Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to its APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the UFC Vegas 76 mixed martial arts (MMA) event TONIGHT (Sat., July 1, 2023), streaming LIVE on ESPN and ESPN+. UFC Vegas 76 will be headlined by a 185-pound showdown between Top 5-ranked middleweight contender, Sean Strickland, and former Professional Fighters League (PFL) standout, Abus Magomedov. Before that five-round clash of styles gets underway, lightweight veterans Grant Dawson and Damir Ismagulov collide in UFC Vegas 76’s co-main event. Elsewhere on the card, long-time welterweight contender, Kevin Lee, makes his return to the Octagon opposite once-beaten Russian “Gladiator,” Rinat Fakhretdinov.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 76 fight card below, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” undercard bouts at 4 p.m. ET, followed by the ESPN/ESPN+ main card start time at 7 p.m. ET. Bet on all the UFC Vegas 76 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 “Strickland vs. Magomedov.” Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC Vegas 76 results. (Note: This will be updated from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action).
UFC VEGAS 75 QUICK RESULTS:
185 lbs.: Sean Strickland vs. Abus Magomedov — Strickland def. Magomedov by TKO (punches) at 4:20 of Round Two
155 lbs.: Grant Dawson vs. Damir Ismagulov — Dawson def. Ismagulov by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27 x2)
170 lbs.: Max Griffin vs. Michael Morales — Morales def. Grififn by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
125 lbs.: Melissa Gatto vs. Ariane Lipski — Lipski def. Gatto by split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
155 lbs.: Ismael Bonfim vs. Benoit Saint-Denis — Saint-Denis def. Bonfim by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:48 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
185 lbs.: Brunno Ferreira vs. Nursulton Ruziboev — Ruziboev def. Ferreira by KO (punches) at 1:17 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
170 lbs.: Kevin Lee vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov — Fakhretdinov def. Lee by technical submission (guillotine choke) at 0:55 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
145 lbs.: Joanderson Brito vs. Westin Wilson — Brito def. Wilson by KO (punches) at 2:54 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS
135 lbs.: Karol Rosa vs. Yana Santos — Rosa def. Santos by split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)
155 lbs.: Elves Brener vs. Guram Kutateladze — Brener def. Kutateladze by TKO (punches) at 3:17 of Round Three — HIGHLIGHTS
125 lbs.: Luana Carolina vs. Ivana Petrovic — Carolina def. Petrovic by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
265 lbs.: Blagoy Ivanov vs. Alexandr Romanov — Romanov def. Ivanov by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
UFC VEGAS 75 LIVE PLAY-BY-PLAY:
185 lbs.: Sean Strickland vs. Abus Magomedov
Round 1: Magomedov opens with kicks. Counter combo falls short. Strickland takes a finger in the eye while throwing a jab shortly after. After three minutes of recovery, he returns to action. Magomedov aggressive with the kicks. Solid low kicks met by a Strickland jab. One minute in. Magomedov falls short with a left hook, lands another teep downstairs. Punches fall short, front kick two minutes in. Two-piece. Strickland content to fire the occasional jab. Hard low kicks by Magomedov. Counter left, then to the body. Two minutes to go.
Strickland lands to the body, eats a couple body blows in return. More body kicks from Magomedov, then a head kick behind it. He shoots and trips Strickland to the mat, hunting the back. Nice scramble by Strickland to stand with a minute to go. Strickland jabs, Magomedov, low kick. Trading jabs. Counter left by Magomedov. 10-9 Magomedov.
Round 2: 1-1-2 lands for Strickland and now he’s on the attack. Putting together combinations. Magomedov already looking winded a minute in. Combinations piling up against the fence. Magomedov trying to throw back but he really looks compromised. Two minutes in. Strickland steadily advancing, finding the mark with right hands. Double right against the fence. Unloading with two minutes to go.
Nice body shot from Magomedov, who takes a deep breath and backs off. Strickland goes back to piling up punches against the fence as the ref asks for Magomedov to fight back. One minute to go. Finally Magomedov goes down and Strickland pours it on for a desperately late stoppage.
Final result: Strickland def. Magomedov by TKO (punches)
155 lbs.: Grant Dawson vs. Damir Ismagulov
Round 1: Ismagulov pressuring early. Dawson trying to keep him at bay with kicks. He shoots, denied. Overhand left. Big lead right from Ismagulov. Daeson fires a low single a minute in and completes it into top position. Looking for the back, one hook in. Full body triangle. Two minutes in. Elbows from Dawson as he adjusts the triangle. Two minutes to go.
Dawson still looking for the RNC. Ismagulov fighting the hands well, but unable to escape so far. He gets to his knees and tries to roll, nice riding by Dawson. One minute to go. Dawson dropping some hard punches. More good shots from Dawson. 10-8 Dawson.
Round 2: Trading hands to start, neither landing clean. Overhand right by Ismagulov. Stiff jabs, right cross behind them. Dawson shoots under a right hand and carries Ismagulov away from the fence before taking him down. One minute in. Ismagulov trying to get a scramble going. Dawson takes the back once again two minutes in. Looking for the RNC, both hooks in. Two minutes to go.
Ismagulov’s defense is solid, but he just can’t get Dawson off of him. Great control. RNC still isn’t there with a minute to go. Round ends in that same position. 10-9 Dawson, since he didn’t do much damage.
Round 3: Double left lands for Dawson. He shoots, gets the body lock, and muscles Ismagulov to the mat before retaking the back. Body triangle already locked in. Full nelson by Dawson a minute in. More control. Two minutes in. Ref asks for more action but I can’t imagine him standing this up. Two minutes to go.
More control from Dawson. One minute to go. Ismagulov turns into top position in the final 10 seconds. 10-9 Dawson.
Final result: Dawson def. Ismagulov by unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Max Griffin vs. Michael Morales
Round 1: The two meet in the center and quickly get to trading. Inside low kick from Griffin, who avoids a 1-1-2. Another 1-1-2 falls short a minute in. Jab exchange. Both have landed low kicks, but neither has found the mark with a clean punch. Griffin to the body. Two minutes in. Three-piece from Griffin. Morales ties a flying knee and catches Griffin in the cup, but Griffin shrugs it off and puts together a solid combination before shooting in. Morales defending well with two minutes to go.
Griffin separates, shows a combo, then shoots back in and puts Morales on the fence. One minute to go. Morales separates, then misses on a Superman punch. Both swing big, good chopping right by Griffin. Morales flying knee falls short. 10-9 Griffin.
Round 2: Hard 1-1-2 lands for Morales. He follows up with a 1-2 that stings Griffin, who tries to come back with counter rights. Morales stalking him across the cage, Griffin finding the mark with counters. One minute in. Big counter right by Griffin makes Morales take his foot off the gas for a bit. Morales back on the advance. Griffin body kick two minutes in. Morales loading up on a lot, struggling to find another clean connection. Two minutes to go.
Morales fires a 1-2 and Griffin ducks it for a well-timed shot, which he can’t finish. Stiff Morales jabs. Griffin lands a lead right. Morales flexes and goes on the attack with a minute to go. Big 1-2 into the clinch, then a knee that strays low and kills his momentum. They resume at a distance. Morales with some posturing, eats an uppercut as they trade. 10-9 Morales.
Round 3: Morales trucking forward, Griffin meeting him with counters. Griffin just misses with a head kick and tries to shoot. Morales defends and forces him back with a lengthy combo, including a flying knee against the fence. One minute in. Griffin backs him up and makes another great entry, but still can’t finish it. Holding onto a body lock against the fence. Two minutes in. Griffin lifts, can’t keep him down. Nice switch from Morales and now he’s got the rear body lock. Griffin stands and separates. Trading hands. Solid right from Griffin. He barrels in for a level change, gets reversed. Two minutes to go.
Hard 1-2 from Morales on the exit. Flying knee catches Griffin leaning, doesn’t land clean. Low kicks by Morales. Superman punch attempt. They trade in the center. Stiff jab by Morales with a minute to go. Another clean jab. Griffin fires a 1-2 and shoots, but gets slammed into side control. 10-9 Morales.
Final result: Morales def. Griffin by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Melissa Gatto vs. Ariane Lipski
Round 1: Gatto circling, Lipski advancing. 1-2 from Gatto. Lipski body kick a minute in. Gatto trying to potshot with straight punches. Brief clinch, Gatto to the body. Gatto goes low-high two minutes in. Sharp 1-2; Lipski a step behind so far, as Gatto is out of reach by the time Lipski throws back. Gatto 1-2, Lipski body shots. Two minutes to go.
Gatto continuing to catch her with quick straight shots and get out before Lipski can respond. There’s a body kick and overhand from Lipski. Gatto jab, Lipski body and low kicks. One minute to go. Lipski goes low-high and eats a counter left. Low kick. Gatto catches a body kick and clinches up. Trading knees. 10-9 Gatto.
Round 2: Lipski can’t seem to get the distance down. There’s a solid combo from her. Gatto tries to come back with a flying knee, eats a low kick, lands her own. One minute in. Gatto puts her on the fence and knees the body. Lipski hits a big hip toss two minutes in, but Gatto immediately pops up and looks for her own takedown. She hauls Lipski to another part of the fence. Two minutes to go.
Lipski reverses, lands knees, gets reversed in turn. They separate. Gatto keeping her at bay with kicks. 1-2s. Counter 2-3 from Lipski. One minute to go. Gatto lands a counter left as Lipski looks for the body. Both women landing punches, Gatto still getting the better of it. Gatto catches a body kick and puts her on the fence. 10-9 Gatto.
Round 3: Some early pressure from Lipski, landing well. My Internet connection dies for the rest of the round, so I can’t in good conscience score it.
Final result: Lipski def. Gatto by split decision
155 lbs.: Ismael Bonfim vs. Benoit Saint-Denis
Round 1: Bonfim comes out hurling right hands while Saint-Denis hammers him with body kicks. Saint-Denis shoots under a right hand for a takedown against the fence. Right to mount a minute in. Bonfim quickly sweeps into top position and separates, eating more shots to the body. Overhand left by Saint-Denis. Bonfim comes back with an overhand left of his own. Two-piece and knee by Bonfim, Saint-Denis responds with a level change two minutes in. Hard elbows by Bonfim as he defends. He gets the front headlock, then blasts Saint-Denis with a knee on the way up. Another body kick by Saint-Denis, who changes levels again and hunts for a takedown. Two minutes to go.
Saint-Denis looking for the back, forces Bonfim to his knees. Slick back take, both hooks in. One minute to go. Body triangle. Saint-Denis trying for a neck crank, gets it, and forces the tap.
Final result: Saint-Denis def. Bonfim by submission (rear naked choke)
185 lbs.: Brunno Ferreira vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
Round 1: Low kick from Ruziboev to start. Ferreira falls short with a front kick, lands a low kick. Low kick exchange, 1-2 from Ruziboev behind it a minute in. Ferreira fires another naked low kick and this time Ruziboev is ready, catching it and coming back with a missile of a straight right to drop Ferreira hard. A couple more punches on the mat turn Ferreira’s lights out and Ruziboev has the knockout win in his UFC debut.
Final result: Ruziboev def. Ferreira by KO (punches)
170 lbs.: Kevin Lee vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov
Round 1: Fakhretdinov pressuring, firing kicks. Counter right by Lee, looping 1-2 from Fakhretdinov. Fakhretdinov lands a stiff jab, then follows up with a straight right that floors Lee near the fence. Lee tries to shoot and Fakhretdinov locks up a power guillotine, putting the returning Lee to sleep in seconds.
Final result: Fakhretdinov def. Lee by technical submission (guillotine choke)
145 lbs.: Joanderson Brito vs. Westin Wilson
Round 1: Brito pressuring right off the bat. Body kick from Wilson. Overhand right by Brito, second one falls short. Looping left hook stings Wilson and Brito tried to unload before getting clinched. Short punches by Brito a minute in. He gets the body lock, then takes Wilson down into side control. Looking for mount. Wilson turns for a leg and Brito grabs the fence a few times before dropping some heavy punches. Wilson cranking on a kneebar, but Brito takes advantage of Wilson’s occupied hands to just obliterate him with right hands.
Final result: Brito def. Wilson by KO (punches)
145 lbs.: Karol Rosa vs. Yana Santos
Round 1: They meet in the center and get right to trading. Both landing knee s in the clinch, elbow from Santos on the exit. Good work in the clinch and she hauls Rosa to teh fence a minute in. Knees to the thigh and body. Two minutes in. Rosa seemingly unable to get off the fence as Santos lands knees. Now she reverses with two minutes to go.
They separate soon after. Santos body kicks. Rosa plodding after her, seemingly hesitant to throw. One minute to go. Santos hauls her to the fence again and lands knees. Separation. Santos staying mobile. Elbow from Rosa on the exit. 10-9 Santos.
Round 2: Early combo from Rosa. Santos immediately ties up and puts her on the fence again. Santos separates, then puts her on the fence again. More short knees a minute in. They separate, then Santos puts her on the fence again. More short knees. Separation just under two minutes in. Glancing right hands from Rosa. Short knees. Santos tries an axe kick. Clinch knee by Rosa. Low kick. Hard check hook by Rosa with two minutes to go.
Rosa follows to the body. Clinch knees. She’s seemingly working her way back into the fight. Santos low kick, Rosa counter right. 1-2 by Rosa with a minute to go. Counter jab. Santos tries to step into the clinch, gets stiff-armed away. Santos low kicks. Rosa still plodding after her, eats low kicks. Rosa punches into the clinch, gets reversed. 10-9 Rosa.
Round 3: 1-2-knee from Rosa. Santos trying to tie up, eating shots as she does. Rosa pressures, gets clinched, separates a minute in. Solid teep from Rosa, eats a low kick in return. Santos lands low kicks, can’t secure the clinch. Rosa catches a body kick and knocks her back with a counter right. Two minutes in. They trade low kicks. Hard 1-2 by Rosa. Counter 1-2. 1-2 again, Santos tries a head kick in return. Two minutes to go.
Rosa digs a right to the body. Body jab met by a Santos low kick. Counter right. Santos still moving a lot but not throwing many meaningful strikes. Low kick exchange. Elbow inside with a minute to go. Santos lands a low kick, avoids a head kick. 1-2 by Rosa, who waves Santos on and then takes her down into half guard. She drops punches and short elbows until the bell. 10-9 Rosa.
Final result: Rosa def. Santos by split decision
155 lbs.: Elves Brener vs. Guram Kutateladze
Round 1: Kutateladze opens with body shots. Hard low kick. Brener whiffs on a big shot and gets spun around. He shoots, taking Kutateladze down into guard a minute in. Mission control by Kutateladze, loses it, looking for sweeps as Brener lands short punches. Two minutes in. Kutateladze scoots to the fence and stands, Brener still attached. Good use of the whizzer to avoid the mat return and get back to range. Brener coming on aggressively, lands a glancing elbow. Two minutes to go.
Front kick misses for Kutateladze, who follows with a right hand. Brener slips on a kick, then hits an outside trip. Kutateladze quickly gets to his feet. Both land hard on the break, then Kutateladze follows with a left hook. Kutateladze puts him on teh fence with a minute to go. Knees to the body. Nasty elbow from Kutateladze and he unloads, hurting Brener with knees, elbows, and punches. Brener seems to barely clinch to consciousness, but manages to fire back and survive the round. 10-9 Kutateladze.
Round 2: Brener comes out aggressive, but gets hurt by another big knee. He avoids a flying knee and shoots, but again Kutateladze uses the whizzer to defend. Kutateladze battering him with elbows from the top, elects to wave him up. Brener is split open just under the hairline. One minute in. Vicious left hand from Kutateladze, knee from Brener in return. Brener with a big 1-2, stalking Kutateladze across the cage. Kutateladze feints strikes into a level change, can’t finish it. Christ, that’s a lot of blood on Brener. Kutateladze looking for elbows two minutes in. Both land inside. Brener continuing to push forward, landing low kicks. Trading punches near the fence. Kutateladze to the body. Two minutes to go.
Kutateladze goes low-high with kicks. Brener lands an up-elbow, then a level one inside. Good left hook inside. Jockeying for position in the clinch. Elbow by Kutateladze on the exit. One minute to go. Kutateladze lands a body shot, then puts together a heavy combo on the face and foot-sweeps his way into top guard. Trading strikes in guard. Upkicks by Brener in the final seconds. 10-9 Kutateladze.
Round 3: Brener just misses with a spinning back kick. Solid body shot as he pushes forward. Kutateladze tries a combo, eats a lengthy one from Brener. Brener ties up and puts him on the fence. One minute in. Brener holding onto a single-leg. Knee on the exit, then a pause to give Kutateladze his mouthpiece back. Trading in center cage. Solid punches from both, then a good body kick by Kutateladze. Brener puts together a heavy volley of shots. Big knee and elbow by Kutateladze two minutes in. Brener body kick, Kutateladze Brazilian kicks. There’s the foot sweep again, can’t establish, settles for putting Brener on the fence. Elbow by Kutateladze on teh exit, body shots behind it. Brener comes back with his own body shot that appears to hurt Kutateladze and follows with a flying knee. Two minutes to go.
Big left hook by Brener inside and Kutateladze’s body seems to shut down, sending him crumbling to the mat. Brener piles on punches to cap off an incredible comeback victory.
Final result: Brener def. Kutateladze by TKO (punches)
125 lbs.: Luana Carolina vs. Ivana Petrovic
Round 1: Early counter right lands for Carolina. Petrovic puts together a three-piece combo, eats a flurry in center cage. Petrovic punches into the clinch, gets reversed a minute in. She pummels under to reverse in turn, fishing for trips. Two minutes in. She hits a throw, but Carolina uses the whizzer to land on top and settle in half guard. Carolina considering an arm triangle. Back to guard with two minutes to go.
Carolina postures for some punches, then stands over her. Petrovic tries to roll for a leg when Carolina dives back in, then uses it to take top position. In guard with a minute to go. Petrovic stands over her, then falls back for an ankle lock. 10-9 Carolina.
Round 2: Counter knee by Carolina. Solid jab, then an awkward exchange into the clinch. Petrovic puts her on the fence. Carolina tries a hip toss, can’t get on top. Double unders for Petrovic. Two minutes in. Carolina reverses, throws knees to the thigh. Trading knees downstairs. Petrovic reverses. Two minutes to go.
Carolina reverses and they trade left hands on the exit. Flurry from Carolina. Solid 1-2 by Petrovic, who punches her way into the clinch. One minute to go. Trading knees to the body. Nice inside trip into guard. 10-9 Petrovic.
Round 3: Carolina throwing volume to start the round. Body kick by Petrovic. 1-2. Sneaky elbow. Petrovic changes levels and puts her on the fence. One minutes in. Carolina uses the whizzer to counter a takedown into top half guard. She postures up to drop solid punches. Petrovic gets to her feet. Two minutes in. Rolling kneebar attempt, no dice. Carolina looking for the back. Two minutes to go.
Petrovic settles on top in guard, dropping punches. She falls back for a toe hold, then a heel-hook. She’s doing it in slow-motion, allowing Carolina to defend. Petrovic landing hammerfists to the body, eating shots from Carolina. They trade on the feet en end the fight. 10-9 Carolina.
Final result: Carolina def. Petrovic by unanimous decision
265 lbs.: Blagoy Ivanov vs. Alexandr Romanov
Round 1: Both men come out southpaw. Romanov inching forward as Ivanov circles. No strikes attempted in the entire first minute. There’s a straight left by Romanov. Solid right hook by Ivanov 30 seconds later. Still mostly a staring contest. Two minutes in. Ivanov jabs the body, eats a front kick downstairs and an overhand left behind it. Counter 1-2 from Ivanov to answer a low kick. Romanov tries a half-hearted level change, abandons it when Ivanov defends. Two minutes to go.
Sharp 1-2 by Ivanov. Romanov low kick. Romanov ties up, lands a knee before separating. Solid right hook after whiffing on a straight left. Stiff Ivanov jab in response. One minute to go. Romanov low kicks, Ivanov jabs. Hard straight left by Romanov, best punch of the round. Another one, this one met by a right hook. He gets double unders in the waning seconds and puts him on the fence. 10-9 Romanov?
Round 2: Back to the staring contest. Trading jabs. One minute in. Both fire double jabs. Romanov doubles up on kicks. Ivanov combo. Two minutes in. Ivanov goes low-high. Romanov whiffs on an overhand left. Low kick connects. Trading 1-2s in the center. Ivanov 1-2, overhand left by Romanov into the clinch with two seconds to go.
Romanov exits with a knee, then fires an overhand left into the clinch once again. Nice outside trip into half guard. One minute to go. Romanov tries to isolate an arm, then lands some solid left hands. Ivanov trying to get to his knees as Romanov throws a steady stream of punches. Romanov looks for the back at the bell. 10-9 Romanov.
Round 3: Low kicks from Romanov to start. He swings into the clinch, exits with a knee, lands some more good low kicks. He’s looking decently fresh a minute in, lands a backfist. Combination from Ivanov, his first bit of life in a while. Pull counter left. Romanov fakes a shot and comes up with a 1-2. Ivanov uppercut met by a Romanov overhand right. Now they’re trading properly two minutes into the round. Romanov grabs over-unders and takes him to the fence. He tries a flying knee when they separate, then lands a stiff jab with two minutes to go.
Both land good left hands in combination. Knee from Romanov inside. Ivanov pushing forward, Romanov landing counters. Nasty overhand left by Romanov appears to sting Ivanov, who continues to trade hands with a minute to go. Right hook on the exit buzzes Ivanov again and Romanov follows by taking him to the fence. He takes Ivanov down in the final seconds and postures up to unload until the bell. Turned into a decent fight there at the end. 10-9 Romanov.
Final result: Romanov def. Ivanov by unanimous decision
To check out the latest and greatest UFC Vegas 76: “Strickland vs. Magomedov” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.