Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is locked and loaded for the UFC Vegas 39 mixed martial arts (MMA) event, which takes place on Sat. afternoon (Oct. 9, 2021) from inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, streaming LIVE on ESPN+. Main event duties fall to strawweight contenders Mackenzie Dern and Marina Rodriguez, who collide for a spot in the division title chase. In the 170-pound co-headliner, Randy Brown goes to war against Jared Gooden.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 39 fight card below, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” bouts at 1 p.m. ET, followed by the ESPN+ main card start time at 4 p.m. ET.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Dern vs. Rodriguez.” Without further delay, see below for the updated UFC Vegas 39 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action).
UFC VEGAS 39 QUICK RESULTS:
Mackenzie Dern vs. Marina Rodriguez — Rodriguez def. Dern by unanimous decision (49-46 x3) — HIGHLIGHTS
Randy Brown vs. Jared Gooden — Brown def. Gooden by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Tim Elliott vs. Matheus Nicolau — Nicolau def. Elliott by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Mariya Agapova vs. Sabina Mazo — Agapova def. Mazo by submission (rear naked choke) at 0:53 of Round Three — HIGHLIGHTS
Felipe Colares vs. Chris Gutierrez — Gutierrez def. Colares by split decision (28-29, 30-27 x2)
Alexandr Romanov vs. Jared Vanderaa — Romanov def. Vanderaa by TKO (punches) at 4:43 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS
Damon Jackson vs. Charles Rosa — Jackson def. Rosa by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 30-27)
Lupita Godinez vs. Silvana Gomez Juarez — Godinez def. Gomez Juarez by submission (armbar) at 4:14 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
Steve Garcia vs. Charlie Ontiveros — Garcia def. Ontiveros by TKO (punches) at 1:51 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS
UFC VEGAS 39 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
115 lbs.: Mackenzie Dern vs. Marina Rodriguez
Round 1: Tentative start to the fight. Both fire leg kicks. One minute in. Rodriguez fires a snap kick. Dern tries to charge, can’t tie up. Rodriguez looking for long-range combinations. Two minutes in. Dern charges, lands an overhand right, ties up on the fence. Awkward position. Two minutes to go.
Dern still grinding, can’t get a good grip. Rodriguez lands a knee to the body before separating. One minute to go. Body kick from Rodriguez at the end of a combo. Good body shot. Heavy right hand. Dern tries a spinning back fist, falls short with follow-ups. Heavy knee by Rodriguez. 10-9 Rodriguez.
Round 2: Rodriguez sending out kicks. Dern tries to tie up again, can’t do it for long. Nice blitz by Dern, who tries a throw and uses it to sweep into side control. One minute in. Dern staying patient. Rodriguez wraps up some sort of inverted d’arce, which Dern waits out before grabbing a rear crucifix. Short punches land for her. Two minutes to go.
Darn looking for a more traditional back mount. Both hooks in. Full mount with a minute to go. Posturing up for some nice punches. Rodriguez kicks off the fence, can’t dislodge her. 10-9 Dern, not enough damage for the 10-8.
Round 3: Rodriguez picking at the lead leg, sending out punches. Getting a little sloppy with said punches. One minute in. Head kick from Rodriguez, combination soon after. Continuing to send out volume. Low kicks. Dern tries to spin, eats a left hook. Two minutes in. Another head kick from Rodriguez, heavy counter right. Dern really struggling to put her punches together. Two minutes to go.
Rodriguez chipping away with kicks. Good left hook. Dern tries to charge, walks into counters. Rodriguez to the body. Combination upstairs. One minute to go. Dern shoots and takes Rodriguez to the fence. Rodriguez lands a solid knee. Elbows and hammerfists on one leg. 10-9 Rodriguez.
Round 4: Rodriguez continuing to land punches and kicks with relative impunity. Dern takes a low blow, prompting a pause. Mackenzie looking extremely awkward on the feet, unwilling to commit to a takedown. More volume from Rodriguez; nothing huge, but lots of it. There’s a short uppercut from Dern when Rodriguez tries to clinch. Sweeping hook lands for the Brazilian. Good knee to the body. Two minutes in. Dern shoots, denied, lands a right hand. Brutal right cross by Rodriguez in return. Flurry upstairs, low kick. Two minutes to go.
Rodriguez ends a combo with a low kick. Body shot. Hard knee inside. Dern tries to rush and Rodriguez matadors her before launching a combination. One minute to go. Hard front kicks from Rodriguez, who suddenly gets taken down directly into mount. Dern mounting higher and higher, tries a last-minute omoplata. 10-9 Rodriguez.
Round 5: Dern pushing forward a bit more this round. Rodriguez continuing to land. One minute in. Good pivot by Rodriguez. Low kick and right cross. Not much volume from Dern, who gets blasted by a left hook. Two minutes in. Low kicks from Rodriguez. Dern tries to take her down off a lazy kick, can’t do so. Low kick lands for Dern. Two minutes to go.
Rodriguez lands a flurry, then a clean lead right. Dern tries to blitz, can’t connect. Big right cross by Rodriguez with a minute to go. Dern puts her on the fence with double underhooks. Good knee from Rodriguez, who separates in the last 10 seconds and tries to find the late finish. 10-9 Rodriguez.
Final result: Rodriguez def. Dern by unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Randy Brown vs. Jared Gooden
Round 1: Trading punches early. Gooden lands a counter hook and latches onto the rear waist lock. Brown pops up and separates. Huge front kick from Brown that Gooden somehow shrugs off. One minute in. Gooden falls short with an overhand right. Brown managing the range well. Low kick from Gooden two minutes in. Long jabs from Brown. Hard body shot. Stiff jab. Gooden falling short with most of his punches, does manage to land a couple of good calf kicks. Two minutes to go.
Gooden digs a right downstairs. Body kick lands for Brown. More jabs from Brown, left hook from Gooden in return. Gooden leg kick with a minute to go. Brown putting together combinations, tries a spinning back kick. More low kicks from Gooden. Brown with some knee stomps, eats another calf kick. 10-9 Brown.
Round 2: Hard calf kick knocks Brown over and Gooden tries a head kick on the way up. Brown tries to burst in and get it back. Side kick and head kick by Brown. Combination attempt. One minute in. Uppercut connects. Body kick, Gooden tries to capitalize when he slips. Brown follows up with a good 1-2. Another two-piece, pushing forward with combinations. Volume landing, absorbs another low kick. Gooden takes a finger in the eye but waves the ref off two minutes in. He spins Brown around with another calf kick. Continuing to chip away at the lead leg. Two minutes to go.
Brown fires a left hook and head kick, uppercut inside. Left hand by Gooden. Trading in the center. One minute to go. Gooden calf kick, Brown right cross. Heavy 1-2 by Brown and he looks to pour it on, swinging wild. Gooden circles away. 10-9 Brown.
Round 3: Brown lands a left hook during an exchange. Hard body kick and left hook. Sharp potshots from Brown a minute in. Gooden going back to the calf kicks. Brown catches him rushing. Two minutes in. Jabs connecting for Brown, who steps wrong on his injured right right. Gooden hesitant to really let things go. Brown digs a right downstairs, counter left hook to answer a calf kick. Two minutes to go.
Flying knee from Brown, then a heavy series of punches to the head and body. Clinch knee prompts Gooden to reverse position. They separate. Gooden steps forward, tries an overhand right, jabs the body. One minute to go. Gooden still advancing, lands a good jab. Brown tries a wheel kick, eats a right to the body. Three-piece into the clinch by Gooden, hard knee. Brown tries a whizzer throw and ends up on his back. 10-9 Brown.
Final result: Brown def. Gooden by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Tim Elliott vs. Matheus Nicolau
Round 1: Elliott pushing forward as always. Nicolau jabs the body as Elliott looks for left hands. More body jabs from Nicolau. One minute in. Elliott blitzes and nearly lands a soccer kick when Nicolau hits the mat for a moment. Counter right by Nicolau as Elliott continues to advance while shifting stance. Two minutes in. Nicolau really struggling to get any offense going. Elliott shoots and chains it into a successful takedown. Two minutes to go.
Elliott holding onto a rear waist lock as Nicolau tries to stand. Maintaining control against the fence. One minute to go. They separate. Nicolau just can’t land anything despite some big swings. 10-9 Elliott.
Round 2: Elliott latches onto the rear body lock in the opening seconds, landing a few punches before Nicolau separates. Good counter 2-3 lands for Nicolau. One minute in. Hard low-high punches. Brief tie-up. Nicolau with a counter hook. Counter right soon after. Elliott still advancing with offbeat techniques. Body work from Nicolau. Leg kick two minutes in. Right hand downstairs. Elliott shoots against the fence, denied. Liver shot from Nicolau. Low-high 2-3. More heavy body shots. Two minutes to go.
Continuing to dig to Elliott’s midsection, denies another shot. Elliott pops him with a jab. 1-2 lands upstairs. Clean jab. Counter right lands for Nicolau, who denies a level change. Well-timed shot by Elliott, can’t establish with a minute to go. Elliott flurry, Nicolau body shot. Nicolau doubles up the left hook low-high. Elliott shoots, denied with the whizzer. 10-9 Nicolau.
Round 3: Elliott connects with a lead left as he continues to press forward. Nicolau leg kick, Elliott flurry a minute in. Nicolau body shot. Elliott tries some funky front kicks. He shoots after absorbing a body shot and takes Nicolau to the fence. Back to center cage. Nicolau not finding the mark as often this round, digs in a hook to the body. Double-leg by the Brazilian puts him on top in guard. Elliott just holding on from his back. Two minutes to go.
Nicolau unable to break Elliott’s grip, settles for slamming him a few times until he lets go. One minute to go. Rubber guard attempt. Elliott really doing nothing off of his back besides holding Nicolau down. Short punches by the Brazilian. He lets Elliott up in the final seconds and retreats. 10-9 Nicolau.
Final result: Nicolau def. Elliott by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Mariya Agapova vs. Sabina Mazo
Round 1: Mazo advancing early as they probe at range. Left hand lands for Agapova. Counter right as she circles near the fence. 1-2. Counter left. 3-2. One minute in. Body kicks from Agapova as well, right hook. 3-2 stings Mazo. Low-high two-piece. Another hard left upstairs. Mazo still pushing forward but getting picked off repeatedly. She grabs double unders, lands a knee, eats an elbow on the exit two minutes in. Hard exchange on the fence. Mazo body kick. 1-2-1 lands clean for Agapova, then a body kick. Two minutes to go.
Head kick from Agapova, continuing to land as she circles. 1-2-1 again. Body kick. One minute to go. Spinning back fist. Mazo lands a leg kick, eats another low-high 1-2. More counters from Agapova. Not quite enough damage for a 10-8 but it was damn one-sided. 10-9 Agapova.
Round 2: Trading leg kicks to start. 1-2-1 from Agapova, body kick. Counter 1-2. One minute in. Counter left. Check hook by Mazo, a rare clean connection. Another. Two minutes in. Agapova fires a left downstairs. They trade on the fence. Leg kicks. Three-piece by Agapova. Two minutes to go.
Agapova 1-2, Mazo right cross. Mazo pushing forward but not really committing to anything as Agapova lands counters. Mazo ties up, gets caught in a potential guillotine. They separate with under a minute to go. Good trade before the bell. 10-9 Agapova.
Round 3: More of the same; Agapova landing the better punches as she circles against the fence, Mazo completely unable to land anything. Agapova suddenly goes low-high with a 2-3 that knocks Mazo most of the way out, then jumps onto a rear naked choke that draws an immediate tap.
Final result: Agapova def. Mazo by submission (rear naked choke)
?135 lbs.: Felipe Colares vs. Chris Gutierrez
Round 1: Low kick from Gutierrez early. Colares trading kicks with him. Colares checks a kick, tries a boxing combo. One minute in. Gutierrez tries a spinning back kick, eats a body kick. Left hand lands for him on the retreat. Colares fires a nice combination and ties up on the fence. One hook in. Gutierrez turns to face him two minutes in and gets double unders. He reverses position on the fence. They separate. Colares launching more kicks with two minutes to go.
Gutierrez looks for the body, tries a trip takedown when Colares pushes forward. Colares reverses on the fence. Gutierrez gets underhooks and reverses in turn with a minute to go. Colares can’t get a headlock throw, eats an elbow on the break. Front kick and switch kick attempts. Combination and low kick from Gutierrez in return. Colares tries a wheel kick. Close round. 10-9 Gutierrez?
Round 2: Trading punches and kicks early. More volume from Gutierrez this time. Colares still pushing forward. Body kick lands for him. Jab and counter right from Gutierrez in return. One minute in. Low kick and right hand. Brief clinch. Gutierrez jabbing as he circles. Body kick lands for Colares. Two minutes in. Gutierrez combination. They trade in the center. Colares body kick, Gutierrez jab. Low kick from Gutierrez, head kick, low kick. Two minutes to go.
Colares still pushing forward and hurling kicks but struggling with Gutierrez’s jab. There’s a body kick from Colares, who shoots but can’t complete it. Gutierrez defending with double underhooks. One minute to go. Jabs from Gutierrez when they separate. They trade in the center. Gutierrez low kick, Colares right hand, Gutierrez body shot. Counter two-piece, tornado kick attempt. 10-9 Gutierrez.
Round 3: Low kicks from Gutierrez to start. Good left hand, body kick. Colares shoots against the fence. One minute in. Gutierrez gets the double underhooks once again, then separates. Body shot lands for him. Colares body kick. Answered in kind soon after. More jabs from Gutierrez. Low kick two minutes in. Colares still plodding after him. Gutierrez with a 1-2-low kick-jab after Colares slips. Low kick and jabs. Colares shoots and muscles Gutierrez to the ground with two minutes to go.
Colares landing short punches. One minute to go. Gutierrez kicks him off and fires a spinning elbow, then a low kick and 1-2. Elbow connects and he’s throwing heat, bellowing at Colares. Brutal right hands. Colares continuing to advance, gets taken down, sweeps into top position. 10-9 Gutierrez.
Final result: Gutierrez def. Colares by split decision
265 lbs.: Alexandr Romanov vs. Jared Vanderaa
Round 1: Body kick lands for Romanov. Vanderaa low kick. Romanov tries to go high. Tentative first minute. Low kicks from Vanderaa. Hard right hand from Romanov, who shoots into a guillotine and bails after grabbing the fence. Vanderaa throws a naked leg kick and gets taken down for it. Back up, back down two minutes in. Romanov latched onto the rear body lock as Vanderaa scoots to the fence. High-amplitude slam into back control with two minutes to go.
Vanderaa makes it to his feet and separates with just over a minute to go. Romanov circling. They suddenly decide to trade huge bombs in the last 10 seconds. 10-9 Romanov.
Round 2: Romanov barrels into an early takedown attempt, tripping Vanderaa down into side control. Half guard. Vanderaa tries to bridge but gets mounted a minute in. Romanov briefly considers an arm triangle. Sporadic hammerfists. Now some elbows, posturing up for punches to minutes in. He shuts down an attempt to scramble and takes side control as Vanderaa fruitlessly looks for some kind of keylock. Nasty elbows. Two minutes to go.
More heavy shots from Romanov, who’s pinned down an arm. Vanderaa trying mightily to get back to his feet. One minute to go. Romanov continuing to land punches. One arm pinned, more shots. Romanov turns up the volume and there’s the stoppage.
Final result: Romanov def. Vanderaa by TKO (punches)
145 lbs.: Damon Jackson vs. Charles Rosa
Round 1: Jackson shoots under a Rosa flurry in the opening seconds. Rosa defending against the fence. One minute in. Rosa lands a knee right to the junk and attacks Jackson on the the break, then argues with the ref despite audibly hitting the cup. They restart in the center. Rosa looking for combinations, gets clipped by a head kick that he absorbs without issue. Jackson tries to catch a leg kick. Counter right connects. Rosa continuing to chip away at the lead calf. Two minutes in. Knee from Jackson, clean right hand. Rosa calf kick. Jackson times a level change to put him on the fence. Two minutes to go.
Knees from Jackson as they jockey for position, then separate. Rosa tries a combo from southpaw, takes a low kick. Front kick by Jackson. Nicely timed reactive shot by Jackson puts him on top. Rosa trying to attack a leg, eats hard right hands for his trouble. More punches from Jackson. Rosa tries to crank on a kneebar after the bell. 10-9 Jackson.
Round 2: Early head kick from Jackson. Rosa still chipping away at the lead leg. Trading front kicks downstairs. Jackson tries to jump on Rosa when he slips. He goes for a jumping knee, gets taken down, sweeps him right away. Looking for the back a minute in. He kicks Rosa’s foot out from under him and tries to establish turtle position. Another successful takedown. Rosa stuck on his knees, Jackson holding onto the seatbelt grip. Back up goes Rosa, back down. Two minutes to go.
Rosa’s not letting him get any dominant positions but he just can’t dislodge Jackson, who dumps him down and finally gets full back control with a body triangle. One minute to go. Jackson dropping heavy punches from back mount, sneaking in elbows as well. Rosa regains half guard and avoids a last-minute arm triangle. 10-9 Jackson.
Round 3: Rosa lands a nasty spinning elbow right off the bat that opens a massive cut on Jackson’s forehead, but it allows Jackson to take his back. Now half guard a minute in. Rosa scrambles to his feet, Jackson still attached. Huge cut, but it’s not going into the eye, so the ref lets it continue. Rosa continuing to grab the fence. Trying to land elbows as Jackson kicks at his base. Solid takedown, can’t really establish but stays attached. Two minutes in. Rosa grabs a front headlock, moves to a rear crucifix. Jackson slips out and looks for the back again. Both hooks in. Rosa going for the sweep, gets to the front headlock and hunts a d’arce. Two minutes to go.
Jackson turns it into another takedown attempt. Slick work to avoid the rear crucifix and set up in side control. Rosa looks to regain guard and get a triangle, can’t find it. Jackson goes back to side control and hunts the back again. Rosa goes for a last-second roll. 10-9 Rosa.
Final result: Jackson def. Rosa by unanimous decision
115 lbs.: Lupita Godinez vs. Silvana Gomez Juarez
Round 1: Godinez pushes forward with solid punches, then dumps Gomez to the mat against the fence. Hunting the back on the way up. She trips Gomez back down a minute in. One hook in, unable to get the other one due to the fence. Back down to the mat, one arm pinned, loses it. Still can’t get the back, settles for a knee before separating. Teep from Godinez with two minutes to go.
Low single puts Godinez back on top. Finally she takes the back. Gomez gets to her knees, but leaves herself open to an armbar, which Godinez latches onto to force a tap.
Final result: Godinez def. Gomez Juarez by submission (armbar)
155 lbs.: Steve Garcia vs. Charlie Ontiveros
Round 1: Early exchanges and Ontiveros clips Garcia with an axe kick in the first 10 seconds, but elects not to follow up. Brutal counters from Ontiveros force Garcia to take him down against the fence. Side control a minute in. Ontiveros trying to turn for an armbar, nothing there, regains guard. He works his way up, lands a Browne elbow, gets tripped down again two minutes in. Garcia controlling from guard, landing short punches. Two minutes to go.
Elbow from Garcia, who passes to north-south. Solid elbows, one of which splits Ontiveros open. One minute to go. Back to side control, heavy left hands when Ontiveros tries to roll free. 10-9 Garcia.
Round 2: Low kick and overhand left from Garcia, who gets clipped and takes him down again. On top in half guard against the fence. Now to mount a minute in. Garcia staying heavy, sneaking in elbows. Ontiveros is losing a lot of blood. Garcia postures up and unleashes hammerfists until the ref steps in.
Final result: Garcia def. Ontiveros by TKO (punches)