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UFC 226
View on Wikipedia| UFC 226: Miocic vs. Cormier | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
The poster for UFC 226: Miocic vs. Cormier | ||||
| Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship | |||
| Date | July 7, 2018 | |||
| Venue | T-Mobile Arena | |||
| City | Paradise, Nevada | |||
| Attendance | 17,464 [1] | |||
| Total gate | $5,677,238.21[1] | |||
| Buyrate | 380,000[2] | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
UFC 226: Miocic vs. Cormier was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship held on July 7, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area.[3]
Background
[edit]The event took place during the UFC's annual International Fight Week.[3]
A UFC Heavyweight Championship bout between current champion Stipe Miocic and current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier headlined the event. They also served as the head coaches of The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated.[4] If successful, Cormier would become only the second fighter to be champion in two divisions simultaneously (after Conor McGregor who won the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 205 when he was the reigning UFC Featherweight Champion) as well as the fifth overall to win a title in different divisions.[4] This was the third time in UFC history that champions in different divisions fought for the same title, following UFC 94 and UFC 205.
A UFC Featherweight Championship bout between current champion Max Holloway and Brian Ortega was expected to take place at the event.[5] However, on July 4, Holloway was pulled from the fight due to "concussion like symptoms".[6] As a result, Ortega was removed from the card as well.[7]
Gökhan Saki was expected to face Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 219. However, Saki pulled out of the fight citing a leg injury.[8] The pairing eventually took place at this event.[9]
Paulo Costa was scheduled to face Uriah Hall at UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Lee. However, Costa pulled out of the fight in mid-March with an arm injury.[10] In turn, promotion officials elected to pull Hall from that event entirely and rescheduled the pairing for this event.[11]
The Ultimate Fighter: Live lightweight winner Michael Chiesa was expected to face former WEC and UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis at UFC 223, but was pulled from the bout due to multiple cuts from a broken window as a result of the Team SBG bus melee.[12] The bout eventually took place at this event.[13]
Yancy Medeiros was expected to face Mike Perry at the event. However, he pulled out of the fight in late-June citing a rib injury and was replaced by Paul Felder.[14][15]
At the weigh-ins, Chiesa weighed in at 157.5 pounds, 1.5 pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit of 156 pounds. His bout against Pettis was contested at catchweight and he forfeited 30 percent of his purse.[16]
Results
[edit]| Main Card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Heavyweight | Daniel Cormier | def. | Stipe Miocic (c) | KO (punches) | 1 | 4:33 | [a] |
| Heavyweight | Derrick Lewis | def. | Francis Ngannou | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Mike Perry | def. | Paul Felder | Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Catchweight (157.5 lb) | Anthony Pettis | def. | Michael Chiesa | Submission (triangle armbar) | 2 | 0:52 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Khalil Rountree Jr. | def. | Gökhan Saki | KO (punches) | 1 | 1:36 | |
| Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1) | |||||||
| Middleweight | Paulo Costa | def. | Uriah Hall | TKO (punches) | 2 | 2:38 | |
| Bantamweight | Raphael Assunção | def. | Rob Font | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | Drakkar Klose | def. | Lando Vannata | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Curtis Millender | def. | Max Griffin | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass) | |||||||
| Lightweight | Dan Hooker | def. | Gilbert Burns | KO (punches) | 1 | 2:28 | |
| Women's Strawweight | Emily Whitmire | def. | Jamie Moyle | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
- ^ For the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
Bonus awards
[edit]The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses:[18]
- Fight of the Night: None awarded
- Performance of the Night: Daniel Cormier, Anthony Pettis, Khalil Rountree Jr. and Paulo Costa
Reported payout
[edit]The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It does not include sponsor money and also does not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses. The total disclosed payout for the event was $2,737,000.[19]
- Daniel Cormier: $500,000 def. Stipe Miocic: $750,000
- Derrick Lewis: $260,000 (includes $130,000 win bonus) def. Francis Ngannou: $100,000
- Mike Perry: $80,000 ($40,000 win bonus) def. Paul Felder: $46,000
- Anthony Pettis: $289,400 ($135,000 win bonus) def. Michael Chiesa: $25,600*
- Khalil Rountree Jr.: $38,000 ($19,000 win bonus) def. Gokhan Saki: $85,000
- Paulo Costa: $110,000 ($55,000 win bonus) def. Uriah Hall: $48,000
- Raphael Assunção: $130,000 ($60,000 win bonus) def. Rob Font: $33,000
- Drakkar Klose: $44,000 ($22,000 win bonus) def. Lando Vannata: $25,000
- Curtis Millender: $30,000 ($15,000 win bonus) def. Max Griffin: $20,000
- Dan Hooker: $60,000 ($30,000 win bonus) def. Gilbert Burns: $31,000
- Emily Whitmire: $20,000 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Jamie Moyle: $12,000
^ Chiesa was fined $11,400, 30 percent of his purse for failing to make the required weight for his fight with Anthony Pettis. That money was issued to Pettis, an NSAC official confirmed.[19]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Staff (2018-07-08). "UFC 226 draws announced attendance of 17,464 for $5.677 million live gate". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-07-08.
- ^ Dave Meltzer (2018-07-27). "UFC 226 pay-per-view number and what it says about the sport". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2019-02-25.
- ^ a b Simon Samano (2017-12-30). "UFC sets five dates for Las Vegas events in 2018". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
- ^ a b Ariel Helwani (2018-01-26). "Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier set for champion vs. champion superfight at UFC 226; will also coach TUF 27". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
- ^ Mike Bohn (2018-04-20). "Max Holloway vs. Brian Ortega title fight set for UFC 226 in Las Vegas". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
- ^ Mike Bohn (2018-07-04). "Max Holloway out of UFC 226, hospitalized with concussion-like symptoms". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
- ^ Mike Bohn and John Morgan (2018-07-05). "Brian Ortega scratched from UFC 226 after champ Max Holloway withdraws". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
- ^ Damon Martin (2017-11-28). "Gokhan Saki out of UFC 219; Khalil Rountree Jr. gets new opponent for year end card". mmaweekly.com. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
- ^ Marcel Dorff (2018-04-13). "Gökhan Saki and Khalil Rountree Jr. rescheduled during UFC 226 in Las Vegas" (in Dutch). mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
- ^ Staff (2018-03-13). "Biceps injury knocks Paulo Costa out of fight with Uriah Hall at UFC-Atlantic City". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
- ^ Michael Fiedel (2018-04-18). "According to Paulo Costa his fight with Uriah Hall rebooked for UFC 226". mma-today.com. Retrieved 2018-04-18.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Shaun Al-Shatti (2018-04-05). "Michael Chiesa vs. Anthony Pettis scratched from UFC 223 after Conor McGregor incident". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
- ^ Dave Doyle (2018-04-30). "Michael Chiesa vs. Anthony Pettis rescheduled for UFC 226". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
- ^ Mike Bohn and John Morgan (2018-06-28). "Yancy Medeiros out of UFC 226; replacement needed for Mike Perry". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ Matt McNulty (2018-06-28). "Paul Felder replaces Yancy Medeiros against Mike Perry at UFC 226". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ Ken Pishna (2018-07-06). "Michael Chiesa misses weight for UFC 226, announces move to welterweight". mmaweekly.com. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
- ^ "UFC 226: Miocic vs. Cormier". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
- ^ Staff (2018-07-08). "UFC 226 bonuses: Daniel Cormier, not surprisingly, among $50,000 winners in Vegas". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-07-08.
- ^ a b Staff (2018-07-08). "UFC 226 salaries: Seven – including Cormier, Miocic, Lewis and Pettis – get six figures". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-07-08.
UFC 226
View on GrokipediaEvent details
Date and venue
UFC 226 took place on July 7, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas metropolitan area.[1] The event served as the culminating pay-per-view card for the UFC's annual International Fight Week, which ran from July 3 to July 7 that year.[5] The bout drew an announced attendance of 17,464, marking a complete sell-out of the venue's capacity for the occasion.[4] Live gate revenue reached $5,677,238.21, reflecting strong commercial interest in the heavyweight title matchup.[4]Promotion and broadcasting
UFC 226 was promoted by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the leading mixed martial arts promotion organization, as part of its annual International Fight Week festivities in Las Vegas.[1] The event was billed under the slogan "Miocic vs. Cormier," highlighting the main event unification bout between heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, which served as the central theme for the official promotional poster and marketing campaigns.[1] The main card was broadcast live on pay-per-view (PPV) in the United States, starting at 10:00 p.m. ET on July 7, 2018, through providers such as DirecTV and Dish Network. Preliminary bouts aired on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET, while early preliminary fights were streamed exclusively on UFC Fight Pass from 7:00 p.m. ET. The event generated an estimated 380,000 PPV buys, according to industry reporter Dave Meltzer, reflecting solid but not record-breaking interest for a superfight headliner.[6] Internationally, the event reached audiences through various broadcasters, including BT Sport in the United Kingdom, where prelims began at 1:00 a.m. BST and the main card at 3:00 a.m. BST on July 8.[7] UFC Fight Pass provided global streaming access to the full card for subscribers outside the U.S., enhancing the event's worldwide distribution.[1]Pre-event
Background
UFC 226 was announced on January 26, 2018, as a champion-versus-champion superfight headlined by UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic defending his title against UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier, aligning with the promotion's strategy to create high-profile crossover bouts to boost pay-per-view sales and event prestige in 2018.[8] Miocic, who had captured the heavyweight title by knocking out Fabricio Werdum at UFC 198 in May 2016, entered the event as the division's most active defender, having successfully retained the belt in two prior title defenses against Alistair Overeem at UFC 203 in September 2016 and Junior dos Santos at UFC 211 in May 2017.[9] These victories solidified Miocic's status as the longest-reigning heavyweight champion at the time, with two successful defenses.[10] Cormier, the reigning light heavyweight champion since 2015, sought to become the second fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight classes simultaneously, following Conor McGregor, by challenging Miocic, while expressing intentions to return to 205 pounds and defend his light heavyweight belt following the bout rather than vacating it immediately.[11][12] This matchup represented a pinnacle in Cormier's career transition from Olympic wrestling to MMA dominance across divisions. The event was positioned as the centerpiece of UFC's annual International Fight Week in Las Vegas, occurring shortly after UFC 225 in June 2018, to capitalize on the promotion's summer momentum with fan experiences, hall of fame inductions, and a finale for The Ultimate Fighter reality series.[5] Initial card assembly included several heavyweight attractions, with Francis Ngannou versus Derrick Lewis elevated to co-main event status in early July after featherweight champion Max Holloway withdrew due to injury, originally slated to defend his title against Brian Ortega.[13]Weigh-ins and attendance
The official weigh-ins for UFC 226 occurred on July 6, 2018, at the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the ceremonial weigh-ins later that evening at the T-Mobile Arena.[14][15] Twenty-one of the 22 fighters successfully made weight, including main event participants Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic, who both came in under the heavyweight limit of 265 pounds—CORMier at 246 pounds and Miocic at 242.5 pounds.[14][16] The lone miss was Michael Chiesa, who weighed in at 157.5 pounds for his non-title lightweight bout against Anthony Pettis (limit 156 pounds), resulting in a 30 percent purse fine for Chiesa and the fight proceeding at a 157.5-pound catchweight.[14][17] During the ceremonial weigh-ins, a tense staredown unfolded between Cormier and Miocic on stage, heightening anticipation for their heavyweight title superfight, as the two champions stood nose-to-nose amid verbal jabs from the crowd.[18][19] The pre-fight press conference was held on July 5, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena, where fighters and UFC President Dana White addressed the media.[20] Cormier emphasized the historic stakes of the matchup, stating, "Nothing I've done is bigger than this," underscoring the significance of a potential two-division championship win.[21] Miocic, meanwhile, focused on defending his title, affirming his confidence by noting the fight's personal importance beyond the belt.[22] The event generated strong pre-sale buzz, with expectations of a sellout at the 20,000-capacity T-Mobile Arena due to the superfight draw, and it ultimately drew an announced attendance of 17,464 for a live gate of $5,677,238.[4][23]Fight results
Main card
The main event pitted UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic against Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier in a highly anticipated superfight, with the winner claiming both titles.[24] Cormier, moving up in weight, hurt Miocic early with a left hook followed by an elbow in the clinch, dropping the champion to the canvas.[25] He then unleashed a barrage of ground-and-pound punches, forcing referee Herb Dean to stop the contest at 4:33 of the first round, earning Cormier the knockout victory and making him the second simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history, following Conor McGregor.[26] In the co-main event, heavyweights Francis Ngannou and Derrick Lewis delivered a surprisingly inactive affair marked by prolonged clinches and minimal striking output.[27] Lewis maintained better positioning and landed the more effective shots throughout, including a notable uppercut in the third round, to secure a unanimous decision victory with scores of 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27 after three rounds.[28] The bout drew widespread criticism for its lack of action, with commentator Joe Rogan later calling it one of the worst heavyweight fights he had witnessed.[29] Lightweights Anthony Pettis and Michael Chiesa engaged in a grappling-heavy contest, with Chiesa initially dominating on the ground using his wrestling base.[30] However, Pettis reversed position in the second round and transitioned into a triangle armbar, forcing Chiesa to tap at 0:52 and securing the technical submission win.[31] The victory marked a return to form for Pettis, who had struggled in recent outings, and highlighted his opportunistic submission skills against a top grappler.[32] Light heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr. pulled off an upset against kickboxing veteran Gokhan Saki, who entered with a reputation for devastating striking.[33] Rountree timed a perfectly placed straight left that floored Saki early, then followed with hammerfists on the ground until the referee intervened at 1:36 of the first round for the knockout.[34] The finish stunned observers, as Saki's 59 kickboxing knockouts had made him a heavy favorite.[35] Welterweights Mike Perry and Paul Felder produced a gritty, blood-soaked war filled with aggressive exchanges and clinch work.[36] Perry's pressure and volume edged out Felder's counters, including a notable elbow that opened a cut, leading to a split decision win with scores of 29-28, 28-29, and 29-28.[37] Felder fought through a suspected broken arm sustained late, but Perry's relentless style proved decisive in the opener.[38]Preliminary card
The preliminary card of UFC 226, broadcast on Fox Sports 1, featured four bouts that showcased a mix of established veterans and rising prospects in the middleweight, bantamweight, lightweight, and welterweight divisions. These fights served as the lead-in to the pay-per-view main card, highlighting technical striking exchanges and grappling exchanges without any title implications. All contests went the full distance except for the middleweight opener, contributing to a solid undercard performance.| Fighter vs. Fighter | Weight Class | Result | Method | Round | Time | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paulo Costa vs. Uriah Hall | Middleweight | Paulo Costa def. Uriah Hall | TKO (punches) | 2 | 2:38 | N/A [3] |
| Raphael Assunção vs. Rob Font | Bantamweight | Raphael Assunção def. Rob Font | Unanimous Decision | 3 | 5:00 | 30-27, 30-27, 30-27 [3] |
| Drakkar Klose vs. Lando Vannata | Lightweight | Drakkar Klose def. Lando Vannata | Unanimous Decision | 3 | 5:00 | 30-27, 30-27, 30-27 [3] |
| Curtis Millender vs. Max Griffin | Welterweight | Curtis Millender def. Max Griffin | Unanimous Decision | 3 | 5:00 | 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 [3] |
Early preliminary card
The early preliminary card of UFC 226, broadcast exclusively on UFC Fight Pass, opened the event with two bouts that highlighted emerging fighters in the lightweight and women's strawweight divisions, contributing to the undercard's mix of stylistic contrasts and international talent. In the lightweight matchup, Dan Hooker defeated Gilbert Burns via knockout (punches) at 2:28 of the first round. Burns pressed early with grappling attempts, landing a takedown and working from top position, but Hooker quickly reversed the position and unleashed a barrage of ground strikes that forced the referee stoppage.[44] This emphatic finish extended Hooker's winning streak to four, underscoring his growing threat as a knockout artist and positioning him as a key emerging talent in the lightweight ranks. The women's strawweight opener saw Emily Whitmire win a unanimous decision over Jamie Moyle (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. Whitmire maintained a higher striking output, landing 53 of 183 significant strikes compared to Moyle's 50 of 117, while effectively using footwork to avoid Moyle's takedown attempts and dictate the stand-up pace.[45] The victory marked Whitmire's first UFC win, signaling her arrival as a promising prospect in the competitive strawweight division.Post-event
Bonus awards
At UFC 226, the UFC awarded four Performance of the Night bonuses, each worth $50,000, with no Fight of the Night bonus given.[46][47] Daniel Cormier received the award for his first-round knockout victory in the main event.[46] Anthony Pettis earned it for his submission win over Michael Chiesa on the main card.[47] On the main card, Khalil Rountree Jr. was honored for his first-round knockout of Gokhan Saki, while Paulo Costa received the bonus for his TKO of Uriah Hall.[46][47] These bonuses are selected by UFC executives based on standout individual performances during the event, a standard post-fight process to recognize exceptional efforts.[46] In total, $200,000 in bonus awards were distributed across the four recipients.[47]Reported payouts
The Nevada State Athletic Commission disclosed the fighter payouts for UFC 226 based on contractual base pay and win bonuses, excluding pay-per-view revenue shares, sponsorships, or other incentives.[48] The total reported earnings for the event amounted to $2,737,000.[49] Key payouts from the main card included Stipe Miocic earning a flat $750,000 as the heavyweight champion, while Daniel Cormier received $500,000 with no separate win bonus listed.[48] In the co-main event, Derrick Lewis earned $260,000, comprising a $130,000 base salary plus a matching $130,000 win bonus for his unanimous decision victory over Francis Ngannou, who was paid a $100,000 base.[49] Anthony Pettis secured $289,400 ($154,400 base + $135,000 win bonus) after defeating Michael Chiesa, who earned $80,000 flat.[48] Other notable earners on the card were Paulo Costa with $110,000 ($55,000 base plus $55,000 win bonus) for his win over Uriah Hall ($75,000 base) and Mike Perry with $80,000 ($40,000 base plus 46,000 base).[49] Seven fighters overall cleared six figures in their disclosed NSAC payouts, highlighting the event's high-profile status.[48] These figures represent only the official filings and do not include additional performance bonuses awarded separately by the UFC, such as the $50,000 Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night awards.[50]| Fighter | Base Pay | Win Bonus | Total Disclosed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Cormier | $500,000 | None | $500,000 |
| Stipe Miocic | $750,000 | None | $750,000 |
| Derrick Lewis | $130,000 | $130,000 | $260,000 |
| Francis Ngannou | $100,000 | None | $100,000 |
| Anthony Pettis | $154,400 | $135,000 | $289,400 |
| Paulo Costa | $55,000 | $55,000 | $110,000 |
