UFC 241 live results: Cormier vs. Miocic 2, Nate Diaz returns

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC 241: Cormier vs. Miocic 2, emanating from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

The Octagon heads back to Southern California for one of the biggest fight cards of the year featuring a heavyweight title fight and the long-awaited return of one of the biggest stars in the sport.

In the main event, UFC Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier defends the championship against the main he defeated to win that title, Stipe Miocic. Cormier returns to action for the first time since a November title defense over Derrick Lewis as he has spent time recovering from a back injury. Miocic is fighting for the first time since losing the championship to Cormier at UFC 226 in July 2018.

In the co-main event, it is the return of Nate Diaz, fighting for the first time in three years, as he takes on former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis. Diaz returns to a lot of fanfare and gets a fight he’s wanted for a while against Pettis, who is looking to go 2-0 at 170 pounds after knocking out former title challenger Stephen Thompson in March.

Also on the main card is a middleweight bout that has been in the makings for a while as former title challenger Yoel Romero takes on undefeated Paulo Costa in what could bring on lots of fireworks.

Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 6:30 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.

ESPN+/UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS | 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT

> Sabina Mazo (6-1, 0-1 UFC) vs. Shana Dobson (3-2, 1-1 UFC)
Women’s Flyweights

They trade kicks to start. They trade high kicks. Mazo hurts Dobson with a body kick and starts landing punches and then some knees and elbows in the clinch. Mazo gets a takedown against the fence. Mazo with some punches from the top. Mazo with a few elbows from the top. Dobson able to sweep and almost got the back of Mazo but Mazo ends up back in her guard. Mazo landing more and they stand and Mazo lands some knees. Mazo gets another takedown against the fence. Mazo gets the mount. Mazo with some more punches from the top as the round ends. 10-8 Mazo.

Mazo landing some punches and Dobson shoots in for a takedown but Mazo defends and lands some knees. Mazo controlling the clinch as she keeps landing knees against the fence. Dobson lands a couple elbows but is still eating knees from Mazo. Mazo gets Dobson down to the ground. Mazo lands some on top but they get to their feet. Dobson lands a right hand. Mazo with a front kick. 10-9 Mazo, 20-17 Mazo.

Dobson trying to land the right hand but missing. Dobson with a leg kick and Mazo fires back with a body kick. Mazo with a body kick. Mazo with some leg kicks and then a liver kick. Dobson lands a combo. Mazo lands a bunch of knees against the fence, going to the body and the head. Mazo with more knees and Dobson is having trouble defending. Mazo gets a takedown and into side control and lands some knees to the body. Mazo looking for the mount but lands from the top and is in complete control. This fight hasn’t even been close. Mazo lands more punches from the top as the fight ends. 10-8 Mazo, 30-25 Mazo.

Official Result- Sabina Mazo def. Shana Dobson by unanimous decision (30-24, 30-25, 30-25)

> Kyung Ho Kang (15-8 1 NC, 4-2 1 NC UFC) vs. Brandon Davis (10-6, 2-3 UFC)
Bantamweights

They trade leg kicks. Kang with a right hand. They trade right hands. Kang goes for a takedown but Davis defends. Davis with a knee as they break. Kang with the jab. Davis with a leg kick and Kang slips. Kang stuns Davis with a jab. Davis with more low leg kicks. They trade and Kang with a high body kick. Kang is landing the jab and drops Davis with a right hand. Davis quickly gets up and Kang takes the back. They go to the mat and Davis is trying to shake Kang off. Kang gets to mount but loses it and in the half-guard of Davis. Kang ends the round on top. 10-9 Kang.

They both come out firing to start the second. Kang with a leg kick. Kang shoots for a takedown but Davis defends it, goes for an armbar and loses his guard to Kang. Davis able to explode out from the bottom and they get up and break to the center. They trade punches. Davis with a high kick but Kang blocks it. Kang with a combo ending with an inside leg kick. Kang lands a right hand. Davis with a body kick. Davis lands a right hand. Davis with a leg kick and lands a late flying knee. Close round. 10-9 Davis, 19-19.

Davis with a right hand and follows with a leg kick. Davis slips on a kick attempt and Kang takes advantage and gets to side control on Davis. They are stood up from side control as Kang had good positioning. That was a bad stand-up. Kang gets Davis back down and is in side control once again. Kang isn’t doing much here but lands a couple of punches. Davis scrambles to his feet. Kang tries to take the back but Davis slips away and lands a big combo. Kang gets a takedown and is in the guard. Both are landing on the ground. Kang landing from the top and keeping busy. 10-9 Kang, 29-28 Kang.

Official Result- Kyung Ho Kang def. Brandon Davis by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

> Hannah Cifers (9-3, 1-1 UFC) vs. Jodie Esquibel (6-5, 0-3 UFC)
Women’s Strawweights

Both ladies being patient in the first minute. Cifers lands a right hand. Esquibel lands a right hand. Cifers with a body kick. They trade punches. Esquibel lands a right hand and Cifers lands a counter right. Cifers with a right hand that lands right on the jaw. Esquibel with a head kick. Esquibel lands a left hand. Cifers with a combo. Esquibel shoots for a takedown but Cifers shakes her off. Cifers with a hard leg kick. Cifers with a right hand. Esquibel almost had a takedown at the end. 10-9 Cifers.

They are both throwing to start the second but nothing much is landing. Cifers with a leg kick that hurts Esquibel. Esquibel gets a takedown and is in the guard of Cifers. They are stood up. Cifers gets a takedown and lands a punch to the back of the head and they get up and break and Cifers lands a knee. Esquibel gets a takedown and Cifers is going for a triangle and an armbar but is in a bad position to secure it. They scramble to their feet. They trade late. 10-9 Cifers, 20-18 Cifers.

Esquibel misses a left hand and Cifers lands a leg kick. Cifers with a high kick. There is not a lot of offense going on. Cifers with a leg kick. Cifers with a leg kick and follows with a body kick. They trade punches. Esquibel gets a takedown and is in the guard and lands an elbow. Esquibel with some body punches from the top. They are stood up. Esquibel with a front kick to the chest. Esquibel with a left hand. Cifers with a combo and lands a body kick. Esquibel gets a late takedown but Cifers reverses to the feet. 10-9 Esquibel, 29-28 Cifers.

Official Result- Hannah Cifers def. Jodie Esquibel by unanimous decision (30-28, 30-27, 30-27)

ESPN PRELIMS | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT

> Manny Bermudez (14-0, 3-0 UFC) vs. Casey Kenney (12-1-1, 1-0 UFC)
140-pound Catchweight

They are trading early and Bermudez lands a punch and Kenney with a head kick that just barely lands. Bermudez gets a takedown. Kenney is going for a leg. Bermudez gets into the half-guard and moves to the full guard of Kenney. They get up and Kenney gets a takedown. Kenney is locked up in the half-guard of Bermudez. They scramble to their feet. They trade and Kenney with a left hand late. 10-9 Kenney.

Bermudez shooting for a takedown against the fence to start the second. Bermudez gets the back as they go to the mat and Bermudez scrambles to side control. Kenney reverses to the top. Kenney switches and has the back and locks in a rear-naked choke. Bermudez trying to slide out and does. They scramble to their feet. Bermudez lands a punch and they clinch. Kenney is tired. Bermudez gets Kenney to the mat and takes the back and is looking for a choke now. Kenney slips out and gets to his feet and goes back to the ground on top. Close round. 10-9 Kenney, 20-18 Kenney.

Kenney with a leg kick. Bermudez lands a right hand. They both land a combo. Bermudez with a nice combination. Bermudez gets a takedown and is in side control. Bermudez looks for a guillotine from the top but doesn’t have it locked in and he goes back to the half-guard. Bermudez landing from the top. He has big control from the top and ends the round with punches from the top. Close fight. 10-9 Bermudez, 29-28 Kenney.

Official Result- Casey Kenney def. Manny Bermudez by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Christos Giagos (17-7, 3-3 UFC) vs. Drakkar Klose (10-1-1, 4-1 UFC)
Lightweights

Giagos with a body kick to start. Klose with some leg kicks. Giagos tags Klose with a left hand. They tie up and Klose lands several knees to the body. They break but then tie up once again. They trade knees and Giagos lands his knee harder. Giagos has been the controlling fighter in the clinch. They break and both miss punches. Klose initiates the clinch and pushes Giagos against the fence. Klose with an elbow as they break. Giagos with a combo late and Klose tags Giagos with a hard right hand at the end of the round. 10-9 Giagos.

Giagos with a big knee to start and they have a wild exchange. Giagos with a body kick and goes into a takedown and in the guard of Klose. Giagos landing from the top and then gets the back of Klose and has a rear-naked choke locked in. It is just on the chin and Klose gets out for a moment. Klose stands and Giagos is still on his back. He loses it and they break. They trade and Giagos lands a nice right hand. Klose with an uppercut and follows it with a hard right and Giagos is hurt. Giagos goes for a takedown but Klose defends. Klose trips Giagos to the mat and gets on top and lands a hammerfist. Klose with big punches from the top. Klose opens up a cut on Giagos. Big end of the round for Klose. 10-9 Klose, 19-19.

They clinch right away but break. Klose with a big leg kick and Giagos went to the ground but got up. Klose with an uppercut but Giagos counters with a left hook. Both throwing punches. Giagos lands a right hand. Giagos lands a combo. Klose clinches and lands a knee to the body followed by an uppercut. Giagos lands a right hand after they break. They both land punches. They trade and clinch and Klose with a foot stomp. They break and trade. Klose shoots for a takedown and picks Giagos up and slams him down but Giagos grabs the arm and tries for an armbar but Klose gets free. They get up and Giagos’ left eye is a mess. Giagos lands a right hand. They exchange late. Really good fight. 10-9 Klose, 29-28 Klose.

Official Result- Drakkar Klose def. Christos Giagos by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Raphael Assuncao (#3, 27-6, 11-3 UFC) vs. Cory Sandhagen (#9, 11-1, 4-0 UFC)
Bantamweights

Sandhagen lands a right hand. Sandhagen lands an uppercut. Assuncao with a left hand. Sandhagen with an inside leg kick. Sandhagen with another inside leg kick. Assuncao with the jab. Sandhagen lands a right hand. Sandhagen with a left hook to the body. They clinch and Assuncao with a couple of knees to the body. They break and Assuncao with a left hand. Sandhagen with a right hand and then a flying knee. Sandhagen with a leg kick. 10-9 Sandhagen.

They trade punches and Sandhagen gets the clinch. Sandhagen with a knee to the head and they break. Sandhagen with a leg kick and Assuncao grabs it and they scramble to the ground and Assuncao has the back. Sandhagen able to reverse to the top and passed guard. They get up and Sandhagen takes Assuncao’s back as they go to the mat. Assuncao goes to the top as Sandhagen grabs the leg. Assuncao gets to the back and lands some punches. They continue to scramble on the mat. They continue to scramble on the mat as the round ends. Close round. 10-9 Sandhagen, 20-18 Sandhagen.

They trade to start the third. Assuncao lands a nice combo. Sandhagen with a right hand to the body. Assuncao gets a single leg and scores a takedown but they scramble to their feet. Sandhagen with an uppercut to the body. They trade body kicks. Assuncao grabs the back against the fence. Assuncao gets a brief takedown. They get up and Assuncao still has the back and lands a knee. Assuncao picks Sandhagen up and delivers a big slam but Sandhagen gets up and gets the clinch advantage. Sandhagen with the jab. Assuncao just slips away from a knee and gets the clinch. Sandhagen with a flying knee. 10-9 Assuncao, 29-28 Sandhagen.

Official Result- Cory Sandhagen def. Raphael Assuncao by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

> Devonte Smith (10-1, 2-0 UFC) vs. Khama Worthy (14-6, 0-0 UFC)
Lightweights

Worthy took this fight earlier this week. Smith with a body kick. Smith lands a right hand. Smith with a high kick and Worthy blocks it. Smith with a leg kick. Worthy with a right hand to the body. Smith with a leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Smith with a leg kick. Neither able to find much with their punches. Worthy with a leg kick. Worthy then drops Smith with a left hand followed by an uppercut and Smith is in all sorts of trouble and Worthy finishes him off. Wow, what a win for Worthy after taking this fight less than a week ago.

Official Result- Khama Worthy def. Devonte Smith by TKO (punches) at 4:15 of Round 1

ESPN+ PPV MAIN CARD | 10 PM ET/7 PM PT

> Derek Brunson (#8, 19-7, 10-5 UFC) vs. Ian Heinisch (#10, 13-1, 2-0 UFC)
Middleweights

Heinisch opening up quick with an uppercut and hurts Brunson with a head kick but Brunson shakes it off and grabs ahold of Heinisch. They break. They trade. Brunson with a body kick. Brunson is landing the straight left hand. Brunson shoots for a takedown but Heinisch defends. Heinisch lands a right hand. Brunson with a combo. Brunson shoots from a distance and pushes Heinisch against the fence. Close round. 10-9 Heinisch.

They trade leg kicks to start. Heinisch with a right hand that Brunson barely blocks. Brunson with a hard combo and Heinisch shoots for the takedown but Brunson sprawls. Brunson with a high kick. Brunson with a left hand and then another and Heinisch is stunned. Brunson with a body kick. Big flurry from Brunson and he takes the back of Heinisch. Brunson lets go and they trade punches. Brunson misses a head kick and slips but gets up. Brunson with some body kicks. Heinisch misses some heavy right hands. Heinisch goes for a takedown but Brunson defends and lands some big left hands. 10-9 Brunson, 19-19.

They are trading punches and Brunson lands a left hand and grabs a leg. He moves to the back and slams Heinisch down but they pop back up. Brunson lands a nice left hand. Heinisch shoots for a takedown but Brunson stuffs it. Brunson gets the body lock and gets a takedown and has the back. Heinisch gets out and grabs the leg but they break. They trade and Brunson getting the better of the exchanges. Brunson landing body kicks but Heinisch lands some punches. Both men are tired with a minute left. They trade late. 10-9 Brunson, 29-28 Brunson.

Official Result- Derek Brunson def. Ian Heinisch by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Gabriel Benitez (21-6, 5-2 UFC) vs. Sodiq Yusuff (9-1, 2-0 UFC)
Featherweights

Yusuff throwing bombs right away and cuts Benitez open within seconds. Yusuff with a hard kick and follows with a right hand. Yusuff with more big punches. Yusuff with a combo. Benitez with a knee to the body followed by a leg kick. Benitez with a leg kick. Benitez with more inside leg kicks and Yusuff lands some punches. Benitez lands two left hands. Benitez drops Yusuff with a left hand but he gets up. Benitez swarms on him as he covers up. Benitez lands another left hand. Benitez with a leg kick. Yusuff drops Benitez with a right hand and then finishes him off with hammerfists on the ground. What a great finish by Yusuff as he gets the first-round stoppage.

Official Result- Sodiq Yusuff def. Gabriel Benitez by TKO (punches) at 4:14 of Round 1

> Yoel Romero (#2, 14-3, 9-2 UFC) vs. Paulo Costa (#7, 12-0, 4-0 UFC)
Middleweights

Costa with a body kick to start. Romero with a left hand and Costa stumbles back. Romero with a head kick. They have a quick scramble. Costa misses a head kick. Costa hurts Romero with a punch and then Romero drops Costa with a left hand. Costa gets up. Costa with a body kick. Romero with another left hand. Costa with a right hand followed by a body kick. Costa with a combo. Romero with a knee to the body. Costa with a knee to the groin of Romero and Romero goes down and we have a timeout. We get back to action. Romero with a left hand. Costa with a head kick that Romero blocks. Romero with a takedown attempt and Costa lands punches and then Romero lands punches. They both land hard punches. Romero with a left hand. Romero with more left hands. Costa applying pressure and lands a wheel kick. 10-9 Costa.

Romero with a body kick. Costa with a combo. Costa with a body kick and Romero counters with a right hand. Costa with a couple of left hooks. Costa with a combo and he is teeing off and Romero is yelling at him while he is eating punches. They trade kicks. They trade punches. Romero has great speed but his footwork has seemed off. They trade punches. Romero with a left hand. Costa lands a right hand but Romero counters with a left hand. Costa with a high kick and Romero sticks his tongue out at him. Romero with an uppercut. Romero with a late takedown. 10-9 Romero, 19-19.

Romero with a left hand and then he lands a big flurry. Romero with a left hand and Costa lands two body kicks. Romero with a straight left hand. Romero pokes Costa in the eye and we have a timeout. Back to action and Costa with a leg kick. Costa keeps landing punches and Romero sticks his tongue out every time. Romero with a combo. Romero with a pair of left hands. Costa with a body punch and one to the head. Romero with an uppercut and a left hand. Costa with a right hand. They are throwing down and Romero lands some big punches. This is wild. Romero with a big flurry of punches and Costa is fading. Costa’s nose is pouring blood. Romero with a combo. Costa with a head kick that Romero eats. Romero gets a takedown but Costa is able to scramble up. Great, great fight. 10-9 Romero, 29-28 Romero.

Official Result- Paulo Costa def. Yoel Romero by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Anthony Pettis (#7, #9 LW, 22-8, 9-7 UFC) vs. Nate Diaz (19-11, 14-9 UFC)
Welterweights

Diaz with a combo to start his attack. They trade kicks. Diaz with some pressure and Pettis lands a right hand. Pettis with a leg kick. They trade punches. They trade and clinch and Diaz lands a knee to the body and some body punches. Pettis lands a combo as they break. Diaz with a front kick to the body. Pettis with a combo and high kick. They clinch and Diaz with some body shots. They break. Diaz with a right hand. Pettis with a knee and Diaz gets a takedown. Pettis looking for a guillotine but Diaz pops out. Diaz in the guard. Diaz takes the back and lands some punches and then gets to the mount. Diaz gets the back again and lands some punches and has back control as the round ends. 10-9 Diaz.

Pettis falls down after they trade leg kicks but gets up and they clinch for a moment. Pettis lands a left hand. Pettis with a combo and lands a right hand. Diaz is cut around his eye and he keeps checking it. We have a timeout so the doctors can check on the eye of Diaz. Back to action. Pettis with a right hand. They trade right hands. Diaz with a knee to the body. Pettis lands a left hand. Diaz gets the back and scores a takedown and has side control. Diaz lands from the top but Pettis scrambles out. Diaz with a knee after they stand. Diaz with a big elbow along with fence. Diaz with a combo. Pettis is running out of gas. Diaz with a knee to the body. Loud chants for Diaz. Diaz with a big knee followed by a right hand. Pettis counters with a right but Diaz with an uppercut. Pettis with an elbow and Diaz is cut open. They trade at the end. 10-9 Diaz, 20-18 Diaz.

Diaz looks the fresher fighter heading to the third. Pettis with an uppercut as they clinch. They trade in phone booth range. Diaz with a combo. Pettis with a high kick. Diaz with a front kick. Pettis lands a right hand. Diaz with a combo and then more punches and lands some knees to the body and head. Pettis goes to the mat and Diaz is on top and landing punches. Diaz has the back and tries to get the hooks in. Crowd is loud for Diaz. Pettis spins into the guard of Diaz. Diaz landing from the bottom and blocking any offense from Pettis. Pettis lands an elbow and stands but goes back into the guard. Diaz landing from the bottom and went for an armbar but Pettis escapes and Diaz ends up on top and then gets the back. Great grappling here. Diaz landing punches from the back and takes the back. Pettis gets to the guard and Diaz throws up a triangle as time runs out. 10-9 Diaz, 30-27 Diaz.

Official Result- Nate Diaz def. Anthony Pettis by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

> Daniel Cormier (C, 22-1 1 NC, 11-1 1 NC UFC) vs. Stipe Miocic (#1, 18-3, 12-3 UFC)
UFC Heavyweight Championship

Miocic with an inside leg kick. Cormier with a pair of leg kicks. Cormier with a left hook. Miocic with an inside leg kick. Miocic with another. Cormier with a right hand. Cormier with another right hand. They trade. Cormier shoots for a single leg and then picks him up and slams him to the ground. Cormier in side control and gets to the half-guard. Cormier with some short punches from the top but Miocic defending well. Cormier being patient from the guard of Miocic. Cormier with a big left hand from the top. Cormier with more punches from the top. Miocic tries an upkick and now Cormier trying for the back. Cormier with hammerfists. They get to their feet. Cormier with late elbows. 10-9 Cormier.

Miocic lands a jab. Miocic with an inside leg kick. Cormier with a hard leg kick. Miocic with a knee to the body. Miocic lands a right hand. Miocic with a combo. Cormier with the jab. Cormier with an elbow. Cormier with an uppercut and then a straight right hand. Cormier with another right hand. They trade punches. Miocic lands a right hand. Cormier with a hard right hand. Cormier with an elbow and they clinch. They break and Miocic lands a combo. Cormier with a right hand. They both land in an exchange. Miocic with a left hand. Cormier with a left hand and they clinch. They break. Miocic lands a right hand. Cormier with a hard uppercut. Cormier with a jab. They trade punches. Miocic with a body kick. Cormier with some punches and a head kick. They trade late. 10-9 Cormier, 20-18 Cormier.

Miocic lands a combo with a hard right hand. Miocic tries a takedown but Cormier easily defends and just misses a head kick. Cormier with the double jab. They are tagging each other in close range. They clinch and Miocic pushes Cormier to the fence. Miocic with a knee to the body. Miocic tried a spinning elbow as they broke but missed. Miocic with a combo. Cormier with the double jab. Cormier with a body kick. Cormier with the jabs again. Cormier lands a right hand. Miocic takes Cormier down but Cormier right back up. Miocic with a knee to the body. Cormier lands a combo. Cormier with a hard right hand. Cormier with a combo but Miocic lands a right hand. They trade punches late. 10-9 Cormier, 30-27 Cormier.

Miocic with an inside leg kick. Cormier with a leg kick. Cormier lands a left hand. Miocic misses a right hand. Miocic with a left hand to the body and then a right hand. The pace has slowed. Miocic is applying pressure but not throwing a lot. Miocic now going with left hands to the body. Cormier with a right hand. Miocic still ripping to the body. Cormier with a right hand. Cormier lands another right hand. Miocic lands another left hand to the body and follows it with a right hand. Miocic then lands a right hand that drops Cormier and he finishes him off in the fourth round. Wow, big win by Miocic as he regains the title.

Official Result- Stipe Miocic def. Daniel Cormier by TKO (punches) at 4:09 of Round 4 to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship