Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the Noche UFC mixed martial arts (MMA) event TONIGHT (Sat., Sept. 16, 2023), streaming LIVE on ESPN+. Noche UFC will be headlined by the 125-pound rematch between newly-crowned flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and former division titleholder, Valentina Shevchenko. Before that five-round clash of styles gets underway, welterweight up-and-comer, Jack Della Maddalena, collides with 170-pound “Trailblazer” Kevin Holland in the Noche UFC co-main event. Elsewhere on the card, bantamweight wunderkind Raul Rosas Jr. returns to exchange leather with 135-pound sophomore Terrence Mitchell.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire Noche UFC fight card below, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” undercard bouts at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the ESPN+ main card start time at 10 p.m. ET. Bet on all the Noche UFC action with our friends at DraftKings Sportsbook right here.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2.” Without further delay, see below for the updated Noche UFC results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action).
NOCHE UFC QUICK RESULTS:
Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko — Split draw
Jack Della Maddalena vs. Kevin Holland — Della Maddalena def. Holland by split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)
Terrence Mitchell vs. Raul Rosas Jr. — Rosas def. Mitchell by TKO (punches) at 0:54 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Christos Giagos vs. Daniel Zellhuber — Zellhuber def. Giagos by submission (anaconda choke) at 3:26 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS!
Fernando Padilla vs. Kyle Nelson — Nelson def. Padilla by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
Loopy Godinez vs. Elise Reed — Godinez def. Reed by submission (rear naked choke) at 3:38 of Round Two
Josh Fremd vs. Roman Kopylov — Kopylov def. Fremd by TKO (body punch) at 4:44 of Round Two
Edgar Chairez vs. Daniel Lacerda — No decision (early stoppage) — HIGHLIGHTS!
Tracy Cortez vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius — Cortez def. Jasudavicius by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Alex Reyes vs. Charlie Campbell — Campbell def. Reyes by TKO (punches) at 3:38 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Josefine Knutsson vs. Marnic Mann — Knutsson def. Mann by unanimous decision (30-24, 30-25, 30-27)
NOCHE UFC PLAY-BY-PLAY:
125 lbs.: UFC women’s Flyweight Champion Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko
Round 1: Body kick and 1-2 land for Shevchenko. Looking to counter Grasso’s kicks. Grasso 1-2 falls short. Shevchenko body kick a minute in. Nice exchanges in center cage. Grasso low kick. Straight left lands for Shevchenko as they exchange. Grasso lands on the exit two minutes in. Grasso defends a reactive shot, lands a knee, eats an elbow. Nice jab. Two minutes to go.
Front kick to the body from Shevchenko. Grasso spending a lot of time southpaw, presumably to stop the body kicks. Shevchenko gets the body lock and spins her down into half guard against the fence. One minute to go. She moves to mount, then the back. Nice scramble from Grasso to stand. Shevchenko pressing her against the fence, trading knees inside. 10-9 Shevchenko.
Round 2: Sharp 1-2 by Shevchenko. Grasso combo blocked. Shevcheneko clinches, can’t do anything with it. One minute in. Shevchenko 1-2. Nice straight left, but Grasso answers with a gnarly straight right in combination that sends Shevchenko rolling across the mat. Shevchenko desperately ties up and absorbs a heavy flurry, but manages to survive and return to range. Nice double-leg puts her on top in guard two minutes in. Grasso holding onto double overhooks. Two minutes to go.
Grasso preventing Shevchenko from posturing up. Shevchenko stands over her, eats an upkick. Kicking at each other’s legs. Shevchenko misses an axe kick. One minute to go. Shevchenko re-enters guard, Grasso punching off of her back. 10-9 Grasso.
Round 3: Low kicks from Shevchenko. 1-2. Again. One minute in. Right hook, jab exchange. Heavier jab from Grasso. Nice double-leg puts Shevchenko back on top in half guard. She takes side control and Grasso tries to scramble up, only to get caught in a guillotine. Shevchenko forces her down into mount and squeezes two minutes in. Doesn’t look like she has the grip anymore, but she transitions to the back and locks up the body triangle. Two minutes to go.
Shevchenko maintaining back control. Grasso trying to turn into guard. One minute to go. Shevchenko softening her up with short punches. Grasso nearly to guard, makes it with 10 seconds on the clock and waits out an armbar. 10-9 Shevchenko.
Round 4: Shevchenko falls short with some straight punches. Grasso tries a head kick. Jabs from Shevchenko a minute in. Grasso low kick. 1-2. 1-2-3 lands for Shevchenko. Grasso’s tentative from the threat of the takedown. Jabs from Shevchenko. She shoots, Grasso sprawls and lands knees to the head as Shevchenko tries to put her hand on the mat. Grasso landing against the fence two minutes in. Nice takedown from the rear waist lock and Grasso tries to transition to an armbar, but Shevchenko spins into top guard. Grasso works her way up with two minutes to go.
Shevchenko elbow, Grasso 1-2 on the exit. Good jabs from both. Grasso low kick. One minute to go. Continuing to trade jabs. Hard right hook by Shevchenko, who eats a low kick. Shevchenko gets double underhooks for another takedown. Rear body lock on the way up. Grasso got cut near the left eye at some point. She rolls for a heel hook at the bell, nothing there. 10-9 Grasso.
Round 5: Straight right lands for Grasso. Shevchenko double jab. Trading jabs, hard elbow from Shevchenko as they exit the clinch. Good exchange. Stiff Shevchenko jab a minute in. Left hand lands for her as they exchange, then another clean jab. More jabs piling up for Shevchenko. Two minutes in. 1-2 to answer a low kick. Shevchenko content to potshot as Grasso slowly advances. Nice three-piece from Shevchenko. Grasso tries to change levels, Shevchenko limp-legs out. Grasso falls short with a three-piece. Two minutes to go.
There’s a right hook from Grasso. Rapid exchange. More Shevchenko jabs. She ties up and tries a throw, only to pull Grasso down onto her back. Grasso landing from back mount, dropping punches. She wants the RNC and she might have it with a minute to go. Shevchenko breaks the grip and Grasso goes back to chipping away with punches. 10-9 Grasso. Comes down to the fourth round.
Final result: Split draw
170 lbs.: Jack Della Maddalena vs. Kevin Holland
Round 1: Low kicks from Della Maddalena draw a smile. 1-2 upstairs. Holland sneaks a hook around the guard. Side kick a minute in. Della Maddalena looks for a body shot, blocks a combo. Holland ties up and they exchange in the clinch. JDM trying to push forward, rips the body and head with a combo against the fence two minutes in. Holland firing straight punches, tries a head kick. Holland keeps turning his back and JDM is trying to capitalize with body shots. Both land low kicks. Head kick from JDM, heavy punches in the clinch. Two minutes to go.
Body kicks from Holland. Nice counter right and jab behind it. Counter combo to answer a body jab. Lots of touching blows landing for him. One minute to go. JDM backs him to the fence and lands a short combo. Holland backs him off with a series of jabs, gets kicked in the butt when he turns his back. 1-2-3 by JDM. Holland throwing a lot at him. JDM body shots, combo, low kick. Close round. 10-9 Della Maddalena on quality shots.
Round 2: Holland’s constantly landing half-committal blows as JDM tries to work his way inside. 1-2 from Holland. Solid hook from JDM a minute in. Good exchange in center cage. One minute in. Again Holland turns his back and eats punches for it. Overhand right by JDM. Hard 1-2 by Holland. JDM body kick and body punch. Holland back shim off with a combo. Two minutes in. Pull counter by Holland. He answer with an elbow when JDM tries a combo. 1-2 from Holland. Counter right lands for JDM with two minutes to go.
Nice lead hook by JDM, then another that catches Holland leaning. Six-piece combo from Della Maddalena. He catches a body kick, can’t use it. One minute to go. Holland shoots, fires an elbow and right hand. JDM to the body. Holland catches him coming in with a left. Body kick catch before the bell. 10-9 Holland.
Round 3: Hard lead right from JDM. Combination, Holland tries to answer in kind. Holland flicking out kicks a minute in, nothing landing clean. Body kick from JDM. Combo from Holland. Counter hook by JDM, who absorbs a back elbow. Low kick. Nice overhands by JDM and a body shot behind it. Holland’s landing a good number of shots but nothing with any heat. Big punches by Della Maddalena, who absorbs an elbow two minutes in. Hard 1-2 downstairs. JDM blocking most of what’s coming his way. Two minutes to go.
Body shots from JDM. Holland teep and low kick. Holland tries a side kick. One minute to go. Big left hook from Della Maddalena and they trade in the center. Low kick. JDM hammers him with a combo against the fence. Another combo, then a clinch elbow in the final seconds and a counter right behind it. 10-9 Della Maddalena.
Final result: Della Maddalena def. Holland by split decision
135 lbs.: Terrence Mitchell vs. Raul Rosas Jr.
Round 1: Early combo from Rosas, who gets wild and whiffs on bombs. Mitchell matching his energy, trying to open up with his own big swings. Rosas denies a level change, eats a long right, then slumps Mitchell with a monster left hand. Mitchell wakes up on the way down but it’s probably worse for him in the long run, as Rosas jumps on him and immediately passes to the back before unloading for the finish.
Final result: Rosas def. Mitchell by TKO (punches)
155 lbs.: Christos Giagos vs. Daniel Zellhuber
Round 1: Solid straight right from Giagos. Zellhuber patiently advancing. Left hook from Giagos a minute in, then a 3-2. Good right hand and Zellhuber’s hurt. Massive flurry from Giagos as he chases Zellhuber across the cage, but Zellhuber somehow manages to weather it, so Giagos takes his foot off the gas and they reset at range. Body kick from Zellhuber, then some more kicks two minutes in. Heavy exchange. Giagos low kick. Big counter uppercut lands for Zellhuber, who fights off a double-leg. Two minutes to go.
Giagos body kick, then a low kick. Zellhuber low kick, gets cracked by a 3-2. His lack of head movement is really biting him right now. One minute to go. Shifting right by Giagos, Zellhuber comes back with a big flurry that prompts Giagos to shoot. No dice. 10-9 Giagos.
Round 2: Giagos counters a body kick with a straight right. Heavy right hands from Giagos as Zellhuber tries to tie up. Both land clean rights, Zellhuber low kick. One minute in. Zellhuber finds the mark with a lead right and follows with a combo. Good uppercut that catches Giagos throwing. Giagos gets in deep on a single-leg and fights like hell for it, but Zellhuber finds the underhook and turns him. They separate two minutes in. Low kick exchange. Zellhuber jab. Giagos 1-2. Long hook by Giagos with two minutes to go.
Zellhuber catches him leaning in with a 1-2 that forces Giagos to shoot, and this time he’s ready with an anaconda choke. A quick roll and there’s the tap for the comeback submission.
Final result: Zellhuber def. Giagos by submission (anaconda choke)
145 lbs.: Fernando Padilla vs. Kyle Nelson
Round 1: Padilla keeping Nelson at bay with kicks and prodding jabs. Nice low kick from Nelson spins him around. More front kicks from Padilla. One minute in. Short left from Padilla a minute in and Nelson spins him with another low kick. Padilla steadily advancing, trying to swat around the guard. Both land jabs, hard calf kick by Nelson. Padilla backs him off with a combo two minutes in, eats a counter left. Nelson low kick, Padilla 1-2. Padilla front kick lands to the groin and they pause for a couple seconds to let Nelson adjust his equipment. Padilla checks a kick with two minutes to go.
Nelson fires some overhand rights and Padilla responds by slamming home a series of elbows from the single collar tie. Nelson body kick. Again. One minute to go. Nelson shoots, denied. Padilla lands a counter two-piece. Nice combination against the fence. Nelson comes back with a body kick. 10-9 Padilla.
Round 2: Padilla doing good work with front kicks to the body and legs. As I type that, Nelson cracks him with a 1-2, then a clean head kick that wobbles Padilla. They slug it out and Nelson follows with anotehr head kick. Padilla whiffs on a kick, eats a counter a minute in. Anotehr overhand right by Nelson lands clean. Padilla continuing to shuffle forward. Body shot, front kick downstairs. Left hook from Nelson, low kick behind it. Flying knee from Padilla in return. Two minutes in. Nelson overhand again after eating a body kick. Head kick just misses. Low kick connects. Two minutes to go.
Glancing hook from Nelson, teep downstairs. Padilla still pushing forward, not throwing much. Nelson answers an oblique kick with an overhand, but leans into an uppercut in combination. One minute to go. Padilla catches a head kick and puts him on the fence. Nelson quickly gets double underhooks and separates. Solid low kick. 10-9 Nelson.
Round 3: Low kick from Nelson to start. Four-piece as he advances. Head kick glances off. Hard low kicks by Padilla. Nelson lands a pair of overhand rights a minute in. Padilla tries a high knee and his foot catches Nelson’s groin. Nelson lands a body kick when they resume, eats one in return. Counter right by Padilla as he eats a body kick. Two minutes in. Double jab, front kick. Nelson shoots, denied. Padilla tries a combo that bounces off the guard. Head kick attempt. Counter right. Two minutes to go.
Nelson backs him off with an overhand right. Low kick met by a Padilla right hand. Low-high left hooks. Low kick and jab. Padilla moving forward. One minute to go. Nelson potshotting and circling. Teep from Padilla. Nelson shoots, denied. Padilla lands some knees and tries to slug, then denies a takedown. 10-9 Nelson.
Final result: Nelson def. Padilla by unanimous decision
115 lbs.: Loopy Godinez vs. Elise Reed
Round 1: Solid 3-2 from Godinez. Reed avoids the initial tie-up, but Godinez gets her hands on her and secures a body lock. Outside trip puts her on top a minute in. Half guard for “Loopy.” Reed works her way up and separates. Left hook from Godinez. She lands another one soon after and this one sends Reed to the mat. Godinez jumps on her and immediately slips in both hooks as she hunts for the RNC. Two minutes to go.
Reed fighting the hands well enough to survive. The choke isn’t there, so Godinez switches to an armbar. Impressive flexibility from Reed to survive with a minute to go. Reed using her legs to try and disrups Godinez’s grip as Godinez twists her arm in unpleasant directions. She somehow manages to turn into top guard, where Godinez threatens a triangle before re-applying the armbar. Reed tries to slam her way out and gets enough space to survive the round. 10-8 Godinez.
Round 2: Reed comes out aggressive to start the round, trying a flying knee. Body kick lands for her, then a head-and-arm throw that looks good initially but allows Godinez to sweep into top guard. One minute in. Godinez lets her stand, whacks her with another left hook, then takes her back down into half guard. Two minutes in. Godinez lets her up again and immediately hurts her again with a nasty flurry, then slams her back to the mat. Headlock on the way up, good knee. She trips Reed down again and looks for mount with two minutes to go.
Back control for Godinez against the fence. She quickly gets her arm under the chin and there’s the tap to cap a dominant performance.
Final result: Godinez def. Reed by submission (rear naked choke)
185 lbs.: Josh Fremd vs. Roman Kopylov
Round 1: Trading kicks in center cage to start. Both attacking the legs, Fremd looking for body blows as well. One minute in. Lead left from Kopylov. Another around the guard. Fremd lands a low blow, Kopylov insists he’s good to go. Body shot from Kopylov, clinch knee from Fremd two minutes in. Heavy body kick from Kopylov. Fremd picking his shots. Kopylov 1-2. Two minutes to go.
Fremd is plenty busy but the more telling blows are coming from Kopylov. Low kicks from both. Fremd shoots, falls awkwardly, but drives through to put Kopylov on the fence. They separate with a minute to go. Straight right from Fremd, short right jab from Kopylov in return. Kopylov body kick. Fremd shoots again, no dice. Kopylov cracks him with a clean spinning back fist before the bell that appears to damage Fremd’s nose. 10-9 Kopylov.
Round 2: Kopylov lands another massive left hand around 20 seconds in. Fremd breathing through his mouth as blood streams from his nose. He shoots, not even close a minute in. Heavy volley by Kopylov. Fremd puts together a solid combo and shoots. Kopylov doing damage as he defends, manages to separate. Head kick rattles Fremd through the guard. Kopylov staying patient, lands another combo two minutes in. Sharp straight left from Kopylov. Fremd tries a flying knee and clips the cup with his foot. Solid low kick when they resume. Kopylov answers with a lengthy combo. Two minutes to go.
Fremd trying to wade in, eats a flurry to the body. Kopylov still looks plenty fresh, staying patient. Counter uppercut with a minute to go. Hard body kick, head kick behind it. Kopylov slowly marches after Fremd, leans forward, and rips a lead left straight to the liver that sends Fremd to his knees for the finish.
Final result: Kopylov def. Fremd by TKO (body punch)
125 lbs.: Edgar Chairez vs. Daniel Lacerda
Round 1: Chairez takes the center, fires a jab, and goes to work with low kicks. Lacerda tries a head kick. One minute in. Lacerda whiffs on a fast wheel kick. Surprisingly tentative so far; mostly Chairez landing leg kicks. Body shots from Chairez two minutes in. Lacerda shoots and completes a double-leg into guard. Elbows from Lacerda, nice punches with two minutes to go.
Chairez gets a bit of space to stand and Lacerda shoots back in. This time, Chairez is ready with a standing anaconda choke. Lacerda’s arm appears to go limp for a moment, but the ref turns out to be too trigger-happy, as Lacerda is awake and protesting when the ref breaks them up. Let’s see how they call this.
Final result: No decision (early stoppage)
125 lbs.: Tracy Cortez vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
Round 1: Early counter right from Jasudavicius. Again as Cortez leads with naked kicks. Sharp combo by Cortez and they trade calf kicks a minute in. Cortez putting together some good flurries. Calf kick from Jasudavicius in return. Jasudavicius consistently countering Cortez’s naked low kicks. Another clean counter right. Cortez body kick and jab two minutes in. Nasty combo by Cortez appears to rattle Jasudavicius, who comes back with punches of her own. Straight punches land for Jasudavicius, who tries a knee inside. Cortez right hand with two minutes to go.
Jasudavicius lands to the body, eats a heavy straight right in return. Clean left hook by Cortez, 1-2 from Jasudavicius. Jasudavicius shoots, avoids a ninja choke, eats knees on the exit. One minute to go. 1-2-3 by Cortez, Jasudavicius still trying to walk her down. Jasudavicius ties up and they trade knees downstairs. Head kick blocked on the exit. Nice 2-3 from Cortez, then a heavy combo as Jasudavicius is on one leg. 10-9 Cortez.
Round 2: Cortez letting her hands go in the opening seconds. Trading low kicks. Clinch, both land knees. Right hand to knee by Cortez. One minute in. Clean left hook. Jasudavicius walks through it, continuing to try and pressure to mixed success. Sharp counters landing for Cortez. Jasudavicius shoots, denied. Cortez landing a lot of clean punches on the back foot. Jasudavicius walking forward, lands a head kick. Two minutes in. Cortez commits to a combination and Jasudavicius shoots underneath it to take her down against the fence. Cortez quickly muscles her way back up, Jasudavicius holding the body lock. Two minutes to go.
Cortez turns to face her, but Jasudavicius drives her back down into half guard. Looking for the back. Cortez returns to her feet with a minute to go. They separate 30 seconds later. Cortez puts together some more clean shots before the bell. 10-9 Cortez.
Round 3: More boxing success for Cortez. Jasudavicius shoots, finds the body lock, tries to wrench Cortez to the mat against the fence. Cortez defending a minute in. They separate 30 seconds later. Lead right by Cortez, low kick, 1-2 that knocks Jasudavicius back. Heavy punches landing for her. Two minutes in. Jasudavicius continues to wade in, trading hands. Cortez picking her off but gets bullied to the fence, where Jasudavicius fires knees. Separation. Two minutes to go.
Cortez landing some heavy punches as Jasudavicius pursues. Jasudavicius manages to weather them and do damage in the clinch with knees and elbows before exiting with a head kick. They jaw at each other for a bit, then go back to blasting each other with clean head shots. One minute to go. Cortez counters a level change with a whizzer and separates. Jasudavicius pursues until the final seconds, when Cortez gets a body lock and tries to take her down. 10-9 Cortez.
Final result: Cortez def. Jasudavicius by unanimous decision
155 lbs.: Alex Reyes vs. Charlie Campbell
Round 1: Reyes catches a body kick and tries to kick out Campbell’s base, prompting a stumble. Low kick from Campbell when he re-engages. Reyes kick strays low, Campbell brushes it off. Campbell front kick a minute in, Reyes comes back with a leg kick. Trading kicks in the center. Campbell’s seem the heavier of the two, especially to the leg. Reyes catches a low kick and Campbell uses the opportunity to blast him with right hands on one leg. He follows with a barrage that has Reyes in full retreat, then drops him against the fence. Reyes pops back up but Campbell’s on the attack two minutes in. Stiff jabs. Straight right splits the guard and Campbell lands a bevy of power punches as Reyes tries to fire back. Reyes ties up after eating a low kick, gets dinged by a spinning elbow with two minutes to go.
Reyes still trying to punch back but there’s nothing on them. Cross counter hurts him bad. Campbell stalking him along the fence. The writing’s on the wall, and after shrugging off a counter right, Campbell finally puts him down with a two-piece combo.
Final result: Campbell def. Reyes by TKO (punches) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
115 lbs.: Josefine Knutsson vs. Marnic Mann
Round 1: Front kick to 2-1 from Knutsson to start. Hard low kick, then a heavy knee when Mann tries to tie up. Knutsson follows with a grounded knee to the body, trying to do damage as Mann clings to a leg and tries to drive. They separate a minute in. Left hook lands for Knutsson. Body kick, knee upstairs. 1-2. Mann flubs a head-and-arm throw and ends up on her back in half guard. Two minutes in. Knutsson staying heavy, not doing much from the top. Two minutes to go.
Short shots from Knutsson. The ref wants more and Knutsson obliges by moving to side control. One minute to go. Full mount now after threatening the far wrist. Mann trying to buck as Knutsson sneaks in elbows. Knutsson postures up and tries to unload at the bell. One-way traffic for Knutsson so far. 10-9 Knutsson.
Round 2: Low kicks from Knutsson. Mann catches a body kick and puts her on the fence. Knutsson lands knees, turns, and separates. Another heavy knee a minute in. Knutsson walking Mann down, trying to pick her spots. Teep to Superman punch into the clinch. More knees from Knutsson. Two minutes in. Dirty boxing. Mann tries a side kick when she separates and eats heavy punches for her trouble, then waves Knutsson on with two minutes to go.
Target practice for Knutsson against the fence. Back to the clinch. Knees, elbow. One minute to go. Knutsson trips her down into half guard. Knutsson takes mount again in the last 10 seconds and unloads until the bell. 10-8 Knutsson.
Round 3: Knutsson lands an early side kick, avoids a lazy spin, and lands a spinning back fist of her own. Sharp boxing combos. Mann flat-footed against the fence, gets blasted by a four-piece. She’s reeling, but Knutsson ties up again after landing a knee to the body a minute in. Another easy trip into half guard. Mann offering nothing off of her back. Two minutes in. Knutsson postures up for some bigger shots, lands a knee on the way up before tripping Mann back down into half guard with two minutes to go.
Knutsson continues to play tight on top. Ref wants more action with a minute to go. Solid punches and elbows. Knutsson fires a knee as Mann tries to stand, then latches onto an RNC at the bell. 10-9 Knutsson.
Final result: Knutsson def. Mann by unanimous decision
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