Live, blow-by-blow updates for today’s UFC 237 preliminary card from Rio.
Join us today on Bloody Elbow for live results, discussion, round scoring, and play-by-play as UFC 237 goes down in Rio.
The main event will see Rose Namajunas attempting to defend her women’s strawweight title for the second time when she meets rugged Brazilian challenger Jessica Andrade. The main card will also feature Brazilian stars like Anderson Silva, who meets Jared Cannonier; and Jose Aldo, who faces off with Alexander Volkanovski.
The featured prelim comes in the light heavyweight division, with veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira meeting Ryan Spann.
This post will cover the preliminary card.
The show kicks off on Fight Pass at approximately 6:30pm ET with three fights. The card then moves to ESPN at 8pm ET for four more bouts, then onto the main PPV card. Remember that you can only order UFC PPVs now through ESPN+, so you have to sign up for that service beforehand if you haven’t already.
The full lineup and schedule follows. The main card will be covered in a separate post.
Check out this week’s MMA Vivisection for predictions, analysis and betting odds on the each matchup.
Raoni Barcelos vs. Carlos Huachin
Round 1 – Slow start. Barcelos with a right. Really long feeling out process. Huachin looking to counter. But it’s hard when your opponent isn’t firing himself. They wade inside but don’t connect. Straight left from Huachin. Another. Left hook now. They trade in close. Leg kick from Barcelos. Huachin with a combo. Barcelos steps in with a nice right. Body kick too. They both miss with big hooks. Lead right hook from Huachin. Barcelos with a right and a body kick. Step-in knee from Barcelos as Huachin was advancing. Barcelos steps in again but gets countered. Low kick from Barcelos. Huachin with one of his own. 10-9 Huachin.
Round 2 –
Talita Bernardo vs. Viviane Araujo
Round 1 – Couple of slapping kicks to start. Araujo catches a kick and lands a right that backs Bernardo off. Bernardo with a strong leg kick. Araujo very light on her feet, and lands a couple of quick kicks. They trade a bit inside. Araujo backs off, then sticks Bernardo with a right hook. Two more leg and body kicks from Araujo. More kicks from both ladies. Araujo trips Bernardo up with a kick, but doesn’t jump on her and lets her up. Two good counters from Araujo. Bernardo with a right. Bernardo shoots but ends up on her back. Aruajo passes to side and traps an arm, but it’s too late. 10-9 Araujo.
Round 2 – Bernardo with a kick, but she gets clubbed by a counter right. Big overhand right from Araujo! Another. Bernardo gets a kick caught and flops to her back. Araujo didn’t engage. They both land nice right hooks. Inside leg kick from Araujo. They trade kicks, then both land nice punches to the grill. Bernardo shoots but Araujo defends. Bernardo perseveres but Araujo slips onto her back. Bernardo spins and they reset. Nice left hook from Bernardo now. Bernardo with a long combo but now she gets taken down with a minute to go. She postures up with some punches and backs out. Back on the feet, Araujo lands a leg kick. Big combo from Bernardo at the horn. 10-9 Araujo.
Round 3 – Front kick from Araujo. Bernardo presses but eats a counter. Another right stuns Bernardo. Another! Another drops her and knocks her out! WALK OFF! WOW!
Viviane Araujo defeated Talita Bernardo via KO (right hook), :48 of round 3
Undercard (8pm ET)
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Ryan Spann
Thiago Moises vs. Kurt Holobaugh
Warlley Alves vs. Sergio Moraes
Undercard (6:30pm ET)
Luana Carolina vs. Priscila Cachoeira