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Main Card (7pm EST., ESPN+)
#5 Alistair Overeem def. #8 Augusto Sakai by TKO via strikes (0:26, R5)
Ovince St. Preux def. Alonzo Menifield by KO via punch (4:07, R2)
Michel Pereira def. Zelim Imadaev by submission via rear naked choke (4:39, R3)
Andre Muniz def. Bartosz Fabinski by submission via arm bar (2:42, R1)
Brian Kelleher def. Ray Rodriguez by submission via guillotine choke (0:39, R1)
#8 Viviane Araujo def. #11 Montana De La Rosa by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Hunter Azure def. Cole Smith by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
#5 Alistair Overeem vs. #8 Augusto Sakai
Round One: The round begins with the fighters taking a few swings at each other, the fighters exchange a few front kicks. Overeem charges at Sakai a few times while swinging away at him, Sakai backs Overeem into the cage wall after landing a body kick. Sakai lands a bunch of follow up strikes on a backing Overeem, the fighters clinch and exchange some strikes. The fighters separate and Overeem cracks a kicking Sakai with a counter overhand right, Sakai recovers and he nails Overeem with a right uppercut. Overeem starts landing some leg kicks against Sakai, Sakai charges at Overeem while swinging away at him. Sakai throws a right at Overeem as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Sakai
Round Two: The round begins with Overeem attacking Sakai with some leg kicks, Sakai backs Overeem into the cage wall after landing a multiple strike combination. Overeem responds by landing a knee strike to the midsection of Sakai, Sakai throws a high kick and Overeem blocks it. Overeem comes forward and he gets Sakai against the cage wall after landing a left to the midsection, Overeem charges at Sakai and Sakai backs him into the cage wall while throwing a plethora of rights. The fighters clinch and Overeem lands some knee strikes, Sakai starts landing some knee strikes of his own on Overeem. Sakai eats a few more shots before landing elbow strikes to the head of Overeem, the fighters separate and Sakai swings away at Overeem. Sakai gets Overeem back against the cage wall as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Sakai (Overall Score: 20-18 for Sakai)
Round Three: The round begins with Overeem attacking Sakai with some leg kicks, Overeem pops Sakai with a front kick to the midsection. Sakai backs Overeem up while throwing a combination, Overeem and Sakai exchange some kicks to the body. Overeem comes forward and Sakai nails him with a right uppercut, Sakai charges at Overeem and he nails him with a massive striking combination. Overeem cracks Sakai with a jumping front kick to the midsection, Sakai again gets Overeem against the cage wall while swinging away at him. The fighters clinch and exchange some strikes, Overeem scores a takedown and he immediately postures up against Sakai. Overeem settles in the full guard of Sakai while landing ground and pound, Overeem postures up again and Sakai lands a few up kicks. Overeem returns to the full guard of Sakai and he immediately lands some strikes, Overeem gains side control as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Overeem (Overall Score: 29-28 for Sakai)
Round Four: The round begins with Overeem landing some jabs on Sakai, Sakai fires back and he takes a few swings at Overeem. Overeem starts landing some leg kicks against Sakai, Sakai charges at Overeem while landing a combination. Overeem cracks Sakai with a kick to the midsection, Sakai continues backing up Overeem while throwing combinations. Overeem nails Sakai with an accidental low blow and the fight is halted, the fight resumes with Sakai and Overeem having a few striking exchanges. Overeem scores a takedown on Sakai and he immediately lands some ground and pound, Overeem settles in the open guard of Sakai while landing some strikes. Overeem gains the half guard while landing more strikes, Overeem advances to back control while landing more ground and pound on Sakai. Overeem postures up while landing more strikes on Sakai, Overeem returns to the half guard while nailing Sakai with more strikes and the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Overeem (Overall Score: 38-38 for Draw)
Round Five: The round begins with Overeem scoring a takedown on Sakai and he immediately lands a plethora of strikes until the referee jumps in.
Official Result: #5 Alistair Overeem def. #8 Augusto Sakai by TKO via strikes (0:26, R5)
Ovince St. Preux vs. Alonzo Menifield
Round One: The round begins with Menifield backing up St. Preux while swinging away at him, St. Preux stays on the outside while taking some swings at Menifield. St. Preux comes forward and he pops Menifield with a few lefts, Menifield backs up St. Preux while throwing some left hooks. Menifield grabs St. Preux and he gets him up against the cage wall, the fighters separate and St. Preux attacks Menifield with some kicks. St. Preux backs up Menifield after landing a three punch combination, St. Preux keeps Menifield at a distance while swinging away at him. Menifield comes forward and he attacks St. Preux with a few combinations as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for St. Preux
Round Two: The round begins with Menifield and St. Preux exchanging some leg kicks, St. Preux stays in the center of the Octagon while swinging away at Menifield. St. Preux cracks Menifield with a kick to the midsection, St. Preux also lands a spinning back kick to the midsection of Menifield. St. Preux also cracks an incoming Menifield with a front kick, St. Preux continues attacking Menifield with a variety of kicks. St. Preux cracks a moving Menifield with a right hook, Menifield charges at St. Preux while taking some swings at him. St. Preux levels a swinging Menifield with a counter left hook and the referee immediately jumps in.
Official Result: Ovince St. Preux def. Alonzo Menifield by KO via punch (4:07, R2)
Michel Pereira vs. Zelim Imadaev
Round One: The round begins with Pereira popping Imadaev with a front kick to the midsection, Pereira backs up Imadaev after landing a left hook. Pereira follows up by nailing Imadaev with a right, Imadaev comes forward and he takes a few swings at Pereira. Pereira starts landing some leg kicks against Imadaev, Pereira cracks a swinging Imadaev with a knee strike to the face. Imadaev comes forward and Pereira nails him with a right before attempting a showtime kick, Pereira stuns Imadaev with a two punch combination. Pereira comes forward and he nails Imadaev with a right to the face, Pereira swings away at Imadaev as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Pereira
Round Two: The round begins with Imadaev landing a counter right on a swinging Pereira, Pereira starts throwing a variety of kicks at Imadaev. Pereira goes for a jumping knee strike and Imadaev trips him up, Pereira and Imadaev exchange some jabs. Pereira misses a rolling thunder kick and Imadaev swings away at him, the fighters stay at a distance while taking some swings at each other. Imadaev grabs Pereira and he gets him up against the cage wall, Pereira lands a knee strike and eats an uppercut as the fighters separate. Pereira pops a swinging Imadaev with a counter left to the midsection, Pereira backs up Imadaev after landing a few rights. Pereira cracks Imadaev with another left as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Pereira (Overall Score: 20-18 for Pereira)
Round Three: The round begins with Pereira backing up Imadaev while swinging away at him, Imadaev starts landing some leg kicks of Pereira. Pereira rocks Imadaev with a wall assisted superman punch followed by multiple knee strikes, Pereira stays at a distance while landing shots on Imadaev. Imadaev follows Pereira around the Octagon while missing almost all of his strikes, Pereira cracks Imadaev with a right before eating a counter left hook. Pereira then cracks Imadaev with an overhand right, Pereira keeps Imadaev near the cage wall while swinging away at him. Pereira scores a takedown on Imadaev and he gets back control, Pereira locks in a rear naked choke and a tap out follows.
Official Result: Michel Pereira def. Zelim Imadaev by submission via rear naked choke (4:39, R3)
Bartosz Fabinski vs. Andre Muniz
Round One: The round begins with the fighters taking some swings at each other, Fabinski eats a left hook while getting Muniz against the cage wall. The fighters exchange some strikes while in the clinch, Muniz drops for an arm in guillotine choke on Fabinski. Fabinski escapes the choke and he gets top control on the grounded Muniz, Muniz catches Fabinski in an arm bar and the tap out follows.
Official Result: Andre Muniz def. Bartosz Fabinski by submission via arm bar (2:42, R1)
Brian Kelleher vs. Ray Rodriguez
Round One: The round begins with Rodriguez attacking Kelleher with some leg kicks, Rodriguez backs up Kelleher before getting him against the cage wall. Kelleher drops for a guillotine choke and a tap out follows.
Official Result: Brian Kelleher def. Ray Rodriguez by submission via guillotine choke (0:39, R1)
#8 Viviane Araujo vs. #11 Montana De La Rosa
Round One: The round begins with the fighters exchanging some jabs, Araujo starts landing some leg kicks on De La Rosa. Araujo cracks De La Rosa with a right hook to the midsection, De La Rosa continues looking for counter strikes on a swinging Araujo. Araujo barely lands an overhand right on De La Rosa, De La Rosa starts landing her own leg kicks on Araujo. De La Rosa scores a takedown on Araujo and Araujo gets back up before getting De La Rosa against the cage wall, Araujo lands a few rights before the fighters separate. Araujo continues coming forward and landing rights on De La Rosa, De La Rosa occasionally charges at Araujo while swinging away at her. De La Rosa grabs a swinging Araujo and they clinch for a short time, Araujo swings away at De La Rosa as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Araujo
Round Two: The round begins with De La Rosa and Araujo exchanging some jabs and leg kicks, Araujo starts winning the leg kick battle against De La Rosa. Araujo backs up De La Rosa after landing a right hook, De La Rosa looks for a takedown and Araujo defends against it. Araujo eats a few jabs before nailing De La Rosa with a two punch combination, De La Rosa responds with a two punch combo of her own. Araujo cracks a swinging De La Rosa with a counter left hook, De La Rosa then cracks Araujo with an overhand right. Araujo comes forward and she kicks De La Rosa in the midsection, Araujo follows up by landing an overhand right on De La Rosa. De La Rosa pops Araujo with a push kick to the midsection, De La Rosa and Araujo exchange some more jabs. Araujo lands another counter left hook on a swinging De La Rosa, De La Rosa throws a few kicks as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Araujo (Overall Score: 20-18 for Araujo)
Round Three: The round begins with the fighters taking a few swings at each other, Araujo goes back to attacking De La Rosa with leg kicks. De La Rosa charges at Araujo while swinging away at her, De La Rosa eats a few more jabs before peppering Araujo with lefts. De La Rosa starts landing some counter strikes on a swinging Araujo, Araujo continuously lands jabs on De La Rosa. De La Rosa attacks Araujo with a three punch combo after a failed takedown attempt, Araujo comes forward and De La Rosa pops her with a left hook. Araujo responds by cracking De La Rosa with a right, De La Rosa gets Araujo against the cage wall after eating a counter right. The fighters separate and a striking exchange breaks out until the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Araujo (Final Score: 30-27 for Araujo)
Official Result: #8 Viviane Araujo def. #11 Montana De La Rosa by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Hunter Azure vs. Cole Smith
Round One: The round begins with Smith attacking Azure with a leaping front kick, Azure and Smith exchange some leg kicks. Azure scores a takedown on Smith after eating a knee strike, Smith scrambles to his feet and Azure gets him up against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Azure drops Smith with a left hook followed by a right, Smith gets back up and Azure gets him against the cage wall. Smith spins Azure into the cage wall after eating an elbow strike, Smith responds by landing an elbow strike of his own on Azure. The fighters separate and exchange some leg kicks, Azure scores another takedown on Smith and Smith tries for an arm bar. Azure escapes another arm bar attempt to gain the half guard on Smith, Azure gets back control on Smith and Smith gets back up. Azure cracks Smith with a right uppercut as they separated, Azure and Smith have a striking exchange as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Azure
Round Two: The round begins with Smith and Azure exchanging some leg kicks, Azure backs up Smith while taking a few swings at him. Azure backs Smith into the cage wall after landing a pair of rights, Smith spins Azure into the cage wall before scoring a takedown on him. Azure quickly gets back up and Smith holds him against the cage wall, the fighters separate and Smith looks for a takedown. Azure defends against the takedown before getting back control on a downed Smith, Smith gets up and Azure gets him against the cage wall. Azure scores another takedown on Smith and Smith gets right back up, Azure looks for another takedown and Smith defends while landing some elbow strikes. Azure drags Smith to the ground while eating a few strikes, Smith gets back up and Azure holds him against the cage wall until the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Azure (Overall Score: 20-18 for Azure)
Round Three: The round begins with Smith attacking Azure with a variety of front kicks, Smith backs up Azure while taking some swings at him. Azure grabs Smith and he gets him up against the cage wall, the fighters separate and Smith nails Azure with a combination. Smith goes for a knee strike and Azure gets him up against the cage wall, Azure scores a takedown on Smith and he gets back control. Azure attacks Smith with some ground and pound, Smith gets up and he shakes Azure off of his back before getting him against the cage wall. Smith scores a takedown on Azure and Azure gets back up, Smith then jumps on the back of a standing Azure. Smith gets Azure down while maintaining back control, Azure gets up and Smith drags him back to the ground. Smith lands a few strikes on Azure as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Smith (Final Score: 29-28 for Azure)
Official Result: Hunter Azure def. Cole Smith by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
UFC Vegas 9 takes place from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, September 5. The event is headlined by ranked heavyweights Alistair Overeem and Augusto Sakai. The card will air on ESPN+. Keep up with Fightful for all your fight night coverage.
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