Tag: miesha tate

UFC on ABC 3 live results: Brian Ortega vs. Yair Rodriguez

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC On ABC 3: Ortega vs. Rodriguez, emanating from the UBS Arena on Long Island, New York.

The Octagon is back on network television this week as it debuts in the new UBS Arena in Long Island for an afternoon slate of fights, featured a stacked main card with some exciting match-ups.

In the main event, former two-time featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega looks to start a run at another title shot as he takes on Yair Rodriguez, who is also looking to start a run at a title shot. Ortega is looking to rebound from a title fight loss to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 266 in September, while Rodriguez is looking to rebound from a loss to Max Holloway in November. The winner of this fight could be in line for a potential title shot.

In the co-main event, it is a battle of women’s strawweights as Michelle Waterson returns from a long layoff to take on Amanda Lemos. Also on the main card is a welterweight bout between Li Jingliang and Muslim Salikhov, a featherweight battle between exciting fighters Shane Burgos and Charles Jourdain, and a re-scheduled battle in the women’s flyweight division between Lauren Murphy and Miesha Tate.

Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern time with preliminary action all the way through the main card.

ESPN PRELIMS | 11 AM ET/8 AM PT

> Women’s Strawweights- #14 Jessica Penne (14-5, 3-3 UFC) vs. Emily Ducote (11-6, 0-0 UFC)

Ducote is making her UFC debut. Penne trying to work the jab early. Ducote with a leg kick. Ducote with a leg kick and they trade combos. Both are still feeling each other out. Penne looks for a takedown and pushes it against the fence. They break and Ducote with a leg kick. They clinch and Penne with some knees to the body and lands a right hand on the break. They trade punches and Ducote with a leg kick. They trade in close range. Ducote with a leg kick and they exchange punches. Penne shoots for a takedown but Ducote evades. They trade punches. Ducote with a nice right hand and lands late. 10-9 Ducote.

Penne looking for the jab early in the second. Ducote lands a nice right hand and a leg kick. Penne tries an ugly takedown but can’t get it. Ducote landing in close range. Penne lands a jab and Ducote with an inside leg kick. Penne lands the jab and is circling but eats a left hand from Ducote then a leg kick. Penne lands a right hand. Ducote with a leg kick. Penne with a right hand to the body and tries a takedown but Ducote defends. Ducote with some punches in close range. Ducote lands some big right hands. Penne grabs the Thai clinch and lands some knees before letting go. Ducote with a right hand. 10-9 Ducote, 20-18 Ducote.

Ducote with a leg kick and Penne is having trouble standing. Penne tries for a takedown but not even close. Ducote with a thigh kick. Ducote with more leg kicks and Penne is barely standing. Ducote stumbles Penne with a right hand. Penne lands a right hand. Ducote with more leg kicks and Penne lands a right hand. Ducote with another calf kick. Penne lands a right hand. Ducote with another leg kick and they trade punches. Ducote with another leg kick. She keeps landing the leg kick as we’re getting near the end. They trade punches. Ducote with a big left hand late. Impressive showing for Ducote. 10-9 Ducote, 30-27 Ducote.

Official Result- Emily Ducote def. Jessica Penne by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

> Middleweights- Dwight Grant (11-5, 3-4 UFC) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (13-4, 0-3 UFC)

They both land leg kicks and Grant lands a head kick. Grant lands a right hand. Stoltzfus lands a right hand. Stoltzfus shoots for a takedown but Grant defends against the fence. They break and Stoltzfus with a high kick. Grant with a right hand as Stoltzfus lands a leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Grant with a right hand as Stoltzfus lands a leg kick. Stoltzfus with another leg kick. Stoltzfus with a flurry of shots late. 10-9 Stoltzfus.

Stoltzfus lands a right hand. Stoltzfus with a high kick. Grant with a unique body kick. Grant with a right hand. Stoltzfus with a leg kick. They trade right hands. Stoltzfus is trying for a takedown against the fence and has a grasp of Grant. Grant defending well against the fence. Stoltzfus gets the takedown and is trying to get the back as he lands punches and gets the hooks in. Stoltzfus has the back and is looking for a choke. Stoltzfus with some right hands from the back. Stoltzfus with some big punches as he has the mount at the end. 10-9 Stoltzfus, 20-18 Stoltzfus.

Stoltzfus landing leg kicks as Grant lands a couple of right hands. Grant with a leg kick. Stoltzfus with the jab and Grant lands a leg kick. Grant lands a left hook. Grant lands another. Stoltzfus lands a right hand. Stoltzfus gets a big slam takedown in the center of the Octagon and looks to get the mount. Stoltzfus with some body shots from the top. Stoltzfus with more body shots as Grant is trying to control posture. Stoltzfus with some lefts to the head now. Stoltzfus gets the full mount and lands an elbow late. 10-9 Stoltzfus, 30-27 Stoltzfus.

Official Result- Dustin Stoltzfus def. Dwight Grant by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Light Heavyweights- #15 Dustin Jacoby (17-5-1, 5-2-1 UFC) vs. Da Un Jung (15-2-1, 4-0-1 UFC)

Jacoby with a leg kick. Jung with a body kick. Jung with a leg kick. Jacoby with leg kicks as Jung is pawing with the left hook. They were trading and Jacoby drops Jung with a right hand and starts walking off like it was over and then the referee just decided to stop it. That was a big finish for Jacoby but also a weird one.

Official Result- Dustin Jacoby def. Da Un Jung by knockout (punch) at 3:13 of Round 1

> Featherweights- Bill Algeo (15-6, 2-2 UFC) vs. Herbert Burns (11-3, 2-1 UFC)

They clinch right away against the fence. Burns gets it down to the mat and gets the back and then switches for the triangle choke. Algeo is trying to scramble out but he’s squeezing and landing punches as well. Burns is also looking for the arm. Algeo lands some punches as he’s trying to escape. Algeo pops out of the triangle choke but Burns still has the arm. Algeo steps across and is out and in the half-guard of Burns. Algeo landing big punches from the top. Algeo with some right hands from the top as Burns is trying to throw his legs up. They try to scramble but Burns is hurt from the punches of Algeo and Algeo is teeing off from the top. Algeo stands and Burns is ordered up and he slowly gets up. Algeo gets a takedown and has the crucifix and lands some elbows at the end. 10-9 Algeo.

Algeo with a body kick and Burns grabs the leg and gets a takedown but Algeo ends up on top. Algeo is trying to get out from the top and Burns grabs the leg and looks for a leg lock but Algeo escapes and he stands. Algeo lands a big right hand and then lands a leg kick and Burns is ordered up and can’t get to his feet and the fight is stopped. What a showing from Algeo.

Official Result- Bill Algeo def. Herbert Burns by TKO (retirement) at 1:50 of Round 2

> Bantamweights- #13 Ricky Simon (19-3, 7-2 UFC) vs. #14 Jack Shore (16-0, 5-0 UFC)

Simon lands some leg kicks. Shore lands a nice combo and Simon looks for the takedown and briefly got it until Shore got right up against the fence. They break. Simon with a leg kick. Shore throws a right hand and Simon ducks under looking for the takedown but Shore defends. Simon with an inside leg kick. Shore with a high kick. Simon with a right hand. Simon lands to the body and tries a takedown against the fence. Simon landing some short knees as he has Shore pinned against the fence but they break as Shore lands an elbow. Simon with a left hook as Shore lands a right hand. They tie up against the fence. They break and Shore with a knee. Shore lands the jab twice. Shore with a left hook. Shore with a body kick. He lands another jab. Close round. 10-9 Simon.

Shore lands to the body and goes for a takedown but Simon defends and gets the body lock. Shore with a right hand as they break. Shore with a right hand as Simon lands the jab. Simon with an inside leg kick. Shore goes for a takedown against the fence but Simon reverses. Simon has the back but switches to the front in the clinch. Simon gets a big takedown as he slams Shore down. They get to their feet. They break and trade leg kicks. Simon drops Shore with a big shot and then gets the back and is looking for an arm-triangle choke and Shore taps! Big win for Simon!

Official Result- Ricky Simon def. Jack Shore by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:28 of Round 2

> Middleweights- Punahele Soriano (8-2, 2-2 UFC) vs. Dalcha Lungiambula (11-4, 2-3 UFC)

Soriano with a body kick. Lungiambula lands a right hand. Soriano shoots for the takedown but Lungiambula defends. Lungiambula with a body kick. Lungiambula lands a right hand that backs Soriano up. They trade in close range. Lungiambula lands a leg kick and Soriano slips to the ground. Soriano looks for a takedown but Lungiambula has the neck and they get to their feet. They break. Lungiambula with a high kick. Lungiambula with an uppercut to the body. Soriano lands a left hand against the fence. They trade punches and Lungiambula gets a takedown. He works from the top and they stand and Lungiambula with a big takedown but they get back up near the end. 10-9 Lungiambula.

Lungiambula lands a body kick. Soriano lands a big left hand and a right hook and Lungiambula goes down and it is all over following some more punches. Big finish early in the second for Soriano.

Official Result- Punahele Soriano def. Dalcha Lungiambula by knockout (punches) at :28 of Round 2

ABC MAIN CARD | 2 PM ET/11 AM PT

> Women’s Flyweights- #3 Lauren Murphy (15-5, 7-5 UFC) vs. #10 (WBW) Miesha Tate (19-8, 6-5 UFC)

They clinch early and Murphy lands an elbow as they break. Murphy lands some punches and Tate gets a brief takedown but Murphy lands some knees as they get up. Tate with a leg kick. Tate lands a right hand. Tate with the jab. Murphy with a right hand. Tate lands a jab and Murphy looks for a takedown and briefly gets it but they got right to their feet. Tate lands a right hand in the clinch. Tate pressuring against the fence and lands a knee. Tate gets a brief takedown but they get right up. Tate lands some knees and lands a right hand. They trade knees. Tate lands another knee and is trying hard for the takedown as they remain clinched. They break. Murphy with the jab. Close round. 10-9 Murphy.

Tate lands the jab. Tate lands a right hand. They trade punches and both land right hands. Tate’s nose is busted up. Murphy gets the takedown. They get to their feet against the fence and Murphy lands a big elbow as they break. Tate lands a combination. Murphy is landing the jab as Tate keeps running into it. They trade punches. Tate lands a right hand. Murphy tries for another takedown but Tate defends. Tate lands then they clinch against the fence. Tate with some knees. Tate with a big elbow. 10-9 Murphy, 20-18 Murphy.

They trade to start the third and both are finding homes for their punches. Tate tries for the takedown and gets it down and Murphy almost reverses it but they get to their feet. Tate was landing to the body as Murphy was landing some knees. Tate still trying for the takedown but Murphy is defending. Murphy with an elbow and lands another as they break. Both are landing in close range and Tate lands a nice right hand. Murphy tries for the takedown but Tate is defending. They continue to trade and Murphy with a nice jab and knees late. 10-9 Murphy, 30-27 Murphy.

Official Result- Lauren Murphy def. Miesha Tate by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

> Featherweights- #14 Shane Burgos (14-3, 7-3 UFC) vs. Charles Jourdain (13-4-1, 4-3-1 UFC)

Burgos with a high kick. Jourdain with a high kick then Burgos lands a leg kick. They trade and Burgos clinches against the fence. Burgos gets it down but Jourdain has the neck but not a tight guillotine in. Burgos gets the back as Jourdain gets to his feet and is looking for the rear-naked choke. He’s cranking as he doesn’t have it under the chin. Burgos still has the back and is landing but Jourdain dumps him off and they get to their feet. Jourdain with a leg kick. Jourdain lands some big flurries after tripping Burgos up. They’re both landing against the fence. Jourdain with a head kick. Jourdain with a knee. They’re clinched up but break. Jourdain just misses a flying knee. They trade late. 10-9 Burgos.

They trade to start the second and both land combos. Jourdain with a body kick and they exchange punches. Burgos grabs the back and pushes it against the fence and then jumps on the back. Burgos working from the back trying to find the choke as Jourdain is fighting it off. Burgos keeps the body triangle as they go down for a moment. They go to the mat and Burgos keeps position. Burgos still looking for the choke. Burgos has the arm around the chin of Jourdain and is squeezing for the choke. Jourdain fights it off. Burgos with punches from the back at the end of the round. 10-9 Burgos, 20-18 Burgos.

They trade to start the third and Burgos lands slightly more but Jourdain landing the jab. Burgos with an inside leg kick. Burgos with some leg kicks. Jourdain lands a right hand. Jourdain landing the left hand. Burgos landing the leg kick. Both are landing inside the pocket. Jourdain lands a nice right hand that looked to hurt Burgos. Burgos tries a takedown and Jourdain was grabbing the fence. They’re clinched up and both are landing and Jourdain with a jumping knee then a big uppercut. They’re trading in the clinch and Jourdain with another big knee. Jourdain with short punches and then lands a left hand as they break. Jourdain tries a jumping knee and Burgos ducks and grabs the back against the fence. Burgos lands some big right hands late then Jourdain lands a massive head kick that Burgos eats. Great fight. 10-9 Jourdain, 29-28 Burgos.

Official Result- Shane Burgos def. Charles Jourdain by majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)

> Flyweights- #8 Matt Schnell (15-6 1 NC, 5-4 1 NC UFC) vs. #12 Su Mudaerji (16-4, 3-1 UFC)

They trade punches and leg kicks to start. Schnell with a right hand. They continue to both throw and Schnell gets a takedown. Schnell gets the back and looks to set something up but Mudaerji spins into the guard of Schnell and starts to land to the body. Mudaerji stands and lands a right hand and goes back into the guard of Schnell. Schnell looking for the triangle choke and has the arm trapped. Mudaerji picks Schnell up and slams him down then Schnell sweeps to the top and lands. Schnell with some right hands from the top. Schnell lands a couple of elbows. He lands another right hand then a few more. 10-9 Schnell.

They trade to start the second and Mudaerji lands a groin kick and we have a timeout. They get back to action and both land punches and Mudaerji rocks Schnell with punches a couple of times. Mudaerji lands a big left hand and Schnell goes down for a moment but gets up and they trade. Mudaerji rocks Schnell with a big elbow but Schnell stays on his feet. They trade then Mudaerji lands the big elbow again and Schnell looks out on his feet but they trade and break. Schnell lands a right hand. Mudaerji with a big left hand. Schnell returns fire with a combo. Schnell with a big right hand then gets a takedown. Schnell gets mount and is landing big punches and elbows from the top. Schnell with big elbows from the top. Schnell reigning down with the punches then Mudaerji sweeps to the top. Schnell looking for the triangle choke. Mudaerji is bleeding badly and Schnell with some elbows. Schnell has the triangle choke in and Mudaerji goes out cold! Wow. What an amazing round and fight. Incredible.

Official Result- Matt Schnell def. Su Mudaerji by submission (triangle choke) at 4:24 of Round 2

> Welterweights- #14 Li Jingliang (18-7, 10-5 UFC) vs. Muslim Salikhov (18-2, 5-1 UFC)

Jingliang with a leg kick. He lands some more as they’re both looking to find openings for their punches. Jingliang lands a kick as Salikhov was grabbing him and scored a takedown. Salikhov lands from the top then they get to their feet. Neither really landing. Salikhov with a spin kick which hits the arm of Jingliang. They trade leg kicks. 10-9 Salikhov.

Salikhov lands a big right hand that momentarily floors Jingliang but he gets up. Salikhov with the jab after he misses a big spin attack. Jingliang lands a right hand. Jingliang with an inside leg kick. Salikhov with a front kick to the body. Jingliang gets the takedown. They get to their feet and trade punches. Salikhov with a spin kick to the body. Jingliang rocks Salikhov with a left hand and has Salikhov in trouble. Jingliang lands a right hand and Salikhov shoots for a takedown but Jingliang defends. Jingliang then drops Salikhov with a massive right hand and some follow-up shots end it. Big finish and win for Jingliang!

Official Result- Li Jingliang def. Muslim Salikhov by TKO (punches) at 4:38 of Round 2

> Women’s Strawweights- #10 Michelle Waterson-Gomez (18-9, 6-5 UFC) vs. #11 Amanda Lemos (11-2-1, 5-2 UFC)

They’re feeling each other out to start and neither has landed until over a minute in when they trade leg kicks. They then trade body kicks and Lemos with a jab. Lemos with a body kick. Waterson with a leg kick. Lemos with a leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Lemos with a combo and just misses what would’ve been a big left hook. Waterson gets a takedown and is working in the guard of Lemos and lands some body punches. Waterson steps over and lands and Lemos sweeps to the top at the end. 10-9 Waterson-Gomez.

They trade to start the second round. Lemos with a body kick. Waterson lands a leg kick. Waterson with some side kicks. They both land right hands as Lemos lands to the body. Lemos throws a right hand and Waterson ducks under and almost got a takedown and Lemos grabs the neck and locks in a guillotine choke and Waterson apparently taps in a moment that gets missed by the referee. Lemos gets the win by submission.

Official Result- Amanda Lemos def. Michelle Waterson-Gomez by submission (guillotine choke) at 1:48 of Round 2

> Featherweights- #2 Brian Ortega (15-2 1 NC, 7-2 1 NC UFC) vs. #3 Yair Rodriguez (13-3 1 NC, 8-2 1 NC UFC)

Rodriguez lands a couple of leg kicks and right hands to start. They’re both trading punches in close range. Rodriguez lands some big punches then a knee. They clinch against the fence. Ortega with a knee. Ortega trying hard for the takedown against the fence. Ortega still has the body lock as he’s trying hard for the takedown. They break to the center. Rodriguez with a nice right hand. Rodriguez with a front kick followed by a right hand and Ortega shoots for the takedown and pushes it against the fence. Ortega gets the takedown. Ortega’s shoulder suddenly pops out of socket and the fight is stopped. Ortega was escaping an armbar attempt from Rodriguez and his shoulder popped out and this is an unfortunate end to the fight.

Official Result- Yair Rodriguez def. Brian Ortega by TKO (injury) at 4:11 of Round 1

Daily Update: Raw notes, Drew McIntyre, Miesha Tate

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns program, Wrestle Kingdom 16 review

Ordering Info: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

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If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw and the rest of today’s pro wrestling and MMA news with Wrestling Observer Radio. You can also send questions to the show to [email protected]

Raw tonight is from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Brock Lesnar is on the show. Liv Morgan vs. Bianca Belair vs. Doudrop is a top match with the winner facing Becky Lynch for the title at the Royal Rumble. Riddle & Randy Orton defend the tag titles against Otis & Chad Gable, plus Alexa Bliss returns. Tommaso Ciampa and Pete Dunne are there, but they were also there Friday and just worked a dark match.

Raw goes against the Alabama vs. Georgia college football championship game. The game would be expected to draw a considerably larger audience then the usual NFL Monday game.

This would be the toughest competition for Raw since last year’s championship game. However, for whatever reason, probably because WWE picks up at the start of the year on the Road to WrestleMania, the show usually does better than during football season. Last year the game did 18.22 million viewers and 5.05 in 18-49, while Raw did 1.82 million viewers and 0.55 in 18-49.

Mike Johnson at PWInsider reported Drew McIntyre in Pittsburgh with a neck brace on. We had been told McIntyre would be getting an MRI this week on his neck. WWE talent when injured are frequently sent to Dr. Joseph Maroon, the company’s head of medical, who is based in Pittsburgh.

Miesha Tate is officially moving down to 125 pounds in an attempt to get a title shot after losing a decision at bantamweight to Ketlen Vieira in November. Tate is expected to face Lauren Murphy on the 4/9 show. Murphy just lost to Valentina Shevchenko in a flyweight title fight. Given there are no strong challengers for Shevchenko right now, a win by Tate has a very good chance of getting her a title fight, although she’d be a heavy underdog since Shevchenko is probably the best pound-for-pound woman fighter in the promotion, if not the world.

Based on the minute-by-minute ratings for Dynamite on Wednesday, the star segment was not the title match, nor Punk, nor Jericho, but Ruby Soho vs. Jade Cargill which peaked at 1.2 million viewers and about 650,000 in 18-49.

Deonna Purrazzo beat Rok-C to win the ROH women’s title at the Impact tapings yesterday. The match will air on Impact Thursday night. The 2010 Destination X PPV will air at 3 p.m. Thursday. AXS will start its New Japan show with highlights of shows that aired on AXS from the past with either Jim Ross or Mauro Ranallo announcing starting a week from Thursday at 10 p.m., right after Impact.

A correction from the weekend. After confirming the baseball Hall of Fame rules, in which you have to hit the exact percentage to be inducted (in baseball it’s 75.00%), someone who gets 60% but going to more digits is under 60.00% wouldn’t be inducted so there will be four inductees to the Observer Hall of Fame in the issue out Thursday.

We are continuing our weekend polls for Impact Hard to Kill and night three of WrestleKingdom so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected].

WWE

  • A.J. Styles heads to NXT tomorrow to face Grayson Waller in a match that has been built up for weeks. Other matches are Pete Dunne vs. Tony D’Angelo in crowbar on a pole match, Xyon Quinn vs. Santos Escobar with Katrina Lopez going with the winner and Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta & Wendy Choo (formerly Mei Ying) vs. Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter & Amari Miller.

OTHER NOTES

  • Alex Oliveira vs. Kevin Holland with Holland moving from middleweight to welterweight is set for the 3/5 UFC show in Las Vegas. Holland has fought at welterweight before.
  • A correction from yesterday’s update. In the story about Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira coming out of retirement on a gimmick boxing show on 1/30 in Brazil, it is actually his twin brother, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, also 45, who is coming out of retirement for a 220 pound weight class boxing match against former UFC fighter Leonardo Guimares.
  • A story on Ricky Morton entering the Super 8 tournament from the Wrestling Estate. Morton had agreed to do the show last year but a last minute cancellation ended that. The show takes place on 3/26 at The Jersey Dugout in Morganville, NJ.
  • The PFL announced a four-year deal with Century Martial Arts has the official striking equipment partner of the promotion. The deal kicks off next month with the PFL Challenger Series shows on fubo Sports network.
  • Finance Buzz listed Swoggle, James Ellsworth, Tito Santana, Randy Couture, Forrest Griffin, Charles Wright and Sandman as among the best cameo values in sports due their low price and popularity index numbers.
  • KSW’s first show of the year will be Saturday night in Szczecin, Poland with two title fights. Marian Ziolkowski (23-8-1) defends the lightweight title against Borys Mankowski (22-8-1) and Tomasz Narkun (18-4) defends the light heavyweight title against Ibragim Chuzhigaev (15-5).
  • Lucha Va Voom announced shows on 2/11 and 2/12 at the Mayan Theater in downtown Los Angeles. All attendees must be over the age of 21 and have proof of a vaccination. Taya Valkyrie and Extreme Tiger will be on the shows.

UFC on ESPN+ 56 live results: Miesha Tate vs. Ketlen Vieira

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC on ESPN+ 56: Vieira vs. Tate, emanating from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The UFC wraps up the month of November with their third of three events prior to taking Thanksgiving week off, closing out the month with a women’s bantamweight bout that could have title shot implications on the line.

Bantamweight contender Ketlen Vieira battles former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate in the five-round headline bout. Tate is in her second fight since returning from retirement, and is coming off a win over Marion Reneau in July. A win here could vault her into a title shot. Vieira is trying to get back into the win column and title contention after suffering a loss to Yana Kunitskaya in February.

In the co-main event, Michael Chiesa tries to rebound from a disappointing loss to Vicente Luque in August and get back into the top-five at welterweight, but he has a tough challenge ahead of him in the undefeated Sean Brady. Also on the main card is a women’s flyweight bout pitting Joanne Wood against Taila Santos, a bantamweight bout between Rani Yahya and Kyung Ho Kang, and a bantamweight fight between sluggers Davey Grant and Adrian Yanez.

Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern time with preliminary action all the way through the main card.

ESPN+ PRELIMS | 3 PM ET/12 PM PT

> Luana Pinheiro (9-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Sam Hughes (5-3, 0-2 UFC)
Women’s Strawweights

Hughes took this fight on ten days’ notice. Both land a couple of short leg kicks. Hughes just misses a left hook. Pinheiro throwing hard right hands but missing though she landed the double jab. Pinheiro lands a big right hand and gets a big throw takedown. Pinheiro looking for a choke as she’s in control on the mat but they stand. Pinheiro gets another takedown and is in side control but moves to the full guard. They get to their feet. Hughes with a leg kick. 10-9 Pinheiro.

They trade left hands and Hughes with a leg kick. Pinheiro with a leg kick. Hughes lands a nice leg kick. They trade jabs. Pinheiro lands the jab and pressures Hughes against the fence as she was throwing. Hughes defends the takedown attempt. Pinheiro with a left hand that lands on the arm. Hughes with some jabs and a leg kick. Hughes stumbles on a kick and Pinheiro rushes in and lands and pushes it against the fence but they separate. Hughes with a leg kick and Pinheiro lands a right hand followed by a left hook. Pinheiro lands a big combo and drops Hughes and Pinheiro gets on top and lands a little and lands a knee as they stand and Hughes survives. 10-9 Pinheiro, 20-18 Pinheiro.

They’re trading to start the third and Pinheiro landing the better punches. Hughes with a leg kick. Pinheiro with a leg kick. Pinheiro throws a combo before they clinch. They break. Hughes comes forward and lands a left hand. Hughes lands a couple of leg kicks as she’s the one pressuring. Hughes with the jab. Pinheiro lands a couple of kicks and then a right hand. Hughes with a body kick. They trade in close range at the end. 10-9 Hughes, 29-28 Pinheiro.

Official Result- Luana Pinheiro def. Sam Hughes by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

> Shayilan Nuerdanbieke (19-7, 0-1 UFC) vs. Sean Soriano (14-7, 0-4 UFC)
Featherweights

Soriano with a leg kick. He lands another. Nuerdanbieke with an outside leg kick then Soriano lands a body kick. Soriano with another calf kick. Nuerdanbieke with a body kick. Soriano lands a stiff jab. We have a timeout for a groin strike. They get back to action and Soriano with a leg kick. Nuerdanbieke gets a takedown but Soriano reverses and is in the full guard of Nuerdanbieke. Soriano with a couple of left hands from the top. Soriano lands a short elbow. Soriano stands and lets Nuerdanbieke up. Nuerdanbieke lands a right hand and Soriano with a front kick to the body then a leg kick. Nuerdanbieke lands a right hand to the body and shoots for a takedown but Soriano defends. Soriano lands a left hook. Soriano gets a late takedown and has the back and lands a right hand. 10-9 Soriano.

Soriano with a head kick to start the second. Nuerdanbieke tries a takedown but Soriano defends. Soriano with a leg kick. Soriano with a body kick. Nuerdanbieke with a leg kick and Soriano with a body kick. Soriano lands a left hook. Soriano gets a takedown and is in the half-guard of Nuerdanbieke. Nuerdanbieke reverses to the top. Soriano trying to escape but Nuerdanbieke gets into the mount. Soriano gives up his back. Soriano able to reverse and is in the guard but then Nuerdanbieke reverses back to the top and in the half-guard. Nuerdanbieke with some body shots from the top and lands to the head. 10-9 Nuerdanbieke, 19-19.

They trade to start the third. Soriano with a leg kick. Nuerdanbieke with a high kick and Soriano lands a counter left hook. Nuerdanbieke gets a takedown and then a big suplex as they stood but they get right back up. Nuerdanbieke gets Soriano back down. Nuerdanbieke gets the back of Soriano and is landing punches. Nuerdanbieke still hanging on to the back and landing punches as Soriano has no answer for this position. Nuerdanbieke still landing from the back and has the position as the fight ends. 10-9 Nuerdanbieke, 29-28 Nuerdanbieke.

Official Result- Shayilan Nuerdanbieke def. Sean Soriano by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Cody Durden (11-3-1, 0-1-1 UFC) vs. Aori Qileng (18-7, 0-1 UFC)
Flyweights

Durden lands a couple of leg kicks as they trade punches. They tie up early as Durden is looking for the takedown against the fence. They scramble and Durden gets on top and is in the half-guard. Durden moves back to the full guard. Durden stands and lands some right hands and they both scramble up. Qileng with a flying knee that just barely connects. Qileng with a leg kick. Durden gets Qileng down to the mat against the fence but they’re both on their knees. Durden with some left hands. They stand and Durden still has the body lock. They break. Qileng lands a right hand. Durden with a leg kick and Qileng lands a right hand. Qileng lands some big knees in the clinch and lands some right hands at the end. Close round. 10-9 Durden.

Qileng with a leg kick and just misses a right hand. Qileng with a body kick. Durden lands a right hand. They trade some punches in close range. Durden lands a couple of nice jabs. Qileng with a right hand. Qileng with a right hand after Durden shoots for a takedown. Qileng with an uppercut and Durden lands some counter punches. Durden with a couple of kicks. Durden lands as he pushes Qileng against the fence looking for the single leg. Qileng defends and lands a right hand as they break. Qileng with a leg kick and Durden with a right hand. They trade in close range and Durden slips as he was throwing a knee and Qileng gets on top and then gets the back. Durden scrambles up and they break. Durden with a right hand and then an uppercut. Qileng lands some jabs. Qileng with a hard right hand and then another that stuns Durden. They trade in close range late. Fun round. 10-9 Qileng, 19-19.

Qileng with a leg kick to start the third. Qileng with a nice left hand and then a body kick. They’re trading in close range. Qileng with a leg kick. Durden is trying for a takedown and Qileng was grabbing the fence. He keeps getting warned by Jason Herzog as he did grab the fence a few times. Durden completes the takedown and is in the full guard. Durden with control from the top as they move to the fence. They get up and Durden still has body control. Durden tries a throw but Qileng grabs the neck. They stand and break. Durden lands an elbow as Qileng lands a left hand. They trade in close range with both men landing. They keep trading and Qileng landing more. They tie up in the center and Durden pushes it against the fence. Durden still has control as the fight ends. Close fight. 10-9 Durden, 29-28 Durden.

Official Result- Cody Durden def. Aori Qileng by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Loma Lookboonmee (6-2, 3-1 UFC) vs. Lupita Godinez (6-2, 1-2 UFC)
Women’s Strawweights

Godinez took this fight on short notice. Lookboonmee was landing body kicks early as Godinez was landing punches. They tie up and Lookboonmee gets a quick trip takedown but they stand and clinch against the fence. They separate. Lookboonmee lands a couple of kicks and Godinez lands a combo. Lookboonmee lands some kicks and they tie up again against the fence. They remain clinched up and Godinez gets control but they break away. Lookboonmee with a body kick and then a high kick. Godinez with a right hand and a body kick. Lookboonmee with a body kick and Godinez gets a takedown. 10-9 Godinez.

Godinez gets an early takedown to start the second. She gets side control against the fence. They get to their feet and Godinez has the back standing as they work around the Octagon. Lookboonmee escapes and they’re back in striking range. Lookboonmee with a leg kick. Lookboonmee with a knee to the body and Godinez gets the takedown. Godinez has the back of Lookboonmee late and lands some punches. 10-9 Godinez, 20-18 Godinez.

Lookboonmee lands a high kick and Godinez grabs the leg and gets the takedown and is in side control. They scramble up and Godinez grabs the leg and looks for a heel hook as they go back to the mat. Lookboonmee is in the full guard of Godinez and lands some body punches. They get to their feet and Lookboonmee has the body lock and lands some knees. They break to the center. Godinez gets a takedown and is in the guard of Lookboonmee. She moves to the half-guard. Godinez gets the back and they end up getting to their feet and tie up. Lookboonmee with some knees. They trade knees. Lookboonmee with more knees at the end. 10-9 Godinez, 30-27 Godinez.

Official Result- Lupita Godinez def. Loma Lookboonmee by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Rafa Garcia (12-2, 0-2 UFC) vs. Natan Levy (6-0, 0-0 UFC)
Lightweights

They are trading early as Levy lands a leg kick as Garcia lands a combo. Levy swings big and slips and Garcia grabs the neck. Garcia lands a knee to the body. Garcia completes the takedown and is in side control. They get to their feet and Garcia lands a body kick as they break. Levy with a big body kick. Garcia with a right hand. Levy with a spinning wheel kick. Garcia lands a right hand. Levy with a leg kick and Garcia with a body kick. They trade kicks and Levy grabs the leg as Garcia lands a body kick. Garcia gets the body lock against the fence and looks for the takedown. Levy gets a quick trip but uses it to break. Garcia gets a late takedown but does nothing with it at the end. 10-9 Levy.

They trade in close and Garcia gets a takedown. They quickly get to their feet and Garcia has the back standing. They break and Garcia lands a right hand. They trade kicks and Levy lands a right hand. Garcia with a body kick and Levy lands a left hand. Levy with a body kick. They trade in close range. Levy gets a takedown and has the back as they get to their knees. They get up and separate and Levy with a body kick. Garcia looks for the takedown but Levy defends. Garcia gets a late takedown and finishes the round on top. 10-9 Levy, 20-18 Levy.

They’re trading in close range. Garcia lands a leg kick. Garcia goes for a takedown but Levy defends. Garcia gets the body lock against the fence and is hanging on. They separate and trade in close range. Levy lands a spin kick. Garcia gets a takedown. They get back to their feet and Levy goes for the takedown but Garcia sprawls and has neck control. Garcia lands a knee. They break. Levy with a leg kick and then lands to the body. Garcia gets another takedown. Garcia with some left hands from the top. He lands more at the end. 10-9 Garcia, 29-28 Levy.

Official Result- Rafa Garcia def. Natan Levy by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Pat Sabatini (15-3, 2-0 UFC) vs. Tucker Lutz (12-1, 1-0 UFC)
Featherweights

They trade punches to start and Lutz lands a leg kick. Sabatini shoots for the takedown and they tie up against the fence. They reverse position against the fence. Sabatini briefly gets Lutz down. They get up and Sabatini trips Lutz back down. Sabatini has full back control against the fence. Sabatini with some left hands from the back. Sabatini flattens Lutz out for a moment but then is going for a rear-naked choke. Sabatini is squeezing but doesn’t have it under the chin. Sabatini lets go and still has the body triangle. Sabatini with left hands from the back. He lands right hands from the back. 10-9 Sabatini.

They trade punches in the pocket to start the second and Sabatini gets a takedown. Sabatini in the half-guard and looking to move to the mount. Sabatini with some body shots. Sabatini then grabs the neck and looks for a guillotine but lets go and has the mount. Lutz gives up his back and Sabatini is looking for a rear-naked choke. Sabatini still has the back and is landing and working for the choke. Sabatini with the back as the round ends. 10-9 Sabatini, 20-18 Sabatini.

They trade and Sabatini pushes it against the fence. They get back to their feet and Sabatini trips Lutz down but they stand, and then Sabatini gets another takedown. They get to their feet and break. Lutz lands some punches. They tie up against the fence and Sabatini looking for the takedown. They break and Sabatini lands a right hand. They tie up and Sabatini lands a right hand. 10-9 Sabatini, 30-27 Sabatini.

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

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> Davey Grant (13-5, 4-4 UFC) vs. Adrian Yanez (14-3, 3-0 UFC)
Bantamweights

They trade leg kicks to start. Grant with another leg kick and then another. Yanez with a leg kick. Yanez lands a right hand. Yanez lands a right hand. Yanez lands another right hand. They trade leg kicks. Grant landing kicks to the legs and body. Yanez is landing a lot more punches this round as he lands a combo. Yanez lands a right hand as Grant was rushing in. Yanez backs Grant up with a left hand and then lands another counter punch. Grant missing most of the shots he’s throwing. 10-9 Yanez.

They trade to start the second and Grant with a leg kick. Yanez lands a right hand. Yanez with a right hand and they trade punches. Grant with a combo. Yanez with some jabs and a leg kick. We have a timeout for an eye poke on Yanez. They get back to action and Yanez with a leg kick. They continue to trade and Yanez is landing some good punches. Grant with a jumping knee and then follows with some heavy punches. Yanez lands a left hook. Grant with a right hand and then a leg kick. Grant is also a bloody mess. Grant with a body kick. Grant lands a left hand. Close round. 10-9 Grant, 19-19.

Yanez lands a right hand and Grant landing leg kicks to start the third. They are trading in close range and both are landing some hard, good shots. Grant with a spin kick and they trade and Grant lands a hard punch. Grant with a left hand. Yanez with a combo. Yanez landing the double jab. Yanez lands a jab and Grant lands a right hand and Yanez with a leg kick. Grant with a body kick. Yanez with a right hand. Yanez starting to land more as the round wears on. Grant with a right hand. Yanez continues to land the jab. Yanez with the double jab and Grant misses a right hand. Grant with a right hand. Good fight. 10-9 Yanez, 29-28 Yanez.

Official Result- Adrian Yanez def. Davey Grant by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

> Rani Yahya (27-10-1 1 NC, 12-4-1 1 NC UFC) vs. Kyung Ho Kang (17-8 1 NC, 6-2 1 NC UFC)
Bantamweights

They trade and Kang goes for a flying knee and Yahya grabs him and gets a takedown against the fence. Kang lands some body shots from the bottom as Yahya is holding onto him. They get to their feet and Yahya still has the body lock. Yahya tries to drag Kang down but Kang gets on top then stands and Yahya gets up. Yahya with a leg kick. Kang with a couple of jabs. Kang with some right hands. They trade jabs. Kang with a combo. Kang with a hard right hand and Yahya falls to the mat and wants Kang on the mat. Kang with some leg kicks as he’s standing and he lets Yahya up. Kang lands an uppercut as Yahya lands a leg kick. Kang with a leg kick. Kang with a leg kick and Yahya goes for a takedown but Kang defends. 10-9 Kang.

Yahya lands a leg kick and then gets a takedown. Yahya in the half-guard and lands a right hand and transitions to the back. Yahya looking to set up a choke. Yahya has the body triangle locked in and lands a left hand. Yahya still landing from the back but Kang defending everything else. Yahya still landing but not doing much otherwise. They end the round in that position. 10-9 Yahya, 19-19.

They trade to start the third and Kang lands a hard right hand. Kang then lands another right hand and Yahya shoots for a takedown but Kang defends. Yahya then goes for a submission and they scramble up and Yahya has the neck. Yahya going for a guillotine choke. Yahya gets on top and looks for an arm-triangle choke but lets go and is in the half-guard. Yahya gets back in the full guard and both are landing on the mat. Yahya gets back to the half-guard. Yahya gets back into the full guard and is landing punches. Kang is landing short punches from the bottom. Yahya with some body shots from the top. Yahya with more shots from the top as the fight ends. 10-9 Yahya, 29-28 Yahya.

Official Result- Rani Yahya def. Kyung Ho Kang by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Joanne Wood (#5, 15-6, 7-6 UFC) vs. Taila Santos (#10, 18-1, 3-1 UFC)
Women’s Flyweights

Wood with some body and leg kicks early on. They trade punches and Wood back to landing leg kicks. Wood with a right hand and a body kick. Santos with a leg kick. Wood with a right hand. Santos lands a right hand. She lands the jab. They clinch against the fence and Wood with a body kick as they break. Wood with a left hand and the teet kicks to the legs. Wood with a right hand. Santos with a leg kick. Wood with a leg kick and Santos with a combo. Wood with a right hand. Wood lands a jab and Santos drops her with a right hand. Santos gets on top and was landing and they stand and clinch and Wood with a body kick as they separate. Santos with a combo and drops Wood again with a left hand and gets on top and is landing. Santos has the back and looks for a rear-naked choke but Wood gets out of it. Santos going for it again. Wood fighting it. She has it locked in and Wood taps. We have our first finish of the night.

Official Result- Taila Santos def. Joanne Wood by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:49 of Round 1

> Michael Chiesa (#6, 18-5, 11-5 UFC) vs. Sean Brady (#14, 14-0, 4-0 UFC)
Welterweights

We have an eye poke on Brady to start. Brady with a leg kick. Chiesa with a left hand. Brady with a left hand. We have another eye poke on Brady. They get back to action and Brady with a leg kick. Chiesa with a body kick and Brady catches the leg and gets a takedown. They scramble up. Brady has the back on the feet. Brady gets another takedown. Brady has the back against the fence. They get to their feet and break. Chiesa with a left hand. Brady with a leg kick. 10-9 Brady.

They trade punches to start the second. Brady with a right hand. Brady rushes in with some punches. Chiesa lands a right hand. Brady with a leg kick. They trade in close range. Chiesa lands a left hook then a right hand. Brady shoots for a takedown and has the body lock against the fence. Chiesa with some knees to the body. Brady gets Chiesa down and Chiesa gives him his back. Brady has two hooks in. Brady has the body lock against the fence. Chiesa trying to escape but Brady still has the back as the round ends. 10-9 Brady, 20-18 Brady.

Chiesa stalking Brady down and lands a big knee to the body. They clinch and Chiesa with another knee. They break. Chiesa lands a flurry and has Brady hurt. Chiesa with a big knee. Chiesa with a combo and another knee and Brady goes for a takedown. They scramble and are on their feet and Brady has the back. Brady gets Chiesa down. Brady has the back with the hooks in. Brady has the body triangle locked in and is in control from the back. Chiesa spins out and they stand and break. Chiesa with a flurry and lands a knee to the body. They clinch and Chiesa gets a takedown. Chiesa on top and lands some big punches but runs out of time. 10-9 Chiesa, 29-28 Brady.

Official Result- Sean Brady def. Michael Chiesa by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Ketlen Vieira (#7, 11-2, 5-2 UFC) vs. Miesha Tate (#8, 19-7, 6-4 UFC)
Women’s Bantamweights

Vieira with a quick combo. Vieira with another combo as Tate lands a body kick. Vieira lands a right hand. Vieira lands a right hand and follows it with a left hand. Tate lands a right hand. Tate with a right hand to the body. Vieira lands an uppercut. Vieira shoots for a takedown but Tate stuffs the head and lands some body punches. Close round. 10-9 Tate.

Vieira with a combo. Tate with a high kick. Vieira throws a right hand and Tate ducks under and scrambles away. Tate with a right hand and Vieira lands a right hand. Tate lands a right hand. They exchange wild punches in close range and Tate lands a hard right hand. Tate with a right hand and Vieira lands a counter left hand. Tate with a right hand. Tate still pressing forward more. Tate with a right hand. Tate with a couple of left hands. Another close round. 10-9 Vieira, 19-19.

They both look for openings to start the second as Vieira is landing the jab. We have an eye poke on Vieira and a timeout. They get back to action and Tate is pressing forward but neither are really landing. Tate with a right hand. They trade in close range. Vieira lands a right hand. Tate lands a left hand and Vieira counters with a combo. Tate with a leg kick. Tate lands and Vieira lands a counter combination. Tate pushes it against the fence. Tate tried a takedown but Vieira defended and they break. Tate with a leg kick and Vieira lands a right hand. Tate with a right hand. They trade in close late. Another close round. 10-9 Vieira, 29-28 Vieira.

Tate lands a front kick to the body and Vieira with a counter right hand. Tate lands a right hand. Tate lands a jab and Vieira with a right hand. Tate lands a right hand. Tate gets a takedown and grabs the back as they scramble up. They’re clinched and Tate lands some punches before they break. Tate with a combo and Vieira lands a right hand. Tate with a leg kick and lands a combo. They clinch and Tate with a knee to the body. Vieira lands some body shots. They clinch again and Tate with another knee. 10-9 Tate, 38-38.

Vieira lands a right hand. Tate lands a right hand. Tate with a body kick and Vieira just barely lands a counter right hand. Tate with a combination in close range and lands an uppercut. They trade in close range. They trade in close with Vieira getting the better of it. Tate lands a combo. Vieira with a knee to the body and she lands a big right hand and Tate’s nose is busted open. Tate with a left hand. Tate lands a right hand. Vieira with the double jab. They trade in close range. Tate with a body kick as Vieira is running away. Close fight. 10-9 Vieira, 48-47 Vieira.

Official Result- Ketlen Vieira def. Miesha Tate by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)

Renee Paquette joins SiriusXM Fight Nation for show with Miesha Tate

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Renee Paquette is joining SiriusXM for a weekly combat sports and pro wrestling show with UFC fighter Miesha Tate, beginning Monday. 

Paquette made the announcement on Twitter on Thursday. The weekly show will air from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time beginning on Monday, September 13. 

In addition to the weekly show with Tate, Paquette announced that she will also be joining SiriusXM’s Busted Open show as a special contributor “from time to time” for a segment called “Keeping it Real with Renee.” 

Busted Open is hosted by Dave LaGreca, Bully Ray, Mark Henry, Tommy Dreamer and Ryan McKinnell. 

Paquette said on Twitter that she will continue to do her Oral Sessions podcast with The Volume Sports in addition to her new roles with SiriusXM. 

Paquette said on Twitter that she will continue to do her Oral Sessions podcast with The Volume Sports in addition to her new roles with SiriusXM. 

Paquette left WWE where she worked as on-air personality Renee Young in August 2020 after seven-plus years with the company. Paquette was under an employee contract rather than an independent contractor deal and was subject to a lengthy non-compete. Paquette stated in an interview last month that the non-compete with WWE was nearly up. 

Her cookbook, Messy In The Kitchen: My Guide to Eating Deliciously, Hosting Fabulously and Sipping Copiously, was published in May 2021. Paquette and husband Jon Moxley welcomed their first child, Nora, in June 2021.

UFC on ESPN 26 live results: Miesha Tate returns, Makhachev-Moises

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC on ESPN 26: Makhachev vs. Moises, emanating from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Octagon is back inside the UFC APEX this week for the first of three straight weeks of fights held at the UFC’s headquarters, this one with a lightweight main event between rising contenders.

Lightweights Islam Makhachev and Thiago Moises each step into the headline position for the first time as they battle in the five-round main event. Makhachev, coming into this fight ranked ninth, looks to extend his seven-fight win streak. Moises, ranked 14th, will be looking to score his fourth straight win.

In the co-main event, former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate returns from retirement, fighting for the first time since November 2016, as she takes on Marion Reneau, who will be competing in her own retirement fight. Tate is trying to end a two-fight losing skid and quickly get back into the title picture. Also on the main card is a lightweight slugfest between Jeremy Stephens and Mateusz Gamrot, and a middleweight bout pitting Rodolfo Vieira against Dustin Stoltzfus.

Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern time with preliminary action all the way through the main card.

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> Alan Baudot (8-2, 0-1 UFC) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (8-1, 1-1 UFC)
Heavyweights

Baudot with some leg kicks early. Both are throwing hooks. Baudot with a right hand. They trade jabs and Baudot with a right hand. He lands another. He lands another over the top. Baudot landing more punches and Nascimento clinches. Nascimento pushes Baudot against the fence and is trying to get Baudot down. Nascimento tries a takedown but Baudot ends up on top and lands a couple of big punches and lands more big punches. They get up and Nascimento is going for a takedown and Baudot lands some big elbows to the side of the head against the fence and lands a big knee. They break and Baudot lands some right hands. They clinch at the end of the round. 10-9 Baudot.

Baudot lands some punches to start the second and then we have a ground strike on Baudot and a timeout. They get back to action. They trade left hands. Nascimento pressing forward and both are landing as Nascimento is starting to work the jab. Nascimento with a flurry and he drops Baudot to a knee with some punches and starts teeing off and the fight is stopped. Big come back win for Nascimento.

Official Result- Rodrigo Nascimento def. Alan Baudot by TKO (punches) at 1:29 of Round 2

> Francisco Figueiredo (12-3-1 1 NC, 1-0 UFC) vs. Malcolm Gordon (12-5, 0-2 UFC)
Flyweights

Gordon going for a takedown right away as he pushes Figueiredo against the fence. They trade knees in the clinch. They break. Gordon lands a right hand as he’s rushing in but Figueiredo also lands a left hand. Gordon tries again for a takedown. Gordon completes the takedown but Figueiredo reverses to the top and is in the half-guard. Figueiredo is trying to transition to the mount but Gordon defending from the bottom. Figueiredo moves to the full guard and lands an elbow. Figueiredo working from the top as Gordon is trying to find an armbar attempt. Figueiredo goes for an ankle lock but Gordon escapes and ends on top and is landing punches and elbows. Gordon with some big shots from the top at the end of the first. 10-9 Gordon.

Gordon tries a takedown but Figueiredo defends. Gordon tries again and grabs the single leg. Figueiredo gets out of it. They trade jabs. Gordon lands a right hand. Gordon tries for the takedown but Figueiredo sprawls as Gordon pushes it against the fence. They break. Both looking to land and Gordon is still trying to find a takedown. Figueiredo with a leg kick. Figueiredo pouring it on as he’s landing punches and lands a knee to the body. Gordon gets a takedown. Gordon with some short punches as he ends the second on top. 10-9 Figueiredo, 19-19.

Gordon gets a takedown right away as Figueiredo tries a jumping attack. Gordon working from the top as Figueiredo is trying to use his legs to push Gordon off. Gordon with some elbows from the top. They get to the fence and Gordon is still in control and Figueiredo attempted to grab the fence to get up but got warned. They scrambled up and Figueiredo has the back and is looking to try and find a choke. Gordon trying hard to get a takedown as the scramble around the cage and Figueiredo did look to grab the fence as they clinch against the fence. Figueiredo is able to get a takedown. Gordon scrambles to the top and Figueiredo tried a triangle choke but Gordon escaped and they stood. They go back to the ground and Figueiredo has the back and lands some punches that looked to the back of head as the fight ends. 10-9 Gordon, 29-28 Gordon.

Official Result- Malcolm Gordon def. Francisco Figueiredo by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

> Khalid Taha (13-3 1 NC, 1-2 1 NC UFC) vs. Sergey Morozov (16-4, 0-1 UFC)
Bantamweights

Taha lands some leg kicks as Morzov lands some punches. Taha with a right hand. Morozov gets a body lock against the fence and finishes the takedown and is working in the half-guard. Taha lands a couple of short punches from the bottom but Morozov applying pressure. Morozov trying to pass guard and tried to set up a kimura but moves back to the guard and lands an elbow and a few punches. Taha goes for a leg lock but Morozov lands some big punches. 10-9 Morozov.

Taha trying to land as he quickly closes distance. Taha lands some kicks. Morozov lands a nice left hook and then an uppercut as Taha is backing up. Taha lands a left hand and then a leg kick. They trade jabs. Taha with an inside leg kick. He lands a calf kick. Morozov shoots for a takedown against the fence and lands some punches and he drags the fight to the knees. Morozov has back control and lands some knees to the body. They get up and Morozov takes it right back down and straight to back control and he has the hooks in and is trying to find a choke. Morozov with some punches at the end. 10-9 Morozov, 20-18 Morozov.

They are trading to start the third and both men land some good shots. Taha with a leg kick. Taha with a front kick as Morozov lands a combo. Morozov gets a takedown and has the back and is landing punches as they work their way up against the fence. Morozov with back control and landing some knees. Morozov gets a brief takedown. They break and Taha lands some punches and Morozov lands a nice right hand. Taha with some punches and a leg kick. They trade late. 10-9 Morozov, 30-27 Morozov.

Official Result- Sergey Morozov def. Khalid Taha by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Amanda Lemos (#14, 9-1-1, 3-1 UFC) vs. Montserrat Conejo (10-1, 1-0 UFC)
Women’s Strawweights

Lemos with a head kick. Lemos lands a right hand and Conejo stumbled and then a left hand plants Conejo to the mat and it is quickly stopped. That was a big finish by Lemos.

Official Result- Amanda Lemos def. Montserrat Conejo by knockout (punches) at :35 of Round 1

> Daniel Rodriguez (14-2, 4-1 UFC) vs. Preston Parsons (9-2, 0-0 UFC)
Welterweights

Parsons tries a head kick and tries for a takedown but they break. Parsons with a left hand and lands some more. Rodriguez with a leg kick. He lands another. Parsons shoots for a takedown but Rodriguez defends. Rodriguez with a jab and then a leg kick. Parsons with a right hand. Parsons with a couple of body kicks. Parsons with a right hand. Parsons with leg kicks but Rodriguez landing punches. Rodriguez with a left hand. Parsons lands some punches. Rodriguez with a left hand and Parsons is hurt and circling away. Rodriguez lands an uppercut and Parsons is in trouble. Parsons tries a takedown but Rodriguez defends and is teeing off. Rodriguez with a left hand and Parsons is still in trouble. They trade. Rodriguez with a combo and starts teeing off and Parsons falls to the mat and Rodriguez with punches from the top ends it. Big win for Rodriguez as he had Parsons in lots of trouble.

Official Result- Daniel Rodriguez def. Preston Parsons by TKO (punches) at 3:47 of Round 1

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> Gabriel Benitez (22-8, 6-4 UFC) vs. Billy Quarantillo (15-3, 3-1 UFC)
Featherweights

Quarantillo starting with some kicks. Quarantillo with a body kick and then a leg kick. Quarantillo with a right hand. Benitez lands some punches. Quarantillo drops Benitez with a right hand and gets on top and lands. Benitez goes for an armbar but Quarantillo picks him up and slams him and is landing big punches. Quarantillo gets the back and has the body triangle in and is landing punches. Quarantillo landing and looking for a choke. Quarantillo with some body shots as he continues to have back control. Quarantillo still landing punches from the back as he’s in complete control and now lands a big elbow. Benitez is able to escape and spins into the guard but they get up. They are trading. Quarantillo shoots for a takedown and Benitez tried a guillotine but Quarantillo drops to his back and looks for a leg lock. Benitez looking for a heel hook. Quarantillo gets the back and lands some big punches at the end. 10-8 Quarantillo.

Quarantillo gets a takedown and works to the back and is working for the rear-naked choke. Benitez is fighting it but Quarantillo still working hard for it. They get to their feet and Quarantillo with a knee right to the jaw of Benitez. Quarantillo with a leg kick. They trade and clinch and Quarantillo with a shoulder strike. Quarantillo gets a takedown and is working in the guard but they scramble up and trade. They trade knees as they clinch for a moment. Quarantillo lands some big punches and then we have a timeout for a groin strike. The doctor then checks on Benitez’ eye but he continues on. They trade in close range. Quarantillo lands a big right hand and then another. He’s landing big shots against the fence at the end of the second. 10-8 Quarantillo, 20-16 Quarantillo.

They’re trading and Benitez lands a punch and Quarantillo falls to his butt. Benitez lands from the top and Quarantillo looks for a triangle choke and they get up. They’re trading. Quarantillo looks for a takedown and Benitez grabs the neck but lets go. Quarantillo gets a takedown and has the back and gets the hooks locked in and is working for a choke. Quarantillo landing punches from the back and the fight ends up being stopped. What a dominant win for Quarantillo.

Official Result- Billy Quarantillo def. Gabriel Benitez by TKO (punches) at 3:40 of Round 3

> Rodolfo Vieira (7-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (13-2, 0-1 UFC)
Middleweights

Vieira lands a right hand and Stoltzfus with a combo. Vieira with a leg kick. They trade punches. Vieira lands a nice right hand. Vieira with a leg kick. Vieira with a nice jab. Stoltzfus with a spin kick. They trade. Stoltzfus with a right hand. They trade jabs and Vieira blocks a high kick. They trade as Stoltzfus lands to the body and Vieira to the head. Vieira with the jab. Stoltzfus with a spin kick. Stoltzfus with a knee to the body late. Close round. 10-9 Stoltzfus.

Vieira gets a takedown at the start of the second and works to the back. They get to their feet. They’re trading and both landing. Vieira landing the jab a lot and is landing punches as well. Stoltzfus lands a right hand and Vieria stumbles and then Vieira shoots but Stoltzfus lands a knee to defend. Vieira with some leg kicks. Stoltzfus shoots for a takedown and Vieira defends. 10-9 Vieira, 19-19.

Vieira gets a big takedown to start the third. They scramble and Stoltzfus gets up and Vieira trying to get Stoltzfus back to the ground. Vieira gets the takedown but Stoltzfus has the neck. They’re standing and Vieira is on the back and the neck and has a choke locked in. They go to the mat and Vieira has the rear-naked choke in and Stoltzfus taps. Big finish by Vieira.

Official Result- Rodolfo Vieira def. Dustin Stoltzfus by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:54 of Round 3

> Jeremy Stephens (28-18 1 NC, 15-17 1 NC UFC) vs. Mateusz Gamrot (18-1 1 NC, 1-1 UFC)
Lightweights

Gamrot goes for the ankle and gets the takedown on Stephens. They battle for position. Stephens goes for a kimura but Gamrot escapes. Gamrot looks for an armbar, but then switches for a kimura, gets it locked in and Stephens taps. Quick finish by Gamrot as he gets the big submission win.

Official Result- Mateusz Gamrot def. Jeremy Stephens by submission (kimura) at 1:05 of Round 1

> Marion Reneau (#12, 9-7-1, 5-6-1 UFC) vs. Miesha Tate (18-7, 5-4 UFC)
Women’s Bantamweights

Reneau with a body kick. Tate with a leg kick. Tate with a right hand. They trade punches. Tate with a right hand and then goes for a takedown against the fence. They trade knees in the clinch. They break and both land punches. Tate lands a right hand and then a combo. They trade inside the pocket and Tate gets a takedown. Reneau looking to set up a triangle choke but Tate escapes and Reneau trying to land upkicks, but Tate passes the guard. Tate ends up on top. 10-9 Tate.

Tate with a front kick as Reneau was coming forward. Tate with a right hand. They’re both looking to land. Tate looks for a takedown against the fence and Reneau grabbed the fence to defend. Tate still looking for it and Reneau grabs the fence again but Tate gets the big takedown and is working in the half-guard. Tate still working from the top and Reneau gets warned for her toes in the fence. Tate with punches from the top as she ends the second there. 10-9 Tate, 20-18 Tate.

They trade to start the third and Tate landing a nice jab. Tate pressuring around the fence and landing and pushes Reneau against the fence and looks for a takedown. Tate gets the back and is landing big left hands. Reneau not defending well and is taking damage. Tate with big punches and the fight is stopped. Huge win for Tate in her return.

Official Result- Miesha Tate def. Marion Reneau by TKO (punches) at 1:53 of Round 3

> Islam Makhachev (#9, 19-1, 8-1 UFC) vs. Thiago Moises (#14, 15-4, 4-2 UFC)
Lightweights

Not much happening as Makhachev is pressuring but they both land kicks. Moises landed a nice body kick. They clinch and Moises has the body lock against the fence. They break and Moises with a teet kick. Makhachev with a body kick. Makhachev with a left hand and then a combo. Makhachev with a combo and lands a knee and has the thai plumb. Makhachev with some knees as Moises drops down looking for the takedown. Makhachev defends and lands some knees as they trade positions. Makhachev gets a takedown and works from the top, landing punches and elbows. Moises with some late elbows from the back. 10-9 Makhachev.

Makhachev with some punches as he is pressuring Moises against the fence. They’re clinched up against the fence and Moises actually gets a takedown but Makhachev has the neck. Moises escapes and tries to get the back but Makhachev shakes him off and takes the back of Moises. Makhachev trying hard to get the hooks in and he’s landing punches as well. Makhachev landing and gets full back control and works for a choke. Makhachev gets the mount late and was landing punches and looked for an armbar late but time ran out. 10-9 Makhachev, 20-18 Makhachev.

Makhachev with a short leg kick. Makhachev lands a right hook as Moises was looking for an opening. Moises with a body kick. They clinch against the fence. Makhachev gets a brief takedown but they pop up and remain clinched against the fence. Makhachev now gets the control position and lands some knees as he has body control. Makhachev gets the big takedown and has the back. Moises goes for a leg lock. Makhachev reverses before the round ends. 10-9 Makhachev, 30-27 Makhachev.

Makhachev pressuring and lands punches and then gets a big takedown but Moises goes for a triangle choke. Makhachev escapes and is in the guard and landing body punches. Makhachev now takes the back and is landing big punches. Makhachev gets the rear-naked choke locked in and Moises ends up tapping. Just an absolutely dominant peformance from Makhachev.

Official Result- Islam Makhachev def. Thiago Moises by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:38 of Round 4

Miesha Tate to return at July UFC event following five-year retirement

Posted on by Josh Nason

After nearly five years in retirement, former UFC and Strikeforce bantamweight champion Miesha Tate is returning to action in the Octagon.

While not yet officially announced by the organization, ESPN reported the 34-year-old will face Marion Reneau on Saturday, July 17th as part of a Fight Night event that is not yet on the schedule.

Ironically, this will be the final fight of the 43-year-old Reneau’s career. It’s also the final fight on her deal.

Following retirement, Tate (18-7) had worked as a VP of ONE, the Singapore-based fighting organization. 

While her several of her Strikeforce fights were fan favorites, she hit another level of stardom within the sport with her rivalry with Ronda Rousey. She lost the Strikeforce bantamweight title to Rousey in March 2012 and the two later coached a season of The Ultimate Fighter, leading to a second fight Rousey won by third-round submission.

After four straight wins, she submitted Holly Holm for the title in March 2016 at the memorable UFC 196 before succumbing to Amanda Nunes at that July’s UFC 200. After losing a decision to Raquel Pennington in November 2016, she called it quits.

As ESPN’s Brett Okamoto noted, the UFC’s anti-doping policy states an athlete must be subject to a six-month testing window before returning, but the company can waive that requirement based on various circumstances. It’s unknown what the situation is with Tate at this time.

Jon Jones downs Dan Henderson in grappling match, challenges Chael Sonnen

Posted on by Josh Nason

Even though he’s on the shelf due to a USADA suspension, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones returned to a different kind of competition Sunday night in the main event of Submission Underground 2.

Jones faced recently retired UFC/Pride/Strikeforce veteran Dan Henderson in a grappling match, a bout originally scheduled for Jones’ UFC belt at UFC 151 but had to be scrapped due to a Henderson knee injury.

The two were jovial in the near 10-minute match that saw Jones controlling the much older Henderson up against the MMA cage they competed in. 

With about three minutes to go, Jones got side mount and kept the action on the mat. Henderson tried to stay active from the bottom, but Jones’ size was too much for him. He eventually got full mount and secured an arm triangle for the quick tap and victory. 

Jones challenged Chael Sonnen to a grappling match on January 29th that Sonnen accepted.

In the co-main event, recently retired Miesha Tate took on current UFC fighter Jessica Eye and defeated her on “escape time” after they went the distance and into overtime.

The show aired live on FloGrappling from Portland, OR, and is the brainchild of Sonnen and FloSports.

Miesha Tate announces her retirement following UFC 205 loss

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

After falling to Raquel Pennington in a unanimous decision at UFC 205, former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate announced her retirement from MMA inside the Octagon in an interview with Joe Rogan.

In the interview, Tate claimed that this was a decision she made as a result of this fight, saying that she had nothing left to give and that the future (pointing to Pennington) had passed her by.

Tate was also a former Strikeforce bantamweight champion and lost that title to Ronda Rousey in a fight that caught the attention of Dana White and led the way for women to compete in the UFC. A 2013 rematch with Rousey at UFC 168 did over a million PPV buys with the Rousey vs. Tate fight underneath the headline bout of Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman. 

She won the UFC women’s bantamweight title over Holly Holm on the undercard of UFC 196. Tate then lost the belt in a one-sided fight against current champion Amanda Nunes in the main event of UFC 200.

We’ll have more on this on tonight’s Wrestling Observer Radio following tonight’s show.

UFC 205 live results: Eddie Alvarez vs. Conor McGregor

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Preew by Ryan Frederick

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor, eminating from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.

This is the much anticipated debut of the UFC in New York, and they are bringing the most stacked card in company history for the Octagon’s first visit to famed Madison Square Garden, capping off a night of action with the biggest draw in company history looking to make history.

In the main event, UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor looks to become the first fighter to hold championships in two divisions at the same time as he challenges Eddie Alvarez for the UFC Lightweight Championship. McGregor is coming off two high-profile fights with Nate Diaz while Alvarez makes his first title defense after knocking out Rafael Dos Anjos in July.

In addition, there are two other championship bouts. UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley makes his first title defense against top contender, Stephen Thompson, winner of seven straight fights. Woodley knocked out Robbie Lawler to win the title at UFC 201 in July, while Thompson is getting his title shot on the heels of a dominant win over Rory MacDonald.

UFC Strawweight Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk makes her fourth title defense against fellow Polish strawweight, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, in the third title fight on the card. Jedrzejczyk last fought in July, successfully defending against Claudia Gadelha, while Kowalkiewicz is coming off a decision win over Rose Namajunas in July. Both women are undefeated in their professional careers, but Jedrzejczyk holds a win over Kowalkiewicz in an amateur bout.

The main card also has a middleweight bout as former champion Chris Weidman takes on Yoel Romero, and Miesha Tate battles Raquel Pennington in women’s bantamweight action. The most stacked prelims of all-time includes featherweights Frankie Edgar and Jeremy Stephens doing battle as well as top lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov taking on Michael Johnson.

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

Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 7 PM eastern time with preliminary action all the way thru the main card.

We are looking for your thoughts on the event so leave your thumbs up, thumbs in the middle, or thumbs down along with a best and worst fight to [email protected].

Some additional coverage:
– UFC 205 Observer Panel Picks & Preview
– UFC 205 DFS Playbook

By Dave Meltzer

UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS | 7 PM ET/4 PM PT

> Liz Carmouche (#9, 10-5, 2-3 UFC) vs. Katlyn Chookagian (#14, 8-0, 1-0 UFC)
Women’s Bantamweights

The place is fairly empty at this point.  More than a Las Vegas crowd but not like a lot of first-time markets.  Carmouche is ripped, more than most of the guys.     

First round:  Carmouche with low kicks.  Chookagian landed a right., Carmouche back with a right.  Carmouche with a low kick and a right and a takedown.  Carmouche is in side control  Chookagian back up with minimal damage.  Carmouche trying for another takedown.  Carmouche has her against the fence.  High slam by Carmouche with 1:05 left.  Carmouche is just holding her down.  Fans chanting Ole for no reason.  Carmouche with some short elbows.  Carmouche 10-9

Second round:    Carmouche has her and trying to throw her.  Both landed knees.  Chookagian broke the clinch.  Chookagian with a low kick.  Carmouche took her down with a back suplex.  She moved to side control.  Carmouche with short elbows.  Chookagian regained guard and wants a triangle.  Carmouche with some short punches.  The crowd is starting to boo them.  Carmouche is staying busy but they could stand them up.   Chookagaian up.  Knee by Chookagian.  Left by Chookagian.  Chookagian whiffed on a combo.  Right by Chookagian landed.  Low kick by  Chookagian.  Carmouche’s round 20-18.

Third round:  Chookagian dropped her with a great head kick.  Carmouche back up.  The crowd exploded.  Knee by Chookagian.  Carmouche going for a takedown.  Chookagian momentarily got behind her but Carmouche turned her into the fence.  Knee by Carmouche.  Chookagian landed a combo.  Big right by Chokagian.  Chookagian landed solid punches now.  Carmouche is bleeding from the nose.  Carmouche took her down which drew a groan from the crowd.  Carmouche is holding her down.  Chookagian up and Carmouche threw a knee.  Chookagian broke free.  Head kick by Chookagian.  Low kick by Carmouche. Chookagian in with punches.  Low kick by Carmouche.  Good right by Chookagian.  Carmouche shot for a takedown but doesn’t have it.  But she’s taking seconds off the clock.  Chookagian’s round but Carmouche should win 29-28.

Scores:  29-28 Chookagian 29-28 Carmouche 29-28 Carmouche.   

> Jim Miller (27-8 1 NC, 16-7 1 NC UFC) vs. Thiago Alves (21-10, 13-6 UFC)

Catch weight of 162.5

Alves missed weight by 6.5 pounds. 

First round:  Knee by Alves.  Miller with a left.  Miller in with an uppercut.   Miller landed a punch and took Alves down off a kick.  Miller is working to get his back.  Alves scrambled up.  Left kick to the body by Miller.  Both landing now with Alves landing a good knee.  Right by  Alves and head kick by  Alves.  Alves came on strong at the end but 10-9 Miller.

Second round:  Body kick by Alves.  Body kick by Alves.  He tried another and Miller tried to take him down off it.  Alves defended the takedown.  Miller with a blast double leg takedown.  Miller cradled him on the ground.  Miller is keeping him down.  There was a USA chant.  Miller landed a few punches as Alves got up.  Miller with a left.  Alves with a right.  Body kick by Alves.  Punch and knee by Alves.  Alves missed a spinning backfist.  Alves landed the backfist.  Miller is bleeding.  Close round. 20-18 Miller.

Third round:  Body kick by Alves.  Mller slipped.  Alves landing punches and a body kick.  Both swinging.  Miller hit the blast double again.  That could clinch him the fight.  Alves back up.  Alves with a body kcik.  Miller got another takedown.  Miller got his back.  Alves almost got up but Miller wrestled him back down.  Miller tried a guillotine and Alves slipped out and on top.  Alves landed some elbows and punches from the top as the round ended.  Another close round.  Miller 30-27.

Scores:   30-27, 29-28 and 30-27 for Miller    

FOX SPORTS 1 PRELIMS | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT

> Vicente Luque (10-5-1, 3-1 UFC) vs. Belal Muhammad (10-1, 1-1 UFC)
Welterweights

First round:  Luque dropped him with a left hook and landed a few brutal shots on the ground before it was stopped.   1:19′

Luque said he dropped 30 pounds for the fight.

> Rafael Natal (#14, 21-7-1, 9-5-1 UFC) vs. Tim Boetsch (19-10, 10-9 UFC)
Middleweights

First round:  Boetsch landed a right as Natal went for a takedown.   Boetsch is the one moving forward.  Natal missed a spinning backfist.  Trading punches and Boetsch got the better of it.  Body kick by Natal.  Boetsch dropped him with a right hook  that knocked Natal flying and finished him on the ground.  It was weird.  It was like Natal wasn’t himself at all.  3:22

Boetsch credited the win to the Irish Hand Grenade Marcus Davis for the win.  Joe Rogan and Boetch said the first punch early shook up Natal and he was tentative from there.

> Khabib Nurmagomedov (#2, 23-0, 7-0 UFC) vs. Michael Johnson (#6, 17-10, 9-6 UFC)
Lightweights

First round:   Johnson throwing early.  He landed a nice left.  He’s landing good punches on Khabib.  He’s got Khabib hurt now.  Johnson landed a hard left.  Johnson blocked the takedown attempt.  But Khabib powered him down into side control   USA chants  Khabib with lefts.  Now he’s dropping elbows  and throwing hard punches on the ground.  Khabib dropping more elbows.  Big punches by Khabib.  He’s got his back and throwing more punches.  Khabib 10-9.  The crowd went nuts giving both a standing ovation after the round.   

Second round:  Johnson landed a left.  Left to the body by Johnson.  Khabib landing punches now and tied him up.  Johnson got away from the takedown attempt.  Johnson blocked another takedown,.  Knee and punch and Johnson sprawled.  Johnson going for a guillotine but Khabib popped out and is on top.  Khabib immediately passed to side control and throwing punches.  He’s got a crucifox position on Johnson and punching.  More punches by Khabib.  Khabib with hard lefts from the top.  Now Khabib has back position and is throwing a ton of punches.  More punches from side position.  Now he’s throwing hard rights.  10-8 Khabib’s round so 20-17 after two.

Third round:  USA chant to start the round.  Both throwing punches.  Khabib took him down again.  The crowd booed.  Khabib is landing punches again from that position.  Khabib is trying for a finish with punches but Johnson can take his shots.  Johnson tried to kick off the cage to reverse.  Now Khabib is working for a Kimura and got the tap.  Very interesting because his win was more dominant than Ferguson but Ferguson is a more entertaining fighter  2:31

Khabib said I want to stay humble but I have to talk.  I show the crazy power the UFC PR is.  He cut a promo on Conor and the crowd stared to boo him.  He wanted to face the Irish chicken, said
Irish only six million, Russia 150 million.  He then talked Russian.  He got great heat.  The crowd hated him.  He said Joe Rogan knows MMA for 20 years and asked Rogan if he desreved a title shot.  Rogan said he deserved it which the crowd didh’t like.

> Frankie Edgar (#2, 20-5-1, 14-5-1 UFC) vs. Jeremy Stephens (#7, 25-12, 12-11 UFC)
Featherweights

First round:  Edgar got the biggest pop so far.  The place is pretty packed now, I’d say 90-95%.  Stephens looks 15 pounds heavier in the cage.  Edgar tried a takedown and Stephens sprawled.  Low kick by Stephens.  Edgar moved in for a takedown but Stephens disengaged.  Body kick by Edgar.  Knee by  Stephens.  Low kick by Stephens.  Edgar with a two punch combo.  Let’s Go Frankie chant pretty loud.  Edgar with a front headlock and throwing knees.  He’s working for the takedown and not getting it.  Edgar slammed him  but Stephens right baacck up.    Edgar slammed him again but Stephens up.  Stephens poked Edgar in the eye and a time out was called.  Stephens with punches.  Edgar 10-9 but closer than you’d think.

Second round:  Stephens complained of a low blow.  Edgar with a right.  Jumping kick by Stephens.  Body kick by Edgar.  Low kick by Edgar.  Edgar got a momentary takedown .  He got a back slam takedown.  Stephens right back up again.  Edgar in with punches.  Good right by Edgar.  Edgar with punches.  Stephens with a great kick to the chin and  Edgar went down.  Edgar is hurt.  Stephens with a right.  Stephens going for the finish.  Another right by Stephens.   Stephens with a left.  Hard left by Stephens.  Let’s go Frankie chants.  Stephens with a right.  Edgar back with a combo, and got the takedown and got a guillotine.  Stephens out of it.  What a great round.  Edgar on top.  Loud Frankie chants.  He’s going for the guillotine again.  Edgar landed punches from the top late.  10-9 Stephens for 19-19 after two.  Standing ovation for the round.

Third round:  Let’s go Frankie chants.  Stephens threw a kick and Edgar used it to take him down.  Stephens working for a  Kimura but Edgar out of trouble.  Edgar elbowing the ribs.  Edgar staying on top.  Edgar trying to work for a choke.  Edgar with a back suplex slam.  Edgar is behind him working for a choke again.  Stephens up with 2:13 left.  Big right by Stephens.  Edgar went for a takedown and couldn’t get it.  Edgar with a left.  Edgar with a right.  Uppercut by Stephens.  Both throwing and Stephens landed some good shots and Edgar back as the fight ended.  Edgar 29-28.  The crowd gave them a standing ovation again.

Scores:   30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 for Edgar.

Edgar said he wants to be on the Brooklyn show.

PPV MAIN CARD | 10 PM ET/7 PM PT

> Miesha Tate (#1, 18-6, 5-3 UFC) vs. Raquel Pennington (#8, 8-5, 5-2 UFC)
Women’s Bantamweights

First round:  Tate didn’t get nearly the reaction she usually gets.  Tate with a right.  Pennnington landing jabs.  Pennington hurting her with punches.  Rocky chant.  Tate landing punches to the body and head and working for a takedown.  Pennington lifted Tate up with a guollotone.  It was crazy.  Tate tried to kick off the cage.  Tate finally go the takedown.  Pennington back up.  Pennington looks like she wants to do the old pump handle move.  That’s a pro wrestling joke.  Nothing much happening and crowd starting to get restless.  Tate had her back.  Tate did control the positioning but Pennington did more damage.  Hard to score, 10-9 Pennington.

Second round:   Pennington with a nice right.  Left by Pennington.  Anohter left by Pennington.  Penningotn landed solid shots.  Tate with lefts.  Knee by Tate from the clinch.  Tate trying for the takedown.  Knee by Tate.  Both throwing punches.  Pennington got behind Tate.  Tate throwing elbows.  Crowd is bored by this fight.  Pennington landing punches from the clinch.  Tate with knees and Pennington with body shots as they’re in the clinch.  Body shots by Pennington.  Both landed punches as the round ended.  Pennington 20-18.

Third round:  Both the rounds were close so it’s anyone’s fight.  Tate tried to pull guard to get it to the ground.  She almost got an armbar.  Pennington landing punches from the top.  Tate again working for an armbar.  Pennington landing punches from the top.  Tate now trying for a triangle but doesn’t have it.  Tate now going for a leglock.  She tried a heel hook but didn’t get it.  They’re in a clinch and Pennington is landing some short punches.   Pennington took her down and is throwing more punches.  Rare boring fight from Tate.  Pennington landing a lot of punches late.  Pennington 30-27.

Scores:   29-28, 30-27 and 30-27 Pennington.  Bad time for a loss for Tate.

Tate announced her retirement after.  She said it’s not her time anymore and she’s been around for a long time and she couldn’t pull it off.  

> Chris Weidman (#2, 13-1, 9-1 UFC) vs. Yoel Romero (#4, 12-1, 7-0 UFC)
Middleweights

First round:  This is a really big fight because a strong Weidman win can make him a New York superstar.  Not to mention he’ll probably get a title match with a win.  Romero is a freak athlete, but he’s also 39 years old.  They showed Bisping watching the fight.  USA chant to start.  Hard body kick by Romero.  Weidman tried a takedown but not hard, more diversion.  Body kick by Weidman.  Ole chants.  Weidman took him down once but Romero back up.  Body kick by Weidman.  Body kicks by Weidman. Another takedown by  Weidman and Romero back up.  Low kick by Weidman.  Left by Romero.  Romero with lefts.  Body kick by Romnero.  Weidman took him down and got his back.  Weidman 10-9.

Second round:  The referee wiped Vaseline off Romero’s back at the start of the round.  Left by Romero.  Left by Romero.  Body kick by Weidman.  Knee by  Weidman.  Romero claimed an eye poke after the knee.  Weidman in on the single but gave it up to land a head kick.  Romero took Weidman down and got his back after Weidman got up.  Romero with another takedown.  Weidman escaped and Romero took him down again.  Romero has his back on the ground.  Romero’s round so 19-19.

Third round:  Boyd kick  by Weidman.  Romero killed him with a flying knee that nailed Weidman in the left eye and and pounded on him and finished him.  That’s not a good thing for UFC.  Romero is strutting around the ring like he’s a foreign military soldier saluting the crowd.  The crowd didn’t even boo him.  They were just stunned.  The two hugged.  :24  The crowd was eerily quiet when this ended.

Romero said he wanted the belt.  Joe Rogan said that Romero will be challenging for the title next.  Michael Bisping said he wouldn’t face Romero.  Bisping gave Romero the thumbs down and then flipped him off with both hands.  Romero kept saying “I love you Mike, see you soon, boy.”  Romero said you see now the real champion.

> Joanna Jedrzejczyk (C, 12-0, 6-0 UFC) vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz (#2, 10-0, 3-0 UFC)
UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship

First round:  Joanna with low kicks.  Ole chants.  Joanna with a combo.  Both landing.  Nice combo by Joanna.  Karolina landed some punches.  The Irish are singing to entertain themselves.  Joanna with another combo.  Joanna 10-9

Second round:   Karloline pushed her against the fence and went for a takedown but didn’t get it.  Joanna with a flurry.  Karolina working for a takedown.   Joanna has her against the fence and threw a knee.  Front kick by Joanna.  Spijnning backfist by Joanna.  Joanna 20-18.

Third round:  Joanna with a knee and punches.  Joanna outlandig her.  Arolian landed a right.  The crowd is so quiet for this fight except a few chants having nothing to do with the fight.  It’s like this is Raw from last Monday.  Body kick by Karolina.  Karolina with a floury.  Joannan back  and landed a body kick and knee.  Elbow and punches by Joanna.  Trading punches.  Joanna 30-27.   Some boos at the end.   I can’t tell you how little the people care about this fight.

Fourth round:    Joanna with a few kicks and they are back against the fence.  Karolina with elbows.  Spinning backfist by Karolina.  Karolina hurt her bad with a right to the nose.  Both are trading.  Both trading some more.  Karolina landed a big right.  Karolina is landing big rights.  Joanna took her down but Karolina back up.  Joanna looking at the clock.  Karolina with more punches from close range.  Joanna landed aan elbow.  Karolina landed a good right.  Trading punches.  Joanna seems recovered now.  Backfist by Karolina.  Joanna tried the same.  Joanna with a combo.  Both traded punches.  Hard knee by Joanna.  Joanna got good shots In late in the round.  The crowd completely turned and gave both a huge ovation.  Karolina’s round 39-37 Joanna.

Fifth round:  Good combo by Joanna.  Karolina with punches and Joanna with an elbow.   Joanna using her kicks to keep Karolina at a distance by Karolina got in and landed a punch.  Front kick by Joanna.  Joanna landing more punches.  Joanna with a left.  Karolina back with punches.  Joanna with solid punches now.  The crowd came alive.  Karolina with a spinning punch and Joanna back with punches.  Joanna landed punches and elbows.  Knee by Joanna.  Body kick by Joanna.  Joanna 49-46.  After all that, the whole place is standing.  The fourth round turned the crowd around.

Scores:  All three had it 49-46 for Joanna.

Joanna was charming, said she wasn’t hurt in the fourth round.  The crowd cheered Karolina a lot after the fight.  Karolina said Joanna was the best in the world.  She said she’s proud she gave a good fight and the crowd cheered big. 

> Tyron Woodley (C, 16-3, 6-2 UFC) vs. Stephen Thompson (#2, 13-1, 8-1 UFC)
UFC Welterweight Championship

First round:  Body kick by Thonpson.  Thompson threw a kick, Woodley countered with a right and took him down.  Woodley with body shots.  Woodley  with a lot of short punches on the ground to smother him .  He land hard body shots late, bloodied him with elbows and landed a hard shot at the horn.  10-9  Woodley, almost a 10-8.

Second round:  Thompson landed some punches and Woodley tied him up.  Thompson turned him around and then Woodley turned him back around.  Spin kick to the body by Thompson.  Left by Thompson.  Right by Thompson.  Thompson with punches.  Thompson landing more.  Woodley with a nice right.  Body shot by Thompson.  Another body shot by Thompson.  Woodley with a nice right.  Thompson’s round so 19-19 after two.

Third round:  Side kick by Thompson.  Woodley moved forward with punches.  Woodley moved forward and landed again.  Ole chants.  Head kick by Woodley.   Low kick by Thompson. Thompson moved in with punches. Good right by Thompson.  Left by Woodley.  Left by Thompson and landed more punches.  Woodley moved in but didn’t connect.  Thompson landed a few.  Woodley  with two nice rights late in the round.  Close round.  Thompson’s so 29-28 Thompson after three.

Fourth round:  Thompson in with a few punches.  Woodley dropped him with hard right.  Woodley throwing punches.  Woodley dropped him again with a right and throwing punches on the ground.  Thompson is in trouble.  Woodley is landing shot after shot.  Knees by Woodley and punches.  Woodley going for a guillotine.  Thompson out of it but he’s hurt.  Woodley went for a guillotine again and it’s tight.  Thompson is surviving so far.  Thompson punching back.  The crowd went nuts seeing  Thompson punch back.  He popped out for the biggest pop so far this show.  Wonderboy chants.  Thompson landing big punches late.  This place is now really alive.  10-8 but that comeback could keep it 10-9, but I’ve got 38-37 Woodley after four.  This is going to be very interesting how it’s judged.

Fifth round:    Jumping kick by Thompson.  Body kick by Thompson.  Low kick by Thompson.  Loud Wonderboy chants.  Right and a head kick by Thompson.  Body kick by Thompson.  Spin kick to the head by Thompson.  Left and right by Thompson.  Right by Thompson.  Left and right by Thompson.  Body kick by  Woodley.  Left by Thompson.  Low kick by Thompson.  Woodley landed a right.  Body shot by Thompson.  Left and right by Thompson. Thompson with a left.   Two lefts by Thompson.  Thompson with a good right.  Thompson’s round, I’ve got it 47-47 all.  This could go either way depending on a 10-8 in the first or fourth rounds. 

Scores:  Derek Cleary scored it  47-47, Doug Crosby scored it 47-47, Glenn Trowbridge 48-47 Woodley.  That’s a screw-up, as that’s a majority draw but Woodley would still retain on the draw.  Bruce Buffer later corrected himself a majority draw.  The problem is Trowbridge looks to have given 3 rounds to Woodley and Thompson won three rounds and it came down to 10-8s in round one or four.  Either way, Woodley retains on the draw.

> Eddie Alvarez (C, 28-4, 3-1 UFC) vs. Conor McGregor (C FW, 20-3, 8-1 UFC)
UFC Lightweight Championship

This crowd is now totally electric.  They’re booing the hell out of Alvarez.  Not the number of Irish flags as Vegas but a totally pro-McGregor crowd.  Alvarez is called The Underground King.  I wonder if he knows Sami  Zayn.

First round:  McGregor landed and stumbled.  Low kick by Alvarez.  Body kick by McGregor.  McGregor dropped him with a left and Alvarez back up.  Head kick by Alvarez.  The crowd is really loud.  Alvarez shot for a takedown.  McGregor with a body kick.  Alvarez landed punches and then slipped.  Head kick by McGregor.  McGregor dropped him with a left .  McGregor with punches on the ground.  Now he’s dropping elbows on him.  Alvarez back up.  Loud Conor chants.  Alvarez shot in and McGregor evaded and landed an elbow.  McGregor with a left.   Body kick by McGregor.  Right by McGregor.  Alvarez with body shots.  Alvarez with a body kick.  Alvarez landed a good left.  Body kick by  Alvarez.  McGregor 10-8.

Second round:  Big left by McGregor hurt him.  Alvarez shot for a takedown and it was easily stuffed.  McGregor put his arms behind his back and dared Alvarez a free shot.  Alvarez didn’t do anything.  Body kick by McGregor.  Right and left by McGregor.  Alvarez with a right.  He missed a left and McGregor put him down with a left.  Alvarez working for a takedown.   Alvarez pushing hard and couldn’t get the takedown.  Push kick by Alvarez.  McGregor with a series of punches put Alvarez down and ref John McCarthy waved it off.  McGregor is the first two division champion in UFC history.  It was a left hook, a right, a left and another right that put Alvarez down.  A great combo, all four shots landed hard and McCarthy waved it after two punches on the ground.  3:04 

McGregor wanted his second belt.   McGregor said they’re not on my level,  you need size and reach to beat him.   He kept saying he wants that second belt.  He I’ve ridiculed everyone on the roster, and I’d like to apologize to absolutely nobody.  The place erupted on that one.  Then he had both belts.  He made no big announcement or anything. 

UFC 205 DFS Playbook: Who to target & who to avoid

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

Here’s some advice for who to pick in your DraftKings lineup for Saturday’s UFC 205 event in New York City, New York, headlined by UFC Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez defending against Conor McGregor on pay-per-view.

Top Target: Joanna Jedrzejczyk ($9,300)

Joanna Jedrzejczyk is the biggest betting favorite on the UFC 205 card as she defends the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship against Karolina Kowalkiewicz. She also has the highest salary of all the fighters on the card, but that still makes her our top target for your fantasy line-ups at UFC 205. Jedrzejczyk is the most polished striker, not only out of all womens fighters, but perhaps in the entire sport.

She racks up a lot of points with significant strikes, so that is where she will excel in getting fantasy players points. She is also a finisher, and if she finds an opening, there is no doubt she will be going for the kill. The biggest key for Kowalkiewicz is to get ahead early. Jedrzejczyk can start off slow, but she has shown to have a never-ending gas tank, and she gets much stronger the later the fight goes. Kowalkiewicz fights at a fast pace, but Jedrzejczyk can match it, and her counterstriking will slow Kowalkiewicz down.

A key to the standing battle is that Jedrzejczyk has a punishing jab, and her technique on the feet is unmatched. Jedrzejczyk also trained for this camp with American Top Team, which will be her new home, so she won’t have to adjust due to traveling from overseas. It shouldn’t affect her power or speed.

This is a bad match-up for Kowalkiewicz, but anyone going against Jedrzejczyk is going to be a bad match-up for the opponent, as Joanna is the best in the world at 115 pounds. I expect her to score a lot of points and to get a finish late, and she is definitely the top play on this fight card.

Value Target: Eddie Alvarez ($7,600)

Eddie Alvarez is the underdog as he defends the UFC Lightweight Championship against the biggest star in the sport, Conor McGregor, in the main event of UFC 205. McGregor is looking to make history in becoming the first fighter to hold titles in two weight classes at the same time, and Alvarez is looking to play the spoiler. Alvarez is going to be giving up some length and reach to McGregor, and that is going to come into play.

McGregor likes to keep his opponents on the outside where he can set up leg kicks, spinning kicks and set up his straight left hand. Alvarez fights better inside the pocket where he can start a brawl, so he is going to have to navigate himself inside that five inches of reach that McGregor has the advantage of. Alvarez has talked of how this is an easy fight, and I hope he truly doesn’t believe that, because he’s in for a rude awakening if he does. It’s easy to knock McGregor, but he may truly be the best fighter that Alvarez has fought, and that spans a lot of high-level territory. Alvarez is very quick on his feet and with his hands, and he has solid takedowns.

He may utilize a wrestling-based attack, and takedowns score a lot of fantasy points. He could end up getting into a brawl with McGregor on the feet, and both can take a lot of punishment and dish it out. We’ve never seen McGregor knocked out, nor have we Alvarez, but Alvarez has been in a lot of trouble. I expect to see McGregor use a strategy similar to the one Donald Cerrone had against Alvarez, and that would spell trouble for Alvarez.

However, this is a very winnable fight for Alvarez, and for fantasy reasons, his salary is very valuable. It really is a tough fight to pick, but if you’re looking for someone to use on your roster, Alvarez is a solid selection.

Target To Avoid: Miesha Tate ($9,100)

Miesha Tate returns to the Octagon for the first time since losing the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship to Amanda Nunes at UFC 200 in July. Tate fights an opponent she has some familiarity with in Raquel Pennington, who she coached on The Ultimate Fighter. When you look at this fight, from an outside perspective, this looks like a rebound fight for Tate. Pennington is only 8-5 in her career. However, don’t let that record fool you.

She has won three straight fights and four of her last five, and the improvement has been very clear. She also has a style that could give Tate a lot of trouble. Pennington has some solid striking, but she tends to fight without a clear gameplan. She’s only lost to top-level opponents, and Tate is a top-level opponent. Tate is better all around, but it remains to be seen if she is over losing the championship. She is also coming back sooner than she anticipated as she was expecting to return in December.

Tate will be best served to make this a battle on the mat as her wrestling and ground game is light years ahead of Pennington. Where Pennington could give Tate fits is inside the clinch. She makes good use of dirty boxing and her elbows, and she is good at finding openings. Tate is a big favorite when it comes to fantasy value, but this fight is a lot closer on the betting odds than their salaries show. I do expect Tate to win, but Pennington is going to make her work for it.

I don’t see Tate finishing Pennington, so that takes her value down a little. With Tate having the third-highest salary on the card, without the sure thing of her getting a finish, it’s tough to justify having her on your roster. I’m saying avoid her just because of her salary, but I do think she will win this fight, but it won’t be easy.

Underdog Target: Tyron Woodley ($7,400)

Tyron Woodley is making his first defense of the UFC Welterweight Championship as he defends against Stephen Thompson on Saturday night. If you look at the betting odds and the fantasy salaries for this fight, Woodley is clearly getting no respect as it seems everyone is expecting him to lose the championship. It wouldn’t be a surprise as Woodley’s only fight in 19 months was hist first-round knockout over Robbie Lawler to win the title.

In that same time frame, Thompson has won three fights, and he has won seven straight overall to earn his title opportunity. Woodley and Thompson have completely different styles, and it makes for an interesting match-up. Woodley is a strong wrestler with heavy hands, and Thompson employs a unique karate-style striking attack. Thompson is crafty on his feet and knows how to keep a distance, and Woodley fights badly from the outside. Woodley also has a questionable gas tank, while Thompson can go a full 25 minutes.

Everything being said favors Thompson, so why should Woodley be considered an underdog target? It is because of that knockout power. Thompson is very hard to hit, and we haven’t seen his chin tested yet, but if Woodley can land that right hand, it could be lights out. Woodley also will test the wrestling of Thompson, who has improved his takedown defense, but he hasn’t been put to the test in recent fights. Woodley is also strong in the clinch, but Thompson isn’t easy to keep there.

You have to have underdogs on your roster, and honestly, the pickings are slim on this card. Woodley is going to have a tough time getting a win, but he has that equalizing right hand. He’s the best underdog target bet.

Our Line-Ups

Ryan Frederick: Joanna Jedrzejczyk ($9,300), Stephen Thompson ($8,800), Conor McGregor ($8,600), Chris Weidman ($8,500), Jim Miller ($7,800), Jeremy Stephens ($7,000)

I have Joanna Jedrzejczyk on my roster for all of the reasons she is my top target, and I am confident that she will finish Karolina Kowalkiewicz. I have Eddie Alvarez and Tyron Woodley as targets above, but I have their opponents, Stephen Thompson and Conor McGregor, in my line-up. I just have more confidence in them getting the win and am not taking the risks and am going for the win. I have Chris Weidman, Jim Miller and Jeremy Stephens rounding out my roster.

Finally fighting in New York will give Weidman some added confidence, and he wants an impressive showing to get that title shot. He’s going to bring a fight to Yoel Romero. Miller gets Thiago Alves debuting at lightweight, and it is a tough fight. I need underdogs on my roster, and Miller has a good chance. Stephens is the best that is left with what I have, and if he can connect on Frankie Edgar, he can finish him. I’m hoping so for fantasy sake.

Paul Fontaine: Joanna Jedrzejczyk ($9,300), Donald Cerrone ($8,900), Chris Weidman ($8,500), Belal Muhammad ($8,300), Eddie Alvarez ($7,600), Tyron Woodley ($7,400)

My top pick is the strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk. I believe that she is far and away the best in her division and should handle her challenger with ease, either scoring a quick KO or an extended beatdown. Either is good for a lot of points. Donald Cerrone is next up for me. I see this fight going similar to the Joanna fight in the sense that Cerrone is very prolific on his feet. If it goes to the ground he has an underrated submission game. I think that age is finally going to catch up to Yoel Romero when he gets into the Octagon with former world champion Chris Weidman, allowing the All American to score a KO win.

I’m going with Belal Muhammad as one of my picks as I think he’s one of the better guys in the division and under a lot of people’s radar. His opponent, Luque, has shown to be vulnerable to submissions in the past and Muhammad should take advantage of that. My last two picks are the other two title holders on the card, Eddie Alvarez and Tyron Woodley. Alvarez hits harder, in my opinion, than anyone Conor McGregor has faced to date and the featherweight champion has shown in the past that he’ll eat a lot of punches. Woodley just needs to catch Thompson one time and I think he can do it. I’m glad I can get the two champions in under budget and really like my team here. 

Peach Machine: Joanna Jedrzejczyk ($9,300), Frankie Edgar ($9,200), Miesha Tate ($9,100), Eddie Alvarez ($7,600), Tyron Woodley ($7,400), Kelvin Gastelum ($7,300)

I love Eddie in this match up. He’s too fast AND he can take a monster beatin’. T-Wood will simply outclass Thompson. He may be an awesome kick boxer, but he’s never wrestled a Mizzou Tiger. Joanna Champion is my current favorite fighter since Hendo retired. I just named my newest dog, Miesha, so I’m going with her. Gastelum could win this match with wrestling. I think he’ll decide to do that, since getting kneed in the mouth by Cerrone is bad for business. Frankie is gonna stomp Stephens, and he’d better, since he’s being screwed on title contention.

UFC 200 live results: Miesha Tate vs. Amanda Nunes, Brock Lesnar vs. Mark Hunt, Daniel Cormier vs. Anderson Silva

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Welcome to our live coverage of UFC 200 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, — the conclusion of UFC’s International Fight Week and the biggest card in UFC history with two title fights, the return of a huge star, and an icon coming in on short notice. 

UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate defends her title for the first time against challenger Amanda Nunes in the main event, leading many to speculate that Ronda Rousey may be floating around the venue to challenge the winner tonight. In the co-main event, it is the return of WWE superstar and former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar as he takes on hard hittin’ Mark Hunt.

In other action, light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, originally scheduled to headline against Jon Jones, now faces Anderson Silva, who took this fight on two days notice, in a non-title bout. Also, former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo takes on former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar in a rematch of their UFC 156 battle from February 2013 with the interim UFC featherweight champion on the line.

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

Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 6:30 PM eastern time with preliminary action all the way thru the main card.

Additonal content: UFC 200 DFS Playbook | Our Picks | Wrestling Observer Radio | Wrestling Observer Live

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PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS- 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT)

– JIM MILLER (25-8 1 NC, 14-7 1 NC UFC) VS. TAKANORI GOMI (35-11 1 NC, 4-6 UFC) | Lightweights

First round:  Miller connected with a left.   Gomi went for a kick.  Miller took him down off the kick and immediately got his back.  He’s working for a choke.  Miller has a body triangle.  Miller now throwing hard punches from back position over and over and it’s over.  2:18

– (#8) GEGARD MOUSASI (38-6-2, 5-3 UFC) VS. (#15) THIAGO SANTOS (13-3, 5-2 UFC) | Middleweights

First round:  Head kick by Mousasi.  Mousasi with a left jab.  Low kick by Mousasi and Santos back with a low kick.  Mousasi with a jab.    Mousasi  got the jump on him and landed a lot of punches, took him down and got his back.   Mousasi  working for a choke but doesn’t have it.  Mousasi  took him down again.  Mousasi in side control.  Mousasi landing punches.  Santos up, Mousasi nailed him with a hard right and a hard left that put him down and it was over.  4:32

– DIEGO SANCHEZ (26-8, 15-8 UFC) VS. JOE LAUZON (25-11, 12-8 UFC) | Lightweights

First round:  Body kick by Sanchez.  Sanchez with a flurry.  Low kick by Sanchez.  Lauzon knocked Sanchez down twice and Sanchez is back up.  Lauzon is just killing him with punches.  Sanchez was stunned and was taking several hard flush shots and it was stopped.  Lauzon’s boxing was just on point.  1:26

PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX SPORTS 1- 8 PM ET/4 PM PT)

– SAGE NORTHCUTT (7-1, 2-1 UFC) VS. ENRIQUE MARIN (8-3, 0-1 UFC) | Lightweights

First round:  Northcutt  fighting karate style.  He threw a high kick.  Marin landed a right.  Nice high kick by Northcutt.  Marin had him pinned against the fence.  Marin took him down.  Northcutt went for a kneebar.  Northcutt reversed to the top.  Northcutt has his back.  He’s working for a choke.  Marin turned.  Marin  got Northcutt’s back.  He flipped him off and is on top.  Northcutt with a few hard punches.   Marin back on top.  10-9 Northcutt.

Second round:  Northcutt with a right.  They traded punches.  Northcutt took him down but Marin reversed and got to the top.  Marin in side control.   Northcutt working for an armbar.  Marin sat on his face and working for an armbar.  Northcutt is in the armbar.  He escaped out of it.  Marin sitting on his face again trying to set up a Kimura.  Northcutt is in trouble again.  Northcutt reversed to the top out of it.  Norrthcutt dropped elbows at the end of the round.  Marin so 19-19.  The crowd loved this round.

Third round:  Both trading punches dtraidng punches.  Marin took him down again.   Nothing is happening against the fence.  Marin is working for a takedown.  Norhcutt blocked and is going for a choke.  Marin out of it.   Marin just took him down.  Marin got his back.  Northcutt threw him off and now he’s on top.  Close round, win or lose a bad showing for Northcutt.  I did have Northcutt winning 29-28 but third could go either way,.

Scores:  All three had it 29-28 Northcutt.  Most fans cheered the decision, I thought they’d boo just because Marin was such an underdog. 

– (#1) T.J. DILLASHAW (12-3, 8-3 UFC) VS. (#3) RAPHAEL ASSUNCAO (23-4, 7-1 UFC) | Bantamweights

First round:  Not much happening here.  Dillashaw tried  a kick but Asscuncao caught the leg.  Assuncao landed a punch.  Head kick by Dillashaw.  Another head kick by Dillashaw.  Assuncao with head kick.  Dillashaw 10-9

Second round:  Low kick by  Assuncao.  Dillashaw tried a takedown but it was stopped by Assuncao.  Assuncao may have a broken nose.  Spin kick by Assuncao landed short.  Dillashaw with a body kick.  Assuncao with a takedown but Dillashaw right back up.  They’re stopping the fight to look at Assuncao’s nose.  The doctor let him continue.  Dillashaw dropped him with a right and went for a guillotine but Assuncao got right out.  Right by Dillahsaw.   Dillashaw 20-18.

Third round:  Body kick by Dillashaw.  Crowd has been quiet this entire fight.  Front kick by Assuncao.  Right by Dillashaw.  Dillashaw went for a takedown but didn’t get it.  Body kick by Dillashaw.  Assuncao’s kicks  are being blocked and Dillashaw missed a kick.  Assuncao tried tried a takedown but Dillashaw easily evaded it.  Body kick by Assuncao.  Dillashaw with a nice right counter.  Dillashaw got the takedown.  Dillashaw 30-27.  He won but didn’t look very impressive in doing so.

Scores:  All three had it 30-27 for Dillashaw.

– (#6) JOHNY HENDRICKS (17-4, 12-4 UFC) VS. (#12) KELVIN GASTELUM (11-2, 6-2 UFC) | Welterweights

First round:  Hendricks missed weight by ¼ pound.  Physically he doesn’t look close to the same guy as fought GSP.  Gastelum landed a left.  Gastelum with a low kick.  Gastelum landing all kinds of low kicks.  Gastelum with a left.  Right by Gastelum.  Left by Gastelum. Hendricks  landed a few.  Low kick by Gastelum. Gastelum landing all kinds of punches.  Hendricks is a different guy.  Gastelum is just nailing him.  Gastelum landed  a hard punch but Hendricks back with some good punches.  Body kick by Hendricks.  Gastelum 10-9.

Second round:   Hendricks with some counter shots and went for a takedown.  Hendricks behind him  but Gastelum escaped.  Hendricks pushed him into the fence.  Gastelum landed a good left.  Spin kick by Gastelum.  Knee by Hendricsk.  Gastelum with a knee to the head and punches.  Hendricks dancing away.  Hendricks landed the left.  Gastelum landed the left.  Both traded punches.  Gastelum 20-18.

Third round:  Gastelum is chasing Hendircks throwing punches.  Knee by Hendricks.  Gastelum chasing him around the cage.  Hendricks back throwing.  Gastelum moving forward  and mostly missing.  Gastelum landed a nice left.  Body kick by Gastelum  Body kick by Hendricks.  Hendricks got the takedown but Gastelum right back up.  Gastelum  with elbows.  Hendricks couldn’t get a takedown.  Gastelum tried for a takedown and couldn’t get it.  Big exchange late that lit up the crowd.  Gastelum 30-27.

Scores:  29-28, 30-27 and 30-27 Gastelum

– (#3) CAT ZINGANO (9-1, 2-1 UFC) VS. (#5) JULIANNA PENA (7-2, 3-0 UFC) | Bantamweights

First round:  Zingano pushed her into the fence and took her right down.  Pena back up.  Another takedown by Zingano.  Pena back up.  Pena got a takedown.  Zingano reversed to the top.  Zingano dropped an elbow.  Pena up and landed some punches.  10-9 Zingano.

Second round:  Zingano with a body kick and a hip toss takedown.  Beautiful belly-to-belly by Zingano.   Pena reversed to the top in side control.  Pena with a crossface.  Pena got her back.  Pena is working for a choke.  Pena is holding her in back position with a body triangle.  Pena’s round so 19-19 after two.

Third round:  Nice trip takedown by Pena.  Pena stayed on top.  Pena worked for a choke but didn’t have it.  Pena with a body triangle.  Pena with a few punches fro back position. She’s landing more punches now.  Zingano reversed with nine seconds left.  Pena 29-28, no other score possible

Scores:  All three had it 29-28 Pena 

MAIN CARD (PPV- 10 PM ET/7 PM PT)

– (#2) CAIN VELASQUEZ (13-2, 11-2 UFC) VS. (#7) TRAVIS BROWNE (18-3-1, 9-3-1 UFC) | Heavyweights

First round:  Velasquez got a big pop.  Browne landed  a right .  Velasaquez with low kicks.  More low kicks by Velasquez.  Knee by Bowne.   Velasquez couldn’t take him down but has him against the fence.  Velasquez moving forward.  Velasquez moved in with punches.  Spin kick by Velasquez and he’s pounding on him.  Velasquez dropped him with a right.  Velasquez landing punches on the ground.  Vealasquez working for a choke but doesn’t have it.  Velasquez throwing punches while having back control.  Browne back up.  Trading punches.  Velasquez with more punches and a knee.  Velasquez took him down and pounding on him.  Velasquez threw punches on the ground and it was stopped.  Fantastic performance by Velaquez here.  4:57

Velasquez didn’t say much in his interview.  He should have challenged directly for the title after that win.

– INTERIM UFC FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP: (#1) JOSE ALDO (25-2, 7-1 UFC) VS. (#2) FRANKIE EDGAR (20-4-1, 14-4-1 UFC)

First round:  Edgar the more popular of the two.  This is a heavy American crowd instead of Brazilian crowd.   Nice right by Aldo.  Left by Aldol  Big let’s go Frankie cdhant.  Low kicks by Edgar.  Edgar in with punches and a low kick.  Aldo with a right.  Both traded.  Edgar almost took him down. Edgar with a body kick.  Edgar with a right.  Both tried spin kicks at the same time.  Aldlo cracked him with a right.  Knee by Aldo.  Wild finish with both missing shots.  Great round.  Very close.  Aldo 10-9.

Second round:   Aldo with a right and Edgar with a body kick.  Left by Aldo.  Aldo with a knee, Edgar tried a takedown but Aldo nearly threw him down.  Right by Edgar.  Edgar bleeding from the right eye.  Head kick by Edgar blocked.  Edgar with a right.  Edgar tried a takedown but didn’t get it.  Edgar tried another takedown and didn’t get it.  Left by Edgar.  Left and right by Aldo.  Big right by Edgar staggered him.  Best punch of the fight.  Left by Edgar.  Edgar 19-19

Third round:  Edgar with a left.  Low kick by Edgar.  Right and left by Aldo.  Both trading punches. Edgar tried a takedown but didmn’t get it and punched on the exit.  Edgar pushed him to the fence.  Edgar with knees to the thigh.  Edgar hurt him with two rights.  Aldo with a hard right.  Edga back with a hard right.  Hard knee by Aldo.  Edgar’s right eye is looking bad.  Edgar fighting for a takedown and can’t get it.  Edgar got two punches in on the exit.  Right by Edgar.  Left by Aldo.  Knee by Aldo.  Edgar 29-28

Fourth round:  Edgar is still the aggressor.  Right by Aldo.  Slower round than the first three.  Low kick by Edgar.  Right and head kick by Edgar.  Right by Aldo.  Aldo with another.  Aldo landing good shots.  Edgar bleeding bad from the right eye now.  Aldo with a left jab.  Aldo dropped him momentarily with a left and hit a knee.  Aldo’s round 38-38 going into the fifth.

Fifth round:   Low kick by Aldo.  Aldo with a left.  Left by Aldo.  Aldo with a nice kick.  Left by Edgar.  Right by Aldo.  Right by Aldo.  Edgar with a low kick.  Edgar hurt him with a right.  Aldo with a right.  Very close round.  Aldo landed the better stuff but he was backpedaling a lot late and that could cost him.  Aldo 48-47.

Scores:  49-46, 49-46 and 48-47 Aldo.  Lots of loud booing the decision. 

– DANIEL CORMIER (17-1, 6-1 UFC) VS. (#5 MW) ANDERSON SILVA (33-7 1 NC, 16-3 1 NC UFC) | Light Heavyweights

First round:  Silva got a huge reaction, much more than  Cormier.  Body kick by Cormier.  Cormier took him right down.  Cormier with some body and head punches.  Elbow and punches by Cormier.  Cormier with body punches.  Elbow by Cormier.  Another elbow by Cormier.  Cormier with more punches and elbows.  10-8 Cormier.

Second round:  Sivla with a jumping body kick. Cormier with a nice right.   Head kick by Silva.  Takedown by Cormeir.  He landed in side control.  Cormier is back on top.  Cormier landing  punches.  Clormeir landing a lot of punches form the toip.  Cormier with short elbows.  Cormier landing punches.  John McCarthy stood them up.  That was a bad call because Cormier was hurting him on the ground but the crowd was brutal to the ground, very much like the Lesnar vs. Mir II fight reaction.  Cormier with a right.  Hard knee by Silva.  Left by Silva.  Body kick by Cormier.  Body kick and low kicki by Silva.  The crowd is booing like crazy whenever Cormier neutralizes Silva.  Cormier 20-18

Third round:  Low kick by Silva.  Body kick by  Silva.  Big right by Cormier.  Cormier with a takedown.  The crowd is ridiculous.  Crowd booing like crazy.  Cormier busy with punches from the top.  Cormier with body shots.  Loud stand them up chants.  Cormier busy landing all kinds of punches   McCarthy ordered a standup with 2:00 left.  Low kick by Cormier.  Silva with a low kick and a body kick.  Cormier 30-26.

Scores:   All three had it 30-26 Cormier.  Fans booed the decision bad but it was clear. 

The crowd booed Cormier’s interview heavily.  He said how difficult it was, he trained for someone else, praised Silva for being the greatest ever and still pretty much booed.  The crowd cheered Silva. 

– BROCK LESNAR (5-3, 4-3 UFC) VS. (#8) MARK HUNT (12-10-1, 7-4-1 UFC) | Heavyweights

First round:  Lensar shot for a takedown.  Hunt back up.  Lesnar took him down a second time.  Lesnar in side control.  Lesnar with punches.  Knee to the body and punches by Lesnar. Lesanr hurt with punches.  Lesnar took him down again into mount and more punches.  10-9 Lesanar.

Second round:   Hunt with a right.  Humt blocked the takedown.  Lesnar tried another takedown but Hunt escaped.  Hunt with an uppercut.  Hunt with a right.  Hunt with another right.  Hunt missed a right.  Lesnar with a left. Lesnar going for a takedown.  Hunt punching the body.  Close round for Hunt 19-19.

Third round:  Hunt landed a hard right.  Lesnar took him down.  Lesnar landing punches on the ground.  Lesnar landing lefts on the ground.  Fans boooing.  Lesnar landing hard lefts from the top.  Lesnar now in full mount.  Lesnar landing a lot of punches.  10-8 round for Lesnar, should win 29-27.

Scores:     All three had it 29-27 for Lesanr.  Everyone cheered Lesnar.

He said it took him a while to get acclimated, he thanked the fans.  He thanked the Armed Forces and told people of all nationalities to stand together. 

– UFC WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION MIESHA TATE (18-5, 5-2 UFC) VS. (#4) AMANDA NUNES (12-4, 5-1 UFC)

First round:  Tate got a nice reaction, not nearly as big as Silva.  Nunes with a  low kick. 

Tate took he down but Nunes back up.  Nunes with punches.  Tate went for a takedown, got reversed and Nunes landed a knee.  Nunes conneciting with great punches.  Nunes is destroying her standing.  Nunes pouded away, landed a hard kick.  Tate is all busted up.  Nunes got her back and landing punches.  Nunes got a choke and Tate tapped out.  Tate got destroyed here.   3:16

VIDEO: UFC 200 weigh-ins with Brock Lesnar, Daniel Cormier, more

Posted on by Joseph Currier

It has been a roller coaster of a week in mixed martial arts, but the UFC 200 card is finally set after the official weigh-ins Friday morning (video below) with the ceremonial weigh-ins happening Friday night (video above).

It was officially announced that UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate would defend her title against Amanda Nunes in the main event of the show. It is the third scheduled show-closer just this week. In a shocker, Tate almost missed weight today which would have further thrown the show into chaos.

UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier vs. MMA legend Anderson Silva was also officially announced for the card. The event was sent into array by Jon Jones’ drug test failure, and it was initially unclear if Cormier would fight on Saturday night, but Silva stepped in to face Cormier in a non-title fight at 205 lbs.

Brock Lesnar vs. Mark Hunt, which was briefly scheduled to be the main event, is now the second fight from the top.

Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar for the interim featherweight championship and Cain Velasquez vs. Travis Browne round out the main card.

Cat Zingano vs. Julianna Pena, Johny Hendricks vs. Kevin Gastelum, TJ Dillashaw vs. Raphael Assuncao, and Sage Northcutt vs. Enrique Marin will be on the FS1 prelims. Hendricks missed weight today by .25 and will forfeit 20% of his purse.

As if that wasn’t enough, Diego Sanchez vs. joe Lauzon, Gegard Mousasi vs. Thiago Santos, and Jim Miller vs. Takanori Gomi will start off the night on UFC Fight Pass.

Here’s Friday’s weigh-ins, courtesy of MMA Fighting:

UFC takes another gamble with UFC 200 women’s title fight

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

On Wednesday night, UFC announced that women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate will defend against Amanda Nunes as part of UFC 200.

Tate vs. Nunes will be one of the three top fights on the show, along with featherweight champion Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz II (welterweight fight), and Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar for the interim featherweight title.

The fight is perplexing on almost every level. UFC is sitting on a goldmine right now in the women’s bantamweight division with big money fights on the horizon (Tate vs. Ronda Rousey III, Tate vs. Holly Holm II). A Nunes win would hurt that dynamic since she wouldn’t have near the buzz or interest level against any of those other fighters on the level Tate would have. If Tate was a lock to fight on this show, the only logical contenders would have been Rousey or Holm.

Nunes (12-4) has won three straight and five of her six UFC fights. She was last seen downing Valentina Shevchenko by unanimous decision at March’s UFC 196 — the same show on which Tate beat Holm for the gold.

Earlier this week, the fight was said to be under serious consideration for either UFC 200 or UFC 201. Tate signed a new deal with the promotion earlier this week as well.

UFC 200 is scheduled for Saturday, July 9th, in Las Vegas at the new T-Mobile Arena. It is expected to be one of the biggest UFC events of all-time, if not the biggest, in terms of PPV buys, media attention, and overall buzz.

Bryan Alvarez and I will talk more about the fight and the news from pro wrestling and MMA on tonight’s Wrestling Observer Radio.

UFC 196 Las Vegas live results: Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC 196: McGregor vs. Diaz from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is a much anticipated event headlined by UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor taking on Nate Diaz in a welterweight bout after Diaz replaced the injured Rafael Dos Anjos, who was scheduled to defend the UFC Lightweight Championship against McGregor on this card. In the co-main event, it will be UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm making her first title defense since defeating Ronda Rousey as she defends against Rousey’s long-time rival, top contender Miesha Tate. Also on the card is our very own “Filthy” Tom Lawlor as he takes on Corey Anderson. Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 6:30 PM eastern time with preliminary action all the way thru the main card.

We are looking for your thoughts on tonight’s event, so send a thumbs up, a thumbs down or a thumbs in a middle along with a best fight and worst fight to [email protected]?subject=UFC%20196%20Feedback”>Dave Meltzer.

Coverage provided by Dave Meltzer

PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS- 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT)

FEATHERWEIGHTS- JULIAN EROSA (15-2, 1-0 UFC) VS. TERUTO ISHIHARA (7-2-2, 0-0-1 UFC)

First round:  Trading body kicks.  Erosa front kick knocked Ishihara down.  Nice high kick by Ishihara.  Punch and knee by Ishihara  and Erosa was down but quickly up.  Low kick by Ishihara.  Front kick by Erosa  put Ishhara down.  Now they are in a clinch against the fence.   They were quickly separated.  Left high kick and big punches by Ishiara.  Ishihara hurt him with a left.  Erosa took him down.  Erosa’s left leg looks horrible.  Close round.  10-9 Ishihara

Second round:  Ishihara knocked him down and finished him with punches from the top right away.  It was a left counter behind the ear that put Erosa down and good punches on the ground that finished him.

LIGHTWEIGHTS- JASON SAGGO (10-2, 1-1 UFC) VS. JUSTIN SALAS (12-6, 3-3 UFC)

First round:  Salas took him down off a kick.  Saggo reversed to the top.  Salas has a cheering section.  Saggo working for an armbar.  Now he’s got Salas’ back.  Saggo is punching.  Saggo continued punching him from that position until it was stopped. 

LIGHTWEIGHTS- DIEGO SANCHEZ (25-8, 14-8 UFC) VS. JIM MILLER (25-7 1 NC, 14-6 1 NC UFC)

First round:  Sanchez ran across the ring in and grabbed Miller’s leg and threw him down.  Miller back up.  Mlller started  to land.  Miller with counter right.  He land some more.  Sanchez took him down.  Short slam by Sanchez while in guard.  Sanchez landing some punches from the top.  Sanchez landing some elbows.  10-9 Sanchez.

Second round:  Miller made him stumble with a low kick.  Miller continues to land low kicks.  Miller with a body punch.  Body kick by Miller but Sanchez took him down off it.  Miller back up.  Sanchez bleeding from the left ear from elbows by by Miller.  Head kick by Miller.  Nice left by Miller. Spin kick by Sanchez didn’t land solid.  Miller went for a takedown but Sanchez sprawled.  Sanches went for a takedown, Miller grabbed a guillotine and threw a  knees.  More knees by Miller.  Sanchez popped out.  Sanchez went for a takedown and Miller spun behind him.  Miller’s round so 19-19.

Third round:  Sanchez grabbed his leg for a takedown but Miller blocked.  Miller with a right.  Fans chanting for Sanchez.  Sanchez is more active.  Sanchez went for a takedown but it was blocked.  Miller went for a takedown but didn’t get it but land a body kick.  Left landed by Sanchez.  Sanchez got a quick takedown but Miller up  Body kick by Miller.  Both swinging wildly at the end.  Close fight but I’ve got Sanchez 29-28.

Scores:   All three had it 29-28 Sanchez

Sanchez cut a promo putting over Miller and Fight Pass, as well as Jesus Christ and Yoga.  

PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX SPORTS 1- 7 PM ET/4 PM PT)

FEATHERWEIGHTS- (#11) DARREN ELKINS (19-5, 9-4 UFC) VS. CHAS SKELLY (15-1, 4-1 UFC)

First round:  Elkins on top punching and Skelly going for heel hooks.  Skelly continues going for a heel hook.  Elkins throwing knees.  Left by Elkins.  Elkins landing a lot of uppercuts.  Skelly with a right.  Elkins with knees.  Punches and knees by Elkins.  Both swinging.  Elkins 10-9.

Second round:   Elkins landed punches.  Elkins with a right and  slammed him down.  Elkins with knees to the body in the clinch on the fence.  Elkins tripped him down  and into side control.  Skelly regained guard.  Elkins landing punches from the top.  Elkins 20-18.

Third round:  Elkins took him down and got his back.  Skelly back up.  Takedown by Elkins.  Elkins is working for a choke.  Skelly out and back up.  Both landing.  Takedown by elkins and more punches on the ground  Elkins connected on some good shots.  Elkins 30-27.

Scores:  30-27, 29-27 and 30-26 for Elkins

MIDDLEWEIGHTS- VITOR MIRANDA (11-4, 2-1 UFC) VS. MARCELO GUIMARAES (9-1-1, 2-1 UFC)

First round:  Guimaraes has him against the cage.  They were separated.  Both landing punches.  Body kicks by Miranda.  Guimaraes in with punches and going for a takedown.  Los of elbows by Miranda as Guimaraes went for a takedown.  Guimaraes fighting hard for a takedown but not getting it.  The ref separated them again.  Miranda starting to land and Guimaraes is tired.  Guimaraes 10-9 but he’s the one tired at the end.’’

Second round:  Guimaraes going for a takedown.  Miranda landing a ton of elbows from that position and then separated, landed a head kick which stunned Guimaraes.  After three solid punches standing it was called off.  Good stoppage.

WELTERWEIGHTS- ERICK SILVA (18-6 1 NC, 6-5 UFC) VS. NORDINE TALEB (11-3, 3-1 UFC)

First round:  Spin kick to the body by Silva.  Silva with a low kick.  Spin kick to the body and low kick by Silva.  Silva missed a high kick.  Takedown by Taleb and  few punches.  Silva wanted to touch gloves and then threw a hard right.  He turned himself heel with that one.  Taleb landed some punches.  Low kick by  Silva.  Tale back with a calf kick.  Silva shot in but the round ended.  Close round 10-9 Silva.

Second round:  Body kick by Slva.  Taleb countered with a right that knocked Silva silly and it was immediately waved off.  The place went bananas.  That one should score 50G’s.  

WELTERWEIGHTS- BRANDON THATCH (11-3, 2-2 UFC) VS. SIYAR BAHADURZADA (21-6-1, 1-2 UFC)

First round:  Body kick by Thatch.  Body kick by Thatch.  Siyar moved in and landed punches.  Body kick by Siyar.  Siyar landing a lot of punches.  Pretty wild action.  Spinning elbow by Thatch and Siyar landing more punches.  Siyar wth punches.  Thatch with a knee and a takedown.  Thatch went for a guillotine as Siyar reversed to the top.  Thatch is working for a triangle but  Siyar cleared it.  Siyar landing punches on the ground.   Good round 10-9 Siyar.

Second round:  Thatch with a front kick and head kick.   Siyar then took him down.   Siyar landing punches.  John McCarthy ordered a standup.  Thatch landed punches.  Siyar with knees and a takedown.  Siyar landing punches.  Siyar 20-18.

Third round:  Siyar with punhes and took hij down again and hurtring him with punches on the ground.  Siyar with more punches.  McCarthy stood them up again.  Takedown by Siyar.  Siyar landing good punches on the ground.  Siyar moved to side position and used a head and arm choke to finish.

MAIN CARD (PPV- 10 PM ET/7 PM PT)

WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHTS- (#4) AMANDA NUNES (11-4, 4-1 UFC) VS. (#10) VALENTINA SHEVCHENKO (12-1, 1-0 UFC)

First round:  Body kick by Nunes while Shevchenko threw a punch.  Nunes with a head kick.  Shevchenko with punches.  Body punch by Nunes.  Shevchenko with more punches.  Low kick by Nunes.  Body kick by Nunes.  Nunes with a takedown.  She’s throwing weak body punches.  Nunes 10-9.

Second round:  Body kick by Nunes and  Shevchenko went for a takedown and kick to the body but Nunes scrambled to the top.  Nunes landing punches  and elbows from the top.  More elbows by Nunes.  Nunes moved to side control.  Shevchenko is bleeding.   Nunes is working for a choke but doesn’t have it.  Nunes with a body triangle.  Shevchenko turned and got on top.  Crowd loved this.  Nunes 20-18.

Third round:   Shevchenko took her down into side control.  Shevchenko is working for a wristlock.  Nunes out and up.  Nunes is tired .  Chevchenko with two hard knees.  Left by Shevchenko.  Nunes ent for a takedown, Shevchenko blocked it and threw some punches.  Reality is Nunes could get a title shot but he way she fades in the third doesn’t bode well in a five round fight.  Nunes 29-28.

Scores:   29-28, 29-27 and 29-27 for Nunes

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS- (#12) COREY ANDERSON (7-1, 4-1 UFC) VS. TOM LAWLOR (10-5 1 NC, 6-4 UFC)

First round:   Low kick by Anderson.  Lawlor landed a lot of shots early.  Andeson back with punches.  Low kick by Anderson.  Lefts by Lawlor  Anderosn back with one.  Low kick by Anderson.  Anderson with another low kick.  Action slowed midway through the round. Anderson with  a right.  Both landing.  Right and left by Lawlow.  Anderson with aleft.  Both traded late.  Very close round.  10-9 Lawlor.

Second round:  Anderson slipped and went down but back up.  Nice left by Lawlor.  Both punched from close range.  Right by Lawlor.  Anderson back with a right.  Low kick by Anderson.  Anderson landing punches.  Right by Anderson.  Low kick by Anderson.  Andeson with a low kick.  Nice left by Lawlor.  Front kick by Lawlor.  Lawlor with a right.  Lawlor with a good flurry late.  Anderson tried a takedown and landed a knee late.  Lawlor 20-18 but these rounds are close. 

Third round:  Body kick by Anderson.  Right by Anderson.  Anderson takedown into side control.   Anderson landed  a punch from the top.  John McCarthy ordered a standup with 1:05 left.  Right by Anderson and a low kick.  Anderson’s round.   Crowd lightly booed.  29-28 Lawlor but this could easily go either way.

Scores:  30-27, 30-27 29-28 Anderson.  Fans booed the decision a lot and through his promo. 

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS- (#13) GIAN VILLANTE (14-6, 4-3 UFC) VS. ILIR LATIFI (11-4 1 NC, 4-2 UFC)

First round:  Villante out  with good body kicks.  Latifi exploded for a takedown attempt that he didn’t get.  Latifi  landed a  big left.  Latifi landing several punches.  Latifi on two had Villante hurt and then went for the takedown, which allowed Villante to recover.  Latifi 10-9.

Second round:   Villante landing kicks.  Latifi with a German suplex.  Left by Latifi.  Latifi trying for a takedown.  Villante was holding the fence bad and Yves Lavigne didn’t see it.  He actually did use his body to shield it but it was really blatant.  Crowd booing because they are just standing there.  Latiifi with a spin kick.  Left by Latifi.  Latifi again has him against the fence going for a takedown.  Latifi slammed him but Villante back up.  Latifi 20-18.

Third round:  Latifi with a body shot.  Latifi again going for the takedown. Tried a belly to belly but didn’t get it.  Big left by Latifi.  Another left by Latifi.  Side kick by Latifi.  Body kick by Villante.  Another slam by Latifi with 20 seconds left.  Latifi 30-27

Scores:  All three judges have it 30-27 Latifi.  Really he won all three rounds solidly.

They showed Jon Jones, Joanna, GSP, Diaz and Conor and GSP got by far the biggest reaction, even above Conor.

UFC WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP- (C) HOLLY HOLM (10-0, 3-0 UFC) VS. (#2) MIESHA TATE (17-5, 4-2 UFC)

First round:  Holm got a really big reaction.  Tate was cheered a ton but not at the level of Holm.  This has a very intense feel about it, very much like a world title fight.  Crowd really psyched.  Miesha chant.  Left and a kick by Holm.  Tate tried a takedown and didn’t get it.  Holly chant.  Much louder than Miesha chants.  Now loud Miesha chants unti Holm shoved her backwards.  Left by Holm.  Very little happening and crowd is still into it.  Holm forward with punches.  Holm with a flurry ending with a side kick.  Tate landed some punches.  Head kick by Holm.  Tate missed on a big kick.  Side kick by Holm.  Holm 10-9.

Second round:  Tate took her down.  She’s in side controil.  Place popped huge for that.  Holm got guard.  Tate with a punch.  Miesha chants super loud.  Elbows to the body by Tate.  Hard elbows by Tate.  Another good elbow by Tate.  Tate has her back  She’s working for a choke.  She gave it up.  Tate working for it agan.  Crowd going nuts.  Holm survived the round.  10-8 round for Tate so 19-18 Tate.  This crowd is going nuts like few fights I’ve seen.

Third round:   Head kick by Holm.  Big shots by Holm.  Tate tried a takedown but didn’t get it.  Side kick by Holm.  Body kick by  Holm.  Kick and punch by Holm.  Left by Holm.  Right by Holm.  Tate landed some punches and Holm with a body kick.  Tate tried a takedown but couldn’t get it.  Holm tried a head kick but it was blocked.  Holm’s round so 28-28 after three.

Fourth round:  Tate with a left.  Holm with a combo.  Tate again tried a takedown but couldn’t get it.  Holm threw her off.  Tate shot in but Holm blocked her.  Holm with punches and threw an elbow when she let her up.  A series of punches by Holm.  Front kick by Holm and more punches.  Holm 38-37 going into the final round.

Fifth round:  Left by Holm.  Holm with two side kicks.  Holm with a left.  Tate pushed her against the fence.  Holm turned her.  Holm threw an elbow to break the clinch.  Holm with punches and a high kick.  Tate is too slow to grab the leg when Holm is throwing her side kicks.  Tate got her down and got her back again.  Tate is working for a choke.  Holm flipped her over but Tate held on and got the choke tighter.  Holm went out without tapping.  Unreal.  This is one of the best finishes you’ll ever see.  This match was so intense live.  3:30

WELTERWEIGHTS- (FTW C) CONOR MCGREGOR (19-2, 7-0 UFC) VS. (#5 LW) NATE DIAZ (18-10, 13-8 UFC)

First round:  The place is still electric.   Not nearly the Irish contingent as in the past but McGregor is still the big crowd favorite.  Big left by McGregor.  Diaz has him against the fence.  McGregor out and landed a left and a right.  McGregor landing punches.  Good body punch by Diaz.  Diaz starting to land.  Spin kick missed by McGregor.  Diaz is starting to land.  Both are landing good shots.  Diaz with a body kick.  Diaz bleeding from the right eye.  McGregor is targeting the eye.  Diaz took him down but McGregor is on top.  McGregor landing punches from the top.  McGregor 10-9.

Second round:  Spin kick by McGregor.  Spin kick landed by McGregor.  McGregor landing to the body.  Left by McGregor.  McGregor with a spin kick.  Big fight by McGregor.  Diaz is bleeding badly now.  Big right by McGregor.  Diaz tied him up against the fence.  McGregor is really going to work on him now.  Diaz’s face is a mess.  Diaz slapped him in the face.  Right by  Diaz.  Knee by McGregor.  Uppercut by McGregor.  McGregor landing a lot of shots and Diaz back with punches.  Diaz actually missing most but now he’s landing.  Diaz is starting to take over.  Diaz has McGregor in trouble  Diaz landing a ton of punches.  Diaz with a ton of lefts.  McGregor now coming back with punches.  Diaz back with punches and has him hurt.  McGregor went for a takedown and is on top.  Diaz is punching the hell out of him  and he’s got the choke and McGregor is not getting out of this.  4:20