UFC Fight Night 220: Muniz vs. Allen | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Ariel Helwhiney
- May 22
- 4 min read
Introduction
UFC Fight Night 220: Muniz vs. Allen took place on February 25, 2023 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas — UFC Vegas 70. The card was originally headlined by a light heavyweight bout between Ryan Spann and Nikita Krylov, but Krylov succumbed to food poisoning on fight day and the bout was scrapped. The Muniz vs. Allen middleweight contest was elevated to main event status, though it remained three rounds.
Brendan Allen shocked the middleweight division by submitting Andre Muniz — himself a feared grappler — with a rear-naked choke at 4:25 of round three. The UFC rewarded every fighter who landed a finish with a $50,000 PoN bonus, making it the highest total bonus payout for a Fight Night card in 2023 to that point. Six PoN bonuses were awarded with no Fight of the Night.
Contents
Quick Stats
📅 Date: Saturday, February 25, 2023
📍 Venue: UFC Apex, Enterprise, Nevada, USA (UFC Vegas 70)
📺 Broadcast: ESPN+ (UFC on ESPN+ 78)
🏆 Main Event: Andre Muniz vs. Brendan Allen — Middleweight (3 rounds) | Originally Krylov vs. Spann
✅ Result: Brendan Allen def. Andre Muniz via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) (Round 3, 4:25)
⭐ Notable: Krylov food poisoning — main event scrapped on fight day | 6 PoN bonuses (every finisher rewarded) | Tatiana Suarez returns after 3.5-year layoff | Nurullo Aliev first Tajikistan-born UFC fighter | Leavitt first career TKO | No FotN
The Build-Up
The card lost its headliner during the broadcast when Nikita Krylov was felled by food poisoning, forcing the cancellation of his light heavyweight bout against Ryan Spann. It was the second time in early 2023 that a UFC event lost its main event on fight day, following Derrick Lewis’ hospitalization at FN 215.
The middleweight bout between Andre Muniz and Brendan Allen was elevated to main event status but remained a three-round affair. The card also featured the long-awaited return of Tatiana Suarez, who had been sidelined for over three years due to health issues.
Main Event: Muniz vs. Allen
The first two rounds were competitive, with both men finding success on the feet. Allen used his straight right hand effectively, while Muniz landed a spinning body kick and crisp hooks. The grappling exchanges were tense — Muniz is one of the most dangerous submission artists in the middleweight division, and Allen had to be cautious on the mat.
In round three, Allen secured a takedown and worked to Muniz’s back. With over four minutes into the round, ‘All In’ sank in a rear-naked choke that forced the tap at 4:25. It was a stunning upset — Allen had out-grappled one of the division’s most feared submission specialists, elevating his finish rate to 81% and extending his winning streak to four.
Co-Main & Undercard Highlights
Tatiana Suarez made her long-awaited return after a 3.5-year layoff and submitted Montana De La Rosa with a guillotine choke at 2:51 of round two (PoN), extending her undefeated record. Mike Malott submitted Yohan Lainesse with an arm-triangle in round one (PoN). Jordan Leavitt earned his first career TKO by stopping Victor Martinez with knees and punches (PoN).
Trevor Peek knocked out Erick Gonzalez at 4:59 of round one (PoN). Joe Solecki submitted Carl Deaton with a RNC in round two (PoN). Nurullo Aliev became the first Tajikistan-born fighter to compete in the UFC, winning a majority decision over Rafael Alves despite a one-point deduction for an alleged bite.
Full Results
Brendan Allen def. Andre Muniz — Submission (RNC) (Round 3, 4:25) — PoN | Allen out-grapples Muniz
Augusto Sakai def. Don’Tale Mayes — UD (30-27 x3) R3; Tatiana Suarez def. Montana De La Rosa — Sub (Guillotine) R2, 2:51 (PoN); Mike Malott def. Yohan Lainesse — Sub (Arm Triangle) R1, 4:15 (PoN)
Trevor Peek def. Erick Gonzalez — KO R1, 4:59 (PoN); Jordan Leavitt def. Victor Martinez — TKO (Knees) R1, 2:27 (PoN); Ode Osbourne def. Charles Johnson — SD R3; Joe Solecki def. Carl Deaton — Sub (RNC) R2, 4:55 (PoN); Nurullo Aliev def. Rafael Alves — MD R3; Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Gabriella Fernandes — UD R3
Bonuses & Awards
🥊 Fight of the Night: No bonus awarded — UFC opted to give every finisher a PoN instead
🏆 Performance of the Night (6 bonuses): Brendan Allen ($50,000), Tatiana Suarez ($50,000), Mike Malott ($50,000), Trevor Peek ($50,000), Jordan Leavitt ($50,000), Joe Solecki ($50,000)
Records & Milestones
🥊 Tatiana Suarez returned after a 3.5-year layoff and immediately submitted her opponent, extending her undefeated record. Her return was one of the most anticipated in women’s MMA.
🥊 Nurullo Aliev became the first Tajikistan-born fighter to compete in the UFC. Despite a one-point deduction for an alleged bite in round one, the unbeaten prospect won by majority decision.
🥊 Six PoN bonuses ($300,000 total) was the highest bonus payout for a Fight Night card in 2023 to that point, with the UFC rewarding every fighter who landed a finish.
Legacy & Impact
FN 220 could have been a disaster when it lost its main event, but instead delivered an exciting card of finishes and earned bonuses. Brendan Allen’s submission of Muniz was the signature moment — a grappling upset that announced Allen as a serious middleweight contender. The card also gave the UFC something to celebrate: by rewarding every finisher with a bonus, the promotion sent a clear message about the kind of fighting it wanted to incentivise.
FAQ
Why was the original main event cancelled?
Nikita Krylov fell ill with food poisoning on fight day and was unable to compete. His light heavyweight bout against Ryan Spann was scrapped, and the Muniz vs. Allen middleweight bout was elevated to main event status while remaining a three-round contest.
Why were there so many bonuses?
The UFC elected not to pick and choose, instead awarding every fighter who landed a finish with a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. Six bonuses were awarded in total, making it the highest FN bonus payout in 2023 to that point.
References
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