Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) recently put the finishing touches on its upcoming UFC 207: “Nunes vs. Rousey” pay-per-view (PPV) fight card, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Fri., Dec. 30, 2016.
UFC 207 will feature the return of former women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, who will attempt to reclaim her 135-pound title at the expense of current division queenpin, Amanda Nunes.
In addition, bitter bantamweight rivals Dominick Cruz and Cody Garbrandt will look to settle their score in the UFC 207 co-main event, as well as take home the 135-pound title that is currently owned by “The Dominator.”
All that and so much more.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 207 fight card below, starting with the Fight Pass “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET, and then the remaining undercard balance on FOX Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET.
Many of our readers check-in before, during and after the televised fisticuffs to share their thoughts on all the exciting action. Therefore, feel free to leave a comment (or 207) before you split and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it always turns out to be a great discussion.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps and post-fight analysis after “Nunes vs Rousey.”
Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC 207 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC 207 QUICK RESULTS:
Amanda Nunes vs. Ronda Rousey
Dominick Cruz vs. Cody Garbrandt
T.J. Dillashaw vs. John Lineker — Dillashaw def. Lineker by unanimous decision (30-26 x3)
Tarec Saffiedine vs. Dong Hyun Kim — Kim def. Saffiedine by split decision (27-30, 29-28 x2)
Ray Borg vs. Louis Smolka — Borg def. Smolka by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26 x2)
Johny Hendricks vs. Neil Magny — Magny def. Hendricks by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Marvin Vettori vs. Antonio Carlos Jr. — Carlos Jr. def. Vettori by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Mike Pyle vs. Alex Garcia — Garcia def. Pyle by KO (punch) at 3:34 of Round One
Brandon Thatch vs. Niko Price — Price def. Thatch by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 4:30 of Round One
Tim Means vs. Alex Oliveira — No Contest (illegal knees)
UFC 207 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
135 lbs.: UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes vs. Ronda Rousey
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Round 4:
Round 5:
Final result:
135 lbs.: UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz vs. Cody Garbrandt
Round 1: Cruz moving as always, lands a solid right hand early. Low kick lands. Garbrandt sending out kicks. They trade punches and Garbrandt mocks him. Low kick exchange. One minute in. Counter right from Garbrandt after he takes a body kick. Overhand left by Cruz. Left hook by Garbrandt. Cruz slips away from a right hook. Two minutes in. Garbrandt rushes with a flurry, Cruz slips the lot and comes back with a two-piece. Low kick from Cruz. Cruz catches a body kick, can’t take him down. Low kick from Garbrandt. Two minutes to go.
Both men slip punches. Cruz ducks a right hand and hits a takedown, only for Garbrandt to roll through and stand back up. Low kick from Cruz and a hard right hook. Nice left and a right hook. One minute to go. Garbrandt shoots and hits a takedown, can’t keep him there but lands a knee. 10-9 Garbrandt?
Round 2: Cruz on the advance, avoids a low kick. Nice combination from the champion. Low kicks land. 2-3 from Garbrandt and Cruz clips him with a three-piece combo in return before landing more low kicks. One minute in. Cruz lands a jab, avoids the combo. Garbrandt tries a cartwheel kick. Counter right lands for him. Two minutes in. Low kick and right hand from Cruz. Straight left connects, Garbrandt comes back with a body kick. Cruz catches a body kick, can’t use it. Knee to the body from Cruz. Left hook by Garbrandt. Two minutes to go.
3-2 by the challenger. Cruz sticking out his jab. Good body kick from Garbrandt and they exchange. One minute to go. Low kick by Cruz. Once again, Garbrandt tries to flurry in response and eats a right hand. Cruz hits a takedown and Garbrandt lands a right hand. 10-9 Cruz.
Round 3: Head kick from Garbrandt and they exchange. He stings Cruz with a right hand, cutting him by the left eye. Correction, it was a headbutt that caused the cut. Both men jawing and exchanging. One minute in. Combination by Garbrandt. Hard 2-3. Head kick and right hook from Cruz. Another combination from Garbrandt. Two minutes in. 1-2 lands for the champ, Garbrandt slams home a pair of right hands in return. Two minutes to go.
HUGE right hand drops Cruz, who shoots and eats a knee. Cruz separates and goes back to moving. Overhand left lands for Cruz and now he’s trying to flurry. One minute to go. Cruz shoots, stuffed and both swing big. Low kick from Cruz, right hand by Garbrandt. Straight left lands for Cruz. 10-9 Garbrandt.
Round 4:
Round 5:
Final result:
135 lbs.: T.J. Dillashaw vs. John Lineker
Round 1: Dillashaw flings a head kick, Lineker ducks it and tries to shoot. Lineker catches a leg kick and sprawls on a takedown. Lineker catches a head kick and takes Dillashaw down, landing a right hand on the way up. One minute in. Now Lineker throws a head kick. Massive uppercut by Dillashaw, Lineker shrugs it off and eats a body kick. Nice takedown from Dillashaw. Half guard for the former champion. Two minutes in. Lienker trying to bridge with an underhook. He regains guard. Solid punches form Dillashaw, who denies an attempt to stand. Two minutes to go.
Hammerfists from Dillashaw, but Lineker makes it to his feet. Now Lineker advancing on the circling Dillashaw, who lands a body kick. Right hand from Dillashaw, counter flurry by Lineker. Body shots off a Dillashaw low kick. One minute to go. Dillashaw lands body kicks. Glancing head kick lands for him. Heavy left hooks by Lineker and both men wave the crowd on. Right hand from Lineker before the bell. 10-9 Dillashaw.
Round 2: Lineker slams home a right to the body, pressing forward. Dillashaw scores a takedown into guard. Lineker scrambles up, avoiding a back take. Heavy shots by Lineker. One minute in. Right to the body as Dillashaw angles off. Nasty body kick lands for Dillashaw. Another nice takedown by Dillashaw. On top in half guard, two minutes in. Dillashaw chipping away with short punches. Solid elbow lands after Leineker doesn’t manage to stand. Heavy elbows. Lineker turns for a leg off of deep half guard. Two minutes to go.
Dillashaw passes to mount off of the attempt. Lineker regains half guard as Dillashaw lands punches. Dillashaw pounding away. Heavy right hands. One minute to go. More thumping elbows by the former champion. He keeps inflicting damage until the bell. 10-8 Dillashaw.
Round 3: Front kick from Dillashaw to start. Lots of feints, good body kick. Head kick blocked. Lineker lands a right hand after catching a low kick. One minute in. Hard right hand into a takedown by Dillashaw. Lineker kicks him away, eating shots on the way up. Dillashaw moving well. Lineker waving him on, shrugging off yet more huge blows. Dillashaw ducks a wide right hand and scores another takedown. Half guard. More solid blows by Dillashaw as Lineker works his way to the feet. Two minutes to go.
Dillashaw hammering him from the rear waistlockj, Dillashaw puts in a hook and rolls into a calf slicer attempt. He can’t get it and Lineker works his way back to his feet with a minute to go. Lineker stuffs a takedown, blasting to the body. More right hands to the body. Counter left hook when Dillashaw jumps in with a knee. Dillashaw runs away celebrating before the bell. 10-9 Dillashaw.
Final result: Dillashaw def. Lineker by unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Tarec Saffiedine vs. Dong Hyun Kim
Round 1: Kim whiffs on an overhand left, eats a right hand. Kim pressuring and ties up on the fence. Saffiedine tries a sweep, can’t do so and eats an elbow before reversing position on the fence. Lovely trip by Saffiedine, looking for the back. Kim hits a nice throw in return, can’t land on top. One minute in. Kim reverses position. Knee to the body from Saffiedine as they jockey for position. They separate. Right hook by the Sponge, combination from Kim. Two minutes in. Good counter right lands for Saffiedine. They clinch after an exchange. They separate and Saffiedine lands a right hook. Right hook by Kim. Two minutes to go.
1-2 from Kim and Saffiedine clinches. Knees from the Belgian and he steps away. Combinations from Saffiedine. Kim still advancing. One minute to go. Clinch, eventual separation. Kim chasing, winging punches. Saffiedine with some good knees and a nice trip. 10-9 Saffiedine.
Round 2: Saffiedine moving well, avoiding Kim’s bigger punches and doing good work in the clinch. Some knees from Saffiedine and he shoots. Kim sprawls on it and eats a right on the break. One minute in. He presses Saffiedine against the cage. Saffiedine separates. Body kick by Kim. He tries to spin, lands a lead elbows and a good knee in the clinch. Two minutes in. Kim swats him with a straight left and ties up again. Back to the center. Saffiedine tries a head kick. Left by Kim, right by Saffiedine inside. Two minutes to go.
Elbow by Kim in the clinch, back out. Low kick lands for Saffiedine and a good knee upstairs. Kim keeping him against the cage. One minute to go. They jockey for position. Separation. Closer round. 10-9 Kim.
Round 3: Nice exchange right away, big punches from Kim. Had kick lands for Saffiedine and Kim keeps throwing. Short elbow from the Belgian. Knee by Kim on the inside. One minute in. Saffiedine defends a takedown with the switch. Kim wads back into the clinch, Saffiedine separates. Nice uppercut by Kim and another clinch. Two minutes in. Kim briefly completes a single-leg. Saffiedine lands an elbow on the break. Kim changes levels. Good trip attempt, can’t keep him down. Two minutes to go.
Saffiedine with a pair of solid body kicks when they separate, then a knee. Jab exchange, Saffiedine body kick blocked. Saffiedine shoots, Kim sprawls. One minute to go. Kim hauls him to the fence once again. Kim completes the takedown, nearly takes the back, settles for top position. 10-9 Kim.
Final result: Kim def. Saffiedine by split decision
125 lbs.: Ray Borg vs. Louis Smolka
Round 1: Smolka quickly flicking out his jab. Side kick to the thigh. They step into the clinch. Smolks catches a knee and they separate. One minute in. Head kick lands for Borg, who slips. Smolka tries to pounce and Borg takes him down into side control. Smolka rolls to his knees and has to fight off a d’arce. Borg transitions to the back, but Smolka grabs scarfhold. The scramble continues and Borg gets higher on the back, then moves to side control two minutes in. No hooks in yet for Borg. Smolka makes it to his feet and gets slammed right back down. Two minutes to go.
Bork moves to mount. Smolka trying to bridge. Smolka scrambles and Borg looks for an armbar, then transitions to an omoplata. Smolka turns for a leg, but gives up top position again. Hard right hand by Borg, one minute to go. Smolka regains guard in the waning seconds. 10-9 Borg.
Round 2: Borg whiffs on a wheel kick. Low kick lands, Smolka comes back with a 1-2. One minute in. Borg to the body, then a knee and a takedown from the bodylock. One minute in. They scramble and Borg takes side control. Smolka looks for a leg. Two minutes to go. Borg comes down with a booming right hand and retakes side control after extracting his leg. Smolka tries to scramble but he just can’t dislodge Borg. Two minutes to go.
Half guard for Borg. He manages to lock up an arm-triangle on the opposite side, working to pass. Smolka gets his arm free and bridges on the way to his feet. Borg stays attached and scores another takedown. Smolka looking for a guillotine on the way down. One minute to go. Borg slips his head free. Smolka regains guard and turns for an armbar/triangle. Borg rides it out. 10-9 Borg.
Round 3: Borg still showing good head movement. Smolka lands a left hook and Borg ties up. Elbow lands for Borg and he changes levels, ultimately forcing him to the mat. One minute in. Smolka tosses up an omoplata, then looks for a triangle and transitions to his knees. Borg slips in a hook and Smolka goes back to his back. Borg looking to set up the arm-triangle again. This time, he manages to pas to the correct side control and put on the squeeze. The fence is in his way, so he returns to mount and lets it go. Smolka again tries to scramble and again winds up on the bottom in side control. Two minutes to go.
Smolka makes it back to his feet, Borg still in on his hips. Borg grabs the rear waistlock and tries to jump onto his back; he falls off, but shoots in again. One minute to go. Smolka defending the takdeown and slips out the back door. Hard left hook from Borg. Hook kick lands for Smolka. Lead elbow. Borg with a spinning elbow before the bell. 10-9 Borg.
Final result: Borg def. Smolka by unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Johny Hendricks vs. Neil Magny
Round 1: My cable box briefly lost the plot, so I missed the first minute. We’ll start from the second one. Good low kick by Hendricks. Right hands by the rangier Magny. Two minutes in. Hendricks rushes in with a left hand, eats a knee but scores a takedown into guard. Hendricks on top against the fence. Magny punching off his back. Two minutes to go.
Magny very active, tossing his legs up. Elbows from Hendricks. One minute to go. Magny locks up the triangle and gets the dominant angle, fighting for an armbar. Hendricks survives until the bell. 10-9 Magny.
Round 2: Magny checks a low kick, digs a right to the body. Hendricks shoots in under a right hoko and grabs the rear waistlock, looking for the back. Magny scrambling, but surrenders side control. One minute in. Magny regains half guard. Magny briges his way back to his knees, Hendricks shuts it down with the front headlock. Magny uses the underhook to stand and Hendricks takes him back down. Magny gets to a knee on the fence. Hendricks lands some knees to the thigh as Magny stands. Two minutes to go.
Hendricks hits yet another takedown. Hendricks with a few short elbows as Magny controls his wrists. One minute to go. Magny tries to stand, sprawled on. He manages to get to his feet and stay there until the bell. 10-9 Hendricks.
Round 3: Magny comes out kicking, jumps in with a knee and eats a left. Hendricks marching forward. One minute in. Jabs by Magny. Good combination from him but Hendricks gets the clinch. Magny fights it off and separates. Right to the body by Magny. Two minutes in. Magny still light-footed, circling and potshotting Hendricks’s body. Nice head kick, Hendricks shoots in on the fence. Magny sprawls hard, drilling Hendricks’s body with elbows. Hendricks ducks in again. Two minutes to go.
Hendricks lifts and scores a big takedown. Magny nearly manages to sweep him. One minute to go. Magny locks up the triangle late, bashing away with elbows. Hendricks survives to the bell. 10-9 Magny.
Final result: Magny def. Hendricks by unanimous decision
185 lbs.: Marvin Vettori vs. Antonio Carlos Jr.
Round 1: Less than twenty seconds into the fight and Carlos has already landed an eye poke. This is the same way his fight with Kevin Casey ended. Vettori takes some time to recover. Brief close-range exchange. Vettori aggressive, pushing forward. One minute in. Good body kick from the Italian. Carlos warned for keeping his hand open. Solid left hand by Vettori when they resume. Now Carlos catches a finger in the eye. Two minutes in. Low kick from Carlos, no takedown attempts yet. Now he shoots for a single-leg and Vettori cracks him with elbows on the way to the fence. Two minutes to go.
Carlos keeping him against the cage, throwing knees to the thighs. He’s grinding heavily on the Italian. One minute to go. One hook in, can’t get the other. He spins Vettori to the mat briefly. The Italian tries to shoot in, then drops a hand when Carlos gets the fround headlock. Now Vettori looks for a takedown, can’t get it. 10-9 Carlos.
Round 2: Body kick from Carlos. He shoots in behind a right hand, can’t keep Vettori down. Vettori separates. One minute in. Body kick from Carlos. Low kick lands. Vettori steps into the clinch and grabs the bodylock from behind. Carlos trying to separate his hands. Two minutes in. Vettori separates with a left hook. Flying knee comes up short. Carlos tries a head kick. Vettori blitzes and stuffs a takedown, landing on top in half guard. Two minutes to go.
Good punches by Vettori, who cranks on a guillotine. Good ground-and-pound by Vettori. One minute to go. Vettori punching away, shrugs off an upkick on his way back to guard. He stacks Carlos as the Brazilian tries to bring his guard up. Vettori stands over him and kicks his leg a few times. 10-9 Vettori.
Round 3: Carlos goes for a head kick after Vettori flicks some punches. Vettori shoots in behind a combo and Carlos reverses, looking for a takedown. One minute in. Carlos completes a trip, this time away from the fence, into half guard. Vettori tries to scramble up. Two minutes in. He makes it to his feet, keeping a hand down, and Carlos knees the thighs. Vettori manages to face him with double underhooks and separate. Two minutes to go.
Vettori slips throwing a kick and Carlos runs after him with a combination. Carlos shoots in for a single-leg against the fence. One minute to go. Vettori tries to counter with a trip, winds up briefly on the mat. Vettori back to a knee. Carlos stays on him, going for a guillotine at the bell. 10-9 Carlos.
Final result: Carlos Jr. def. Vettori by unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Mike Pyle vs. Alex Garcia
Round 1: Garcia giving up a lot of height and length. Both men patient in the early going. Pyle sticking out his jab, eats a heavy body kick and gets taken down. One minute in. Pyle has overhook control, but gives up side control. Garcia staying tight, not opening up. Two minutes in. Knees to the body from both men. Pyle rolls and stands. Garcia falls short with an overhand right and pulls his head out of a guillotine. Left hook lands for the Dominican. Two minutes to go.
Garcia looks for a combination inside, takedown stuffed. Pyle looks to pressure, only to walk into an overhand right that knocks him out cold.
Final result: Garcia def. Pyle by KO (punch)
170 lbs.: Brandon Thatch vs. Niko Price
Round 1: Low kick from Thatch to start. Counter right from Price, they trade low kicks. Solid overhand right from Thatch, met by a knee in the clinch. One minute in. Price barrels in, looking for a takedown, and Thatch tries to take the back. He fights off the takedown and lands a hard knee, but Price catches it and transitions to double underhooks for the takedown into guard. Two minutes in. Thatch tries to elevate with a butterfly hook, briefly gives up half guard.Thatch threatening a Kimura, tight but stymied by the fence. Price grabs side control and nearly takes Thatch’s back. Two minutes to go.
Thatch regains half guard and fights off an arm-triangle. Price staying heavy, threatens another. Thatch tries to burst to his feet and almost gives up his back again. One minute to go. Price stays on top in the scramble and locks up the arm-triangle again; this one’s much better and he soon draws the tap.
Final result: Price def. Thatch by submission (arm-triangle choke)
170 lbs.: Tim Means vs. Alex Oliveira
Round 1: Low kick from Means, who answers a straight right with counters. Wheel kick falls short and he fights off a bodylock takedown attempt, landing on top in half guard. Good knees and a nasty elbow on the way up. One minute in. They trade some heavy punches and Oliveira lands a spinning back kick that sends Means rolling back. Oliveira shoots in. Means drills him with knees inside as the Brazilian continues to drive. Means fights off another takedown with a Kimura attempt. Two minutes in. Oliveira gets his arm free and scores a takedown from the rear waistlock, inserting a hook as Means works to stand. Means makes it up, nearly gets slammed. Means spins free of a rear waistlock and scores a quick takedown of his own into half guard. Two minutes to go.
Means lands a short elbow, a straight left, and then two illegal-looking knees on the rising Oliveira. “Cowboy” is milking this. According to Marc Ratner and Bob Bennett of NSAC, since Oliveira had a knee down but not a hand, those were technically legal strikes. Dan Miragliotta is arguing with the commission about the rules while Means loudly calls “BS.”
They call No Contest.
Final result: No Contest (illegal knees)