UFC 216 live results: Ferguson vs. Lee; Johnson vs. Borg

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC 216: Ferguson vs. Lee, emanating from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

As the city of Las Vegas continues to mourn after the horrific events of this past Sunday, the UFC will do their part in entertaining the fans in “The Fight Capital of the World” by bringing a night full of bouts inside the Octagon.

The event is headlined by a battle for the Interim UFC Lightweight Championship as Tony Ferguson takes on Kevin Lee in one of the best fights, on paper, made this year. Both men are on long win streaks, as Ferguson has won nine straight and Lee has won five straight, and both are looking to wrap UFC gold around their waists, and perhaps more importantly, secure a shot against Conor McGregor when he returns.

The semi-main event looks to see history made as UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson will attempt to set the record for most consecutive title defenses as he defends against Ray Borg. They were pushed back a month after Borg was forced to pull out of UFC 215 last month, leaving Johnson having to wait to stamp his position as the best fighter in the sport.

Also on the main card is an intriguing heavyweight matchup as former UFC Heavyweight Champion Fabricio Werdum takes on Derrick Lewis, and lightweights Beneil Dariush and Evan Dunham kick off the main card.

Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern time with preliminary action all the way through the main card.

We are looking for your thoughts on tonight’s event, so send a thumbs up, a thumbs down or a thumbs in the middle along with a best fight and a worst fight to Dave at dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

BREAKING: The heavyweight bout between Fabricio Werdum and Derrick Lewis was a last-minute scratch from the card due to a back injury suffered by Lewis. Werdum is staying on the card as Walt Harris is going to replace Lewis, which means Mark Godbeer is now off the card.

UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS | 7 PM ET/4 PM PT

> Thales Leites (#13, 27-7, 12-6 UFC) vs. Brad Tavares (15-4, 10-4 UFC)
Middleweights

Tavares was coming out as the aggressor early one attacking the legs and utilizing his jab. Leites landed a right hand but Tavares was firing back with more volume. Tavares got Leites in trouble with a left hand and Leites was backtracking before grabbing a leg and forcing Tavares against the fence looking for a takedown. They broke the action due to stalling by Leites but Leites went right back for a takedown against the fence. They were broken up again. Tavares hurt Leites with punches late in the round. 10-9 Tavares.

They traded leg kicks to start the second before Tavares started landing more punches. Tavares is clearly the better striker and has been blocking Leites’ attempts to grapple. They traded kicks but Tavares landing more and then landing the jab. Leites finally got a brief takedown but Tavares got right back to his feet. They separated. They were trading punches and Tavares was landing hard leg kicks. 10-9 Tavares, 20-18 Tavares.

They both came out swinging as this round could determine the winner. Tavares was landing so Leites grabbed a clinch against the fence. Both men were working to take down the other. They broke and Tavares was working the jab until Leites got poked in the eye. Leites’ face is a mess. Tavares started landing even more and Leites went to the mat. Leites was inviting Tavares down but Tavares wasn’t having any of it. Tavares dropped Leites with a leg kick. Leites got up and went working hard for a takedown. Leites whiffed on a takedown and Tavares was landing punches and kicks to a downed Leites. Big round for Tavares. 10-8 Tavares, 30-26 Tavares.

Official Result- Brad Tavares def. Thales Leites by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)

> John Moraga (#11, 17-6, 6-5 UFC) vs. Magomed Bibulatov (#15, 14-0, 1-0 UFC)
Flyweights

Moraga was attacking the legs early to keep Bibulatov at a distance. Moraga landed a right hand. Moraga then rocked Bibulatov and then dropped him with a left hand that knocked Bibulatov out cold! Great finish by Moraga and he hands Bibulatov his first career loss.

Official Result- John Moraga def. Magomed Bibulatov by knockout (punch) at 1:36 of Round 1

FX PRELIMS | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT

> Matt Schnell (10-4, 0-2 UFC) vs. Marco Beltran (8-5, 3-2 UFC)
Flyweights

Schnell looking to control the distance at the start. Beltran has a head kick checked by Schnell. Front kick by Beltran. Schnell with a leg kick as he backs Beltran up to the fence. Beltran lands a heavy leg kick. Both men still feeling each other out. They each landed some good punches and kicks but neither man did much to convincingly win the round. 10-9 Schnell.

Beltran coming out aggressive to start the second round with a leg kick. Beltran with a leg kick but Schnell fired back with a right hand followed by a leg kick. Schnell ducking under Beltran’s punches and he’s controlling the action. Beltran landed a solid head kick. He tried another but Schnell grabbed the leg and kick the other leg of Beltran. Beltran now pushing the pace a little more as Schnell is just looking for counters. Schnell with a right hand. They trade and Schnell lands more in close range. Another close round. 10-9 Schnell, 20-18 Schnell.

They quickly clinch to start the third round. They quickly broke and got back to the center of the Octagon. Neither man landing much thru the first bit of this round. Schnell then kicked Beltran low to force a timeout. Beltran just misses a high kick. They both landed in a close exchange. Beltran with a head kick. Schnell lands a right hand. Schnell lands another and then a combo that stumbles Beltran. Beltran got a late takedown. Close fight. 10-9 Beltran, 29-28 Schnell.

Official Result- Matt Schnell def. Marco Beltran by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)

> Pearl Gonzalez (6-2, 0-1 UFC) vs. Poliana Botelho (5-1, 0-0 UFC)
Women’s Strawweights

Gonzalez rushing right to Botelho. Gonzalez with a series of leg kicks and then clinches up against the fence. Botelho with some elbows as Gonzalez is looking for a takedown. Botelho with more elbows but not much is happening otherwise. They are broken apart by the referee. Both come out kicking but Gonzalez landing better. They clinch again and battle for position. Botelho has the underhooks but they are just not doing anything. Botelho with more elbows. 10-9 Botelho.

Gonzalez went right back to trying to take Botelho down against the fence. This fight is not good so far. Botelho landing punches and more elbows as Gonzalez is just relentless on looking for a takedown. They are finally broken up by the referee. Gonzalez looking tired. Botelho lands the jab and then a leg kick. Botelho misses some big right hands. Boring fight. 10-9 Botelho, 20-18 Botelho.

Gonzalez attacking the legs at the start of the third. Gonzalez grabs the leg of Botelho and pushes her against the fence but Botelho lands a punch. Gonzalez back to working hard for a takedown against the fence. The crowd is booing this one big. Botelho landing more punches and now knees to the body. They are broken up again. Gonzalez back to the clinch and the crowd immediately boos. They are broken up quicker and Botelho goes right on the attack. She just misses a head kick and Gonzalez goes back to the clinch. Botelho reverses into a takedown to end the fight. 10-9 Botelho, 30-27 Botelho.

Official Result- Poliana Botelho def. Pearl Gonzalez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Lando Vannata (9-2, 1-2 UFC) vs. Bobby Green  (23-8, 4-3 UFC)
Lightweights

Ryan’s internet kicked out in Vegas so Paul Fontaine taking over from here. 

This was a crazy fight. Vannata was docked a point in the first and it turned out to be crucial. He threw an illegal knee while Green was down. The replay showed it didn’t land but the ref docked him a point anyway. That made it a 9-9 first. 

The next two rounds were wild with both guys going all-out for a win and somehow managing to stay in till the end. Vannata appeared to land the harder shots but his face was a crimson mask by the end as Green’s shots obviously did more damage. The last two rounds could’ve gone either way and the first was an obvious 9-9. I scored it 29-27 Green and Ryan had it 29-27 Vannata

Official result – split draw on scores of 29-27 Vannata, 29-27 Green and 28-28

> Tom Duquesnoy (15-1 1 NC, 1-0 UFC) vs. Cody Stamann (15-1, 1-0 UFC)
Bantamweights

Nothing could follow that last fight. This wasn’t bad but the crowd got restless at the end. I thought Duquesnoy pretty clearly won the first round and the last two Stamman took over with his wrestling as he got numerous takedowns and then the thread of the takedown allowed him to do more on the feet. It wasn’t a blowout but Stamman clearly won the last two and I had it 29-28 for him.

Official result – Cody Stamman by split decision on scores of 29-28, 28-29 and 30-27

PPV MAIN CARD | 10 PM ET/7 PM PT

> Beneil Dariush (#12, 14-3, 8-3 UFC) vs. Evan Dunham (#14, 18-6, 11-6 UFC)
Lightweights

On most nights, this would’ve been fight of the night but nothing is likely to top the Green/Vannata fight from earlier. Dariush had a great first round, nearly finishing Dunham with great punches and elbows on the feet and doing a lot of damage when it went to the ground. But he seemed to tire himself out trying to finish by the end of the round. Dunham stayed in it and did much better in the last two rounds. They were fairly close but Dunham did enough to take both rounds in my book and I gave a 10-8 to Dariush in round 1 meaning it was a 28-28 draw

Official result – majority draw (29-28 Dariush, 28-28 x 2)

> Mara Romero Borella (11-4 1 NC, 0-0 UFC) vs. Kalindra Faria (18-5-1, 0-0 UFC)
Women’s Flyweights

Both women making their UFC debuts on a PPV main card is almost unprecedented. Borella made the most of it as she got an early takedown and eventually worked her way into mount. Faria gave up her back, allowing Borella to secure a rear naked choke for the win. 

Official result – Mara Romero Borella by submission (rear naked choke) at 2:54

> Fabricio Werdum (#2, 21-7-1, 9-4 UFC)  vs. Walt Harris (10-5, 3-4 UFC)
Heavyweights

Very similar to the last fight, only faster. Werdum got a takedown 30 seconds in. He quickly moved into mount. Harris gave up his back and instead of going for the choke, Werdum grabbed an arm and Harris quickly tapped.

Official result – Fabricio Werdum by submission (armbar) at 1:05

> Demetrious Johnson (C, 26-2-1, 14-1-1 UFC) vs. Ray Borg (#3, 11-2, 5-2 UFC)
UFC Flyweight Championship

Johnson targeted Borg’s lead leg with kicks early. Borg had a couple of failed takedown attempts and one on of them Johnson stuffed it and ended up on top. He was workmanlike on the ground with several different submission attempts. At one point the strike count was 23-0 and I’m not sure Borg did land a strike in the round. 10-8 Johnson on my card

Borg started off a little strong, getting a takedown but Johnson got right up. Borg took his back standing and had a choke for a bit but Johnson shook him off and ended up on top on the ground. Johnson took over from there, landing all kinds of punches and elbows on the ground and a few more submission attempts. At one point the strike count was 62-1. Another 10-8 round for Johnson. 

More of the same here. Borg got a takedown but Johnson got right up. Borg attempted another and Johnson just fell on top of him. He maintained top control for the whole round, with several submission attempts. Strike count was 95-7 at one point. 10-8 Johnson

Borg got an early takedown but Johnson got right up and then got one of his own. He was all over him on the ground, constantly advancing and working for subs. Strikes count was 125-11 and Johnson landed many more after that. Another 10-8, although I suspect there’s no way the judges will have this score, I have 40-32 after 4

Johnson got an early takedown but Borg managed to get to his feet. Borg was stuffed on a takedown attempt and then Johnson got another takedown and moved right into side control. Borg managed to get almost to his feet but Johnson landed hard knees to the body. Borg briefly to his feet and Johnson picked him up and started a suplex but grabbed an armbar on the way down. He looked like he was going to rip his arm off and Borg tried to fight it off before tapping. Best performance I think I’ve ever seen in a title fight. Johnson is the best ever, at any weight class. 

Official result – Demetrious Johnson by submission (armbar) at 3:15 of the 5th round

> Tony Ferguson (#2, 22-3, 12-1 UFC) vs. Kevin Lee (#7, 16-2, 9-2 UFC)
Interim UFC Lightweight Championship

Despite the awesome last fight, the crowd was pretty hot for this one. Ferguson clearly the crowd favorite but Lee had a better first round. He was landing more often on the feet but it was fairly close. Lee got a late takedown and quickly took side control. He get mount with about 30 seconds left and landed a ton of punches and elbows and Ferguson was in real trouble but managed to get to his feet before the round ended. Lee had a punch after the bell and was warned by ref Herb Dean. 10-9 Lee

Round 2 was entirely on the feet. It was pretty close but Ferguson was more active and probably did more damage as well. Lee had cuts on his cheek and forehead and was bleeding from his nose. Significant strikes were 24-16 for Ferguson and it’s all tied up after 2. 

Lee was very tired coming out for the third and clearly wanted to take things to the ground. He got an early takedown but Ferguson had a really tight triangle attempt and then nearly finished Lee with an armbar. Lee had a nice escape and maintained top control for about a minute afterward. Ferguson got to his feet but Lee got another takedown. It was almost a replay of the first time as Ferguson immediately secured a triangle. Lee tapped out right before he passed out and the ref stopped it. 

Official result – Tony Ferguson by submission (triangle choke) at 4:02 of the 3rd round

Ferguson, of course, called out Conor McGregor after the fight, telling him to defend, or vacate. The crowd had been behind Ferguson all night but booed him after that one. 

Lee was despondent after the fight. He admitted he had a staph infection and that’s why he had such a hard weight cut. He put over Ferguson and said he didn’t give him enough credit prior to the fight.