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After nearly a year on the sidelines, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, will make his long-awaited return to mixed martial arts (MMA) as one half of the UFC 242 pay-per-view (PPV) main event, taking place TODAY (Sat., Sept. 7, 2019) inside The Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. During his absence, the promotion crowned a new interim 155-pound titleholder, thanks to Dustin Poirier’s commanding performance against current featherweight kingpin, Max Holloway.
Elsewhere on the card, Paul Felder looks to avenge his loss to lightweight striking sensation, Edson Barboza, roughly four years after their “Fight of the Night” at UFC on FOX 16. A few things to keep in mind about the UFC 242 event this weekend, however, as the “Prelims” undercard action begins at 10 a.m. ET on the Fight Pass digital network and as with every UFC PPV card, you’ll need a subscription to ESPN+ to watch it.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 242 fight card below, starting with the Fight Pass “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. ET, then the remaining undercard balance on FX Network at 12 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Khabib vs. Poirier.” Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC 242 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC 242 LIVE RESULTS:
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Dustin Poirier — Nurmagomedov def. Poirier by submission (rear naked choke) at 2:06 of Round Three — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
Edson Barboza vs. Paul Felder — Felder def. Barboza by unanimous decision (27-30, 29-28, 30-27)
Islam Makhachev vs. Davi Ramos — Makhachev def. Ramos by unanimous decision (29-27, 30-26 x2)
Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Curtis Blaydes — Blaydes def. Abdurakhimov by TKO (punches and elbows) at 2:22 of Round Two — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
Diego Ferreira vs. Mairbek Taisumov — Ferreira def. Taisumov by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27 x2)
Joanne Calderwood vs. Andrea Lee — Calderwood def. Lee by split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
Zubaira Tukhugov vs. Lerone Murphy — Split draw (28-29, 29-28, 28-28)
Liana Jojua vs. Sarah Moras — Moras def. Jojua by TKO (elbows) at 2:26 of Round Three
Ottman Azaitar vs. Teemu Packalen — Azaitar def. Packalen by KO (punch) at 3:33 of Round One — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
Belal Muhammad vs. Takashi Sato — Muhammad def. Sato by submission (rear naked choke) at 1:55 of Round Three — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
Muslim Salikhov vs. Nordine Taleb — Salikhov def. Taleb by KO (punch) at 4:26 of Round One — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
Omari Akhmedov vs. Zak Cummings — Akhmedov def. Cummings by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Don Madge vs. Fares Ziam — Madge def. Ziam by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
UFC 242 LIVE PLAY-BY-PLAY:
155 lbs.: Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Interim Lightweight Champion Dustin Poirier
Round 1: Tentative start. One minute in. Low kick from Poirier, tries to go high. Nurmagomedov lands a left hook and shoots, looking for a single-leg. He completes it against the fence, staying heavy as Poireir works to stand. Two minutes in. Poirier neatly spins to his feet but gives up the back two minutes in. Looking for the RNC. Drops it, lands right hands. Alternating between punches and submissions. Two minutes to go.
Nurmagomedov squeezes on a neck crank for a bit. Poirier avoids it, gets to his feet and lands a knee. Nurmagomedov drags him back down to a knee. One minute to go. Foot sweep gets Poirier down, again he tries to stand against the fence. Again Nurmagomedov denies to switch to land in low mount. Higher mount, heavy elbows. 10-8 Nurmagomedov.
Round 2: Low kick from Poirier early. Nurmagomedov tries a jump knee, lands an uppercut. Two hard right hands have Nurmagomedov retreating but he comes back with a left hook. High knee by Poirier as he tries to press the advantage. He may have hurt his leg throwing a body kick. One minute in. Nurmagomedov takes him down and moves to side control. Poirier trying to scoot to the fence. Two minutes in. Low mount for Nurmagomedov. Poirier trying to stand, gets to a knee. He’s been cut open. Two minutes to go.
Poirier makes it up. Nurmagomedov still pressing him against the fence. Quick dump puts him back down. Poirier again pops up, looks for a front headlock. One minute to go. Nurmagomedov knee, Poirier elbow on the break. Nurmagomedov shoots right back in. He trips Poirier down, again stays on him as Poirier stands. Knee lands for him, left hook on the break. 10-9 Nurmagomedov.
Round 3: Poirier fires low kicks and a straight left. Overhand left misses. 1-2 and double-leg by Nurmagomedov.. Poirier latches onto an arm-in guillotine and commits, but Nurmagomedov patiently works his way free. One minute in. One hook in. Looking for the RNC against the fence. He loses it, wraps it up again as Poirier tries to stand and that’ll do it.
Final result: Nurmagomedov def. Poirier by submission (rear naked choke)
155 lbs.: Edson Barboza vs. Paul Felder
Round 1: Barboza leg kick, Felder looks to spin in response. Again. Lead right from Felder, Barboza continuing to punish the lead leg, follows up with a body kick. More kicks, left hook by Barboza. Felder ties up and puts him on the fence. One minute in. Short punches from Felder. They separate. Felder body shot, Barboza leg kicks. Big counter hook by Barboza. Felder leg kick. He puts him on the fence again two minutes in, lands a nice elbow before Barboza circles off. Body kick from Barboza. Jab exchange. Felder takes a headbutt, informs the ref. Back to trading when they resume. Two minutes to go.
Two more big hooks by Barboza as Felder tries to open up. Felder wheel kick attempt. Barboza body shot, jab, body kick. 1-2 from Felder, continuing to advance. One minute to go. Lead right on the fence. Barboza counter combination. Counter elbow. 10-9 Barboza.
Round 2: Trading punches to start, Felder lands a few. Sharp jabs for mBarboza as he circles. Felder low kick. Barboza lands a spinning back kick in return. Felder shoots, denied. Low kick exchange. One minute in. Barboza body kick and he hits a takedown into guard. Barboza now sporting a cut as they trade elbows. Body-haed goes Barboza, trading punches. Two minutes in. Felder spins for an armbar, Barboza stands and pulls his arm out before letting him up. They trade leg kicks. Two minutes to go.
Barboza leg kick, Felder lead right. Barboza answers with low-high double hooks. Felder fires an uppercut and puts him on the fence. He can’t complete the single-leg. Barboza body kick with a minute to go. Counter left. Felder with a looping right against the fence. He shoots, denied, puts him on the fence. 10-9 Barboza.
Round 3: Body kick from Barboza and they trade punches. Good right cross by Felder in the center. Body shot. Left hook upstairs. Barboza body kick, Felder combo. One minute in. Hard right hand from Felder met by a jab. Barboza lands a counter right off the jab. Another hard body kick. Felder throwing hard. Low kick and spinning back fist land for Barboza. Two minutes in. Intercepting knee. Jab exchange. Both try to spin at the same time. Felder still advancing. 1-2-3 near the fence. Lead right met by a left hook two minutes in.
Felder connecting with punches, puts Barboza on the fence. One minute to go. Good punching exchange, Felder puts him back on the fence. Barboza has a body lock and reverses. He completes a takedown. 10-9 Felder.
Final result: Felder def. Barboza by split decision
155 lbs.: Islam Makhachev vs. Davi Ramos
Round 1: Ramos tries a front kick to start. Makhachev comes back with a head kick attempt. One minute in. Makhachev tries to shoot behind a left hand, denied. 2-1 from Makhachev. Ramos body kick. Makhachev with a clean 1-2. Low kick lands. Two minutes to go.
Neither man committing to big shots. Low kick form Makhachev, avoids counters. One minute to go. More feints than actual action at the moment. Makhachev left straight. Ramos tries to rush, lands a right hand. 10-9 Makhachev.
Round 2: Makhachev fires a head kick, Ramos comes back with a flurry and ties up. They separate a minute in. Makhachev body kicks. Ramos tries to answer in kind. Makhachev with a left hand downstairs. Two minutes in. Crown getting unhappy. Counter left from Makhachev, gets buckled by a jab. Ramos doesn’t follow up. 1-2 from Makhachev. Two minutes to go.
Makhachev lead left. Body shot. Right hook and knee inside. One minute to go. 1-2-3 from Makhachev. Leg kick. Counter right. Ramos trying to brawl his way in, struggling to land. 10-9 Makhachev.
Round 3: Ramos presses forward, but gets crumpled by a knee against the fence. Makhachev lands some heavy punches, but can’t polish him off. On top in guard. One minute in. Makhachev not doing much from top position, just landing steady ground-and-pound without overextending. Two minutes in. More steady work. Two minutes to go.
Ramos tries to turn for an armbar, nothing there. One minute to go. More pressure and short blows. Makhachev lets him up before the bell. 10-9 Makhachev.
Final result: Makhachev def. Ramos by unanimous decision
265 lbs.: Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Curtis Blaydes
Round 1: Blaydes shoots within 20 seconds, lands it, puts in a hook. Abdurakhimov makes it up, dragged back down into side control. One minute in. Abdurakhimov stands, turns, and separates. Abdurakhimov tries a counter uppercut. Blaydes shoots, takes him down again on the fence. One hook in, landing short lefts. Two minutes to go.
Blaydes staying heavy, landing knees. Abdurakhimov makes it up, slammed back down. One minute to go. Full mount, brutal punches and elbows. 10-8 Blaydes.
Round 2: Trading punches early, Abdurakhimov lands an uppercut and gets taken down against the fence. Looking to pass a minute in. Half guard for Blaydes. Abdurakhimov turns to his knees and Blaydes starts bludgeoning him with left hands. Abdurakhimov surrenders half guard. Abdurakhimov has no answers for the GnP and it’s over.
Final result: Blaydes def. Abdurakhimov by TKO (punches and elbows)
155 lbs.: Diego Ferreira vs. Mairbek Taisumov
Round 1: Ferreira pressing forward. Low kick from Taisumov. Again. Ferreira looking to jab. They trade 1-2s a minute in. Lead uppercut from Taisumov, who eats a counter. Ferreira keeping up the pressure. They trade on the fence. Low kick knocks Ferreira over. Two minutes in. 1-2 from Ferreira. Body kick. Taisumov tries to go high. They trade rights, more jabs and a low kick from Ferreira. Right hand behind the ear buzzes Ferreira and Taisumov patiently pursues. Ferreira gets his bearings. Two minutes to go.
Taisumov looking for lead rights. Side kick from Ferreira. Hook kick attempt. One minute to go. 1-1-2 by the Brazilian. Overhand right and head kick just miss. Taisumov with another hard leg kick. Ferreira 1-2. Again, keeping up the pressure. 10-9 Taisumov.
Round 2: Ferreira continues to advance. Low kick from Taisumov, eats a right hand after avoiding a head kick. Taisumov uppercut just misses. Two more hard right hands by Ferreira. Front kick. Ferreira shoots, Judo tossed to the mat but stays attached as he stands. Ref separates them to warn Ferreira for headbutts. Back to the center, hard 1-2 from Ferreira. Taisumov digs to the body, eats rights upstairs. Two minutes in. Body kick from Ferreira. More right hands and they trade heat. Ferreira right hand and body kick. Taisumov not reacting well to the pressure. Two minutes to go.
Ferreira right hook met by a jab. Left hook lands. Counter hook by Taisumov, then a lead right. Ferreira shoots, denied. Right hand lands with a minute to go. Counter two-piece from Taisumov. Ferreira 2-1. Hard lead right. Body kick, glancing wheel kick. Taisumov comes back with a right. 10-9 Ferreira.
Round 3: Ferreira refuses to let up, opening with a knee and right hand. Working behind his jab, tries a head kick. Low-high combo. Right cross. He shoots, denied, lands an elbow on the break. Counters from Taisumov a minute in. Ferreira combination in center cage. 1-2 connects. Left hook on the fence. Jabs upstairs. 1-2, 1-1-2. Fake level change, right hand. Head kick attempt, clean 3-2. Taisumov offering little, eating combinations, 2-1 from Ferreira, body shot. Two minutes t ogo.
Now a combination from southpaw. Right hook, body shots. He’s running over Taisumov. Combinations continue to pile up. One minute to go. 1-1-2. Body shots on the fence. Head kick on the fence. Right cross in the center. Counter right by Taisumov. They trade rights in the center. 10-9 Ferreira.
Final result: Ferreira def. Taisumov by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Joanne Calderwood vs. Andrea Lee
Round 1: Trading kicks to start. Counter jabs from Calderwood. Lee still marching forward. Backfist by Calderwood, Lee leg kick. One minute in. Lee jab, Calderwood counter left. Back-and-forth exchanges, hook lands for Calderwood. Body shots form Lee. Trading jabs, Lee knee to the body. Body kick two minutes in. Lee body shot, Calderwood uppercut. Calderwood answers body shots with a knee. Lee starting to outwork her, but eats a body kick. Two minutes to go.
Calderwood catches a kick for a takedown into half guard. Hard elbow from Calderwood on the break. Lee catches a head kick for her own takedown. She passes to side control. One minute to go. Calderwood with quarter guard. Elbows by Lee, back to side control. 10-9 Lee.
Round 2: Trading kicks to start the round. Lee grabs a body lock and takes her to the fence. Knees from Lee before they separate. Calderwood jabs and low kick. One minute in. She tries a knee inside. Lee looks for a single-leg, transitions to a double when Calderwood looks poised to stand. Low mount for Lee. Calderwood turns to her knees. Two minutes in. Lee with a knee to the body. Calderwood manages to stand, Lee still attached. Calderwood with an elbow on the break with two minutes to go.
Both land right crosses. Calderwood grabs a Thai plum and lands inside. Lee looks like she might be slowing a bit. Body kick lands for her. Calderwood stuffs another shot, looks for her own. One minute to go. They separate. Calderwood counters a low kick with a right hand. Calderwood shoots again. dumps her against the fence. Good elbow as they stand, Lee responds with a body kick. 10-9 Calderwood.
Round 3: Lee definitely slowing. Calderwood lands a nice cross. Lee tries a haed kick, eats a leg kick. 1-2 lands for Lee, then a body shot. Calderwood with a hard right hand to back her off. One minute in. Trading low kicks. Calderwood to the body. Lee tries to spin. Side kick lands. Calderwood with a teep and counter hook. Two minutes in. Double jab. Lee with a 3-2. Calderwood with a front kick to the face and defends a takedown. Lee shoots again, lands it. Two minutes to go.
Lee looks for the back on the fence. Calderwood turns and looks for her own takedown. Knee from Lee, reverses position. They separate, Calderwood lands a front kick. One minute to go. Calderwood with a nice knee after defending a takedown. More nice clinch work. 10-9 Calderwood.
Final result: Calderwood def. Lee by split decision
145 lbs.: Zubaira Tukhugov vs. Lerone Murphy
Round 1: Good low kick by Murphy to start. Feints from Murphy. One minute in. Left hook by Tukhugov, lead right soon afterwards. BIG left hook and down goes Murphy! He manages to scramble up, eating big shots along the way, and gets taken down soon after. Two minutes in. Murphy with his back against the fence. Tukhugov denies an attempt to stand and pulls him down into guard away from the fence. Half guard now. Two minutes to go.
Back to guard. One minute to go. Murphy scoots to the fence, Tukhugov maintaining control. Murphy goes for a late kimura, loses it. 10-9 Tukhugov.
Round 2: Early jabs from Murphy. Low kick. Body kicks connect. Counter body shots a minute in. Right cross snaps Tukhugov’s head back. Nicely timed takedown by Tukhugov. Murphy latches onto a guillotine, sweeps with it, but loses it and ends up back on the bottom. Murphy stands, looking for a high elbow guillotine. Tukugov avoids it and takes him down. Murphy stands again. Two minutes to go.
Murphy separates and goes back to pressuring. Lead right lands clean. Uppercut lands, Tukhugov comes back with a right hand. Body kick and head kick by Murphy. Tukhugov shoots, takes top position with a minute to go. Murphy looking for elbows off of his back. 10-9 Murphy.
Round 3: Murphy back on the advance. Straight left lands clean. Tukugov briefly tries to tie up. Tukhugov claims a groin strike, Murphy continues to advance and limp-legs out of a takedown. They trade two-pieces. Good counters from Murphy and Tukhugov shoots in response. Two minutes in. Elbows from Murphy as he defends. Ref wants more action. Murphy gets his leg out and resumes pressuring. Tukuhgov catches a body kick and uses it for a takedown. Looking for the back. Tow minutes to go.
Back to full guard. Murphy rolls to his knees. He works his way up. One minute to go. Tukhugov continues to drive, takes him down. Murphy stands, cracks Tukhugov with a knee. 10-9 Tukhugov.
Final result: Split draw
135 lbs.: Liana Jojua vs. Sarah Moras
Round 1: Morase on the early advance. They trade punches, left hook lands for Jojua. Moras doing well with her jab. One minute in. Right cross from Moras. Counter right from Jojua after taking a leg kick. Body kick from Moras. She puts Jojua on the fence after avoiding a flurry. Two minutes in. Keeping Jojua there. Two minutes to go.
Knees from Moras. Jojua not really doing anything to improve the situation. One minute to go. ref separates them and they start trading heat. Moras soon puts her on the fence once again. 10-9 Moras.
Round 2: Moras marches right back into the pocket and they trade early. More pressure from Moras. 2-3s from Jojua. Moras lands a knee as she takes her to the fence. One minute in. Jojua unable to get off the fence. Two minutes in. Moras gets overeager looking for the back and Jojua takes her down into guard. Moaras fires elbows, tries to bring her guard up to threaten. Armbar/triangle sequence not there. Two minutes to go.
Jojua with some right hands after avoiding an armbar. Moras kicks her back and sets up in guard. One minute to go. Not much from either woman in this position. Now elbows from Moras. 10-9 Moras.
Round 3: Jojua lands an early hook. Moras fires a knee and gets taken down into guard for it. High guard for Moras. One minute in. Jojua lets her stand after a bit. She tries to shoot again and Moras takes the back in response. Now mount, dropping elbows. More big shots and the ref steps in.
Final result: Moras def. Jojua by TKO (elbows)
155 lbs.: Ottman Azaitar vs. Teemu Packalen
Round 1: Azaitar circling early. Trading jabs. Azaitar whiffs on a pair of haymakers. Counter right lands for him. Low kick lands. One minute in. Another counter right by Azaitar, then a brutal flurry in the clinch. Packalen trying to throw knees inside as Azaitar opens up. 2-3 knocks Packalen back, then another right cross hurts him. Azaitar marching after him. Packalen lands a knee in the clinch. Two minutes in. Azaitar digs a hard body shot and overhand right that knocks Packalen off-balance. Two minutes to go.
Lead overhand lands for Azaitar. Packalen shoots, denied. Jesus Christ, Azaitar unloads an absolute monster overhand right that catches Packalen behind the ear and sends him down like a felled tree. Packalen’s legs are violently twitching when he hits the mat.
Final result: Azaitar def. Packalen by KO (punch)
170 lbs.: Belal Muhammad vs. Takashi Sato
Round 1: ESPN+ is being snitty this morning. Muhammad pressing forward, looking for right hands as Sato tries to set up counters. One minute in. Low-high combo lands twice in a row for Muhammad. Jab from Sato, who gets dropped by a left hook but gets back to his feet. Muhammad stays on him, wraps up a rear waist lock two minutes in. Muhammad tries a lift, can’t establish and they separate. Muhammad with a left hook as Sato tries to jab. Sato right hook. Two minutes to go.
Muhammad shoots in, gets the waist lock again. He separates with a left hook. He’s committed to the 2-3. One minute to go. Well-timed double-leg and he transitions right to the back. Full body triangle. Solid elbows. 10-9 Muhammad.
Round 2: Muhammad finding the mark with the left hook and body shots. One minute in. Sato still trying to work behind the jab, eats lefts in combination. Muhammad shoots, ear waist lock, can’t keep him down. Sato tries a throw and separates two minutes in. Again Muhammad goes low-high with success. Sato not throwing much besides the jab. Muhammad shoots with two minutes to go.
Left hook on the break. Good right hand in the center. 1-2 from Sato. He lands a body shot, eats a counter right. One minute to go. Another two-piece by Muhammad. Sato suddenly hits an outside trip into side control. 10-9 Muhammad.
Round 3: Overhand right from Muhammad after a headbitt. Sato throwing a bit more as Muhammad steps in, lands a jab. One minute in. Haed kick lands for Muhammad and he shoots in. Sato defends the initial lift and separates. Muhammad fires a combination in return. Good double-leg entry and he takes Sato’s back again, looking to wrap up the RNC. He switches sides as Sato tries to hand-fight and forces the tap.
Final result: Muhammad def. Sato by submission (rear naked choke)
170 lbs.: Muslim Salikhov vs. Nordine Taleb
Round 1: Taleb switching stance early, sending out kicks. Jab appears to connect. Salikhov leg kicks. One minute in. Lots of feints on both sides. Taleb lands a jab. Salikhov lands a spinning back kick to the body, takes a low blow. Salikhov answers with a leg kick when they resume. Two minutes in. Right cross by Taleb, inside low kick exchange. Counter right from Salikhov. Two minutes to go.
Salikhov tries to spin, takes a right hand in return. Taleb tries a left high kick. Left hook. Salikhov digs a right downstairs. One minute to go. Salikhov backs Taleb up near the fence, then obliterates him with a bomb of a right hand.
Final result: Salikhov def. Taleb by KO (punch)
185 lbs.: Omari Akhmedov vs. Zak Cummings
Round 1: Akhmedov opens with a body kick. Cummings switching stance. Inside low kick catches Akhmedov in the junk. He lands his own leg kick when they resume. One minute in. Body kick by Akhmedov, trading low kicks. Akhmedov tries to counter a body kick. Both wing shots in the center. Two minutes in. Cummings double ups the left and drops Akhmedov near the fence. Akhmedov pops back up and avoids the follow-ups before separating. They trade in the center. Two minutes to go.
Akhmedov shoots, slams Cummings into half guard. Cummings hits a deep half guard sweep, can’t separate before Akhmedov takes him back down. One minute to go. Akhmedov tries to dive in with a right hand and Cummings uses it to stand. 10-9 Cummings on the knockdown.
Round 2: Cummings tries a body kick. Akhmedov with an overhand right in return. Counter hook catches Cummings coming in . Low kick lands a minute in. Trading inside low kicks. They trade near the center. Two minutes in. Body kick from Akhmedov. Counter 1-2 connects. Cummings tries a high kick. Two minutes to go.
Akhmedov 1-2. Akhmedov tries to spin, gets stung by a right hook. He fires a takedown in return and puts Cummings on the fence. Knees downstairs with a minute to go. Cummings grabs a guillotine, loses it as he tries to pull guard and ends up in half guard. Good punches by Akhmedov. 10-9 Akhmedov.
Round 3: Cummings tries a high kick. Lots of feints. One minute in. Cummings tries a jumping punch, falls short. Akhmedov low kick. Counter uppercut from Cummings. Two minutes in. 1-2 from Akhmedov, good left hook. Cummings left hands fall short. Two minutes to go.
Cummings low kicks. Akhmedov shoots, stuffed. They trade blows inside. Akhmedov jab. Left hook. Double left from Cummings and he gets taken down for it with a minute to go. Half guard for Akhmedov. Right hands land. 10- 9 Akhmedov.
Final result: Akhmedov def. Cummings by unanimous decision
155 lbs.: Don Madge vs. Fares Ziam
Round 1: Trading low kicks to start. Madge wraps up a body lock and puts him on the fence. Ziam fights off a couple of trips, stays on his feet. Ziam reverses with over-unders, gets reversed in turn. One minute in. Ziam tries an inside reap, still jockeying for position. Knees to the thigh. He tries an elbow two minutes in. Still fighting for position on the fence. Madge lands a quick right hook and re-engages. Avoids a guillotine. Two minutes to go.
Ref breaks them up. Madge advancing, throwing hard as Ziam looks to counter. He ducks in for a takedown, can’t get it. Ziam can’t get the reap either. One minute to go. Back to trading position on the fence. Man, I got no idea. 10-9 Madge?
Round 2: Madge puts him on the fence again. Back to looking for trips as they fight for position. They separate and trade punches a minute in. Elbow from Madge, eats a knee as he presses forward. Ziam fights off another takedown. Still clinching. Two minutes in. Still clinching. Two minutes to go.
Madge fires an elbow on the break, trades punches, clinches again. Ref separates them. Trading body kicks. Ziam lands a left hook and tries an inside trip before putting him right back on the fence with a minute to go. Madge gets a bit of space and throws punches, then finally manages a double-leg away from the fence. Madge postures up for a few punches. 10-9 Madge.
Round 3: Madge punches his way back into the clinch. He changes levels, can’t get anything. One minute in. More jockeying for position. Madge changes levels again, gets him to his rear. Two minutes in. Ziam pops back up. Madge looks for a single-leg, Ziam counters with a kimura but can’t keep hold in the scramble. Two minutes to go.
They separate. Ziam throws a combo, gets taken down by a reactive double-leg. Madge postures up for some ground-and-pound. One minute to go. Madge moves to half guard. Good punches. 10-9 Madge.
Final result: Madge def. Ziam by unanimous decision