The UFC went to Serbia on Saturday and the promotion handed out a record number of finish bonuses for its debut in the country.

The native son, Uros Medic, did not disappoint the crowd as he disposed of Daniel Rodriguez in the main event of their bout just seconds in the first round. He earned $100K for his efforts.

Navajo Stirling is rising up the light heavyweight rankings quickly. On short notice, he was able to stop former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in the first round. In his fourth fight this year, Stirling earned a $100K bonus.

Gilbert Urbina earned a $100K bonus with a ground and pound stoppage of Vlast Cepo. Urbina came in as an underdog but pulled off the upset.

Nina Milosevic earned the fourth $100K bonus with a first round stoppage of Hailey Cowan.

There were 8 $25K stoppage bonuses on the night, the most since the company implemented the payouts. Robert Gagnon, Noah Gugnon, Tofiq Musayev, Michael Oliviera, Bogdan Grad, Mateus Rebecki, Jovan Leka and Stephani Luciano

Zuffa responded to Plaintiffs statement of missing discovery in the Cirkunov antitrust lawsuit. Zuffa contends that some of the discovery that Plaintiffs seek have already been produced and/or is just not there.

Zuffa claims that the allegation that it has not provided Promotional Agreements is not true and counters that Plaintiffs’ requests are “riddled with errors.”

In addition to refuting Plaintiffs claims that there was no evidence regarding fighter negotiations, Zuffa highlights all of the time and expense it has done in discovery.

Zuffa points out that it had produced the documents that the Plaintiffs complain about. “This fact alone should give the Court tremendous pause,” writes Zuffa as it infers distrust and/or lack of paying attention to

Zuffa responds to the claim that it had no documentation memorializing discussions of when fighters were leaving (e.g., Francis Ngannou) or when they wanted to sign fighters. Plaintiffs’ failure to locate these materials is a function of their inability to search, not a deficiency in Defendant’s production.”

Zuffa goes on to point out that it had produced documents “reflecting communications about fighters’ moves to competing promotions…” This includes Ngannou, Anthony Pettis, Demetrious Johnson, Sage Northcutt and Eddie Alvarez.

The filing goes on to highlight its voluminous production as well as dismissing the claims that it has nor produced information. In addition to the above, it refutes omitting things such as loan documents, prospective analysis of other promotions, tv contracts, etc.

The purpose of discovery is to ascertain as much information as you can to prove your case. If the information is not there, its just not there. So the question is how much can the Plaintiffs’ prove that there is still information lacking? And, will the Court find its argument persuasive. MPO will continue to follow.

The Sports Business Journal reports that the latest UFC video game EA UFC 6 was the top selling video game for June. It’s the first time the UFC game has debuted as a bestselling game on Playstation 5 and XBox Series X/S.

Launch dates of the franchise UFC video game are said to be one of the attributes of this year’s success. Per the report, June is a “soft month for sports games sales” due in part to the fall releases which mean Madden as well as the third year of the NCAA Football video game. Also, later in fall come the NBA and NHL games on all consoles. The UFC’s prior launches were in October which contributed to the appearance that sales were weaker. The release of EA UFC 5 ranked 8tj in October 2023.

Notably, the MLB: The Show 26 and NBA2K25 still showed its popularity as the two sport games made the top 10 in video game sales for June.

Also of note, June’s game sales are off 12% from last year. But, subscriptions and season passes were up.

The change in launch dates and the overall weaker sales may have helped with the new UFC franchise.

WWE’s Summerslam event will be held this weekend in Minneapolis and the company is using the popularity of Danausen to push the two-night event.

If you watched WWE Raw this past Monday, Danhausen was in a non-wrestling match song and dance with Joe Hendry which was really horrible. But, it was a part of the promotion for his match this weekend against Dominick Mysterio. The in-ring skit also included boxer Ryan Garcia who will be a part of Zuffa Boxing’s first big event in September against Conor Benn.

In promoting locally, the WWE is having a Danhausen-themed ice cream truck roaming Minneapolis. It will be offering frozen treats and interactive experience. The tour will run July 30-Aug.2 in and around U.S. Bank Stadium where Summerslam takes place.

Photo via WWE

Danhausen burst on the scene to mixed review earlier this year. But, he’s caught on with fans for his character and the tag line, “You are cursed.” Merchandise sales began to rise and played a role in Wrestlemania with a skit involving John Cena. In June, he was a part of the New York Knicks rise to the NBA Championship.

Danhausen was a star on the independent scene and was signed with AEW. Suffice it to say, he was underutilized or did not catch on with fans. He did get a New York Times feature in July 2023 which outlined how he came up with the gimmick and trademark face paint. Obviously, WWE saw something in the character.

Is he overexposed? Maybe, but he’s the hottest selling merchandise mover in the company and using him to promote this weekend’s event makes sense.

The Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act was formally introduced into the Senate on Thursday. The Senate version is being sponsored by Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada).

The Senate version has two distinct changes from the version that was lobbied to in the House. The changes will have to be reconciled with before a full vote.

The first change from the one that passed through Congress is that a fighter’s first contract with a UBO (“Universal Boxing Organization”). If a fighter has not signed a promotional agreement before in his pro career, his first will be a maximum of three years. After the first contract, fighters can sign deals for up to six years. They would be able to negotiate new deals up to 90 days before the expiration of any contract. The original bill introduced in the House would give fighters only 30 days.

The second change is that the Senate bill removes a provision in the House bill consolidating boxing titles. The original bill that was submitted and voted on in Congress calls for one championship per weight class for each sanctioning body with an exception for interim titles. The Senate bill removes one title per weight class.

In addition, UBOs “may recognize rankings and titles, preserving opportunities for crossover fights an undisputed champions.”

Payout Perspective:

While the proposed law has been sold as a refresh of the current version of the Ali Act to update health and safety standards, the overarching issue is the business side of boxing. With this version of the reform bill, there are still ways in which UBOs can get around the moratorium of 3 year contracts to young prospects. Moreover, after the first contract, the limits extend to six years. Hence, a fighter could still be held in a contract that extends his whole career. Certainly, a UBO could sign a prospect to a one year deal and then extend him to a six year deal once his first contract is up.

Another issue is the elimination of the “singular title” language which was in the Congressional version. The Senate Bill eliminates that language and thus continues on with a problem of multiple belts across weight classes. And with the addition of the UBOs that may award their own belt, it creates a logjam of more belts in the weight divisions. With a lot of lobbying efforts on behalf of Zuffa Boxing, its clear that without Amendments to this proposed law, the industry may just be pounding sand. MPO will continue to follow.

Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian’s Most Valuable Promotions and Professional Fighters League are merging according to a joint press release sent out Thursday morning. The newfound company will be backed by Founding Investors 885 Capital and Knighthead Capital Management.

MVP has been promoting boxing events with its product streaming on Netflix as well as ESPN. It now forges into the MMA sphere merging with the Professional Fighters League which has some new momentum coming off of consecutive months of events in the US airing on lineal ESPN.

The release indicates that PFL CEO John Martin will serve as the CEO and board member and “lead the overall business of the combined company.” Paul and Bidarian will also be board members and “continue to play active leadership roles across the business.”

The deal looks to build on its MMA event this past May headlined by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano.

Payout Perspective:

With PFL moving in under the MVP umbrella is a good thing. No doubt Martin knows the business, but Paul and Bidarian are the key drivers that can elevate the MMA side of the product. While it is not going to usurp the UFC’s dominance in the sport, it can create a healthy alternative to it. We shall see what moves it makes the rest of the year and into 2027.

Former UFC heavyweight and current UFC analyst Anthony Smith was arrested in Sarpy County, Nebraska and was granted a $500,000 bond on condition he stay away from his wife.

Smith is accused of making threats to kill his wife after he was involved in an altercation at a bar in Gretna, Nebraska. The allegation is that he wanted her to come home with her, grabbed her and pushed her into a vehicle according to the attorney’s office per MMA Junkie. Smith attempted to run over his wife with a vehicle.

Smith faces three felony charges and is scheduled to be in court on August 16. The 38-year-old faces first-degree domestic assault, terroristic threats, and first-degree false imprisonment.

Per a local television news organization, WOWT, “Smith was involved in an altercation with the alleged victim at a bar in Gretna on July 26, during which he reportedly threatened to kill them if they did not get into his car and go home with him…After arriving home, the alleged victim again got out of the car, and Smith reportedly tried to strike them multiple times with the car.”

Payout Perspective:

With Smith’s current legal issues and Dustin Poirier’s drunken airport video its clear that leaving the spotlight is hard for former MMA fighters. Smith’s legal issues as identified by the legal authorities seem much more concerning especially with the allegations lodged involving his wife. Smith seemed to have segued into the next part of his life but it’s clear issues are abundant in a post-combat sports career.

MVP Promotions announced on Tuesday that it has formed a strategic alliance with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing in an effort to further promote women’s boxing.

The announcement also came with the news that Skye Nicholson has signed on with MVP Promotions. Nicholson, a WBC super bantamweight champion is set to fight on MVP’s next card on August 29th.

With ESPN on board to airing MVP’s fights the news should help with a niche part of the sport of boxing which has not gained any traction. Despite the popularity that rose with Ronda Rousey in MMA and now is a part of the UFC, boxing has not had any breakout stars aside from Claressa Shields. Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor’s trilogy showed that there’s a viable space for women’s boxing. Adding Hearn to work with MVP can only help with putting together the best fights out there in women’s boxing.

Starting this week, WWE and Sirius XM have started a 24/7 channel on Sirius XM channel 156. The new partnership includes audio of Premium Live Events including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble and Survivor Series.

SiriusXM’s Busted Open wrestling channel included wrestling talk which included AEW and other promotions. But, with the new partnership, its likely to be all WWE. The new partnership allows for more ways WWE can engage with its fan base.

UFC Fight Night 282 took place in Abu Dhabi on Saturday at the Ethiad Arena.

Photo via Wikipedia

The Fight of the Night went to Rizvan Kuniev and Tyrell Fortune. Kuniev outclassed Fortune and it appeared that he had broken Fortune rib in round 2 and stopped Fortune in round 3. Each received $100K.

Valter Walker did not heel hook Thomas Peterson in their matchup. But, he did use a leg entanglement to end the fight. Peterson was able to roll out of a heel hook attempt but Walker pivoted to a calf slicer which Peterson was forced to tap.

Ramazon Termirov earned the other $100K bonus with a first round stoppage of Steve Erceg..

The $25K stoppage winners went to Abdul Hussein, Axel Sola, Sam Patterson, Muhammad Saldov and main eventer Magomed Ankalaev.