Long-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight veteran Alistair Overeem will make his return to the Octagon for a five-round showdown opposite No. 6-ranked contender Alexander Volkov in the UFC Vegas 18 main event on ESPN+ TONIGHT (Sat., Feb. 6, 2021) inside APEX center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prior to that titanic tilt, bantamweight veterans Frankie Edgar and Cory Sandhagen collide in 135-pound action. UFC mainstays Clay Guida, Michael Johnson, and Beneil Dariush will also see action.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 18 fight card below, starting with the ESPN+ preliminary card 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 “Overeem vs. Volkov.” Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC Vegas 18 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC VEGAS 18 QUICK RESULTS:
Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov — Volkov def. Overeem by TKO (punches) at 2:06 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS
Frankie Edgar vs. Cory Sandhagen — Sandhagen def. Edgar by KO (flying knee) at 0:28 of Round One – HIGHLIGHTSCody Stamann vs. Askar Askar
Clay Guida vs. Michael Johnson — Guida def. Johnson by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Manel Kape vs. Alexandre Pantoja — Pantoja def. Kape by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
Beneil Dariush vs. Diego Ferreira — Dariush def. Ferreira by split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)
Danilo Marques vs. Mike Rodriguez — Marques def. Rodriguez by technical submission (rear naked choke) at 4:52 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS
Justin Jaynes vs. Devonte Smith — Smith def. Jaynes by TKO (doctor stoppage) at 3:38 of Round Two
Joselyne Edwards vs. Karol Rosa — Rosa def. Edwards by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Molly McCann vs. Lara Procopio — Procopio def. McCann by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Seungwoo Choi vs. Youssef Zalal — Choi def. Zalal by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
Martin Day vs. Timur Valiev — Valiev def. Day by unanimous decision (30-25 x2, 30-26)
Ode Osbourne vs. Jerome Rivera — Osbourne def. Rivera by KO (punches) at 0:26 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
UFC VEGAS 18 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
265 lbs.: Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov
Round 1: Volkov aggressive to start, lands a low kick and tries to open up on the fence. Overeem switching stance. Lad right by Volkov. One minute in. Snap kick. Calf kick to right hand. Overeem fires an overhand left, then another that connects. Volkov pressing forward. Two minutes in. Overeem tries an overhand left into the clinch. Oblique kick and left hand by Overeem. Volkov tries a head kick, lands a straight right. Sneaky lead uppercut and body kick by Overeem. Two minutes to go.
Overeem tries a left hand, gets clipped by a counter left and slips. Volkov thumps him a few times on the mat, can’t get him out of there. Volkov backs him to the fence, knee up the middle. Snap kick with a minute to go. Volkov leg kick. Overeem misses with an overhand left. Clean 1-2 by Volkov, flurries against Overeem’s guard. 10-9 Volkov.
Round 2: Volkov aggressive to start the round, putting combinations together. Overeem tries the overhand left, eats a jab. He shoots, can’t tie up. 1-2 from Volkov. Southpaw combo. Overeem tries an overhand right. HArd 1-2 wobbles Overeem. Volkov stalking forward a minute in. 2-3 hurts Overeem and Volkov cracks him with some more shots against the fence. Straight right through the guard. Overeem changes levels, denied. 2-3 sends Overeem to his knees and the ref wisely waves it off.
Final result: Volkov def. Overeem by TKO (punches)
135 lbs.: Frankie Edgar vs. Cory Sandhagen
Round 1: Edgar pressuring, lands a leg kick, eats one in return. Edgar continues to pressure, only to walk face-first into a flying knee that puts him out on impact.
Final result: Sandhagen def. Edgar by KO (flying knee)
155 lbs.: Clay Guida vs. Michael Johnson
Round 1: Low kick lands for Guida as he circles. 1-2 from Johnson in combination. He lands a 1-2, eats an overhand right. Big exchange, both land clean. One minute in. Right hook by Johnson, Guida swinging big and Johnson’s eye is bothering him. Good shots by Guida, head kick, overhand right. Johnson tries a knee as Guida takes him to the fence. Nice takedown into half guard two minutes in. Johnson scrambles up, lands a knee on the break with two minutes to go.
Heavy knee by Johnson connects. Low kick to body kick. Guida ties up, gets pressed against the fence. Trading knees inside. They separate with a minute to go. Guida left hook, Johnson right hook. Overhand right by Guida, Johnson comes back with a combination. Big shots by Johnson. Guida tries a late overhand, lands the next one. Then a third. 10-9 Guida.
Round 2: Guida continuing to pressure. Johnson firing counters, taken down against the fence. Johnson works his way up a minute in. Guida still working for a takedown. Two minutes in. Hard hammerfist by Johnson as he defends. Nice escape, counter knee. Guida continuing to pressure, takes a right hand and shoots. Foot stomps. Two minutes to go.
Knee from Johnson on the break. Guida shoots, sprawled on, Johnson puts him on the fence. Knees from Guida. They separate. One minute to go. Low kick from Guida. Both men try combos and in comes Guida for another level change. Johnson defends until the bell. 10-9 Johnson.
Round 3: Guida tries an up-elbow, both swing big, neither connects. There’s a left hand from Johnson. Jabs connect. Guida with a knee, takes a left hand. Hard combo appears to wobble Guida, who shoots in and puts him on his knees against the fence. One minute in. Guida continuing to drive. Behind-the back elbows by Guida, elbows from Johnson in return two minutes in. Guida looking to take the back, does so. There’s the RNC, Johnson hand fighting with two minutes to go.
Johnson manages to peel the hands off. Full body triangle. One minute to go. Guida still hunting the RNC. Can’t get it before the bell. 10-9 Guida.
Final result: Guida def. Johnson by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Manel Kape vs. Alexandre Pantoja
Round 1: Pantoja pressuring early. Kape circling well, eats a right hand and denies a level change. Low kick and body kick by Pantoja. One minute in. Another body kick. Kape moving a lot, darts in with a straight left. Pantoja tries a leg kick, shoots, denied. Kape punch, Pantoja leg kick. Two minutes in. More low kicks by Pantoja. Low kick from Kape in return. Switching stance. Two minutes to go.
They trade right hands against the fence. Pantoja calf kick. Left hook to low kick, eats a left hook. Another inside low kick. Right hand and jab from Kape, eats a body kick in return. Hard rights by Pantoja with a minute to go. Body kick connects. Kape tries a cartwheel kick and ends up on the bottom. Pantoja avoids an armbar, drops a hard right hand. Hard knee catches Kape on the way up. 10-9 Pantoja.
Round 2: Pantoja with some front kicks, then leg kicks. Kape answers with his own leg kicks. Some taunting from Kape. One minute in. Pantoja leg kick, Kape right hand. Kape takes a cup shot. Body kicks by Pantoja. Two minutes in. MOre body kicks. 1-2. Kape straight left, Pantoja right cross. Kape goes low-high with a two-piece, eats another leg kick. Kape low kick, eats a counter right. Two minutes to go.
1-2 from Pantoja, Kape fires a combo in return. Pantoja with a body kick and right cross. Rapid exchange in the center. One minute to go. Body kick from Pantoja again. Kape tries a jumping knee, eats another body kick. Kape tries a head kick, eats a counter right, looks for his own takedown. Pantoja rolls free, has a kick caught, denies the takedown at the bell. 10-9 Pantoja.
Round 3: Kape with a couple quick straight lefts. He tries a spinning back kick. Low kick and aborted shot by Pantoja. One minute in. Lots of feints, not much action. Straight left by Kape. Low kick, straight left, combo by Pantoja in return. Pantoja walks through a right hand to land a glancing combo. Two minutes in. Pantoja leg kick and right hand. Body kicks. Kape tries a corkscrew, lands a straight left, eats a head kick and laughs it off. Two minutes to go.
Body kick from Pantoja, straight left by Kape, low kick from Pantoja. Kape with a straight left to the body. Couple straight lefts. One minute to go. Short combo by Kape, 3-2 good combo. He rips the body, eats a right hand. Pantoja body kick. They trade in the center. Kape head kick falls short. Kape looks for a takedown, Pantoja rolls out and lands a knee. Combination by Pantoja, fights off another takedown. 10-9 Kape.
Final result: Pantoja def. Kape by unanimous decision
155 lbs.: Beneil Dariush vs. Diego Ferreira
Round 1: Both land some hard kicks early. Counter right hook from Dariush, 1-2, counter right. Dariush on the front foot early, stings him with a leg kick and shoots in. Ferreira nearly gets in on a flying gogoplata and a wild scramble ensues. Back to the feet a minute in. Single-leg from Dariush, briefly caught in a rear crucifix and both land huge shots on the fence when they stand. Body kick from Dariush. Dariush to the body, knocked back by a right hand. Brutal exchanges two minutes in. Hard knee to the body visibly hurts Ferreira and he pulls half guard. Dariush showing good balance on top. Back to full guard. Dariush posters out of a triangle with two minutes to go.
Ferreira looking to control with a leglock, eats a right hand, tries to take the back but ends up stuck back in guard. Hard left hands by Dariush. Ferreira super active off of his back but unable to dislodge Dariush. Ferreira trying to use the fence to stand with a minute to go. They separate. Overhand left by Dariush, but a heavy right cross wobbles him for a second. Big right hook by Dariush and now Ferreira is wobbled, but he comes back with a front kick to the face. Wild exchange to end the round. Round of the Year so far. 10-9 Dariush.
Round 2: Right back to the heavy exchanges. Head kick from Dariush. Dariush leg kick, Ferreira combination. Dariush shoots, puts him on the fence. Outside trip puts him on top. Ferreira closes his guard a minute in. He tries to kick Dariush off of him, can’t do so. Now he gets to the fence with two minutes to go. Rolling leglock attempt, can’t get it and now Dariush is looking for his back. Knee from Dariush, elbow from Ferreira. Dariush shoots right back in and brings him down against the fence once again. Two minutes to go.
Ferreira makes it back up and they separate. Heavy exchange, another takedown by Dariush and he pops out of a guillotine. Huge diving left hand into half guard. One minute to go. Back to full guard. Ferrira trying to make room to stand, can’t. 10-9 Dariush.
Round 3: Ferreira lands a hard two-piece. 1-2. Hard left hand by Dariush. Both whiff on big swings. Left hand connects. Body kick. Dariush shoots, denied, can’t get a re-shoot. Ferreira avoids another shot a minute in. A shin to the nuts greets him soon after. They trade body kicks after resuming. Left hands from both. Ferreira advancing, stuffs a takedown, eats a left. Two minutes in. Big left hand catches Ferreira throwing a low kick. Ferreira stops another takedown, runs into the referee. Heavy exchange in the center. 1-2 from Ferreira, bigger one from Dariush. Ferreira catches a kick, eats an upkick, looks for top position. Dariush uses a leglock to sweep to his feet with two minutes to go.
Ferreira pressing forward, wild exchange. Lead knee by Dariush. Best takedown attempt of teh round and this one puts him on top with a minute to go. Hunting for the back, got it, gets swept. Dariush threatens a leglock, gets caught in an anaconda at the bell. Great fight. 10-9 Ferreira.
Final result: Dariush def. Ferreira by split decision
205 lbs.: Danilo Marques vs. Mike Rodriguez
Round 1: Marques looks for an immediate single-leg, completes it into guard. Rodriguez scoots to the fence, eats some right hands on the way up. One minute in. Marques keeping him against the fence. Rodriguez avoids a lift, still stuck. Marques runs the pipe two minutes in. Rodriguez trying to get to the fence again, gives up side control. He regains guard with two minutes to go.
Marques on top in butterfly guard. Rodriguez gets back up, pulled back down against the fence. One minute to go. Rodriguez finally manages to get up and separate, landing on the break in the process. Left hand to the body. 10-9 Marques.
Round 2: Rodriguez advancing, looking to strike at range. Jab connects. Hard body kick by Marques, eats a leg kick in return. He tries to change levels twice in a row, both land on the break on the second one. One minute in. Marques with a glancing overhand right. He shoots, completes another single-leg. On top in half guard, now side control. Two minutes in. Mount against the fence. Punches and elbows from the Brazilian, staying patient. Two minutes to go.
Marques staying heavy. Rodriguez manages to get his back against the fence and try to stand. One hook in for Marques. One minute to go. full body triangle. Rodriguez fights hard, but the lights soon go out.
Final result: Marques def. Rodriguez by technical submission (rear naked choke)
160 lbs.: Justin Jaynes vs. Devonte Smith
Round 1: Smith on the front foot to start, lands a body kick as Jaynes steps in. Low kick lands for Jaynes. Double jab attempt a minute in. Low kick. Smith firing his jab. Cross counter from Jaynes. Darting left. Smith tries a head kick two minutes in. Body kick connects. Jaynes tries a hook, falls short. Smith keeping the jab in his face. Low kick lands. Two minutes to go.
Cross counter appears to sting Smith, who backs off and regroups before landing a leg kick. Jaynes fakes a level change and both whiff on big swings. Smith with a tight hook, tries a 1-1-2 with a minute to go. 3-2 from Smith and he hammers Jaynes when the latter catches a kick. Stiff jab by Smith. 10-9 Smith.
Round 2: Jaynes marches in with some big swings and looks for a takedown, shrugging off a knee in the process. Sneaky foot sweep by Smith puts him on top in side control. One minute in. Short elbows from Smith. Two minutes in. Smith staying heavy, not terribly busy. Now he passes to mount. Dropping punches, takes the back. Two minutes to go.
Slaps from Smith as he looks for the RNC. Impressive defense from Jaynes, who tries a low single and pulls guard when Smith escapes. Jaynes has some horrific swelling under his left eye and the ref immediately calls the doctor and stops the fight. That looks like a busted orbital
Final result: Smith def. Jaynes by TKO (doctor stoppage)
135 lbs.: Joselyne Edwards vs. Karol Rosa
Round 1: Rosa shoots in the first 10 seconds and dumps Edwards to the mat against the fence. Half guard for Rosa, who turns her to take the fence out of the equation. One minute in. Rosa staying heavy. Two minutes in. Not too much damage from the top, just maintaining heavy control. Two minutes to go.
Now Rosa passes to mount. Short punches and elbows. Edwards brings her legs up and scrambles to her feet, landing punches on the fence before they separate. One minute to go. They trade, big hook by Rosa. Edwards comes back with a body shot and 1-2, stalking forward. Low kick connects. Another. Rosa lands one of her own. Left hook to low kick and they slug at close range. Rosa catches a kick and puts her on the fence. She lands a knee, falls victim to a throw at the bell. 10-9 Rosa.
Round 2: Trading punches in the center. Heavy low kick hurts Edwards. Another one, knees to the body. 2-3 on the break from Rosa. One minute in. Edwards definitely isn’t moving well. Rosa stalking, another hard leg kick. Stiff jab. Now Edwards forces her back with a flurry. Body kick and combination by Rosa on the fence, shrugs off the counter. Left kick to low kick. Edwards with another lengthy flurry, gets put on the fence and falls victim to an outside trip into half guard. Heavy on top, chipping away. Two minutes to go.
Rosa busier on top this time. Her lip is busted, but she’s still working. One minute to go. Edwards regains guard. 10-9 Rosa.
Round 3: Rosa with a left hook, low kick, and easy takedown into guard. Edwards trying to set up rubber guard. One minute in. They return to the feet. Hard Rosa low kick. Edwards changes levels, gets pressed against the fence. Two minutes in. Knees to the thigh from Rosa. She tries a trip, can’t get it. Two minutes to go.
Rosa drags her down after another period of grinding on the fence. Half guard-ish with a minute to go. Briefly gets side control, then a more traditional half guard. She passes to mount and drops hard punches until the bell. 10-9 Rosa.
Final result: Rosa def. Edwards by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Molly McCann vs. Lara Procopio
Round 1: McCann marches right to the center. Quick exchanges. Counter left from McCann, eats a body kick in return. Procopio puts her on the fence. McCann reverses and separates. Procopio pressuring, walks through a knee to change levels a minute in. McCann defending well. She reverses position on the fence. Knees to the body. Good hip throw by Procopio puts her on top in half guard two minutes in. Procopio passes to side control. McCann tries to stand, has to bail when Procopio threatens a d’arce. Two minutes to go.
Procopio still holding onto a front headlock as McCann tries to turn into her. Back to half guard. Full guard. Procopio with a diving right hand into half guard, passes to mount. Heavy control with a minute to go. Quarter guard, looking for the back. Late armbar attempt, settles for punches, wraps up the RNC but can’t finish in time. 10-9 Procopio.
Round 2: McCann pressing forward, takes some right hands. Stiff jab in combination from Procopio and she takes her to the fence again. Nice body lock takedown into side control. McCann regains guard. Looking for an armbar. Good defense from Procopio, stacking her two minutes in. McCann still going for it. Procopio finally yanks her arm free and sets up in half guard, mashing her against the fence. Two minutes to go.
McCann gets to her knees, makes it to her feet. Good knee by Procopio. Couple more. One minute to go. Another nice takedown by Procopio into guard. McCann upkick, Procopio right hand into half guard. 10-9 Procopio.
Round 3: Trading low kicks to start. McCann tries to spin. Right hand from Procopio, tries to tie up. Knees from McCann. She puts Procopio on the fence and changes levels. Procopio reverses in turn. One minute in. McCann goes for a low-percentage back take and ends up on the bottom. Procopio falls back for a heel hook, can’t get it, shoots back in two minutes in. Short punches against the fence. Body lock, looking for the back. McCann with an elbow behind the back, dragged down. One hook in for Procopio. Two minutes to go.
Now to half guard, then turtle as McCann gets to her knees. To her feet, back to her knees. Again with a minute to go. Procopio gets a hook in once again. Full back control, lands some punches. 10-9 Procopio.
Final result: Procopio def. McCann by unanimous decision
145 lbs.: Seungwoo Choi vs. Youssef Zalal
Round 1: Choi advancing early, sending out combinations. Falling short with his punches so far. Brazilian kick attempt. One minute in. Jab from Zalal. Lead left hook, avoids a counter right. Another jab connects, then to the body. Choi head kick and combination just muss. Choi leg kicks, eats jabs, denies a level change but eats a left hook. Choi swinging some hard combos two minutes in but yet to land clean. Zalal continuing to land his jab. Well-timed level change, hauls him to the fence. Two minutes to go.
Choi trying to land elbows as he frames. Zalel re-shoots. Butt punch by Choi. Shoulder strikes. Ref separates them with a minute to go. Zalal low kick, avoids high kicks. Check hook by Zalal, brief clinch. Both land body kicks, left hand from Choi in response and Choi puts him on the fence. Successful takedown in the waning seconds. 10-9 Zalal.
Round 2: Choi with an early left hook, takes him to the fence. Zalal tries to jump on a guillotine, reverses position on the fence. Choi defending. One minute in. Zalal looking for the single-leg. Browne elbows from Choi. Two minutes in. Ref wants more action. Separation. Body kick to two-piece by Choi. Combinations. Zalal tries a leg kick. Two minutes to go.
Choi punches into the clinch. Double underhooks. He drags Zalal to the mat, then stands over him. Zalal stands with a minute to go. Right cross by Choi. Continuing to stalk. Zalal tries a front kick and slips. 10-9 Choi.
Round 3: Choi sending out low kicks as Zalal tries jabs. Zalal tries a throw, can’t get it. Choi 1-2, Zalal check hook. Choi punches his way into the clinch again. Zalal briefly threatens a guillotine. One minute in. Zalal switches to a level change. He completes his first takedown, then wraps up a guillotine. When that isn’t there, he looks for a triangle, but Choi gets his hand in and sets up in guard. Two minutes in. Punches from Choi after avoiding a high guard, lets him up. Two minutes to go.
Choi advancing, Zalal circling. Choi cross counter. Zalal shoots in for a high crotch, gets him to his knees on the fence. Choi makes it back to the feet, pulled off the fence. Zalal stays attached, grabbing the rear waist lock with a minute to go. Choi reverses and looks for a single-leg. Zalal looks for a final takedown before the bell. Second was all Choi, first and third were close. 10-9 Zalal?
Final result: Choi def. Zalal by unanimous decision
145 lbs.: Martin Day vs. Timur Valiev
Round 1: Valiev bouncy, Day heavy on his feet. Low kick from Valiev. Another. Staying out of range of Day’s return fire. One minute in. More low kicks from Valiev, DAy’s low kicks falling short. Day tries to spin. Again, both fall short. Valiev body and low kick, Day combination in return. Valiev looks for a single-leg, transitions to a rear waist lock against the fence two minutes in. He drags Day to his knees, DAy pops back up. Left hands from Valiev. Two minutes to go.
Valiev tries another lift, can’t get him down. Brief RNC attempt with one hook. There’s the completed takedown into half guard after Day tries to turn into him. Valiev looking to pass with a minute to go, Day stopping him so far. Elbows from the top. Day tries some upkicks, eats a left hand. 10-9 Valiev.
Round 2: Valiev goes right back to the low kicks. Overhand right to leg kick to single-leg. He switches to a double as Day looks for a guillotine and lands on top in half guard. Elbows from Valiev. Nice pass to side control. Day gets an underhook and tries to turn, abandons it when Valiev threatens a guillotine. Two minutes in. Day regains guard. Solid punches from Valiev. Body-body-head. Two minutes to go.
Valiev postures, looks for punches. Continuing to chip away. To half guard with a minute to go. Valiev looking to pass further, does so but gets swept into guard. 10-9 Valiev.
Round 3: Valiev still targeting the lead leg. Sneaky head kick attempt. Combination lands. He shoots under a jab and spins him to the mat once again. One minute in. Chipping away from guard. Good right hand. Looks for side control, settles for half guard. Good elbows. Day gets to his knees two minutes in. Valiev punching from turtle. Looking for the back. Day trying to stand against the fence. Makes it up, dragged back down with two minutes to go.
Day again struggling to get to his feet. Looks for the switch, can’t get it. Valiev looks for mount, settles for half guard. Side control with a minute to go. He wants mount, again caught in half guard. Short punches, back to side control. Day just outclassed on the ground. He turns to his knees, eats more punches, can’t sit through. 10-9 Valiev.
Final result: Valiev def. Day by unanimous decision
145 lbs.: Ode Osbourne vs. Jerome Rivera
Round 1: Staying at range early. Rivera fires a head kick and Osbourne counters with a straight left that puts him on his butt. Osbourne demolishes him with follow-up punches for the quick finish.
Final result: Osbourne def. Rivera by KO (punches)