LIVE! UFC Nashville Results & Play-By-Play!

Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will descend upon the “The Volunteer State” by way of the UFC Nashville mixed martial arts (MMA) event, which takes pla…


MMA: MAR 25 UFC on ESPN 43
Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will descend upon the “The Volunteer State” by way of the UFC Nashville mixed martial arts (MMA) event, which takes place TONIGHT (Sat., Aug. 5, 2023) on both ESPN and ESPN+ from inside Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. UFC Nashville will be headlined by the 140-pound catchweight showdown between Top 10 bantamweight bangers Cory Sandhagen and Rob Font, who sling leather for a potential shot at the division crown later this year. Before that five-round clash of styles gets underway, former 115-pound champion Jessica Andrade looks to end the undefeated streak of fast-rising strawweight sensation Tatiana Suarez.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Nashville fight card below, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” undercard bouts at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the ESPN/ESPN+ main card start time at 9 p.m. ET. Bet on all the UFC Nashville action at DraftKings Sportsbook right here.

Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Sandhagen vs. Font.” Without further delay, see below for the updated UFC Nashville results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action).

UFC NASHVILLE QUICK RESULTS:

Cory Sandhagen vs. Rob Font — Sandhagen def. Font by unanimous decision (50-45 x3) — RECAP!
Jessica Andrade vs. Tatiana Suarez — Suarez def. Andrade by submission (guillotine choke) at 1:31 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS!
Dustin Jacoby vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu — Jacoby def. Nzechukwu by TKO (punches) at 1:22 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Diego Lopes vs. Gavin Tucker — Lopes def. Tucker by submission (triangle armbar) at 1:38 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Tanner Boser vs. Aleksa Camur — Boser def. Camur by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Ludovit Klein — Klein def. Bahamondes by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Raoni Barcelos vs. Kyler Phillips — Phillips def. Barcelos by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Carlston Harris vs. Jeremiah Wells — Harris def. Wells by technical submission (anaconda choke) at 1:50 of Round Three — HIGHLIGHTS!
Damon Jackson vs. Billy Quarantillo — Quarantillo def. Jackson by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Sean Woodson vs. Dennis Buzukja — Woodson def. Buzukja by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Jake Hadley vs. Cody Durden — Durden def. Hadley by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Assu Almabaev vs. Ode Osbourne — Almabaev def. Osbourne by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:11 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS!

UFC NASHVILLE PLAY-BY-PLAY:

140 lbs.: Cory Sandhagen vs. Rob Font

Round 1: Font on the front foot early, firing low kicks. Sandhagen responds with a double-leg and a scramble ensues as Font chases a guillotine. Sandhagen flashes a thumbs-up and throws blind elbows over his shoulder. Font loses it and starts chasing a kimura a minute in. Nice sweep and they’re back to their feet. Thudding jab by Sandhagen. Font answering in kind, eats a short left hook two minutes in. Lovely reactive double-leg puts Sandhagen on top again. Font tries to sweep his way up and eats a right hand before Sandhagen sprawls on him. Sandhagen wants the back, settles for half guard. Two minutes to go.

Right hands from Sandhagen. Font gets a bit of space and pops back to his feet. Low kick from Font with a minute to go. Sandhagen controlling distance well, forcing Font’s punches to fall short. Font catches a body kick and follows him into guard. Nice knee to the body from turtle. 10-9 Sandhagen.

Round 2: Font continuing to pressure and once again he runs headlong into a double-leg. Sandhagen on top in half guard. One minute in. They’re fairly thoroughly deadlocked, keeping Sandhagen from doing any damage over the next minute. Font trying to use his butterfly hook to elevate, eats an elbow. Brief spurts of damage. Two minutes to go.

Sandhagen continuing to chip away from the top. One minute to go. Font’s making the effort to get to his feet, but can’t dislodge Sandhagen. 10-9 Sandhagen.

Round 3: Font advancing, Sandhagen circling while switching stance. Nice body shot from Font. Sandhagen falls short with a flying knee, then hits another easy double-leg that draws some hearty booing. One minute in. Sandhagen once again neutralizing Font from half guard. Two minutes in. Font nearly sweeps to his feet, but earns some elbows for his trouble. Two minutes to go.

Font trying to regain guard and utilize butterfly hooks as Sandhagen chips away. He looks for that kimura again with a minute to go and Sandhagen cracks him with some heavier shots. Now Font manages to kick away and stand. Sandhagen just misses with a flying knee and goes back to playing keep-away. Decent right hand from Font, who nearly commits to a back elbow. 10-9 Sandhagen.

Round 4: Font tries to turn up the pressure and Sandhagen just takes him down into half guard after 15 seconds. One minute in. Sandhagen patient on top as before. Solid elbow. Looking for mount, denied by a knee shield. Two minutes in. Font tries to explode near the fence, can’t do so. Two minutes to go.

The crowd continues to shower the pair with boos. Now a hearty chant of “Stand Them Up.” Front considering a guillotine but there’s nothing there. One minute to go. Font trying to use the fence to stand. Trip from Sandhagen drags him right back down. 10-9 Sandhagen.

Round 5: Font stalking, Sandhagen circling. Font goes for his own double-leg against the fence. One minute in. Sandhagen reverses, then takes him down into guard. Sandhagen looks for a d’arce two minutes in. The first attempt isn’t there, but the second is a lot deep. Font wriggling as best he can as Sandhagen cinches it tighter. Font escapes, but remains on his back with two minutes to go.

Plenty of control from Sandhagen, not much damage. One minute to go. He looks for mount, gets caught back in guard. Font looking for a miracle triangle, nothing there. Easy Sandhagen victory in the least Sandhagen performance of his career. 10-9 Sandhagen.

Final result: Sandhagen def. Font by unanimous decision — FULL FIGHT RECAP!


115 lbs.: Jessica Andrade vs. Tatiana Suarez

Round 1: Suarez tossing out some front kicks to the body as Andrade steadily shuffles forward. One minute in. Suarez keeping her distance, Andrade not doing a lot to get inside. Suarez catches a kick and briefly ties up, landing a knee and slipping before popping back up. Solid low kick from Andrade, who eats a body kick in return. Two minutes in. Clean 1-2 by Suarez. She shoots under a left hook, and while the entry is ugly, she successfully wrangles Andrade down into side control. Two minutes to go.

Andrade turns to her knees and stands as Suarez maintains the front headlock, landing knees to the head. Andrade gets a bit of separation, but Suarez shoots right back in and continues to attack with knees. One minute to go. Now Andrade breaks free. Glancing right hook by Andrade and she tries to open up, exchanging with Suarez at close range. Nice left hook on the exit. Body kick from Suarez answered in kind. 10-9 Suarez.

Round 2: Suarez changes levels early, avoiding a guillotine to land in side control. Andrade turns and stands, but gets forced down by the front headlock. She tries to scramble again and this time Suarez has the guillotine, jumping guard to force the tap.

Final result: Suarez def. Andrade by submission (guillotine choke) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!


205 lbs.: Dustin Jacoby vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu

Round 1: Both men active with punches and kicks right off the bat. Counter left from Nzechukwu. Jacoby low kick. Pressure-heavy approach by Nzechukwu so far. One minute in. Straight left lands for him. He lands another straight left as he backs Jacoby to the fence, but Jacoby follows the punch back with a murderous counter right that short-circuits “The African Savage.” Jacoby swarms with hammerfists to force the stoppage, though Nzechukwu appeared to be defending himself and immediately protests.

Final result: Jacoby def. Nzechukwu by TKO (punches) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!


145 lbs.: Diego Lopes vs. Gavin Tucker

Round 1: Lopes takes a kick right to the nards inside of 30 seconds, prompting a pause. Tucker looks for a single-leg and Lopes immediately jumps on a flying triangle a minute in. It’s loose initially but Lopes is tightening it up and threatening an armbar. There’s a ton of torque on that arm and Tucker taps as Lopes rolls him into mount.

Final result: Lopes def. Tucker by submission (triangle armbar) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!


205 lbs.: Tanner Boser vs. Aleksa Camur

Round 1: Low kick from Boser to start things off. Camur advancing, avoiding punches. They collide and Camur puts him on the fence. One minute in. They separate without drama. Boser continuing to circle. He tries a 1-2 and Camur again puts him on the fence. Camur tries to open up on the exit two minutes in and both wing shots without landing. Sharp jabs from the mobile Boser. Camur low kick. Boser fires a straight right, then exits with a knee with two minutes to go.

Body kick lands for Camur. Stiff jab into the clinch. Again they separate without much action. Trading jabs. Short elbow lands for Boser with a minute to go. His jab is the most effective strike of the fight so far. Camur counters a low kick with a jab, then wings arm punches before tying up. Boser pushes him away and lands strikes on the exit. One more clinch before the bell. 10-9 Boser.

Round 2: Both whiff on looping right hands. Boser changes levels and puts him on the fence. Solid left hook from Boser and now he’s feeling it, jacking Camur’s jaw with clean combinations. Camur somehow weathers all of it and dings Boser with a low kick. One minute in. More clean punches from Boser. Camur lands a low kick, then gets hauled to the fence. Two minutes in. Solid knee from Boser, continuing to grind against the side of the cage. Camur separates and lands some body shots, only for Boser to bounce another broadside off of his head before tying up again. Two minutes to go.

Heavy shots from Boser on the break. Camur with a knee and elbow in the clinch. Boser comes back with a combo before putting him on the fence again. One minute to go. Boser separates and both men land some hard blows before Boser ties up once again. 10-9 Boser.

Round 3: Trading low kicks to start, then Boser takes him to the fence again. Quick separation. Body kick by Boser a minute in, then a vicious punching combo. Back to the fence again. Camur finally seems to wake up a bit and throw volume, knocking Boser over with a low kick. Nice right hand and inside low kick two minutes in. Boser answers with a murderous right hand and they trade knees in the clinch. Both land when they return to distance. Two minutes to go.

Camur finding a bit of success as they trade punches and kicks. Good knee by Boser as Camur puts him on the fence. Boser reverses. One minute to go. Jabs from Boser when they separate, then a left hook from Camur. Boser suddenly tees off with monster hooks that Camur ignores. Camur with a few haymakers of his own, which Boser answers with heavy elbows before taking him to the fence again. 10-9 Boser.

Final result: Boser def. Camur by unanimous decision


155 lbs.: Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Ludovit Klein

Round 1: Low kick from Klein kicks off a nice exchange. To the inside this time. Klein head kick attempt, Bahamondes low kick. 1-2 to knee from Bahamondes, who eats a clean 1-2 a minute in. Heavy combo from Klein and Bahamondes might be hurt. He changes levels, then pulls guard against the fence. Short punches from Klein. Two minutes in. Clean elbow. Bahamondes tries an upkick, eats more punches. Triangle attempt with two minutes to go.

Klein avoids the choke, lands hammerfists, and avoids the armbar transition. Hammerfists piling up for Klein and Bahamondes is cut. Bahamondes works his way to his feet with a minute to go and they separate shortly after. 1-2 from Klein. 1-2-1. They trade in the center. Bahamondes tries a flying knee. 10-9 Klein.

Round 2: 1-2 from Bahamondes to start. Flurry by Klein. Bahamondes counter uppercut. Long left and they trade in the center. Klein low kick a minute in. Bahamondes backs him to the fence and tries to fire knees. Nice shots from the Thai clinch. Klein attacks the body in response, then drags him to the mat with a double-leg. Bahamondes quickly uses the fence to stand. He turns and separates two minutes in. Landing jabs and right hands behind them. Klein low kick with two minutes to go.

Counter hook by Klein. Bahamondes body kick. Head kick attempt, then a flying knee that falls well short. Nice head kick from Klein skids off Bahamondes’ forehead. Big counter left by Klein. One minute to go. Body kick. Bahamondes still trying to pressure. Blast double by Klein into guard. 10-9 Klein.

Round 3: Bahamondes considers a level change, lands a right hand. He hauls Klein to the clinch, lands a knee downstairs. They separate a minute in. Jabs landing for Klein. Bahamondes tries a tired-looking double-leg that Klein sprawls on. They separate two minutes in. Bahamondes wheel kick falls short. Side kick from Klein. Jabs landing clean. Low kicks as well. Bahamondes tries a flying knee, lands a right hand with two minutes to go.

Klein fires a double-leg, then transitions to a trip to land on top in half guard. Bahamondes regains guard and tries a triangle that Klein easily escapes. One minute to go. Hammerfists from Klein. Bahamondes gets to his feet, then rolls for a kneebar. Klein knows it’s not close so he appeals to the crowd before the bell. 10-9 Klein.

Final result: Klein def. Bahamondes by unanimous decision


135 lbs.: Raoni Barcelos vs. Kyler Phillips

Round 1: Phillips aggressive early, landing low kicks and pumping his jab. 2-3 from Barcelos. Phillips showing a lot of volume. One minute in. Barcelos catches a low kick and grabs a body lock. He briefly gets on top, but Phillips kicks him away and stands. Barcelos lands a couple of solid counters and grabs a body lock on an off-balance Phillips, who denies a big lift and separates two minutes in. Phillips looks for the body and fires a spinning back kick. Jab and body kick. Phillips threatens a shot, eats a right hand. Two minutes to go.

Phillips suddenly lands a piston of a lead right that floors Barcelos. Barcelos quickly pops up and shoots, leading to some heavy fire on both sides in the clinch before they separate. Phillips wheel kick falls short. Barcelos tries some 1-2s, lands some heavy left hooks against the fence with a minute to go. Sneaky clinch uppercut. Phillips tries a foot sweep and follows with an elbow. Clean lead right. Barcelos backs him up with a heavy right in combination, forcing Phillips to the fence. Jumping switch kick from Phillips, then another lead right as they trade. 10-9 Phillips.

Round 2: Phillips catches a body kick and bullies Barcelos into guard. Elbows from Phillips. Barcelos quickly scrambles to his feet. One minute in. Phillips keeping him at a distance with kicks. Barcelos not forcing the issue. Two minutes in. Quick jab by Barcelos, big 2-3. He shoots, denied. Hook kick lands for Phillips. Clean lead right. Flicker jabs met by a Barcelos left hook. Two minutes to go.

Three-piece from Phillips. Nice double-leg entry by Barcelos, better balance by Phillips. Phillips defending the standing back take with a kimura. One minute to go. Nice lift and takedown finally puts Barcelos on top. Phillips stands, rolls for a kneebar, and scrambles to his feet. 2-1 from Barcelos. 10-9 Phillips.

Round 3: Phillips looks for a single-leg, eats uppercuts, lands a knee. Body jab from Barcelos, good low kick soon after. Head kick attempt, Phillips answers with a side kick. One minute in. Barcelos pressuring but not letting his hands go. There’s a clean step-in knee as I type that. Jabs from Phillips as he circles. Barcelos body jab. Two minutes in. Jab to low kick from Phillips. Barcelos not committing to attacks and Phillips content to potshot. Barcelos catches a body kick for a takedown, Phillips pops right back to his feet. Two minutes to go.

Nice body shot by Barcelos. 2-3, turning up the pressure a bit. Glancing uppercut. One minute to go. Solid counter right by Phillips. Barcelos tries to answer with a combo. Good double-leg entry, can’t establish. Good head kick attempt on the break. 10-9 Barcelos.

Final result: Phillips def. Barcelos by unanimous decision


170 lbs.: Carlston Harris vs. Jeremiah Wells

Round 1: Nice side kick from Wells knocks Harris back. Wells charges in with a Superman punch and Harris shoots under it, only to end up on the bottom in half guard. One minute in. Wells chilling on top, throwing nothing. Two minutes in. Now he’s looking for a power guillotine. Harris rolling for his life as Wells squeezes. Two minutes to go.

Harris somehow manages to make it to his feet and considers his own guillotine, but pops back up after losing it. Wells changes levels again and dumps him back to the mat. One minute to go. Wells looking for the back. 10-9 Wells.

Round 2: Wells tries an early flurry. Spinning back fist appears to clip Harris, who stumbles to the mat. Wells looks for a guillotine, lands some uppercuts, then dumps him to the mat when he tries to stand. One minute in. Wells controlling him at the base of the fence. Two minutes in. Short right hands from Wells. Two minutes to go.

Harris stuck on his seat as the crowd lays into Wells for a lack of activity. Now Wells lands some elbows. One minute to go. More elbows. 10-9 Wells.

Round 3: Wells continuing to swing heat. Solid hook by Harris. Bigger hook by Wells. Both men throwing from the hip. Wells shoots, denied. One minute in. Wells shotos again after an ugly right hand and Harris answers with his signature anaconda choke. It doesn’t look that deep, but Harris apparently has a hydraulic grip, putting Wells to sleep to cap off an insane comeback.

Final result: Harris def. Wells by technical submission (anaconda choke) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!


145 lbs.: Damon Jackson vs. Billy Quarantillo

Round 1: Heavy right hand and body kick from Jackson to start. Quarantillo low kick. Jackson landing a lot of right hands in the first minute. He shoots under a right and ties up. Quarantillo quickly separates. Jackson continuing to land most of the right hands he throws, beating Quarantillo up two minutes in. He ties up and takes Quarantillo to the fence. He locks his hands and there’s the takedown. Quarantillo responds with a gogoplata attempt, but doesn’t have body control, allowing Jackson to move to half guard. Two minutes to go.

Nice move to back mount by Jackson. Body triangle with a minute to go. He flattens Quarantillo out and lands a few solid punches before once again pursuing the RNC. Quarantillo regains 50/50 position, eats a nasty body kick on the way up. They trade right hands before the bell. 10-9 Jackson.

Round 2: Quarantillo pushing forward. Lead right into a level change, avoids a head-and-arm-throw. Jackson shoots back in and puts him on the fence, landing knees before Quarantillo reverses and separates. Jackson shoots again, gets taken to the fence a minute in. Trading body shots in the clinch. Knee from Jackson on the exit. He avoids an uppercut and shoots again, locking his hands. Two minutes in. Quarantillo tries a knee on the exit. Jackson seems like he’s slowing down a bit but there’s not a ton of offense from Quarantillo. Now Quarantillo’s starting to pour it on against the fence. Two minutes to go.

Jackson shoots again, denied again. He really looks like he’s running out of gas, but Quarantillo throws a naked low kick that lets Jackson take him down into half guard. Right to side control, then a lovely attempt at a rolling back take. Quarantillo slips out and wraps up a guillotine, then a Japanese necktie with a minute to go. Jackson works back to his feet, landing knees as Quarantillo thumps his body with punches. They separate and Quarantillo goes back to advancing. Nice body shot and 1-2. 10-9 Quarantillo.

Round 3: Hard left hook and right hand by Jackson. Quarantillo eats them and continues to push forward. Left hook, low kick, hard jab. Triple jab to right cross, then a nasty body attack against the fence. Jackson throwing plenty of power shots in return. Quarantillo denies a shot, but gets hauled to the fence. He separates, fires a right hand, and denies another takedown, continuing to attack the body in the clinch. They separate two minutes in. Jackson is spent but still fighting back as Quarantillo marches in. Nasty right hand from Quarantillo and Jackson’s hurt. He quickly shakes it off and lands some solid overhand of his own. Quarantillo changes levels and they trade in the clinch. Two minutes to go.

Jackson continues to land good punches and there’s a clean head kick. Quarantillo shrugs it off, throws his own shots, and ties up. Jockeying for position and Jackson hits a critical single-leg with a minute to go. Quarantillo looking for an omoplata, nothing there but he scrambles to his feet. Quarantillo hunts him down with huge shots until the bell. 10-9 Quarantillo.

Final result: Quarantillo def. Jackson by unanimous decision


145 lbs.: Sean Woodson vs. Dennis Buzukja

Round 1: Trading jabs to start. Woodson firing front and low kicks to keep Buzukja at a distance. The calf kicks are working for him. Nice check hook as Buzukja blitzes. One minute in. Good body shot from Buzukja into the clinch. Woodson separates and looks for a knee, then avoids a left hook. More low kicks. Buzukja continuing to steadily push forward two minutes in. Body kick, quick jab. Stiff jab. Cracking body kick from Buzukja and an overhand right behind it. Woodson reverses on the fence and goes to work with short body shots. Two minutes to go.

Buzukja reverses in turns and changes levels. They separate soon after. Buzukja’s staying aggressive, having mixed success getting inside. Body shots from Woodson with a minute to go, then more sharp combos behind it. Nice calf kick, 1-2 by Buzukja in return into a level change. Woodson separates, lands a check hook, then denies another level change. 10-9 Woodson.

Round 2: Buzukja still trying to power his way into the pocket as Woodson picks him off. Nice exchange in center cage. Buzukja changes levels against the fence. One minute in. Woodson reverses, then opens up with knees and body shots. Buzukja firing back but it’s Woodson doing damage before looking for his own takedown. Holding onto a front headlock at the base of the fence. Buzukja stuck on his knees and Woodson considers an anaconda, then a guillotine. No dice, and Buzukja gets to his feet with Woodson still attached. Two minutes to go.

Mat return from Woodson. Buzukja considering a kimura, loses it. Now it’s Woodson looking to wrap up a kimura. One minute to go. Front headlock for Woodson, looking for the back. One hook in, but he rushes it and allows Buzukja to land on top. Buzukja tries to unload, only for Woodson to escape and pump up the crowd before the bell. 10-9 Woodson.

Round 3: Woodson still finding the mark with counters. Straight left dings Buzukja and Woodson looks to open up on the fence before changing levels. Buzukja answers with elbows and scrambles into his own takedown attempt. One minute in. Woodson reverses and again looks for the back. Buzukja works his way up, eating shots against the fence. Woodson separates and attacks the body. Two minutes in. Calf kick, jab, check hook. Buzukja backs him to the fence and changes levels, only for Woodson to get double underhooks and drag him to his knees. Two minutes to go.

Buzukja makes it up, gets forced back down via front headlock. He stands with a minute to go, eating shots on the break. Buzukja still advancing, trying to punch his way inside. Monster knee by Woodson that Buzukja somehow eats without issue. Another huge knee and Buzukja, despite being visibly exhausted, still keeps chasing him until the bell. 10-9 Woodson.

Final result: Woodson def. Buzukja by unanimous decision


125 lbs.: Jake Hadley vs. Cody Durden

Round 1: Fast start, lots of pawing with the lead hands. Counter left by Hadley. Durden to the body, then a nice pull counter right. One minute in. 1-2 from Durden, then another right downstairs. Hadley comes back with a 1-2. Combo by Durden. Lots of fun, back-and-forth exchanges so far. Durden considers a single-leg and bails when Hadley threatens his neck. Durden catches a body kick follows him down into top position two minutes in. Hadley’s cut from something. Durden stands over him, comes back down into half guard. That’s a bad cut. Hadley trying to turn into him, Durden looking to take the back. Two minues to go.

Side control for Durden. Hadley briefly thinks about a buggy choke. Hadley works his way up, but gets wrenched back down with a body lock trip. One minute to go. Hadley regains guard and tries to sit up into Durden, ultimately separating after eating a knee. Hadley pushing forward with combos, then jumps on a guillotine. Durden waits it out. 10-9 Durden.

Round 2: Durden times Hadley’s kick for another takedown, passing to half guard to avoid a guillotine. Hadley regains guard, tries to invert for a kneebar, gets to his knees a minute in. Back to their feet. Trading straights. Nice body shot from Hadley, nicer elbows by Durden. Durden absorbs a body kick and shoots, hauling Hadley to the fence while avoiding another guillotine. Hadley reverses. Two minutes in. Hadley body shot, Durden right cross. Hadley shoots and Durden sprawls before wrapping up an anaconda choke. It looks unbelievably deep, but Hadley somehow survives and latches onto Durden’s back. Two minutes to go.

Hadley’s got him in sort of a triangle from the back that has Durden deadlocked, allowing Hadley to land elbows. Hadley commits to an armbar, but Durden flashes a thumbs-up. One minute to go. Durden’s in visible pain as Hadley wrenches it, but he manages to wrench his way free and swat Hadley with punches until the bell. What a round. 10-9 Hadley.

Round 3: Nice head kick from Hadley to start. Trading 1-2s. Low kick trips Hadley up for a moment. Hadley looks the fresher of the two to start the third. Durden to the body. One minute in. Hadley on the front foot, landing volume. Low kick to right cross from Durden. 1-2, then another shortly after. Counter right. Two minutes in. Hadley shoots, Durden sprawls. Durden keeping the front headlock. Two minutes to go.

Durden forces Hadley to his back, then stands over him, kicking his legs. Hadley sits up for a takedown attempts and again Durden sprawls on him. One minute to go. Cody forces him down into half guard, then sprawls again and plays to the crowed while bashing Hadley with punches. After the bell, he gives Hadley the D-Generation X crotch chop and a double bird. 10-9 Durden.

Final result: Durden def. Hadley by unanimous decision


125 lbs.: Assu Almabaev vs. Ode Osbourne

Round 1: Osbourne advancing early in southpaw. Looking for body kicks, counter right comes back at him. Straight left a minute in, again Almabaev comes back with an overhand right. Nice single-leg puts Almabaev on top in full guard. Short punches from Almabaev. Two minutes in. Osbourne throwing elbows off of his back. He stries to bring his legs up, nothing there. Two minutes to go.

Almabaev content to work from guard, landing a steady stream of punches. Osbourne not doing anything to stand. One minute to go. Osbourne tries to bring up his legs and allows Almabaev to take side control. Nice elbows. Osbourne turns to his knees and Almabaev jumps on a Peruvian Necktie, but Osbourne waits it out. 10-9 Almabaev.

Round 2: Nice head kick from Almabaev to start, then another single-leg attempt. Osbourne gets his leg free, but gets hauled to the fence. He quickly separates and lands a sharp 1-2. Almabaev wheel kick falls short, as does a level change. Low kick to level change to inside trip and Almabaev is on top in guard again. Nice move to Osbourne’s back as Osbourne tries to stand two minutes in. Full body triangle, looking for the RNC. He loses it, but as Osbourne turns to try and remove a hook, Almabaev capitalizes to lock it up once again and force the tap.

Final result: Almabaev def. Osbourne by submission (rear naked choke) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!


To check out the latest and greatest UFC Nashville: “Sandhagen vs. Font” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.