Welcome to Fightful.com's live results, coverage and discussion for UFC Vegas 17: Stephen Thompson vs. Geoff Neal.
We will bring you full, fight-by-fight coverage of the main card, plus quick results for tonight's preliminary bouts. Scroll down to the Disqus boards below and chat with fellow MMA fans during the event.
Main Card (ESPN+, 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT)
Stephen Thompson def. Geoff Neal via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Jose Aldo def. Marlon Vera via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Michel Pereira def. Khaos Williams via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Rob Font def. Marlon Moraes via TKO (3:47, R1)
Marcin Tybura def. Greg Hardy via TKO (4:31, R2)
Preliminary Card (ESPN+, 4:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT)
Anthony Pettis def. Alex Morono via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Pannie Kianzad def. Sijara Eubanks via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Deron Winn def. Antonio Arroyo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Taila Santos def. Gillian Robertson via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-28)
Tafon Nchukwi def. Jamie Pickett via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-26, 30-26)
Jimmy Flick def. Cody Durden by submission via triangle choke (3:18, R1)
Christos Giagos def. Carlton Minus via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27, 29-28)
Continue below for play-by-play coverage once the main card begins.
Stephen Thompson vs. Geoff Neal
Round One: The marquee of the evening officially gets underway after introductions by ring announcer Joe Martinez and instructions from referee Marc Goddard and a touch of the gloves. Thomspon goes for a spinning kick to the body but narrowly misses and quickly follows it up with a kick to the lead leg of Neal. Thompson just misses a head kick and Neal comes in firing with a left hook that lands. Wonderboy throws a lazy kick but Neal isn't able to make him pay as he just misses a left hand. Thompson lands a nice kick to the body and follows it up with a left jab.Both men step-in at the same time and headbutt each other and it immediately opens up a cut on Thompson's forehead. Referee Marc Goddard calls for a break but both men are cleared to return but the round comes to an end.
Round Two: The second round begins as both men are busted open from the headbutt but appear to have somewhat recovered. Neal pushes Wonderboy to the fence but Wonderboy is quick to break the clinch and circle back to the center of the cage. Thompson clips Neal with a pair of jabs and drills Neal with a right straight to the body as he appears to be finding his groove. Neal plants a heavy left kick to the body of Thompson but takes a couple jabs as a result. Neal pushes forward and lands a heavy left hook right on Wonderboy's chin as the buzzer sounds off and the round comes to a close.
Round Three: The third frame begins and Thompson doesn't appear to be feeling any effects from the shot he took to end round two. Neal rushes up to Thompson and presses him against the fence and initiates the clinch and is trying to dirty up the fight a bit. Thompson is able to sneak out of the clinch but Neal throws him right back against it. Wonderboy again escapes the clinch and circles back to the center of the cage but Neal gets him against the cage for a third time but again, Wonderboy is able to escape the hold as the round ends.
Round Four: It's time for the main event rounds as this one heads to the fourth. It appears on most people's scorecards that Neal needs a stoppage at some point in the final 10-minutes to win this one. However, Thompson continues to be the one to push the issue, successfully landing jabs, kicks to the body and a few leg kicks until Neal yet again latches onto Wonderboy and forces a clinch against the fence as we're headed to the final frame.
Round Five: The final round is underway and both men decide to stand face-to-face and throw for a few seconds as they both take a step back and Thompson throws a wild head kick that narrowly misses. Wonderboy continues his barrage and lands a nice 1-2 combo on Neal that sends him back to regroup. Neal goes back to the well and presses Thompson against the fence and throws some short left hooks while in the clinch. The pair circle back to the center of the octagon for the final minute of the fight. Thompson lands a heavy right hand and Neal sends a left back his way as the buzzer sounds and these two have gone the full 25-minutes.
Result: Stephen Thompson def. Geoff Neal via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Jose Aldo vs. Marlon Vera
Round One: The co-main event is underway with former UFC bantamweight champion Jose Aldo and surging contender Chito Vera. Chito throws a pair of leg kicks right out of the gate but Aldo checks them both. Chito presses Aldo against the fence and lands a knee to the body. Aldo reverses the pressure and is able to break the clinch and circle back to the center of the octagon. Aldo is seemingly feeling it, throwing combos to the head and body of Chito and then follows it up with a heavy leg kick that wobbles Chito as the round comes to a close.
Round Two: The second round begins with Chito pushing forward and pressuring the former champ but falls into the trap of Aldo's clinch and gets thrown to the mat but is able to scramble back to his feet. Chito drills Aldo with a left hook and pushes him against the fence and lands a couple shots to the body but eats a body shot from Aldo. Chito picks Aldo up and again pushes him against the fence, lands a left jab to the head, follows it up with a body shot and breaks the clinch as the round comes to an end.
Round Three: The final frame is underway and Aldo immediately gets to the back of Chito and forces him to the mat before he shakes Aldo off. Aldo rolls Chito onto his stomach and flirts with the rear-naked choke. Chito rolls around but Aldo keeps the body triangle in-tact and refuses to give up position and continues to try and snatch the neck of his Ecuadorian opponent. Chito powers to his feet but Aldo keeps his back, holding that body triangle but Chito falls back in hope of loosening the hold by Aldo but to no avail. The fight comes to a close with both men throwing wild punches from the ground as the buzzer sounds and this one will go to the judges.
Result: Jose Aldo def. Marlon Vera via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Michel Pereira vs. Khaos Williams
Round One: The fan's fight of the night is officially underway. Both men are slowly getting into this one, respecting each other's explosiveness. Pereira attempts a kick to the body of Williams who catches the kick and throws Pereira against the fence but Pereira throws him to the mat and they circle back to the middle of the octagon. Williams lands a pair of leg kicks but Pereira makes him pay with a kick to the midsection. Pereira lands a knee to the body of Williams then narrowly misses a follow up high kick as round one comes to a close.
Round Two: The second round commences and both men are being much more subdued then usual. Williams pushes forward and initiates a clinch against the fence and lands a knee to the body before Pereira splits the clinch and circles back to the middle of the octagon. Pereira begins to walk Williams down and lands a pair of jabs and Williams counters with a left hook to the body of Pereira. Williams pushes forward and stuns Pereira with a left hook and pushes Pereira to the fence. Pereira snatches Williams' neck but Khaos is saved by the bell as this one is heading to the third-round.
Round Three: This one picked up the pace in the second frame but nevertheless is headed for the third and final round. Khaos is the one pushing the pace to begin the round after he stunned Pereira to end the second but nearly got choked out as the buzzer ended the round. The pair trade kicks to the body and lead leg. Pereira goes for a takedown out of nowhere and drags Williams to the ground but Williams scrambles back to his feet and pushes Pereira off of the fence and both men circle back to the center of the cage. In the final minute of the fight Pereira lands a head kick but Williams drills him with a left hook and Pereira takes Williams down yet again. The final round closes with Pereira hammering Williams with ground and pound as this one is headed to the judge's scorecards.
Result: Michel Pereira def. Khaos Williams via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Marlon Moraes vs. Rob Font
Round One: A pair of bantamweight contenders are up next. Announcer Joe Martinez makes the introductions and after a touch of the gloves this one is underway. Moraes wastes no time and shoots for a takedown, which he is able to get but Font rolls out and quickly gains top position and gets to his feet. Moraes keeps the pressure on and trips Font and gets back on top and transitions to side control. Moraes holds control but is yet to try for any real ground and pound but Font scrambles and gets back to the feet. Font drills Marlon with a right hook then Marlon counters with head-kick that wobbles Font but Font drills Moraes with a hook that sends Moraes to the canvas. Font follows up with some heavy ground and pound and referee Marc Goddard gives Moraes every chance to recover but to no avail. Rob Font with the upset first-round knockout victory.
Result - Rob Font def. Marlon Moraes via TKO (3:47, R1)
Marcin Tybura vs. Greg Hardy
Round One: The big boys kick off the main card. Hardy rushes to the center of the octagon as this one gets underway. Tybura lands a kick to the lead leg of Hardy and Hardy returns the favor. Both are in a bit of a feeling out process for the first couple of minutes of this one. Hardy lays into Tybura with a pair of leg kicks and Tybura counters with an overhand left that just misses. Tybura rushes in for a hook to the body but Hardy counters with a huge left that causes Tybura to stumble before backing Hardy off with a hook of his own. Tybura switches levels but gets stuffed by Hardy and pays for it as Hardy starts firing off heavy combos to the head but Tybura survives the round.
Round Two: Somehow we're in the second round as Tybura survived a barrage from Hardy to close out the first frame. Tybura is the one to push the pace to begin the round as he clips Hardy with a left hook but Hardy responds with a pair of leg kicks.Tybura is finding success for the first time this fight with his offense then changes levels and this time successfully takes Hardy down. Tybura flattens Hardy out and pours on the ground and pound, referee Dan Miragliotta warns Hardy to fight back but he's seen enough and calls the fight.
Result - Marcin Tybura def. Greg Hardy via TKO (4:31, R2)
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