*** Watch complete Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker 2 full fight video highlights right here ***
UFC 271 live stream results and play-by-play updates: Reigning middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will defend his 185-pound belt against former division titleholder Robert Whittaker TONIGHT (Sat., Feb. 12, 2022) inside Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The victor moves on to defend the division strap against the winner of Derek Brunson vs. Jared Cannonier, who are set to collide in a middleweight title eliminator on UFC 271’s pay-per-view (PPV) main card. In UFC 271’s co-main event, two-time heavyweight title challenger Derrick Lewis returns to his hometown to throw hands with Australian sneaker fanatic Tai Tuivasa. In addition, long-time UFC veterans Andrei Arlovski, Bobby Green, and Renato Moicano are scheduled to compete this weekend in the “Lone Star State.”
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 271 fight card below, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 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 “Adesanya vs. Whittaker 2.” Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC 271 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC 271 LIVE RESULTS:
185 lbs.: Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker — Adesanya def. Whittaker by unanimous decision (48-47 x2, 49-46) — HIGHLIGHTS
265 lbs.: Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa — Tuivasa def. Lewis by KO (elbow) at 1:40 of Round Two
185 lbs.: Derek Brunson vs. Jared Cannonier — Cannonier def. Brunson by KO (elbows and punches) at 4:29 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS
155 lbs.: Alexander Hernandez vs. Renato Moicano — Moicano def. Hernandez by submission (rear naked choke) at 1:23 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS
155 lbs.: Bobby Green vs. Nasrat Haqparast — Green def. Haqparast by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
265 lbs.: Andrei Arlovski vs. Jared Vanderaa — Arlovski def. Vanderaa by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
125 lbs.: Roxanne Modafferi vs. Casey O’Neill — O’Neill def. Modafferi by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
135 lbs.: Kyler Phillips vs. Marcelo Rojo — Phillips def. Rojo by submission (triangle armbar) at 1:48 of Round Three — HIGHLIGHTS
205 lbs.: Fabio Cherant vs. Carlos Ulberg — Ulberg def. Cherant by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
135 lbs.: Ronnie Lawrence vs. Mana Martinez — Lawrence def. Martinez by unanimous decision (29-27 x2, 29-28)
185 lbs.: AJ Dobson vs. Jacob Malkoun — Malkoun def. Dobson by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
135 lbs.: Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Sergey Morozov — Silva de Andrade def. Morozov by technical submission (rear naked choke) at 3:34 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS
170 lbs.: Mike Mathetha vs. Jeremiah Wells — Wells def. Mathetha by technical submission (rear naked choke) at 4:38 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
265 lbs.: Maxim Grishin vs. William Knight — Grishin def. Knight by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
UFC 271 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
185 lbs.: UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker
Round 1: Both men kicking to start. One minute in. Adesanya body jab, Whittaker low kick. He checks one in return, goes for a knee stomp. Two minutes in. More Adesanya low kicks and he backs away from a two-piece. Two minutes to go.
Adesanya tries a head kick on the fence. Good straight left puts Whittaker on his butt, though he pops back up. Whittaker shoots, denied. One minute to go. Adesanya low kick, body kick, and counter left hook. Whittaker shoots again, denied again. Adesanya walking forward, fires a body kick. 10-9 Adesanya.
Round 2: Whittaker comes out aggressively, manages to land a left hand as Adesanya fires a counter volley. Adesanya tries a head kick and jab. One minute in. Double jab by Whittaker. Overhand right just misses, counter 1-3 does not. Two minutes in. Head kick whiffs. Adesanya comes back with a low kick but succumbs to a double-leg. Short punches from Whittaker against the fence. Adesanya makes it back to his feet, Whittaker still attached. Two minutes to go.
They separate. Adesanya tries a head kick, follows up to the body. Whittaker low kick. One minute to go. Whittaker tries a double jab. Jab exchange. 10-9 Whittaker.
Round 3: Whittaker trying that double jab. Adesanya body kick. Another, Whittaker tries to counter a minute in. Counter head kick lands for Adesanya. Low kick on a circling Whittaker. Stiff jab by Whittaker, eats a right in return. Two minutes in. Stiff jab by Adesanya. Whittaker times a low kick for a takedown attempt, can’t complete the shot. Adesanya straight left, taken down throwing a head kick with two minutes to go.
Whittaker tries to latch onto his back as Adesanya stands. Adesanya briefly threatens a kimura before separating. One minute to go. Hard low kick from Adesanya. Their feet appear to get tangled for a moment. 10-9 Adesanya.
Round 4: Solid left hook from Whittaker to start. Hard calf kick and body kick by Adesanya, eats a left hook in return. One minute in. Whittaker ducks a left hook for another takedown and this time he manages to play backpack. Hunting the RNC but Adesanya manages to dislodge him and separate. Two minutes in. Adesanya body kick. Stiff jab exchange. Low kick connects. Whittaker with a series of jabs. Two minutes to go.
Adesanya lands a series of calf kicks. Solid counter right hook, the one he’s been looking for all night. Whittaker tries an uppercut in the clinch. One minute to go. Whittaker ducks under a jab and puts Adesanya on the fence. Solid counter right by Whittaker. Man, these are close rounds. 10-9 Whittaker.
Round 5: Adesanya landing well but can’t find the counter hooks he wants. Whittaker answers a low kick with his own left hook. Adesanya tries a body kick a minute in. Whittaker snaps his head back with a heavy jab. Whittaker looks for a reactive single-leg, denied. Two minutes in. Whittaker lead right, takes a finger in the eye. Nice double-leg when they resume. Adesanya pops up, Whittaker still attached. Two minutes to go.
Sneaky knee by Adesanya, who eats a left hook on the break. Whittaker double jab. Adesanya low kick. Whittaker shoots with a minute to go, can’t get the initial shot or inside trip. Still driving on the fence. Strong defense from Adesanya, still can’t dislodge him. 10-9 Whittaker but I don’t think I’d argue any scores for these last four rounds.
Final result: Adesanya def. Whittaker by unanimous decision
265 lbs.: Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa
Round 1: Low kicks from Tuivasa to start. He ducks a right hand and puts him on the fence. One minute in. Knees to the body. Not enough action, so the ref separates them. Two minutes in. Lewis tries a head kick and flying knee. Good counter right to answer a leg kick and he puts Tuivasa on the fence. He changes levels, no dice. Tuivasa lands an elbow and reverses with two minutes to go.
Nice trip puts Lewis on top in half guard. Brutal right hands as Tuivasa works his way up and tries to throw back. Now Tuivasa puts him on the fence. Knee to the body. One minute to go. Another nice trip by Lewis sends Tuivasa to his knees. Tuivasa trying to turn it into a takedown, eating shots as he does. Lewis returns to his feet, Tuivasa still attached. 10-9 Lewis.
Round 2: Inside low kick from Tuivasa. Lead right from Lewis and he charges Tuivasa with some heavy punches before tying up on the fence. He shoots a minute in, denied. Swinging heat, Tuivasa answering in kind. Nice elbows by Tuivasa and a massive overhand right. Another one and Lewis is hurt! A follow-up short elbow turns the lights out and sends Lewis face-first to the mat. What a knockout.
Final result: Tuivasa def. Lewis by KO (elbow)
185 lbs.: Derek Brunson vs. Jared Cannonier
Round 1: Body kick from Brunson. Cannonier looking for right hands. Brunson changes levels, denied. Another double-leg, absorbs some Browne elbows a minute in. Nice single-leg puts him on top, nearly in side control. Cannonier explodes back to his feet and denies the next shot. Solid counter right lands for him. Two minutes in. 1-2. Brunson follows a blocked head kick with a straight left. He avoids an uppercut to shoot once again and again Cannonier denies it. Two minutes to go.
Straight lefts from Brunson and another unsuccessful shot. Another level change gets him double unders and he trips Cannonier to the mat. Looks for mount, can’t get it. One minute to go. Cannonier makes it to his feet and separates. He gets a little too eager in his pursuit and gets floored by a counter right hook. Brunson jumps on his back but can’t choke him out before the bell. 10-9 Brunson.
Round 2: Brunson takes him down again within 10 seconds of the opening bell. Cannonier scrambles to the feet, then cracks him with a right hand on the break. Some unsuccessful takedowns from Brunson. Both try crosses. Cannonier defends another shot but eats a pair of overhand lefts. 1-2 lands for him. Two minutes in. Brunson shoots behind a body shot, denied. Right hook from Cannonier, eats a straight left in return. Right hand and left hook. Low kick connects. Two minutes to go.
Better round for Cannonier so far. Brunson feints a shot, eats a straight right, then some body shots. Superman punch by Cannonier. Brunson tries to shoot behind a looping left. One minute to go. Cannonier hurts him bad with an elbow and backfist on the break. Brunson’s legs are gone and Cannonier charges after him, ultimately forcing him to the mat and slamming home elbows until the ref intervenes.
Final result: Cannonier def. Brunson by KO (elbows and punches)
155 lbs.: Alexander Hernandez vs. Renato Moicano
Round 1: Hernandez looking for low kicks. Counter 3-2 from Moicano. Good right cross soon after. Body kick. Another counter hook. He fakes a shot a minute in. Hernandez body kick and right hand, denies a single-leg. Moicano ducks under a right hand and shoots. Two minutes in. He completes it initially, can’t keep him down, stays attached. Nice defense by Hernandez but Moicano keeps at it until he gets him down. On top in half guard. Hernandez tries to scramble free, can’t do so with two minutes to go.
Now Hernandez gets to his feet and fires an elbow on the break. Solid jab. Body shot, 1-2. One minute to go. Moicano not firing back but manages to deny a shot. Hernandez finding a groove but walks into a counter right. 10-9 Hernandez.
Round 2: Early counter from Moicano sends Hernandez briefly to a knee. Body kick from Moicano, hard clinch knee after absorbing an uppercut. Brief clinch, uppercut-hook. One minute in. Hard combo from Moicano and Hernandez is hurt. Hernandez hits the deck after a half-hearted takedown attempt and Moicano immediately latches onto his back, drawing the tap with a quick RNC.
Final result: Moicano def. Hernandez by submission (rear naked choke)
155 lbs.: Bobby Green vs. Nasrat Haqparast
Round 1: Green showing lots of feints. Overhand left from Haqparast. Green takes an eye poke a minute in. Haqparast looks for combos when they resume. Green trying straight lefts, lands an eye poke in return. Moving forward thus far, looking to potshot two minutes in. Good low kick from Haqparast. Green lands a clean left as they exchange, then a straight through the guard. Counter left. Two minutes to go.
They trade right hands, then Green goes back to splitting the guard. Hawparast blitzes, can’t land clean. Green starting to take control with the long, straight punches. 1-1-2 from Green with a minute to go, best connection so far. Haqparast body kick. 2-1-2 from Green. 10-9 Green.
Round 2: Green’s found his rhythm, picking Haqparast off while circling and retreating. Haqparast just misses with a head kick; he’s still pressing forward but mostly hitting air. One minute in. Solid counter left from Haqparast as they trade on the fence. Doing a bit better now. Green sends out a volley with his back on the fence. Two minutes in. Counter left lands for him, then another down the middle. Haqparast low kick. Counter right from Green, eats a leg kick. Three-piece comes back at him. Haqparast overhand left, Green straight. Two minutes to go.
Overhand left by Haqparast, body jab. Another overhand. Green bouncing straights off his guard. Solid combo lands for him. They trade lefts. Counter rights from Green, 2-3 from Haqparast. One minute to go. Green straight left and jab, Haqparast body shot. More straights connecting. Haqparast sneaks a left around his guard, lands a glancing head kick. Better round for Haqparast but I think Green still has it. 10-9 Green.
Round 3: Green catches a low kick, can’t use it. Solid combo from Haqparast. Green counter right. Long series of jabs. Heavy counter right a minute in. Haqparast comes back with an overhand and Green waves him on, picking him off with clean combos. Haqparast overhand as he eats an uppercut. Body shot from Green. Having his best round so far. Two minutes in. Haqparast still game, lands a heavy low kick and straight left. Green with more lefts down the pipe. Two minutes to go.
2-1 lands for Green, who eats a body kick. Counter right. Nice body kick, then a combo through the guard. One minute to go. More combinations off the back foot. Sharp left hook around the guard. Low-high combo. Haqparast tries a head kick, lands a late left hand and eats one in return. 10-9 Green.
Final result: Green def. Haqparast by unanimous decision
265 lbs.: Andrei Arlovski vs. Jared Vanderaa
Round 1: Solid overhand left from Arlovski. Clean right to start a combination. Body shot to answer a leg kick a minute in. Low-high. Short right lands for Arlovski as he pivots off, then one as he dodges an uppercut. Clean combo. Two minutes in. Body kick from Vanderaa answered in kind. Hard overhand right from Arlovski. Vanderaa ties up on the fence with two minutes to go.
- They separate 30 seconds later. Nice pair of counters by Vanderaa, who eats another solid right. One minute to go. Spinning back kick from Arlovski, then a hard overhand right. Long combo near the bell, missed spinning back fist. 10-9 Arlovski.
Round 2: Right hand to shovel hook from Arlovski. Vanderaa tries a body kick, somewhat lands a knee before tying up on the fence. One minute in. They separate. Another good right hand from Arlovski. Yet another, counter right from Vanderaa on the exit. Arlovski lead rights two minutes in. Body kick as he eats a low kick. Another right hand, counter from Vanderaa. Arlovski takes a low blow with two minutes to go.
Double jab from Arlovski, then a heavy overhand right. Vanderaa comes back with a body kick. He ties up against the fence. One minute to go. They separate 40 seconds later. Arlovski whiffs on a spinning back fist, eats a counter right. 10-9 Arlovski.
Round 3: Vanderaa firing kicks, takes Arlovski to the fence. One minute in. Foot stomps, knee exchange on the break. Low kicks from Vanderaa. Another clean righ tby Arlovski two minutes in. Vanderaa tries a body kick, eats one in return. Two minutes to go.
Arlovski tries a right hand, lands a leg kick. Lead right lands, Vanderaa answers with a left hook and leg kick. One minute to go. Body shot from Arlovski. Vanderaa tries a head kick, lands a body kick. Vanderaa counter hook, eats a glancing back fist. Arlovski clinches, gets hauled to the fence. Arlovski with a spinning back fist before the bell. 10-9 Vanderaa.
Final result: Arlovski def. Vanderaa by split decision
125 lbs.: Roxanne Modafferi vs. Casey O’Neill
Round 1: Trading punches early. Modafferi keeping pace with her, pushing forward. Hard counter overhands by O’Neill. One minute in. 1-2, 1-2-1, double jab. Standup starting to really favor O’Neill. Solid jab from Modafferi as I type that. Two minutes in. Trading 1-2s. Solid right from Modafferi after eating a left hook. 1-2 by O’Neill in return. Again. 2-1. Two minutes to go.
Counters landing well for O’Neill. Body kick connects. Modafferi continuing to press forward. Counter right lands for her. O’Neill falls short with an elbow. One minute to go. O’Neill 1-2. She tries a right hand to head kick, lands a 1-2-3 and eats a right. 10-9 O’Neill.
Round 2: Modafferi still pushing forward, still getting the worst of it despite the mouse under O’Neill’s eye. Low kick and left hook from O’Neill. Landing 2s and 1s. One minute in. O’Neill grabs a body lock, goes low-high on the break. Another swatting right, met by a harder one from Modafferi. They trade in the center. Two minutes in. Hard 1-2 by O’Neill. Modafferi comes back with a blitz and denies a noncommittal trip attempt. Counter 1-2 by O’Neill with two minutes to go.
There’s really not a lot of tactical depth to this one; Modafferi is marching forward with her usual combinations and O’Neill is meeting her with cleaner, heavier shots. Body kick and 1-2 by O’Neill. One minute to go. Check hook buzzes Modafferi. Hard combos landing for O’Neill. Yelling as she continues to land. Modafferi times a double-leg into guard. 10-9 O’Neill.
Round 3: Heavy blows from O’Neill in the early going. One minute in. Solid right from Modafferi, eats a left hand in return. Big exchange in the center. Counter right by O’Neill, who stiff-arms Modafferi out of the clinch. Solid knees by Modafferi. More punches from O’Neill two minutes in. Modafferi is game as all hell but she’s getting torn up. Two minutes to go.
Modafferi digs some knees inside, eats some heavy right hands for her trouble. More combos by O’Neill. Modafferi shoots, denied. She catches a kick and scores a takedown against the fence. O’Neill makes it back to her feet, trying to break the grip. Spinning elbow by O’Neill in the final seconds. 10-9 O’Neill.
Final result: O’Neill def. Modafferi by split decision
135 lbs.: Kyler Phillips vs. Marcelo Rojo
Round 1: They get to trading right off the bat. Solid kicks from Rojo. 1-2 from Phillips, wheel kick falls short. Flying knee appears to land a minute in, then a solid low kick. Vicious combination to answer a low kick. He shoots, denied, lands a right hand and tries a wheel kick. Big exchange, solid Rojo combo met by a heavy clinch elbow two minutes in. Phillips takes him down against the fence, gets both hooks in. Rojo manages to regain half guard. Back to his feet, eats a knee with two minutes to go.
Another wheel kick attempt by Phillips, 1-2 appears to land. Quick combos, low kick. Lead right. Rojo whiffs on an overhand right but manages to stop a double-leg. One minute to go. Counter hook by Phillips. Hard straight right, knee to the body, foot sweep into guard. Rojo spins for an armbar, nothing doing. 10-9 Phillips.
Round 2: Spinning back kick from Phillips. Rojo tries to blitz in response. Low kick lands, Phillips answers with a body kick. Low kick exchange a minute in. Phillips catches a low kick, can’t use it. Solid body shot by Phillips, who eats a looping overhand. Rojo’s still game and advancing. Hard calf kicks by Phillips. Two minutes in. Flying knee attempt. Phillips overhand right, Rojo low kick. Solid overhand right by Rojo. He eats a jab, lands a low kick. Two minutes to go.
Glancing right from Rojo, who blocks a head kick and comes back with a low kick. More calf kicks by Phillips, eats counters in return. Rojo puts together a good combination near the fence. Body shot. Double-leg by Phillips, can’t keep him down, lands a knee. One minute to go. Rojo finding some success with his pressure as the round progresses. Phillips grabs a body lock and puts him on the fence. Rojo lands a knee on the break. 10-9 Phillips but definitely closer.
Round 3: Rojo still admirably game. Solid low kick, eats a body kick in return. Nice takedown defense but Phillips chains it to land on top in side control. Phillips uses a kimura to take mount, then wraps up a mounted triangle. Solid elbows, then looks to finish it from his back. Just as Rojo looks to be wriggling his way free, Phillips transitions to an armbar that draws a frantic tap.
Final result: Phillips def. Rojo by submission (triangle armbar)
205 lbs.: Fabio Cherant vs. Carlos Ulberg
Round 1: Low kicks from Ulberg to start. Cherant falls short with a left hand. One minute in. Lots of feints, no clean connections so far. Cherant tries another lead left, eats a jab. Jab-low kick from Ulberg. Two minutes in. Sharp counter jabs and left hook, then a front kick that catches Cherant in the groin. Cherant doesn’t take long to recover, but does come out swinging and lands some solid punches. Ulberg ties up and they jockey for position. Two minutes to go.
Ulberg grabs a body lock and takes him down into half guard. Cherant chases a guillotine, then makes space to stand. Low kick catches Cherant throwing and knocks him do the ground. Ulberg lets him up. One minute to go. Ulberg tries a wheel kick, goes to the body. Cherant comes back with a left hook for a late knockdown. 10-9 Cherant.
Round 2: Low kick from Ulberg, counter 2-3, jab upstairs. Heavy check hook bothers Cherant’s right eye. One minute in. They trade good lefts. Cherant tries a body kick, eats a jab. Two minutes in. Ulberg fires a front kick. Low kick connects. Nasty counter lefts. Two minutes to go.
Another left hook by Ulberg. Stiff jab. Body kick. Cherant circling on the fence. One minute to go. Cherant to the body. Ulberg tries a front kick, lands a jab. Oblique kick. Cherant very reluctant to fire back at this point. 10-9 Ulberg.
Round 3: Nothing much happens in the first two minutes. Low kicks from Ulberg. Cherant falls short with a left. Ulberg to the body. Body shot to head kick attempt. Two minutes to go.
Cherant barely offering return fire. Ulberg digs another right downstairs. Double left hook from Ulberg, just avoids the counter. Cherant fires a two-piece and gets taken down for it with a minute to go. Cherant manages to escape and does nothing with it. 10-9 Ulberg.
Final result: Ulberg def. Cherant by unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Ronnie Lawrence vs. Mana Martinez
Round 1: Lawrence tossing out kicks to start. Martinez doing the same. One minute in. Combo falls short for Lawrence, but an easy double-leg puts him on top in guard. Martinez tries to kick him off, can’t do so. Back to his feet, Lawrence still attached. Two minutes in. Now Martinez manages to separate. Low kick and two-piece by Martinez. Two minutes to go.
Lawrence follows a low kick with a 1-2 that drops Martinez hard. Martinez gets to his knees, continues to eat punches. Rolling leglock attempt, no dice. Full guard with a minute to go. Elbow from Lawrence, short punches. 10-9 Lawrence.
Round 2: Lawrence circling, lands a body shot. He catches a kick, then goes body-head to drop Martinez again and follow him down into guard. Passes to half guard, looking for the d’arce. Diving right hand, looking for the back. He trips Martinez back down when he tries to stand. Two minutes in. Now Martinez makes it to the feet, where he gets dropped again by a right hand. Lawrence slams home some right hands from guard, then looks to take the back. Full body triangle. Hunting the RNC with two minutes to go.
Martinez manages to turn into guard and stand, where he falls victim to a blast double. One minute to go. Martinez stands, taken down again. 10-8 Lawrence.
Round 3: Martinez comes out swinging. Lawrence whiffs on a wheel kick. Counters from Martinez, who eats a head kick. Hard body kick a minute in. Low kick connects. Both men falling short with punches. Lawrence head kick glances off two minutes in. Flying knee attempt. He shoots, denied. Heavy right cross connects for him. Two minutes to go.
Low-high combo from Martinez, who stops another takedown and floors Lawrence with a spinning back fist. Another right hand and down goes Lawrence again, but he somehow manages to take Martinez down. Martinez responds with a triangle-armbar sequence that Lawrence manages to defend. Lawrence on top in guard with a minute to go. He tries to kick Lawrence off, can’t do so. Second attempt is successful. Lawrence with a wheel kick, then a successful takedown. 10-9 Martinez.
Final result: Lawrence def. Martinez by unanimous decision
185 lbs.: AJ Dobson vs. Jacob Malkoun
Round 1: Early combinations from Dobson. Hard right cross as he defends a takedown. Malkoun powers through, can’t complete it, still has the body lock. One minute in. Dobson manages to separate. Another fast double-leg attempt by Malkoun, again he gets a nice lift but can’t complete it. Dobson tries a knee on the break. Two minutes in. Malkoun combo, short knee and punches from Dobson. Malkoun double jab. Again. Combo by Dobson. Good low kick and 3-2. Malkoun overhand, Dobson 1-2. Two minutes to go.
Malkoun still looking to jab, eats a right cross. Solid Dobson body kick, Malkoun catches it and lands a few right hands. One minute to go. 1-1-2 wobbles Malkoun. 1-2 from the Aussie in return. Short left hook and 1-2 by Dobson, looking a hell of a lot sharper than on the Contender Series. Malkoun hunting a single-leg, spins Dobson down in the waning seconds. 10-9 Dobson.
Round 2: 1-2-knee from Dobson. Low kick, right cross. Malkoun shoots in, gets reversed. Jockeying for position a minute in. They separate. Malkoun completes a single-leg and looks for the back. Dobson stands, dragged back down. Heavy punches by Malkoun two minutes in. Dobson trying to explode to his feet. Two minutes to go.
Malkoun continuing to punch as Dobson struggles to get off his knees. One minute to go. More good shots from Malkoun. He loses position chasing a guillotine, but goes right back to that same turtle position. One hook in. Dobson manages to separate in the waning seconds. 10-8 Malkoun.
Round 3: Early combo from Malkoun, who drags Dobson right back into turtle position and puts in a hook. Dobson stands, tripped back down. More punches piling up. Back up, back down into half guard. Two minutes in. Punches landing. Solid elbows. Two minutes to go.
Some banter between the two as Malkoun continues to chip away. Dobson manages to scramble free at the end. 10-8 Malkoun.
Final result: Malkoun def. Dobson by unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Sergey Morozov
Round 1: Body kick from Silva. Morozov fires a jab, gets spun around by a low kick. One minute in. Morozov check hook, avoids an overhand and comes back with a 1-2. Clean left hook drops Silva and Morozov floors him again with an uppercut when the former pops back up. On top in guard. Two minutes in. Short ground-and-pound. Nice elbow opens a massive cut beside Silva’s right eye. Two minutes.
Lordy, he’s leaking. Silva trying to use the cage to stand, gets cracked by a knee as he separates. Low kick lands for him, punches go off-target. 1-2 from Morozov in return. One minute to go. Morozov tries a knee, walks into a cross counter and left hook. Good body shot from the Brazilian. Heavy body kick to double-leg from Morozov puts him back on top in half guard. Near 10-8, but I’ll be conservative and say 10-9 Morozov.
Round 2: Both fire right hands in the center. 3-2 from Morozov. Solid hook by Silva, then a low-high 3-2 that rocks Morozov. Silva sprints after him and appears to score a flash knockout with a huge right hand. Morozov shoots, denied a minute in. Silva stalking, stuffs another takedown. Cheeky backfist, then a body shot. Morozov starting to fire back, lands an eye poke. As soon as they resume, Silva floors him with that same body-head combo. Brutal knees on the ways up two minutes in. Morozov still chasing, hunting the takedown. Denied, eats a spinning back fist and a left hook that have him hurt again. Frame elbow by Silva and down goes Morozov. Silva jumps on his back and hunts the RNC. Two minutes to go.
Silva goes palm-to-palm and the squeeze is enough to put Morozov to sleep. Holy moly, what a spectacular comeback from “D’Silva.”
Final result: Silva de Andrade def. Morozov by technical submission (rear naked choke)
170 lbs.: Mike Mathetha vs. Jeremiah Wells
Round 1: Wells starts the fight by charging around the cage and slipping. Mathetha tries to jump on him and Wells ties up. Knee to the body from Wells. One minute in. Mathetha still defending. Wells moves to a rear waist lock and lands a high-amplitude slam, quickly moving to Mathetha’s back. Hunting the RNC two minutes in. Solid elbow and punches as Mathetha controls the opposite wrist. More hammerfists with two minutes to go.
RNC attempt at an awkward angle. Loses it, postures up, locks it up again as Mathetha tries to stand. It’s not a perfect angle, but the squeeze is enough to put Mathetha to sleep.
Final result: Wells def. Mathetha by technical submission (rear naked choke)
265 lbs.: Maxim Grishin vs. William Knight
Round 1: Tentative start. Teep from Grishin, sitting at range. Knight tries a body kick, eats that teep again. Grishin low kicks a minute in. Neither man committing to punches yet. Grishin continuing to pick at the lead leg. He lands a clean switch head kick that Knight just shrugs off two minutes in. Grishin outworking him so far. Snap kick downstairs. Two minutes to go.
Knight tries a spinning back kick that falls well short. Grishin digs the ball of his foot into Knight’s midsection in return. Knight going to the well a lot with the body kick to limited success. One minute to go. Low kick exchange. More low and body kicks from Grishin. 10-9 Grishin.
Round 2: Knight tries some more spinning kicks that don’t even come close. Back to Grishin picking him apart at range. One minute in. 1-2 from the Russian. Calf kick spins Knight around. Knight lands one of his first leg kicks of the fight. Grishin lands his own after avoiding another spin. Two minutes in. 1-2 from Grishin and Knight shoots in response. Grishin defending, gets taken to the fence. He goes for an awkward RNC that allows Knight to hit a takedown, but Grishin scrambles into top position as Knight rushes a back take. Two minutes to go.
Half guard for Grishin. Knight gets an underhook and stands with a minute to go, eating shots as he does. Another whiffed spinning kick from Knight. He tries a checked hook, eats a body kick. 10-9 Grishin.
Round 3: Knight eats a low kick and turns it into a spinning back fist, but eats a right cross as he does. He changes levels, denied by a switch. One minute in. Jockeying for position against the fence. Grishin cracks him with a jab on the break. Nice jab from Knight. Two minutes in. Jab-jab-level change. Grishin defending with underhook, turns the corner but gets a body kick caught for a takedown into guard. Half guard with two minutes to go.
Grishin grabs an underhook and sweeps to his feet, taking Knight to the fence. Knees to the thigh. One minute to go. Knight reverses position for a single-leg, lands a knee on the way up. Another single-leg, can’t get it and Grishin blasts him with an elbow and cross. Low kick. Huge straight right drops Knight in the final seconds and Grishin follows him down into mount. 10-9 Grishin.
Final result: Grishin def. Knight by unanimous decision
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