Live, blow-by-blow updates for today’s UFC 239 main card from Vegas, which has two title fights on top.
Join us today on Bloody Elbow for live results, discussion, round scoring, and play-by-play as UFC 239 goes down in Vegas.
The main event will see light heavyweight champ Jon Jones defending his title against Thiago Santos. The co-main is a women’s bantamweight title fight between Amanda Nunes and former champ Holly Holm.
This post will cover the main card.
The show kicks off on Fight Pass at approximately 6:15pm 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.
Check out this week’s MMA Vivisection for predictions, analysis and betting odds on the each matchup.
The full lineup and schedule follows. The main PPV card will be covered in a separate post.
Round 1 –
Luke Rockhold vs. Jan Blachowicz
Round 1 – Rockhold with three heavy body kicks right out of the gate. He shoots. He has position, but is being rebuffed by Blachowicz. He drags him down to one knee, briefly, then tries to drag a guillotine down. Nada. Big boys aren’t as easy to move around apparently. They stall out in the clinch. Blachowicz with an elbow over the top and they reset. Inside leg kick from Rockhold. Front kick. Lw kick. Blachowicz isn’t doing a ton at range. Rockhold is stepping up the kicking offense. They throw down at the horn and Blachowicz lands a punch behind the ear and a head kick at the horn! Rockhold is hurt! 10-9 Blachowicz. He stole that!
Round 2 – Blachowicz is kicking the front leg. Rockhold fires back. Rockhold shoots a double and switches to a body lock, but nothing happening. They get back up and Blachowicz catches Rockhold with a left that puts him on his ass! Another one and it’s over!
Jan Blachowicz defeated Luke Rockhold via KO (punches), 1:39 of round 2
Diego Sanchez vs. Michael Chiesa
Round 1 – Immediate shot from Sanchez. Arm-in guillotine from Chiesa, then rolls for an armbar. Sanchez settles in his guard briefly, then they get back to the fisticuffs on the feet. Chiesa lands a hard knee and they clinch. Sanchez battles back but Chiesa gets him down. He’s up high on Diego’s back, then settles in. Diego is defending chokes lun-eft and right. Chiesa is in complete control with two minutes to go, but Sanchez somehow gets up and looks for his own takedown. He’s reversed though. He eats a few elbows. Diego almost hit a helicopter sweep! Circa Shogun-Machida. 10-9 Chiesa, but Sanchez has heart for days.
Round 2 – Chiesa immediately gets Sanchez down and secures position. Big punches. Diego is the ultimate survivor, but this is heavy leather. He’s back up! But he’s just covering up. Chiesa clubs him and Sanchez goes to his back. It’s one-sided, but Sanchez won’t quit. Chiesa steps over for a sub attempt, but Sanchez defends and looks for a leg lock. Chiesa spins back to the top, and mount. Back to ruthless aggression. It should be stopped, but Sanchez gets back up somehow! I have no idea. He’s just amazing. Chiesa takes his back again and they sort of stall out against the cage with Chiesa on top. There’s so much happening that I’m having trouble keeping up. Chiesa is up high looking for a choke. Sanchez survives. 10-8 Chiesa.
Round 3 – Sanchez with a right. Chiesa scoops a single and while Sanchez does his best to defend with his leg above his head, he gets taken down. They exchange positions on the ground, but Chiesa manages to stay on top. They’re back up. Uppercut from Sanchez. Chiesa double-legs him down. Sanchez eventually fights up, but not for long. Chiesa is on his back trying to set up something, anything. Chiesa takes his back and laces up a body triangle. He has an arm over but there’s no finish. 10-9 Chiesa, and 30-26. But mad respect to Diego.
Michael Chiesa defeated Diego Sanchez via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Main card (10pm ET)