Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is locked and loaded for UFC Vegas 27, which takes place TONIGHT (Sat., May 22, 2021) on ESPN+ from inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. Headlining duties fall to rising bantamweight contender Rob Font and former champion Cody Garbrandt, who collide for a spot in the 135-pound title chase. Shortly before that hard-hitting affair gets underway, ex-strawweight champion Carla Esparza looks to survive the “Fury” of 115-pound sensation Yan Xiaonan.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 27 fight card below, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” bouts at 4 p.m. ET, followed by the ESPN+ main card start time at 7 p.m. ET.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Font vs. Garbrandt.” Without further delay, see below for the updated UFC Vegas 27 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC VEGAS 27 QUICK RESULTS:
Rob Font vs. Cody Garbrandt — Font def. Garbrandt by unanimous decision (48-47, 50-45 x2) — HIGHLIGHTS
Carla Esparza vs. Yan Xiaonan — Esparza def. Yan by TKO (punches) at 2:58 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS
Justin Tafa vs. Jared Vanderaa — Vanderaa def. Tafa by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Felicia Spencer vs. Norma Dumont — Dumont def. Spencer by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Bill Algeo vs. Ricardo Ramos — Ramos def. Algeo by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Jack Hermansson vs. Edmen Shahbazyan — Hermansson def. Shahbazyan by unanimous decision (29-27 x3)
Ben Rothwell vs. Chris Barnett — Rothwell def. Barnett by submission (gogo choke) at 2:07 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS
Court McGee vs. Claudio Silva — McGee def. Silva by unanimous decision (30-26 x2, 29-27)
Victor Rodriguez vs. Bruno Silva — Silva def. Rodriguez by TKO (knee and punches) at 1:00 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
Josh Culibao vs. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke — Culibao def. Shayilan by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
David Dvorak vs. Juancamilo Ronderos — Dvorak def. Ronderos by submission (rear naked choke) at 2:18 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTSDamir Hadzovic vs. Yancy Medeiros CANCELED
Rafael Alves vs. Damir Ismagulov — Ismagulov def. Alves by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
UFC VEGAS 27 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
135 lbs.: Rob Font vs. Cody Garbrandt
Round 1: Hard low kick from Garbrandt. Head kick attempt. Another leg kick. One minute in. Good movement so far. Font lands a leg kick, eats a jab. Two minutes in. Good right hand stings Garbrandt. Font tries a clinch knee but stays patient. Both throw right hands at the same time and Garbrandt fires a sneaky head kick. Two minutes to go.
Low kick from Font, then a front kick to the chin. Garbrandt responds with a takedown near the fence. Hard punches on the way up. Garbrandt looking for combos. Sharp right cross lands for Font with a minute to go. He looks to follow up with a combination and gets taken down into guard. Garbrandt with some more right hands on the way up. Heavy left hook. 10-9 Garbrandt.
Round 2: Font opens with a body kick, takes a low kick and gets taken down into guard once again. One minute in. Font looks for an arm and Garbrandt uses it to pass to half guard. Font threatens a kimura in return, Garbrandt keeping his arm tucked. Font uses it to sweep to his feet two minutes in. Garbrandt shoots again, denied. Jab lands for Font, 2-1 from Garbrandt in return. Two minutes to go.
Cross counter lands for Garbrandt. Font continuing to press forward. Counter uppercut attempt. Both swing hard, knee and elbow from Font. One minute to go. Body kick from Font. Jabs connect. Both swing hard near the fence. 1-1-2 from Font. Garbrandt tries to spin, shoots, denied. 10-9 Font.
Round 3: Early right hand from Font. Trading jabs. Font to the body, eats a nasty leg kick. More jabs. One minute in. Garbrandt counters a leg kick, continues to eat jabs and a 1-2. Garbrandt leg kick. Jab and a looping uppercut land for Font, who denies a takedown and grabs a rear waist lock two minutes in. Grinding on the fence. Garbrandt tries a Granby roll and eats some right hands for his trouble before separating. Two minutes to go.
More jabs, right cross. Garbrandt shoots, sprawled on. Knee from Font before separating. Trading jabs. Font follows up with a right downstairs. One minute to go. Left hooks from Garbrandt as Font looks for the body. More stiff jabs from Font. 10-9 Font.
Round 4: Low kick and jabs from Garbrandt. Font continuing to pressure, answers a right hand with a combination. Hard body shot a minute in. Leg kick connects, Garbrandt answers in kind. Both land hard near the fence. Garbrandt shoots, denied, throws on the break. Font working behind his jab two minutes in. 1-2. Body kick. Low-high four-piece. Garbrandt catches him with a stiff jab. Feinted level change met by a right hand. Two minutes to go.
Trading jabs, Font low kick and 1-1-2. Well-timed head kick, Garbrandt eats it and comes back with a knee. Font piecing him up with the jab. Nasty right cross. One minute to go. He stuffs a takedown and lands another right hand. More jabs. Garbrandt lands his first jab in a while. 10-9 Font.
Round 5: Garbrandt comes out firing, lands some solid shots. 1-2 from Font. Body kick to 1-2-1. One minute in. Low-high 2-3 from Garbrandt. 3-2 this time. Garbrandt with some hard overhand rights. Font knocks him back with a cross. Trading jabs. Nasty uppercut catches Garbrandt coming in and Font follows up with a combination two minutes in. Font catches a kick and shoves Garbrandt away. Stiff jabs, cross counter from Garbrandt. Two minutes to go.
Font counters a low kick with a right hand, doesn’t establish when Garbrandt slips. Huge right hand from Font. 1-1-2. Again. More jabs. One minute to go. Another right cross. Again. More jabs. 1-1-2. Font ducks a spinning back fist and pulls guard to eat the clock. 10-9 Font.
Final result: Font def. Garbrandt by unanimous decision
115 lbs.: Carla Esparza vs. Yan Xiaonan
Round 1: Yan marches in with right hands and immediately gets taken down. The scramble continues and Esparza sets up in guard. Side control now. One minute in. Hard elbows from Yan off her back. Two minutes in. Esparza tries to dive in with a right hand, retakes side control. North-south with two minutes to go.
Short punches from Esparza. One minute to go. Yan tries to make something happen and Esparza spins for an armbar, then goes back to punching. Nasty elbows before the bell open up a serious cut. Think those last moments pushed it to a 10-8 Esparza.
Round 2: Yan tries a head kick to 1-2. Esparza rushes in with a right hand. She catches a body kick and takes her down into guard. Good upkick from Yan. Esparza moves to half guard a minute in. Back to full guard as Esparza continues to chip away. Side control, crucifix. Here come the punches. Elbows as well. She continues to pile up punches until the ref intervenes.
Final result: Esparza def. Yan by TKO (punches)
265 lbs.: Justin Tafa vs. Jared Vanderaa
Round 1: Trading leg kicks to start. Good combination from Tafa. One minute in. Left hand to the body, eats a counter throwing a body kick. Vanderaa low kick. Tafa to the body, eats a knee in return two minutes in. Big swings from the Aussie. Left hand connects. Both sling left hands. Two minutes to go.
Quick exchanges. They trade in the center. Tafa still swinging hard, but the standup’s pretty even with a minute to go. Jabs and a hard body kick from Vanderaa. Body kick and right hands. Vanderaa grabs the front headlock as Tafa rushes in and lands a handful of knees. Left hook before the bell. 10-9 Vanderaa.
Round 2: Counter right from Vanderaa. More good leg kicks. Head kick attempt. One minute in. Right hand to leg kick. Tafa low kick, Vanderaa body kick. Nasty left hand by Tafa, Vanderaa eats it well. Vanderaa body kick, looks for a head kick behind it. Both land hard right hands but Tafa gets the worst of it. Trading heat against the fence. They tie up. More heavy blows from Tafa, who’s got a horrific-looking cut that’s thankfully above and to the side of his eyebrow. Counter left by Vanderaa. Good Lord that’s a shitload of blood. Two minutes to go.
Vanderaa body kick, rapid-fire exchange in the center. He checks a leg kick. Lead left by Tafa, who blocks a head kick. One minute to go. Body kick from Vanderaa. Tafa with a stiff jab. Overhand left, 3-2. Tafa punches, Vanderaa knee. Two big lefts by Tafa. Close round. 10-9 Tafa.
Round 3: Early left lands for Tafa. Another. Vanderaa with a knee inside. Leg kick connects, eats a left hand in return and comes back with a body kick. Both throw hard a minute in. Vanderaa body kick. Big swings from Tafa. Overhand left connects. Vanderaa catches him with a knee downstairs. Body kick. Brazilian kick attempt two minutes in. Another body kick and a right hook. Combination in the center. Both land their power hands. Tafa body kick. Two minutes to go.
Vanderaa doubles the right hand, takes a hook in response. Big combo from “The Mountain.” Tafa ties up and takes him to the fence. Vanderaa reverses and both land hard on the break. Vanderaa shoots, denied, eats an elbow. One minute to go. Big left hand and body shots from Tafa. Vanderaa lands another knee and gets taken to the fence before landing a low blow. They go right back to trading big shots. Vanderaa with the greater volume, hard knees and body kicks. 10-9 Vanderaa.
Final result: Vanderaa def. Tafa by unanimous decision
145 lbs.: Felicia Spencer vs. Norma Dumont
Round 1: Tentative start from both women. Side kick and left hand from Spencer. Good counter right by Dumont as they trade. Low kicks connect. Two minutes in. Spencer tries a hook kick. Dumont with another low kick, walks into a jab. Two minutes to go.
Dumont looking for counter combinations. Combination lands in the center. They trade inside until Spencer takes her to the fence. One minute to go. Dumont lands a knee on the break. Teep to the body, low kick. Spencer head kick to elbow. 10-9 Dumont.
Round 2: Spencer sending out lots of kicks, none really landing. Dumont with a right to the body, shrugs off a clinch a minute in. Heavy combination lands for Dumont. Overhand right as she denies a clinch. Two minutes in. Dumont combo, Spencer tries a head kick. Dumont low kick, more combinations landing as she exchange. Two minutes to go.
Dumont continuing to get the better of things on the feet. Spencer lands a lead right hand, then a glancing hook kick. Dumont 1-2. Spencer shoots. One minute to go. Good shots from Dumont on the break. Counter right. 10-9 Dumont.
Round 3: Spencer body kick, Dumont combination. Spencer misses an axe kick, lands a body kick. Dumont takes her down into side control. One minute in. Spencer manages to regain guard. Two minutes in. Dumont lets her up, eats a left hand and lands a hook of her own. Dumont catches a kick, can’t establish. Spencer puts her on the fence, lands an elbow, dirty boxing. Two minutes to go.
More good clinch work from Spencer. Good elbows. Dumont goes for a throw and Spencer ends up on top in guard. One minute to go. Dumont holding her tight, not letting her get anything going. 10-9 Spencer; comes down to that close first round.
Final result: Dumont def. Spencer by split decision
145 lbs.: Bill Algeo vs. Ricardo Ramos
Round 1: Ramos looking for kicks early on. Body kick from Algeo. Ramoe grabs a rear waist lock, then tries to jump on his back. Algeo avoids it, gets taken down again, manages to fight through the choke and put him on the fence a minute in. Knee from Ramos on the break. Algeo lands a right hand, eats an uppercut. Double left hand. Two minutes in. Body kick. Sneaky jabs and left hook. Ramos cracks him with a jab in return. Algeo with a spinning back kick. Low kick connects. Ramos with a looping left hand. Two minutes to go.
More kicks from Algeo. Hug Tornado grazes the cup. Ramos with a left hand to takedown, holding onto the rear waist lock as Algeo stands. Nice inside trip into guard for Ramos. . One hook in with a minute to go. Looking for the choke, slips out the back. Algeo lands on the way up, lands a knee to the body. Ramos puts him on the fence. Ramos counters a last-second takedown. 10-9 Ramos?
Round 2: Superman punch to left hook from Ramos. Algeo body kick. Ramos lands his own. Stiff jab. Algeo with his usual funky offense. Glancing head kick by Ramos. Lead right connects. He catches a kick and takes him to the fence a minute in. Algeo low kick. Flying knee attempt, but he gets taken down into guard. He rolls to his knees and Ramos threatens an anaconda with two minutes to go. No dice. Good combination from Algeo. Side kick connects. Ramos with a calf kick, takes a sneaky left. Check hook lands for him. Algeo pops him with jabs in return. Two minutes to go.
More jabs from Algeo. Ramos latches onto the rear waist lock, can’t get the trip against the fence. They trade knees to the midsection. One minute to go. Algeo low kick. Ramos knee met by a spinning elbow. Ramos gets double underhooks and puts him on the fence. Takedown in the final seconds. 10-9 Algeo.
Round 3: Early clinch, Ramos can’t get the inside trip. Right hand lands. One minute in. Low kick from Algeo, left hands. Big left hands from both men. Low kicks from Ramos, blocks a spinning back fist. Algeo spinning back kick, eats a jab in return. Right hand from Ramos off a failed takedown. Two minutes in. They trade right hands. Algeo double left hand. Ramos puts him on the fence and they jockey for position before separating. Ramos tries to bully his way into the flinch. Two minutes to go.
Knee from Ramos on the break. Body shots by Algeo, who narrowly avoids a spinning elbow. Good left hand. Ramos shoots, takes him to the fence. Good body shot by Algeo, who succumbs to the inside trip with a minute ago. Algeo back up, dragged to a knee. Algeo tries a left hook on the break. Algeo body kick, counter elbow. Ramos catches a kick and dumps him to the mat before the bell. I smell a split decision. 10-9 Algeo?
Final result: Ramos def. Algeo by unanimous decision
185 lbs.: Jack Hermansson vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
Round 1: Both working behind their jabs early. One minute in. Shahbazyan tries a combination, avoids a leg kick. Hermansson sending out kicks. Shahbazyan denies a takedown and cracks him with an uppercut as he does. Two minutes in. More jabs from Shahbazyan. Body shots. Overhand right around the guard, uppercut through it. Low kick from Hermansson. Two minutes to go.
Hermansson shoots, denied. Shahbazyan with a counter jab. Continuing to bounce combos off of Hermansson’s guard, digs one to the body. Two-piece upstairs. One minute to go. Low kicks land for Hermansson. Counter jab from Shahbazyan. Hermansson tries to flurry, lands a left hook. 10-9 Shahbazyan.
Round 2: Hermansson punches his way back into the clinch. He completes the takedown into guard, shrugging off elbows along the way. Already working with ground-and-pound. Good scramble by Shahbazyan a minute in, Hermansson trying to cinch up a guillotine. Elbow from Shahbazyan as Hermansson shoots in. Now Shahbazyan hunts a guillotine and gets taken down for it two minutes in. Hermansson looking to work his way to mount. Two minutes to go.
Hermansson unable to get through the half guard so far. Shahbazyan manages to slip out the back door and end up on top in half guard. One minute to go. Good elbow from Shahbazyan. Some heavier ground-and-pound before the bell. 10-9 Shahbazyan on damage.
Round 3: Shahbazyan still winning the jab battle, lands a clean uppercut. Front kick attempt. Hermansson shoots, takes him down into half guard. Good punches. Two minutes in. Hermansson continuing to work from the top. Two minutes to go.
More of the same, nasty elbows. Hermansson looking for the finish. One minute to go. Crucifix in the final 15 seconds, full mount and a final flurry. 10-8 Hermansson.
Final result: Hermansson def. Shahbazyan by unanimous decision
265 lbs.: Ben Rothwell vs. Chris Barnett
Round 1: Low kicks from Barnett as he circles. Rothwell tries a combination. Combination lands for Barnett. They trade near the fence. One minute in. Rothwell trying to open up when they hit the fence. Good body shot and right hand. Flurry from Barnett in return. Hard lead right by Rothwell, then another. Barnett tries a wheel kick two minutes in, eats another right hand. Barnett answers an uppercut with an overhand right. Rothwell muscles him down into half guard. Two minutes to go.
Barnett holding onto the lockdown. He loses it and Rothwell steps into mount. One minute to go. He gets the back, then the RNC, but Barnett manages to escape to his feet due to the lack of hooks. Brutal overhand right by Barnett, etas a knee in return. Clinch uppercuts from Rothwell and another knee. 10-9 Rothwell.
Round 2: Hard low kicks from Barnett early on, falls short with wild hooks. Superman punch to low kick. Rothwell plodding forward as always. Nice uppercut after waking through some Superman punches, then a right cross a minute in. Heavy exchanges. Clean overhand right by Barnett, who gets cracked with uppercuts as they trade. Continuing to trade leather. Barnett wades forward and Rothwell snaps him down before wrapping up his signature gogo choke, forcing the tap.
Final result: Rothwell def. Barnett by submission (gogo choke)
170 lbs.: Court McGee vs. Claudio Silva
Round 1: Early head kick from Silva, then a leg kick. McGee trying to meet him with counters. Both try body kicks. They trade in the center. They collide and McGee takes him down into guard. Silva tries to set up an armbar and McGee lets him up. Single-leg attempt from Silva, denied, separation. Good 1-2 from McGee on the counter, then a right downstairs. Another counter right. Two minutes to go.
McGee with another two shots downstairs, denies a level change. Silva shoots behind a left hand and puts him on the fence. One minute to go. McGee manages to separate. Flying kick attempt. Silva plugs him with a straight left in the waning seconds and tries to shoot. 10-9 McGee.
Round 2: Silva aggressive early, denies a takedown and lands a knee. Head kick attempt to double-leg and he manages to complete it. McGee already working to stand, does so a minute in. Pressure from McGee, sprawls on a takedown. Silva rolls and closes his guard. McGee staying heavy. Two minutes in. Landing the occasional short blow. Silva looks for a leg, can’t get it. Two minutes to go.
Silva tries a deep half guard sweep, looks for a heel hook. McGee extracts his knee and starts punching until Silva abandons it. Continuing to rack up shots, looks for the back as Silva tries to stand. Full mount. Hunting the arm triangle and it looks deep. Silva manages to tough it out. 10-8 McGee.
Round 3: Good body shots from Silva to start. Right hook upstairs, big overhand left. McGee with a 1-2 as a tired Silva stalks him. Overhand right to a level change from Silva. One minute in. McGee worms his way free and hits his own takedown into half guard. Silva trying to work his way up two minutes in. Short right hands from McGee. Silva makes it up with two minutes to go and lands a good elbow.
McGee ducks an overhand left for another takedown into guard. Both punching each other from that position. One minute to go. Fight ends there. 10-9 McGee.
Final result: McGee def. Silva by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Victor Rodriguez vs. Bruno Silva
Round 1: Both swing early right hands. Low kick from Silva. Heavy right hand and knee by Silva, then a right cross that sends Rodriguez to the canvas. A few more shots and it’s over.
Final result: Silva def. Rodriguez by TKO (knee and punches)
145 lbs.: Josh Culibao vs. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke
Round 1: Shayilan flurries his way into a takedown attempt, hauling Culibao to the fence. Good defense from Culibao to avoid a lift. One minute in. Outside trip gets Culibao down for a moment, then a rear waist lock. Culibao not letting him fully complete them but unable to break free so far. One hook in for Shayilan two minutes in. Culibao scrambles back to his feet, still can’t separate. Two minutes to go
Back to the rear waist lock for Shayilan, who lifts and dumps him down. Culibao stands again, landing an elbow as he does. Good left from Shayilan on the break with a minute to go. Culibao cracks him with a pair of heavy right hands and an elbow. Leg kick connects. Shayilan with an overhand right. Culibao leg kicks. 10-9 Shayilan.
Round 2: Heavy right hand from Culibao to start. Low kick, 1-2. Overhand right comes back at him. Culibao continuing to target the lead leg. One minute in. More low kicks. Shayolan with a cross counter. He flurries and changes levels two minutes in. Culibao separates and goes back to chopping at the lead leg. Staggered 1-2. He stuffs another takedown with two minutes to go.
Culibao tries a three-piece. Shayilan low kick, eats a 1-1-2. Counter left by Culibao. 3-2. One minute to go. Leg kick. Shayilan backs him to the fence and shoots once again. Culibao tries his own takedown at the bell. 10-9 Culibao.
Round 3: Shayilan tries an early flurry, eats a 1-2. 3-2. More jabs, head kick attempt. Straight right from Shayilan a minute in, eats another leg kick. Heavy 1-2 lands for Culibao. Shayilan tries to blitz, eats another right cross. Jabs, low kicks from Culibao. Two minutes in. Shayilan times a single-leg entry and puts him on the fence. Two minutes to go.
Shayilan completes the takedown, can’t establish. Back down, back up. Culiabo turns to face him, then threatens a ninja choke. Again and deeper this time, lands punches on the way up after losing it a minute in. Shayilan’s nose is busted. He shoots again in the final 20 seconds. Both swing on the break. 10-9 Culibao.
Final result: Culibao def. Shayilan by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: David Dvorak vs. Juancamilo Ronderos
Round 1: Dvorak counters a low kick with some right hands. Sharp lead right from Ronderos, who tries a body kick as Dvorak continues to look for counters. Hard body kick from the Czech, who stuffs a takedown. 1-2 connects. Double right hand. Another on the counter and this one badly rattles Ronderos. Ronderos shoots in response and Dvorak latches onto his back, his forearm already under the chin two minutes in. He puts on the squeeze and there’s the tap.
Final result: Dvorak def. Ronderos by rear naked choke
155 lbs.: Damir Hadzovic vs. Yancy Medeiros
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Final result:
155 lbs.: Rafael Alves vs. Damir Ismagulov
Round 1: Alves wobbles Ismagulov with an early left hook, blitzes him until he hits the ground, then wraps up a guillotine as Ismagulov shoots in response. Ismagulov patiently works his head free and sets up in half guard a minute in. Chipping away with short punches. Two minutes in. Heavy volley to the body. Alves regains his guard, looks for upkicks as Ismagulov stands over him and kicks at his legs. Good right hands to the body as well. Back down into half guard with two minutes to go.
Full guard again, Ismagulov targeting the body with his ground-and-pound. One minute to go. Nasty elbow. Alves offering little off of his back. 10-9 Ismagulov.
Round 2: Alves hurls a flurry, lands a teep. Stiff jab from Ismagulov. He avoids a wheel kick and tries one of his own. Alves jab to low kick. One minute in. They exchange in the center, neither man landing super clean. Alves low kick. Counter jab from Ismagulov seems to freeze Alves for a moment. Ismagulov steadily advancing and picking away. Two minutes in. Alves lands a right hand and gets put on his seat by a left hook in response, only to pop right back up. Lead right by Ismagulov, continuing to advance. Two minutes to go.
Ismagulov looks for an uppercut, still working behind his jab. Both throw leg kicks. Alves tries a left hook and a shot, but ends up on his back in guard. One minute to go. Back to the short, body-centered ground-and-pound. 10-9 Ismagulov.
Round 3: Trading jabs. Ismagulov tries a front kick. Overhand right lands for Alves. Check hook from Ismagulov in return and he shoots, pulling his head out of a guillotine to land in guard a minute in. He stands over Alves, punches the body, and grabs a body lock as Alves turns to his knees. Impressive escape to the feet by the Brazilian. Two minutes in. Alves tries a body kick. One from Ismagulov in return. Alves body kick to left hook, then a knee after walking through a right hand. Ismagulov left hook, now giving ground. Two minutes to go.
Alves advancing and landing. Reactive shot from Ismagulov takes them to the other side of the fence. They separate with a minute to go. Wheel kick appears to land for Alves, now taunting Ismagulov. He fires a knee and grabs the front headlock. Good knee. Ismagulov puts him on the fence. 10-9 Alves.
Final result: Ismagulov def. Alves by unanimous decision