UFC 279 live results: Nate Diaz vs. Tony Ferguson

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC 279: Diaz vs. Ferguson, emanating from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It has been a crazy week in Las Vegas as the Octagon is back home with a fight card that saw numerous changes just 24 hours before the event, ending up with a welterweight headliner featuring one of the most popular fighters in UFC history in perhaps his final UFC fight.

Nate Diaz steps inside the Octagon for perhaps the final time when he takes on Tony Ferguson in the five-round headliner after a crazy series of events saw this fight made on Friday. Diaz was originally slated to fight Khamzat Chimaev in the main event, but Chimaev missed weight by seven-and-a-half pounds and Diaz refused to fight him, so Ferguson was moved into the headline slot.

Chimaev will remain on the card, but he will now fight Kevin Holland in the co-main event, which will also be five rounds. Holland was scheduled to fight Daniel Rodriguez in a 180-pound catchweight fight, but was shifted to fight Chimaev after the two had a heated exchange that nearly led to blows backstage at the UFC 279 press conference on Thursday, and because they weighed within a pound of each other as well.

Two fighters impacted by those changes, Li Jingliang and Daniel Rodriguez, will now fight each other after agreeing despite an eight-and-a-half-pound weigh-in difference between the two. Also on the main card is a women’s catchweight bout pitting Irene Aldana against Macy Chiasson, and an exciting light heavyweight bout between Johnny Walker and Ion Cutelaba.

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

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> Welterweights- Darian Weeks (5-2, 0-2 UFC) vs. Yohan Lainesse (8-1, 0-1 UFC)

They’re trading to start and Lainesse lands some leg kicks then Weeks lands some leg kicks. Weeks grabs the neck and is looking for something but Lainesse escapes. They’re trading and Lainesse works the jab but Weeks is landing more. Weeks with some kicks as he’s chasing Lainesse around. Close round. 10-9 Weeks.

They trade to start the second and both are landing looping shots. Weeks lands a left hand. Lainesse with a leg kick. Weeks pushes it against the fence looking for a takedown and scores a brief takedown but they’re right up and they break. Weeks continues to land more as the round ends. 10-9 Weeks, 20-18 Weeks.

They’re both looking for openings in the third but neither really landing much. Weeks is looking for takedowns but is unable to score them, but he pushes Lainesse against the fence looking to score one. Lainesse lands a leg kick. Lainesse with the jab but Weeks is the one pressuring and pushing the pace. Lainesse with a body kick and Weeks returns with a right hand. They trade and Lainesse grabs the neck late and looks for a guillotine. Lainesse with a flying knee late. Close fight. 10-9 Lainesse, 29-28 Weeks.

Official Result- Yohan Lainesse def. Darian Weeks by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

> Women’s Strawweights- Melissa Martinez (7-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Elise Reed (5-2, 1-2 UFC)

Martinez throwing some side kicks to start out her UFC debut. Reed attacks the lead leg with a kick and Martinez lands a right hand. Martinez lands a check left hook. Reed lands a right hand and Martinez briefly goes down but gets up and they trade. Martinez grabs the body and pushes it against the fence and is looking for the takedown. They break and Reed with a high kick. They clinch late. 10-9 Reed.

They trade punches to start the second. Martinez lands a leg kick and Reed lands a high kick. Martinez with a body kick. She lands a leg kick. Reed with a leg kick. They clinch against the fence and Reed has the advantage and they break. Martinez with a leg kick that Reed checks. They trade at the end. 10-9 Martinez, 19-19.

Reed lands a right hand that slowed Martinez down. Reed is pressuring Martinez down and lands a leg kick and Martinez scores a takedown. Martinez stands and lands a leg kick before Reed gets to her feet. They clinch against the fence and Reed lands a knee. Reed gets a takedown and has the mount at first but transitions to the back as they work their way up. Reed gets it back down but they get right back up. Reed with some knees at the end. 10-9 Reed, 29-28 Reed.

Official Result- Elise Reed def. Melissa Martinez by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Bantamweights- Chad Anheliger (12-5, 1-0 UFC) vs. Alatengheili (15-8-2, 3-1-1 UFC)

Heili with a leg kick as both are looking to land the right hand. Anheliger with a leg kick. Heili lands a heavy right hand that pushes Anheliger back against the fence and he lands a combo. Heili lands a right hand that hurts Anheliger again and Heili with a leg kick. Anheliger is still running away as Heili hurts him again. Anheliger with a counter punch as he’s busted open and Heili with a leg kick. Heili with some shots late. 10-9 Heili.

Heili landing more to start the second as he is landing and circling around. Anheliger lands a right hand and Heili lands a left hand. Heili lands a left hand. Heili is pressuring and lands a combo. Heili lands a right hand. Heili with a combination. Anheliger with a body kick. Heili with a combo and Anheliger lands an uppercut. 10-9 Heili, 20-18 Heili.

Heili gets an early takedown and lands before standing and Anheliger is throwing kicks from the back but is ordered up. Anheliger with a leg kick. Anheliger landing slightly more in this round. Anheliger with an uppercut with the left hand. Heili gets a takedown and lands from the top and lands some hammerfists late as he gets the back. 10-9 Heili, 30-27 Heili.

Official Result- Alatengheili def. Chad Anheliger by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Women’s Featherweights- #15 WBW Norma Dumont (7-2, 3-2 UFC) vs. Danyelle Wolf (1-0, 0-0 UFC)

Dumont landing some leg kicks early on. Wolf lands a combo. Wolf lands a nice right hand. She lands another. She then lands a left hand and then a combo. Wolf lands a left hand and then a jab. Dumont lands a right hand. Wolf with a left hand then Dumont lands a right hand and a jab. 10-9 Dumont.

Dumont with a leg kick. She lands another. Dumont with another leg kick. Wolf lands a right hand and they clinch and Dumont is able to get the takedown. They get to their feet and break. Dumont lands a right hand that hurts Wolf badly but then decides to clinch instead of taking advantage. They break. Dumont drops Wolf with a right hand and gets into the guard as the round ends. 10-9 Dumont, 20-18 Dumont.

Wolf lands a left hand and Dumont gets a big takedown. Dumont with some shots from the top and she lands some right hands before standing. Dumont with a big left hand from the top and she moves into side control. Dumont landing and she moves to the mount. Dumont in the half-guard and lands as she looks to set up a choke. Dumont with more punches from the top. She lands more from the top at the end. 10-8 Dumont, 30-26 Dumont.

Official Result- Norma Dumont def. Danyelle Wolf by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

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> Heavyweights*- Jake Collier (13-7, 5-6 UFC) vs. Chris Barnett (22-8, 1-2 UFC)

(*Barnett missed weight by 1.5 pounds)

They have a little bit of a slugfest to start before Barnett circles away. Collier with a body kick then drops Barnett with a punch. Barnett gets up and both are throwing and Collier lands a head kick. They are having a war right now. They clinch but break. Barnett’s left eye is closed. Barnett with a leg kick. Barnett lands a nice combo. Collier lands a left hand. Barnett with a leg kick. Collier with a leg kick. Barnett with a combo. Collier gets a takedown right into mount. Collier gets the back and has Barnett flattened out and is landing punches. Collier gets the neck and looks for the choke. It’s not under the chin and Barnett gives a thumbs up. Barnett gets to his feet and they break. Collier with a left hand. Wild round. 10-9 Collier.

Barnett lands a jab then a follow-up right hand. Barnett with a right hand. Both are landing punches inside the pocket. They clinch and Collier with a knee. Barnett lands and they go to the ground and Barnett gets the mount and is landing lots of big punches. Collier is in trouble as Barnett keeps landing lots of punches. Barnett landing more and it is stopped. What a fight! Great finish by Barnett.

Official Result- Chris Barnett def. Jake Collier by TKO (punches) at 2:24 of Round 2

> Middleweights- Denis Tiuliulin (10-6, 0-1 UFC) vs. Jamie Pickett (13-7, 2-3 UFC)

Pickett with a side kick to the body. Pickett with a combo. They trade punches. Pickett with a body kick. Pickett grabs the body and tries for a takedown against the fence. Tiuliulin escapes and they break. Tiuliulin with a right hand. They trade punches. Tiuliulin lands a right hand then a flurry to the body. Tiuliulin with a pair of right hands then lands a combo. Pickett with a body kick. We have a timeout for a groin strike on Pickett. They get back to action and trade and Tiuliulin with a right hand and a leg kick. 10-9 Pickett.

They trade to start the second and Tiuliulin with some body kicks. Tiuliulin landing with more volume as he’s pushing the pace. Tiuliulin throws a kick and the knee lands to the groin and we have a timeout. A point is taken away from Tiuliulin. Tiuliulin comes out firing and is landing more. Tiuliulin with an elbow. They go to the mat after Tiuliulin lands some shots and Tiuliulin is in side control and lands some elbows and they stand. Tiuliulin with some standing elbows. Tiuliulin lands a knee and Pickett goes down and Tiuliulin is landing punches and it is stopped. Big finish from Tiuliulin.

Official Result- Denis Tiuliulin def. Jamie Pickett by TKO (strikes) at 4:52 of Round 2

> 220-pound Catchweights- Jailton Almeida (16-2, 2-0 UFC) vs. Anton Turkalj (8-0, 0-0 UFC)

Almeida immediately gets the takedown. He gets the back and Turkalj is trying to scramble out. They get up for a moment but Almeida slams it back down. Almeida lands from the top as he remains on top. Almeida gets some right hands thru. Almeida still landing big shots as he passes to the mount and looks for the arm-triangle choke. He lets go and is landing big shots. He gets the back and locks in a rear-naked choke and Turkalj taps! This was just an absolute mauling.

Official Result- Jailton Almeida def. Anton Turkalj by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:27 of Round 1

> Featherweights*- Hakeem Dawodu (13-2-1, 6-2 UFC) vs. Julian Erosa (27-9, 5-5 UFC)

(Dawodu missed weight by 3.5 pounds)

Dawodu lands some leg kicks early on. They trade and Erosa lands a spinning back fist. Dawodu with a body kick and Erosa grabs the leg but Dawodu is able to escape. Dawodu with a leg kick. Erosa with a body kick then a leg kick. Dawodu with the jab. Erosa lands a combo and then an uppercut. Erosa lands a big right hand and Dawodu is hurt. They clinch and Erosa with some knees before they break. Dawodu lands a right hand. Erosa lands a right hand then a couple of uppercuts. Dawodu with an elbow. Dawodu with a head kick. Erosa with a knee then rocks Dawodu again with a right hand and lands a flying knee. 10-9 Erosa.

Dawodu with a right hand and Erosa lands a knee. Dawodu with the jab. Dawodu with a right hand. They clinch for a moment and Dawodu lands a big elbow as they break. Dawodu lands the jab and Erosa with a counter left hand. Erosa gets a takedown. He gets the back and Dawodu stands with Erosa on his back. Erosa has the body triangle locked in standing. They go to the mat with Erosa landing from the back. Erosa working for a choke. They stand and Erosa still has the back but Dawodu escapes. Erosa lands some knees to the body. 10-9 Erosa, 20-18 Erosa.

Erosa with a right hand. Dawodu with the jab and Erosa with a right hand. They trade kicks and Erosa with a right hand. Erosa lands a couple of uppercuts. Dawodu lands a body shot and Erosa lands a combo. Dawodu with the jab. Erosa with a right hand. Erosa with a knee up the middle. Erosa gets the takedown and gets the back and locks in the body triangle. Erosa landing from the back. Dawodu able to spin into the guard of Erosa and lands some right hands but they stand at the end. 10-9 Erosa, 30-27 Erosa.

Official Result- Julian Erosa def. Hakeem Dawodu by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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> Light Heavyweights- #13 Johnny Walker (18-7, 4-4 UFC) vs. Ion Cutelaba (16-7-1 1 NC, 5-6-1 UFC)

Cutelaba with a leg kick and Walker lands a high kick. Cutelaba grabs the leg and gets the takedown. Walker has grabbed the fence a couple of times from the bottom. Cutelaba stands but works back into the guard of Walker. Cutelaba looks for an armbar but Walker escapes, gets the takedown and gets the back and is looking for a rear-naked choke but Cutelaba gets out. Walker gets the choke locked in and he has it in deep and Cutelaba taps! Big win for Walker as he gets the submission.

Official Result- Johnny Walker def. Ion Cutelaba by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:37 of Round 1

> 140-pound Women’s Catchweights- #4 WBW Irene Aldana (13-6, 6-4 UFC) vs. #10 WBW Macy Chiasson (8-2, 6-2 UFC)

Aldana with a left hook. Chiasson with a body kick. They trade punches and leg kicks and Chiasson shoots for a takedown but Aldana defends against the fence. They break and Chiasson with a left hand to the body. Aldana with the jab and then a right hand. Aldana with a leg kick. Aldana lands a right hand. Chiasson lands a right hand. Chiasson tries a takedown but Aldana is able to grab the arm and lock in an armbar but Chiasson gets out and Aldana gets the mount and lands punches and locks the armbar back in but loses it. Aldana gets side control and lands some big punches. Strong close to the first. 10-9 Aldana.

Chiasson with a combo and Aldana lands a right hand. They trade leg kicks. Chiasson gets a takedown and Aldana gets the leg and goes for a leg lock. Chiasson is looking to take the back. Aldana with some back elbows. They scramble to the feet and Chiasson drags it back down. Chiasson has the back and looks to get the hooks in. Chiasson with some elbows. Chiasson has the body triangle in from the back. Chiasson gets the mount and lands some punches. Chiasson with some right hands. 10-9 Chiasson, 19-19.

Chiasson with a leg kick. Aldana lands a couple of jabs. Chiasson shoots for a takedown but Aldana slips away. Aldana lands a right hand and Chiasson fires back with a left hand. Chiasson lands a nice left hand. Chiasson gets a takedown. Chiasson stands and all of a sudden goes down in pain holding her body and the fight is stopped. It appears that Aldana landed an upkick to the liver that shut Chiasson off and it is all over. That is a first. What a finish and win for Aldana.

Official Result- Irene Aldana def. Macy Chiasson by TKO (kick) at 2:21 of Round 3

> 180-pound Catchweights- #14 WW Li Jingliang (19-7, 11-5 UFC) vs. Daniel Rodriguez (16-2, 6-1 UFC)

Jingliang with a leg kick and Rodriguez lands a left hand. Rodriguez lands a body kick. Jingliang with a leg kick. Jingliang with a body kick. Jingliang with some leg kicks and Rodriguez lands the jab. Jingliang with a left hand and then lands a body kick. Rodriguez with a body kick. Jingliang with a right hand. Rodriguez with a high kick. Jingliang lands a left hand. Rodriguez lands a left hand. Jingliang with a low kick and then lands another leg kick and a right hand. 10-9 Jingliang.

They trade to start the second. Both land leg kicks. Rodriguez lands a left hand. Jingliang with a leg kick. Rodriguez lands the jab. Jingliang with a right hand. Jingliang with an inside leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Rodriguez with a leg kick as Jingliang lands a left hook. They trade punches. Rodriguez with a leg kick. Rodriguez with a high kick and Jingliang with a leg kick. Jingliang with a leg kick and lands a right hand. Jingliang lands a left hand then hurts Rodriguez with a right hand. Jingliang then lands some kicks. Rodriguez with the jab. Rodriguez with a head kick and Jingliang gets a late takedown. 10-9 Jingliang, 20-18 Jingliang.

Both looking for openings to start the third and Jingliang with some leg kicks. Rodriguez starting to land more in the third but the pace is slowing a little. Rodriguez with some left hands. Jingliang with a leg kick. Rodriguez is landing the jab. Lots of booing from the crowd but they shouldn’t. Rodriguez pressuring and Jingliang is looking tired. Rodriguez lands more at the end. 10-9 Rodriguez, 29-28 Jingliang.

Official Result- Daniel Rodriguez def. Li Jingliang by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

> 180-pound Catchweights- #3 WW Khamzat Chimaev (11-0, 5-0 UFC) vs. Kevin Holland (23-7 1 NC, 10-4 1 NC UFC)

Chimaev gets an immediate takedown and Holland scrambles up. Chimaev gets it back down. They get up and Chimaev gets it right back down and looks for the D’Arce choke. Holland trying to slip out but Chimaev still has control of the neck. He has it locked in, though, and he gets Holland to tap! That was quick and dominant.

Official Result- Khamzat Chimaev def. Kevin Holland by submission (D’Arce choke) at 2:13 of Round 1

> Welterweights- Nate Diaz (20-13, 15-11 UFC) vs. #11 LW Tony Ferguson (25-7, 15-5 UFC)

Ferguson just misses a spinning elbow and then trips Diaz to the mat. Ferguson with a leg kick. Diaz pressing forward. Diaz with a leg kick. Ferguson is bleeding from his shin. Ferguson misses an elbow. Diaz lands a left hand. Ferguson is landing with more volume here. Diaz lands a right hand and a kick and Ferguson lands a left hand. Diaz lands a nice right hand. Ferguson with a leg kick. Ferguson misses a spinning back fist. Diaz with a left hand. 10-9 Diaz.

Diaz lands a leg kick early in the second. Ferguson with a left hand then a right hand. Diaz lands a combo. Ferguson lands a nice combination. They trade in close range. Ferguson with a leg kick. Diaz with a combo ending with a leg kick. Diaz lands a combo. Diaz with a combo and he tags Ferguson with a left hand. Diaz with a left hand. Ferguson with an inside low kick. Diaz with a right hand. 10-9 Diaz, 20-18 Diaz.

Diaz with a right hand. Ferguson throwing kicks and some are getting checked or blocked. Ferguson lands a solid leg kick. Diaz started circling the cage like he didn’t want to fight but then started and Ferguson lands some big leg kicks. Ferguson with a right hand. Diaz lands a flurry then puts his hand on top of the cage and takes a break. Ferguson continues to land the leg kicks and Diaz’ leg is getting beaten up. Ferguson lands some kicks and a right hand. Diaz chases Ferguson down and lands some punches. Diaz with a body kick then a combination. He lands a flurry against the fence. Ferguson lands the jab. Ferguson with a leg kick. Diaz with a left hand. 10-9 Diaz, 30-27 Diaz.

Diaz lands some body kicks. Ferguson with a left hand and an inside leg kick. Ferguson with a short uppercut. Diaz with a left hand and lands again. Diaz with a combination and then lands a big body shot. Ferguson with a leg kick. Diaz with a combo to the body. Ferguson with a body punch on Diaz. Diaz lands to the body then grabs the neck and locks in a guillotine choke and Ferguson taps! What a fitting end to what could be the final UFC fight for Diaz.

Official Result- Nate Diaz def. Tony Ferguson by submission (guillotine choke) at 2:52 of Round 4