Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is locked and loaded for the UFC Vegas 35 mixed martial arts (MMA) event, which takes place this Sat. night (Aug. 28, 2021) from inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, streaming LIVE on both ESPN and ESPN+. Main event duties fall to featherweight contenders Edson Barboza and Giga Chikadze, who collide for a spot in the 145-pound title chase. Elsewhere on the card, the promotion will crown “TUF” champions in both the middleweight and bantamweight divisions.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 35 fight card below, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” bouts at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the ESPN/ESPN+ main card start time at 10 p.m. ET.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Barboza vs. Chikadze.” Without further delay, see below for the updated UFC Vegas 35 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action).
UFC VEGAS 35 QUICK RESULTS:
145 lbs.: Edson Barboza vs. Giga Chikadze — Chikadze def. Barboza by TKO (punches) at 1:44 of Round Three — HIGHLIGHTS
185 lbs.: Bryan Battle vs. Gilbert Urbina — Battle def. Urbina by submission (rear naked choke) at 2:15 of Round Two
135 lbs.: Ricky Turcios vs. Brady Hiestand — Turcios def. Hiestand by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
170 lbs.: Kevin Lee vs. Daniel Rodriguez — Rodriguez def. Lee by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
185 lbs.: Andre Petroski vs. Micheal Gillmore — Petroski def. Gillmore by TKO (punches and elbows) at 3:12 of Round Three — HIGHLIGHTS
185 lbs.: Makhmud Muradov vs. Gerald Meerschaert — Meerschaert def. Muradov by submission (rear naked choke) at 1:49 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS
185 lbs.: Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Alessio Di Chirico — Alhassan def. Di Chirico by KO (head kick) at 0:17 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
185 lbs.: Sam Alvey vs. Wellington Turman — Turman def. Alvey by split decision (27-28, 28-27 x2)
205 lbs.: Dustin Jacoby vs. Darren Stewart — Jacoby def. Stewart by TKO (punches) at 3:04 of Round One
125 lbs.: JJ Aldrich vs. Vanessa Demopoulos — Aldrich def. Demopoulos by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
145 lbs.: Jamall Emmers vs. Pat Sabatini — Sabatini def. Emmers by submission (heel hook) at 1:53 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
135 lbs.: Guido Cannetti vs. Mana Martinez — Martinez def. Cannetti by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
UFC VEGAS 35 LIVE PLAY-BY-PLAY:
145 lbs.: Edson Barboza vs. Giga Chikadze
Round 1: Both men get right to throwing kicks. Neither one landing anything clean in the first minute. There’s a low kick from Chikadze, answered by a Barboza jab. Chikadze tries a head kick. Flying knee just misses. He slips a 1-2. Jab from Chikadze. Lots of checked kicks thus far. Two minutes to go.
Chikadze tries a spinning back kick, lands a counter right. He slips throwing a running left. Barboza tries a body kick. Chikadze head kick attempt. Barboza lands a leg kick with a minute to go, eats a body kick and they flurry. Right hand connects for Chikadze, then a straight left. Nasty body kick. 10-9 Chikadze.
Round 2: Barboza looking a bit more aggressive early in the round. Trading jabs. Hard low kick by Chikadze. Another. Straight left. Another and a body kick. They trade hooks a minute in. Barboza just misses an uppercut. Chikadze landing well with his back near the fence. Two minutes in. Chikadze just misses with a head kick, lands a body kick. Barboza rips a right downstairs. Another, then a head kick attempt behind it. Stiff jab by Chikadze with two minutes to go.
Barboza continuing to push forward, lands an overhand right. Chikadze launches some potshots as he circles. Calf kick by Barboza. Chikadze with a front kick, tries an axe kick behind it. Jab exchange. One minute to go. Chikadze cracks him with a left hook, then a stiff jab. Trading kicks. Barboza with a snap kick downstairs. Both try calf kicks. 10-9 Chikadze but definitely closer.
Round 3: Barboza back on the advance. Low kick from Chikadze, then a knee to the body and a right hand that wobbles Barboza. Chikadze storming after him, hurts him again with a combo. Right hook, straight left, overhand right. Barboza’s legs are gone and down he goes. Barboza goes for a desperation leglock. can’t get it. Chikadze responds with an anaconda choke, then a d’arce, then lets him up to blast him with more punches for the finish.
Final result: Chikadze def. Barboza by TKO (punches)
185 lbs.: Bryan Battle vs. Gilbert Urbina
Round 1: Trading early. Low kick from Urbina. Good right hands and how muscles Battle to the mat. Back up, back down, looking for half guard. One minute in. Nice elbow from Urbina, short right hands. Brief guillotine attempt, back to punching. He nearly takes mount. Battle manages to work his way back to the feet after absorbing more punishment. Sending out kicks two minutes in. Body kicks connect. Low kick and right hand. Low kick. Both try high kicks. Two minutes to go.
Battle seemingly regaining ground. Big 3-2. Body kick and knees. Urbina hauls him to the fence. Good double-leg transition, looking for the back. Battle manages to turn to face him and land good clinch shots with a minute to go. Both land good knees downstairs. Heavy blows in the clinch. Brief separation, right cross. Urbina with a nasty elbow. Continuing to trade knees in the clinch. 10-9 Urbina?
Round 2: Battle pushing forward early, sending out volume. Good combinations. Clean body kick. Big right cross by Urbina, who shoots off a low kick and looks for the back. Rear waist lock. Urbina tries to play backpack, can’t get it, blasts him with elbows before they separate. Urbina shoots again, tries a spinning elbow, and gets dragged to the mat in return. One hook in for Battle, landing hammerfists. Two minutes in. He’s got the RNC locked up and there’s the tap.
Final result: Battle def. Urbina by submission (rear naked choke)
135 lbs.: Ricky Turcios vs. Brady Hiestand
Round 1: Low kick from Turcios, who fires knees to the body as Hiestand ties up. They separate and Hiestand marches after him, throwing punches until he can get the body lock. Successful takedown into side control. One minute in. Turcios regains guard. He nearly manages to kick Hiestand off and stand, but gives up side control. Hiestand stands and lets Turcios up, then regains the body lock for another takedown into guard. Two minutes in. Hammerfists from Hiestand. Turcios looking for a triangle, loses it but lands hammerfists. He gets space to stand and Hiestand puts him on the fence. Nice switch from Turcios and he takes the back with two minutes to go.
The angle’s not great and Hiestand’s looking to take guard. He gets it. Turcios looking for a triangle, staying busy with hammerfists. Turcios makes it back up and they separate. One minute to go. Hiestand looks like he’s already feeling the pace and they’re trading heat. Head kick from Hiestand, low kick from Turcios. Brutal right cross by Turcios after absorbing an uppercut. Trading on the fence. 10-9 Turcios.
Round 2: Hiestand trying to tie up against the fence. Slick defense from Turcios, who eats shots on the break. He shoots, denied. Good double-leg by Hiestand gets Turcios to his butt against the fence. Turcios landing elbows. One minute in. Turcios makes it to his feet, eats an elbow on the break. Hiestand with a shovel hook and right cross. Two minutes in. Huge left hook that Turcios literally shrugs off. Well-timed shot by Turcios, who jumps on Hiestand’s back. Hiestand manages to wriggle free and sling Turcios to the mat from the rear waist lock. Side control with two minutes to go.
Turcios manages to his a butterfly sweep, only for Hiestand to to turn it into another takedown attempt. Turcios jumps guard on a guillotine, but can’t get it or the subsequent triangle transition. Back to side control for Hiestand. One minute to go. Turcios turns to his knees and Hiestand grabs the front headlock. Trading point-blank shots in the clinch. Big swings in the final seconds. 10-9 Hiestand.
Round 3: Hard punches from Hiestand in the early going. Clean right hands. Turcios looking to answer with jabs, then rattles Hiestand with a right cross and drops him with a 1-2. Hiestand manages to latch onto an ankle and take him down against the fence a minute in. Turcios trying to use the fence to stand. He makes it up, dropping elbows. Two minutes in. They pause a moment to put Hiestand’s mouthpiece back in. Incredible scrambling and Hiestand somehow ends up with another takedown. Turcios manages to elevate, get a bit of space, and land a knee on the way up. Two minutes to go.
Back to slugging against the fence. Knee from Hiestand. Nice elbow by Turcios. They separate. Hiestand tries a head kick and they bomb one another. Hiestand knee, Turcios right cross. One minute to go. Turcios puts him on the fence. Back to trading heat. Hiestand drives hard for a single-leg, can’t get it. Turcios walks through a left hook and sends out knees. Body shots. Huge flurry from Turcios in the waning seconds. Incredible fight. 10-9 Turcios.
Final result: Turcios def. Hiestand by split decision
170 lbs.: Kevin Lee vs. Daniel Rodriguez
Round 1: Early body kick from Lee. Simultaneous kicks in the center. Hard body kick from Lee, eats a straight left in return a minute in. Good exchanges in center cage. Lee to the body. Head kick misses. Low kick exchange, clean jabs from Lee. Rodriguez landing his own low kicks. Two minutes in. Lee goes body then head with nice kicks and ties up. Rodriguez manages to shove him away and send out a 1-2-1. More low kicks. They trade in the center. Nice shot by Lee and he spins Rodriguez down with two minutes to go.
Lee on top in half guard. Short elbow and left hands. One minute to go. Lee continuing to chip away. They appear to scuffle after the bell. 10-9 Lee.
Round 2: Rodriguez goes back to the low kicks. Lee body shot, nice combo from Rodriguez in return. More body work from Rodriguez. Good leg kick. One minute in. 1-2, leg kick. Straight left through the guard. Lee doubles up the right hand and shoots. Excellent chain wrestling from Lee to land on top in side control. He spins to the back two minutes in, only for Rodriguez to turn into top guard. Lee scrambles up and they reset. Right cross and left hook from Lee as they trade. Rodriguez with a low kick and jab. Two minutes to go.
Good exchange in the center. Rodriguez straight left and right hook. Lee lands a clean overhand right, eats a hard left cross and right hook in return. Jabs from Lee. Left cross from Rodriguez with a minute to go. Right hook, straight left. Outworking Lee on the feet, lands a hard left cross. Huge overhand left and Lee does a Barboza-style chicken dance before taking a desperation shot. He manages to hold on until the bell. 10-9 Rodriguez.
Round 3: Low kick and left hook from Rodriguez, moving forward with volume. Continuing to land punches and kicks. Lee tries a head kick, eats more leg kicks. Rodriguez really starting to rack up the volume and he stuffs a shot, cracking Lee with a left hand on the break a minute in. Nice footwork from Rodriguez, cracks him with another straight left. Low kick and right hook, but Lee nearly knocks him over with a leg kick and shoots against the fence. He locks his hands and completes it against the fence. Two minutes in. Rodriguez kicks him off, but Lee grabs the rear waist lock. Rodriguez turns to face him and shoves him away. Rodriguez piling up combinations. Two minutes to go.
Lee tries a flying knee that falls well short. Stiff jab from Rodriguez. Good left hands. Lee shoots, denied. Rodriguez continuing to touch him up, eats a body kick with a minute to go. Lee low kick, slips. Rodriguez lands a combination, Lee sends one out in return. One last exchange. 10-9 Rodriguez.
Final result: Rodriguez def. Lee by unanimous decision
185 lbs.: Andre Petroski vs. Micheal Gillmore
Round 1: Gillmore lands an early low kick and right hand. Petroski tries a body kick. He shoots, denied. Low kick from Gillmore. One minute in. Petroski suddenly steps in with a monster right hook and slams Gillmore down into side control. Gillmore trying to elbow off of his back. Petroski lands an elbow and denies an attempt to scramble. Looking for the giftwrap, lands elbows and punches. Gillmore working his way up, slammed back down and Petroski takes his back with two minutes to go.
Looking for a neck crank, can’t get it. One minute to go. Petroski looking for a guillotine transition, nothing doing. 10-9 Petroski.
Round 2: Good low kick from Gillmore. Head kick attempt. Counter two-piece, good leg kick. One minute in. Head kick and straight left from Petroski, who walks into a counter right. Gillmore lands a low blow but Petroski waves the ref off. Throwing heat, body kick by Petroski. Nice takedown defense by Gillmore. Two minutes in. Low kick connects. Petroski shoots again, denied again. Good leg kick by Gillmore. Two minutes to go.
Another Gillmore leg kick. Petroski with a good body kick. Another nice Gillmore leg kick. Petroski looking a bit deflated. Big left hand by Petroski, walks into a counter right. Big overhand left by Petroski in return, then a successful takedown into side control with a minute to go. Looking for mount. He gets it in the final seconds and blasts Gillmore with a handful of punches. He may have stolen it at the end, but I think Gillmore still gets it 10-9.
Round 3: Petroski fires a powerful double-leg and slams Gillmore down into side control. Now a low mount against the fence. Higher mount a minute in. Short punches. Looking for the back. Gillmore makes a tired-looking attempt to bridge, nothing doing. Two minutes in. Good control by Petroski to stop the next hip bump, takes a near-mount and drops shots. Good left hand. Petroski grabs the giftwrap and just bombs Gillmore with punches and elbows for the late finish.
Final result: Petroski def. Gillmore by TKO (punches and elbows)
185 lbs.: Makhmud Muradov vs. Gerald Meerschaert
Round 1: Meerschaert marching forward right away. Head kick attempt, tries to spin. Muradov lands a left hook on the break but takes a finger in the eye in the process. Back to the action. Meerschaert continues to push forward and walks into a counter that takes out his legs. Muradov follows him down, then lets him up when the finish isn’t there. Brutal counter right drops him again. Again Muradov lets him up a minute in. Low kicks from Meerschaert, who takes a glancing head kick. Muradov throwing head inside. Head kick from Meerschaert in return. Counter left and overhand right by Muradov. Very poor shot by Meerschaert. Two minutes in. He barrels in again, not even close. Muradov continuing to potshot, takes a low blow. Meerschaert tries to pull guard without success. Heavy left cross lands for him. He’s still advancing and throwing. Two minutes to go.
Low kicks from Meerschaert, one of which catches Muradov right in the cup. He takes some time to recover from this one. Hard overhand left and body kick by Meerscheart, his best of the round. Both swinging and landing nasty shots. One minute to go. 2-3 from Muradov. Low kick lands. Another. Three-piece wobbles Meerschart, who comes back with an overhand left and ties up. Hunting the back against the fence, one hook in. 10-9 Muradov.
Round 2: Meerschaert barrels in and walks into a heavy counter right. He shoots, denied, eats punches on the way. Low-high 2-3 from Muradov. Meerschaert catches a leg kick, can’t establish. They trade lefts in the center a minute in. Big left hands by Meerschaert and he’s stung Muradov. Meerschaert drags him down and takes the back, immediately hunting the RNC. He’s got it and there’s the tap. What a comeback from Meerschaert.
Final result: Meerschaert def. Muradov by submission (rear naked choke)
185 lbs.: Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Alessio Di Chirico
Round 1: Di Chirico opens with some leg kicks. Alhassan responds with a flush head kick, knocking Di Chirico out with his only strike of the fight.
Final result: Alhassan def. Di Chirico by KO (head kick)
185 lbs.: Sam Alvey vs. Wellington Turman
Round 1: Early right hand from Turman. Front kick attempts. Good left hook into the body lock. One minute in. Alvey defending against the fence. Couple short right hands before he separates. Low kick and spinning back kick land for Turman two minutes in. Alvey looks for counters. Left hand catches Turman coming in. Alvey lands a left hand, takes a finger to the eye in return. They trade right hands near the fence upon resuming. Two minutes to go.
They tie up and Alvey puts him on the fence,. Jockeying for position. Knee and foot stomp from Turman. Couple of punches on the break. He fires a spinning elbow and ties up, opening a big cut on Alvey, then drags him briefly to the mat. 10-9 Turman.
Round 2: Spinning back fist lands for Turman. Snap kick to the body. Alvey comes back with a low blow. Turman shoots after they resume, putting Alvey on the fence. Elbows form Alvey as he defends. Alvey with a knee and right hand on the break. Two minutes in. Turman low kicks. Spinning back fist falls well short. Counter jab by Alvey, then a 2-1. Uppercut misses. Turman misses a spinning back kick. Two minutes to go.
Alvey with a glancing left hand. Turman answers with a snap kick downstairs. They trade lefts and Alvey claims an eye poke. Turman briefly puts him on the fence. Head kick attempt from Turman. Alvey denies a tie-up and lands a right on the exit. One minute to go. Check hook by Alvey, then another right on the exit. Turman goes back to the snap kick and whiffs a spinning back fist. Counter right. Both fire front kicks. Awkward trade before the bell. 10-9 Alvey in a close round.
Round 3: Turman tries a spinning back kick. Low kick, right hand. Alvey fires rights, landing on the counter. One minute in. Turman shoots, denied. Trading combinations. Alvey’s finding the mark with the counter right repeatedly. Alvey left hand, Turman low kick. Turman digs a right downstairs, eats more rights. Two minutes in. Spinning elbow attempt from Turman. Alvey with a 1-2, then an uppercut. Turman tries an uchi mata and gets taken to the fence. They separate with two minutes to go.
Alvey takes another finger in the eye. The replay seems to show that Turman barely touched him, but the ref takes a point. Within seconds, Turman sticks his fingers out again and the ref takes another point. They come out slugging after the latest pause. Big right hand and left hook by Turman. Brutal rights and Alvey’s hurt. One minute to go. Turman storming after him as Alvey retreats. Now Alvey throwing back. He puts Turman on the fence. They separate in the waning seconds and they trade bombs. With the point deductions, that’s a 9-8 Alvey round instead of a Turman 10-9. Comes down to how they scored the second round.
Final result: Turman def. Alvey by split decision
205 lbs.: Dustin Jacoby vs. Darren Stewart
Round 1: Stewart catches a kick and takes Jacoby down in the early going. Jacoby scrambles up against the fence. Stewart changes levels and drags him down once again. Jacoby stands and they trade knees inside a minute in. They separate and trade jabs. Hard low kick from Jacoby. Jab exchange. 2-3-1 from Jacoby two minutes in. Hard right cross, Stewart tries to come back with a flurry. More jabs from Jacoby. Hard left hook and 1-2, then a series of murderous right hands on the fence. Brutal left hook as well. Stewart throwing with him but a left hand takes his legs out and the ref stops it standing.
Final result: Jacoby def. Stewart by TKO (punches)
125 lbs.: JJ Aldrich vs. Vanessa Demopoulos
Round 1: Demopoulos throwing right hands early on. Straight lefts landing for Aldrich. Aldrich low kick met by a jab. Well-timed reactive shot by Aldrich a minute in. Demopoulos throws elbows off her back, takes punches in return. Two minutes in. Aldrich controlling, periodically throwing punches. Good right hand from the top. Left hand with two minutes to go.
More punches from Aldrich. Heavy hammerfists. One minute to go. Aldrich lets her up, lands a body kick on the way. Hard counter left stings Demopoulos. Demopoulos shoots from too far out, denied. She ties up, lands knees downstairs. 10-9 Aldrich.
Round 2: Demopoulos punches her way into a level change, denied. Good punches, knee and elbow inside. Straight left by Aldrich., who leans into a head kick. Overhand right from Demopoulos, straight left by Aldrich in return. One minute in. Trading lefts. Demopoulos tries a head kick. 3-2 by Aldrich, clean jab. Counter hook on the exit. Demopoulos rushes in and they appear to clash heads. Two minutes in. Demopoulos punches her way into the clinch against the fence. Aldrich circles off, lands a straight left and right hook. Counter left, hard hooks by Demopoulos in return. Two minutes to go.
Aldrich straight left. Demopoulos rushes into the clinch. Aldrich lands an elbow on the break. Straight left. One minute to go. Good body kick by Demopoulos. Aldrich lands one of her own and follows up with heavy punches. Demopoulos looks hurt but continues to throw back. Brutal three-piece from Aldrich inside. 10-9 Aldrich.
Round 3: Hard 1-2 from Aldrich. Demopoulos with her best level change of the night, takes her to the fence. Knee up top. They separate. One minute in. Demopoulos rolls for a leglock and ends up on her back. Elbow and punches from Aldrich. She has one of Demopoulos’ arms trapped and continues to land hard shots, then lets her up with two minutes in. Demopoulos marching forward, throws a 1-2. Aldrich uppercut, eats a knee. Two minutes to go.
3-2 from Aldrich, side kick behind it. Demopoulos takes her to the fence. Aldrich separates with a right hand, nearly lands a front kick to the face. One minute to go. Demopoulos to the body. They trade right hands. Straight left and right hook by Aldrich, then a lead-leg head kick. They trade lefts. Aldrich 1-2, gets taken to the fence. Knees from Demopoulos. Good elbow on the exit and they slug to end the fight. 10-9 Aldrich.
Final result: Aldrich def. Demopoulos by unanimous decision
145 lbs.: Jamall Emmers vs. Pat Sabatini
Round 1: Emmers opens with kicks. Sabatini looking to counter with punches, takes a foot to the nards. Emmers goes right back to the kicks, hurts Sabatini with a pair of right hands and catches him leaning with a left that drops him. Emmers jumps right to his back, then mount, landing hard shots a minute in. Sabatini looking for a leglock, Emmers answers with a toe hold attempt, but it’s Sabatini’s heel hook that forces an agonized tap.
Final result: Sabatini def. Emmers by submission (heel hook)
135 lbs.: Guido Cannetti vs. Mana Martinez
Round 1: Cannetti tries a head kick. Hard leg kick, tries a body kick behind it. Nasty body kick. Martinez yet to throw. One minute in. More hard low kicks from Cannetti, straight left, leg kick. Martinez backs him to the fence and goes to work with a lengthy flurry to the body and head. More hard shots, then a level change two minutes in. Martinez drags him down, tries to take the back, ends up on the bottom. Cannetti lands some solid shots before Martinez scrambles up. They trade calf kicks with two minutes to go.
Cannetti continuing to tee off with leg kicks. One lands to the groin. Martinez eating kicks, lands one of his own. Nice body kick by Cannetti with a minute to go. Another. Martinez moving forward but not throwing anything. 10-9 Cannetti.
Round 2: Martinez tries a counter two-piece. Low kick lands. Cannetti with a harder one. Martinez keeps backing Cannetti to the fence and just not doing anything. Hard left hands by Cannetti, Martinez tries to counter a minute in. Cannetti leg kick. Nice jab. Good body shot. Two minutes in. Calf kick from Martinez. He just keeps letting Cannetti off the fence and refusing to throw punches. Low kick by Cannetti. Martinez to the body, again just backs off. Catches a kick, can’t counter. There’s a hard 1-2 and body shot with two minutes to go.
Cannetti explodes back with punches. Leg kick lands for him, then another. Martinez fires a combo on the ropes, slick movement by Cannetti. One minute to go. They trade body shots, Martinez tries a combo behind it. 10-9 Martinez.
Round 3: Another low kick from Cannetti. Martinez just refuses to actually let his strikes go and it’s bizarre. There’s a counter two-piece. Another Cannetti leg kick. Martinez tries a combo on the fence, lands an uppercut a minute in. Low kick from Martinez, counter combo attempt, body kick. Hard body shots by Martinez. Low kick, denies a clinch two minutes in. Right cross. Cannetti pops him with a jab. 3-2 from Martinez. Cannetti leg kick. Two minutes to go.
Martinez tries a combo on the ropes. Cannetti waves him on. 1-2 from Martinez. Cannetti to the body. Martinez tries to open up on the fence. Cannetti pops him with a jab. 1-2 upstairs. One minute to go. Martinez shoots and dumps him to the mat with a minute to go. Solid punches and elbows. Cannetti manages to regain guard. Martinez lets him up. 10-9 Martinez.
Final result: Martinez def. Cannetti by split decision