By Blue Corner
November 29, 2020 7:30 pm
Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/dillon-danis-responds-ake-paul-boxing-challenge-knockout-nate-robinson
MMA’s week out of the cage: Dillon Danis responds to Jake Paul’s boxing challenge
Anthony Smith earns bonus for UFC Vegas 15 submission win
Following Saturday’s UFC Vegas 15 event at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, the fight promotion announced the recipients of the coveted fighter bonuses. Four Performance of the Night bonuses were awarded. Anthony Smith, Miguel Baeza, Su Mudaerji, and Nate Maness earned the $50,000 incentives.
Smith, a former light heavyweight title challenger, faced Devin Clark in the fight card’s main event. After absorbing a right hand early in the fight, Smith opted to take Clark down. Clark was able to reverse Smith but found himself locked in a triangle choke that he could not escape.
TRENDING UFC middleweights swap opponents after Kevin Holland tests positive for COVID-19
Baeza faced Takashi Soto in the co-main event and earned a bonus for his second-round submission win. Late in the second frame, Baeza applied an arm-triangle choke worthy of a bonus check.
Flyweight Su Mudaerji scored a 44-second knockout on the preliminary fight card to earn the extra revenue while Nathan Maness kicked off the night of fights with a submission win over Luke Sanders to bank a bonus.
UFC Vegas 15 featured ten fights. Three fights went the distance, four ended in submission wins, and three bouts ended in knockouts.
Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/anthony-smith-earns-bonus-for-ufc-vegas-15-submission-win
Mike Tyson: ‘YouTube boxers saved boxing, UFC was kicking our butt’
It’s no secret that boxing’s popularity has been on the decline for years for multiple reasons. The inability to put together big fights, poor marketing, and the emergence of mixed martial arts were all factors.
As interest in boxing declined, social media networks and online video platforms became a part of everyday life. According to former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, it was those platforms that saved a dying sport.
“My ego says so many things, but my reality says this, they helped boxing so much. Boxing owes these guys some kind of… they owe these YouTube boxers some kind of respect.
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“They should give these guys some belts because these guys make boxing alive,” Tyson said during the post-fight press conference following his exhibition bout against former four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr. on Saturday.
On the fight card, boxer, actor, and YouTube personality Jake Paul scored a second-round knockout win over former NBA player Nate Robinson. Paul’s YouTube channel has 20.2 million subscribers. Tyson credited Paul as one of the “YouTube boxers” that helped the boxing return to popular culture.
“Boxing was pretty much a dying sport. The UFC was kicking our butt,” Tyson said. “Boxing is going back thanks to the YouTube boxers.”
Related Video Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr | Live Coverage and Commentary
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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/mike-tyson-youtube-boxers-saved-boxing-ufc-was-kicking-our-butt
UFC on ESPN 18 post-event facts: Heavyweights set new benchmark for output
The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $93,500.
Debuting fighters went 0-1 at the event.
Smith, Miguel Baeza, Su Mudaerji and Nate Maness earned $50,000 UFC on ESPN 18 fight-night bonuses.
UFC on ESPN 18 drew an announced attendance of zero for a live gate of $0.
Betting favorites went 3-6 on the card.
Betting favorites improved to 26-12 in UFC headliners this year.
Total fight time for the 10-bout card was 1:28:28.
Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-on-espn-18-post-event-facts-heavyweight-record-significant-strikes-landed
Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Anthony Smith after UFC on ESPN 18 win?
Anthony Smith recorded one of the most important victories of his career Saturday when he beat Devin Clark in the UFC on ESPN 18 main event.
After suffering back-to-back losses that deflated his status as a top light heavyweight contender, Smith (34-16 MMA, 9-6 UFC) faced pressure to get the job done against Clark (12-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. He responded with a first-round submission for his first victory in 17 months.
With the win, Smith put himself back in the conversation of the top names at 205 pounds. He’s only had eight fights in the division, meaning there are still plenty of names “Lionheart” hasn’t faced.
What makes most sense for Smith, though? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future after UFC on ESPN 18.
Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/11/anthony-smith-next-fight-matchmaker-ufc-on-espn-18-paul-craig-luke-rockhold
