logo
UFC on ESPN 70 video: Jake Matthews taps Chidi Njokuani in 69 seconds

UFC on ESPN 70 video: Jake Matthews taps Chidi Njokuani in 69 seconds

USA Today15 hours ago
Jake Matthews wowed Nashville, Tenn., with a quick submission of Chidi Njokuani.
The welterweight bout took place on the prelims of UFC on ESPN 70 at Bridgestone Arena, and was filled with action for as long as it lasted. Matthews (22-7 MMA, 15-7 UFC) found the neck of Njokuani (25-11 MMA, 5-4 UFC) and cranked until the tap came at 1:09 of Round 1.
Njokuani came out firing a series of hard kicks, but Matthews put a stop to it by getting the fight to the ground. He then quickly took the back and slapped on a rear-naked choke. Njokuani stood up, and nearly shook Matthews off, but the hold remained tight enough to force the tap.
Check out video of the finish below (via X):
Matthews, 30, called out Gilbert Burns during his post-fight interview. "The Celtic Kid" is now on a three-fight winning streak, coming into this fight with back-to-back unanimous decision wins over Phil Rowe and Francisco Prado.
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 70 results
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Derrick Lewis wants one more heavyweight title run after UFC on ESPN 70 win
Derrick Lewis wants one more heavyweight title run after UFC on ESPN 70 win

USA Today

time36 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Derrick Lewis wants one more heavyweight title run after UFC on ESPN 70 win

Derrick Lewis' title aspirations are very much still alive. "The Black Beast," who's in the twilight of his fighting career, let the world know that he's planning on making one last run at the UFC heavyweight title. These comments come after Lewis' latest knockout win over previously-undefeated Brazilian prospect Tallison Teixeira in the main event of Saturday's UFC on ESPN 70 in Nashville, Tenn. "I don't want an easy fight like that," Lewis told reporters at the UFC on ESPN 70 post-fight interview. "Of course, I would like to do one more run at the title. That would be good." Lewis (29-12 MMA, 20-10 UFC) put Teixeira (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) away in just 35 seconds into their main event bout. For a moment, things looked dicey for the 40-year-old, as it looked like Teixeira had hurt Lewis' eye. However, it was a bluff that clearly worked. "Sh*t, I was acting like something was in my eye," Lewis said. "I was waiting on him to get a little closer, he didn't get close enough the first time, so I really was trying to sell it, make it seem he got me in my eye pretty good. Sh*t, that's what happened. I called it. I noticed he was trying to pull himself up with the cage, and I'm like, 'Man, come on, man. You have me hitting my own leg.' It was messed up." Some online claimed that the stoppage was a bit premature, including UFC CEO Dana White. Although Teixeira was working his way up by grabbing and holding onto the cage, which is not permitted, Lewis thinks the stoppage was right. "Yes, the referee should've been stopping it," Lewis said. "He was in and out a couple of times before he started grabbing the cage." Lewis is now on a two-fight winning streak and 3-1 in his past four outings. He's challenged twice for UFC gold – once in 2018 for the undisputed title against then champion Daniel Cormier and the other in 2021 for the interim belt against Ciryl Gane. He was stopped in both fights.

On crutches, Stephen Thompson\u00a0says shin was 'split to the bone' in UFC Nashville loss
On crutches, Stephen Thompson\u00a0says shin was 'split to the bone' in UFC Nashville loss

USA Today

time2 hours ago

  • USA Today

On crutches, Stephen Thompson\u00a0says shin was 'split to the bone' in UFC Nashville loss

Nashville you are amazing! To my fans, I love y'all!! Thank you for your love and support always ❤️Pops, thank you for always being in my corner, love you!To my team back home, thank you for all of your help for this fight camp. I felt great out there 🙏Thank you to my… Stephen Thompson will leave Nashville a little worse for the wear, and with crutches. The two-time welterweight title challenger dropped a split decision in the UFC on ESPN 70 co-main event Saturday – and it wasn't the only split of his night. He also split his left shin open when a kick was checked, and the gash needed medical attention. Gabriel Bonfim (18-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) outworked Thompson (17-9-1 MMA, 12-9-1 UFC) at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, and after the fight, "Wonderboy" posted a short video on social media – on crutches – showing his shin wrapped and saying that it was "split to the bone." Thompson lost for the fifth time in six fights. After a 13-1 start to his pro career, the decorated striker got a title shot against then-champ Tyron Woodley. He droppped a majority draw. In a rematch four months later in early 2017, he lost a majority decision. Starting with those title fights, it's been a rough road with a 4-8-1 record. Thompson has just one win by stoppage in the past nine years, and that was a Kevin Holland retirement on the stool. Check out Thompson's post below.

UFC on ESPN 70 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Derrick Lewis among leaders
UFC on ESPN 70 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Derrick Lewis among leaders

USA Today

time4 hours ago

  • USA Today

UFC on ESPN 70 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Derrick Lewis among leaders

NASHVILLE – Fighters from Saturday's UFC on ESPN 70 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $204,500. The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy. UFC on ESPN 70 took place at Bridgestone Arena in Tennessee. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+. The full UFC on ESPN 70 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included: Derrick Lewis: $21,000 def. Tallison Teixeira: $4,000 Stephen Thompson: $21,000 def. Gabriel Bonfim: $6,000 Steve Garcia: $6,000 def. Calvin Kattar: $11,000 Morgan Charriere: $4,500 def. Nate Landwehr: $6,000 Vitor Petrino: $6,000 def. Austen Lane: $6,000 Tuco Tokkos: $4,000 def. Junior Tafa: $6,000 Chris Curtis: $11,000 def. Max Griffin: $16,000 Jake Matthews: $21,000 def. Chidi Njokuani: $6,000 Eduarda Moura: $4,500 def. Lauren Murphy: $11,000 Valter Walker: $4,500 def. Kennedy Nzechukwu: $11,000 Mike Davis: $6,000 def. Mitch Ramirez: $4,000 Fatima Kline: $4,000 def. Melissa Martinez: $4,000 Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program's payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum's multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000. In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials. Full 2025 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts: Year-to-date total: $3,676,500 2024 total: $8,280,500 2023 total: $8,188,000 2022 total: $8,351,500 2021 total: $6,167,500 Program-to-date total: $34,694,000

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store