UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori

UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori (also known as UFC on ESPN 19 and UFC Vegas 16) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on December 5, 2020 at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.[2]

UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori
The poster for UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori
Information
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateDecember 5, 2020 (2020-12-05)
VenueUFC Apex
CityEnterprise, Nevada, United States
AttendanceNone (behind closed doors)[1]
Event chronology
UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. Clark UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno

Background

The promotion was targeting a middleweight bout between former UFC Welterweight Championship challenger Darren Till and Jack Hermansson to serve as the event headliner.[3] However, it was revealed on November 6 that Till was forced to withdraw from the planned bout due to an undisclosed injury. He was replaced by Kevin Holland.[4] In turn, Holland was removed from the contest on November 28 after testing positive for COVID-19.[5] Marvin Vettori, who was expected to face former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Ronaldo Souza a week later at UFC 256, served as his replacement.[6] The UFC also opted to reschedule Holland as Vettori's replacement at UFC 256.[7]

John Allan and Roman Dolidze were originally scheduled to meet at UFC 255 in a light heavyweight bout.[8] They were eventually rescheduled for this event.[9]

A bantamweight bout between Cody Stamann and Merab Dvalishvili was expected to take place at this event.[10] However, it was announced on October 22 that Stamann pulled out due to undisclosed reasons.[11] He was replaced by Raoni Barcelos.[12] The new booking fell through on November 19, as it was revealed that Barcelos was removed from the contest due to a medical suspension related to his latest bout at UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira.[13]

A featherweight bout between Gabriel Benítez and Justin Jaynes was initially scheduled for UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos a month earlier, but the pairing was postponed after Benítez tested positive for COVID-19.[14] The matchup was left intact and took place at this event.[15]

Also scheduled for UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos, a bantamweight bout between Louis Smolka and José Alberto Quiñónez was cancelled after Smolka pulled out of their fight as a result of ill-effects from his weight cut on the day of the event.[16] They were then rescheduled for this event.[17]

Maryna Moroz was expected to face Taila Santos in a women's flyweight bout at this event.[18] However, it was announced on November 18 that Moroz had to pull out and Montana De La Rosa would be her replacement.[19] Just hours before the event, the UFC decided to remove the fight after one of De La Rosa's cornermen tested positive for COVID-19.[20] Santos was then rescheduled to face Gillian Robertson two weeks later at UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal.[21]

A women's bantamweight bout between former UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship challenger Bethe Correia and Wu Yanan was expected to take place at this event.[22] However, due to visa issues, they were rescheduled for UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Kattar on January 16, 2021.[23]

At the weigh-ins, former interim UFC Light Heavyweight Championship challenger Ovince Saint Preux weighed in at 207.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the light heavyweight non-title fight limit. His bout proceeded at a catchweight and he was fined 20% of his individual purse, which went to his opponent Jamahal Hill.[24]

Along with the cancellation of the De La Rosa/Santos bout, two other fights were also removed from the event – a featherweight bout between Nate Landwehr and Movsar Evloev, as well as a flyweight bout between Cody Durden and Jimmy Flick.[25] The former was due to Evloev testing positive for COVID-19.[26] The latter was due to a non-COVID related medical issue with Durden, before being rescheduled for UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal.[27][28]

Results
Main card (ESPN2 / ESPN+)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Middleweight Marvin Vettori def. Jack Hermansson Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 49–45) 5 5:00
Catchweight (207.5 lb) Jamahal Hill def. Ovince Saint Preux TKO (punches) 2 3:37
Lightweight Gabriel Benítez def. Justin Jaynes TKO (knee to the body and elbows) 1 4:06
Light Heavyweight Roman Dolidze def. John Allan Decision (split) (28–29, 30–27, 29–28) 3 5:00
Lightweight Jordan Leavitt def. Matt Wiman KO (slam) 1 0:22
Preliminary card (ESPN2 / ESPN+)
Bantamweight Louis Smolka def. José Alberto Quiñónez TKO (punches) 2 2:15
Featherweight Ilia Topuria def. Damon Jackson KO (punch) 1 2:38
Heavyweight Jake Collier def. Gian Villante Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00

    [29]

    Bonus awards

    The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[30]

    • Fight of the Night: Marvin Vettori vs. Jack Hermansson
    • Performance of the Night: Gabriel Benítez and Jordan Leavitt

    See also

    References
    1. Eduardo Solano (2020-12-02). "UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Vettori main event odds and betting picks". sportsbookreview.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
    2. Brent Brookhouse (2020-11-15). "2020 UFC event schedule: Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Alex Perez, Curtis Blaydes vs. Derrick Lewis among events". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
    3. Brett Okamoto (2020-08-21). "Till-Hermansson to headline December UFC card". espn.com. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
    4. Brett Okamoto (2020-11-06). "Injured Darren Till won't fight Jack Hermansson at UFC Fight Night". espn.com. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
    5. Ariel Helwani (2020-11-28). "Kevin Holland out of Dec. 5 UFC main event following positive COVID-19 test". espn.com. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
    6. Mike Bohn and John Morgan (2020-11-28). "Jack Hermansson vs. Marvin Vettori set as new UFC on ESPN 19 headliner". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
    7. Dave Doyle (2020-11-29). "Kevin Holland vs. 'Jacare' Souza added to UFC 256". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
    8. Raphael Marinho (2020-08-19). "John Allan takes on Roman Dolidze at UFC 255 on November 21". globoesporte.globo.com. Retrieved 2020-08-19. (in Portuguese)
    9. Giorgi Kokiashvili (2020-10-15). "Breaking: Two more Georgians together - Dolidze and Dvalishvili will fight on the same card". adjarasport.com. Retrieved 2020-10-16. (in Georgian)
    10. Farah Hannoun (2020-09-24). "Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cody Stamann joins UFC's Dec. 5 lineup". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
    11. Giorgi Kokiashvili (2020-10-22). "The fight between Merab Dvalishvili and Cody Stamann failed". adjarasport.com. Retrieved 2020-10-22. (in Georgian)
    12. Farah Hannoun (2020-11-13). "Streaking bantamweights Merab Dvalishvili and Raoni Barcelos meet at UFC Fight Night on Dec. 5". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
    13. Jay Pettry (2020-11-19). "Raoni Barcelos pulled from Merab Dvalishvili matchup at UFC on ESPN 19". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
    14. Danny Segura (2020-10-27). "Gabriel Benitez tests positive for COVID-19, Justin Jaynes bout off UFC on ESPN+ 40". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
    15. Doug Murray (2020-11-17). "Gabriel Benitez vs. Justin Jaynes added to UFC's Dec. 5 card". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
    16. John Morgan (2020-11-14). "Louis Smolka ruled out of UFC Fight Night 182; Jose Quinonez fight scratched". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
    17. Tristen Critchfield (2020-11-17). "Louis Smolka, Jose Quinonez rebooked for UFC on ESPN 19 on Dec.5". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
    18. Marcelo Barone (2020-10-02). "After her first Ultimate win, Taila Santos will face Maryna Moroz in December". globoesporte.globo.com. Retrieved 2020-11-18. (in Portuguese)
    19. Farah Hannoun and Nolan King (2020-11-17). "With Maryna Moroz out, Montana De La Rosa steps in to face Taila Santos at UFC Fight Night on Dec. 5". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
    20. Damon Martin and Guilherme Cruz (2020-12-05). "Montana De La Rosa vs. Taila Santos scrapped from UFC Vegas 16 card due to positive COVID-19 test". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
    21. Jay Anderson (2020-12-05). "Gillian Robertson now fights Taila Santos at UFC Vegas 17". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
    22. Staff (2020-09-08). "Wu Yanan set to face Bethe Correia at UFC Fight Night 186". asianmma.com. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
    23. Staff (2020-11-23). "UFC: Bethe Correia's retirement bout is postponed to January 16". espn.com.br. Retrieved 2020-11-29. (in Portuguese)
    24. Staff (2020-12-04). "UFC on ESPN 19 weigh-in results: One fighter heavy, but 11 fights official". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
    25. Staff (2020-12-05). "UFC announces updates to UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Vettori". ufc.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
    26. Damon Martin and Guilherme Cruz (2020-12-05). "Movsar Evloev vs. Nate Landwehr off UFC Vegas 16 fight card due to positive COVID-19 test". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
    27. Dan Hiergesell (2020-12-05). "UFC Vegas 16 just lost three bouts in the final hours". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
    28. Farah Hannoun (2020-12-07). "UFC Fight Night 183 reaches 16 bouts after Gillian Robertson vs. Taila Santos, two others added". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
    29. "UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori". Ultimate Fighting Championship. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
    30. Dan Hiergesell (2020-12-06). "Official UFC Vegas 16 bonuses: Jordan Leavitt's KO slam leads $50K winners". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
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