UFC 207 live results: Amanda Nunes vs. Ronda Rousey
Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC 207: Nunes vs. Rousey, eminating from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The event is headlined by UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes making her first title defense as she defends against former champion, Ronda Rousey, in Rousey’s return to the Octagon.
Nunes submitted Miesha Tate at UFC 200 in July to win the championship, and she has won four straight fights overall. Rousey returns to competition for the first time since losing the championship to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November 2015, and the entire world is interested in seeing how Rousey rebounds from her first career loss. The anticipation has been heightened by Rousey not doing any media obligations in the lead-up to the fight.
In the co-main event, Dominick Cruz defends the UFC Bantamweight Championship against Cody Garbrandt. Cruz has won 13 straight fights and is looking to defeat another member of the Team Alpha Male camp. Garbrandt is undefeated in his career, winning all ten of his career fights, and has been very vocal in his intentions of knocking out Cruz to win the championship.
Also on the main card is a fight to determine the next contender at 135 pounds as former bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw takes on John Lineker.
Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET tonight with preliminary action all the way thru the main card.
Some additional coverage:
– UFC 207 Weigh-Ins
– UFC 207 Observer Panel Predictions
– UFC 207 Betting & Fantasy Playbook
UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS | 7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT
> Alex Oliveira (16-3-1 1 NC, 5-2 UFC) vs. Tim Means (26-7-1, 8-4 UFC)
Welterweights
Oliveira dropped Means with a spin kick in the first round but Means was able to recover and they traded takedowns. Means landed an illegal knee that hurt Oliveira badly. Oliveira looked awful and he got stretchered out from the Octagon as he was completely out of it. Means was complaining that it was a legal knee but it clearly wasn’t as Oliveira had a knee down. They actually called the fight a no contest as the ruling was it was accidental but he clearly landed two knees to the head while Oliveira had a knee on the mat. This was a giant cluster and there was a lot of confusion. Means called out the media after the fight and he seemed to have trouble knowing the rules.
Official Result: Alex Oliveira vs. Tim Means declared a no contest (accidental knee) at 3:33 of Round 1
FOX SPORTS 1 PRELIMS | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT
> Brandon Thatch (11-4, 2-3 UFC) vs. Niko Price (8-0, 0-0 UFC)
Welterweights
Thatch was winning on the feet before being taken down by Price. Thatch almost had a kimura but Price got out of it. Price was working for chokes from all positions and finally locked in an arm-triangle choke that forced Thatch to tap out in the first round. Price was a big underdog and Thatch, who was once a hot prospect at 170 pounds, has now lost four straight fights, all by submission.
Official Result: Niko Price def. Brandon Thatch by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 4:30 of Round 1
> Mike Pyle (27-12-1, 10-7 UFC) vs. Alex Garcia (13-3, 3-2 UFC)
Welterweights
Garcia rocked Pyle early and got a takedown and was controlling on the mat before Pyle got to his feet. Garcia then timed a right hand perfectly as Pyle was going for a knee and landed the punch right to Pyle’s chin and Pyle was knocked out cold. Pyle took a hard flat back bump onto the mat and it was a violent knockout win for Garcia. Garcia asked to fight on the Brooklyn card but that card looks full.
Official Result: Alex Garcia def. Mike Pyle by knockout (punch) at 3:34 of Round 1
> Antonio Carlos Junior (6-2 1 NC, 3-2 1 NC UFC) vs. Marvin Vettori (11-2, 1-0 UFC)
Middleweights
The story of the first round was eye pokes as each man poked the other in the eye, Vettori on the receiving end twice. When they weren’t fouling each other it was Carlos Junior in control with the grappling and pressure against the fence. It was Carlos Junior 10-9 in the first. It was more of the same early in the second until Vettori took Carlos Junior down and was pounding away. He came close to finishing with a guillotine choke. Both men landed on the mat but Vettori had more power and volume from the top. Big round two for Vettori, 10-9, and 19-19 after two.
Carlos Junior went back to applying pressure with back control in the third, but Vettori was doing better on the feet. In the end, it was Carlos Junior pressuring Vettori against the fence and holding onto the body lock for a lot of the round, mixed with a takedown, that got him the third, 10-9. I had it 29-28 for Carlos Junior, but a close fight. The judges all agreed as they all had the same scores.
Official Result: Antonio Carlos Junior def. Marvin Vettori by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Johny Hendricks (#6, 17-5, 12-5 UFC) vs. Neil Magny (#8, 18-5, 11-4 UFC)
Welterweights, Hendricks missed weight at 173.5 pounds
They were even on the feet and Hendricks got a takedown and was working on the top. Magny was active on the bottom and both were landing on the mat. Magny tried a triangle but couldn’t get it but landed elbows. Magny got the round due to be super active from the bottom, 10-9. Hendricks got four takedowns in the second round. He was playing a lot of defense on the top and wasn’t landing much as Magny was very active on the bottom. Neither man did much on the feet. The second had to go to Hendricks due to all the takedowns and I had it 10-9 for him and 19-19 after two.
Magny was more active on the feet but Hendricks was trying to wrestle. Magny was defending the takedowns as Hendricks was just hanging on. Hendricks did get a big slam with just over a minute left. Magny had a triangle in late and was landing elbows at the end of the round. It might have stolen him the round. I think it did as I had it 10-9 for Magny and him winning 29-28. Magny got the decision with the same scorecards. The crowd booed the decision very loudly.
Official Result: Neil Magny def. Johny Hendricks by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
PPV MAIN CARD | 10 PM ET/7 PM PT
> Louis Smolka (#12, 11-2, 5-2 UFC) vs. Ray Borg (#13, 9-2, 3-2 UFC)
Flyweights, Borg missed weight coming in at 129.5 pounds
Borg got a couple of takedowns and was winning the grappling by using very good transitions and sweeps on the mat. Borg landed some punches from the back as well and had Smolka bleeding. A 10-9 opening round for Borg. Borg got some more takedowns in the second and was being patient on the mat and countering all of the sweeps that Smolka was attempting. Smolka couldn’t do much to get out from the bottom and the round was all Borg. A 10-9 second round for Borg and him up 20-18.
Borg told his corner between rounds that he broke his ankle. It didn’t stop him in the third as he got more takedowns and was transitioning well on the mat. Borg had an arm-triangle in deep but Smolka was able to survive but Borg didn’t let up on his pressure.They got to their feet and Smolka landed some clean shots but it was too late to do anything. A 10-9 round for Borg and a clear 30-27 for him, and he looked fantastic here. The missing weight is going to cost him, though.
Official Result: Ray Borg def. Louis Smolka by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
> Dong Hyun Kim (#9, 21-3-1 1 NC, 12-3 1 NC UFC) vs. Tarec Saffiedine (#12, 16-5, 2-2 UFC)
Welterweights
They traded takedowns and were trading on their feet and Saffiedine was finding a home for his right hand. Kim was pushing Saffiedine against the fence but wasn’t doing anything. Saffiedine got a late trip takedown and it likely got him the round as neither were able to take advantage. 10-9 Saffiedine. Not a lot happened in the second round. Both men got brief takedowns and Kim was pressuring Saffiedine around the Octagon. They traded knees in the clinch but neither man landed with a lot of volume. A real boring and nothing round. I gave it 10-9 to Kim with it tied 19-19.
They traded back-and-forth at the start of the third round in the most exciting moment of this fight. This round was boring. Kim was all pressure going for takedowns he couldn’t complete and Saffiedine wasn’t taking advantage of the striking battle. Both fighters were exhausted. Kim had the pressure but Saffiedine landed harder strikes when there were strikes landed. A close round and close fight. I had round three 10-9 for Kim and Kim winning 29-28. Two judges had it the same and one judge actually gave Saffiedine every round.
Official Result: Dong Hyun Kim def. Tarec Saffiedine by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
> TJ Dillashaw (#1, 13-3, 9-3 UFC) vs. John Lineker (#2, 29-7, 10-2 UFC)
Bantamweights
They were both landing shots on the feet with Dillashaw getting the better of it before Dillashaw took Lineker down. Lineker was staying active on his back but Dillashaw got the better of it before they got to their feet. Dillashaw was doing an excellent job of staying on the outside and landing from a distance and was keeping Lineker from getting inside the pocket. Good round for Dillashaw as he got it 10-9.
Dillashaw got a brief takedown in the second. Lineker was throwing big punches but Dillashaw was able to stay far enough away to where they missed. Dillashaw got another takedown and was landing big elbows from the top and then came on with punches. Dillashaw just kept Lineker planted on the mat and was landing bunches of punches. He completely controlled Lineker on the ground. A big second round won by Dillashaw. I don’t think it was a 10-8 round because it wasn’t close to being finished, but Dillashaw’s round 10-9. He is up 20-18 after two.
Dillashaw was throwing Lineker off base with movement and scored a takedown. Dillashaw looks fantastic in this fight. Dillashaw cracked Lineker with some punches and had another beautifully timed takedown. He continued to land punches and went for a leg lock to no avail. Lineker was able to land some big body punches in the last minute of the fight but in the end, Dillashaw was too much for Lineker in this round and on this night. 10-9 Dillashaw in the third and I had him winning 30-27. Outstanding performance from Dillashaw. He got all the scorecards 30-26, so the judges gave him a 10-8 round in there. Dillashaw said he wants his belt back, called Dominick Cruz a bitch, and said if he doesn’t get the next title shot then it shows the UFC has rigged matchmaking. Wow.
Official Result: TJ Dillashaw def. John Lineker by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
> Dominick Cruz (C, 22-1, 5-0 UFC) vs. Cody Garbrandt (#5, 10-0, 5-0 UFC)
UFC Bantamweight Championship
Garbrandt was swinging for the fences and he did tag Cruz a couple of times, and he tagged Cruz with some leg kicks. They were trash talking each other. Big chants for Garbrandt. Garbrandt had good head movement and was mocking Cruz at times. Cruz got a takedown and Garbrandt sprawled but they got right back up. Cruz was working his usual movement but Garbrandt was light on his feet. They both landed good punches with a minute to go in the round. Garbrandt got a well-timed takedown at the end but the scrambled to their feet. It was a good round for Garbrandt and I had him 10-9.
Cruz tagged Garbrandt and had him stunned. Loud chants for Cruz started to come in. Garbrandt was landing some punches but Cruz was able to circle away and was using really good movement like usual. They were talking a lot of trash to each other inside the Octagon. Cruz landed a counter right hand after a body kick from Garbrandt and they had a flurry at the end. A very close round but Garbrandt looks to be slowing down. I had it 10-9 for Cruz, and 19-19 after two.
Garbrandt tagged and rocked Cruz early and Cruz was cut open over the left eye. Garbrandt tagged Cruz multiple times during this round. The cut appeared to be from a headbutt. Garbrandt dropped Cruz with a left hand and hurt him with a knee but Cruz was able to survive. Garbrandt had great head movement as he was able to duck under a lot of Cruz punches in this round. Garbrandt is throwing big punches when he has openings. A solid round for Garbrandt, who takes it 10-9, and I have it 29-28 for Garbrandt.
They are still talking trash before the fourth round. Garbrandt dropped Cruz with a big punch and thought the fight might be over so he didn’t go on the attack and Cruz was able to get back to his feet. Garbrandt ducked under a lot of Cruz’ punches and then started mocking Cruz and clowning with him. Big chants for Cody from the crowd. Garbrandt dropped Cruz again and started dancing instead of going for the finish. Garbrandt dropped Cruz a third time. A big round for Garbrandt, 10-8, and I have him up 39-36 Garbrandt. This is a star-making performance.
Garbrandt slowed down in the fifth and Cruz was looking for an opening to finish the fight. Garbrandt spent more time mocking Cruz this round than he did really going after Cruz, almost like he was on cruise control. Cruz started putting the pressure on Garbrandt and was swinging. Garbrandt decided to push Cruz against the fence. Cruz landed a leg kick late. Tough final round to score. I have the last round 10-9 for Cruz, but I have the fight 48-46 for Garbrandt.
Official Result: Cody Garbrandt def. Dominick Cruz by unanimous decision (48-46, 48-47, 48-46) to become the new UFC Bantamweight Champion
> Amanda Nunes (C, 13-4, 6-1 UFC) vs. Ronda Rousey (#1, 12-1, 6-1 UFC)
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship
This didn’t last long. Nunes rocked Rousey early and often and Rousey was out on her feet early. Nunes was landing a lot of punches and before Rousey could fall to the mat Herb Dean stepped in and stopped the fight. It went less than a minute and Nunes remains the champion. This may be the last time we see Ronda Rousey in the UFC.
Official Result: Amanda Nunes def. Ronda Rousey by TKO (punches) at :48 of Round 1 to remain the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion