UFC 277: Peña vs. Nunes 2 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on July 30, 2022, at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, United States.[2]

UFC 277: Peña vs. Nunes 2
The poster for UFC 277: Peña vs. Nunes 2
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateJuly 30, 2022 (2022-07-30)
VenueAmerican Airlines Center
CityDallas, Texas, United States
Attendance19,442[1]
Total gate$4,455,691[1]
Event chronology
UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall UFC 277: Peña vs. Nunes 2 UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill

Background

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A UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship rematch between current champion (also The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate bantamweight winner) Julianna Peña and former champion (also then UFC Women's Featherweight Champion) Amanda Nunes headlined the event.[3] The pairing previously met at UFC 269 in last December, where Peña captured the title by submission in the second round in a major upset.[4] They were also the head coaches for the 30th season of The Ultimate Fighter.[5] This was the seventh time in UFC history that champions in different divisions fought for the same title, following UFC 94, UFC 205, UFC 226, UFC 232, UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw and UFC 259.

An interim UFC Flyweight Championship bout between former champion Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara-France took place at the event.[6] The pairing previously met at UFC 245 in December 2019, with Moreno winning via unanimous decision.[7] Alexandre Pantoja served as backup and potential replacement for this fight.[8]

Sean Strickland was expected to face former Glory Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira in a middleweight bout at this event.[9] However, the promotion decided to move the pairing to UFC 276.[10]

A middleweight bout between former Strikeforce and UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold and former title challenger Paulo Costa was expected to take place at the event.[11] However, the bout was postponed to UFC 278 due to unknown reasons.[12]

A welterweight bout between Orion Cosce and Mike Mathetha took place at the event.[13] The duo was previously scheduled to meet at UFC 271 and UFC 275, but the bout was cancelled due to Mathetha getting injured and Cosce pulling out due to undisclosed reasons, respectively.[14][15]

Ji Yeon Kim and Mariya Agapova were expected to meet in a women's flyweight bout at the event.[16] However, Agapova was forced out of the fight due to a knee injury and was replaced by Joselyne Edwards who had fought only six weeks prior in UFC 275.[17]

Carlos Diego Ferreira was scheduled to meet Drakkar Klose in a lightweight bout.[18] However, Ferreira was forced out the event in mid July due to an injury.[19] He was replaced by Rafa García.[20]

A lightweight bout featuring Ignacio Bahamondes and Ľudovít Klein was originally scheduled for the preliminary card.[21] However, Bahamondes pulled out on July 15 and Klein was relocated against Mason Jones a week earlier at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall.[22]

Justin Tafa and Don'Tale Mayes were expected to meet in a heavyweight bout at the preliminary card.[23] Tafa pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer Hamdy Abdelwahab on July 18.[20]

Ramiz Brahimaj was scheduled to meet Michael Morales in a welterweight bout.[24] However, Brahimaj was forced out the event in mid July due to an undisclosed injury.[20] He was replaced by Adam Fugitt.[25]

At the weigh-ins, two fighters missed weight for their respective bouts. Joselyne Edwards weighed in at 137.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. Orion Cosce weighed in at 172.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the welterweight non-title fight limit. Both bouts proceeded at catchweight with Edwards and Cosce each fined 20% of their purses, which went to their opponents Ji Yeon Kim and Mike Mathetha respectively.[26]

Results

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Main card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Women's Bantamweight Amanda Nunes def. Julianna Peña (c) Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 50–44, 50–43) 5 5:00 [a]
Flyweight Brandon Moreno def. Kai Kara-France TKO (body kick and punches) 3 4:34 [b]
Heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich def. Derrick Lewis TKO (punches) 1 0:55
Flyweight Alexandre Pantoja def. Alex Perez Submission (neck crank) 1 1:31
Light Heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev def. Anthony Smith TKO (punches) 2 3:09
Preliminary card (ESPN / ABC / ESPN )
Welterweight Alex Morono def. Matthew Semelsberger Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) 3 5:00
Lightweight Drew Dober def. Rafael Alves KO (punch to the body) 3 1:30
Heavyweight Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Don'Tale Mayes No Contest (overturned) 3 5:00 [c]
Lightweight Drakkar Klose def. Rafa García Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Early preliminary card (ESPN / UFC Fight Pass)
Welterweight Michael Morales def. Adam Fugitt TKO (punches) 3 1:09
Catchweight (137.5 lb) Joselyne Edwards def. Ji Yeon Kim Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 30–27) 3 5:00
Light Heavyweight Nicolae Negumereanu def. Ihor Potieria TKO (punches and knees) 2 3:33
Catchweight (172.5 lb) Orion Cosce def. Mike Mathetha Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
  1. ^ For the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship.
  2. ^ For the interim UFC Flyweight Championship.
  3. ^ Originally a split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) win for Abdelwahab; overturned after he tested positive for methenolone.[27]

[28]

Bonus awards

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The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[29]

  • Fight of the Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Kai Kara-France
  • Performance of the Night: Alexandre Pantoja and Drew Dober

The following fighters received Crypto.com "Fan Bonus of the Night" awards paid in bitcoin of US$30,000 for first place, US$20,000 for second place, and US$10,000 for third place.[30]

  • First Place: Brandon Moreno
  • Second Place: Amanda Nunes
  • Third Place: Derrick Lewis

Aftermath

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On February 3, 2023, it was announced that the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) suspended Hamdy Abdelwahab for two years after he tested positive twice for anabolic agent methenolone and its metabolites. He also was flagged for a tampering violation. His victory was also overturned to a no contest and he will be eligible to return to competition on July 30, 2024, two years from the first positive test.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Mike Bohn (2022-07-31). "UFC 277 post-event facts: Amanda Nunes makes history by reclaiming second belt". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
  2. ^ Tristen Critchfield (2022-05-21). "Julianna Pena-Amanda Nunes title rematch set for UFC 277 main event". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  3. ^ Alexander K. Lee (2022-05-21). "Julianna Pena vs. Amanda Nunes 2 announced as UFC 277 main event". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  4. ^ Shakiel Mahjouri (2021-12-21). "UFC 269 results, highlights: Julianna Pena scores shocking upset of Amanda Nunes to claim title". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  5. ^ Nolan King (2022-02-04). "'The Ultimate Fighter' Season 30 to be coached by Julianna Pena and Amanda Nunes; rematch to follow". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  6. ^ Danny Segura (2022-05-10). "Brandon Moreno vs. Kai Kara-France 2 in the works for interim flyweight title at UFC 277". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  7. ^ Brendan Bradford (2019-12-14). "UFC 245: Kai Kara-France loses entertaining decision to Brandon Moreno". sportingnews.com. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  8. ^ Mike Heck (2022-06-09). "With Askar Askarov out, Alex Perez shifts to UFC 277 to face interim championship backup fighter Alexandre Pantoja". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  9. ^ Ryan Harkness (2022-03-27). "Sean Strickland vs. Alex Pereira being finalized for UFC 277 in July". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  10. ^ Mike Heck (2022-05-03). "Sean Strickland vs. Alex Pereira middleweight clash shifts to UFC 276". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  11. ^ Jay Anderson (2022-05-08). "Luke Rockhold vs. Paulo Costa lined up for UFC 277 in July". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
  12. ^ Farah Hannoun (2022-05-26). "Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold shifts from UFC 277 to Aug. 20 event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
  13. ^ Matthew Wells and Nolan King (2022-06-03). "Orion Cosce vs. Blood Diamond now set for UFC 277 in Dallas". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  14. ^ Jay Anderson (2022-01-21). "Jeremiah Wells in against Blood Diamond at UFC 271". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
  15. ^ Farah Hannoun (2022-05-25). "Orion Cosce vs. Blood Diamond scrapped from UFC 275 in Singapore". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  16. ^ Staff (2022-05-12). "Ji Yeon Kim faces Mariya Agapova at UFC 277". asianmma.com. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  17. ^ Mike Heck (2022-07-13). "Mariya Agapova out of UFC 277, Ji Yeon Kim now faces Joselyne Edwards". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  18. ^ Matthew Wells and Nolan King (2022-05-12). "Drakkar Klose vs. Diego Ferreira in the works for UFC 277". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  19. ^ Mike Heck (2022-07-13). "Diego Ferreira out, UFC needs replacement for Drakkar Klose at UFC 277". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  20. ^ a b c Nolan King (2022-07-18). "UFC 277 hit with multitude of withdrawals. Here's where the card stands less than two weeks away". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
  21. ^ Staff (2022-07-03). "Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Ludovit Klein added to UFC 277 in Dallas". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-07-15.
  22. ^ Farah Hannoun (2022-07-15). "With Ignacio Bahamondes out of UFC 277, Ludovit Klein now faces Mason Jones at UFC London". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-07-15.
  23. ^ Nolan King (2022-05-13). "UFC 277 adds more heavyweights: Don'Tale Mayes vs. Justin Tafa set". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
  24. ^ Steve Duncan (2022-05-11). "Michael Morales vs. Ramiz Brahimaj added to UFC 277". mma.uno. Retrieved 2022-07-20. (in Spanish)
  25. ^ Steve Duncan (2022-07-21). "With Brahimaj injured, Adam Fugitt faces Michael Morales at UFC 277". mma.uno. Retrieved 2022-07-21. (in Spanish)
  26. ^ Staff (2022-07-29). "UFC 277 weigh-in results: Title bouts set, but two fighters miss weight". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  27. ^ a b Nolan King (2023-02-03). "Hamdy Abdelwahab suspended, has UFC debut win overturned after positive drug test and 'tampering'". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  28. ^ "UFC 277: Peña vs. Nunes 2". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  29. ^ Matt Erickson (2022-07-31). "UFC 277 bonuses: Brandon Moreno, Kai Kara-France among four $50,000 winners in Dallas". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
  30. ^ Harry Kettle (2022-08-02). "UFC 277 Fan Bonus of the Night Winners: Brandon Moreno earns top payout". bjpenn.com. Retrieved 2022-08-02.