Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to its APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the UFC Vegas 54 mixed martial arts (MMA) event TONIGHT (Sat., May 14, 2022), streaming LIVE on ESPN2 and ESPN+, topped by the 205-pound showdown pitting No. 1-ranked Light Heavyweight contender, Jan Blachowicz, opposite surging standout and No. 3-seeded title hopeful, Aleksandar Rakic. Before that five-round slugfest gets underway, fellow Light Heavyweight veterans, Ryan Spann and Ion Cutelaba, will trade leather in a battle slated for three, five-minute rounds in UFC Vegas 54’s co-main event. Familiar faces like Davey Grant, Amanda Ribas and Michael Johnson, among others, will also see caged action tonight in “Sin City.”
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 54 fight card below, starting with the ESPN+/Fight Pass “Prelims” undercard bouts at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by the ESPN2/ESPN+ main card start time at 10 p.m. ET. Bet on all the UFC Vegas 54 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 “Blachowicz vs. Rakic.” Without further delay, see below for the updated UFC Vegas 53 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action).
UFC VEGAS 54 QUICK RESULTS:
205 lbs.: Jan Blachowicz vs. Aleksandar Rakic — Blachowicz def. Rakic by TKO (knee injury) at 1:11 of Round Three — HIGHLIGHTS
205 lbs.: Ion Cutelaba vs. Ryan Spann — Spann def. Cutelaba by submission (guillotine choke) at 2:22 of Round One
135 lbs.: Davey Grant vs. Louis Smolka — Grant def. Smolka by KO (punches) at 0:49 of Round Three — HIGHLIGHTS
125 lbs.: Katlyn Chookagian vs. Amanda Ribas — Chookagian def. Ribas by split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)
155 lbs.: Frank Camacho vs. Manuel Torres — Torres def. Camacho by TKO (punches) at 3:27 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
125 lbs.: Jake Hadley vs. Allan Nascimento — Nascimento def. Hadley by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
125 lbs.: Viviane Araujo vs. Andrea Lee — Araujo def. Lee by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27 x2)
155 lbs.: Michael Johnson vs. Alan Patrick — Johnson def. Patrick by KO (punches) at 3:22 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS
115 lbs.: Angela Hill vs. Virna Jandiroba — Jandiroba def. Hill by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
125 lbs.: Carlos Candelario vs. Tatsuro Taira — Taira def. Candelario by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27 x2)
185 lbs.: Nick Maximov vs. Andre Petroski — Petroski def. Maximov by technical submission (anaconda choke) at 1:16 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
UFC VEGAS 54 LIVE PLAY-BY-PLAY:
205 lbs.: Jan Blachowicz vs. Aleksandar Rakic
Round one: Trading low kicks to start. Rakic slips, avoids a head kick on the way up. Low-high 3-2 from Blachowicz, who gets cracked by a long right cross. Both targeting the lead calf. One minute in. Blachowicz 1-2 as they trade. Another low-high two-piece. A third time. Body kick from Rakic. Low kick exchange. Two minutes in. That combo continues to land for Blachowicz. Both still landing low kicks on a regular basis. Blachowicz follows that combo with additional punches that sting Rakic. Two minutes to go.
Jabs landing for Rakic. Now Rakic avoids the combo and comes back with a 1-2. He shoots, gets denied, and they trade on the break with a minute to go. Rakic to the body. More low kicks. 10-9 Blachowicz.
Round two: Rakic still trying to attack the leg, Blachowicz checking well. Reactive shot puts him on top. Blachowicz trying to set up a triangle and locks it up, but Rakic slips free. One minute in. Rakic landing short punches from guard. Two minutes in. Nice elbow. Continuing to work. Two minutes to go.
Blachowicz scoots to the fence, unable to stand. One minute to go. Swatting each other with arm punches. 10-9 Rakic.
Round three: Slick left hook from Rakic after they trade low kicks. Body kick lands for Blachowicz in combination. Stiff jab by Rakic knocks Blachowicz’s mouthguard loose. Low kicks land for Blachowicz. Rakic tries to back away from a combination and his knee gives out, sending him to the canvas and anticlimactically ending the fight,
Final result: Blachowicz def. Rakic by TKO (knee injury)
205 lbs.: Ion Cutelaba vs. Ryan Spann
Round one: Quick right lands for Spann, then another. Both try front kicks. Solid rights from Spann but Cutelaba throws him to the mat. Mount, then half guard a minute in. Spann regains guard. He gets to his feet, dragged back down. Spann kicks him off again, gets tripped into guard again two minutes in. Short elbow from Cutelaba. Spann kicks him away, gets to his feet, and wraps up a palm-to-palm guillotine as Cutelaba slips that forces a frantic tap.
Final result: Spann def. Cutelaba by submission (guillotine choke)
135 lbs.: Davey Grant vs. Louis Smolka
Round one: Right hand from Grant after attacking the lead leg. Another hard one. Body shots as Smolka lands a teep. Smolka not liking the calf kicks. Counter right from Smolka, who blocks some haymakers. One minute in. Body jab and low kicks from Grant. Smolka body kick. Low-high right-left by Grant, another low kick. Brief clinch. More swings from Grant. Two minutes in. Another calf kick and some cuffing hooks. Counter right visibly stings Smolka, who absorbs a spinning back kick. Heavy right in combination, then another low kick with two minutes to go.
There’s a lead right by Smolka. They trade body kicks. Low-high 2-3 by Grant. Clean spinning back fist, eats a knee in return. Both try knees in the clinch. Good body work by Grant and some counters. Side kick with a minute to go. Jab floors Smolka coming in and Grant follows him down. Smolka looking for a leg, Grant escapes and lets him up. 10-9 Grant.
Round two: Early shot from Smolka, denied. Body kick. Another one that Grant catches. Right to the body by Grant, bigger right to the head by Smolka. Good left hook and body shots, eats knees in return. Grant to the body again, eats a body kick. Hard right cross comes back at him. One minute in. Grant lead left, Smolka body kick. Left hook stings Grant. Smolka tees off with a flurry inside. Continuing to trade heat. Grant tries a flying knee two minutes in. Body shot. Body kick from Smolka, combination. Smolka outworking him this round. Right hand met by a Grant left hook. Smolka lands an elbow, avoids a wheel kick. Two minutes to go.
Trading at point blank. Smolka lead right, both land inside. Hard calf kicks by Grant. Elbow to cross by Smolka in return. Grant whiffs a wheel kick and Smolka gets on top, dropping shots. Smolka jumps on the back, then transitions to an armbar. Nice scramble by Grant to escape and return to the feet. They end the round trading. 10-9 Smolka.
Round three: Calf kick and 2-3 from Grant. Another calf kick makes Smolka switch stance. Oblique kick, jab. Another calf kick and Smolka’s leg gives out. Grant sprawls on a shot, follows him to the mat, and bashes him until the lights go out.
Final result: Grant def. Smolka by KO (punches)
125 lbs.: Katlyn Chookagian vs. Amanda Ribas
Round one: Ribas pushing forward. 1-2 from Chookagian. Long cross. Knee in the clinch but Ribas hits a head-and-arm throw into scarf hold. Chookagian tries to take the back, surrenders side control a minute in. Back to scarf hold. Two minutes in. Chookagian again trying to take the back. Bit of a stalemate with their legs tangled up. Solid work by Chookagian two stand with two minutes to go.
Ribas uppercuts, Chookagian knee. Ribas tries a spinning back kick and eats a clean 1-2. Another, more looping. Knee lands with a minute to go. Sneaky back fist from Ribas, who eats a pair of chopping rights. Clear technical striking edge for Chookagian. Ribas low kick. 10-9 Chookagian.
Round two: Trading volleys early. Chookagian 1-2 and knee. Ribas still trying to pressure. Clean 1-2 wobbles Ribas. They trade rights. One minute in. Decent jab from Ribas, better one from Chookagian. Another heavy right cross hits home for Chookagian, who absorbs a spinning back kick. Body kick. Ribas hauls her to the fence and muscles her way into a successful head-and-arm throw. Two minutes in. Chookagian brings her guard up, gives up side control. Ribas working from guard. Two minutes to go.
Ribas looks for the back and Chookagian manages to stand. Separation. 1-2 from Chookagian. One minute to go. Another back fist by Ribas off a missed spinning back fist. Chookagian to the body. Counter hook. Heavy 1-2 and knee. 2-1. 1-2. Body lock before the bell. 10-9 Chookagian.
Round three: Another 1-2 by Chookagian, who gets tripped up by a leg kick. Quick exchange. Spinning back kick from Ribas, tries to clinch, rebuffed. Teep lands. Right cross to back fist by Chookagian a minute in. Ribas head kick. Continuing to push forward. Chookagian rebuffs another entry and they trade punches. Ribas low kick, Chookagian body shot. Two minutes in. COntinuing to exchange. Ribas doing pretty well as they trade. Solid two-piece from Chookagian with two minutes to go.
Ribas tries a head kick. Body kick lands. Three-piece by Chookagian. Well timed double-leg by Ribas, punches on the way up. They separate with under a minute to go. Hard right by Ribas and a jab behind it. Counter 1-2. Ribas going for it. Big check hook. Chookagian throwing with her. Brief clinch, left from Ribas, right crosses from Chookagian. 10-9 RIbas.
Final result: Chookagian def. Ribas by split decision
155 lbs.: Frank Camacho vs. Manuel Torres
Round one: low kick from Torres, then a left hook that buzze Camacho. Camacho comes back with a low kick and unsuccessful shot. Trading hands in center cage. Camacho tries a single-leg, gets pressed against the fence. They separate a minute in. Torres left hook and 1-2 to answer a jab. Camacho shoots again, rebuffed again. Solid cross. Torres trying to swing around the guard, ties up. Camacho puts him on the fence. Knee as they separate two minutes in. 1-2 and cuffing right by Torres. Camacho low kick, eats another left hook. Torres swings into the clinch. Separation. Big uppercut by Torres and he follows up with solid right hands. Big elbow on the fence and Torres is teeing off with two minutes to go.
Torres still looking for the killshot. Stiff jab, then a counter left hook-right hook that floors Camacho. Herb Dean hesitates, but waves it off before Torres can land any follow-ups.
Final result: Torres def. Camacho by TKO (punches)
125 lbs.: Jake Hadley vs. Allan Nascimento
Round one: Hadley advancing, just blocks a head kick. Nascimento kicking off the back foot. Solid snap kick. He catches a return body kick and takes him down into guard. Hadley tries a gogoplata, then transitions to an omoplata to sweep into top position. Nascimento rolls for a leg a minute in. Solid hammerfist off his back. Hadley tries to take his back and gets caught in a straight ankle lock two minutes in. Hadley slips out, but Nascimento scrambles into top guard. Short left hands with two minutes to go.
Nascimento staying heavy. Hadley trying to set up rubber guard, can’t. One minute to go. Nascimento trying to pass with pressure. Hadley sits up into a takedown attempt at the bell. 10-9 Nascimento.
Round two: Hadley advancing, Nascimento backs him off with kicks. Nice double-leg from Nascimento into guard. Hadley trying to get a knee shield in, no dice a minute in. Nascimento snuffs out another attempt to stand. Hadley’s active off of his back but Nascimento’s keeping him from getting anything started. Two minutes in. Knee to the body from Nascimento. His balance and awareness are excellent, though he’s not doing much damage from the top. Two minutes to go.
Hardley tries to kick him off, then elevate with butterfly guard. Again Nascimento retains position. Hadley just unable to dislodge Nascimento. One minute to go. Now Hadley gets to the fence and stands, managing to break Nascimento’s grip and reverse. Nascimento with a knee at the bell. 10-9 Nascimento.
Round three: More kicks from Nascimento as Hadley pushes forward. Hadley scnatches a guillotine as Nascimento shoots and forces him to the mat, setting up in half guard. Threatening front chokes. Left hands a minute in. Nascimento goes for an ankle lock, denied. Hadley considers what looks like an Ezekiel choke before abandoning it and looking to take the back. No hooks and Nascimento slips out the back door two minutes in. Half guard for Nascimento, steadily cinching up a d’arce, He drops it with two minutes to go.
Back to guard. Hadley tries for a takedown attempt, separates. 1-2 and body kick from Nascimento, who gets caught in another guillotine and ends up on his back in half guard. One minute to go. Nascimento works his way back into top position and drops some punches in the final seconds. 10-9 Nascimento.
Final result: Nascimento def. Hadley by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Viviane Araujo vs. Andrea Lee
Round one: Araujo lands some good early punches, but gets rocked by a left hand and clobbered by a head kick behind it. Lee slings her down into half guard. Araujo works her way to the feet and locks her hands for a big slam a minute in. Lee looking to attack a kimura, uses it to stand. Araujo’s still attached. They separate. Two minutes in. Araujo pushing forward, walks through fire to crack Lee with a left hook and change levels. Lee gets off the fence and they separate. Two minutes to go.
Cross counter from Lee, jab from Araujo. Araujo teep, left hook exchange. Araujo’s jab is looking sharp and she takes Lee down into side control. Potential arm triangle setup, loses it with a minute to go. Heavy right hands as Lee fires upkicks. Side control once again. Araujo postures up and drops shots in the waning seconds. Elbows from Lee off her back. 10-9 Araujo.
Round two: Lee elbow, Araujo right hand. Nasty body shot by Araujo. Trading jabs on the fence. Lee with a sloppy shot and Araujo jumps on her back. One minute in. Araujo dropping punches, trying to flatten her out. Arm triangle transition. Lee defending on her side, manages to escape. Tons of pressure from Araujo as she moves to side control. Another back transition two minutes in. Solid punches from Araujo. Two minutes to go.
Lee trying to slip out the back. Araujo threatening a Suloev stretch. Continuing to land ground-and-pound. She flattens her out with a minute to go. Another arm triangle and it looks deep. Lee somehow manages to gut it out. 10-8 Araujo.
Round three: Araujo advancing with punches, scores an easy double-leg into side control. One minute in. Araujo staying heavy. Lee rolls to her knees and manages to stand two minutes in. Araujo pressing her against the fence. Trading knees inside. Lee separates. Araujo low kick, Lee jabs. Both landing jabs, body kick lands for Lee. Lee tries a heel kick, slips, and gives up top position. Two minutes to go.
Araujo cruising in side control. Now she takes the back with a minute to go. Lee slips out the back door and drops punches from 50/50 until the bell. 10-9 Araujo.
Final result: Araujo def. Lee by unanimous decision
155 lbs.: Michael Johnson vs. Alan Patrick
Round one: Quick 1-2 from Johnson to answer a naked kick. Patrick ties up, gets shoved to the mat. 1-2 rocks Patrick, Johnson doesn’t jump on him. Patrick tries a double-leg, denied a minute in. Patrick comes back with a big left hand that rattles Johnson and hauls him to the fence. They separate. Front kick attempt two minutes in. Low kick lands. Ugly wheel kick attempt. Johnson lands a clean left cross with tow minutes to go.
Spinning back fist rattles Johnson, who hits a takedown into guard. Can opener. Short elbows. One minute to go. Patrick trying to bring up his guard, but Johnson passes to side control. North-south. 10-9 Johnson.
Round two: Early counter left from Johnson as Patrick tries to swing big. Patrick lands a low kick, shoots, gets matador’d. Johnson with another counter combo in center cage. One minute in. Patrick low kick. 1-2 wobbles Patrick and Johnson puts him on the fence. Johnson separates after landing a knee. Patrick tries a spinning back kick and a three-piece comes back at him. Two minutes in. Patrick shoots, denied. Johnson lets him up, avoiding shenanigans. Heavy 1-2. Two minutes to go.
Another 1-2 on the counter. Patrick tries to trade and Johnson just melts him with a combination. One more hammerfist turns the lights out.
Final result: Johnson def. Patrick by KO (punches)
115 lbs.: Angela Hill vs. Virna Jandiroba
Round one: Jandiroba shoots, denied, lands a right hand on the break. 1-2 lands for her. They trade and Jandiroba hauls her to the fence with a body lock. One minute in. Jandiroba rolls for a leglock. Two minutes in. Hill grimacing as Jandiroba tweaks her legs. Hill manages to survive and take top position. Jandiroba looking to escape, does so with two minutes to go.
Knee from Hill, jockeying for position. Jandiroba trying to answer in kind. Right hand on the break with a minute to go. Jab exchange. Neither landing clean late. Hill ties up and trips Jandroba down, looking for the back as Jandiroba sweeps. 10-9 Jandiroba on the submission attempt.
Round two: Jandiroba sending out 1-2s. Jab lands for Hill. They exchange in the center, tie up, then both land on the break. 1-2 by Jandiroba. One minute in. Hill hauls her to the fence and they trade knees. Short elbow by Jandiroba on the exit. Solid combo from Hill in return. Back in the clinch, Hill pressing her against the fence. Good knees from Hill before they separate. Two minutes in. Lead right lands clean. Nice double-leg puts Jandiroba on top. Staying heavy from half guard. Two minutes to go.
Jandiroba trying to pass, does so, isolates an arm. Kimura to armbar, dropping hammerfists. One minute to go. Hill trying to stack her. Nice knee pressure on Jandioba’s face. 10-9 Jandiroba.
Round three: Solid 2-1 from Hill to start. Right cross as they trade, heavy combination. Jandiroba looks for a single-leg, transitions to a double, and dumps her to the mat, avoiding a sweep into half guard. One minute in. Hill nearly manages to work her way up, but Jandiroba changes levels to drag her back into guard two minutes in. Hill trying to land elbows as Jandiroba stays heavy and chips away. Two minutes to go.
Hill uses a straight armbar attempt to try to unbalance Jandiroba, can’t do so. Short punches from Jandiroba. Arm triangle to back mount. Hill staying mobile, manages to turn into guard in the last 10 seconds. 10-9 Jandiroba.
Final result: Jandiroba def. Hill by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Carlos Candelario vs. Tatsuro Taira
Round one: Candelario advancing, denies a caught-kick takedown. Right hand and body kick from Taira, low kick and 1-2 come back at him. One minute in. Well-timed shot from Taira into the clinch. Trying to trip him down. No luck and they separate. Shifting right hook lands for him. Candelario ducks a right hand and shoots. Re-shot denied. Taira tries a body kick two minutes in. Candelario still advancing, eats a cracking right cross. Head kick attempt. Two minutes to go.
Taira to the body, Candelario counters. Taira ties up , lands a knee, hits a nice foot sweep. Candelario makes it up and blocks an uppercut. Solid low kick from Taira with a minute to go. Well-timed shot from Candelario gets him on top against the fence. 10-9 Taira.
Round two: Sneaky body shot and two-piece from Candelario, who shoots. Good sprawl from Taira, who answers with a right cross that drops Candelario. Great back take, dropping punches. Full body triangle a minute in. Looking for the RNC. Taira’s sneaking in some nice punches and elbows as he works. Gnarly elbows. More punches two minutes in. Great balance by Taira to maintain back mount. Still hunting the RNC. He manages to pin down Candelario’s arm for a bit, still can’t find the choke. Two minutes to go.
Candelario manages to turn into guard, but Taira retakes the back. Now Candelario gets back on top with a minute to go. Half guard for Candelario. He manages to land a handful of shots. 10-9 Taira.
Round three: Candelario eats a low blow to start, takes about 30 seconds to recover before returning to action. He ducks a right hand and shoots, getting Taira to his seat against the fence. Taira gets the underhook and shoots, only to get caught in a guillotine. He manages to scramble free, but is stuck back on the bottom in half guard. Again he uses the underhook to sweep and this time he avoids the guillotine to settle in half guard two minutes in. He looks for mount, then wraps up a triangle as Candelario sweeps in. Candelario escapes, only for Taira to get a rear waist lock with two minutes to go.
Full back mount once again. Neck crank attempt, nothing there. Dropping shots from mount with a minute to go. Heavy shots from Taira. He continues to drop punches and elbows until the bell. What a debut. 10-9 Taira.
Final result: Taira def. Candelario by unanimous decision
185 lbs.: Nick Maximov vs. Andre Petroski
Round one: Petroski knocks Maximov off-balance with a blocked head kick. Lead uppercut, looping left falls short. Maximov tries a single-leg and they scramble until Petroski clamps down on a front headlock. He transitions to an anaconda choke and puts Maximov to sleep in seconds.
Final result: Petroski def. Maximov by technical submission (anaconda choke)
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