Live, blow-by-blow updates for today’s UFC event in Canada, which is headlined by a lightweight tilt between Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone vs. Al Iaquinta.
Join us today (Saturday, May 4th) on Bloody Elbow for live results, discussion, round scoring and play-by-play (for the main card) as UFC on ESPN+ 9: Cerrone vs. Iaquinta takes place in the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
The UFC Ottawa headliner will see a lightweight matchup between long-time UFC veterans Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and “Rain” Al Iaquinta. Cerrone will looking to make it three-straight victories where Iaquinta is looking for back-to-back wins. Before that in the co-main slot, the promotion’s #9 ranked middleweight Derek Brunson meets the #13 ranked Elias Theodorou. Brunson will be attempting to snap a two-fight losing skid, and Theodorou is looking to extend his winning wave to four-straight.
Today’s event is in Canada, so it’s on at a standard time in North America. The six-fight preliminary card kicks off at 5pm ET/2pm PT on ESPN+. The six-fight main card, for which play-by-play will be provided, is scheduled to start at 8pm ET/5pm PT.
Main card: (8 PM ET, ESPN+)
Donald Cerrone vs. Al Iaquinta: Lightweight
Rd.1-
Derek Brunson vs. Elias Theodorou: Middleweight
Rd.1-
Head kick misses for Theodorou, and another. They clinch up. A knee to the body from Theodorou, and an uppercut. They break apart. Inside leg kick from Theodorou. Brunson gets a takedown into full mount. He takes the back. Theodorou stands up but gets yoked back down. Brunson is all over Theodorou and works for a rear-naked choke. Theodorou escapes and stands to his feet. From the clinch, Theodorou scores with knees to the body. The separate. Brunson clinches up and eats a body knee. Theodorou returns to open space. Brunson throws a flurry but Theodorou moves his head. Inside leg kick again for Theodorou. Spinning backfist is blocked by Brunson. Sparta kick from Theodorou. They stare at each other for the final moments.
10-9 Theodorou
Rd.2-
Cross hook lands for Theodorou. Brunson blocks a head kick. Jumping head kick partially lands for Brunson. Theodorou stuffs the takedown. Theodorou whiffs a haymaker. Outside leg kick scores for Theodorou. Brunson throws one jab. Leg kick for Brunson hits the mark. Inside leg kick from Theodorou. They both whiff right hands. A jab misses for Brunson and a head kick misses for Theodorou. The crowd is booing. Head kick is partially blocked by Theodorou. Big liver kick scored for Brunson but Theodorou wears it well. Theodorou spins and eats a left hook because of it. Brunson partially scores with another jumping head kick. Brunson presses Theodorou against the cage. They return to open space and exchange leg kicks. The crowd boos.
10-9 Theodorou
Rd.2-
They exchange jabs. Brunson goes for a single leg but fails. Theodorou lands an overhand left. Jab for Theodorou. Brunson closes the distance and spins to the back. He gets the takedown. Theodorou stands to his feet. Brunson muscles another takedown but Theodorou is right back up. Inside leg kick for Brunson. Out of nowhere Brunson lifts Theodorou over his shoulder and slams him into the canvas. The crowd erupts. Theodorou is quick to stand back up. Left hook lands for Theodorou. A cross hits for Brunson and a one-two. Theodorou flails a spinning backfist. They both whiff strikes. The crowd boos.
10-9 Brunson
- Derek Brunson def. Elias Theodorou by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2): Middleweight
Cub Swanson vs. Shane Burgos: Featherweight
Rd.1-
Jab is thrown out by Burgos and then a teep. Cross whiffs as Swanson moves his head. Jab for Swanson, and a leg kick scores. Hook-cross misses for Swanson. They exchange leg kicks. Burgos pumps the jab. Jab for Swanson. Body cross hits for Swanson. A cross backs off Swanson. Body hook for Burgos lands and then a jab upstairs. A check hook for Burgos lands. A series of right hands land for Swanson. They exchange leg kicks. Tit for tat, they trade. Leg kick for Burgos, cross from Swanson.
10-9 Swanson?
Rd.2-
Swanson pumps his jab and throws a one-two. Burgos throws his own. They exchange leg kicks. Cross from Burgos hits and a hook from Swanson. Uppercut almost knocks out the mouthpiece of Swanson. Head kick is partially blocked by Burgos. Swanson flurries but misses. Cross hook for Burgos, and then another uppercut. Swanson throws his own uppercut. A wide right misses for Swanson. Inside leg kick lands for Burgos. A set of jabs connect for. Swanson. Jab by Burgos. Body cross from Swanson. Back and forth they go, going technique for technique. Inside leg kick for Burgos. They swap a series of jabs. Again, strike for strike. Burgos walks down Swanson and unloads a flurry, mostly blocked. Head kick is blocked by Swanson.
10-9 Burgos
Rd.3-
Swanson starts strong backing up Burgos. Keep from Burgos but Swanson is coming. They trade jabs. Cross for Swanson connects and he moves his head out of the way of a Burgos counter. Swanson switches gear and shoots in. He takes the back while both still standing. Swanson drops a series of huge knees to the leg. Burgos is struggling to find separation. Back elbows miss for Burgos. More knees to the thigh from Swanson. Burgos gets free. Inside leg kick from Swanson and a jab from Burgos. Cross to left uppercut just misses for Burgos. Knee to the body hits for Burgos and then a leg kick. Body punch from Burgos. He’s turning it up. Leaping hook misses for Swanson. Straights are tagging Swanson. Right hand connects for Swanson and he attempts a takedown. Burgos stays vertical. Big kick for Burgos hits and then a flying knee partially lands.
10-9 Swanson?
- Shane Burgos def. Cub Swanson by split decision (30-27, 29-28, 27-30): Featherweight
Brad Katona vs. Merab Dvalishvili: Bantamweight
Rd.1-
No touch of gloves from Katona. Dvalishvili misses with a spinning kick. Side kick misses but a leg kick scores for Dvalishvili. They exchange leg kicks. Dvalishvili feints a flying knee. Left hook for Katona and then a leg kick. Two-piece for Dvalishvili. Cross lands for Dvalishvili. Jab lands for Dvalishvili and then he scores a takedown. He stands back up. Katona leaps in with a hook and shoots a takedown. They end up against the cage. Knee to the thigh for Katona and then a short punch to the face. Dvalishvili hits an outside trip into half guard. Katona gains full guard. Several punches from the top land for Dvalishvili.
10-9 Dvalishvili
Rd.2-
Dvalishvili hits a takedown into guard. Katona wraps up a guillotine with one arm, bails. Short body punches set up a pass into half guard for Dvalishvili. Katona regains full guard. A single punch to the face lands for Dvalishvili followed by more controlling. The crowd starts to boo. The referee stands them up. Spinning kick misses by a mile for Dvalishvili. Left hand lands for Dvalishvili but Katona gets double unders. Knee to the thigh for Katona and then one to the head. Dvalishvili hits a trip to end the round on top.
10-9 Dvalishvili
Rd.3-
Lead head kick misses for Katona. A cross lands for him. A lunging elbow misses for Katona. Dvalishvili shoots in and presses Katona against the fence. Katona stays vertical with a wizzer. Katona lands a body kick and then defends a takedown attempt. Dvalishvili is bleeding around his left eye. Big overhand right whiffs for Katona. Dvalishvili gets the takedown. Katona works for a triangle. Dvalishvili postures up and drops a series of punches. Hard body shots land for Dvalishvili and then he goes upstairs. Katona rolls for a leg. Dvalishvili drops mean hammerfists. Katona sits up and goes for a takedown. Dvalishvili sprawls.
10-9 Dvalishvili
- Merab Dvalishvili def. Brad Katona by unanimous decision (30-27 x3): Bantamweight
Walt Harris vs. Sergey Spivak: Heavyweight
Rd.1-
Cross hook misses for Harris but he’s not done throwing. He throws a three-piece and lands. Right-left-right left. Two knees to the face score. Two more punches get through and Spivak drops. Harris unleashes savage ground and pound and Spivak just covers up. It’s over!
- Walt Harris def. Sergey Spivak by TKO at :50 of round 1: Heavyweight
Andrew Sanchez vs. Marc-Andre Barriault: Middleweight
Rd.1-
Inside leg kick from Sanchez followed by a single leg. Sanchez works to solidify the position. Barriault’s arm is trapped behind is back. Sanchez lands a couple of punches before adjusting the position. Barriault lands a sneaky elbow from the bottom. A series of punches score Sanchez, followed by more control. Two more punches hit their mark. Barriault gets to one knee and then stands up with his back still to the fence. Knee to the thigh lands and then one to the head for Sanchez. And another set of knees before Sanchez breaks off into open space. Head kick misses for Sanchez. Left hook misses for Barriault and then the right. Sanchez explodes with a takedown but Barriault stands right up. Body kick lands for Sanchez. Barriault misses a right hand
10-9 Sanchez
Rd.2-
Cross misses for Sanchez and Barriault whiffs on an overhand right, and again. Sanchez shoots in but Barriault stays vertical and enters the clinch. A couple of knees to the body hit for Sanchez. Keep lands for Sanchez. Stiff cross lands for Barriault and then he blocks a head kick. One-two misses for Sanchez but a body kick hits. Sanchez stumbles. Sanchez enters the clinch and lands a body knee. They break apart and Barriault lands a flurry. Sanchez presses him against the fence, but eats a series of uppercuts. They separate. Sanchez pumps his jab and then misses big with a spinning backfist. Barriault lands a two-piece and then another. A big left hook scores for Barriault. He lets loose a crazy flurry with Sanchez covering up. The crowd is going nuts! Ten seconds sticks. Barriault is going for it!
10-9 Barriault
Rd.3-
Sanchez looks a bit weary to start. Barriault misses an overhand right. Left hook for Barriault and then a body kick scores for Sanchez. A three-piece combo lands for Sanchez. He shoots a single leg but Barriault stays on his feet. Sanchez presses Barriault against the fence and continues to hunt for the takedown. He gets it. Two elbows to the back hit for Barriault. Sanchez controls. Barriault stands up but is taken back down. Barriault is up again. Two short punches land for Barriault and a knee to the body for Sanchez. A brief ninja choke attempt from Barriault. Sanchez works for the takedown. Barriault stays vertical. Barriault jumps a guillotine with ten seconds left. Doesn’t get it.
10-9 Sanchez
- Andrew Sanchez def. Marc-Andre Barriault by unanimous decision (29-28 x3): Middleweight
Prelims: (5 PM ET, ESPN+)
- Macy Chiasson def. Sarah Moras by TKO at 2:22 of round 2: (W) Bantamweight
- Vince Morales def. Aiemann Zahabi by unanimous decision (29-28 x3): Bantamweight
- Nordine Taleb def. Kyle Prepolec by unanimous decision (30-27 x3): Welterweight
- Matt Sayles def. Kyle Nelson by submission (Arm Triangle) at 3:16 of round 3: Featherweight
- Arjan Bhullar def. Juan Adams by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2): Heavyweight
- Cole Smith def. Mitch Gagnon by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2): Bantamweight