UFC 252 live results: Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier 3

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier 3, emanating from UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It is arguably the biggest fight of 2020 as the greatest UFC heavyweight of all-time will be determined when two UFC heavyweight legends finish their trilogy.

UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic defends the championship against former two-division champion Daniel Cormier in the biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history in the main event. It is the third time they will fight. Cormier defeated Miocic for the UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 226 in July 2018, and Miocic got revenge when he regained the title by defeating Cormier at UFC 241 in August 2019. This could also potentially be the final fight in the storied career of Cormier.

In the co-main event, Sean O’Malley gets the spotlight as he looks to remain undefeated when he takes on Marlon Vera. They were scheduled to fight once before and have had a heated rivalry leading into this fight. Also on the main card is a heavyweight battle between former UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior Dos Santos and Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and a bantamweight fight between John Dodson and Merab Dvalishvili.

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.

ESPN PRELIMS | 7 PM ET/4 PM PT

> Kai Kamaka (7-2, 0-0 UFC) vs. Tony Kelley (5-1, 0-0 UFC)
Featherweights

Both men are making their UFC debuts. Kelley showing good footwork early on and landing. Kamaka with the jab. Kelley with a leg kick and Kamaka is landing the left hook and lands a right hand. Kelley with a hard leg kick and a straight right hand. Kamaka with a right hand. Kamaka lands a knee as they quickly clinch. Kamaka with a hard body kick and then a right hand. Kelley slowing down a little. Kamaka with a knee. Kamaka with a body kick. Kamaka with a flurry of punches against the fence. Kamaka with a left to the body and he is wearing Kelley down. Kamaka gets Kelley to the mat. He lands from the top as the round ends. Great round for Kamaka. 10-9 Kamaka.

Kelley comes out first with the jab and Kamaka counters with a combo. They trade kicks and Kelley lands a couple of good body kicks. Kamaka with a left hook that staggers Kelley. Kelley with a leg kick and Kamaka counters with a right hand. Kamaka with a counter combo and the right hand lands clean. Kamaka with some body punches. Kelley with a combo and now they are trading in the center of the Octagon. Kelley with a combo and lands a knee to the body. Kamaka gets a takedown against the fence. Kelley is cut along the top of his forehead. Kamaka looking to take the back as Kelley is warned about grabbing the fence. Kamaka gets another takedown. They scramble up and Kelley lands an elbow. Kelley with a combo and lands some knees and elbows at the end. Strong end of the round for Kelley but Kamaka controlled more of it. 10-9 Kamaka, 20-18 Kamaka.

Kelley with a big body kick and a flurry to start the third. Kelley dropped down for a guillotine and lost position as Kamaka is now in his guard. Both men working on the mat as Kelley is looking to scramble out from the bottom. They get up and separate. Kamaka with a jab and right hand and Kelley counters with a right hand. They are trading in close range and Kelley with some knees and elbows. Kamaka pushes Kelley against the fence. Kamaka working for the takedown against the fence and Kelley landing some short elbows and punches. Kelley with an elbow and some knees as they break. Kelley with a body kick and some more knees. We have a timeout for a groin strike by Kelley. They get back to action and trade in close range. They clinch and Kamaka attacks the body as Kelley lands some knees. They trade again. They trade late. Fantastic fight. 10-9 Kelley, 29-28 Kamaka.

Official Result- Kai Kamaka def. Tony Kelley by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Chris Daukaus (8-3, 0-0 UFC) vs. Parker Porter (10-5, 0-0 UFC)
Heavyweights

Both men are making their UFC debuts. Porter with a leg kick. They trade in close range and Porter with a right hand and Daukaus with a knee and some punches in the clinch. They push up against the fence. Daukaus with some punches to the body. Porter with an elbow and right hand as they break and then lands a combo. Daukaus with a series of punches. Porter with a leg kick. Daukaus with a leg kick. Porter lands a jab and follows with a right hand. Daukaus drops Porter with a right hand but Porter quickly gets to his feet. Porter with a leg kick. Daukaus then stuns Porter with a combo and Porter starts going down after a right hand and Daukaus lands a big knee right to the jaw as Porter was going down and Herb Dean stops it after a couple more shots. Big knockout win by Daukaus.

Official Result- Chris Daukaus def. Parker Porter by TKO (strikes) at 4:28 of Round 1

> Ashley Yoder (7-5, 2-4 UFC) vs. Livinha Souza (13-2, 2-1 UFC)
Women’s Strawweights

They quickly go to the mat and Souza is on top in the guard of Yoder. Souza with some body punches from the top. Souza postures up and lands a big right hand before they get to their feet. Souza with a right hand. Yoder with a body kick. Souza with an inside leg kick. Souza with a big right hand. They clinch and Yoder with some short knees as she has the head. Souza escaped a guillotine attempt from Yoder. They break and Souza with a right hand and Yoder with a push kick. Souza goes for a late takedown and Yoder grabs the back and lands to end the first. 10-9 Souza.

Yoder with a left hand. Souza with a right hand to the body. Yoder with a left hand and then a body kick. Souza lands a right hand. Yoder keeping a tight grip of Souza in the clinch. They finally break and Souza with a leg kick and then lands a right hand. They trade kicks. Yoder with a left hand. They clinch against the fence. They trade short knees against the fence and break the clinch. Souza with a high kick. Yoder goes for a takedown but Souza slips out and is on top. They get up and are battling for ground position as the round ends. Grueling round. 10-9 Yoder, 19-19.

Souza with a right hand and an inside low kick. Yoder pressures with the clinch against the fence but Souza spins it around. They are battling for clinch position against the fence. They break. Souza with a leg kick and Yoder lands a combo. Yoder with a left hand. We have a timeout for a groin strike but quickly back to action. They trade kicks. Yoder with a left hand. Yoder with a teet kick and a left hand. They trade punches and Yoder landing more. Yoder with a front push kick right to the face. Yoder with a high kick. Souza gets a late takedown and ends up on top. Close fight. 10-9 Yoder, 29-28 Yoder.

Official Result- Livinha Souza def. Ashley Yoder by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

> TJ Brown (14-7, 0-1 UFC) vs. Danny Chavez (10-3, 0-0 UFC)
Featherweights* (Brown missed weight by .5 pounds)

They are trading in close range and Chavez with an uppercut and leg kick. Chavez with a leg kick and just misses a head kick. Brown with a body kick. Brown with a low calf kick. Brown rushes in and both land punches. Chavez with a couple of leg kicks. Brown with a body kick. Brown with an inside low kick. Chavez with a quick leg kick and Brown falls to the mat but pops right back up. Chavez with a leg kick as Brown lands a right hand. Chavez with a leg kick and Brown lands a hard counter right hand. Brown with a body kick and goes for a takedown but Chavez defends. Chavez with a late head kick that just misses fully connecting. Good opening round. 10-9 Chavez.

Chavez with some more leg kicks to start the second. Brown with a high kick. Chavez with a head kick and then lands two leg kicks. Brown having trouble putting weight on his lead leg. They trade punches. Brown lands a left hand and then a knee to the body as they clinch but quickly break. Brown with a combo against the fence. Chavez with a body kick and Brown lands a left hand counter. Chavez knocks Brown down for a moment with an elbow and then they rush to the mat as Chavez lands some right hands. Chavez on top and lands and then grabs the neck as Brown tries to scramble up. They get to their feet. Chavez with a right hand and then a snapping straight left. Brown with a body kick. They clinch late after Brown misses a spinning back fist attempt. 10-9 Chavez, 20-18 Chavez.

They scramble to the mat early on but get to their feet. Brown with a left hand and Chavez makes him stumble a little with a short right hand. They trade and both land kicks. They are both throwing and landing against the fence. Brown goes for a takedown but Chavez defends against the fence. Brown with a right hand and a combo. Brown with another overhand right. Brown with a body kick and then goes for a takedown against the fence. Brown with some knees before they break the clinch. They clinch again and Brown with an elbow. Brown with more elbows and Chavez drops down and gets a takedown but Brown has his neck. Chavez escapes and they stand and Chavez gets a trip takedown. They get to their feet and Chavez has the back but Brown rolls out. They get back on the ground and Chavez with some knees to the body. They stand and Chavez gets two late takedowns. Fun fight. 10-9 Brown, 29-28 Chavez.

Official Result- Danny Chavez def. TJ Brown by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Felice Herrig (#15, 14-8, 5-3 UFC) vs. Virna Jandiroba (15-1, 1-1 UFC)
Women’s Strawweights

Jandiroba goes right for a takedown. Jandiroba in the half-guard of Herrig. Herrig now gets Jandiroba in her full guard. Jandiroba now looking to take the back but then moves to the mount. Jandiroba lands from the top and then moves to an armbar and gets Herrig to tap. Jandiroba with complete domination there.

Official Result- Virna Jandiroba def. Felice Herrig by submission (armbar) at 1:44 of Round 1

> Jim Miller (32-14 1 NC, 21-13 1 NC UFC) vs. Vinc Pichel (12-2, 5-2 UFC)
Lightweights

Miller with a left hand. Pichel with an inside leg kick. Miller with a left hand and then an inside leg kick. Miller lands an uppercut and then an accidental groin strike. They quickly get back to work. Pichel lands a hard knee. They trade punches and clinch. Miller has the body lock against the fence. They trade knees. They break after Miller lands a nice elbow. They trade left hands. Miller gets a takedown and works to the back of Pichel. Miller starts to work for a choke. Miller working for an arm-in guillotine. Miller then transitions to a calf slicer but time runs out. 10-9 Miller.

Pichel lands a head kick and Miller runs right through it and gets a takedown. Miller working in the guard of Pichel. Miller pushes Pichel against the fence and looks to transition and lands from the top until Pichel pushes him off. They clinch against the fence. Pichel gets a takedown and Miller grabs the neck. Miller gets Pichel into his guard and is working for a triangle. Pichel passes into side control and then moves to the half-guard. Miller now working to grab a leg of Pichel. Pichel gets back into the half-guard and lands from the top. Pichel lands some big shots late. 10-9 Pichel, 19-19.

Pichel with a quick flurry and gets a takedown against the fence. Pichel landing from the top. Pichel now takes the back of Miller. Miller spins out and then lands a knee to the body and grabs the neck of Pichel. They scramble and Miller takes the half-guard of Pichel. Miller now in good position and lands some punches. Miller has back control and looks for the hooks. Pichel then transitions to taking Miller’s back but they scramble up. Miller with a knee and Pichel lands a couple of elbows and then a knee. Miller has the body lock against the fence. Pichel lands a knee and they separate. Pichel with a right hand and then looks for a takedown against the fence. Pichel with a right hand and then a big knee to the body. They break and Pichel with a big head kick that MIller barely blocks. Miller then grabs a guillotine and has it in tight. Pichel is able to escape and is in the guard of Miller. Pichel with some strikes from the top at the end. Good fight. 10-9 Pichel, 29-28 Pichel.

Official Result- Vinc Pichel def. Jim Miller by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)

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> John Dodson (#12, 21-11, 10-6 UFC) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (#15, 11-4, 4-2 UFC)
Bantamweights

Both are looking for openings in the first minute. Dodson throws a left hand. Dodson with an inside leg kick. Dvalishvili with a right hand and goes in for a takedown but Dodson defends. Dvalishvili has the body lock against the fence and landing knees to the thigh of Dodson. Dvalishvili has the back. Dvalishvili kicking the calves of Dodson from behind. Dvalishvili with more knees to the thighs. They break and Dvalishvili lands a left hand on the break. Dodson with a quick flurry and left hand. 10-9 Dvalishvili.

Dvalishvili with a low kick. Dodson lands a left hand to the body. Dvalishvili grabs a leg but lets go and lands a left hand. Dodson with an inside leg kick. Dodson with a leg kick. Dvalishvili lifts Dodson up and takes him to the center and slams him down but Dodson quickly gets right up. Dvalishvili with a spinning back fist then a left hook. Dodson defends a takedown attempt by Dvalishvili. They clinch again as Dvalishvili goes for a takedown. Dvalishvili gets a brief takedown but Dodson is able to quickly scramble to his feet. Dodson with an inside leg kick. Dvalishvili fakes a takedown and lands a left hook. They trade some short punches. Dvalishvili gets a late takedown. 10-9 Dvalishvili, 20-18 Dvalishvili.

They both yell out loud screams at each other. Dodson lands a left hand. Dvalishvili lands a right hand. Dvalishvili lands a right hand. Dvalishvili lands another right hand as he shoots in for a takedown. Dvalishvili tries for another takedown but Dodson squirms away. They trade punches and Dodson landed a hard left hand. Dvalishvili with a combo against the fence and then a low kick. Dvalishvili with some kicks up the middle. Dvalishvili lands a right hand. Dvalishvili tries for a takedown but Dodson able to defend it. Dvalishvili has Dodson pinned against the fence and lands some hammerfists to the thighs. Dodson lands a left late. 10-9 Dvalishvili, 30-27 Dvalishvili.

Official Result- Merab Dvalishvili def. John Dodson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Herbert Burns (11-2, 2-0 UFC) vs. Daniel Pineda (26-13 2 NC, 3-4 UFC)
Featherweights* (Burns missed weight by 3.5 pounds)

Pineda with a big right hand early. Burns with a takedown but they scramble up and Burns has the back. Pineda is cut open. They scramble up and Pineda lands to the body and gets a takedown. Pineda with some top pressure as he lands body punches and some big elbows. Pineda with some big punches from the top and passes to half-guard. Pineda stands and lands an uppercut to a grounded Burns and then gets back on top and is unloading with punches. Pineda with more elbows from the top. Big round for Pineda. 10-8 Pineda.

Burns with a right hand and immediately scores a takedown. Burns stands and lands some punches and they scramble up and Burns has the back and drags Pineda back down. Burns landing from the top and now Pineda is able to sweep to the top and is in side control. Pineda gets the crucifix position and lands some big elbows. Pineda is unloading and lots of shots landing and it is stopped. Pineda with the big win in his UFC return.

Official Result- Daniel Pineda def. Herbert Burns by TKO (elbows) at 4:37 of Round 2

> Junior Dos Santos (#5, 21-7, 15-6 UFC) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (#6, 10-1, 4-1 UFC)
Heavyweights

Dos Santos with a body shot. Rozenstruik with a low kick. Dos Santos with another body shot and Rozenstruik with a leg kick. Dos Santos with a high kick. They trade right hands. Dos Santos with a right hand and Rozenstruik is landing the inside leg kick. Rozenstruik lands a hard right hand. Rozenstruik with a kick to the groin and we have a timeout. They get back to action with not much time left. 10-9 Dos Santos.

Rozenstruik with a leg kick. Rozenstruik with another leg kick. Dos Santos with a right hand. Dos Santos with another right hand and lands a jab. Dos Santos lands a clean right hand. Rozenstruik with a right hand. Rozenstruik then drops Dos Santos with a right hand after a left hook and then starts landing more punches and it is finished off. Rozenstruik with the big stoppage.

Official Result- Jairzinho Rozenstruik def. Junior Dos Santos by TKO (punches) at 3:47 of Round 2

> Sean O’Malley (#14, 12-0, 4-0 UFC) vs. Marlon Vera (15-6-1, 9-5 UFC)
Bantamweights

Vera with an inside leg kick. O’Malley returns with one of his own. O’Malley throwing a lot of kicks in the first minute. O’Malley with a hard leg kick. They are feeling each other out. Vera with a high kick. O’Malley tried to use his footwork and looked to hurt his ankle. His right leg looks done. Vera with a leg kick. Vera with a high kick. O’Malley lands a right hand. O’Malley falls down trying to circle away. Vera then starts landing some elbows and punches from the top and Herb Dean stops the fight. Big upset win by Vera.

Official Result- Marlon Vera def. Sean O’Malley by TKO (strikes) at 4:40 of Round 1

> Stipe Miocic (C, 19-3, 13-3 UFC) vs. Daniel Cormier (#1, 22-2 1 NC, 11-2 1 NC UFC)
UFC Heavyweight Championship

Miocic with an inside leg kick. Miocic with another leg kick. Miocic with a strong leg kick. Miocic with a left hook to the body and then Cormier gets a takedown but Miocic gets up. They break after Cormier lands a knee to the body. Miocic lands a combo. Miocic with a right hand to the body. Cormier with a low calf kick and then a jab. Cormier with an overhand right. Cormier with an eye poke and we have a timeout. They get back to action. They trade leg kicks. Miocic with a right hand followed by a left. Cormier lands a couple of right hands. Cormier rocks Miocic with a right hand late and then lands a couple of leg kicks. 10-9 Cormier.

They trade kicks to start the second and Miocic lands a groin strike. Cormier quickly gets back to work. Miocic with a left hand. Cormier with the jab and lands a couple of right hands. Cormier loading up on his punches. They trade leg kicks. Miocic with a jab. Cormier with the jab. Miocic with a left hook and Cormier counters with a jab. Cormier lands a right hand. Cormier with a combo. Miocic lands a right hand that drops Cormier late. Cormier stumbled to his corner after the round ended. Close round. 10-9 Miocic, 19-19.

They trade right hands to start the third. Miocic with a right hand. Miocic landing more throughout the first minute of the third. They clinch and Miocic pushes Cormier against the fence. They break and Miocic misses a spinning elbow. Cormier with a low kick. Miocic lands a combo and they clinch against the fence. Miocic leaning on Cormier against the fence. Miocic lands a right hand as they break. They trade leg kicks. They trade in close range. Cormier with a heavy leg kick. They trade hard right hands late. 10-9 Miocic, 29-28 Miocic.

Cormier says he can’t see after a late eye poke in the third. Cormier with some leg kicks and lands a right hand. Cormier with a jab and then a combo. They clinch against the fence. They break and Cormier with the jab. Miocic with a right hand. They trade right hands. They clinch against the fence. They break and Cormier with a right hand and then lands a left hook to the body. Miocic with a right hand. Cormier lands a big right hand. They clinch against the fence and break and Miocic lands a left hook. They clinch again but break. Cormier lands two late right hands. 10-9 Cormier, 38-38.

Miocic with a left hook to the body. They trade punches and Cormier lands a right hand. Miocic with the jab. They clinch against the fence and not much is happening. They break and Cormier lands some punches. Miocic lands some punches and they clinch again. Cormier lands a right hand as they break. They clinch again. They break and both land punches. Cormier now initiates a clinch and lands an uppercut but they break. Cormier lands a right hand. They are battling against the fence in the clinch. Both are gassed and the fight ends. Close fight. 10-9 Miocic, 48-47 Miocic.

Official Result- Stipe Miocic def. Daniel Cormier by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) to retain the UFC Heavyweight Championship