After a week off, UFC actions returns as the Octagon travels back to China for UFC Fight Night 277, taking place at the Galaxy Arena in Macau.
The main event is a five-round bout in the bantamweight division as Song Yadong takes on former UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo. Both men are looking to get back into the win column following losses at UFC 324 in January, and a win here will get them right back into the title picture.
The co-main event is a light heavyweight battle pitting Zhang Mingyang against Alonzo Menifield with a spot in the 205-pound rankings on the line. Also on the main card is a battle of ranked heavyweights as Sergei Pavlovich battles Tallison Teixeira; a bantamweight fight between Kai Asakura and Cameron Smotherman; and a flyweight tilt pitting Alex Perez against Sumudaerji.
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> Women’s Strawweights- Loma Lookboonmee (10-4, 7-3 UFC) vs. Jaqueline Amorim (10-2, 4-2 UFC)
Lookboonmee lands a calf kick. Lookboonmee lands another leg kick. Amorim shoots for a takedown as she pushes Lookboonmee against the fence. Amorim has the body lock on as Lookboonmee is defending. Amorim drops down and attacks a leg as they scramble to the mat, but she ends up letting go and lands from the top. Lookboonmee with a few elbows from the bottom. Amorim passes guard to north-south position, but she moves back into side control and lands a couple of short punches. Amorim looking to attack an arm. Amorim locks in an armbar. It is in deep and Lookboonmee is trying to fight it off, but she ends up tapping! Amorim picks up the submission win.
Fight Result- Jaqueline Amorim def. Loma Lookboonmee by submission (armbar) at 4:04 of Round 1
> Featherweights- Zhu Kangjie (21-4 1 NC, 0-0 UFC) vs. Rodrigo Vera (21-1-1, 0-0 UFC)
Kangjie with a hard leg kick. They both land leg kicks at the same time. Kangjie lands to the body and both land a leg kick. Vera scores a takedown. Kangjie is able to get to his feet against the fence. Vera lands a knee as they separate. They trade leg kicks. Vera lands a left hook. Vera lands a big shot and Kangjie goes down. Vera starts landing on the mat and Kangjie is in lots of trouble and it is all over! Vera scores the big finish.
Fight Result- Rodrigo Vera def. Zhu Kangjie by knockout (punches) at 1:50 of Round 1
> Women’s Strawweights- #14 Angela Hill (18-16, 13-16 UFC) vs. Jingnan Xiong (19-2, 0-0 UFC)
Xiong lands a leg kick and Hill lands a punch that makes Xiong stumble. They clinch and Hill lands some knees against the fence. Hill lands a knee and Xiong connects with a combo as they break apart. They clinch back up and Xiong pushes Hill against the fence, but they break. Xiong lands a leg kick. Xiong lands and they clinch. Xiong with some body shots and Hill lands an elbow and some knees. They separate as Hill lands a head kick. They clinch again and Xiong lands a knee. They separate. Hill lands a flying knee followed by a right hand. Xiong with a spin kick to the body and then a right hand. They trade in close range. Hill with another flying knee and a high kick and then Xiong lands a pair of right hands. They trade before tying up. 10-9 Hill.
They trade kicks. Both land inside the pocket. Both are throwing punches and landing kicks. Hill lands a right hand and then a high kick. Xiong lands a big right hand with her back to the fence. Hill gets the clinch and scores a takedown into side control. Xiong scrambles out to her feet. Hill lands an elbow. Hill with a knee and they trade right hands. They trade in close range. Xiong with a combo and Hill fires back with a right hand. Xiong lands a spinning back fist. Hill lands a body kick. They trade inside the pocket as Xiong lands a rapid fire series of punches. They trade elbows. Hill lands a knee and grabs the neck for a guillotine choke. Xiong escapes and Hill lands a body kick. Hill with another knee. 10-9 Hill, 20-18 Hill.
Hill lands a knee. Hill is pressing forward and both connect. Hill lands a right hand. They trade in close range and Hill ends with a body kick. Xiong with a combo to the body. Hill connects with a right hand. Hill with a jumping knee. Xiong lands a spinning back fist. Xiong with a right hand. Hill with a leg kick followed by a jumping knee and a right hand. They trade in the pocket and Hill lands a pair of knees. Hill continues to press forward as both land. Hill gets the body lock against the fence. Hill landing from the back on the feet. They separate and Xiong lands a spinning elbow before they have an exchange to end it. 10-9 Hill, 30-27 Hill.
Fight Result- Angela Hill def. Jingnan Xiong by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Bantamweights- Rei Tsuruya (10-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Luis Gurule (11-3, 1-3 UFC)
Tsuruya works the jab and lands a left hand. Gurule with a right hand. Tsuruya hurts Gurule with a left hand and then grabs the back of Gurule. Tsuruya lands a knee as they go to the mat. Tsuruya with an elbow and then some big punches from the back. Gurule is covering up as Tsuruya is reigning down punches. Tsuruya is looking for a rear-naked choke. Gurule is able to escape as they get to their feet. Tsuruya has the back and gets a slam takedown, but they pop right up. Tsuruya jumps on the back and has a face crank on as they go to the mat and Gurule taps! Tsuruya picks up the submission win.
Fight Result- Rei Tsuruya def. Luis Gurule by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:19 of Round 1
> Bantamweights- Aoriqileng (26-12 1 NC, 4-4 1 NC UFC) vs. Cody Haddon (8-1, 1-0 UFC)
Aoriqileng lands a combo before Haddon scores a takedown. Haddon gets the back and starts working for a choke, but Aoriqileng is able to get free as Haddon lets go. Haddon landing from the top. Haddon starts landing some elbows and has Aoriqileng in trouble. Haddon with some more ground-and-pound as he’s landing lots of shots, though Aoriqileng is surviving. More big shots by Haddon as the round ends. 10-8 Haddon.
Haddon lands before looking for a takedown, but Aoriqileng defends. Haddon looks for it again, but Aoriqileng grabs the neck for a guillotine choke, but Haddon escapes. They get to their feet. Aoriqileng with an uppercut. Haddon gets the body lock and lands a knee and Aoriqileng goes down. Haddon starts landing lots of shots and it is all over! Haddon scores the big finish.
Fight Result- Cody Haddon def. Aoriqileng by TKO (strikes) at 2:11 of Round 2
> Welterweights- Ding Meng (35-9, 0-0 UFC) vs. Jose Souza (8-1, 0-0 UFC)
They trade leg kicks. Meng with a leg kick. Souza lands a leg kick. Souza lands a snap jab followed by a left hand and a right hand combination. Meng with an inside leg kick. They both land leg kicks at the same time. Meng with a leg kick. Meng with more leg kicks. Meng with more kicks as Souza lands a left hook. Souza with an uppercut. Meng lands a leg kick followed by a right hand. Meng with a right hand. Souza has switched stances and is slowing down as Meng lands another leg kick. 10-9 Meng.
Souza throws a kick, but Meng grabs it, though he lets go. Meng with a leg kick. Meng with a leg kick as he is chasing Souza around. They trade inside the pocket and Souza lands a big knee. Meng does land a counter left hook. Meng with an inside leg kick then another as Souza lands a jab. Souza lands a kick to the groin and timeout is called. They resume quickly. Meng with more leg kicks. Meng catches a kick and lands a leg kick. Souza with a left hand. Souza lands a jab and Meng with a leg kick and a few punches after. Meng with a body kick. 10-9 Meng, 20-18 Meng.
Souza with a body kick and Meng lands a right hand. Meng with more leg kicks. Meng lands a right hand. Meng with a leg kick. Meng lands a right hand. Souza with a left hand. Meng with a leg kick followed by another. Meng chasing Souza down and landing, though there is some damage around his eye. Meng lands a combo that backs Souza up. Souza is just circling around and not landing with much offense. Meng is missing a lot, though. Souza with a quick combo. Souza with a jab. 10-9 Souza, 29-28 Meng.
Fight Result- Jose Souza def. Ding Meng by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
> Middleweights- Yi Sak Lee (8-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Luis Felipe Dias (16-5, 0-0 UFC)
They trade leg kicks. Dias lands a combination. Dias with a right hand and Lee almost goes down, but is on shaky legs. Dias with a leg kick. They trade and Dias drops Lee with a right hand and finishes it off with several follow-up shots. What a finish by Dias!
Fight Result- Luis Felipe Dias def. Yi Sak Lee by TKO (punches) at 3:40 of Round 1
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> Flyweights- #11 Alex Perez (26-10, 8-6 UFC) vs. Sumudaerji (19-7, 6-4 UFC)
Perez comes out firing punches. Perez lands a right hand. Sumudaerji with a left hand to the body but Perez rushes in throwing. Sumudaerji lands a left hand then a leg kick. Perez with a right hand before he pushes Sumudaerji against the fence. Perez with some short knees. Sumudaerji lands an elbow as they break. Perez lands a flurry of punches. Sumudaerji with a high kick. Sumudaerji with a combo then he works the jab and lands a high kick. Timeout is called for an eye poke on Perez. They get right back to action. Perez comes out firing. He shoots for a takedown but Sumudaerji lands to defend. Perez shoots for a takedown, but Sumudaerji defends. Sumudaerji gets a takedown, but Perez rolls for a guillotine choke. Sumudaerji defends as the round ends. 10-9 Sumudaerji.
Sumudaerji drops Perez with a left hand. Sumudaerji starts landing from the top as Perez is defending. Sumudaerji gets to his feet and the referee orders Perez up. They trade and Perez looks to get Sumudaerji down, but he defends and they separate. Sumudaerji lands a kick to the groin and timeout is called. Perez is throwing up in a bucket, so, technically, this fight should be stopped. The fight is stopped after Perez is unable to continue following the five-minute timeout period.
Fight Result- Alex Perez vs. Sumudaerji ruled a no contest (accidental foul) at 1:45 of Round 2
> Welterweights- Jake Matthews (22-8, 15-8 UFC) vs. Carlston Harris (19-7, 4-3 UFC)
Matthews lands a combination. Harris fires back with punches. They both connect as Matthews comes in throwing. Both land again in close range. Matthews lands a right hand. Matthews lands a combo as Harris landed a leg kick. They clash heads before tying up. Matthews pushes it against the fence. They separate and Matthews lands a combination. Matthews wobbles Harris with a right hand. Matthews with an uppercut. Harris shoots for a takedown but Matthews defends. Matthews with a combination that connects. Both land and Matthews lands a big combination. Matthews with more big punches. Matthews lands two big right hands and they have a heavy exchange at the end. 10-9 Matthews.
Harris immediately shoots for a takedown, but Matthews defends and gets the mount. Matthews looks for a mounted triangle choke but ends up getting into side control. Matthews looks to attack the arm as he controls from the top. Matthews with some right hands. Matthews now looking to set up an arm-triangle choke. Harris looks for a guillotine choke from the bottom but Matthews easily pops his head out. Matthews lands from the half-guard. Matthews goes back for an arm-triangle choke but doesn’t have it fully locked on and lets go. Matthews back attacking an arm looking for a kimura. Harris lands an elbow to defend. 10-9 Matthews, 20-18 Matthews.
Harris lands a left hook. Matthews lands a right hand. Matthews lands a right hand and Harris goes down face first but he’s alert and Matthews gets on top. Matthews takes the back of Harris and lands as he has the body triangle locked on. Matthews ends up switching to controlling from the top. Matthews with an elbow from the top. Matthews with another elbow from the top as he’s controlling from the top. Matthews is pressuring Harris’ neck with his shoulder. Matthews gets the full mount. Matthews ends the fight on top. 10-9 Matthews, 30-27 Matthews.
Fight Result- Jake Matthews def. Carlston Harris by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27, 30-27)
> Bantamweights- Kai Asakura (21-6, 0-2 UFC) vs. Cameron Smotherman (12-6, 1-2 UFC)
Asakura with a heavy calf kick. Asakura with a high kick. Asakura with a right hand and more kicks. Smotherman lands a counter punch. Asakura lands a right hand and Smotherman goes down for a moment but gets up. Asakura pounces and drops Smotherman with a left hand and it is all over! What a knockout by Asakura!
Fight Result- Kai Asakura def. Cameron Smotherman by knockout (punches) at 1:50 of Round 1
> Heavyweights- #3 Sergei Pavlovich (20-3, 8-3 UFC) vs. #15 Tallison Teixeira (9-1, 2-1 UFC)
Pavlovich hurts Teixeira early with some big punches and they back up to the fence as Teixeira is having trouble standing up. Pavlovich lands a right hand and Teixeira goes down and Pavlovich finishes it with shots from the top. Quick finish by Pavlovich.
Fight Result- Sergei Pavlovich def. Tallison Teixeira by knockout (punches) at :39 of Round 1
> Light Heavyweights- Zhang Mingyang (19-7, 3-1 UFC) vs. #15 Alonzo Menifield (17-6-1, 10-6-1 UFC)
Mingyang with a high kick. Menifield lands a calf kick and then clips Mingyang with a couple of punches. They tie up and Menifield pushes Mingyang against the fence. Mingyang with a knee. Mingyang gets the underhooks and reverses position and lands some knees. Mingyang with more knees. They break apart and Menifield lands a flurry of big punches. Both men then connect with right hands. Menifield looks for a takedown against the fence. Mingyang lands a big elbow and Menifield is hurt. Menifield recovers and lands a big right hand and Mingyang goes down. Menifield lands big shots as they stand. Menifield with more big punches and Mingyang goes back down and Menifield finishes him off! What a finish by Menifield!
Fight Result- Alonzo Menifield def. Zhang Mingyang by TKO (strikes) at 4:15 of Round 1
> Bantamweights- #5 Song Yadong (22-9-1 1 NC, 11-4-1 UFC) vs. #7 Deiveson Figueiredo (25-6-1, 14-6-1 UFC)
They’re being patient more than a minute in. Yadong lands a few leg kicks while Figueiredo has done nothing until nearly two minutes in when he lands a body kick. Yadong with a couple more leg kicks. Figueiredo lands a body kick. Yadong with a jab to the body. Figueiredo lands a right hand. Figueiredo looks for a takedown but Yadong stuffs it. Figueiredo looks for a single leg but Yadong escapes and lands a leg kick. Figueiredo lands a body kick. Yadong slips on a kick and Figueiredo gets into the guard of Yadong. Figueiredo with some short punches from the top. 10-9 Yadong.
Figueiredo with a high kick. Yadong lands a right hand. Yadong lands a few punches as both are still feeling each other out. Yadong lands a big right hand. Yadong lands a heavy leg kick. Yadong with a right hand. Yadong lands a high kick after a quick scramble to the mat. Yadong with a jab and a leg kick. Yadong with a high kick. Yadong with a leg kick and Figueiredo gets a takedown, but Yadong quickly locks in a guillotine choke and Figueiredo taps! Yadong picks up the big main event win.
Fight Result- Song Yadong def. Deiveson Figueiredo by submission (guillotine choke) at 4:42 of Round 2
