UFC 314 ‘Volkanovski vs. Lopes’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Nora Cornolle (137.5: Missed Weight) vs. Hailey Cowan (136)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cornolle (-192), Cowan (+160)

Round 1

After dragging through a number of less-than-spectacular events, many of them holed up at the UFC’s headquarters warehouse of the Apex, the final fight card on this long stretch will receive the royal treatment of sorts. Inside of the Kaseya Center in Miami, some 19,000-ish ravenous fans will be practically frothing at the mouth for consensual physical combat. That action commences in the lone catchweight contest of the evening, as France’s Cornolle (8-2, 2-1 UFC) clocked in a pound and a half over the bantamweight limit. Glad to be back in the cage for the first time in nearly two years, Cowan (7-3, 0-1 UFC) accepted the 20% fine assessed to Cornolle to allow the fight to happen. The ladies will be joined in the Octagon by referee Kerry Hatley, and a glove touch kicks off the evening’s hostilities. Cornolle gets right to business with kicks to both legs and a lunging punch salvo. Cowan looks to respond, and Cornolle catches her coming towards her. Cowan uses the Frenchwoman’s momentum against her, grappling her in the clinch and pressing her against the fence. Cornolle frames off with a knee to the body, turning Cowan around but falling to the mat when Cowan attempts to take her down. The ladies slowly go to the mat, and Cornolle wraps her leg up and around Cowan’s head to set up an armbar. Cowan stays composed and steps over to half guard to simultaneously break up the submission attempt, and she leans down heavily with her shoulder. The crowd is not thrilled by the stalemate on the ground, as Cowan is not advancing any further or landing anything, while Cornolle is stuck on her back. Cowan continues to grind, not inflicting any damage or doing anything beyond control. When the Texan looks to pass, Cornolle explodes and ultimately gives up her back. The horn sounds to end the round, as nothing else comes of the back take.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cowan
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Cowan
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cowan

Round 2

Frustrated from the lack of activity in the previous round, Cornolle comes out of her corner aggressively, swinging hard with her arms and legs. Cornolle wraps a kick up high, and she follows with an elbow. Cowan hunts for a trip, and when she throws the Frenchwoman, she inadvertently falls to her seat and Cornolle leaps over to take her back in a reversal of fortune. Cornolle is loudly warned three times for grabbing Cowan’s glove—it appears Hatley is wearing a microphone—and she resets and grabs hold of a rear-naked choke. The hooks for “Wonder” are in, and she slides the forearm beneath the chin to cinch it up. Cowan hand-fights to peel one arm off, but Cornolle wraps it up further behind her head to complete it. Knowing there is no way out, a disappointed Cowan surrenders just before she fades to unconsciousness. Cowan appears to go out as she taps out, and Cornolle shoves her quasi-lifeless body off of her to embrace her corner. There is no ill will between the two, as they go on to hug it out after the dust settles.

The Official Result

Nora Cornolle def. Hailey Cowan R2 1:52 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)

Tresean Gore (186) vs. Marco Tulio (186)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Tulio (-355), Gore (+280)

Round 1

Carrying on with the prelims, two aggressive middleweights with finish rates above 75% will duel under the oversight of referee Marc Goddard. Gore (5-2, 2-2 UFC) has only fought once since late 2022, and he will have the honor of welcoming Norma Dumont’s partner Tulio (13-1, 1-0 UFC) to his sophomore UFC appearance. Fists are sure to fly, but before they do, they are tapped together sportingly. Tulio springs to the side to fire off a few jabs and low kicks, and he mixes in a front kick to keep Gore guessing early. Gore swings back, and Tulio takes a step back to wing a spinning back kick. Tulio puts out a one-two, and Gore defends the punches but not the kick that follows and bumps into his cup. Goddard acknowledges the foul, and Gore waves it off and wants to keep throwing leather. Tulio jumps at him with a flying knee, and Gore times him with a marvelous right hand nearly as destructive as Fedor Emelianenko against Andrei Arlovski. Tulio continues to chain big punches and kicks into spinning strikes, and Gore is in close range to prevent the spins from getting to him. The power from the Brazilian mark Gore’s nose up, and he loads up further on power strikes including a trio of vertical elbows from the Anderson Silva playbook. Tulio keeps a high pace, and Gore walks through a few punches to zing a left hook that stumbles “Matuto.” When Gore tries to continue the assault, Tulio blasts him with an elbow that rocks and cuts him at the same time. Gore shakes out the cobwebs and marches Tulio down, and he adjusts his leaking hose as Tulio turns up the pressure. Tulio rips the body with a kick, and his constant jab is further frustrating Gore. Tulio drives home a few low kicks, and he puts together a unique combination with a liver kick, a flying knee and a spinning back kick. The Brazilian hammers his opponent with spinning strikes and huge punches, but it is a short left hook that floors Gore. “Mr. Vicious” scrambles to his feet, steels himself and smashes Tulio in the face with a vicious right hand. Tulio appears to be showing signs of fatigue with less than a minute to go in the round, and he gathers a full head of steam and rails Gore with a spinning wheel kick. Gore somehow tanks it, thanks to the wall behind him, and this absolutely mad round comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tulio
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Tulio
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tulio

Round 2

Somehow, these two flamethrowers got out of the first round, and they are still in good spirits and touch gloves. They proceed to hammer one another on the lead leg, and Tulio follows one with a blistering body kick. Not to be outdone, Gore gives him the same kick back. Tulio prods out with a front kick, and he puts two low kicks behind it that draw a slight limp. Tulio splits the guard with a punch, plants a spinning back kick on the midsection and continues to work the head and body. Gore swings wildly, and Tulio slips it and puts a jab in his face. Tulio wraps a left around the guard, and right goes to the sternum. Tulio jams a front kick to the midsection, and the foot pounds squarely into the groin cup. Tulio apologizes as Gore groans, and Goddard calls time. Despite the impact of the kick, Gore only takes about 20 seconds before getting back to business. Tulio does not let him off the hook, continuing to chain punches, kick and spinning moves together much to Gore’s disappointment. Tulio splits the guard with an uppercut, and Gore’s chin is tough but he is taking serious damage. Tulio finally cracks the chin with a crisp head kick, and Gore hits his seat. Tulio jumps on top and unloads a salvo of elbows, and he pushes Gore flat to the ground to continue beating on him. Gore wills himself to stand up again, and he actually comes out swinging. The Brazilian rifles off a power jab, and Gore’s expression completely changes. Tulio fires off a jumping switch kick, using it to close the distance, and he lands and plants a right hand about as firmly on the jaw as one can land. Gore’s legs give way beneath him, bloodied and broken, and he leans against the fence clinging to consciousness. Goddard sprints towards the downed fighter to rescue him from his own toughness, but before he can reach the fallen man, Tulio gets off one single destructive punch to seal the deal. When Goddard gets between them, Tulio informs his corner that his hand broke in the first round. It held up long enough to put on a thriller of a performance, one easily worthy of “Fight of the Night” with the first round in the conversation of “Round of the Year” after all that carnage. Middleweight has a new name to watch out for now.

The Official Result

Marco Tulio def. Tresean Gore R2 3:16 via TKO (Punch)

Su Mudaerji (126) vs. Mitch Raposo (126)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Mudaerji (-185), Raposo (+154)

Round 1

The lone flyweight contest of the evening plays out next, between two men who could reach a .500 UFC record should they prevail. Mudaerji (16-7, 3-4 UFC), the far more experienced fighter of the two, is aiming to notch his first win since 2021. Massachusetts native Raposo (9-2, 0-1 UFC) would like to spoil that party and hand his Chinese opponent his walking papers, and referee Andrew Glenn will be there every step of the way. Gloves are touched before they are traded, and chants of “USA” in favor of Raposo rain down in the building. Mudaerji takes the center of the cage and fights behind his jab, using his superior reach to poke and prod. Raposo closes the distance and connects with a series of punches before bouncing away to avoid the counter. Mudaerji misses the mark on a one-two, and Raposo zings him back with a trio of fists. Mudaerji pitches out low kicks, frustrating the New Englander into shooting on his hips. Mudaerji defends with his back against the wall and breaks free, and he reaches out with an inaccurate side kick. Mudaerji lets fly a high kick that bounces off the guard, and he skirts out of the way of a looping left hand. Raposo surges forward swinging his arms, and Mudaerji’s range gives him issues as he kicks him from far enough away to not get caught back. Mudaerji thumps up the lead leg with a kick that forces a stance switch, and Raposo sprints forward and takes Mudaerji off his feet with a tackling takedown. Mudaerji easily posts off the mat to stand back up, and he Granby rolls to attempt to escape. Raposo follows him, arms wrapped around the waist from behind, and he leans Mudaerji against the wire and starts kneeing him. Raposo hangs on to the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji

Round 2

The fighters touch gloves, and Raposo quickly gets on his bike to strafe laterally and find a way in. Mudaerji chips at him with leg kicks, aiming at the thigh and knee rather than the calf. Raposo’s leg shows welts all over it, and he struggles to fire back. Although Mudaerji beats him to the punch with a one-two, Raposo’s right hand grazes the cheek in response. Raposo shoots in for a double-leg takedown, and Mudaerji scoots his way to the wire to defend and break out of it. Mudaerji pokes out with a jab and a low kick, and the crowd starts to shower the fighters with boos at the perceived lack of activity. Raposo tries to answer their calls for action with a looping left hand, and Mudaerji snipes him with a one-two and leans back to avoid another big left. Mudaerji flies by his opponent when attempting a jump knee, and he lands and kicks the front leg only to get checked. Mudaerji stumbles back and points at Raposo, and then offers a few more kicks. When Mudaerji misses a spinning wheel kick by a matter of inches, Raposo’s eyes light up as he charges like a bull and takes Mudaerji clear off his feet with a takedown. The Chinese fighter climbs back to his feet, only to be met with a mat return. As he gets up again, Mudaerji breaks off and flashes out a jab. The jab quickly bloodies Raposo’s nose up, who shoots for a single-leg takedown and finds the taller, longer fighter able to easily stifle his shot. Raposo doggedly pursues the takedown, and Mudaerji’s balance holds up until the horn blares. The crowd is not amused.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji

Round 3

Hands are clapped to begin the final frame, and Mudaerji reassumes Octagon control and uses his rangy punches and kicks to keep Raposo at bay. Raposo presses forward to unload a big right hand, and Mudaerji pushes him back with jabs that further bloody the Massachusetts native’s nose up. Raposo moves left and right, with Mudaerji chasing him around, and Glenn has to ask for them to fight because they do not engage with much in the first 90 seconds. When they throw, they are largely out of range, with Mudaerji the more accurate of the two. As he reaches out with a right hand, Raposo shoots in on his hips and dumps him to the mat. Mudaerji wall-walks to get back up easily, elbowing on the break and returning to his kickboxing approach. When Raposo leans and sways, Mudaerji times him with a combination. Mudaerji kicks low, and Raposo signals that he was kicked in the groin. Glenn calls time, and the crowd boos in disbelief that it was a foul. The replay shows it was a legal blow, and Glenn tells them to fight on. Fight on they do, with Mudaerji letting his hands go for a second while Raposo throws back hard—but misses. Raposo grapples Mudaerji to the mat, and Mudaerji bounces back to his feet as if he had springs in his seat. Raposo leans heavily when clinched up, hoping to take some of the weapons away from the “Tibetan Eagle,” and he hunts for a mat return and drags Mudaerji to a knee. Mudaerji returns upright and smacks Raposo from around his head, and he brilliantly sprawls to shut Raposo’s attempt down. Raposo gains a full head of steam and charges in, completing a double only to learn very quickly that Mudaerji does not stay down for even one second. Raposo clings tightly looking for wrestling, and Mudaerji elbows him in the face three times until the less-than-stellar matchup comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (30-27 Mudaerji)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (30-27 Mudaerji)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (30-27 Mudaerji)

The Official Result

Su Mudaerji def. Mitch Raposo via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Sedriques Dumas (185) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (186)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Oleksiejczuk (-192), Dumas (+160)

Round 1

A potential middleweight brawl takes the top spot on the early preliminary card, with referee Marc Goddard standing by to handle it. Dumas (10-2, 3-2 UFC) still has yet to register a finish since joining the roster a couple years ago, while six of seven UFC victories for Oleksiejczuk (19-9, 1 NC; 7-7, 1 NC UFC) came inside the distance. The two opt to touch gloves ahead of their scheduled melee, and Dumas throws the first strike in the form of a blocked head kick. The Floridian tries two more times with this kick, and Oleksiejczuk is on top of it and parries the subsequent front kick. Oleksiejczuk tries to get his hands on his opponent, and he ends up punching the fighter sporting the “Hood Wolf” tattoo in the chest. Oleksiejczuk mixes in body shots when Dumas ducks down, and he absorbs a flush body kick on the way out. Oleksiejczuk jabs his way into attack, and Dumas practically somersaults and sprints away. Oleksiejczuk plods forward like a Polish Terminator, measuring him with a left hook and backing him to the wall where he can further unload. Two punches are all Oleksiejczuk get off before Dumas rushes away, and Dumas’ body language is not positive at the time. Oleksiejczuk connects with a few left hands, and he ignores a head kick that Dumas tosses up half-heartedly. Oleksiejczuk plants a one-two on the chin, and a clubbing left hand sends Dumas flying to the mat. Oleksiejczuk pounces, and he unleashes a fury of elbows and punches. Dumas stays shelled up on his back, defending and moving but still taking strikes. With Goddard watching closely, Oleksiejczuk bombards his downed foe with one final barrage of punches and elbows, and Goddard determines that Dumas is no longer intelligently defending himself and waves the fight off. The Floridian immediately protests, motioning that he was moving back and forth, but there is nothing more he can do. Proudly training with former foe Caio Borralho, Oleksiejczuk maximizes his time on the microphone by donning the Fighting Nerds glasses and calling out Paul Craig.

The Official Result

Michael Oleksiejczuk def. Sedriques Dumas R1 2:49 via TKO (Punches and Elbows)

Darren Elkins (145) vs. Julian Erosa (145)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Erosa (-355), Elkins (+280)

Round 1

Up next is a battle of wild and crazy guys, the kind that can take a beating and still pull a rabbit out of a hat to get their hand raised. Flip a coin as to how it will play out. Elkins (29-11, 19-10 UFC) may have turned 40 last year, but he is currently riding a rare win streak. The latter can also be said about Erosa (30-11, 8-7 UFC), whose two wins in 2024 pulled him above the .500 mark in the Octagon in his third overall stint. Referee Mike Beltran dons his hard hat, knowing that the featherweights are about to lay into one another with hands, feet, elbows, knees, shoulders, independently targeting particle beam phalanx, tactical smart missiles, phased plasma pulse rifles, RPGs, sonic electronic ball breakers, nukes, knives, sharp sticks…Gear up. They touch gloves, and Erosa shifts right to the center of the cage. One single left hand from Erosa knocks Elkins off his feet, and Elkins blinks several times and bounces back upright. Erosa stands before him and dings him with a left hand and a low kick. Elkins retaliates with a single-leg takedown, and Erosa meets him with an upkick on the way down. Elkins climbs into the guard, and both men slash and hack at one another with elbows. Erosa’s elbows are nearly as effective as his opponent’s, and he forces Elkins to stand up so he can smash blast him in the face with an upkick. Elkins is rocked and falls into a triangle choke setup, but he manages to work his way out of the submission and shake out the cobwebs. Both fighters get back to their feet, and Elkins tags him with a left hand. Elkins is still compromised from the upkick, and he steels himself and loops a left hand at him. Elkins tackles his man to the floor and is bucked off in a hurry, with Erosa standing back up and connecting with power strikes. Erosa leans to avoid a haymaker of a left hand, and Elkins’ legendary recoverability has not quite kicked in. A short jab from Erosa sends Elkins to the floor, and Elkins gathers whatever thought he has left to pursue a single while on his knees. When Erosa turns the tables and puts him in a crucifix, Elkins takes a few elbows on the side of the dome before exploding out. Erosa jumps at his foe with a knee, and Elkins pushes past it and rings his bell with an overhand right. Elkins beats Eros to the punch with a left hand, and Erosa jabs and connects with a leg kick. A step-in knee from Erosa rocks Elkins further, and Elkins falls to his stomach and goes after an ankle while on auto-pilot. Elkins clings to the leg with anything he has left, and Erosa pummels him with a bevy of right hands. Beltran watches over him and monitors Elkins’ condition, and as he sees that Elkins is just hanging on without doing anything, he saves Elkins from the jackhammering punches and calls the fight off. “The Damage” slumps to his side, and needs to be helped back to his stool, blood flowing from several wounds on his face. Erosa is all smiles as he goes to his corner, and Elkins manages to come to and is expectedly crestfallen. When he shakes Erosa’s hand, he tells him that he is rooting for him.

The Official Result

Julian Erosa def. Darren Elkins R1 4:15 via TKO (Punches)

Chase Hooper (156) vs. Jim Miller (156)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Hooper (-800), Miller (+550)

Round 1

While it is understandable, it is still unfortunate that announcer Bruce Buffer declined to shout out Miller’s (38-18, 1 NC; 27-17, 1 NC UFC) preferred nickname that was certainly not “A-10.” We get what we get, so “Expletive Deleted” will have to hold serve for now. The grizzled veteran, one whose name is all over the leaderboards including the most fights (soon to be 46) and the most victories (27 for now), will throw down with a man 16 years his junior. In a contest of old man strength vs. youthful exuberance, Hooper (15-3-1, 7-3 UFC) will represent the latter and will close as an astronomical betting favorite north of -800. Things like 41 and -800 are just numbers to Miller, who will meet Hooper in the center of the cage while referee Kerry Hatley watches on. They do not touch gloves. When Miller plods forward, Hooper backs away and uses his kicks to keep his preferred distance. Hooper suddenly attacks with a swarm of punches, and Miller sits in the pocket and fires back at him. Hooper gets the better of an exchange, and he slides back and clips Miller with a solid right hand. Miller is unfazed and cracks his foe with a left hook, and Hooper punches and shoots low for a single. Miller drops to a knee to defend it, and he wraps up a guillotine choke that forces Hooper to stand. Hooper drops to the floor to roll out of it, and Miller lowers himself down and blasts the youngster in the face with a standing-to-ground left hand. Hooper hunts for a triangle choke, and Miller punches his way out of it and reassumes top position in the guard. “A-10” stacks Hooper up to prevent Hooper from going after anything, and Miller latches on with a guillotine and jumps guard to secure it. Hooper calmly works his neck out of harm’s way, and he finds himself in top. Miller turns over and gives up his back, and Hooper is quick to start hunting for a standing rear-naked choke. Miller leans against the cage to take some of the weight off, and he tries to scrape “The Dream” off of him using the chain links. Hooper has the body triangle wrapped around the waist to remain on Miller’s back, and he hacks at Miller with an elbow. Hooper attempts a neck crank, and Miller bucks and twists to get Hooper off of his back. Hooper hits his back and instantly attacks an armbar, and Miller punches his way out of that and a subsequent triangle setup. Miller nails his man with a big left hand, and he pushes out of a quick triangle that materializes out of nowhere. Miller stands up, and Hooper follows him and pushes out a front kick. One more front kick from Hooper results in him getting caught with an overhand right, and the horn sounds to end the dramatic round.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Miller
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Hooper
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Hooper

Round 2

Miller starts out the round ready to get in the pocket and exchange, and he scores a solid left hand to back Hooper off. When Hooper presses him, Miller tags him with another left. The youngster chains a front kick into a spinning back fist, and Miller defends against them and allows Hooper to take him down so he can grip hold of a two-on-one wrist lock. Hooper elbows him in the side while Miller clings to the limb, using it to work back to his feet. Hooper takes his back standing and wrenches him to the ground, where he flirts with a rear-naked choke to further control his foe. Miller works his way back to his feet and leans himself on the wire, and Hooper softens him up and is pulled off of Miller’s back, but he sells out for a takedown and lands in side control. After Hooper gets off some strikes, Miller fights to his feet, and he considers a guillotine when Hooper pursues a mat return. Miller lets it go and stands up, and Hooper kicks off the fencing and tosses Miller to his back. Hooper controls Miller from the side and then back, and the two scramble and roll to find themselves in an awkward situation. Hoop looks to lace Miller’s legs and spread them apart for a banana split, and he tugs on Miller’s foot to further hold on tight. Miller survives this and makes it to the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hooper
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Hooper
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Hooper

Round 3

Hooper wants to take the fight down to begin the final round, with Miller wearing it after 10 minutes of combat. The control of Hooper starts to take over, as he latches on the elder statesman’s back and wrangles him to the floor. Hooper again pursues a leglock from a strange angle, and Miller’s knee is trapped in a precarious predicament. They remain stuck in a 50-50 of sorts, with a possible twister or other unorthodox submission coming together. Miller on his back, has his legs caught between Hooper’s, and his torso is about to turn the wrong direction until Hooper decides to abandon it and take top position. Hooper clings to the top position like Saran wrap, nullifying Miller and causing the audience to start booing. Hooper resides in half guard, smothering and hanging tight until posturing up with a few elbows to the side. Hooper sits up with seconds to go, and the fight that started with a roar ends with a whimper.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hooper (29-28 Hooper)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Hooper (30-27 Hooper)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Hooper (30-27 Hooper)

The Official Result

Chase Hooper def. Jim Miller via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Virna Jandiroba (116) vs. Xiaonan Yan (116)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Jandiroba (-155), Yan (+130)

Round 1

As the prelims push on, two strawweights hoping their next fight is for gold will toe the line. Yan (19-4, 1 NC; 9-3 UFC) came up short in 2024 to fellow countrywoman and champ Weili Zhang, while it will be a fresh encounter for ex-Invicta queen Jandiroba (21-3, 7-3 UFC). Whether it takes 15 seconds or 15 minutes, referee Mike Beltran will be there for them all the way. The ladies have no interest in touching them up before engaging, and instead Yan wants to get off to races. Bouncing back and forth, “Fury” jabs and strikes, while not overcommitting because she knows a takedown is coming. Before too long, the takedown does indeed come, and Yan shuts it down in a hurry. Both ladies pitch kicks at one another, and Yan surprises her opponent with a side kick in the face. Jandiroba smiles at her, and she eventually answers back with a front kick. Yan springs at her with two punches, planting a third on the belly and shutting down the telegraphed takedown. When Yan sits down on her punches, Jandiroba dives at her to pursue the level change. Yan stands her up with her back to the wire, but Jandiroba still manages to wrestle her off her feet and climb into an awkward top control. Yan wraps up Jandiroba with her leg, and she hammers the side of the Brazilian’s head with elbows. Jandiroba steps over to half guard and wraps up a kimura on the opposite side. Yan rips her arms free and wraps up Jandiroba in an inverted triangle while smacking her with hammerfists. There is no choke or submission in play, and she just uses her legs to stop Jandiroba from advancing. Yan swings off her back with hammerfists, flailing effectively enough until Jandiroba decides to strike back with elbows and punches of her own. Jandiroba gets off some strikes on top, and Yan kicks her off and threatens with upkicks. “Carcara” leaps on top and gets hold of an armlock, which she uses to roll the Chinese woman over and lock down an armbar. Yan holds on with all of her might until the bell rings.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jandiroba
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jandiroba
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Yan

Round 2

Jandiroba is the aggressor to start off the round, and after about 15 seconds, she shoots for a takedown and hits it. Yan turns to escape, but in the process, gives up her back. Jandiroba sneaks in a single hook and starts pounding. The fists find the side of Yan’s head again and again, doing enough to fluster “Fury” and allow her to try for something else to wrap her up. Jandiroba clings to Yan’s left arm to raise it up and force openings, and she lets Yan roll over so she can complete the body triangle. Jandiroba fishes for rear-naked chokes shortly after taking the back, and Yan hand-fights well to protect her neck. Jandiroba makes Yan’s life miserable with punches on the side of the head and pulls on Yan’s face or covers Yan’s mouth. Jandiroba uses both arms to attack the sub, and Yan’s defense is effective enough to not get tapped but she is firmly stuck in a dominant position and is taking shots. As Yan rolls, Jandiroba transitions to an armbar, but this time, Yan slithers out and stands up. Yan proceeds to drop down standing-to-ground punches and elbows, and she lowers herself into the guard. Jandiroba pulls on the fence with her toes, and she uses the fouls to improve her leverage to go after an armbar. Yan rolls through it to her back, and Jandiroba follows her and shifts to side control. Jandiroba rolls to her back to snatch up the armbar, and Yan pulls it out and defends from a last-second kneebar as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Jandiroba
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jandiroba
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jandiroba

Round 3

When the last round opens, Yan bounces to and fro so as to not remain in one position for long. She avoids a head kick and blitzes forward with punches accompanied by kiais. Jandiroba tosses out a high kick and is met with a jab to the stomach and a short hook on her chin while changing levels. Jandiroba pushes forward, and Yan punches her way out of the potential clinch. Jandiroba slowly cuts off her opponent while walking her down, keeping up a raised guard to not absorb anything cleanly. Jandiroba shoots for a naked double, and when that fails, she grabs a front kick of Yan and goes for the single. Jandiroba is about to pull Yan down, and Yan blatantly grabs the fence to stay upright and gets away with it without more than Beltran shouting at her. Welcome to MMA, where the rules are made up and points don’t matter. Jandiroba continues pushing for the takedown, and she manages to get Yan down despite the foul. Jandiroba sits on top while Yan is seated leaning against the fence, and she smacks the former title challenger upside the head. Jandiroba fully takes Yan’s back, getting in a single hook for control purposes as she lands ground strikes at will. When the 10-second clapper sounds, Jandiroba completes the armbar, rolling to her back and hyperextending the limb. Yan is tough as nails and does not capitulate, and she is saved by the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jandiroba (30-26 Jandiroba)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jandiroba (30-27 Jandiroba)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jandiroba (29-28 Jandiroba)

The Official Result

Virna Jandiroba def. Xiaonan Yan via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Dan Ige (146) vs. Sean Woodson (146)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Woodson (-170), Ige (+142)

Round 1

Wrapping up the prelims is the first of four rankings-relevant featherweight contests. On the bottom edge of the top 15, Ige (18-9, 10-8 UFC) will need a win to stay in contention. The long, rangy Woodson (13-1-1, 7-1-1 UFC), with a nickname of “The Sniper” that fits extraordinarily well, wants to crash into the title picture and get a number next to his name. The third man in the Octagon will be referee Andrew Glenn, and the fighters gladly touch gloves before getting to business. Ige immediately looks to struggle trying to get in on the 6-foot-3 striker, whose limbs are around seven inches shorter. Woodson keeps to a jab, not tossing out much more so he can stay light on his feet and get out of the way from Ige’s looping attacks. Woodson steps in behind a jab, reddening Ige’s nose up early. Ige swings for the bleachers with a left hand, buzzing Woodson’s scalp and circling away. Ige hammers the front leg with a kick, forcing Woodson to pirouette. Woodson’s two-punch salvo is met with an overhand right from the Hawaiian, and the fan are on his side as chants for Ige ring throughout the Kaseya Center. Woodson probes with his jab, and he cannot get out of the way from the power-focused Ige before Ige lands a couple strikes. When Woodson goes for a kick, Ige intercepts him with a kick on the plant leg. Woodson gets off a few punches, and he rolls with a left hook and jams the body with a kick. Woodson keeps his hands moving around, waving them back and forth to not show a pattern. Woodson switches stances to catch Ige coming in with a knee, and Ige takes it cleanly and connects with three punches on the way out. Woodson plants a jab on the nose and the one on the ribs, sneaking in a left hook when Ige crashes the pocket. Ige misses the mark with one final blow before the round comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Woodson
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Woodson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Woodson

Round 2

Woodson immediately gets back to fighting behind his jab, and Ige is much more motivated and energized in the second stanza. Coming in with unorthodox angles, Ige gets in close and slugs to the body. A right hand from Ige wraps around the guard, and he keeps crowding the larger man without walking into danger. Woodson rolls with a punch and slaps Ige’s leg with a kick, and he kicks Ige coming in but does not dissuade him from a single-leg attempt. Woodson plants his leg back on the floor and splits off, and the two trade low kicks. Woodson gets in an uppercut, and he fades back to avoid a pair of punches aimed in his general direction. Woodson scores a knee, and Ige cracks him with a left hand. Ige continues plodding forward, loading up on power, and his leg kick is chained into a takedown effort. The taller man turned the corner to fight off the try, and he forces them both to stand. Ige’s left hands have bloodied up Woodson’s mouth a slight bit, and he pushes away a head kick to bean Woodson in the dome with a right hand. Woodson wears it well and stays moving, not allowing Ige to trap or crowd him for long. Ige spins with a back kick that plants on the ribs, and he blocks a high kick right at the conclusion of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ige
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ige
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ige

Round 3

Jittery when leaving his corner, Woodson knows that Ige will likely be going for broke in this round. He stands firm to put punches together, and he gets away from the worst of it only to eat a blistering haymaker on the jaw. Woodson stumbles to the side, his eyebrow cut, and he tries to defend himself. Ige loads up with everything he has, battering the taller man with a left hand that knocks him all the way back into the cage. Ige rips the body to bend his foe over, and he chases the retreating Woodson around the cage and puts a salvo of punches on the chin. “The Sniper” desperately bends over to go after a takedown, and Ige stonewalls him and beats on him with a long line of hammerfists. As Woodson is still going for the takedown and is actively getting back up, Glenn steps in to stop the fight. Everyone is confused about the referee intervention, and the commentary booth loudly laments the incredibly early stoppage. Woodson protests, but unfortunately, the referee is the sole arbiter of the bout and is the only one with the power to stop a fight. It is a bad look, but it is what it is. Even with the questionable nature of the finish, Ige enters the books as the first fighter to finish the rangy man with strikes.

The Official Result

Dan Ige def. Sean Woodson R3 1:12 via TKO (Punches)

Nikita Krylov (206) vs. Dominick Reyes (206)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Krylov (-180), Reyes (+150)

Round 1

The main card. It’s what everyone in the building came to watch. It starts off with what should be an absolute banger that could end just as quickly on the feet as it might on the ground. Sporting a 93% finish rate, Krylov (30-9, 11-7 UFC) would prefer to keep things out of the hands of the judges. Reyes (14-4, 8-4 UFC) may not match that high number, but 11 finishes in 14 victories for “The Devastator” is nothing to sneeze at. Referee Marc Goddard will have his hands full for as long as this light heavyweight clash lasts, but he is able to take a brief sigh of relief as the two touch gloves before waging battle. Krylov leads the dance with a leaping body kick, and Reyes moves quickly to the side to evade it. Reyes circles into a head kick, blocking it but taking a few punches on the chin on the way out. Krylov snaps out a left and is counter with a jab that shakes up the Russian by way of Ukraine. Krylov shakes it off and plows forward, swinging a big left hook that misses the mark and brushing past a front kick. Reyes hammers his foe’s front leg with a kick, and he is met with a body shot. Chants in support of Reyes are practically deafening, and he manages to dodge a swinging head kick by a matter of inches. Reyes resets and lashes out with a head kick that bangs into the guard, and they crash towards one another swinging hammers. The former title challenger stands firm and chambers a left hand, unloading it square on the jaw while fading back. Reminiscent of Stipe Miocic decking Fabricio Werdum, Reyes clobbers “The Miner” with a single punch that completely shuts his lights out. Krylov topples to the floor on his side, out cold, and Reyes drums him out with a couple ferocious hammerfists as Goddard races in to get between them. The crowd goes wild, and Reyes walks over to President Donald Trump—who entered the building shortly before this fight—and does his trademark dance. He then mimes hitting a golf shot, and the President grins back at him. Overcome with emotion, Reyes declares that he is not just back, but better than ever. Just like that, the 35-year-old has rattled off three straight knockouts, and he is once more in contention for the championship. A four-fight skid is now firmly in the rear-view mirror, and he calls for one more win before fighting for a belt. What a finish, one that quickly enters the list of “Knockout of the Year” due to the devastating blow from “The Devastator.” When they leave the cage, team Reyes goes to take a photograph with Trump, and he shakes hands with Trump advisor Elon Musk as well.

The Official Result

Dominick Reyes def. Nikita Krylov R1 2:24 via KO (Punch)

Bryce Mitchell (146) vs. Jean Silva (146)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Silva (-278), Mitchell (+225)

Round 1

What started as an interesting stylistic matchup turned into something far deeper and darker thanks to the idiocy of Hitler-praising, Holocaust-denying Mitchell (17-2, 8-2 UFC). We won’t sugarcoat this one, as it does not deserve a “both sides” treatment. The Fighting Nerds talent Silva (15-2, 4-0 UFC) wants to crush Mitchell for his absurd comments that range from embracing the flat earth conspiracy theory to suggesting that he would change his nickname to “White Power” if he could. The sides have been chosen and the lines have been drawn, so it is just a matter of time until referee Mike Beltran clocks the featherweights in. Unsurprisingly, there is no touch of gloves, even though Silva offered. Mitchell walks Silva down, and Silva motions that he attack him. Mitchell does not bite on the opportunity, instead backing off to toss out kicks to the lead leg and side. Combating chants ring through the building, with Silva’s louder as he buzzes the hair with a spinning wheel kick. Mitchell chops at the front leg with a kick, and Silva stands and stares at him. Silva looks to catch a kick, and he pump-fakes level changes. Mitchell reaches the target with a front kick and a low kick, and Silva’s body kick response is louder. Mitchell puts a side kick through the guard, and he hand-fights to back off and not take a strike coming back his direction. Mitchell uses his push kick on the chest to keep Silva from him, and Silva grabs his foot and tosses it aside. Silva fails on a jumping switch kick, and he comes up short on a pair of punches. Mitchell scores a low kick and absorbs a right hand, and he continues to batter the front leg of the Brazilian. A right hand from Silva zips past the ear, and he smiles at his opponent when Mitchell flings a spinning back fist at him. Silva comfortably sprawls when Mitchell shoots on him, and he pushes off the back of the head to stand. Mitchell follows suit, circling away while Silva comes towards him. Two left hands fly out from “Thug Nasty,” followed by a leg kick and a solid right hand. Silva smiles and points at him, jumping to kick him in the side. Silva looks away and darts forward, and he wings a wheel kick that catches Mitchell on the side of the head. Mitchell shoots for a takedown, and Silva snatches up a guillotine choke and grips it with all his might. Mitchel sits up, but Silva adjusts the grip to keep the choke tight. Mitchell wriggles to take some pressure off of his neck, and he works out of the submission to stand back up. Silva answers with a quick ninja choke when Mitchell leans over for a takedown, and Silva chases him around until the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Silva

Round 2

Silva asks Mitchell to touch gloves with him, and once more, the Arkansas native refuses. Silva walks him down, talking to him, and he checks a low kick. Silva connects with a left and then a right, flooring “Thug Nasty” and backing off to force the grappler to stand. Silva points at him and blasts him in the ribs with a kick, and he fakes a spin kick to draw out a reaction. Mitchell shoots in for a double, and Silva defends by bouncing off the cage and using a guillotine grip on the side. Mitchell pulls guard to take the fight to the floor by any means, and Silva is having none of it and stands back up. Silva frees himself from the grip and no-sells a low kick, continuing to pressure “Thug Nasty” and showboat. Silva looks away and punches, ducking out of the way of a knee and spinning with an elbow that skims the temple. “Lord” nails Mitchell with a step-in elbow, and he steps back to absorb a few body shots. Mitchell shoots, and Silva turns him about and pushes off. Mitchell ducks and dips to set up a takedown, and Silva tosses it aside and misses an uppercut by a whisker. Silva plants the ball of his foot on Mitchell’s chin, and he is met with a low kick. Silva scores a left hand, a jumping kick to the body and another left up top. Silva goes to the body and head, and he shakes off a takedown attempt and wraps up a ninja choke in the blink of an eye. Mitchell goes for a single to fight it off, and he rolls over to his side but is in big trouble. Silva’s vice-like squeeze is so daunting that Mitchell frantically taps out, and before Silva lets the grip go, Mitchell goes to sleep. Silva releases the sub and leaps to the top of the cage to motion to the President, who is less-than-enthused clapping for the Brazilian over the MAGA American. He then climbs off the top and interlocks his limbs on the fence, barking loudly as if he was about to be let off the leash. The Fighting Nerds quickly sport their trademark black-rimmed glasses, handing commentator Joe Rogan a pair for the interview. A rare occurrence, Rogan lets Silva have the microphone for a second, who thanks Miami and barks again. He then suggests that Mitchell seek professional help because he is “not right in the head.” The barking continues, with Silva on top of the world after his thrilling victory over a bitter, reviled rival. Meanwhile, the de facto technical submission could not have happened to a nicer guy.

The Official Result

Jean Silva def. Bryce Mitchell R2 3:52 via Submission (Ninja Choke)

Patricio Freire (145) vs. Yair Rodriguez (146)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Rodriguez (-192), Freire (+160)

Round 1

After so many years wondering how “Pitbull” Freire (36-7, 0-0 UFC) would stack up against UFC opposition, it’s time to put him to the test. At the tender age of 37, while the Brazilian might not be in his athletic prime, he still is a force to be reckoned with at 145 pounds. For his promotional debut, he draws former interim champ Rodriguez (19-5, 1 NC; 10-4, 1 NC UFC), who has dropped two straight. The two will be joined in the cage by referee Andrew Glenn, who tells them to go. They do not touch gloves. Tentative to engage immediately, they both appear to understand the stakes of their meeting. Unfortunately, this leads to no noteworthy strike thrown for the first 50 seconds. Rodriguez strikes first with a leg kick, and he fires off two punches to follow. Freire responds with a punch before backing away. Freire gets off a heavy leg kick, and he hops back when Rodriguez tries to stomp his knee. Rodriguez sneaks up a kick disguised low that goes high, and he pitches the same odd front kick a second time to split the guard. Rodriguez ignores a leg kick to fire off a head kick that clatters off the raised hand. An inside leg kick from the Mexican goes low, and Freire asks him to not kick him in the groin. Rodriguez leaps in the air with a jumping switch kick, with “Pitbull” blocking it without concern. Rodriguez sprints forward, reaching out with a left hand that sets up a head kick, and Freire takes it on the chin without clinching. Rodriguez rips a kick to the body, and Freire slaps his side and suggests he toss another. Freire considers a takedown, and he abandons it to leap out with two punches. Freire lands at the end of a low kick, and he kicks Rodriguez’ legs out beneath him when Rodriguez responds. “Pitbull” leaps on top, getting to half guard and imposing his weight down. Freire grinds down with an elbow, and the bell rings. Freire signals that he was struck to the back of the head, and Rodriguez says he did not mean it.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez

Round 2

The fighters touch gloves, with Freire still upset about a few minor back of the head strikes. Rodriguez once more apologizes, and they return to their staring contest. Freire suddenly goes up high with a kick, and he then scores a kick on the lead leg. Rodriguez probes with calf kicks and stomp kicks to the knee, and Freire surprises him with a left hand. Rodriguez fires back, and Freire is there to punch him square in the face. Rodriguez kicks him in the stomach, and when Freire protests that it was low, Rodriguez wags his finger at him. Rodriguez hacks at the lead leg, landing the far heavier blow compared to Freire’s response. Freire parries four kicks aimed at him and skips forward to engage, walking directly into an uppercut and twirling around to shoot for a takedown and deposit the Mexican on his back. Rodriguez scoots his way to the fencing and back upright, breaking free without taking any damage. Freire swats away a body kick, but the quick subsequent calf kick gets in. Rodriguez darts forward with a straight right hand, snapping the head back, and he zips away before taking a counter. Both men sit down on power hooks, and Rodriguez wraps a head kick up and around the guard. “El Pantera” goes off with a body kick and another head kick, and he bounces off the cage wall when “Pitbull” pounces towards him. Freire slips a punch to counter, walking through a leg kick and a body kick in hopes of putting hands on his opponent. Rodriguez is slippery like a banana peel, sticking and moving with a one-two and launching kicks from both legs to multiple targets. The body kick from the former interim champ lands with a thud, prompting Freire to sell out with a takedown shot. Rodriguez stuffs it and gets jammed against the wall, where he proceeds to stomp Freire’s toes until he hits a throw and places the Brazilian on the mat at the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez

Round 3

Rodriguez tries to get a glove touch to start off the final frame, but Freire wants nothing to do with it. Instead, they do nothing but stand in front of one another. Rodriguez takes a spin kick and springs back and forth with stances, ultimately throwing a low kick 30 seconds in. Freire gives him one right back, and his guard is high enough to defend a kick. Freire leans forward, pushing past kicks but not before Rodriguez kicks him in the ribs. “Pitbull” ducks and digs a left to the liver, and he bears down on Rodriguez and catches Rodriguez when Rodriguez tries to spin in close range. Freire gives chase, walking down the ex-interim beltholder but not cutting him off. When Rodriguez lands another body kick, Freire suggests that he was kicked in the groin again. Glenn tells them to get back after it, and Rodriguez answers his call with a jump knee. The second he lands, “El Pantera” unleashes a vicious left and right that send Freire collapsing to the canvas. Rodriguez climbs into the guard, allowing Freire to close it around him so he can pummel the UFC newcomer with ferocious punches and elbows. Freire sits up to try to tie up the Mexican, and Rodriguez chops him up with elbows like Ginsu knives. Out of nowhere, Freire snatches up an armbar and rolls over, and Rodriguez somehow twists the right direction to wriggle his arm out of it. Rather than stand, Rodriguez goes for a leglock, sitting down to crank a heel hook as the two work in 50-50 position. Freire goes for his own heel hook, but Rodriguez’ is closer and tighter. Rodriguez frees his foot and turns over to crank the hook, and Freire crawls away, leaps back up and busts Rodriguez in the chops. Rodriguez raises his arms and dances away, spinning with one final wheel kick that just misses the mark. The fight ends, and Rodriguez bows to his opponent.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (30-27 Rodriguez)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (30-27 Rodriguez)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (30-27 Rodriguez)

The Official Result

Yair Rodriguez def. Patricio Freire via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Michael Chandler (156) vs. Paddy Pimblett (156)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pimblett (-148), Chandler (+124)

Round 1

With plenty of bluster and hoopla surrounding the match, Chandler (23-9, 2-4 UFC) vs. Pimblett (22-3, 6-0 UFC) has now arrived. Perhaps unexpectedly, the Liverpudlian has a second home in Miami even though Chandler trains in Deerfield Beach, not far north from there. Far from a prototypical striker vs. grappler matchup, this fight could end up anywhere. Because of that, referee Kerry Hatley has his running shoes laced up and ready to follow the lightweights wherever they may roam. Before the two get down to their non-title five-round pairing, they decide to touch gloves after all. Pimblett paws out a jab and a low kick to take advantage of his reach, and he hammers the front leg with two more kicks. Chandler’s leg is already welted less than a minute in, and Pimblett jams him to the body with a teep kick. Pimblett lashes out with another low kick, and Chandler ducks down and swings for the fences with a right hand. Pimblett darts out of the way and dings Chandler with an uppercut. Chandler tries to take the fight down, and Pimblett grabs the fence to prevent it. A second effort, where Chandler lifts “The Baddy” in the air to slam him down, results in a successful takedown. Chandler hangs on from behind, wrapping up his arms on the waist. Pimblett gets to a knee and hacks at Chandler without looking, elbowing “Iron Mike” on the nose. Pimblett threatens with a kimura, and Chandler lowers Pimblett down and hammers him in the face with a right hand to release the sub grip. Chandler imposes his weight on the former Cage Warriors fighter, and Pimblett suddenly jumps for a flying triangle choke. He succeeds in dragging Chandler to the floor, but there is no chance of him getting the choke as Chandler bucks out of it and resets. Pimblett follows him and slugs him in the face with a right hand, and his low kick right after it further damages his opponent. Chandler connects with a clean right, and Pimblett kicks him in the same spot on the front leg once more. Pimblett comes up short with a right hand, and he skips it off the shoulder when firing again. Chandler slips when backpedaling, just getting out of the way from two looping punches. Chandler sits down on a hard left, and Pimblett goes not flinch and instead throws back with a heavy right hand. Pimblett runs at him to keep attacking, forcing Chandler to ricochet off the fencing as time expires.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pimblett
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pimblett
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Pimblett

Round 2

The fighters high-five to get going again, and Pimblett reintroduces himself with a snappy jab. Chandler reddens his foe’s nose with his own jab, and he ducks down to evade the counter. Chandler walks into a few body shots, with Pimblett fighting smartly behind his jab. He strings a few punches together to make Chandler back off and regather himself, and he dings Chandler with a left hook and a leg kick. Chandler kicks him back, and he retreats to block a head kick. Chandler’s leg is getting beaten up from kicks, and Pimblett walks him down and jabs him up. Pimblett gets off a head kick that bangs into the neck, and he lands a low kick and three punches to follow. Chandler backs off, wipes his hand, and they kick at the same time. Pimblett groans as he takes the kick flush on the cup, and Hatley calls time. Pimblett calls Chandler a cheater, and they decide to high-five a couple times to bury any beef. Chandler shoots in for takedown when they restart, and Pimblett shuts it down and boots Chandler upside the head. Chandler counters with two hooks and a takedown shot, and he elects to lift Pimblett in the air and dump him to the ground. Pimblett works to a knee and upright, not allowing Chandler to control him, and he lets go more elbows on the face. Chandler hurls him to the mat again and takes his back, and he is too high and falls off the back. Pimblett asserts himself in top position, stepping into half guard and fastening up an arm-triangle choke. The Brit steps to the side while still holding the choke setup, and he looks to step into mount or otherwise advance to a dominant position. Pimblett lets go of the grip to hack down with elbows, and Chandler explodes only to give up his back. Pimblett gets a hook in and bowls Chandler over, where he proceeds to leap into mount and lash out with elbows. Chandler spins around, his back still taken, and Pimblett wraps the body triangle around his waist. Pimblett smacks the former Bellator champ upside the head, and he prevents Chandler from turning with his body lock. Pimblett lumps Chandler up with a few 12-to-6 elbows as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pimblett
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pimblett
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Pimblett

Round 3

Ice is spilled in Chandler’s corner, and commentator Joe Rogan does not freak out. Hatley has to use a towel to clean the area, and the fighters re-engage when he says fight. Chandler ducks in to punch, and he walks face-first into a destructive knee that splits his cheek wide open. Pimblett rushes after him, and Chandler explodes with a huge right hand. Pimblett measures his options, and he decides to lift the former Bellator great in the air and throw him down. Pimblett immediately assumes back control, getting one hook in, and Chandler looks to his team for answers. Pimblett elbows a few times, landing one on the back of the head, and Hatley warns him for the foul. Chandler keeps swaying and moving to recover, and Pimblett goes for a rear-naked choke grip. When Pimblett releases it, he slashes down with elbows to target the large cut on Chandler’s cheek. Pimblett nails Chandler with another elbow, and he shifts into mount and keeps attacking. Chandler turns through to not get caught in a choke, and blood pours down his face. Pimblett postures up to rain down elbows and punches, and Hatley is watching closely. Pimblett rains down elbows and punches, unleashing one last hellacious salvo of offense that makes Hatley say enough is enough. “The Baddy” dismounts his defeated foe, and he shouts to the camera, “What now?” Chandler returns to his feet, and he is ushered out of the cage to seek immediate medical attention, in part due to the substantial gash on his cheek. Happy as a claim, the victorious Pimblett dances around, and he brushes his face to indicate that he did not take any damage while throwing down with the heavy-handed Chandler.

The Official Result

Paddy Pimblett def. Michael Chandler R3 3:07 via TKO (Elbows and Punches)

UFC Featherweight Title Fight:
Alexander Volkanovski (145) vs. Diego Lopes (145)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Volkanovski (-122), Lopes (+102)

Round 1

Never in the history of the promotion has a fighter over the age of 35 won a belt in a division south of welterweight. Former champ and one of the greatest featherweights ever, Volkanovski (26-4, 13-3 UFC) wants to become the first. The belt previously belonged to Ilia Topuria, who gained it by flattening Volkanovski, and the Spaniard gave it up for greener pastures at 155 pounds. As one half of the main attraction, “The Great” squares off with hard-charging Lopes (26-6, 5-1 UFC), whose last five wins in the span of a year and a half earned him this spot. Referee Marc Goddard brings the two to the center of the Octagon to issue final instructions, and with no bad blood between them, the fighters touch ‘em up. It’s on with the show. The two featherweights keep their distance early, with the only strikes in the first 45 seconds a pair of leg kicks and one to the body for Volkanovski. Lopes springs in and out, measuring his jab that is out of range. Volkanovski wings a high kick at him, and as Lopes blocks and advances, Volkanovski spins with a back fist that catches his foe on the chin. Volkanovski marches forward to trade, and Lopes sits in the pocket and throws back with a vengeance. Once Volkanovski connects cleanly, his face turns red and he motions for Volkanovski to keep throwing bombs. Volkanovski opts not to continue, backing off to work on the front leg. They crash together again, with Lopes getting the better of the exchange, although they clash heads. Lopes loops a right hand around the guard, and Volkanovski does the same except much heavier. Volkanovski chains a few punches after the right, and they take a moment before going back to the ultraviolence. They suddenly turn things to 11 with a fierce exchange, and Volkanovski clips his man with a right hand that sends Lopes staggering back. Lopes has to shake it out, but he has also inflicted some damage in the form of a cut on his right cheek. Volkanovski pushes through a punch salvo flying his direction to wrap up Lopes in the clinch and pursue a takedown. Volkanovski bails on the attempt to knee Lopes in the face, and he stays tightly pressed to the Lobo Gym MMA fighter. Volkanovski wraps several huge left hands around the guard on the chin, and he strips Lopes’ legs out and slams him to the mat. Volkanovski lands, and he proceeds to jackhammer Lopes with punches until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Volkanovski
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Volkanovski
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Volkanovski

Round 2

The fighters high-five to get going again, and Lopes puts on immediate pressure. Volkanovski misses with a front kick, but he does get off a leg kick on the inside. Lopes shadowboxes, not comfortable getting into brawling range with his opponent, and Volkanovski picks at him with distant strikes. Lopes lunges with a right hand that breezes past his man, and he takes two punches on the chin on the way out. Volkanovski scores another calf kick, parrying a right hand up top as he circles to the side. Volkanovski lands a leg kick and a punch, leaning to avoid the right hand counter that zips at him. Volkanovski shoots for a double, and Lopes stops him and rings him up with an uppercut. Volkanovski flashes his jab, allowing Lopes to overswing and miss. Lopes settles down to double up on a jab, and he is forced to deal with slapping leg kicks. Volkanovski rushes off to attack, and he ducks a punch and spins with a back fist that knocks Lopes back to the fencing. Volkanovski shoots in for takedown, and Lopes stops it and breaks out. “The Great” jabs, and Lopes’ power left hand further damages the cheek of the former champ. Volkanovski wings three punches on the side of the head, and he backs away with his jab ever present. Lopes lands, and Volkanovski clips him with a left. Lopes loads up with everything he has, knocking Volkanovski off his feet with a monstrous right hand. Volkanovski bounces off the floor and gets right back to business, appearing more angry than compromised, as he keeps throwing leather as time elapses.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Volkanovski
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Volkanovski
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Volkanovski

Round 3

Volkanovski is ready to keep going, hurrying out of his corner with his jab flowing. Volkanovski accidentally pokes his foe in the eye, and he apologizes as Lopes accepts his apology. “The Great” lands a great right hand before Lopes gets his hands on him, and he brings the pace down as he works on the front leg a few times. Lopes splits the guard with two jabs and a right hand, forcing Volkanovski to blink it out. Lopes counters a jab with an overhand right, but it does not deter the former champ from throwing it. Instead, Volkanovski mixes in a few kicks, and he thumps Lopes on the chin with a short but nasty left hook. Lopes is tough as Kevlar, and he throws back hard and makes Volkanovski rebound off the wall. Lopes scores again, knocking back the ex-champ with a power jab. Volkanovski probes out with jabs, skipping away as Lopes loads up on inaccurate counters. Volkanovski ducks and swings a right hand, skimming it off the side of the head and following it with a takedown shot. The taller, longer Lopes pushes him away and walks after him, only to absorb a flush right hand on the jaw. Lopes brushes his foe’s side with a kick, and he turns with a wheel kick that the Aussie sees a mile away. Lopes takes a front kick and a right hand on the chin and motions for his foe to throw more, and he fires off three kicks of his own before the round concludes.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Volkanovski
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Volkanovski
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Volkanovski

Round 4

Reaching the championship rounds, the fighters clap hands. Volkanovski strikes first with a leg calf kick, and Lopes gives him one back to think about. Lopes checks a kick, and a jab bounces off his forehead before he can react. The counter right hook is way out of range, as Volkanovski is not in the same spot to get hit. Lopes walks him down to trade, and Volkanovski connects with hooks and shoots. Lopes pushes him back and fires off his own wide strikes, and he ends the flurry with a calf kick. Volkanovski steps in close to threaten with a trip, and he abandons that entry and shoots in with a more traditional entry. The Brazilian’s takedown defense holds up well, and he stands tall and takes a right hand on the chin without budging. Lopes powers himself up, charging at the former champ and cracking him with huge strikes. One major uppercut bangs into Volkanovski’s eye, and Volkanovski immediately clutches at it. Lopes gives chase, pouring it on with devastating swings, as Volkanovski tries to keep him honest with his own counters. Lopes takes his foot off the gas, deciding not to go for broke, and this allows Volkanovski to keep circling and regain his footing. Lopes spits and nods, and he takes a speedy overhand right off the dome. Volkanovski chambers and fires another big strike, shaking Lopes up again, and Lopes hits him back hard. They trade right to the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lopes
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Lopes
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Lopes

Round 5

Between rounds, Volkanovski informs his corner that his vision is returning, implying that he lost it for some part of this fight. Presumably one last glove touch initiates the final frame, and the fighters think about starting off hot but cool it quickly. Lopes kicks the side after a period of inactivity, and Volkanovski dips down and kicks the front leg while following with a power right hand. Lopes retaliates with a wheel kick that is well out of range, but his punch combo gets the Aussie’s attention. Volkanovski steps in with a crisp elbow on the brow, and he aims another to the same spot but is out of range. Lopes chops the front leg with a kick, and he eats a one-two. Lopes hurls back a right hand, and he pushes off a clinch setup and whiffs on an overhand right. Volkanovski beats his foe to the punch with a clean left hook, and he shoots for a double. Volkanovski raises up a knee to bang into his opponent’s cheek, and he thumbs Lopes in the eye socket. Lopes complains, but Goddard informs him it was a punch. Volkanovski keeps throwing, and Lopes does further work with low kicks. The jab from the former champ keeps finding its mark, and he skirts away and looks to the clock that reads 1:15 left in the match. The circular movement from Volkanovski is able to keep him out of the worst of danger, even with Lopes loads up on his knockout blows. Volkanovski cracks him with a right hand, and Lopes spits twice and points to the ground to brawl. Volkanovski sets up a hard left hook, and Lopes continues rushing at him, hands at his side. Lopes runs at the former champion, looking for one last brawl, and Volkanovski obliges him. The two featherweight gladiators duke it out all the way to the 25-minute mark, and they raise their arms in the air in celebration. Lopes climbs atop the cage wall to celebrate, and judges will have their hands full evaluating the scoring strikes and measuring the damage.

As soon as the scores are read, Volkanovski screams “yes!” before the winner is announced, knowing that he is about to get his hand raised. He did it, telling commentator Joe Rogan that “adversity is a privilege” and that this result is the type of thing that makes and defines history. The next challenge for Volkanovski is still a work in progress, but there are some fresh options at his disposal instead of some rematches. When he defends his throne next, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Volkanovski (49-46 Volkanovski)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Volkanovski (49-46 Volkanovski)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Volkanovski (49-46 Volkanovski)

The Official Result

Alexander Volkanovski def. Diego Lopes via Unanimous Decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)