UFC 259 live results: Three title fights

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC 259: Blachowicz vs. Adesanya, emanating from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A stacked card with three title fights headlines the first of two pay-per-view events for the UFC in the month of March, with this show capped off by an undefeated fighter looking to become a two-division champion.

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Blachowicz defends the title against UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya in the main event. Blachowicz became the champion at UFC 253 when he defeated Dominick Reyes for the vacant title, and, later in that night, Adesanya defeated Paulo Costa to retain his middleweight title and remain with a perfect record for his career at 20-0.

In the co-main event, UFC Women’s Featherweight and Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes makes her second defense of the featherweight title as she welcomes the challenge of Megan Anderson. Nunes was last in action in June, making a successful featherweight title defense against Felicia Spencer. Anderson hasn’t fought since last February, when she beat Norma Dumont.

In the third title fight on the card, UFC Bantamweight Champion Petr Yan defends the title for the first time against top contender Aljamain Sterling. Yan won the vacant title at UFC 251 in July, finishing Jose Aldo in the fifth round in a dominant showing. Sterling gets the title shot riding a five-fight win streak, capped off by a quick submission win over Cory Sandhagen at UFC 250 in June.

Also on the main card, lightweights on impressive win streaks battle as Islam Makhachev puts his six-fight win streak on the line against Drew Dober and his three-fight win streak, and light heavyweight sluggers Thiago Santos and Aleksandar Rakic kick off the main card.

In a stacked preliminary card, former UFC & WEC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz returns to action against Casey Kenney, Song Yadong looks to remain unbeaten in the UFC against Kyler Phillips, former flyweight title challenger Joseph Benavidez battles Askar Askarov, and notable fighters such as Livinha Souza, Tim Elliott, Jake Matthews and Kai Kara-France are also in action.

Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 5:15 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.

ESPN2 & ESPN+ PRELIMS | 5:15 PM ET/2:15 PM PT

> Mario Bautista (8-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. Trevin Jones (12-6 1 NC, 0-0 1 NC UFC)
Bantamweights

Jones with a quick leg kick. Bautista landed a body kick and Jones landed a couple more leg kicks. Bautista came forward with a combo and they clinch against the fence and trade knees. Jones has the body lock looking for a takedown but Bautista defending with some punches. Jones landing some knees to the thigh. They continue to battle for position against the fence. They break as Jones lands a knee. Jones with a couple of leg kicks. Bautista lands a right hand and Jones lands an inside leg kick. Jones has been active with the leg kicks in the first. They trade nice punches. Jones with a couple more leg kicks. Jones lands a left hand and shoots for a takedown but time runs out. 10-9 Jones.

Bautista misses a high kick to start the second. They trade kicks. Bautista with a nice flurry. Jones drops Bautista with a right hand and then starts landing hammerfists until it is stopped. Great finish by Jones.

Official Result- Trevin Jones def. Mario Bautista by TKO (punches) at :40 of Round 2

> Uros Medic (6-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Aalon Cruz (8-3, 0-1 UFC)
Lightweights

Medic landing a lot of punches and kicks early. Medic has Cruz in trouble early with big punches. Cruz stumbling around after being rocked and Medic drops him with a flying knee and is pounding away on Cruz. Cruz taking a lot of punishment and moving around enough to keep the referee from stopping it but it’s going on too long. Medic landing more and Mark Smith finally stops it. What an impressive showing by Medic and a terrible job of officiating by Smith.

Official Result- Uros Medic def. Aalon Cruz by TKO (punches) at 1:40 of Round 1

> Livinha Souza (#15, 14-2, 3-1 UFC) vs. Amanda Lemos (8-1-1, 2-1 UFC)
Women’s Strawweights

They circle around in the first thirty seconds and Lemos misses a head kick. Lemos lands a couple of jabs. Souza with a leg kick and Lemos backs her up with a combo then lands a leg kick. Lemos with a head kick. Lemos then drops Souza with a right hand and is pounding away with punches from the top. She looks for a guillotine but lets go and lands more punches and then looks for a guillotine again. Lemos lands an elbow and stands and Souza looks for a leg lock. Lemos being warned to not grab the fence. Lemos lands an elbow and some punches and they stand and break. Lemos with a leg kick. Lemos then drops Souza again with a punch and a couple more punches ends it. Fantastic showing by Lemos.

Official Result- Amanda Lemos def. Livinha Souza by TKO (punches) at 3:39 of Round 1

> Sean Brady (13-0, 3-0 UFC) vs. Jake Matthews (16-4, 10-4 UFC)
Welterweights

Matthews lands a quick combo. Brady with a left hook. Brady with a leg kick. Matthews with a jab and then a right hand to the body. They trade punches. Brady with a combo but eats a left hook from Matthews. Matthews with a left hand to the body. They trade and Matthews lands a right hand and Brady goes down and Matthews jumps down for a guillotine and Brady reverses to the top in side control. Brady trying to work from the top but is just looking for the neck. Brady with some elbows and short punches from the top. Brady grabs the chin again and looks for a guillotine. Brady ends the fight landing from the top. 10-9 Brady.

Matthews with a front kick to the body. They trade punches. Matthews with a right hand. Both looking to land and Brady gets a takedown and is in the guard. Brady moves it next to the fence as he switches to the half-guard. Brady lands some punches as he looks to take the back but then moves back to the top and lands punches as he looks for the neck. Brady with continuing smothering from the top as he has the neck of Matthews and is landing punches. Brady with continued pressure from the top as the round ends. 10-9 Brady, 20-18 Brady.

Brady with an inside leg kick. Matthews throwing punches and kicks but not landing much. Brady with a leg kick. Brady rocks Matthews with a left hook. Brady gets a takedown and is working from the top. Matthews grabs a leg and gives up his back and Brady landing with heavy punches from the back. Brady with more punches from the back as he has control. Brady gets on top and is looking for an arm-triangle, and he has it locked in and Matthews taps! What an impressive showing by Brady, who looked absolutely outstanding.

Official Result- Sean Brady def. Jake Matthews by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:28 of Round 3

> Kennedy Nzechukwu (7-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Carlos Ulberg (3-0, 0-0 UFC)
Light Heavyweights

Ulberg lands some early kicks. Ulberg with a front kick up the middle. Ulberg with a combo and then a lands a head kick that rocks Nzechukwu. Ulberg clinches up against the fence and lands a knee followed by some punches as Nzechukwu is in trouble. Ulberg with a knee then an elbow as they move back to the center. Ulberg with a high kick. Ulberg with a body kick then lands a right hand. Nzechukwu with a left hand. Nzechukwu lands a combo. Ulberg with a leg kick. Ulberg with a body kick then lands a right hand. Nzechukwu with a left hand. Nzechukwu with a hard right hand. Nzechukwu with another big left hand. Ulberg is slowing down. Ulberg with a front kick to the body. Ulberg with some big punches to the body and goes to the head and then lands a knee and back to the body shots. Ulberg with more punches. Nzechukwu lands a couple of left hands. Nzechukwu with a combo. Ulberg with a short uppercut and a leg kick. Nzechukwu with a high kick and then a body kick. What a round. 10-9 Ulberg.

Ulberg lands a left hook. Ulberg with a front kick to the body. Ulberg with a combo. Ulberg with a spinning back fist. Nzechukwu lands a combo. Nzechukwu with another combo as Ulberg is showing no head movement. Ulberg lands some hard body kicks and Nzechukwu is claiming that he was poked in the eye but Herb Dean didn’t see it but then Ulberg does actually poke him in the eye and we have a brief timeout. They get back to action and Ulberg with an inisde leg kick. Nzechukwu lands a left hand. Ulberg with a combo and head kick. Nzechukwu lands a left hand. Ulberg lands a right hand. Nzechukwu then drops Ulberg with a right hand and lands more from the top and finishes it. What a crazy fight as Nzechukwu gets the comeback win.

Official Result- Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Carlos Ulberg by TKO (punches) at 3:19 of Round 2

> Tim Elliott (#12, 16-11-1, 5-9 UFC) vs. Jordan Espinosa (15-8 1 NC, 2-3 UFC)
Flyweights

Elliott coming forward and lands a couple of left hands and they clinch against the fence. They break and Espinosa lands a hook and Elliott tries again to find the takedown against the fence. Elliott lands a knee. They break. Espinosa lands a grazing head kick and Elliott grabs him and takes him down and has the back and looking for a choke as he lands punches. Elliott lands some more and Espinosa defending well. Espinosa looking for a kimura from the bottom as Elliott lands punches to the body. Elliott finishes the first on top. 10-9 Elliott.

Elliott gets a quick takedown but they get back to their feet. Elliott gets another takedown and is working in the half-guard and lands a couple of left hands. They work their way to the fence and Elliott looks to take the back of Espinosa. Elliott lands and has his arm around the neck of Espinosa. Espinosa escapes. Elliott then gets on top and is talking trash to Espinosa as he has his arm on his neck and lands some punches. 10-8 Elliott, 20-17 Elliott.

Espinosa with a jumping knee. Elliott gets a takedown against the fence. Elliott working from the top and lands a left hand. Elliott with more left hands to the body. Elliott gets in the guard of Espinosa and looking to set up a choke. Elliott gets cut open from an elbow from the bottom by Espinosa and Elliott is doing all he can to rub blood onto Espinosa’s face. Elliott landing more punches from the top. Espinosa looks for an armbar and almost had it but Elliott escapes and goes to side control. Elliott goes to the half-guard and Espinosa is just pinned to the mat. Elliott with some elbows and big left hands from the top at the end of the fight. Great showing by Elliott. 10-8 Elliott, 30-25 Elliott.

Official Result- Tim Elliott def. Jordan Espinosa by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-25)

ESPN PRELIMS | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT

> Rogerio Bontorin (#8, 16-2 1 NC, 2-1 UFC) vs. Kai Kara-France (#8, 21-9 1 NC, 4-2 UFC)
Flyweights

Bontorin landing punches early on. Bontorin lands a right hand and gets a takedown against the fence and takes the back of Kara-France. Bontorin with some punches and is looking for a rear-naked choke. Kara-France gets out but Bontorin still has the back. Both landing punches on the mat. Bontorin with some body punches and Kara-France landing back punches. Kara-France gets to his feet but Bontorin still has his back and is jumped up and looking for a rear-naked choke from there. They go to the mat and Bontorin still has the choke locked in but Kara-France is able to escape. They stand and Bontorin is still jumped on the back of Kara-France. Kara-France gets him off the back and they separate and Kara-France lands some right hands. Kara-France rocks Bontroin with a right hand and then lands an uppercut and drops Bontorin with a right hand and Kara-France starts walking off and it looked like Herb Dean stopped it but there was some confusion but it was stopped. What a comeback by Kara-France.

Official Result- Kai Kara-France def. Rogerio Bontorin by TKO (punches) at 4:55 of Round 1

> Joseph Benavidez (#2, 28-7, 15-5 UFC) vs. Askar Askarov (#3, 12-0-1, 2-0-1 UFC)
Flyweights* (Askarov missed weight by 1 pound)

Askarov with a front kick to the lead leg of Benavidez. Benavidez with a leg kick. Askarov with a right hand and Benavidez with a combo. Askarov with a front kick to the leg. Benavidez with a right hand and then lands a left hand. Askarov keeps throwing the front kick to the body and it is landing. Askarov with a combo and hurts Benavidez with a punch. They trade leg kicks. Askarov gets Benavidez down to the mat late and has the back of Benavidez as the round ends. 10-9 Askarov.

Askarov hurts Benavidez with some punches early in the second round. Benavidez is circling around and Askarov gets a takedown. Askarov landing from the top and takes the back of Benavidez and is landing punches. Benavidez with some back elbows. They scramble and Askarov ends up on top and then they scramble up and Askarov still has control. Askarov has the back of Benavidez and is landing right hands. Askarov has the body and lands some knees. Askarov with more right hands and he gets the back of Benavidez. They get to their feet at the end and Askarov lands some hard right hands at the end. 10-8 Askarov, 20-17 Askarov.

They both land to start. Benavidez lands a grazing head kick and Askarov tried to grab the body but they broke. Askarov with the jab. Askarov lands some punches and tries for a takedown but they break. Askarov with a high kick. They continue to trade but Askarov landing more as he is circling away and trying to stay out of trouble. Benavidez’ left eye is a mess. Askarov with a check right hook. Askarov stuns Benavidez with a right hand. Benavidez lands a right hand. Askarov lands late. 10-9 Askarov, 30-26 Askarov.

Official Result- Askar Askarov def. Joseph Benavidez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

> Song Yadong (#14, 16-4-1 1 NC, 5-0-1 UFC) vs. Kyler Phillips (8-1, 2-0 UFC)
Bantamweights

Phillips lands a head kick. Phillips with a right hand. Phillips lands a jab and then a massive head kick that somehow Yadong didn’t fall from. Phillips with a spin kick to the body. Yadong still coming forward and he lands a spin kick that glances to the head of Phillips. Yadong with a body kick. Phillips lands a combo. Yadong with a flying knee attempt. Phillips lands a hard right hand. Phillips gets a takedown and lands an elbow from the top but they get to their feet. Phillips lands a left hook and Yadong counters with an uppercut and a right hand behind it. Phillips with a leg kick and Yadong lands a combo off of it. They tie up and battle for underhooks. They break and Yadong with an elbow and a spin kick to the body. Phillips with a late combo. Fun round. 10-9 Phillips.

Phillips lands a jab and leg kick. Yadong with a right hand. Phillips with a high kick. They trade wild punches. They trade and Phillips gets a brief takedown but they work to their feet and Phillips lands a spin kick to the body as they break. They trade jabs. They trade right hands at the same time. Phillips with a leg kick. They trade punches. Phillips lands a right hand. Yadong with a right hand to the body. Yadong with an uppercut. Phillips gets a takedown. He lands an elbow as he gets in the half-guard of Yadong. Yadong escapes and they get to their feet. Yadong lands a right hand. 10-9 Phillips, 20-18 Phillips.

Yadong with a leg kick. They trade. Phillips lands a left hand and gets a brief takedown as they explode up. Yadong with a combo to the body and ends it with a left hook to the chin of Phillips. Phillips with a leg kick. He lands another. Yadong with some leg kicks and lands a right hand. Yadong with another right hand. They trade right hands. Yadong with a combo. Yadong with another combo. Phillips just misses a spin kick to the chin. Yadong with another combo. Yadong lands a right hand. Phillips gets a takedown and they work to the fence. Phillips gets the back but Yadong spins into his guard. Yadong with a right hand to the body. Yadong ends the fight on top. Good fight, close fight. 10-9 Yadong, 29-28 Phillips.

Official Result- Kyler Phillips def. Song Yadong by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Dominick Cruz (#11, 22-3, 5-2 UFC) vs. Casey Kenney (16-2-1, 5-1 UFC)
Bantamweights

Cruz shoots for a takedown right away but can’t get it and they stand and break. Cruz with a leg kick. He lands another. They trade and Cruz with a head kick. They trade punches and Kenney lands a nice right hand. Cruz with a leg kick and then lands a right hand. Cruz with a quick hook and then a right hand. They trade kicks. Cruz with a right hand. Kenney lands a left hand. They trade kicks. Kenney lands a right hook to the body. They trade strikes. Kenney with a body kick and Cruz with a leg kick. Kenney with a leg kick. 10-9 Cruz.

Cruz with an inside leg kick. Kenney lands a leg kick. Cruz with a high kick. Cruz lands a right hand. Kenney lands a left hand. Cruz shoots for a takedown but Kenney defends. Cruz lands a right hand. Kenney with a leg kick and they trade punches. Cruz with a high kick and Kenney lands a leg kick. Cruz lands a left hand. Kenney with a left hand. They both land left hands. Kenney with a left hand. They trade body kicks. Cruz with a right hand to the body and Kenney counters with a left hand. Cruz with a nice combo. Cruz goes for a takedown and lands a left hand. Cruz lands a right hand. Kenney with an inside leg kick and Cruz counters with a right hand. They trade punches. Cruz with a left hook. Kenney lands a left hand. They trade late. Kenney tries for a neck but the round ends. 10-9 Cruz, 20-18 Cruz.

They trade to start the third and Cruz goes for a takedown and Kenney has the neck while Cruz is in side control. Cruz landing from the top as Kenney lets go of the neck and they scramble to their feet. Kenney with a leg kick. They trade punches. Kenney lands a right hand and Cruz lands a right hand. Kenney tries for a takedown attempt but Cruz easily defends. They trade wild punches. Cruz lands a combo. They trade wild punches. They trade right hands. Cruz ducks under some Kenney punch attempts. Kenney tries a takedown but Cruz stops it with a knee to the body. Cruz gets a late takedown. Cruz with lots of punches from the top to end the fight. 10-9 Cruz, 30-27 Cruz.

Official Result- Dominick Cruz def. Casey Kenney by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

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> Thiago Santos (#2, 21-8, 13-7 UFC) vs. Aleksandar Rakic (#4, 13-2, 5-1 UFC)
Light Heavyweights

Santos with a leg kick. They trade punches. Rakic with a leg kick. Santos just misses a left hand and they trade body kicks. Santos with a body kick and Rakic counters with a leg kick. Rakic goes high with a kick but Santos blocks it. Santos with a body kick. Santos with a body kick, Rakic fires a leg kick back and then Santos counters with a left hand. Rakic with an inside leg kick and then they trade leg kicks. Rakic with a body kick. Rakic just misses a head kick. Santos with a body kick. Santos with a leg kick as Rakic lands a punch. Santos with a leg kick and Rakic lands a couple of body kicks. 10-9 Rakic.

They trade leg kicks. Rakic with a left hand. Rakic with a leg kick. Both are being patient in this round. Rakic with a leg kick. Santos just misses a couple of left hands. Rakic with a leg kick. They clinch against the fence and Rakic has control. They trade low knees as not much is going on. Santos with a couple of knees before they break. Rakic with a leg kick and it gets checked. They trade leg kicks. The pace has slowed late in the second. Rakic lands a nice counter combo after Santos. Santos tries a late flying knee but misses. 10-9 Rakic, 20-18 Rakic.

Rakic with a high body kick. They trade leg kicks. Santos with an inside leg kick. Santos shoots for a takedown but Rakic defends. They break and Rakic lands a hard leg kick. Santos lands some leg kicks. Santos just misses a left hand. Santos with a body kick. Santos with a high kick. Rakic with a leg kick then a right hand. Rakic tries a takedown but Santos landing a flurry of big elbows to defend. Rakic trying a single-leg and goes for the high-crotch but Santos defending. Santos with some shoulder strikes. They break and Rakic with a combo. Santos with a leg kick. Rakic with a leg kick. Santos with another leg kick. 10-9 Santos, 29-28 Rakic.

Official Result- Aleksandar Rakic def. Thiago Santos by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

> Islam Makhachev (#14, 18-1, 7-1 UFC) vs. Drew Dober (23-8 1 NC, 9-4 1 NC UFC)
Lightweights

Dober lands a couple of leg kicks. Makhachev gets a takedown and is working in the half-guard of Dober. Makhachev with some short punches from the top. Makhachev moves to the mount. Makhachev then moves to side control and has complete pressure on Dober. Makhachev with short punches and then moves to the mount and briefly takes the back before getting back on top and sliding to side control. Makhachev then gets an armbar and has it in deep but Dober gets out of it before the round ends. Just an absolute clinic on the mat from Makhachev. 10-8 Makhachev.

They trade punches. Makhachev with a knee and then goes for a takedown but Dober defends. Makhachev gets a trip takedown against the fence. Makhachev working in the half-guard. Makhachev working from the top and in control as he lands punches. Makhachev with more control from the top as Dober can’t do a thing to get out from the bottom. Makhachev lands from the top at the end of the round. 10-9 Makhachev, 20-17 Makhachev.

Makhachev gets an early takedown into the full guard of Dober. Dober is throwing elbows from the bottom but Makhachev blocking them and landing punches. Dober looks for a kimura from the bottom. Makhachev with more pressure from the top and has a head-and-arm choke locked in and Dober taps. What a performance by Makhachev, complete domination throughout the fight.

Official Result- Islam Makhachev def. Drew Dober by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 1:37 of Round 3

> Petr Yan (C, 15-1, 7-0 UFC) vs. Aljamain Sterling (#1, 19-3, 11-3 UFC)
UFC Bantamweight Championship

Sterling comes forward right away and lands a body kick. Sterling with another body kick. Sterling with a right hand. Sterling with a body kick. Yan playing defense right now and then comes forward but Sterling avoids. Sterling with more body kicks and lands a flying knee. Yan backing up. Sterling with a leg kick. Yan with a body kick. Sterling with a combo ending with a leg kick. Yan gets a takedown off a kick and Sterling with a stomp to the knee before he stands. Sterling lands a right hand and then a flying knee. Sterling tries a takedown but Yan defends. Sterling gets a takedown and lands some right hands before Yan stands. Yan has the body lock standing. Yan lands a right hand before they break. Yan lands a right hand that sends Sterling to the mat but Sterling gets right back up. Yan lands a right hand and then a leg kick trips Sterling to the mat but Sterling gets up. Sterling with a combo to the body but Yan gets a takedown. Sterling looking for a leg and lands some hammerfists to the body. Yan escapes and they stand. Yan with a body kick. Yan gets the back standing and scores a takedown. Sterling reverses to the top and they stand and Sterling with a combo and knee at the end. Close round. 10-9 Sterling.

Sterling with a leg kick. They trade kicks and Sterling to the mat and Yan lands some leg kicks but the referee orders Sterling up. Sterling with a body punch and goes for a takedown but can’t get it completed. Sterling still working for it against the fence. Yan working hard to defend. Yan with some short punches. They break. Sterling with some punches and he looks for the takedown again against the fence. Sterling with heavy pressure against the fence and Yan landing short right hands. Yan lands a nice knee as Sterling tries for the takedown. They break and Yan lands a combo. Sterling with some short punches and lands a knee and some elbows. Sterling tries a takedown but Yan defends and Yan gets a takedown and has the back but they get to their feet quickly. Yan with a knee. Close round again. 10-9 Yan, 19-19.

Sterling with a body kick to start the third. Yan with a leg kick. Sterling with some right hands. Yan with a knee. Sterling with some punches. Yan with a right hand. Sterling tries a takedown but Yan defends and lands a knee. They trade body kicks. Yan with some punches as Sterling covers up. Sterling with some body punches. Yan gets a takedown. Sterling wants him on the mat but Mark Smith orders Sterling up. Yan with a right hand. Sterling with a combo and goes for a takedown against the fence. They break and Yan with a kick. They battle for position and Sterling goes to the mat and Yan with some leg kicks before Sterling stands. Sterling with a high kick and goes for a takedown. Yan with some right hands. Sterling with short punches. Sterling with a leg kick. Yan gets a late takedown. 10-9 Yan, 29-28 Yan.

Sterling with a couple of body kicks. Yan with a trip takedown and lands a leg kick as he doesn’t want to go to the mat with Sterling. Sterling stands and Yan with a knee to the body. Sterling with an uppercut. Yan lands a right hand. Sterling with a combo to the body and head. They trade leg kicks. They trade in close range. Sterling trying for a takedown and they both land leg kicks. Yan with a left hand. Sterling tries a takedown but Yan defends. Yan landing as they break. Yan with some right hands. Sterling with a combo and Yan lands a body kick. Yan with a left hand. Yan with a knee. Sterling with a body kick. Yan lands a hard punch. Sterling trying hard for a takedown but doesn’t have the energy. Yan with a nice combo. Sterling with a head kick. He lands another. Yan lands a vicious illegal knee and we have a timeout. Sterling is down and hurt and the referee and doctor are checking on him. This is taking some time. Sterling doesn’t want the fight to stop but says he can’t see straight. Sterling was clearly down and it was clearly illegal. The fight is stopped by the official and now we have an interesting situation.

It is being ruled that Yan intentionally threw the knee and he’s being disqualified, and Sterling is going to be the new champion. Sterling is emotional and upset about winning that way and threw the belt down, but it was the correct call. The knee was clearly illegal and Yan was told by the referee that Sterling was grounded about five seconds before he threw the knee, so it was clear as day.

Official Result- Aljamain Sterling def. Petr Yan by disqualification (illegal knee) at 4:29 of Round 4 to win the UFC Bantamweight Championship

> Amanda Nunes (C, 20-4, 13-1 UFC) vs. Megan Anderson (11-4, 3-2 UFC)
UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship

Nunes with a leg kick. Nunes lands a right hand. Nunes lands another right hand and Anderson is wobbly. Nunes with another right hand and then a leg kick. Nunes gets Anderson to the mat and is landing big punches on the mat. Nunes has the back and is working for a choke. She’s now looking for an armbar. She has it locked in and Anderson taps! Nunes complete domination to retain the title.

Official Result- Amanda Nunes def. Megan Anderson by submission (armbar) at 2:01 of Round 1 to retain the UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship

> Jan Blachowicz (C, 27-8, 10-5 UFC) vs. Israel Adesanya (C MW, 20-0, 9-0 UFC)
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

Adesanya with an inside leg kick. Blachowicz with a leg kick. Adesanya with a leg kick and then a body kick and a left hand. Adesanya with a left hand. They both just miss punches. Adesanya with a body kick. They both miss left hands. Blachowicz with a leg kick and one to the body. Adesanya with a leg kick. Blachowicz with two leg kicks. Adesanya with a body kick. Adesanya with more leg kicks and lands a left hand. Very technical first round. 10-9 Adesanya.

Adesanya with a leg kick. He lands a body kick. Adesanya with the jab. Blachowicz lands a right hand. Adesanya with a body kick. Adesanya lands and then Blachowicz lands a right hand and body kick. Blachowicz with a jab to the body. Adesanya with a leg kick. Adesanya throws a head kick and slips but gets right back up. Adesanya with a couple of leg kicks. They clinch but break quickly. Adesanya with a leg kick. Blachowicz with a body kick and follows with a jab. Adesanya with a body kick followed by a left hand. Adesanya with a low blow and we have a timeout. They get back to action quickly. Blachowicz with a flurry. Adesanya with a left hand. Adesanya with some leg kicks. Adesanya with the jab. 10-9 Blachowicz, 19-19.

Blachowicz with a body kick. He lands a right hand. Adesanya with a leg kick. Blachowicz lands a combo and then gets Adesanya down and has the back but they stand and break. Blachowicz lands a knee and Adesanya stuns Blachowicz with a punch. Adesanya with a head kick. Adesanya with a body kick then a combo and they clinch. Adesanya with some clinch strikes and they break and Adesanya with a leg kick. Adesanya with the jab. Adesanya with a leg kick. He lands another. They trade heavy jabs. Blachowicz with a nice left hand. They clinch and Blachowicz with a foot stomp. They break. Adesanya with a right hand. 10-9 Adesanya, 29-28 Adesanya.

Adesanya lands a combo and they clinch as Blachowicz is trying for a takedown. Blachowicz lands a right hand as they break. Blachowicz with a big right hand. Adesanya with a snapping jab. They trade and Blachowicz with a takedown. They trade in close range. Adesanya with a right hand. Adesanya with a combo and Blachowicz gets a takedown. Blachowicz keeping Adesanya on the bottom as he’s in the half-guard and landing some punches. Blachowicz with more right hands as he moves into side control. Blachowicz with a right hand and he goes back to the half-guard. Blachowicz ends the round on top. 10-9 Blachowicz, 38-38.

Adesanya with a leg kick. Adesanya lands a left hand. Blachowicz with the jab. Adesanya with a leg kick and Blachowicz with a right hand. They trade lefts. Blachowicz breathing heavy and carrying his hands low. Adesanya with a right hand. Blachowicz with the jab. Adesanya with a high kick. Adesanya with a spin kick to the body. Blachowicz lands a right hand. They trade. Blachowicz gets a takedown. Blachowicz lands from the top and gets into the half-guard. He lands more right hands from the top. Blachowicz ends the fight on top. This is going to come down to a couple of rounds, close fight overall. 10-9 Blachowicz, 48-47 Blachowicz.

Official Result- Jan Blachowicz def. Israel Adesanya by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-45, 49-45) to retain the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship