UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font

UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font (also known as UFC on ESPN 50) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on August 5, 2023 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, United States.[2]

UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font
The poster for UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font
Information
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateAugust 5, 2023 (2023-08-05)
VenueBridgestone Arena
CityNashville, Tennessee, United States
Attendance17,792[1]
Total gate$2,102,127.12[1]
Event chronology
UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2 UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. dos Anjos

Background

The event marked the promotion's sixth visit to Nashville and first since UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Pettis in March 2019.[2]

A bantamweight bout between former interim UFC Bantamweight Championship challenger Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov was expected to headline the event.[3] However, Nurmagomedov withdrew from the event in mid-July due to a shoulder injury.[4] He was replaced by Rob Font in a catchweight bout of 140 pounds.[5]

The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia women's strawweight winner Tatiana Suarez and Virna Jandiroba were scheduled to meet in a women's strawweight bout.[6] However on June 20, it was announced that Jandiroba pulled out due to a knee injury and was replaced by former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Jéssica Andrade.[7]

Tagir Ulanbekov and Jake Hadley were expected to meet in a flyweight bout at this event.[8] However, Ulanbekov withdrew due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Cody Durden.[9]

A bantamweight bout between Said Nurmagomedov and Kyler Phillips was expected to take place at the event.[10] However, Nurmagomedov withdrew for unknown reasons and was replaced by Raoni Barcelos.[11]

A light heavyweight bout between Ovince Saint Preux and Ion Cuțelaba was expected to take place at the event.[12] However, the bout was cancelled on July 20 for unknown reasons.[13]

Sean Woodson and Steve Garcia were expected to meet in a featherweight bout at the event.[14] However, the bout was scrapped after Garcia got injured and Woodson was booked against Jesse Butler.[15] In turn, Butler was removed by the Nevada Athletic Commission during fight week due to a recent knockout loss two months earlier.[16] He was replaced by promotional newcomer Mairon Santos.[17] However, due to visa issues, Santos was removed from the bout and replaced with promotional newcomer Dennis Buzukja.[18] At the weigh-ins, Buzukja weighed in at 146.5 pounds, half a pound over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined 20 percent of his purse, which went to Woodson.[19]

Results

Main card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Catchweight (140 lb) Cory Sandhagen def. Rob Font Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 50–45, 50–45) 5 5:00
Women's Strawweight Tatiana Suarez def. Jéssica Andrade Submission (guillotine choke) 2 1:31
Light Heavyweight Dustin Jacoby def. Kennedy Nzechukwu TKO (punches) 1 1:22
Featherweight Diego Lopes def. Gavin Tucker Submission (armbar) 1 1:38
Light Heavyweight Tanner Boser def. Aleksa Camur Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Lightweight Ľudovít Klein def. Ignacio Bahamondes Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Preliminary card (ESPN/ ESPN+)
Bantamweight Kyler Phillips def. Raoni Barcelos Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Welterweight Carlston Harris def. Jeremiah Wells Technical Submission (anaconda choke) 3 1:50
Featherweight Billy Quarantillo def. Damon Jackson Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Flyweight Cody Durden def. Jake Hadley Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Catchweight (146.5 lb) Sean Woodson def. Dennis Buzukja Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Flyweight Assu Almabayev def. Ode' Osbourne Submission (rear-naked choke) 2 3:11

    [20]

    Bonus awards

    The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[21]

    • Fight of the Night: No bonus awarded.
    • Performance of the Night: Tatiana Suarez, Dustin Jacoby, Diego Lopes, Carlston Harris, and Assu Almabayev

    See also

    References

    1. Mike Bohn (2023-08-06). "UFC on ESPN 50 post-event facts: Cory Sandhagen, Rob Font set dubious record for lack of strikes". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
    2. Staff (2023-06-12). "UFC heading to Nashville, Tenn. on Aug. 5, says commission". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
    3. Nolan King and Matthew Wells (2023-06-15). "UFC books Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov headliner for Nashville". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
    4. Nolan King (2023-07-19). "Umar Nurmagomedov out of UFC on ESPN 50 main event vs. Cory Sandhagen". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
    5. Nolan King (2023-07-20). "Rob Font steps into UFC Nashville main event vs. Cory Sandhagen after Umar Nurmagomedov's withdrawal". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
    6. Drake Riggs (2023-05-18). "Tatiana Suarez draws Virna Jandiroba for strawweight return in August". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
    7. Matthew Wells and Nolan King (2023-06-20). "Virna Jandiroba injured; Tatiana Suarez to face former UFC champ Jessica Andrade in Nashville". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
    8. Harvey Leonard (2023-05-28). "UFC matchmaking bulletin (5/22-5/27): UFC 291 gets welterweight addition, two cancelations". mmanews.com. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
    9. Shivam Tiwari (2023-05-28). "Tagir Ulanbekov out, Cody Durden in vs Jake Hadley for UFC Nashville". itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
    10. Jay Anderson (2023-05-23). "UFC: Kyler Phillips vs. Said Nurmagomedov booked for August 5". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
    11. Krishna Venki (2023-07-20). ""All the Nurmagomedovs pulling out" - Said Nurmagomedov pulling out of UFC Nashville shortly after Umar Nurmagomedov creates frenzy among fans". sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
    12. Nolan King (2023-06-07). "Tennesee's Ovince Saint Preux meets Ion Cutelaba at UFC Fight Night expected for Nashville". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
    13. Pranav Pandey (2023-07-20). "BREAKING: Another fight called off from UFC Nashville card". sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
    14. Jay Anderson (2023-07-20). "Jeremiah Wells vs. Carlston Harris, Sean Woodson vs. Steve Garcia announced for UFC Nashville". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
    15. News Desk (2023-07-19). "Sean Woodson vs Jesse Butler set for Aug 5 UFC event". itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
    16. Alexander K. Lee (2023-07-31). "Jesse Butler out of UFC Nashville, Sean Woodson seeks third opponent". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
    17. Tudor Leonte (2023-08-01). "Sean Woodson gets third opponent in Mairon Santos Alves at UFC on ESPN 50". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
    18. Drake Riggs (2023-08-01). "Fourth opponent?!?!? UFC Nashville adds last-minute fight to thrashed card with just days until showtime". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
    19. Staff (2023-08-04). "UFC on ESPN 50 weigh-in results: Short notice leads to one heavy fighter in Nashville". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
    20. "UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
    21. Matt Erickson (2023-08-06). "UFC on ESPN 50 bonuses: Tatiana Suarez among five $50,000 'Music City' winners". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
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