{{short description|UFC mixed martial arts event in 2020}} {{Infobox MMA event |name= UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar |image= Munhoz_vs._Edgar.jpeg |promotion= Ultimate Fighting Championship |date= {{start date|2020|08|22}} |venue= UFC Apex |city= Enterprise, Nevada, United States |attendance= None (behind closed doors)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2020/08/ufc-fight-night-munhoz-vs-edgar-august-22-on-espn-and-espn/|title=UFC Fight Night: Munhoz vs. Edgar August 22 on ESPN and ESPN+|publisher=espnpressroom.com|author=Olivia Wilson|date=2020-08-21|access-date=2020-08-22}}</ref> |gate= |previousevent= UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier 3 |followingevent= UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Rakić }}

'''''UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar''''' (also known as '''''UFC on ESPN 15''''' and '''''UFC Vegas 7''''') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on August 22, 2020, at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmamania.com/2020/6/30/21308582/angela-hill-vs-michelle-waterson-ufc-apex-aug-22-mma|title=Angela Hill vs Michelle Waterson on tap for UFC APEX on Aug. 22|publisher=mmamania.com|author=Jesse Holland|date=2020-06-30|access-date=2020-07-12}}</ref>

==Background== A bantamweight bout between Pedro Munhoz and former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar served as the event headliner.<ref name="takefour">{{Cite web|url=https://globoesporte.globo.com/combate/noticia/ultimate-remarca-pedro-munhoz-x-frankie-edgar-para-22-de-agosto-como-luta-principal-do-card.ghtml|title=Ultimate reschedules Pedro Munhoz vs. Frankie Edgar for August 22 as the main event|publisher=globoesporte.globo.com|author=Raphael Marinho|date=2020-07-27|access-date=2020-07-27}} {{in lang|pt}}</ref> The matchup was briefly scheduled to take place at UFC 251, but it was then moved four days later to bolster UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fightbookmma.com/update-pedro-munhoz-vs-frankie-edgar-moved-to-ufc-event-on-july-15th/|title=Pedro Munhoz vs. Frankie Edgar moved to UFC event on July 15th|publisher=fightbookmma.com|author=Ross Markey|date=2020-06-16|access-date=2020-06-18}}</ref> On July 6, it was announced that the bout was scrapped after Munhoz tested positive for COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/7/6/21315428/pedro-munhoz-tests-positive-covid-19-ufc-fight-island-frankie-edgar/|title=Pedro Munhoz tests positive for COVID-19, pulled from UFC ‘Fight Island’ bout with Frankie Edgar|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Guilherme Cruz|date=2020-07-06|access-date=2020-07-06}}</ref> The pairing remained intact nonetheless and was rescheduled for UFC 252.<ref name="Frankie">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thescore.com/news/1984875|title=Edgar-Munhoz rescheduled for UFC 252|publisher=thescore.com|author=Nick Baldwin|date=2020-07-12|access-date=2020-07-12}}</ref> However, the promotion decided to move the contest one final time.<ref name="takefour" />

Promotion officials had initially targeted a welterweight bout between former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley and former interim champion Colby Covington to serve as the event headliner, but Woodley announced that the date did not provide him with time suitable enough to prepare because of injuries incurred during his most recent fight.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/tyron-woodley-open-colby-covington-fight-august/story?id=71826288|title=Tyron Woodley open to Colby Covington fight, but not in August|publisher=abcnews.go.com|author=Ariel Helwani|date=2020-07-16|access-date=2020-07-27}}</ref>

A light heavyweight bout between former interim UFC Light Heavyweight Championship challenger Ovince Saint Preux and Shamil Gamzatov was initially scheduled for April 25, but Gamzatov was forced to pull out of the event due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/04/shamil-gamzatov-out-of-ufc-on-espn-31-fight-vs-ovince-saint-preux|title=Shamil Gamzatov out of UFC on ESPN+ 31 fight vs. Ovince Saint Preux|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King|date=2020-04-04|access-date=2020-08-10}}</ref> The pairing was rescheduled for this event.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mmadna.nl/ovince-st-preux-vs-shamil-gamzatov-opnieuw-ingepland-ditmaal-voor-22-augustus/|title=Ovince St. Preux vs. Shamil Gamzatov scheduled again, this time for August 22|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Staff|date=2020-07-02|access-date=2020-08-10}} {{in lang|nl}}</ref> However, Gamzatov pulled out of the bout on August 13 due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Alonzo Menifield.<ref name="Alonzo">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/8/13/21368277/ovince-saint-preux-vs-alonzo-menifield-booked-as-co-main-event-for-aug-22-ufc-event|title=Shamil Gamzatov out of UFC on ESPN+ 31 fight vs. Ovince Saint Preux|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Newswire|date=2020-08-13|access-date=2020-08-14}}</ref> Just hours before the event was scheduled to begin, it was announced that the bout was cancelled due to Saint Preux testing positive for COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/08/ovince-saint-preux-tests-positive-for-covid-19-alonzo-menifield-fight-removed-from-ufc-on-espn-15|title=Ovince Saint Preux tests positive for COVID-19, Alonzo Menifield fight removed from UFC on ESPN 15|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King|date=2020-08-22|access-date=2020-08-22}}</ref> The bout was then targeted for September 5 at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Ovince-St-Preux-Tests-Positive-for-COVID19-Bout-vs-Alonzo-Menifield-Postponed-to-Sept-5-174716|title=Ovince Saint Preux tests positive for COVID-19, bout vs. Alonzo Menifield postponed to Sept. 5|publisher=sherdog.com|author=Tristen Critchfield|date=2020-08-22|access-date=2020-08-24}}</ref>

Former UFC Middleweight Championship challenger (as well as 2000 Olympic silver medalist and former world champion in freestyle wrestling) Yoel Romero was scheduled to face Uriah Hall at the event, but pulled out of the fight on August 11 for undisclosed reasons.<ref name="RomeroOut">{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/08/yoel-romero-out-vs-uriah-hall-ufc-on-espn-15|title=Yoel Romero out vs. Uriah Hall at UFC on ESPN 15|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Staff|date=2020-08-11|access-date=2020-08-12}}</ref> The pairing was then expected to be rescheduled for a future event.<ref name="changes">{{cite web|url=https://mmadna.nl/geen-vervanger-romero-waterson-vs-hill-gecanceld-en-nieuwe-tegenstander-osp-op-22-augustus/|title=No replacement for Romero, Waterson vs. Hill canceled and OSP's new opponent on August 22|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Staff|date=2020-07-13|access-date=2020-08-14}} {{in lang|nl}}</ref>

Philip Rowe was briefly linked to a bout with promotional newcomer Matthew Semelsberger at the event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bs-sp-ufc-matthew-semelsberger-20200807-nrbus24elfcgtfoqh4qc7u6opm-story.html|title=Frederick County’s Matthew Semelsberger signs contract with UFC, realizing childhood quest|publisher=baltimoresun.com|author=Edward Lee|date=2020-08-07|access-date=2020-08-12}}</ref> However, Rowe pulled out of the bout citing a toe injury. Semelsberger faced fellow newcomer Carlton Minus.<ref name="changes" />

A women's strawweight bout between former Invicta FC Strawweight Champion Angela Hill and former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Michelle Waterson was scheduled for the event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/06/angela-hil-michelle-waterson-strawweight-ufc-august-22|title=Angela Hill meets Michelle Waterson on UFC's Aug. 22 card|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King|date=2020-06-30|access-date=2020-07-01}}</ref> However, due to undisclosed personal reasons for Waterson, the bout was rescheduled for September 12 and ultimately served as the main event of UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2020/8/13/21366719/ufc-report-michelle-waterson-angela-hill-fight-night-vegas-womens-mma-news|title=Report: Michelle Waterson vs. Angela Hill off UFC Vegas 7, rescheduled for September 12|publisher=bloodyelbow.com|author=Harry Davies|date=2020-08-13|access-date=2020-08-14|archive-date=2020-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818122225/https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2020/8/13/21366719/ufc-report-michelle-waterson-angela-hill-fight-night-vegas-womens-mma-news|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A light heavyweight bout between Jorge Gonzalez and Ike Villanueva was expected to take a week earlier at UFC 252.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/07/ufc-252-jorge-gonzalez-vs-ike-villanueva-booked|title=UFC debutant Jorge Gonzalez meets Ike Villanueva at UFC 252 in Las Vegas|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King|date=2020-07-29|access-date=2020-07-29}}</ref> However, due to alleged visa issues for Gonzalez, the pairing was rescheduled for this event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mymmanews.com/ike-villanueva-vs-jorge-gonzalez-moved-to-aug-22-ufc-event/|title=Ike Villanueva vs. Jorge Gonzalez moved to Aug. 22 UFC event.|publisher=mymmanews.com|author=Connor Northrup|date=2020-08-13|access-date=2020-08-14}}</ref> In turn, Gonzalez was removed from the card for undisclosed reasons and replaced by promotional newcomer Jordan Wright.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/mma/report-jordan-wright-replaces-jorge-gonzalez-ufc-fight-night-munhoz-vs-edgar|title=Jordan Wright replaces Jorge Gonzalez at UFC Fight Night: Munhoz vs. Edgar|publisher=fightful.com|author=David Tees|date=2020-08-18|access-date=2020-08-19}}</ref>

Promotional newcomer Jared Gooden was scheduled to face Dwight Grant in a welterweight bout at the event, but pulled out of the fight during the week leading up to the event with an undisclosed injury.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/8/17/21372532/injury-knocks-jared-gooden-out-of-dwight-grant-matchup-at-ufc-on-espn-15|title=Injury knocks Jared Gooden out of Dwight Grant matchup at UFC on ESPN 15|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Alexander K. Lee|date=2020-08-17|access-date=2020-08-17}}</ref> In turn, promotional newcomer Calen Born was announced as the replacement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mmadna.nl/calen-born-pakt-short-notice-partij-aankomende-zaterdag-tegen-dwight-grant/|title=Calen Born takes short notice fight against Dwight Grant this Saturday|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Staff|date=2020-08-19|access-date=2020-08-19}} {{in lang|nl}}</ref> However, Born pulled out of the fight on the day of the weigh-ins due to undisclosed personal issues.<ref name="morechanges">{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/08/dwight-grant-vs-daniel-rodriguez-ufc-on-espn-15-fight-booking-takashi-sato-calen-born|title=With opponents out, Dwight Grant and Daniel Rodriguez now open UFC on ESPN 15 main card|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Staff|date=2020-08-21|access-date=2020-08-21}}</ref> Meanwhile, another welterweight bout between Takashi Sato and Daniel Rodriguez was scrapped after the weigh-ins. Despite making the required weight, Sato was not cleared to fight by Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) medical personnel and Rodriguez faced Grant instead.<ref name="morechanges" />

A middleweight bout between Maki Pitolo and promotional newcomer Impa Kasanganay was briefly linked to the event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/8/11/21364536/dana-white-maki-pitolo-to-welcome-dwcs-contract-winner-impa-kasanganay-at-ufc-event-on-aug-22|title=Maki Pitolo to welcome DWCS contract winner Impa Kasanganay at UFC event on Aug. 22|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Mike Heck|date=2020-08-11|access-date=2020-08-12}}</ref> However, promotion officials elected to move the pairing a week later to UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Rakić for undisclosed reasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/new-ufc-bellator-fight-announcements-matchup-roundup-mma-august|title=Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Aug. 10-16)|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Staff|date=2020-08-17|access-date=2020-08-18}}</ref>

Promotional newcomer Mark Striegl was expected to face fellow newcomer Timur Valiev at the event. However, Striegl was removed from the fight on August 20 after testing positive for COVID-19 and replaced by Trevin Jones. The bout was contested at a catchweight of 140 pounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mmadna.nl/trevin-jones-vervangt-mark-striegl-aanstaande-zaterdag-tegen-timur-valiev-tijdens-ufc-on-espn-15/|title=Trevin Jones will replace Mark Striegl against Timur Valiev this Saturday at UFC on ESPN 15|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Staff|date=2020-08-20|access-date=2020-08-20}} {{in lang|nl}}</ref>

==Results== {{MMAevent}} {{MMAevent card|Main card (ESPN / ESPN+)}} {{MMAevent bout |Bantamweight |Frankie Edgar |def. |Pedro Munhoz |Decision (split) (48–47, 46–49, 48–47) |5 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Light Heavyweight |Mike Rodríguez |def. |Marcin Prachnio |KO (elbow and punches) |1 |2:17 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Lightweight |Joe Solecki |def. |Austin Hubbard |Submission (rear-naked choke) |1 |3:51 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Women's Flyweight |Shana Dobson |def. |Mariya Agapova |TKO (punches) |2 |1:38 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Welterweight |Daniel Rodriguez |def. |Dwight Grant |KO (punches) |1 |2:24 | }} {{MMAevent card|Preliminary Card (ESPN+)|header=no}} {{MMAevent bout |Women's Strawweight |Amanda Lemos |def. |Mizuki Inoue |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Light Heavyweight |Jordan Wright |def. |Ike Villanueva |TKO (doctor stoppage) |1 |1:31 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Welterweight |Matthew Semelsberger |def. |Carlton Minus |Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–27, 29–28) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Catchweight (140 lb) |Trevin Jones |vs. |Timur Valiev |No Contest (overturned) |2 |1:59 |Originally a TKO (punches) win for Jones; overturned after he tested positive for marijuana.<ref name="Suspension">{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/10/trevin-jones-ufc-on-espn-15-no-contest-timur-valiev-suspension-marijuana|title=NAC changes Trevin Jones' UFC on ESPN 15 win to no contest after positive marijuana test|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King|date=2020-10-07|access-date=2020-10-07}}</ref> }} {{MMAevent end|notes=yes}} <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-august-22-2020|title=UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar|publisher=Ultimate Fighting Championship|access-date=2020-08-07}}</ref>

==Bonus awards== The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lowkickmma.com/ufc-fight-night-munhoz-vs-edgar-bonuses/|title=UFC Fight Night: Munhoz vs. Edgar bonuses|publisher=lowkickmma.com|author=Ryan Galloway|date=2020-08-22|access-date=2020-08-22}}</ref> *'''Fight of the Night: Frankie Edgar vs. Pedro Munhoz''' *'''Performance of the Night: Shana Dobson''' and '''Trevin Jones'''

==Aftermath== On October 7, it was announced that the NSAC issued a four and a half month suspension for Trevin Jones, after he tested positive for marijuana in a drug test related to his fight. They also announced that Jones' victory was overturned to a no contest due to the violation. He was fined $1,800 and before he is relicensed in Las Vegas, Jones will also have to pay a prosecution fee of $145.36.<ref name="Suspension" />

==See also== {{Portal|Martial Arts|United States}} * List of UFC events * List of current UFC fighters * 2020 in UFC

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{UFC Events}}

{{2020 in mixed martial arts}}

Category:UFC on ESPN Category:2020 in mixed martial arts Category:2020 in sports in Nevada Category:August 2020 sports events in the United States Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship events in Enterprise, Nevada