UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje

UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje (also known as UFC on ESPN 2) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on March 30, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[2]

UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje
The poster for UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateMarch 30, 2019 (2019-03-30)
VenueWells Fargo Center
CityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Attendance11,123[1]
Total gate$1,102,542.16[1]
Event chronology
UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Pettis UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje UFC 236: Holloway vs. Poirier 2

Background

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This was the third UFC event in Philadelphia and the first since UFC 133 in August 2011.[2]

A lightweight bout between Edson Barboza and former WSOF Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje served as the event headliner.[3][4]

A strawweight bout between Alexa Grasso and Marina Rodriguez was scheduled at UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2. However, it was reported on December 17, that Rodriguez pulled out of the event due to a hand injury.[5] The pairing was left intact and rescheduled for this event.[6] In turn, it was reported that Grasso was pulled from the bout due to injury and replaced by former WSOF Women's Strawweight Champion Jessica Aguilar.[7]

A bantamweight bout between former UFC Flyweight Championship challenger Ray Borg and Liu Pingyuan was scheduled to take place at the event.[8] However, it was reported on March 13, that Liu was replaced by newcomer Kyler Phillips for an undisclosed reason.[9] In turn, Phillips was removed from the card on March 25 for undisclosed reasons and replaced by Casey Kenney.[10]

At the weigh-ins, Borg weighed in at 137.75 lb, 1.75 lb over the bantamweight non-title fight limit of 136 lb. He was fined 20% of his fight purse and his bout against Kenney proceeded at catchweight.[11]

Results

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Main Card (ESPN)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Lightweight Justin Gaethje def. Edson Barboza KO (punch) 1 2:30
Middleweight Jack Hermansson def. David Branch Submission (guillotine choke) 1 0:49
Featherweight Josh Emmett def. Michael Johnson KO (punch) 3 4:14
Women's Strawweight Michelle Waterson def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Light Heavyweight Paul Craig def. Kennedy Nzechukwu Submission (triangle choke) 3 4:20 [a]
Featherweight Sodiq Yusuff def. Sheymon Moraes Decision (unanimous) (29–27, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Preliminary Card (ESPN)
Women's Strawweight Marina Rodriguez def. Jessica Aguilar Decision (unanimous) (29–26, 29–27, 29–27) 3 5:00 [b]
Lightweight Desmond Green def. Ross Pearson TKO (punches) 1 2:52
Featherweight Kevin Aguilar def. Enrique Barzola Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Middleweight Kevin Holland def. Gerald Meerschaert Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 30–27) 3 5:00
Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+)
Catchweight (137.75 lb) Casey Kenney def. Ray Borg Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) 3 5:00
Women's Flyweight Maryna Moroz def. Sabina Mazo Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Bantamweight Alex Perez def. Mark De La Rosa Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
  1. ^ Nzechukwu was deducted one point in round 3 due to repeated eye pokes.
  2. ^ Rodriguez was deducted one point in round 1 due to repeated eye pokes.

[12]

Bonus awards

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The following fighters were awarded $50,000 bonuses:[13]

  • Fight of the Night: Justin Gaethje vs. Edson Barboza
  • Performance of the Night: Jack Hermansson and Paul Craig

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Staff (2019-03-30). "UFC on ESPN 2 draws reported 11,123 attendance for $1.1 million live gate". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  2. ^ a b Katie McInerney (2019-01-08). "UFC Fight Night coming to Wells Fargo Center in March". philly.com. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  3. ^ Thomas Gerbasi (2019-01-22). "Barboza vs. Gaethje to headline Philadelphia event". ufc.com. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  4. ^ John Morgan (2019-01-22). "Edson Barboza vs. Justin Gaethje official for UFC on ESPN 2 headliner". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
  5. ^ Guilherme Cruz (2018-12-17). "Marina Rodriguez injured, out of UFC Fortaleza fight with Alexa Grasso". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-12-18.
  6. ^ Raphael Marinho (2019-01-06). "After a draw in her debut, Marina Rodriguez faces Alexa Grasso on March 30" (in Portuguese). sportv.globo.com. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
  7. ^ Marcel Dorff (2019-03-23). "Jessica Aguilar replaces Alexa Grasso against Marina Rodriguez during UFC Philadelphiaa" (in Dutch). mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2019-03-23.
  8. ^ Marcel Dorff (2019-02-26). "Ray Borg goes to Bantamweight and fights Pingyuan Liu at UFC Philadelphia" (in Dutch). mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
  9. ^ Marcel Dorff (2019-03-13). "Kyler Phillips tackles short notice fight against Ray Borg during UFC Philadelphia" (in Dutch). mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
  10. ^ Mike Bohn (2019-03-25). "LFA double champ Casey Kenney steps in vs. Ray Borg on short notice at UFC Philadelphia". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  11. ^ Staff (2019-03-29). "UFC on ESPN 2 weigh-in results: Barboza, Gaethje official, but Ray Borg misses". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
  12. ^ "UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
  13. ^ Stephie Haynes (2019-03-30). "UFC Philadelphia post-fight bonuses: Gaethje's massive KO nets FOTN honors". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2019-03-31.