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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to its state-of-the-art APEX facility TONIGHT (Sat., Aug. 22, 2020) in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the UFC Vegas 8 mixed martial arts (MMA) event, topped by a light heavyweight showdown between ex-title contender Anthony Smith and up-and-coming bruiser Aleksandar Rakic. Elsewhere on the main card, which airs exclusively on ESPN+, former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler tangles with longtime 170-pound veteran Neil Magny. In addition, Ricardo Lamas returns to featherweight action opposite late replacement Bill Algeo, while Magomed Ankalaev and Ion Cutelaba go to war at 205 pounds.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 8 fight card below, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” undercard bouts at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the ESPN+ main card start time at 9 p.m. ET.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Smith vs. Rakic.” Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC Vegas 8 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC VEGAS 8 QUICK RESULTS:
Anthony Smith vs. Aleksandar Rakic — Rakic def. Smith by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27 x2)
Robbie Lawler vs. Neil Magny — Magny def. Lawler by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Alexa Grasso vs. Ji Yeon Kim — Grasso def. Kim by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Ricardo Lamas vs. Bill Algeo — Lamas def. Algeo by unanimous decision (29-27 x3)Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba CANCELLED DUE TO POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST
Maki Pitolo vs. Impa Kasanganay — Kasanganay def. Pitolo by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Alessio Di Chirico vs. Zak Cummings — Cummings def. Di Chirico by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
Alex Caceres vs. Austin Springer — Caceres def. Springer by submission (rear naked choke) at 3:38 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS HERE!
Sean Brady vs. Christian Aguilera — Brady def. Aguilera by technical submission (guillotine choke) at 1:47 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS HERE!
Polyana Viana vs. Emily Whitmire — Viana def. Whitmire by submission (armbar) at 1:53 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS HERE!
Mallory Martin vs. Hannah Cifers — Martins def. Cifers by submission (rear naked choke) at 1:33 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS HERE!
UFC VEGAS 8 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
205 lbs.: Anthony Smith vs. Aleksandar Rakic
Round 1: Body kick and low kicks from Rakic to start. Smith lands a leg kick, eats a body kick. Smith already feeling the calf kicks, but still landing his own. Rakic follows up with a body kick. One minute in. Two more huge calf kicks and Smith goes down. Rakic sprawls on him and punches his body. Smith looks for the back, manages to latch on and get a hook in. Rakic slips out the back door and sprawls on the shot two minutes in. He ends up on top in guard. Two minutes to go.
Smith trying to bring his guard up. Short punches by Rakic with a minute to go. Smith swats him with a left, still stuck on his back. Hard right hand from Rakic. 10-9 Rakic.
Round 2: Rakic goes right back to the low kicks, then ESPN+ dies as they tie up. When the stream returns, Rakic shoves him to the mat and settles in guard. One minute in. Rakic chipping away from full guard. Two minutes in. Smith not offering much off of his back so far. He scoots to the fence. Two minutes to go.
More punches from Rakic. One minute to go. More of the same until the bell. 10-9 Rakic.
Round 3: Smith answers a low kick with a right hand, but he’s having trouble moving. Rakic opens up with heavy kicks and a knee, but gets tied up. Smith looks for the back, ends up on the bottom against the fence. One minute in. Rakic landing short punches from half guard. Smith gets to his knees. Two minutes in. Knees from Rakic as Smith works to stand. Two minutes to go.
More knees to the thigh from Rakic. Smith stuck on his knees and unable to do anything at the moment. Rakic drags him down into guard. One minute to go. He postures up for a few heavier punches. Rakic stands, either celebrating prematurely, or thinking that the 10-second clapper was the bell, and Smith fails to capitalize. 10-9 Rakic.
Final result: Rakic def. Smith by unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Robbie Lawler vs. Neil Magny
Round 1: Lawler looking aggressive, lands a left to the body and changes levels. Magny sprawls on it. One minute in. Now looking to set up a d’arce. Loses it, punches the body as he sprawls. Now looking for the back, gets a hook in as Lawler stands. Two minutes in. Can’t get the other hook in, staying attached on the fence. He drags Lawler down, loses position with two minutes to go.
Lawler on top in half guard. Magny gets to his feet, lands shoulder strikes inside. He lands an elbow and changes levels, putting Lawler on his butt. Lawler gets to his knees, One minute to go. Magny wearing on him from the front headlock. Punches and elbows to the body. 10-9 Magny.
Round 2: Lawler still on the advance. Left hand goes high. Magny fires a body kick and takes him to the fence, changing levels for another takedown into half guard. One minute in. He steps over into back mount and gets both hooks in. Short punches from Magny. Two minutes in. Looking to switch to an arm triangle, then back to hunting the RNC. He removes a hook to look for a twister, doesn’t look like it’s there. Lawler looking for elbows. Two minutes to go.
Lawler tries to stand, muscled back down. One hook in for Magny, looking for the choke but doesn’t have the angle. Lawler stands, eats an elbow and knees with a minute to go. Magny lands a two-piece on the exit. 1-2-2-1 from Magny. Lawler advancing as Magny circles, eats a jab. 10-9 Magny.
Round 3: Magny lands a front kick downstairs. Good right hook by Lawler prompts Magny to pull guard. One minute in. Magny just holding tight. Ref stands them up. Lawler coming on aggressively. Body shot and knee by Lawler, Magny comes back with a head kick and right cross. Magny takes him to the fence, looks for a single-leg, drags him down and tries to take the back again. Lawler makes it to his feet. Hard clinch knees by Magny. They separate. Lawler back on the advance as Magny picks away with kicks. Two minutes to go.
Combinations landing for Magny, then a clean knee to the head. Double jab connects, circling along the fence. He ties up, fires knees downstairs. One minute to go. Elbows from Magny. He gets a bit of space, fires combinations, backed off by a Lawler head kick. Hard right by Lawler against the fence. Magny shoves him away, lands a combo. Front kick to jab. Lawler tries head kicks, can’t reach him. 10-9 Magny.
Final result: Magny def. Lawler by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Alexa Grasso vs. Ji Yeon Kim
Round 1: Low kick from Grasso to start. Right cross lands for her, then another leg kick. Kim with a nice left hook as they trade. Counter right lands for Grasso. Jab exchange. One minute in. Sharp 1-2 lands for Grasso. Stiff jab. Kim looks for counters, takes a leg kick. Two minutes in. Jab exchange, combination by Grasso in the center. They trade, hard left lands for Kim. Right hand from Kim answers a Grasso leg kick. Two minutes to go.
Grasso with a 1-2 downstairs. Kim with a good right hand, gets knocked back by a combination. Grasso blocks a 1-2, lands a body kick. They trade combinations, then jabs. One minute to go. More trades in center cage. Grasso body kick. Big 2-1 and body kick land for her. Kim looking to throw back. Straight right from Grasso. Stiff jab. 10-9 Grasso.
Round 2: Back to the exchanges in the center. Right cross from Kim. Grasso 1-2, then another right cross. Grasso tries a body kick. Grasso cross, Kim uppercut as they trade. Low kick from Kim. Grasso with a 1-2 downstairs. Two minutes in. Low-high combo lands for Grasso, who eats a jab in return. Grasso considers a spin. Counter hook and 1-2 from Kim. Grasso low kick and right cross. Kim throwing back. Clean combo by Grasso with two minutes to go.
Low kick connects. Another combo by Grasso. Big lead right. Yet another hard right but Kim just eats it and throws back. Superman punch by Grasso. One minute to go. Counter 2-1. Grasso lands a jab, goes low-high. Cross counter stings Kim, who knocks her back with a left on the break. Another right cross by Grasso. Kim lands a couple low kicks. 10-9 Grasso.
Round 3: Low kick from Grasso as she avoids a cross. Body shots. Counter right. One minute in. 1-2 from Grasso and she changes levels, avoiding a guillotine in the process. They separate. They trade, left hook by Grasso. Kim with a heavy right hand in return but gets cracked with a 2-3. Kim 1-2, eats counters. Two minutes in. Kim continuing to pressure but getting picked off. She puts Grasso on the fence. Jockeying for position. Two minutes to go.
Kim pressing her against the fence, lands short knees to the thigh. Grasso takes her to another part of the fence and outside trips her into half guard. One minute to go. Right hands from Grasso. Some nasty elbows as well. 10-9 Grasso.
Final result: Grasso def. Kim by unanimous decision
145 lbs.: Ricardo Lamas vs. Bill Algeo
Round 1: Algeo lands an early knee and gets caught in a front headlock for a bit. Side kick from Lamas, then a low kick and left hook behind it. Jab by Lamas a minute in. They trade jabs. Algeo marches forward with a combination and takes him to the fence. Lamas reverses, gets reversed in turn as Algeo gets double underhooks. They separate. Algeo with a straight right two minutes in. Lamas lands a side kick and calf kick. Jumping front kick to the body. Straight left met by an Algeo low kick. Algeo front kick, eats a jab and low kick in return. Two minutes to go.
Lamas with an uppercut and the head kick behind it just misses. Head kick to left hook appears to sting Algeo. Lamas 1-2, Algeo left hook. Lamas answers a combination with jabs. Heavy left hook catches Algeo throwing. Lamas with a low kick to left hook, then a counter left. Another calf kick with a minute to go. Straight right by Lamas. One minute to go. Head kick attempt, jumping front kick. Algeo marches forward with a left hook and spinning back kick. Knee to the body, eats a low kick in return. Lamas continues to ding the lead calf but Algeo comes on with a combination in the waning seconds. 10-9 Lamas.
Round 2: Algeo tries to answer a side kick with head kicks. Lamas body kick, then a clean right by Algeo in return. Lamas with a nice level change, grabs a rear waist lock, and drags him to the mat. Algeo sits through and stands. Counters from Algeo, then a combination. Hard elbow met by a Lamas left hook. Algeo presses forward with another combination, tries a head kick. He sprawls on a shot and is taken to teh fence. Looking for elbows as he defends. They jockey for position two minutes in and Lamas changes levels. More elbows to the body by Algeo. Lamas tries a spinning elbow on the break, lands a jab, tries to shoot again. Body knee by Algeo and he wobbles Lamas witha knee, then takes him down. Lamas scrambles out and latches onto a headlock with two minutes to go.
They return to the feet and Lamas puts him on the fence. One minute to go. Lamas with a low kick after they separate. Low kick exchange. Straight right lands for Lamas. Lead-leg hook kick, another calf kick. 10-9 Algeo.
Round 3: Lamas tries head kicks, lands a side kick. Algeo fires some kicks in return, tries to spin. Trading low kicks. Jumping front kick from Lamas met by counters. Lamas just misses with a Brazilian kick. Another head kick gets blocked. Algeo forces him back with a combo, lands a calf kick. Lamas changes levels a minute in. It takes a bit, but he drags Algeo into guard and starts dropping elbows. Algeo throwing some of his own off his back. Algeo turns to his knees, eats punches in turtle position two minutes in. Nasty elbows from Lamas, continuing to land as Algeo looks to get out of a bad spot. Two minutes to go.
Algeo manages to scramble up and Lamas dumps him right back down. One hook in, drops it. More punches by Lamas. Algeo back up, back down. Both hooks in for Lamas this time. Looking to transition to an arm triangle. One minute to go. Elbow misses after he abandons the choke. Now he flattens Algeo out and starts blasting with punches and elbows. 10-8 Lamas.
Final result: Lamas def. Algeo by unanimous decision
205 lbs.: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Final result:
185 lbs.: Maki Pitolo vs. Impa Kasanganay
Round 1: Low kick lands for Kasanganay. Pitolo lands a heavy combination behind a front kick. Two-piece lands for Pitolo, brief clinch. Body kick. Kasanganay calf kick. One minute in. Kasanganay to the body. Pitolo with a double left hook, then goes to the body. More body shots, then a counter right. Kasanganay tanks it and throws back. Two minutes in. Low kick from Pitolo, switching stance. Kasanganay to the body, avoids a 1-2. They trade left hooks and Pitolo opens up, prompting Kasanganay to take him to the fence. Pitolo frames, separates, and tries a head kick. Kasanganay bangs the body as Pitolo looks for combos. Two minutes to go.
They trade in the center. Kasanganay misses with his first overhand right, then lands the next one. Pitolo manages to roll with it. Head kick from Pitolo just blocked. Uppercut in combination. 1-2-3 by Pitolo, but Kasanganay tears into him against the fence, opening up a cut. Pitolo blocks and separates. Jab and uppercut by Pitolo, caught with another overhand. Kasanganay throwing more right hands, knocks him back with an uppercut. 10-9 Kasanganay.
Round 2: Front kick, right hand, and left hook from Kasanganay. Pitolo tries a front kick, eats an overhand right. Another overhand, Pitolo rolls with this one and tries to spin. One minute in. Kasanganay slowly advancing. Jab exchange. Pitolo catches a front kick, can’t use it. Low kick lands for him. Two minutes in. Kasanganay ducks a left hook. Both land jabs. More jabs from Kasanganay. Heavy left hook stings Kasanganay, who tries to open up on the fence. Combinations from Pitolo and he avoids a head kick. Kasanganay ties up with two minutes to go.
Pitolo reverses and hauls him to another part of the fence. Kasanganay with an elbow on the break. Left hook lands for him. Pitolo comes back with a combination. One minute to go. Overhand left lands for Kasanganay. Pitolo looking for jabs, lands a cross. Kasanganay lands a hard elbow on the break and a 1-2 behind it. He fakes a shot. Straight right and overhand by Pitolo, looking for combos at the end. Kasanganay lands a reaching left hook. 10-9 Kasanganay.
Round 3: 3-2 connects for Pitolo, who eats a leg kick. Big left hook by Kasanganay, then a heavy overhand right. Pitolo with a sharp left hook, then one to the body. Another overhand by Kasanganay. Counter right. One minute in. Kasanganay goes low-high with a two-piece. Long right hand. Counter left. Pitolo tries to spin and they pause to take the loose tape off his gauged ear. Two minutes in. Pitolo circling, Kasanganay advancing. Kasanganay swings big on the fence. Pitolo head kick falls short. Jab exchange. Two minutes to go.
Kasanganay front kick met by jabs. Left hook by Kasanganay, 1-2 blocked. Another 1-2. They trade in the center. One minute to go. Kasanganay tries a head kick. 1-2 from Pitolo met by a cracking overhand right. Pitolo left hook. 10-9 Kasanganay.
Final result: Kasanganay def. Pitolo by unanimous decision
185 lbs.: Alessio Di Chirico vs. Zak Cummings
Round 1: Cummings southpaw, Di Chirico orthodox. Low kick from Di Chirico. They trade near the fence. Another exchange. One minute in. Di Chirico head kick blocked and he takes a low kick in return. Lots of prodding with their lead hands. Di Chirico leg kick, looks for counters. Two minutes in. Di Chirico briefly looks for a single-leg after Cummings switches stance. Brutal counter 2-3 lands for the Italian. Right hook from Cummings. Two minutes to go.
Cummings lands a low kick, eats a jab downstairs. Overhand left blocked. Di Chirico pops him with a jab. One minute to go. Cummings answers a leg kick with a 1-2. Di Chirico feints a level change, cracks him with a left hook as Cummings overextends. Two more nasty lefts by Di Chirico and a right hook behind it. Yet another big left draws a smile at the bell. 10-9 Di Chirico.
Round 2: Di Chirico continuing to circle. Cummings leg kick, then a jab met by a low kick in return a minute in. Cummings wings a glancing left. Di Chirico tries a head kick. Cummings with some counter lefts two minutes in. Di Chirico jabs the body and they trade in the center. More lead-hand fighting. Two minutes to go.
Cummings tries a head kick, then a left hook behind it. Both try hooks. Both swing in the center. Right cross lands for Di Chirico. Overhand left by Cummings against the fence. One minute to go. Di Chirico lands a jab. Good exchange, Cummings sending out hard lefts. Low kick catches Di Chirico throwing. Both swing big in the waning seconds. 10-9 Cummings.
Round 3: Straight left lands for Cummings to start things off. Low kick exchange. Cummings with a left to the body. Jab upstairs a minute in. Di Chirico lands a hard counter left. Both swinging heavy and Cummings backs him off with a straight left. Di Chirico just misses with a head kick. Body jab. Two minutes in. Teep and low kick by Cummings, eats a left hook in return. Di Chirico throws hard on the counter. Di Chirico leg kick, Cummings combination. Two minutes to go.
Both fire their power hands. Cummings body kick. Standing hammerfist attempt. Low kick catches Di Chirico in the nards.One minute to go. Straight left by Cummings, eats a right hand in return. Hard counter left knocks Di Chirico back. Another left connects. Di Chirico marches forward, eats a jab, gets dinged by a leg kick. More left hands by Cummings. Di Chirico charges and gets floored by a left head kick at the bell. Di Chirico rises, walks to his corner, falls again, but they don’t wave it off. 10-9 Cummings.
Final result:
145 lbs.: Alex Caceres vs. Austin Springer
Round 1: Springer opens with leg kicks, leans directly into a head kick. He tries to tie up, can’t get anything, lands another leg kick. Brief clinch. More low kicks a minute in. Springer tries some spinning stuff. Caceres fires a straight left, takes a glancing spinning back kick. Two minutes in. Counter left from Caceres as he takes another low kick. Check hook, then another hook behind it. Both land low kicks. Two minutes to go.
Springer reaching in a lot with his punches, eats counters. Caceres goes to the body, then catches Springer shooting with a left hand. Caceres sprawls, transitions to the back, and immediately wraps up the RNC,
Final result: Caceres def. Springer by submission (rear naked choke)
170 lbs.: Sean Brady vs. Christian Aguilera
Round 1: Brady low kick, Aguilera jabs. Picking away at one another, no major connections yet. Left hook catches Aguilera leaning. Low kicks from Aguilera. One minute in. Jab lands for Brady, counter hook. Aguilera on the front foot. Jab lands for him. Two minutes in. Check hook lands for Brady again. Inside low kicks, left hook. Aguilera with an outside leg kick, simultaneous kicks soon after. Two-piece lands for Brady. Two minutes to go.
Another leg kick by Brady, met by a hard right cross. Low kicks from Aguilera. Brady shoots behind a combination and dumps him into guard against the fence. Solid punches by Brady, moving to half guard. 10-9 Brady.
Round 2: They trade left hands early. Good hook by Aguilera. Brady catches a low kick and takes him down into half guard. One minute in. Brady steps into mount, grabs a guillotine, and cranks hard. Aguilera fights for his life, but it’s not enough, and out he goes.
Final result: Brady def. Aguilera by technical submission (guillotine choke)
115 lbs.: Polyana Viana vs. Emily Whitmire
Round 1: They start the round trading in the center. Both land leg kicks. Low kick to hard right hand by Viana, who gets taken down into side control. One minute in. Viana tries to elevate her, lands elbows from her back. She overhooks Whitmire’s arm and latches onto an armbar, which draws a yelp and tap for the finish.
Final result: Viana def. Whitmire by submission (armbar)
115 lbs.: Mallory Martin vs. Hannah Cifers
Round 1: Cifers circling early. Martin fires a 1-2. They trade right hands. Cifers to the body and they trade in the center a minute in. 2-3 from Martin. Uppercut connects. Low kick lands for Cifers, then body shots. Met by counters. Two minutes in. Cifers continuing to target the midsection, gets popped by a jab. Low kick lands. Hard right cross lands for Martin in the center. 2-1 soon after, met by body shots. Cifers comes back with an overhand right that floors Martin, then appears to put her out for an instant on the ground. Martin manages to survive and get to her feet, where Cifers continues to unloads. Two minutes to go.
Ref tells Martin to fight back and Martin shoots. Another shot, then pulls guard. One minute to go. Cifers picks her up and slams her, then looks for punches. Martin ties her back up. She threatens an armbar, denied. Cifers lets her up and Martin circles away. 10-8 Cifers.
Round 2: Martin moving forward, lands a right cross. She takes Cifers to the fence. Outside trip puts her on top and she immediately starts landing short left hands. Cifers sporting a cut a minute in. More punches from Martin and she takes mount. Elbows now, hard punches, and she takes the back. She goes palm-to-palm for the rear naked choke and there’s the comeback submission.
Final result: Martin def. Cifers by submission (rear naked choke)