Author: Dan Hiergesell

Conor McGregor was out in full force for Max Holloway’s main event clash with Yair Rodriguez earlier tonight (Sat., Nov. 13, 2021) at UFC Vegas 42 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, and “Notorious” made sure he was heard.

It’s no secret that McGregor and Holloway have a bit of a feud dating back to their one and only meeting in 2013. “Notorious” ended up defeating Holloway via decision and the two have butted heads ever since. From talks of a potential rematch to arguments about who the better boxer is, McGregor and Holloway seem to be on a collision course once again.

McGregor, who is still recovering from a leg injury suffered at UFC 264 this past July, took to his usual social media perch during UFC Vegas 42 to discuss the fights and offer his input. First, McGregor chimed in earlier in the card by praising Holloway and expressing his anticipation for the main event.

“Max is big time! Can’t wait to watch this day show at the apex,” wrote McGregor in a since-deleted tweet.

It only took about 30 minutes for McGregor to flip the script and start bashing “Blessed,” who has claimed in the past that he’s the best boxer in MMA today.

“Hey Twitter! The Fighter that has absorbed the most head strikes in @ufc history competes tonight. Max Holloway. Can’t wait to watch.”

“Best boxer my ass crack. The guys been smacked the most smacks in ufc history! Most shots absorbed is not best boxer guys I’m sorry, and I love the kid.”

Right before the fight, McGregor posted a video of him watching Bruce Buffer announce Holloway’s name for the main event. “Notorious” was pacing back-and-forth as if he was about to fight “Blessed” himself.

Following his main event win over Rodriguez, Holloway took to social media to mock McGregor.

At this point, McGregor needs to heel up his leg and return to fighting shape. Once that happens there’s a real good chance we could see a rematch between “Notorious” and Holloway. McGregor is unlikely to move back down to 145 pounds for the reboot so “Blessed” would have to come back up to the lightweight division.

For complete UFC Vegas 42 results and coverage click here.

Max Holloway took care of business earlier tonight (Sat., Nov. 13, 2021) at UFC Vegas 42 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, when the former UFC featherweight champion outlasted Yair Rodriguez for a hard-fought decision win in the main event.

In addition to the featherweight headliner, a slew of main card and “Prelims” bouts delivered the action from start to finish. Check out some of the memorable performances below and let us know which one stood out the most to you:

• Light heavyweight contender Da Un Jung kept his winning ways going with a first-round knockout win over Kennedy Nzechukwu (see it HERE)
• Brazilian finisher Rafael Alves put a quick stop to lightweight striker Marc Diakiese with a first-round guillotine choke
• Women’s flyweight contender Andrea Lee scored her second-straight finish with a TKO doctor’s stoppage over veteran contender Cynthia Calvillo
• Sean Woodson captured his second-straight win with a TKO finish over Collin Anglin in the opening round (highlights HERE)
• Rising lightweight contender Joel Alvarez earned the biggest win of his career with a first-round TKO finish over veteran Thiago Moises

• Bantamweight youngster Song Yadong make easy work of Julio Arce with a vicious second-round TKO finish (watch HERE)
• Khaos Williams secured another insane finish when he stopped welterweight contender Miguel Baeza with a monstrous third-round knockout
• Former UFC women’s featherweight title challenger Felicia Spencer got back into the win column with a third-round TKO finish over the returning Leah Letson (highlights HERE)
• Heavyweight contender Ben Rothwell found himself on the wrong end of a 32-second TKO finish compliments of a determined Marcos Rogerio de Lima

In order to sift through the action and see which fighters took home an extra $50,000, we take a closer look at the official UFC Vegas 42 bonus winners below:

• Fight of the Night: Max Holloway vs. Yair Rodriguez
• Performance of the Night: Khaos Williams
• Performance of the Night: Andrea Lee

For complete UFC Vegas 42 results and coverage click here.

As soon as UFC Vegas 42 wraps up tonight (Sat., Nov. 13, 2021) live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, fight fans can check out the live post-fight press conference video above for all the best reaction and official bonus winners.

On a night that features a main event clash between former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway and a returning Yair Rodriguez, a co-headliner pitting heavyweight veteran Ben Rothwell against Brazilian finisher Marcos Rogerio de Lima, and a welterweight matchup involving strikers Miguel Baeza and Khaos Williams, there will be a lot to discuss when the action winds down.

The post-fight presser is scheduled to go live about 30 minutes after the conclusion of the main event. It will feature the biggest winners and losers from the card.

For complete UFC Vegas 42 results and coverage click here.

Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway scored another main event victory earlier tonight (Sat., Nov. 13, 2021) at UFC Vegas 42 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, when “Blessed” outpointed Yair Rodriguez over the course of five wild rounds to capture a unanimous decision win.

Holloway did the most damage in the opening round with crisp jabs, body shots, and great counter punching. However, Rodriguez did a lot of good work with whipping leg kicks that seemed to bother “Blessed” and opened him up for some hard punches. Rodriguez landed more with his hands in the second and even snuck in one of his patented elbows during an inside exchange, but Holloway kept pushing forward and countered with his own shots.

Holloway took control in the third round with great pressure and ended up knocking Rodriguez down with a short punch. “Blessed” gained top control and launched heavy ground-and-pound. Rodriguez survived to return to his feet, but Holloway took the action down again with moments left in the frame. Holloway nearly locked up a standing guillotine in the fourth round, but “El Pantera” defended nicely to avoid the finish. Holloway ended up in top control again and scored more points for the cards.

The fifth and final round saw Holloway keep the foot on the gas and pressure Rodriguez with forward movement and punches in bunches. Rodriguez still offered some hard body kicks and power counters, but not enough to stop “Blessed” for the upset.

Check out the video highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:

For complete UFC Vegas 42 results and coverage click here.

The finishes didn’t stop earlier tonight (Sat., Nov. 13, 2021) at UFC Vegas 42 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, when heavyweight knockout artist Marcos Rogerio de Lima put a brutal stop to veteran contender Ben Rothwell with a 32-second TKO (punches).

De Lima put his foot on the gas from the opening second of this co-main event as he launched a right hand that caught Rothwell flush. Rothwell stumbled backwards and de Lima rushed in for a collection of powerful punches along the cage. Most connected with “Big Ben” and eventually put the veteran down for the count. The timing of referee Herb Dean’s stoppage was questionable, but it was still warranted.

Check out the video highlights above courtesy of UFC/ESPN.

De Lima, 36, now has his first win streak under the UFC banner since his debut back in 2014. He has alternated wins and losses ever since. The heavy-handed Brazilian fighter clearly has potential in a changing division and may have just punched his ticket to a top 15 matchup.

For complete UFC Vegas 42 results and coverage click here.

Women’s featherweight contender Felicia Spencer spoiled the return Leah Letson earlier tonight (Sat., Nov. 13, 2021) at UFC Vegas 42 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, when “Feenom” captured a dominant third-round TKO (elbows and punches).

Spencer dominated this entire fight from the opening bell to the final strike. She utilized her strong grappling game to pin Letson up against the cage and smash her with short elbows and knees inside. Spencer was able to drag the action to the canvas in the third where she gained full mount and finished the action with hard elbows and punches.

Check out the video highlights above courtesy of UFC/ESPN.

Spencer, 30, gets back in the win column after dropping consecutive decision losses to Amanda Nunes and Norma Dumont. It may take a few more of these finishes to position Spencer for another shot at Nunes’ women’s featherweight title, but she’s clearly one of the best 145-pound female fighters in the world today.

For complete UFC Vegas 42 results and coverage click here.