Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) makes its return to “Music City” TONIGHT (Sat., March 23, 2019) with the UFC Fight Night 148 on ESPN+, which will take place inside Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. At the top of the card, former welterweight No. 1 title contender, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, tries to get back into the 170-pound title hunt by trading blows with ex-lightweight champion, Anthony “Showtime” Pettis. In the UFC Nashville co-main event, Curtis “Razor” Blaydes will attempt to shake off his recent loss at the expense of Justin “Big Pretty” Willis. In addition, Luis Pena — affectionately known as “Violent Bob Ross” — makes his featherweight return opposite Steven “Ocho” Peterson.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Fight Night 148 fight card below, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” undercard bouts at 5 p.m. ET, followed by the ESPN+ main card start time at 8 p.m. ET.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Thompson vs. Pettis.” Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC Fight Night 148 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:
Stephen Thompson vs. Anthony Pettis — Pettis def. Thompson by KO (punch) at 4:55 of Round Two
Curtis Blaydes vs. Justin Willis — Blaydes def. WIllis by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-25)
John Makdessi vs. Jesus Pinedo — Makdessi def. Pinedo by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Jussier Formiga — Formiga def. Figueiredo by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Luis Pena vs. Steven Peterson — Pena def. Peterson by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
J.J. Aldrich vs. Maycee Barber — Barber def. Aldrich by TKO (punches) at 3:01 of Round Two
Bryce Mitchell vs. Bobby Moffett — Mitchell def. Moffett by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Frankie Saenz vs. Marlon Vera — Vera def. Saenz by TKO (punches) at 1:25 of Round One
Alexis Davis vs. Jennifer Maia — Maia def. Davis by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Angela Hill vs. Randa Markos — Markos def. Hill by submission (armbar) at 4:24 of Round One
Chris Gutierrez vs. Ryan MacDonald — Gutierrez def. MacDonald by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Jordan Espinosa vs. Eric Shelton — Espinosa def. Shelton by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)
UFC NASHVILLE PLAY-BY-PLAY:
170 lbs.: Stephen Thompson vs. Anthony Pettis
Round 1: Pettis patiently advancing, Thompson circling at range. Body kick from Pettis. One minute in. Hard leg kick by Pettis. Hook kick attempt. Side kick by Thompson. Two minutes in. Thompson tries a head kick, checks a leg kick. Pettis firing body kicks, eats one in return. Combo by Thompson. Pettis attempts a wheel kick and they touch gloves. Tow minutes to go.
Side kick and flurry by Thompson. Pettis body kick. Low kick. Thompson tries a flurry, lands a leg kick. Pettis with a lead right. Thompson fires an uppercut and right hand behind it. One minute to go. Thompson jab, Pettis low kick, Thompson wheel kick. Thompson tries a 3-2, Pettis tries to spin. 10-9 Thompson.
Round 2: Body kick from Pettis. Thompson looks for high kicks. They trade leg kicks. Thompson body kick, Pettis body punch. Thompson tries a hook kick, eats leg kicks. Side kick from Thompson and they trade body blows once again. Thompson with a little check hook between a leg kick exchange. More leg kicks from both. Thompson pops him with a jab. Two minutes in. Both land leg kicks. Pettis low kicks, Thompson goes low-high with punches. Two minutes to go.
Leg kick exchange. Thompson check hook. Hook kick connects. One minute to go. Short right hand behind a kick. More jabs. Pettis going after that lead leg. Lead leg and side kick from Thompson, but Pettis suddenly flies in with a Superman punch that puts Thompson to sleep.
Final result: Pettis def. Thompson by KO (punch)
265 lbs.: Curtis Blaydes vs. Justin Willis
Round 1: Low kicks from Blaydes. He shoots, takes Willis to the fence. Knee to the body. Blaydes drags him down into side control a minute in. Looking for mount. Now pursuing the back. Left hands by Blaydes. Willis working to stand two minutes in. He stands, suplexed to the mat once again. Blaydes lands punches as Willis tries to work his way up. Another takedown. Willis crawls back to the cage, still eating the occasional punch. Two minutes to go.
Willis looking for a kimura, doesn’t appear to be a threat. Blaydes gets his arm out. Knees to the butt with a minute to go. Willis gets to his feet. Blaydes tosses him back to his knees. 10-9 Blaydes.
Round 2: Blaydes drops him with a straight right in the opening seconds, then slams Willis to the mat despite the latter grabbing the fence. Blaydes passing a minute in. Looking for the back. Willis gets to his knees and gets to the fence. Two minutes in. Knees to the butt from Blaydes. Blaydes just making him carry his weight. Two minutes to go.
Blaydes takes him for another ride. Corner telling him to stay heavy. One minute to go. Round ends that way. 10-9 Blaydes.
Round 3: They trade near the fence. Willies tries a head kick. One minute in. Lots of staring. Blaydes shoots, denied, lands a jab. Blaydes shoots, denied, shoots again two minutes in. Nothing happens for the next minute.
Blaydes leaning on him, exits with a knee. Easy takedown into side control. Willis rolls to his knees, takes short punches. He crawls to the fence and stands. 10-9 Blaydes.
Final result: Blaydes def. Willis by unanimous decision
155 lbs.: John Makdessi vs. Jesus Pinedo
Round 1: Both men looking to kick early. Neither man landing clean yet. One minute in. Makdessi leg kick. Pinedo answers in kind. Side kick from Makdessi. Two minutes in. They trade punches, Makdessi lands clean. Pinedo leg kick. Makdessi catches a side kick. Leg kick. Two minutes to go.
Makdessi tries to spin. Leg kick. One minute to go. Nashville wants more action. Right hand by Makdessi connects. 10-9 Makdessi.
Round 2: Makdessi eats a body kick, catches one and kicks at his legs. More Makdessi leg kicks and a side kick. One minute in. Body kick by Pinedo, Makdessi tries a side kick a minute in. Crowd wants more. Two minutes in. Makdessi tries a head kick. Still mostly sparring and staring. Makdessi body kick, Pinedo knee kick. Two minutes to go.
We’re at about a ten to one feint to strike ratio. 3-2 from Pinedo. Both try kicks, blocked. Makdessi leg kic. Counter right from Makdessi lands clean. One minute to go. Pinedo tries a jumping kick, lands a right hand. Makdessi catches a kick and lands some jabs, then eats a left hand. Pinedo finally on the attack, grazes Makdessi with a head kick. Jumping knee attempt. 10-9 Pinedo?
Round 3: Makdessi still picking away at Pinedo’s lead leg. It’s just a sparring match. Pinedo has no answer for the lead leg leg kick. Left hand from Pinedo. Two minutes in. Straight left by Pinedo, more leg kicks from Makdessi, who tries to spin. 3-2 from Pinedo. More Makdessi leg kicks. Pinedo right hook. Two minutes to go.
Counter two-piece by Pinedo, right cross by Makdessi. Makdessi catches a body kick, avoids a wheel kick. Pinedo body kick, Makdessi left hook. Left hand from Pinedo with a minute to go. Pinedo waving him on. Left hand. Makdessi counters a body kick with a left hand. They trade i nthe center. Makdessi tries to spin and they exchange. 10-9 Makdessi.
Final result: Makdessi def. Pinedo by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Jussier Formiga
Round 1: My internet soiled itself, so I missed the first minute. Let’s start from here.
Figueiredo threatens an uppercut, eats a counter right. Two minutes in. Figueiredo tries to spin, eats a spinning back fist from Formiga. Brief clinch. Lead right from Formiga with two minutes to go.
Formiga hits his first takedown with ease, ending up in guard. Looking to pass to side control. Figueiredo gets to his knees and then his feet. One minute to go. Formiga keeping him on the fence. He spins Figueiredo, hops to mount, and drops elbows until the bell. 10-9 Formiga.
Round 2: Figueiredo swinging bigger to start the round. Good elbow on the break a minute in. Formiga looks for a spinning back kick. They trade body blows. Figueiredo slips on his way into the clinch. Formiga shoots, completes a single-leg. On top in guard. Short punches from Formiga, elbows from Figueiredo. Two minutes to go.
Formiga still chipping away. Figueiredo trying to make separation, opens Formiga up with an elbow. One minute to go. Formiga chilling in half guard, bleeding but unperturbed. 10-9 Formiga.
Round 3: Figueiredo tries to charge in. Straight left lands for him, but Formiga puts him on the fence. They separate. Nasty counter uppercut and left hand from Figueiredo. One minute in. Formiga avoids a right hand, ties up, and lands an uppercut on the break. Right hand from Formiga. Figueiredo trying to wavehim on. Two minutes in. Formiga steps into the clinch, avoids a foot sweep. Formiga ducks a left and Figueiredo ill-advisedly jumps guard on a guillotine, landing in half guard. Formiga passes to mount with two minutes to go.
Figueiredo regains half guard and then stands, Formiga still attached. They separate with a minute to go. Figueiredo stalking after him. Formiga avoiding the right straights. Spinning back fist from Formiga. Lead elbow connects and he takes one last shot. 10-9 Formiga.
Final result: Formiga def. Figueiredo by unanimous decision
145 lbs.: Luis Pena vs. Steven Peterson
Round 1: Peterson marching forward with strikes, looks for a takedown within 15 seconds. Switches to a single-leg, which Pena tries to counter with a kimura. Pena uses it to sweep to top position, only for Peterson to lock up an armbar. Pena slams his way out and postures above Peterson. Peterson turns for a leglock, nothing doing. Side control for Pena. Two minutes in. Peterson regains guard. Pena clips him with punches on the way up, follows up with a knee and right hand. Nasty elbow from Pena. Two minutes to go.
Exchanging knees. Right hand from Peterson, who avoids a takedown. Pena pumping his jab after they separate. Peterson with a right downstairs, takes a straight left and lands a leg kick. Pena tries a flying knee. One minute to go. Peterson still picking at the lead leg, clipped by a left with a minute to go. Another 1-2 by Pena. Peterson left hand. Peterson ties up on the fence and lands some short punches. Pena with a chopping left on the break. 10-9 Pena.
Round 2: Pena opens with a front kick, picking off Peterson as the latter tries to step in. Peterson staying on him, though, and takes him down against the fence. Peterson hops onto his back, Pena shakes him off and lands a combination a minute in. Big right hook stings Peterson. Pena hauls him to the fence. Peterson reverses and hits another takedown. Pena stands, still caught in a body lock. Two minutes in. Another takedown for Peterson, nearly gets swept and jumps on his back. Loses the hooks, still attached on the fence. Two minutes to go.
Peterson grabs a body lock, avoids a throw, eats a big elbow. Peterson with a slow-motion spin, takes another elbow. Flying knee by Pena and two big lefts. Body shot. Spinning back fist by Peterson. One minute to go. Teep and body kick from Pena. Peterson wades back into the clinch and Pena grabs a kimura. Punching combo from Pena to end the round. 10-9 Pena.
Round 3: Peterson marches back into the clinch, eats a knee and punches on the break. Uppercuts from Pena. Peterson marches back into the clinch, Pena hits the switch. More shots land for Pena on the way up. Peterson low kick and he ducks in for another takedown attempt. Pena gets in deep on a kimura, but loses it and winds up on the bottom in guard. He sweeps his way into top position before long. Two minutes to go.
Peterson tosses up an armbar and Pena postures out of it. Peterson then turns for a leg. Pena answers with punches, goes back to standing over him and kicks him in the head on the way up. One minute to go. Peterson zombies his way into a takedown attempt. Pena moves to his back, then double unders. One more combo before the bell. 10-9 Pena.
Final result: Pena def. Peterson by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: J.J. Aldrich vs. Maycee Barber
Round 1: Aldrich pressuring early, lands a knee and avoids a combination. Huge straight left drops Barber! Barber pops up, then falls back to her guard. One minute in. Stiff jab and 1-2 from Aldrich. Elbow and right hook land for Barber inside. Hard 1-2 from Barber. Counter right by Aldrich, good jab as Barber kicks. Two minutes in. Barber jab, Aldrich 1-2. More hard counters from Aldrich. Good right hand in the center. Two minutes to go.
Barber with a knee and elbow in the clinch. Body kick. 2-1 from Aldrich. Hard counter jab. One minute to go. Barber lands a counter left. Aldrich counters a low kick for another knockdown. Aldrich lets her up. Barber elbow, Aldrich right hand. 10-9 Aldrich.
Round 2: Barber tries, fails to clinch, lands a body kick. Front kick. Aldrich lands a counter left. Barber right hook. Barber lands a knee, eats big shots on the break. One minute in. Stiff Aldrich jab. Hard overhand left by Barber, who walks into a counter. Barber with her own counter right. Left hook met by an Aldrich jab. Barber left hand and low kick. Elbows from Barber. Left hand and body kick attempt. Left hand briefly buckles Aldrich. Barber on the attack. Aldrich ties up against the fence. Barber reverses, then unloads until Aldrich covers up and the ref steps in.
Final result: Barber def. Aldrich by TKO (punches)
145 lbs.: Bryce Mitchell vs. Bobby Moffett
Round 1: Mitchell with some early aggression. One minute in. Head kick attempt, then a cracking left that drops Moffett. Moffett gets in on a takedown, completes a single-leg but can’t secure it. Mitchell looking to take the back in the scramble. Two minutes in. Moffett ends up on top, only for Mitchell to immediately cinch up a triangle. Mitchell transitioning to an armbar. Moffett escapes and they reset on the feet with two minutes to go.
Mitchell shoots against the fence. They separate. Combination from Moffett, body kick from Mitchell. One minute to go. Counter uppercut by Mitchell as he denies a takedown. Good leg kick and overhand right into a takedown attempt. Moffett defends on the cage. Jockeying for position. 10-9 Mitchell.
Round 2: Moffett hits an early takedown. Mitchell scoots to the fence. Looking for a kimura a minute in. Moffett looks for the back, Mitchell hits the switch and separates. Moffett low kick, Mitchell straight left and spinning back kick. Two minutes in. Jabs from Mitchell. Moffett trying to walk him down, eats a left. Body knee from Moffett and he drags Mitchell to the ground. Moffett on top in half guard with two minutes to go.
Moffett setting up the d’arce. He looks like he’s got it, but Mitchell defends, ultimately making it into top position. He jumps on Moffett’s back and gets thhe rear crucifix. Moffett works his way into side control. Good fight. 10-9 MOffett.
Round 3: Mitchell lands an early combination and looks for a takedown. Rebuffed. Moffett shoots under an overhand right, then again for a takedown into half guard. Mitchell turns for an armbar a minute in. Moffett avoids it and looks for side control. Mitchell srambles up and they start trading. Better shots from Mitchell. He avoids a takedown. Overhand right by Moffett and he hits another takedown two minutes in. On top in half guard. Moffett trying to chip away at close range. Two minutes to go.
Mitchell turns into him and Moffett looks to lock up the d’arce again. It’s not quite deep enough. Mitchell looks for his own takedown and hops onto Moffett’s back. The choke looks deep, but Moffett survives. Still looking for the finish. 10-9 Mitchell.
Final result: Mitchell def. Moffett by unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Frankie Saenz vs. Marlon Vera
Round 1: Vera kicking the leg and body early. Saenz leg kick. Leg kick and left hook from Vera, Saenz tries an overhand right a minute in. Knee from Vera, uppercut from Saenz. Saenz tries to charge in once again and gets smoked by a jab. Saenz looks for a leg, his legs aren’t there, and Vera pummels the back of his head until the ref intervenes.
Final result: Vera def. Saenz by TKO (punches)
125 lbs.: Alexis Davis vs. Jennifer Maia
Round 1: They trade in the center. Good jab from Maia. Davis gets a body lock and takes her to the fence. One minute in. Knees to the body. Elbow from Davis on the break. Maia lands a knee, hauled back to the cage. Two minutes in. More knees from Davis. Maia suddenly explodes out of the clinch with a nasty combination. Davis pulls guard. She steps right back into the pocket after standing, but Maia is tearing her up. Two minutes to go.
Davis takes her to the fence, Maia reverses. One minute to go. Maia with double underhooks and they trade knees. 10-9 Maia.
Round 2: Davis opens with a combo and goes back to trading, landing on the inside. Davis leg kick, Maia jab. More exchanges. One minute in. Body kick and low kick from Davis, right hand upstairs. Maia with a right cross of her own. Body kick by Davis. Maia to the body. Davis catches a body kick for a takedown into side control, then an immediate move to mount. Two minutes in. Maia manages to regain half guard. Two minutes to go.
Elbows connect for Davis. Right hands as well. One minute to go. More ground-and-pound. 10-9 Davis.
Round 3: They open the round trading in the center. Punches from Maia, body kick from Davis. One minute in. Trading 1-2s, Maia goes downstairs. Good trades. Body kicks by Davis. 1-2 by Maia. Davis with a clean 1-2. 1-2-1-2 by Maia two minutes in. Davis body kick. Teep, leg kick. They trade, Davis lands when Maia falls off-balance. Two minutes to go.
Leg kicks by Davis, hard punches by Maia. More punches; Maia’s figured out the counter. Davis with a jab and leg kick. Body kick. One minute to go. Leg kicks. Big right cross from Maia. Davis leg kick. Maia counter jab and 1-2. Davis takes her to the fence. Body kick lands. Close round. 10-9 Davis.
Final result: Maia def. Davis by unanimous decision
115 lbs.: Angela Hill vs. Randa Markos
Round 1: Hill tries a head kick. Trading in the center. She puts Markos on the fence. One minute in. Knees and a nasty elbow by Markos, met by a left hook. Markos marching after her, gets put back on the cage but hits an inside reap into side control. Two minutes in. She goes from mount to looking for the back, landing hard left hands. Two minutes to go.
Full back control transition from mount. Markos looking for the RNC, makes a smooth transition to the armbar. Patiently looking to break Hill’s grip on her own arm, does it and gets the tap.
Final result: Markos def. Hill by submission (armbar)
135 lbs.: Chris Gutierrez vs. Ryan MacDonald
Round 1: Low kicks from Gutierrez to start. Counter right, checks a low kick from MacDonald and looks for a switch kick. Leg kick exchange. One minute in. Gutierrez already doing damage with his leg kicks. Body kick connects. Another. Right hand to the body. Two minutes in. Wheel kick just misses, leg kick connects. Left straight falls short, leg kick checked. Two minutes to go.
Gutierrez still picking him apart at range. One minute to go. Right hand to the body. Wheel kick misses, low kicks land. Body kick and leg kick from MacDonald, his best shots of the round. Gutierrez just misses a spinning elbow. 10-9 Gutierrez.
Round 2: That spinning elbow actually connected; MacDonald’s sporting a hairline cut. Cracking low kick trips MacDonald up. Hard body kick by Gutierrez. Leg kick lands a minute in and a jab behind it. Gutierrez continues to land kicks to the head, leg, and body. Hard body kick. Head kick blocked. Two minutes in. Stiff jab lands. Counter left, another leg kick that has MacDonald switching stance. Gutierrez misses with an axe kick, lands a spinning back kick. Two minutes to go.
More low kicks and a right hand. Right hand to the body. MacDonald shoots under a right hand, sprawled on. He tries unsuccessfully to pull guard. Another leg kick by Gutierrez. One minute to go. MacDonald catches a body kick and looks for a single-leg. Nothing doing. Another leg kick prompts a desperate shot. Crushing body shot. 10-8 Gutierrez.
Round 3: Another leg kick and MacDonald can barely walk. Gutierrez calmly talking him to school. One minute in. Another heavy body kick. MacDonald lands a combination. Gutierrez with a spinning back kick and low kick. Two minutes in. Low kick by Gutierrez. MacDonald lands some of his own. Gutierrez switch kick. Two minutes to go.
Knee and right hand. Low kick to the opposite leg. Spinning back fist to the body. MacDonald tries to spin, then shoots. Denied. One minute to go. Leg kick by Gutierrez. Straight left lands and he tries a flying scissor takedown, only to land on the bottom in guard. He spins for an armbar, then jumps guard on a guillotine. 10-9 Gutierrez.
Final result: Gutierrez def. MacDonald by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Jordan Espinosa vs. Eric Shelton
Round 1: Espinosa opens with a spinning back kick that’s blocked. Long-distance shot denied, as is a head kick on the break. Right cross, low kick connect. One minute in. Counter right by Shelton. Espinosa low kick. Shelton lands a two-piece counter. Two minutes in. Counter right this time after Espinosa’s right misses. Low kick by Espinosa, who walks into another counter. Another counter right by Shelton. Espinosa leg kick. Two minutes to go.
Epinosa looks to spin again, then boots Shelton in the nards. More low kicks from Espinosa when they resume. Espinosa with a well-timed takedown attempt with a minute to go. Shelton defending on the cage, eats a knee on the break. Jab connects. Leg kick. 10-9 Espinosa.
Round 2: Shelton counters a low kick with a right hand, starting to be more aggressive. Jab from Espinosa, Shelton with another right hand to counter a leg kick. Espinosa body kick, Shelton counter right a minute in. Espinosa darts in with a right cross. Picking at Shelton’s lead leg. Two minutes in. Shelton just isn’t doing enough. Espinosa leg kick, Shelton left hook. Shelton lands a body kick and leg kick, seemingly turning it up a tad. Nice double right hand cracks Espinosa. Two minutes to go.
Shelton lands a jab, takes a right hand and a jab. Espinosa tries to spin and eats a few punches for it. One minute to go. Espinsa shoots, completes it, can’t keep Shelton down. They trade lefts. Shelton blitzes, doesn’t connect. 10-9 Espinosa.
Round 3: Shelton trying to weave his way in, eats a head kick and a finger in the eye behind it. Espinosa pumping his jab. One minute in. Leg kick lands. Shelton with a glancing right and clean leg kick. Shelton catches a body kick, fires a right and a knee. Cross counter connects. Espinosa tries a head kick, gets another kick caught. Two minutes in. Good leg kick by Espinosa. Shelton with a body and leg kick in sequence. Two minutes to go.
Left hook connects, then a counter right as Espinosa jabs the body. Espinosa lands a jab upstairs, takes a right hand off a caught body kick. Superman punch by Shelton and leg kick. One minute to go. Trading jabs. Check hook by Espinosa. 3-2 by Shelton draws a war cry and they trade. They slug it out on the cage. I smell a split decision. 10-9 Shelton.
Final result: Espinosa def. Shelton by unanimous decision