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 Las Vegas, Nevada, 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
CityLas Vegas, 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. 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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