Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Live, blow-by-blow updates for today’s UFC event in Norfolk on ESPN+, which features a flyweight title fight as the headliner – well, a title fight for one guy, anyway.
Join us today on Bloody Elbow for live results, discussion, round scoring, and play-by-play (main card) as UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs. Figueiredo goes down in the fighting hotbed of Norfolk, Virginia.
The headliner comes in the flyweight division, with top contender Joseph Benavidez taking on Deiveson Figueiredo for the vacant UFC 125-pound title. Unfortunately, Figueiredo did not make weight for the bout, missing by a full 2.5 pounds. So only Joe B. is eligible to win the title in the five-round fight tonight.
This is an ESPN+ show and is kicking off slightly earlier than usual. The seven-fight preliminary card starts at 5pm ET/2pm PT on ESPN+, while the fight-fight main card (for which play-by-play will be provided) will kick off at 8pm ET/pm PT on the same streaming network.
Felicia Spencer vs. Zarah Fairn
Round 1 –
Ion Cutelaba vs. Magomed Ankalaev
Round 1 – Cutelaba charges over and chest bumps Ankalaev while the announcements are still going on. Wow. Inside leg kick from Cutelaba. Side kick from Ankalaev. Ankalaev with a short short and two had kicks! Cutelaba is wobbled. Another head kick and Cutelaba looks a bit out on his feet! The ref jumps in! Cutelaba is screaming that he’s fine, and he looked to be defending at least. Wow. What a crazy minute or so there. The ref literally jumps in as Cutelaba was throwing a punch. The head kicks looked to be at least partially blocked, but he did get popped by a left just before the end. The crowd is very mad.
Magomedov Ankalaev defeated Ion Cutelaba via KO (punches and kicks), :38 of round 1
Megan Anderson vs. Norma Dumont
Round 1 – They trade rights early. Dumont misses with a right hook. Jab from Anderson. Quick left from Anderson. Dumont clinches. Knee to the body from Dumont. They continue to grind away. Dumont looking for a head-and-arm throw but can’t get it. More knees, this time from Anderson. They go to the ground. They’re back up. Back against the fence. Anderson finally spins away with 1:45 to go. Anderson drops Dumont with a huge short right! She’s stunned and it’s over immediately!
Megan Anderson defeated Norma Dumont via KO (punch), 3:31 of round 1
Grant Dawson vs. Darrick Minner
Round 1 – Slapping low kick from Minner. Another one clips Dawson down as he looked to kick himself. Minner with a front head lock and looks for a choke. Dawson ends up taking top position. Minner looks for an armbar from the bottom. Nothing doing. He tries again, then rolls through to his feet. He looks for a guillotine but Dawson slips out. He goes for it yet again. He rolls on top. He keeps cranking but Dawson rolls on top into side, and pops his head out. Dawson looking to isolate an arm. Minner lands a couple of shots from the bottom. Dawson trying to pass guard and eventually gets out to side, albeit briefly. He moves to mount with 20 seconds to go. Big shots, but they looked to be to the back of the head. Dawson looks for a choke, but the horn goes. 10-9 Minner.
Round 2 – Minner immediately looks for a guillotine again. Dawson defends more easily this time and is on top. Straight to mount. Dawson spins around to the back against the cage and secures a body triangle. Choke and tap, just like that.
Grant Dawson defeated Darrick Minner via submission (rear naked choke), 1:38 of round 2
Main card (8pm ET)
Joseph Benavidez vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
Preliminary Card (5pm ET)
Kyler Phillips def. Gabriel Silva by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Brendan Allen def. Tom Breese by TKO (strikes) at 4:47 of round 1
Marcin Tybura def. Serghei Spivac by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Luis Pena def. Steve Garcia by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Jordan Griffin def. T.J. Brown by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:38 for round 2
Spike Carlyle def. Aalon Cruz by TKO (strikes) at 1:25 of round 1
Sean Brady def. Ismail Naurdiev by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)