Tag: ufc

UFC on ESPN 66 live results: Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

The Octagon returns to Kansas City for the first time in two years for UFC On ESPN 66, taking place at the T-Mobile Center.

The main event, which came together less than a month ago, sees a pair of welterweight contenders battling it out over five rounds as Ian Machado Garry takes on Carlos Prates. Machado Garry is looking to rebound from his first career loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov in December and get himself back in the title picture. Prates continues his fast rise in the UFC, looking to improve to 5-0 during his stint and notch his 12th consecutive win.

In the co-main event, former title challenger Anthony Smith will enter the Octagon for the final time as he takes on Zhang Mingyang in his retirement bout.

Also on the main card is a featherweight bout pitting Giga Chikadze against David Onama; a middleweight bout between the always exciting Michel Pereira and Abus Magomedov; and welterweights Randy Brown and Nicolas Dalby battle it out to get themselves back into the win column.

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> Women’s Bantamweights- #14 Chelsea Chandler (6-3, 2-2 UFC) vs. Joselyne Edwards (14-6, 5-4 UFC)

Edwards with some quick leg kicks then lands one to the body. She lands two more leg kicks and follows with a body kick and a right hand. They clinch up and Edwards gets a takedown. Edwards lands and stands and lands leg kicks before Chandler is ordered up. They swing and Edwards lands a body kick. Edwards with a high kick and lands a punch. Chandler is backing up. They trade in close range and Edwards lands a flurry against the fence and Chandler goes down and it is all over! Edwards picks up the win with a nice finish.

Fight Result- Joselyne Edwards def. Chelsea Chandler by TKO (punches) at 2:31 of Round 1

> Featherweights- Timmy Cuamba (8-3, 0-2 UFC) vs. Roberto Romero (8-4-1, 0-1 UFC)

Romero with an inside leg kick. Romero mixing kicks to the body and legs. Cuamba looks for a takedown and pushes it against the fence. There isn’t much happening against the fence. Timeout is called as Cuamba lands a low knee. They get back to action and trade punches. Cuamba lands a right hand. Romero goes for a takedown against the mat and kind of gets it as Cuamba scrambles up. Romero lands a body kick as Cuamba lands a combo. Cuamba looks for a single leg but Romero defends and lands a body kick on the break. Romero with a head kick and Cuamba lands a counter right hand. 10-9 Romero.

They trade leg kicks. Cuamba lands a combo and then lands to the body. Romero with a pair of kicks and Cuamba is able to score a takedown. Romero scrambles up immediately and they clinch against the fence. They separate and Romero lands the jab and some kicks. They tie up against the fence. Romero gets a brief takedown but they break apart. Cuamba lands a combination. Romero lands some kicks and Cuamba lands a combo. Romero with a stiff calf kick. Cuamba lands a right hand. Cuamba hurts Romero with a big right hand. Cuamba then lands a head kick. Cuamba lands an elbow and Romero is split open. Cuamba drops Romero with a flying knee and lands some shots and it is over! A big finish from Cuamba to pick up the win.

Fight Result- Timmy Cuamba def. Roberto Romero by TKO (strikes) at 3:55 of Round 2

> Women’s Strawweights- Jaqueline Amorim (9-1, 3-1 UFC) vs. Polyana Viana (13-7, 4-6 UFC)

Amorim immediately gets a takedown. Viana landing and working from the bottom. Viana looking for a reverse triangle choke. Amorim gets to side control and is looking to control an arm. Amorim grabs the arm and looks for a kimura. She lets go but gets the mount. Amorim lands punches from the top. Amorim with a big elbow and starts landing more punches then some more elbows. Viana trying to scramble from the bottom. Amorim gets the back and lands and gets a body triangle locked in. 10-9 Amorim.

They trade and Amorim gets a takedown. Amorim controlling from the top and Viana gives up her back. Amorim lands from the back and has the body triangle locked in. Amorim locks in a rear-naked choke and Viana is trying to fight it off and ends up tapping. Amorim with a dominant victory.

Fight Result- Jaqueline Amorim def. Polyana Viana by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:49 of Round 2

> Bantamweights- Malcolm Wellmaker (8-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Cameron Saaiman (9-2, 3-2 UFC)

They trade body kicks. Wellmaker lands a leg kick. Saaiman lands a pair of kicks. Wellmaker swings and misses. Saaiman lands a left hand and Wellmaker lands a leg kick. Wellmaker drops Saaiman with a massive right hand and it is all over!

Fight Result- Malcolm Wellmaker def. Cameron Saaiman by knockout (punch) at 1:59 of Round 1

> Bantamweights- Da’Mon Blackshear (16-7-1, 4-3-1 UFC) vs. Alatengheili (17-9-2, 5-2-1 UFC)

Blackshear just misses a flying knee to start but lands some kicks. He lands some more kicks and works the jab. Blackshear with a right hand. Blackshear with a right hand and a pair of body kicks then a big calf kick. Blackshear lands a right hand. Blackshear with a leg kick then a high kick. Alatengheili lands a right hand. Blackshear with a head kick. Blackshear with a leg kick, then lands a knee and a right hand. Alatengheili lands a counter right hand. They trade punches. Blackshear with a body kick. He lands some more. Alatengheili not able to throw much offense. Blackshear lands more kicks. Alatengheili with a combo. 10-9 Blackshear.

Blackshear landing more kicks and some right hands to start the second round. Alatengheili lands a right hand. Alatengheili with a flurry of body and head shots inside the pocket. Blackshear then lands before he slips, and they clinch as he gets up. Alatengheili looking for a takedown but Blackshear defends. They separate. Alatengheili with a left hook. They trade against the fence. Blackshear lands a right hand followed by a body kick. Blackshear with a right hand. Alatengheili lands a right hand and Blackshear counters with a jab. Blackshear lands a leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Blackshear with a right hand. He lands a right hand and a body kick. Alatengheili with a right hand and they trade. 10-9 Blackshear, 20-18 Blackshear.

Blackshear lands some right hands to start the third. They both land in close range. Blackshear lands a leg kick. Alatengheili lands a right hand. Alatengheili lands a combination. Blackshear with a leg kick. Blackshear mixing some punches and kicks. Blackshear mixing to the head and body with the jab. Alatengheili lands a leg kick. Blackshear lands a right hand. Blackshear still landing with far more volume as he lands a body kick. Alatengheili lands a few good punches. Blackshear lands a pair of jabs. Blackshear with a knee. 10-9 Blackshear, 30-27 Blackshear.

Fight Result- Da’Mon Blackshear def. Alatengheili by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

> Featherweights- Chris Gutierrez (21-5-2, 9-3-1 UFC) vs. John Castaneda (21-7, 4-3 UFC)

They trade leg kicks early on. Gutierrez lands a high kick. Gutierrez lands a body kick but slips to the mat and Castaneda gets on top inside the guard. Castaneda working from the top and trying to set up an arm-triangle choke but there really isn’t much else happening. Castaneda stands and Gutierrez is looking for the leg but gets up. They trade kicks. Gutierrez drops Castaneda with a right hand. Gutierrez gets on top and lands a right hand. Gutierrez lands more at the end. 10-9 Gutierrez.

Castaneda lands a right hook and then Gutierrez lands a right hand and lands some leg kicks and more punches. Gutierrez lands a leg kick that takes Castaneda off his feet, but he gets up. Gutierrez with a body kick. Castaneda lands a left hand. Castaneda with some leg kicks. Gutierrez lands a jab. Castaneda lands a right hand. They trade in close range. Gutierrez lands a jab. He lands it again and lands a leg kick. They trade late. 10-9 Castaneda, 19-19.

Castaneda lands a leg kick. Gutierrez lands one. Castaneda with a step-in elbow. Castaneda with a spin kick to the body. Castaneda lands a body kick. Castaneda grabs the body lock and pushes it to the fence. Castaneda with some knees against the fence. Castaneda picks Gutierrez up and slams him down to the mat. Castaneda lands some knees from side control. Gutierrez trying to attack the neck for a guillotine choke. He lets it go. Castaneda stands and lands some leg kicks. 10-9 Castaneda, 29-28 Castaneda.

Fight Result- Chris Gutierrez def. John Castaneda by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

> Lightweights- Evan Elder (9-2, 2-2 UFC) vs. Gauge Young (9-2, 0-0 UFC)

Elder lands a big combo as Young lands a leg kick. Elder lands a body kick. Elder lands as Young looks for a takedown. Young pushes Elder off. Elder lands a leg kick and they both land jabs. Young with a leg kick as Elder lands a right hand. Timeout for an eye poke and they get back to action. They trade body kicks, then Elder lands several body kicks in a row. Elder mixes kicks to the body and legs. Young lands a leg kick. Young with a right hand. Elder with a body kick then a leg kick. They trade more kicks and Elder lands a head kick. Elder with a hard body kick. 10-9 Elder.

Young lands a right hand. Young working more early and Elder lands a right hand then a body kick. Young with a double jab. Elder lands a body kick. Elder with a calf kick. They’re trading in close range. Elder lands a body kick. Elder shoots for a takedown but Young sprawls, though Elder lands a kick as they stand. Elder lands a right hand. Young with a short uppercut. Elder lands a body kick. Elder lands a leg kick and they trade. 10-9 Elder, 20-18 Elder.

Elder with a leg kick and they trade jabs. Elder with a body kick then a leg kick. Elder with a jab. He lands a straight right hand followed by a leg kick. Elder with a body kick then a high kick. Elder lands a right hand. They trade jabs. Young with a leg kick and Elder lands a body kick. Elder working the jab. Elder with a combo and a leg kick. Young pressing forward. Young lands a left hook. Young with a pair of kicks. Young lands to the body and Elder lands a body kick. Young lands a knee and they trade late. 10-9 Elder, 30-27 Elder.

Fight Result- Evan Elder def. Gauge Young by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Flyweights- Matt Schnell (16-9 1 NC, 6-7 1 NC) vs. Jimmy Flick (17-8, 2-3 UFC)

Flick with a pair of leg kicks. Schnell lands a combination. They tie up against the fence and Flick scores a takedown. They get to their feet, but Flick is able to get Schnell back down to the mat. Schnell scrambles and looks for a triangle choke, but Flick is landing punches to defend. Flick gets himself out of trouble. Flick back inside the full guard of Schnell and lands to the body and head. 10-9 Flick.

Flick gets it down to the mat right at the start of the second. He is looking to set up an arm-triangle choke. They work to the fence and are in a weird position. Schnell is able to work himself out of the choke attempt, but Flick remains inside the full guard of Schnell. They scramble and Flick looks for a guillotine choke. Schnell pops out and starts landing from the top. Schnell lands an elbow. Schnell with some good ground-and-pound. Schnell gets the back of Flick but Flick slips out and locks in a guillotine choke but Schnell gets out. Schnell lands some elbows and punches. Flick is cut open from the elbows by Schnell. They stand and Schnell looks for a guillotine choke but Flick survives. 10-9 Schnell, 19-19.

Schnell lands to start the third. Flick looks for a takedown and Schnell defends. Flick gets Schnell to the mat. They scramble back to their feet. Flick looks for a takedown but Schnell grabs the neck and looks for a guillotine choke, but Flick is able to roll out. Flick grabs the back as they battle against the fence. They stand. Flick looking for the takedown. Schnell looks for a guillotine choke as they go to the mat. Schnell rolls to the top and gets inside the guard of Flick. Schnell lands some short elbows. Flick gives up his back. Schnell locks in a rear-naked choke. Flick is fighting it off. Schnell lands. 10-9 Schnell, 29-28 Schnell.

Fight Result- Matt Schnell def. Jimmy Flick by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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> Middleweights- Ikram Aliskerov (15-2, 2-1 UFC) vs. Andre Muniz (24-6, 6-2 UFC)

They trade leg kicks to start with Aliskerov landing several. Muniz lands a left hand. Aliskerov lands a right hand. Muniz with a body kick. Aliskerov with a right hand to the body. Muniz with a spin kick to the body. Aliskerov lands against the fence. Aliskerov with a left hook and lands a right hand to the body. They tie up against the fence. They break and Aliskerov lands a leg kick. There isn’t much action. Aliskerov lands a body kick. Aliskerov hurts Muniz with a left hand and Muniz goes to the mat. Aliskerov landing lots of big punches from the top and gets the stoppage just before the end of the round.

Fight Result- Ikram Aliskerov def. Andre Muniz by TKO (punches) at 4:54 of Round 1

> Welterweights- Randy Brown (19-6, 13-6 UFC) vs. Nicolas Dalby (23-5-1 2 NC, 7-5-1 1 NC UFC)

Dalby lands a leg kick. Brown with a right hand. Dalby with another leg kick. Brown working the jab. Brown lands an uppercut then a right hand. Dalby lands a leg kick. Brown lands a solid right hand. Dalby circling around and they trade punches. Dalby’s nose is smashed up. Brown lands a big combination. Brown gets warned about eye pokes. They get back going and Dalby lands a right hand that puts Brown down on the mat. Dalby gets on top and works from there, landing a few punches before the round ends. 10-9 Dalby.

Dalby comes out throwing kicks as Brown lands a right hand. Brown working the jab and lands a front kick. Brown lands a body kick and a right hand. Brown working the jab and the right hand. Dalby lands a left hand and a right hand. Brown lands a knee and Dalby was hurt and then Brown hurts Dalby with some punches. Dalby is swinging back and they are trading and Brown lands a massive right hand and Dalby goes face down to the mat and it is all over! What a finish from Brown!

Fight Result- Randy Brown def. Nicolas Dalby by knockout (punch) at 1:39 of Round 2

> Middleweights- #14 Michel Pereira (31-12 2 NC, 9-3 UFC) vs. Abus Magomedov (27-6-1, 3-2 UFC)

Magomedov lands a kick. Magomedov with a leg kick. Pereira lands a front kick as Magomedov lands a right hand. Magomedov with a body kick. Pereira lands a left hook. Magomedov lands a high kick and a right hand and then lands to the body. Magomedov scores a takedown and lands from the top. He takes Pereira’s back as they stand. Magomedov jumps on the back of Pereira but lets go. Pereira spins out. Magomedov with a left hand. Magomedov with a leg kick. Magomedov with a head kick. 10-9 Magomedov.

Magomedov works the jab and is pressing forward as Pereira is just stuck in neutral. Magomedov lands a body kick. Pereira lands a knee. They tie up against the fence but quickly separate. Magomedov lands a right hand. Pereira grabs Magomedov’s back against the fence. They break apart. They trade body kicks. They trade short punches. Pereira is landing more this round as Magomedov has slowed a little. Pereira with a left hand. They trade jabs. Pereira with a front kick. 10-9 Pereira, 19-19.

Pereira lands a left hand. Pereira pushing forward. Magomedov lands a body kick. Magomedov with a leg kick as Pereira lands a right hand. Pereira lands a right hand. Pereira lands a body kick. Magomedov looks for a takedown but Pereira defends and lands a knee. Pereira with a body kick. Magomedov with a left hand. Magomedov lands a right hand that hurts Pereira. Magomedov with another right hand. Pereira with a short combo. Magomedov with a right hand. Magomedov shoots for a takedown but Pereira defends. They trade left hooks as they get up. Magomedov with a left hand. 10-9 Magomedov, 29-28 Magomedov.

Fight Result- Abus Magomedov def. Michel Pereira by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Featherweights*- #12 Giga Chikadze (15-4, 8-2 UFC) vs. David Onama (13-2, 5-2 UFC)

*Chikadze missed weight by one pound

Chikadze lands a leg kick and a right hand, then a high kick and a body kick. Chikadze with another leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Onama lands a leg kick. Chikadze with a pair of high kicks. Chikadze lands a combination. Chikadze with another combo. Onama lands a left hand. Chikadze with a left hook. Chikadze lands a leg kick. Onama stuns Chikadze with a right hook and is now pressuring. Chikadze circles away and lands a combo. Chikadze with more kicks. Onama lands a right hand. Chikadze with a leg kick as Onama lands a combination. Chikadze stuns Onama with a right hand and Chikadze rushes in. Onama grabs the body and scores a takedown. Chikadze with some elbows from the bottom. Close round. 10-9 Chikadze.

Onama lands a body kick. Chikadze lands a right hand and just misses a flying knee. Chikadze lands a left hand. Onama lands a combo. Chikadze with a calf kick. Onama lands an inside kick. Onama scores a takedown. Onama controlling and landing from the top. Onama tries to get the back but Chikadze is able to keep him on top. Onama lands an elbow from the top. Onama with a right hand. They get up and Onama lands a knee. 10-9 Onama, 19-19.

Chikadze lands a right hand. Onama lands a knee and a straight left hand followed by a jab. Chikadze lands a high kick. Chikadze lands a combo. Chikadze lands a right hand. He lands another right hand. Onama scores a takedown. Onama gets the back of Chikadze for a brief moment but gets back into the full guard and lands from the top. Chikadze is landing some from the bottom. Onama with lots of punches from the top to end it. 10-9 Onama, 29-28 Onama.

Fight Result- David Onama def. Giga Chikadze by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Light Heavyweights- #15 Anthony Smith (37-21, 13-11 UFC) vs. Zhang Mingyang (18-6, 2-0 UFC)

Mingyang with a body kick then a leg kick. Mingyang with a pair of leg kicks. They trade in close range. Mingyang with a side kick. He lands another. Mingyang with a right hand as they clinch up. Mingyang lands a few knees. Mingyang lands an elbow and they separate. Mingyang with more leg kicks and a combo. Smith lands an elbow. He lands another. They trade elbows and clinch against the fence. They separate. Mingyang with a leg kick. Mingyang with some big elbows. Smith looks for a takedown but Mingyang defends. Mingyang with some body shots from the top. Mingyang landing from the top as Smith is bleeding everywhere. Mingyang with some elbows and it is stopped as Smith’s career comes to an end in brutal fashion.

Fight Result- Zhang Mingyang def. Anthony Smith by TKO (elbows) at 4:03 of Round 1

> Welterweights- #7 Ian Machado Garry (15-1, 8-1 UFC) vs. #13 Carlos Prates (21-6, 4-0 UFC)

Prates lands an inside leg kick. Garry with a body kick. Prates with another leg kick. Garry with a high kick. They trade punches. Garry lands a body kick. Garry looks for a takedown but Prates defends. Garry lands a body kick. Prates lands a body kick as Garry lands a combo. Garry with a head kick. They both land body kicks. Garry with a front kick and Prates slips to the mat late. Garry lands from the top. 10-9 Garry.

Garry lands a jab. He lands a body kick and looks for a takedown but Prates is able to defend it. Prates with a leg kick as Garry lands a head kick. Garry lands a right hand. Both still picking their spots but Garry is being more active. Garry lands a solid right hand that snaps Prates’ head back. They trade in close range and Garry just misses a spin kick. 10-9 Machado Garry, 20-18 Machado Garry.

Prates lands a leg kick. Garry lands a jab and a high kick. Prates with a body kick. Garry lands a combination. Garry lands a head kick. Garry with an inside leg kick then a body kick. Garry shot for a takedown, but Prates defends. Prates lands a body kick. Garry hurts Prates with an uppercut during the middle of a flurry. Garry lands some more punches. Garry scores a takedown. Garry tries to posture up and Prates is about to give up his back, but Prates gets to his feet. They break apart. Garry with a combo. Garry gets a takedown and lands as he controls against the fence. 10-9 Machado Garry, 30-27 Machado Garry.

Garry lands a body kick. Prates lands a left hand. Prates lands a body kick. Garry with a right hand then a knee. Garry lands a body kick. Garry grabs the body and looks for a takedown as he has control of Prates. Garry gets it down but Prates moves to the fence. Garry maintains body control as they stand. They separate and reset. Garry with a head kick. Garry lands a straight right hand. Prates lands a right hand. Garry with a combo. Prates lands a right hook. Garry lands a big right hand. Prates lands a few shots as he’s coming forward. Prates with a combination. Garry gets a brief takedown but Prates rolls out to his feet. 10-9 Machado Garry, 40-36 Machado Garry.

They trade body kicks. Prates lands a high kick then a knee as Garry circles around. Garry lands a big right hand. Prates with a right hand. Garry grabs a single leg and pushes it against the fence. They break and Prates lands a left hand. Prates with a body kick as Garry is circling away. Garry lands a big right hand then a jab. Garry tries for another takedown but Prates defends it. They break apart. Garry looks for a takedown and has it, but Prates rolls through to the top and lands some punches. Garry is crawling away as Prates is landing heavy shots from the top. Garry gets up. Garry grabbing the ankle. Prates lands from the top as Garry is in trouble. Prates backs off as they stand. Prates had his chance but time runs out. 10-9 Prates, 49-46 Machado Garry.

Fight Result- Ian Machado Garry def. Carlos Prates by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)

UFC 314 live results: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes featherweight title fight

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

The Octagon returns to Miami, Florida, for another major pay-per-view event as a new champion will be crowned at UFC 314 inside the Kaseya Center.

The vacant UFC featherweight championship is on the line in the main event as former longtime UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski looks to recapture the gold when he takes on streaking Diego Lopes, winner of five straight fights.

The title is being vacated by Ilia Topuria, who is moving to 155 pounds. Volkanovski is fighting for the first time in just over a year after losing the title to Topuria.

In the co-main event, it is a five-round lightweight battle as Michael Chandler looks to end his two-fight losing skid when he takes on British superstar Paddy Pimblett, who is on an eight-fight win streak.

In another major main card bout, former interim UFC featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez welcomes former two-division Bellator champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire to the UFC. Pitbull is arguably the greatest fighter in Bellator’s history and he makes his long-anticipated UFC debut in his quest to capture UFC gold.

Also on the main card is a featherweight bout pitting Bryce Mitchell against Jean Silva, and Nikita Krylov takes on former title challenger Dominick Reyes in a light heavyweight bout.

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> Women’s Bantamweights*- Nora Cornolle (8-2, 2-1 UFC) vs. Hailey Cowan (7-3, 0-1 UFC)

*Cornolle missed weight by 1.5 pounds

Cornolle lands and pushes it against the fence and lands some knees. Cowan switches position but Cornolle reverses back and lands some knees. Cowan gets it to the mat but Cornolle looks for an armbar. Cowan gets it out and works from the half-guard. Cowan mixing punches and elbows as she’s controlling from the top and trying to pass guard. They scramble and almost get to their feet but Cowan is able to take Cornolle’s back. 10-9 Cowan.

Cowan lands a body kick and Cornolle lands a right hand. Cornolle with a body kick and lands an elbow as they clinch. Cowan gets a takedown but Cornolle gets the back. Cornolle locks in a rear-naked choke and it’s in tight. Cowan is trying to fight it off but she ends up tapping! Cornolle picks up the win.

Fight Result- Nora Cornolle def. Hailey Cowan by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:52 of Round 2

> Middleweights- Tresean Gore (5-2, 2-2 UFC) vs. Marco Tulio (13-1, 1-0 UFC)

Tulio lands a jab then a leg kick. Tulio lands a combo then a spin kick and follows with a calf kick. Tulio tries a jumping knee but Gore lands a right hand. Gore lands a right hand followed by a left hook. Tulio with a front kick to the body. Tulio with a jab and a right hand. They trade leg kicks and Tulio follows with a right hand. Tulio lands some more kicks but Gore rocks him with a left hook. They tie up and Tulio lands a knee to the body and an elbow as they separate. Tulio lands a right hand. They trade left hands. Tulio with a body kick and landing some jabs. Tulio landing lots of punches and has Gore in trouble. Tulio mixes to the body and head. Tulio drops Gore with a left hand and gets on top as Gore has a big cut opened up. They get up and Tulio lands a knee. Gore lands a big right hand. Gore lands a right hand and Tulio lands a spin kick. Exciting round. 10-9 Tulio.

Tulio landing lots of punches and mixes in some kicks. Gore lands some jabs. Tulio lands a groin strike and timeout is called. They get back to action and Tulio is landing kicks and lands a spin kick then a spinning back fist. Tulio works the jab and lands a right hand. Tulio with more body kicks. Tulio rocks Gore with a head kick and Gore ends up falling down and Tulio starts landing shots from the top, mixing in elbows. Tulio with big shots but Gore is trying to get out of trouble. They get to their feet. Tulio lands a big left hand. Tulio drops Gore with a right hand and it is stopped! What a finish by Tulio!

Fight Result- Marco Tulio def. Tresean Gore by TKO (punches) at 3:16 of Round 2

> Flyweights- Sumudaerji (16-7, 3-4 UFC) vs. Mitch Raposo (9-2, 0-1 UFC)

They trade big punches as Raposo lands a big combination. Raposo lands some more punches but Sumudaerji covers up. Sumudaerji lands a leg kick. Sumudaerji lands a combo followed by a body kick. Raposo lands a right hook. Sumudaerji lands a pair of leg kicks. Raposo scores a takedown and gets the back as they scramble up. Raposo keeps back control and gets another late takedown. 10-9 Raposo.

Sumudaerji lands a body kick then a leg kick. Raposo lands a left hand. Raposo shoots for a takedown against the fence but Sumudaerji defends. Sumudaerji lands a leg kick. Sumudaerji lands a combination. Sumudaerji lands a leg kick that gets checked and he falls to his butt for a moment. He gets up and lands a pair of leg kicks. Sumudaerji misses a spin kick and Raposo is able to get a takedown but they get right up. Raposo has the back. They separate and Sumudaerji lands a jab. Sumudaerji with a leg kick. Raposo has it pushed against the fence but is unable to score a late takedown. 10-9 Sumudaerji, 19-19.

Sumudaerji lands a jab and a leg kick. Raposo lands a right hand. Sumudaerji landing and Raposo is able to score a takedown, but Sumudaerji is able to scramble to his feet and lands an elbow as they break. Sumudaerji is landing and Raposo scores a takedown, but they quickly get up. Sumudaerji lands an elbow as he defends the clinch. Raposo trying hard for a takedown. They separate. Raposo gets a brief takedown but has body control as they stand. Sumudaerji lands some defensive punches. Sumudaerji lands a knee. Sumudaerji defending with some short punches and elbows. Raposo is just holding on. 10-9 Sumudaerji, 29-28 Sumudaerji.

Fight Result- Sumudaerji def. Mitch Raposo by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

> Middleweights- Sedriques Dumas (10-2, 3-2 UFC) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (19-9 1 NC, 7-7 1 NC UFC)

Dumas lands a body kick. They’re doing a lot of hand fighting. Oleksiejczuk lands a left hook to the body. Dumas scores with a body kick. Oleksiejczuk lands a left hand. He lands two more with one to the body. Oleksiejczuk lands a left hand. He lands two more. Oleksiejczuk drops Dumas with a left hand and starts landing from the top. Dumas is covering up as Oleksiejczuk is teeing off with lots of punches from the top and it is stopped. Dumas is complaining but is told by Marc Goddard he gave him three chances and Dumas wasn’t defending. Big finish from Oleksiejczuk.

Fight Result- Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Sedriques Dumas by TKO (punches) at 2:49 of Round 1

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> Featherweights- Darren Elkins (29-11, 19-10 UFC) vs. Julian Erosa (30-11, 8-7 UFC)

Erosa lands a jab and Elkins gets off balance and falls down for a moment. Elkins lands a right hand and Erosa lands a leg kick. Elkins lands a leg kick and gets a takedown. Elkins gets inside the guard of Erosa. Elkins stands and Erosa hurts Elkins with an upkick. Erosa stands and Elkins is chasing the takedown as he’s hurt. Erosa defending with some elbows and they separate. Elkins lands a right hand. Elkins gets a takedown but Erosa rolls through to his feet and lands a knee. They trade jabs. Erosa lands and Elkins stumbles to the mat and grabs Erosa’s leg. They scramble and Elkins is chasing a leg. They get up and break apart. Elkins lands a right hand. Erosa lands a leg kick and a big knee then hurts Elkins with a right hand. Elkins is chasing a leg but Erosa is landing lots of punches and it is stopped.

Fight Result- Julian Erosa def. Darren Elkins by TKO (punches) at 4:15 of Round 1

> Lightweights- Jim Miller (38-18 1 NC, 27-17 1 NC UFC) vs. Chase Hooper (15-3-1, 7-3 UFC)

Hooper lands a body kick. Miller lands a combo. Hooper throwing front kicks. Miller connects with a left hand. Hooper shoots for a takedown and Miller is defending. Miller grabs the neck and Hooper is able to roll out. Miller gets on top and lands and Hooper looks for a triangle choke. Miller lands some left hands from the top. They scramble and Hooper scores a takedown. Miller with an elbow from the bottom. Hooper gets Miller’s back and is on it as they get to their feet. Hooper lands from the back. Miller is able to shake Hooper off. Hooper attacking an arm from the bottom. He almost had an armbar but Miller escapes and they stand. Hooper lands a body kick and Miller lands a counter right hand. 10-9 Hooper.

Miller lands a left hand. Hooper lands a front kick then a spinning back fist and scores a takedown. Hooper jumps on the back and gets the hooks in as Miller stands. Hooper trying to get a choke in but Miller fights it and Hooper jumps off the back but still has control and trips Miller to the mat and gets into side control. They get to their feet and Hooper gets it back down. They stand and Hooper has the back and drags it back down. They roll and Hooper attacks a leg. 10-9 Hooper, 20-18 Hooper.

Hooper looking for a takedown but Miller defends. Hooper gets a takedown. They stand and Hooper takes it back down. Hooper has the back with the body lock in. Hooper is now attacking the ankle as Miller is looking to attack an arm. Hooper returns to inside the guard of Miller. Hooper just controlling from the top but there is not lots of action going on. Hooper lands some punches. 10-9 Hooper, 30-27 Hooper.

Fight Result- Chase Hooper def. Jim Miller by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

> Women’s Strawweights- #1 Yan Xiaonan (19-4 1 NC, 9-3 UFC) vs. #3 Virna Jandiroba (21-3, 7-3 UFC)

Jandiroba looks for a takedown but Xiaonan shakes it off and lands to defend. They trade kicks. Xiaonan lands a side kick. Xiaonan lands a right hand to the body. Xiaonan lands a left hook. Jandiroba looks for a takedown but Xiaonan lands to keep her at a distance. Jandiroba grabs the body and pushes it to the fence. Jandiroba gets it down and looks at taking the back. Jandiroba is on top but Xiaonan is landing from the bottom. Jandiroba looks for a kimura. She lets go and gets to north-south position but rolls back to the guard as they trade punches on the ground. They get up and quickly roll to the mat as Jandiroba attacks the arm but time runs out. 10-9 Jandiroba.

Jandiroba immediately goes for the leg and gets a takedown. She takes the back of Xiaonan. Jandiroba has the hooks in on the back and is attacking the kimura. Jandiroba landing from the back. She is constantly attacking the neck as she lands punches. Jandiroba rolls for an armbar but loses it and Xiaonan stands and starts landing punches as she gets inside the guard of Jandiroba. Jandiroba looks for an armbar but doesn’t quite have it in, but it allows her to get side control. Jandiroba now locks in an armbar but Xiaonan defends and escapes. 10-9 Jandiroba, 20-18 Jandiroba.

Xiaonan lands a leg kick. Jandiroba looks for a takedown but Xiaonan lands, though Jandiroba lands a left hand. Xiaonan lands a combination. Jandiroba looks for a takedown but Xiaonan defends. Xiaonan lands a knee as Jandiroba looks for a takedown. Jandiroba tries to get it down and Xiaonan clearly and blatantly grabs the fence. She gets warned and Jandiroba is still able to get it down. Jandiroba landing from the back. She continues to land. Jandiroba has an armbar locked in but the buzzer sounds to end it. 10-9 Jandiroba, 30-27 Jandiroba.

Fight Result- Virna Jandiroba def. Yan Xiaonan by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Featherweights- #15 Dan Ige (18-9, 10-8 UFC) vs. Sean Woodson (13-1-1, 7-1-1 UFC)

Woodson lands a leg kick. He lands another. Woodson lands another leg kick. Woodson lands a jab. Ige with a right hand. Woodson lands a leg kick. Ige pressing forward and lands a right hand. Ige lands to the body. Woodson lands a jab. Ige with a body shot. Ige lands a leg kick. Woodson lands a combination. Woodson lands a jab and they trade leg kicks, then Woodson lands a combo. Ige lands to the body. Woodson lands a stiff jab. Woodson with a jab and a left hook. 10-9 Woodson.

Ige lands to the body and then lands a right hand. Woodson lands a jab. Ige grabs the body lock briefly but they separate. Woodson lands a jab. Woodson lands a leg kick. Ige throws and ties up against the fence as he has a leg. They break apart. Woodson lands a leg kick followed by an uppercut. Woodson lands a jab as Ige throws a right hand. Ige lands a left hand. Ige lands a right hand and a leg kick. Ige shoots for a takedown but Woodson is sprawling to defend. They get to their feet. They break apart. Ige lands a left hand. Woodson with a high kick that Ige blocks and Ige lands a counter right hand. 10-9 Woodson, 20-18 Woodson.

Woodson lands a combination. Ige hurts Woodson with a right hand and then lands to the body. Ige lands a combination. Ige lands to the body and Woodson is covering up. Ige with a flurry of shots. Woodson looks for a takedown and Ige defends and starts landing punches and it is stopped. That is a bad stoppage.

Fight Result- Dan Ige def. Sean Woodson by TKO (punches) at 1:12 of Round 3

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> Light Heavyweights- #8 Nikita Krylov (30-9, 11-7 UFC) vs. #11 Dominick Reyes (14-4, 8-4 UFC)

They trade punches. Reyes rocks Krylov with a jab. Reyes lands a body kick. Reyes with a leg kick. Reyes lands a high kick. Reyes with a left hand. Krylov rushes in and Reyes drops him with a massive left hand and Krylov is out cold! What a knockout by Reyes!

Fight Result- Dominick Reyes def. Nikita Krylov by knockout (punch) at 2:24 of Round 1

> Featherweights- #13 Bryce Mitchell (17-2, 8-2 UFC) vs. Jean Silva (15-2, 4-0 UFC)

Mitchell presses forward. Silva with a high kick. Mitchell throwing side kicks as Silva is being patient. Mitchell lands a leg kick. Silva lands a body kick. Mitchell with a side kick to the body. Mitchell lands a leg kick. Silva lands a right hand. Mitchell with a stiff calf kick. Mitchell with a spinning back fist. Mitchell shoots for a takedown but Silva defends and they get to their feet. Mitchell with a leg kick and lands a left hand. Silva with a jab and a jump kick to the body. Silva with a spin kick that connects to the chin. Mitchell looks for a takedown but Silva locks in a guillotine choke. Silva has it in tight as Mitchell is trying to fight it. Mitchell gets his head out and they scramble up. Close round. 10-9 Silva.

Silva lands a leg kick and lands a right hand and Mitchell goes to the ground. Mitchell gets up and looks for a takedown but Silva defends. Mitchell still trying to get it down but Silva defends and they separate. Silva with a left hand and then a step-in elbow. Mitchell keeps trying to take Silva down but Silva is defending all of the attempts and landing on the break. Mitchell lands a leg kick. Silva lands a leg kick and a right hook to the body. Mitchell tries for another takedown attempt but Silva grabs the neck and has a D’Arce choke locked in and Mitchell taps!

Fight Result- Jean Silva def. Bryce Mitchell by submission (ninja choke) at 3:52 of Round 2

> Featherweights- #5 Yair Rodriguez (19-5 1 NC, 10-4 1 NC UFC) vs. Patricio Pitbull (36-7, 0-0 UFC)

They’re feeling each other out and hand fighting for the first minute. Rodriguez lands a leg kick. Pitbull lands a leg kick. They trade kicks. Rodriguez lands a leg kick. Rodriguez tries a jumping switch kick but Pitbull blocks it. Rodriguez lands a head kick. Rodriguez lands a body kick. They tie up. Pitbull tries a trip but they separate. Pitbull with a right hand. Pitbull lands a leg kick. Rodriguez with a front kick. Pitbull lands a kick and trips Rodriguez to the mat and gets to the half-guard. Pitbull controlling as Rodriguez lands, though lots were to the back of the head. 10-9 Rodriguez.

Pitbull with a high kick then a leg kick. Rodriguez with a pair of leg kicks. Pitbull lands a left hand and then lands big in an exchange. Rodriguez lands a body kick. Rodriguez lands a leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Rodriguez with a short uppercut. Pitbull scores a takedown. Rodriguez squirms to the fence and gets to his feet. Rodriguez lands a right hand. Rodriguez with a pair of high kicks. Pitbull lands a right hand. Rodriguez with a leg kick. Rodriguez lands a combo and a high kick then a body kick. Pitbull looks for a takedown as Rodriguez defends and lands some foot stomps. Rodriguez gets a late takedown. 10-9 Rodriguez, 20-18 Rodriguez.

They trade leg kicks. Rodriguez lands a combination. Rodriguez with a pair of body kicks. Pitbull lands a left hand and then a right hand. Pitbull connects. Rodriguez lands a body kick. Pitbull lands a right hand. Rodriguez with a jumping knee and Pitbull lands a left hand. Rodriguez connects and Pitbull goes down. Rodriguez gets on top and lands some shots to the head and body. Rodriguez lands some big elbows and more punches. They trade on the mat. Pitbull locks in an armbar but Rodriguez is able to escape and is on his feet. Rodriguez attacks a leg. Pitbull attacking a leg as well. They both escape to their feet and Pitbull lands a right hand. 10-9 Rodriguez, 30-27 Rodriguez.

Fight Result- Yair Rodriguez def. Patricio Pitbull by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Lightweights- #7 Michael Chandler (23-9, 2-4 UFC) vs. #12 Paddy Pimblett (22-3, 6-0 UFC)

Pimblett lands a leg kick. He lands another. He lands an inside leg kick. He lands a body kick. Pimblett with another leg kick. Pimblett lands a combo and Chandler with a counter right hand. Chandler gets a big takedown despite a fence grab from Pimblett. Chandler with a knee to the body. Pimblett lands some elbows. They stand and go back down as Chandler lands some big punches. They get to their feet. Pimblett jumps up and pulls guard. They stand and separate. Pimblett lands a right hand. Pimblett with a leg kick. Chandler lands a right hand as Pimblett lands a leg kick. Pimblett lands a right hand. Chandler lands a left hand. Pimblett with a jump kick. Pimblett lands a leg kick. 10-9 Pimblett.

They trade punches. Pimblett lands a leg kick. Pimblett lands a jab. Pimblett with two right hands. They trade leg kicks after Pimblett lands a left hand. Pimblett with a head kick. They trade leg kicks. Pimblett lands a combination. Chandler lands a groin strike and timeout is called. They get back to action and trade leg kicks. Chandler looks for a takedown and has the back and slams Pimblett down. Pimblett gets right back up. Pimblett lands some elbows and Chandler takes it back down. Pimblett rolls into the guard of Chandler. Pimblett with some knees. Pimblett with some elbows from the top. Pimblett gets the back of Chandler. Pimblett with some big elbows. Pimblett has the mount and lands. Chandler gives up his back. Pimblett with some big punches. 10-9 Pimblett, 20-18 Pimblett.

Pimblett lands a big knee and Chandler is retreating and split open. Pimblett chasing Chandler and lands a short left hand. Pimblett gets the back and gets a big takedown. Pimblett with some elbows and Chandler is leaking blood everywhere. Pimblett with a big left hand. Pimblett with some elbows. Pimblett has the mount and is landing lots of punches. Pimblett looking for the finish as he’s landing lots of punches and elbows and it is stopped! What a performance from Pimblett!

Fight Result- Paddy Pimblett def. Michael Chandler by TKO (strikes) at 3:07 of Round 3

> UFC Featherweight Championship- #1 Alexander Volkanovski (26-4, 13-3 UFC) vs. #3 Diego Lopes (26-6, 5-1 UFC)

Volkanovski lands a leg kick. Volkanovski with a high kick. They trade leg kicks. They trade inside the pocket as Volkanovski lands a left hand and Lopes lands an uppercut. Lopes with some body shots. Volkanovski lands a leg kick. Lopes lands a right hand. Volkanovski with a big right hand. Volkanovski connects and makes Lopes stumble from a left hand. Volkanovski lands a jab. Volkanovski gets a body lock and almost gets it down and lands a knee. Volkanovski with some left hands from the back and gets Lopes down. Volkanovski with lots of big right hands from the top. 10-9 Volkanovski.

Volkanovski lands a right hand. Volkanovski with a jab. Volkanovski lands a leg kick as Lopes lands a right hand. Volkanovski lands a leg kick and Lopes lands a left hand. Volkanovski lands a right hand. Volkanovski working the jab and lands a body kick then a leg kick. Volkanovski lands a right hand and Lopes stumbles back and the fence actually keeps him up. Volkanovski ties up against the fence. They separate. Volkanovski works the jab. Volkanovski lands a leg kick. Volkanovski back to working the jab. Volkanovski lands a big right hand as both land inside the pocket. Volkanovski lands a left hand. Lopes drops Volkanovski with a right hand late. 10-9 Volkanovski, 20-18 Volkanovski.

Volkanovski lands a right hand. They trade leg kicks. Volkanovski lands a right hand. They trade left hands and both clipped one another. They trade right hands. Volkanovski lands a big right hand. They trade inside the pocket. Volkanovski looks for a takedown but Lopes defends. Volkanovski lands with a right hand. Lopes lands a body kick. Volkanovski lands a right hand. 10-9 Volkanovski, 30-27 Volkanovski.

They trade leg kicks. Volkanovski lands a combination. Volkanovski lands a right hand and Lopes connects to the body and lands a right hand off a brief clinch. Lopes lands a calf kick. Volkanovski lands a jab. Lopes with a left hook and one to the body as Volkanovski lands a counter right hand. Volkanovski with a right hand and Lopes lands an uppercut. Volkanovski looks for a takedown but Lopes defends. Volkanovski is retreating. They trade in close range. Volkanovski’s eye is damaged. Volkanovski lands a right hand and a jab. Volkanovski lands a right hand. Volkanovski with a right hand. They trade late. Close round. 10-9 Lopes, 39-37 Volkanovski.

Volkanovski with a jab. Volkanovski lands a right hand. Lopes lands a combo. Lopes lands a leg kick. Volkanovski lands a solid combination. Lopes lands a right hand. Volkanovski with a jab. Volkanovski lands a jab and a left hook. Volkanovski lands a right hand. Volkanovski with some jabs. Volkanovski with a combo. Lopes lands a leg kick. Volkanovski with a pair of jabs. Lopes with a combo. Volkanovski with a jab. Lopes pressing forward. Volkanovski with a big left hook. Volkanovski lands a right hand. 10-9 Volkanovski, 49-46 Volkanovski.

Fight Result- Alexander Volkanovski def. Diego Lopes by unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46) to win the UFC Featherweight Championship

September 17, 2007 Observer Newsletter: UFC 75 recap, TNA Impact extends to two hours

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

UFC 75, a night where the MMA judging system came under fire, and where the Pride and UFC championship was unified in the marquee light heavyweight division, ended up as the single most widely viewed MMA television show ever in the United States.

Quinton Jackson unified the UFC and Pride heavyweight titles winning a five-round competitive decision over Pride champion Dan Henderson on 9/8 in London, England at the 02 Arena. It was the first unification match of the two biggest MMA organizations in the world, although for all real purposes, Pride no longer exists. While billed as a first, in a sense, similar matches happened twice before in UFC history, when after Extreme Fighting Championships went down. In 1997, UFC promoted the last EFC heavyweight champion, Maurice Smith, beating the then UFC heavyweight champion, Mark Coleman, in a gigantic upset at the time with Smith taking a decision.

Subscribers can read this issue here.

UFC on ESPN 65 live results: Josh Emmett vs. Lerone Murphy

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

The Octagon is back inside of their home base tonight with a 12-fight card as UFC on ESPN 65 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The main event is an exciting featherweight contest as knockout artist Josh Emmett returns from a long layoff looking to hand undefeated Lerone Murphy his first career loss. Emmett is fighting for the first time since December 2023 where he scored one of the best knockouts in UFC history over Bryce Mitchell. Murphy is looking to keep his undefeated streak going after scoring a win over Dan Ige in his last fight in October.

The rest of the main card is anchored by a featherweight bout between rising contenders Pat Sabatini and Joanderson Brito; a bantamweight bout between Cortavious Romious and ChangHo Lee; a battle of middleweight veterans as Brad Tavares takes on Gerald Meerschaert; and the debut of Torrez Finney, who scored three wins on Dana White’s Contender Series before getting signed, taking on Robert Valentin in middleweight action.

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> Women’s Strawweights- Vanessa Demopoulos (11-6, 5-3 UFC) vs. Talita Alencar (5-1-1, 1-1 UFC)

Demopoulos lands a straight right hand to start. Alencar lands a couple of shots and they clinch against the fence. Alencar looking to get it down as she grabs the neck and drags it down. Alencar is inside the guard of Demopoulos. Alencar controlling from the top but not much action is happening. Alencar lands from the top. Alencar lands some more from the top. Demopoulos attacks for an armbar from the bottom but Alencar is able to get her arm free. Alencar lands from the top. 10-9 Alencar.

They trade as Alencar lands a body kick. Alencar with a solid combo ending with a right hand. They trade right hands. Alencar scores a takedown. Alencar working from the top and landing lots of ground and pound. Alencar traps a leg of Demopoulos and lands a lot of stiff right hands from the top. Demopoulos is looking for a leg as Alencar stands. Alencar gets warned to not grab the fence. Alencar looks for an arm-triangle choke as she lands to the body and time runs out. 10-9 Alencar, 20-18 Alencar.

They trade to start the third. They both land right hands before Alencar scores a takedown. She gets inside the guard of Demopoulos and lands some right hands. Alencar lands some elbows as she’s in control from the top. Alencar with some right hands from the top. Alencar gets the mount and lands some punches and elbows. Demopoulos is able to scramble up, but Alencar grabs the back and drags it right back down and lands some elbows. She lands some more to end it. 10-9 Alencar, 30-27 Alencar.

Official Result- Talita Alencar def. Vanessa Demopoulos by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

> Heavyweights- Martin Buday (14-2, 5-1 UFC) vs. Uran Satybaldiev (9-0, 0-0 UFC)

Buday with an inside leg kick. Satybaldiev with a leg kick. Buday lands an inside leg kick. Satybaldiev with a right hand. They trade near the fence. Buday with a left hook as Satybaldiev lands a leg kick. Buday lands a combo and has it pushed against the fence. Buday lands a knee as they break. Satybaldiev lands a big combo and is connecting with punches as Buday circles away. They trade against the fence. Buday with a heavy leg kick. Satybaldiev lands a right hand. He lands another as Buday lands a leg kick. Buday lands a quick flurry as they clinch against the fence. They separate and Buday lands a heavy leg kick. Satybaldiev with a combo and Buday lands a leg kick. Satybaldiev lands a knee as they clinch and Buday pushes it to the fence. Buday with some body shots. He lands more. They break. 10-9 Buday.

They trade and Satybaldiev lands to the body. Buday with a pair of leg kicks. Buday lands a left hook. Satybaldiev connects to the body and Buday pushes it against the fence. Buday with some body shots. They separate. Buday lands a leg kick. Satybaldiev lands a combo. They trade leg kicks. Satybaldiev lands a combination. Satybaldiev lands a right hand. Buday with a calf kick. Buday with another leg kick and Satybaldiev lands a leg kick. Buday lands and pushes it against the fence. Buday looks to get it down but Satybaldiev is keeping it upright. Buday lands to the body. Buday with body and head shots late and lands big as they separate. 10-9 Buday, 20-18 Buday.

Satybaldiev comes out firing and landing as Buday backs up. Buday lands a leg kick and is now pressuring. Buday with a left hand and they clinch. Buday with some body shots and lands some foot stomps. They separate and Satybaldiev rocks Buday with a hard right hand. Buday is on shaky legs but is able to tie up with Satybaldiev and push it to the fence. Buday landing to the body against the fence as Satybaldiev lands some knees. Buday with a big knee as they separate. They tie back up and Buday pushes it back against the fence. They are separated. Satybaldiev lands a combination. Buday with a leg kick. They trade at the end. 10-9 Satybaldiev, 29-28 Buday.

Official Result- Martin Buday def. Uran Satybaldiev by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Bantamweights- Victor Henry (24-7 1 NC, 3-2 1 NC UFC) vs. Pedro Falcao (16-4, 0-1 UFC)

Falcao lands a leg kick. Falcao with a pair of jabs. Falcao lands a leg kick as Henry lands a combination. Henry with a calf kick. Falcao looks for a takedown and grabs the back of Henry against the fence. Henry spins and lands a knee and they go to the mat. Henry stands and lands some leg kicks as Falcao is on his back. Falcao stands. Henry connects with a right hand. Falcao with a calf kick. They trade and Henry drops Falcao with a right hand. Henry jumps on top and lands as Falcao tries to attack a leg. Henry lands some hammerfists. Henry stands and lands some leg kicks. Henry lands some hard leg kicks and Falcao gets up. Falcao with a pair of body kicks. Falcao shoots for a takedown against the fence but Henry defends and they break. They trade inside the pocket. Falcao with a leg kick. Henry lands late. 10-9 Henry.

They trade and Falcao lands a heavy calf kick that stumbles Henry. Falcao lands a combo in close and lands a calf kick. Henry lands two leg kicks. Falcao lands a hook as Henry lands a right hand. Falcao scores a takedown. They scramble up and Falcao has the back and slams it back down. Henry reverses and gets on top. Falcao looks for an armbar but Henry defends and lands as Falcao pushes him off. They get to their feet. They trade as both are landing combinations. Henry lands to the body. Falcao gets a takedown and is in the half-guard. Henry gives up his back. He is able to sweep and ends up on top in side control. Henry with some left hands. Falcao scrambles to his feet. Henry lands a right hand. Falcao with a body kick. 10-9 Falcao, 19-19.

Falcao drags it to the mat and they scramble with Falcao getting the back of Henry. Falcao looks for a choke but Henry spins to top position. Henry lands from the top but Falcao pushes him off and they stand. Falcao looks for a takedown but Henry sprawls and has control. Henry lands some knees on the feet. Henry lands a right hand as they separate. Henry connects with a solid combination. Henry with a front kick and he lands two right hands. Henry scores a takedown and lands from the top. Falcao attacks the leg and they get up. Falcao has body control looking for a takedown. They separate and Henry rocks Falcao with a right hand. Henry connecting at a distance and Falcao shoots for a takedown. Henry sprawls and lands and they stand. Falcao with a leg kick and Henry with two right hand jabs. 10-9 Henry, 29-28 Henry.

Official Result- Victor Henry def. Pedro Falcao by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Women’s Strawweights- Loma Lookboonmee (9-3, 6-2 UFC) vs. Istela Nunes (6-5 1 NC, 0-4 UFC)

They trade heavy leg kicks. They trade kicks. They exchange body kicks. More kicks are traded. Lookboonmee lands a quick combo and just misses a head kick. They trade more kicks. Lookboonmee throws a kick and Nunes grabs a leg and tries to land a right hand but misses. Timeout is called for an eye poke. Lookboonmee with a left hand. Lookboonmee with a combo as Nunes lands a leg kick. Lookboonmee lands two body kicks. Lookboonmee lands a body kick and Nunes lands a right hand. Lookboonmee with two body kicks and a left hand. She lands another body kick. Lookboonmee tries to drag it down but Nunes ends up on top and lands. Lookboonmee with some elbows. Nunes lands from the top. Close round. 10-9 Nunes.

They trade as Lookboonmee lands a body kick. Nunes lands a right hand. Lookboonmee with a jab. Nunes lands a leg kick. Lookboonmee with a leg kick. They clinch and both land knees. Nunes has body control and Lookboonmee lands a knee. Lookboonmee is able to get a takedown and Nunes is attacking the leg. Both land shots to the others’ leg. Nunes is rolling for an arm but Lookboonmee defends. Lookboonmee gets to her feet and Nunes still has the leg. 10-9 Lookboonmee, 19-19.

They trade and Lookboonmee with a combo. They each land a right hand. Lookboonmee initiates a clinch against the fence and Nunes reverses. Lookboonmee gets a takedown and works inside the guard of Nunes. Lookboonmee with an elbow from the top. Lookboonmee lands to the body. Lookboonmee staying on top and they are stood up by the referee. They clinch and Lookboonmee gets a throw takedown and is in side control before moving to the half-guard. Lookboonmee controlling from the top and trying to pass guard. Nunes is stuck on the bottom. Lookboonmee with some left hands. Lookboonmee ends the fight on top. 10-9 Lookboonmee, 29-28 Lookboonmee.

Official Result- Loma Lookboonmee def. Istela Nunes by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

> Welterweights- Rhys McKee (13-6-1, 0-4 UFC) vs. Daniel Frunza (9-2, 0-0 UFC)

They come out trading with Frunza landing lots of kicks and connecting. McKee lands some leg kicks and punches and drops Frunza with a left hand. Frunza is able to get up but is still hurt. They trade and McKee stumbles Frunza with a right hand. McKee lands from the top and lands as they get to their feet. McKee drops Frunza for the third time with a left hand but Frunza gets up. McKee lands some big shots and Frunza goes down again but gets up. They’re trading and McKee lands a big elbow and Frunza is cut open. McKee lands a right hand. Frunza with a leg kick. McKee with a right hand to the body. McKee lands a combination. Frunza lands a combo. McKee with an uppercut. McKee lands a leg kick. They trade in close range. McKee with a body kick and they clinch. McKee with some short punches. McKee lands a knee. They separate. McKee lands a flurry. Frunza with a left hand. Wild round. 10-8 McKee.

The fight is called off by the doctor between rounds due to damage on the lip of Frunza. He has a big split in his lip, plus his right eye is badly damaged. Good call.

Official Result- Rhys McKee def. Daniel Frunza by TKO (doctor stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 1

> Women’s Flyweights- Diana Belbita (15-9, 2-5 UFC) vs. Dione Barbosa (7-3, 1-1 UFC)

Barbosa lands a right hand. They trade leg kicks. Barbosa lands to the body. Barbosa with a quick combo. Belbita lands a left hand and a leg kick. Barbosa with a combo to the body. Belbita lands a leg kick. Barbosa with a right hand. Barbosa with a head kick that got blocked but she lands a right hand. Barbosa lands a jab. Belbita lands a right hand. Belbita lands to the body and connects with an overhand right. Barbosa with a combo, and Belbita counters with a combo ending with a leg kick. They trade as both land. Barbosa with two right hands. Barbosa with a combination. Barbosa pushes it to the fence and lands and then lands a spinning elbow before scoring a takedown. Barbosa gets right into the mount and starts landing. Barbosa locks in an arm-triangle choke and it’s in deep and Belbita taps! Great showing from Barbosa to pick up the win.

Official Result- Dione Barbosa def. Diana Belbita by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 4:13 of Round 1

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> Middleweights- Torrez Finney (10-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Robert Valentin (10-4 1 NC, 0-1 UFC)

Valentin lands a leg kick. Finney picks Valentin up and takes him to his corner and slams him down. Valentin immediately scrambles up as Finney looks to take it back down, which he does. They get up and Finney still has back control. Valentin lands some elbows as Finney is trying to drag it back down. Valentin lands some punches, but Finney is able to take it back down and land some right hands and an elbow. They scramble up and Finney picks Valentin up, but is unable to get it down. He tries again and slams Valentin down. They get up and Finney lands a left hand as he has control. Valentin landing to defend but Finney gets it back down. Finney lands some punches. 10-9 Finney.

They trade and Finney gets a big slam takedown. Finney controlling from the top as Valentin lands an elbow and is attacking the kimura. Valentin lets go and Finney is in the full guard of Valentin. Finney lands some shots from the top. Finney landing some left hands to the head of Valentin. Finney picks Valentin up and slams him down and gets partial mount. Finney is on the back and looking to attack for a choke. Valentin is able to slip out and they scramble. Valentin with a hammerfist as they get to their feet. Finney trying to get it down as Valentin lands an elbow. Finney holding against the fence. 10-9 Finney, 20-18 Finney.

Valentin comes out landing and Finney lands a right hand. Finney goes for a takedown and pushes it against the fence as Valentin lands an elbow. Finney completes the takedown. They get up and are separated. Valentin lands and Finney looks for a takedown and pushes it to the fence. Finney holding on and they are separated. Finney pushes it back to the fence and then scores a takedown. They get up and Finney is pressuring as Valentin is landing. They are separated and Finney immediately goes back to pressuring against the fence. Valentin landing to defend as Finney is just holding on. Valentin lands more. 10-9 Valentin, 29-28 Finney.

Official Result- Torrez Finney def. Robert Valentin by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

> Flyweights- Ode Osbourne (12-8, 4-6 UFC) vs. Luis Gurule (10-0, 0-0 UFC)

Osbourne lands a body kick and Gurule lands two leg kicks. They trade kicks. Osbourne lands two left hands. Gurule with a body kick. Osbourne with a leg kick. Osbourne lands a left hand. They trade kicks. Gurule gets a takedown right into side control. Gurule passes over to the mount but Osbourne is able to recover Gurule into his half-guard. Gurule lands a pair of elbows and a right hand. Gurule lands and they scramble up and separate. Gurule lands a left hand. They trade kicks. 10-9 Gurule.

Both throwing but neither landing. They trade leg kicks. Gurule lands a leg kick. Gurule looks for a single leg and pushes it to the fence and has clinch control. They separate. Gurule lands a right hand and Osbourne lands a combination. Gurule with a high kick and a leg kick as Osbourne lands a combination. Osbourne with a left hand. Osbourne drops Gurule with a left hand. Gurule looked out but Osbourne jumps on top and starts landing to get the finish.

Official Result- Ode Osbourne def. Luis Gurule by TKO (punches) at 1:54 of Round 2

> Middleweights- Brad Tavares (20-10, 15-10 UFC) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (37-18, 12-10 UFC)

Tavares lands a jab. Tavares lands a right hand. He lands another. Meerschaert looks for a takedown as he grabs the body lock against the fence. They separate. Meerschaert with a left hand. Tavares lands a left hand. Meerschaert grabs a single leg but Tavares defends with punches and Meerschaert lets go. Tavares with a right hand. Tavares with an elbow. Tavares lands a jab and then a body kick. Meerschaert with a lunging left hand. Tavares with a jab as Meerschaert lands a left hand. Tavares lands a big right hand. He lands another then a body kick. 10-9 Tavares.

Tavares lands a leg kick then a right hand. Tavares with another leg kick and Meerschaert goes to the mat but is ordered up. They clinch and Tavares lands an elbow on the break. Meerschaert with a left hand. Tavares with an axe kick and lands a right hand. Meerschaert with a double left hand. Meerschaert lands a combination. Meerschaert with a left hand and lands a body kick. Meerschaert tries for a takedown but Tavares defends. Tavares with a combo. Tavares lands a right hand and they trade combos in close range. Tavares hurts Meerschaert with a right hand. Meerschaert lands a left hand. 10-9 Tavares, 20-18 Tavares.

They trade and Meerschaert looks for a takedown but Tavares defends. Tavares lands a right hand. Meerschaert lands a combo. Tavares with a front kick to the body. Meerschaert almost gets a takedown but Tavares stumbles out of it. Meerschaert gets the body lock against the fence and lands a couple of knees. Tavares defending as Meerschaert is pressuring against the fence. They are separated. Tavares lands a front kick. Meerschaert lands a quick flurry and pushes it against the fence. They break apart. Meerschaert with a high kick. 10-9 Meerschaert, 29-28 Tavares.

Official Result- Brad Tavares def. Gerald Meerschaert by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Bantamweights*- Cortavious Romious (9-3, 0-1 UFC) vs. ChangHo Lee (10-1, 1-0 UFC)

*Romious missed weight by 3.5 pounds

They are trading flurries inside the pocket to start. Romious lands an uppercut as Lee lands a jumping knee and looks for a takedown. Lee gets a takedown right into the mount position. They scramble up and Romious grabs the body lock and scores a takedown. They scramble and Lee ends up on top and lands before taking the back of Romious. Lee has the body triangle locked on and is landing punches. Lee is landing from the back and Romious is cut open. Lee locks in a rear-naked choke and Romious is leaking blood. Lee lets go and starts landing punches. Lee with lots of big shots but Romious is able to roll to top position. They scramble late and Lee lands. 10-9 Lee.

They trade and Lee lands a knee to the groin of Romious and timeout is called. They get back to action and both are landing. Lee looks for a takedown and they scramble to the mat as Romious takes the back of Lee. Romious looks for a rear-naked choke as Lee stands with Romious on his back. Romious rolls for an armbar but Lee escapes and starts landing from the top. Lee lands some elbows. Lee working from the half-guard. They get to their feet. Lee gets it down and Romious looks for an armbar. Lee escapes and is in side control and lands an elbow. Romious gives up his back. Lee with the mount and is landing a lot of punches and lands from the back as he flattens Romious out. Lee with tons of punches and now is landing elbows. He’s eating a ton of shots and this could be stopped and it finally is. Lee picks up the big win.

Official Result- ChangHo Lee def. Cortavious Romious by TKO (punches) at 3:48 of Round 2

> Featherweights- Pat Sabatini (19-5, 6-2 UFC) vs. Joanderson Brito (17-4-1, 5-2 UFC)

Sabatini lands a body kick. Sabatini scores a takedown and gets to side control. Sabatini looking to set up a choke of some sort from the top. Sabatini controlling from the top as Brito is having trouble trying to scramble out. They stand and Sabatini has the neck and lands a knee. Sabatini gets a big takedown against the fence and is in side control. Sabatini gets to the half-guard and is landing elbows and now some punches. Sabatini with big shots from the top to end the round. 10-9 Sabatini.

They trade as Brito defends a takedown attempt and Brito lands a combination. Sabatini scores a takedown. Sabatini pushes it to the fence and starts landing from the half-guard. Brito is pinned on the bottom and unable to scramble out. Sabatini with big shots from the top and is slamming his shoulder into Brito to keep him pinned on the mat. Sabatini with more punches from the top. He mixes to the body and head as the round ends. 10-9 Sabatini, 20-18 Sabatini.

Brito lands a right hand but is unable to stop Sabatini from taking him down. Brito looks for the neck but Sabatini is landing from the top. Sabatini with some elbows as he is keeping Brito pinned down on the mat. Sabatini with more shots from the top but he isn’t doing anything to try and finish it. Sabatini starts landing more shots as Brito gives up his back. Sabatini with more shots from the back and gets the mount and starts landing elbows. Brito stands with Sabatini on his back and Sabatini continues to land punches. Sabatini looks for a choke late but doesn’t have it locked in as time expires. 10-9 Sabatini, 30-27 Sabatini.

Official Result- Pat Sabatini def. Joanderson Brito by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)

> Featherweights- #8 Josh Emmett (19-4, 10-4 UFC) vs. #10 Lerone Murphy (15-0-1, 7-0-1 UFC)

Murphy lands a right hand as Emmett connects to the body. Murphy lands a front kick to the body. Emmett connects with two right hands as they trade inside the pocket. Murphy lands an elbow that opens a small cut on Emmett. Emmett with a right hand to the body. The cut is now opened up more on Emmett. Murphy lands a body kick. Murphy lands a leg kick. Emmett lands a leg kick. Murphy with a calf kick. Emmett catches a Murphy kick and dumps him to the mat for a moment and lands a right hand as Murphy gets up. Close round. 10-9 Emmett.

They trade and Emmett looks up for a takedown. Emmett picks Murphy up and just drops him to the mat and Murphy got some air there. Emmett gets on top. They scramble up and Murphy lands to the body before they separate. Murphy with a spin kick to the body. Emmett grabs the body lock and has it against the fence. Murphy lands a knee to defend. Murphy with some more knees. They separate. Murphy with a stiff calf kick. Emmett lands a leg kick. Murphy with a body kick. Emmett connects with a right hand. 10-9 Murphy, 19-19.

They trade and Emmett throws some bombs and both land. Murphy with a pair of leg kicks. Murphy lands a side kick to the legs. Murphy lands a body kick. Murphy lands a grazing head kick. Murphy slips and Emmett grabs the neck and starts looking for a takedown as Murphy lands some elbows to defend. They trade and a brief timeout is called after Murphy lands an eye poke. Murphy lands a body kick. Murphy throws a high kick and Emmett grabs the leg and takes it down. They get to their feet. Murphy with a front kick right up the middle. 10-9 Murphy, 29-28 Murphy.

They trade in close range to start the fourth. Murphy lands a body kick. Murphy peppering the jab. Murphy lands a body kick. Emmett connects with a right hand. Emmett with another right hand. Emmett lands another. Murphy lands a calf kick. Murphy lands a body kick. Murphy with some side leg kicks. Murphy lands a body kick. Murphy lands a right hook. Emmett lands a big right hand. Emmett lands another as Murphy lands a leg kick. Emmett with two more right hands. Murphy with a front kick. Emmett looks for a takedown against the fence. Murphy lands an elbow to defend. 10-9 Emmett, 38-38.

Murphy with a jab and a head kick that Emmett partially blocks. Emmett lands a right hand. Emmett with a leg kick then a jab. Murphy lands a head kick. Emmett with a left hand to the body. Murphy lands a big left hand. Murphy lands a calf kick. Emmett lands a right hand against the fence and looks for a takedown. They separate and both are looking for openings. Murphy lands and Emmett stumbles. Emmett lands a combination. Murphy lands and circles away. Murphy with a spin kick. Emmett with a right hand. Close fight. 10-9 Murphy, 48-47 Murphy.

Official Result- Lerone Murphy def. Josh Emmett by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)

UFC on ESPN 64 live results: Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

The Octagon is back in the high altitude of Mexico City, Mexico, with a 13-fight card as Arena CDMX hosts UFC in ESPN 64.

The main event is a big bout in the flyweight division as former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno looks to make another run at the title when he takes on former title challenger Steve Erceg. Moreno is looking to score his second straight win after defeating Amir Albazi in November. Erceg started his UFC career off strong to quickly earn a title shot, but has lost two straight fights and is looking to get back into the win column.

In the co-main event, it is a lightweight bout sure to provide fireworks between knockout artists Manuel Torres and Drew Dober. Also on the main card is former TUF winner Kelvin Gastelum battling Joe Pyfer in a middleweight bout; a bantamweight bout pitting 20-year-old prospect Raul Rosas Jr. against Vince Morales; and a bantamweight bout between David Martinez and Saimon Oliveira.

*UPDATE- a middleweight bout between Kelvin Gastelum and Joe Pyfer has been scratched from the card after Pyfer was pulled from the bout due to an illness

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> Lightweights- Marquel Mederos (9-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Austin Hubbard (16-8, 4-6 UFC)

Mederos lands a leg kick. He lands a body kick. Mederos with another leg kick. He lands one again. Hubbard with a front kick but Mederos attacks the leg kick. Mederos with a right hand and a calf kick. Mederos lands a calf kick as Hubbard lands a jab. Hubbard lands a spin kick. Mederos lands a calf kick then a right hand. Hubbard with a body kick. Mederos with some more kicks. Mederos lands a right hand. Hubbard lands a body kick as they trade punches. Mederos lands a spin kick. Hubbard looks for a takedown against the fence and he grabs the back. Hubbard trying to get it down but Mederos is defending well. They separate. Mederos lands a left hook and lands at the horn. 10-9 Mederos.

They trade punches and Mederos lands a leg kick. Mederos lands a right hand, then Hubbard lands a combo. Hubbard lands a knee as Mederos looks for a takedown, but they break apart. Hubbard then grabs the single leg and pushes it against the fence, taking the back of Mederos. Hubbard jumps on the back as he has the hooks in. Mederos is walking around with Hubbard on his back as they go to Mederos’ corner. Hubbard is working for the choke from the back. Hubbard is trying to squeeze around the chin and they fall to the mat and Hubbard lets go. Hubbard with punches from the back. 10-9 Hubbard, 19-19.

Hubbard lands a right hand. They trade right hands as Hubbard lands a leg kick. Hubbard gets a takedown and is inside the guard of Mederos. Hubbard landing to the body from the top and keeping Mederos from getting up. Mederos lands a few elbows from the bottom. Hubbard with an elbow from the top. They try to scramble but Hubbard keeps it down and is in the half-guard. Hubbard tries to transition but slips off and Mederos ends up on top and lands an elbow. Mederos grabs the neck in a sprawl and Hubbard is cut open. Mederos with some short punches. Mederos lands a knee and an elbow as they get up. Hubbard is pressing forward. Hubbard looks for a takedown. Mederos defends and lands a hammerfist. 10-9 Mederos, 29-28 Mederos.

Official Result- Marquel Mederos def. Austin Hubbard by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

> Featherweights- Jamall Emmers (20-8, 3-4 UFC) vs. Gabriel Miranda (17-7, 1-2 UFC)

They trade big punches to start and Miranda scores a takedown. They get right up but Miranda gets it back down. Miranda is able to get the back as Emmers is scrambling. Miranda is looking for a choke. Emmers gets his head out and lands. Emmers stands and lands a leg kick as Miranda gets up. Miranda lands a short uppercut and they trade right hands. Emmers lands a combination. Emmers drops Miranda with a big right hand but backs off and lets him up. Miranda tries a takedown but Emmers defends. Emmers lands some more punches. Emmers with a right hand and hurts Miranda with an elbow. Emmers with two more right hands. They clinch against the fence. Emmers drops Miranda again with a right hand and finishes it off with a couple of hammerfists. What a finish by Emmers!

Official Result- Jamall Emmers def. Gabriel Miranda by TKO (punches) at 4:06 of Round 1

> Lightweights- Rafa Garcia (16-4, 4-4 UFC) vs. Vinc Pichel (14-4, 7-4 UFC)

Garcia lands a right hand. He lands another. Garcia mixes to the body and Pichel lands a right hand. Garcia lands a combination. Pichel with a pair of jabs. Garcia lands a left hand. Pichel with a leg kick and Garcia lands an overhand right. Pichel lands a right hand. Garcia lands a leg kick. Garcia with a stiff calf kick. Pichel lands a body kick. Garcia grabs the back against the fence. They both land foot stomps. Garcia kind of gets a takedown but they separate, though Garcia gets a takedown and ends the round on top. 10-9 Garcia.

They trade to start the second. Pichel with a leg kick as Garcia lands a pair of right hands. Garcia with another right hand. Pichel with an inside leg kick. Garcia lands a right hand. Timeout is called for an eye poke by Pichel. They get back to action and Garcia pushes the pace. Pichel lands and looks for a takedown, but Garcia defends. Pichel with a high kick. Pichel with a solid leg kick. Garcia looks for a takedown but Pichel defends. Garcia lands a knee. They separate and Pichel lands a jab. Pichel lands a right hand. Pichel landing far more in this round. Pichel with a front kick. Garcia lands a right hand. 10-9 Pichel, 19-19.

They come out trading and Pichel is getting the better of it. He lands a body kick and a knee after working the jab. Garcia lands a solid right hand and mixes to the body. Garcia with a combination and Pichel lands a counter right hand. Garcia lands a right hand to the body. Garcia lands a combo. Garcia with an uppercut and a big right hand. Pichel with a body kick. Garcia with a hard right hand and Pichel lands a counter left hand. Garcia lands another big right hand. Pichel mixes to the body and shoots for a takedown, but Garcia defends. Pichel with some kicks. Garcia with a series of left hands. Garcia gets a big slam takedown. Garcia with some right hands as Pichel gets to his feet. Pichel lands late. 10-9 Garcia, 29-28 Garcia.

Official Result- Rafa Garcia def. Vinc Pichel by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

> Women’s Strawweights- #11 Loopy Godinez (12-5, 7-5 UFC) vs. Julia Polastri (13-4, 1-1 UFC)

Polastri with a leg kick and Godinez lands a combination and a right hand. Godinez with a right hand and a body kick. Godinez with a leg kick followed by a right hand. Polastri lands an inside leg kick. Polastri throws a high kick and Godinez grabs the leg and lands a massive slam. Godinez lands and they stand, but Godinez gets it back to the mat. Godinez landing from the half-guard. Polastri trying to land from the bottom but Godinez has her pinned down. They trade elbows on the mat before they stand. Polastri with a leg kick. 10-9 Godinez.

Godinez lands a right hand. They trade kicks. Polastri with a high kick. Godinez lands a right hand. Godinez with a combination. Polastri is pressing forward but eating punches from Godinez. Godinez gets a takedown. They get to their feet, but Godinez gets another big takedown and is working from side control. Godinez with some elbows to the body. Godinez with more elbows and she takes the back and almost has a choke locked in. Polastri is able to escape and gets Godinez back in her guard. Godinez lands. 10-9 Godinez, 20-18 Godinez.

Polastri lands a leg kick. Godinez with a right hand and a leg kick. Polastri lands a leg kick. They tie up and both land knees with Godinez landing a knee as she breaks. Godinez lands a jab and a right hand. Godinez with some standing lead elbows. They tie up and Polastri lands a knee. Godinez with an elbow as they break. Polastri lands a solid right hand. Godinez with a big right hand. Polastri is coming forward and both are landing. Polastri with some big shots and Godinez tries for a takedown, but Polastri defends. They separate and Polastri with some big shots. Godinez lands a big combination and a big elbow. Polastri with a big right hand. Godinez lands. Godinez pushes it to the fence. Polastri with a knee. Godinez lands an elbow and they separate. Godinez with a jab. Godinez lands a right hand. Polastri lands two big right hands. Godinez lands two right hands. They are both landing hard shots. Polastri with more big punches against the fence. Godinez gets it down late. Crazy fun fight. 10-9 Polastri, 29-28 Godinez.

Official Result- Loopy Godinez def. Julia Polastri by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Featherweights- Christian Rodriguez (12-2, 5-2 UFC) vs. Melquizael Costa (22-7, 3-2 UFC)

Costa lands a body kick and Rodriguez with a quick combo. They tie up as Rodriguez has Costa against the fence. They trade knees against the fence. Rodriguez trying to get it down as Costa lands short punches. Rodriguez goes for a foot sweep but Costa defends and they remain tied up against the fence. Costa lands a knee. Both are looking to get it down but there isn’t a lot happening. They trade knees along the fence. Rodriguez gets the takedown and tries for the back but they scramble up. Rodriguez lands a knee as he has the neck and drops down for an anaconda choke. Costa scrambles out into side control and lands some elbows to the body. Costa with more elbows and knees. Costa lands as they scramble up. 10-9 Costa.

Rodriguez with a quick combo and a body kick as Costa lands a leg kick. Costa with a body kick. Rodriguez lands a right hand and clinches up against the fence. They separate. Rodriguez lands a left hand. Costa cracks Rodriguez with a left hand and Rodriguez drops down for a takedown, but Costa defends. Rodriguez tries to get it down and lands an elbow. Rodriguez gets a takedown but Costa is able to quickly scramble up. They clinch back up and Costa lands an elbow. Costa lands a knee that hurts Rodriguez and starts landing lots of punches. Rodriguez is scrambling around to recover but Costa is staying after him and landing. They get up and Costa gets it down and is on the back of Rodriguez. Costa looks for a guillotine choke. Rodriguez gives a thumbs up and rolls over. Costa reverses to the top. Costa with an elbow. Costa with some elbows from the top. 10-9 Costa, 20-18 Costa.

Rodriguez immediately gets a takedown. Rodriguez lands from the top but they scramble up and Costa lands a knee. They separate and Rodriguez lands some big punches and an elbow in a tie up. Rodriguez with another foot sweep and has the back as they stand. Rodriguez lands a knee. They separate and Rodriguez lands to tie it back up. Rodriguez gets Costa back down and is on the back landing left hands. They scramble up and Rodriguez lands a big elbow. Costa with a left hand. Rodriguez with some big punches. Rodriguez lands a leg kick. Rodriguez gets another takedown. Rodriguez with some big elbows from the top. Rodriguez stands and lands a hammerfist before getting back in the guard and landing shots. 10-9 Rodriguez, 29-28 Costa.

Official Result- Melquizael Costa def. Christian Rodriguez by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Middleweights- Jose Medina (11-4, 0-1 UFC) vs. Ateba Gautier (6-1, 0-0 UFC)

Gautier with a stiff jab. He lands an inside leg kick. Gautier with a right hand. Medina lands a leg kick. Gautier with a right hand. Gautier lands an uppercut. Gautier lands a heavy combination. Gautier with a head kick. Medina lands a leg kick. Gautier with a couple of big shots. Medina lands a jab. Gautier with a knee and a combo. Gautier lands an uppercut. Gautier lands a combo. Gautier with a hard left hand. Medina is eating them. Gautier lands a big combo against the fence and drops Medina with a big knee and it is stopped. Big finish from Gautier to pick up the win.

Official Result- Ateba Gautier def. Jose Medina by knockout (strikes) at 3:32 of Round 1

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> Flyweights*- Ronaldo Rodriguez (17-2, 2-0 UFC) vs. Kevin Borjas (9-3, 0-2 UFC)

*Rodriguez missed weight by one pound

Borjas lands a leg kick as Rodriguez misses a spin kick. Rodriguez with a jumping switch kick. Borjas drops Rodriguez with a right hand but Rodriguez is able to roll to his feet. They trade inside the pocket. Borjas lands a right hand. Rodriguez just misses a spin kick. Borjas lands a right hand. Borjas with another right hand. Rodriguez lands a body kick and Borjas lands a big right hand that almost dropped Rodriguez. Borjas with a jumping knee. Borjas lands a knee as Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown. Rodriguez scores a late takedown. 10-9 Borjas.

Rodriguez lands some leg kicks. Rodriguez with a body kick and lands a left hand. Rodriguez with a leg kick. Rodriguez with a jumping knee. Borjas lands a big right hand. Borjas lands another right hand. Rodriguez lands a body kick and a spin kick. Borjas lands another stiff right hand. He lands it again. Rodriguez with a front kick. Rodriguez with a body kick. Borjas lands another right hand. Rodriguez lands some kicks. They trade right hands. Borjas lands an uppercut. Rodriguez looks for a takedown and pushes it to the fence. 10-9 Borjas, 20-18 Borjas.

They exchange leg kicks. Borjas with a double jab and a right hand. Borjas lands to the body. Rodriguez lands a right hand. They trade jabs and Rodriguez connects with a solid right hand. They trade and Borjas lands a hard counter right hand. Borjas with another right hand. They trade hard leg kicks. Rodriguez with a high kick and Borjas lands a right hand. Rodriguez with a hard leg kick that is checked. Borjas lands a solid right hand. They have a wild exchange where both land. Borjas with a combo and Rodriguez lands a leg kick. 10-9 Borjas, 30-27 Borjas.

Official Result- Kevin Borjas def. Ronaldo Rodriguez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

> Bantamweights- David Martinez (11-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Saimon Oliveira (18-5, 0-2 UFC)

Martinez lands a leg kick and a right hand. Martinez with a body kick then a leg kick. Oliveira lands a combination. Martinez lands a high kick. They trade and Martinez initiates a clinch and pushes it to the fence. Martinez lands as they break. Martinez lands a right hand and a leg kick. Martinez lands a right hand. Martinez with a high kick. Martinez lands a combination. Martinez hurts Oliveira with a right hand and drops him with a knee. Martinez starts landing lots of punches from the top and it is all over! What a finish from Martinez!

Official Result- David Martinez def. Saimon Oliveira by TKO (punches) at 4:38 of Round 1

> Bantamweights- Raul Rosas Jr. (10-1, 4-1 UFC) vs. Vince Morales (16-9, 3-7 UFC)

Rosas Jr. with a body kick then a high kick. Rosas Jr. lands a leg kick. Rosas Jr. shoots for a takedown but Morales defends. Rosas Jr. lands a flurry. Rosas Jr. picks Morales up and slams him down in the center of the Octagon. Rosas Jr. is in side control. Rosas Jr. looked for an arm but goes back to side control. Rosas Jr. lands a right hand from the top. Rosas Jr. scrambles to the back and looks to get the hooks in. Morales gets to the sprawl position and Rosas Jr. lands to the body. They roll and Morales ends up on top. Morales attacks the neck late and time runs out. 10-9 Rosas Jr.

Rosas Jr. lands a pair of jabs. Morales connects with a right hand. Rosas Jr. lands a leg kick. Morales lands a right hand. Morales lands a high kick and Rosas Jr. grabs the leg and gets it to the mat. They briefly get up and Rosas Jr. is able to get it back down. Rosas Jr. is trying to get the back as Morales is defending. Rosas Jr. trying to get the hooks in. Rosas Jr. keeping control of the back. Morales stands with Rosas Jr. on his back. They go back to the mat and Rosas Jr. lands. 10-9 Rosas Jr., 20-18 Rosas Jr.

Rosas Jr. works the jab and lands a body kick. Morales with a head kick. He follows with a jab. Rosas Jr. shoots for a takedown but Morales sprawls and looks for a choke. Morales looking for an anaconda choke. Rosas Jr. is trying to fight it off. Rosas Jr. is able to escape and is now in side control. Rosas Jr. with an elbow. Morales lands an elbow from the bottom. Rosas Jr. grabs the back of Morales as they scramble. Rosas Jr. has body control on the mat. Morales looks for the choke again late. He has it locked in but Rosas Jr. is able to survive to the end. 10-9 Morales, 29-28 Rosas Jr.

Official Result- Raul Rosas Jr. def. Vince Morales by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Flyweights- Edgar Chairez (11-6 1 NC, 1-2 1 NC UFC) vs. CJ Vergara (12-6-1, 3-4 UFC)

Vergara lands a leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Chairez with a jab after landing a right hand. Vergara with a leg kick. Chairez working the jab. Chairez lands a big left hook and Vergara almost got dropped but was able to remain on his feet. Chairez lands a big combination and Vergara goes down. Chairez gets on the back and locks in a rear-naked choke and Vergara taps! Chairez with the big finish to score the win.

Official Result- Edgar Chairez def. CJ Vergara by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:30 of Round 1

> Lightweights- Manuel Torres (15-3, 3-1 UFC) vs. Drew Dober (27-14 1 NC, 13-10 1 NC UFC)

Torres lands a leg kick. Torres lands a stiff right hand. Torres lands a right hand. Torres with a head kick that Dober partially blocks. Torres drops Dober with a right hand and starts landing punches as Dober is attacking the leg. Torres continues to land and it is stopped! Torres gets the big finish as Dober has no clue that the fight was stopped.

Official Result- Manuel Torres def. Drew Dober by TKO (punches) at 1:45 of Round 1

> Flyweights- #2 Brandon Moreno (22-8-2, 10-5-2 UFC) vs. #8 Steve Erceg (12-3, 3-2 UFC)

Moreno connects with a left hand. Erceg with a leg kick. Moreno with a jab then a left hand. Moreno lands to the body and then follows with a body kick. Moreno connects with a punch. Erceg lands a short uppercut. Moreno lands a jab. Moreno rocks Erceg with a combination. Erceg seems to have recovered. Erceg lands a combo. Moreno lands a right hand. Erceg working the jab. Erceg lands a left hook to the body. Moreno lands a hard right hand. Erceg with an uppercut. They trade jabs. Moreno lands a body kick. Moreno lands another big right hand. Erceg works the jab and Moreno lands a right hand. Moreno with a calf kick. They trade jabs. 10-9 Moreno.

Erceg with a head kick that Moreno partially blocks. Moreno lands a hard right hand. Erceg lands a right hand and a step-in knee. They trade in close range. Moreno lands a right hand. Erceg lands a right hand and follows with a combo. Moreno lands a leg kick after they have an exchange in close range. Moreno lands a right hand. Moreno lands a jab. They trade body kicks. Erceg lands a right hand as Moreno landed a right hand. Erceg lands a combo ending with a kick. Erceg lands a jab and then a right hand. 10-9 Moreno, 20-18 Moreno.

Moreno lands a jab. Erceg lands a leg kick and follows with a jab. Erceg lands an uppercut. Moreno lands a right hand. Moreno lands an inside leg kick. Erceg with a leg kick then a jab. Erceg with a combination. Erceg with an inside leg kick. The pace has slowed a little this round. Erceg lands a step-in knee. Moreno lands a leg kick. Erceg lands a combo. Erceg lands two punches and a knee. 10-9 Erceg, 29-28 Moreno.

Moreno lands a left hook. Moreno with a left hand. Moreno lands a combination. Erceg lands a right hand. Moreno lands a right hand and just misses some left hands. Moreno connects with a right hand. Erceg lands a high kick. Moreno with a left hand. Erceg works the jab. Moreno landing slightly more in this round. Moreno lands a left hand. Moreno shoots for a takedown against the fence. Moreno with some knees and they scramble. 10-9 Moreno, 39-37 Moreno.

They trade and Moreno lands a right hand. Erceg with a right hand. Moreno with a left hand and follows with a combo. Moreno lands a leg kick but Erceg checks it. Erceg lands a right hand. Moreno lands a combination. Erceg works the jab. They trade jabs. Erceg with a body kick. Erceg with a front kick to the body. Moreno lands a right hand. Moreno lands a head kick and gets Erceg down to the ground. Moreno is trying to pass guard. Moreno gets to side control and finishes it out there. 10-9 Moreno, 49-46 Moreno.

Official Result- Brandon Moreno def. Steve Erceg by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)

Orlando Sports Commission seeking $18 million to bid for future WWE & UFC events

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Orlando is looking to score several shows under the TKO umbrella.

The Orlando Business Journal reported Tuesday that the Greater Orlando Sports Commission is looking to attract both WWE and UFC in the near future by proposing an $18 million grant to obtain events from both companies. Events proposed under the bid include:

  • A Survivor Series or Saturday Night’s Main Event show in November or December of 2026 at the Kia Center.
  • A UFC pay-per-view event in August or September 2027 at the Kia Center.
  • A Royal Rumble event for February 2028 at Camping World Stadium
  • A two-night WrestleMania event in mid-to-late April 2031. Camping World Stadium would serve as the main venue while the Kia Center would also host events. This would also include Raw and SmackDown shows during WrestleMania week.

The grant has been advanced by the Tourist Development Tax Sports Incentive Committee and will next go in front of Orange County for approval. According to the report, the events would bring a projected total of 300,000 attendees, 120,000 room nights, and more than $225 million in economic impact for the city.

WrestleMania 41 will take place next month in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced last month that WrestleMania 42 will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Cain Velasquez sentenced to prison for 2022 shooting

Posted on by Ian Carey

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez received his sentence on Monday for charges stemming from a February 2022 shooting where Velasquez fired a handgun at a car containing a man accused of molesting his son.

The man’s stepfather, Paul Bender, was injured in the shooting. Velasquez pled no contest to felony attempted murder, assault, and multiple weapons-related charges in August.

Velasquez was sentenced to five years in prison but will receive credit for more than three and a half years of time served. He was incarcerated for eight months and spent the remainder of that time wearing an ankle monitor. His lawyers reportedly believe he will likely serve one more year in prison when time served is factored in.

NBC’s Ian Cull reports that the victims are “extremely disappointed” with the decision and felt the judge factored in “unfounded allegations.”

Velasquez appeared in person in a Santa Clara, California courtroom on Monday for his sentencing. His lawyers asked for time served and probation, while the district attorney’s office had asked for 25 years to life.

Prior to his sentencing, Velasquez expressed remorse for “taking the law into his own hands” during an appearance on The Kyle Kingsbury Podcast.

“The way that I handled things, that was not the way to do it,” Velasquez said. “We cannot put the law in our own hands.”

UFC on ESPN+ 113 live results: Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

The Octagon travels across the pond Saturday as London, England’s O2 Arena hosts UFC action for the first time since July 2023 with UFC on ESPN+ 113.

Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards returns for the first time since losing the title to Belal Muhammad in July as he takes on Sean Brady in the five-round main event. Edwards’ title loss ended a 13-fight unbeaten streak. Brady, on a three-fight win streak, steps in on short notice to replace Jack Della Maddalena, who was pulled for a title shot.

The co-main event marks the return to action for former UFC light heavyweight Champion Jan Blachowicz, out since July 2023, as he takes on rising contender Carlos Ulberg. Also on the main card is the returning Gunnar Nelson, who fights for the first time in two years, against Kevin Holland in welterweight action; a lightweight bout pitting Jordan Vucenic against Chris Duncan; with featherweights Nathaniel Wood and Morgan Charriere opening the main card.

ESPN+ PRELIMS | 1 PM ET/10 AM PT

> Lightweights- Guram Kutateladze (13-4, 2-2 UFC) vs. Kaue Fernandes (9-2, 1-1 UFC)

Fernandes lands a jab. He lands a leg kick then follows with another jab. Fernandes with a double jab. He throws a head kick that Kutateladze blocks. He lands a body kick. Fernandes lands a leg kick as Kutateladze lands a left hand. They trade inside the pocket as Kutateladze shoots for a takedown. Fernandes defends as they break apart. Fernandes lands a leg kick. Fernandes lands a right hand and they clinch, then Fernandes lands a head kick on the break that hurts Kutateladze, but he recovers. Fernandes lands a right hand. He lands a jab then a right hand. Fernandes with a calf kick then a high kick. Kutateladze looks for a takedown but Fernandes defends again. Fernandes lands a calf kick. He lands another. Kutateladze lands a leg kick but falls to his butt as Fernandes lands a counter left, but he gets up. 10-9 Fernandes.

Fernandes with a jab then a pair of high kicks. Fernandes lands a calf kick and Kutateladze falls to the mat. Fernandes jumps on top and starts landing. They get up. Kutateladze changes stances. Fernandes with a high kick and a right hand. Fernandes with a combo. Fernandes with a pair of leg kicks, then lands another. He lands a high kick then a body kick. They clinch but break. Fernandes lands a combo and a leg kick as Kutateladze lands a left hand. They trade punches. They tie up and Fernandes scores a takedown. Fernandes stands and lands some kicks before Kutateladze scrambles up. 10-9 Fernandes, 20-18 Fernandes.

Kutateladze lands an inside leg kick. He lands a combo then a leg kick. Fernandes with a right hand. They trade in close range. Fernandes with a pair of leg kicks. Kutateladze lands a body kick then Fernandes lands a combination. Kutateladze lands a body kick. They’re a lot less active in this round. They trade in close range. Kutateladze lands a right hand and they briefly tie up before breaking. Fernandes lands a pair of calf kicks and Kutateladze falls to the mat. Kutateladze stands and they trade with Fernandes getting a brief late takedown. 10-9 Fernandes, 30-27 Fernandes.

Official Result- Kaue Fernandes def. Guram Kutateladze by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Bantamweights- Nathan Fletcher (9-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Caolan Loughran (9-2, 1-2 UFC)

They trade jabs. They both work the jab as Fletcher lands a leg kick. Loughran lands a left hand. Loughran works the jab and lands a left hook. Fletcher with a jab. They trade in close range. Loughran grabs the leg and looks for a takedown and is able to get it. They scramble as Loughran still has a grasp of Fletcher. Loughran has Fletcher against the fence and lands some knees. Loughran gets it back down. They stand and separate and Loughran lands a right hand. Fletcher lands a jab. He lands another. Loughran grabs the leg and pushes it against the fence. They trade some knees. Loughran gets the back and rolls to the mat. Fletcher reverses into the guard of Loughran. Loughran tries to push off as Fletcher lands, and Fletcher lands on the feet. Loughran gets a late takedown. Close round. 10-9 Loughran.

They trade jabs and Fletcher scores a takedown. They quickly get up and Fletcher has the back, landing a few knees. Fletcher has the body locked and tries to get it down. Loughran did grab the fence for a split-second. Fletcher jumps on the back of Loughran on the feet. Fletcher with some left hands. Fletcher now landing some right hands. He starts landing to the body. Fletcher continues to land right hands. He lands some big right hands before looking for a choke. He’s cranking on the face. He jumps off of Loughran’s back. Fletcher with a knee. They separate. Both swing and miss. Fletcher lands a knee and Loughran looks for a takedown against the fence. Loughran with an elbow on the break. 10-9 Fletcher, 19-19.

They trade and Loughran lands a right hand. Loughran lands again and scores a takedown. Fletcher rolls through and they get back to their feet. Loughran gets it back to the mat. They stand and Loughran is on the back of Fletcher. Loughran lets go and they break apart. They both land a punch and Fletcher shoots for a takedown, but Loughran defends. Loughran has back control and moves it to the fence. Fletcher lands a knee as he’s defending Loughran trying to take it down. They separate. Loughran lands a series of short punches. Loughran scores a takedown. They stand and Loughran is working to take it back down. They go back to the mat as Loughran is attacking the neck. He lets go and takes the back. Fletcher has the neck and lands some knees. He lands a right hand and then lands to the body and a big flurry as Loughran is against the fence. Fletcher with a big knee as they’re trading. Fletcher lands a spinning elbow that cuts Loughran open and they trade late. Close fight. 10-9 Fletcher, 29-28 Fletcher.

Official Result- Caolan Loughran def. Nathan Fletcher by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

> Women’s Strawweights- Shauna Bannon (6-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Puja Tomar (9-4, 1-0 UFC)

Tomar lands a left hand as they trade kicks. Tomar lands a left hand and Bannon initiates a clinch and pushes it to the fence. They separate. Bannon with a leg kick then a body kick and they trade punches in close range. They trade kicks as Tomar lands a head kick. They trade body kicks. Bannon with some side kicks and a head kick before they tie up. Bannon with a pair of knees then lands an elbow as they break. They trade kicks. Bannon with some fake side kicks and lands a flush head kick. They trade kicks and Bannon with a side kick. Timeout is called for a low kick. They get back to action and Tomar lands a right hand. They trade against the fence. 10-9 Bannon.

They trade kicks. Bannon with more side kicks. They trade before clinching as Bannon has Tomar pushed against the fence. They both land as they break. They trade and Tomar drops Bannon with a head kick and starts landing from the top. She’s looking for a finish but Bannon gets Tomar into her guard and is recovering. Bannon looking for an armbar. Tomar is defending it but Bannon has it locked on and Tomar taps! What a recovery and finish from Bannon!

Official Result- Shauna Bannon def. Puja Tomar by submission (armbar) at 3:22 of Round 2

> Middleweights- Christian Leroy Duncan (10-2, 3-2 UFC) vs. Andrey Pulyaev (9-2, 0-0 UFC)

Duncan lands a leg kick. He lands another. Pulyaev with a high kick. Duncan lands a combo with a spinning elbow and a knee against the fence. Duncan looks for a takedown. Duncan briefly gets it down but they pop up in the clinch. Duncan landing some knees. They remained tied up and are trading knees. Duncan landing some more knees. They are separated. Duncan lands a combo. Pulyaev with a high kick and lands a leg kick. 10-9 Duncan.

Duncan with a high kick. Pulyaev throws a high kick that Duncan blocks. Duncan with a leg kick and lands a left hand. Duncan lands a few shots against the fence before looking for a takedown against the fence. Pulyaev is looking for a takedown as he reverses. They separate. Duncan lands a body kick then a right hand. Duncan with a spin kick to Pulyaev’s leg. Pulyaev with a spin kick. Duncan with some jabs and a leg kick. Pulyaev with a body kick. Duncan lands a combo and a body kick. Duncan with a spinning elbow and stuns Pulyaev with a left hand. Duncan with more leg kicks. 10-9 Duncan, 20-18 Duncan.

Duncan throwing kicks to start the third as he’s pressuring Pulyaev around the fence. Duncan with a spin kick and lands some knees as they clinch. They are tied up and trading some knees. They break apart. Pulyaev gets a body lock and Duncan defends. They switch position and Duncan is pressuring. Duncan with a spinning elbow and they remain tied up. Pulyaev gets the back. Duncan with some shoulder strikes. Duncan with a big knee to the body and lands two more then an elbow as they break. They tie back up and Duncan lands some elbows. Duncan with an elbow and a big flurry as the fight ends. 10-9 Duncan, 30-27 Duncan.

Official Result- Christian Leroy Duncan def. Andrey Pulyaev by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

> Heavyweights- #8 Marcin Tybura (26-9, 13-8 UFC) vs. #13 Mick Parkin (10-0, 4-0 UFC)

They trade kicks. Tybura lands a body kick. Tybura lands a left hand. They trade kicks. Parkin lands a right hand. They trade punches. Tybura with a quick combo. Parkin lands a body kick. Tybura grabs the body lock and pushes it against the fence. They separate and Parkin lands a right hand. They trade punches. Tybura with a left hand to the body. Tybura with a body kick and Parkin lands a leg kick. Parkin pushes it to the fence and Tybura lands a body kick as they break. Tybura gets a late takedown. Close round. 10-9 Tybura.

They trade. Tybura lands a left hand. Tybura slips on a kick and Parkin gets into side control. Parkin controlling from the top as he gets to the half-guard. Parkin with some right hands from the top and is starting to tee off with hammerfists. Tybura was blocking a lot of it and survives. Parkin stands as Tybura is looking for a leg, and then Parkin gets back on top and starts landing some right hands. They get to their feet. Parkin lands a left hand. Parkin with a straight right hand. Parkin gets the takedown. Parkin has body control. They scramble up. 10-9 Parkin, 19-19.

They trade inside the pocket immediately. Tybura lands a left hand to the body. Tybura with a left hook. Parkin with a leg kick as Tybura lands a combo. Tybura lands a combination. Parkin lands a right hand. Tybura throwing the jab. Parkin lands a right hand. Tybura with a left hand. Both are landing some solid, clean shots. Parkin lands a big right hand. Parkin pressing forward and landing slightly more but Tybura has landed more overall in the third. Tybura looks for a takedown but Parkin defends and lands as they go the distance. Very close fight. 10-9 Tybura, 29-28 Tybura.

Official Result- Marcin Tybura def. Mick Parkin by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Flyweights- Lone’er Kavanagh (8-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Felipe Dos Santos (8-2 1 NC, 1-2 UFC)

They trade leg kicks. Dos Santos lands a big right hand. They clinch but break. They trade leg kicks. Dos Santos with a body kick. Dos Santos with a pair of leg kicks. Kavanagh lands a leg kick. Kavanagh with a body kick. They tie up and Dos Santos lands a knee as Kavanagh pushes it to the fence. They separate and Dos Santos with a spin as they tie back up. They separate and Kavanagh is cut open. They trade leg kicks. Kavanagh looks for a takedown but they scramble up. 10-9 Dos Santos.

They trade punches. Dos Santos lands a jab and they tie up. They trade knees before separating. Kavanagh lands a big flurry that forces Dos Santos to shoot for a takedown. They go to the mat with Kavanagh on top and they trade elbows. Kavanagh landing from the top and Dos Santos is throwing upkicks, some illegal, as they scramble up. Kavanagh gets a takedown. Dos Santos lands some elbows from the bottom. Kavanagh is bleeding everywhere. Kavanagh with big punches from the top. They scramble up and Kavanagh gets it back down. Kavanagh with big left hands from the top. 10-9 Kavanagh, 19-19.

Kavanagh with some leg kicks. Kavanagh with a body kick. Dos Santos lands a combo. They trade kicks and Kavanagh scores a takedown. Kavanagh with a pair of elbows from the top. Kavanagh is landing from the top and Dos Santos lands some illegal upkicks, and gets a warning. They scramble up but Kavanagh is able to score another takedown. Dos Santos lands some elbows to the spine, and gets another warning. Kavanagh lands from the top before they get up. Dos Santos lands a knee and Kavanagh looks for a takedown, but it is defended. 10-9 Kavanagh, 29-28 Kavanagh.

Official Result- Lone’er Kavanagh def. Felipe Dos Santos by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Lightweights- Jai Herbert (13-5-1, 3-4-1 UFC) vs. Chris Padilla (15-6, 2-0 UFC)

Padilla lands a right hand. Padilla lands a leg kick. Padilla lands a jab as Herbert presses forward. Herbert lands a body kick. Herbert lands a jab. Herbert with a front kick to the body. They clinch as Padilla pushes it to the fence. Padilla with some knees as Herbert lands some short body shots. 10-9 Padilla.

Herbert lands a jab. Herbert with a head kick and lands a combo. They trade and Padilla gets the clinch against the fence. They separate and Herbert lands some jabs. Padilla complains of an eye poke but Herbert claims it was the jab. Herbert with a leg kick. Padilla grabs the leg and pushes it against the fence. They trade knees. They separate and Herbert lands. 10-9 Herbert, 19-19.

Herbert lands a leg kick. Herbert lands a combination. They clinch and Herbert breaks it with an elbow. Herbert lands a combo as Padilla lands a high kick. Herbert lands a jab. Herbert with a body kick as Padilla lands a leg kick. Padilla with a body kick. Padilla looks for a takedown but Herbert defends. Padilla has the back and lands some knees against the fence. Padilla lands a knee. Herbert with a knee. Padilla trying to get it down but they break apart. Herbert with a combination. Herbert lands a knee and is landing more late as he wobbles Padilla. Padilla is cut open. They trade. Herbert with a leg kick. 10-9 Herbert, 29-28 Herbert.

Official Result- Chris Padilla def. Jai Herbert by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

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> Featherweights- Nathaniel Wood (20-6, 8-3 UFC) vs. Morgan Charriere (20-10-1, 2-1 UFC)

They trade leg kicks early as Wood is landing more. Wood connects with a left hook and a leg kick. Wood with a calf kick and Charriere lands a high kick. Wood drops Charriere with a left hand and starts landing from the top as Charriere is trying to get control from the bottom. Wood grabs the neck and locks in a guillotine choke but Charriere is defending. Charriere gets out and is inside of Wood’s guard. Wood is looking for a triangle choke from the bottom. Wood with some elbows from the bottom. Charriere postures up and Wood lands an upkick. Charriere ends the round on top. 10-9 Wood.

They trade punches and Wood lands a leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Wood lands a right hand that briefly stuns Charriere. They trade leg kicks. Charriere with a leg kick. Wood lands a combo and Charriere lands a left hand to the body. They trade jabs. Wood with a right hand and Charriere lands an uppercut. They trade jabs. Charriere with a body kick. They trade kicks and Charriere gets tripped up to the mat, but quickly jumps up and they clinch. They break after Charriere lands to the body. Wood lands a right hand and Charriere lands a knee to the body and a big elbow. Wood with a front kick and Charriere grabs the leg, pushing it to the fence. Wood looks for a guillotine choke. Wood sweeps to the top and lands as they stand. Charriere with an elbow as they separate. Charriere with a body kick as Wood lands a stinging jab. 10-9 Wood, 20-18 Wood.

Wood lands a right hand. Charriere with a pair of kicks. Wood lands a jab. Charriere with a high kick. Charriere lands the jab. They trade kicks. Charriere with a head kick that Wood blocks. Wood with a pair of inside leg kicks. Charriere lands a jab. Wood with an overhand right. They trade jabs. Wood with a double jab then a right hand. Wood lands a jab followed by a leg kick. They trade left hands and leg kicks. Charriere with a jab. Wood lands a jab. 10-9 Wood, 30-27 Wood.

Official Result- Nathaniel Wood def. Morgan Charriere by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Lightweights- Jordan Vucenic (13-3, 0-1 UFC) vs. Chris Duncan (12-2, 3-1 UFC)

Duncan with a pair of body kicks. Duncan lands a body kick and drops Vucenic with a right hand. Duncan jumps on top and looks for a guillotine choke. Duncan lets go and gets inside the guard of Vucenic and lands a big elbow. Duncan with another elbow. Duncan gets the back as Vucenic tried to scramble out. Duncan lands some knees. Duncan picks Vucenic up and slams him down to the mat. Duncan with several knees as he has control of Vucenic. 10-9 Duncan.

Duncan with a leg kick and he’s chasing the takedown. He is able to grab Vucenic and get him to the mat. Vucenic landing some elbows from the bottom. Duncan has the body as they scramble. Vucenic grabs the neck but Duncan is able to escape and they scramble up, but Duncan still has the body lock. They separate. Vucenic lands a left hook. Vucenic with a right hand. Duncan lands a right hand and Vucenic lands a left hook. Vucenic with a double jab. Duncan lands a high kick. Vucenic lands a jab. Vucenic shoots for a takedown and Duncan sprawls to defend. They stand and separate. Vucenic with an elbow. Duncan lands a kick and Vucenic grabs the leg. Duncan drops down for a guillotine choke. He has it locked in and Vucenic taps! Duncan picks up the win with a slick guillotine choke.

Official Result- Chris Duncan def. Jordan Vucenic by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:42 of Round 2

> Women’s Strawweights- Molly McCann (14-7, 7-6 UFC) vs. Alexia Thainara (11-1, 0-0 UFC)

Thainara with a leg kick. She lands another. She lands another leg kick. McCann with a jab. Thainara grabs McCann’s leg on a kick and scores a takedown. McCann with some elbows from the bottom. McCann trying to throw up her legs. Thainara is able to posture and move to side control. McCann tries to scramble out but Thainara stays on top and is now inside McCann’s guard. Thainara with a few punches from the top. McCann tries for an arm but Thainara gets out and is on the back of McCann and landing punches. Thainara locks in a rear-naked choke. McCann is able to force Thainara to let go. Thainara locks in the choke once again and McCann taps. Absolute dominance from Thainara to pick up the win.

Official Result- Alexia Thainara def. Molly McCann by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:32 of Round 1

> Welterweights- Gunnar Nelson (19-5-1, 10-5 UFC) vs. Kevin Holland (26-13 1 NC, 13-10 1 NC UFC)

Holland with a series of inside leg kicks. Holland lands a leg kick. Holland lands a few jabs and a right hand. Nelson lands a leg kick. Nelson gets a takedown. Holland looks for a triangle choke and looks for an arm. Nelson gets out but remains on top and Holland is working back for the triangle choke. Nelson landing from the top as Holland is being aggressive from his guard. Nelson stands and Holland lands some upkicks. Nelson tries to roll to the back but Holland scrambles up and they trade knees. Holland drops Nelson with a right hand and lands but Nelson is able to survive the round. 10-9 Holland.

Holland lands a right hand and they tie up. Holland with some body shots against the fence. Holland with a foot stomp and they separate. Holland lands a pair of leg kicks. They clinch and both land a knee. Nelson tries to get Holland down but Holland defends. Holland lands a pair of elbows. Holland with more elbows and some hammerfists as Nelson is still working to get the takedown. Nelson gets Holland down to the mat. Holland lands from the bottom as Nelson isn’t doing much on top. Nelson lands a right hand. Holland with some hammerfists from the bottom. Holland tries to trap an arm. Nelson stands but gets back inside of Holland’s guard. 10-9 Holland, 20-18 Holland.

They trade after clinching up. Holland lands some knees and a pair of elbows. Nelson gets Holland down to the mat and is working from the top. Holland with some upkicks from the bottom that are connecting. Nelson lands a big right hand. Nelson trying to get the back and is looking for an arm-triangle choke. Holland is trying to fight it off. Holland is able to escape and scrambles to his feet. Holland lands some knees against the fence. Holland with a jumping knee and they separate. They clinch and Holland lands a knee and Nelson looks for a takedown. Holland defends and falls to the mat at the end. 10-9 Holland, 29-28 Holland.

Official Result- Kevin Holland def. Gunnar Nelson by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Light Heavyweights- #3 Jan Blachowicz (29-10-1, 12-7-1 UFC) vs. #6 Carlos Ulberg (11-1, 7-1 UFC)

They trade punches and Ulberg lands a leg kick. Ulberg with a jab and Blachowicz lands a leg kick. Blachowicz with a leg kick. Ulberg lands a jab. Ulberg lands a leg kick and then a right hand. Blachowicz lands a leg kick followed by a jab. Blachowicz lands a leg kick. Blachowicz with a high kick. Ulberg lands a jab and a leg kick. Ulberg lands a leg kick. Blachowicz with a heavy calf kick. Ulberg lands a combo. They trade leg kicks. They both land leg kicks. They trade jabs. 10-9 Blachowicz.

They trade leg kicks. Blachowicz with a high kick and a left hand. Ulberg lands a jab. Blachowicz with a calf kick. Blachowicz with a body kick. Ulberg lands a left hand. Blachowicz lands a combination. They trade leg kicks. They trade in close range and Blachowicz connected with a right hand. Ulberg lands a knee in a brief clinch. They trade as both land kicks. Ulberg with a pair of leg kicks. Blachowicz lands a right hand. Ulberg with a leg kick. Blachowicz lands a body kick. Blachowicz with a leg kick and Ulberg lands a right hand. Blachowicz lands a jab. Ulberg with two leg kicks. 10-9 Ulberg, 19-19.

Ulberg with some leg kicks. They trade and Ulberg looks for a takedown against the fence but lets go. They trade leg kicks and Ulberg lands a right hand to the body. Ulberg with a right hand. Ulberg with a pair of leg kicks. Ulberg lands a left hand. Blachowicz with a calf kick. Ulberg with a pair of leg kicks. Blachowicz lands a left hand. Ulberg with a combination. They trade jabs. Ulberg with a right hand and two leg kicks. Ulberg with a short left hand. Blachowicz lands a body kick. Ulberg lands a leg kick. Blachowicz with a body kick. Ulberg with a jab. Ulberg lands a pair of leg kicks. Blachowicz with a series of kicks and lands a right hand. Close fight. 10-9 Ulberg, 29-28 Ulberg.

Official Result- Carlos Ulberg def. Jan Blachowicz by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Welterweights- #1 Leon Edwards (22-4 1 NC, 14-3 1 NC UFC) vs. #5 Sean Brady (17-1, 7-1 UFC)

They come out trading. Brady with a leg kick. Edwards lands a combo. Edwards with a high kick. They clinch. Edwards with a knee and they break. Brady lands a leg kick. They tie back up. Brady with some slaps and they break. Brady lands a combination. Brady lands a leg kick and a left hand. They clinch. Edwards with a knee and they separate. Brady lands a leg kick and Edwards with a right hand. Brady with a combo. Edwards lands a left hand. They clinch back up and trade knees. Brady gets it down late. 10-9 Brady.

Brady looks for a takedown right away and pushes it against the fence. Brady gets it down and takes the back of Edwards. Brady has the body triangle and is landing left hands from the back. Edwards tries to scramble out and Brady ends up on top and lands some elbows to the body. Brady attacking the arm looking for a potential kimura while controlling from the top. Edwards gets Brady back in his half-guard but Brady gets full mount and then the back and is landing punches. Brady lands an elbow. Brady with right hands from the top. 10-9 Brady, 20-18 Brady.

Brady lands a pair of body kicks. Edwards with a left hand. They clinch but break. Edwards looks for a takedown but Brady defends and ends up on top. Brady lands a lot of punches from side control and gets to the half-guard. Brady mixing a lot of punches to the head and body. Brady takes the back and is landing a lot of punches as he briefly flattens Edwards out. Brady with tons of punches. Brady keeps back control. 10-9 Brady, 30-27 Brady.

Brady with a leg kick. Brady with a combination. Brady scores a takedown. Brady looking for a guillotine choke from the top. He has it locked in and Edwards is trying to fight it. Brady squeezes and Edwards taps! A dominant win for Brady.

Official Result- Sean Brady def. Leon Edwards by submission (guillotine choke) at 1:39 of Round 4

September 3, 2007 Observer Newsletter: WWE SummerSlam & UFC 74 reviews

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

The theme of the 20th annual SummerSlam show on 8/26 from East Rutherford, NJ, is it had a few surprises, but more in the uneventful way.

John Cena pinned Randy Orton to retain his WWE title in a strong main event, said by many to be an almost identical match to those done at many of the house shows in recent weeks. The result was a surprise, if only because HHH had stated months back he felt Cena would got hotter in the position of chasing the title after such a long reign and Orton was his choice to do it. That was the direction they were working toward, although no actual final decision was made to the finish, other than a rematch was penciled in for Unforgiven. If Cena retains his title on that show and the week beyond, he will be the longest reigning WWE champion since Hulk Hogan’s 1984-88 run.

Subscribers can read this issue here.

UFC on ESPN+ 112 live results: Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze 2

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

The Octagon is back inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas this week for a full slate of 13 fights as UFC On ESPN+ 112 takes place.

The main event is a five-round middleweight bout between former title challenger Marvin Vettori and Roman Dolidze. This is the second time the two have fought, as Vettori scored a decision win over Dolidze at UFC 286 in March 2023. Vettori is coming off a near two-year layoff following a loss to Jared Cannonier in June 2023, while Dolidze comes into this bout having won two straight fights.

Also on the main card is a welterweight bout between Chidi Njokuani and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos; a lightweight bout pitting Alexander Hernandez against Kurt Holobaugh; a bantamweight bout between Da’Mon Blackshear; and a light heavyweight bout between Diyar Nurgozhay and Brendson Ribeiro.

ESPN+ PRELIMS | 4 PM ET/1 PM PT

> Women’s Flyweights- Yuneisy Duben (6-0 1 NC, 0-0 UFC) vs. Carli Judice (3-2, 0-1 UFC)

Duben lands some leg kicks to start and Judice lands a left hand. Duben lands a combination. Judice lands a pair of left hands with Duben against the fence. Judice lands a combination. Judice with a teet kick to the body. Judice drops Duben with a head kick and finishes it with punches from the top. Fantastic finish from Judice.

Official Result- Carli Judice def. Yuneisy Duben by TKO (head kick & punches) at 1:40 of Round 1

> Women’s Bantamweights- Josiane Nunes (10-3, 3-2 UFC) vs. Priscila Cachoeira (12-6, 4-6 UFC)

They’re trading to start as Nunes is landing left hands and Cachoeira is landing some solid right hands. They both connect and Cachoeira lands a knee. Cachoeira with some more right hands and Nunes lands a counter left hand. They trade leg kicks. Cachoeira with a knee to the body. They trade and Cachoeira lands an uppercut. They trade leg kicks. Nunes lands and Cachoeira’s head snaps back. Cachoeira lands an uppercut and Nunes goes down and is out cold! Vicious finish from Cachoeira.

Official Result- Priscila Cachoeira def. Josiane Nunes by knockout (punch) at 2:46 of Round 1

> Flyweights- Daniel Barez (17-6, 1-1 UFC) vs. Andre Lima (10-0, 3-0 UFC)

Lima lands a leg kick. Lima lands a pair of calf kicks. Lima lands another as Barez throws a combo. They trade leg kicks. Barez with a combo and Lima lands a calf kick. Lima with a pair of jabs and a right hand and goes back to the calf kick. Lima wobbles Barez with a right hand. Lima is pressing the action and lands some right hands. Barez is able to score a takedown and jumps on Lima’s back as they stand. Lima shakes Barez off and starts landing some punches. Barez lands a combo. They trade right hands. Lima with a combination. Lima mixes to the body and lands a pair of leg kicks. Lima lands a left hook to the body. Lima lands and Barez is busted open on his nose. Lima pushes it against the fence and lands to the body. 10-9 Lima.

Lima lands a calf kick then a body kick. He lands another body kick. Lima with a high kick. Lima lands to the body, then mixes a leg kick before landing a jab. Lima with more calf kicks. He lands a calf kick that almost trips Barez up. Lima with a double jab ending with a right hand. Lima with more calf kicks. Lima with a left hook to the body and lands a right hand. Lima with more body shots against the fence and Barez circles away. Barez looks for a takedown but Lima defends. Lima with a calf kick then a series of standing elbows as he’s teeing off. Lima scores a takedown against the fence and is in side control. Lima with punches and elbows from the top. Lima controlling from the top. 10-8 Lima, 20-17 Lima.

Lima with some calf kicks to start the third. Barez shoots for a takedown but Lima defends it and scores his own takedown. Lima lands from the top before he stands, but then goes back into the guard of Barez and lands to the head and body. Lima gets the back and has a body triangle locked in. Lima lands some from the back as he’s trying to set up a choke. Lima looks for a rear-naked choke, and it’s in and Barez is forced to tap. Complete domination from Lima.

Official Result- Andre Lima def. Daniel Barez by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:05 of Round 3

> Women’s Strawweights- Stephanie Luciano (6-1-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Sam Hughes (9-6, 4-5 UFC)

They trade leg kicks before they both start landing punches. Hughes connects with some punches as Luciano is backing away. Luciano looks for a kick and Hughes catches it and scores a takedown. They get up and Hughes quickly grabs body control. They both land to the body in the clinch. Hughes lands some elbows and knees and they separate. Hughes lands a right hand and a leg kick. Luciano lands a leg and a body kick. Hughes scores a takedown, but Luciano reverses and they get to their feet. Hughes lands a leg kick. Luciano with a body kick and Hughes lands a right hand. Hughes with a right hand. Luciano starting to land more as the round is ending. Hughes lands a right hand. Luciano lands a flurry. Close round. 10-9 Luciano.

Hughes pressing forward and they trade leg kicks and punches. Hughes lands a right hand. Luciano with a combo in close range. Luciano continues to land some solid combinations. Luciano lands a right hand and a side kick to the body. They clinch and Luciano with a knee and elbow. Hughes lands a right hand. Hughes scores a takedown. Hughes lands from the top, then gets the mount as she lands some elbows. Hughes working for a choke as she almost has the back of Luciano. Luciano is trying to use the fence to escape and gets out. Hughes with some elbows. Hughes gets the mount back. Hughes landing a lot from the top and Luciano gives up her back. Hughes landing a lot of punches and then gets back on top. Hughes with a lot of elbows to end the round. Dominant round from Hughes. 10-8 Hughes, 19-18 Hughes.

Hughes with a leg kick and Luciano lands a combo. Hughes looks for a takedown but Luciano defends. Luciano grabs the body lock and she scores a takedown. They get to their feet and Luciano has the back. They separate. Both land on the feet. Hughes looks for a takedown but Luciano defends against the fence. Luciano with some punches against the fence as they push apart. Hughes with a body kick. Luciano lands a right hand. Hughes lands a right hand. Luciano with a big right hand. Luciano with an uppercut and Hughes lands a right hand. Hughes looks for a takedown but Luciano defends. Hughes lands a right hand. They trade at the end. 10-9 Luciano, 28-28 DRAW.

Official Result- Sam Hughes def. Stephanie Luciano by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-27)

> Bantamweights- Carlos Vera (11-4, 0-1 UFC) vs. Josias Musasa (8-0, 0-0 UFC)

Musasa with a leg kick and Vera lands a hard calf kick. They trade leg kicks. Vera lands a high kick and Musasa throws him to the mat. Vera wants Musasa on the mat but Vera is ordered up. Musasa lands a left hand. Musasa with an inside kick as Vera lands a spinning wheel kick as Musasa eats it. Vera lands a body kick and Musasa catches it, dumps him to the mat, but lets him up. Musasa with an inside leg kick then another. He lands another leg kick. He lands again with a leg kick. Musasa with a combination. Vera drops Musasa with a head kick and jumps on the back for a choke. Vera has it locked in and Musasa taps! Vera was the biggest underdog on the card, so this is a massive upset.

Official Result- Carlos Vera def. Josias Musasa by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:16 of Round 1

> Bantamweights- SuYoung You (14-3 1 NC, 1-0 UFC) vs. AJ Cunningham (11-4, 0-1 UFC)

You lands a leg kick as Cunningham lands a right hand. They trade punches. Cunningham with a leg kick. You lands a big right hand and Cunningham backs up a little. Cunningham with a body kick then a left hook. You lands a leg kick then scores a takedown. You working and landing from the top. You gets to the half-guard. They get to their feet. You gets it back down as Cunningham was grabbing the fence. You gets full mount for a moment, but Cunningham gets him to his half-guard. You gets Cunningham’s back and is landing. They get up and You drags it back down. 10-9 You.

Cunningham lands a leg kick then a head kick. You is looking for a takedown but Cunningham is defending. You lands a big right hand. You lands another right hand. Cunningham lands a jab. They trade in close range as You lands a left hand. You with a right hand and Cunningham lands a counter right hand. You gets a single leg and gets it down for a moment but they scramble up. You scores a takedown. Cunningham locks in a triangle choke but You is landing punches to defend as it’s not fully locked in. Cunningham with some elbows from the bottom and he lets go of the choke. Cunningham is cut open. They trade on the mat. 10-9 You, 20-18 You.

Cunningham lands a right hand. Not much is happening and Cunningham lands a right hook. You grabs the single leg and is able to get Cunningham to the mat. You gets the full mount. You with some short right hands from the top. You is landing from the top as Cunningham is trying to throw his legs up, but You is transitioning and staying on top while landing. They stand and You gets it back down late. 10-9 You, 30-27 You.

Official Result- SuYoung You def. AJ Cunningham by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Heavyweights- #12 Waldo Cortes-Acosta (12-1, 5-1 UFC) vs. Ryan Spann (22-10, 8-5 UFC)

Spann with a calf kick. Cortes-Acosta with an inside leg kick. Spann lands an inside kick. Cortes-Acosta with an overhand right as Spann was feinting. Spann with a leg kick. Spann lands a right hand. Timeout is called due to a clash of heads. They quickly get back going. Cortes-Acosta lands a jab and hurts Spann with a right hand. Cortes-Acosta swarms and pushes it against the fence but they break free. Spann lands a right hand as Cortes-Acosta lands an uppercut. They trade leg kicks. Spann lands a jab. They trade punches in close range. Spann initiates a clinch and lands a knee. Cortes-Acosta with a combo as they break. Cortes-Acosta lands a right hand and then some follow-up shots. Spann goes to the mat but nothing happens. 10-9 Cortes-Acosta.

They trade jabs. A low blow is landed and timeout is called. They get back to action and start trading punches, but timeout is called for an eye poke by Cortes-Acosta. They get back to action. Spann lands a body kick and a right hand. Cortes-Acosta lands a jab. Spann with a leg kick. They have a quick exchange. Cortes-Acosta with a pair of jabs. Cortes-Acosta lands a groin strike and timeout is called. They get back to action and Cortes-Acosta lands a right hand. He lands another. Cortes-Acosta lands some big shots and Spann is hurt. Spann shoots for a takedown and Cortes-Acosta lands to defend before they break. Cortes-Acosta drops Spann with a left hand and finishes it off with punches from the top. Big finish from Cortes-Acosta to pick up the win.

Official Result- Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Ryan Spann by TKO (punches) at 4:48 of Round 2

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> Featherweights- SeungWoo Choi (11-7, 4-6 UFC) vs. Kevin Vallejos (14-1, 0-0 UFC)

They trade leg kicks to start. Vallejos lands an overhand right. Vallejos lands a leg kick as Choi connects with a right hand. Vallejos lands a right hand. They trade leg kicks. Vallejos connects to the body. Choi with a body kick. Vallejos lands a calf kick. Vallejos lands a combo to the body. They trade leg kicks. Vallejos lands a right hand and Choi briefly goes to his butt, but stands. Vallejos then drops Choi with a right hand and starts landing a flurry of punches on the mat until it is stopped. An impressive debut win from Vallejos.

Official Result- Kevin Vallejos def. SeungWoo Choi by TKO (punches) at 3:09 of Round 1

> Light Heavyweights*- Diyar Nurgozhay (10-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (16-7, 1-2 UFC)

*Nurgozhay missed weight by 4.5 pounds

Ribeiro lands a pair of leg kicks. Nurgozhay lands a body kick. Ribeiro with a pair of body kicks. Nurgozhay lands a hard left hand. Ribeiro lands a series of kicks and a right hand. Ribeiro lands a body kick and Nurgozhay lands a left hand. Nurgozhay with a pair of body kicks. Ribeiro lands a leg kick. Ribeiro drops Nurgozhay with a right hand. Nurgozhay quickly works his way to his feet. Ribeiro lands a body kick. Ribeiro lands a body kick. They trade late. 10-9 Ribeiro.

They trade kicks. Ribeiro lands a right hand. Ribeiro lands three leg kicks. Nurgozhay gets a takedown. They stand as Nurgozhay has the back and he drags it back down. They roll and Ribeiro locks in a kimura. They roll some more and Ribeiro has the kimura in tight and Nurgozhay taps. Impressive submission from Ribeiro.

Official Result- Brendson Ribeiro def. Diyar Nurgozhay by submission (kimura) at 1:28 of Round 2

> Bantamweights- Da’Mon Blackshear (15-7-1, 3-3-1 UFC) vs. Cody Gibson (21-10, 3-5 UFC)

Gibson lands to the body and lands a right hand as he pressures Blackshear against the fence. Gibson lands to the body some more. They break and Gibson continues to land to the body and lands a flurry to the head of Blackshear. Gibson lands to the body and looks for a takedown. Gibson lands a knee and Blackshear lands an elbow as they break. Gibson continues to land to the body. Gibson with a left hand and they both slip landing leg kicks. Gibson lands a jab. Gibson shoots for a takedown and Blackshear grabs the neck and drops down for a guillotine attempt. Blackshear looks for an anaconda choke but lets go. Blackshear is in side control and Gibson looks for a reverse triangle choke but Blackshear escapes. Blackshear looking for the neck but time runs out. 10-9 Gibson.

Gibson lands a body kick. Blackshear lands a right hand and two high body kicks. Gibson lands a combination. They trade combinations in close range. Gibson with a flurry of punches. Gibson scores a takedown. Blackshear scrambles to the top and has side control and lands some elbows to the thighs of Gibson. Blackshear looking for a kimura from the top. Blackshear lets go. Blackshear smothering from the top and landing some short shots. Blackshear has the crucifix position on and lands some elbows. Blackshear locks in a kimura and Gibson taps! Beautiful finish from the top by Blackshear.

Official Result- Da’Mon Blackshear def. Cody Gibson by submission (kimura) at 4:09 of Round 2

> Lightweights- Alexander Hernandez (15-8, 7-7 UFC) vs. Kurt Holobaugh (21-8 1 NC, 2-5 UFC)

They trade leg and body kicks to start. Holobaugh with a body kick. They trade quick punches. Hernandez lands a leg kick then a high kick. Hernandez lands a left hand and backs away as Holobaugh swings and misses. Hernandez with a pair of leg kicks. Holobaugh lands a right hand. Hernandez lands a combo. Holobaugh lands a high kick and Hernandez lands a high kick in return. They trade body kicks. They trade leg kicks. Holobaugh lands a right hand to the body. Hernandez lands a right hand after a body kick. They trade punches. Holobaugh lands and Hernandez slips, then Holobaugh capitalizes and lands. They trade leg kicks. Hernandez with a left hook. They trade kicks. Holobaugh lands a combo as he pressures. Hernandez gets a takedown and Holobaugh looks for a guillotine choke but time runs out. 10-9 Holobaugh.

They trade combinations to start the second. Holobaugh lands some kicks. Hernandez with a leg kick and Holobaugh lands a right hand. Holobaugh lands a leg kick and Hernandez lands an uppercut. They trade in close range. They clinch and Holobaugh lands a pair of knees. Holobaugh lands a stiff right hand. They clinch against the fence and trade knees before breaking. Hernandez with a leg kick and Holobaugh lands a right hand. Holobaugh with another right hand. Hernandez scores a takedown. Hernandez controlling from the top as Holobaugh is trying to sweep out from the bottom. Holobaugh is looking for the arm. Hernandez with some elbows from the top to end the round. 10-9 Holobaugh, 20-18 Holobaugh.

Hernandez gets an immediate takedown. He passes guard right into side control. Holobaugh gives up his back but Hernandez gets back to the half-guard. Hernandez controlling from the top as he’s trying to sweep. Hernandez lands but Holobaugh is able to scramble up. They trade. Holobaugh lands a combo but Hernandez scores another takedown. Hernandez controlling from the top trying to set up a choke as Holobaugh lands short body shots from the bottom. Holobaugh attacks for a kimura. Hernandez with a pair of big elbows from the top. They both land flurries on the mat. 10-9 Hernandez, 29-28 Holobaugh.

Official Result- Alexander Hernandez def. Kurt Holobaugh by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

> Welterweights*- Chidi Njokuani (24-10 1 NC, 4-3 UFC) vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (25-8-1, 11-4-1 UFC)

*Njokuani missed weight by 1.25 pounds

They trade leg kicks as Njokuani lands some body kicks. Njokuani with a front kick to the face of Zaleski. Njokuani with a front kick to the body. Timeout is called for a groin strike by Njokuani. They get back going and both land kicks. Zaleski lands a right hand that hurts Njokuani. They scramble to the mat but get right up. Njokuani with a body kick. He lands another. Zaleski grabs a leg and gets a takedown and starts landing as they get up. They battle for underhooks. They separate. Njokuani lands a high kick. Njokuani with a leg kick followed by a right hand. Njokuani lands a knee as Zaleski lands a couple of left hooks. 10-9 Njokuani.

They trade kicks and Njokuani lands a head kick. Njokuani lands a leg kick as Zaleski misses a right hand. Zaleski with some right hands but is poked in the eye so timeout is called. They get back to action and are trading. Njokuani lands a knee that drops Zaleski and starts teeing off with punches and elbows from the top. Zaleski is trying to survive but it is stopped by referee Mark Smith. Impressive finish from Njokuani.

Official Result- Chidi Njokuani def. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos by TKO (strikes) at 2:19 of Round 2

> Middleweights- #8 Marvin Vettori (19-6-1, 9-5-1 UFC) vs. #12 Roman Dolidze (14-3, 8-3 UFC)

They trade kicks. Vettori lands a left hand and Dolidze lands a counter right hook. Vettori with more leg kicks and a head kick. Dolidze lands a right hand. Dolidze lands a leg kick. Dolidze lands a leg kick as Vettori lands a combo. Vettori lands a right hand. Dolidze lands a right hand. Vettori lands a quick combo. Vettori with a leg kick that Dolidze checks. Dolidze lands a spinning elbow. They trade late. 10-9 Dolidze.

Dolidze lands a combo. Vettori lands a left hand but is poked in the eye by Dolidze. They get back to action and Dolidze lands a leg kick. Dolidze lands a knee after a close exchange. Dolidze lands a right hook. They trade and Dolidze lands an elbow. Dolidze with a right hand. Vettori lands a leg kick. Dolidze lands a left hand and Vettori lands a leg kick. Dolidze with a jab and a right hand. Vettori lands a leg kick. He lands another. Vettori connects with a right hand. They trade and both connect. 10-9 Dolidze, 20-18 Dolidze.

Dolidze lands a right hand. Vettori with a leg kick. Dolidze lands a body kick. Dolidze with a combination. Vettori hurts Dolidze with a left hand and Dolidze is retreating. Vettori is on the attack and landing. Dolidze may have recovered. Vettori lands a jab. Vettori with a body kick. He lands a counter left hand as Dolidze misses a right hand. Vettori lands a left hand. Dolidze with a pair of head kicks and lands a body kick. Dolidze with a head kick that Vettori blocks. Dolidze with a leg kick. Dolidze mixes some kicks. Vettori with a combo. They tie up against the fence. 10-9 Vettori, 29-28 Dolidze.

Dolidze lands a combo. Vettori lands a left hand. Vettori lands a combo. The pace has slowed down. Dolidze with a leg kick. Dolidze with a flurry against the fence. Dolidze with some more leg kicks. Dolidze with an axe kick. Dolidze with a front kick to the face followed by a right hand. Vettori lands a leg kick as he’s slowing down. Dolidze with a leg kick and Vettori lands a right hand. Dolidze with a right hand. 10-9 Dolidze, 39-37 Dolidze.

Dolidze with a head kick. Vettori lands a left hand. They trade inside the pocket. Dolidze lands a right hand but has a cut opened up under his eye. They trade inside the pocket as Dolidze lands a right hand. Dolidze with a head kick. Dolidze with a pair of body kicks. Vettori with a leg kick and Dolidze lands a close right hand. Dolidze with a left hook and a clubbing overhand right. Dolidze with a right hand and a leg kick. A groin strike halts the action. They get back going and Dolidze lands a head kick then a knee right up the middle. They’re trading and Dolidze is landing high body kicks and with more damage. 10-9 Dolidze, 49-46 Dolidze.

Official Result- Roman Dolidze def. Marvin Vettori by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)

Daily Update: UFC 313 fallout, AEW Revolution, Queen of the Ring

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the highlights:

  • The background of the John Cena angle and different versions of the story
  • What changed on the day of Elimination Chamber and different versions as to why
  • The turn itself
  • Travis Scott injures Rhodes
  • Comparisons with other turns
  • Art imitating real life
  • WrestleMania lineup
  • Elimination Chamber business and how it performed around the world
  • Pat McAfee controversy
  • TKO getting into boxing, what has and hasn’t been talked about and what we know about the details on how Nick Khan and Dana White are involved as well as why this is no risk for TKO
  • Linda McMahon confirmed for Secretary of Education, and then to wipe it all out
  • AEW Revolution preview, business numbers and interest level
  • Why the March 6, 1972 match with Antonio Inoki vs. Karl Gotch is still talked about 53 years after it happened
  • New Japan anniversary show notes, early New Japan Cup news
  • Saya Kamitani vs. Tam Nakano becomes a classic match, as well as a controversial one
  • Fantastica Mania final day coverage
  • Coverage of the deaths of Ciclon Ramirez and Australian Suicide
  • How did SmackDown and Dynamite place in the weekly standings
  • The unique Dynamite rating pattern
  • Full weekly ratings notes including what milestone did Raw on Netflix fall below
  • Notes on the high SmackDown number
  • Takeshita goes to Arena Mexico
  • Arguably the greatest freestyle wrestler of all-time passes away
  • Queen of the Ring notes
  • Giant mask match of legends being teased
  • Tony Khan changes philosophy
  • Forbidden Door title match tease
  • Tony Khan talks Wembley Stadium attendance record
  • Ospreay talks difference between New Japan and AEW
  • Mark Shapiro talks a lot of the future WWE and UFC business deals
  • A look at what level of value UFC PPVs could bring to Netflix and the value WWE brings to Netflix
  • Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones update
  • Freak show fight between two of the strongest men who ever lived
  • Big Tokyo Dome event planned
  • WWE in talks for a unique PPV event including date and place it is tentative for
  • Evolve notes
  • Sonya Deville and Carmella talk being dropped by WWE

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Sunday Update

— We have a number of weekend shows on the site today. Friday Garrett and I were with Scott D’Amore talking about his days with TNA, owning the Tunney tape library, goals for Maple Leaf Wrestling, stars to watch out for, relationship with New Japan and more. Plus we talked a lot of the news of the week.

We also did a show last night talking about UFC, Queen of the Ring, Jade Cargill (more detailed than in the Observer), and why tonight ‘s AEW numbers are so important to learn from. Bryan and I will be back tonight talking AEW and the rest of the weekend news.

— We’re looking for your thoughts on AEW Revolution, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

— ESPN+ will be putting up last night’s UFC for free due to all the issues with people having trouble ordering and viewing the show. There have been issues for years but this is the first time they were so bad ESPN made this decision.

— AEW Revolution starts at just before 4 p.m. Eastern with a 13 match show from the Crypto.com arena in Los Angeles. More than 11,000 tickets are out and the gate was almost $1 million as of last night. This is an amazingly deep show.

Zero Hour starting at maybe 6:45 p.m.Eastern:

  • Komander & Hologram vs. Lee Johnson & Blake Christian
  • Daniel Garcia & Adam Cole & Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Shane Taylor & The Infantry & Lee Moriarty
  • Chris Jericho vs Gravity for the ROH title
  • Big Boom AJ & Orange Cassidy & Mark Briscoe vs. Johnny TV & MxM Collection

PPV at 8 p.m. Eastern

  • Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin vs. Outrunners for tag titles (The Hurt Syndicate are -3000 favorites)
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Brody King for the Continental title (Okada is a -3000 favorite)
  • Mercedes Mone vs. Momo Watanabe for TBS title (Mone is a -3000 favorite)
  • Swerve Strickland vs. Ricochet for an AEW title shot (Strickland is a -1000 favorite)
  • MJF vs. Adam Page (MJF is a -200 favorite)
  • Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher cage match (Ospreay is a -1000 favorite)
  • Toni Storm vs. Mariah May falls count anywhere Hollywood ending match for AEW women’s title (Storm is a -2500 favorite)
  • Konosuke Takesita vs. Kenny Omega for the International title (Omega is a -1000 favorite)
  • Jon Moxley vs. Adam Copeland for the AEW title (Moxley is a -220 favorite)

— I saw something was sent out in the market which listed the doors opening at 6 p.m. and the first match at 7 p.m. Of course that’s Eastern time, but the show is Pacific time so the doors are to open at 3 p.m.

— Jim Ross had a health issue earlier this week but we were told yesterday that he flew in for the show.

— Both Raw in Madison Square Garden and NXT at the Hulu Theater in MSG will be sold out this week. They are doing limited staging for both shows. So the crowds will be larger than usual for pro wrestling in those arenas. There are 16,600 tickets out at this point for MSG and 4,500 for the Hulu Theater. Fightful reported Meiko Satomura would be at Tuesday’s show. Undertaker, Bully Ray and Mickie James will be there as well.

— SmackDown numbers won’t be out until tomorrow afternoon, but we were told that on Netflix, every significant country was up from last week which I think comes from the interest level in the Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena match since Rhodes wasn’t on Raw to address it. The ratings have been very strong the past two weeks. 

— The UFC main event last night where Magomed Ankalaev won the light heavyweight title from Alex Pereira was a very close call. Pretty much everyone had rounds one and five for Pereira and two and four for Ankalaev. It came down to round three. That round was very close although Pereira did have a 22-14 edge in strikes landed. If I was to judge the fight, I gave round three to Pereira and had him winning 48-47, but this was not a robbery and could have gone either way. If I could have given a 10-10 round I’d have had it a draw, but if judging the fight as a whole, which I think is the best way, I’d go with Ankalaev since his round two win was the strongest round win and also the only time the fight was in danger of finishing. Basically the best way to judge a fight is who do you think should have won–that’s Ankalaev. Once you start putting numbers in, the numbers don’t always reflect who should have won. Usually they do, this fight was the exception. I’ve always said Pride style scoring is the best and that will never be used in the U.S. 

— Judge Michael Bell and Derek Cleary both gave round three to Ankalaev, while Sal D’Amto gave both three and five to Ankalaev. Of media scores, every single one had it 48-47 depending on round three. Media scores on MMA Decisions, which didn’t include mine, were 52 percent for Ankalaev, 43 percent for Pereira and five percent a draw. Fan scores were 58 percent for Pereira, 37 percent for Ankalaev and five percent even.

— Dana White said after the fight that because of how close it was that they would probably rematch them next. White said the fight wasn’t what he expected and that he expected more action, that the decision wasn’t a robbery (either way it was close). White said he thought Anaklaev won.

— It also should be noted Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev had a hell of a fight.

— We talked quite a bit last night on the site about the history of Mildred Burke and the movie Queen of the Ring and what was and wasn’t accurate (it was more accurate than I expected but obviously it’s a Hollywood movie and some liberties were taken). At press time for reasons I don’t know, the movie wasn’t even listed in the Friday rankings and they had 22 movies listed including one that grossed $377 for the week. The Saturday numbers are usually in by now but they aren’t either. We should have numbers tonight. Between hearing from people who saw it at empty theaters and our lack of feedback, I don’t expect major numbers.

— I heard today’s Saito Brothers vs. Kento Miyahara & Yuma Aoyagi match where Miyahara & Aoyagi won the All Japan world tag titles was an excellent match.

— Robbie Lawler was announced as the latest inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame. Very deserved. Also want to mention Lex Luger, which for all the obvious reasons, I was very happy to see being announced for the WWE Hall of Fame.

— Google searches for last night’s UFC show were about 1.4 million. An interesting one is that the Big 10 wrestling championships had 70,000 searches and the finals aren’t even until today.

–The Big 10 finals are tonight at 5:30 p.m. Eastern on the Big 10 network. The main event is the biggest match in college wrestling so far this season with Gable Steveson of Minnesota (11-0, with 63 wins in a row in college), the 2021 gold medalist, facing Greg Kerkvliet of Penn State (16-0 and the 2023 NCAA champion). This is expected to be a preview of the NCAA championship match at heavyweight in two weeks as they are by far the class of the division this year. The two wrestled in high school in 2018 and Steveson won 3-2 in his most competitive match in his high school career. Steveson beat him 9-4 in 2021 and 8-3 in 2022 in the NCAA tournament but Kerkvliet has improved significantly since that point. 

— Logan Paul participated in a celebrity soccer game at Wembley Stadium yesterday before almost 90,000 fans. Paul scored a goal on a header and also suplexed Joe Weller and pinned him in a goal celebration for the YouTube All Stars who played Sidemen FC. The game included KSI, IShowSpeed and Kai Cenat.

–The New Japan Cup matches held earlier today in Amagasaki saw Oleg Boltin over Bad Luck Fale, Great O’Khan over TV champion El Phantasmo, Drilla Moloney pinned Tomohiro Ishii (people were raving about this one), and Tetsuya Naito over Callum Newman.

— As far as next matches, you’ve got Evil vs David Finlay on Tuesday, Yuya Uemura vs. Yoshi-Hashi on Tuesday, Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ryohei Oiwa (both TMDK members) on Tuesday, Gabe Kidd vs. Taichi on Wednesday, O’Khan vs. Shota Umino on Wednesday, Naito vs. Jeff Cobb on Friday, Moloney vs. TJP on Friday and Boltin vs. Shingo Takagi on Friday.

— A&E has LFG tonight with Eric Bischoff and Sean Waltman as guests, Rivals at 9:30 is about HHH vs. Shawn Michaels and the Greatest Moments show is about the Emergence of the NWO.

— Defy announced Streets of Rage on 4/13 at 4 p.m. at Washington Hall in Seattle with Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Timothy Thatcher.

— The Patricio Pitbull Freire UFC debut against Yair Rodriguez on 4/12 is currently listed as being on the television prelims but Dana White said that positioning is not definite. A lot of people feel that the debut of Pitbull, generally considered the greatest Bellator fighter (although past his prime now) should be on the PPV, especially with an all action exciting fighter like Rodriguez.

— There will be a proclamation tomorrow in El Paso, TX to set up TNA Wrestling Day in El Paso County for this coming Friday, where TNA is running a big show. Tessa Blanchard will represent TNA tomorrow.

— The criminal charges against Thomas Wainsaw (Bear Boulder) from 1/13 were dropped. Wainsaw was charged with battery by strangulation. The alleged victim did not want the charges to go forward. She had not wanted him prosecuted from the start.

UFC 313 live results: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Justin Gaethje returns

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

One of the UFC’s biggest superstars is back in action as the Octagon returns to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for UFC 313.

The main event sees UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, one of the most exciting and popular fighters in the sport, making his fourth title defense against top contender Magomed Ankalaev. Pereira’s fourth title defense in less than a year sees him looking to extend a five-fight win streak while Ankalaev is unbeaten in his last 13 fights, dating back nearly seven years.

In the co-main event, it’s a rematch of one of the best fights of 2023 as Justin Gaethje battles Rafael Fiziev. Gaethje scored a decision win over Fiziev at UFC 286 in March 2023 while Fiziev steps into this bout on short notice as he replaces Dan Hooker, Gaethje’s originally scheduled opponent.

Also on the main card is a lightweight bout between Jalin Turner and Ignacio Bahamondes; a women’s strawweight bout between ranked fighters Amanda Lemos and Iasmin Lucindo; and a lightweight bout pitting long-time veteran King Green against rising prospect Mauricio Ruffy.

ESPN+ PRELIMS | 7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT

> Middleweights- Djorden Santos (10-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Ozzy Diaz (9-3, 0-1 UFC)

Santos lands a jab then a stiff leg kick. He lands another hard calf kick. Diaz with a leg kick. Santos lands another calf kick. Santos working the jab. Diaz lands a right hand. They trade jabs. Santos with another leg kick. Diaz lands a counter right hand then a leg kick. They trade jabs. They trade right hands. Diaz lands a jab. Diaz with a leg kick and a stiff jab. Diaz lands a combination. Santos lands a flurry against the fence. Santos is chasing Diaz down and landing. Santos lands to the body then the head. 10-9 Santos.

Santos lands a pair of right hands as he pressures Diaz. Diaz lands a jab and Santos lands a combo ending with a leg kick. They trade jabs. Santos with a solid left hand. Santos with a pair of jabs followed by an uppercut. Santos with a leg kick. Diaz lands a combination. Santos lands a right hand. Diaz with a jab then a right hand. Santos looks for a takedown but Diaz shakes him off. They are trading and Diaz is connecting better. Diaz lands a jab. Santos with a right hand. They’re trading in close range and Santos lands a right hand. They trade and Santos with a big right hand. Close round. 10-9 Santos, 20-18 Santos.

They both land right hands. Santos lands a combination. Santos with a leg kick then a combo. Santos with a jab followed by a right hand. Santos lands a right hand. Diaz with a jab. Diaz lands a jab and a right hand. Santos looks more tired. They trade inside the pocket. Santos with a right hand and Diaz lands an inside elbow then an uppercut. Diaz lands to the body. They trade punches. Diaz lands a pair of knees to the body. Santos with an elbow and Diaz lands a big right hand and Santos is hurt. Santos is retreating and Diaz lands as he rushes forward. Diaz with some big punches. Santos lands a right hand and Diaz lands an elbow. Santos lands a left hook. Diaz with an elbow in the clinch. Diaz lands a hard combination. Diaz lands to the body. Santos is still pressing forward despite being gassed. Diaz with a jab. Santos with a combo. Diaz with a head kick but Santos catches it and gets a takedown. Santos ends the fight on top. 10-9 Diaz, 29-28 Santos.

Official Result- Ozzy Diaz def. Djorden Santos by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

ESPN NEWS PRELIMS | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT

> Featherweights- Mairon Santos (14-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Francis Marshall (8-2, 2-2 UFC)

They trade in close range. Santos with a right hand. Marshall lands a left hook. Santos lands a combo and Marshall returns fire with a calf kick that trips Santos up. Marshall looks for a takedown as he pushes it against the fence, and Santos defends as they break apart. Marshall lands a leg kick. Santos lands a jab. Marshall with a right hand and they trade leg kicks. Santos lands a pair of leg kicks. Santos with a right hand. Santos with another right hand. Santos with a stiff right hand. Santos with a hard calf kick. Marshall with a leg kick. Santos partially lands a right hand and lands a leg kick. Santos with an uppercut and a leg kick. Marshall lands a left hook and Santos goes to his knees. Santos is chasing the takedown as Marshall is defending and landing. Marshall with lots of punches from the back to end the round. 10-9 Marshall.

They’re trading left hands to start the second. Santos lands a right hand. Santos with a leg kick and Marshall lands a hard counter right hand. Marshall lands another right hand. Santos with a pair of body kicks and Marshall lands a combo. They trade left hooks. Santos lands a jab. Santos with a right hand. Marshall scores a takedown. Santos tries to roll through but Marshall explodes to the back and has back control as they’re on the feet. Marshall is kicking the leg out from under Santos and trips him down, but Santos is getting up. They separate. Santos partially lands a head kick. 10-9 Marshall, 20-18 Marshall.

Marshall lands a right hand and they trade combos in close range. Marshall lands a right hand. They trade right hands. Marshall lands a right hand. Santos is pressing forward and landing more early. Marshall lands a right hand. They trade jabs. Santos with a right hand to the body as Marshall lands a short left hand. They trade in close range and both land left hands. Marshall with a right hand and Santos lands a leg kick. Santos with a jab followed by a right hand. Marshall lands a leg kick. Santos with a right hand. Santos lands another combo. Marshall gets a takedown and ends up on top after they roll. Marshall lands from the top to end it. 10-9 Marshall, 30-27 Marshall.

Official Result- Mairon Santos def. Francis Marshall by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

> Welterweights- Alex Morono (24-11 1 NC, 13-8 1 NC UFC) vs. Carlos Leal (21-6, 0-1 UFC)

Morono with a hard leg kick. Leal lands a right hand. Morono with a leg kick then a body kick. Leal with a leg kick and they trade punches. They get clinched and Leal lands some elbows as Morono lands some knees before they separate. They trade in close range. Leal lands a left hand then a combo. Leal connects with an overhand right. They are trading big punches against the fence. Leal with a knee then an elbow and Morono is backing up. Leal with a combo and they trade against the fence. Leal lands hard to the body and Morono goes to the mat for a moment. Morono gets up and Leal with knees to the body. Leal landing and they are trading against the fence. Leal with some knees and elbows. Leal with some massive right hands and Morono looks almost out on his feet. Leal is teeing off and it is stopped. What a finish from Leal!

Official Result- Carlos Leal def. Alex Morono by TKO (strikes) at 4:16 of Round 1

> Middleweights- Brunno Ferreira (12-2, 3-2 UFC) vs. Armen Petrosyan (8-4, 3-3 UFC)

Petrosyan lands an inside leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Ferreira lands a big left hook that hurts Petrosyan and follows it up with a right hand. Time out is called for a groin strike by Petrosyan. They get back to action and time out is called again for another groin strike by Petrosyan. Petrosyan has a point taken away and they get back to action. They trade as Ferreira rushes forward. Petrosyan with a leg kick. Ferreira looks for a takedown but Petrosyan defends. Petrosyan lands a leg kick and Ferreira lands a right hand. Petrosyan with two leg kicks. Petrosyan with a high kick then a leg kick. Ferreira comes forward and looks for a takedown against the fence. Ferreira gets it down for a moment but they scramble up. Petrosyan lands a body kick. Petrosyan with a combo. Petrosyan with a jumping knee. Petrosyan lands a left hook. Petrosyan with two high kicks. 9-9 round due to the point deduction.

Petrosyan with a high kick. Ferreira with a right hook. Petrosyan with a leg kick. They trade kicks. Petrosyan lands a combo. Petrosyan lands a body kick. Ferreira with a big right hand. Ferreira with a right hand to the body then a left hook. Petrosyan lands to the body then to the head. Petrosyan with a head kick. Ferreira tries a takedown but Petrosyan defends as they stand. Ferreira with a left hand. Petrosyan lands a body kick. Petrosyan with a right hook then a leg kick. Ferreira mixes some right hooks. Ferreira with a left hook to the body. They trade body kicks. Ferreira gets the takedown. Ferreira landing and Petrosyan grabs the fence. Ferreira has the back and looks for a choke. Ferreira locks in an armbar out of nowhere and gets Petrosyan to tap! Excellent finish from Ferreira.

Official Result- Brunno Ferreira def. Armen Petrosyan by submission (armbar) at 4:27 of Round 2

> Flyweights- Joshua Van (12-2, 5-1 UFC) vs. Rei Tsuruya (10-0, 1-0 UFC)

Van with a jab to the body. Tsuruya shoots for a takedown but Van defends and lands a knee to the body. Tsuruya shoots again and Van defends as they tie up. They trade knees as Van lands to the body. They break apart. Van lands a combo and a body kick. Tsuruya looks for a takedown but Van is defending and landing as he does. They separate. Tsuruya tries for another takedown but Van defends again. Van with a high kick. Van connects with a right hand. Tsuruya tries for a takedown and they scramble to the mat. Tsuruya is inside the guard of Van but Van is able to scramble to his feet. Van lands a left hand. Van with a head kick and Tsuruya grabs it to score a takedown. They get right up. Van with an elbow as they break. 10-9 Van.

They tie up and Tsuruya is chasing takedowns but Van is defending. They scramble and Van is able to remain on his feet. Van lands a right hand. Tsuruya trying to take it down again but Van defends. Tsuruya does get a throw takedown and is in side control. They scramble to the feet. Tsuruya lands a left hand. Van swings and Tsuruya continues to look for a takedown. Van defends and they break. They trade punches. Van lands to the body. Van with a front kick to the body and lands a right hand. Van lands an elbow. Van lands a right hand. Van lands a knee and Tsuruya lands a spinning elbow. 10-9 Van, 20-18 Van.

Van lands an elbow and Tsuruya slips. Van pressing forward and lands a kick as Tsuruya connects with some punches. Tsuruya shoots for a takedown but Van is defending them all. Van with some punches as he sprawls the takedown attempts. Tsuruya pushes it against the fence but Van breaks it apart. Tsuruya shoots and Van sprawls. Tsuruya with a combo. Van lands to the body. Tsuruya lands a knee. Van with a groin strike and a time out is called. They get back going. Tsuruya goes for a takedown and Van is defending by landing punches. Van lands a lot of left hands to the body as Tsuruya is chasing the takedown. They break apart. Tsuruya with a body kick. Van with a combo and Tsuruya just misses a spinning back fist. Van with two body kicks. Tsuruya lands a left hand. Van with a body kick and Tsuruya goes down saying it was a groin strike. It was called a legal strike and action immediately restarts. Van lands a left hand and then a combo and another left hand. Van with a left hand that stumbles Tsuruya. 10-9 Van, 30-27 Van.

Official Result- Joshua Van def. Rei Tsuruya by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

ESPN+ PPV MAIN CARD | 10 PM ET/7 PM PT

> Lightweights- King Green (32-16-1 1 NC, 13-11-1 1 NC UFC) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (11-1, 2-0 UFC)

Green with a leg kick and a body kick. Ruffy lands a jab. Ruffy lands a big right hand that stuns Green. Green lands a right hand and a leg kick. Ruffy then lands a spinning wheel kick that connects to the side of Green’s head and Green goes out cold! What a head kick from Ruffy!

Official Result- Mauricio Ruffy def. Bobby Green by knockout (wheel kick) at 2:07 of Round 1

> Women’s Strawweights- #5 Amanda Lemos (14-4-1, 8-4 UFC) vs. #7 Iasmin Lucindo (17-5, 4-1 UFC)

Lemos with a hard leg kick. Lemos lands a right hand and they tie up against the fence. Lemos drags it down to the mat. Lemos controlling from the top but there is not much action going on. Lemos remains on top as Lucindo didn’t land a single significant strike in the round and Lemos landed few. 10-9 Lemos.

They’re feeling each other out. Lemos lands a leg kick. Lemos grabs the body and pushes it against the fence. Lemos controlling and foot sweeps Lucindo to the mat. Lemos controlling from the top. Lucindo trying to set something up from the bottom and looking for an arm, but Lemos escapes and remains on top. Lemos with an elbow from the top. Lucindo still has yet to land a significant strike. Lemos lands and stands. 10-9 Lemos, 20-18 Lemos.

They actually start trading to start the third and both connect. They tie up and Lucindo scores a takedown. Lucindo goes to side control but is just controlling and not landing. They get up and Lemos immediately takes it down. There is nothing happening. This was terrible. 10-9 Lucindo, 29-28 Lemos.

Official Result- Amanda Lemos def. Iasmin Lucindo by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Lightweights- #13 Jalin Turner (14-8, 7-5 UFC) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (16-5, 5-2 UFC)

They trade right away as Bahamondes lands an inside leg kick. They trade punches. Bahamondes with a high kick. Bahamondes with a leg kick and Turner lands a combo ending with a body kick. They scramble to the mat and Turner ends up on top and lands an elbow as Bahamondes establishes full guard. Turner lands a couple of punches from the top. Bahamondes looks for a triangle choke from the bottom. It looks on tight and Turner taps! Big win for Bahamondes!

Official Result- Ignacio Bahamondes def. Jalin Turner by submission (triangle choke) at 2:29 of Round 1

> Lightweights- #3 Justin Gaethje (25-5, 8-5 UFC) vs. #11 Rafael Fiziev (12-3, 6-3 UFC)

Fiziev lands a leg kick. Gaethje lands a kick and Fiziev is able to score a takedown. They scramble up and Fiziev lands a pair of knees on the break. Fiziev gets another takedown and lands an elbow from the top. Fiziev with hammerfists from the top. Gaethje is able to scramble to his feet. Fiziev with a left hand. Gaethje lands a right hand. Fiziev with a leg kick. They tie up. Fiziev lands a few knees and Gaethje lands to the body before they break. Fiziev with a body kick and a left hand then another body kick. They tie up and Gaethje lands as they break. Gaethje lands a right hand. Gaethje looks for a takedown and lands a right hand as they break. 10-9 Fiziev.

They trade and Fiziev lands a groin strike and time out is called. They get back to action. Fiziev connects with a right hand. Gaethje lands a right hand. Gaethje lands another right hand and then a quick combo inside the pocket. Fiziev with a high kick. Gaethje lands a right hand. Fiziev lands a body kick then a glancing head kick and a right hand. Gaethje lands a right hand. Fiziev with a leg kick and a knee up the middle. Gaethje lands a right hand. Gaethje with a right hand as they break a brief clinch. Fiziev lands a knee. Gaethje drops Fiziev with an uppercut and starts landing from the top. Fiziev trying to sprawl to recover. Gaethje landing but Fiziev is recovering. They stand and separate as Gaethje lands a right hand. 10-9 Gaethje, 19-19.

Gaethje lands an uppercut. He lands another. Gaethje lands a right hand and Fiziev lands a counter left hand. Fiziev with a hard body kick. Fiziev with a series of body kicks. Gaethje with a left hand then an uppercut. Gaethje with a head kick and he rolls away out of trouble. Fiziev lands to the body. They clinch and Gaethje lands a right hand on the break. Gaethje lands a right hand. Gaethje lands a head kick after they trade in a tie up. Gaethje with some right hands. He lands a right hand. Gaethje with another big right hand. They clinch and Fiziev with some short knees. Gaethje lands a right hand as they break. Gaethje with an uppercut. Gaethje with a big head kick. Gaethje with a combo inside the pocket. Fiziev lands a knee. Great fight. 10-9 Gaethje, 29-28 Gaethje.

Official Result- Justin Gaethje def. Rafael Fiziev by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> UFC Light Heavyweight Championship- C Alex Pereira (12-2, 9-1 UFC) vs. #1 Magomed Ankalaev (20-1-1 1 NC, 11-1-1 1 NC UFC)

Pereira with a switch leg kick. Pereira with another round of leg kicks. Pereira with another leg kick. Ankalaev lands a leg kick. They trade leg kicks. They have a quick exchange as Ankalaev lands a high kick. Ankalaev with a leg kick. Pereira with a high kick then a leg kick. Ankalaev lands a leg kick and Pereira fires one back. Pereira with a body kick then a leg kick. Ankalaev with a front kick. Pereira lands a leg kick. Ankalaev looks for a takedown against the fence but Pereira defends it as the round ends. 10-9 Pereira.

Ankalaev pushing forward and lands a left hand. Ankalaev with a body kick. Pereira lands a high question mark kick. Ankalaev with a body kick then a leg kick and then another leg kick. Pereira lands a right hand. Ankalaev lands a right hand. Pereira with a leg kick. Pereira with a head kick. Ankalaev lands a left hand and Pereira backs up. Ankalaev with a right hook. Ankalaev lands a combo and Pereira with a left hook. Ankalaev lands a left hand. Pereira with a calf kick as Ankalaev lands a left hand. Ankalaev lands in close range. Ankalaev hurts Pereira with a left hand. 10-9 Ankalaev, 19-19.

Ankalaev lands a leg kick. Ankalaev with a body kick. Pereira lands a body kick. They trade leg kicks. Ankalaev with a front kick to the body. Pereira lands a leg kick. Ankalaev shoots for a takedown but Pereira defends. Pereira with a pair of leg kicks. Ankalaev lands a knee to the body. Pereira lands a combination. Pereira with more leg kicks. Ankalaev lands a jab. Pereira lands a leg kick. Close round. 10-9 Ankalaev, 29-28 Ankalaev.

Ankalaev looks for a takedown as he ties up. Pereira with short punches as Ankalaev lands some knees. Ankalaev lands to the body as he’s trying to get it down, but Pereira is keeping it on the feet. Pereira tries to escape but Ankalaev keeps the pressure on. Pereira lands a knee. They are separated by Marc Goddard. Pereira lands a jab and a leg kick. Ankalaev pushes it against the fence again. Ankalaev with some knees and a short uppercut. They trade knees. 10-9 Ankalaev, 39-37 Ankalaev.

Ankalaev with a body kick. Ankalaev lands a right hand. Ankalaev with a left hand. Pereira with a left hook. They trade leg kicks. Pereira with a leg kick then a head kick and Ankalaev is backing up. Pereira with another leg kick. Pereira lands a jab and a leg kick. Pereira with a stiff jab and another head kick. Ankalaev looks for a takedown but Pereira defends. Ankalaev has the back and lands a knee. Ankalaev holding onto the back of Pereira as the fight ends. Close fight. 10-9 Pereira, 48-47 Ankalaev.

Official Result- Magomed Ankalaev def. Alex Pereira by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) to win the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

Daily Update: Queen of the Ring, WWE & AEW ticket sale updates, UFC 313

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Friday Update

– This is a big weekend of shows. Garrett Gonzales and I will be doing our regular Friday Wrestling Observer Radio today covering the news of the week, and will continue that tomorrow with a special Saturday show that also covers SmackDown, UFC and Collision. Bryan and I will be back Sunday for AEW Revolution coverage.

– The new issue of the Observer is up on the site today. There is a ton of stuff in the lead article regarding the background leading to the John Cena angle.

Among the highlights:

  • The background of the John Cena angle and different versions of the story
  • What changed on the day of Elimination Chamber and different versions as to why
  • The turn itself
  • Travis Scott injures Rhodes
  • Comparisons with other turns
  • Art imitating real life
  • WrestleMania lineup
  • Elimination Chamber business and how it performed around the world
  • Pat McAfee controversy
  • TKO getting into boxing, what has and hasn’t been talked about and what we know about the details on how Nick Khan and Dana White are involved as well as why this is no risk for TKO
  • Linda McMahon confirmed for Secretary of Education, and then to wipe it all out
  • AEW Revolution preview, business numbers and interest level
  • Why the March 6, 1972 match with Antonio Inoki vs. Karl Gotch is still talked about 53 years after it happened
  • New Japan anniversary show notes, early New Japan Cup news
  • Saya Kamitani vs. Tam Nakano becomes a classic match, as well as a controversial one
  • Fantastica Mania final day coverage
  • Coverage of the deaths of Ciclon Ramirez and Australian Suicide
  • How did SmackDown and Dynamite place in the weekly standings
  • The unique Dynamite rating pattern
  • Full weekly ratings notes including what milestone did Raw on Netflix fall below
  • Notes on the high SmackDown number
  • Takeshita goes to Arena Mexico
  • Arguably the greatest freestyle wrestler of all-time passes away
  • Queen of the Ring notes
  • Giant mask match of legends being teased
  • Tony Khan changes philosophy
  • Forbidden Door title match tease
  • Tony Khan talks Wembley Stadium attendance record
  • Ospreay talks difference between New Japan and AEW
  • Mark Shapiro talks a lot of the future WWE and UFC business deals
  • A look at what level of value UFC PPVs could bring to Netflix and the value WWE brings to Netflix
  • Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones update
  • Freak show fight between two of the strongest men who ever lived
  • Big Tokyo Dome event planned
  • WWE in talks for a unique PPV event including date and place it is tentative for
  • Evolve notes
  • Sonya Deville and Carmella talk being dropped by WWE

– The movie “Queen of the Ring,” which was released in a few markets last night, has its official release tonight nationwide. We’ll be talking more about this tomorrow night on the show. The story is based on an excellent book about the life of Mildred Burke, the first genuine woman pro wrestling superstar who was a legit drawing card in the 1940s but then refused to drop the title. Jim Ross was behind this movie being made. In a trivia note, in the late 1980s, shortly after Burke’s death, Frank Deford wanted to do a movie based on her life but at the time was unable to garner interest in it.

– SmackDown is in Philadelphia tonight and will be sold out as they had more than 15,500 tickets out earlier today. Monday’s Madison Square Garden Raw will not have the usual stage setting as they are trying to get in excess of 17,000 to 18,000 in for that show. Both gates should be enormous. Tonight’s show has Chelsea Green vs. Michin in a street fight for the women’s US title, Jimmy Uso vs. Drew McIntyre, Solo Sikoa vs. Braun Strowman and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. LA Knight for the men’s US title, plus appearances by Cody Rhodes, Jade Cargill and Randy Orton.

– We’re looking for live show reports with anything not on television like Speed matches to [email protected]

– We will be doing a poll for AEW Revolution on Sunday, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

– I was told from live sources that the Hologram vs. Dralistico match taped on Wednesday for Collision was the best match taped that night, and also that Komander vs. Dark Panther for the ROH TV title was great. That would likely air on the ROH show this coming Thursday.

– The Wednesday AEW ratings number was weird as the show was down 66,000 in under 50 viewers which is a big decrease, and up 68,000 in over 50 viewers which is a huge increase. Obviously the former figure is the important one. Within that age group it was down across the board to incredibly low male numbers, the former core audience. New York, Chicago, and I believe Los Angeles and several other markets aired NXT on Wednesday. That should have explained a drop across the board, but not as much of an 18-49 drop as happened and doesn’t explain the increase.

– Revolution has topped 9,600 tickets out so they will top the goal of 10,000 and could hit 11,000.

-New Japan was to start the New Japan Cup today, but the show was canceled due to the ring post of the ring breaking. They will have a show at 5:30 a.m. Eastern tomorrow morning to start the Cup.

– Yesterday’s anniversary show was quite good. Hirooki Goto vs Hiroshi Tanahashi was an incredible storytelling match. Chris Charlton returned to announce the show and he and Walker Stewart did a great job with the main event story, since it went back nearly two decades.

– UFC 313 is tomorrow from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas

ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m. Eastern

  • Djorden Santos (185.5) vs. Ozzy Diaz (185.5)
  • Chris Gutierrez (144.5) vs. John Castaneda (145)
  • Mairon Santos (145.5) vs. Francis Marshall (146)

ESPN at 8 p.m. Eastern

  • Alex Morono (171) vs. Carlos Leal (169)
  • Brunno Ferreira (186) vs. Armen Petrosyan (186)
  • Joshua Van (125.5) vs. Rei Tsuruya (125.5)
  • Curtis Blaydes (262) vs. Rizvan Kuniev (264.5)

PPV on ESPN+ at 10 p.m. Eastern

  • King Green (155.5) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (155.5)
  • Amanda Lemos (116) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (115.5)
  • Jalin Turner (154.5) vs. Ignacio Bahomondes (155)
  • Justin Gaethje (156) vs. Rafael Fiziev (156)
  • Alex Pereira (205) vs. Magomed Ankalaev (205) for the UFC light heavyweight title

– Rich Swann vs. Brian Cage was announced for the 3/23 Chris Bey Benefit show in Las Vegas put on by Future Stars of Wrestling, the promotion that he got started with. Bey has recovered from paralysis to where he can now walk.

– Speaking of recovery, Yoshihiro Takayama after all these years is now able to sit up with help.

– Game Changer Wrestling announced a 7/19 show at the Brooklyn Cyclones Baseball Stadium. Both TNA and ROH over the years have put on successful events in that stadium.

– CMLL has an all women’s show at Arena Mexico tonight with Zeuxis vs. Persephone for the CMLL women’s title, Sanely vs. India Sioux for the Mexican national women’s title and the first part of the tournament for the vacant women’s tag team titles.

– For a week from tonight at Arena Mexico, it’s the B block of the CMLL women’s tag team tournament with Zeuxis & Dark Silueta, Lluvia & Jarochita, Amapola & Princesa Sugehit and the surprise team of Zoey Lucas & Amira Blair from the U.K. Blair is the girlfriend of Michael Oku who has been in a number of angles and was a key part of the phenomenal series of bouts with Oku vs. Will Ospreay over the recent years. Blair was in CMLL when Oku worked there.

– UFC heavyweight Marcos Rogerio de Lima tested positive on 1/13 for anastrozole, a drug used by athletes to jump start testosterone production after coming off steroids. He provided information that he had a prescription for a medical condition and anastrozole was listed on the label. But he never cleared usage and was suspended for one year. He was also suspended in 2017 for the same drug but only suspended for six months as he was able to find proof of a contaminated supplement.

– Oba Femi was on the KTLA news in Los Angeles Wednesday promoting airing of NXT that night because part of it didn’t air the night before due to news coverage of Trump’s speech.

– MLW will be streaming Intimidation Games at 10 p.m. Eastern tomorrow night after Collision ends. The show will air on YouTube with Matt Riddle & Tom Lawlor vs. Contra Unit, Neon vs. Kushida, Matthew Justice vs. Bobby Fish vs. Akira vs. Paul Walter Hauser for the National title and Bomaye Fight Club vs. The Andersons (Brock & CW) in a first blood match.

– United Wrestling Coalition on 3/15 is in New Egypt, NJ at the American Legion for their 29th anniversary event with four Hall of Fame inductees as well as the wrestling show.

UFC on ESPN+ 111 live results: Manel Kape vs. Asu Almabayev

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

The UFC kicks off a busy month of March with the first of five events as UFC on ESPN+ 111 takes place inside in the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The main event is a flyweight bout that could have title shot implications as Manel Kape takes on Asu Almabayev. Kape was originally slated to fight Brandon Royval on this card, but Royval was forced out due to injury and Almabayev stepped in. Kape is looking for his second straight win while Almabayev is looking to improve to 5-0 during his UFC stint.

In the co-main event, it’s a battle of middleweights looking to end losing skids as Cody Brundage takes on Julian Marquez. Also on the main card is a lightweight battle between Nasrat Haqparast; a featherweight bout pitting Hyder Amil against William Gomis; and a welterweight fight between Danny Barlow and Sam Patterson.

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> Flyweights- #12 Charles Johnson (17-6, 6-4 UFC) vs. Ramazan Temirov (18-2, 1-0 UFC)

Temirov lands some punches early as he’s pressuring Johnson. Johnson lands a knee. Temirov lands to the body. Johnson with a pair of leg kicks and Temirov lands a right hand which sends Johnson briefly to the mat, but he gets right up. Johnson lands a front kick to the chin but eats a hard right hand from Temirov. Temirov lands a combo. A brief timeout occurs for a groin strike on Temirov, but they get back to action. Temirov lands a hard combo. Temirov with a right hand. Temirov connects with a left hand and both miss spin attacks. Temirov with a left hook to the body. Johnson with a jab. They trade late. 10-9 Temirov.

Temirov lands a left hand followed by a right hand. Johnson pressing forward and they clinch, with Temirov landing a knee. Johnson working for a takedown. They separate. They trade and Johnson slips to the mat, but Temirov lets him up. Temirov lands a right hook. Temirov landing with slightly more volume. Johnson lands a solid counter right hand. They clinch against the fence and Johnson lands a knee and an elbow on the break. They trade late. Close round. 10-9 Temirov, 20-18 Temirov.

Johnson lands a knee. Temirov lands a series of punches, and Johnson is now throwing a lot and landing. Johnson with a left hand. Temirov lands a jab. Temirov scores a takedown and lands as Johnson works to his feet. Johnson with a combination against the fence. Temirov is circling away as Johnson is pushing the action. Johnson with a pair of calf kicks. Johnson lands a flurry to the body against the fence and lands an uppercut on the break. Temirov lands a stiff jab. They trade left hooks. Johnson lands and they scramble as Johnson is trying to get it down. They trade late. 10-9 Johnson, 29-28 Temirov.

Official Result- Ramazan Temirov def. Charles Johnson by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Women’s Flyweights- Andrea Lee (13-10, 5-8 UFC) vs. JJ Aldrich (13-7, 9-6 UFC)

Aldrich with some early leg kicks. Aldrich lands a jab. Aldrich with a counter punch. Lee with some leg kicks. They trade in close range. Lee lands a leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Aldrich scores a takedown. She lands from side control and a few shots from the back as Lee scrambles up. Aldrich lands a solid combination. Lee lands a body kick. Aldrich lands a solid left hand and Lee backs up. Aldrich lands a combination. Lee looks for a takedown but Aldrich defends and lands a knee. Aldrich has back control at the end of the round. 10-9 Aldrich.

Lee presses forward and lands some kicks. They trade body kicks. Lee with a combo ending with a high kick. Aldrich with a combination. Lee with a heavy leg kick. Lee lands a body kick. Aldrich with a left hand. This feels like a sparring match for the most part. Aldrich connects with some punches. Aldrich lands a body kick as Lee shoots for a takedown. Aldrich defends and they are pressed against the fence. 10-9 Aldrich, 20-18 Aldrich.

They trade as Lee is throwing teet kicks. Aldrich lands a combo, then lands a left hand. Lee with a body kick. Aldrich lands a left hand. They trade inside the pocket with Aldrich landing more. Lee lands a knee to the body then a body kick. Lee looks for a takedown but Aldrich defends and has advantage against the fence. They separate and Lee lands a high kick. Lee with a body kick and a right hand. Lee gets a brief takedown but they get right back to their feet. Aldrich lands as they break. Lee with a head kick. Aldrich scores a takedown as Lee has the neck looking for a guillotine choke. They get up as Lee has the neck and Lee pushes it to the fence looking for a takedown. Aldrich defends with some elbows. 10-9 Lee, 29-28 Aldrich.

Official Result- JJ Aldrich def. Andrea Lee by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

> Featherweights*- Danny Silva (9-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Lucas Almeida (15-3, 2-2 UFC)

*Almeida missed weight by two pounds

Silva lands a leg kick. Almeida with a leg kick. He lands a high kick. Silva lands a leg kick. They trade kicks. They clinch for a moment and Silva misses a spin attack. Silva with a leg kick then a combination. Almeida lands a body kick. They trade punches. Almeida with a series of a few kicks. Almeida lands a combo. Silva lands and Almeida lands a counter left and. Silva fires away and they tie up against the fence. They separate and Silva connects with a straight left hand. Almeida looks for a takedown but Silva defends along the fence. Almeida with a combination as they break. Almeida with a knee. 10-9 Silva.

Silva lands to the body. Almeida with a jab. Almeida goes high with a kick but Silva blocks it. Almeida lands a pair of leg kicks. Silva lands to the body and connects with a right hand to Almeida’s chin. Silva lands a left hand. Silva with a combo and Almeida lands a body kick. They trade in close range. Silva lands a body kick. Silva lands inside the pocket and Almeida lands some punches. Silva with a sharp right hand. Silva with a spinning elbow and they have an exchange right after. Almeida with an inside leg kick. Silva lands to the body. They trade against the fence and Silva scores a late takedown. 10-9 Silva, 20-18 Silva.

Almeida lands a knee to the body. They trade left hands. They clinch against the fence but quickly separate. Almeida with a body kick. Silva lands a right hand and follows it with a flurry. Almeida lands a right hand. Silva with a double jab. Silva with a spin kick and Almeida lands a left hand. Silva pressing forward and lands, though Almeida lands a right hand as he was backing up. Almeida lands as Silva looks for a takedown, but they separate. Silva lands a right hand. Almeida with a combo against the fence as he’s landing constant offense. Almeida lands a leg kick. Almeida with a combination. 10-9 Almeida, 29-28 Silva.

Official Result- Danny Silva def. Lucas Almeida by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

> Featherweights- Ricardo Ramos (17-6, 8-5 UFC) vs. Chepe Mariscal (17-6 1 NC, 4-0 UFC)

Mariscal lands some punches as Ramos backs to the fence. They circle away and Ramos lands a right hand. Mariscal gets a judo throw takedown, but Ramos gets right up. Ramos lands a jab. Ramos with a jab. Mariscal lands a leg kick. They trade and tie up. Mariscal puts Ramos on the mat and lands a right hand. Ramos spins for a calf slicer and has the leg as they stand. Mariscal slaps Ramos and they separate. Mariscal lands against the fence. Mariscal with a left hook. They separate. Ramos connects with a spinning elbow. Mariscal with a right hand to the body and then some left hands in the clinch. Mariscal drags it down as he has the back and is landing. Ramos reverses and is on top. Mariscal looks for a heel hook. Ramos stands and they roll through. They both attack the leg. They scramble up. Ramos with a knee to the body as Mariscal pushes it to the fence. 10-9 Mariscal.

Mariscal lands a kick that trips Ramos to the mat. Mariscal lands some leg kicks as Ramos is on his back, but then lets Ramos up. Mariscal lands an elbow. Mariscal pushes it against the fence and they trade knees in the clinch. Mariscal with an elbow. They separate. Mariscal with a double jab and then lands a series of punches. Ramos lands a spinning elbow. Mariscal with a leg kick then a right hand, and then lands the same combo. Mariscal with a calf kick then a side kick to the body. Ramos with a left hand. Mariscal with a flurry against the fence. Mariscal with a big flurry and is landing a lot against the fence. They clinch and Mariscal with a big kick and a flurry late. 10-9 Mariscal, 20-18 Mariscal.

Ramos with a leg kick. Mariscal lands a leg kick. Ramos shoots for a takedown but Mariscal defends and lands some hammerfists to the thighs and legs of Ramos. Mariscal with some palm strikes against the fence. They break apart. Mariscal lands a body kick. Mariscal lands to the body. Mariscal with a leg kick. Mariscal with a combination. Ramos connects but Mariscal is able to score a takedown. They get up. Mariscal with a leg kick and Ramos lands, and Mariscal just misses a spinning back fist. Mariscal with a body kick and a left hand. They trade inside the pocket and Mariscal with a spin kick. 10-9 Mariscal, 30-27 Mariscal.

Official Result- Chepe Mariscal def. Ricardo Ramos by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Heavyweights- Austen Lane (13-5 1 NC, 1-2 1 NC UFC) vs. Mario Pinto (9-0, 0-0 UFC)

They trade leg kicks. Lane lands a right hand. Pinto with a leg kick. Lane lands a calf kick. Pinto lands a right hand. Lane with a flurry as he mixes to the head and body. They tie up. Pinto with a right hand. Lane lands to the body. They separate. Lane with a jab. Pinto lands an overhand right and Lane stumbles for a brief moment. Lane lands a combo and pushes it to the fence. They separate. Lane with an uppercut to the body. Lane lands a right hand and Pinto goes down for a moment but gets up and Lane pushes it against the fence. Lane with a jab. They tie up and Lane with a pair of knees. 10-9 Lane.

Lane connects and Pinto is backing up. Lane lands a flurry and then resets. Lane lands to the head and body. Pinto then connects with a massive right hand and Lane goes down out cold! What a knockout by Pinto!

Official Result- Mario Pinto def. Austen Lane by knockout (punch) at :39 of Round 2

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> Welterweights- Danny Barlow (9-0, 2-0 UFC) vs. Sam Patterson (12-2-1, 2-1 UFC)

Barlow lands a leg kick. Patterson with a body kick. Barlow with a stiff left hand. Barlow lands an inside leg kick. Patterson lands a combo. Barlow with an inside leg kick. Patterson lands a right hand. Barlow with a jab. Patterson with a right hand to the body. Barlow connects with a combo but Patterson connects with a left hook and Barlow stumbles. Patterson then connects and Barlow goes down and Patterson pours it on from the top and it is all over! Great finish by Patterson to pick up the victory.

Official Result- Sam Patterson def. Danny Barlow by knockout (punches) at 3:10 of Round 1

> Featherweights- Hyder Amil (10-0, 2-0 UFC) vs. William Gomis (14-2, 4-0 UFC)

Gomis with a body kick but Amil catches the kick and tries to get it down, but Gomis is able to scramble to keep it up. Amil looks for a takedown against the fence and they trade knees. Gomis has the underhooks and lands some knees. Gomis with a knee and they break apart. Gomis lands a body kick and then another. Amil lands to the body and then lands a right hand. Amil pushes it to the fence. They break apart. Gomis with an inside leg kick. They tie up against the fence and trade knees. Gomis lands a knee as they break. Gomis with a right hand. They tie up but break. Gomis lands a spinning elbow then a knee. Gomis with a combo. Amil lands a right hand. Both are landing. Amil lands a right hand. Amil with a head kick late. 10-9 Gomis.

Amil lands a right hand. Both are swinging hard. Gomis with a pair of body kicks. Amil with an inside leg kicks. They tie up as Gomis has the body lock. Amil with a brief trip but Gomis lands a knee to the body. They separate and Gomis with a pair of left hands. Amil with some punches in close range. Gomis with a spinning back fist and a spin kick to the body. Amil lands a big right hand. Amil lands a leg kick and a right hand. Gomis with a right hook. Amil lands a counter right hand. They tie up but break quickly. Gomis with a body kick. Amil with a flurry and Gomis lands a counter right hand. They trade leg kicks. Gomis lands a combo. Amil looks for a takedown but Gomis defends. Amil with a knee. Close round. 10-9 Gomis, 20-18 Gomis.

Gomis with a pair of body kicks as Amil presses forward. Gomis with a pair of left hands. Gomis continues to land left hands and Amil lands a big left hand. They trade leg kicks. Amil with a right hand to the body. They trade and Gomis looks tired. Amil grabs the back along the fence and lands two knees. They break and Amil lands a left hand. Amil scores a takedown and has back control. Amil with some left hands. They get up and separate. Gomis with a body kick and Amil lands some punches. Amil with a combo. They trade inside the pocket and both land. Amil with an uppercut. Gomis lands a left hand. Amil lands a right hand. Fun fight. 10-9 Amil, 29-28 Gomis.

Official Result- Hyder Amil def. William Gomis by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

> Lightweights- Nasrat Haqparast (17-5, 9-4 UFC) vs. Esteban Ribovics (14-1, 3-1 UFC)

Ribovics with an inside leg kick. He lands a body kick. Haqparast lands a hard left hand. They’re trading punches and Haqparast is connecting with the left hand. Ribovics with a high kick. Haqparast lands a body kick and then a left hand. Ribovics with a combination. Ribovics lands. Haqparast with a left hand. He lands another. Ribovics with a body kick. Haqparast lands a body kick. Ribovics with a right hand. Haqparast with a body kick and lands a left hand. Ribovics lands to the body. Ribovics with a front kick. Haqparast lands a left hand. Haqparast with another left hand. Haqparast with a body kick then a left hand. Haqparast lands a left hand. 10-9 Haqparast.

They trade and Haqparast lands a big right hand. Ribovics lands a body kick. Haqparast with a left hand. Haqparast with two left hands. Ribovics lands but Haqparast is mixing his strikes and circling away. Ribovics lands a body kick. Haqparast with a right hand. Ribovics lands a combination. Ribovics with a leg kick. Haqparast lands a left hand. He lands a left to the body then to the head. Ribovics lands a combo, then Haqparast lands a flurry. Ribovics with a double jab then a right hand and lands to the body. Haqparast lands to the body. Haqparast with a solid left hand. They trade punches. They trade inside the pocket. 10-9 Ribovics, 19-19.

Haqparast with a pair of left hands. Ribovics with a leg kick then a body kick. They’re trading and Ribovics lands an elbow. Ribovics lands a big knee and Haqparast is busted open. They trade and Haqparast scores a takedown. They scramble up and Ribovics lands a kick. Haqparast looks for another takedown but Ribovics defends. They trade and Haqparast lands a left hand. Haqparast lands a combo. Ribovics with a combination. They trade. Haqparast shoots for a takedown but Ribovics defends. Ribovics with a late head kick that wobbles Haqparast. Great fight. 10-9 Ribovics, 29-28 Ribovics.

Official Result- Nasrat Haqparast def. Esteban Ribovics by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

> Middleweights- Cody Brundage (10-6 1 NC, 4-5 1 NC UFC) vs. Julian Marquez (9-5, 3-4 UFC)

Brundage lands a knee then a right hand. Brundage lands a right hand that hurts Marquez. Brundage with a leg kick then lands a right hand. Brundage lands a leg kick. Brundage with a jab and then another and then a right hand. Brundage lands an uppercut. Marquez lands a right hand. They trade before tripping each other to the mat. Brundage grabs the neck and is looking for a choke. They get to their feet and Marquez escapes and lands a left hand. Brundage lands a right hand. Marquez with a left hand. Brundage with a leg kick. Marquez lands a big right hand and Brundage’s mouth piece goes flying. Marquez lands and looks for a choke. Marquez lets go and is landing a big flurry of punches and some knees. They trade big punches and Marquez loses his mouth piece. Marquez with a big left hand and Brundage lands a knee. They trade and Brundage drops Marquez with a right hand. Brundage landing as Marquez looks to survive and it is stopped! What a brawl as Brundage gets the finish.

Official Result- Cody Brundage def. Julian Marquez by TKO (punches) at 4:45 of Round 1

> Flyweights- #6 Manel Kape (20-7, 5-3 UFC) vs. #8 Asu Almabayev (21-2, 4-0 UFC)

Almabayev with a body kick and Kape grabs the leg to land before letting it go. Kape lands a leg kick. Almabayev with an inside leg kick. Kape lands a left hand. Almabayev is circling away. Almabayev with a body kick. Kape lands a quick flurry. Kape lands a combination. Kape with a left hand. Kape lands a knee and a right hand as Almabayev lands a counter left hand. They trade and Kape lands a right hook. Kape connects and lands a big right hand. Almabayev looks for a takedown but Kape easily defends. Almabayev lands but Kape lands a flurry. Almabayev with a body kick. 10-9 Kape.

Almabayev lands a leg kick. Kape with a left hand. Almabayev lands a right hand. Kape quickly connects. Almabayev lands a body kick. Kape lands a left hand. Almabayev lands a high kick. Kape lands a left hand as Almabayev lands a right hand. Kape with a heavy right hand. Almabayev lands a leg kick. Almabayev with a body kick and Kape lands a counter right hand. Kape lands a left hand. Kape with a knee to the body followed by a right hand. They trade and Almabayev claims he was poked in the eye, but it was a punch so the fight is restarted right away. Almabayev lands a body kick. Kape lands as Almabayev runs away. 10-9 Kape, 20-18 Kape.

Almabayev lands a body kick. Kape lands some big punches as he’s pressuring Almabayev around. Almabayev circles away. Kape is landing as Almabayev is running away. Kape lands and Almabayev drops down for a takedown. Kape defends with some elbows as Almabayev is holding onto his leg. They scramble up and Kape lands a knee. Kape mixing punches and knees as Almabayev is covering up. Almabayev is running away. Kape lands a right hand and Almabayev drops down and it is stopped. Kape gets the big finish in the third.

Official Result- Manel Kape def. Asu Almabayev by TKO (strikes) at 2:16 of Round 3

WWE returning to Western Australia for PLE as part of expanded multi-event TKO deal

Posted on by Josh Nason

Before the local government went into “caretaker mode” in early-February, TKO signed a multi-event deal to bring both WWE and UFC back to the state of Western Australia and specifically, Perth.

The news was revealed by The Western Australian Friday, who reported the deal is for five events over the next 18 months. TKO and the government had a deal for a UFC Fight Night event in Perth later this year that now includes four other events.

“It was signed before the State election writs were issued on February 5, putting provisions into effect that would bar the Government from entering a new multi-million dollar deal,” the outlet wrote, later adding, “The price tag is being kept under wraps but the State Budget includes $37 million to lure major events to WA.”

“The Government has previously defended the use of taxpayers money, revealing a Coldplay concert, WWE and the FIFA Women’s World Cup injected $105 million into the economy in 2023-24,” they wrote.

One of those events will be a WWE premium live event this year, buffered by SmackDown on Friday and Raw on Monday while the fourth event is a UFC pay-per-view in 2026. All shows will also be at the RAC Arena.

WWE last held a PLE in the country in February 2024 with Elimination Chamber from Perth’s outdoor stadium, drawing an announced 52,590. It was their first show in the country since 2018.