UFC 221 Results: An Interim Title Fight & Some Of Australia's Finest In Action

MMA

Welcome to Fightful.com's live coverage & discussion for UFC 221. We'll be bringing you full, fight by fight coverage of every bout on the card. You can also send in your feedback on our Disqus boards below!

Main Card (10pm EST., Pay-Per-View)

Colby Covington Explains How Fight With Joaquin Buckley Came About

UFC Interim Middleweight Title Decision Fight

#1 Yoel Romero def. #2 Luke Rockhold by KO via strikes (1:48, R3)

(Note: Yoel Romero isn’t the new UFC Interim Middleweight Champion since he missed weight for the fight.)

#9 Curtis Blaydes def. #5 Mark Hunt by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-27)

Tai Tuivasa def. Cyril Asker by TKO via strikes (2:18, R1)

Jake Matthews def. Li Jingliang by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-26, 30-26)

#13 Tyson Pedro def. Saparbek Safarov by submission via kimura (3:54, R1)

Preliminary Card (8pm EST., Fox Sports 1)

Dong Hyun Kim def. Damien Brown by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Israel Adesanya def. Rob Wilkinson by TKO via strikes (3:37, R2)

Alexander Volkanovski def. Jeremy Kennedy by TKO via strikes (4:57, R2)

#4 Jussier Formiga def. #8 Ben Nguyen by submission via rear naked choke (1:43, R3)

Preliminary Card (6:30pm EST., UFC Fight Pass)

Ross Pearson def. Mizuto Hirota by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Jose Quinonez def. Teruto Ishihara by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Luke Jumeau def. Daichi Abe by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 28-27)


Luke Jumeau vs. Daichi Abe

Round One: The round begins with Abe coming forward and swinging away at Jumeau, Abe nails Jumeau with a kick to the midsection. Jumeau backs up Abe after landing a few lefts, Abe responds by nailing Jumeau with a right followed by a kick. Abe rocks Jumeau with a multiple punch combination near the cage wall, Abe drops a swinging Jumeau with a counter right and he pounces on him with more strikes. Jumeau gets up and Abe nails him with a knee strike to the head, Jumeau then pops an incomin Abe with a counter left hook. Jumeau then hits a charging Abe with a counter left of his own, Abe swings away at Jumeau as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Abe

Round Two: The round begins with Jumeau attacking Abe with punching combinations, Jumeau scores a takedown on Abe and Abe gets right back up. Jumeau then cracks Abe with a counter left to the midsection, Jumeau cracks an incoming Abe with a kick to the midsection. Jumeau follows that up with an overhand right against Abe, Abe recovers and kicks a swinging Jumeau in the midsection. Jumeau responds by catching Abe with a multiple strike combination, Jumeau follows that up by landing a left to the midsection of Abe. Abe starts attacking Jumeau with some leg kicks as well, Jumeau goes back to kicking Abe in the midsection. Abe takes a few swings at Jumeau as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Jumeau (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)

Round Three: The round begins with Abe nailing Jumeau with a kick to the midsection, Abe eats a left hook as he attacks Jumeau with leg kicks. Jumeau then cracks Abe with a lead right to the face, Jumeau starts attacking Abe with some leg kicks of his own. Jumeau then cracks Abe with a head kick followed by a superman punch attempt, Abe accidentally pokes Jumeau in the eye and the fight is halted. The fight resumes with Abe cracking Jumeau with a right, Jumeau responds by catching Abe with a straight right. Jumeau waits a few moments before attacking Abe with another high kick, Jumeau follows that up by kicking Abe in the midsection. Jumeau trips up Abe by landing some more leg kicks, Jumeau then cracks Abe with a straight right to the face. Jumeau drops Abe with a leg kick and he pounces on him with strikes until the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Jumeau (Final Score: 29-28 for Jumeau)

Official Result: Luke Jumeau def. Daichi Abe by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 28-27)

Teruto Ishihara vs. Jose Quinonez

Round One: The round begins with Quinonez attacking Ishihara with some leg kicks, Quinonez scores a takedown on Ishihara and Ishihara gets right back up. Quinonez grabs Ishihara and he holds him up against the cage wall, the fighters exchange a few strikes while in the clinch. Quinonez drags Ishihara back to the ground while gaining back control, Ishihara scrambles to his feet and Quinonez gets him against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Ishihara charges at Quinonez while throwing a punching combination, Quinonez grabs Ishihara and he briefly gets him against the cage wall. Ishihara pops Quinonez with a two punch combo followed by a flying knee strike as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Quinonez

Round Two: The round begins with Quinonez attacking Ishihara with a two punch combination, Ishihara backs up Quinonez with a high kick attempt. Quinonez attacks Ishihara with a high kick attempt of his own, Quinonez also starts nailing Ishihara with leg kicks. Ishihara attacks Quinonez with some leg kicks of his own, Ishihara scores a takedown on Quinonez and Quinonez gets right back up. Ishihara kicks a swinging Quinonez right in the back, Ishihara charges forward and he swings away at Quinonez. Quinonez attacks Ishihara with a high kick before avoiding a right, Ishihara rocks a swinging Quinonez with a counter left and the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Ishihara (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)

Round Three: The round begins with Quinonez hunting for the takedown against Ishihara, Quinonez starts attacking Ishihara with some leg kicks. Ishihara continues coming forward and swinging away at Quinonez, Ishihara starts catching Quinonez with some leg kicks of his own. Quinonez then nails a jabbing Ishihara with a kick to the midsection, Quinonez then hits Ishihara with a head kick. Ishihara and Quinonez both land during a brief striking exchange, the fighters swing away at each other as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Quinonez (Final Score: 29-28 for Quinonez)

Official Result: Jose Quinonez def. Teruto Ishihara by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Ross Pearson vs. Mizuto Hirota

Round One: The round begins with the fighters exchanging a few jabs and leg kicks, Pearson cracks a swinging Hirota with a straight left. Pearson catches a swinging Hirota with a multiple punch combination, Hirota catches Pearson with a step in left hook. The fighters mainly posture and take a few swings at each other as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Pearson

Round Two: The round begins with Hirota attacking Pearson with a counter left, Hirota then hits Pearson with some leg kicks. Pearson backs up Hirota by landing a multiple punch combination, Pearson then hits Hirota with a left hook. Pearson eats a few jabs before cracking Hirota with a two punch combination, Pearson attempts a high kick against Hirota. Pearson cracks Hirota with another two punch combination, Hirota attacks Pearson with a high kick of his own. Pearson then catches a swinging Hirota with a counter left hook, Hirota comes forward and he swings away at Pearson. Hirota comes forward and he swings wildly at Pearson, Hirota rocks Pearson with a right as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Hirota (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)

Round Three: The round begins with Hirota attacking Pearson with some leg kicks, Hirota comes forward and he peppers Pearson with jabs. Pearson comes forward and he attacks Hirota with punching combinations, Pearson catches a swinging Hirota with a counter right. Pearson continuously tries nailing Hirota with multiple punch combinations, Pearson leaps forward to nail Hirota with a left. Hirota recovers and he catches Pearson with a short right, Hirota charges forward and just swings away at Pearson as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Pearson (Final Score: 29-28 for Pearson)

Official Result: Ross Pearson def. Mizuto Hirota by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

#4 Jussier Formiga vs. #8 Ben Nguyen

Round One: The round begins with Nguyen attacking Formiga with a punching combination, Nguyen grabs Formiga and he gets him against the cage wall. Nguyen attacks Formiga with strikes while holding him against the cage wall, the fighters separate and Nguyen gets Formiga right back against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Nguyen attacks Formiga with some high kicks, Nguyen again gets Formiga up against the cage wall. The fighters separate again and Formiga pops a kicking Nguyen with a counter right, Nguyen then nails Formiga with a kick to the midsection. Formiga scores a takedown on Nguyen and he gets side control, Formiga transitions to the full mount against Nguyen as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Formiga

Round Two: The round begins with Formiga cracking a swinging Nguyen with a counter strike combination, Nguyen nails Formiga with a knee strike to the midsection. Nguyen grabs Formiga and he gets him up against the cage wall, the fighters separate and Formiga nails Nguyen with a spinning heel kick to the midsection. Nguyen attacks Formiga with knee strikes to the midsection as Formiga looked for a takedown, Formiga scores a takedown on Nguyen and he gets the full guard. Formiga transitions to the half guard against Nguyen, Nguyen scrambles to his feet to get the fight standing again. Nguyen catches Formiga with a two punch combination, Formiga accidentally pokes Nguyen in the eye and the fight is halted. The fight resumes with the bell sounding to end the round.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Formiga (Overall Score: 20-18 for Formiga)

Round Three: The round begins with the fighters just swinging away at each other, Formiga drops a kicking Nguyen with a spinning back fist. Formiga gets back control on a downed Nguyen, Formiga locks in the rear naked choke and Nguyen goes out cold.

Official Result: #4 Jussier Formiga def. #8 Ben Nguyen by submission via rear naked choke (1:43, R3)

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Jeremy Kennedy

Round One: The round begins with Volkanovski attacking Kennedy with some leg kicks, Kennedy grabs Volkanovski and he gets him against the cage wall for a short time. Volkanovski grabs Kennedy and he now gets him against the cage wall, Volkanovski scores a takedown on Kennedy and he gets the full guard. Volkanovski gains the half guard against Kennedy, Volkanovski starts attacking Kennedy with some ground and pound. Kennedy eats more strikes while trapping Volkanovski in his full guard, Volkanovski regains the half guard while nailing Kennedy with more ground and pound. Kennedy scrambles to his feet and Volkanovski holds him against the cage wall as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Volkanovski

Round Two: The round begins with Kennedy cracking Volkanovski with a right, Kennedy then hits a swinging Volkanovski with a counter uppercut. Volkanovski scores a takedown on Kennedy and he gets the half guard, Kennedy scrambles to his feet and Volkanovski nails him with a knee strike. Kennedy grabs Volkanovski and he gets him up against the cage wall, Volkanovski drags Kennedy back to the ground and he gets the half guard. Kennedy gets Volkanovski in his full guard while eating a plethora of strikes, Volkanovski attacks Kennedy with ground and pound until the referee jumps in.

Official Result: Alexander Volkanovski def. Jeremy Kennedy by TKO via strikes (4:57, R2)

Rob Wilkinson vs. Israel Adesanya

Round One: The round begins with Wilkinson attacking Adesanya with some leg kicks, Adesanya then pops Wilkinson with a left. Wilkinson eats a knee strike as he gets Adesanya against the cage wall, Wilkinson nails Adesanya with a few strikes while in the clinch. Wilkinson scores a takedown on Adesanya and Adesanya gets right back up, Wilkinson scores another takedown and Adesanya gets right back up again. The fighters separate and Adesanya attacks Wilkinson with a high kick, Wilkinson gets Adesanya against the cage wall after eating a front kick to the midsection. Wilkinson scores another takedown on Adesanya and Adesanya gets up again, Wilkinson keeps Adesanya against the cage wall as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Wilkinson

Round Two: The round begins with Adesanya attempting a few kicks against Wilkinson, Wilkinson charges at Adesanya while throwing a few strikes. Adesanya starts peppering a backing Wilkinson with some jabs, Adesanya backs Wilkinson up with a high kick attempt followed by a knee strike. Wilkinson grabs Adesanya and he holds him against the cage wall, the fighters separate and Adesanya cracks Wilkinson with another knee strike. Adesanya nails Wilkinson with another high kick and a punching combination, Adesanya comes forward and he swings away at Wilkinson. Adesanya keeps Wilkinson against the cage wall while landing a plethora of strikes, Adesanya drops Wilkinson with a right to the midsection and the referee jumps in.

Official Result: Israel Adesanya def. Rob Wilkinson by TKO via strikes (3:37, R2)

Damien Brown vs. Dong Hyun Kim

Round One: The round begins with Kim attempting a high kick against Brown, Kim then hits Brown with a two punch combination. Kim also starts attacking Brown with some leg kicks, Brown drops Kim for a moment with a low leg kick. Brown and Kim start exchanging a plethora of leg kicks, Brown catches an incoming Kim with a short right. Kim then attacks Brown with a high kick that gets blocked, Kim then connects with a straight right against Brown. Brown attempts a front kick against Kim as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Kim

Round Two: The round begins with Brown attempting a high kick against Kim, Kim also attacks Brown with a variety of kicks. Kim then nails Brown with a kick to the midsection, Brown eats a bunch of kicks while taking a few swings at Kim. Brown goes back to attacking Kim with some leg kicks, Kim and Brown have a few striking exchanges. Brown catches an incoming Kim with a three punch combination, Brown backs Kim into the cage wall with a punching combination. Kim keeps Brown at bay by jabbing away at him until the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Kim (Overall Score: 20-18 for Kim)

Round Three: The round begins with the fighters taking a few swings at each other, Brown starts attacking Kim with some punching combinations. Brown then clocks an incoming Kim with a straight right, Brown also catches Kim with a kick to the midsection. Kim goes back to nailing Brown with some leg kicks, Kim also catches Brown with some lead lefts to the face. Kim eats some leg kicks as he nails Brown with punching combinations, Brown starts catching Kim with some leg kicks of his own and the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Brown (Final Score: 29-28 for Kim)

Official Result: Dong Hyun Kim def. Damien Brown by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

#13 Tyson Pedro vs. Saparbek Safarov

Round One: The round begins with Safarov attacking Pedro with some leg kicks, Pedro starts attacking Safarov with leg kicks of his own. Safarov scores a takedown on Pedro and he gets the half guard, Pedro wall walks to his feet and separates from Safarov. Pedro then catches Safarov with a knee strike to the head, Safarov starts swinging wildly against Pedro. Pedro then clobbers Safarov with a pair of rights followed by a knee strike, Safarov recovers and he nails Pedro with an uppercut. Pedro recovers and he catches Safarov with another right, Safarov scores a takedown and Pedro gets right back up. Pedro drops for a kimura and Safarov taps out.

Official Result: #13 Tyson Pedro def. Saparbek Safarov by submission via kimura (3:54, R1)

Jake Matthews vs. Li Jingliang

Round One: The round begins with Matthews attacking Jingliang with an oblique kick, Jingliang comes forward and he takes a few swings at Matthews. Matthews then cracks an incoming Jingliang with a left, Matthews then hits Jingliang with an overhand right. Matthews comes forward to catch Jingliang with a left hook, Matthews drops a swinging Jingliang with a counter strike and he gets full mount on the ground. Matthews starts attacking Jingliang with ground and pound before gaining back control, Matthews attacks Jingliang with more ground and pound until the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-8 for Matthews

Round Two: The round begins with Jingliang popping Matthews with a left, Matthews eats an uppercut before scoring a takedown on Jingliang. Matthews catches Jingliang in a guillotine choke and Jingliang escapes to get top position, Jingliang starts attacking Matthews with ground and pound. Matthews scrambles to his feet to get the fight standing again, Matthews cracks a wildly swinging Jingliang with a counter right. Jingliang and Matthews have a wild striking exchange near the cage wall, Jingliang continues coming forward and swinging away at Matthews. Jingliang starts catching Matthews with some leg kicks as well, the fighters have another wild striking exchange as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Matthews (Overall Score: 20-17 for Matthews)

Round Three: The round begins with Jingliang swinging away at Matthews, Matthews scores a takedown on Jingliang and Jingliang gets right back up. Matthews holds Jingliang against the cage wall for a short time, Matthews then hits Jingliang with a looping left cross. Jingliang charges forward and just swings wildly at Matthews, Matthews drops Jingliang with a right and Jingliang scrambles to get back control on the ground. Jingliang attacks Matthews with ground and pound as Matthews traps him in his full guard, Matthews gets to his feet and he holds Jingliang against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Matthews nails Jingliang with a two punch combination, Matthews attacks Jingliang with a flying knee strike. Matthews scores a takedown on Jingliang and Jingliang gets up as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Matthews (Final Score: 30-26 for Matthews)

Official Result: Jake Matthews def. Li Jingliang by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-26, 30-26)

Tai Tuivasa vs. Cyril Asker

Round One: The round begins with both fighters attacking each other with rights, Tuivasa charges at Asker while swarming him with strikes. Tuivasa gets Asker against the cage wall while throwing some rights, Asker pops Tuivasa with a two punch combo. Tuivasa rocks a swinging Asker with a right, Tuivasa backs Asker into the cage wall while throwing a plethora of strikes. Tuivasa takes a breather before wrecking Asker with a five punch combination, Tuivasa then cracks Asker with a left followed by an elbow strike. Tuivasa throws Asker to the ground after landing an elbow strike and the referee jumps in.

Official Result: Tai Tuivasa def. Cyril Asker by TKO via strikes (2:18, R1)

#5 Mark Hunt vs. #9 Curtis Blaydes

Round One: The round begins with Blaydes kicking Hunt in the midsection, both fighters attack each other with leg kicks. The fighters just start to swing away at each other, Blaydes comes forward and he swings away at Hunt. Blaydes scores a takedown on Hunt and Hunt gets right back up, Hunt rocks a swinging Blaydes with a counter right. Hunt briefly drops Blaydes with a right, Blaydes gets up and he scores another takedown on Hunt while getting full mount. Hunt scrambles to his feet and Blaydes drags him back to the ground, Blaydes starts attacking Hunt with some ground and pound. Blaydes transitions to the full mount against Hunt, Blaydes gets back control on Hunt as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Blaydes

Round Two: The round begins with Blaydes getting Hunt against the cage wall, Hunt finds a way to separate from Blaydes. Blaydes comes forward and he takes a few swings at Hunt, Blaydes also starts attacking Hunt with some leg kicks. Hunt cracks a swinging Blaydes with a counter left hook, Blaydes scores a takedown on a swinging Hunt and he gets the half guard. Blaydes starts attacking Hunt with some ground and pound until the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Blaydes (Overall Score: 20-18 for Blaydes)

Round Three: The round begins with Blaydes scoring a takedown on Hunt and Hunt gets right back up, Blaydes scores another takedown on Hunt and he gets full mount. Blaydes attacks Hunt with a lot of ground and pound, Blaydes moves to the half guard while nailing Hunt with more strikes. Blaydes gets back control on a scrambling Hunt while landing more strikes, Hunt gets up and Blaydes continuously drags him back to the ground. Blaydes gets side control while nailing Hunt with ground and pound, Hunt scrambles to his feet and separates from Blaydes. Blaydes scores another takedown on Hunt and he gets him in the seated position, Blaydes gets full mount on Hunt while landing strikes and the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Blaydes (Final Score: 30-27 for Blaydes)

Official Result: #9 Curtis Blaydes def. #5 Mark Hunt by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-27)

UFC Interim Middleweight Title Decision Fight: #1 Yoel Romero vs. #2 Luke Rockhold

Round One: The round begins with Rockhold attacking Romero with some leg kicks, Rockhold comes forward and he takes a few swings at Romero. Rockhold then nails Romero with a kick to the midsection, Rockhold attacks Romero with a high kick followed by a left. Romero occasionally takes some wild swings against Rockhold, Romero starts attacking Rockhold with leg kicks of his own. Romero cracks a backing Rockhold with an overhand left, Rockhold comes forward and he swings away at Romero as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Rockhold

Round Two: The round begins with Romero charging at Rockhold while swarming on him with a plethora of strikes, Romero then pops Rockhold with a few rights. Rockhold attempts a high kick and Romero blocks it, Rockhold catches Romero with a left hook to the face. Romero again swarms on Rockhold with a plethora of strikes, Rockhold goes back to attacking Romero with a few kicks. Rockhold then hits Romero with a straight left to the face, Rockhold nails Romero with a combination as the round ends.

Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Romero (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)

Round Three: The round begins with Rockhold keeping Romero at bay by throwing jabs, Romero follows Rockhold around the Octagon while eating strikes. Romero destroys Rockhold with an overhand left followed by one more on the ground and the referee jumps in.

Official Result: #1 Yoel Romero def. #2 Luke Rockhold by KO via strikes (1:48, R3)

(Note: Yoel Romero isn’t the new UFC Interim Middleweight Champion since he missed weight for the fight.)

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