UFC on ESPN 17 live results: Thiago Santos vs. Glover Teixeira

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC On ESPN 17: Santos vs. Teixeira, emanating from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Octagon remains in the home base at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas for the second straight week, with this weekend’s event headlined by a light heavyweight bout that could serve as a potential title eliminator.

Thiago Silva and Glover Teixeira will square off in a battle of former title challengers looking to earn their second title shot in the night’s five-round main event. Santos is fighting for the first time since a title fight loss to Jon Jones in July 2019 as he returns from serious knee and leg injuries suffered in that fight. Teixeira is looking to improve on his current four-fight win streak.

In the co-main event, it is a heavyweight battle as former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski takes on rising prospect Tanner Boser. Also on the main card is a women’s strawweight fight as Claudia Gadelha battles Yan Xiaonan.

Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time with preliminary action all the way through the main card.

ESPN+ PRELIMS | 7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT

> Gustavo Lopez (11-5, 0-1 UFC) vs. Anthony Birchak (15-6, 2-2 UFC)
Bantamweights

Birchak is making his first UFC appearance since 2016. These two are former training partners. They were trading early and Lopez hurt Birchak with a combo. They went to the mat on a Lopez takedown and Lopez was landing from the top and had the back but they scrambled up and separated. Lopez gets another takedown against the fence. Lopez gets the back and is landing lots of big punches from the top. Lopez has back control and the hooks in as he continues to land punches. Lopez gets the rear-naked choke locked in and Birchak taps. An absolutely crushing performance from Lopez in this one.

Official Result- Gustavo Lopez def. Anthony Birchak by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:43 of Round 1

> Max Griffin (15-8, 3-6 UFC) vs. Ramiz Brahimaj (8-2, 0-0 UFC)
Welterweights

Brahimaj is making his UFC debut. Griffin starts off with a couple of leg kicks. They spend the next minute feeling each other out while each landed a couple of punches. Griffin landing the jab. They trade right hands. Lots of circling around each other and not a ton of action though Griffin is landing some shots here-and-there. Brahimaj lands a right hand. They trade punches. Brahimaj lands a jab. Griffin lands a combo. They clinch late and ride it out at the end of the first. 10-9 Griffin.

They trade right away to start the second. Brahimaj just misses a left hook but then lands a right hand. Griffin then lands a kick right to the groin of Brahimaj and we have a timeout. They get back to action and both men are looking for openings. Griffin lands a right hand. Griffin lands a double jab. Griffin with a right hand. Brahimaj tries to land a right hand but Griffin slips away. Brahimaj lands a right hand. Griffin with the jab and then lands a body kick. Griffin lands a knee to the body of Brahimaj. Brahimaj’s face is showing a little color. They trade punches. They clinch at the end again. 10-9 Griffin, 20-18 Griffin.

They come out trading jabs and Griffin lands a high kick. Brahimaj lands a jab and Griffin stumbles back and resets his footing. Brahimaj with a jab. Griffin lands a right hand. They trade kicks. Griffin then lands another low blow and we have another timeout. They get back to action and Brahimaj lands a jab. They trade punches and Griffin is cut open around his right eye. They trade in close range. They trade and then clinch and Brahimaj is bleeding badly from his ear. We call a timeout and the fight is stopped as Brahimaj’s ear is about falling off. It looks disgusting. This will be a TKO win for Griffin.

Official Result- Max Griffin def. Ramiz Brahimaj by TKO (ear injury) at 2:03 of Round 3

> Darren Elkins (24-9, 14-8 UFC) vs. Eduardo Garagorri (13-1, 1-1 UFC)
Featherweights

Elkins lands a left hand and then gets a takedown. They get back to their feet and Elkins gets Garagorri back down to the mat and is on top with pressure. They stand and Elkins lands a knee. They remain tied up and Elkins with some knees to the body. Elkins gets another takedown and moves to the mount as they work to the fence. Elkins lands from the top and then grabs the neck. Garagorri escapes and they get to their feet. Elkins has a hold of a leg and Garagorri tries to land a head kick but Elkins ducks and gets back control near the fence. They break to the center and Garagorri lands a high kick. Elkins gets another takedown after Garagorri lands a head kick. Elkins with some body punches from the guard as the round ends. 10-9 Elkins.

Garagorri landing nice punches to start the second and Elkins wants no part of it as he gets Garagorri to the mat. Elkins landing from the top as he has body control when they work to their feet. They break to the center. Garagorri lands a combo. Elkins tries for a long takedown but Garagorri slips away. They clinch against the fence. Elkins lands some knees. Garagorri lands a body kick. Garagorri with a combo followed by a leg kick. Garagorri lands a left hand as Elkins misses his punches. Elkins shoots in and gets a slam takedown in the center of the Octagon. Elkins ends the second on top landing. Close round. 10-9 Elkins, 20-18 Elkins.

They are trading to start the third and Garagorri lands a nice left hand. Garagorri lands a short uppercut as Elkins was rushing in. Elkins goes for the takedown but Garagorri defends. Garagorri lands a nice elbow. They trade body kicks. Garagorri lands a right hand that stuns Elkins. Elkins goes for the takedown and ends up getting the back of Garagorri standing. Elkins jumps up to get the hooks in. Elkins is looking for a rear-naked choke and has it locked in. Garagorri falls to the mat as the choke is in tight and he taps! Elkins with a nice submission win in the third round to end his four-fight losing skid.

Official Result- Darren Elkins def. Eduardo Garagorri by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:22 of Round 3

> Alexandr Romanov (12-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima (17-6-1, 6-4 UFC)
Heavyweights

de Lima with a couple of inside leg kicks to start. Romanov gets a power takedown against the fence and is in side control. They scramble to their feet. de Lima lands some leg kicks and Romanov goes for another takedown. They break. de Lima with another inside leg kick. They clinch against the fence. Romanov with a big knee to the body. They break and Romanov is still going for a takedown but de Lima is defending. de Lima with a knee to the body. Romanov gets the takedown near the center and is in side control. He moves to the half-guard and lands some heavy ground-and-pound. Romanov is putting his forearm in the neck of de Lima and pressing down and de Lima went out cold. Wow, a forearm choke submission win as Romanov gets the win.

Official Result- Alexandr Romanov def. Marcos Rogerio de Lima by submission (forearm choke) at 4:48 of Round 1

> Trevin Giles (12-2, 3-2 UFC) vs. Bevon Lewis (7-2, 1-2 UFC)
Middleweights

Lewis with a heavy leg kick and Giles is throwing punches before they clinch. Giles gets a takedown but they scramble up. Lewis with a knee to the leg as they’re clinched and Giles lands a short left hand as they break. They clinch right up again. They break and Lewis lands a combo. Giles loads up on an uppercut and lands to the chest as they clinch up. Lewis lands some body punches and they trade knees. They continue to battle in the clinch. They break as Lewis lands a knee. Giles lands a left hand that drops Lewis and he gets on top. Giles ends the round on top. 10-9 Giles.

Lewis loading up his punches to start the second but missing. Giles with a leg kick. Both men being patient in the second. Lewis with a body punch. They trade punches. Giles lands a right hand. Both men are being patient and looking for openings. Giles lands a combo with a big right hand. Giles with a combo. Giles lands the jab. Giles lands a late punch. 10-9 Giles, 20-18 Giles.

Lewis with a leg kick. Giles lands a right hand. Giles with a left hook. Lewis goes for a takedown as Giles was landing a punch but Giles defends and has the neck. They scramble to their feet. Giles lands a combo and Lewis is in trouble. Giles with a flurry of big punches against the fence and Lewis falls to the mat and this is stopped. Big finish by Giles in this one.

Official Result- Trevin Giles def. Bevon Lewis by TKO (punches) at 1:26 of Round 3

ESPN MAIN CARD | 10 PM ET/7 PM PT

> Claudia Gadelha (#4, 18-4, 7-4 UFC) vs. Yan Xiaonan (#8, 12-1 1 NC, 5-0 UFC)
Women’s Strawweights

They are trading early. Gadelha with a left hand. Xiaonan with a leg kick. Gadelha lands a jab and Xiaonan backs up. They trade and Gadelha gets a takedown and is working in the guard of Xiaonan. They get to their feet after Gadelha works from the top and remain tied up against the fence. Xiaonan with a knee to the body. Gadelha still has the body lock. Xiaonan landing more in the clinch but Gadelha has had full control against the fence. They trade knees. They are broken up by referee Jason Herzog. Xiaonan lands a combo and a body kick. Gadelha gets a single-leg takedowns and is working in the guard of Xiaonan as she lands punches. They trade elbows on the ground. Xiaonan with an elbow from the bottom. Gadelha with a big elbow at the end. Close round. 10-9 Gadelha.

Xiaonan throwing to start the second but Gadelha ducking away. Xiaonan with a combo. Xiaonan lands a right hand. Xiaonan with a left hand. Gadelha lands a combo. Xiaonan lands a left hand. Xiaonan lands a couple of jabs. Xiaonan lands a right hand. Xiaonan lands a couple of right hands as Gadelha comes forward. They trade left hands. They trade punches. They trade punches and Gadelha ends with a nice left hook. Xiaonan lands a right hand. They clinch late. 10-9 Xiaonan, 19-19.

They are trading to start the third. Gadelha clinches up against the fence. Xiaonan lands a couple of knees in the clinch. They break the clinch. Gadelha lands a left hand. Xiaonan lands a combo. Xiaonan landing more punches here in the third. They clinch against the fence. They trade knees. They remain tied up as Gadelha pushes her around the fence. Xiaonan still landing in the clinch. They are broken up by Herzog. Xiaonan with a right hand. Xiaonan landing the jab as Gadelha comes forward. Gadelha lands the jab. Xiaonan with a late combo as she ends the fight big. 10-9 Xiaonan, 29-28 Xiaonan.

Official Result- Yan Xiaonan def. Claudia Gadelha by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Giga Chikadze (11-2, 4-0 UFC) vs. Jamey Simmons (6-2, 0-0 UFC)
Featherweights

Simmons is making his UFC debut on short notice. They clinch early but break. Chikadze with a body kick. They clinch against the fence. Chikadze tries a judo throw but Simmons defends and they break. Simmons lands a right hand as he enters for a takedown but Chikadze defends. Chikadze lands a body kick and then drops Simmons with a head kick and then pounds away from the top until Herb Deans stops it. What a finish by Chikadze.

Official Result- Giga Chikadze def. Jamey Simmons by TKO (head kick & punches) at 3:51 of Round 1

> Raoni Barcelos (15-1, 4-0 UFC) vs. Khalid Taha (13-2 1 NC, 1-1 1 NC UFC)
Bantamweights

Barcelos lands a leg kick that trips Taha up. They trade punches and Barcelos with another calf kick that trips Taha up again. Barcelos with an uppercut and is just landing a flurry against the fence. Barcelos with some knees against the fence. Taha then lands some punches in a wild exchange and they clinch. Barcelos gets a takedown. Barcelos moves to side control and then to the mount and is working for a rear-naked choke. Barcelos has full back control and is working for the choke as he has the hooks in. Taha gets out of it and ends up in the guard of Barcelos. Taha lands an elbow and Barcelos is looking for an armbar but sweeps instead and they get to their feet. They break. Barcelos with a leg kick. Barcelos with a jumping knee then a left hand and Taha lands a counter punch. Fun round.

Barcelos with a short left hand. Taha just misses a left hand. Taha with a right hand. Barcelos with a flying knee that lands to the body. Barcelos lands a series of punches. Barcelos with a combo ending with a high kick. We then have a timeout after Barcelos lands a groin strike. We get back to action. Barcelos lands a combo. Barcelos with some body kicks. They trade and Barcelos lands a right hand. Barcelos with a right hand and then a knee to the body. Taha comes forward with some punches that miss. Barcelos with a leg kick. Barcelos with a body kick and then follows with a right hand. Barcelos with a flurry of leg kicks and punches. Barcelos hurts Taha with a combo and then a flurry and Taha is in a bunch of trouble but time runs out on the round. 10-9 Barcelos, 20-18 Barcelos.

Barcelos landing a flurry to start the third and lands a leg kick. Barcelos with some body work and then lands a knee to the body. Barcelos gets a takedown. He gets the back of Taha as he lands punches and now is looking for the hooks. Barcelos looking for a rear-naked choke. Taha escapes and Barcelos has top control in Taha’s half-guard. Barcelos with a nice right hand from the top and then they scramble to their feet. They break to the center of the Octagon. Taha with a leg kick. Taha with a right hand. Barcelos lands a nice right hand. Barcelos slowing down late. They trade punches. Barcelos with a hard leg kick. Taha tries a takedown but Barcelos defends. They trade in a wild exchange in the last ten seconds. Really fun fight. 10-9 Barcelos, 30-27 Barcelos.

Official Result- Raoni Barcelos def. Khalid Taha by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Andrei Arlovski (29-19 2 NC, 18-13 1 NC UFC) vs. Tanner Boser (19-6-1, 3-1 UFC)
Heavyweights

Boser with a leg kick. Boser with a short combo as he ducks away from a right hand by Arlovski. Arlovski with a high kick. Boser with a high kick that Arlovski checks. Arlovski with a low leg kick. Boser lands a right hand. Boser with a leg kick. Arlovski with a leg kick that Boser checks. Boser with a couple of leg kicks. The round was mostly a feeling out process. 10-9 Boser.

They trade leg kicks to start the second. Boser with another leg kick. They trade and Arlovski lands a right hand. Boser just misses a high kick. Arlovski landing a little more in the second but still not a lot of action going on. Arlovski with a body kick. Arlovski with an inside leg kick. They trade big punches inside the pocket. Boser with a body kick and Arlovski lands a counter one. Arlovski just lands a spinning backfist before the horn. 10-9 Arlovski, 19-19.

Arlovski rushes forward with a flurry to start the third. Boser just barely lands a right hand. They trade and Boser with some leg kicks. Boser just misses a spinning backfist as Arlovski blocks it but then lands a jab. Arlovski with a right hand. Arlovski with a double jab. Boser with a low kick. Arlovski lands a nice right hand. Arlovski lands a flurry and ends with a right hand that backs Boser up. Boser landing some leg kicks and then a left hand. They trade in close range. They trade before clinching. Arlovski with a right hand. Boser with an inside leg kick. Close fight. 10-9 Arlovski, 29-28 Arlovski.

Official Result- Andrei Arlovski def. Tanner Boser by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Thiago Santos (#1, 21-7, 13-6 UFC) vs. Glover Teixeira (#3, 31-7, 14-5 UFC)
Light Heavyweights

Santos with a front kick. They trade punches. Santos lands a right hand and Teixeira shoots for a takedown but Santos defends. Santos landing punches and Teixeira slips to the mat and Santos is unloading. Teixeira able to get to his feet and working for a takedown and Santos was landing elbows but Teixeira completes the takedown. They stand and Teixeira gets a big takedown right into the mount. Teixeira lands some elbows and then punches from the top. Teixeira gets back to the mount and looks to take the back but moves to the half-guard of Santos. Teixeira with some big punches from the top. Teixeira gets back into Santos’ full guard as he continues to land from the top. Santos with some elbows from the bottom but Teixeira remains in full control on top landing punches. Teixeira ends the round on top. Real fun round. 10-9 Teixeira.

Santos with a leg kick. Santos goes high with a kick and then lands a body. Teixeira lands a right hand and then gets a takedown. Teixeira lands a couple of hammerfists. Teixeira looking to pass to side control in order to set up a choke. Teixeira with some elbows from the top. Teixeira with some big ground-and-pound as Santos is having trouble defending on the bottom. Teixeira with more punches and elbows from the top. Teixeira gets to side control and lands some elbows. Teixeira tries to get back to the mount as he lands more strikes from the top. Teixeira gets a rear-naked choke locked in but time runs out on the round. 10-8 Teixeira, 20-17 Teixeira.

Teixeira tries for a takedown but then Santos lands a left hand that drops Teixeira. Santos gets on top and is landing punches and elbows as he’s in the half-guard. Santos lands more but they get to their feet and Teixeira has the back and gets a takedown. Teixeira landing punches and locks in a rear-naked choke. It is in tight against the fence and Santos taps! What a showing by Teixeira to escape being in real trouble twice to get the win. What a fight as well.

Official Result- Glover Teixeira def. Thiago Santos by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:49 of Round 3