UFC 197

UFC 197: Jones vs. Saint Preux was a mixed martial arts event held on April 23, 2016, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.[4]

UFC 197: Jones vs. Saint Preux
The poster for UFC 197: Jones vs. Saint Preux.
Information
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateApril 23, 2016 (2016-04-23)
VenueMGM Grand Garden Arena
CityLas Vegas, Nevada
Attendance11,352 [1]
Total gate$2,300,000[1]
Buyrate322,000[2][3]
Event chronology
UFC on Fox: Teixeira vs. Evans UFC 197: Jones vs. Saint Preux UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski

Background

The event's number was initially planned for an event taking place on March 5, 2016 at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,[5] before being cancelled on December 29, 2015[6] and moved to MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, to take place on February 6, 2016; the February event became UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson rather than a numbered pay-per-view after Vitor Belfort declined to fight Anderson Silva,[7] and the March show was renumbered as UFC 196.

The UFC hoped to contest the event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, in what would be the first event in the state of New York since the state's MMA ban.[8] However, on January 25, it was announced that a preliminary injunction allowing the promotion to hold the event was denied by a federal judge. According to an order issued by New York district court judge Kimba M. Wood, the federal court must first rule on Zuffa's appeal on New York's MMA ban and won't interfere with the enforcement of state law.[9] On February 6, the UFC confirmed the event would take place in Las Vegas, Nevada.[4]

The event was expected to be headlined by a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship rematch between then champion Daniel Cormier and former champion Jon Jones.[4] The pairing met previously at UFC 182 in January 2015 with Jones defending his title via unanimous decision.[10] Subsequent to that victory, Jones was stripped of the title and suspended indefinitely from the UFC in connection with a hit-and-run incident that he was involved in.[11] Cormier replaced him and went on to defeat Anthony Johnson at UFC 187 to win the vacant title.[12]

On March 29, Jones was arrested in Albuquerque, New Mexico on a charge of violating his probation related to his hit-and-run incident in 2015. The arrest took place five days after Jones was cited on multiple traffic charges, including drag racing, exhibition driving, weaving, failing to properly display his license plate and modifying his exhaust pipe.[13] He agreed to a plea deal and was released on March 31. In a statement, the UFC announced it was "disappointed" with Jones, but the bout would continue as planned.[14] However, on April 1, it was announced that Cormier injured his foot and was out of the planned fight.[15] He was replaced by Ovince Saint Preux in what became an interim title fight.[16] Anthony Johnson was the original planned replacement, but due to a recent oral procedure, he wasn't able to accept the fight.[17]

A UFC Flyweight Championship bout between current champion Demetrious Johnson and 2008 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling Henry Cejudo co-headlined the event.[4]

In January 2016, B.J. Penn announced his intentions to return to active competition in the featherweight division after an 18-month "retirement" and was expected to compete at this event.[18][19] However, Penn's return was delayed after an investigation into recent criminal allegations made against him was launched.[20] After he was exonerated, the UFC announced that he would face Dennis Siver at UFC 199.[21]

Former WSOF Women's Strawweight Champion Jessica Aguilar was expected to face Juliana Lima at the event, but pulled out on March 18 due to a knee injury.[22] She was replaced by former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza.[23]

Results
Main Card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Light Heavyweight Jon Jones def. Ovince Saint Preux Decision (unanimous) (50–44, 50–45, 50–45) 5 5:00 [lower-alpha 1]
Flyweight Demetrious Johnson (c) def. Henry Cejudo TKO (knees and punches) 1 2:49 [lower-alpha 2]
Lightweight Edson Barboza def. Anthony Pettis Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) 3 5:00
Middleweight Robert Whittaker def. Rafael Natal Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Featherweight Yair Rodríguez def. Andre Fili KO (flying head kick) 2 2:15
Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1)
Flyweight Sergio Pettis def. Chris Kelades Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Welterweight Danny Roberts def. Dominique Steele Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Women's Strawweight Carla Esparza def. Juliana Lima Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Lightweight James Vick def. Glaico França Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) 3 5:00
Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Heavyweight Walt Harris def. Cody East TKO (punches) 1 4:18
Light Heavyweight Marcos Rogério de Lima def. Clint Hester Submission (arm-triangle choke) 1 4:35
Lightweight Kevin Lee def. Efrain Escudero Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
  1. For the interim UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
  2. For the UFC Flyweight Championship.

[24]

Bonus awards

The following fighters were awarded $50,000 bonuses:[25]

  • Fight of the Night: Danny Roberts vs. Dominique Steele
  • Performance of the Night: Demetrious Johnson and Yair Rodríguez

Reported payout

The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It does not include sponsor money and also does not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses.[26]

  • Jon Jones: $500,000 (no win bonus) def. Ovince Saint Preux: $55,000
  • Demetrious Johnson: $195,000 (includes $60,000 win bonus) def. Henry Cejudo: $60,000
  • Edson Barboza: $88,000 (includes $44,000 win bonus) def. Anthony Pettis: $80,000
  • Robert Whittaker: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus) def. Rafael Natal: $41,000
  • Yair Rodríguez: $42,000 (includes $21,000 win bonus) def. Andre Fili: $18,000
  • Sergio Pettis: $48,000 (includes $24,000 win bonus) def. Chris Kelades: $12,000
  • Danny Roberts: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Dominique Steele: $12,000
  • Carla Esparza: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus) def. Juliana Lima: $14,000
  • James Vick: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. Glaico França: $17,000
  • Walt Harris: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Cody East: $10,000
  • Marcos Rogério de Lima: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Clint Hester: $12,000
  • Kevin Lee: $48,000 (includes $24,000 win bonus) def. Efrain Escudero: $18,000

See also

References
  1. Staff (2016-04-24). "UFC 197 attendance: event draws 11,352 fans for $2.3 million live gate in Las Vegas". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
  2. Meltzer, Dave. "November 28, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter". f4wonline.com. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
  3. https://www.reddit.com/r/MMA/comments/5et6kg/meltzers_updated_ppv_info_ufc_196_mcgregordiaz_1/
  4. Mike Bohn (2016-02-06). "UFC 197 set for April 23 in Vegas with Cormier-Jones 2, Johnson-Cejudo title fights". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  5. Mike Bohn (2015-11-08). "UFC 197 set for HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro on March 5". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
  6. Guilherme Cruz (2015-12-29). "Anderson Silva: UFC cancels event in Rio de Janeiro". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
  7. Guilherme Cruz (2016-01-13). "UFC official confirms Vitor Belfort turned down fight with Anderson Silva at UFC 197". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  8. Jesse Holland (2015-09-28). "UFC sues state of New York, books PPV event for April 23 in Madison Square Garden". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2016-01-27.
  9. Steven Marrocco (2016-01-25). "NY federal judge denies UFC move to allow Madison Square Garden event". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-01-27.
  10. Steven Marrocco (2015-01-04). "UFC 182 results: Jon Jones tested, but defends title against Daniel Cormier". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  11. Marc Raimondi (2015-04-29). "Jon Jones stripped of title, Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson for belt headlines UFC 187". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  12. Steven Marrocco (2015-05-24). "UFC 187 results: Daniel Cormier wears down Anthony Johnson for third-round tap". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  13. Steven Marrocco (2016-03-29). "UFC 197 headliner Jon Jones arrested on probation violation after drag racing citation". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
  14. Staff (2016-03-31). "UFC 'disappointed' with Jon Jones, but UFC 197 headliner is still a go". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
  15. Staff (2016-04-01). "Rematch on hold: Injury forces Daniel Cormier off UFC 197 headliner vs. Jon Jones". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-04-02.
  16. Staff (2016-04-02). "Ovince Saint Preux replaces Daniel Cormier, meets Jon Jones in new UFC 197 headliner". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-04-02.
  17. Mike Bohn (2016-04-03). "Why Anthony Johnson isn't fighting Jon Jones on short notice at UFC 197". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  18. Staff (2016-01-19). "Ex-champ B.J. Penn ends retirement, but UFC boss still unsure on details". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-01-19.
  19. Damon Martin (2016-02-08). "BJ Penn says his return has been pushed back to UFC 197 in April". foxsports.com. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  20. MMA Fighting Newswire (2016-02-18). "UFC postpones BJ Penn's return amid allegations". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  21. Staff (2016-04-12). "B.J. Penn vs. Dennis Siver slated for UFC 199 in Los Angeles". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  22. Guilherme Cruz (2016-03-18). "Jessica Aguilar injured, out of UFC 197 fight with Juliana Lima". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2016-03-18.
  23. Brian Martin (2016-03-29). "UFC 197: Carla Esparza returns to Octagon vs. Julianna Lima". dailynews.com. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  24. "UFC 197: Jones vs. Saint Preux". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  25. Tristen Critchfield (2016-04-23). "UFC 197 bonuses: Johnson, Rodriguez, Roberts, Steele pocket $50k awards". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
  26. Staff (2016-04-25). "UFC 197 salaries: Jones gets $500K disclosed payout, Saint Preux $55K". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
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