Welcome to Fightful.com's live results, coverage and discussion for UFC Vegas 18: Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov.
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+, 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT)
Alexander Volkov def. Alistair Overeem via TKO (2:06, R2)
Cory Sandhagen def. Frankie Edgar via KO (0:28, R1)
Clay Guida def. Michael Johnson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Alexandre Pantoja def. Manel Kape via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Beneil Dariush def. Diego Ferreira via split-decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Danilo Marques def. Mike Rodriguez by submission via rear-naked-choke (4:52, R2)
***Rodriguez vs. Marques moved to the main card due to time constraints***
Prelims (ESPN+, 5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT)
Devonte Smith def. Justin Jaynes via TKO/Doctor Stoppage (3:38, R2)
Karol Rosa def. Joselyne Edwards via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Lara Procopio def. Molly McCann via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Seungwoo Choi def. Youseff Zalal via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Timur Valiev def. Martin Day via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26)
Ode Osbourne def. Jerome Rivera via TKO (0:26, R1)
***Continue below for play-by-play coverage once the main card begins***
Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov
Round One: The main event of the evening is underway and Volkov lands a heavy leg kick to the lead leg of Overeem to open the action. Volkov faints a kick to the body and follows it up with another body kick attempt that narrowly misses. Overeem partially lands a heavy left hook that stops Volkov in his tracks. Volkov lands a left jab and Overeem fakes a takedown attempt and pushes Volkov back. Overeem lands a right uppercut and just misses a follow up straight right. Volkov lands a counter left hook that drops Overeem, Volkov rushes over to try and finish the job but Overeem scrambles to his feet and seems to be out of danger for the moment. Volkov gets Overeem in the clinch and drills Overeem with a pair of knees to the body and lands a right hook on the way out. Volkov lands a combo to the head and body as the buzzer sounds and the opening frame comes to a close.
Round Two: The second round opens with a bloodied up Overeem trying to recover after the barrage from Volkov towards the end of the first round. Overeem initiates the clinch and presses Volkov against the cage but the Russian-born contender is able to power his way back to the center of the cage. Volkov drills Overeem with a right hook and begins to unload on the Overeem who's stuck against the fence. Overeem goes for a last-ditch takedown attempt but Volkov stuffs it with ease, circles back to the center of the octagon and drills Overeem with a right hook that drops him and referee Jason Herzog has seen enough and this one is over. Statement win for Alexander Volkov.
Result - Alexander Volkov def. Alistair Overeem via TKO (2:06, R2)
Cory Sandhagen vs. Frankie Edgar
Round One: The classic matchup of aging former champion against the young surging prospect owns the co-marquee in this as Frankie Edgar takes on Cory Sandhagen. This one is officially underway and Edgar pushes the pace early, landing a lead leg kick on Sandhagen but Sandhagen lands a flying knee out of nowhere that knocks Frankie Edgar out cold. Another highlight KO for Cory Sandhagen.
Result - Cory Sandhagen def. Frankie Edgar via KO (0:28, R1)
Michael Johnson vs. Clay Guida
Round One: The 'people's main event' is up next with a pair of UFC OG's in the form of Michael Johnson and Clay Guida. Johnson comes straight forward towards Guida and just misses a straight left and Guida narrowly missed a counter right hook. Guida lands an overhand right as Johnson dips his head down but Johnson follows it up with a left hook that lands. Guida goes in for a double leg takedown but presses Johnson against the fence and explodes and tosses Johnson to the mat and gains top control. Guida goes for a guillotine but Johnson is able to power to his feet. Back in the center of the octagon, Johnson lands a knee that lands flush on the chin of Guida, who goes for the clinch but Johnson twists the momentum around and gets Guida against the fence before circling back to the center of the cage. Johnson lands a nice 1-2 but Guida counters nicely with a right hook to the body as the round comes to a close.
Round Two: The second rounds opens with Guida initiating the clinch and successfully gets Johnson to the mat. Johnson uses the fence to quickly get back to his feet. Guida stays locked in the clinch but Johnson scrambles and circles back to the center of the octagon. Guida immediately goes for another takedown but Johnson stymies the attempt and gets the fight back to the feet. Johnson lands a left hook and Guida goes for yet another takedown and Johnson again stuffs the attempt. Guida locks Johnson in the clinch against the fence and lands a knee to Johnson's body as the round comes to an end.
Round Three: The third and final round is underway and Johnson throws a wild left hook that just misses. Johnson lands a right jab and follows it up with a straight left but Guida catches a kick attempt from Johnson and gets another takedown. Johnson scrambles back to his feet and ends up on top of Guida but Guida scrambles to the back of Johnson and locks in a rear-naked-choke, Johnson calmly loosens Guida's hold and gets out of danger but Guida is able to keep back control and lands a few shots to Johnson's body as the buzzer sounds and this one is going to the judge's scorecards.
Result - Clay Guida def. Michael Johnson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Manel Kape
Round One: The UFC debut of former RIZIN flyweight champion Manel Kape is underway against the fifth-ranked Alexandre Pantoja. Pantoja pushes the pace right away and narrowly misses a right hook then lands a right hook but Kape seems to have taken it with not much issue. Pantoja lands a kick to the lead leg of Kape, who back pedals before circling back to the center of the octagon. Kape lands a straight right and stuffs an immediate takedown attempt from Pantoja. Kape lands a lead leg kick on Pantoja then just misses a follow up overhand right. Pantoja lands a right hook but Kape lands one of his own and gets out of the way of a kick to the body from Pantoja. Kape lands a pair of left jabs but Pantoja answers back with a kick to Kape's right calf. Kape goes for a cartwheel kick but Pantoja uses the momentum against him and takes top control. Kape scrambles back to his feet and nearly trips up Pantoja but the buzzer sounds and the opening frame comes to an end.
Round Two: The second round is underway and Kape lands a left jab but eats a lead leg kick from Pantoja for his troubles. Pantoja narrowly misses a kick to Kape's body but Kape answers back with a 1-2 combo that gets the attention of Pantoja. Kape catches a body kick from Pantoja and lands a straight right and gets out of the way of a counter combo from Pantoja. Kape lands a switch kick to the lead leg of Pantoja but eats a right hook from Pantoja. Kape just misses a left uppercut and takes a right hook to the body from Pantoja but continues to come forward. Kape dives for the back of Pantoja and trips him up for a quick takedown, Pantoja scrambles back to his feet but Kape trips him up again for a second takedown as the round comes to a close.
Round Three: The final round begins with a touch of the gloves and Kape narrowly missed a spinning back kick to the body of Pantoja. Kape lands a left hook and is able to get out of the way of a body kick attempt from Pantoja. Kape lands a body shot but gets hit by a head kick from Pantoja and Kape starts dancing and sticks his tongue out at his opponent. Kape lands a straight left and Pantoja narrowly missed a counter right hook. Kape lands a right hook and follows it up with a left uppercut that sends Pantoja on his bike and retreats to the cage but circles back to the center of the cage. Kape shoots for a double leg takedown and trips up Pantoja, Pantoja gets back to his feet but Kape trips him up again and gets another takedown and Kape lands a knee as the buzzer sounds and this one will go to the judge's scorecards.
Result - Alexandre Pantoja def. Manel Kape via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Diego Ferreira vs. Beneil Dariush
Round One: This one gets underway and Ferreira misses a head kick as Dariush drills Ferreira's with a pair of lead leg kicks then gets Ferreira against the cage and trips him up for a takedown. Ferreira teases an omoplata but escapes to his feet as Dariush again latches onto him against the cage. Ferreira pulls guard but Dariush is able to get back to his feet where he lands a left uppercut but Ferreira makes him pay with an uppercut of his own. Ferreira may be hurt as he attempts a pretty lazy double leg but Dariush stuffs it and ends up on top. Dariush lands a couple shots of ground and pound before trying to take Ferreira's back but the Brazilian gets ahead of it and attempts a leg lock but Dariush unwinds out of the hold and again ends up on top. Dariush gets Ferreira's back but the latter powers to his feet and is able to separate from Dariush. Ferreira lands a heavy straight right that gets the attention of Dariush and follows it up with a front kick to the chest and narrowly missed a right hook as the opening frame comes to a close.
Round Two: The second round opens with a leg kick from Dariush and initiates the clinch against the fence and trips up Ferreira and ends up on top. Dariush is able to get side control for just a second but Ferreira scrambles to his feet but Dariush again trips him up and ends up on top. Ferreira attempts a leg lock but Dariush rolls out and latches onto Ferriera's back before he's pushed off and the pair circle back to the center of the octagon. Dariush launches towards Ferreira and gets yet another takedown but Ferreira gets right back up to the feet and gets back to the center of the cage but Dariush takes him right back down and ends up on top and he's able to push out of a guillotine attempt from Ferreira. Dariush pushes himself back and lands a heavy right and uses it to get partial side control. Ferreira grabs Dariush's neck but again, Dariush is able to sneak out of danger and lands a shot to the body as the round comes to an end.
Round Three: The final round opens with a touch of gloves and Dariush lands another leg kick to kick things off. Ferreira narrowly missed a front kick to the body and Dariush makes him pay with a straight left. Dariush dives for the leg of Ferreira but to no avail and they get back to the middle of the octagon. Dariush goes for a kick to the body but it's a bit low and referee Chris Tognoni calls for a hold in the action. After a brief stoppage, the action continues. Dariush lands a heavy left hook that wobbles Ferreira and follows it up with yet another. Ferreira returns fire and lands a left hook of his own and then trips up Dariush but the latter is able to get back to his feet after teasing a leg lock which allows him to get back up. Dariush lands a left kick to the body of Ferreira and then successfully gets another takedown. Dariush rolls through and gets the back of Ferreira but rolls out and teases another leg lock but Ferreira scrambles and goes for a hail mary anaconda submission attempt as the buzzer sounds and this one is going to the judge's scorecards.
Result - Beneil Dariush def. Diego Ferreira via split-decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
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