Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to its APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, for UFC Vegas 50 TONIGHT (Sat., March 12, 2022) streaming LIVE on ESPN+, topped by the 205-pound showdown between former light heavyweight title challenger, Thiago Santos, and streaking Dagestani bruiser, Magomed Ankalaev. Before that five-round clash of styles gets underway, Brazilian bantamweight Marlon Moraes trades leather with “Kung Fu Monkey” Song Yadong in the UFC Vegas 50 co-main event. In addition, middleweight sensation Alex Pereira continues his march toward the 185-pound title opposite 185-pound phenom Bruno Silva this weekend in “Sin City.”
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 50 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. Bet on all the UFC Vegas 50 action with our friends at DraftKings Sportsbook right here.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Santos vs. Ankalaev.” Without further delay, see below for the updated UFC Vegas 50 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action).
UFC VEGAS 50 QUICK RESULTS:
Thiago Santos vs. Magomed Ankalaev — Magomed Ankalaev def. Santos by unanimous decision (49-46 x2, 48-47)
Marlon Moraes vs. Song Yadong — Song def. Moraes by KO (punches) at 2:06 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
Alex Caceres vs. Sodiq Yusuff — Yusuff def. Caceres by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Karl Roberson vs. Khalil Rountree — Rountree def. Roberson by TKO (body kick and punches) at 0:25 of Round Two
Drew Dober vs. Terrance McKinney — Dober def. McKinney by TKO (knee and punches) at 3:17 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
Alex Pereira vs. Bruno Silva — Pereira def. Silva by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
AJ Fletcher vs. Matthew Semelsberger — Semelsberger def. Fletcher by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
JJ Aldrich vs. Gillian Robertson — Aldrich def. Robertson by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Javid Basharat vs. Trevin Jones — Basharat def. Jones by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Damon Jackson vs. Kamuela Kirk — Jackson def. Kirk by submission (arm triangle choke) at 4:42 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS
Miranda Maverick vs. Sabina Mazo — Maverick def. Mazo by submission (rear naked choke) at 2:15 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS
Cody Brundage vs. Dalcha Lungiambula — Brundage def. Lungiambula by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:41 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
Guido Cannetti vs. Kris Moutinho — Cannetti def. Moutinho by TKO (punches) at 2:07 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
Azamat Murzakanov vs. Tafon Nchukwi — Murzakanov def. Nchukwi by KO (flying knee) at 0: 44 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
UFC VEGAS 50 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
205 lbs.: Thiago Santos vs. Magomed Ankalaev
Round 1: Tentative start. Low kick from Santos. One minute in. Ankalaev lands a hard counter right that stings Santos, doesn’t jump on him. Tries the same punch again two minutes in. Santos attempts a front kick. Ankalaev tries the same. Hard pair of counter lefts buzz Santos once again. Two minutes to go.
Low kick by Santos. Ankalaev body kick. Santos front kick just misses, low kick exchange. One minute to go. Both fire body kicks. 10-9 Ankalaev.
Round 2: Both a little busier to start the round, still no clean connections. One minute in. Ankalaev advancing but not throwing. Body shot. Two minutes in. Low kick exchange. Ankalaev to the body again. Santos tries a head kick. Ankalaev body kick. Two minutes to go.
This is a glorified sparring session at the moment. There’s a good counter hook by Ankalaev, who tries to follow up with a head kick. Left hand from Santos. Ankalaev body shot. One minute to go. Ankalaev lands a counter jab. Solid right hook as they trade. Right hand clips Ankalaev, who tries to tie up and gets dropped by a tight left hook. Santos follows him down into half guard and drops elbows. 10-9 Santos.
Round 3: Ankalaev just misses with a head kick. Check hook lands for him. Santos low kicks a minute in. Ankalaev cracks him with a lead left. Front kick downstairs. Santos low kick answered in kind. Two minutes in. Santos goes back to the low kick. Hard kick exchange, Ankalaev tries a spinning back kick. Two minutes to go.
Good left catches Santos on one leg. Back to the constant feints. Santos leg kick. Ankalaev to the body. Now with a kick. He catches a low kick and lands a tight left hand. One minute to go. Clash of shins. Counter right and body kick land for Ankalaev. Good counter left. 10-9 Ankalaev.
Round 4: Santos looking aggressive, follows a flying knee with a left hook. Good leg kick. Ankalaev goes low-high, avoids the return fire. Good lead left. One minute in. Ankalaev to the body. Left lands for Santos. Looping overhand left comes back at him. Ankalaev tries a head kick two minutes in. Straight left, check hook, straight left all land for Ankalaev. Right hook. Santos wheel kick just misses. Both whiff on big lefts. Ankalaev body kick. Straight left downstairs. Two minutes to go.
Quick exchange. Big lead uppercut from Santos. Ankalaev continuing to pressure and fire off combinations. Straight left with a minute to go. Ankalaev puts him on the fence. Successful takedown into half guard. Short elbows. 10-9 Ankalaev.
Round 5: Quick exchange. Ankalaev body kick, Santos low kick. One minute in. Another low kick from Santos. 3-2 by Ankalaev. Check hook. Again. Two minutes in. Ankalaev in cruise control. He ties up against the fence. Knees to the body. Two minutes to go.
Continuing to press Santos against the fence. No dice on an outside trip with a minute to go. More knees from Ankalaev. This continues until the bell. 10-9 Ankalaev.
Final result: Ankalaev def. Santos by unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Marlon Moraes vs. Song Yadong
Round 1: Song comes out punching. Head kick attempt. Hard overhand right briefly drops Moraes, who looks for a head kick in return. Combination by Song. Big exchange against the fence a minute in. Moraes comes back with a nice jab. Song to the body. Moraes lands an uppercut-cross, weathers a combo in return. Looking for lead rights. Two minutes in. Moraes lands another stiff jab, only for Song to spark him out with a nasty three-piece.
Final result: Song def. Moraes by KO (punches)
145 lbs.: Alex Caceres vs. Sodiq Yusuff
Round 1: Simultaneous kicks to start. Caceres sending out some hard punches, completes an outside trip into side control. Looking for the back, nice scramble by Yusuff to get back to his feet. Straight right connects. One minute in. He catches a body kick and follows Caceres down. Brief front headlock from Yusuff on the way up. They separate. Yusuff tries some head kicks. Two minutes in. Caceres two-piece, heavy counter lefts. Nice head movement, clean straight left. Yusuff comes back with a right cross and ties up. Rear waist lock for him. Two minutes to go.
Yusuff trying to sneak in a hook. Briefly gets Caceres to a knee. Caceres separates. Body kick lands for him. One minute to go. Yusuff with a body shot to a body lock. Caceres tries to spin to the back, nearly gets the RNC locked up. 10-9 Caceres.
Round 2: Early right hand from Yusuff. Side kick from Caceres. Hard overhand right stings Caceres. Counter right from Caceres after eating a body shot. Uppercut attempt. One minute in. Caceres check hook. Yusuff lead right. Counter right soon after, hard leg kick. They trade lefts. Caceres cracks him with a straight left. Yusuff low kick. Two minutes in. Another low kick catches Caceres coming in and he’s not moving too great. More low kicks. Caceres teep and straight left. Solid combo with two minutes to go.
Another heavy low kick by Yusuff as Caceres tries to throw. Caceres checks the next one. Caceres tries a 1-2. Another low kick by Yusuff with a minute to go, and another on the counter. More low kicks piling up. 10-9 Yusuff.
Round 3: Yusuff still chipping away at the lead leg. One minute in. Aggressive stuff from Caceres. Hard spinning back kick. Two minutes in. Continuing to storm forward. Yusuff forces him to the fence, denies a takedown. Two minutes to go.
Yusuff tries a head kick, lands a stiff jab. Hard counter right sends Caceres staggering back. Head kick to low kick. Another vicious leg kick. Good counter body shot lands for Caceres, then a straight left. One minute to go. Yusuff looks for a body shot and they trade knees to the body. They separate. Lead left by Caceres. Continuing to advance, eats another cracking leg kick. Yusuff tries a late guillotine, lands a knee. 10-9 Yusuff.
Final result: Yusuff def. Caceres by unanimous decision
205 lbs.: Karl Roberson vs. Khalil Rountree
Round 1: Both fire hard low kicks. Rountree tries to answer a head kick with punches. Roberson looking for knees, lands one as Rountree tries a left in the clinch. Good straight left by Roberson. One minute in. Leg kick exchanges. Good one from Roberson two minutes in. Rountree lands his own. He tries a looping left to answer a leg kick. Roberson feints a shot. Rountree catches a body kick, doesn’t follow him down. Two minutes to go.
Roberson lands a straight left and low kick. Another straight left. Rountree pressuring, not committing. One minute to go. Roberson low kick. Rountree catches a body kick and lands a straight left. He answers another low kick with a 1-1-2. 10-9 Roberson.
Round 2: Rountree opens with a brutal combo that flattens Roberson against the fence. Roberson tries to shoot and Rountree shoves him to the mat, then blasts him with a vicious body kick on the ground. Roberson somehow gets back to his feet, where Rountree bombs him with punches until he drops to his knees.
Final result: Roberson def. Rountree by TKO (body kick and punches)
155 lbs.: Drew Dober vs. Terrance McKinney
Round 1: A favor for family and a slight tech issue means we start halfway through the first round. McKinney tries a slow-mo wheel kick and Dober puts him on the fence. Two minutes to go.
McKinney tries a head kick, a spinning back first, then looks to change levels. Dober answers by crumpling him with a knee and pounding away until the ref intervenes.
Final result: Dober def. McKinney by TKO (knee and punches)
185 lbs.: Alex Pereira vs. Bruno Silva
Round 1: Pereira tosses out head kicks to start. Low kick exchange. Silva slowly advancing. Brief clinch. Silva tries to blitz, blocks another head kick, eats a low and body kick a minute in. Straight right from Pereira, avoids another rush. Hard 2-3 from Pereira, Silva answers with an overhand. Big looping right appears to connect for Silva. Hard overhand definitely connects. Two minutes in. More looping blows from Silva as Pereira ties up. They trade knees inside. Silva counters a series of kicks. Pereira body jab. Two minutes to go.
Counter left and low kick from Silva. Right hand falls short, leg kick doesn’t. Solid double-leg against the fence. Pereira posting, trying to stand. One minute to go. Hard knee from Silva on the way up. Pereira separates. They trade near the fence. Hard left hook stings Silva and Pereira tries to follow up. 10-9 Silva.
Round 2: Pereira goes back to the kicks to start. Straight right through the guard. Body shot. One minute in. Jab, staggered right cross. Long left by Pereira, who walks into a counter right. Pereira to the body as Silva tries to slug. SIlva continuing to push forward. Hard cross counter and body shot land for Pereira. Counter left, low kick, body shot all connect for Silva. He shoots, completes a double-leg two minutes in. Pereira pops back to his feet, gets pressed against the fence. Two minutes to go.
Spinning elbow by Silva, eats a knee, comes back with right hands before they separate. Decent flurry from Silva, eats a hard knee to the body as he hauls Perreira back to the fence. They separate. Solid boxing by Pereira. One minute to go. Short right from Silva on the exit, counter flurry. Pereira tags the body. 2-3-low kick from Silva. Pereira tries to come back with a flying knee and combinations. Low kicks come back at him. SIlva lands a straight left, slips on a body kick. 10-9 Pereira? These two could have gone either way.
Round 3: Pereira sprawls on the first shot of the round. Low kick from Silva. He backs Pereira to the fence. Trading knees a minute in. Pereira reverses, lands short punches. Silva gets double unders and reverses in turn. No luck on an ankle pick. Two minutes in. Knee from Pereira on the break. Bouncing, taunting a bit. Nasty body shot and right cross. Another cross, then a check hook that turns Silva’s legs to jelly. Silva tries to change levels, gets cracked with knees to the body. Sneaky elbow from Pereira. Two minutes to go.
Pereira rips a body shot, then tees off to the head. Silva throwing back somehow, tries a blast double and gets sprawled on again. Pereira lets him up. 2-3 connects and he puts Silva on the fence. Knees downstairs. One minute to go. Pereira defends a takedown with a whizzer. Body lock for Silva. He lets go, then starts trying to blast away on the fence. Pereira responds with some vicious counters that make Silva stagger back. Pereira blasts him to the body, then walks into a right hand at the bell. Hell of a round. Borderline 10-8, but I’ll say 10-9 Pereira.
Final result: Pereira def. Silva by unanimous decision
170 lbs.: AJ Fletcher vs. Matthew Semelsberger
Round 1: Jab from Semelsberger, low kick from Fletcher. Fletcher shoots, rebuffed. Wheel kick attempt. He ducks a right hand and double-legs Semelsberger to the mat. On top in half guard. Slick move to mount. One minute in. Semelsberger looks to scramble up and Fletcher forces him back down into half guard with a guillotine. Two minutes in. Short shots from Fletcher. Nice elbow. Semelsberger regains guard. Two minutes to go.
Semelsberger trying to push off Fletcher’s hips to threaten a sub, no dice. Fletcher moves to half guard and briefly attempts an arm triangle. Semelsberger goes for a scramble and again that guillotine keeps him down, this time into mount with a minute to go. Semelsberger holds him down. 10-9 Semelsberger.
Round 2: Fletcher tries a spinning back fist. Head kick attempt. Semelsberger body kick. Overhand left comes up short. Fletcher body kick, jab exchange. One minute in. Trading jabs and low kicks. Fletcher takes a finger in the eye. Low kicks when they resume. Semelsberger lands a body kick, then succumbs to a blast double. Fletcher jumps on his back as Semelsberger stands. Semelsberger manages to turn and separate two minutes in. Semelsberger body kick, Fletcher head kick. Counter right by Semelsberger. Clean uppercut by Fletcher soon after. Trading in the center. Fletcher shoots and immediately transitions to Semelsberger’s back. He tries to go for an arm as Semelsberger escapes out the back door. Semelsberger on top, lands a hard right. Guard with two minutes to go.
Punches from Semelsberger. Hard elbows. One minute to go. Another heavy elbow by Semelsberger. Falling hammerfist, can’t get the back and settles back on top in guard. Brief armbar attempt from Fletcher. More elbows from Semelsberger. 10-9 Semelsberger.
Round 3: Early left hook by Fletcher. Still looking fresh. Clean front kick from Semelsberger that Fletcher absorbs. Fletcher briefly clinches, bails when Semelsberger looks for the Thai clinch. Solid right cross from Semelsberger. He punches into the clinch, gets too eager and Fletcher takes him down a minute in. Half guard for Fletcher. Semelsberger quickly scrambles up. Nice double-leg by Semelsberger puts him on top in side control. Fletcher regains half guard, then guard two minutes in. Solid control from Semelsberger. Fletcher working to stand, can’t do so.
Solid left from Semelsberger. Elbows from Fletcher off his back. Semelsberger postures up for some punches. Elbow. Fletcher tries to shrimp, eats another elbow that cuts him open. Fletcher scrambles up into his own takedown. Semelsberger quickly scrambles up and tries to spin, then they bomb until the bell. 10-9 Semelsberger
Final result: Semelsberger def. Fletcher by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: JJ Aldrich vs. Gillian Robertson
Round 1: Robertson tossing out some kicks. Aldrich moving well early. One minute in. Nobody committing to anything yet. Aldrich tries a counter left. Body kick from Robertson. She tries a long-range shot, denied. Two minutes in. Straight left by Aldrich. Robertson lands a right cross. Aldrich takes a finger in the eye and the ref warns both women about their fingers. Aldrich jab. Two minutes to go.
1-2 from Aldrich, controlling the striking now that both are committing. Another 1-2. Lead left. Robertson lands a right hand, then tries a head kick when Aldrich slips. Single-leg attempt with a minute to go. Aldrich jab. Aldrich lands a right hand and hits her own takedown at the bell. 10-9 Aldrich.
Round 2: Aldrich continuing to potshot. Robertson advancing but struggling to get inside. She fakes a shot, lands a knee, eats a right. Jabs from Aldrich a minute in. Robertson body kick and knee to the body. Hard counter right lands for Aldrich. Robertson tries a single-leg, then transitions directly to the back. Both hooks in. Aldrich manages to spin into guard. Two minutes to go.
Robertson trying to use overhooks. She kicks Aldrich away and stands. One minute to go. Robertson shoots, denied, lands a left hook. Right cross as they trade. Body jab. Counter right from Aldrich, then a hard body kick in the final seconds that Robertson catches. 10-9 Aldrich.
Round 3: Aldrich popping off counters as Robertson pushes forward. Now Aldrich on the advance, potshotting. Robertson feints a shot a minute in. Robertson left hand, Aldrich lands one on the counter. They trade knees inside and Aldrich puts her on the fence. Elbow by Robertson two minutes in. Aldrich still keeping her against the side of the cage. They separate. 1-2 from Aldrich. Two minutes to go.
Another 1-2. Knee by Robertson inside. Aldrich 1-2. One minute to go. Counter left lands for Aldrich. Robertson shoots, pulls guard, tries to turn for an armbar. Aldrich pulls her arm free. Working from the top. 10-9 Aldrich.
Final result: Aldrich def. Robertson by unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Javid Basharat vs. Trevin Jones
Round 1: Low kick from Jones to start. He looks for a combo. Basharat low kick, avoids an overhand left. Jones looking for body shots as Basharat steadily advances. One minute in. Basharat backing away from most of Jones’ shots so far. Glancing spinning back kick, clean jab. Heavy three-piece lands for Jones. Basharat still focusing on the low kicks. Two minutes in. Body kick from Basharat blocked. Hard left by Jones in return. Low kick. Basharat to the body. Straight right. Two minutes to go.
Basharat feints low and lands an overhand right. Hard counter knee catches Jones coming in. Basharat follows with a knee to the head and starts teeing off with elbows. Clean uppercut. Two right crosses, spinning back kick. Jones fires a counter left, eats low-high right hands. One minute to go. Basharat tries a head kick. Both land to the body. Basharat lead right. They trade lefts. Another spinning back kick from Basharat. 10-9 Basharat.
Round 2: Basharat low kick, Jones combinations upstairs. Lead right from Basharat, then on the counter. Jones low kick. One minute in. Basharat leg kick. Jones falls short with a two-piece, eats a body kick. They trade low kicks. Feint-heavy approach from Basharat. Two minutes in. There’s a couple nice lefts from Jones met by a body kick. Basharat low kicks. Jones ducks a right hand and shoots, denied. Elbow from Basharat on the break. Two minutes to go.
Lefts from Jones against the fence. Right cross and 1-1-2 from Basharat in return. Both land leg kicks. Basharat lead right. Spinning back kick attempt. One minute to go. Basharat tries a head kick, splits the guard with a jab. Right hand, step-in knee. Jones answers a low kick with a flurry. Basharat body kick. 10-9 Basharat.
Round 3: Low kick and body shots from Jones. Low kick and jab. Basharat with some counter jabs. Body shot. One minute in. Counter right by Jones. Looking for counters. Basharat with a nice uppercut. Right hand downstairs. Lead right upstairs. Another clean lead right two minutes in, then to the body. Head kick attempt, avoids a flurry, lands a leg kick. Left cross by Jones. Basharat continuing to advance. Slick knee and elbow. Two minutes to go.
Jones low kick. Basharat fires a wheel kick and follows up with punches. Heavy lefts from Jones in response and an uppercut through the guard. One minute to go. Basharat advancing, landing jabs. Jones just misses with an overhand left. Two more fall short. Low kick lands. Basharat with one last spinning back kick. 10-9 Basharat.
Final result: Basharat def. Jones by unanimous decision
145 lbs.: Damon Jackson vs. Kamuela Kirk
Round 1: Jackson pressuring early, firing punches. 1-2-knee from Kirk. Head kick attempt. One minute in. Kirk body shot and low kick. Knee up top. Two minutes in. Kirk starting to advance. Knee to the body. Wheel kick falls well short. Jab connects. Low-high 1-2 from Jackson, who walks into a jab. Kirk tries a head kick. Two minutes to go.
Step-in body kick from Jackson, then a clean uppercut in combination that stings Kirk. Hard lead right from Kirk after they reset. Low kick. Knee to the body. Jackson hurts him with a counter right and follows with knees to the body. Continuing to push forward. He drags Kirk to the mat with a minute to go. Right to mount, dropping punches. Kirk trying to regain half guard. More shots from Jackson, briefly considers an arm triangle. 10-9 Jackson, borderline 10-8.
Round 2: Early takedown from Jackson into mount. Kirk steadily regains guard a minute in. Jackson passes to half guard. Short ground-and-pound. Two minutes in. Kirk tries to regain guard again, can’t do so. Two minutes to go.
Kirk regains guard. Jackson holding onto an arm triangle grip. Both throwing short shots. One minute to go. Kirk spins for an armbar, no dice. Jackson uses the opportunity to wrap up the arm triangle again, pass into half guard, and force the tap.
Final result: Jackson def. Kirk by submission (arm triangle choke)
125 lbs.: Miranda Maverick vs. Sabina Mazo
Round 1: Low kick from Maverick to start. 1-2 downstairs. Mazo low kick. Maverick hops in with a straight left. Low kicks. Counter jab by Mazo a minute in. Maverick shoots, completes it into guard. Short punches from her. Mazo turns for an armbar two minutes in. Maverick manages to stack, then turn to avoid it. She stands, grabs a front headlock as Mazo gets to her feet. Nice outer reap puts Maverick back on top in side control. Two minutes to go.
Short punches land for her as Mazo stands again. Maverick still attached, muscles her back down into half guard. Short elbows. Mazo regains guard. One minute to go. Heavy pressure from Maverick, landing ground-and-pound. 10-9 Maverick.
Round 2: Solid left from Maverick. Long-range shot rebuffed. She runs in with a low kick. Sharp counter right by Mazo. Maverick comes back with an overhand left, shoots, denied. One minute in. Maverick body kick. Body shot. Mazo tries a head kick, lands to the body, eats a body kick in return. Uppercut-cross by Maverick. She times a kick and takes her down, quickly wrapping up the RNC and transitioning to the back to secure the lock. There’s the tap.
Final result: Maverick def. Mazo by submission (rear naked choke)
185 lbs.: Cody Brundage vs. Dalcha Lungiambula
Round 1: Low kick and counter right from Brundage, then a knee on the break. He ducks another looping right for a shot. Lungiambula appears to consider a guillotine, then lands a hard right hand while sprawling. Brundage continuing to drive, Lungiambula still punching. Two minutes in. Short punches landing. Brutal uppercuts as Brundage stands. Continuing to tee off. Brundage tries a spinning back fist with two minutes to go.
Lungiambula wades back in and Brundage tries to change levels. Knees from Lungiambula, knees, uppercuts. Not enough for the finish yet but he’s doing damage. He changes levels, but Brundage jumps on a guillotine that forces a tap.
Final result: Brundage def. Lungiambula by submission (guillotine choke)
135 lbs.: Guido Cannetti vs. Kris Moutinho
Round 1: Trading heavy shots right away. Cannetti low kick, Moutinho counter left. Another heavy low kick from Cannetti as Moutinho advances. Cannetti falls short with haymakers, lands more leg kicks. One minute in. Moutinho’s getting him to the fence but not landing clean. There’s a good left through the guard. Cannetti lands a body kick, then a left hand as Moutinho holds it. Spinning back fist. Moutinho leg kick, then a monstrous straight left from Cannetti comes back at him. Cannetti bombing away with left hands and knees to the body as Moutinho wobbles back. The punishment continues to pile up until the ref intervenes.
Final result: Cannetti def. Moutinho by TKO (punches)
205 lbs.: Azamat Murzakanov vs. Tafon Nchukwi
Round 1: The first fight began sooner than I anticipated, so we’ll start with two minutes to go in the first round.
Nchukwi tossing out kicks. Murzakanov circling. One minute to go. Murzakanov tries a knee tap, eats a body kick and knee inside. Short uppercut by Nchukwi just misses. Murzakanov to the body. Nchukwi tries a head kick, gets reversed on the fence. Over-unders. 10-9 Nchukwi.
Round 2: Nchukwi opens with a body kick. Leg kick connects, avoids a counter. Murzakanov catches a kick, can’t use it. Catches a low kick, can’t take the back as Nchukwi pops back up. One minute in. Nchukwi low kick and jab. Body kick connects. Simultaneous kicks. Two minutes in. Murzakanov barely throwing, eats heavy knees inside. Nchukwi low kicks. I don’t think Murzkanov has landed a punch this round. Good entry, denied, takes Nchukwi to the fence. Two minutes to go.
Murzakanov lands a knee on the exit. Nchukwi wades in with punches. Jab from Murzakanov, tired-looking 2-1. Solid 1-2 with a minute to go. Nchukwi body shot, looks for a head kick behind it. Heavy body kick. Low kick connects. Murzakanov seems exhausted, but lands a 1-2. 10-9 Nchukwi.
Round 3: Early head kick and right hand from Nchukwi. Suddenly, Murzakanov staggers him with a murderous counter left. Nchukwi staggers back, then leans directly into a brutal flying knee. Wow.
Final result: Murzakanov def. Nchukwi by KO (flying knee)
To check out the latest and greatest UFC Vegas 50: “Santos vs. Ankalaev” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.