Despite all of the uncertainty the coronavirus pandemic created in the lead-up to the show, only one fighter has missed weight for UFC 249.
Jeremy Stephens weighed in at 150.5 pounds for his fight against Calvin Kattar, which is 4.5 pounds above the featherweight limit. The fight will still take place, but Stephens will forfeit 30 percent of his purse to Kattar.
Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje both weighed in at 155 pounds for their main event interim lightweight title fight, while bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo and Dominick Cruz both weighed in at 135 pounds for the semi-main event.
MMA Junkie wrote about the social distancing guidelines that were observed during the weigh-ins: “Staff members in close proximity with the fighters wore face masks, and the fighters stepped onto a sanitized scale. Media members and UFC staff members were situated in an appropriately distanced arrangement to allow for space between workers at the event.”
UFC 249 is taking place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida tomorrow (May 9) with no fans in attendance. Early prelims will start at 6 p.m. Eastern time, the regular prelims are starting at 8 p.m. Eastern, and the pay-per-view main card begins at 10 p.m.
Here are the full weigh-in results:
PPV (ESPN+) —
Interim lightweight title fight Tony Ferguson (155) vs. Justin Gaethje (155)
Bantamweight title fight: Henry Cejudo (135) vs. Dominick Cruz (135)
Francis Ngannou (261.5) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (260)
Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC on ESPN+ 17: Rodriguez vs. Stephens, emanating from the Mexico City Arena in Mexico City, Mexico.
The Octagon returns to Mexico for the first time in just over two years with a featherweight main event featuring one of the country’s biggest UFC stars.
Yair Rodriguez looks to score his second straight win when he takes on long-time UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens in the night’s five-round headline featherweight bout. Rodriguez returns from a ten-month layoff following the 2018 Knockout Of The Year win he scored over Chan Sung Jung in November, while Stephens looks to get back into the win column after dropping back-to-back fights to Jose Aldo and Zabit Magomedshapirov.
In the co-main event, it will be a women’s strawweight bout as former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza takes on Alexa Grasso as both look for their second straight wins. Also on the card is the return of flyweight Brandon Moreno, who takes on UFC newcomer Askar Askarov, as well as Sergio Pettis moving back to 125 pounds to battle Tyson Nam, a long-time veteran of the sport who is making his UFC debut.
Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern time with preliminary action all the way through the main card.
Mariano with a high kick to start and Puelles goes right for a takedown and scores it. Puelles working from the half-guard against the fence and lands some from the top. Puelles goes for a kimura from the bottom but Mariano is able to sweep to the top. They are stood up by the referee. Puelles gets the body lock against the fence. Puelles picks Mariano up and slams him to the ground. Puelles working in the guard and lands some elbows from the top. 10-9 Puelles.
Puelles gets an immediate takedown to start the second. Puelles in the half-guard against the fence and trying to move to mount which he does. He moves back to half-guard and then to full guard and lands from the top. Puelles still working from the top and landing and Mariano looks clueless on the bottom. Puelles with more ground-and-pound from the top. Puelles with some big elbows at the end of the round. 10-8 Puelles, 20-17 Puelles.
Puelles lands a left hand and then picks Mariano up and slams him down. Puelles landing from the top and then grabs the arm for a kimura. Mariano is grabbing his own shorts to block it. Puelles gets the arm fully extended and it is in tight. Mariano is able to escape but Puelles gets to full mount and lands big elbows and punches. He’s landing more big punches but Mariano is going to be able to survive the fight. 10-8 Puelles, 30-25 Puelles.
Official Result- Claudio Puelles def. Marcos Mariano by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-25)
Eubanks with a right hand to start. She lands another right hand that stuns Correia. Eubanks landing more punches but Correia starting to land. Eubanks gets a takedown and is in the half-guard. Eubanks with some punches from the top after she pushes Correira against the fence. Eubanks with big punches from the top as she is looking for the finish but Correia survives the onslaught. 10-9 Eubanks.
They trade to start the second and Correia starting to land kicks. Correira lands a right hook. Eubanks shoots for a takedown but Correia fights her off with some punches. Eubanks with a right hand. Eubanks went for a takedown against the fence but Correia defends. Correia lands a right hand. Correia lands another right hand. Correira gets a body lock and almost got a takedown. Eubanks is slowing down. They trade in close range. Correia lands a right hand. They clinch at the end. 10-9 Correia, 19-19.
Eubanks with some punches to the body to start the third. They trade punches and then clinch. Correira pushes Eubanks against the fence. They break and return to the center of the Octagon. Correia landing more this round. Correia lands a right hand. They trade in close range. Correia landing combinations in the pocket as Eubanks is just landing a punch here and there. Correia with a right hand. Correia definitely thinks she has won the fight. 10-9 Correia, 29-28 Correia.
Official Result- Bethe Correia def. Sijara Eubanks by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Vinicius Moreira (9-3, 0-2 UFC) vs. Paul Craig (11-4, 3-4 UFC) Light Heavyweights
Moreira pushes Craig against the fence after getting the body lock. Moreira pulls guard and then Craig pushes him against the fence. Craig trying to pass guard and does and they scramble to their feet. Craig gets a judo throw takedown but they scramble up. Craig hurts Moreira with a knee on the way up and then drops him with a knee and lands some punches and swarms for a finish. Craig then grabs the back of Moreira and locks in a rear-naked choke and Moreira taps! Great finish by Craig there.
Official Result- Paul Craig def. Vinicius Moreira by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:19 of Round 1
> Sergio Pettis (#5, 17-5, 8-5 UFC) vs. Tyson Nam (18-9-1, 0-0 UFC) Flyweights
Both men being patient in the first minute with no punches landed. Pettis with a high side kick. Nam fakes a takedown and Pettis slips away. Nam lands a right hand. Pettis landing a jab. Nam shoots as he pushes Pettis to the fence but they break. Pettis with a high kick. They have a flurry late with both landing. Close round. 10-9 Pettis.
They trade jabs to start the second round. Both landing punches and kicks in close range. Nam lands a right hand. Pettis circling away. Pettis with a step-in knee to the body. Nam misses some punches as he walks forward. They clinch against the fence. Pettis with a spin kick to the body and Nam counters with a right hand. Nam with a leg kick and Pettis counters with a combo. Pettis tries a cartwheel kick but ends the round on bottom. He was still more active that round. 10-9 Pettis, 20-18 Pettis.
They trade and Pettis with a standing elbow followed by a right hook. Pettis with the jab. Nam rushes in but Pettis lands a high kick. Nam now lands some punches. They continue to trade punches. Nam is rushing in but it is letting Pettis land some counters. Nam with a combo to the body. Pettis with a front kick to the face. They trade and clinch late. 10-9 Pettis, 30-27 Pettis.
Official Result- Sergio Pettis def. Tyson Nam by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Ariane Carnelossi (12-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Angela Hill (9-7, 4-7 UFC) Women’s Strawweights
They quickly clinch and Hill with some knees to the body. Hill with an elbow as they break. They clinch again and Carnelossi looking for the takedown. They break and Hill circling around. Hill lands a couple of right hands. Hill lands a left hook and they clinch and both land knees. They break and Hill with a left hook. Hill with a knee. Carnelossi with a leg kick. They trade in close range and Hill landing better. 10-9 Hill.
They clinch early and both land in dirty boxing range. Hill lands a nice uppercut after they break. They take the center and both landing but Hill landing better. Carnelossi with a nice body kick. They trade and Carnelossi with a heavy right hand but eats a counter combo from Hill. Hill with a combo ending with a body kick. Hill lands a right hand. Carnelossi lands a nice combo. They clinch and Carnelossi has the edge but Hill is able to land some knees before they break before the end of the round. 10-9 Hill, 20-18 Hill.
They trade to start the third and Hill is getting the better of it. Carnelossi keeps coming forward and Hill lands a right hand. Carnelossi misses some punches. Hill then lands a hard elbow that cuts Carnelossi open above her left eye. The referee stops it for the doctor to come in and check the cut and now the doctor stops the fight. It is a nasty cut on Carnelossi. That will give Hill the TKO win.
Official Result- Angela Hill def. Ariane Carnelossi by TKO (cut) at 1:56 of Round 3
> Polo Reyes (8-5, 4-3 UFC) vs. Kyle Nelson (12-3, 0-2 UFC) Featherweights
Reyes coming forward and they clinch against the fence. Both land knees. Nelson with a big elbow and starts unloading on punches on Reyes. Nelson lands a big right hand that rocks Reyes badly and a flurry of punches follows and Jason Herzog stops the fight. Reyes was out on his feet and this is a good stoppage. Great win by Nelson with that huge flurry.
Official Result- Kyle Nelson def. Polo Reyes by knockout (punches) at 1:36 of Round 1
> Jose Quinonez (7-3, 4-2 UFC) vs. Carlos Huachin (10-4-1, 0-1 UFC) Bantamweights
Quinonez with a right hand. Quinonez drops Huachin with a right hand and goes to the ground to try for a finish but Huachin is able to scramble to his feet. Quinonez with a leg kick. They trade punches. Huachin lands a left hand. They trade punches and Quinonez with a leg kick. Both are circling around. Huachin lands a right hook and Quinonez circles away. Quinonez with a heavy leg kick. 10-9 Quinonez.
Quinonez with some leg kicks. Huachin is checking them. Huachin with the jab. Quinonez gets a takedown and into the half-guard. Quinonez tries to pass but Huachin forces him up but Quinonez gets right back into side control and moves back to the full guard. Quinonez with a big elbow from the top. Quinonez stands and Huachin scrambles up. Quinonez with a leg kick and Huachin with a right hook. Quinonez with a high kick. Huachin lands a right hand. 10-9 Quinonez, 20-18 Quinonez.
Quinonez gets a takedown to start the third and goes to work in the full guard of Huachin. Quinonez working with punches and elbows from the top. Huachin able to push him off and they get to their feet. Huachin with a high kick that Quinonez checks. Huachin complains about being poked in the eye but Dan Miragliotta didn’t see it and tells him to keep fighting. Quinonez takes advantage and lands a couple of punches. Huachin lands a few punches. 10-9 Quinonez, 30-27 Quinonez.
Official Result- Jose Quinonez def. Carlos Huachin by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ESPN+ MAIN CARD | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT
> Martin Bravo (11-2, 1-2 UFC) vs. Steven Peterson (17-9, 1-3 UFC) Featherweights
They trade right away. Peterson with a body kick. Bravo gets a takedown. Peterson with some elbows from the bottom and kicks Bravo off and they get to their feet. Peterson with an overhand right. Bravo lands some combos. Bravo drops Peterson with a shot but Peterson gets up. Bravo with a spin kick. Bravo with a right hand. They are both throwing lots of wild punches. Peterson lands a combo. Bravo with lots of body punches. Peterson lands the jab but Bravo fires back with a body kick. Bravo with a combo. They both land punches ending with body kicks. Peterson with a body kick. 10-9 Bravo.
Bravo gets a takedown to start the second but they get right back up. They trade punches in close range. Peterson then knocks Bravo out cold with a spinning back fist. Holy cow. It was actually a counter spinning back fist as Bravo threw one as well. One of the best knockouts of the year. Big win for Peterson.
Official Result- Steven Peterson def. Martin Bravo by knockout (spinning backfist) at 1:31 of Round 2
Aldana throwing punches right away. Aldana with a heavy leg kick. Melo missed weight badly and looks big in there. Melo lands some punches but Aldana covering up. Melo comes forward with more punches. Aldana coming forward with punches and kicks. Aldana with more leg kicks. Melo loading up on right hands and missing them. Aldana with some big punches. Aldana with a heavy leg kick. Aldana working to the body and then an overhand right and a Superman punch. 10-9 Aldana.
Aldana with some right hands and Melo comes forward with some punches. Aldana with more punches in bunches. Aldana with a spinning back kick and then more punches. Melo goes for a takedown but Aldana defends and tees off on Melo. Aldana with another combo. Aldana’s striking is looking fantastic. Aldana fakes an uppercut and then delivers an overhand right. Melo lands a right hand. 10-9 Aldana, 20-18 Aldana.
Aldana landing combos to start the third. Melo with a heavy inside leg kick. Aldana with a spinning back kick to the head and Melo eats it. Aldana with some more punches and leg kicks. She misses another spinning back kick attempt. Melo is doing better this round but Aldana still significantly one step ahead. Aldana lands a flush right hand. Aldana with a nice combo and a leg kick. Aldana with a spin kick to the body. Melo misses a spinning backfist. Aldana with a right hand. Aldana with a late flurry. The crowd went crazy for Aldana. 10-9 Aldana, 30-27 Aldana.
Official Result- Irene Aldana def. Vanessa Melo by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Moreno with a flurry as Askarov grabs a single leg. Moreno rushes to the fence and Askarov grabs the back and gets a takedown. Moreno rolls and Askarov gets into side control. Askarov gets the back and has the hooks in and is landing punches. Moreno is trying to fight him off. Askarov with some elbows and Moreno explodes out and is in the guard of Askarov now. They now trade shots on the ground. Moreno with some big punches from the top. They get to their feet and Moreno rocks Askarov with a big left. They trade punches. Askarov tries to land a punch as Moreno runs away. Close round. 10-9 Moreno.
They trade and Askarov gets a takedown and finally gets into the guard of Moreno. Moreno gives up his back as they stand. Moreno able to scramble away. Askarov lands a right hand. Moreno with an uppercut and Askarov grabs the back. Askarov lands punches as they go to the mat but Moreno able to push him away. Askarov goes right back for the takedown and has the body. They break and Moreno with some punches. Moreno then drops Askarov to his knees with a head kick. Moreno tries to capitalize but Askarov grabs the legs. Moreno is going for a reverse triangle choke but time runs out. 10-9 Moreno, 20-18 Moreno.
Moreno gets a takedown to start the third and is working in the guard of Askarov. Askarov lands some elbows from the bottom and now some punches. Moreno with a big left hand as he retains top position. Moreno remains landing punches from the top and Askarov is throwing elbows from the bottom. Moreno then takes the back of Askarov and is looking for a rear-naked choke. Askarov is defending and Moreno has to let his arms rest. Moreno keeps back control but Askarov able to reverse to the guard with seconds left. Fun fight. 10-9 Moreno, 30-27 Moreno.
Official Result- Brandon Moreno vs. Askar Askarov ends in a split draw (28-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Grasso with a nice combo to start. Grasso with the jab. Esparza lands a right hand. They exchange in close range. Esparza gets a takedown and Grasso almost reverses it bt Esparza ends up in Grasso’s guard. They scramble to their feet and Grasso almost gets a takedown and almost lands a head kick. They trade punches. They clinch against the fence. Esparza with some knees. Grasso reverses position. Esparza with a head-and-arm takedown. They get to their feet and Grasso lands a big right at the end. 10-9 Esparza.
Esparza with a right hand. Esparza gets a takedown and in the guard of Grasso. Grasso is landing from the bottom but Esparza is maintaining top control. Grasso being more active on her back but Esparza is keeping her pinned to the mat. Grasso able to spin to the top and they scramble to their feet. Grasso with a hard right hand that stumbles Esparza. Esparza lands a right hand. Esparza gets another takedown against the fence. Grasso almost sweeps at the end. 10-9 Esparza, 20-18 Esparza.
They trade to start the third. Grasso looks like the fresher fighter. Grasso with a combo and rocks Esparza with some left hands. Esparza runs away and Grasso slips trying to land a head kick. Esparza was in trouble but Grasso gave her time to recover. Esparza tries a takedown but Grasso defends. Grasso with a combo. Esparza tries a takedown and Grasso gets the crucifix looking for an armbar but Esparza takes the top. Grasso has the arm and is looking for the armbar and has it locked in. Esparza’s arm is in bad shape but Esparza escapes. Grasso looks for a triangle but Esparza gets out in the guard. Esparza lands some punches but Grasso gets to her feet. They trade punches and Grasso rocks Esparza again. Great last round. 10-9 Grasso, 29-28 Esparza.
Official Result- Carla Esparza def. Alexa Grasso by majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Yair Rodriguez (#7, 11-2, 7-1 UFC) vs. Jeremy Stephens (#8, 28-16, 15-15 UFC) Featherweights
Rodriguez with some quick leg kicks and then an eye poke and a timeout. Stephens is in a lot of pain and the doctors are checking him out. Herb Dean gives him the full five minutes to recover but Stephens still can’t open his eye and the fight is stopped. The crowd is not happy and starts throwing trash into the Octagon. Ugly scene.
Official Result- Yair Rodriguez vs. Jeremy Stephens ends in a no contest (accidental eye poke) at :15 of Round 1
Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC On FOX 28: Emmett vs. Stephens, emanating from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.
The Octagon heads to Orlando for the third time, bringing a main event that has excitement written all over it as featherweights Josh Emmett and Jeremy Stephens thrown down in the night’s headline contest.
Emmett is looking to make it three straight fights since moving down to 145 pounds, while Stephens is also going for his third straight win. Both men are facing quick turnarounds in getting back to action, as Emmett knocked out Ricardo Lamas in December while Stephens knocked out Doo Ho Choi in January.
In the co-main event, it will be a battle in the women’s strawweight division that could decide who next challenges for the championship as Jessica Andrade takes on Tecia Torres. Also on the main card, Ovince Saint Preux looks to make it four straight wins against Ilir Latifi in light heavyweight action, and welterweight sluggers Mike Perry and Max Griffin open the main card.
Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 4:15 p.m. Eastern time with preliminary action all the way through the main card.
UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS | 4:15 PM ET/1:15 PM PT
> Albert Morales (7-3-1, 1-3-1 UFC) vs. Manny Bermudez (11-0, 0-0 UFC) Bantamweights
After an early punch combo by Morales looked to hurt Bermudez, the rest of the round was almost entirely on the ground. Bermudez had a couple of triangle attempts, one of which looked pretty tight but Morales managed to fight them off. Neither guy did a ton of damage on the ground but Bermudez probably did slightly more. Morales got a late takedown but Bermudez reversed into top position right before the buzzer. 10-9 Bermudez
Morales was getting the better of the standup early and every time Bermudez got hit, he would drop to the mat. Morales wanted no part of it. Bermudez then grabbed a standing guillotine and dragged Morales to the ground, turning it into a mounted guillotine and got the quick tap
Official result – Manny Bermudez (12-0) by submission (guillotine) at 2:33 of Round 2
> Eric Shelton (11-4, 1-2 UFC) vs. Alex Perez (19-4, 1-0 UFC) Flyweights* (Perez missed weight by .5 pounds)
Perez rocked Shelton with a punch combo early. Shelton went for a takedown but Perez stuffed it and ended up on top. He did a little ground and pound before Shelton was able to escape. On the feet, Shelton had almost nothing and Perez scored with occasional punch combos. He also got a late takedown. Easy 10-9 for Perez
Similar to the first round. Perez was doing well on the feet. Shelton attempted a takedown, got stuffed and Perez ended up on top. He basically just ragdolled him for the rest of the round. Shelton got to his feet at one point, tried another takedown and Perez did the same thing, stuffing it and ending up on top. 10-9 Perez, 20-18 overall
Shelton looked a little better on the feet to start the round but Perez took him down a couple minutes in. He didn’t do much on the ground but was able to control him. Shelton got to his feet but got quickly taken down and he managed to keep him down for the rest of the fight. 10-9 Perez, 30-27
Official result – Alex Perez (20-4) by unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
It should be noted that fighters missing weight are now 10-1 in UFC since November of last year. Perez called out Robert Sanchez, who is coming off a win last week.
> Rani Yahya (24-9 1 NC, 9-3 1 NC UFC) vs. Russell Doane (15-7, 3-4 UFC) Bantamweights
Yahya took Doane right away and held him for almost the whole round. He had a unique double underhook that was almost like a reverse Full Nelson. It tied up Doane so bad he couldn’t do anything. He wasn’t in any real danger of being submitted and Yahya didn’t do a ton of damage but I thought he did enough for a 10-8. Late in the round, Yahya landed a knee to the spine and the ref took position away. 10-8 Yahya
Yahya tried a takedown early. Doane stuffed it and ended up on top. Yahya reversed it and ended up in top position. He then moved himself into position for a head and arm choke and once he secured it, Doane tapped quicklyl
Official result – Rani Yahya (25-9) by submission (head and arm choke) at 2:32 of Round 3
> Sam Alvey (31-10 1 NC, 8-5 UFC) vs. Marcin Prachnio (13-2, 0-0 UFC) Light Heavyweights
Prachnio got taken down early but got right up and was controlling a cage clinch for about two minutes. Alvey had a front choke secured the whole time but Prachnio was in no danger. After separating, Prachnio was advancing but Alvey was landing hard counter strikes. He dropped Prachnio with one. Prachnio got right up and started marching forward and he fell face first after getting nailed with another one. He got right up and was protesting but it was a good stoppage
Official result – Sam Alvey (32-10) by KO (punch) at 4:23
Alvey said that Cormier was running from him because 2 days after he moved up to 205, DC moved up to heavyweight. He was clearly joking. He called out Gian Villante, which is weird but there’s no reason they can’t make that fight. He asked for the fight in Brazil even though they’re both American.
FOX PRELIMS | 6 PM ET/3 PM PT
> Ben Saunders (21-8-2, 8-5 UFC) vs. Alan Jouban (15-6, 6-4 UFC) Welterweights
My FOX affiliate did not pick up the feed of this broadcast until after this fight was over but Alan Jouban KO’d Ben Saunders in the 2nd.
Official result – Alan Jouban (16-6) by KO (punch) at 2:38 of Round 2
> Maryna Moroz (#14, 8-2, 3-2 UFC) vs. Angela Hill (7-4, 2-4 UFC) Women’s Strawweights
Round 1 was entirely on the feet. Moroz was busier but missed 3/4 of her strikes. Hill was more accurate and did more damage. There were a couple of cage clinches but they separated quickly each time. Significant strikes landed were 27-14 for Hill even though Moroz threw far more. 10-9 Hill
Moroz attempted a takedown early but Hill stuffed it and ended up on top. Moroz tried to tie her up with a bodylock but Hill was able to land some hard elbows to the head. Moroz was able to get to her feet and she was landing a little more often on the feet. Moroz clinched up on the cage with 30 seconds left but wasn’t able to do any damage. This round was closer but still 10-9 Hill and 20-18 overall
Moroz was far more active to start the third and seemed to be landing more as well. Hill would land less often but would connect harder. They clinched on the cage a few times but no one did damage there so it was pretty much all standup. Story of the round and the fight was Moroz was more active but Hill was more accurate and it depends which the judges value more. I gave the 3rd to Moroz 10-9 but Hill the fight overall at 29-28
Official result – Angela Hill (8-4) by unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
> Sara McMann (#7, 11-4, 5-4 UFC) vs. Marion Reneau (#8, 8-3-1, 4-2-1 UFC) Women’s Bantamweights
McMann took her down immediately and very quickly moved into side control. She maintained that position through most of the round and landed 68 head strikes to 5 for Reneau. A couple of times, McMann was able to secure a crucifix and Reneau did well to escape that position but it was an easy 10-8 for McMann
Back and forth action to start and Reneau dropped McMann with a punch out of nowhere. She got up quickly and went for a takedown but Reneau stuffed it. McMann was clearly hurt and kept trying to get it to the ground. She finally secured the takedown but Reneau immediately threw up a triangle. McMann defended it for a long time but eventually had to tap.
Official result – Marion Reneau (9-3-1) by submission (triangle choke) at 3:40 of the 2nd round
> Renan Barao (34-5 1 NC, 9-4 UFC) vs. Brian Kelleher (18-8, 2-1 UFC) Bantamweights
First round was all on the feet. Barao did damage with leg kicks early and one in particular that Kelleher was limping after. Kelleher was landing the harder punches. Both guys tried to take it to the cage clinch at different times and neither had an advantage there. Kelleher’s punches seemed to be the most damaging blows 10-9 Kelleher
Most of the round was clinch battles. Kelleher seemed to control things more. He did get a takedown midway through the round but Barao was right up. Both guys did have a nice couple of flurries of punches landed. Kelleher was definitely more aggressive and I thought did just enough to win this round as well. 10-9 Kelleher, 20-18 overall
Another round completely on the feet. Barao was landing more strikes but Kelleher’s were much harder and looked a lot better. With about 90 seconds left, Kelleher just starting teeing off on Barao but Barao stayed on his feet. Barao was firing back with punches of his own and they were landing but they seemed to have no effect. In the last 15 seconds, Kelleher just emptied the tank and unloaded on Barao and if it went 10 more seconds, it probably would’ve been stopped. I had it 10-8 Kelleher and 30-26 overall
Official result – Brian Kelleher (19-8) by unanimous decision (30-27 x 2; 29-28)
Kelleher led the crowd in a BOOM chant (his nickname) and then called out John Lineker for a fight in Atlantic City. Kelleher is from New Jersey
FOX MAIN CARD | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT
> Mike Perry (11-2, 4-2 UFC) vs. Max Griffin (13-4, 1-2 UFC) Welterweights
Griffin cut Perry on the left side of his forehead with his first punch and it was bleeding pretty heavily. Story of the round was Perry advancing but not throwing, or landing, much. Griffin was landing jabs from distance and the odd combo and at one point he had a 23-5 advantage in significant strikes landed. He got a late takedown but Perry was right up. Then Perry got a takedown and took the back. He managed to work into mount as the round was ended but it wasn’t enough to take the round. 10-9 Griffin
Most of the round was Perry marching down Griffin and eating jabs to the point where his face was a bloody mess from cuts all over it by the end of the round. Griffin got a knockdown with about a minute left but got up fairly quickly. Griffin was all over him with punches at the end of the round but Perry stayed up. 10-8 Griffin, 20-17 overall
Perry rocked Griffin early with a counter right but then got stuffed on a takedown attempt. Perry was the aggressor the whole round and Griffin was landing less counters than he had in the first two. Midway through the round, he landed a wild left and followed with a similar right and both landed flush and hurt Griffin. He had a couple of other really nice shots in the last minute, including a head kick. He likely took the round but no way did he win the fight. 10-9 Perry, 29-27 Griffin overall
Official result – Max Griffin (14-4) by unanimous decision (29-27 x 2; 30-27)
> Ovince Saint Preux (#5, 22-10, 10-5 UFC) vs. Ilir Latifi (#8, 13-5 1 NC, 6-3 UFC) Light Heavyweights
Slow start with OSP keeping his distance and Latiifi landing shots from distance. He was landing a lot of leg kicks. Latifi then dropped OSP with a punch combo. OSP was up quickly but clearly in trouble and Latifi moved in for the kill. He landed a ton of punches and then secured a standing guillotine. OSP tapped right before passing out but the ref missed it and eventually he collapsed. He was out of it for a long time. Terrible job by ref Jorge Alonso in missing the tap.
Official result – Ilir Latifi (14-5) by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:48
Latifi called out champion Daniel Cormier for a fight at heavyweight or light heavyweight. He seemingly doesn’t know that Cormier is tied up until probably late fall at the earliest. It was an impressive win but he isn’t getting a title shot off of it.
Cormier answered him by saying he’s got bigger fish to fry. He said “they must love giving me money if they decided to put me in there with him cause he’d get his butt whupped” and then laughed at him. This after saying he didn’t want to take the spotlight off of Latifi.
Torres came out firing with a lot of volume. Andrade was advancing and just walking into shots. Eventually she started throwing more and by the end of the round, she had a slight advantage in total strikes landed but both ladies were landing hard punches that looked like they were doing damage. Andrade got a late takedown into side control and in a very close round, that cinched it in my book 10-9 Andrade
Andrade got a takedown a minute in after Torres was doing much better on the feet. Torres threw up a reverse triangle that was causing a lot of problems for Andrade so she stood up to get out of it. The rest of the round was Andrade just picking up Torres and slamming her down time and again but not really doing much on the ground. It was enough to take the round though. 10-9 Andrade, 20-18
Completely dominant round from Andrade. Several takedowns and she did more ground and pound than she had in either of the first two rounds. Torres kept fighting back though and it was compelling. At the end of the fight, after yet another takedown, Andrade moved into side control and was landing a lot of punches. Andrade was just too strong for her. 10-9 Andrade, 30-27 overall
Official result – Jessica Andrade (18-6) by unanimous decision (29-28 x 2; 29-27)
> Josh Emmett (#4, 13-1, 4-1 UFC) vs. Jeremy Stephens (#8, 27-14, 14-13 UFC) Featherweights
Stephens started out strong, dominating the standup with occasional punch combos and controlling the pace. Emmett dropped him, though, with a counter left and went to the ground, doing some damage before Stephens made it to his feet. He only won about 30 seconds of the round but it was enough to take it. 10-9 Emmett
Tentative start in the 2nd from both guys. Stephens dropped Emmett with a punch combo that ended with a left hook. He was all over him on the ground with punches and elbows and then he hurt him iwth what looked like a blatantly illegal knee to the head and he was out. He landed some hammer fists after that but Emmett was already out and it really looked like the biggest blow was the illegal knee. But ref Dan Miragliotta either missed it or thought it was legal so it doesn’t matter.
Official result – Jeremy Stephens (28-14) by TKO (punches) at 1:35 of the 2nd round
On the replay it wasn’t the knee but a short, but hard, punch to the head as Emmett was trying to get up that floored him. Stephens pleaded with Dana White to get one of the guys ranked ahead of him because he wants a title shot.
Daniel Cormier also pointed out at least two elbows directly to the back of the head that landed during the finishing sequence.
