Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC
Live, blow-by-blow updates for today’s UFC event in Tampa, which features a middleweight fight as the headliner.
Join us today on Bloody Elbow for live results, discussion, round scoring, and play-by-play as UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson goes down in the Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL.
The headliner comes in the women’s strawweight division, with former champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk taking on Michelle Waterson. There were some fears that Joanna couldn’t make the weight, but she hit 115.5 and the fight is on. The co-main will see Cub Swanson meeting Kron Gracie.
The eight-fight preliminary card starts at 5pm ET/2pm PT on ESPN+, while the six-fight main card will kick off at 8pm ET/5pm PT, also on ESPN+.
Check out this week’s MMA Vivisection for predictions, analysis and betting odds on the each matchup.
Round 1 – Leg kick from Vera. Ewell fires a big punch but Vera scrambled for a takedown. Couldn’t get it. Body shot from Ewell. Hard inside leg kick from Vera. Ewell fires back with a combo that ends with a body shot. Ewell misses with a punch and Vera secures a standing head-and-arm choke! He drags Ewell to the mat but he’s on the bottom, still looking to finish it. Finally he gives it up. Ewell works in Vera’s full guard halfway through the round. Elbow from the bottom from Vera. Ewell can’t get much going on top. The ref warns them for action. He rolls for an armbar and Ewell lets him up with 50 seconds to go. Vera misses a kick and they trade rights. Ewell digs to the body. They both miss with punches. Ewell connects at the horn. 10-9 Vera.
Round 2 – Vera kicking early. Ewell goes to the body. Front kick. Vera trying to press but not connecting. Inside leg kick from Vera. Question mark kick from Vera. Ewell just missing with big punches. Ewell catches a kick but doesn’t do anything with it, so Vera punches him a few times. Ewell with a nice counter. Another. Inside leg kick from Vera. Another. Ewell fires back with a quick right. Two lefts score for Ewell, who is now fighting with his hands down. Vera goes back to the kicks. He looks for the standing head-and-arm again, but Ewell defends. Vera opens up with knees to the thigh instead. Vera with a front kick and he’s pressuring. Two big lefts! Big knee! Great chin on Ewell. 10-9 Vera.
Round 3 – Inside leg kick from Vera. They trade from range. Ewell goes to the body. Head kick and hard knee from Vera! Side kick. Body kick. Ewell tries to catch a kick. He lands a couple of counter. Outside low kick from Vera. Ewell with a 1-2 up the middle. Inside leg kick from Vera, and a right hook. Another hard leg kick. Front kick from Ewell. Jump knee from Vera! He ties well up and lands hard knees to the body. Elbows! Hard left! Ewell jabs back. They’re fighting in a phone booth. Ewell spins. Lands a left hook. Vera looks for a guillotine! Ewell goes to the mat but escapes. Huge elbows from Vera! Ewell is trying to defend but Vera is relentless. It’s over!
Marlon Vera defeated Andre Ewell via TKO (elbows), round 3
Miguel Baeza vs. Hector Aldana
Round 1 – Slow start. Baeza is circling. He throws a lead right that’s blocked. That’s pretty much the only strike over the first minute of the fight. Aldana with a leg kick. Baeza with a low kick of his own. And another. Few kicks from each man. Head kick from Baeza. A lot of staring otherwise though. Baeza chops at Aldana’s legs. Aldana with a counter right. It’s just kicks and not much else. I’m surprised the crowd isn’t booing yet. Aldana finally cracks his opponent with two hard rights, but doesn’t chase. Baeza goes to the body. Again. Baeza shoots at the horn and puts Aldana on the floor. 10-9 Baeza.
Round 2 – Jab from Baeza. Overhand right. Aldana with a high cook. Low kick too. He’s continuing to kick. Baeza with a 1-2 that connects. Front kick. They trade low kicks. Baeza with two hard low kicks and Aldana collapses to the mat in pain! He jumps on him and finishes the fight!
Miguel Baeza defeated Hector Aldana via TKO (leg kicks and punches), 2:32 of round 2
Marvin Vettori vs. Andrew Sanchez
Round 1 – Vettori with a long left. He’s coming forward with a combo. Sanchez covers up. He lands a body kick. They’re talking in the cage. Double jab and a right from Vettori. Sanchez with another inside leg kick. Vettori is chasing him down and landing hard. He shucks of a takedown attempt from Sanchez. Knee up the middle from Vettori, and he goes to the body. Sanchez still trying to chew up the front leg. Vettori with a body kick. Vettori presses again with a combo and a knee. Sanchez takes it. Jab from Vettori. Vettori checks a kick. Vettori presses again with two knees to the body and some punches. Sanchez with a right. Body kick from Vettor, Sanchez with a counter right. Vettori with more pressure. Head kick from Sanchez is blocked. He finally shoots again but Vettori pushes him away. Left cross from Vettori. 10-9 Vettori.
Round 2 – Vettori with a jab. He presses with a combo. Sanchez fires back. Vettori jumps in with a right hook and a hard knee to the jaw. Counter left for Vettori. Sanchez with a lead right. He’s more active than he was in round one. Hard body kick from Vettori. Sanchez with a left hook and a kick. Vettori responds. Another counter from Sanchez finds the mark. Hard right now too. Vettori with a body kick again. Sanchez with one of his own. Vettori with more pressure. Sanchez shoots but gets nowhere. Vettori with a knee. Sanchez with more pressure of his own. 10-9 Vettori.
Round 3 – Sanchez comes forward right away. But he’s not throwing much. He does land a big spinning back fist though! Vettori took it. He lands a counter as Sanchez advances. Sanchez with a lazy kick. Vettori catches it and looks for his own takedown, but can’t get it. Combo from Vettori. Hard body kick. Another spinning back fist lands for Sanchez. He lands a two-punch combo as well. Sanchez with an inside leg kick. Vettori with a hard body shot. Sanchez is still right there. Chest kick from Vettori. Sanchez with a 1-2. 90 seconds to go. Vettori jabbing from the outside. Vettori with that body kick again. Jabs. Vettori ducks the spinning back fist this time. Sanchez misses with a kick. Head kick from Vettori. Quick left too. Sanchez spins again, and presses to the horn. 10-9 and 30-27 Vettori.
Marvin Vettori defeated Andrew Sanchez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Round 1 – A little bit of pattycake to start. Inside leg kick from Aldrich. She’s throwing out the jab. Nice three-punch combo from Aldrich. Mueller with a body kick, and she lands a right. Aldrich fires back with her own. Aldrich with another nice combo. Front kick from Mueller, but Aldrich connected with a right. Body shot from Aldrich. They tie up. Aldrich eventually gets a body lock takedown against the cage. Mueller is back up fairly quickly. They battle against the fence. Mueller catches a knee and dumps Aldrich to the mat. She’s up immediately. 10-9 Aldrich.
Round 2 – They both land punches at the same time. Inside leg kick from Mueller. Aldrich with a hard lead left hook. Straight left now. Mueller charges in and Aldrich looks for a takedown. She can’t get it. Mueller steps back and lands two rights and a kick, which bloodies Aldrich’s nose. Right cross from Mueller. Aldrich with a couple of lefts. Body kick from Mueller. Aldrich with a combo. They trade shots. Mueller with more pressure now. She gives Aldrich a Diaz-style taunt. Aldrich is on her heels a bit. Mueller connecting with a few punches. Aldrich fires back but can’t clinch. Front kick from Aldrich. 10-9 Mueller.
Round 3 – Aldrich comes out on fire! She’s lighting Mueller up with lefts and a big kick. Mueller looks stunned. She’s trying to clinch. Aldrich peels herself off and resets. Nice combo from Aldrich. They trade kicks. Another combo from Aldrich. Mueller responds with a combo but doesn’t connect with much. Aldrich lands a counter. Aldrich with a lead left. Aldrich spins and misses. The pace has slowed. Aldrich with another counter. Mueller catches a kick and lands two big rights. She’s trying to drag Aldrich into a brawl but she’s keeping her composure. Aldrich with a hard left. They trade lefts. They decide to throw down for the last 20 seconds. Aldrich just misses with a spinning back fist. 10-9 and 29-28 Aldrich.
JJ Aldrich defeated Lauren Mueller via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Main card (8pm ET)
Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Michelle Waterson
Cub Swanson vs. Kron Gracie
Niko Price vs. James Vick
Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas
Eryk Anders vs. Gerald Meerschaert
Undercard (5pm ET)
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Tim Elliott