Tag: UFC 274

Daily Update: WWE WrestleMania Backlash, UFC 274, Google trends

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter: May 9, 2022 Observer Newsletter: WWE Q1 2022 financials, Forbidden Door presale sells out

  • Match and performer of the week
  • WWE business, profits, revenues
  • WrestleMania number releases and putting them into perspective
  • Elimination Chamber viewership and the obvious unsaid reason why it was up
  • Ticket demand for the Cardiff, Wales show
  • More on the WWE deal with A&E
  • Nick Khan talks multiple bidders for WWE rights deals including the next rights deal
  • Stephanie McMahon talks WrestleMania sponsorships
  • More on WWE recruiting and question on adding Performance Centers
  • Questions on doing a stadium show in India
  • What categories is business up and and what categories is it down
  • AEW Forbidden Door sellout and gate, ticket demand, the card, secondary market numbers
  • Full coverage of New Japan’s return to the former Fukuoka Dome and all the angles, returns and direction of the company
  • Business notes on the show
  • What matches had to be changed as well as endings
  • Notes on the Best of the Super Junior tournament and Dominion
  • Story behind the changes to the WrestleMania Backlash show
  • What is the planned stadium direction
  • Ticket updates for all the WWE PPV thought the summer
  • Details on AEW’s new television show
  • AAA Triplemania coverage
  • Story behind the Triplemania main event
  • Plans for the next Triplemania
  • More notes on the recent WWE cuts
  • Full coverage of Saturday’s UFC show
  • A look at both Stardom PPV shows and future direction
  • Dragon Gate Dead of Alive coverage
  • TV ratings including what category AEW beat both Smackdown and Raw in
  • How the different segments did
  • CMLL Universal tournament concludes
  • New tournaments coming to CMLL
  • Who Stardom is interested in from AEW
  • King of Gate tournament
  • Who is Jumbo Tsuruta and his Memorial show
  • What was the highest rated pro wrestling match on television in history
  • Champion Carnival coverage
  • NOAH Sumo Hall coverage
  • What American signed a new contract with NOAH
  • Freddy Prinze wants to start a promotion
  • PWG coverage
  • Update on a new pro wrestling cartoon show
  • AEW and Warner/Media
  • A look at what is the likely Double or Nothing show
  • WWE vs. AEW in Long Island this week
  • AEW stars on TV show Sunday
  • WWE & AEW ticket sales for all the upcoming major events
  • Streaming numbers
  • Dana White on boxers pay
  • More on Jorge Masvidal charges
  • Plans for July 2 UFC show head-to-head with Money in the Bank
  • UFC longtime stars in a must-win fight
  • WWE draft plans
  • Canadian TV numbers for AEW & WWE
  • WWE European tour coverage

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter: April 4, 2005 Observer Newsletter back issue: WrestleMania 21 preview, All Japan Women shuts down

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Sunday News Update

Bryan and I will be back talking WrestleMania Backlash and the rest of the latest wrestling and MMA news tonight on Wrestling Observer Radio. Garrett and I did our weekly show last night talking the UFC show, Forbidden Tour, the Canelo Alvarez fight, WWE financials, ratings, today’s show and more up on the site right now.

  • WrestleMania Backlash is tonight at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, RI:
  • Roman Reigns & Usos vs. Drew McIntyre & Randy Orton & Riddle – Nothing said B show, or even C show than having one world champion and him being booked on PPV in a six-man tag match. Obviously this is the prelude to Reigns vs. McIntyre. With that in mind, the logical finish is McIntyre beating Reigns with a Claymore kick. But they protect Reigns so much I don’t think that is what will happen. This should be an action-filled main event, but not substantially different from many Raw & Smackdown TV main events. The odds have McIntyre’s team as a -275 favorite. The over/under star rating for the main event on Kambi is 4.25, so they are predicting a strong main event.
  • Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey in an I Quit match for the Smackdown women’s title. Rousey is a whopping -800 favorite to win the title given the stipulation. This is the only title match advertised on the show at this point.
  • Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins. These two have been tearing it up at the house shows and had one of the best WWE maches of the year at WrestleMania. Logical booking would have Rhodes winning every match until he gets a title shot. WWE 50/50 booking would say this is Rollin’s turn. Rhodes is still listed as a -300 favorite.
  • Edge vs. A.J. Styles. Damian Priest is barred from ringside. That doesn’t mean he won’t be there because WWE doesn’t live up to stipulations much of the time Since Edge won the first match, one would think Styles would win this, but Edge is listed as a -155 favorite. They seem to be building Edge & Priest vs. Styles & Finn Balor.
  • Bobby Lashley vs. Omos. Another WrestleMania rematch with Lashley winning the first one. This figures to be short. People are predicting 50/50 booking here with Omos a strong -375 favorite. Lashley winning the arm wrestling clean probably led to these predictions.
  • Happy Corbin vs. Madcap Moss. This is a big match for Moss as his first big show match as as babyface. He ticks a lot of boxes, but his gimmick limits him from upward mobility as a babyface and he should at some point transition out of it. Moss at last look was a -190 favorite.
  • There was a lot to digest from yesterday’s UFC show which included Charles Oliveira losing the lightweight title by missing weight, but then beating Justin Gaethje. So Oliveira will battle for the title in his next fight. Carla Esparza scored a huge upset in a fight with Rose Namajunas. We discussed this extensively on our show.
  • Esparza vs. Namajunas scoring saw Eric Colon give Esparza rounds two and four so had 48-47 Namajunas, Brad Frank gave rounds one, two and four to Esparza and had her up 48-47 and Rick Winter gave Esparza one through four and had her up 49-46. Nothing happened in this fight until the fourth round. I had 49-48 for Esparza but judges are strongly told not to score 10-10, even in rounds that literally nothing happened in. Esparza got two takedowns in four and Namajunas landed one good punch. In five, Namajunas won the found. Four is probably Esparza, five is definitely Namajunas and the other three could have been scored either way. Namajunas gave away the title and her corner sabotaged her title. Media scores were 56 percent for Esparza 38 percent Namajunas and six percent even.
  • In Ovince Saint Preux vs. Shogun Rua, Eric Colon had OSP winning one and three, Junichiro Kamijo had OSP only winning three and Winter had OSP winning all three rounds. I had OSP winning two and three but almost nothing happened in the first two rounds and OSP clearly won three. Rare to have two really bad fights on the main card. Media scores were 88 percent for OSP.
  • In Randy Brown vs. Khaos Williams, Kamijo had rounds two and three for Brown Chis Lee and two and three for Brown and Winter had only round two for Brown. 89 percent of media scores went to Brown.
  • In Blagoy Ivanov vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima, Ivanov won rounds two three no all judges cards. Media scores were 50 percent for each.
  • For Google searches for the week, the Canelo Alvarez loss to Dmity Bivol was No. 1 for yesterday with 3 million searches. The UFC 274 show had 2 million searches. Donald Cerrone, who was taken off the UFC show due to food poisoning, had 100,000 searches while Tammy Sytch had 50,000 for her arrest. No other boxing, MMA or wrestling topics made the top 20 during the week.
  • We’re looking for your thoughts on UFC 274 last night and WWE WrestleMania Backlash tonight so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
  • We’re also looking for reports from tonight’s Impact TV tapings in Newport, KY.. Announced for the show is Josh Alexander & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jay White & Chris Bey, a Gauntlet for the Gold, Kenny King vs. El Phantasmo and Mike Bennett & Matt Taven vs. Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson.
  • WWE from last night in Trenton, NJ:
  • Ronda Rousey & Sasha Banks & Naomi b Natalya & Charlotte Flair & Shayna Baszler
  • Veer Mahaan b Drew Gulak
  • Ricochet won three-way to keep IC title over Jinder Mahal and Sami Zayn
  • Austin Theory b Finn Balor to keep U.S. title
  • Cody Rhodes b Seth Rollins
  • Kevin Owens show with Riddle leading to:
  • Matt Riddle & Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods b Kevin Owens & Usos
  • Becky Lynch won three-way over Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley
  • Roman Reigns b Drew McIntyre to keep the Universal title
  • Reigns in his promo after the match left a cryptic message. The only thing we were told about it is that Reigns is not leaving the promotion right now for Hollywood, which is how a lot of fans took the message. He did say he was changing things up going forward and entering a new phrase. (thanks to Bernard Ozarowski)
  • Reelz is doing a WWE television marathon today:
  • 4 p.m. Hulk Hogan
  • 5 p.m. Rob Van Dam documentary
  • 6 p.m. Randy Savage autopsy
  • 7 p.m. Chyna autopsy
  • 8 p.m. Chris Benoit autopsy
  • 9 p.m. Andre the Giant autopsy
  • 10 p.m. Eddy Guerrero autopsy

WWE

UFC

  • Luke Rockhold vs. Paulo Costa is scheduled for a 7/30 PPV show. So UFC and WWE will be running PPV shows on both 7/2 and 7/30.

Other Notes

  • Warrior Wrestling has announced as 6/26 show in Chicago at Malcolm X College at 2 p.m. This is the day of the Forbidden Door show. There will also be a pre-show fan fest. We’ll have more details as the show approaches.
  • The 2018 Best of the Super Juniors final match with Hiromu Takahashi vs. Taiji Ishimori, one of the best junior heavyweight matches in New Japan history, was posted by New Japan on its YouTube channel.
  • John Smith has been nominated for voting for he U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame. Smith is one of three U.S. wrestlers, along with George Mehnert and Bruce Baumgartner, to win two gold medals. He also won four world title and his six total world championships from 1987-1992 is the most in U.S. history. Lou Thesz was once told me he considered Smith the greatest American wrestler of all-time.
  • AAA announcer Joe Dombrowski is producing a documentary at the Extreme Rising promotion, the attempt to revive the spirit of ECW promotion that ran a few successful events before petering out.
  • Former Glory middleweight champion Jason Wilnis has signed a multi-fight MMA deal with the KSW promotion and will debut on 5/28 in Lodz, Poland at the Atlas Arena. The 31-year-old has kickboxing wins over both Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira. he’s 2-0 in MMA.
  • Matt & Jeff Hardy return to MCW for a 5/15 show in Millesville,MD at the Benfield Sports Center. They face Matt Taven & Mike Bennett. The show also has Ken Dixon vs. Moses vs. Nick Aldis vs. Brian Johnson, Gia Scott vs. Mandy Leon for the women’s title and Mike Bailey vs. Joey Janela vs. Chris Bey.
  • NESN is still airing ROH shows over-and-over again, basically airing the last TV show with Jay Briscoe vs. Jay Lethal. (thanks to Aray Witner)
  • Invicta returns for a Wednesday night show in Kansas City featuring strawweight champion Emily Ducote (10-6) defending against Alesha Zappitella (9-3, 1 no contest).
  • Delirious is available for seminars, wrestling matches or appearances through Bill Behrens at [email protected]
  • Ed Harris, who does the UFC show open narration did a bit for MLW on the originals of Octagon Jr. on this past week’s television show. MLW has said they are upgrading production and expanding the staff.
  • Insane Wrestling Revolution had a packed house on Thursday night in Monroe,MI: Ace Austin b Aiden Prince, Jackson Stone b Tanner Nix, Deaner b Jason Hotch, Trey Miguel b Jake Crist (said to be great), Sam Beale won three-way over Malcolm Monroe III and Kenny Urban, Big Kon b Dread King Logan when Shane Douglas turned on Logan so Kon kept the IWR title, Benjamin Boone b DBA-COR, Nate Bock & Kyle Barrett b Heath & Rhino-DQ. They were giving away free tickets to tonight’s Impact tapings in Newport KY, which was about four hours away, at this show. Next show is 6/9 with Kon vs. Erick Redbeard for the IWR title at the F.O.P. Hall in Monroe. (thanks to Paul Meade and Leonard Brand).
  • St. Louis Anarchy from Friday night in Alton, IL: Solomon Tupu & Mike Hartenblower b Orion Starlight & Jacques Kennedy, Sean Orleans b Nick King-DQ, Christian Rose b Jake Dirden in a lumberjack match, Billy Starkz Kody Lane, Camaro Jackson & the Kenway b Victor Analog & Anakin Murphy, Jeremy Wyatt b Chip Day, Davey Vega b Mike Bailey, Evan Gelistico won six-way over Adrian Surge, Moonshine Mantell, Campbell Myers, Chase Holliday and Jay Marston, Aaron Williams b Mat Fitchett, Derek Neal b Manders, Kenny Alfonso b Thomas Shire, Gary Jay b John Wayne Murdoch (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
  • Northeast Wrestling from last night in Bethany, CT: Keith Youngblood b J He ru, Kerr b Bull Pittman & Lorenzo Vendetta in a handicap match, Chris Battle & Hunter Ta rca b Daniel Evans & Ray Jaz, Nikki Duke b Rebecca Scott, Wrecking Ball Legursky b Dutch, Brett Ryan Gosselin b RJ Rude, JT Dunn b KC Navarro (great match) to keep Live title), Dan Maff b Flip Gordon to keep NEW title, Jay Lethal & Jaylen Brandyn & Traevon Jordan b Channing Thomas & J Cruz & Victor Chase
  • Ruthless Pro Wrestling from last night in Detroit, MI: Kevin Blackwood b Alex Shelley (Shelly worked this date and missed the Impact show last night) Atticus Cogar b Matt Cross, Dominic Garrini b Schwartzy, Jake Something b Rickey Shane Page, Jake Crist b Kevin Giza, Justin Kyle b Josh Woods to keep title, Kevin Giza won Battle Royal, Randi West b Bobby Beverly to keep Rustbelt title, Atticus Cogar b Parrow & Hoodfoot to win the Underground belt, Eric Ryan won four-way over Masada, John Wayne Murdoch and Tommy Vendetta (thanks to Leonard Brand)

Wrestling Observer Radio: UFC 274 recap, Canelo vs. Bivol, WWE business

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and I are back on Wrestling Observer Radio talking all the latest news in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter including his story on the WWE business call.

We talk about the Canelo Alvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol fight, recap UFC 274, Daniel Cormier going into the UFC Hall of Fame, and the UFC 276 card.

We also talk about AEW ratings, who the jokers might be in the Owen Cup, trios belts, Forbidden Door ticket sales, Backlash, Under Siege, and Tammy Sytch. 

Click below to listen.

Timestamps:

2:40: Canelo loses

9:35: UFC 274 recap

34:24: WWE financials

51:35: Ratings

55:28: AEW Rampage thoughts

1:03:10: AEW trios titles being made

1:08:01: AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door sells out

1:11:27: WWE WrestleMania Backlash preview

1:15:08: Impact Under Siege quick notes, Tammy Sytch arrested

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UFC 274 live results: Oliveira vs. Gaethje, Namajunas vs. Esparza 2

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje, emanating from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Octagon returns to Arizona with a stacked fight card featuring two title fights, one of them one of the most anticipated fights of 2022, and a main card full of long-time veteran and household names.

UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira was supposed to make his second title defense against Justin Gaethje in the main event. It is a fight fans have been anticipating for a while as it promises to be one of the most exciting fights that 2022 has to offer. However, Oliveira missed weight by a half-pound and was stripped of the championship. The fight remains on, but Oliveira is ineligible to win the title, meaning if he wins, the title is officially vacant. A win by Gaethje would make him the new UFC Lightweight Champion.

In the co-main event, UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion makes the second title defense of her second reign as champion as she defends against Carla Esparza. These two have history as they fought in the first-ever strawweight title fight in December 2014, which was won by Esparza. Namajunas comes in having won three straight fights, while Esparza is riding a five-fight win streak.

Also on the main card is an exciting lightweight battle between Tony Ferguson and Michael Chandler, a light heavyweight rematch between former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua and Ovince Saint Preux, and long-time veteran lightweights Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon square off in the main card opener.

Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 5:30 p.m. 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 the middle along with a best fight and a worst fight to Dave at [email protected].

ESPN+ PRELIMS | 5:30 PM ET/2:30 PM PT

> Bantamweights- Journey Newson (9-3 1 NC, 0-2 1 NC UFC) vs. Fernie Garcia (10-1, 0-0 UFC)

Garcia is making his debut. Newson with a body kick. Newson lands a side kick. Both are landing and Newson scores a takedown. They get right back to their feet and Newson had the back but Garcia escapes. Garcia lands a nice right hand. He’s landing slightly more in the round. Newson with a side kick. They clinch up at the end. 10-9 Garcia.

Garcia lands a right hand and Newson lands a nice calf kick. Garcia lands a calf kick. Newson with another leg kick. Newson lands a big combination and rocks Garcia with a left hook. Newson with a couple of kicks. Newson with a side kick. They trade punches. Newson with a right hand. Newson with a leg kick. Garcia lands a right hand. Newson with a late flurry. Garcia with a high kick. 10-9 Newson, 19-19.

Garcia with a leg kick. Newson lands a leg kick. Newson gets a takedown. He gets the back and has one hook in. They scramble to their feet. Newson with a side kick. Garcia with a leg kick. They trade in close range. Garcia with a leg kick. Newson lands a nice right hand and follows it with a left hook. He lands a jab and is being busier during this round. Newson lands a spinning back fist that backs Garcia up late. 10-9 Newson, 29-28 Newson.

Official Result- Journey Newson def. Fernie Garcia by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

*It was just announced that the fight between Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon, scheduled for the main card, has been scratched due to an illness for Cerrone.

> Women’s Strawweights- Ariane Carnelossi (14-2, 2-1 UFC) vs. Lupita Godinez (7-2, 2-2 UFC)

They trade to start and Godinez gets a takedown. They scramble up but Godinez gets another takedown. Godinez has the neck and is looking for something from the side as they scramble around. They get to their feet and Godinez has the back and they roll to the mat and Godinez is on top. Godinez landing from the top as Carnelossi is pinned against the fence. She ends the first landing punches. 10-9 Godinez.

Godinez with a body kick. Godinez rocks Carnelossi with a right hand and lands a flurry before getting a big takedown. Godinez with some big elbows from the top. Godinez transitions to the back and has the hooks in. Godinez tries to find a choke but lets the hooks go and lands punches. She moves to the top and tries for an arm-triangle choke but Carnelossi survives until the end. 10-9 Godinez, 20-18 Godinez.

Godinez gets a big takedown to start the third and takes the back. She’s landing punches from the back as she pushes Carnelossi against the fence. They trade punches against the fence. They get to their feet and Godinez with an uppercut in the clinch and she gets a big takedown. Godinez staying active from the top landing punches and nasty elbows. Godinez still dominating. She lands big punches as they get to their feet. She lands a big combo against the fence and gets a big takedown and closes out the fight with big punches. Great showing from Godinez. 10-8 Godinez, 30-26 Godinez.

Official Result- Lupita Godinez def. Ariane Carnelossi by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)

> Flyweights- Kleydson Rodrigues (7-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. CJ Vergara (9-3-1, 0-1 UFC)

Vergara is making his debut. Rodrigues lands some body kicks. Vergara with a body kick. Rodrigues just misses a flying knee. They trade in close range. Rodrigues with a quick uppercut. Rodrigues gets a takedown. They scramble up and Rodrigues has the back. Rodrigues with some short knees and Vergara with some short punches. Rodrigues with a left hand and elbow as they break. Rodrigues with a big body kick. Vergara with a left hook. Rodrigues with some teet kicks to the body. Rodrigues lands a right hand. Rodrigues lands a combo. Rodrigues with a leg kick. Vergara lands a solid left hook. Rodrigues with a leg kick. They trade big punches inside the pocket. 10-9 Rodrigues.

Vergara with a body kick. Rodrigues goes for a takedown but Vergara reverses and had the full mount but moves to the back. They scramble and Vergara is back in the guard of Rodrigues. Vergara working from the top and landing punches and elbows. Vergara with some body punches from the top. Vergara with an elbow from the top. Vergara with more punches from the top. Vergara gets the mount and is landing big punches from the top. Rodrigues gives up his back and is able to sweep to the top and lands an elbow. They get to their feet. Rodrigues with a body kick. He lands a spinning back fist. Vergara with some leg kicks. They trade at the end. 10-9 Vergara, 19-19.

They trade to start and Rodrigues misses a spinning back fist. Vergara lands a couple of jabs. Rodrigues with a nice combination. Vergara with a leg kick. Vergara with a nice combination. Vergara lands a knee to the body and they go to the mat with Rodrigues on bottom. Rodrigues is looking to set up a calf slicer. He now switches to looking for a choke. Vergara tries to scramble out and does and moves to side control. Rodrigues transitions to the guard of Vergara. Vergara did grab the fence a couple of times. They get to their feet and Rodrigues has the back and gets it down but they stand. Rodrigues gets it down briefly again but they stand and separate. They trade in close range. Rodrigues gets a takedown but they get to their feet. Rodrigues with a left hook and body kick. Close fight and real fun fight. 10-9 Rodrigues, 29-28 Rodrigues.

Official Result- CJ Vergara def. Kleydson Rodrigues by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

> Women’s Flyweights- Tracy Cortez (9-1, 3-0 UFC) vs. Melissa Gatto (8-0-2, 2-0 UFC)

Cortez with some calf kicks and she scores a takedown. She lands some shots from the top as Gatto is looking for the arm. Cortez slams Gatto to get her arm free and remains in the guard of Gatto. They get to their feet. Cortez with a leg kick. They trade in close range before clinching. Gatto gets the back standing and drags it down as she has the back. Cortez trying to roll to the top and does. Cortez with an elbow. Cortez landing from the top and keeping Gatto from being able to do anything from the bottom. Cortez stands and lands a leg kick. 10-9 Cortez.

Cortez with some kicks as Gatto is throwing combos but barely missing. Gatto rushes forward with a flurry that mostly misses. Gatto pressuring and shoots for a takedown against the fence. They break and Gatto lands a left hook. Gatto gets a takedown but Cortez gets it up. Gatto has the back and drags the fight down. Gatto has the hooks in. Gatto with some punches from the back. Gatto looking for the arm and an armbar. Cortez stands ad gets out and is on top now. Cortez with a hammerfist. Cortez landing from the top late and they stand late. 10-9 Gatto, 19-19.

Cortez shoots for a takedown and lands a right hand. They trade leg kicks. Gatto lands a right hand. Cortez gets a takedown. Cortez working from the top as Gatto is stuck on the bottom. Cortez lands and moves to the back and lands some right hands. Cortez lands more and Gatto looking for a kneebar but they scramble up. Gatto has the back and drags it down against the fence. Cortez gets to the top and is looking for an arm-triangle choke. Cortez lets go and ends the fight on top. 10-9 Cortez, 29-28 Cortez.

Official Result- Tracy Cortez def. Melissa Gatto by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Welterweights- Andre Fialho (15-4 1 NC, 1-1 UFC) vs. Cameron VanCamp (15-5-1 1 NC, 0-0 UFC)

VanCamp with a leg kick. He lands another. Fialho with a right hand. Fialho with a leg kick. VanCamp lands a right hand that hurts Fialho. Fialho lands a big counter. Fialho then lands a big left hook that drops VanCamp and a big punch on the mat ends it. What a finish by Fialho!

Official Result- Andre Fialho def. Cameron VanCamp by knockout (punch) at 2:35 of Round 1

ESPN PRELIMS | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT

> Heavyweights- #15 Blagoy Ivanov (18-4 1 NC, 2-3 UFC) vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima (19-7-1, 8-5 UFC)

de Lima with a body kick. He lands another. de Lima with a groin kick and we have a timeout. They get back to action and de Lima with a leg kick. They throw in close range but neither really lands. de Lima with a high body kick. de Lima lands a left hook. Ivanov tries a takedown but de Lima defends. de Lima with a body punch. They trade in close range. They trade again. They clinch against the fence. They break and de Lima with a leg kick. They trade left hands late. 10-9 de Lima.

Ivanov pressing forward and they both land as they clinch against the fence. They break to the center. They trade in close range and de Lima lands slightly more. Ivanov tags de Lima with a left hand and they clinch against the fence. They break and Ivanov is tagging de Lima with punches. Ivanov with more left hands. He lands a massive left hand against the fence. They break as Ivanov lands to the body. de Lima with a right hand. Ivanov with a left hand. He lands another. They clinch against the fence and both land solid punches. 10-9 Ivanov, 19-19.

de Lima with the jab. They trade in close range. Ivanov with a left hand. de Lima tries for a takedown and pushes it against the fence. They’re just holding each other against the fence. Marc Goddard breaks it up. Ivanov lands a left hand. He lands another. They tie back up against the fence. They trade in the clinch but not a whole lot is happening. Ivanov lands to the body as they break. de Lima with a right hand. Ivanov with a left hand and they clinch against the fence. They break to the center. de Lima with a body kick. Ivanov lands a combo. de Lima shoots for the takedown and he picks Ivanov up and Ivanov wraps his arm around the top of the cage to block but de Lima still gets it at the end. 10-9 de Lima, 29-28 de Lima.

Official Result- Blagoy Ivanov def. Marcos Rogerio de Lima by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Flyweights- #6 Brandon Royval (13-6, 3-2 UFC) vs. #9 Matt Schnell (15-5 1 NC, 5-3 1 NC UFC)

They’re trading right away. Royval with a high kick. Royval landing the right hand but Schnell is landing nice combos. Schnell drops Royval with a shot and Royval grabs the leg ad Schnell goes to the mat and tries to get the back but ends up in the guard of Royval. Royval looking for the leg but Schnell grabs the neck and looks for a guillotine but Royval ends on top. Royval grabs the neck and locks in a guillotine choke and Schnell taps! What a sequence on the ground to lead to the finish!

Official Result- Brandon Royval def. Matt Schnell by submission (guillotine choke) at 2:14 of Round 1

> Women’s Featherweights*- #11 (WBW) Macy Chiasson (7-2, 5-2 UFC) vs. #15 (WBW) Norma Dumont (7-1, 3-1 UFC)

*Dumont missed weight by .5 pounds

Chiasson with a body kick. Dumont lands a left hand. Both land some punches. Dumont with a left hand. Chiasson with a high kick that Dumont blocks. Chiasson lands a left hand. Chiasson with a leg kick. Dumont lands a combo. Chiasson lands a right hand. They trade late and Chiasson ends the round with a takedown. Close round. 10-9 Chiasson.

Chiasson with a high kick. They trade in close range. Dumont with a leg kick. Chiasson with a left hand followed by a right hand. They clinch against the fence. They trade knees against the fence. Chiasson gets the takedown and has the back and almost had the choke but they stood and Dumont shook her off. They scramble back up and Chiasson has the advantage against the fence. They’re still tied up as Chiasson is pinning Dumont against the fence. They trade knees and Chiasson dragged it down for a moment but still has body control as they stand. 10-9 Chiasson, 20-18 Chiasson.

They trade to start and Dumont lands a right hand and Chiasson gets a takedown. They scramble up and Chiasson has control against the fence. They remain tied up against the fence and trade knees. They break and both land and Dumont lands a good combo. Chiasson gets a takedown and has the body lock as they stand. Chiasson is holding Dumont against the fence. Chiasson tries a trip takedown but Dumont ends up on top, then Chiasson sweeps to the top and they stand. They break and Dumont lands a right hand and rocks Chiasson. They tie up and Chiasson is tired. Chiasson pushing it against the fence. They end the fight against the fence. 10-9 Dumont, 29-28 Chiasson.

Official Result- Macy Chiasson def. Norma Dumont by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)

> Welterweights- Francisco Trinaldo (27-8, 17-7 UFC) vs. Danny Roberts (18-5, 7-4 UFC)

Roberts with a leg kick. Trinaldo lands a left hand after Roberts slips on a punch attempt. They clinch and Trinaldo lands an uppercut. They break. Roberts with a body kick. Roberts with a leg kick. Roberts with a left hand. Roberts with a body kick. They trade in close range. They trade left hands. Trinaldo lands a combo. Roberts with a leg kick. They’re trading punches as the crowd is distracted by something. They continue to both land and each lands a left hand and Trinaldo with a right hand. Close round. 10-9 Roberts.

Trinaldo rocks Roberts with some big shots and they push against the fence and Trinaldo with some knees. Trinaldo looks for a takedown but they remain tied up. They break. Trinaldo lands a big left hand. Trinaldo with a left hand to the body and lands an uppercut and elbow. Trinaldo grabs the neck and locks in a guillotine but loses it as they go to the mat. Trinaldo gets to the half-guard of Roberts. Trinaldo controlling from the top. Trinaldo passes to side control. They scramble and Trinaldo takes the back. They get to their feet. They trade in close range and both land big shots. Roberts with an elbow. 10-9 Trinaldo, 19-19.

Roberts with a leg kick. They trade big punches in close range before clinching up. They break to the center. Roberts with a left hand. Trinaldo with a left hand. Trinaldo rocks Roberts with some punches and clinches again with him but they break. Trinaldo with another left hand and lands a couple of snap jabs. Roberts rocks Trinaldo with a punch but eats an uppercut from Trinaldo rushing in. They’re tied up and Trinaldo tries a late takedown. 10-9 Trinaldo, 29-28 Trinaldo.

Official Result- Francisco Trinaldo def. Danny Roberts by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-26, 30-27)

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> Welterweights- Randy Brown (14-4, 8-4 UFC) vs. Khaos Williams (13-2, 4-1 UFC)

They trade kicks and punches early. They clinch against the fence but break. Williams rocks Brown with a right hand and Brown retreats. Brown looks for a takedown but Williams is sprawling. They get to their feet and separate. Williams with a combination ending with a leg kick. Brown just misses a flying knee. Brown lands some uppercuts. Brown shoots for a takedown but Williams defends. Brown grabs the neck at the end. 10-9 Williams.

Brown with the double jab and lands a right hand. They trade leg kicks. Brown with a body kick. Williams with a body punch. Brown with the double jab. Brown continuing to land the jab and Williams is having trouble with it. They clinch but end up breaking. Brown with a combo. Brown pressing forward and landing more. They tie up against the fence. They break and Williams with a leg kick. Williams with a leg kick. Williams landing leg kicks while Brown is landing jabs. Brown with a right hand. Brown lands a right hand as Williams was coming in for a takedown attempt. 10-9 Brown, 19-19.

Brown with a front kick that lands to the face. Williams with a quick combo. Brown lands a combination. Brown is pressuring and backing Williams up as he’s landing short shots. Williams lands a right hand and Brown falls to the mat and Williams gets on top. They get to their feet. Brown lands a right hand. They both land solid punches. Brown shoots for a takedown and lands a knee to the jaw of Williams. Brown swings and misses and Williams takes advantage and lands some punches. Brown with some elbows to the head of Williams as they’re tied up. They break. Brown lands a nice elbow. Williams shoots for a takedown but Brown defends and lands some big knees as they break. Close fight. 10-9 Brown, 29-28 Brown.

Official Result- Randy Brown def. Khaos Williams by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

> Light Heavyweights- Mauricio Rua (27-12-1, 11-10-1 UFC) vs. Ovince Saint Preux (25-16, 13-11 UFC)

Rua with a leg kick. Rua with a body kick. Saint Preux with a body kick and Rua with a leg kick. Saint Preux with a leg kick. Rua with a leg kick. Rua with a left hook. Saint Preux with a body kick. Saint Preux lands a left as Rua was trying to rush in. Rua with a right hand. They trade kicks. Rua with a leg kick. Rua with another leg kick. Uneventful round. 10-9 Rua.

Saint Preux with a couple of high kicks. Rua with a leg kick. Saint Preux with more high kicks and Rua blocks one. Rua with a leg kick. Saint Preux with a left hand. Rua with a leg kick. Saint Preux with a body kick. Rua with a leg kick. Rua with a leg kick followed by a right hand. Rua with a leg kick. Saint Preux with a left hand and a leg kick. They trade kicks. Rua with a leg kick. Saint Preux with a high kick but Rua blocks it. Rua with a leg kick. Another uneventful round. 10-9 Saint Preux , 19-19.

They clinch and nothing happens and they break. Saint Preux with a body kick. Rua with two leg kicks. Rua lands a left hand. Rua with a body kick. Saint Preux with a body kick. He lands another. Rua lands a left hand. Saint Preux with a left hand. Saint Preux with a body kick. Saint Preux with a combination. Rua with a leg kick. Boring fight. 10-9 Saint Preux, 29-28 Saint Preux.

Official Result- Ovince Saint Preux def. Mauricio Rua by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

> Lightweights- #5 Michael Chandler (22-7, 1-2 UFC) vs. #7 Tony Ferguson (25-6, 15-4 UFC)

They trade leg kicks and Ferguson checks the kick. Ferguson drops Chandler with a left hand but Chandler gets right up and Ferguson lands a jab. They’re trading in close range. Ferguson with a leg kick. Ferguson with a body kick. Ferguson with a right hand and Chandler lands a left hook. They trade punches. Ferguson with a leg kick. Chandler with a leg kick. Chandler gets a big takedown. Ferguson throwing elbows from the bottom and Chandler is cut open. Chandler trying to land big punches from the top. Chandler in the guard of Ferguson and lands some punches. Chandler with some more big punches from the top. Ferguson trying hard to get to his feet. Chandler with a right hand and Ferguson is cut open as well. Close round. 10-9 Chandler.

Chandler lands a front kick to the face of Ferguson and Ferguson drops face first to the mat out cold. What a finish! Absolutely insane.

Official Result- Michael Chandler def. Tony Ferguson by knockout (front kick) at :17 of Round 2

> UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship- C Rose Namajunas (11-4, 9-3 UFC) vs. #2 Carla Esparza (18-6, 9-4 UFC)

Neither has landed in the first minute as they’re feeling each other out. Esparza lands the first punch half-way through the first round. Namajunas with the double jab. Esparza with a leg kick. They aren’t doing anything. They landed a grand total of six strikes in the round. Horrible. A real 10-10 round but 10-9 Namajunas I guess.

Namajunas lands the first punch one minute into the fight. Esparza tries a takedown and gets Namajunas to her butt but they get up. They still aren’t doing anything. Namajunas lands a jab. Esparza with a leg kick. Esparza lands some more. They landed a combined six strikes again in the round. 10-9 Esparza, 19-19.

Esparza lands a jab. Namajunas with a leg kick. Esparza gets a takedown but they get right back up. Esparza starting to land more as the round goes on. Namajunas lands a left hand. They’re more active here but still not a lot happening. Namajunas lands a few punches at the end of the round. 10-9 Esparza, 29-28 Esparza.

Esparza with a leg kick. Namajunas lands a right hand. Esparza gets a takedown and tries to get the back but Namajunas escapes to her feet. They still aren’t doing much. Neither woman deserves to win this fight. Namajunas lands a right hand. Esparza shoots for a takedown and completes it and has the back but Namajunas spins out to her feet and lands a right hand. 10-9 Namajunas, 38-38.

Esparza shoots for a takedown but Namajunas defends. Namajunas with a right hand. Esparza with a left hand. Namajunas with a left hand to the body. Namajunas with a body kick. Namajunas with a right hand. Namajunas landing slightly more as the round goes on. Namajunas gets a late takedown. This is one of the worst fights in UFC history, absolutely horrible. 10-9 Namajunas, 48-47 Namajunas.

Official Result- Carla Esparza def. Rose Namajunas by split decision (47-48, 49-46, 48-47) to win the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship

> UFC Lightweight Championship*- Charles Oliveira (32-8 1 NC, 20-8 1 NC UFC) vs. #1 Justin Gaethje (23-3, 6-3 UFC)

*Oliveira missed weight by .5 pounds. He’s been stripped of the title and is ineligible to win it.

Gaethje with a leg kick and Oliveira with a right hand. Gaethje lands some right hands. Oliveira with a leg kick. Gaethje with a leg kick. Oliveira hurts Gaethje with a punch then Gaethje drops Oliveira with an uppercut. Gaethje with a big right hand and then a left hook and Oliveira falls down but has to get up. Gaethje with a leg kick. Oliveira with a jumping knee. Oliveira with a leg kick. Gaethje with a left hand. Oliveira grabs Gaethje and pulls guard but Gaethje stands right up. Oliveira with a right hand. Oliveira with an uppercut. They trade in close range and Oliveira drops Gaethje with a right hand and grabs the back. Oliveira working for the arm. Oliveira has the back and a rear-naked choke locked in and Gaethje taps! Oliveira wins but now we have no champion. He is the best lightweight in the world and will now be the number one contender, though.

Official Result- Charles Oliveira def. Justin Gaethje by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:22 of Round 1, UFC Lightweight Championship is now vacant

UFC strips Charles Oliveira of lightweight title due to UFC 274 weight miss

Posted on by Josh Nason

For the first time, a UFC title has been lost on the scales.

Following his half-pound weight miss Friday afternoon, reigning lightweight champion Charles Oliveira has been stripped of the title. However, his anticipated main event clash with former interim champion Justin Gaethje Saturday at UFC 274 will still happen.

However, Oliveira will not be eligible to win the title because he didn’t make championship weight. If Gaethje wins, he will be the new champion. If Oliveira wins, the title will remain vacant.

Oliviera will also forfeit 30% of his fight purse to Gaethje. He weighed in at 155.5 pounds as title fights do not get the one pound overage allowance that undercard fights do.

Earlier today, Oliveira tweeted the following about making weight:

Oliveira, who had won the vacant title in a win over Michael Chandler a year ago, will look to extend a ten-fight winning streak Saturday. Gaethje has won five of his last six.

Oliveira has missed weight four times before, but the last time was back in November 2016.

Here’s the main card for Saturday’s pay-per-view in Phoenix, Arizona:

  • Vacant UFC lightweight title: Justin Gaethje vs. Charles Oliveira (only Gaethje can win the title)
  • Women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza
  • Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson
  • Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Ovince Saint Preux
  • Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon

Dana White addresses his UFC 270 disappearance, two new title fights for May

Posted on by Josh Nason

UFC president Dana White addressed why he disappeared after heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou’s title unification win over interim champion Cyril Gane at last Saturday’s UFC 270 and didn’t put the belt on the champion as is tradition.

During an ESPN+ Q&A session Wednesday, White said he walked out of the arena in Anaheim, California, after the flyweight title co-main event “because there was stuff going on backstage that I was dealing with.”

White bristled at the notion at anyone thinking he was showing disrespect to Ngannou by not being in the cage and also skipping the post-event press conference, calling them “idiots” and pointing out that he saw the champion all week, shook his hand and said hi to him.

He said the only time he ever did that intentionally was after then-middleweight champion Anderson Silva’s lackluster UFC 112 title defense over Demian Maia in Abu Dhabi.

Ngannou and the UFC have been at an impasse on a new contract due to perceived disrespect and financial terms dating back to last year’s creation of the interim title due to Ngannou not being able to commit to the fight timeline UFC wanted.

Ngannou is currently obligated to remain with the company for the duration of the year on a champion’s clause after which time he will become a free agent. Ngannou said this week he is going to have knee surgery this year which will take him out of action for up to ten months. 

Also on Wednesday, news broke via White that they are gearing up for another big pay-per-view card on May 7th with two titles on the line at UFC 274.

In the main event, lightweight champion Charles Oliveira will look to continue his hot streak of wins and finishes as he defends against action fighter and fan favorite Justin Gaethje. The champion has won ten straight and last submitted Dustin Poirier in December while Gaethje is 5-1 in his last six fights and is a former interim titleholder.

In the co-main event, light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira will defend his title for the first time when he faces Jiri Prochazka.

Originally tabbed for Brazil, it’s unknown where the event will take place. Neither fight has been made official, but considering White revealed the information to ESPN, it’s essentially confirmed.

White also said they are trying to make a fight between Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson for the future, but nothing has been signed. It’s assumed that would headline a Fight Night event.