UFC 248 live results: Adesanya vs. Romero, Zhang vs. Jedrzejczyk

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC 248: Adesanya vs. Romero, emanating from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Octagon heads back home to Las Vegas for a big event featuring two title fights with some of the rising superstars in the sport defending their championships against long-time contenders and a former champion.

In the main event, UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya makes his first title defense since becoming the undisputed champion in October as he defends against Yoel Romero. Adesanya is looking to keep his undefeated record going as he continues his rise to superstardom, but Romero is looking to finally capture gold despite losing his previous two fights. This fight has quickly become one of the most anticipated fights on the upcoming UFC schedule.

In the co-main event, UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Weili Zhang makes her first title defense when she defends against former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Zhang won the title from Jessica Andrade in August, extending her win streak to 20 straight. Jedrzjeczyk was the champion in the division from March 2015 until November 2017, and she looks to regain the title after coming up short in two prior chances to become a champion once again.

Also on the main card are a pair of welterweight bouts as Neil Magny returns from a long layoff to fight the always exciting Li Jingliang, and a slugfest between Alex Oliveira and Max Griffin is also on tap. Headlining the preliminary card is the long-awaited return of rising prospect Sean O’Malley, who looks to remain undefeated when he takes on Jose Quinonez.

Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern time with preliminary action all the way thru 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 | 7 PM ET/4 PM PT

> Danaa Batgerel (6-2, 0-1 UFC) vs. Guido Cannetti (8-4, 2-3 UFC)
Bantamweights

They trade low kicks to start. Cannetti with a head kick that gets checked. Cannetti with a leg kick. Batgerel lands a straight right hand. Batgerel with a combo and they are trading punches. Cannetti lands a right hand. They are trading hard punches. Batgerel lands a left hand and Cannetti goes down and Batgerel finishes it off with punches on the ground. Great finish by Batgerel.

Official Result- Danaa Batgerel def. Guido Cannetti by knockout (punches) at 3:01 of Round 1

> Giga Chikadze (8-2, 1-0 UFC) vs. Jamall Emmers (17-4, 0-0 UFC)
Featherweights

They were trading early and Chikadze was landing some good shots. They trade leg kicks. Chikadze  with a right hand that drops Emmers for a moment. Emmers recovers and gets up. Chikadze with a body kick. Emmers with some calf kicks. They are throwing wild kicks and punches and not much is landing. Chikadze with a left hand. Chikadze with a leg kick. They trade at the end. 10-9 Chikadze.

Emmers with a right hand. Emmers with a right hand as Chikadze lands a body kick. Chikadze with a high body kick. Chikadze lands a combo. Emmers with a big takedown and passes into half-guard. Chikadze is able to reverse and ends up on top and lands a big right hand before they stand. Chikadze with a left hand that wobbles Emmers. They clinch and Emmers has the double underhooks. They break. They trade kicks and Emmers shoots for a takedown and lands a knee to the body. Emmers lands a right hand and Chikadze counters with a high kick. 10-9 Chikadze, 20-18 Chikadze.

Emmers lands the jab and Chikadze with some leg kicks and then a high body kick. They are trading and Chikadze is landing some good distance punches as Emmers is just standing right in front of him. Emmers lands some good punches. They trade in close range. Chikadze is starting to slow and showing signs of gassing. Emmers with a right hand as Chikadze backs up. Emmers coming forward and landing but Chikadze is landing some counters. Emmers with a right hand. Emmers gets a takedown. Chikadze is holding on a tries a triangle but Emmers gets out and lands some good punches to close the fight. 10-9 Chikadze, 29-28 Chikadze.

Official Result- Giga Chikadze def. Jamall Emmers by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

ESPN PRELIMS | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT

> Gerald Meerschaert (29-12, 5-4 UFC) vs. Deron Winn (6-1, 1-1 UFC)
Middleweights

Meerschaert with a body kick and then a low blow early. Meerschaert using his length well as he lands a left hand and body kick. Winn lands a hard left hand. They clinch and Winn with a foot sweep takedown. Winn stands and lets Meerschaert up. Winn lands a combo and a knee in close range. Meerschaert lands a left hand. Winn with an uppercut. Meerschaert with a left hand. Winn lands a big combo. Meerschaert with a high kick. Winn with a high kick and follows it with a jab and right hand. Meerschaert with a left hand. Close round. 10-9 Winn.

Meerschaert lands a left hand. His right eye is swollen a little. Meerschaert lands a left hand. Winn with a leg kick and follows with a body punch. Meerschaert with a left hand. Meerschaert with a soft body kick. Meerschaert with a leg kick and follows with a left hand. Meerschaert with a left hand. Winn with an inside leg kick. Winn with a body kick. Meerschaert with a body kick. Meerschaert with some jabs. Winn with a leg kick but misses a hard right hand. Winn with a jab and Meerschaert lands a hard body kick. Meerschaert with a left hand as Winn is retreating. Meerschaert with a left to the body and Winn lands a hard right hand. Meerschaert with a knee to the body. 10-9 Meerschaert, 19-19.

Meerschaert landing the left hand to the body. Winn with a leg kick and then follows it with a right hand that rocks Meerschaert. Winn lands another right hand. Meerschaert has recovered and land a left to the body. Meerschaert hurts Winn with some punches and he’s chasing Winn around the cage. Meerschaert landing and Winn stumbles and they go to the ground. Meerschaert grabs the neck and then gets the back of Winn and has a rear-naked choke locked in and Winn taps! Big win for Meerschaert.

Official Result- Gerald Meerschaert def. Deron Winn by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:13 of Round 3

> Rodolfo Vieira (6-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Saparbeg Safarov (9-2, 1-2 UFC)
Middleweights

Vieira is jacked. Safarov with a leg kick. He lands a front kick that hurt Vieira. Vieira gets a huge takedown but Safarov able to scramble up. Vieira gets a big takedown again and takes the back. Vieira with some big punches from the back. Safarov was grabbing the gloves and the fence and clearly trying to find ways to treat. Vieira takes the back again and then gets the mount and is looking for an arm-triangle and Safarov taps. Dominant showing from Vieira once he got Safarov to the ground.

Official Result- Rodolfo Vieira def. Saparbeg Safarov by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 2:58 of Round 1

> Mark O. Madsen (9-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Austin Hubbard (11-3, 1-1 UFC)
Lightweights

Hubbard with a leg kick. Madsen coming forward and grabs the body and works for the takedown and gets a big suplex and has the back. They got up but Madsen still has the back and drags Hubbard down. They got up and Hubbard was able to escape. Hubbard with a leg kick and Madsen was able to grab him and got another takedown. Madsen is looking for a D’arce but Hubbard is able to roll out. Madsen still looking for a choke. Hubbard escapes and Madsen gets in his full guard. Madsen lands before the round ends. 10-9 Madsen.

Madsen gets a takedown to start the second and is trying to work on the top but Hubbard is showing good defense on the ground. They scramble and Madsen has the back. They stand and Madsen gets another takedown and lands a left hand. They stand and break. Madsen gets another takedown. He doesn’t want to strike on the feet. Madsen lands some hammerfists. Madsen is trying for a choke. They stand. Hubbard lands a knee to the body. 10-9 Madsen, 20-18 Madsen.

They trade to start the third. Hubbard was trying to land hard punches but Madsen took him right down and is in the guard of Hubbard. Hubbard able to scramble up. Madsen is looking tired. Hubbard lands a huge knee right to the chin and Madsen was rocked but Madsen is able to grab the body lock and is recovering. They break and Madsen lands a right hand. Hubbard with another knee. Hubbard with a left hand to the body. Hubbard lands some leg kicks. Hubbard with a low kick and Madsen tries for a takedown and has the back against the fence. Madsen drags him down. They stand and break. Hubbard lands a right hand. They trade. Hubbard lands a right hand. Hubbard with another knee and an elbow. 10-9 Hubbard, 29-28 Madsen.

Official Result- Mark O. Madsen def. Austin Hubbard by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Sean O’Malley (10-0, 2-0 UFC) vs. Jose Quinonez (8-3, 5-2 UFC)
Bantamweights

O’Malley with a kick that stumbles Quinonez up right out of the gate. O’Malley with a right hand that hurts Quinonez and then throws him to the mat. Quinonez gets up and O’Malley with a head kick that hurts Quinonez. O’Malley follows it with an uppercut that keeps Quinonez down and he follows it up with punches and O’Malley finishes Quinonez off. What a performance by O’Malley.

Official Result- Sean O’Malley def. Jose Quinonez by TKO (punches) at 2:02 of Round 1

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

> Alex Oliveira (20-7-1 2 NC, 9-6 1 NC UFC) vs. Max Griffin (15-7, 3-5 UFC)
Welterweights

Griffin coming forward with some pressure as he’s looking to land. Oliveira lands a right hand and they clinch but break. Oliveira lands a right hand and then a front kick to the body. Griffin lands a right hand. Oliveira with a right hand and they clinch. Griffin gets a takedown. Griffin working in the guard of Oliveira. Griffin landing from the top. Griffin gets the back and they stand. They scramble up and Oliveira with a knee. 10-9 Griffin.

They are trading to start the second and Oliveira lands an uppercut that opens a cut on Griffin. Oliveira shoots in for a takedown and they are clinched. They break and we have a timeout to check the cut on Griffin. They get back to action and trade leg kicks. Oliveira with a right hand as he has his timing down. Oliveira with an inside leg kick followed by a right hand. They trade right hands. Griffin shoots for a takedown but Oliveira defends and they break. They clinch again and break and Oliveira with a front kick. Oliveira shoots for a takedown and the round ends. 10-9 Oliveira, 19-19.

Oliveira with a front kick to the body and then a head kick. They clinch and Oliveira has the body lock. Griffin fights off and is looking for a takedown but eats some elbows from Oliveira. They break and Oliveira shoots for a takedown and gets it. Oliveira takes the back but moves to the mount. Oliveira lands some punches from the top. Griffin is able to slip out and reverse to the top and steps over to half-guard and is landing punches and elbows. Griffin with short elbows from the top and he is trying to finish late. Close last round. 10-9 Griffin, 29-28 Griffin.

Official Result- Alex Oliveira def. Max Griffin by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

> Neil Magny (21-7, 14-6 UFC) vs. Li Jingliang (17-5, 9-3 UFC)
Welterweights

Magny lands the jab and Jingliang lands a right hand. Magny with a leg kick. Jingliang grabs the back of Magny against the fence. He drags him to the mat but Magny pops right back up. They break and Jingliang with a big right hand. Jingliang landing some more shots and now Magny looks for a takedown and has the back and gets it. They get up and trade position against the fence. Magny with some knees to the body of Jingliang. Jingliang gets a takedown but didn’t do anything with it and they scramble up. Magny with a right hand. Magny lands a jab and then another. 10-9 Magny.

Magny lands the jab as Jingliang rushes in for a body lock. Jingliang is just holding on. Magny reverses and goes for a takedown but Jingliang grabs the fence to block. Magny takes the back and is landing right hands. Jingliang is warned multiple times about grabbing the fence. Magny lands a knee and a shoulder strike. Magny gets a takedown but they scramble up. Magny still has the back. Magny with some more shoulder strikes. They break and Magny lands and they clinch. They separate and Magny with a barrage of punches and knees and Magny pours on the punches and gets a late takedown and steps into mount. 10-8 Magny, 20-17 Magny.

Magny comes forward and lands a leg kick. Jingliang lands a combo. Magny lands some jabs and then a right hand. They trade and Magny shoots for a takedown. Jingliang grabs the back but Magny defends the takedown attempt. Magny lands some jabs. Jingliang lands a left hand. Jingliang with a leg kick. Magny with some knees in the clinch. Magny gets a takedown against the fence. Magny landing punches from the top. Magny gets the back and is landing more punches. They stand and Magny lands some punches. Excellent showing from Magny. 10-9 Magny, 30-26 Magny.

Official Result- Neil Magny def. Li Jingliang by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Beneil Dariush (16-4-1, 10-4-1 UFC) vs. Drakkar Klose (11-1-1, 5-1 UFC)
Lightweights

Dariush with a body kick. Klose with a left hand and then a right hand. Dariush gets a takedown against the fence. They get up and Dariush has the back. Dariush was going for a takedown but Klose was grabbing the fence. Klose repeatedly grabbing the cage. Dariush jumps up on the back standing. Dariush looking for a standing rear-naked choke. Dariush still has the back and is landing punches. Dariush is looking for the choke and has it locked in around the jaw. Klose is fighting it off. Big round for Dariush. 10-8 Dariush.

Dariush lands a low blow to start the second. Back to action and Klose lands a leg kick and a right hand. Klose lands a big right hand and is pouring it on. A barrage of punches by Klose. Dariush landing punches. They are just trading punches back-and-forth and then Dariush suddenly knocks Klose out with a big left hand. That was a wild exchange and a crazy finish by Dariush. That was insane.

Official Result- Beneil Dariush def. Drakkar Klose by knockout (punch) at 1:00 of Round 2

> Weili Zhang (C, 20-1, 4-0 UFC) vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk (#4, 16-3, 10-3 UFC)
UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship

They trade leg kicks. Jedrzejczyk with a leg kick. Jedrzejczyk with a right hand. Zhang with a leg kick and follows it with a right hand. Jedrzejczyk with a hard right hand. Jedrzejczyk with a combo. They trade in close range and Jedrzejczyk with a leg kick. Zhang with a right hand. Zhang with an inside leg kick. They trade in close. Zhang lands a right hand. Zhang with a side kick. Jedrzejczyk with a combo and Zhang counters and lands a low kick. Jedrzejczyk with a right hand. They trade in close. Zhang with a combo. Jedrzejczyk with a combo. Zhang with a right hand as she counters a front kick from Jedrzejczyk. They trade body kicks. Jedrzejczyk lands some punches. Zhang with a combo. Jedrzejczyk landed after the bell rang. 10-9 Zhang.

They trade in close range. They each land a right hand. They trade leg kicks. Jedrzejczyk with a combo ending with a leg kick. They trade hard kicks. Zhang lands a right hand. Zhang goes for a takedown and Jedrzejczyk defends and pushes Zhang against the fence. Jedrzejczyk with a knee in the clinch. Jedrzejczyk with some knees to the body and Zhang with an elbow as they break. Zhang with a right hand. She lands another. Jedrzejczyk is retreating. Zhang with a side kick. Zhang gets a trip takedown but Jedrzejczyk gets up. Jedrzejczyk with a front kick. Jedrzejczyk with a right hand. They trade. Jedrzejczyk with a leg kick. Jedrzejczyk with a body kick. 10-9 Zhang, 20-18 Zhang.

Jedrzejczyk with a right hand followed by a leg kick. Jedrzejczyk with a body kick. Zhang with a right hand. Zhang with a left hook. Jedrzejczyk with a combo. Jedrzejczyk with a left hand. Jedrzejczyk with a combo and she’s tagging Zhang. Zhang is slowing a little. They trade kicks. Jedrzejczyk with a left hand as she’s switched stances. Jedrzejczyk with a combo and a front kick. They clinch and Zhang gets a brief takedown. They break. Zhang with a body kick. They trade leg kicks. Jedrzejczyk with a leg kick. They trade kicks. Jedrzejczyk with a left hand. Jedrzejczyk has a big hemotoma on her forehead. Jedrzejczyk with a body kick and they exchange late. 10-9 Jedrzejczyk, 29-28 Zhang.

Zhang with a body kick. They exchange in close range. Zhang with a right hand. Jedrzejczyk with a left hand. Zhang with a right hand. Jedrzejczyk with a head kick and follows with a left hand. Jedrzejczyk with a right hand. They both land hard punches. Jedrzejczyk with a knee to the body. Zhang is throwing hard but looking more tired. Nice combo from Jedrzejczyk. Jedrzejczyk with a head kick. Jedrzejczyk with a left hook. They trade in close range. Jedrzejczyk with a leg kick. Zhang with a right hand. Zhang with another hard right hand. Jedrzejczyk with a leg kick. Jedrzejczyk with a big elbow in close range and they clinch. They trade in close range. Jedrzejczyk with a left hand and a head kick. 10-9 Jedrzejczyk, 38-38.

They trade in close range to start the fifth. Jedrzejczyk with a leg kick. Zhang with a right hand. Jedrzejczyk with a right hand. Jedrzejczyk with a left hook. Zhang also with a left hook. Zhang with another left hook. Jedrzejczyk with a right hand. Jedrzejczyk with a left hand and then another. Zhang with a right hand. They exchange. Zhang with a right hand. They trade kicks. Zhang with a left hand and they clinch. They break and Jedrzejczyk with a body kick. Jedrzejczyk with a body kick. They trade kicks. Jedrzejczyk with a spinning back fist. Zhang with a right hand. This was an all-time classic fight and arguably the greatest women’s fight in history. 10-9 Zhang, 48-47 Zhang.

Official Result- Weili Zhang def. Joanna Jedrzejczyk by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) to retain the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship

> Israel Adesanya (C, 18-0, 7-0 UFC) vs. Yoel Romero (#3, 14-4, 9-3 UFC)
UFC Middleweight Championship

Romero standing there with his hands up and not moving. Nothing has happened over a minute in. Still nothing happening two minutes in. Adesanya with a low kick. Romero with a low kick. Romero lands a left hook. Adesanya with a leg kick. Romero with a jumping body kick. 10-9 Romero.

Adesanya with a leg kick and Romero lands a counter left hook. Adesanya just misses a head kick. They trade kicks. Adesanya with a high kick. Adesanya with a body kick followed by a low kick. Adesanya with a low kick. Romero explodes with a flurry against the fence. Adesanya with a high kick. Adesanya with a leg kick. Adesanya with a leg kick and then a high kick. 10-9 Romero, 20-18 Romero.

Romero ducks under a high kick from Adesanya. Adesanya with a leg kick. Romero with a left hand. Adesanya with a body kick. They trade leg kicks. Romero with a leg kick. Romero lands a left and slips. They trade leg kicks. Romero with a body kick. Adesanya with a front kick to the body. Adesanya with another body kick and then a leg kick. Adesanya with a high kick. 10-9 Adesanya, 29-28 Romero.

Adesanya with a low kick and Romero acting all weird. Adesanya with the jab and a leg kick. Adesanya with a leg kick. Adesanya with a leg kick. We have an eye poke and a timeout. We get back to action and Romero with a brief takedown. Adesanya with a body kick. Adesanya with a leg kick. Romero’s right leg is red. Adesanya with a hard leg kick. Romero shoots and Adesanya defends. 10-9 Adesanya, 38-38.

Adesanya with a high kick and then a low kick. Adesanya with a leg kick. Adesanya with a leg kick and Romero with a left hand that gets checked. Romero tries a takedown and Adesanya defends and then lands a leg kick. Adesanya lands a left hand. Romero with a left hand. Adesanya with a leg kick and then trips trying to evade. Adesanya with a head kick. Adesanya with a right hand and then a leg kick. This was not a pretty fight. 10-9 Adesanya, 48-47 Adesanya.

Official Result- Israel Adesanya def. Yoel Romero by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) to retain the UFC Middleweight Championship