UFC on ESPN: Nicolau vs. Perez

UFC on ESPN: Nicolau vs. Perez
The poster for UFC on ESPN: Nicolau vs. Perez
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateApril 27, 2024 (2024-04-27)
VenueUFC Apex
CityEnterprise, Nevada, United States
AttendanceNot announced[1]
Event chronology
UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill UFC on ESPN: Nicolau vs. Perez UFC 301: Pantoja vs. Erceg

UFC on ESPN: Nicolau vs. Perez (also known as UFC on ESPN 55 and UFC Vegas 91) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on April 27, 2024, at the UFC Apex facility, in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.[2]

Background

[edit]

A flyweight rematch between former Rizin Bantamweight Champion Manel Kape and Matheus Nicolau was expected to headline the event.[3] The pairing previously met at UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad in March 2021 which Nicolau won by controversial split decision.[4] Their second meeting was previously scheduled for UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2 in January 2024 but Kape missed weight and the bout was subsequently cancelled.[5] In turn, Kape pulled out due to a rib injury and was replaced by former UFC Flyweight Championship challenger Alex Perez.[6][7]

A lightweight bout between Road to UFC Season 1 lightweight winner Anshul Jubli and Maheshate Hayisaer was scheduled for this event.[8] However, Jubli pulled out due to unknown reasons and was replaced by Gabriel Benítez.[9]

A lightweight bout between James Llontop and Lando Vannata was scheduled for this event.[10] However, Vannata pulled out for unknown reasons and was replaced by Gabriel Green.[11] Green was also withdrew from the bout for unknown reasons and he was replaced by newcomer Chris Padilla.[12]

Joel Álvarez and Mateusz Rębecki were expected to meet in a lightweight bout.[13] However, Álvarez pulled out due to undisclosed reasons.[14] Rębecki instead faced Carlos Diego Ferreira at UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento on May 11.[15]

At the weigh-ins, James Llontop and David Onama missed weight. Llontop weighed in at 156.5 pounds, half a pound over the lightweight non-title fight limit. Onama weighed in at 148.5 pounds, two and a half pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. Both bouts proceeded at catchweight with both fighters forfeiting 20% of their purses, which went to their opponents Chris Padilla and Jonathan Pearce, respectively.[16]

Results

[edit]
Main card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Flyweight Alex Perez def. Matheus Nicolau KO (punch) 2 2:16
Light Heavyweight Bogdan Guskov def. Ryan Spann TKO (punches) 2 3:16
Women's Flyweight Karine Silva def. Ariane Lipski Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Heavyweight Jhonata Diniz def. Austen Lane KO (punches) 2 2:12
Catchweight (148.5 lb) David Onama def. Jonathan Pearce Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Welterweight Uroš Medić def. Tim Means TKO (punches) 1 2:09
Preliminary card (ESPN2 / ESPN+)
Bantamweight Victor Henry def. Rani Yahya TKO (head kick and punches) 3 2:36
Lightweight Austin Hubbard def. Michał Figlak Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Heavyweight Don'Tale Mayes def. Caio Machado Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Women's Strawweight Ketlen Souza def. Marnic Mann Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Catchweight (156.5 lb) Chris Padilla def. James Llontop Submission (rear-naked choke) 1 4:33
Women's Flyweight Ivana Petrović def. Liang Na Submission (arm-triangle choke) 3 1:29
Lightweight Maheshate Hayisaer def. Gabriel Benítez Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00

[17]

Bonus awards

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The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[18]

  • Fight of the Night: No bonus awarded.
  • Performance of the Night: Alex Perez, Bogdan Guskov, Jhonata Diniz, and Uroš Medić

Aftermath

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As the starting ring announcer Joe Martinez became ill during the event, UFC's roving reporter Charly Arnolt replaced him briefly and became the first female ring announcer in the promotion's history.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Mike Bohn (2024-04-28). "UFC on ESPN 55 post-event facts: Ryan Spann's struggles continue". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  2. ^ Matthew Wells and Nolan King (2024-03-08). "Manel Kape vs. Matheus Nicolau 2 set to headline UFC Fight Night in April". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  3. ^ Drake Riggs and Alex Behunin (2024-03-07). "Matheus Nicolau vs. Manel Kape 2 rebooked to headline UFC Vegas 91". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  4. ^ Jay Anderson (2021-03-13). "UFC Vegas 21 Results: Matheus Nicolau Wins Razor-Thin Decision Against Manel Kape". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  5. ^ Steven Marrocco (2024-01-12). "UFC Vegas 84: Manel Kape vs. Matheus Nicolau off; Kape claims Nicolau refused catchweight fight". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  6. ^ Shaun Al-Shatti (2024-04-02). "Manel Kape out, Matheus Nicolau vs. Alex Perez announced as new UFC Vegas 91 headliner". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  7. ^ Farah Hannoun (2024-04-03). "Manel Kape reveals rib injury caused UFC Fight Night 241 withdrawal vs. Matheus Nicolau". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  8. ^ News Desk (2024-01-20). "Anshul Jubli next fight reported vs Maheshate Hayisaer for UFC April 27". itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  9. ^ Staff (2024-02-15). "Maheshate faces Gabriel Benitez at UFC Fight Night 243". asianmma.com. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  10. ^ News Desk (2024-01-20). "UFC April 27: James Llontop debut set vs Lando Vannata". itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  11. ^ Nolan King (2024-02-19). "Matchup Roundup: New UFC, PFL, Bellator fights announced in the past week (Feb. 12-18)". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  12. ^ Lee, Alexander K. (2024-04-27). "UFC Vegas 91 video: Underdog Chris Padilla chokes out James Llontop on 5 days' notice". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  13. ^ David Andrew (2024-02-24). "Joel Alvarez vs. Mateusz Rebecki slated for UFC Fight Night Event on April 27". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  14. ^ Nolan King (2024-04-11). "Joel Alvarez out of UFC on ESPN 55 bout vs. Mateusz Rebecki". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  15. ^ Bartłomiej Stachura (2024-04-16). "Mateusz Rębecki with a new rival! At the May UFC Fight Night gala in St. Louis Polak will face Carlos Diego Ferreira!". lowking.pl. Retrieved 2024-04-17. (in Polish)
  16. ^ Shaun Al-Shatti (2024-04-26). "UFC Vegas 91 weigh-in results: 2 fighters miss weight". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  17. ^ "UFC on ESPN: Nicolau vs. Perez". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  18. ^ Chris Taylor (2024-04-27). "UFC Vegas 91 Bonus Report: Bogdan Guskov one of four fighters to take home $50k". bjpenn.com. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  19. ^ Alexander K. Lee (April 27, 2024). "Charly Arnolt becomes first female UFC ring announcer after temporarily replacing Joe Martinez". mmafighting.com.
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