UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns
UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on May 30, 2020 at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.
Background
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, this event was originally expected to be held on May 23, but eventually was pushed back to May 30 at a yet TBD location. UFC president Dana White stated that he intended for the event to take place in Las Vegas. However, if the Nevada state government did not allow the fight to happen due to restrictions put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he would look to have the event take place in Arizona instead, since professional sports were allowed to return on May 15 without fans in attendance. White confirmed on May 20 that the event would be held at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, despite no official announcement from the Nevada State Athletic Commission regarding permission for combat sports. The NSAC approved the return of mixed martial arts events to the state on May 27.A welterweight bout between former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns was long rumored to serve as the event headliner. On May 22, Dana White confirmed the main event and entire card to be broadcast on ESPN.
Additionally, the event included fighters that were pulled from other events previously cancelled, as well as the following bouts:
- A heavyweight bout between former WSOF Heavyweight Champion Blagoy Ivanov and Augusto Sakai.
- A women's strawweight bout between Mackenzie Dern and Hannah Cifers.
At the weigh-ins, Brok Weaver weighed in at 157.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit of 156 pounds. He was fined 20% of his purse, which went to his opponent Roosevelt Roberts and their bout proceeded at a catchweight.
Bonus awards
The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.- Fight of the Night: Brandon Royval vs. Tim Elliott
- Performance of the Night: Gilbert Burns and '''Mackenzie Dern'''
Reported payout
The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the NSAC. It does not include sponsor money and also does not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses. The total disclosed payout for the event was $1,157,000.Gilbert Burns: $164,000 def. Tyron Woodley: $200,000Augusto Sakai: $100,000 def. Blagoy Ivanov $60,000Billy Quarantillo: $24,000 def. Spike Carlyle: $12,000Roosevelt Roberts: $46,400 def. Brok Weaver: $9,600 ^Mackenzie Dern: $66,000 def. Hannah Cifers: $25,000Katlyn Chookagian: $120,000 def. Antonina Shevchenko: $35,000Daniel Rodriguez: $24,000 def. Gabriel Green: $12,000Jamahal Hill: $24,000 def. Klidson Abreu: $18,000Brandon Royval: $24,000 def. Tim Elliott: $31,000Casey Kenney: $54,000 def. Louis Smolka: $48,000Chris Gutiérrez: $40,000 def. Vince Morales: $20,000^ ''Weaver was fined 20% of his purse for missing weight, which went to Roberts.''