Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to “Sin City” tonight (Sat., Oct. 6, 2018) with its UFC 229: “Khabib vs. McGregor” pay-per-view (PPV) mixed martial arts (MMA) event, held inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, with select “Prelims” undercard bouts coming to you by way of FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass digital network. As the name suggests, UFC 229 is headlined by the lightweight championship title fight pitting reigning division kingpin Khabib Nurmagomedov opposite ex-lightweight titleholder Conor McGregor. The victor is likely to fight the winner of Tony Ferguson vs. Anthony Pettis, which co-headlines the UFC 229 extravaganza and serves as “El Cucuy’s” first bout inside the cage since last spring’s devastating knee injury. Also, Derrick Lewis could punch his way into the next heavyweight title shot by turning away Bellator import and streaking 265-pound contender Alexander Volkov.
That’s not all. Not by a long shot.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 229 fight card below, starting with the Fight Pass “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard balance on FOX Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET.
Many of our readers check-in before, during and after the televised fisticuffs to share their thoughts on all the exciting action. Therefore, feel free to leave a comment (or 229) before you split and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it always turns out to be a great discussion.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps and post-fight analysis after “Khabib vs. McGregor” Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC 229 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC 229 QUICK RESULTS:
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor
Tony Ferguson vs. Anthony Pettis — Ferguson def. Pettis by TKO (broken hand) at 5:00 of Round Two
Ovince Saint Preux vs. Dominick Reyes — Reyes def. Saint Preux by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Derrick Lewis vs. Alexander Volkov — Lewis def. Volkov by KO (punches) at 4:49 of Round Three
Michelle Waterson vs. Felice Herrig — Waterson def. Herrig by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 30-27)
Jussier Formiga vs. Sergio Pettis — Formiga def. Pettis by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28 x2)
Vicente Luque vs. Jalin Turner — Luque def. Turner by KO (punches) at 3:52 of Round One
Aspen Ladd vs. Tonya Evinger — Ladd def. Evinger by TKO (punches) at 3:26 of Round One
Scott Holtzman vs. Alan Patrick — Holtzman def. Patrick by KO (elbows) at 3:42 of Round Three
Yana Kunitskaya vs. Lina Lansberg — Kunitskaya def. Lansberg by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Gray Maynard vs. Nik Lentz — Lentz def. Maynard by TKO (head kick and punches) at 1:19 of Round Two
Ryan LaFlare vs. Tony Martin — Martin def. LaFlare by KO (head kick and punches) at 1:00 of Round Three
UFC 229 LIVE PLAY-BY-PLAY:
155 lbs.: UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor
Round 1: McGregor advancing early. Head kick attempt. Nurmagomedov shoots, sprawled on, looking to continue driving. Good defense from McGregor so far. Nurmagomedov just keeps going, though, and drags him down against the fence. One minute in. Nurmagomedov grapevining the legs as he likes to do. McGregor looking to land elbows off his back. Ref asking for more work, Nurmagomedov pauses to tell him he’s working. Two minutes in. Short right hands from Nurmagomedov. Two minutes to go.
McGregor has butterfly hooks. Nurmagomedov passes to half guard, staying heavy. Left hands from Nurmagomedov. One minute to go. Nurmagomedov chipping away, postures up for some bigger shots at the bell. 10-9 Nurmagomedov.
Round 2: McGregor back on the advance. Front kick to the body. Jumping knee attempt. Suddenly, Nurmagomedov uncorks an overhand right that drops McGregor. Nurmagomedov on the attack, blasts in and slams McGregor to the mat. Nearly has mount on the fence. Looking for an arm triangle. Loses it, but staying on top. McGregor regains guard. Nice elbow, hard right hand. Nurmagomedov starting to open up. Crushing elbow. He postures up for some massive blows. Damn, he’s destroying him. McGregor covering up as Nurmagomedov slams homs sledgehammers. He moves to side control, looking for a kimura. Two minutes to go.
Illegal knee from McGregor, who’s grabbing the fence with his toes. The smashing continues. McGregor gets to a knee, works his way up to his feet. Nurmagomedov stays heavy on him. 10-8 Nurmagomedov.
Round 3:
Round 4:
Round 5:
Final result:
155 lbs.: Tony Ferguson vs. Anthony Pettis
Round 1: Teep from Ferguson, counter right. Low kicks from Pettis. Low kick from Ferguson in return. Pettis lands a body kick as Ferguson steps in. Short right by Ferguson a minute in. Right hand form Pettis, left hook from Ferguson. Stiff jab upstairs by Ferguson. Body kick. Two minutes in. Ferguson going back to the body kick. Pettis fires a series of spinning shots, none of them connect. Ferguson’s pace and pressure working well so far. 2-1 by Ferguson. Two minutes to go.
Ferguson just staying in his face, cracking him with jabs and straights. Low kick from Pettis met by a right hand. Ferguson keeping him near the fence. Hard right hand by Pettis, who eats an uppercut and straight right. One minute to go. Ferguson tries to spin. 1-2 from Pettis, cartwheel kick attempt. Uppercut by Ferguson in return. Pettis hurls a big overhand right and eats a jab for his trouble. Low kicks by Ferguson. Ferguson presses forward and stings him with a flurry before the bell. 10-9 Ferguson.
Round 2: Leg kicks from Ferguson, but suddenly Pettis drops him hard with a right hand. Ferguson scrambling like a madman, rolling and going for a leglock, and survives to land on the bottom in guard. One minute in. Ferguson kicks his way to his feet. Ref pauses the fight to look at Pettis’ cut. Ferguson looks excited to resume. Pettis tries a capoeira kick and skedaddles out of the way of the counter. Body kick by Pettis, low kick from Ferguson. Ferguson again hops off the wall for a combo, digs to the body. Ferguson bullying him with punches on the fence. Hard elbows. Right hand downstairs. Running right hand. Two minutes to go.
Ferguson tearing into him on the fence. He’s throwing back but it’s just not stopping. Look at ‘em go. Another elbow from Ferguson. Pettis blasts his head back with a right hand. More combinations. Ferguson undeterred. One minute to go. Ferguson potshotting behind his jab. Another elbow. Heavy straight right. Ferguson unloading on the cage, avoids a whirling kick. Damn, son. 10-9 Ferguson.
Pettis reveals he broke his right hand in the round. Duke Roufus elects not to send him out for the third.
Final result: Ferguson def. Pettis by TKO (broken hand)
205 lbs.: Ovince Saint Preux vs. Dominick Reyes
Round 1: Trading leg and body kicks early. Reyes tries to go high. He’s the busier of the two so far. Left hook from Saint Preux, who absorbs a straight left. Reyes goes head-body. Saint Preux shoots, stuffed, puts Reyes on the cage. Reyes reverses two minutes in. Saint Preux tries a hip toss, denied by the whizzer. Browne elbows from Reyes. Saint Preux drags him down, can’t keep him there. Reyes continuing to land strikes as he defends. Two minutes to go.
Elbow and combinations from Reyes. Saint Preux wobbling after the break. Hopping front kick lands for Reyes. One minute to go. Reyes with a nice counter right hook, backed off by a 1-2. Straight left connects. Both land leg kicks. Glancing head kick. 10-9 Reyes.
Round 2: Both men flicking out long-distance shots. Reyes lands another leg kick that appears to bother Saint Preux. Saint Preux shoots in, nearly runs face-first into a head kick. Reyes defends and puts him on the cage. They separate. Body kick from Reyes on the fence two minutes in. Reyes counters a low kick with a left hand. OSP tries a head kick. Two minutes to go.
Straight left by Saint Preux. OSP shoots, stuffed. Left hand from Saint Preux, another unsuccessful takedown attempt. Body kick from Reyes. Very slow end to the round. 10-9 Reyes.
Round 3: Reyes tries a head kick, lands a leg kick. Saint Preux goes for a head kick of his own. One minute in. Honestly very little happening right now. OSP tries a head kick. Straight left. Two minutes in. Counter uppercut lands clean for Reyes, best punch of the round so far. Reyes looking for high kicks now. Saint Preux catches a low kick and ties up an off-balance Reyes. Two minutes to go.
Saint Preux chases Reyes, avoids the counter. Good left hand and front kick from OSP. Leg kick from Reyes in return. Hard counter elbow and OSP’s sporting a nasty cut. One minute to go. Leg kick from Reyes. OSP pursues, then Reyes knocks him dead with a left hand at the buzzer. The ref allows him time to recover. Which is dumb. 10-8 Reyes for basically scoring a knockout.
Final result: Reyes def. Saint Preux by unanimous decision
265 lbs.: Derrick Lewis vs. Alexander Volkov
Round 1: Volkov lands an early body kick that has Lewis stumbling. A minute into the round, Volkov cracks Lewis with a hard uppercut and follows up with hard punches. Lewis’ right eye appears to be damaged. Volkov backs off, allowing Lewis time to recover. Two minutes in. Volkov pressing forward, flicking out kicks and long punches. Lewis goes for some sort of gnarly reap and winds up on his back. Volkov on top in half guard. Lewis makes it back to his feet and blasts Volkov with a heavy right hand. He wades into the clinch. Two minutes to go.
Volkov gets double unders and lands an outside trip into side control. Short elbows landing for “Drago.” More elbows from Volkov. Lewis rolls to his knees and Volkov gets both hooks in. One minute to go. Lewis manages to turn into top position. Hard elbow. Booming right hand and now Lewis is looking for the finish. Interesting round. 10-9 Volkov.
Round 2: Volkov connects with a hard straight right, again tries to follow up. Lewis overhand right falls short. Lewis abandons a takedown attempt. One minute in. 2-1 from Volkov. 1-2 this time, then an outside trip attempt. Lewis shoots, denied. Counter left hook lands for him. Two minutes in. Neither man looks terribly eager to engage. Body kick from Volkov. Two minutes to go.
Body kick from Volkov, counter right. Head kick attempt. Lewis lands a left hook, caught leaning. One minute to go. Low kicks from Volkov. Lewis whiffs on a haymaker right. Lewis knocks his mouthpiece out with an uppercut inside. 10-9 Volkov.
Round 3: Lots of staring. Lewis goes for a takedown, tries to pull guard. One minute in. Lewis tries to flurry. Nice uppercut and cracking right crosses from Volkov. 1-2 goes Volkov, then some nice body shots. Two minutes in. Back to the sedate pace of earlier. Hard low kicks from Volkov. Teep. Two minutes to go.
Lewis falls well short with a left hook. Body kicks by Volkov. Lewis tries to flurry once again. One minute to go. Overhand right lands for him. Low kicks from Volkov, who absorbs a massive right hand without issue. Left hook from Lewis. He’s swinging huge and DOWN GOES VOLKOV! LEWIS FOLLOWS UP WITH GROUND-AND-POUND AND THE MAD BASTARD HAS DONE IT ONCE AGAIN!
Final result: Lewis def. Volkov by KO (punches)
115 lbs.: Michelle Waterson vs. Felice Herrig
Round 1: Herrig pressing forward in the early going. Waterson sending out kicks from her lead leg. Running into some technical difficulties, unfortunately. Based on what I saw, 10-9 Herrig.
MMADecisions, please don’t put this on the site.
Round 2: Things start working a minute into the second round, with Herrig tying Waterson up against the fence. Elbow from Waterson on the break, head kick attempt. Herrig goes for a trip, but gets thrown to the mat. Heavy elbows from Waterson, who takes half guard. Ground-and-pound from Waterson. Two minutes to go.
Waterson unable to pass so far, but landing a steady stream of elbows. Herrig regains guard. One minute to go. Herrig tries to make space, cannot. Upkick attempts. Herrig thinking about a triangle. 10-9 Waterson.
Round 3: Herrig still pressing forward, puts Waterson on the cage. They separate quickly. Waterson goes for a knee tap and gets hurled to the mat, looking for an armbar as she does. Herrig avoids it, eats elbows. One minute in. Herrig staying heavy. Two minutes in. Waterson looks for an omoplata, Herrig pulls her arm out. Ref stands them up. Waterson immediately looks for a takedown, denied. Two minutes to go.
Herrig puts her on the cage with double underhooks. Waterson pushes her away. Herrig swings to the body, eats a side kick. One minute to go. Waterson shoots, denied with underhooks. Axe kick from Waterson connects. They trade knees to the body. Back to the clinch, back to the knees. Waterson’s are better. Elbow from Waterson. 10-9 Herrig.
Final result: Waterson def. Herrig by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Jussier Formiga vs. Sergio Pettis
Round 1: Pettis switching stances already. Jab from Formiga. Good exchange in the center. One minute in. Low kick from Pettis. 1-2-1 from Formiga, 1-2 from Pettis. Pettis tries a hook kick. Two minutes in. Pettis flicking out his jab. Low kick lands for him. Short uppercut by Formiga. Pettis low kick, Formiga overhand. Two minutes to go.
Formiga goes for a single-leg, can’t keep Pettis down. Lead right from the Brazilian, who hits a double-leg into guard. One minute to go. Pettis playing defense. 10-9 Formiga.
Round 2: Straight left by Pettis. One minute in. Pettis catches him coming in, avoids a swatting left hook. Formiga shoots in, denied. Pettis pops him with a jab. Two minutes in. Left hook by Formiga. Pettis tries a combo, head kick. Two minutes to go.
Formiga grabs a body lock to take Pettis back into guard. Pettis using his legs to try and keep Formiga away, cannot do so. One minute to go. Pettis again using a body triangle to keep Formiga close. Formiga passes to half guard. Lockdown guard from Pettis, looks to elevate. Pettis scrambles to his feet. 10-9 Formiga.
Round 3: Left hook lands for Pettis. Formiga shoots off a jab, transitions right to Pettis’ back and locks up the body triangle. One minute in. Pettis standing, pressing him against the cage. Two minutes in. Formiga trying to soften him up. elbow’s under Pettis’ chin, fighting for the other hand. Two minutes to go.
Formiga going harder for the choke, but Pettis defending well. One minute to go. Formiga still latched on, still trying to soften him up. Pettis looks like he wants to slam him. 10-9 Formiga.
Final result: Formiga def. Pettis by unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Vicente Luque vs. Jalin Turner
Round 1: Turner firing his jab at range. Low kick from Luque. Again. Turner landing the jab. 1-2. One minute in. Luque jab, Turner right hook. Left hand lands for Turner on the counter. Left hook and straight right from Luque. Same combo again. Heavy counters. Lead left. Turner with a nice body kick. Two minutes in. Counter left hook by Luque. Step-in knee from Turner. They trade left hands. Turner leg kick answered by a left hook. Two minutes to go.
Turner goes for a flying knee. Body kick lands for him, then a Brazilian kick attempt. Tight right hand from Vicente, met by a straight left. Spinning back elbow by Turner, but Luque catches him with a right hand as he spins and just pulverizes him with follow-up shots.
Final result: Luque def. Turner by KO (punches)
135 lbs.: Aspen Ladd vs. Tonya Evinger
Round 1: Nice exchanges on the inside. Evinger getting the better of it. She takes Ladd to the fence, knees the body. One minute in. Evinger still grinding on the cage. Ladd reverses, avoids a trip, wins the scramble. Ladd on top, landing right hands. Big punches, now some elbows as well on a turtling Eveinger. Two minutes in. Ladd tries to take the back. Evinger defending well. Now both hooks in. Looking for the arm triangle, not there, goes back to the back. Crunching elbows. Two minutes to go.
Ladd battering her with punches and in comes the ref.
Final result: Ladd def. Evinger by TKO (punches)
155 lbs.: Scott Holtzman vs. Alan Patrick
Round 1: Trading kicks to start. Big left hook stings Patrick near the cage. Spinning back kick attempt by the Brazilian. Low kick from Holtzman. One minute in. Patrick fires an overhand left and looks for a knee tap without success. Shifting left hand connects for him. Two minutes in. Holtzman whiffs on a left hook. Low kick lands for him. Body kick attempt for Patrick. Holtzman lands a head kick and a low kick, stuffing Patrick’s shots. Two minutes to go.
Counter right from Holtzman, then on the lead. They separate. Patrick tries a wheel kick. One minute to go. Inside leg kick trips Patrick and allows Holtzman to take half guard. Nice elbows landing for “Hot Sauce.” Patrick tries a head kick off his back. 10-9 Holtzman.
Round 2: Holtzman tries a head kick, stuffs a takedown, avoids a jumping kick. Counter right makes Patrick stumble. The Brazilian can’t keep him down on a takedown attempt. Low kicks by Holtzman. One minute in. Patrick lands a pair of lefts. Straight right comes back at him. Counter right, left hook. Looks like another clash of heats as Holtzman shoots in. He gets Patrick down against the cage. Hard right hands by Holtzman. Patrick looks for a leg, not there. Back to guard. Heavy elbows from Holtzman. Patrick scrambles up with two minutes to go.
Holtzman whiffs on a left, nearly eats one in return before re-entering the clinch. One minute to go. Elbow lands on the break and he avoids a head kick. Patrick charges after him and looks for his own takedown. 10-9 Holtzman.
Round 3: Holtzman fires a head kick and Patrick once again charges him with punches. Low kick by Holtzman, who blasts him with a counter right. One minute to go. Straight left lands for Patrick, then a 3-2. Lancing counter right lands for Holtzman. Same punch lands again immediately afterwards and drops Patrick. Holtzman fighting to pound him out, takes mount. Brutal shots. Patrick gets back to guard, still taking damage. Two minutes to go.
Back to mount. Brutal elbows and out go the lights.
Final result: Holtzman def. Patrick by KO (elbows)
135 lbs.: Yana Kunitskaya vs. Lina Lansberg
Round 1: Lansberg on the advance. She catches a low kick from Kunitskaya and they tie up. Double underhooks for Lansberg. Kunitskaya hits a nice uchi mata into half guard. One minute in. Full guard now. Kunitskaya grabs a can opening to try to force her guard open. Two minutes in. Lansberg tries to kick her away. She gets to a knee against the cage. Kunitskaya looking for the back. Lansberg makes it to her feet, eats a knee. Two minutes to go.
Trading knees inside. Lansberg grabs a body lock. Another nice throw from Kunitskaya, this one into side control. Ground-and-pound until the bell. 10-9 Kunitskaya.
Round 2: Body kick lands for Kunitskaya. Counter left hook, front kick upstairs. Kunitskaya keeping her at range, lands a leg and body kicks. She marches into the clinch. One minute in. trading knee once again. Ref splits them up for some reason. Two minutes in. Kunitskaya still keeping her at range. 1-2 lands for Lansberg. She digs a pair of body shots. Two minutes to go.
Kunitskaya puts her on the cage once again. More knees from Kunitskaya, sharp elbow. Lansberg looking for a weird side choke, not there. Kunitskaya gets her down, Lansberg looking for the back. Now a kimura attempt. 10-9 Kunitskaya.
Round 3: Lansberg still marching forward, but struggling to get past the jab and kicks. 1-2 from Lansberg. Kunitskaya puts her on the cage again. Short knees from Kunitskaya a minute in. She gets Lansberg down. Lansberg on one knee, trying to stand and eating punches. They separate two minutes in. Kunitskaya ties up once again, this time with double overhooks. Over-unders. Two minutes to go.
Kunitskaya separates, goes right back in. Looks for a throw, not there. One minute to go. Ref separates them. Kunitskaya pops her with a jab. Body kick from Lansberg. Right hand connects. Kunitskaya comes back with a jab and leg kick. Knee and elbow connect. Lansberg tries a body kick and gets taken down for it. 10-9 Kunitskaya.
Final result: Kunitskaya def. Lansberg by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
155 lbs.: Gray Maynard vs. Nik Lentz
Round 1: Maynard orthodox, Lentz southpaw. Right hooks and leg kicks from Lentz. He ducks a big swing, pops him with a combination on the fence. Right hook stuns Maynard and Lentz shoots in. Right hands piling up for Lentz. He trags Maynard to his knees, constantly landing punches. Maynard makes it to his feet, avoids a knee two minutes in. Lentz counters a body kick with a right hand, then hurts him with another right. Hard uppercut from Maynard in return. Lentz gets him to the mat, then pulls guard on a guillotine. He rolls Maynard over, but abandons it. Half guard for Lentz with two minutes to go.
Back to full guard, landing shots. BIG right hands from Lentz, looking for the finish. Maynard gets to a knee. Lentz thumping him with left hands, then heavy knees. Elbow on the break. 10-7 Lentz.
Round 2: Maynard takes an early eye poke. Maynard coming on aggressively, throwing heat. Lentz clips him with a right hook. BIG right hand hurts Lentz! Lentz hurts him right back! One minute in. Head kick and down goes Maynard. The ref finally steps in.
Final result: Lentz def. Maynard by TKO (head kick and punches)
170 lbs.: Ryan LaFlare vs. Tony Martin
Round 1: LaFlare sending out early kicks. Superman punches as well. Martin takes a low blow a minute in. Back to the kicks goes LaFlare. 1-2s from Martin in return. Martin trips him up, can’t get on top. They tie up in the center and Martin takes him to the fence two minutes in. They separate. Counter right connects for Martin. Another. LaFlare comes back with a straight left. Two minutes to go.
Two body kicks by LaFlare. Leg kick met by a straight right. Right catches LaFlare coming in and briefly sends him stumbling. One minute to go. martin catches him coming in with an uppercut, eats another body kick. LaFlare shoots and takes him to the cage. Close round. 10-9 Martin.
Round 2: Low kick from Martin. Body kicks from LaFlare in return. Superman punch attempt. Another counter right drops LaFlare. Martin looks to pound him out, appears to turn the lights off for a split second. LaFlare still surviving a minute in. Half guard for Martin and LaFlare’s sporting a cut above the left eye. Butterfly guard now, back to half guard. Two minutes in. Martin threatens a kimura, denies an attempt to sweep. LaFlare rolls to his knees and Martin gets his back. Two minutes to go.
LaFlare manages to regain guard. Martin looks for a front choke. He clamps down on a d’arce. LaFlare manages to spin free and stand after looking close to tapping. One minute to go. LaFlare goes for another Superman punch and eats a glancing right hand. 10-9 Martin.
Round 3: LaFlare still leaning on the kicks, eats a straight right. Low kick trips Martin up for a second and LaFlare tries to follow up with a knee. BIG head kick and LaFlare goes down in a heap, unfortunately still conscious enough for Martin to smash him with hammerfists until the lights go out.
Final result: Martin def. LaFlare by KO (head kick and punches)