UFC on ESPN 11 Delivers Big Payouts and Josh Emmett Suffers Serious Leg Injury
The UFC on ESPN 11 from The APEX in Las Vegas has come and gone. We know who the winners and losers were in the octagon. Today, we learned who the big winners were in payouts and the biggest is for a record-setting performance. There’s also late-breaking news on injuries suffered, including a serious injury to co-main event fighter and UFC featherweight Josh Emmett.
Josh Emmett suffered serious injury in UFC on ESPN 11
Josh Emmett’s co-main event featherweight fight with Shane Burgos was easily the “Fight of the Night” and by most watching a top candidate for “Fight of the Year.” Emmett won the epic battle in a unanimous decision and did so even more impressively on just one leg.
Emmett hyperextended his left knee within the first minute of the opening round, and it was immediately evident something was seriously wrong.
“I had everything dialed in. Biggest fight of my career to date. It was on ESPN. Everyone around the world was watching it and the first 15 seconds, I stepped wrong. I did it to myself. I hyperextended my knee,” Emmett told MMA Fighting. “I’ve never experienced anything like that. I just had no stability. I can’t even describe the pain. It hurt like hell.”
It hurt like hell because it was revealed on Tuesday Emmett had suffered a completely torn ACL, a partial MCL tear, “focal impact” fracture of his femur, and damaged cartilage in his leg. And he still won including a pair of knockdowns of Burgos.
Other highlights from UFC on ESPN 11
In the main event between heavyweights, Curtis Blaydes dominated the first three rounds against Alexander Volkov, taking him down multiple times, eventually setting a UFC record in the heavyweight division. Volkov performed better standing up in the final two rounds, but it wasn’t enough as Blaydes won via unanimous decision.
Also on the main card, Raquel Pennington had a solid performance winning convincingly over Marion Reneau. Pennington pounded Reneau’s body on the inside in the clinch, wearing the 43-year-old down. In the final round, Reneau was gassed and Pennington landed numerous punches to the head and cruised to an easy victory.
Veteran Jim Miller also impressed during his fight by submitting Roosevelt Roberts via armbar just over two minutes into the first round. Miller earned his 21st victory in the UFC, which moved him into a tie for third with Georges St-Pierre on the all-time list and behind Demian Maia (22) and Donald Cerrone (23).
Jim Miller is bigger winner for payouts
Jim Miller’s impressive showing against Roberts earned him the biggest payout for the evening collecting $208,000, which included a $104,000 win bonus. He also took home an additional $50,000 for “Performance of the Night.” Roberts earned just $25,000.
From the night’s main event, Blaydes won $180,000, including a $90,000 win bonus, while Volkov’s take-home was considerably less at $80,000. Pennington earned $126,000, including a $63,000 win bonus, over Reneau, who pulled in $38,000.
While Josh Emmett’s serious leg injury somewhat tempered his victory celebration, his performance earned him $152,000, including a $76,000 win bonus. Shane Burgos earned $75,000. Both featherweights also received a bonus $50,000 for their Fight of the Night performance.
All payouts courtesy of MMA Weekly.
