UFC Fight Night 123 live results: Cub Swanson vs. Brian Ortega

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC Fight Night 123: Swanson vs. Ortega, eminating from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

The Octagon heads to Fresno for the first time with a five-round main event in the featherweight division as Cub Swanson takes on the undefeated Brian Ortega. 

Swanson, in the last fight on his current UFC contract, is looking for his fifth consecutive win while Ortega looks to avoid his first loss and build on his impressive string of four straight final round finishes.

Also on the card is a featherweight bout between Jason Knight and Gabriel Benitez in the co-main event position, and a bantamweight affair with two men looking to get into title contention as Marlon Moraes takes on Aljamain Sterling. In prelim action, Alexis Davis and Liz Carmouche battle in a women’s flyweight bout that could also have title shot implications on the line.

Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time with preliminary action all the way through the main card.

UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS | 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT

> Antonio Braga Neto (9-2 1 NC, 1-1 UFC) vs. Trevin Giles (10-0, 1-0 UFC)
Middleweights

Former UFC fighter Frank Trigg is the referee, the first UFC fight he has officiated. Giles came out with a quick combo that rocked Neto. He is working to land the jab. He slipped on an uppercut but Neto unable to take advantage. Giles landed a right hand and slipped out of the way of Neto’s leg kick attempts. Neto grabbed a body lock and got a trip takedown. Neto trying to pass guard against the fence. Neto with a knee to the chest of Giles. Neto now in full mount. Giles is surviving on the mat but Neto in complete control late. 10-9 Neto.

Giles landing the jab early. Giles landed a big left hook. Neto landed a counter left hook. Giles back to snapping the jab and landing. Giles landed a huge right hand and Neto was hurt. Neto is much slower this round. Giles landed a hard right but Neto rocked Giles with a counter right hand. Giles was running away and then rocked Neto with a big right hand that really hurt Neto. Giles landing the jab again. Neto in trouble. Giles pouring on the jab late. Neto doing almost nothing. Giles lands a big right hand against the cage. Another hard right at the end from Giles. 10-8 Giles, 19-18 Giles.

Giles fresh coming out for the third. Neto scored a takedown but Giles got to his feet and Neto slipped out over the back and they were back standing. Giles lands a right hand then another followed by the jab. Neto holding his hands low. Giles with a straight right hand. Giles with another. This is close to being stopped. Giles with a hard right hand that knocks Neto out. Big win by Giles as he stays undefeated.

Official Result- Trevin Giles def. Antonio Braga Neto by TKO (punches) at 2:27 of Round 3

> Chris Gruetzemacher (13-2, 1-1 UFC) vs. Davi Ramos (6-2, 0-1 UFC)
Lightweights

They both come out swinging. Ramos landed a big knee to the body. They trade kicks. Ramos with some big punches, some are missing. Gruetzemacher with a leg kick. They go to the mat and Gruetzemacher on top landed some punches but they got to their feet. Ramos lands an uppercut. Ramos lands a flying knee that doesn’t hurt Gruetzemacher. Ramos gets a takedown into half-guard. Ramos looking to set up a choke. Gruetzemacher landing punches from the bottom. Ramos finishes on top. 10-9 Ramos.

Ramos lands a big combo to start the second. He drops Gruetzemacher for a moment with a right hand. They get up and Ramos gets a takedown but the referee quickly stands them up. That was a bad standup. Ramos whiffs on a takedown. Gruetzemacher is now coming forward as Ramos is slowing down. Gruetzemacher lands a right hand. Ramos misses more takedown attempts. Ramos lands two big right hands. Gruetzemacher lands a right hand followed by a knee. Ramos lands a combo and gets a takedown. 10-9 Gruetzemacher, 19-19.

Ramos gets a body lock immediately and gets a takedown and has the back and a rear-naked choke locked in and he gets Gruetzemacher to tap! That was quick and impressive.

Official Result- Davi Ramos def. Chris Gruetzemacher by submission (rear-naked choke) at :50 of Round 3

> Alejandro Perez (18-6-1, 4-1-1 UFC) vs. Iuri Alcantara (35-8 1 NC, 9-5 1 NC UFC)
Bantamweights

They crack each other with big punches in the first minute. They trade but not much landing and not much going on. They continue to look for openings. Perez is looking for counters but Alcantara is not throwing to give him a chance. They trade kicks with thirty seconds left. Alcantara connects with a left hand. Alcantara tries for a flying knee. Not much of a round. 10-9 Alcantara.

Perez throws a combo but nothing really lands. Alcantara throws a kick but Perez catches the leg and kicks Alcantara to the mat, but he gets up. Alcantara with a leg kick. Perez with one. They are doing nothing. Alcantara lands a straight right hand. Perez with a leg kick. Perez with another and Alcantara counters with a combo against the cage. This fight is not good. 10-9 Alcantara, 20-18 Alcantara.

Something has to happen this round. Unfortunately, nothing has in the first minute. Neither doing anything still two minutes in. They throw leg kicks that completely miss. Perez misses a right hand. Still not much happening with two minutes left. Perez sweeps the leg of Alcantara. Alcantara with a front kick. Perez dropped Alcantara for a moment but did nothing to capitalize. This fight is over. It was terrible. 10-9 Perez, 29-28 Alcantara.

Official Result- Alejandro Perez def. Iuri Alcantara by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

FOX SPORTS 1 PRELIMS | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT

> Frankie Saenz (11-5, 3-3 UFC) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (7-2, 0-0 UFC)
Bantamweights

Dvalishvili throws early and gets the clinch. They trade knees. Saenz lands some big knees to the body as Dvalishvili looks for a takedown. They scramble and Dvalishvili grabs the back. Dvalishvili is cut over his eye. They break as Saenz lands some knees. Dvalishvili gets a takedown. They get to their feet. They break. Dvalishvili with a kick. Saenz with a kick and Dvalishvili counters it into a takedown. They get up and Dvalishvili is working hard for a takedown but the round ends. 10-9 Dvalishvili.

Dvalishvili gets a takedown to start the second but they work back to their feet. Dvalishvili with an elbow on the break. Saenz lands a knee in the clinch. Dvalishvili working hard for a takedown against the fence and gets it for a moment. Dvalishvili with a brief takedown. He gets another. Saenz trying to work towards the cage to use it to get up. Referee Frank Trigg stands them up. Dvalishvili lands a left hand. They trade punches. 10-9 Dvalishvili, 20-18 Dvalishvili.

Dvalishvili gets a takedown after they clash heads. Saenz working to get up but Dvalishvili trips him back down. They get right back up. Dvalishvili lands a spinning back fist. Saenz with a head kick. They trade punches and Saenz connects with a knee and lands a right hand. Saenz with a spinning back fist. Dvalishvili has a takedown stuffed by Saenz. They are scrambling. This fight is a grind. They break and Saenz lands a big uppercut. Close final round. 10-9 Saenz, 29-28 Dvalishvili.

Official Result- Frankie Saenz def. Merab Dvalishvili by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

> Carls John de Tomas (8-1, 0-1 UFC) vs. Alex Perez (18-4, 0-0 UFC)
Bantamweights

Perez with some leg kicks early. Perez misses a right hand. Perez with a leg kick. Tomas ducks under a right hand. Perez with some kicks and Tomas lands to the body. Tomas with a left hand. Perez grabs a neck as they drop to the mat and is looking for a choke. He has a D’arce choke locked in and is looking for the tap but loses it. Perez still has the neck and is working for a choke again. Perez gets into the guard of Tomas and lands a big elbow. 10-9 Perez.

Perez gets a takedown into side control and lands a couple of elbows. Tomas gives up his back and Perez is landing punches. Perez looking for full back control and is softening Tomas up with punches. Perez gets the D’arce choke locked in again and this time Tomas taps! Big dominant win for Perez in his UFC debut.

Official Result- Alex Perez def. Carls John de Tomas by submission (D’arce choke) at 1:54 of Round 2

> Luke Sanders (11-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Andre Soukhamthath (11-5, 0-2 UFC)
Bantamweights

Soukhamthath misses a head kick. Sanders lands a left hand. Sanders lands a combo starting with a hard left hand. Sanders with a head kick. Both land punches. They trade punches. Sanders with a leg kick. Sanders lands a combo and they clinch against the fence. Sanders has full control against the fence. Sanders with a short elbow. Sanders with an elbow at the end of the round. 10-9 Sanders.

They are trading and Sanders is landing with more volume. Soukhamthath then drops Sanders with a big right hand and then started landing punches. Sanders was face down and Soukhamthath was landing lots of punches and the referee stopped the fight. Sanders protested but he was face down and not intelligently defending himself so the stoppage is justified.

Official Result- Andre Soukhamthath def. Luke Sanders by TKO (punches) at 1:06 of Round 2

> Alexis Davis (#10 WBW, 18-7, 5-2 UFC) vs. Liz Carmouche (#11 WBW, 11-5, 3-3 UFC)
Women’s Flyweights

They come out swinging early and Davis gets the clinch against the fence. Carmouche with short punches. They are separated by referee Frank Trigg. Davis with a right hand and Carmouche gets a trip takedown into side control. Carmouche with some knees to the body on the ground. They get to their feet and Carmouche working for another takedown. They get back to the mat. Carmouche in the high guard and landing knees. Davis going for an armbar from the bottom. She almost has it. Davis has it tight but Carmouche survives the round. 10-9 Carmouche.

Davis coming out with combos and then Carmouche counters with combos. Carmouche throws a leg kick and Davis catches it and takes Carmouche down. Davis in the full guard and landing punches to the body. Both looking to transition on the mat. Davis still working in the guard landing punches. Carmouche looking for an opening for a triangle from the bottom. Both women landing on the ground. They are stood up. Both land punches. Carmouche with a front kick and then two right hands. Davis with a leg kick and they clinch. Davis with some short knees. Carmouche with a late takedown. 10-9 Davis, 19-19.

Both coming out swinging. Davis with a leg kick and Carmouche with a big combo and she has Davis hurt but then takes Davis down. That might have been a mistake. Carmouche in the guard and lands some knees. Both landing body punches. Davis looking for an armbar now and she has Carmouche in trouble. Carmouche picks Davis up and slams her down and is able to break the armbar attempt. Carmouche moves to side control. Both landing punches on the mat. Davis looking for an escape and she sweeps to the top. Davis reigning down a lot of punches and she has a big finish to the round. She tried to steal it there. 10-9 Carmouche, 29-28 Carmouche.

Official Result- Alexis Davis def. Liz Carmouche by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

FOX SPORTS 1 MAIN CARD | 10 PM ET/7 PM PT

> Albert Morales (7-2-1, 1-2-1 UFC) vs. Benito Lopez (8-0, 0-0 UFC)
Bantamweights

They are swinging right away. Lopez with some kicks and Morales grabs the back and tries for a takedown but it is defended. Morales drops Lopez with a punch but Lopez gets up and drops Morales with a flying knee. Morales gets up and they are in a wild exchange and Morales goes back down. Lopez has a one-arm guillotine choke locked in and is looking to finish. Morales is able to get up and they are throwing bombs at each other. Lopez throws a flying knee and falls to the ground and Morales grabs the back as they stand. Morales landing punches from the back. Lopez with some back elbows. They are stuck there until the end of the round. Wild round. 10-9 Lopez.

Lopez lands a right hand and both land the jab. Lopez with a big body kick. The pace has slowed a little. Morales with a leg kick. Morales lands some left hands. Lopez with a spin kick to the body and then a head kick. Lopez landing big punches as he has Morales hurt. Morales with some kicks and then lands a combo. They trade punches. Morales lands some punches as he presses forward. Morales with a leg kick. Lopez with a jumping head kick. 10-9 Lopez, 20-18 Lopez.

Lopez with a body kick. Morales with a leg kick. They trade kicks. Lopez with a big head kick but he misses his uppercuts. Morales is cut under his right eye. Lopez with another head kick. Morales lands a right hand. They trade punches. Morales with a left hand. Morales with another. Lopez with a high kick. Morales with a left hook. They exchange and Lopez just misses a flying knee. Morales with a leg kick and a late combo. Close fight. 10-9 Morales, 29-28 Lopez.

Official Result- Benito Lopez def. Albert Morales by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

> Eryk Anders (8-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Markus Perez (9-0, 0-0 UFC)
Middleweights

Anders closing the distance as he’s looking to land the left hand. Anders has the body lock against the fence and lands a knee. Anders lands a right hand on the break after Perez lands a knee. Anders with a right hand and goes back to the clinch. Perez now has the clinch advantage and he picks Anders up and slams him to the ground. Perez looking for a choke and he is squeezing. Anders gets out and ends up on top. They get to their feet and Anders lands a knee. Anders with a high kick then a knee. Anders with a left hand. Anders grabs the back. Anders with a combo on the fence. Perez lands a left hand and then runs away from Anders. 10-9 Anders.

Perez on the retreat early as Anders presses forward. Anders lands some left hands. Anders stalking Perez around the Octagon. Anders lands some big punches and Perez has a chin on him. Anders with another left hand. Anders lands some more left hands. Perez still running away inside the Octagon but lands a spinning back elbow. Anders with a big left hand. Perez with a body kick. Anders gets on top and lands some left hands. Anders lands some big punches. Perez gets up and Anders gets him down and lands more big punches. 10-9 Anders, 20-18 Anders.

Anders gets the fight down to the mat and is landing. They get to their feet and Anders lands some big punches and has Perez in trouble. Anders gets a takedown and is in the half-guard. Anders landing some punches to the body but not a lot is happening. Anders looking to improve position and is just landing from the top. Anders gets to his feet but gets right back into top position and is landing short punches. Both are tired. 10-9 Anders, 30-27 Anders. Anders won the fight and then called out Lyoto Machida for a fight in February in Brazil.

Official Result- Eryk Anders def. Markus Perez by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-25, 29-28)

> Scott Holtzman (10-2, 3-2 UFC) vs. Darrell Horcher (13-2, 1-1 UFC)
Lightweights

Holtzman shoots for an early takedown but it is defended by Horcher. Hotlzman with a knee to the body. Holtzman gets a takedown and is on top landing punches from the half-guard. Horcher able to reverse and he is on top. They get to their feet. They trade and Horcher gets a takedown. They get to their feet and Horcher lands a right hand and Holtzman slips on a kick at the end. Close round. 10-9 Holtzman.

They are trading and Horcher drops Holtzman with a left hand. Horcher then lands two more hard left hands. Holtzman has a cut on his nose and he gets a takedown against the fence. Holtzman landing punches from the top before they get to their feet. Holtzman gets another takedown and is working from the half-guard. Holtzman is landing punches from the top as he postures up and then lands an elbow. They are stood up by the referee and Holtzman is angry about it. It was a bad standup. Holtzman immediately gets another takedown. Holtzman stands and lands to the body and goes back into the guard and lands more ground-and-pound to end the second. 10-9 Holtzman, 20-18 Holtzman.

They exchange punches and Holtzman gets a brief takedown. They get up and separate and trade punches before Holtzman shoots for another takedown. He doesn’t get it but has position standing against the fence. Holtzman lands an elbow and then goes back for another takedown. He gets it and is landing more punches from the top. Horcher has no takedown defense in this fight. They are stood up again and Holtzman isn’t happy again. Holtzman misses a flying knee and Horcher rocks him with a left hand but Holtzman takes the fight back down. Holtzman in half-guard and rides the fight out. It should be a clear win for him. 10-9 Holtzman, 30-27 Holtzman.

Official Result- Scott Holtzman def. Darrell Horcher by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Marlon Moraes (#7, 19-5-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Aljamain Sterling (#8, 14-2, 6-2 UFC)
Bantamweights

Sterling goes for a kick but Moraes catches the leg and tosses Sterling down, though he gets up. Moraes drops Sterling with a right hand and Moraes goes after him on the mat but Sterling grabs the arm. Moraes quickly gets out and they get to their feet. Moraes then throws a kick but his knee catches Sterling right in the jaw and Sterling goes out cold! A vicious knockout by Moraes in impressive fashion.

Official Result- Marlon Moraes def. Aljamain Sterling by knockout (knee) at 1:07 of Round 1

> Jason Knight (#15, 17-3, 4-2 UFC) vs. Gabriel Benitez (19-6, 3-2 UFC)
Featherweights

Knight comes out firing away with right hands to start. Benitez landing kicks and Knight drops Benitez for a moment with a right hand. Knight with a kick and then goes for a takedown and gets it for a moment. The referee stopped the fight and took a point away from Knight as he bit Benitez. That is a first. They get back to action and both are firing away. Benitez gets a takedown and has top position but gets to his feet and Knight follows. Benitez rocks Knight with a left hand. Benitez lands a left hand and then a leg kick. Knight goes for a takedown but it is defended. Benitez gets the round big due to the point deduction. 10-8 Benitez.

Both men land punches to start the second. Knight needs to win these two rounds. They both land combos. Knight gets a takedown but Benitez gets right back up and they clinch. Knight with another takedown but Benitez reversed position to the top.  They get to their feet and start exchanging. Benitez is more active with his striking and we have another timeout as Knight poked Benitez in the eye. They get back to action and Benitez is landing more punches and some big left hands. Knight is hurt. 10-9 Benitez, 20-17 Benitez.

Knight trying to push the action but Benitez has counters for him. Benitez lands a big head kick and then a combo. Knight lands a right hook. Benitez lands some right hands followed by a left hand. He lands some more. Knight unable to get any offense going. Knight goes for a takedown but Benitez steps aside and Knight falls to the mat. Benitez landing more combos and Knight just isn’t doing anything. Benitez with a late takedown into mount and he was throwing elbows. Knight tries for a heel hook but time runs out. 10-9 Benitez, 30-26 Benitez.

Official Result- Gabriel Benitez def. Jason Knight by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-27)

> Cub Swanson (#4, 24-7, 9-3 UFC) vs. Brian Ortega (#6, 12-0 1 NC, 4-0 1 NC UFC)
Featherweights

Swanson on the attack with leg kicks early on. Ortega looking for openings but Swanson is quick on his feet. They each tag each other with wild punches. Swanson back on the attack with leg kicks. Swanson misses a big right hand but lands a combo in return. Swanson with a hard right hand. Ortega lands a combo in return. Swanson with some right hands to the body. Swanson with a right hand then a head kick then a couple of left hands then a right to the body. Ortega grabs the neck of Swanson and drags him to the mat and has a D’arce choke locked in but Swanson survives the round. It was close. 10-9 Swanson.

Swanson back on the attack with strikes but Ortega is applying pressure and landing some. Ortega is making Swanson miss a lot of his punches. Head kick from Ortega blocked by Swanson. Swanson back to the body and just misses an elbow on the break. Swanson with some body punches and then lands an uppercut. Swanson lands a right hand and then Ortega shoots for a takedown but it is defended. Ortega grabs the neck and has a jumping guillotine choke locked in and Swanson taps out! Wow, a big submission win for Ortega as he remains undefeated.

Official Result- Brian Ortega def. Cub Swanson by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:22 of Round 2