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Main Card (10pm EST., ESPN+)
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Jon Jones def. #2 Thiago Santos by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) to retain the title
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship
Amanda Nunes def. #2 Holly Holm by KO via head kick (4:10, R1) to retain the title
#4 Jorge Masvidal def. #5 Ben Askren by KO via flying knee strike (0:05, R1)
#6 Jan Blachowicz def. #3 (MW) Luke Rockhold by KO via strikes (1:39, R2)
Michael Chiesa def. Diego Sanchez by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Preliminary Card (8pm EST., ESPN)
Arnold Allen def. Gilbert Melendez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Marlon Vera def. Nohelin Hernandez by submission via rear naked choke (3:25, R2)
#5 Claudia Gadelha def. #14 Randa Markos by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Song Yadong def. #14 Alejandro Perez by KO via punch (2:04, R1)
Preliminary Card (6:15pm EST., ESPN+)
Edmen Shahbazyan def. Jack Marshman by submission via rear naked choke (1:12, R1)
Chance Rencountre def. Ismail Naurdiev by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Julia Avila def. Pannie Kianzad by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Julia Avila vs. Pannie Kianzad
Round One: The round begins with Avila attacking Kianzad with some leg kicks, Kianzad comes forward and attacks Avila with combinations. Kianzad grabs Avila and she gets her against the cage wall, Avila cracks Kianzad with a few knee strikes to the head. Avila also cracks Kianzad with some elbow strikes to the head, Avila cracks Kianzad with a combination as they separate. Kianzad responds by hitting Avila with some rights of her own, Kianzad again grabs Avila and gets her against the cage wall. Kianzad hunts for a takedown after a brief exchange with Avila, the fighters separate and Kianzad backs up Avila after landing a multiple punch combination. Avila rocks Kianzad after landing a combination of her own, the fighters clinch near the cage wall as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Avila
Round Two: The round begins with Avila grabbing Kianzad and getting her against the cage wall, Kianzad spins Avila and gets her on the cage wall. The fighters separate and take a few swings at each other, Kianzad scores a takedown on a kicking Avila and Avila gets right back up. Kianzad goes for a spinning back fist and Avila avoids it, Kianzad and Avila also exchange a plethora of jabs. Kianzad starts attacking Avila with some combinations, Avila also lands some leg kicks against Kianzad. Avila charges forward and she cracks Kianzad with a multiple punch combination, Kianzad responds by nailing Avila with rights. Avila rocks a swinging Kianzad with a counter right, Avila swings away at Kianzad until she gets her against the cage wall. The fighters swing away at each other while separating, Kianzad goes for a takedown and Avila winds up getting back control as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Avila (Overall Score: 20-18 for Avila)
Round Three: The round begins with the fighters having a wild striking exchange, Avila backs Kianzad into the cage wall while swinging away at her. Avila drops a swinging Kianzad with a counter right and gets the full guard when they hit the ground, Avila transitions to back control against Kianzad. Kianzad scrambles and she gets Avila in her half guard, Avila regains back control after nailing Kianzad with a few strikes, Avila keeps the back control position until the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Avila (Final Score: 30-27 for Avila)
Official Result: Julia Avila def. Pannie Kianzad by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Ismail Naurdiev vs. Chance Rencountre
Round One: The round begins with Rencountre attacking Naurdiev with a few leg kicks, Rencountre eats a kick to the midsection while throwing a few jabs. Naurdiev cracks Rencountre with an elbow strike to the head followed by a variety of kicks, Rencountre goes for a takedown and Naurdiev winds up in top position. Rencountre scrambles to his feet as Naurdiev swings away at him, Naurdiev then nails Rencountre with multiple knee strikes to the midsection followed by a body kick. Rencountre scores a takedown on Naurdiev and he gets him in the seated position, Rencountre transitions to the half guard against Naurdiev. Rencountre attacks Naurdiev with some ground and pound until the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Naurdiev
Round Two: The round begins with Rencountre attacking Naurdiev with a three punch combination, Rencountre scores a takedown on a kicking Naurdiev and he gets back control. Rencountre starts attacking Naurdiev with ground and pound, Naurdiev scrambles and he gets Rencountre in the half guard. Rencountre goes back to attacking Naurdiev with ground and pound, Rencountre looks for a few submissions as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Rencountre (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)
Round Three: The round begins with Rencountre grabbing Naurdiev and getting him against the cage wall, the fighters separate and Naurdiev attacks Rencountre with some strikes. Rencountre scores a takedown on Naurdiev after eating a flying knee strike, Naurdiev gets back to his feet and Rencountre follows suit. Naurdiev eats a left before attacking Rencountre with another flying knee strike, Rencountre grabs Naurdiev and gets him against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Rencountre jumps on the back of a standing Naurdiev, Rencountre drags Naurdiev to the ground while landing strikes. Rencountre attacks Naurdiev with ground and pound while gaining the full mount, Naurdiev scrambles and he gets Rencountre in his half guard. Naurdiev gets back to his feet and Rencountre holds him against the cage wall, the referee separates the fighters for inactivity. The action resumes with Naurdiev scoring a takedown on Rencountre as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Rencountre (Final Score: 29-28 for Rencountre)
Official Result: Chance Rencountre def. Ismail Naurdiev by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Jack Marshman
Round One: The round begins with Shahbazyan and Marshman having a few striking exchanges, Shahbazyan scores a takedown on Marshman and he gets the full guard. Shahbazyan attacks Marshman with a plethora of ground and pound before gaining side control, Shahbazyan then gains back control against Marshman. Shahbazyan locks in a rear naked choke and a tap out follows.
Official Result: Edmen Shahbazyan def. Jack Marshman by submission via rear naked choke (1:12, R1)
#14 Alejandro Perez vs. Song Yadong
Round One: The round begins with Yadong going for a high kick against Perez, Yadong charges forward and he swings away at Perez. Yadong cracks a swinging Perez with a counter right hook, Yadong avoids an uppercut while kicking away at Perez. Yadong levels a kicking Perez with a counter right and Perez goes out cold.
Official Result: Song Yadong def. #14 Alejandro Perez by KO via punch (2:04, R1)
#5 Claudia Gadelha vs. #14 Randa Markos
Round One: The round begins with Gadelha cracking Markos with a right, Markos charges at Gadelha while swinging away at her. Gadelha cracks Markos with a three punch combination to the face, Gadelha backs up Markos after landing a two punch combo. Markos eats a left hook after attacking Gadelha with leg kicks, Gadelha starts nailing Markos with some leg kicks of her own. Gadelha and Markos exchange some rights while swinging wildly at each other, Markos hits Gadelha with a knee followed by a right as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Gadelha
Round Two: The round begins with Gadelha looking for a high kick against Markos, Markos charges at Gadelha while swinging away at her. Gadelha pops Markos with a left after eating a leg kick, Gadelha backs up Markos after landing a three punch combination. Gadelha follows that up by nailing Markos with a pair of hooks, Gadelha continuously attacks Markos with combinations. Markos cracks Gadelha with a knee strike to the face during a wild striking exchange, Markos attempts a spinning back fist against Gadelha. Gadelha grabs Markos and gets her against the cage wall as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Gadelha (Overall Score: 20-18 for Gadelha)
Round Three: The round begins with Gadelha taking a few swings at Markos, Markos and Gadelha exchange some jabs as well. Gadelha keeps Markos near the cage wall while swinging away at her, Gadelha pops Markos with an uppercut followed by a left hook. Markos pops Gadelha with a few jabs to keep her at a distance, Markos starts coming forward while taking some swings at Gadelha. Gadelha clocks Markos with a counter left hook after eating a leg kick, Gadelha then pops Mmarkos with a right. Markos then cracks a swinging Gadelha with a counter right as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Gadelha (Final Score: 30-27 for Gadelha)
Official Result: #5 Claudia Gadelha def. #14 Randa Markos by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Marlon Vera vs. Nohelin Hernandez
Round One: The round begins with Hernandez attacking Vera with some leg kicks, Vera attacks Hernandez with a kick to the midsection. Vera scores a takedown on a kicking Hernandez and he gets back control, Vera starts attacking Hernandez with ground and pound. Vera rolls for an arm bar and Hernandez escapes to get top position, Hernandez attacks Vera with ground and pound. Hernandez locks in a d’arce choke on Vera as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Vera
Round Two: The round begins with Hernandez attacking Vera with some jabs, Vera attacks Hernandez with some leg kicks. Hernandez then cracks Vera with a high kick, Vera responds by attacking Hernandez with a four punch combination. Hernandez scores a takedown on Vera and he gets the open guard, Hernandez attacks Vera with ground and pound before posturing up. Vera scrambles to his feet after eating some leg kicks, Vera drops Hernandez with a leaping knee strike and he gets back control after landing a few strikes. Vera catches Hernandez in a rear naked choke and a tap out follows.
Official Result: Marlon Vera def. Nohelin Hernandez by submission via rear naked choke (3:25, R2)
Gilbert Melendez vs. Arnold Allen
Round One: The round begins with Allen attacking Melendez with a high kick, Melendez comes forward and attacks Allen with combinations. Allen starts attacking Melendez with some leg kicks, Allen starts nailing Melendez with a few lefts. Melendez comes forward while clocking Allen with combinations, Allen briefly drops Melendez with a leg kick. Allen stuns a swinging Melendez with some punching combinations of his own, Allen backs Melendez into the cage wall after throwing a few more lefts. Allen continuously nails the midsection of Melendez with left hooks, Allen nails Melendez with a spinning back kick to the upper body as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Allen
Round Two: The round begins with Melendez attacking Allen with some leg kicks, Allen attacks Melendez with lefts and some high kicks. Allen cracks Melendez with some punching combinations, Allen then pops Melendez with a two punch combination. Allen goes back to attacking the midsection of Melendez with left hooks, Allen also cracks Melendez with a ton of left uppercuts. Allen backs Melendez into the cage wall while swinging away at each other, Melendez and Allen get into a brief striking exchange before the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Allen (Overall Score: 20-18 for Allen)
Round Three: The round begins with Allen attacking Melendez with some leg kicks, Melendez comes forward while swinging away at Allen. Allen grabs Melendez and gets him up against the cage wall, Allen scores a takedown on Melendez and he gets the full guard. Allen gets up and Melendez scrambles to his feet a short time later, Melendez nails Allen with a two punch combination. Allen backs up a swinging Melendez with a two punch combination, Melendez then hits Allen with an elbow strike and left hook. Melendez comes forward and he nails Allen with a right, Allen comes forward while attempting multiple high kicks against Melendez. Allen backs Melendez into the cage wall while kicking away at him, the fighters exchange blows as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Allen (Final Score: 30-27 for Allen)
Official Result: Arnold Allen def. Gilbert Melendez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Diego Sanchez vs. Michael Chiesa
Round One: The round begins with Sanchez scoring a takedown on Chiesa and he gets the half guard, Chiesa sweeps Sanchez and he gets back control. Chiesa rolls for an arm bar and Sanchez escapes to regain top position, Chiesa scrambles to his feet and Sanchez drags him back to the ground. Chiesa gets up and he nails Sanchez with a combination, Chiesa clinches with Sanchez and the two exchange knee strikes. Chiesa scores a takedown on Sanchez and he gets back control, Chiesa attacks Sanchez with ground and pound. Chiesa nails Sanchez with a series of elbow strikes while on his back, Sanchez gets free and he gets Chiesa against the cage wall as they stand up. Sanchez scores a takedown on Chiesa and Chiesa sweeps him to get top positioning, Chiesa goes back to attacking Sanchez with ground and pound. Chiesa gets back control and Sanchez stands up as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Chiesa
Round Two: The round begins with Chiesa scoring a takedown on Sanchez and he gets top position, Chiesa attacks Sanchez with ground and pound upon gaining back control. Sanchez scrambles to his feet and Chiesa gets him against the cage wall, Chiesa attacks Sanchez with a multiple strike combination before scoring another takedown. Chiesa goes back to attacking Sanchez with ground and pound, Sanchez rolls for a knee bar and Chiesa escapes to get back control. Chiesa attacks Sanchez with more ground and pound, Sanchez scrambles back to his feet while holding onto Chiesa. Chiesa scores another takedown on Sanchez and he gets the half guard, Chiesa looks for a kimura as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Chiesa (Overall Score: 20-18 for Chiesa)
Round Three: The round begins with Sanchez taking a few swings at Chiesa, Chiesa scores a takedown on Sanchez and he gets back control. Sanchez scrambles to get free and both fighters get back to their feet, Chiesa scores another takedown on Sanchez and he gets the half guard. Chiesa transitions to back control and Sanchez scrambles to his feet, Chiesa drags Sanchez back to the ground while keeping back control. Chiesa looks for a rear naked choke as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Chiesa (Final Score: 30-27 for Chiesa)
Official Result: Michael Chiesa def. Diego Sanchez by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
#6 Jan Blachowicz vs. #3 (MW) Luke Rockhold
Round One: The round begins with Rockhold attacking Blachowicz with some kicks to the midsection, Blachowicz responds with kicks of his own. Rockhold grabs Blachowicz and gets him against the cage wall, Rockhold starts hunting for takedowns against Blachowicz. The fighters exchange some strikes while in the clinch, Blachowicz starts cracking Rockhold with some elbow strikes to the head. The fighters separate and Rockhold goes for more high kicks, Blachowicz starts attacking Rockhold with some leg kicks. Blachowicz nails Rockhold with a kick to the midsection, Blachowicz avoids a kick before nailing Rockhold with a right. Blachowicz clobbers Rockhold with a head kick as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Blachowicz
Round Two: The round begins with Rockhold charging forward and nailing Blachowicz with a combination, Blachowicz starts attacking Rockhold with some leg kicks. Rockhold grabs Blachowicz and gets him against the cage wall, the fighters exchange strikes while in the clinch. The fighters separate and Blachowicz crushes Rockhold with a left hook, Blachowicz pounces on a downed Rockhold and the referee jumps in.
Official Result: #6 Jan Blachowicz def. #3 (MW) Luke Rockhold by KO via strikes (1:39, R2)
#4 Jorge Masvidal vs. #5 Ben Askren
Round One: The round begins with Masvidal destroying Askren with a flying knee strike and Askren goes out cold.
Official Result: #4 Jorge Masvidal def. #5 Ben Askren by KO via flying knee strike (0:05, R1)
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship
Amanda Nunes (c) vs. #2 Holly Holm
Round One: The round begins with Nunes and Holm exchanging a few kicks, Holm pops Nunes with a right while eating a leg kick. Nunes starts attacking Holm with some leg kicks, Nunes also goes for a high kick and Holm blocks it. Holm charges at Nunes while swinging away at her, Nunes scores a takedown on Holm and Holm gets right back up. Holm attacks Nunes with side kicks to the knees, Nunes cracks Holm with a three punch combination to the head. Nunes kicks Holm in the midsection before landing a right, Nunes levels Holm with a head kick and lands follow up strikes as the referee jumps in.
Official Result: Amanda Nunes def. #2 Holly Holm by KO via head kick (4:10, R1) to retain the title
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Jon Jones (c) vs. #2 Thiago Santos
Round One: The round begins with Jones attacking Santos with a variety of kicks, Santos attacks Jones with some leg kicks. Santos starts attacking Jones with his own variety of kicks, Jones looks for a takedown before attacking Santos with a spinning elbow strike. Santos charges at Jones while swinging away at him, Santos nails a kicking Jones with a counter strike combination. Jones hits Santos with a spinning back kick to the midsection, Jones goes for a head kick as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Santos
Round Two: The round begins with Santos immediately attacking Jones with leg kicks, Santos charges at Jones while swinging away at him. Jones starts landing some leg kicks of his own against Santos, Santos goes for a high kick and Jones blocks it. Jones keeps Santos at a distance by peppering him with some jabs, Santos starts landing body kicks on Jones. Jones drops Santos with a high kick and he pops right back up, Jones connects with a front kick to the face of Santos. Santos continues attacking Jones with high kicks and combinations, Jones hits Santos with some front kicks to the midsection. Jones goes for a few spinning kicks as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Jones (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)
Round Three: The round begins with Santos attempting a spinning kick against Jones, Santos barely misses a head kick against Jones. Jones goes after Santos by landing some leg kicks against him, Santos attacks Jones with a kick to the midsection. Santos lights up a backing Jones with a multiple punch combination, Jones drops Santos with a left and Santos gets back up. Jones goes for a flying knee strike and Santos defends against it, Santos goes back to attacking Jones with leg kicks. Jones nails Santos with an elbow strike after Santos slipped, Jones then nails Santos with a head kick. Jones backs up Santos while attacking him with a bunch of kicks, Jones goes for a spinning elbow strike as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Jones (Overall Score: 29-28 for Jones)
Round Four: The round begins with Santos attacking Jones with some leg kicks, Santos charges at Jones while swinging wildly at him. Jones hits Santos in the midsection with a spinning back kick, Jones goes back to attacking Santos with leg kicks. Santos backs up Jones by taking a few swings at him, Jones hits Santos with a side kick to the upper body. Santos goes for a cartwheel kick as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Santos (Overall Score: 38-38 for Draw)
Round Five: The round begins with Santos kicking Jones in the midsection, Santos then attacks Jones with a multiple punch combination. Santos also goes right back to attacking Jones with leg kicks, Santos cracks Jones with a pair of lefts and a high kick. Santos then kicks Jones in the midsection once again, Jones also attacks Santos with leg kicks of his own. Santos charges at Jones while swinging wildly at him and the round ends a short time later.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Santos (Final Score: 48-47 for Santos)
Official Result: Jon Jones def. #2 Thiago Santos by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) to retain the title
