi Middleweight

Suspended fighters

[edit]

The list below is based on fighters suspended either by (1) United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) or World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for violation of taking prohibited substances or non-analytical incidents, (2) by local commissions on misconduct during the fights or at event venues, or (3) by the UFC for reasons also stated below.

ISO Name Nickname Division From Duration Tested positive for / Info By Eligible to
fight again
Ref. Notes
Fabrício Werdum Vai Cavalo Heavyweight Apr 25, 2018 2 years Trenbolone, an anabolic steroid. USADA Apr 1, 2020 [78]
[79]
Reduced suspension as a result of 'substantial assistance'
T.J. Dillashaw Bantamweight Jan 18, 2019 1 year (NYSAC)
2 years (USADA)
Erythropoietin (EPO). NYSAC and USADA Jan 18, 2021 [80]
[81]
Michel Prazeres Welterweight Mar 9, 2019 2 years Exogenous boldenone and its metabolite 5β-androst-1-en-17β-ol-3-one. USADA Mar 9, 2021 [82]
China Hu Yaozong Totoro Light Heavyweight Mar 9, 2019 Initially 1 year but reduced to 10 months Arimistane and its metabolite from contamination supplement. USADA Jan 9, 2020 [83]
Roman Dolidze Bazooka Light Heavyweight Mar 12, 2019 1 year Clomiphene hormone and its metabolites M1 and M2, as well as 4-chloro-18-nor-17β-hydroxymethyl,17α-methyl-5α-androst-13-en-3α-ol (M3), which is a long-term metabolite of dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (DHCMT). USADA March 12, 2020 [84]
Jessica Penne Women's Flyweight Apr 8, 2019 Initially 4 years but reduced to 20 months Stanozolol metabolites 16β-hydroxystanozolol and 3′-hydroxystanozolol. USADA Dec 8, 2020 [85] Original suspension was 4 years after second violation, but reduced to 20 months in February 2020
Melissa Gatto Women's Bantamweight Jun 5, 2019 1 year Furosemide, a diuretic. USADA Jun 5, 2020 [86]
Bruno Silva Blindado Middleweight Jun 14, 2019 2 years Boldenone and its metabolite. USADA Jun 14, 2021 [87]
Vince Murdock Featherweight Jul 6, 2019 20 months GW1516, a hormone modulator that is better known as cardarine.
It is often sold on the black market as endurobol.
USADA Sep 6, 2020 [88]


[89]

Originally banned for 20 months and reduced to 14 months after documenting neurological condition moyamoya
Giacomo Lemos Heavyweight Jul 9, 2019 2 years Drostanolone and its metabolite 2α-methyl-5α-androstan-3α-ol-17-one. USADA Jul 9, 2021 [90]
John Allan Light Heavyweight Jul 13, 2019 1 year Tamoxifen. USADA and CSAC Jul 13, 2020 [90] Fined $4,800 by the CSAC
Istela Nunes Women's Strawweight Jul 22, 2019 2 years Stanozolol metabolites 16β-hydroxystanozolol and 3′-hydroxystanozolol. USADA Jul 22, 2021 [91]
Sean O'Malley Bantamweight Aug 6, 2019 6 months Ostarine. USADA Feb 6, 2020 [92]
Khalid Taha The Warrior Bantamweight Oct 6, 2019 1 year Furosemide (diuretics). USADA Oct 6, 2020 [93]
Priscila Cachoeira Women's Flyweight Oct 12, 2019 4 months Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and its metabolites chlorothiazide and 4amino-6chloro-1,3-benzenedisulfonamide (ACB). USADA Feb 12, 2020 [94]
Ovince Saint Preux OSP Light Heavyweight Oct 25, 2019 3 months Ostarine and S-23, the family of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs). USADA Jan 25, 2020 [95] Ostarine came from a tainted supplement
Diego Sanchez Nightmare Welterweight Oct 26, 2019 3 months Ostarine and S-23, the family of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs). USADA Jan 26, 2020 [95] Ostarine came from a tainted supplement
Kelvin Gastelum Middleweight Nov 3, 2019 Initially 9 months but reduced to 5 months Marijuana. USADA Apr 3, 2020 [96] Original suspension was 9 months, but reduced to 5 months after Gastelum's successful completion of a drug treatment program
Isabella de Pádua Belinha Women's Flyweight Nov 16, 2019 2 years 19-Norandrosterone (19-NA), the main urinary metabolite of nandrolone (19-nortestosterone) and other 19-norsteroids (class of anabolic agent). USADA and CABMMA Nov 16, 2021 [82]
[97]
Released
Rachael Ostovich Women's Flyweight Jan 3, 2020 8 months Ostarine and GW1516. USADA Sep 9, 2020 [98] Prohibited substance found in supplement
Duda Santana Cowboyzinha Women's Bantamweight Jan 10, 2020 1 year Selective androgen receptor modulator LGD-4033 USADA Jan 10, 2021 [99] Released by UFC
Lara Procópio Women's Bantamweight Feb 17, 2020 6 months Ostarine USADA Aug 17, 2020 [100]
Raphael Pessoa Bebezão Heavyweight Mar 4, 2020 1 year hydrochlorothiazide and its metabolites chlorothiazide and 4-amino-6-chloro-1,3-benzenedisulfonamide USADA Mar 4, 2021 [101]
Deron Winn Middleweight Mar 7, 2020 9 months Amphetamines. NSAC Dec 7, 2020 [102] Fined $1,800
Chase Sherman The Vanilla Gorilla Heavyweight May 13, 2020 9 months Anastrozole USADA Feb 13, 2021 [103]
Jamahal Hill Sweet Dreams Light Heavyweight May 30, 2020 6 months Marijuana. NSAC Nov 30, 2020 [102] Fined 15% of his fight purse
Aleksander Doskalchuk Flyweight Jun 6, 2020 14 months Mesterolone. USADA Aug 6, 2021 [104]
Luis Peña Violent Bob Ross Lightweight Jun 17, 2020 4+12 months Marijuana. NSAC Nov 2, 2020 [102] Reduced suspension was due to his fight being taken on short notice, fined 15% of his fight purse
Tim Elliott Flyweight Jun 17, 2020 4+12 months Marijuana. NSAC Nov 2, 2020 [102] Reduced suspension was due to his fight being taken on short notice, fined 15% of his fight purse
Marc-Andre Barriault Power Bar Middleweight Jul 21, 2020 6 months Ostarine USADA Jan 21, 2021 [105]
Jesse Ronson The Body Snatcher Welterweight Jul 22, 2020 20 months Metandienone USADA Mar 22, 2022 [106]
Jorge Gonzalez George St. Light Heavyweight Aug 5, 2020 2 years Stanozolol metabolites, drostanolone metabolite and tamoxifen metabolite. USADA Aug 5, 2022 [107]
Yair Rodríguez El Pantera Featherweight Sep 8, 2020 6 months 3 Whereabouts Failures in Last Year USADA Mar 8, 2021 [108]
Kevin Croom The Hard Hitting Hillbilly Lightweight Sep 19, 2020 4+12 months Marijuana. NSAC Jan 26, 2021 [109] With addition of $1,800 fine
Niko Price The Hybrid Welterweight Sep 19, 2020 6 months Marijuana NSAC Mar 19, 2021 [110] With addition of $8,500 fine
Oskar Piechota Imadło Middleweight Sep 25, 2020 22 months Growth hormone releasing peptide 2 (GHRP-2 or pralmorelin) and GHRP-2 (1-3) free acid, a metabolite of GHRP-2, USADA Jul 25, 2022 [111]
Erik Koch The Phoenix Welterweight Oct 3, 2020 18 months 3′-hydroxy-stanozolol, a metabolite of stanozolol USADA Apr 3, 2022 [112]
Charlie Ontiveros The American Badboy Welterweight Oct 30, 2020 6 months Chlorodehydromethyltestosterone metabolites NSAC Apr 30, 2021 [113] With addition of $2,245.36
Raquel Pennington Rocky Women's Bantamweight Nov 7, 2020 6 months 7-Keto-DHEA and AOD-9064 USADA May 7, 2021 [114] Self-reporting doping violation when she found out she had ingested banned substances prescribed by her doctor to help treat a medical condition
Liliya Shakirova Women's Flyweight Dec 5, 2020 2 years Meldonium USADA Dec 5, 2022 [115]

Title fights

[edit]
Title fights in 2020
Weight class Method Round Time Event Notes
Women's Flyweight Valentina Shevchenko (c) def. Katlyn Chookagian TKO (elbows and punches) 3 1:03 UFC 247 [a]
Light Heavyweight Jon Jones (c) def. Dominick Reyes Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 49–46) 5 5:00 UFC 247 [b]
Flyweight Deiveson Figueiredo def. Joseph Benavidez TKO (punches) 2 1:54 UFC Fight Night 169 [c]
Women's Strawweight Zhang Weili (c) def. Joanna Jędrzejczyk Decision (split) (48–47, 47–48, 48–47) 5 5:00 UFC 248 [d]
Middleweight Israel Adesanya (c) def. Yoel Romero Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 49–46) 5 5:00 UFC 248 [e]
Bantamweight Henry Cejudo (c) def. Dominick Cruz TKO (knee and punches) 2 4:58 UFC 249 [f]
Lightweight Justin Gaethje def. Tony Ferguson TKO (punches) 5 3:39 UFC 249 [g]
Women's Featherweight Amanda Nunes (c) def. Felicia Spencer Decision (unanimous) (50–44, 50–44, 50–45) 5 5:00 UFC 250 [h]
Bantamweight Petr Yan def. José Aldo TKO (punches) 5 3:24 UFC 251 [i]
Featherweight Alexander Volkanovski (c) def. Max Holloway Decision (split) (47–48, 48–47, 48–47) 5 5:00 UFC 251 [j]
Welterweight Kamaru Usman (c) def. Jorge Masvidal Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 50–45, 49–46) 5 5:00 UFC 251 [k]
Flyweight Deiveson Figueiredo def. Joseph Benavidez Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) 1 4:48 UFC Fight Night 172 [l]
Heavyweight Stipe Miocic (c) def. Daniel Cormier Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 48–47) 5 5:00 UFC 252 [m]
Light Heavyweight Jan Błachowicz def. Dominick Reyes TKO (punches) 2 4:36 UFC 253 [n]
Middleweight Israel Adesanya (c) def. Paulo Costa TKO (punches) 2 3:59 UFC 253 [o]
Lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov (c) def. Justin Gaethje (ic) Technical Submission (triangle choke) 2 1:34 UFC 254 [p]
Women's Flyweight Valentina Shevchenko (c) def. Jennifer Maia Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 49–46) 5 5:00 UFC 255 [q]
Flyweight Deiveson Figueiredo (c) def. Alex Perez Submission (guillotine choke) 1 1:57 UFC 255 [r]
Flyweight Deiveson Figueiredo (c) vs. Brandon Moreno Draw (majority) (48–46, 47–47, 47–47) 5 5:00 UFC 256 [s]

Events list

[edit]
# Event Date Venue City Country Atten. Ref. Fight of the Night Performance of the Night Bonus Ref.
546 UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal Dec 19, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [116] N/a Stephen Thompson Rob Font $50,000 [117]
Marcin Tybura Jimmy Flick
545 UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno Dec 12, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [118] Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno Kevin Holland Rafael Fiziev $50,000 [119]
544 UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori Dec 6, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [120] Marvin Vettori vs. Jack Hermansson Jordan Leavitt Gabriel Benítez $50,000 [121]
543 UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. Clark Nov 28, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [122] N/a Anthony Smith Miguel Baeza $50,000 [123]
Su Mudaerji Nate Maness
542 UFC 255: Figueiredo vs. Perez Nov 21, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [124] Louis Cosce vs. Sasha Palatnikov Joaquin Buckley Antonina Shevchenko $50,000 [125]
541 UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos Nov 14, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [126] Rafael dos Anjos vs. Paul Felder Sean Strickland Khaos Williams $50,000 [127]
540 UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira Nov 7, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [128] Raoni Barcelos vs. Khalid Taha Giga Chikadze Alexander Romanov $50,000 [129]
539 UFC Fight Night: Hall vs. Silva Oct 31, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [130] N/a Kevin Holland Alexander Hernandez $50,000 [131]
Adrian Yanez Miles Johns
538 UFC 254: Khabib vs. Gaethje Oct 24, 2020 Flash Forum Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates 0 [132] Casey Kenney vs. Nathaniel Wood Khabib Nurmagomedov Magomed Ankalaev $50,000 [133]
537 UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. The Korean Zombie Oct 18, 2020 Flash Forum Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates 0 [132] Guram Kutateladze vs. Mateusz Gamrot Jéssica Andrade Jimmy Crute $50,000 [134]
536 UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen Oct 11, 2020 Flash Forum Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates 0 [132] N/a Cory Sandhagen Joaquin Buckley $50,000 [135]
Chris Daukaus Tom Breese
535 UFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Aldana Oct 4, 2020 Flash Forum Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates 0 [132] N/a Germaine de Randamie Duško Todorović $50,000 [135]
Kyler Phillips Luigi Vendramini
534 UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa Sep 27, 2020 Flash Forum Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates 0 [136] Brandon Royval vs. Kai Kara-France Israel Adesanya Jan Błachowicz $50,000 [137]
533 UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley Sep 19, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [138] N/a Khamzat Chimaev Mackenzie Dern $50,000 [139]
Damon Jackson Randy Costa
532 UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill Sep 12, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [140] Michelle Waterson vs. Angela Hill Ottman Azaitar Kevin Croom $50,000 [141]
531 UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai Sep 5, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [142] N/a Ovince Saint Preux Michel Pereira $50,000 [143]
André Muniz Brian Kelleher
530 UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Rakić Aug 29, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [144] Ricardo Lamas vs. Bill Algeo Sean Brady Mallory Martin $50,000 [145]
529 UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar Aug 22, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [146] Frankie Edgar vs. Pedro Munhoz Shana Dobson Trevin Jones $50,000 [147]
528 UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier 3 Aug 15, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [148] Kai Kamaka III vs. Tony Kelley Daniel Pineda Virna Jandiroba $50,000 [149]
527 UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Oleinik Aug 8, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [150] N/a Darren Stewart Kevin Holland $50,000 [151]
Andrew Sanchez Gavin Tucker
526 UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan Aug 1, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [152] Bobby Green vs. Lando Vannata Jennifer Maia Vicente Luque $50,000 [153]
525 UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till Jul 25, 2020 Flash Forum Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates 0 [152] N/a Fabrício Werdum Paul Craig $50,000 [154]
Khamzat Chimaev Jesse Ronson
Tom Aspinall Tanner Boser
524 UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2 Jul 19, 2020 Flash Forum Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates 0 [155] Rafael Fiziev vs. Marc Diakiese Deiveson Figueiredo Ariane Lipski $50,000 [156]
523 UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige Jul 16, 2020 Flash Forum Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates 0 [157] Mounir Lazzez vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan1 Khamzat Chimaev Lerone Murphy $50,000 [158]
Modestas Bukauskas
522 UFC 251: Usman vs. Masvidal Jul 12, 2020 Flash Forum Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates 0 [159] Rose Namajunas vs. Jéssica Andrade Jiří Procházka Davey Grant $50,000 [160]
521 UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker Jun 27, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [161] Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker Kay Hansen Julian Erosa $50,000 [162]
520 UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Volkov Jun 20, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [163] Josh Emmett vs. Shane Burgos Jim Miller Justin Jaynes $50,000 [164]
519 UFC on ESPN: Eye vs. Calvillo Jun 13, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [165] N/a Marvin Vettori Mariya Agapova $50,000 [151]
Tyson Nam Christian Aguilera
518 UFC 250: Nunes vs. Spencer Jun 6, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [166] N/a Cody Garbrandt Aljamain Sterling $50,000 [151]
Sean O'Malley Alex Perez
517 UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns May 30, 2020 UFC Apex Las Vegas United States 0 [167] Brandon Royval vs. Tim Elliott Gilbert Burns Mackenzie Dern $50,000 [168]
516 UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris May 16, 2020 VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena Jacksonville United States 0 [169] Song Yadong vs. Marlon Vera Miguel Baeza Cortney Casey $50,000 [170]
515 UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira May 13, 2020 VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena Jacksonville United States 0 [171] Brian Kelleher vs. Hunter Azure Glover Teixeira Drew Dober $50,000 [172]
514 UFC 249: Ferguson vs. Gaethje May 9, 2020 VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena Jacksonville United States 0 [173] Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje Justin Gaethje Francis Ngannou $50,000 [174]
UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Weidman May 2, 2020 Chesapeake Energy Arena Oklahoma City United States Cancelled [175] N/a
UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira Apr 25, 2020 Pinnacle Bank Arena Lincoln United States Cancelled [176] N/a
UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Harris Apr 11, 2020 Moda Center Portland United States Cancelled [177] N/a
UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Rozenstruik Mar 28, 2020 Nationwide Arena Columbus United States Cancelled [177] N/a
UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Edwards Mar 21, 2020 The O2 Arena London England Cancelled [177] N/a
513 UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira Mar 14, 2020 Ginásio Nilson Nelson Brasília Brazil 0 [178] Maryna Moroz vs. Mayra Bueno Silva Charles Oliveira Gilbert Burns $50,000 [179]
512 UFC 248: Adesanya vs. Romero Mar 7, 2020 T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas United States 15,077 [180] Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jędrzejczyk Beneil Dariush Sean O'Malley $50,000 [181]
511 UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs. Figueiredo Feb 29, 2020 Chartway Arena Norfolk United States 7,098 [182] Kyler Phillips vs. Gabriel Silva Megan Anderson Jordan Griffin $50,000 [183]
510 UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker Feb 23, 2020 Spark Arena Auckland New Zealand 10,025 [184] Dan Hooker vs. Paul Felder Jimmy Crute Priscila Cachoeira $50,000 [185]
509 UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2 Feb 15, 2020 Santa Ana Star Center Rio Rancho United States 6,449 [186] Scott Holtzman vs. Jim Miller Jan Błachowicz Daniel Rodriguez $50,000 [187]
508 UFC 247: Jones vs. Reyes Feb 8, 2020 Toyota Center Houston United States 17,401 [188] Trevin Giles vs. James Krause Khaos Williams Mario Bautista $50,000 [189]
507 UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos Jan 25, 2020 PNC Arena Raleigh United States 14,533 [190] Brett Johns vs. Tony Gravely Alex Perez Herbert Burns $50,000 [191]
506 UFC 246: McGregor vs. Cowboy Jan 18, 2020 T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas United States 19,040 [192] N/a Conor McGregor $50,000 [193]
Aleksei Oleinik Brian Kelleher
Drew Dober Carlos Diego Ferreira
1Abdul Razak Alhassan was disqualified for the Fight of the Night bonus due to missing weight, as a result a third Performance of the Night bonus was awarded.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
2020 in the (UFC) was profoundly shaped by the , which suspended live events from March to early May, leading to the promotion's innovative return as one of the first major leagues to resume competition without spectators. The year featured a UFC-record 41 events, including 11 cards, held across 10 venues in 9 cities and 4 countries, with the majority conducted in biosecure environments such as in and the facility in . These adaptations enabled 456 total fights, encompassing high-profile title bouts, emerging talents like , and memorable clashes that solidified 2020 as a resilient and action-packed year despite global disruptions. Several championship changes defined the year's competitive landscape, with three new undisputed titleholders crowned amid 15 successful defenses and one interim title victory. captured the vacant flyweight championship by knocking out in February before defending it in a dramatic against in November. dethroned Jose Aldo to win the bantamweight title at in July, ending Aldo's storied career in the promotion. In the light heavyweight division, claimed the vacant belt by defeating at in September after relinquished it to pursue heavyweight opportunities. secured the interim lightweight title with a fifth-round stoppage of at , the promotion's landmark return event on May 9. The lightweight division's narrative peaked with defending his undisputed title against Gaethje at in October, submitting him in the second round to extend his perfect 29-0 record before announcing his immediate retirement, leaving the belt vacant. Other prominent defenses included retaining the middleweight crown against at and at , while strawweight champion edged via in a widely regarded Fight of the Year candidate at the same event. on delivered a triple main event, highlighted by Kamaru Usman's title defense against a short-notice and Alexander Volkanovski's rematch win over . Statistically, 2020 showcased UFC's depth with 576 fighters competing, including 123 debuts, and outcomes distributed as 139 , 82 submissions, 185 unanimous decisions, 35 split decisions, and 5 draws across 83 hours and 33 minutes of fight time. Standout records included Chimaev's 17-second knockout of John Phillips—the year's fastest finish—and Kelleher's 39-second submission, while 46 fighters missing weight set a single-year high amid the logistical challenges of the pandemic era. The promotion's pivot to closed-door events resulted in a total attendance of 89,623 and gate revenue of approximately $20.9 million, underscoring a year of and unbroken momentum.

Impact of COVID-19

Event Disruptions and Resumption

The led to significant disruptions in UFC's event schedule beginning in March 2020, shortly after on March 7. On March 16, UFC president announced the postponement of the organization's next three events—originally scheduled for March 21 in , March 28 in , and April 11 in —due to the escalating global health crisis. These postponements followed the March 14 Fight Night event in Brasilia, Brazil, which proceeded without spectators as one of the last major sports events to do so before widespread shutdowns. Further cancellations mounted in April as the pandemic intensified. The highly anticipated , initially set for in , New York, was postponed amid venue and broadcast partner concerns from and . On , declared all future UFC events postponed indefinitely, marking a full operational shutdown. This included the outright cancellation of the cards planned for April 25 in , and May 2 in , while the events originally scheduled for May 9 and May 16 were relocated to new venues in . UFC resumed operations on May 9, 2020, with UFC 249 at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, headlined by Justin Gaethje versus Tony Ferguson for the interim lightweight championship. To ensure safety, the promotion implemented rigorous protocols, including a comprehensive 25-page health and safety plan developed in consultation with medical experts and athletic commissions. Key measures encompassed mandatory daily COVID-19 testing for all participants starting 48 hours before arrival, isolation in designated hotels to create a "bubble" environment, temperature screenings, mask requirements, and social distancing enforcement, with early events held without live audiences to minimize transmission risks. In adapting to these constraints, UFC accelerated the use of its Apex facility in for smaller-scale Fight Night events, starting with UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Burns on May 30, which marked the promotion's return to under the new protocols approved by the . This shift allowed for controlled, low-contact productions in a compact arena, facilitating more frequent events while adhering to capacity limits and enhanced sanitation standards. These domestic strategies paved the way for the subsequent international expansion to in later in the year.

Partnership with Abu Dhabi and Fight Island

On June 9, 2020, the (UFC) announced a partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – (DCT ) to host a series of international events on [Yas Island](/page/Yas Island) amid the . This collaboration built on a prior long-term agreement established in 2019, enabling UFC to conduct fights outside the where travel restrictions and health protocols had disrupted operations. The centerpiece of the partnership was "Fight Island," a bio-secure bubble concept transforming into a controlled zone for fighters, coaches, staff, and production teams. Participants underwent rigorous testing upon arrival in , including multiple PCR tests over a 48-hour period, followed by daily screenings within the isolated environment spanning hotels, training facilities, and event venues. International were managed through chartered flights and visa exemptions for over 1,200 athletes and personnel from more than 70 countries, circumventing U.S. entry bans that would have prevented many international fighters from competing domestically. This setup facilitated seven events in in 2020: on July 11, UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. on July 25, on September 26, UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Aldana on October 3, UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen on October 10, UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. on October 17, and on October 24, with the series continuing into 2021 with UFC 257. The partnership provided significant economic and promotional advantages, positioning as a global hub for combat sports while ensuring UFC's revenue stream through uninterrupted and broadcast deals. DCT Abu Dhabi covered substantial hosting costs, including infrastructure adaptations, in exchange for enhanced worldwide visibility via and other networks reaching millions of viewers. Events were held at the du Forum (later renamed Flash Forum) for most cards and the for select bouts, with attendance beginning at zero spectators to prioritize safety protocols before gradually permitting limited crowds in later series. This arrangement not only sustained UFC's schedule of 41 events but also demonstrated a scalable model for pandemic-era sports hosting.

Awards and Honors

2020 UFC Honors Awards

The 2020 UFC Honors Awards, presented by UFC officials including CEO , celebrated exceptional individual performances and bouts amid a year defined by the promotion's resilience during the . These official selections highlighted fighters who delivered defining moments, with criteria emphasizing technical brilliance, entertainment value, and overall impact on the sport. The awards drew from event-specific recognitions, such as Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses, which often foreshadowed annual honors by showcasing standout efforts across the 41 events held that year. Due to health restrictions, the ceremony adopted a limited virtual format, with announcements delivered via UFC's website and channels in and February 2021, allowing global fans to engage digitally without in-person gatherings. Under the category, Performance of the Year went to for his second-round knockout of at UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen on October 11, 2020. Buckley's jumping spinning back kick finish, which flipped Kasanganay across the , not only earned a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus but also symbolized the unpredictable excitement of UFC's Abu Dhabi-based cards. The Fight of the Year was awarded to the strawweight championship clash between champion and challenger at on March 7, 2020. The five-round war, culminating in a victory for Zhang, featured relentless striking exchanges and earned both fighters Fight of the Night honors, setting a benchmark for intensity early in the year. Additional official honors included Debut of the Year to for his rapid three-fight winning streak in July 2020, showcasing his dominance with finishes against John Phillips, Rhys McKee, and . Event of the Year was given to : Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje on October 24, 2020, highlighted by Khabib Nurmagomedov's title defense and subsequent retirement announcement. A pivotal highlight intertwined with the awards was Khabib Nurmagomedov's post-fight retirement announcement after defending his title with a second-round submission of at on October 24, 2020, capping his perfect 29-0 record and emotional journey following personal losses. This moment, while not a winner, resonated deeply in official selections for embodying perseverance.

2020 UFC.com Awards

The 2020 UFC.com Awards featured a collection of editorial rankings and fan-driven selections published on the UFC's official website, recognizing exceptional performances amid a challenging year marked by the . These awards emphasized standout moments through top 10 lists curated by UFC staff, alongside interactive polls that encouraged fan participation via the platform and channels. Unlike the formal UFC Honors ceremony, which focused on singular winners in categories like Fight of the Year, the UFC.com awards offered broader, ranked compilations and included mid-year editions to highlight early accomplishments, fostering ongoing community engagement throughout the season. In the editorial Best Fighters of 2020 ranking, was named Fighter of the Year for capturing the flyweight title via second-round TKO against on February 29, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs. Figueiredo (after Benavidez missed weight), followed by a third-round submission defense against Benavidez on July 18, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2, a first-round of Alex Perez at in November, and a majority draw defense against at in December. These feats solidified Figueiredo's dominance in a revived division. In the Best Fight category, UFC.com's year-end top 10 list crowned the strawweight title bout between champion and Joanna Jedrzejczyk at as the premier contest, praised for its non-stop action over five rounds that pushed both fighters to their limits and resulted in a victory for Zhang. Ranked second was the flyweight championship clash between and at , a grueling five-round war that ended in a and showcased Figueiredo's title defense resilience. Other highlights included Dustin vs. at UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Hooker, which earned third place for its high-volume striking exchanges, and vs. at UFC Fight Night: Hooker vs. Felder, noted for Felder's late heroics in a loss. Mid-year polls on UFC.com similarly spotlighted Justin Gaethje's TKO win over at as a top early contender, reflecting fan excitement for the interim lightweight title fight. The Best Submission rankings highlighted technical mastery, with Ariane Lipski's kneebar victory over at UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2 topping the list for its rarity and precision in the women's flyweight division. Khabib Nurmagomedov's submission of at secured fourth place, underscoring the undefeated champion's grappling dominance in his final bout. Charles Oliveira's against at UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira ranked fifth, exemplifying Oliveira's submission prowess early in the year. Fan polls integrated into UFC.com's coverage amplified these selections, with discussions boosting visibility for entries like Aljamain Sterling's rear-naked choke over at UFC 250. The mid-year awards echoed this focus, naming Oliveira's on Lee as a standout from the first half. For Best Upset, Roxanne Modafferi's unanimous decision win over undefeated prospect at led the editorial top 10, celebrated as a masterclass that halted Barber's hype train at +500 betting odds. Shana Dobson's second-round TKO of at UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen took second, a shocking turnaround given Dobson's status. Julian Erosa's third-round submission of at UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker rounded out the podium, highlighting Erosa's experience against a taller, favored opponent. These picks drew from fan-submitted nominations on UFC.com, emphasizing stories that resonated during the year's unpredictable schedule. The half-year edition pinpointed Modafferi's victory as the biggest early shock. The Best Knockout category culminated with Joaquin Buckley's viral spinning back kick of Impa Kasanganay at UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. , which not only topped UFC.com's list but also garnered massive fan votes through platform polls for its highlight-reel flair and unexpected brutality. Cody Garbrandt's last-second right hand against Raphael Assuncao at earned second place, reviving Garbrandt's career with a dramatic finish. Sean O'Malley's head-kick of at the same event placed third, lauded for its precision and showmanship. Social media integration on UFC.com amplified these moments, with Buckley's KO becoming a meme-worthy sensation that boosted fan interaction. Mid-year rankings favored Garbrandt's stoppage as an early highlight. Overall, the UFC.com Awards distinguished themselves by blending expert curation with fan input, providing a digital-centric celebration that captured the year's 41 events and encouraged global audience participation beyond the official end-of-year honors.

Statistics and Records

2020 by the Numbers

In 2020, the (UFC) conducted 41 , comprising 11 pay-per-view numbered events and 30 Fight Night events. These events featured a total of 456 individual fights across various weight classes. The promotion maintained a rigorous schedule amid the , hosting events approximately every 8.4 days on average, calculated from the first event on January 18 to the last on December 19. Fight outcomes in 2020 reflected a mix of finishes and decisions, with knockouts accounting for 139 victories (30.5% of total fights), submissions for 82 (18%), unanimous decisions for 185 (40.6%), and for 35 (7.7%). The remaining outcomes included 5 draws, contributing to an overall emphasis on decisive results despite the high proportion of decisions. Note that official outcome totals sum to 446, with the remaining 10 fights possibly including additional no contests or unclassified results per full event data. Total fight time across all bouts amounted to 83 hours, 33 minutes, and 19 seconds.
Outcome TypeNumberPercentage
Knockouts13930.5%
Submissions8218.0%
Unanimous Decisions18540.6%
Split Decisions357.7%
Draws51.1%
The UFC awarded 167 fight-night bonuses throughout the year, totaling $8,350,000 in payouts at $50,000 per bonus, recognizing outstanding performances via Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night honors. Early in the year, five Performance of the Night awards were issued before the standard dual-bonus format became exclusive. Operationally, attendance was severely restricted due to protocols, with 34 events held without spectators and the remaining seven drawing a combined announced total of 89,623 fans for a live gate of $20,924,176.50. Global viewership reached notable peaks, including 1.3 million pay-per-view buys for UFC 251.

Notable Achievements and Milestones

In 2020, the UFC hosted a record 41 events, surpassing the previous high of 40 set in and demonstrating the promotion's resilience amid global disruptions. This marked the most events in a single calendar year in UFC history, with fights taking place across nine cities in four countries. Additionally, the organization distributed $8.35 million in performance and fight bonuses across those events, reflecting heightened competition and standout performances in a challenging year. Khamzat Chimaev achieved a 3-0 UFC record in just 66 days, beginning with his debut submission of John Phillips on July 15, followed by a 17-second of Rhys McKee on July 25, and culminating in a first-round of on September 19. This rapid ascent set a modern benchmark for the fastest trio of UFC victories, showcasing Chimaev's dominance in the and divisions. A defining milestone came with Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement immediately after defending his against at on October 24, preserving his undefeated 29-0 professional record and cementing his legacy as one of the sport's most dominant champions. In the flyweight division, won the vacant via third-round technical submission over on July 18, following a prior second-round TKO victory on February 29 (without the title due to weight miss), before retaining the belt via majority draw against at on November 21, solidifying his reign amid intense competition. The year also highlighted the growing prominence of women's divisions, with bouts like Michelle Waterson vs. serving as the main event for UFC Fight Night on September 12, underscoring the viability and appeal of all-female headliners in a post-Ronda Rousey era. Active win streaks reached notable lengths, with extending his UFC record to eight consecutive victories by submitting Thiago Moises at UFC Fight Night on November 14, positioning him as a key contender in the lightweight division. Veterans like pushed career milestones, competing in three UFC bouts during the year to reach a total of 35 appearances by December, approaching his eventual all-time high of 38 fights and exemplifying the grueling pace for enduring competitors. The introduced unprecedented operational firsts, including the UFC's inaugural event without live spectators on March 14 at UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira in , which proceeded amid early restrictions and set the template for empty-arena productions. Later, the introduction of in marked the first international bio-secure bubble series, hosting 11 events from July to October in a controlled "safe zone" environment to facilitate global participation without travel quarantines.

Roster Changes

Releases and Retirements

In 2020, the UFC undertook a significant roster overhaul, releasing dozens of fighters amid an expanded roster that had grown to over 700 active competitors, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic's disruptions to scheduling and financial pressures. UFC president Dana White announced plans to cut approximately 60 fighters by year's end, citing the need to streamline operations and address performance issues, contract expirations, and age-related concerns. This wave of releases particularly impacted divisions like middleweight and women's flyweight, creating openings for emerging talent while reshaping competitive landscapes. Notable departures included former middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero, who was released in December after a 1-2 record in his last three fights and at age 43, prompting him to sign with Bellator MMA shortly thereafter. Similarly, light heavyweight Corey Anderson was released in August 2020 upon his request following health issues after his March 2020 unanimous decision loss to Jan Błachowicz, ending his UFC tenure with a 6-5 record and leading to his immediate move to Bellator, where he captured the light heavyweight title. Women's strawweight Paige VanZant was also released in August after back-to-back losses, transitioning to bare-knuckle boxing with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Other prominent releases encompassed welterweight Ben Saunders in February after a four-fight skid, and women's flyweight Rachael Ostovich in December amid a 1-3 run. These cuts, often performance-based, contributed to shakeups such as a thinned middleweight division, where the loss of veterans like Romero and Anderson intensified competition for title contention. Retirements in 2020 were equally transformative, with several high-profile fighters stepping away due to a mix of championship achievements, injury accumulations, and personal decisions amid the uncertainties of the global health crisis. Undisputed champion announced his retirement in October immediately after submitting in the fifth round at , retiring undefeated at 29-0 and vacating his title, a move influenced by a promise to his late father to retire upon achieving 30 wins. Two-division champion retired in August after a third-round TKO loss to at , closing out his career at 22-3-1 with two UFC titles and citing the physical toll at age 41 as a key factor. Flyweight and champion retired in May at age 33 following a second-round TKO defense against at , vacating both belts due to nagging injuries including a issue, though he later returned in 2023. Other notable retirements included Ricardo Lamas in September after a unanimous decision win over , ending a 12-year UFC stint at 20-10 with two title shots behind him; Matt Wiman in December following a first-round loss to , retiring at 36-14 after 21 UFC bouts plagued by injuries; and , who stepped away in September 2020 via social media after a 23-10 record, opting for family priorities over further fights. These exits, particularly in the and divisions, marked the end of eras for fan favorites and opened pathways for younger contenders, underscoring the pandemic's role in accelerating career decisions.

Debut UFC Fighters

In 2020, the saw 123 fighters make their promotional debuts, reflecting an expansion driven by the resumption of events following the shutdown. These newcomers hailed from diverse backgrounds, including regional promotions like (LFA) and , as well as international circuits that fed into UFC scouting pipelines. The played a pivotal role, awarding contracts to numerous prospects throughout the year and facilitating their quick integration into the roster. events in provided unique opportunities for international talents, easing travel restrictions and enabling debuts for fighters from , , and beyond who might otherwise have faced delays. Debuts were distributed across all weight classes, with lighter divisions like flyweight and strawweight seeing a surge in new signings from agile, high-volume strikers and grapplers emerging from regional scenes. Overall, these debutants achieved 49 wins against 70 losses, plus one draw and one no contest, yielding a win rate of approximately 41%—a figure that underscored the competitive depth of the promotion while highlighting standout performers who exceeded expectations. Early successes among this group often translated into rapid rises in the rankings, establishing future title challengers and injecting fresh narratives into divisions. Among the most prominent debuts was that of , a Swedish-based fighter of Chechen origin who had built a reputation in . Chimaev entered the UFC on July 15, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ortega on , securing a first-round submission victory in his debut. He followed with two more dominant wins within 66 days, including a 10-day turnaround bout and a third against a ranked opponent, propelling him to immediate contender status and earning him the 2020 UFC Honors Debut of the Year award. His explosive grappling and finishing ability quickly positioned him as a phenom, setting the stage for high-stakes matchups in subsequent years. Marina Rodriguez, a Brazilian strawweight who earned her UFC contract via in 2018, made her debut on January 19, 2020, at UFC 246. Rodriguez, known for her striking honed in regional Brazilian promotions, defeated Tecia Torres by unanimous decision, launching a four-fight win streak that included victories over ranked contenders. This momentum carried her into title contention by late 2020, showcasing how Contender Series alumni could transition seamlessly into the women's divisions and challenge established hierarchies. Brandon Royval, an American flyweight and former LFA champion, debuted on short notice on May 30, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Eye vs. Calvillo. As a heavy underdog against veteran , Royval submitted his opponent in the second round with a rare heel hook, demonstrating his unorthodox grappling from regional circuits. He capped the year with an upset submission win over former title challenger , earning a shot at the flyweight belt and establishing himself as a chaotic force in one of the promotion's most stacked divisions. Other notable debuts included at , who impressed with power in his August 2020 entry, and at , whose pedigree from European promotions shone in a unanimous win on October 10, 2020. Tom Aspinall's debut in July 2020, a first-round finish via punches and submission, highlighted British talent benefiting from logistics. These early impacts not only boosted win rates for select debut classes but also revitalized divisions, creating compelling storylines for 2021 and beyond.

Suspended Fighters

In 2020, the UFC's anti-doping program, administered by the (USADA), continued its rigorous testing regime amid the challenges of the , conducting a total of 3,551 tests on 719 fighters through increased random out-of-competition sampling. This effort resulted in multiple positive findings for prohibited substances, leading to temporary suspensions ranging from six months to two years, with many cases involving anabolic agents like ostarine or . USADA announced approximately 15-20 sanctions specifically tied to UFC athletes that year, emphasizing the program's focus on maintaining integrity despite logistical hurdles. Prominent cases included bantamweight Sean O'Malley, who accepted a reduced six-month USADA suspension in January 2020 following two positive tests for ostarine in August 2019, marking his second violation; he was eligible to return by March 2020 and competed at UFC 248. Similarly, strawweight Lara Procopio received a retroactive six-month ban in September 2020 for ostarine detected in an February out-of-competition sample, rendering her immediately eligible upon announcement. Bantamweight Duda Santana faced a two-year suspension in September 2020 for , which ultimately led to her release from the UFC roster without a planned return. Middleweight Marc-Andre Barriault was handed a 16-month ineligibility period starting July 2020 for , following a positive test; he appealed unsuccessfully and targeted a 2021 comeback. Yair Rodriguez incurred a six-month suspension announced in December 2020 for three whereabouts failures, barring him until March 2021. Several fighters also faced shorter suspensions for marijuana metabolites, a substance treated more leniently but still resulting in disciplinary action. In September 2020, the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended light heavyweight Jamahal Hill (six months), flyweight Tim Elliott (one year), lightweight Luis Pena (six months), and heavyweight Deron Winn (one year) after positive tests, with fines ranging from $500 to $2,500; these were tied to USADA findings but handled locally. Former heavyweight Fabricio Werdum completed a reduced suspension in April 2020, allowing his return after cooperating with investigators on a prior boldenone violation from 2019. Appeals processes often shortened bans, as seen with O'Malley and Werdum, though repeat offenders like Santana faced longer terms without reduction. Beyond anti-doping, legal issues and contract disputes contributed to temporary inactivity for some fighters, though these rarely resulted in formal UFC suspensions. Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones vacated his title in August 2020 amid a public contract dispute with UFC executives over pay and weight class moves, leading to several months of inactivity before his heavyweight debut in 2021; no formal ban was imposed, but the standoff delayed his competition. Jones also faced a March 2020 DWI arrest in New Mexico, but it did not trigger a UFC suspension, allowing him to fight earlier that year. Permanent releases for severe violations, such as Santana's, were distinct from these temporary measures.

Competition

Title Fights

In 2020, the hosted 18 title fights across various weight classes, a notable figure given the disruptions from the , which forced events into limited-venue formats like the and . These bouts included defenses, unifications, and vacancies, with three new undisputed champions crowned and one interim title established due to the prolonged absence of titleholder . The year saw intense competition in lighter divisions, particularly flyweight and , while and middleweights featured high-stakes rematches and trilogy conclusions. The lightweight division was particularly active, with an interim title created after Nurmagomedov's inactivity led to capturing the belt against at ; this paved the way for a unification bout later in the year (against Gaethje at ), following a title defense against at UFC 251. Flyweight experienced significant turnover, as won the vacant title early and defended it twice successfully before a controversial majority draw against to close the year. saw the crowning of as champion in a grueling fight for the vacant belt, following Henry Cejudo's unexpected retirement after his defense at UFC 250. Women's divisions highlighted dominant performances, with retaining her title while holding the belt simultaneously, and extending her flyweight reign with two lopsided victories. Strawweight champion Weili Zhang solidified her status in a split-decision war often hailed as one of the year's best fights. champion made two successful defenses against undefeated challengers, maintaining his unblemished record. Heavyweight saw champion prevail in a close decision trilogy win over at , while the division saw a new champion, , claim the vacant title against at after vacated it. champion dominated a short-notice challenge from , showcasing his wrestling prowess.
EventDateWeight ClassFightersOutcomeMethod/RoundsStakes/Implications
February 8 (c) vs. Jones def. ReyesUnanimous Decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47), 5 roundsTitle defense; Jones extended his record for most light heavyweight title wins to 12.
February 8Women's Flyweight (c) vs. Katlyn ChookagianShevchenko def. ChookagianTKO (elbows), Round 3, 1:03Title defense; Shevchenko's seventh consecutive UFC win solidified her divisional dominance.
UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs. FigueiredoFebruary 29Flyweight vs. Figueiredo def. BenavidezTKO (punches), Round 2, 1:54Vacant title; Figueiredo became the first Brazilian flyweight champion, ending Benavidez's title hopes.
March 7Middleweight (c) vs. Adesanya def. RomeroUnanimous Decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47), 5 roundsTitle defense; Controversial decision kept Adesanya undefeated at 19-0.
March 7StrawweightWeili Zhang (c) vs. Zhang def. JędrzejczykSplit Decision (48-47, 48-47, 47-48), 5 roundsTitle defense; Epic war earned Fight of the Year honors, affirming Zhang's status as champion.
May 9Interim vs. Gaethje def. FergusonTKO (punches), Round 5, 3:39Interim title; Created due to Nurmagomedov's inactivity; Gaethje's knockout power ended Ferguson's 12-fight win streak.
June 6 (c) vs. Cejudo def. CruzTKO (punches), Round 2, 4:58Title defense; Cejudo retired immediately after, vacating the belt and opening the division.
June 6Women's Featherweight (c) vs. Nunes def. SpencerUnanimous Decision (50-45, 50-44, 50-44), 5 roundsTitle defense; Nunes maintained dual-champion status, dominating with striking volume.
July 11 (c) vs. Nurmagomedov def. PoirierSubmission (rear-naked choke), Round 3, 2:06Title defense; Nurmagomedov improved to 28-0, controlling with .
July 11 (c) vs. Usman def. MasvidalUnanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46), 5 roundsTitle defense; Usman's wrestling neutralized Masvidal's short-notice entry.
July 11 vs. Jose AldoYan def. AldoTKO (punches), Round 5, 3:24Vacant title; Yan became champion in a bloody battle, ending Aldo's comeback bid.
August 15 (c) vs. Miocic def. CormierUnanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47), 5 roundsTitle defense (trilogy); Miocic evened the series at 2-1, reclaiming dominance in the division.
September 26Middleweight (c) vs. Adesanya def. CostaTKO (ground and pound), Round 2, 3:59Title defense; Adesanya broke Costa's undefeated streak in a one-sided affair.
September 26 vs. Błachowicz def. ReyesTKO (punches), Round 2, 4:36Vacant title; Błachowicz claimed the light heavyweight championship after vacated it.
October 24 (c) vs. Nurmagomedov def. GaethjeSubmission (), Round 2, 1:34Title unification; Nurmagomedov retired undefeated at 29-0 post-fight.
November 21Flyweight (c) vs. Alex PerezFigueiredo def. PerezSubmission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 1:57Title defense; Quick finish highlighted Figueiredo's improvements.
November 21Women's Flyweight (c) vs. Shevchenko def. MaiaUnanimous Decision (49-46 x3), 5 roundsTitle defense; Shevchenko outstruck Maia 231-101, extending her win streak to 19.
December 12Flyweight (c) vs. Figueiredo vs. MorenoMajority Draw (48-46 Figueiredo, 47-47 x2), 5 roundsTitle fight; Figueiredo deducted a point for a low blow; set up immediate rematch.

Events List

The 2020 UFC schedule consisted of 41 events, a record for the promotion at the time, with activities suspended from mid-March to early May due to the before resuming in a bubble format initially in , and later at the in and on in , . These events were held without live audiences for the majority of the year to comply with health restrictions, resulting in zero reported attendance for 36 events; the pre-pandemic events in , , and early drew crowds totaling over 71,000 fans across six cards. The schedule peaked in with five events, all at the , contributing to the promotion's unprecedented output of 456 fights throughout the year. Each event awarded $50,000 bonuses for Fight of the Night (shared by two fighters) and one or more Performance of the Night awards, leading to typical per-event totals of $100,000 to $150,000; a total of 94 bonuses were distributed across the year, highlighting standout performances in a season marked by resilience amid global challenges.
Event NameDateVenueCity/CountryAttendanceFight of the NightPerformance of the NightBonus TotalsReferences
UFC 246: McGregor vs. CerroneJanuary 18, 2020T-Mobile ArenaLas Vegas, Nevada, USA19,040NoneMcGregor, Pettis, Rodriguez, Ige, Magny$250,000
UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos SantosJanuary 25, 2020PNC ArenaRaleigh, North Carolina, USA14,533dos Santos vs. BlaydesBlaydes, RDA$150,000
UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. BłachowiczFebruary 15, 2020Santa Ana Star CenterRio Rancho, New Mexico, USA6,449Holtzman vs. MillerBłachowicz$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. HookerFebruary 22, 2020Spark ArenaAuckland, New Zealand10,025Felder vs. HookerCrute$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs. FigueiredoFebruary 29, 2020Chartway ArenaNorfolk, Virginia, USA7,098Phillips vs. SilvaFigueiredo$100,000
UFC 248: Adesanya vs. RomeroMarch 7, 2020T-Mobile ArenaLas Vegas, Nevada, USA15,077Weili vs. JędrzejczykNo POTN awarded$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. OliveiraMarch 14, 2020Ginásio Nilson NelsonBrasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil0Moroz vs. Bueno SilvaOliveira, Cutelaba$150,000
UFC 249: Ferguson vs. GaethjeMay 9, 2020VyStar Veterans Memorial ArenaJacksonville, Florida, USA0Ferguson vs. GaethjeGaethje$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. TeixeiraMay 13, 2020VyStar Veterans Memorial ArenaJacksonville, Florida, USA0Kelleher vs. AzureTeixeira, Luque$150,000
UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. HarrisMay 16, 2020VyStar Veterans Memorial ArenaJacksonville, Florida, USA0Yadong vs. VeraHarris$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. BurnsMay 30, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Royval vs. ElliottBurns$100,000
UFC 250: Nunes vs. SpencerJune 6, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Sandhagen vs. EdgarNunes$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Eye vs. CalvilloJune 13, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Dos Anjos vs. LeeCalvillo$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. VolkovJune 20, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Emmett vs. MitchellBlaydes$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. HookerJune 27, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Poirier vs. HookerPoirier$100,000
UFC 251: Usman vs. MasvidalJuly 11, 2020Etihad ArenaAbu Dhabi, UAE0Namajunas vs. AndradeWeili$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. IgeJuly 15, 2020Etihad ArenaAbu Dhabi, UAE0Ige vs. Korean ZombieKattar$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2July 18, 2020Etihad ArenaAbu Dhabi, UAE0Lazzez vs. Alhassan; Fiziev vs. Diakiese (double FOTN)Figueiredo$150,000
UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. TillJuly 25, 2020Etihad ArenaAbu Dhabi, UAE0Whittaker vs. TillNo POTN awarded$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. ShahbazyanAugust 1, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Green vs. VannataBrunson$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. OleinikAugust 8, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Lewis vs. OleinikNo POTN awarded$100,000
UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier 3August 15, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Kamaka vs. KelleyMiocic$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Munhoz vs. EdgarAugust 22, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Edgar vs. MunhozNo POTN awarded$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. RakićAugust 29, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Lamas vs. AlgeoRakić$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. SakaiSeptember 5, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Multiple (four POTN)Kelleher, Muniz, Pereira, OSP$200,000
UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. HillSeptember 12, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Waterson vs. HillHill$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. WoodleySeptember 19, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Multiple (four POTN)Chimaev, Dern, Costa, Jackson$200,000
UFC 253: Adesanya vs. CostaSeptember 26, 2020Etihad ArenaAbu Dhabi, UAE0Royval vs. Kara-FranceAdesanya$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. AldanaOctober 3, 2020Etihad ArenaAbu Dhabi, UAE0Holm vs. AldanaNo POTN awarded$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. SandhagenOctober 10, 2020Etihad ArenaAbu Dhabi, UAE0Moraes vs. SandhagenNo POTN awarded$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. The Korean ZombieOctober 17, 2020Etihad ArenaAbu Dhabi, UAE0Kutateladze vs. GamrotNo POTN awarded$100,000
UFC 254: Khabib vs. GaethjeOctober 24, 2020Etihad ArenaAbu Dhabi, UAE0Kenney vs. WoodKhabib$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Hall vs. SilvaOctober 31, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Hall vs. SilvaMitchell$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. TeixeiraNovember 7, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Barcelos vs. TahaTeixeira$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos AnjosNovember 14, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Felder vs. dos AnjosNo POTN awarded$100,000
UFC 255: Figueiredo vs. PerezNovember 21, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Palatnikov vs. CosceFigueiredo, Shevchenko$150,000
UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. ClarkNovember 28, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Smith vs. ClarkNo POTN awarded$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. VettoriDecember 5, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Hermansson vs. VettoriNo POTN awarded$100,000
UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. MorenoDecember 12, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Figueiredo vs. MorenoNo POTN awarded$100,000
UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. NealDecember 19, 2020UFC ApexLas Vegas, Nevada, USA0Multiple (four POTN)Thompson, Tybura, Font, Flick$200,000

References

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