Live, blow-by-blow updates for today’s UFC 219 preliminary card from Las Vegas, which is capped off with a featured light heavyweight tilt.
Join us today on Bloody Elbow for the final UFC PPV of the year, as we provide live results, discussion, round scoring, and play-by-play as UFC 219 kicks off from Las Vegas, Nevada.
The top of the UFC 219 billing will witness Cris Cyborg look to defend her featherweight belt against the UFC’s former bantamweight queen Holly Holm. The co-main event on the evening will involve Top-5 lightweights as the #2 Khabib Nurmagomedov squares off with the #4 Edson barboza.
This post will cover the UFC 219 preliminary card. The featured prelim bout involves light heavyweights Khalil Rountree and Michal Oleksiejczuk going to war, with Tim Elliot and Mark De La Rosa opening up the card in the bantamweight division.
Live results and play-by-play will commence with the Fight Pass broadcast at 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT for one fight. Then, things move to FS1 at 8pm ET/5pm PT. The full lineup and schedule follows, and the main card will be covered in a separate post.
FS1 Prelims: 8:00pm ET
Khalil Rountree vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk: Light Heavyweight
Myles Jury vs. Rick Glenn: Featherweight
Omari Akhmedov vs. Marvin Vettori: Middleweight
Louis Smolka vs. Matheus Nicolau: Flyweight
Rd.1-
The flyweights went right at each other with Nicolau landing a heavy left hook early that got his opponent’s attention. Nicolau again stuns Smolka with a hard right hand. Smolka presses forward but eats a huge left hook that sits him down. Nicolau follows his foe to the ground looking to finish, but seemed to only allow Smolka to recover. Nicolau allows Smolka back to his feet, just to sit him back down with a left right combo. Nicolau again follows his foe to the ground to finish, locking up an Arm triangle. Smolka hangs tough and escapes the hold to return to his feet. Nicolau continues to land in the pocket with another left hook sending Smolka stumbling across the cage. Another left hook floors Smolka but the round comes to a close.
10-8 Nicolau
Rd.2-
Smolka lands a solid leg kick to start the second stanza. Nicolau returns to his left hook that seems to stagger Smolka whenever it touches him. Smolka continues to press forward but continues to eat punches in the pocket. Smolka returns to the leg kick in an attempt to slow down his opponent. Nicolau rips a left hook to the body and then comes over the top with a hook to the face. Smolka returns the favor and lands a body hook of his own. A cut has been opened up in the middle of Smolka’s eyes but it doesn’t appear to be affecting his vision. Nicolau returns to the body head hook combo, and Smolka returns with a body kick to right cross. Smolka steps in with a side kick but eats a final combo before the bell sounds.
10-9 Nicolau
Rd.3–
Smolka appears to be the fresher of the two athletes to start the final round. Nicolau catches a kick and scores a takedown, but allows Smolka to return to his feet. A strong jab to the midsection lands for Nicolau, and as Smolka looks to return the favor, Nicolau blasts a double leg takedown. Nicolau allows his opponent back to his feet and lands a cross hook combo. Nicolau times another takedown and lands a few short shots to the ribs before scrambling to the back. Nicolau rolls for a last second Armbar but Smolka quickly escapes and that’s the fight.
10-9 Nicolau (30-26 Nicolau)
- Matheus Nicolau def. Louis Smolka by Unanimous Decision (30-26 x2, 30-25)
Fight Pass prelim: 7:30pm ET
Tim Elliott vs. Mark De La Rosa: Bantamweight
Rd.1-
Elliot opens up with a side kick to the gut followed by a takedown attempt. De La Rosa jumps a Guillotine but Eliiot is quick to escape and take top control. De La Rosa rolls for an Armbar and Elliot remains before picking up his foe and slamming him. De La Rosa maintains the hold, until Elliot again slams his opponent, but this time getting free. Elliot lands a clean elbow from the top and De La Rosa closes up the full guard. A short left elbow scores for Elliot, as De La Rosa looks for another Armbar. The short left elbow of Elliot again finds a home, and the UFC veteran continues to control. Elliot rolls for a Guillotine into the full mount, before taking the back. De La Rosa turns over inside the guard of his enemy but Elliot regains top control before the round expires.
10-9 Elliot
Rd.2-
De La Rosa starts the round with a takedown attempt with Elliot using an Anaconda attempt to find top position. In a scramble, it appears as if Elliot motions to the referee about De La Rosa biting him, but the official does nothing. De La Rosa throws up a Triangle attempt, but Elliot spins out and locks up a super tight Anaconda Choke.
- Tim Elliot def. Mark De La Rosa by Submission (Anaconda) at 1:41 of round 2