UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill
| Company type | Mixed martial arts event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports entertainment |
| Founded | August 6, 2022 |
| Headquarters | Enterprise, Nevada , United States |
Area served | Las Vegas Metropolitan Area |
UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill—also referred to as UFC on ESPN 40 and UFC Vegas 59'—was a mixed martial arts competition organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on August 6, 2022, at the UFC Apex facility located in Enterprise, Nevada, within the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area.
Background
The main event featured a light heavyweight clash between former UFC Light Heavyweight title contender Thiago Santos and Jamahal Hill. Additionally, the card included the heavyweight and women's flyweight finals from The Ultimate Fighter: Team Peña vs. Team Nunes.
A flyweight matchup was scheduled between former KSW Women's Flyweight Champion Ariane Lipski and Priscila Cachoeira. This bout had originally been arranged for UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Jacaré in 2019 but was postponed due to Cachoeira’s suspension. At the weigh-ins for this event, Lipski came in 2.5 pounds over the limit; although the fight was anticipated to continue at catchweight with a 20% fine deducted from her purse, it was ultimately removed from the card because Lipski did not receive medical clearance. The fight was rescheduled for UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Cruz.
A featherweight contest between Nate Landwehr and Zubaira Tukhugov was planned but later canceled when Tukhugov withdrew due to visa complications. This bout was shifted to UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Cruz, where David Onama stepped in as Tukhugov’s replacement.
Furthermore, a welterweight fight involving Jason Witt and Josh Quinlan was postponed to UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Cruz after Quinlan tested positive for a long-term steroid metabolite (specifically the M3 metabolite of dehydrochloromethyltestosterone).
Bonus awards
The following competitors received $50,000 bonuses:
- Fight of the Night: Jamahal Hill vs. Thiago Santos
- Performance of the Night: Geoff Neal, Mohammed Usman, and Bryan Battle
Aftermath
This event achieved finishes in all ten bouts, tying the record held by UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Bisping for a perfect 100% finish rate, marking a significant milestone in UFC history.