UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Cruz
{{short description|2022 mixed martial arts event}}
{{Infobox MMA event
|name= UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Cruz
|promotion= Ultimate Fighting Championship
|image= File:Chito Vera vs Dominick Cruz official poster.jpg
|date= {{start date|2022|08|13}}
|venue= Pechanga Arena
|city= San Diego, California, United States
|previousevent= UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill
|followingevent= UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2
}}
UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Cruz (also known as UFC on ESPN 41) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on August 13, 2022, at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California, United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/platform/amp/2022/6/18/23156236/dominick-cruz-vs-marlon-vera-headlines-aug-13-ufc-event-in-san-diego|title=Dominick Cruz vs. Marlon Vera headlines Aug. 13 UFC event in San Diego|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Alexander K. Lee|date=2022-06-18|access-date=2022-06-18}}
Background
A bantamweight bout between Marlon Vera and former two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion (also former WEC Bantamweight Champion) Dominick Cruz headlined the event.
Viviane Araújo was expected to face Alexa Grasso in a women's flyweight bout.{{cite web|url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Alexa-Grasso-Rebooked-Against-Viviane-Araujo-at-Aug-13-UFC-Fight-Night-187034|title=Alexa Grasso rebooked against Viviane Araujo at Aug. 13 UFC Fight Night|publisher=sherdog.com|author=Jay Pettry|date=2022-06-03|access-date=2022-06-03}} The pair was previously scheduled to meet at UFC 270, but Araújo was forced to pull out from the event due to injury.{{cite web|url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Alexa-Grasso-Rebooked-Against-Viviane-Araujo-at-Aug-13-UFC-Fight-Night-187034|title=UFC 270 loses Warlley Alves, Viviane Araujo from preliminary card|publisher=sherdog.com|author=Jay Pettry|date=2022-01-06|access-date=2022-01-07}} In turn, Grasso pulled out due to visa issues and the bout was scrapped.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/08/ufc-news-san-diego-espn-alexa-grasso-vs-viviane-araujo-off|title=Alexa Grasso out of UFC on ESPN 41; co-main event vs. Viviane Araujo off|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King|date=2022-08-03|access-date=2022-08-03}}
A women's strawweight bout between Yazmin Jauregui and Istela Nunes was expected to take place at the event.{{Cite web|url=https://cagesidepress.com/2022/05/13/ufc-newcomer-yazmin-jauregui-meets-istela-nunes-august-13/|title=UFC: Newcomer Yazmin Jauregui Meets Istela Nunes on August 13|publisher=cagesidepress.com|author=Jay Anderson|date=2022-05-13|access-date=2022-07-17}} However, Nunes withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Iasmin Lucindo.{{Cite web|url=https://mma.uno/nunes-lesionada-iasmin-lucindo-enfrenta-a-yazmin-jauregui-en-ufc-san-diego/|title=Nunes injured, Iasmin Lucindo faces Yazmin Jauregui at UFC San Diego|publisher=mma.uno|author=Steve Duncan|date=2022-07-14|access-date=2022-07-17}} {{in lang|es}}
Cynthia Calvillo and Nina Nunes were previously scheduled to meet in a women's flyweight bout at UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Fiziev.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/04/ufc-news-nina-nunes-vs-cynthia-calvillo-flyweight-bout-booked-july-9|title=Nina Nunes to make flyweight debut vs. Cynthia Calvillo at UFC Fight Night on July 9|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Staff|date=2022-04-14|access-date=2022-07-16}} In turn, Nunes fell ill on the day of that event and the bout was postponed to this date.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/7/9/23183509/nina-nunes-out-of-ufc-vegas-58-with-stomach-virus-hopes-to-reschedule-fight-against-cynthia-calvillo|title=Nina Nunes out of UFC Vegas 58 with ‘stomach virus,’ hopes to reschedule fight against Cynthia Calvillo|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Jose Youngs|date=2022-07-09|access-date=2022-07-16}}
A flyweight bout between Malcolm Gordon and Allan Nascimento was expected to take place at this event.{{Cite web|url=https://agfight.com/ufc/ufc-encaminha-luta-entre-allan-puro-osso-e-malcolm-gordon-para-o-dia-13-de-agosto/|title=UFC sets up fight between Allan 'Puro Osso' and Malcolm Gordon for August 13|publisher=agfight.com|author=Diego Ribas|date=2022-06-11|access-date=2022-07-26}} {{in lang|pt}} However, Gordon pulled out in late July due to an undisclosed injury and the bout was scrapped.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/7/26/23278861/malcolm-gordon-out-ufc-san-diego-fight-allan-nascimento|title=Malcolm Gordon out of UFC San Diego fight with Allan Nascimento|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Guilherme Cruz|date=2022-07-26|access-date=2022-07-26}}
A women's bantamweight bout featuring Aspen Ladd and 2004 Olympic silver medalist in wrestling and former UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship challenger Sara McMann was expected to take place at the event.{{Cite web|url=https://empiresportsmedia.com/mma/ufc-books-aspen-ladd-sara-mcmann/|title=UFC books Aspen Ladd – Sara McMann|publisher=empiresportsmedia.com|author=Daniel Cunningham|date=2022-05-19|access-date=2022-08-01}} They were supposed to fight at UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker in June 2020, but Ladd was forced to withdraw from that event after tearing both her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) in training.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmamania.com/2020/6/20/21297359/midnight-mania-aspen-ladd-sara-mcmann-ufc-espn-injury-acl|title=Midnight Mania! Aspen Ladd suffers major injury, forced out of Sara McMann fight|publisher=mmamania.com|author=Andrew Richardson|date=2020-06-20|access-date=2020-06-20}} The pairing was once again scrapped as Ladd tested positive for COVID-19 this time.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/08/ufc-news-sara-mcmann-announces-aspen-ladd-out-covid-19|title=Sara McMann announces Aspen Ladd out of UFC San Diego fight|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Staff|date=2022-08-01|access-date=2022-08-01}} They were rescheduled for UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song on September 17.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/8/4/23293076/sara-mcmann-vs-aspen-ladd-rescheduled-for-ufc-vegas-60-on-sept-17|title=Sara McMann vs. Aspen Ladd rescheduled for UFC Vegas 60 on Sept. 17|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Damon Martin|date=2022-08-04|access-date=2022-08-05}}
A bantamweight bout between Youssef Zalal and Cristian Quiñonez was expected to take the event.{{Cite web|url=https://mma.uno/cristian-quinonez-vs-youssef-zalal-agregado-a-ufc-san-diego/|title=Cristian Quiñonez vs. Youssef Zalal added to UFC San Diego|publisher=mma.uno|author=Steve Duncan|date=2022-07-27|access-date=2022-07-27}} {{in lang|es}} However, Quiñonez was pulled from the fight due to alleged visa issues which restricted his travel and was replaced by Da'Mon Blackshear.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/08/ufc-news-damon-blackshear-vs-youssef-zalal-cffc|title=CFFC bantamweight champ Da'Mon Blackshear signs with UFC, faces Youssef Zalal in San Diego|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King and Farah Hannoun|date=2022-08-03|access-date=2022-08-03}}
A welterweight bout between Jason Witt and Josh Quinlan was expected to take place one week prior at UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill, but it was moved to this event after Quinlan was pulled for an atypical drug finding: long-term metabolite (or M3 metabolite) of the steroid dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (DHCMT) in his urine sample. They met in a catchweight of 180 pounds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/8/6/23295090/josh-quinlan-not-cleared-for-ufc-vegas-59-after-steroid-metabolite-turns-up-in-drug-test|title=Josh Quinlan not cleared for UFC Vegas 59 after steroid metabolite turns up in drug test|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Newswire|date=2022-08-06|access-date=2022-08-07}}
Former KSW Women's Flyweight Champion Ariane Lipski and Priscila Cachoeira were previously scheduled to meet in a flyweight bout at UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Jacaré, but the fight was cancelled after Cachoeira was suspended due to use of a diuretic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/11/6/20952536/veronica-macedo-steps-in-to-fight-ariane-lipski-at-ufc-sao-paulo|title=Veronica Macedo steps in to fight Ariane Lipski at UFC Sao Paulo|author=Alexander K. Lee|date=2019-11-06|publisher=mmafighting.com|access-date=2022-08-06}} They were then expected to meet at UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill, but after Lipski missed weight and was not medically cleared, they were rescheduled for this event in a bantamweight bout.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/08/ufc-on-espn-40-news-ariane-lipski-priscila-cachoeira-bout-rescheduled-san-diego|title=Ariane Lipski not medically cleared, UFC on ESPN 40 bout vs. Priscila Cachoeira rescheduled|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Staff|date=2022-08-06|access-date=2022-08-06}}
Results
{{MMAevent}}
{{MMAevent card|Main card (ESPN / ESPN+)}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight
|def.
|KO (head kick)
|4
|2:17
|
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|def.
|David Onama
|Decision (majority) (28–28, 29–27, 29–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Strawweight
|def.
|Iasmin Lucindo
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Light Heavyweight
|def.
|TKO (punches)
|3
|1:18
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Bantamweight
|def.
|TKO (punches)
|1
|1:05
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Middleweight
|def.
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|3
|1:39
|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+)|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Catchweight (120 lb)
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Heavyweight
|Martin Buday
|def.
|Łukasz Brzeski
|Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Flyweight
|def.
|Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|Charlie Ontiveros
|TKO (punches)
|1
|3:35
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Flyweight
|def.
|KO (punches)
|1
|2:59
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Catchweight (180 lb)
|Josh Quinlan
|def.
|KO (punch)
|1
|2:09
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight
|Da'Mon Blackshear
|vs.
|Draw (majority) (29–28, 28–28, 28–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}
Bonus awards
The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/platform/amp/2022/8/13/23304780/ufc-san-diego-bonuses-nate-landwehr-david-onama-earn-fight-of-the-night-for-unbelievable-battle|title=UFC San Diego bonuses: Nate Landwehr, David Onama earn ‘Fight of the Night’ for unbelievable battle|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Alexander K. Lee|date=2022-08-13|access-date=2022-08-13}}
- Fight of the Night: Nate Landwehr vs. David Onama
- Performance of the Night: Marlon Vera and Tyson Nam
Reported payout
The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC). It is important to note the amounts do not include sponsor money, discretionary bonuses, viewership points or additional earnings. The total disclosed payout for the event was $1,708,000.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-on-espn-41-salaries-dominick-cruz-vs-marlon-chito-vera|title=UFC on ESPN 41 salaries: Marlon Vera leads the way with $300,000 payday in San Diego|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King|date=2022-08-13|access-date=2022-08-14}}
- Marlon Vera: $300,000 (includes $150,000 win bonus) def. Dominick Cruz: $175,000
- Nate Landwehr: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus) def. David Onama: $24,000
- Yazmin Jauregui: $50,000 (includes $25,000 win bonus) def. Iasmin Lucindo: $12,000
- Azamat Murzakanov: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Devin Clark: $75,000
- Priscila Cachoeira: $80,000 (includes $40,000 win bonus) def. Ariane Lipski: $40,000
- Gerald Meerschaert: $140,000 (includes $70,000 win bonus) def. Bruno Silva: $40,000
- Angela Hill: $190,000 (includes $95,000 win bonus) def. Lupita Godinez: $45,000
- Martin Buday: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Łukasz Brzeski: $10,000
- Nina Nunes: $80,000 (includes $40,000 win bonus) def. Cynthia Calvillo: $70,000
- Gabriel Benítez: $100,000 (includes $50,000 win bonus) def. Charlie Ontiveros: $12,000
- Tyson Nam: $50,000 (includes $25,000 win bonus) def. Ode' Osbourne: $28,000
- Josh Quinlan: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Jason Witt: $23,000
- Da'Mon Blackshear: $12,000 vs. Youssef Zalal: $24,000
See also
{{Portal|Martial Arts}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{UFC Events}}
{{2022 in mixed martial arts}}
Category:2022 in mixed martial arts
Category:Mixed martial arts events in San Diego
Category:Sports competitions in San Diego
Category:August 2022 sports events in the United States
Category:Mixed martial arts in California