Tag: Ufc 278

Daily Update: Weekend recap, UFC 278, Ricky Knight Jr.

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

  • WWE business numbers for quarter two and how they compare with a year ago
  • Why numbers are up and where
  • Stephanie McMahon discusses the departure of Vince McMahon and first meeting Nick Khan
  • Stephanie McMahon discusses leaving and returning
  • Stephanie McMahon talks Vince McMahon’s interest going forward
  • How the recent PPV shows have done and put into perspective
  • Raw and Smackdown as compared with the TV business
  • How USA Network would be doing without Raw
  • How FOX would be doing without Smackdown
  • Nick Khan talks the sports rights landscape
  • Paul Levesque talks scouting new WWE talent
  • Actual paid attendance for this year’s WrestleMania and tickets sold for SummerSlam and Clash at the Castle s well as next year’ Wrestlemania
  • WWE revenue in every category
  • WWE live show attendance and merchandise
  • Kazuchika Okada repeats as G-1 winner
  • All the G-1 events over the past week as well as the business of G-1
  • The end of NXT UK and promise of NXT Europe
  • A list of WWE cuts
  • Clash at the Castle notes
  • UFC coverage of Saturday night’s show
  • The retirement of Rory MacDonald
  • TV ratings for wrestling and MMA shows this past week
  • How every segment on AEW programming did
  • Arena Mexico has one of its biggest events of the year
  • Stardom PPV notes
  • All Japan and NOAH tournament notes
  • Kota Ibushi update
  • Most popular wrestlers in Japan
  • Looking at media consumption
  • The biggest angle in Philadelphia Roller Games history
  • Behind the Punk-Page strange thing on television
  • Update on a major AEW return
  • Kenny Omega’s return
  • All Out plans
  • AEW adds new North American TV
  • Takeshita update
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE and AEW events
  • Streaming and international TV numbers
  • New major UFC fights
  • MMA legend to debut as a boxer next month
  • Major company trying to go public
  • Former UFC champion and his race for Governor
  • Former WWE star sues MMA company
  • Behind the Vince McMahon-Donald Trump payments for appearing on WWE show
  • Thoughts on new WWE signings

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

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Sunday News Update

  • We did two weekend shows, our weekly show with Garrett Gonzales going over the news of the weekend plus last night with Bryan we covered UFC, Smackdown, G-1 finals, Rampage and talked a lot about the upcoming week.
  • Crazy UFC finish last night with Leon Edwards, likely down 39-37 in the scores, knockout out Kamaru Usman with 56 seconds left in the fight to win the welterweight title. People saying this proves GSP was the better champion seem to forget GSP had his loss to Matt Serra. It looks like they will be rematched and Dana White brought up the idea of trying to run it in England in January. Fans were leaving during the fifth round to beat traffic and the announcers were literally talking about how Edwards was just holding seemingly just trying to last the distance rather than attempt to win, and then he set up and threw a head kick that ended the fight. This will go down as one of the most memorable title match finishes in history,
  • The interest level last night was good as there were 2.25 million searches with UFC 278 being the most searched topic on Google yesterday and besides the main event, Luke Rockhold was No. 7 and Merab Dvalishvili was No. 16. Nothing in pro wrestling, boxing or MMA cracked the top 20 any day this week.
  • Bert Royal, one of the all-time greats of U.K. wrestling, passed away yesterday at the age of 91. Born Herbert Faulkner, he and brother Vic Faulkner were the Royal Brothers, often considered the greatest tag team in UK history. He was a major star from the 50s into the early 80s. He was in the first main event (against Cliff Beaumont) on national TV in 1955 and in 1963, the Royal Brothers were in the first tag team on national TV. He was a multi-time European champion and The Beatles were fans of the Royal Brothers and there a famous photo of the brothers with the Beatles taken during the 60s when the Beatles were big fans.
  • Ricky Knight Jr. ended the two-plus year reign of Will Ospreay as British heavyweight champion today
  • Greedy Souls b Destination Everywhere when Connor Mills turned on Michael Oku
  • Kanji b Chantal Jordan to keep the Southside women’s title
  • Luke Jacobs b Tony Deppen to keep the cruiserweight title. Said to be great
  • Eddie Dennis b Lord Gideon Gray
  • Mike Bailey b Leon Slater in a great match
  • Sunshine Machine b Velocities to keep the British tag titles.
  • Ricky Knight Jr. b Ospreay. Super crowd reactions. Knight kicked out of everything and used the One Winged Angel to win. Ospreay then talked about how RevPro survived he pandemic, expressed sympathy for the UK wrestlers from WWE who had just lost their job, and said he was taking a step back to focus on his health and family. The two drank whiskey together in the ring at the end of the show and this was said to be the biggest crowd reaction to a main event in years, even more than Ospreay vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (thanks to John Carrey, Matt Nielson and Dwayne Hawkins)
  • Best wishes to Bobby Fulton, who has hospitalized for both double pneumonia and sepsis. On social media Sunday, Fulton wrote: “They were able to get rid of the sepsis as they caught it in time. Doctors will be checking for COVID tomorrow. I’m still on oxygen as I’m still dealing with pneumonia. I appreciate alll the thoughts and prayers! I hope to be out of the hospital on Tuesday!”.
  • We are looking for your thoughts on these shows, thumbs up, down or middle plus a best and worst match to [email protected]
  • UFC 278
  • All three nights of G-1 at Budokan Hall
  • Stardom’s PPV show from Nagoya

We are also doing polls for the MVP of the G-1 Climax tournament and the best match of G-1.

  • We’re also looking for reports on these weekend shows:
  • WWE last night in Kingston, ONT
  • WWE tonight in London, ONT
  • WWE tonight in Quebec City
  • NXT shows over the weekend in in Lakeland and Venice, CA
  • We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]
  • WWE has applied for a trademark for the term Damage CTRL, which is apparently for the trio of Bayley, Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky.
  • Raw is tomorrow in Toronto and there is a good chance it will be a legit sellout at the Scotiabank Arena. Edge vs. Damian Priest and Alexa Bliss & Asuka vs. Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky are scheduled, plus Trish Stratus will be appearing. Stratus was also at two of the weekend house shows.
  • The A&E schedule for tonight
  • 8 pm. Biography of Edge
  • WWE Rivals at 10 p.m. is John Cena vs. Edge
  • Smack Talk at 11 pm. will have Edge & Beth Phoenix as guests
  • WWE from last night in Ottawa, ONT:
  • Los Lotharios b Ridge Holland & Butch
  • Natalya b Shotzi – Natalya was a babyface here
  • Gunther b Shinsuke Nakamura to keep the IC title. Ludvig Kaiser interfered
  • Ricochet b Happy Corbin in a no DQ match putting him through a table with a swanton. Said to be the best match
  • Sami Zayn b Madcap Moss – Zayn was very popular
  • Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler b Liv Morgan & Aliyah when Baszler submitted Aliyah. Rousey was cheered but Morgan was as well.
  • Roman Reigns (doing a rare house show) kept the title in a three-way over Drew McIntyre and Sheamus when he pinned Sheamus. Butch and Holland interfered. Zayn helped Reigns. Reigns and Zayn very popular, more than McIntyre, but in Canada Zayn would be super over. (thanks to Gavin Alston and Ben Soubliere)
  • This is not enough to make a significant difference in the ratings because it reflects a small percentage of homes, but Sling TV did not automatically record Dynamite Wednesday due to a data issue where it was listed as Rampage. Reader Jeff Rosenfeld noted that he noticed 20 minutes into the show it wasn’t recording for him and if he hadn’t noticed, would have missed the issue.
  • Kento Miyahara beat Jake Lee to win the All Japan Oudou tournament and set up a title match at Budokan Hall against Suwama
  • Stardom PPV from today in Nagoya:
  • Hanan b Miyu Amasaki
  • Maika b Hina
  • Mirai & Ami Sorei won three-way over Giulia & Mai Sakurai and Ruaka & Rina
  • Utami Hayashishita & AZM & Lady C won captains fall bout over Mayu Iwatani & Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo
  • Momo Watanabe & Starlight Kid & Saki Kashima b Mina Shirakawa & Unagi Sayaka & Saki
  • Tam Nakano & Natsupoi won the Goddesses tag titles over Hazuki & Koguma
  • Saya Kamitani b Himeka to keep the Wonder of Stardom title. Himeka replaced Kairi who tested positive for COVID
  • Syuri b Nanae Takahashi to keep the Word of stardom title
  • (thanks to David Popper)

UFC

  • Tony Ferguson will be moving back to 170 for the first time in more than a decade when he faces Li Jingliang at the 9/10 PPV show from Las Vegas.

Other Notes

In the PFL tournament yesterday on ESPN, Kayla Harrison beat Martina Jindrova via arm triangle at 3:17 of the first round and Lairssa Pacheco beat Olena Kolesnykn in 2:09 of round one with a choke to set the two up for the $1 million final. Harrison also made a comment of two Brazilians running from her, which in theory meant Amanda Nunes and Cris Cyborg. They aren’t running as much as promotional boundaries make those fights unlikely.

Also they had the featherweight semifinals as Brendan Loughnane beat Chris Wade via straight 30-27 cores and Bubba Jenkins beat Ryoji Kudo via choke in 1:49. So they will also meet in the $1 million final.

  • RevPro from yesterday at York Hall in London:
  • Connor Mills b Tony Deppen
  • Chantal Jordan b Maya Matthews
  • Luke Jacobs b Francesco Akira to keep the cruiserweight title
  • Shota Umino b Yota Tsuji in a strap match. Umino laid out Gideon Grey after the match
  • Aussie Open b Destination Everywhere to keep the New Japan Strong tag titles. Said to be great
  • Will Ospreay b Mike Bailey. Ospreay was super over coming off G1 with lots of “F*** Okada chants.” however, the United EmpIre remained heels, destroying Ricky Knight Jr. after the match to set up today’s dhow (thanks to John Carrey, Chris Bourke and Duncan Burdett)
  • A lot of raves about Titus Alexander in the West Coast Cup tournament in San Francisco with great matches with Chris Sabin, Nick Wayne, Masha Slamovich and Starboy Charlie.
  • Thursday results:
  • Viento b Gravity
  • Starboy Charlie b D-Rouge
  • Vinnie Massaro b Jorel Nelson
  • Komander b Midas Kreed
  • Masha Slamovich b Alpha Zo
  • Nick Wayne b Bryan Keith
  • Levi Shapiro b Alan Angels
  • Titus Alexander b Chris Sabin
  • Jacob Fatu b Mike Bailey to retain the title
  • Friday results:
  • Titus Alexander b Masha Slamovich
  • Nick Wayne b Viento
  • Starboy Charlie b Levi Shapiro
  • Titus Alexander b Nick Wayne
  • Starboy Charlie b Komander
  • Komander & Alpha Zo & D-Rouge & Midas Kreed b Aerostar & Alan Angels & Bryan Keith & Gravity
  • Titus Alexander b Starboy Charlie to win tournament
  • Minoru Suzuki comes to Defy on 10/29.
  • United Wrestling Coalition on 9/3 in Bordentown, NJ at the Elks Lodge.

UFC 278 live results: Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards 2

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2, emanating from the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Octagon is back in Salt Lake City for the first time since August 2016 with the first pay-per-view event to take place in the city, which is headlined by a long-awaited rematch for the UFC Welterweight Championship.

UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman looks to continue his reign of dominance over the 170-pound division, as well as keep his top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings, when he defends the title against Leon Edwards in the main event. This is a rematch of a December 2015 bout, which Usman won by decision. Usman has gone on to become the dominant force at welterweight, but Edwards is also unbeaten since that fight, with nine wins and a no contest. This rematch has been brewing for well over a year.

In the co-main event, former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa looks to end a two-fight losing skid when he welcomes former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold back to action. Rockhold returns to action for the first time since July 2019, back down at 185 pounds and looking to make another run at the title. Also on the main card is a pivotal bantamweight bout between former UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo and Merab Dvalishvili, and a light heavyweight bout between Tyson Pedro and Harry Hunsucker.

Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time with preliminary action all the way through 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 | 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT

> Flyweights- Daniel Da Silva (11-3, 0-2 UFC) vs. Victor Altamirano (10-2, 0-1 UFC)

Altamirano with a quick combo and lands to the body. They trade leg kicks. Da Silva tries a body kick and Altamirano grabs the leg but lets go. Altamirano with a right hand. Da Silva drops Altamirano with a right hand and lands another on the ground but they get up. Da Silva with a combo. Da Silva with a spinning back fist. They trade in close range. Da Silva lands a knee followed by a combo. Altamirano lands a knee and they go to the ground and Altamirano is landing big shots from the top then Da Silva went for a triangle but Altamirano lands some big elbows to escape. Da Silva is cut open. Altamirano with big elbows from the top and Da Silva is covering up but they are landing. Big shots from the top by Altamirano. Altamirano with big shots from the top and it is stopped. What a fun fight.

Official Result- Victor Altamirano def. Daniel Da Silva by TKO (strikes) at 3:39 of Round 1

> Bantamweights- Aoriqileng (23-9, 1-2 UFC) vs. Jay Perrin (10-5, 0-1 UFC)

Aoriqileng with a leg kick and Perrin lands a right hand. Perrin lands a left hook to the body as Aoriqileng lands a right hand. Aoriqileng with a right hand. They trade and Aoriqileng rocks Perrin with a counter left hook and follows it with an uppercut. He then lands a flying knee before they clinch against the fence. They break. Aoriqileng lands a combo then they clinch. They break and Perrin with a leg kick. Perrin lands a flying knee to the body but eats a left hook from Aoriqileng. Perrin gets a takedown. He lands a couple of punches from the top. 10-9 Aoriqileng.

They both land early and Aoriqileng lands a flying knee. Perrin gets a takedown. He’s working from the top but not landing as they work to the fence and get to their feet and break. Aoriqileng lands a hard left hand. Aoriqileng with a right hand. He lands a leg kick. Perrin fires back with a leg kick. Aoriqileng lands a hard leg kick. Perrin goes for a takedown but Aoriqileng defends as they go to the fence. They break and Aoriqileng lands a right hand. He lands another. They trade in close range late. 10-9 Aoriqileng, 20-18 Aoriqileng.

Perrin with a body kick and Aoriqileng lands a right hand. They trade inside the pocket. They trade kicks. Aoriqileng with a leg kick then lands a right hand. Perrin gets the takedown. They get right up against the fence. Perrin has Aoriqileng pushed against the fence and both land with some dirty boxing as Perrin is trying for the takedown. Perrin lands an elbow. He lands a couple more elbows. They trade as they break. Perrin with a leg kick and Aoriqileng lands a right hand. Perrin with a body kick. Perrin tries for a takedown but Aoriqileng defends. Perrin steps away and lands a combo and is teeing off on Aoriqileng and rocks Aoriqileng near the end in a wild exchange. Good fight. 10-9 Perrin, 29-28 Aoriqileng.

Official Result- Aoriqileng def. Jay Perrin by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Flyweights- #11 Amir Albazi (14-1, 2-0 UFC) vs. Francisco Figueiredo (13-4-1 1 NC, 2-1 UFC)

Figueiredo with a body kick. He lands a leg kick. Figueiredo with some more body kicks. Figueiredo tries a leg kick and Albazi grabs the foot and trips him to the mat and Albazi gets on top. Albazi working to improve his position on the top as he’s bringing some pressure and lands some punches. Albazi lands a flurry from the top and lets Figueiredo get to his feet. Albazi gets the body lock and Figueiredo grabs the fence to block a takedown but Albazi is able to complete it. Figueiredo attempts a leg lock as Albazi lands a right hand and gets his leg free. Albazi takes the back and is looking for a choke and has it locked in and Figueiredo taps! Great showing from Albazi.

Official Result- Amir Albazi def. Francisco Figueiredo by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:34 of Round 1

ABC PRELIMS | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT

> Welterweights- AJ Fletcher (9-1, 0-1 UFC) vs. Ange Loosa (8-3, 0-1 UFC)

Fletcher lands a combo. Loosa with an inside leg kick. Fletcher lands a right hand. He lands an elbow. They trade jabs. They trade in close and Fletcher lands a solid left hook. Loosa with a left to the body. They trade high body kicks. They keep trading and Loosa lands a solid right hand. Loosa lands another right hand. Fletcher with an elbow. Fletcher with a body kick and Loosa lands some punches in close and a knee to the body. They clinch and trade and break and Loosa lands a couple of right hands and scores a takedown. 10-9 Loosa.

They trade to start the second as Fletcher lands a leg kick and Loosa lands a flurry of punches. Fletcher with a front kick. Loosa with a quick jab as Fletcher lands a left hand. Loosa with a right hand. They trade inside the pocket. Loosa lands a right hand. Loosa with some body kicks. Fletcher with a body kick and Loosa gets a takedown. They scramble up. They trade right hands. Loosa with a right hand. Loosa with a combo. They continue to trade and Fletcher is bleeding badly from his nose. Fletcher with a big flurry against the fence and has Loosa hurt badly. Loosa tries a takedown but Fletcher defends and is landing big shots. Loosa stands and Fletcher is teeing off on him and Loosa is hurt badly. Fletcher tries a takedown in a bad idea move and Loosa defends and has the neck as both take a breather. They both battle in the position late. Crazy round. 10-9 Fletcher, 19-19.

Loosa with a right hand and Fletcher lands inside the pocket. They trade punches and Fletcher shoots for a takedown but Loosa defends. Loosa gets the back and is landing right hands. Loosa with some elbows from the top. Loosa continues to land from the top and is staying on top as Fletcher can’t get out from the bottom. Loosa still landing from the top. Loosa ends the fight landing from the top. 10-9 Loosa, 29-28 Loosa.

Official Result- Ange Loosa def. AJ Fletcher by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)

> Featherweights- Sean Woodson (9-1, 3-1 UFC) vs. Luis Saldana (16-7, 2-1 UFC)

Saldana with a leg kick. Woodson lands a right hand. Woodson with a spin kick and lands a right hand. Saldana with a body kick. They trade punches. Saldana with a body kick as Woodson lands a left hand. They trade in close range and Saldana with a leg kick. Saldana lands a left hook and Woodson falls to the mat but gets up. Saldana drops Woodson again but lands Saldana lands a knee to Woodson’s head and Woodson looked out and the fight was stopped. We have a timeout and they’re reviewing it. It did land to the head and Saldana has a point taken away and Woodson is saying he’s good to fight. They continue. Woodson with some body kicks. They clinch but break. Saldana with a body kick and then a leg kick that trips Woodson up. Saldana with a late combo. 9-8 Saldana with the point deduction.

Woodson lands a right hand. Saldana with a leg kick. He lands another. Saldana with a body kick and they trade punches. Both landing punches and Saldana landing with slightly more volume. Saldana gets the takedown and is in the guard of Woodson. Woodson looked for an omaplata on the bottom and is now looking for a buggy choke. It is in tight. Saldana is giving the thumbs up and survives the round. 10-9 Saldana, 19-17 Saldana.

They trade punches to start the third and Saldana with a leg kick. Saldana with the jab and Woodson lands a jab as well. Saldana goes for a takedown and Woodson defends landing some elbows. Saldana looks to take the back. They break and both are exhausted and landing sporadic punches. Saldana with a leg kick. He lands some more leg kicks. Saldana looks for a takedown but Woodson defends. They trade jabs. Saldana tries a takedown but drops down to take guard. 10-9 Saldana, 29-26 Saldana.

Official Result- Sean Woodson vs. Luis Saldana ends in a split draw (29-27, 27-29, 28-28)

> Lightweights- Leonardo Santos (18-5-1, 7-2-1 UFC) vs. Jared Gordon (18-5, 6-4 UFC)

Santos lands a body kick. Santos with a leg kick. There isn’t much happening in the first two minutes. They trade body shots. Gordon with a leg kick. Gordon lands a couple of right hands. Santos with a body kick after Gordon lands some calf kicks. Gordon with a combo against the fence and he lands an uppercut. They clinch and Gordon with some body shots. Santos with a knee. 10-9 Gordon.

Gordon lands some body shots and they clinch against the fence and Gordon with more body shots before they break. Santos lands a jab. Gordon lands an uppercut. Santos with a high kick. Gordon with a right hand. Santos tries a takedown and has the back of Gordon against the fence as they’re on the feet. Santos tried a takedown and Gordon grabbed the fence and it was missed by Herb Dean. Gordon with some body shots and he takes the back of Santos for a moment. They break. Gordon with a right hand. Gordon with more body shots as they break. Santos lands a right hand. 10-9 Gordon, 20-18 Gordon.

Gordon with a combo and then starts to land leg kicks. Gordon continues to land punches, Gordon with a combo as Santos isn’t doing a whole lot on offense. They clinch against the fence. They break. Both look tired. Santos tries a takedown and has a hold of the leg in the sprawl position and Gordon is landing punches as he’s defending. They stand and clinch against the fence until the end. 10-9 Gordon, 30-27 Gordon.

Official Result- Jared Gordon def. Leonardo Santos by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Heavyweights- #11 Marcin Tybura (22-7, 9-6 UFC) vs. #13 Alexandr Romanov (16-0, 5-0 UFC)

Romanov gets a big takedown after taking the back of Tybura against the fence. They get to their feet and Romanov still has back control and is landing knees to the legs. Romanov gets another slam takedown. Romanov with left hands from the back and Tybura is covering up as he’s in trouble. Romanov with some knees and more left hands. Dominant round for Romanov. 10-8 Romanov.

Romanov with a spinning elbow. Romanov pushes Tybura against the fence. They break. Romanov lands a left hand. Tybura lands a right hand. Romanov with a combo. Romanov tries a takedown but Tybura backs away and lands a left hand. We have a timeout for a groin strike but they get back going as it was called a kick to the gut. Tybura gets a takedown and is in side control. Tybura landing body punches as they’re in north-south position. Tybura gets the back and lands some punches. Romanov slips out and has the back of Tybura and lands some punches at the end. 10-9 Tybura, 19-18 Romanov.

Tybura lands a left hand. Tybura with a body kick and Romanov returns fire with a body kick. Tybura with a left hand. Tybura with a body kick. Tybura lands a left hand. Romanov misses a spinning back fist attempt. Tybura with a short uppercut. They trade punches. Tybura with a right hand to the body. Tybura with a couple of jabs. Romanov with a knee to the body. Neither really landing in the last minute. Romanov lands a right hand. 10-9 Tybura, 28-28 DRAW.

Official Result- Marcin Tybura def. Alexandr Romanov by majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)

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

> Light Heavyweights- Tyson Pedro (8-3, 4-3 UFC) vs. Harry Hunsucker (7-5, 0-2 UFC)

Pedro lands a jab and then rocks Hunsucker with a combo. He lands a front kick to the body and Hunsucker goes down and Pedro finishes it off with shots from the top. What a showing from Pedro.

Official Result- Tyson Pedro def. Harry Hunsucker by TKO (strikes) at 1:05 of Round 1

> Women’s Bantamweights- Wu Yanan (13-5, 1-4 UFC) vs. Lucie Pudilova (13-7, 2-5 UFC)

Yanan lands some leg kicks and they clinch and Yanan lands an elbow on the break. Yanan lands some more leg kicks. Pudilova with a right hand. Pudilova gets a takedown. Pudilova with a right hand from the top. Pudilova in the half-guard of Yanan. Pudilova moves to side control and is landing from the top but looking to set something up. Pudilova gets the mount but was too high and Yanan slipped out but Pudilova grabs the back as they stand. 10-9 Pudilova.

Pudilova lands a left hand. Yanan with a leg kick. They both land in close range. Yanan with a leg kick. They both land and then clinch and Pudilova gets a head-and-arm takedown. Pudilova is in side control then takes the back and locks in a rear-naked choke. It was on the chin and she switches which allows Yanan to escape. Pudilova still on top as she’s in side control. Pudilova gets the back and has the mount and is landing big elbows and it is stopped. What a finish by Pudilova.

Official Result- Lucie Pudilova def. Wu Yanan by TKO (elbows) at 4:04 of Round 2

> Bantamweights- #3 Jose Aldo (31-7, 13-6 UFC) vs. #6 Merab Dvalishvili (14-4, 7-2 UFC)

Dvalishvili with a spin kick. Dvalishvili misses a right hand. Dvalishvili goes for a takedown against the fence but Aldo defends. Dvalishvili with a leg kick. Aldo with a leg kick. They trade kicks. Aldo with a leg kick. Dvalishvili tries for a takedown against the fence. Dvalishvili with a combo as they break. Aldo with a body punch and a knee to the body. Dvalishvili with a spin kick and Aldo lands a right hand and a body shot and a body kick in a wild flurry at the end. Close round. 10-9 Aldo.

Dvalishvili with a leg kick. Dvalishvili shoots for a takedown but Aldo defends against the fence. Dvalishvili is trying to land knees but there isn’t much going on. They break. Aldo with a body combo and a body kick. Dvalishvili tries for another takedown but Aldo is defending. They break. Dvalishvili tries again for a takedown but Aldo defends. They break and Dvalishvili tries again but Aldo sprawls away. Aldo with a leg kick. Dvalishvili tries for the takedown again and lands a right hand as they break. Dvalishvili tries again late for a takedown. 10-9 Dvalishvili, 19-19.

Dvalishvili immediately goes for a takedown but Aldo defends and they break. Dvalishvili with a right hand. Aldo lands a knee to the body as Dvalishvili rushed in throwing punches. Dvalishvili with a leg kick. Aldo with a knee to the body. Aldo with a left hand. Dvalishvili lands a right hand. Aldo lands a jab. Dvalishvili lands a right hand. Aldo with the jab. Aldo lands a left hand. Dvalishvili goes for a takedown but Aldo defends and they break. Dvalishvili tries again but Aldo defends again. Dvalishvili gets a brief takedown. Dvalishvili with some knees. 10-9 Dvalishvili, 29-28 Dvalishvili.

Official Result- Merab Dvalishvili def. Jose Aldo by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

> Middleweights- #6 Paulo Costa (13-2, 5-2 UFC) vs. Luke Rockhold (16-5, 6-4 UFC)

Rockhold lands a left hand and two leg kicks. Costa tags Rockhold with some punches as Rockhold goes for a takedown and they are clinched against the fence but break. Costa with a right hand. Costa with a left hand. Costa gets a takedown against the fence. Costa lands some shots from the top. Rockhold looks for the neck but Costa is posturing and tries to get the mount. Costa with some body shots as he gets the mount. Rockhold gets out from the bottom and they get to their feet. Rockhold with a body kick and then three more. Rockhold with a spin kick. Costa with a right hand. They clinch. They break. Rockhold with a body kick. Rockhold with a right hand. 10-9 Costa.

Rockhold lands a left hand. He lands another then a body kick. Rockhold tries for a takedown and almost had the back as they got up. They break. Costa with a right hand to the body. Costa lands a left hook. Rockhold lands a left hand. Costa with a body kick. Rockhold is exhausted. Rockhold with a spin kick. Rockhold with a round house kick to the body. Rockhold lands a nice left hand. Costa is slowing down too. Rockhold with a high kick. Rockhold lands a right hand. Rockhold with a body kick. He then lands a leg kick. Rockhold lands a body kick. Costa lands a right hand. Costa lands a right hand right to the cup and Rockhold went down and Costa thought it was a stoppage but Mike Beltran was calling timeout. They get back to action and Rockhold lands some kicks. Rockhold with a leg kick then a spinning back kick. Costa with a leg kick. Costa with a body kick and Rockhold lands a right hand. 10-9 Costa, 20-18 Costa.

Rockhold lands a body kick and Costa stumbles to the mat and Rockhold jumps on top but Costa pushes him off and they get to their feet. Costa lands a right hand. Rockhold with a left hand. Costa lands a right hand. Rockhold rocks Costa with a left hand. Rockhold with a body kick then a left hand. Rockhold shoots for a takedown but Costa sprawls and Costa is on top in side control. Costa tries for the mount and gets the back. Rockhold sweeps into the guard of Costa. Rockhold is rubbing blood all over Costa’s face. Compelling fight. 10-9 Costa, 30-27 Costa.

Official Result- Paulo Costa def. Luke Rockhold by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> UFC Welterweight Championship- C Kamaru Usman (20-1, 15-0 UFC) vs. #2 Leon Edwards (19-3 1 NC, 11-2 1 NC UFC)

Edwards with a leg kick. Edwards with a body kick. Usman looks for a takedown but Edwards defends and they remain tied up. Edwards makes a mistake and slips to the mat and Usman gets on top and is in the guard of Edwards. They get to their feet and Usman has the back of Edwards. Usman attacking with knees. Edwards gets a takedown into full mount. Edwards lands an elbow and now has the back of Usman and has the body triangle locked in. Edwards is trying to lock in a rear-naked choke but Usman is hand fighting it. Edwards with an elbow. 10-9 Edwards.

Edwards with a body kick. Usman lands a right hand. Usman lands a right hand and they clinch against the fence. Edwards with a knee to the body as they break. Usman lands a flurry to the body against the fence. Usman landing lots of punches and lands an uppercut. Edwards able to circle away. Usman lands a jab then Edwards pokes Usman in the eye and we have a timeout. They get back to action and Usman lands a right hand. Edwards lands a straight left hand. Edwards lands a left hook. They clinch against the fence and Usman with some foot stomps. They break. Edwards shoots for a takedown but Usman sprawls. They get to their feet and separate. Edwards backs to the fence and Usman lands an elbow. Usman with some body shots. Usman gets a takedown. Usman ends the round on top. 10-9 Usman, 19-19.

Edwards with a leg kick. Edwards with a short left hand. Usman lands a jab. Usman gets a takedown against the fence. They get to their feet and Usman has the back and is landing some knees. They break. Usman with a combo to the body and lands an elbow before scoring a takedown. Not much is happening. Usman is on top and landing right hands. They get to their feet at the end. 10-9 Usman, 29-28 Usman.

They trade leg kicks and Edwards grabs the back of Usman and pushes it against the fence. Usman grabs the fence a few times. They break and then Usman scores a takedown. Usman with some right hands from the top. Usman lands an elbow as he’s working from inside the guard of Edwards. They get to their feet and Usman has the back of Edwards. Usman lands a few punches and gets another takedown but Edwards is able to scramble to his feet. Edwards grabbed the fence to get up and Herb Dean put them back on the mat but they still get to their feet. Usman lands a big combo and tees off to the body late. 10-9 Usman, 39-37 Usman.

They trade punches early to start the round. They trade jabs. Usman with a combo to the body and he looked for the takedown but Edwards defended. They’re clinched and basically stalling against the fence. They are separated by Herb Dean. Edwards with a combination. He lands a groin strike and we have a timeout. Replay shows it was borderline but they get back to action. Edwards with a leg kick. Out of nowhere, Edwards lands a head kick that knocks Usman out cold! WOW! What a finish by Edwards to win the title.

Official Result- Leon Edwards def. Kamaru Usman by knockout (head kick) at 4:04 of Round 5 to win the UFC Welterweight Championship