UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar (also known as UFC on ESPN 15 and UFC Vegas 7) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on August 22, 2020, at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.[2]
| UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The poster for UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar | ||||
| Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship | |||
| Date | August 22, 2020 | |||
| Venue | UFC Apex | |||
| City | Enterprise, Nevada, United States | |||
| Attendance | None (behind closed doors)[1] | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
editA bantamweight bout between Pedro Munhoz and former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar served as the event headliner.[3] The matchup was briefly scheduled to take place at UFC 251, but it was then moved four days later to bolster UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige.[4] On July 6, it was announced that the bout was scrapped after Munhoz tested positive for COVID-19.[5] The pairing remained intact nonetheless and was rescheduled for UFC 252.[6] However, the promotion decided to move the contest one final time.[3]
Promotion officials had initially targeted a welterweight bout between former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley and former interim champion Colby Covington to serve as the event headliner, but Woodley announced that the date did not provide him with time suitable enough to prepare because of injuries incurred during his most recent fight.[7]
A light heavyweight bout between former interim UFC Light Heavyweight Championship challenger Ovince Saint Preux and Shamil Gamzatov was initially scheduled for April 25, but Gamzatov was forced to pull out of the event due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] The pairing was rescheduled for this event.[9] However, Gamzatov pulled out of the bout on August 13 due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Alonzo Menifield.[10] Just hours before the event was scheduled to begin, it was announced that the bout was cancelled due to Saint Preux testing positive for COVID-19.[11] The bout was then targeted for September 5 at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai.[12]
Former UFC Middleweight Championship challenger (as well as 2000 Olympic silver medalist and former world champion in freestyle wrestling) Yoel Romero was scheduled to face Uriah Hall at the event, but pulled out of the fight on August 11 for undisclosed reasons.[13] The pairing was then expected to be rescheduled for a future event.[14]
Philip Rowe was briefly linked to a bout with promotional newcomer Matthew Semelsberger at the event.[15] However, Rowe pulled out of the bout citing a toe injury. Semelsberger faced fellow newcomer Carlton Minus.[14]
A women's strawweight bout between former Invicta FC Strawweight Champion Angela Hill and former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Michelle Waterson was scheduled for the event.[16] However, due to undisclosed personal reasons for Waterson, the bout was rescheduled for September 12 and ultimately served as the main event of UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill.[17]
A light heavyweight bout between Jorge Gonzalez and Ike Villanueva was expected to take a week earlier at UFC 252.[18] However, due to alleged visa issues for Gonzalez, the pairing was rescheduled for this event.[19] In turn, Gonzalez was removed from the card for undisclosed reasons and replaced by promotional newcomer Jordan Wright.[20]
Promotional newcomer Jared Gooden was scheduled to face Dwight Grant in a welterweight bout at the event, but pulled out of the fight during the week leading up to the event with an undisclosed injury.[21] In turn, promotional newcomer Calen Born was announced as the replacement.[22] However, Born pulled out of the fight on the day of the weigh-ins due to undisclosed personal issues.[23] Meanwhile, another welterweight bout between Takashi Sato and Daniel Rodriguez was scrapped after the weigh-ins. Despite making the required weight, Sato was not cleared to fight by Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) medical personnel and Rodriguez faced Grant instead.[23]
A middleweight bout between Maki Pitolo and promotional newcomer Impa Kasanganay was briefly linked to the event.[24] However, promotion officials elected to move the pairing a week later to UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Rakić for undisclosed reasons.[25]
Promotional newcomer Mark Striegl was expected to face fellow newcomer Timur Valiev at the event. However, Striegl was removed from the fight on August 20 after testing positive for COVID-19 and replaced by Trevin Jones. The bout was contested at a catchweight of 140 pounds.[26]
Results
edit| Main card (ESPN / ESPN ) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Bantamweight | Frankie Edgar | def. | Pedro Munhoz | Decision (split) (48–47, 46–49, 48–47) | 5 | 5:00 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Mike Rodríguez | def. | Marcin Prachnio | KO (elbow and punches) | 1 | 2:17 | |
| Lightweight | Joe Solecki | def. | Austin Hubbard | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 3:51 | |
| Women's Flyweight | Shana Dobson | def. | Mariya Agapova | TKO (punches) | 2 | 1:38 | |
| Welterweight | Daniel Rodriguez | def. | Dwight Grant | KO (punches) | 1 | 2:24 | |
| Preliminary Card (ESPN ) | |||||||
| Women's Strawweight | Amanda Lemos | def. | Mizuki Inoue | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Jordan Wright | def. | Ike Villanueva | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 1 | 1:31 | |
| Welterweight | Matthew Semelsberger | def. | Carlton Minus | Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–27, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Catchweight (140 lb) | Trevin Jones | vs. | Timur Valiev | No Contest (overturned) | 2 | 1:59 | [a] |
Bonus awards
editThe following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[29]
- Fight of the Night: Frankie Edgar vs. Pedro Munhoz
- Performance of the Night: Shana Dobson and Trevin Jones
Aftermath
editOn October 7, it was announced that the NSAC issued a four and a half month suspension for Trevin Jones, after he tested positive for marijuana in a drug test related to his fight. They also announced that Jones' victory was overturned to a no contest due to the violation. He was fined $1,800 and before he is relicensed in Las Vegas, Jones will also have to pay a prosecution fee of $145.36.[27]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Olivia Wilson (2020-08-21). "UFC Fight Night: Munhoz vs. Edgar August 22 on ESPN and ESPN ". espnpressroom.com. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
- ^ Jesse Holland (2020-06-30). "Angela Hill vs Michelle Waterson on tap for UFC APEX on Aug. 22". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
- ^ a b Raphael Marinho (2020-07-27). "Ultimate reschedules Pedro Munhoz vs. Frankie Edgar for August 22 as the main event". globoesporte.globo.com. Retrieved 2020-07-27. (in Portuguese)
- ^ Ross Markey (2020-06-16). "Pedro Munhoz vs. Frankie Edgar moved to UFC event on July 15th". fightbookmma.com. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ Guilherme Cruz (2020-07-06). "Pedro Munhoz tests positive for COVID-19, pulled from UFC 'Fight Island' bout with Frankie Edgar". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
- ^ Nick Baldwin (2020-07-12). "Edgar-Munhoz rescheduled for UFC 252". thescore.com. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
- ^ Ariel Helwani (2020-07-16). "Tyron Woodley open to Colby Covington fight, but not in August". abcnews.go.com. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
- ^ Nolan King (2020-04-04). "Shamil Gamzatov out of UFC on ESPN 31 fight vs. Ovince Saint Preux". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
- ^ Staff (2020-07-02). "Ovince St. Preux vs. Shamil Gamzatov scheduled again, this time for August 22". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2020-08-10. (in Dutch)
- ^ Newswire (2020-08-13). "Shamil Gamzatov out of UFC on ESPN 31 fight vs. Ovince Saint Preux". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
- ^ Nolan King (2020-08-22). "Ovince Saint Preux tests positive for COVID-19, Alonzo Menifield fight removed from UFC on ESPN 15". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
- ^ Tristen Critchfield (2020-08-22). "Ovince Saint Preux tests positive for COVID-19, bout vs. Alonzo Menifield postponed to Sept. 5". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
- ^ Staff (2020-08-11). "Yoel Romero out vs. Uriah Hall at UFC on ESPN 15". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
- ^ a b Staff (2020-07-13). "No replacement for Romero, Waterson vs. Hill canceled and OSP's new opponent on August 22". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2020-08-14. (in Dutch)
- ^ Edward Lee (2020-08-07). "Frederick County's Matthew Semelsberger signs contract with UFC, realizing childhood quest". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
- ^ Nolan King (2020-06-30). "Angela Hill meets Michelle Waterson on UFC's Aug. 22 card". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
- ^ Harry Davies (2020-08-13). "Report: Michelle Waterson vs. Angela Hill off UFC Vegas 7, rescheduled for September 12". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
- ^ Nolan King (2020-07-29). "UFC debutant Jorge Gonzalez meets Ike Villanueva at UFC 252 in Las Vegas". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
- ^ Connor Northrup (2020-08-13). "Ike Villanueva vs. Jorge Gonzalez moved to Aug. 22 UFC event". mymmanews.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
- ^ David Tees (2020-08-18). "Jordan Wright replaces Jorge Gonzalez at UFC Fight Night: Munhoz vs. Edgar". fightful.com. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
- ^ Alexander K. Lee (2020-08-17). "Injury knocks Jared Gooden out of Dwight Grant matchup at UFC on ESPN 15". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
- ^ Staff (2020-08-19). "Calen Born takes short notice fight against Dwight Grant this Saturday". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2020-08-19. (in Dutch)
- ^ a b Staff (2020-08-21). "With opponents out, Dwight Grant and Daniel Rodriguez now open UFC on ESPN 15 main card". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ Mike Heck (2020-08-11). "Maki Pitolo to welcome DWCS contract winner Impa Kasanganay at UFC event on Aug. 22". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
- ^ Staff (2020-08-17). "Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Aug. 10-16)". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
- ^ Staff (2020-08-20). "Trevin Jones will replace Mark Striegl against Timur Valiev this Saturday at UFC on ESPN 15". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2020-08-20. (in Dutch)
- ^ a b Nolan King (2020-10-07). "NAC changes Trevin Jones' UFC on ESPN 15 win to no contest after positive marijuana test". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
- ^ "UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
- ^ Ryan Galloway (2020-08-22). "UFC Fight Night: Munhoz vs. Edgar bonuses". lowkickmma.com. Retrieved 2020-08-22.