''UFC on ESPN: Ribas vs. Namajunas'' (also known as ''UFC on ESPN 53'' and ''UFC Vegas 89'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on March 23, 2024, at

UFC Apex UFC Apex (stylised as UFC APEX) is a live events and production center in Enterprise, Nevada, operated and owned by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The facility was chosen in part due to its close proximity to the UFC Performance Instit ...

Enterprise, Nevada Enterprise is an Unincorporated towns in Nevada, unincorporated town in the Las Vegas Valley in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 221,831 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 U.S. Census, up from 14,676 at the United Stat ...

, United States.

Background

A women's flyweight bout between Amanda Ribas and former two-time UFC Women's Strawweight Champion

Rose Namajunas Rose Gertrude Namajunas (born June 29, 1992) is an American mixed martial artist. She is signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she competes in the women's strawweight division and is the former two-time UFC Women's Strawweig ...

headlined the event. A heavyweight bout between

Chris Barnett Christopher James Barnett (born June 14, 1986) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Barnett was born in Zaragoza, Spain, where his father was ...

and The Ultimate Fighter: Team Peña vs. Team Nunes heavyweight winner Mohammed Usman was scheduled for this event. However, Barnett withdrew due to unknown reason and was replaced by Mick Parkin. Edmen Shahbazyan and Duško Todorović were expected to meet in a middleweight bout at the event. However, Todorović pulled out due to a serious knee injury and was replaced by A.J. Dobson. A women's strawweight bout between Shauna Bannon and Stephanie Luciano was expected to take place at this event. However, Bannon pulled out for unknown reasons and was replaced by Julia Polastri. In turn, the bout was cancelled when Luciano was forced to withdraw due to falling ill with

dengue fever Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms typically begin three to fourteen days after infection. These may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characterist ...

. A heavyweight bout between Junior Tafa and Karl Williams was expected to take place at the event. However, Tafa stepped in on short notice as a replacement for his brother Justin Tafa against

Marcos Rogério de Lima Marcos Rogério de Lima (born May 25, 1985) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional since 2009, he formerly competed for Strikeforce, Shooto, and was a co ...

UFC 298 ''UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on February 17, 2024, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, United States. Background The event marked th ...

and was eventually unable to compete at this event after losing via TKO. He was eventually replaced by Justin at this event. A featherweight bout between

Billy Quarantillo Billy Quarantillo (born December 8, 1988) is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He was the former King of the Cage Lightweight Champion. Mixed martial arts ...

and Gabriel Miranda was expected to take place at the event. However, Miranda was replaced by

Youssef Zalal Youssef Zalal (born September 4, 1996) is a Moroccan mixed martial artist who competed in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Early life Zalal grew up fighting other kids on the streets of Morocco. His mother put him ...

for unknown reasons. A bantamweight bout between Cody Gibson and Davey Grant was expected to take place at the event. However, Grant withdrew due to injury and was replaced by former LFA Bantamweight Champion

Miles Johns Miles Xavier Johns (born March 30, 1994) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2011, he has also formerly competed for Legacy Fighting ...

Results

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses. *Fight of the Night: Jarno Errens vs. Steven Nguyen *Performance of the Night: Payton Talbott and Fernando Padilla

Aftermath

After the first ever disqualification due to biting took place at this event, UFC CEO Dana White gave a ''Bite of the Night'' $50,000 bonus to André Lima whose bout ended prematurely as a result of being bit on the arm by opponent Igor Severino. Severino was subsequently released from his contract with the promotion. The Nevada Athletic Commission also announced that it would withhold Severino's purse and he is expected to receive a heavy fine and lengthy suspension when the NAC holds its monthly meeting in April.

References

{{2024 in mixed martial arts 2024 in UFC March 2024 sports events in the United States Ultimate Fighting Championship events in Enterprise, Nevada UFC Fight Night 2024 in sports in Nevada

Background

Results

Bonus awards

Aftermath

See also

References