Live, blow-by-blow updates for today’s UFC event in Russia, which is headlined by a heavyweight matchup between Alistair Overeem and Alexey Oleinik.
Join us today (Saturday, April 20th) on Bloody Elbow for live results, discussion, round scoring and play-by-play (for the main card) as UFC on ESPN+ 7: Overeem vs. Oleinik takes place in the Yubileyny Sports Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The headliner of the card has the UFC’s #7 heavyweight Alistair Overeem colliding with the #9 ranked Alexey Oleinik. Overeem is in search of back to back wins where as Oleinik will be looking to make it three-straight. Before that in the co-main event, the 16-1 Islam Makhachev is hunting down his fifth-straight UFC victory when he welcomes the 13-1 Arman Tsarukyan to the Octagon for the first time.
Today’s event is in Russia, so it’s on early in North America. The six-fight preliminary card kicks off at 10am ET/7am PT on ESPN2. The six-fight main card, for which play-by-play will be provided, is scheduled to start at 1pm ET/10am PT.
Check out this week’s MMA Vivisection for predictions, analysis and betting odds on the each matchup.
Main card (1 PM ET, ESPN+):
- Alistair Overeem vs. Aleksei Oleinik: Heavyweight
Rd.1-
Oleinik pulls guard right away. Overeem allows his foe to stand and throws a head kick. Oleinik throws overhand right and wobbles Overeem. Oleinik flurries and the crowd erupts. Overeem seems to be ok and lands a mean knee to the gut. Oleinik punishes the midsection with punches. Cross lands for Overeem. Oleinik backs up Overeem and punches the body. Overeem moves back into open space. Oleinik leaps in with a hook. A set of body knees score for Overeem. Right hand to the head and then the body for Oleinik. Jumping switch knee lands to the chin for Overeem. Oleinik overhand right connects followed by body uppercuts. Overeem responds with a series of hard knees that drop Oleinik. Overeem starts dropping strikes. The referee warns Oleinik. The ref stops the fight. That’s it!
Alistair Overeem def. Aleksei Oleinik by TKO at 4:45 of round 1: Heavyweight
- Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan: Lightweight
Rd.1-
Head kick is blocked by Makhachev and then another. AT slips and Makhachev uses the moment to close the distance. AT shoots for the takedown but Makhachev is fighting it. Makhachev lands a knee to the midsection and hits a beautiful trip. A set of ground strikes land. AT scrambles up to his feet. Makhachev jumps a guillotine but AT scrambles up. Makhachev scores with knees to the body. AT catches a knee and goes hard for his own takedown. Makhachev vigorously fights the takedown and stands back up to his feet. A jab-cross is blocked by Makhachev. AT attempts a takedown but runs out of time.
10-9 Makhachev
Rd.2-
They touch hands back and forth. AT misses a head kick. AT shoots in but gets stuffed. Inside leg kick lands for AT and then a head kick partially gets through. Makhachev stuffs another takedown attempt and they clinch up. Body punches score for Makhachev and knees to the leg land for AT. Makhachev hits a trip which ultimately leads to top position. AT attacks a Kimura but bails on it. AT somehow stands back to his feet. Makhachev presses AT against the fence.
10-9 Makhachev?
Rd.3-
AT launches head kicks and pumps the jab. Head kick lands for Makhachev but AT wears it well. Makhachev blocks a head kick and a push kick. A one-two to the body lands for AT. Makhachev stuffs the takedown attempt. Big knee to the gut connects for Makhachev. AT throws an elbow off the break. AT shoots in again but Makhachev defends well. Makhachev blasts a takedown up against the fence. AT stands up again but Makhachev is still on him. Makhachev blasts another takedown but this time keeps the position.
10-9 Makhachev
Islam Makhachev def. Arman Tsarukyan by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28): Lightweight
- Marcelo Golm vs. Sergey Pavlovich: Heavyweight
Rd.1-
Jab lands for Golm and then one for Pavlovich. Hard left connects for Golm. A left-right scores for Pavlovich. Big right hand stuns Golm swarms. Another gigantic right hand lands for Pavlovich and then an uppercut drops Golm. It’s over!
Sergey Pavlovich def. Marcelo Golm by KO at 1:06 of round 1: Heavyweight
- Roxanne Modafferi vs. Antonina Shevchenko: (W) Flyweight
Rd.1-
Modafferi pumps the jab. Shevchenko misses with a cross. Double right hand misses for Modafferi. Shevchenko uses her footwork to maintain the range. Check hook connects for Shevchenko. They exchange jabs. Shevchenko connects with another jab. Modafferi rushes in and is met with more jabs. Jab to leg kick scores for Shevchenko. Modafferi moves forward behind a flurry but cannot close the distance. A one-two hits clean for Shevchenko. Modafferi throws another flurry, with just two of her right hands landing. Modafferi presses her foe against the fence and throws small punches. Modafferi hits a single leg but Shevchenko stands right back up. Modafferi gets another takedown. Shevchenko is up and eats a knee to the midsection. Modafferi scores takedown into full mount. Several elbows hit their mark for Modafferi.
10-9 Modafferi
Rd.2-
Shevchenko opens with a lead side kick. A set of jabs connect for Shevchenko. Spinning backfist partially lands for Shevchenko. Modafferi presses forward but is met with counter punches. Modafferi shoves Shevchenko against the cage and works a takedown. Modafferi forces the fight to the floor. A series of left hands score for Modafferi and then she backs away. Shevchenko launches upkicks from her back but Modafferi re-takes top position. Modafferi tries to pass into full mount. Shevchenko holds on to half guard but eats some elbows.
10-9 Modafferi
Rd.3-
Shevchenko marches forward behind her punches. She’s throwing her punches three at a time. Clean body kick lands for Shevchenko. Modafferi ducks under and takes the back. Shevchenko rolls into the top of Modafferi’s full guard. A couple of short shots land for Shevchenko. Modafferi hits a slick sweep to take the top position and return the short strikes. Shevchenko exploded back into top position and Modafferi stands up. Modafferi presses her opponent against the fence. Shevchenko lands a knee to the face, and again. A hard knee to the body scores for Shevchenko. Modafferi pulls out the takedown.
10-9 Shevchenko
Roxanne Modafferi def. Antonina Shevchenko by split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29): (W) Flyweight
- Alen Amedovski vs. Krzysztof Jotko: Middleweight
Rd.1-
Rear kick blocked by Amedovski. Up kick misses for Jotko. Lots of movement from Jotko, with tons of feints. Amedovski presses forward without strikes. Push kick lands for Jotko then a check hook misses. Jotko shoots in and scrambles into top position. Amedovski explodes but gives his back. Amedovski spins into top position and drops several elbows before standing back to his feet. Amedovski whiffs a punch and Jotko connects with a spinning elbow, causing Amedovski to wobble. Jotko scores the takedown into side control. Jotko attempts to mount but Amedovski gains half guard. A pair of ground strikes land as the bell sounds
10-9 Jotko
Rd.2-
Push kick lands for Jotko. The jab is pumping for Jotko as he presses forward. Southpaw cross misses for Jotko, and then a push kick whiffs. Amedovski blocks a head kicks. Jotko shoots in and gets the takedown in side control. Right elbow scores for Jotko, and then again. Jotko continues to elbow away with short shots. Amedovski bucks to no avail. Elbows, hammerfists, and punches score for Jotko. More chipping strikes connect. Jotko looks to isolate the far arm. Jotko locks up the crucifix and starts pounding away. Amedovski has no way of blocking the blows. Big elbow lands for Jotko as the round ends.
10-8 Jotko
Rd.3-
Amedovski presses forward. Jotko misses with a head kick. Cross misses for Jotko but he scores a takedown. Small body shots land for Jotko. He postures up and lands two punches, and then another two. Amedovski throws his legs up briefly but nothing is there. Big elbow lands for Jotko, and then one more. Jotko passes the guard into side control. Some more short shots land as Jotko controls Amedovski. A hammerfist lands from the bottom for Amedovski. Jotko backs away and raises both of his arms in victory as time expires.
10-8 Jotko
Krzysztof Jotko def. Alen Amedovski by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-26 x2): Middleweight
Prelims (10 AM ET, ESPN2):
- Movsar Evloev def. Seungwoo Choi by unanimous decision (29-27 x2, 29-26): Featherweight
- Sultan Aliev def. Keita Nakamura by unanimous decision (30-27 x3): Welterweight
- Alexander Yakovlev def. Alex Da Silva by submission (Guillotine) at 3:10 of round 2: Lightweight
- Shamil Abdurakhimov def. Marcin Tybura by TKO at 3:15 of round 2: Heavyweight
- Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Gadzhimurad Antigulov by KO at :44 of round 1: Light Heavyweight
- Magomed Mustafaev def. Rafael Fiziev by TKO at 1:26 of round 1: Lightweight