Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is inching closer to its UFC 259 pay-per-view (PPV) event, scheduled for TONIGHT (Sat., March 6, 2021) inside APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. Front and center will be light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz along with middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya. Blachowicz defends his 205-pound strap against “The Last Stylebender” in the five-round main event. Co-headlining duties fall to women’s featherweight champion Amanda Nunes and top 145-pound contender Megan Anderson, who go to war right after bantamweight champion Petr Yan faces off against streaking challenger Aljamain Sterling. All that, plus so much more from “Sin City.”
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 259 fight card below, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, which are scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Blachowicz vs. Adesanya.” Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC 259 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC 259 QUICK RESULTS:
Jan Blachowicz vs. Israel Adesanya — Blachowicz def. Adesanya by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-45 x2) — HIGHLIGHTS
Amanda Nunes vs. Megan Anderson — Nunes def. Anderson by submission (triangle armbar) at 2:03 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling — Sterling def. Yan by DQ (illegal knee) at 4:29 of Round Four — HIGHLIGHTS
Drew Dober vs. Islam Makhachev — Makhachev def. Dober by submission (Von Flue choke) at 1:37 of Round Three
Aleksandar Rakic vs. Thiago Santos — Rakic def. Santos by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
Dominick Cruz vs. Casey Kenney — Cruz def. Kenney by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
Kyler Phillips vs. Song Yadong — Phillips def. Song by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Askar Askarov vs. Joseph Benavidez — Askarov def. Benavidez by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 30-26)
Rogerio Bontorin vs. Kai Kara-France — Kara-France def. Bontorin by TKO (punches) at 4:55 of Round One
Tim Elliott vs. Jordan Espinosa — Elliott def. Espinosa by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 30-25)
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Carlos Ulberg — Nzechukwu def. Ulberg by KO (punches) at 3:19 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS
Sean Brady vs. Jake Matthews — Brady def. Matthews by submission (arm triangle choke) at 3:28 of Round Three — HIGHLIGHTS
Amanda Lemos vs. Livinha Souza — Lemos def. Souza by TKO (punches) at 3:9 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
Aalon Cruz vs. Uros Medic — Medic def. Cruz by TKO (punches and elbows) at 1:40 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
Mario Bautista vs. Trevin Jones — Jones def. Bautista by TKO (punches) at 0:40 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS
UFC 259 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
205 lbs.: UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Blachowicz vs. UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya
Round 1: Adesanya tries a low kick. One from Blachowicz a while later. One minute in. Blachowicz tries a combo. Jabs from Adesanya. Body kick. Head kick attempt two minutes in. Blachowicz with a double jab and leg kick, eats a straight left. Head kick attempt. Two minutes to go.
Blachowicz low kicks, then a body kick. Adesanya with a glancing overhand right. Front kick downstairs. One minute to go. Body kick by Blachowicz, eats a leg kick in return. Adesanya tries a Brazilian kick, lands a jab and leg kick. 10-9 Adesanya.
Round 2: Blachowicz fires an early body kick. Adesanya finding success with feints, lands a jab and eats a right cross. Counter left from Blachowicz. Adesanya straight left, Blachowicz combination a minute in. Jab exchanges. Low kick by Adesanya. Two minutes in. He slips throwing a head kick. Blachowicz tries a blitz. Low kicks from Adesanya. Blachowicz ties up, lands a knee on the break. Eye poke causes a brief lull, then Adesanya goes back to the leg kicks with two minutes to go.
Adesanya body kick, left upstairs. Jab exchange. Blachowicz takes one to the nards. He tries a flying knee after they resume. One minute to go. Body shots from Blachowicz, eats leg kicks. 1-3. Sharp jab from Adesanya. 10-9 Adesanya.
Round 3: Good right cross from Blachowicz to start the round. Left hook lands as well. 2-3, then a takedown against the fence. He tries to rush the RNC, loses position and gets blasted by a two-piece when they return to the feet. Brazilian kick from Adesanya a minute in. Stiff jab. Straight left. Right cross to the body. Body kick, 2-3. Blachowicz grabs a body lock and puts him on the fence. They trade short punches. Adesanya separates, lands a leg kick. Technical difficulties. Two minutes to go.
Jab exchange. Blachowicz with one to the body, then a counter left hook. Adesanya tries a Brazilian kick. One minute to go. Blachowicz ties up and puts him on the fence. Good cross by Adesanya late. 10-9 Adesanya.
Round 4: 1-2 from Adesanya. Blachowicz shoots, separates with a right hand. Right hand knocks Adesanya back. They trade jabs. One minute in. Body kick by Adesanya, left hook comes back at him. Adesanya low kick, Blachowicz body kick. Cross counter and combination from Adesanya. Blachowicz responds with a double-leg into guard. Now half guard. Blachowicz staying heavy. Two minutes to go.
Blachowicz passes to side control. One minute to go. Back to half guard, short shots from Blachowicz. 10-9 Blachowicz.
Round 5: Trading kicks to start. Both landing jabs, cross counter and right hook from Adesanya. Blachowicz answers a low kick with a combination. They trade inside. One minute in. Jabs from Blachowicz. 1-2. 1-2 from Adesanya in return. Low kick connects. Blachowicz jab, blocks a head kick in return. Two minutes in. Spinning back kick from Adesanya. Right cross from Blachowicz in return. Well-timed takedown puts Blachowicz on top in guard. Short elbows. Two minutes to go.
Half guard for Blachowicz. Short right hands. One minute to go. Blachowicz stays heavy, takes mount and drops shots until the bell. 10-9 Blachowicz.
Final result:
145 lbs.: UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion Amanda Nunes vs. Megan Anderson
Round 1: Low kick from Nunes to start. She catches a leg kick, lands a 1-2. One minute in. Big overhand right briefly takes out Anderson’s legs. Another one, low kick, 1-1-2. Anderson crumples to the mat and Nunes jumps on her back after some nasty punches. Now an inverted triangle into an armbar for the finish.
Final result: Nunes def. Anderson by submission (triangle armbar)
135 lbs.: UFC Bantamweight Champion Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling
Round 1: Sterling takes the center and sends out kicks to start. Good body kicks, flicking out jabs as well. He tries a level change, lands a body kick. Yan digs o the body, backs up under fire and takes a flying knee. Low kick, 1-2. One minute in. Sterling putting on a ton of pressure so far. Yan catches a kick and dumps him to the mat, kicking his leg once before letting him up. More pressure by Sterling, clean flying knee. Yan denies the follow-up takedown two minutes in. Sterling changes levels again, completes the takedown, lands a knee on the way up. Yan looking for a body lock. Right hand on the break. Two minutes to go.
Big 1-2 by Yan sends Sterling to the mat. Sterling pops back up, tries a spinning elbow. Another right hand, then a low kick that puts Sterling on his back again. Sterling nearly trips him up before standing. Body shot from Yan answered in kind. Sterling goes for a scissor takedown and ends up on the bottom. Back to the feet with a minute to go. Yan lands a body kick and suplexes Sterling to the mat, looking for the back. Sterling turns to take top position, tries to land on the way up and eats a right at the bell. 10-9 Yan.
Round 2: Sterling tries to change levels, denied. Body kick appears to land. He slips throwing a body kick, eats some shots. Axe kick to the body from Yam. Hard leg kicks. One minute in. He lets Sterling up. Combination to the body from Sterling. He changes levels, denied initially, then again. Yan continuing to defend two minutes in. Sterling gets him down, can’t keep him there. Combination from Sterling and he shoots once again. Two minutes to go.
Sterling still looking for a single-leg as Yan defends. One minute to go. Knee from Yan, avoids the single-leg and separates. Two-piece from Yan, ducks an elbow and lands a left hook. Body kick and knee by Sterling, marching forward with flurries. Yan avoids a takedown and takes him down in return, considering the back. 10-9 Sterling.
Round 3: Stiff jab by Yan, right cross by Sterling. Yan tries a trip, digs a left to the body. Hard straight left, punishes a level change with a knee. Body shots. One minute in. Sterling changes levels under a right hand, denied, lands a low blow. Right hand by Yan. Body kick, eats one in return. Straight left connects, combination on a retreating Sterling, overhand right. Sterling digs some body shots in combination. Two minutes in. More combinations from Yan, who’s turned it up this round. Lovely foot sweep. Back to the feet. Sterling shoots, denied, avoids a head kick. He shoots again. Two minutes to go.
Yan lands on the break and Sterling slips. Another lovely throw by Yan, who drops some hard punches before going back to booting Sterling’s legs. He lets Sterling up. Sterling tries a Brazilian kick, slow shot, sprawled on. One minute to go. Yan with a low kick on the break. Counter right. Sterling lands a series of leg kicks. Yan with a takedown at the bell. 10-9 Yan.
Round 4: Sterling sends out kicks, gets taken down for it. He tries a sneaky shot, eats a knee for it. Low-high 3-2 by Yan, eats body shots in combination. Yan right cross a minute in. Leg kick exchange. Sterling combination, eats one in return. Elbow attempt met by a Yan straight left. Counter right hook. Body kick. Sterling changes levels on the fence, gets reversed two minutes in. Yan tries a spinning elbow, denies another takedown. Sterling tries to spin, eats punches. Yan body kick, eats a knee inside. Straight left connects. Two minutes to go.
Knee and right hand from Yan. Right hook. Heavy straight left, 1-2. Knee upstairs. Slow-motion shot by Sterling denied, then the one after. Sterling’s definitely fading. Knee and right hand from Yan, then a 3-2. Sterling tries a head kick, then another. Yan denies another level change, then lands an illegal knee flush to the face.
Sterling can’t recover. Looks like a disqualification.
Final result: Sterling def. Yan by DQ (illegal knee)
155 lbs.: Drew Dober vs. Islam Makhachev
Round 1: Low kicks from Dober to start. Makhachev changes levels and dumps him to the mat. One minute on. Makhachev on top in half guard. Two minutes in. Not many strikes from Makhachev, just pressure. Looking for mount, got it with two minutes to go.
Dober regains half guard. Makhachev passes to side control. He looks for mount, hunts the back, ends up back in side control with a minute to go. Incredible armbar transition by Makhachev, but Dober avoids it and ends the round on top in guard. 10-9 Makhachev.
Round 2: Dober launches a 3-2, denies a single-leg, succumbs to an inside trip. One minute in. Dober trying to use the cage to stand, but struggling. Two minutes in. Dober regains guard. Two minutes to go.
More pressure by Makhachev. Dober holding onto an overhook. One minute to go. Now some hard elbows by Makhachev. 10-8 Makhachev.
Round 3: Dober presses forward, swinging hard. Makhachev slams home a clinch knee and trips him to the mat once again. Dober holding onto a kimura. One minute to go. Loses it, half guard for Makhachev. Makhachev’s shoulder pressure is enough to force a tap. I guess that’s a Von Flue?
Final result: Makhachev def. Dober by submission (Von Flue choke)
205 lbs.: Aleksandar Rakic vs. Thiago Santos
Round 1: Rakic slowly advancing. Counter right lands for him as Santos steps in. One minute in. Calf kick from Rakic. Santos tries a left hand, lands a body kick. Santos body kick, Rakic low kick. Rakic tries a head kick. Two minutes in. Santos body kick. Rakic still steadily pressing forward. Santos body kick, Rakic low kick, Santos left hook. Trading low kicks. Two minutes to go.
Low kick from Rakic. Head kick just misses in combination. One minute to go. Santos body kick. Low kick lands. Rakic comes back with his own body kicks and sidesteps a flying knee. 10-9 Rakic.
Round 2: Santos sending out low kicks. Neither man willing to commit. Santos tries a head kick. Rakic tries an uppercut, lands a low kick a minute in. Santos digs a body shot. Left hook falls short two minutes in. Rakic ties up against the fence. Trading knees to the thigh. Two minutes to go.
Rakic lands some body punches before they separate. Santos checks a leg kick. Hard leg kick from him soon after. One minute to go. Santos tries a high kick, avoids a right hand, eats a 1-2 after trying to burst in. Rakic tries a flying knee. 10-9 Rakic.
Round 3: Trading kicks to start. Santos looks for a takedown, denied. They separate. Rakic jab, Santos low kick. One minute in. Body kick lands for Santos. They trade leg kicks. Rakic with a counter 1-2. Two minutes in. Leg kick from Santos. Brief exchange. Body kick by Santos. Head kick attempt. Two minutes to go.
Rakic 1-1-2 falls short. He changes levels, eats some Browne elbows. Pressing Santos against the fence. One minute to go. Rakic lands on the break. Painfully disappointing fight. 10-9 Santos.
Final result: Rakic def. Santos by unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Dominick Cruz vs. Casey Kenney
Round 1: Cruz looks for an early takedown, gets sprawled on. Kenney lands a knee on the way up. Low kicks from Cruz. Kenney advancing, lands a spinning back kick. One minute in. Counter uppercut by Kenney, who gets stung by a head kick. Low kick exchange. More kicks from Cruz. Good body kick. Kenney having some trouble walking him down. Two minutes in. Glancing right hand, leg kick lands. Sharp right hand exchange. Cruz low kick to right hands. Big whiff by Kenney. Two minutes to go.
Counter overhand by Cruz, quick exchange in the center. Sneaky corkscrew uppercut. Body shot, body kick. Low kick from Kenney in return. Four-piece lands for Cruz. One minute to go. They trade kicks again. Kenney body shot and body kick. Cruz with a jab to head kick attempt. 1-2. Kenney body kick, Cruz low kick. Same sequence in reverse. 10-9 Cruz.
Round 2: Cruz lands a good right hand, eats a leg kick soon after. Cruz with a right hand to level change, denied. Shifting jab. Head kick, lead right. One minute in. Dart right hand. Kenney straight left, stuffs a takedown. Counter 1-2, eats a body shot. Cruz with a left hook, eats another low kick and lands a left hook two minutes in. Kenney 1-2. Cruz follows him with a left hook. Right hand low, then high. Kenney with a chopping left and leg kick. Two minutes to go.
Cruz follows a head kick with a right hand. Hard counter left by Kenney after eating a body shot. Nice flurry by Cruz. He fakes a shot for a left hook. Leg kick from Kenney. Big Cruz right hand. One minute to go. Low kick to right hook by Kenney in return. Left hand by Cruz starts a blitz. They trade near the center. Kenney answers a knee with a left cross. He answers a level change with a guillotine attempt, can’t get it. 10-9 Cruz but razor-close.
Round 3: They trade to start the round. Kenney stuffs a takedown, eats a left hook on the way up. He hunts a Marcelotine as Cruz takes him down, but ends up on the bottom in side control. One minute in. Knees to the body from Cruz. Short punches as well. Kenney abandons the grip and scrambles up. Two minutes in. They trade kicks, right hand from Cruz. Kenney knocks him back. Counter right by Cruz, one from Kenney in return. 1-1-2 by Cruz. Kenney shoots, denied. Straight left connects. Two minutes to go.
Kenney knocks him back, eats punches on the fence. Big swings by Cruz connect. He shoots, denied. Kenney marching forward, lands a low kick. Trading in the center. Kenney shoots, denied, eats a knee. One minute to go. Cruz shoots, dumps him to the mat in half guard. Back to full. Kenney spins to his knees before the bell. 10-9 Cruz.
Final result: Cruz def. Buffer by split decision
135 lbs.: Kyler Phillips vs. Song Yadong
Round 1: Phillips opens with a 1-2 and wheel kick attempt. Very aggressive early. Huge exchanges. One minute in. Phillips lands a head kick continuing to pressure. Wheel kick falls short. Song marching forward now, lands a counter uppercut. Phillips counter jab. Two minutes in. Song tries his own wheel kick. Jab exchange. Phillips answers a body kick with a 1-2. Song tries a flying knee, lands a right hand with two minutes to go.
Hard right hand by Phillips lands clean and he takes Song down off a leg kick. Song uses butterfly hooks to elevate and separate. Big check hook from Phillips, uppercut by Song in return. One minute to go. Counter right by Song. They tie up and jockey for position. Right from Song on the break, spinning back kick. 10-9 Phillips.
Round 2: Hard right cross lands for Song, who eats one soon after. Left hook connects. Quick exchange. Phillips with some hard shots against the fence. He catches a kick and shoots. One minute in. Song defending against the fence, just blocks a spinning back kick to the face. Jab exchange. Cross counter by Song. Two minutes in. Counter hook by Song, who eats a low kick soon after. Both land to the body. Phillips tries a hook kick. Brief clinch. Lead right. Two minutes to go.
Stiff jab catches Song on one leg. Left hook from Song, 1-2 downstairs. Phillips ducks a right hand for a takedown, lands an elbow and sets up in half guard. One minute to go. Song scrambles to his feet. Struggling to corral Phillips. There’s a hard exchange. 10-9 Phillips.
Round 3: Phillips finding a lot of success with footwork and angles. 3-2 by Song after an exchange. He stuffs a takedown. One minute in. Body shots and hook upstairs. Body kick. Phillips with a good leg kick and a body kick soon after. Song sends out a combo near the fence. Low kicks, cross counter. Two minutes in. They trade right hands. Big trade against the fence. Two minutes to go.
Song sends out another combo on the fence. Right cross splits the guard. Phillips takes him down. Song scoots to the fence, gives up the back. Song spins into guard, avoiding a triangle setup with a minute to go. Phillips waits it out from the bottom, trying a late armbar to leglock transition. 10-9 Song.
Final result: Phillips def. Song by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Askar Askarov vs. Joseph Benavidez
Round 1: Askarov sends out a front kick. Benavidez’s punches falling short. Low kick attempt. One minute in. Still threatening that front kick. Glancing left from Benavidez. Overhand right falls short. Askarov counter right, then one from Benavidez. Two minutes in. Body kick from Askarov once again. Benavidez 1-2. Hard lead right from Askarov stings Benavidez. Front kick to the body. Two minutes to go.
They trade calf kicks. Short flurry by Benavidez, eats a straight left in return. One minute to go. Askarov shoots in, looks for the back. Good scramble, takedown by Askarov. Both hooks in. 10-9 Askarov.
Round 2: Low kick from Benavidez, eats a snap kick downstairs. Overhand left kicks off a good flurry, but Askarov wobbles him with a hard right hand. Back to the slugging and Askarov ties up against the fence. Body lock takedown into side control and he retakes the back. Benavidez stands. Dragged back down after a moment. Back up. Another lift into a back take by Askarov. Benavidez manages to get the hooks out and stand, eats a knee. Two minutes to go.
Nice scramble, great control by Askarov. Landing shots. One minute to go. Benavidez just unable to get out from underneath him. He does so at the end of the bell and eats right hands for his trouble. 10-9 Askarov.
Round 3: Askarov staying patient at rance. Slick head kick lands with the foot. Benavidez calf kick, eats a jab in return. One minute in. Askarov just backstepping out of range any time Benavidez steps in. Benavidez head kick just misses. Stiff Askarov jab. Check hook briefly drops Benavidez. Two minutes in. They trade their power hands. Brief clinch. Body shot from Benavidez. Head kick attempt and counter right by Askarov. Two minutes to go.
Another snap kick to the body from Askarov, who eats a Superman punch. Stiff jab. Benavidez follows up with a body kick. Fierce exchange with a minute to go. Jab and snap kick from Askarov. There’s a right hand from Benavidez as they pivot. Some taunting from Askarov and a spinning back fist at the bell. 10-9 Askarov.
Final result: Askarov def. Benavidez by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Kai Kara-France vs. Rogerio Bontorin
Round 1: Overhand right lands for Kara-France in the early going. One minute in. Counter right by Bontorin, then a double left hand into a high-amplitude takedown. He moves right to the back. Looking for the RNC, got it under the chin. Kara-France handfighting well. Two minutes in. Full body triangle. Couple short punches. Two minutes to go.
Kara-France manages to stand, but Bontorin goes backpack mode. Incredible persistence by Bontorin but equally impressive defense by Kara-France. A slam to the ground, Bontorin remains attached throughout each scramble. One minute to go. Kara-France stands and manages to slip free. Big punches land for him and he’s got Bontorin hurt. Big shot floors Bontorin and Kara-France walks off, producing a rather bizarre sequence. They did, in fact, call it by the looks of it?
Final result: Kara-France def. Bontorin by TKO (punches)
125 lbs.: Tim Elliott vs. Jordan Espinosa
Round 1: Espinosa sends out a head kick. He sidesteps a shot. Elliott fires some left hands and shoots in against the fence. Espinosa defending against the fence. They separate a minute in. More pressure from Elliott, walks into a check hook. He shoots through a counter right. Grinding against the fence two minutes in. They separate. Elliott ducks a head kick to take him down against the fence. Looking for the back. Two minutes to go.
Elliott grinding with one hook in. Espinosa manages to turn to half guard. One minute to go. Looking for a kimura, nothing there. Elliott looks for his own hammerlock before teh bell. 10-9 Elliott.
Round 2: Elliott tries to rush in with an overhand left. Again he ducks a head kick for a takedown. Espinosa scrambles right back up. He lands a check hook, gets taken down anyway. Elliott on top in half guard. Short shots from Elliott. Two minutes in. Espinosa just unable to dislodge Elliott so far. Hunting for the back. Two minutes to go.
Espionsa avoids an RNC. Just suffocating pressure by Elliott. One minute to go. Punches with one hook in. Back to half guard. Elliott accuses Espinosa of being a woman-beater as he lands elbows. 10-9 Elliott.
Round 3: Espinosa times a flying knee, gets met by a flurry of point-blank punches and dumped to the mat. More heavy [pressure. One minute in. Espinosa regains guard. More strikes by Elliott, who’s now sporting a cut from an Espinosa elbow. Two minutes in. Elliott grinding the cut into Espinosa’s face. Two minutes to go.
Espinosa tries a Hail Mary triangle, gives up side control. Elliott with heavy shoulder pressure. Back to half guard. One minute to go. Trying to set up an arm triangle. No dice. He postures up for some big shots before the bell. 10-8 Elliott.
Final result: Elliott def. Espinosa by unanimous decision
205 lbs.: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Carlos Ulberg
Round 1: Nzechukwu advancing as Ulberg sends out kicks. Beautiful combo from Ulberg and a head kick wobbles Nzechukwu. Nzechukwu tries to jump on him as he slips, cannot do so. Ulberg picking his shots against the fence, elects to separate. One minute in. More kicks coming from Ulberg. 2-1 from Nzechukwu, takes a glancing right in return. Trading lefts. Body shot and leg kick by Ulberg. Nzechukwu firing straight lefts against the fence. Two minutes in. Ulberg just walks him to the fence and cracks home a leg kick. Left hook by Ulberg, straight right behind it. 1-2 from Nzechukwu, marching forward. Good shots by Nzechukwu. Two minutes to go.
Huge left hook hurts Ulberg. They trade lefts. Low kick by Ulberg. Check hook stings Nzechukwu and Ulberg rips his body against the fence. Nzechukwu covering up as Ulberg patiently tees off. One minute to go. Good combo by Nzechukwu on the break. Short uppercuts, 1-2. Trading heat. Ulberg low kick. Nzechukwu with some clinch shots. Head kick attempt. Ulberg slips throwing a front kick. 10-9 Ulberg.
Round 2: Low kicks from Ulberg. They trade lefts. Nzechukwu slipping out of the way of combos. Jabs and hooks by Ulberg. One minute in. Spinning back fist attempt. 1-2 by Nzechukwu, eats a body shot in return. Trading in the center. 2-3 by Nzechukwu. Cross-uppercut, 3-2. Body kicks from Ulberg. Another. Leg kick two minutes in. Nzechukwu takes a thumb in the eye. Back to trading in the center. Low kick and uppercut by Ulberg. Overhand left and straight left by Nzechukwu absorbs a hard straight right. Combo by Ulberg, body kick, Nzechukwu straight left. Wild fight so far. Ulberg with a body shot and leg kick. More leg kicks with two minutes to go.
Counter right by Ulberg, but Nzechukwu backs him to the fence and clobbers him with a hook. A few more big shots and it’s over.
Final result: Nzechukwu def. Ulberg by KO (punches)
170 lbs.: Sean Brady vs. Jake Matthews
Round 1: Tentative start to the round. Matthews on the front foot, eats a check hook. Matthews jab, Brady left hook a minute in. Matthews answers a low kick with a left hook. Brady tries a blitz. Good boy shot from Matthews. Two minutes in. Matthews knocks Brady over wit a counter right as he takes a leg kick, but gets taken down into side control while looking for a guillotine. Two minutes to go.
Lots of pressure, not many strikes from Brady. Threatening the guillotine. One minute to go. Matthews regains half guard. Hammerfists from Brady. Threatening the guillotine again. 10-9 Brady.
Round 2: Both men sending out left hands in the early going. Good 1-2 from Matthews. Combination by Brady in the center. One minute in. 3-2 by Matthews, continuing to pressure. Brady hits a blast double into guard. Half guard now. Short left hands as Matthews turns to his knees. Two minutes in. Brady looking for the back. Now low mount against the fence, looking for a guillotine. No dice, back to half guard. Two minutes to go.
Lots of top pressure from Brady. Short right hands. Using the threat of the guillotine to keep Matthews from sitting up. One minute to go. Looking for mount, got it, now the back. Heavy shots from Brady. 10-9 Brady.
Round 3: Matthews continuing to advance behind the jab, sending out combinations. Brady drops him to a knee with a left hook, doesn’t rush. One minute in. Another check hook. Matthews sending out right hands, bits on a feinted shot and gets caught in a front headlock. Brady looking to take the back. Hammerfists. Continuing to pile up punches with one hook in.
Looking for the arm triangle now and it’s deep. He moves from half guard to side control and there’s the tap.
Final result: Brady def. Matthews by submission (arm triangle choke)
115 lbs.: Amanda Lemos vs. Livinha Souza
Round 1: Lemos backs away from an early shot. Looking for jabs, stalking forward. One minute in. Answers a low kick with a 1-2 and her own low kick. Body kick and jab. Hard leg kick. 1-2 upstairs, then an overhand right that drops Souza. Lemos tries a guillotine, lands ground strikes. Two minutes in. Looking for the guillotine again. Souza avoids it, turns for a leglock attempt. Heavy ground punches from Lemos and Souza scrambles back to her feet with two minutes to go.
Low kicks from Lemos. Brutal jab drops Souza again and the ref waves it off.
Final result: Lemos def. Souza by TKO (punches)
155 lbs.: Aalon Cruz vs. Uros Medic
Round 1: Cruz comes out hot, hurling heavy kicks. Medic hurts him with a right hook that prompts a takedown attempt. Huge left hand by Medic on the exit. He tries a flying knee, then pulverizes Cruz with punches and elbows. The ref letting Medic brutalize him. Cruz gets up, blasted back down. There’s the long-overdue stoppage.
Final result: Medic def. Cruz by TKO (punches and elbows)
135 lbs.: Mario Bautista vs. Trevin Jones
Round 1: Jones opens with leg kicks. Head kick attempt from Bautista. Jones still targeting the leg. One minute in. Bautista looks to rush, gets pressed against the fence. Knees to the thigh from Jones. Looking for a trip, can’t get the first attempt. Two minutes in. Jockeying for position. Knees from Bautista, eats one on the break. More Jones low kicks. Two minutes to to.
Jones catches a body kick, eats a knee and left hook, lands a left on the break. Counter right by Bautista. Jones low kick with a minute to go. Counter right again from Bautista, jab behind it. Jones low kick met by another right hand. Jones with an overhand left into a level change. 10-9 Jones?
Round 2: Bautista looking for early head kicks as Jones continues to pick away at his lead leg. Combination from Bautista, who gets leveled by a lead right hook immediately afterwards and polished off on the mat.
Final result: Jones def. Bautista by TKO (punches)