Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
To stream UFC 246 LIVE on ESPN+ PPV click here!
Former UFC lightweight champion, Conor McGregor, will make his return to the welterweight division for the first time since capturing a majority decision victory over Nate Diaz back in late 2016, to battle yet another 155-pound veteran in the form of record-setting finisher, Donald Cerrone. They’ll headline the upcoming UFC 246 pay-per-view (PPV) event, which requires a subscription to ESPN+ to watch (sign up here). The “Prelims” undercard will be televised on ESPN, along with early “Prelims” offerings also making their way to the ESPN+ and Fight Pass digital networks. The action takes place TONIGHT (Sat., Jan. 18, 2020) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, with ex-bantamweight champion, Holly Holm, rematching Raquel Pennington in the UFC 246 co-main event. In addition, Aleksei Oleinik, Anthony Pettis, and Brian Kelleher will also see PPV main card action this weekend in “Sin City.”
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 246 fight card below, starting with the ESPN+/Fight Pass “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard balance on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 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 “McGregor vs. Cowboy.” Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC 246 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC 246 QUICK RESULTS:
Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone — McGregor def. Cerrone by TKO (head kick and punches) at 0:40 of Round One | RECAP | WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington — Holm def. Pennington by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2) | RECAP
Maurice Greene vs. Aleksei Oleinik — Oleinik def. Greene by submission (armbar) at 4:38 of Round Two | RECAPClaudia Gadelha vs. Alexa Grasso
Brian Kelleher vs. Ode Osbourne — Kelleher def. Osbourne by submission (guillotne choke) at 2:49 of Round One | RECAP
Diego Ferreira vs. Anthony Pettis — Ferreira def. Pettis by submission (rear naked choke) at 1:46 of Round Two | RECAP
Maycee Barber vs. Roxanne Modafferi — Modafferi def. Barber by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 30-26)
Andre Fili vs. Sodiq Yusuff — Yusuff def. Fili by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Askar Askarov vs. Tim Elliott — Askarov def. Elliott by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)
Drew Dober vs. Nasrat Haqparast — Dober def. Haqparast by TKO (punches) at 1:10 of Round One | WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!Grant Dawson vs. Chas Skelly
Aleksa Camur vs. Justin Ledet — Camur def. Ledet by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)
J.J. Aldrich vs. Sabina Mazo — Mazo def. Aldrich by split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)
UFC 246 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
170 lbs.: Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone
Round 1: The two tie up right away. Shoulder strikes from McGregor appear to bust up Cerrone’s nose. McGregor follows up with a head kick that badly rattles Cerrone, then punishes him with left hands until Herb Dean steps in.
Final result: McGregor def. Cerrone by TKO (head kick and punches)
?135 lbs.: Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington
Round 1: Pennington falls short with a Superman punch. Oblique kick from Holm. Pennington 1-2. One minute in. Pennington continuing to advance as Holm picks at her lead leg. Combo from Holm. They tie up and Holm puts her on the fence. Holm grinding, landing short blows. Two minutes to go.
Knee to the body from Pennington. Holm lands one of her own with a minute to go. Pennington reverses position and looks for a takedown as Holm holds onto a guillotine. 10-9 Holm.
Round 2: Holm continues to pick at the lead leg, angles away from a blitz. Low kick from Pennington. Pennington 1-2, Holm body shot and she takes Pennington to the fence. Holm staying heavy on her. Pennington reverses two minutes in, gets reversed in turn. Knee to the body from Holm. Another reversal-reversal. Pennington lands some knees downstairs and separates with two minutes to go.
Holm changes levels, hauls Pennington back to the fence. Jockeying for position. One minute to go. Pennington fires some knees downstairs. She exits with another knee, powers through a side kick to tie up. 10-9 Holm.
Round 3: Pennington continues to press forward, fires an uppercut. Teep from Holm, left to the body. Brief clinch, Pennington lands a knee. One minute in. Pennington looks for a combination. Right hand lands. Holm tries a head kick, lands an oblique kick. Pennington puts her on the fence, gets reversed. They trade knees and separate two minutes in. Holm sending out kicks. Oblique kick lands. Pennington tries to blitz, eats a left hand. Counter left from Holm. Pennington shoots behind a right hand, puts her on the fence. Holm reverses with two minutes to go.
Holm tries an inside reap, pressing her against the fence. One minute to go. Ref separates them. Combination lands for Holm. Counter left as Pennington ties up. Pennington with a knee on the break. She lands a left, ties up, gets reversed. Knee on the break. She stuffs a takedown, lands a left. 10-9 Holm.
Final result: Holm def. Pennington by unanimous decision
265 lbs.: Maurice Greene vs. Aleksei Oleinik
Round 1: Greene drops Oleinik with an early kick, doesn’t follow him down. Oleinik plodding after him, avoids a head kick and grabs a rear waist lock.Greene tries a kimura, gets dragged down while holding onto the arm. Oleinik establishes in side control. One minute in. Oleinik looking for the scarf hold, but Greene regains guard and threatens a triangle. Two minutes in. Greene again threatens a triangle, uses the space to get to his knees and stand. Oleinik drags him back down , passes to mount against the fence. Two minutes to go.
Oleinik turns him away for the fence and locks his hands, moving to scarf hold. Greene gives a thumbs-up as Oleinik squeezes. One minute to go. Greene surviving the squeeze, swats him with hammerfists. 10-9 Oleinik.
Round 2: Running into some technical issues at the start of the second round. Oleinik stalking after him, eats a side kick. Oleinik’s punches look labored as he eats a head kick. He ties up on the fence, eats an uppercut, knee, and elbow. Oleinik changes levels a minute in. He manages to lock his hands and drag Greene down into half guard. Oleinik looking to set up the Ezekiel. Two minutes in. He loses the choke, looks to pass. Hammerfists. Greene locks up a kimura from his back. Two minutes to go.
Oleinik holds out until Greene lets go. Elbow from Oleinik as he takes mount. He steps over for an armbar. One minute to go. Greene using his legs to defend as Oleinik cranks on it, and after a struggle, he forces the tap.
Final result: Oleinik def. Greene by submission (armbar)
135 lbs.: Brian Kelleher vs. Ode Osbourne
Round 1: Kelleher powers through a right hand to slam Osbourne to the mat against the cage. Half guard for Kelleher, then full guard a minute in. Osbourne bringing his legs up, nothing there. Punches from Kelleher. Osbourne landing elbows off of his back. Two minutes in. Kelleher passes to half guard. Now threatening a guillotine after getting a bit of space. Kelleher steps over into mount with the choke, then falls back to guard to draw the tap.
Final result: Kelleher def. Osbourne by submission (guillotine choke)
155 lbs.: Diego Ferreira vs. Anthony Pettis
Round 1: Ferreira pressuring early, looks for a single-leg but gets rebuffed with a knee. One minute in. Head kick attempt from the Brazilian. Pettis pops him with a straight left and counter right hook. Body kick and overhand left from Ferreira. Two minutes in. Ferreira shoots in against the fence; some technical difficulties, apologies. Ferreira transitions to a rear waistlock and kicks off the fence to secure back mount. Two minutes to go.
Pettis spins into guard and stands. Head kick attempt. Ferreira presses forward, looks for a single-leg. Pettis defending against the fence. They trade knees downstairs. One minute to go. Pettis separates and looks for a head kick on the break. Combination lands for the Brazilian and he looks for the back again. He completes the takedown and passes to side control. He stands over Pettis, avoids a Capoeira kick and drops punches. 10-9 Ferreira.
Round 2: Ferreira quickly finds himself back in top position from a single-leg attempt and hunts for the back. One hook in a minute in. Punches from the Brazilian. He wraps up the RNC, and though it’s an awkward angle, it’s enough to force the tap.
Final result: Ferreira def. Pettis by submission (rear naked choke)
125 lbs.: Maycee Barber vs. Roxanne Modafferi
Round 1: Barber advancing early, lands a right hook. Modafferi ties up, can’t get anything. Both land some good punches. 1-2 from Modafferi. Clean straight right. Another. Modafferi wraps her up and takes her down into half guard a minute in. Modafferi staying tight. Two minutes in. Modafferi looks for side control, denied by a knee shield. Barber still just holding on. Two minutes to go.
Barber suddenly wraps up an arm-in guillotine from half guard, but Modafferi breaks the grip and gets her head out. One minute to go. Modafferi passes to side control, then mount. Barber gives up her back, but manages to sweep into guard. 10-9 Modafferi.
Round 2: Modafferi drops Barber early with a jab, absorbing upkicks as she takes side control. Barber denies an attempt to mount a minute in. Crucifix for Modafferi, now mount. Punches and elbows from Modafferi. Barber holds her close. Elbows from Modafferi, but Barber sweeps into guard. Modafferi looking to set up an armbar. Tow minutes to go.
Elbow from Barber, who’s just pouring blood. Another armbar attempt, more elbows form Barber, but Modafferi sweeps back into mount. She looks for an arm triangle, caught in half guard. Barber looking for a kimura. Modafferi gets her arm out and passes to side control. She stands over Barber and kicks at her legs. 10-9 Modafferi.
Round 3: The doctor diagnosis Barber with a small ACL tear after a quick exam. Impressive diagnostic ability. Modafferi cracks her with a straight right and Barber stumbles back. Hard right from Barber but she can barely walk. Another hard straight right by Modafferi. Barber is done. Her leg collapses under her when Modafferi ties up. Half guard for Modafferi. Barber sweeps, hunts for an americana two minutes in. Elbow from Barber. Modafferi regains guard, eats an elbow. Modafferi uses the fence to stand and sprawls on a shot. Two minutes to go.
Modafferi takes top position. Half guard. One minute to go. A few punches from Modafferi. 10-9 Modafferi.
Final result: Modafferi def. Barber by unanimous decision
145 lbs.: Andre Fili vs. Sodiq Yusuff
Round 1: The two get right to exchanging. Yusuff pressuring behind his jab. Counter right from Fili. Leg kick exchange. Clean overhand right and jab sting Fili. Another nasty jab. One minute in. Fili changes levels, gets a rear body lock. He tries to exit with an elbow. Jab exchange. Yusuff still stalking. Both men landing good jabs. Fili shoots in after a Yusuff jab and drags him to his knees, but can’t keep him there. Body kick from Fili, low kick from Yusuff. More hard jabs. Low kick from Fili. He shoots, gets him down, can’t keep him there. Fili grinding him against the fence with two minutes to go.
They separate. Left hook from Fili. Yusuff answers a body kick with a jab and each man suddenly hurts the other. Fili hits a double-leg, can’t keep him down, puts him on the fence. Yusuff goes hard for a kimura and uses it to sweep, but loses it when Fili regains guard. Fili spins for an armbar, abandons it when Yusuff elevates him. Heavy GnP by Yusuff before the bell. Great round. 10-9 Yusuff.
Round 2: Hard leg kick from Yusuff and they trade punches. Yusuff catches a body kick and takes top position, dropping left hands. Body shots. One minute in. Yusuff passes to side control. Knees to the body. Fili tries to bridge, can’t. Two minutes in. North-south now. Back to side control. Good shots from knee-on-belly. Two minutes to go.
Fili regains guard, looks for upkicks. Yusuff tosses his legs aside and takes side control, then mount. Fili puts his feet on the cage and pushes off to stand. He shoots, can’t establish, puts him on the fence. Knee to the body. 10-9 Yusuff.
Round 3: Fili looks for an early head kick, eats a leg kick. One minute in. Fili with a glancing body kick. Big counter right by Yusuff. Stiff jab. Fili answers with a body kick. More jabs from Yusuff. Counter left lands for Fili two minutes in. Straight lefts landing for him, body kick and right hook. Counter right by Yusuff. Fili advancing and they trade. Hard straight left. Two minutes to go.
More left hands by Fili. Both land hard in the center. Yusuff head kick just misses. One minute to go. Glancing overhand by Yusuff. Counter right by Fili. Another right cross, brief level change. Fili talks a bit of trash and hits a late takedown. 10-9 Fili. First round decides it.
Final result: Yusuff def. Fili by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Askar Askarov vs. Tim Elliott
Round 1: Elliott switching stance, sending out some low kicks. Nothing from Askarov yet. One minute in. Now a 1-2-3 connects. Elliott counters a pair of low kicks with a pair of left hands. Askarov tried a head kick. Elliott shoots, bails, eats a pair of rights. Left hand lands for Elliott, who get knocked out on his feet by a right hook as he exits. He somehow survives enough to shoot, then tie up off of his back. Askarov on top in half guard. Two minutes to go.
Askarov with some heavy shoulder pressure as Elliott holds onto a guillotine grip. Askarov postures up, slashes with an elbow. One minute to go. Askarov again postures up to drop hammerfists. Another heavy GnP flurry near the bell. 10-9 Askarov.
Round 2: Askarov fires a 3-2, gets sent sailing by a hip toss. Elliott looks for a guillotine as Askarov scrambles up, but can’t get it and they stand. Askarov hauls him to the fence. Knee upstairs. Rear waistlock now for Askarov. Elliott briefly looks for a kimura. Elliott separates, eats a 1-2. Another 1-2, Elliott answers with a knee two mintues in. More combinations from Askarov. Huge shovel hook, but Elliott throws him down again. Askarov avoids another guillotine and stands. Another lovely throw off of what looked like a failed level change. Askarov quickly spins for an armbar, can’t get it, tries to switch to a triangle. Two minutes to go.
Elliott passes to side control. Askarov briefly regains guard, now back to half guard. Full guard. One minute go to. Askarov tries a triangle, can’t get it, scrambles up and eats a left on the break. Good exchange and Elliott shoots. Askarov threatens with a kimura before separating, then tries a suplex. 10-9 Askarov.
Round 3: ESPN+ decided to freeze furing the commercial, so I missed most of the first minute. Askarov changes levels, stuffed. Elliott rips the body inside. He walks through some jabs, denies a takedown and lands a knee. 1-2 from Askarov. More jabs from Askarov. Low kicks from Elliott piling up two minutes in. Hard rights from Askarov on the retreat. Elliott stalking him, waving him on. More body shots. Askarov cracks him with a 1-2. Askarov changes levels, denied. Hard 1-2 lands. Elliott lands a left hand upstairs, shrugs off an uppercut. Tow minutes to go.
Elliott lands a body shot, eats a chopping right. Askarov low kick, more jabs. Elliott’s stalking but getting outlanded. 2-1 from Askarov. Elliott opens up on the fence. One minute to go. They trade inside until Elliott shoots. Stuffed. Askarov lands a low kick and denies a takedown. The two stare at each other. Askarov tries a shot, lands inside. 10-9 Askarov.
Final result: Askarov def. Elliott by unanimous decision
155 lbs.: Drew Dober vs. Nasrat Haqparast
Round 1: Haqparast fires an early overhand, avoids one from Dober. Flurry attempt, then a fast exchange. One minute in. Hawparast fires a naked low kick and Dober crushes him with a straight left, putting Haqparast on his seat. Dober smashes him with way too many follow-up left hands until the ref steps in.
Final result: Dober def. Haqparast by TKO (punches)
205 lbs.: Aleksa Camur vs. Justin Ledet
Round 1: Camur opens with a wheel kick attempt. Overhand right whiffs. Jab to the body. Ledet blocks a head kick, then a Brazilian kick. One minute in. Camur tries a leg kick. Ledet 3-2, eats a leg kick. Hard 3-3-2 from Ledet. Camur eats a stiff jab, lands a leg kick two minutes in. Camur lands a right to the body. He whiffs on an uppercut and shoots, tries a right on the exit. Low kick lands with two minutes to go.
Camur wheel kick whiffs. Left hook lands with a minute to go. Quick 1-2 by Ledet. Another missed wheel kick by Camur, body jab lands. He tries a jumping knee. 10-9 Ledet but he needs more volume to be safe with the judges.
Round 2: Camur tries some more fancy kicks, shoots and stuffed. Left hook lands for him. One minute in. 2-1 from Ledet. Camur takes him to the fence, lands a knee downstairs. Leg kick. Two minutes in. Right hand low, left hook high. Ledet lands a counter after eating a body kick. Good exchange. Camur lands an overhand right to no effect. Leg kick lands. Knee and right hand downstairs. Ledet lands a body shot with two minutes to go.
Jab exchange. Ledet lands a pair of heavy left hooks, then one on the counter. Camur puts him on the fence and opens up with some nice shots. One minute to go. Hard elbow from Camur, who looks to flurry. Knee from Camur. Ledet avoids a trip. 10-9 Camur; Ledet was far more efficient, but just didn’t do enough.
Round 3: Ledet with some early lefts. 1-2 misses. Camur tries to spin again. One minute in. Ledet two-piece misses. Jab comes back at him. Big exchange, Ledet blasts him with a left hook and gets taken to the fence. Two minutes in. They separate. Ledet left hook, blocks a body kick. Two minutes to go.
Ledet checks a low kick, eats the next one. Punches fall short. One minute to go. Body kick from Camur, 1-2 misses. Jab exchange, 1-2 from Ledet. Camur with a takedown in the waning seconds. 10-9 Ledet.
Final result: Camur def. Ledet by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: J.J. Aldrich vs. Sabina Mazo
Round 1: Aldrich fires an early combination. Low kicks from Mazo, 3-2 from Aldrich in return. Mazo looking to jab. One minute in. Counter 2-3 from Aldrich. Mazo with a low kick. Aldrich catches her kicking with a 1-2. Two minutes in. Aldrich avoids a head kick and comes back with a combination. Mazo advancing behind the jab, lands a body kick. Two minutes to go.
Aldrich fires a combo, Mazo looks to answer in kind. Low kick from Mazo and a left hook, eats a straight left in return. Another straight left down the pipe. One minute to go. Mazo lands a right cross and some jabs. Mazo low kick, brief clinch. Aldrich to the body. Low and body kicks by Mazo. 10-9 Aldrich.
Round 2: Nice boxing exchanges in the early going. Mazo pressing forward, showing greater volume. Counter combo after avoiding a left. Both land their power hands. Body kick from Mazo. One minute in. Aldrich answers a knee with a straight left, takes a body kick. Mazo low kick, Aldrich left hand two minutes in. Low-high three-piece by Aldrich, another straight left. Intercepting knee lands for Mazo. Aldrich looks to answer a body kick with a combo. Good 1-2, Mazo tries to flurry in response. Two minutes to go.
Aldrich answers a knee with a hard straight left. 2-3. One minute to go. Another left hand by Aldrich. Mazo gets the Thai plum, lands some good knees as Aldrich tries to punch her way out. Nice head kick from Mazo in the waning seconds. 10-9 Aldrich.
Round 3: Nice boxing exchange to start. Mazo grabs the plum, fires knees to the body. She changes levels, lands more knees. Aldrich reverses and separates. One minute in. Mazo leg kick. Straight right soon after. Aldrich knocks her back with a straight left. Hard knee by Mazo, who steps into the clinch and fires more knees. Two minutes in. Elbows now. More knees from double unders. Two minutes to go.
Ref separates them. Aldrich counters a knee with a 1-2. One minute to go. Aldrich tries a high kick, lands a straight left and 1-2. Mazo grabs a Thai plum and cracks her with a knee upstairs. Mazo body kick met by a straight left. Comes down to how they scored the second. 10-9 Mazo.
Final result: Mazo def. Aldrich by split decision