UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland

UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland
The poster for UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland
Information
Promotion	Ultimate Fighting Championship
Date	July 31, 2021 (2021-07-31)
Venue	UFC Apex
City	Enterprise, Nevada
Attendance	Not announced [1]
Event chronology
UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland UFC 265: Lewis vs. Gane

UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland (also known as UFC on ESPN 28 and UFC Vegas 33) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on July 31, 2021 at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States. ^[2]

Background

A middleweight bout between Uriah Hall and Sean Strickland was originally expected to take place a week later at UFC 265. ^[3] In turn, the pairing was moved in order to headline this event. ^[2]

Former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Jinh Yu Frey was briefly expected to face promotional newcomer Istela Nunes, but the latter was forced to withdraw from the women's strawweight bout due to visa issues and was replaced by Ashley Yoder. ^[4]

A flyweight bout between Zarrukh Adashev and Juancamilo Ronderos was originally linked to this event. ^[5] However, Ronderos was removed from the bout in early July and was replaced by Ryan Benoit. ^[6] They were originally expected to meet two months earlier at UFC on ESPN: Rodriguez vs. Waterson, but Benoit missed weight and the contest was canceled due to health concerns. ^[7]

A flyweight bout between former UFC Flyweight Championship challenger Alex Perez and Askar Askarov was scheduled for the event. ^[8] However, Askarov pulled out of the fight in early July due to a broken hand. Perez is now expected to face Matt Schnell four weeks later at UFC Fight Night 191. ^[9] They were originally expected to meet at UFC 262, before Perez was forced to pull out due to undisclosed reasons. ^[10]

A bantamweight bout between Ronnie Lawrence and John Castañeda was scheduled for this event. ^[11] However on July 18, Castaneda pulled out of the bout and was replaced by Trevin Jones. ^[12] In turn, the bout was canceled when Lawrence failed to show up for the weigh-ins due to health concerns. ^[13]

Featherweights Choi Doo-ho and Danny Chavez were expected to meet at the event. ^[14] However, Choi was forced to pull out of the bout due to an injury and was replaced by Kai Kamaka III. ^{[15] [16]}

A heavyweight bout between Shamil Abdurakhimov and Chris Daukaus was expected to take place at the event. ^[17] The pairing was initially scheduled to meet one week prior at UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw, but the matchup was removed from that card on July 19 due to COVID-19 protocols within Abdurakhimov's camp. ^[17] Subsequently, on July 26 the bout was yet again postponed to a future event for unknown reasons. ^[18]

Roman Kopylov was scheduled to meet Sam Alvey in a middleweight bout at this event. ^[19] However, he wasn't able to obtain a visa in time and the bout was scrapped. ^[20]

A welterweight contest featuring Mounir Lazzez and Niklas Stolze was also booked for this card. ^[21] In turn, Lazzez pulled out just a few days before the event due to visa issues and was replaced by Jared Gooden. ^[22] The new pairing was initially reported as canceled just hours before the event due to COVID-19 protocols, but it was later confirmed that both fighters were cleared to compete. ^[23]

At the weigh-ins, former UFC Women's Flyweight Champion Nicco Montaño (also The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion flyweight winner) and Philip Rowe missed weight for their respective bouts. Montaño weighed in at 143 pounds, seven pounds over the women's bantamweight non-title fight limit. Her bout against Wu Yanan was canceled due to the weight discrepancy. Rowe weighed in at 173.5 pounds, two and half pounds over the welterweight non-title fight limit. His bout proceeded at a catchweight and he was fined 20% of his individual purse, which went to his opponent Orion Cosce. ^[24]

A bantamweight bout between Kang Kyung-ho and Rani Yahya was expected to serve as the co-main event. ^[25] However, the bout was canceled a few hours before the event due to Yahya testing positive for COVID-19. ^[26]

Results

Main card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Middleweight	Sean Strickland	def.	Uriah Hall	Decision (unanimous) (50–44, 50–45, 49–46)	5	5:00
Women’s Strawweight	Cheyanne Buys	def.	Gloria de Paula	TKO (head kick and punches)	1	1:00
Welterweight	Jared Gooden	def.	Niklas Stolze	KO (punch)	1	1:08
Featherweight	Melsik Baghdasaryan	def.	Collin Anglin	TKO (head kick and punches)	2	1:50
Welterweight	Jason Witt	def.	Bryan Barberena	Decision (majority) (28–28, 29–27, 29–28)	3	5:00
Preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Lightweight	Chris Gruetzemacher	def.	Rafa García	Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)	3	5:00
Featherweight	Kai Kamaka III	vs.	Danny Chavez	Draw (majority) (29–27, 28–28, 28–28)	3	5:00	[lower-alpha 1]
Women’s Strawweight	Jinh Yu Frey	def.	Ashley Yoder	Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)	3	5:00
Flyweight	Zarrukh Adashev	def.	Ryan Benoit	Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)	3	5:00
Catchweight (173.5 lb)	Philip Rowe	def.	Orion Cosce	TKO (punches)	2	4:21

1. Kamaka was deducted one point in round 2 for an eye poke and a groin strike.

^[27]

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses. ^[28]

• Fight of the Night: Jason Witt vs. Bryan Barberena
• Performance of the Night: Cheyanne Buys and Melsik Baghdasaryan

See also

• Martial Arts portal

• List of UFC events
• List of current UFC fighters
• 2021 in UFC

References

1. Mike Bohn (2021-08-01). "UFC on ESPN 28 post-event facts: Sean Strickland sets striking records". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
2. Damon Martin (2021-06-04). "Uriah Hall vs. Sean Strickland moved from UFC 265 to main event at UFC Fight Night on July 31". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
3. Brett Okamoto (2021-05-14). "Sources: UFC middleweight Uriah Hall to fight Sean Strickland in August". espn.com. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
4. Mike Heck (2021-05-18). "Ashley Yoder vs. Jinh Yu Frey set for UFC event on July 31". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
5. Marcel Dorff (2021-06-15). "Juancamilo Ronderos vs. Zarrukh Adashev added to UFC event on July 31". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2021-07-06.(in Dutch)
6. Nolan King and John Morgan (2021-07-05). "Ryan Benoit medically cleared for flyweight return; Zarrukh Adashev fight rebooked for UFC on ESPN 27". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
7. Mike Bohn and Ken Hathaway (2021-05-07). "UFC on ESPN 24 video: Ryan Benoit held upright on scale for scary weigh-in; fight canceled". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
8. Farah Hannoun (2021-06-22). "Askar Askarov vs. Alex Perez added to UFC Fight Night on July 31". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
9. Carlos Contreras Legaspi (2021-07-07). "Askar Askarov breaks his hand and will miss his fight against Alex Pérez; Matt Schnell, the replacement". espndeportes.espn.com. Retrieved 2021-07-08.(in Spanish)
10. Farah Hannoun (2021-04-21). "With Alex Perez out, Rogerio Bontorin targeted to fight Matt Schnell at UFC 262". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
11. Marcel Dorff (2021-07-16). "Ronnie Lawrence vs. John Castaneda added to UFC on ESPN 28 in Las Vegas". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2021-07-19.(in Dutch)
12. Nolan King and Farah Hannoun (2021-07-18). "With opponents out, Trevin Jones and Ronnie Lawrence meet at UFC on ESPN 28". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
13. Mike Heck (2021-07-30). "Manager: Ronnie Lawrence's body 'shut down' after weight cut, fight cancelled at UFC Vegas 33". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
14. Staff (2021-05-24). "Dooho Choi vs. Danny Chavez added to UFC event on July 31". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
15. Alexander K. Lee (2021-07-19). "Doo Ho Choi announces withdrawal from UFC Vegas 33 due to injury". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
16. Marcel Dorff (2021-07-19). "Kai Kamaka III replaces Doo Ho Choi against Danny Chavez at UFC July 31 event". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2021-07-19.(in Dutch)
17. Damon Martin (2021-07-19). "Chris Daukaus vs. Shamil Abdurakhimov pulled from UFC Vegas 32, fight now expected to take place on July 31". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
18. Adam Martin (2021-07-26). "Chris Daukaus vs. Shamil Abdurakhimov scratched from UFC Vegas 33". mymmanews.com. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
19. Marcel Dorff (2021-07-17). "Sam Alvey vs. Roman Kopylov added to UFC event on July 31". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2021-07-27.(in Dutch)
20. Damon Martin (2021-07-26). "Sam Alvey vs. Roman Kopylov co-main event scrapped from UFC Vegas 33 card on Saturday". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
21. Farah Hannoun and John Morgan (2021-05-22). "UFC adds Mounir Lazzez vs. Niklas Stolze to July 31 event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
22. Farah Hannoun (2021-07-27). "With Mounir Lazzez out, Jared Gooden targeted as replacement to face Niklas Stolze at UFC on ESPN 28". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
23. Alexander K. Lee (2021-07-31). "Niklas Stolze vs. Jared Gooden back on UFC Vegas 33 after initial report of cancellation". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
24. Steven Marrocco (2021-07-30). "UFC Vegas 33 weigh-in results: Ex-UFC champion Nicco Montano misses by 7 pounds, fight cancelled". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
25. Staff (2021-05-24). "Kyung Ho Kang vs. Rani Yahya, Dooho Choi vs. Danny Chavez added to UFC event on July 31". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
26. Danny Segura (2021-07-31). "UFC on ESPN 28 loses co-main, sees main card fight come back after being canceled". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
27. "UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
28. Staff (2021-07-31). "UFC on ESPN 28 bonuses: Melsik Baghdasaryan's head-kick statement worth $50,000". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-07-31.