Tag: Dricus Du Plessis

UFC 319 live results: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

A big week for the UFC, which featured the signing of a new media rights deal, closes out with one of the most anticipated fight cards of the year as the Octagon returns to the United Center in Chicago, Illinois for the first time in six years for UFC 319.

The main event is one of the biggest fights of the year as UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis defends the title against undefeated challenger Khamzat Chimaev. Du Plessis is making his third title defense after defeating Sean Strickland in January, while Chimaev returns for the first time since October looking to improve on his perfect 14-0 record.

In the co-main event, undefeated featherweight contender Lerone Murphy welcomes the UFC debut of wrestling standout and former Bellator fighter Aaron Pico.

Also on the main card is a welterweight bout between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates; a middleweight fight pitting Jared Cannonier against Michael Page; and a battle of former flyweight title challengers as Tim Elliott takes on Kai Asakura.

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> TUF 33 Flyweight Finale- Alibi Idiris (10-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Joseph Morales (12-2, 1-2 UFC)

They trade right away as Morales comes forward. Idiris lands a front kick to the body. Morales lands as they clinch and lands an elbow on the break. They tie up against the fence. Idiris lands some knees in the clinch. Idiris tries to trip it down but Morales reverses up and lands a knee. Morales lands an elbow and Idiris lands a right hand as they separate. Morales lands a body kick. Morales scores a takedown. Idiris lands from the bottom. Morales is looking for a choke as he lands some body shots. Morales gets the mount. Idiris gives up his back. Morales has the body triangle on as they stand. Morales with punches from the back. Morales lets go and lands a knee. He looks for a kimura as he takes the back when they go to the mat. Morales has the hooks in and has a choke locked in but Idiris survives the round. 10-9 Morales.

Idiris lands a right hand after they both swing and miss. Morales looks for a takedown but Idiris defends. Morales lands a small flurry as he was coming forward and Idiris misses a spinning attack. They tie up against the fence. They separate and Morales lands to the body. Idiris lands a high kick and Morales continues to land with volume. Morales lands to the body and Idiris is hurt. Morales drops Idiris with a right hand. Morales jumps on the back of Idiris and starts landing. Idiris is able to reverse into the guard of Morales. Morales looking for a triangle choke and it is locked in. Idiris taps! Morales picks up the win to win this season of The Ultimate Fighter!

Fight Result- Joseph Morales def. Alibi Idiris by submission (triangle choke) at 3:04 of Round 2 to win the TUF 33 Flyweight Finale

> Women’s Flyweights- #11 Karine Silva (18-5, 4-1 UFC) vs. Dione Barbosa (8-3, 2-1 UFC)

Barbosa lands a leg kick. Barbosa lands a right hand. They trade right hands. Barbosa lands a leg kick. Barbosa lands a left hook and works the jab. They trade and Barbosa is landing with more volume. Silva looks for a takedown but Barbosa defends. Barbosa lands a right hand and an elbow. Silva with a body kick and a jab as Barbosa lands a double jab. Barbosa gets a big takedown and gets the back right away looking for a choke. Silva defends it as Barbosa lands some punches. Barbosa goes for the armbar late but the horn sounds. 10-9 Barbosa.

Silva lands a leg kick. Barbosa lands an uppercut and Silva lands a combination. Silva scores a takedown. They both land punches while tied up and working to their feet. Silva trips Barbosa down to the mat. They stand and Silva lands a knee in the clinch. Barbosa lands some knees as she is in clinch control. Silva drags it down but ends up on her back. Silva looking for a triangle choke from the bottom. Silva with elbows from the bottom. Silva landing lots of shots from her back. Barbosa lands from the top. 10-9 Silva, 19-19.

Silva lands a body kick. Barbosa lands a body kick. Silva lands a right hand. She lands a left hand then a leg kick. Silva lands a combination. They tie up and Barbosa is able to score a takedown. Both look for triangle chokes and Silva looks for a guillotine choke and it was in deep but Barbosa is able to escape. Silva is on top and lands. Barbosa is able to reverse to the top and both are landing on the mat. Silva with clubbing fists from the bottom. Barbosa lands from the top. Close fight. 10-9 Silva, 29-28 Silva.

Fight Result- Karine Silva def. Dione Barbosa by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Lightweights- Edson Barboza (24-12, 18-12 UFC) vs. Drakkar Klose (15-3-1, 9-3 UFC)

Barboza with some early hard leg kicks. Klose lands an inside leg kick as Barboza lands a jab. Barboza lands a right hand then a leg kick. They trade leg kicks as Klose lands a right hand and clinches up against the fence. Barboza is able to land some foot stomps and a body shot as they break. Klose lands a jab and a right hand then a left hand. They tie back up against the fence. Barboza lands a knee to the body. They separate. Barboza with a hard calf kick. Barboza with a spin kick to the body. Klose lands an uppercut. Barboza with a leg kick and a left hook to the body. Klose lands a jab and they clinch up. 10-9 Klose.

They trade in the center in close range. Barboza with a spin kick. Klose lands a right hand. Klose with a calf kick. Klose lands a right hand and then lands a few big shots against the fence that hurt Barboza. Klose with some foot stomps. They separate and Barboza lands a leg kick. They clinch back up against the fence. They break apart. Klose with a leg kick. They trade and Klose lands a solid right hand. Barboza lands a right hand and a spin kick to the body followed by a left hook. Klose lands a few big right hands that tag Barboza and they clinch back up. Barboza lands a knee to the body. They end the round there. 10-9 Klose, 20-18 Klose.

Klose lands a right hand. Barboza lands a body kick and Klose lands a right hand before they clinch up. They separate and Barboza lands a leg kick. Klose with a right hand. Barboza lands a right hand. Klose with a right hand. Barboza lands a leg kick and Klose lands a series of punches inside the pocket. Barboza with a heavy leg kick. Klose lands two solid leg kicks and a right hand. They tie back up against the fence. They separate and both throw spinning attacks. 10-9 Barboza, 29-28 Klose.

Fight Result- Drakkar Klose def. Edson Barboza by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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> Lightweights- Chase Hooper (16-3-1, 8-3 UFC) vs. Alexander Hernandez (16-8, 8-7 UFC)

Hooper throwing front side kicks early. He lands a body kick then a head kick and a spinning back fist. Hernandez lands a right hand. Hernandez lands a left hand and a right hand as Hooper continues to attack with front side kicks. Hernandez lands a left hand. Hooper lands a right hand. Hernandez lands as Hooper shoots for a takedown, but Hernandez defends. Hooper shoots for a long takedown and Hernandez slips away. Hooper with a leg kick. Hernandez connects as both came forward. Hooper lands in close range. Hernandez drops Hooper with a big right hand and lands punches and it is stopped right before the round ends!

Fight Result- Alexander Hernandez def. Chase Hooper by TKO (punches) at 4:58 of Round 1

> Women’s Strawweights- #5 Jessica Andrade (26-14, 17-12 UFC) vs. #11 Loopy Godinez (13-5, 8-5 UFC)

Andrade with a pair of leg kicks and a left hook. Godinez lands a combo in close range. Andrade with a leg kick. Godinez lands another combination. They trade inside the pocket. Godinez lands a right hand. Godinez lands a combo. Godinez with a jab. Godinez with a hard leg kick. Godinez lands a right hand and then a jab. Andrade lands an uppercut as Godinez lands a knee to the body. Andrade connects as she rushes forward. Godinez lands a combo ending with a body kick. Godinez lands a right hand. Andrade lands a quick flurry as she rushes in. Andrade stuns Godinez with a big combination. Andrade lands a big combo. Godinez lands a right hand. 10-9 Godinez.

They trade and Godinez gets a takedown and is in the mount position. Godinez lands from the top and gets to the back and lands before they scramble up. Godinez lands a left hook. Andrade with a leg kick. They trade and Andrade lands to the body. Godinez lands a right hand. Andrade fires back with a right hand and then lands a left hook. They trade and Godinez looked for a takedown, but Andrade defended it. Andrade rushes in and both land. Godinez lands a left hand and then looks to take it down against the fence. They separate late. 10-9 Godinez, 20-18 Godinez.

They are both throwing as Andrade is coming out pressuring and lands. Andrade keeping her foot on the gas as she lands a flurry. Andrade lands a right hand. Godinez connects with a right hand and lands a jab. They both land as they trade inside the pocket and Andrade lands a quick flurry and Godinez with a knee. Andrade with a big flurry but Godinez connects with a knee to slow it down. Godinez lands a left hand. Andrade throws a flurry. Andrade with a big right hand and Godinez has a cut opened. Andrade lands a combination, but Godinez connects with a right hand. Godinez lands a right hand and a knee. Andrade lands a combo and a leg kick. Andrade with a right hand. Godinez shoots for a takedown, but Andrade defends and lands. Andrade with a big right hand. 10-9 Andrade, 29-28 Godinez.

Fight Result- Loopy Godinez def. Jessica Andrade by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Middleweights- Gerald Meerschaert (37-19, 12-11 UFC) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (20-9 1 NC, 8-7 1 NC UFC)

Meerschaert with a leg kick. Oleksiejczuk lands a left hand. Meerschaert shoots for a takedown but Oleksiejczuk defends. Oleksiejczuk lands a left hand. Meerschaert looks for a takedown but Oleksiejczuk defends. Oleksiejczuk lands some big punches and drops Meerschaert, but he backs off and lets him up. Oleksiejczuk drops Meerschaert again and starts landing big shots from the top and it is all over! Oleksiejczuk gets the big finish in the first.

Fight Result- Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Gerald Meerschaert by TKO (punches) at 3:03 of Round 1

> Middleweights- Baisangur Susurkaev (9-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Eric Nolan (8-3, 0-0 UFC)

Nolan lands a pair of jabs. Susurkaev lands a leg kick then a high kick. Nolan connects with some shots. Susurkaev with a high kick. Nolan lands a right hand. Susurkaev lands a right hand and Nolan lands a knee as they clinch. Nolan with another knee. Nolan has clinch control. They break and Susurkaev lands a counter right hand and some punches and kicks. Susurkaev scores a takedown. Susurkaev lands from the top and they get up. Susurkaev pushes it to the fence and lands some knees. They break and Nolan rocks Susurkaev with a big knee and has Susurkaev in trouble as the round ends. 10-9 Nolan.

Susurkaev hurts Nolan with a body kick. Nolan then lands to the body and Susurkaev lands a knee to the body. Nolan rolls for a leg lock and Susurkaev ends up on top and is landing. Susurkaev works to the back of Nolan and is landing as he has the hooks in. Susurkaev with lots of big punches and he goes for a choke. He has it locked in and Nolan taps! Susurkaev gets the win after being in big trouble late in the first.

Fight Result- Baisangur Susurkaev def. Eric Nolan by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:01 of Round 2

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> Flyweights- #11 Tim Elliott (20-13-1, 9-11 UFC) vs. #15 Kai Asakura (21-5, 0-1 UFC)

Elliott coming out with his front leg in motion at all times. Asakura lands a right hand. Asakura lands a combo to the body. Asakura lands a big right hand. Elliott lands a couple of leg kicks. Asakura lands another sharp right hand. Asakura with a left hook and then lands to the body. Asakura with a stiff jab. Asakura lands a right hand. Asakura with a knee and both land left hands. Elliott lands a right hand. Asakura lands but Elliott is able to score a takedown and is in side control. Elliott with some knees to the body. Elliott lands a pair of elbows to the body as Asakura scrambles up. 10-9 Asakura.

Asakura lands some high and leg kicks early. Elliott lands a left hand. He lands another one. Asakura lands a combo. Asakura with a right hand. Elliott lands. Asakura lands a left hand. Asakura lands a combo. Elliott gets a brief takedown and jumps on the back as they stand, but Asakura escapes. Asakura lands but Elliott ducks under and scores a takedown. Asakura gets Elliott inside his guard. Elliott lands and looks for a guillotine choke and as it in from the mount. Asakura taps! What an upset win from Elliott!

Fight Result- Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura by submission (guillotine choke) at 4:39 of Round 2

> Middleweights- #9 Jared Cannonier (18-8, 11-8 UFC) vs. #15 WW Michael Page (23-3, 2-1 UFC)

Page working the jab early. Page lands a jab. Cannonier is able to push Page to the fence. Page is defending the underhooks and lands a pair of knees. Page throws Cannonier off of him as they break apart. Page drops Cannonier with a massive right hand but lets Cannonier get right up. Cannonier looks for a takedown against the fence but Page is defending it. Cannonier with some short knees. They separate. 10-9 Page.

Page lands a right hand. Cannonier with an inside leg kick. Page lands another right hand. Page ducks under Cannonier throwing some offense. Page lands a combo and Cannonier ends up falling down and rolling and gets up. Page with a right hand. Cannonier lands a right hand. They clinch up and Cannonier gets a takedown, but Page gets right back up. They separate. Page lands a right hand. Cannonier misses a right hand but pushes Page against the fence. They break. 10-9 Page, 20-18 Page.

Page lands a leg kick. Page lands a right hand. Cannonier gets a takedown. Cannonier gets the mount and starts landing. Cannonier with an elbow from the top. Cannonier landing and looks to attack the arm. Cannonier looking to work for an arm-triangle choke. He lets go and goes back to the half-guard and lands an elbow. Cannonier ends the fight on top. 10-9 Cannonier, 29-28 Page.

Fight Result- Michael Page def. Jared Cannonier by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Welterweights- #11 Geoff Neal (16-6, 8-4 UFC) vs. #12 Carlos Prates (21-7, 4-1 UFC)

Neal with an inside leg kick. He lands another before going high with a kick. Prates lands a low kick. Neal with a left hand. Prates with a spin kick to the body then a low kick. Neal lands a quick flurry against the fence. Prates lands a leg kick. Prates with a combo. Prates lands a leg kick. Prates with more leg kicks. Neal lands a left hand. Prates lands a combo and Neal lands a left hand. Neal lands a right hand and Prates circles away. Prates lands a jab. Neal lands a combo ending with a right hand and Prates lands a body shot then a knee to the body of Neal. Neal lands inside. Prates lands a left hand. Prates lands a knee as Neal grabs the body lock. They break apart. Prates lands a left hand and a leg kick. Prates drops Neal with a spinning elbow right at the end of the round and Neal was out and it is all over! What a finish from Prates!

Fight Result- Carlos Prates def. Geoff Neal by knockout (spinning back elbow) at 4:59 of Round 1

> Featherweights- #6 Lerone Murphy (16-0-1, 8-0-1 UFC) vs. Aaron Pico (13-4, 0-0 UFC)

Pico lands a jab and a right hook and a body shot as they clinch against the fence. They separate and Pico lands a leg kick and a left hook to the body. They clinch and Murphy lands an elbow and has a choke locked in as they go to the mat. Pico escapes and is on top. They get to their feet and separate. Pico throws and Murphy lands a knee. Pico with a left hook to the body. Murphy then lands a spinning elbow and Pico goes down out cold! What a knockout by Murphy!

Fight Result- Lerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico by knockout (spinning elbow) at 3:21 of Round 1

> UFC Middleweight Championship- C Dricus Du Plessis (23-2, 9-0 UFC) vs. #3 Khamzat Chimaev (14-0, 8-0 UFC)

Chimaev gets a takedown right away. Chimaev gets the crucifix position and starts landing. He’s landing lots of punches as Du Plessis is trying to escape. It’s a lot of small shots to the ear that Chimaev is landing. Du Plessis gets out of the position as Chimaev stays in side control. Chimaev is just holding Du Plessis on the mat. Du Plessis is trying to get up but having no success, but not much else is happening. Chimaev gets the back and Du Plessis is able to escape for a moment but Chimaev ends up back in side control. 10-9 Chimaev.

Chimaev shoots for a takedown and has the back and lands a couple of knees. Chimaev drags Du Plessis down to the mat. Chimaev with short knees but not a lot of action is happening. Chimaev looked for a choke but Du Plessis was able to defend it. Chimaev with short knees. Chimaev with more short knees. Not a lot of damage taking place here. 10-9 Chimaev, 20-18 Chimaev.

Du Plessis lands and Chimaev shoots for a takedown and gets the back of Du Plessis and has it down. They briefly get up but Chimaev gets it down and is in side control. Chimaev gets the crucifix position and lands some short punches. Chimaev landing better in this position so far as opposed to the first. Chimaev landing and gets the mount and lands. Du Plessis gives up his back and Chimaev looks for a choke but Du Plessis is defending. 10-8 Chimaev, 30-26 Chimaev.

Chimaev lands a body kick and goes for a takedown but Du Plessis sprawls but Chimaev keeps chasing it and has the back as they go to their knees. Chimaev keeps dragging Du Plessis on the mat from the back. Du Plessis tries to roll and Chimaev ends up in side control. Chimaev has the back and they are separated and stood up. Du Plessis lands a body kick and Chimaev grabs him and gets a takedown and has the back and starts landing knees. 10-9 Chimaev, 40-35 Chimaev.

Du Plessis lands a pair of body kicks. Du Plessis lands a combo. Chimaev shoots for a takedown and gets the back and drags it to the mat. Chimaev landing from the crucifix position but lets Du Plessis out and takes the back. Chimaev lands from the back but Du Plessis is able to reverse to the top. He looked for a guillotine choke but Chimaev escapes and is inside the guard of Du Plessis. They are stood up. Chimaev with a leg kick. Du Plessis lands a body kick. Du Plessis connects with a punch. Chimaev tries a takedown but Du Plessis sprawls to defend and lands some elbows. Du Plessis gets Chimaev down and has the mount and the back and looked for a choke. 10-9 Chimaev, 50-44 Chimaev.

Fight Result- Khamzat Chimaev def. Dricus Du Plessis by unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44) to win the UFC Middleweight Championship

UFC 312 live results: Two title fights from Sydney, Australia

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

The Octagon returns to Sydney, Australia, for the first time since September 2023 with UFC 312 from the Qudos Bank Arena.

The main event is a rematch for the UFC middleweight championship as champion Dricus Du Plessis defends against former champion Sean Strickland. “DDP” defeated Strickland to become the champion at January 2024’s UFC 297 and the rematch comes after both picked up wins in the meantime. Du Plessis is coming off a title defense over Israel Adesanya while Strickland defeated Paulo Costa.

In the co-main event, UFC women’s strawweight champion Zhang Weili defends against undefeated Tatiana Suarez in what is perhaps the best fight one could make in the division. Weili has won four straight and is coming off a title defense against Yan Xiaonan in April. Suarez has been out of action since August 2023, but has won all ten of her pro fights to date.

Also on the main card is a heavyweight battle between Justin Tafa and Tallison Teixeira; a light heavyweight bout pitting Jimmy Crute against Rodolfo Bellato; and a welterweight bout between Jake Matthews and Francisco Prado.

ESPN+ PRELIMS | 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT

> Lightweights- Quillan Salkilld (7-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Anshul Jubli (7-1, 1-1 UFC)

Salkilld lands a jab then a leg kick. Salkilld then drops Jubli with the first right hand thrown and it is all over! What a finish from Salkilld in his debut!

Official Result- Quillan Salkilld def. Anshul Jubli by TKO (punch) at :19 of Round 1

> Welterweights- Jonathan Micallef (7-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Kevin Jousset (10-3, 2-1 UFC)

Micallef lands a left hand and a body kick after an exchange to start. They trade kicks. They trade body kicks and Jousset lands a counter left hand. Jousset with a right hand. Micallef lands a body kick. Jousset with a counter left hand then a jab. Micallef with another body kick. They trade kicks. They clinch and Jousset lands some uppercuts and an elbow as Micallef lands a pair of knees. They separate and trade body kicks. Micallef drops Jousset with a head kick then attacks the neck but they stand and separate. Jousset lands a right hand and they trade body kicks. Micallef with a body kick followed by a left hand. Micallef with a pair of body kicks. Micallef with another body kick then another. 10-9 Micallef.

Micallef lands a left hand. Jousset with a heavy leg kick. Jousset with another leg kick. They trade punches. Micallef with a hard body kick. They trade kicks. Micallef with a head kick. They trade left hands. Micallef with a series of jabs. Jousset lands a body kick then a leg kick. Micallef lands a body kick. Micallef with another head kick that momentarily stuns Jousset. They trade kicks. Micallef lands a left hand and Jousset with a body kick. They trade in the center. Jousset with a body kick then a right hand, then Micallef lands a question mark kick. 10-9 Micallef, 20-18 Micallef.

They’re trading early in the third round as Jousset is pressing forward, but Micallef is landing more from the outside. Micallef lands a body kick. Jousset with a straight right hand, but eats a body kick from Micallef. Jousset lands to the body and then lands a body kick. Micallef lands a body kick. Micallef with a head kick. Jousset with a body kick, but then Micallef lands a head kick, and Jousset lands a leg kick. Jousset lands a right hand, then follows with a left and another right. They trade combinations. Jousset lands a right hand. Jousset comes forward with a flurry late. 10-9 Jousset, 29-28 Micallef.

Official Result- Jonathan Micallef def. Kevin Jousset by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Lightweights- Rongzhu (25-6, 1-3 UFC) vs. Kody Steele (7-0, 0-0 UFC)

Rongzhu lands early and Steele scores a takedown, but they quickly get up. Rongzhu lands a leg kick and they trade some jabs. Steele with a right hand. Rongzhu lands a left hook. Steele lands a hard right hand. Rongzhu lands some big punches and Steele is in survival mode as he is rocked and having trouble standing. Steele is throwing punches back. Rongzhu lands a right hand. Steele lands a combo and Rongzhu lands a right hand and a left hook. Rongzhu with a right hand and then another as Steele fires back at the horn. Crazy round. 10-9 Rongzhu.

Rongzhu lands a hard right hand and Steele scores a takedown. Steele goes for a leg lock but Rongzhu escapes and they stand. They’re trading as both connect with combinations. Rongzhu with the jab and a right hand. Rongzhu with the double jab and a big left hand. They trade inside the pocket as Rongzhu lands a stiff left hook. Rongzhu with another big left hand followed by a stiff jab. Rongzhu lands a right hand. Rongzhu with a series of jabs then a right hand. 10-9 Rongzhu, 20-18 Rongzhu.

Steele lands a right hand then a jab. Rongzhu with a combination. Rongzhu lands a right hand. Rongzhu with a double jab. Rongzhu lands a flurry of punches. They’re trading in close range. They’re trading jabs back-and-forth. Rongzhu way ahead on volume as he’s landing a lot of punches, but Steele is eating them. Steele lands a jab. Rongzhu with a combination. Steele lands a combination. They trade big punches inside the pocket at the end. Fantastic fight. 10-9 Rongzhu, 30-27 Rongzhu.

Official Result- Rongzhu def. Kody Steele by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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> Bantamweights- Colby Thicknesse (7-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Aleksandre Topuria (5-1, 0-0 UFC)

Thicknesse lands a right hand. Thicknesse with a high kick. Topuria lands to the body. He lands some more body shots. Topuria lands a jab. Thicknesse lands a body kick. Thicknesse lands a high kick. They briefly clinch and Topuria lands an uppercut. They separate and Topuria lands a right hand. They clinch and Thicknesse lands a knee and Topuria pushes him away. Topuria lands a big right hand and Thicknesse is hurt. They scramble to the mat and Topuria has the back and lands, then lands some more as they get up. Thicknesse with a body kick. Thicknesse with a pair of kicks. Topuria lands to the body and gets the back as they scramble. Topuria with a big suplex from the back. 10-9 Topuria.

They trade to start the second as Topuria is pressuring. Topuria lands an uppercut to the body. Thicknesse with a head kick that Topuria mostly blocks. Thicknesse with a front kick to the body. Topuria with a heavy calf kick. Thicknesse shoots for a takedown against the fence but Topuria defends. Thicknesse lands a body kick. Topuria lands a body kick. Thicknesse lands a right hand. Thicknesse shoots for a takedown but Topuria defends. They trade jabs. 10-9 Topuria, 20-18 Topuria.

Thicknesse lands a body kick. Thicknesse shoots for a takedown but Topuria defends and sprawls to the back. Topuria has the back as they stand and they end up separating. Topuria gets Thicknesse down to the mat. Thicknesse looks to throw up a triangle choke but Topuria defends it and controls from the full guard. Topuria remaining in full control and landing from the top. Thicknesse is trying to set up something from the bottom but not having success as Topuria lands. 10-9 Topuria, 30-27 Topuria.

Official Result- Aleksandre Topuria def. Colby Thicknesse by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Women’s Flyweights- Wang Cong (6-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Bruna Brasil (10-4-1, 2-2 UFC)

Brasil lands a leg kick. Cong lands a leg kick. Brasil lands a leg kick. Cong lands a leg kick and a left hand. Brasil with a leg kick. They trade kicks and Cong lands a right hand and goes back to the leg kick. Cong with a combination. Cong gets Brasil to the mat late as Brasil missed a kick. 10-9 Cong.

Cong with a right hand and a calf kick. Cong lands a combination. Cong lands to the body as Brasil was backing up. Brasil is circling around and not throwing much offense and seems to be waiting to counter. Cong with a side leg kick. She lands two more leg kicks. Cong with a heavy leg kick. She lands another. Brasil throws a right hand that misses. Cong with an overhand right and she lands another as Brasil was backing up. Cong lands a right hand to the body and then some more body shots. Cong with a massive calf kick. 10-9 Cong, 20-18 Cong.

Cong with a side head kick but it barely missed. Cong lands a calf kick. They trade right hands. Cong lands a right hand and then another that snaps Brasil’s head back. Cong with a left hook. Cong with a side kick to the head and then one to the body. Cong with some leg and body kicks. Cong with a leg kick. They trade right hands. Cong way ahead on volume. Cong gets a late takedown. 10-9 Cong, 30-27 Cong.

Official Result- Wang Cong def. Bruna Brasil by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Lightweights- Tom Nolan (8-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (8-4-1, 3-3-1 UFC)

They trade leg kicks and Nolan lands a body kick. They briefly clinch but quickly separate. Nolan with a body kick. Nolan grabs the body lock and gets Borshchev down to the mat for a moment and has the back as they stand. Nolan with a knee. Nolan jumps on the back and is looking for a choke. Nolan with a few elbows. Borshchev falls back to break the grip, but Nolan ends up in side control. Nolan has a D’Arce choke locked in. Borshchev is trying to fight it off. Nolan lets go and lands an elbow before they stand and separate. Borshchev with a right hand to the body. Nolan lands a head kick. Nolan with a spin kick to the body. Nolan with a high kick then a pair of leg kicks. Borshchev with a right hand then a body kick. Borshchev with a right hand to the body then goes high with a punch and a kick. Nolan briefly gets it down but they pop right up. Borshchev with a push kick. 10-9 Nolan.

Borshchev lands a leg kick. Borshchev with some side kicks to the legs. Nolan lands a spinning back elbow. Borshchev with a high kick. Nolan with a right hand. Borshchev lands a right hand then a combination. Nolan with an elbow. Borshchev lands a pair of body kicks. Nolan lands a double jab then a leg kick. Borshchev with a jumping knee. Nolan shoots for a takedown and is in deep and is finally able to complete it after Borshchev tried defending. Nolan with a couple of left hands and attacks for the choke. They scramble up and trade punches. Nolan with a straight left hand. Borshchev lands a right hand. Nolan with a step-in knee. Nolan with a left hand. Borshchev with a spin kick. He lands another. Close round. 10-9 Nolan, 20-18 Nolan.

Borshchev with a body kick. They trade and Nolan lands a hard body kick. Borshchev lands a body kick and Nolan shoots for a takedown. Borshchev sprawls to defend and Nolan goes to his back and lands some upkicks. Borshchev backs away and is throwing kicks at the leg. Nolan jumps up and lands a head kick then stays on his back. Nolan is ordered to his feet. Nolan lands a head kick. Nolan lands a low kick and timeout is called. They get back to action. Nolan slips to the mat. Borshchev decides to get on top and then lands from the back as they scramble. Borshchev remains on top and Nolan lands a pair of elbows from his back. Nolan with hammerfists from the bottom as Borshchev lands a pair of left hands from the top. Borshchev stands but Nolan lands an upkick. Nolan with hammerfists from his back and Borshchev is cut open. They both land on the mat. Borshchev with a pair of left hands and some hammerfists. Nolan with some elbows from his back and Borshchev lands a big left hand. Borshchev goes for a late leg lock. 10-9 Nolan, 30-27 Nolan.

Official Result- Tom Nolan def. Viacheslav Borshchev by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

> Featherweights- Jack Jenkins (13-3, 3-1 UFC) vs. Gabriel Santos (11-2, 1-2 UFC)

They trade leg kicks early. Santos lands an inside leg kick. Santos with a body kick then a leg kick. Jenkins drops Santos with a head kick and starts landing from the top. Jenkins inside the guard of Santos and throwing a ton of punches. Santos looked for an armbar but Jenkins was landing. Santos then locks in a triangle choke and it looks in deep. Jenkins is trying to escape and is able to. They get to their feet as Jenkins has Santos against the fence and lands some knees. They separate. Santos scores a takedown. Santos ends the round on top. 10-9 Jenkins.

Jenkins with a pair of body kicks as Santos lands a leg kick then a body kick. Santos lands a left hand. Jenkins with an uppercut. Jenkins just misses a head kick. Santos gets the body lock against the fence and scores a takedown. Santos lands to the body and moves to the half-guard. Santos landing from the top and controls for the rest of the round as he lands. 10-9 Santos, 19-19.

Santos rocks Jenkins with a front kick to the face and then a left hand and jumps on the back as they’re against the fence. Santos lands from the back as they go to the mat. Santos is working for a choke and has a rear-naked choke locked in deep and Jenkins taps! Great comeback from Santos after being dropped in the first round.

Official Result- Gabriel Santos def. Jack Jenkins by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:06 of Round 3

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> Welterweights- Jake Matthews (20-7, 13-7 UFC) vs. Francisco Prado (12-2, 1-2 UFC)

Matthews lands a jab. Matthews with a quick combination. Prado connects with a left hook and Matthews lands a counter combination then a right hand. Prado rushes in and lands. They trade left hands. Matthews lands a straight right hand. Matthews with some uppercuts in the clinch as Prado landed some knees. Matthews with a body kick. Prado lands a leg kick after they have an exchange. Matthews lands a solid left hook. Prado with a leg kick and Matthews counters with a head kick then lands a right hand. Prado looks for a takedown and completes it. Prado with two elbows and Matthews lands a right hand on the way up. They trade in close range. Matthews lands late. 10-9 Matthews.

Matthews with a combo to the body and head. Prado with an elbow and Matthews lands a flurry to the body. Prado with a leg kick. Matthews pressing forward and landing with more volume. Prado lands an outside leg kick. They trade left hooks. Matthews landing whenever they get in close range. Prado pushes it against the fence with underhooks looking to get it down. Matthews landing to the body as Prado has him pressed against the fence. They exchange knees. They separate and Matthews lands a flurry to the body. Prado with a right hand. They swing in close range. Matthews with a right hand and Prado is bleeding more. 10-9 Matthews, 20-18 Matthews.

Matthews with a combination. They trade body kicks. They trade in close range with Matthews landing more. Matthews lands and grabs the body lock but Prado is able to shake it off. Matthews lands an uppercut. Matthews with a flurry to the body. Prado looks for a takedown but Matthews defends. Prado lands a body kick. Matthews with a stiff left hook. Matthews buckles Prado for a moment with a left hook. Prado pushes it to the fence and Matthews lands a knee. Matthews with a pair of knees as Prado has him pressed against the fence. They separate and Matthews lands a right hand. They trade in close range. Prado with a leg kick. Matthews grabs the body lock and pushes it against the fence. They break apart. They clinch against the fence and Matthews lands a knee. 10-9 Matthews, 30-27 Matthews.

Official Result- Jake Matthews def. Francisco Prado by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Light Heavyweights- Jimmy Crute (12-4-1, 4-4-1 UFC) vs. Rodolfo Bellato (12-2, 1-0 UFC)

Crute lands some leg kicks and then a combination. Crute with a spin kick to the body. Bellato tries a takedown but Crute reverses it and ends up in the mount and lands. Crute looks for a choke but starts working from the half-guard. Crute moves to side control. Bellato looks to scramble out but Crute ends up back inside the guard of Bellato. Crute landing lots of right hands from the top. Crute with some left hands. Crute with some elbows and is still working from the half-guard. They sweep to the feet and Crute lands a right hand. Crute drops Bellato with a right hand and starts landing from the top. Crute with some big elbows and Bellato survives the round. 10-8 Crute.

Crute lands two right hands and a leg kick. Bellato lands a combination. Crute with a combo and a head kick. Bellato lands a stiff jab. Bellato lands a right hand and Crute with some short uppercuts. Bellato lands to the body. Crute with a right hand and Bellato lands a calf kick. Bellato with a left hook and lands a calf kick. Crute shoots for a takedown but Bellato squirms away. Crute with a left hook and a spin kick. Crute lands a combo. They trade leg kicks and Bellato lands a left hook. Crute with a right hand. Bellato with a calf kick. Crute with a solid right hand and some uppercuts. They trade in the clinch as both land some dirty boxing. Bellato with a heavy calf kick. Close round. 10-9 Bellato, 19-18 Crute.

Bellato with a leg kick. They trade inside the pocket. Bellato with a leg kick. Crute with a quick combination. Bellato with a stiff right hand then a leg kick. Crute tries to get it down but Bellato is able to scramble away. Bellato with an inside leg kick. Bellato with a heavy leg kick as Crute lands a combination. They trade right hands. Crute with a lunging right hand. Bellato scores a takedown but they scramble up. Bellato has the back and drags it down. They scramble up and Bellato lands a leg kick. Crute with a right hand and a head kick. Bellato with a leg kick. Crute lands a right hand and Bellato fires back a right hand. Bellato with a jab. Bellato with a heavy calf kick. Bellato with a combination. 10-9 Bellato, 28-28 DRAW.

Official Result- Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato scored a majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)

> Heavyweights- Justin Tafa (7-4 1 NC, 4-4 1 NC UFC) vs. Tallison Teixeira (7-0, 0-0 UFC)

Teixeira lands a body kick. Teixeira looks for a takedown and pushes it to the fence. Teixeira with a knee and an elbow and Tafa goes to the mat. Teixeira lands some punches as Tafa is covering up and it is stopped. What a finish from Teixeira as Tafa is protesting the stoppage.

Official Result- Tallison Teixeira def. Justin Tafa by TKO (strikes) at :35 of Round 1

> UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship- C Zhang Weili (25-3, 9-2 UFC) vs. #1 Tatiana Suarez (10-0, 7-0 UFC)

Weili with a side kick and a right hand. Suarez is able to score a takedown right into side control. Suarez with some right hands to the body. Suarez with some left hands from the top. Weili throwing elbows from the bottom as Suarez lands to the body. Suarez moves back to side control. Suarez with a few knees to the body. Suarez grabs the neck as they stand and drops down looking for a choke but Weili escapes and is on top. Suarez landing to the body from the bottom. Suarez controlling an arm. Weili lands from the top. 10-9 Suarez.

Weili lands a high kick. Weili lands a right hand as Suarez was closing in for a takedown attempt. Suarez tries a takedown but Weili immediately scrambles into mount. Weili with some left hands from the top. Weili with lots of left hands as Suarez is trying to scramble up. Weili has the neck and looks for a guillotine choke as she lands a knee. Suarez looks to take it down. Weili with a knee. They separate. Weili lands a big right hand. Suarez rushes in for the takedown and pushes Weili to the fence. They go to the mat and Weili lands from the top. Weili landing more from the top as Suarez is trying to control position. Weili with more punches to end the round. 10-9 Weili, 19-19.

Suarez with a pair of leg kicks as Weili lands a right hand. Weili lands a head kick. Weili lands a combo. Weili rocks Suarez with a big right hand. Suarez shoots for a desperation takedown but Weili defends. Suarez lands to the body. Suarez tries a takedown but Weili defends. They are tied up against the fence. Suarez with a knee to the body as Weili lands in the clinch and they break apart. Weili with a high kick. Weili lands a right hand. Weili with a body kick and a right hand. Suarez ties it up but Weili lands an elbow and escapes. 10-9 Weili, 29-28 Weili.

Weili with a leg kick. Weili lands a combo. Weili scores a takedown with an inside trip. Weili landing from inside the guard of Suarez. Weili looking for an arm-triangle choke. Suarez is trying to hang on as it’s not completely locked in and Weili lets go. Weili landing from the top. Weili controlling from the top and is landing punches and elbows. Suarez has a deep gash on her knee that looks bad. Weili ends the round landing. 10-9 Weili, 39-37 Weili.

Weili lands a right hand. Suarez with a leg kick. Suarez looks for a takedown but Weili lands some knees to defend and lands an elbow. Suarez pushes it against the fence. Weili defends and they separate. Weili lands a body kick then a knee and an elbow as they clinch. They scramble down but Weili rolls and ends up on top. Weili working from inside the guard of Suarez and landing some punches. Weili continues to land to the body. Weili stands at the end. 10-9 Weili, 49-46 Weili.

Official Result- Zhang Weili def. Tatiana Suarez by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45) to retain the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship

> UFC Middleweight Championship- C Dricus Du Plessis (22-2, 8-0 UFC) vs. #1 Sean Strickland (29-6, 16-6 UFC)

Du Plessis with a body kick. He lands another. Strickland lands a right hand. Du Plessis with a leg kick. Du Plessis with a high kick then a body kick. Strickland lands a jab. Du Plessis with a leg kick. Strickland lands the jab. Du Plessis with a body kick. Du Plessis lands a right hand. Strickland lands a right hand. Du Plessis with a spin kick. Du Plessis with a grazing head kick. Strickland lands the jab. They trade in close range. Du Plessis with a head kick. Du Plessis lands a right hand after a pair of body kicks. Du Plessis with a leg kick. 10-9 Du Plessis.

Du Plessis with a body kick. They trade leg kicks and Du Plessis lands a body kick. Strickland with an overhand right hand. Du Plessis lands a right hand. Du Plessis misses a combo but eats a counter right hand from Strickland. Strickland lands a combo and ends landing the jab. Du Plessis cuts Strickland open with a jab. Du Plessis with a head kick and lands a leg kick. Du Plessis with a spinning back fist and connects with a right hand. Du Plessis lands a body kick. He lands an inside leg kick as Strickland works the jab. Du Plessis lands to the body. 10-9 Du Plessis, 20-18 Du Plessis.

Du Plessis with a body kick. Du Plessis lands a solid right hand. Du Plessis with a side kick. Strickland with a right hand. Du Plessis lands a hard left hand. Strickland still mostly working the jab. Strickland lands a combination. Du Plessis with a right hand. Du Plessis with a side kick. Du Plessis with a body kick. Du Plessis with a right hand and a body kick. Strickland lands a right hand. They trade jabs. Du Plessis lands a spinning back fist. Du Plessis with a body kick then a left hand and a right hand. Du Plessis with a leg kick. Du Plessis lands a hard elbow after landing some jabs. Strickland lands two right hands. Du Plessis with a leg kick. Du Plessis gets a takedown but they get right up. Strickland with a right hand. 10-9 Du Plessis, 30-27 Du Plessis.

Du Plessis with a left hand. Du Plessis lands a high kick then a right hand to the body. Du Plessis with a push kick. Du Plessis with a hard right hand and Strickland is backing up. Strickland’s nose looks broken and it is bleeding everywhere. Du Plessis lands a right hand. Du Plessis pressuring and getting a little reckless but Strickland is still trying to retreat. Du Plessis lands a leg kick. Strickland lands a right hand. He lands another. Du Plessis lands a right hand. Du Plessis with another right hand. Strickland with a jab and Du Plessis lands a body kick. Strickland lands a right hand. Du Plessis with a right hand. He lands a big right hand. Strickland with a jab. 10-9 Du Plessis, 40-36 Du Plessis.

Du Plessis lands to the body then lands a jab to the face. Strickland with a stiff jab. Du Plessis lands a pair of leg kicks. Du Plessis with another leg kick. Strickland with a quick combo. Du Plessis lands a right hand. Strickland lands a right hand. Du Plessis throws a lot and lands a right hand. Strickland with a jab. Du Plessis lands a right hand. Du Plessis with a body kick. They trade punches and Strickland is pouring blood again. Du Plessis lands a body kick. Du Plessis with a leg kick. Du Plessis with a high kick. Strickland works the jab. Du Plessis with a right hand and tries a takedown but Strickland slips away and lands a right hand. 10-9 Du Plessis, 50-45 Du Plessis.

Official Result- Dricus Du Plessis def. Sean Strickland by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) to retain the UFC Middleweight Championship

UFC 305 live results: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

The UFC returns to Perth, Australia, for tonight’s UFC 305 pay-per-view from the RAC Arena.

The main event is a much-anticipated battle for the UFC middleweight championship as current titleholder Dricus Du Plessis battles former champion Israel Adesanya. Du Plessis is coming off a title win over Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in January while Adesanya returns for the first time in nearly a year. He lost the title to Strickland last September, and is now looking to become a three-time middleweight champion.

In the co-main event, former flyweight title challengers Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg square off. Also on the main card is a lightweight bout between Mateusz Gamrot and Dan Hooker, as well as a heavyweight slugfest between Tai Tuivasa and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. A welterweight bout pitting Li Jingliang against Carlos Prates kicks off the main card.

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> Flyweights*- Stewart Nicoll (8-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Jesus Aguilar (10-2, 2-1 UFC)

*Aguilar missed weight by 1.5 pounds

Nicoll with an early calf kick. Aguilar lands a right hand and chases Nicoll, grabbing his back. Nicoll attacks for the kimura as they roll to the mat. Nicoll now has the back with the body triangle and starts landing punches. Aguilar is able to escape as they roll and Aguilar grabs the neck and locks in a guillotine choke. It is in tight and Nicoll goes to sleep! Wow, what a finish from Aguilar!

Official Result- Jesus Aguilar def. Stewart Nicoll by submission (guillotine choke) at 2:39 of Round 1

> Welterweights- Song Kenan (21-8, 5-4 UFC) vs. Ricky Glenn (22-8-2, 4-5-1 UFC)

They trade and Glenn cracks Kenan with a left hand as they go to the mat. They scramble up and battle in the tie up. Glenn with a knee and Kenan lands a left hand. Glenn grabs the body against the fence. Kenan landing to defend the takedown and Glenn lands to the body before they break apart and trade. Kenan with a side kick. Kenan lands a right hand. Kenan rocks Glenn with a flurry and Glenn is backing up. Glenn grabs the body but Kenan breaks away. Glenn tries a takedown but Kenan defends. Glenn gets the takedown. They stand and Glenn with some knees to the legs of Kenan. They separate. Kenan lands an uppercut and a flurry late. 10-9 Kenan.

Glenn lands a leg kick. Glenn with a body kick and Kenan responds with two body kicks. Kenan lands a combination and hurts Glenn again with some punches. Glenn tries a takedown but Kenan lands a big elbow to cause separation. Kenan lands a right hand. Glenn with two left hands and he shoots for a takedown. Kenan lands a hard right hand and Glenn is cut open. Glenn lands a left hand. Kenan lands two big elbows and a right hand. Kenan lands a big flurry and Glenn has a massive hematoma. Kenan with some more big punches. Glenn with a leg kick. 10-9 Kenan, 20-18 Kenan.

They trade and Kenan lands a big knee to the gut that hurts Glenn. Kenan is able to get a takedown and has the back. They get to their feet and Kenan has control and lands a big elbow as they break. Kenan with a knee to the body. Glenn lands a left hand. Kenan with a combination. Kenan lands a body kick and Glenn pushes it to the fence. They break apart. Kenan with a side kick. Glenn lands a combination. Kenan hurts Glenn with a right hand. The pace has slowed late. Timeout for an eye poke, but they resume action. They trade before clinching up. Kenan with a knee and an elbow and lands a quick flurry ending with a right hand. 10-9 Kenan, 30-27 Kenan.

Official Result- Song Kenan def. Ricky Glenn by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 29-28)

> Lightweights- Tom Nolan (7-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Alex Reyes (13-4, 0-2 UFC)

Both throwing and land some kicks. Nolan lands a spin kick then a body kick. Reyes with a body kick. Nolan lands a body kick and tries to attack but it allows Reyes to get a takedown. They stand and Reyes has the back. Reyes drags it down as he has the back. Nolan is able to scramble to the feet. Nolan with two body kicks and lands a right hand. They clinch and Nolan with an elbow. Nolan lands a combination after Reyes lands before they break. Nolan lands a left hand. They both land inside the pocket as Reyes lands a big left hand. Nolan with a pair of body kicks. Reyes tries a takedown but Nolan defends and lands. Nolan slips to the mat and Reyes jumps on top but lands an illegal knee and timeout is called. They get back to action. Close round. 10-9 Nolan.

Nolan with some leg kicks. Reyes lands a right hand and they tie up. Nolan with some knees and short elbows. They separate and Nolan rocks Reyes with a left hand and Reyes went to a knee but got up. Nolan lands a combo and Reyes with a right hand. Nolan with a combination. They trade and clinch. Reyes has the back against the fence. Nolan spins and they trade knees before separating. Nolan with a pair of kicks. Nolan lands some big punches that Reyes eats. Reyes with a right hand. 10-9 Nolan, 20-18 Nolan.

Nolan with some kicks to start the third. Both throw as Reyes rushes in and Reyes lands a leg kick. Nolan lands a body kick. They trade leg kicks. Nolan with a leg kick. They trade and Reyes lands a short body kick. Nolan with a body kick and he’s having to chase Reyes down. They trade and Nolan lands an elbow. Nolan lands a right hand and Reyes grabs his back. Nolan looking for a D’Arce choke as he drags it down. He lets go and lands punches. They clinch against the fence. Reyes lands some knees and Nolan with an elbow. Nolan lands a big elbow as Reyes is pressuring on him. Nolan lands a combo and body kick as Reyes adjusts position. Reyes backs off and throws a late flurry. 10-9 Nolan, 30-27 Nolan.

Official Result- Tom Nolan def. Alex Reyes by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

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> Featherweights- Jack Jenkins (12-3, 2-1 UFC) vs. Herbert Burns (11-5, 2-3 UFC)

They trade leg kicks. Burns lands a jab and a leg kick. They trade punches. Jenkins with a combination. Jenkins lands a big left hand. Jenkins with a combination that included a body shot that hurt Burns. Jenkins lands a jab. Jenkins with a jab followed by a left hook. Jenkins lands a left hook to the body then a head combination on Burns. Jenkins with another left hook to the body. Jenkins with a flurry. Burns tries a takedown but Jenkins defends and stays on his feet. Burns is ordered up. Jenkins with a big combination with a knee and left hand. Burns is able to score a takedown. Burns ends the round riding it out from the top. 10-9 Jenkins.

Burns is immediately trying for the takedown but Jenkins defends. Jenkins with a double jab. Burns with a leg kick. Burns gets a takedown. Burns is looking to set up an arm-triangle choke. Jenkins is defending and Burns went for a heel hook, which allowed Jenkins to get to his feet. Jenkins with some leg kicks. Jenkins lands from the top before they stand. Jenkins lands a big combination and lands to the body and Burns goes down. Jenkins tried to finish from the top but stood. Burns is ordered up. Jenkins lands a heavy calf kick. Burns is gassed out and trying weak takedowns that aren’t coming close. Jenkins with a heavy calf kick. Burns shoots and just lays on his back. 10-9 Jenkins, 20-18 Jenkins.

They come out trading and Burns lands a groin strike. They get back to action and Jenkins lands a flurry and Burns goes down. Jenkins lands from the top and stands. Burns is ordered up but he doesn’t get up and the fight is stopped. Fantastic showing from Jenkins.

Official Result- Jack Jenkins def. Herbert Burns by TKO (strikes) at :48 of Round 3

> Women’s Flyweights- #15 Casey O’Neill (9-2, 4-2 UFC) vs. Luana Santos (8-1, 3-0 UFC)

Both looking for openings early as O’Neill lands some leg kicks. They trade. Santos goes for a takedown but O’Neill defends and they clinch against the fence. They separate. O’Neill with a right hand and a leg kick. Santos lands a right hand. O’Neill with a leg kick. They continue to trade at a distance with both connecting. Santos with a spin attack. O’Neill presses forward and lands late. Close round. 10-9 O’Neill.

They trade and Santos gets a takedown. They stand and O’Neill with some back elbows. Santos retains the body lock and control. O’Neill gives up her back as she is hand fighting. They separate. Santos lands a right hand. O’Neill with a leg kick. She lands another. O’Neill lands a combination. O’Neill lands a right hand and looks for a takedown. She lands an elbow before they separate. O’Neill lands a left hand. O’Neill with a quick combination. O’Neill with a combo. 10-9 O’Neill, 20-18 O’Neill.

O’Neill landing with combinations and leg kicks to start the third. Santos lands a right hand. O’Neill with a leg kick. O’Neill lands a combination and Santos lands a combo. O’Neill with a right hand. Santos lands a right hand to the body. O’Neill with a right hand. Santos gets a takedown and was in a twister position but O’Neill escaped and takes Santos’ back. O’Neill with lots of punches from the back as she has the body triangle locked on. O’Neill lands from the back to end it. 10-9 O’Neill, 30-27 O’Neill.

Official Result- Casey O’Neill def. Luana Santos by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

> Featherweights- Josh Culibao (11-3-1, 3-3-1 UFC) vs. Ricardo Ramos (16-6, 7-5 UFC)

Ramos lands a spin kick. Culibao with a leg kick and Ramos lands a leg kick. Culibao with a leg kick. Culibao with a left hook. Culibao lands a combo and then a calf kick. Culibao with another quick combo. Culibao with a heavy leg kick and Ramos is hurt. Culibao tries to land but slips and Ramos jumps on the back with the hooks in. Ramos gets a rear-naked choke locked in. Culibao is trying to fight it off as it is in deep. Ramos is squeezing. Culibao is somehow able to survive. They make it to the end. 10-9 Ramos.

Culibao with a leg kick. Culibao with a left hand. Culibao with a leg kick. Culibao with a pair of leg kicks. He lands two more. Ramos lands a right hand. Culibao with a jab followed by a right hand. He lands another combination. Culibao lands a calf kick and Ramos goes down. Culibao lands some punches from the top. Ramos is ordered up. Culibao with a big combo. Ramos with an eye poke. They get back to action and Culibao lands. 10-9 Culibao, 19-19.

They trade as there is a lot of hand fighting going on. Culibao lands a jab and rushes in with some punches. They are trading inside the pocket and Ramos lands a pair of knees. Ramos gets a takedown and has the back and lands an elbow that cuts Culibao open. Ramos reverses to the top but isn’t doing much as the fight ends. Close fight. 10-9 Culibao, 29-28 Culibao.

Official Result- Ricardo Ramos def. Josh Culibao by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

> Heavyweights- Junior Tafa (5-2, 1-2 UFC) vs. Valter Walker (11-1, 0-1 UFC)

Walker with a heavy leg kick. Tafa lands a right hand and then rocks Walker with a flurry. Tafa lands a big right hand as Walker is looking for a takedown. He gets it but Tafa crawls to the fence. They get to their feet as Walker still has the back. Walker gets it back down. There isn’t much happening on the mat though Tafa has gotten warned about grabbing the fence. Walker lands some from the top. Walker locks in a kneebar as they roll and there is some sort of verbal tap that took place and it is stopped. This is a weird ending. Replay shows that Tafa screamed but didn’t yell tap and he didn’t visually tap. Tafa seems to have gotten a raw deal for a loss.

Official Result- Valter Walker def. Junior Tafa by submission (leg lock) at 4:56 of Round 1

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> Welterweights- Li Jingliang (19-8, 11-6 UFC) vs. Carlos Prates (19-6, 2-0 UFC)

They trade kicks. Prates with more leg kicks. They trade leg kicks with Jingliang landing a hard leg kick. Jingliang with a body kick and Prates lands a left hand. Jingliang with some leg kicks. They trade leg kicks again. Jingliang with a left hand and Prates lands a left hand that makes Jingliang go to the mat for a brief moment. Prates with a head kick. They trade leg kicks. Jingliang lands a combination. Prates with a left hand. Jingliang with a flurry and lands a right hand. Jingliang with a pair of leg kicks. Prates lands a left hand that stuns Jingliang and lands a head kick. Prates with a left hand that almost knocks Jingliang down. Prates lands again and now Jingliang lands at the end. 10-9 Prates.

Jingliang with a leg kick and Prates lands a push kick to the face. They continue to trade with Prates landing with more volume. Jingliang initiates a clinch but they separate. Prates with a left hand and Jingliang lands a combo. Prates with more left hands and lands a head kick, but Jingliang continues to press forward. Prates with a left hand. Prates drops Jingliang with a left hand but Jingliang gets right up. Prates with two left hands. Prates lands a right hook then connects with a left hand that drops Jingliang and he is out cold! What a knockout from Prates!

Official Result- Carlos Prates def. Li Jingliang by knockout (punch) at 4:02 of Round 2

> Heavyweights- #10 Tai Tuivasa (14-7, 8-7 UFC) vs. #12 Jairzinho Rozenstruik (14-5, 8-5 UFC)

Rozenstruik with a quick outside leg kick. He lands an inside leg kick. Tuivasa with a leg kick as Rozenstruik lands a right hand. Tuivasa with a calf kick. Rozenstruik lands a left hook. Rozenstruik lands a high kick. They trade leg kicks. Tuivasa with a leg kick. Rozenstruik lands to the body. Tuivasa with a right hand. 10-9 Rozenstruik.

Rozenstruik with an inside leg kick. Tuivasa lands a left hand. Tuivasa barely connects with a right hand. They trade leg kicks and Tuivasa lands a right hand. Rozenstruik with a knee. Rozenstruik with a big flurry against the fence as Tuivasa covers up and circles away. Rozenstruik with some more big punches and he lands a knee. Tuivasa still coming forward. Tuivasa lands a right hand. Tuivasa with a leg kick and hurts himself. Rozenstruik lands a flurry. They trade. Tuivasa lands a left hand. Rozenstruik with a short uppercut. Rozenstruik lands a right hand. 10-9 Rozenstruik, 20-18 Rozenstruik.

Rozenstruik with a jab. Tuivasa lands a right hand and Rozenstruik lands a counter right hand. Rozenstruik lands a jab. They trade as Tuivasa lands a right hand then a left to the body. Rozenstruik back landing the jab. Tuivasa lands a jab then a right hand. Rozenstruik lands a body kick. Rozenstruik with a pair of left hands. Rozenstruik lands a right hand. Tuivasa lands. Rozenstruik with a high kick. Rozenstruik lands a right hand. They are both swinging late. 10-9 Rozenstruik, 30-27 Rozenstruik.

Official Result- Jairzinho Rozenstruik def. Tai Tuivasa by split decision (29-28, 27-30, 30-27)

> Lightweights- #5 Mateusz Gamrot (24-2 1 NC, 7-2 UFC) vs. #11 Dan Hooker (23-12, 13-8 UFC)

Hooker lands some kicks. Gamrot lands to the body then a right hand to the head. Hooker lands a body kick. Gamrot lands a leg kick. Gamrot gets a takedown. Hooker butt scoots to the fence. They scramble up and Gamrot lands a knee. Gamrot drops Hooker to his knee with a punch and attacks the neck as he gets Hooker down. Gamrot with lots of punches from the top. They scramble to their feet. Hooker lands a left hook and Gamrot goes down. Gamrot gets up and they trade big punches. Gamrot shoots for a leg and Hooker lands some elbows to the body. They get up. Great round. 10-9 Gamrot.

Hooker lands a body kick. Gamrot gets a takedown. Gamrot is in side control and lands. Gamrot in control but Hooker is able to get to his feet. Gamrot lands a right hand as Hooker is pressuring. Gamrot gets a takedown but Hooker has the neck and uses it to get to the sprawl. They get up and separate. Hooker with a flurry late and lands some elbows as Gamrot was looking for a takedown. 10-9 Gamrot, 20-18 Gamrot.

Hooker lands a kick but Gamrot grabs the leg and gets it down. Hooker has the neck and they get to their feet. Hooker lands a combo. Hooker with a right hand to the body. Gamrot lands a pair of right hands. Hooker lands a left hand. Gamrot lands a jab. Gamrot shoots for a takedown but Hooker lands with an elbow and they stand. Hooker lands a right hand. He lands another. They trade. Gamrot shoots for the takedown. Hooker lands to the body as they separate. Hooker lands a right hand. They trade big punches and Gamrot gets the clinch. Gamrot attacking the leg and Hooker lands an elbow and body punches. Hooker with a big left hook late. 10-9 Hooker, 29-28 Gamrot.

Official Result- Dan Hooker def. Mateusz Gamrot by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

> Flyweights- #4 Kai Kara-France (24-11 1 NC, 7-4 UFC) vs. #7 Steve Erceg (12-2, 3-1 UFC)

Kara-France just misses a left hand. Erceg lands a jab. Kara-France lands to the body and Erceg counters with a leg kick. Kara-France rushes in and Erceg lands a right hand. Kara-France lands to the body. Kara-France with a leg kick but eats some shots from Erceg. Kara-France drops Erceg with a left hand and lands from the top but Erceg stands up. Kara-France lands and drops Erceg again with a right hand and finishes it off with some follow-up shots. What a finish from Kara-France!

Official Result- Kai Kara-France def. Steve Erceg by TKO (punches) at 4:04 of Round 1

> UFC Middleweight Championship- C Dricus Du Plessis (21-2, 7-0 UFC) vs. #2 Israel Adesanya (24-3, 13-3 UFC)

They trade leg kicks. Du Plessis lands a left hand. Du Plessis lands and Adesanya lands a body kick. Du Plessis with a leg kick. Adesanya with a leg kick and landed a right hand. They trade in a flurry. Adesanya lands a body kick. Du Plessis with a left hand. Adesanya lands a jab. Adesanya with a combo. Du Plessis lands a right hand. Adesanya with a left hand. Du Plessis with a body kick. Adesanya with a right hand to the body. Close round. 10-9 Adesanya.

Adesanya with a leg kick. Du Plessis lands a left hand. Adesanya with a body kick. He lands a leg kick. Du Plessis gets a takedown but Adesanya gets up. Du Plessis still trying to get it down and jumps on the back and looks for a choke. Adesanya gets out. Du Plessis lands from the back. Adesanya gets out and to the feet. Adesanya lands a combo. Adesanya lands to the body as Du Plessis lands a left hand. Du Plessis gets a takedown and has the back. They get to their feet. Du Plessis still has the back. Du Plessis drags it down but they get up. Du Plessis with some left hands. Adesanya tries to escape. Adesanya with some elbows. 10-9 Du Plessis, 19-19.

Adesanya lands a left hand. Adesanya lands a jab. Adesanya with a right hand to the body. He lands a head kick. Adesanya with a leg kick. Du Plessis with a high kick. Adesanya with a combination to the body. Du Plessis lands a right hand. Adesanya lands a big elbow. Du Plessis with a left hand. Du Plessis lands again. Du Plessis lands and tries a takedown but Adesanya defends. Adesanya lands a right hand. Adesanya lands a jab. Du Plessis with a left hook. Adesanya lands a right hand. They trade kicks. Adesanya rips to the body. Du Plessis lands a right hand. They trade late. 10-9 Adesanya, 29-28 Adesanya.

Adesanya lands an uppercut and to the body. Du Plessis tries a takedown but Adesanya defends and Du Plessis gets up slowly. Adesanya lands a right hand and a body kick then a combination. Adesanya with a teet kick and lands to the body. Du Plessis lands a counter right. Du Plessis with a short body kick. Adesanya lands a combo. Adesanya with a front kick then a left hook. Du Plessis lands a left hand. They trade. Du Plessis lands and Adesanya slips. Du Plessis lands a flurry and gets a takedown. Du Plessis grabs the back and locks in a rear-naked choke and Adesanya taps! Wow, Du Plessis with a finish out of nowhere as he quickly submits Adesanya once the choke was locked in.

Official Result- Dricus Du Plessis def. Israel Adesanya by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:38 of Round 4 to retain the UFC Middleweight Championship

Wrestling Observer Radio: UFC 297 recap, Okada, Omega, Rollins updates

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and I are back with Wrestling Observer Radio.

Ryan Frederick joined us to recap UFC 297. We went over the entire main card and Ryan talked about some of the undercard highlights in addition to the news coming out of the show.

Dave and I then discussed the following:

  • Updates on Kazuchika Okada, Seth Rollins, and Kenny Omega
  • AEW rankings
  • Tama Tonga
  • The Dark Side of the Ring slate for the next season
  • A new Hall of Fame for the Rock
  • Gable Steveson’s dark match
  • Highlights from SmackDown and Rampage
  • AEW Collision recap

Click here to listen (website subscription needed) or watch on YouTube (with video subscription).

Two new champions crowned at UFC 297

Posted on by Bryan Rose

New middleweight and women’s bantamweight champions were crowned at UFC 297.

In the main event of Saturday’s card, Dricus du Plessis defeated champion Sean Strickland by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) to become the new UFC middleweight champion in what ended up being a close contest. With the win, du Plessis became the first UFC champion from South Africa. The match was also awarded Fight of the Night.

After the fight, du Plessis called out former champion Israel Adesanya. Strickland, meanwhile, thanked Canada in his post-fight interview.

Strickland had been champion for 132 days, losing the title on his first defense. He defeated Adesanya at UFC 293 on September 10 of last year.

In the co-main event, Raquel Pennington defeated Mayra Bueno Silva by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45) to win the UFC women’s bantamweight championship for the first time. In her post fight interview, Pennington said she had climbed up mountains to get here and for anyone that has people telling them they can’t chase their dreams, keep believing.

The women’s bantamweight title had become vacant when Amanda Nunes vacated both the women’s bantamweight and featherweight titles back in June of last year. 

UFC 297 live results: Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

The Octagon returns to Toronto for the first time in over five years for the first UFC pay-per-view event of 2024 as UFC 297: Strickland vs. Du Plessis takes place at the Scotiabank Arena.

The main event sees UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland making his first title defense against top contender Dricus Du Plessis. Strickland scored a massive upset over Israel Adesanya in September to become the new champion and has faced scrutiny for several comments he made this week. Du Plessis has yet to taste defeat on the UFC roster, winning six straight fights to earn his title shot.

The co-main event will see a new women’s bantamweight champion crowned when Raquel Pennington squares off with Mayra Bueno Silva for the vacant title. Pennington has won five straight fights while Bueno Silva is unbeaten in four fights since moving to bantamweight.

Also on the main card is a welterweight battle between longtime veteran Neil Magny and rising prospect Mike Malott, a middleweight bout pitting Chris Curtis against Marc-Andre Barriault, and a battle of featherweight contenders as Arnold Allen takes on undefeated Movsar Evloev.

ESPN+ PRELIMS | 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT

> Flyweights*- Malcolm Gordon (14-7, 2-4 UFC) vs. Jimmy Flick (16-7, 1-2 UFC)

*Gordon missed weight by 1.5 pounds

Gordon comes out throwing and Flick lands a high kick. Gordon lands and Flick looks for a takedown. Gordon pushes it against the fence. Gordon gets a takedown. Flick gets Gordon inside of his full guard. Gordon with some right hands from the top. Flick looking for a triangle choke. Gordon lands some right hands. Flick lets go and Gordon lands from the top. Gordon landing some elbows and some more punches from the top. Gordon looks for a guillotine choke but Flick rolls to the top and is looking for a Von Flue choke. They get to the end. 10-9 Gordon.

Flick lands a leg kick and left hand. Gordon lands a combo and follows it with more punches. Gordon landing right hands and some uppercuts before landing a knee. Flick is backing up and is able to get a takedown. Flick has the back on the mat and now looking for an arm-triangle choke. It’s locked in and Gordon taps! Big comeback win for Flick.

Official Result- Jimmy Flick def. Malcolm Gordon by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 1:17 of Round 2

> Women’s Bantamweights- Jasmine Jasudavicius (9-3, 3-2 UFC) vs. Priscila Cachoeira (12-5, 4-5 UFC)

Jasudavicius gets an early takedown against the fence. She gets the back and lands some right hands. She’s landing from the back and then gets the mount and starts landing big right hands. Cachoeira in a lot of trouble on the bottom eating punches and elbows. Jasudavicius with some left hands from the top. Cachoeira is stuck on the bottom. Jasudavicius with more big punches from the mount. She keeps landing from the top. Complete domination from Jasudavicius. 10-8 Jasudavicius.

Jasudavicius drops Cachoeira with a right hand to start the second and gets on top and starts landing. Jasudavicius with some elbows from the top. Jasudavicius gets the mount and lands an elbow as she’s looking to set up a choke. Jasudavicius locks in a D’Arce choke and lets go and lands some elbows. She goes back to locking the choke in. Jasudavicius lets go and lands some punches. Cachoeira is a bloody mess. Jasudavicius with big elbows from the top. More domination. 10-8 Jasudavicius, 20-16 Jasudavicius.

They trade to start the third. They’re both landing as Jasudavicius is pushing forward. They trade jabs. Cachoeira running around and Jasudavicius is chasing her and is able to get a takedown. Cachoeira is bleeding heavily. Jasudavicius is landing big punches from the top. She has the crucifix position and then locks in a D’Arce choke that gets Cachoeira to tap. Complete domination and a terrific performance from Jasudavicius.

Official Result- Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Priscila Cachoeira by submission (anaconda choke) at 4:21 of Round 3

> Welterweights- Yohan Lainesse (9-2, 1-2 UFC) vs. Sam Patterson (10-2-1, 0-1 UFC)

Patterson lands a left hand. Lainesse lands a right hand and Patterson counters with a left. Patterson grabs the neck and drags it down. He looks for a front choke on the ground. Patterson gets the back and looks to lock in the hooks. Patterson locks in a rear-naked choke and Lainesse taps!

Official Result- Sam Patterson def. Yohan Lainesse by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:03 of Round 1

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> Women’s Strawweights- Gillian Robertson (12-8, 9-6 UFC) vs. Polyana Viana (13-6, 4-5 UFC)

Viana landing some combos and leg kicks to start off. Robertson gets a takedown. She’s working from the half-guard. She’s looking to set up a kimura as she has an arm but lets go. Robertson still working from the half-guard and looks for an opening for a choke. Robertson gets the mount and lands before locking in an arm-triangle choke. Viana is defending but it is in tight. Viana is able to squirm out. Robertson has the back. Robertson gets the mount and lands some elbows. Robertson now looks for an armbar. Viana slams Robertson down and is able to get her elbow free. Viana lands from the top before they stand. 10-9 Robertson.

Viana lands a combination. Robertson lands a right hand. Viana with a right hand and a body kick. Robertson gets a takedown and has the mount. Viana almost gives up her back as Robertson is landing right hands. Robertson with an elbow. She lands some more right hands. Robertson with some hard elbows from the mount. She lands some big punches and gets the stoppage. Big finish and complete domination from Robertson.

Official Result- Gillian Robertson def. Polyana Viana by TKO (punches) at 3:12 of Round 2

> Bantamweights*- Serhiy Sidey (10-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Ramon Tavares (9-2, 0-0 UFC)

*Tavares missed weight by 3.5 pounds

Sidey lands some leg kicks. Sidey shoots for a takedown but Tavares defends against the fence. They get to the center and separate. Sidey lands a left hand and some body kicks. They trade kicks and Sidey lands a jab. Tavares lands a right hook then a left hand to the body and Sidey slips to the mat for a moment. Sidey lands a high kick. Tavares with a combo. Tavares with some punches and leg kicks. Sidey pressing forward and lands a high kick. Tavares ends with a body kick and hard right hand that hurts Sidey. Close round. 10-9 Tavares.

Tavares with a combination to start off. Sidey shoots for a takedown but Tavares defends. Sidey lands a right hand. Tavares lands a left hand. Sidey lands a right hand that hurts Tavares. Sidey follows with a head kick. Sidey with some jabs then a right hand and a high kick, but misses a flying knee. Tavares drops Sidey with a left hand but Sidey gets right up. Tavares lands some more punches and Sidey’s nose is busted open. Sidey lands a body kick. Sidey with some punches and a head kick as Tavares is retreating. Sidey lands some more punches. Sidey with some elbows and left hands as they’re clinched. Sidey closes the round strong. 10-9 Sidey, 19-19.

Sidey with some punches as he’s landing more to start the third. Tavares lands a combination. Sidey lands a leg kick. Tavares with a left hand. Tavares lands a combination. Sidey with a knee then an elbow and a straight right hand. Sidey lands a high kick. Tavares lands a combo. Sidey with a body kick. Sidey landing with more volume in this round. Sidey lands a combo ending with a high kick. Tavares lands a combo. Fun fight. 10-9 Sidey, 29-28 Sidey.

Official Result- Ramon Tavares def. Serhiy Sidey by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

> Featherweights- Charles Jourdain (15-6-1, 6-5-1 UFC) vs. Sean Woodson (10-1-1, 4-1-1 UFC)

Jourdain lands a head kick that Woodson partially blocks. Woodson lands a jab then a leg kick. Jourdain lands a leg kick and they trade right hands. Woodson lands a combo. Jourdain with a leg kick. Both landing equally as both are having trouble finding openings. Jourdain with some more leg kicks. Woodson lands a combo. Woodson looks to land a knee and Jourdain grabs it but Woodson defends as they clinch. 10-9 Woodson.

Jourdain lands a combination ending with a body kick to start the second. Woodson lands a left hand. Woodson with a nice combination. Jourdain looks for a takedown as he pushes it against the fence. They separate and both land. Jourdain pushes it back against the fence but they end up breaking. Jourdain with a body kick. Woodson lands a jab. Jourdain lands a head kick. 10-9 Woodson, 20-18 Woodson.

Jourdain lands to start the third and pushes it against the fence looking for a takedown. They separate and Jourdain is pressuring but Woodson is landing as he backs up. Jourdain lands a leg kick. Woodson with a left hand to the body. Jourdain lands a left hand. Jourdain with a right hand. They trade and Jourdain looks for a takedown against the fence. They break and Jourdain with a body kick. Jourdain is landing more this round. Jourdain with a high body kick. Jourdain looks for a late guillotine choke but Woodson gets out before the fight ends. 10-9 Jourdain, 29-28 Woodson.

Official Result- Sean Woodson def. Charles Jourdain by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

> Bantamweights- Brad Katona (13-2, 3-2 UFC) vs. Garrett Armfield (9-3, 1-1 UFC)

They trade leg kicks. Armfield lands a left hand. Armfield lands a quick combo. Katona with a right hand. Armfield with a jab to the body. We have a timeout for a groin strike by Katona. They get back to action and trade. Armfield lands a right hand. They’re trading in close range. Armfield lands a right hand. They tie up and Katona is looking for the takedown but they separate. Katona lands a left hand. Katona grabs the back and almost gets a takedown. Katona still has back control. Katona lands a knee. 10-9 Armfield.

Armfield lands a right hand. Katona lands a right hand. Armfield lands a right hand. They trade inside the pocket. They continue to trade and Katona looks for a takedown, but Armfield defends and they separate. Katona lands a right hand. Katona with a jab. Armfield lands a combo and Katona fires back. They trade in close range. Katona lands with a left hand and is the one pressuring. Armfield is landing more and Katona gets a brief takedown. They get right to their feet and Katona has the back. Katona lands a knee. 10-9 Armfield, 20-18 Armfield.

Both throw in close range but neither land. Katona lands a pair of left hands. Katona gets a takedown. They get to their feet and Katona pushes it against the fence. Katona trying for the takedown but Armfield is defending and landing elbows. They separate. They trade punches. Katona lands a right hand. Katona gets a takedown and is inside the guard of Armfield. Katona gets the back of Armfield. They separate but Katona goes right back for the takedown. They separate and are trading. Armfield goes for a takedown but Katona sprawls away and lands late. Close fight. 10-9 Katona, 29-28 Armfield.

Official Result- Garrett Armfield def. Brad Katona by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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> Featherweights- #4 Arnold Allen (19-2, 10-1 UFC) vs. #9 Movsar Evloev (17-0, 7-0 UFC)

Evloev tries a high kick as Allen lands a left hand. Allen lands a left hand. Allen lands to the body then the head. Allen lands another left hand to the body. Evloev looks for a takedown as he pushes it to the fence and Allen defends. They separate. Evloev lands a jab. Evloev lands a right hand. Allen lands a jab. Evloev shoots for a takedown but Allen is able to defend for a moment. They scramble and transition as they go from the feet to the mat to the feet to the mat and back up. Evloev has the back as the round ends. 10-9 Evloev.

Evloev lands a body kick. Allen lands to the body. Evloev with a head kick. Allen then rushes in and lands a high kick. Allen lands a combo. Evloev with a leg kick. Evloev lands a right hand and gets a takedown. They get to their feet and separate. Evloev lands a jumping knee. Evloev lands a nasty jab that hurts Allen. Allen is cut bad under his eye as Evloev lands late. 10-9 Evloev, 20-18 Evloev.

Evloev lands a high kick then a leg kick. Allen lands a combo to the head and body. Allen lands a left hand. Evloev shoots for a takedown and grabs a single leg. Allen is defending and landing knees and landed one as Evloev’s hand was down. Evloev was lifting his hands up but we have a timeout for an illegal knee. Evloev has a big cut open on the side of his head as they get back to action. Evloev tries for a takedown but Allen defends. Evloev tries a takedown and Allen grabs the neck looking for a choke but Evloev is able to roll out of it. They get to their feet and Evloev has the back along the fence. Allen landing some back elbows and they separate. Allen lands a left hand. 10-9 Allen, 29-28 Evloev.

Official Result- Movsar Evloev def. Arnold Allen by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Middleweights- #14 Chris Curtis (30-10 1 NC, 4-2 1 NC UFC) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (16-6 1 NC, 5-5 1 NC UFC)

Curtis lands a leg kick. He lands another. He lands another. Barriault lands a pair of leg kicks and one high. Barriault with a right hand. Curtis with a combination. They’re trading but no one doing a lot of work at the moment. Barriault with a high kick. Curtis lands to the body. Curtis with a combination. Barriault lands a leg kick. 10-9 Barriault.

Both looking for openings to land to start the second. Barriault with a combination. Curtis with a combination. There isn’t a ton of offense going on. Curtis lands a combination to the body. Curtis with a leg kick and Barriault lands a right hand. Barriault lands a body kick. Barriault with a leg kick. Curtis lands a pair of right hands. Barriault with a leg kick. Curtis lands a combo. Barriault with a body kick. They trade late. 10-9 Curtis, 19-19.

Curtis lands an uppercut. Barriault lands a combination. They trade uppercuts. Curtis lands a straight left hand. They trade inside the pocket. Curtis lands a right hand. Barriault lands an uppercut and Curtis lands a counter elbow. Curtis lands some knees and Barriault lands to the body. Barriault with a right hand. Barriault landing with more volume as the round is going on. Curtis lands to the body. Barriault with a combo. They continue to trade. Barriault lands to the body. Curtis now landing more as he’s mixing to the head and body. They trade knees. Curtis with some body shots. Curtis with some knees and elbows. Close fight. 10-9 Curtis, 29-28 Curtis.

Official Result- Chris Curtis def. Marc-Andre Barriault by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)

> Welterweights- #13 Neil Magny (28-11, 21-10 UFC) vs. Mike Malott (10-1-1, 3-0 UFC)

Malott with a leg kick then another to start. Malott with more leg kicks. Malott with a high kick. Malott lands a right hand. Malott continuing to land with leg kicks as Magny isn’t getting much offense going. They clinch for a moment and Magny lands a left hand as they break. Malott with more leg kicks and Magny is showing damage. Malott with more leg kicks late. 10-9 Malott.

Magny lands a leg kick. Malott lands a nice right hand. Malott with more punches and lands a leg kick. Malott with a body kick. Malott gets a takedown and is in the half-guard. They get to their feet and trade before Malott gets another takedown. Malott trying to transition and he ends up in the full mount. Malott landing from the top and in complete control as the round ends. 10-9 Malott, 20-18 Malott.

Magny rushes forward and lands but Malott scores a takedown. Malott looking for the neck but Magny gets his head out. They get to their feet and are tied up against the fence. Magny landing some slaps. Malott has the single leg and scores the takedown. Malott working from the top smothering Magny and landing punches. Malott grabs the neck but Magny is able to slam him down and lands. Malott looks for a leg as Magny goes back to the mat. Magny gets the mount and is landing and now takes the back and is landing. Malott is eating a ton of punches as Magny is pouring it on and it is stopped! What a comeback from Magny to get the stunning win.

Official Result- Neil Magny def. Mike Malott by TKO (punches) at 4:45 of Round 3

> UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship- #2 Raquel Pennington (15-8, 12-5 UFC) vs. #3 Mayra Bueno Silva (10-2-1 1 NC, 5-2-1 1 NC UFC)

Pennington rushes forward with a combo. Pennington grabs a single leg looking for a takedown but Silva defends. They trade and Pennington is looking for a single leg and Silva lands an elbow. They separate. Silva gets a takedown. She takes the back of Pennington. They get to their feet and Silva is still on the back in the backpack position. Silva lands an elbow. They go back to the mat and Silva has both hooks in. Silva with some punches from the back. 10-9 Bueno Silva.

Pennington lands some jabs as Silva is landing some leg kicks. Pennington with a right hand and a left hook. She lands another combo. They clinch and not much happens. Pennington lands after they break and she lands some more in close range before they clinch again. Silva lands a knee. Silva lands to the body and they break. Pennington lands some big right hands. Pennington rushes in and lands. They tie up and Pennington lands an elbow. Pennington with some punches in the clinch. They trade uppercuts. Pennington with some foot stomps. Silva gets the back and jumps on it. Silva looking for a choke. Pennington gets out. Silva with some elbows. 10-9 Pennington, 19-19.

Silva lands a leg kick and Pennington lands some punches. Silva with another leg kick and lands afterwards before they tie up. Pennington lands some knees and Silva lands some. Silva gets a brief takedown but Pennington is able to reverse it to the feet. Silva grabs the neck and is looking for a front choke but Pennington gets out and lands an elbow. Silva lands an elbow. She lands some more as she looks for a takedown. Pennington defends and has the neck from the top. Pennington stands and Silva remains on her back. Silva is ordered to her feet. They clinch right away and Silva lands a knee. Pennington lands to the body and Silva lands an elbow. Pennington has the neck and Silva drops to the mat. Pennington lands from the top. She ends the round on top. 10-9 Pennington, 29-28 Pennington.

Pennington lands a Superwoman punch. Pennington with a combination. They tie up against the fence. Silva lands an elbow then a knee then another elbow. Silva looking to get the back and has it. Silva drags it down. She looks for a choke and is squeezing as it’s around the chin. Pennington is able to get out. Pennington is on top and pressuring. Silva looks for an arm but Pennington gets out and lands a pair of hammerfists. Pennington with some big punches from the top. 10-9 Pennington, 39-37 Pennington.

They trade and Pennington gets a takedown. Pennington lands from the top and has an arm-triangle choke locked in. Silva is trying to get out. Pennington lets go and lands before getting the mount. Pennington is now in the half-guard. Pennington landing and stands. Silva is laying on her back. Pennington lands some leg kicks. Really bad fight. 10-9 Pennington, 49-46 Pennington.

Official Result- Raquel Pennington def. Mayra Bueno Silva by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45) to win the vacant UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship

> UFC Middleweight Championship- C Sean Strickland (28-5, 15-5 UFC) vs. #2 Dricus Du Plessis (20-2, 6-0 UFC)

Strickland lands a body kick then a left hook. He lands a leg kick then a jab. Du Plessis lands a leg kick. Strickland lands the jab. Strickland working the jab and front kick. Strickland lands a combo. Du Plessis with a hard body kick. Du Plessis with a head kick. Du Plessis with a leg kick. Strickland lands a jab. Du Plessis with another high kick. Du Plessis shoots for a takedown and gets it. They get to their feet but Du Plessis still pressuring before they separate. Du Plessis with a body kick. Strickland lands a jab. Du Plessis with a leg kick then another high kick. Strickland lands a right hand. 10-9 Strickland.

Du Plessis lands a combo. Strickland with the jab. Strickland still working the jab. He lands another. Du Plessis lands a right hand. Du Plessis with a body kick. Strickland still working the jab. Du Plessis lands a leg kick. Du Plessis with another leg kick. Du Plessis lands to the body. Strickland with the double jab then a right hand. Du Plessis lands a right hand. Du Plessis with a body kick. Du Plessis lands a left hand. Du Plessis lands a combo. Du Plessis gets another takedown. They get up and Du Plessis lands a knee before they break. Du Plessis with a left hand then a leg kick. Du Plessis lands a left hand. 10-9 Du Plessis, 19-19.

Du Plessis lands a head kick. Du Plessis with a left hand. Strickland lands a jab. Du Plessis with a leg kick then a right hand. Du Plessis with a body kick. Du Plessis with a left hand and lands another. Strickland lands a jab and Du Plessis with a left hand. They trade left hands. Strickland with a double jab and Du Plessis lands a right hand. Du Plessis lands again. They trade in close range. Close round. 10-9 Du Plessis, 29-28 Du Plessis.

They’re both pawing in close range. Du Plessis lands a left hand. Du Plessis tries a takedown but lands an elbow on the break and Strickland is cut open. Strickland lands a right hand. Du Plessis lands a nice body kick. Strickland lands an overhand right. They both land and Du Plessis with a leg kick. Strickland lands a combo. Du Plessis with a left hand. Du Plessis gets a takedown. They get to the fence and to their feet. Strickland is bleeding even more now. Du Plessis has the back against the fence and they separate. Du Plessis lands a big right hand. Du Plessis lands a combo then a head kick. Du Plessis gets another takedown. They get to their feet and Du Plessis has the back. Du Plessis with a German suplex but they end up standing. Du Plessis with an uppercut. Strickland lands a combo. 10-9 Du Plessis, 39-37 Du Plessis.

Strickland lands the jab. Du Plessis with a right hand then a high kick. They trade left hands. Strickland lands a right hand. Du Plessis lands a combination. Strickland with a right hand and Du Plessis lands a left hand. Du Plessis shoots for a takedown but Strickland defends. Du Plessis with a jab and Strickland lands a pair of right hands. They trade jabs. Du Plessis fakes a takedown and they trade right hands. They trade in close range. Du Plessis with a right hand. Du Plessis with a combination. Du Plessis with a jab. Strickland lands a right hand. He lands another. Du Plessis with a right hand and Strickland lands a right hand. They trade late. 10-9 Strickland, 48-47 Du Plessis.

Official Result- Dricus Du Plessis def. Sean Strickland by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) to win the UFC Middleweight Championship