UFC on ESPN 42 live results: Stephen Thompson vs. Kevin Holland

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC on ESPN 42: Thompson vs. Holland, emanating from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.

The UFC kicks off three straight weeks of events to close out their 2022 schedule as the Octagon returns to Orlando for the first time since February 2018 with an exciting welterweight main event and a deep card overall.

Former welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson returns from nearly a year-long layoff looking to end a losing skid as he takes on Kevin Holland in the five-round headline bout. Thompson has lost his last two, but a win here would keep him right in the title mix. Holland enters his third UFC main event looking to rebound from a loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 279 in September.

The rest of the main card is filled with exciting match-ups. Bryan Barberena takes on former UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael Dos Anjos in the welterweight co-main event. Flyweight contenders Matheus Nicolau and Matt Schnell square off, as do heavyweight sluggers Tai Tuivasa and Sergei Pavlovich, while middleweight contender Jack Hermansson battles surging contender Roman Dolidze. The prelims are filled with lots of notable fighters, including Clay Guida, Darren Elkins, Niko Price, Michael Johnson and Angela Hill.

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.

ESPN PRELIMS | 7 PM ET/4 PM PT

> Women’s Strawweights- Yazmin Jauregui (9-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Istela Nunes (6-3 1 NC, 0-2 UFC)

Jauregui lands a right hand and is pressuring. Nunes drops Jauregui with a big right hand and tries to get on top but Jauregui stands and they clinch before breaking. Nunes slips after trying a kick. Jauregui lands a nice left hand after Nunes landed a right hand. Nunes with a knee to the body after they clinch. Jauregui gets a brief takedown and Nunes just misses a head kick as they got right to their feet. They trade and Nunes lands a counter left hand. Jauregui lands a solid right hand and lands another. Nunes with a knee to the body. Jauregui lands a left at the end. 10-9 Nunes.

Jauregui lands a right hand. She lands a leg kick. Jauregui lands a nice combo and drops Nunes with a right hand. Nunes gets up but is hurt bad and they clinch. Jauregui lands a couple of nice elbows as they break. Jauregui drops Nunes again with a right hand and is landing from the top. Jauregui in the guard of Nunes and lands some more right hands. Jauregui landing big hammerfists. Jauregui landing a lot of punches and Nunes is bleeding and hurting. More punches and Keith Peterson stops it. What a showing from Jauregui!

Official Result- Yazmin Jauregui def. Istela Nunes by TKO (punches) at 4:06 of Round 2

> Featherweights- Marcelo Rojo (16-8, 0-2 UFC) vs. Francis Marshall (6-0, 0-0 UFC)

Marshall lands a jab and Rojo lands a right hand and a leg kick. Rojo lands a left hook. He lands a leg kick and Marshall comes forward with a combo. Rojo lands a right hand. Rojo with a leg kick. Marshall tries a takedown but Rojo lands an elbow then Marshall lands a combo and drops Rojo with a right hand. They stand and are tied up against the fence. Marshall tries a takedown but Rojo grabs the fence. He then did it again but the referee isn’t taking points away. Marshall gets the takedown. Marshall is in side control. Marshall lands some elbows to the body. Rojo with some back elbows late. 10-9 Marshall.

They’re trading solid punches to start the second and Rojo lands a leg kick. We have a timeout for a groin strike on Marshall. They get back to action and are trading punches and Marshall drops Rojo with a right hand and Rojo is out cold as Marshall jumps on top and lands a few more shots. What a finish and debut from Marshall!

Official Result- Francis Marshall def. Marcelo Rojo by knockout (punches) at 1:14 of Round 2

> Lightweights- Natan Levy (7-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Genaro Valdez (10-1, 0-1 UFC)

Levy barely misses a head kick. Levy with a leg kick. Valdez with a couple of leg kicks. Levy with a leg kick. Levy with a body kick after Valdez lands a right hand. Valdez lands a right hand. They trade leg kicks. Levy rocks Valdez with a right hand and follows it up with some shots but Valdez seems to recover. Levy lands a head kick that briefly puts Valdez down. Levy with a body kick that hurts Valdez badly. Valdez lands a left hand. Levy with another body kick but the referee calls it a low blow. It was close. They get back but the round ends. 10-9 Levy.

Valdez pressing forward and lands a leg kick. Levy with a body kick. Valdez lands a combo. Valdez lands a body kick. Valdez lands a combo and has Levy in trouble as he gets Levy against the fence but Levy escapes. Levy with a body kick. Levy with a glancing head kick. Levy looks for a takedown as he has the back. Levy gets the takedown. Valdez works to the fence and lands an elbow as Levy is trying to get better posture. They get to their feet late and Levy lands a body kick. 10-9 Levy, 20-18 Levy.

The doctor checks the right foot of Valdez, which is very swollen. Levy with some low kicks. They clinch and Valdez lands a short elbow before they break. We have a timeout for a groin strike. They get back to action. Levy with a body kick. Valdez lands a nice combo. Levy lands a front kick to the face. Levy lands a solid combination. Levy tries a takedown but Valdez escapes. Levy gets the takedown. They get to their feet at the fence. Levy drags it back down. They get to the fence and Levy has back control as they get to their feet. Valdez grabs the fence yet again, this time very badly but Levy gets a late suplex as the fight ends. 10-9 Levy, 30-27 Levy.

Official Result- Natan Levy def. Genaro Valdez by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

> Featherweights- Darren Elkins (27-10, 17-9 UFC) vs. Jonathan Pearce (13-4, 4-1 UFC)

Pearce with some front kicks to the face and Elkins goes for the takedown and gets it. They scramble to their feet and Elkins has the back and drags it back down. They scramble up and Pearce has the neck. They break and Elkins is already bleeding. Elkins with a combo. Pearce with more front kicks. Pearce lands a big right hand and just misses a flying knee. Elkins slips as he misses a right hand but lands one after he stands. They trade punches. Pearce doing lots of damage here. Pearce gets a takedown. Pearce gets into the guard of Elkins late. 10-9 Pearce.

Elkins tries for a takedown to start the second. Elkins lands a right hand as they break. Pearce with a front kick and Elkins lands a right hand. Elkins lands a combo. Pearce lands a jab. They trade inside the pocket. Pearce slips and Elkins grabs the body and tries a takedown but Pearce grabbed the fence. They are still scrambling and Pearce lands some elbows and ends up on top. Pearce with a big elbow then a ton of short punches. Pearce with lots of punches from the top. Pearce working in the guard of Elkins and lands a massive elbow. He lands more and Elkins is bleeding badly. Pearce with left hands from the top. Pearce with more big shots from the top. 10-8 Pearce, 20-17 Pearce.

They both land to start the third. Elkins with a right hand as Pearce lands a leg kick. Pearce gets a takedown and Elkins has a bad cut open from an elbow and we have a timeout to check the cut. They let it go as Elkins says he can see and he gets a big reaction from the crowd. Pearce lands a right hand. Pearce with a front kick. Elkins is a bloody mess. They trade punches. They trade in close range. Elkins lands a right hand. Pearce lands a big elbow and gets a late takedown. Great showing from Pearce. 10-9 Pearce, 30-26 Pearce.

Official Result- Jonathan Pearce def. Darren Elkins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

> Lightweights- Michael Johnson (20-18, 12-14 UFC) vs. Marc Diakiese (16-5, 7-5 UFC)

Diakiese tried a flying knee that missed. Diakiese with a leg kick. Diakiese shoots for a takedown but Johnson defends. Diakiese with two leg kicks. Diakiese with a body kick. Diakiese lands a calf kick. Diakiese with a spin kick to the body. Diakiese with a leg kick. Diakiese lands another leg kick and Johnson lands a combo. Diakiese lands a combo. Diakiese lands the jab. Diakiese lands a leg kick and slips to the mat and Johnson jumps into the guard and Diakiese looked for a triangle choke but they scramble up. They trade punches. 10-9 Diakiese.

Diakiese with a body kick. They trade and we have a timeout for an eye poke but they get back to action. Diakiese tried a cartwheel kick and Johnson grabbed the back but they separated. Diakiese with some leg kicks. Johnson lands a left to the body and then a leg kick. Johnson lands a solid right hand. Johnson lands a nice combination. They trade late. 10-9 Johnson, 19-19.

Johnson with some body shots as they clinch. They trade knees before breaking. Diakiese with a leg kick. Diakiese shoots for a takedown but Johnson sprawls. Diakiese with a leg kick. Johnson with a left hand to the body. Johnson lands a nice right hand as they both connect. Johnson lands a jab. Johnson lands a left hand. Diakiese misses a flying knee and Johnson lands a combo. Johnson lands a nice jab. Diakiese tried a rolling front kick and Johnson lands a punch. He tried it again and Johnson gets a late slam takedown. 10-9 Johnson, 29-28 Johnson.

Official Result- Michael Johnson def. Marc Diakiese by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

> Lightweights- Clay Guida (37-22, 17-16 UFC) vs. Scott Holtzman (14-5, 7-5 UFC)

Holtzman with a leg kick. He lands another heavy one. They trade left hands. Guida with a combo. Holtzman with a leg kick. They trade punches. Guida with a leg kick. Holtzman lands a head kick. Holtzman with a body kick. Holtzman lands a right hand. Guida lands a combo. They trade punches. Guida lands a big right hand late. Close round. 10-9 Holtzman.

Guida gets an early takedown but they scramble up and Guida has the back against the fence. Holtzman lands an elbow as they stand and break. Both throw wildly inside the pocket. Guida tries for a takedown as he pushes it against the fence. Guida gets a big slam takedown. They get to their feet and Holtzman lands an elbow. They trade right hands. Guida shoots for a takedown but Holtzman sprawls away. Guida with a left hand followed by a body kick. They both land combos. Holtzman with a right hand and Guida lands a left hand. Guida grabs the back and is looking for the takedown. Holtzman grabbed the fence a couple of times as Guida went for a takedown. 10-9 Guida, 19-19.

They’re trading to start the second. Holtzman lands a flurry of right hands. They’re both landing as they’re looking to empty the gas tank. Guida with two right hands. Holtzman lands a right hand. Guida with a combo. Holtzman lands a combo. Guida grabs the back and is looking for the takedown. Guida with some knees to the thighs of Holtzman. They’re scrambling as Guida is trying for the takedown. Guida gets the big slam takedown. Guida in the guard of Holtzman. Guida moves to side control and lands a knee to the body. They scramble up. They break and Guida gets another takedown. Guida has the back as they stand but Guida gets it back down as Holtzman grabs the fence. Guida has the back as they stand. Good fight. 10-9 Guida, 29-28 Guida.

Official Result- Clay Guida def. Scott Holtzman by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

> Women’s Strawweights- #12 Angela Hill (14-12, 9-12 UFC) vs. #13 Emily Ducote (12-6, 1-0 UFC)

Hill with a leg kick. Ducote with a combo. Hill with a high kick. They trade in close range. Hill with a combo and a body kick. Hill with a high kick. Hill the one pressuring. They trade right hands. Hill with a combo ending with a nice right hand. Hill with a body kick. Hill lands a leg kick and follows with a right hand to the body. Ducote lands a right hand. They trade leg kicks. Hill with a combination. 10-9 Hill.

Ducote lands a right hand. Hill lands a combo and they clinch with Hill landing a knee before they break. Hill with a leg kick. She then lands a combo. Hill with some knees to the body as they tie up. They exchange in close range. Ducote went for a takedown but Hill defends and lands some knees. Hill with a solid combo. Hill with a couple of knees and an elbow. Hill with a body kick. 10-9 Hill, 20-18 Hill.

They trade in close range to start the third. Hill with a leg kick. Hill lands a combination. Ducote lands a right hand. She lands another and Hill lands a leg kick. They trade to the body. Hill with a combo ending with a high kick. Hill with some combos inside the pocket as she pressures Ducote. They clinch and Hill with some knees to the body. Ducote with a leg kick. Hill with another combo and more knees in the clinch. Hill with some body shots. They continue to trade as the crowd is doing the wave. Ducote lands a right hand. They trade elbows and knees late. 10-9 Hill, 30-27 Hill.

Official Result- Angela Hill def. Emily Ducote by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

ESPN MAIN CARD | 10 PM ET/1 PM PT

> Welterweights*- Niko Price (15-5 2 NC, 7-5 2 NC UFC) vs. Phil Rowe (9-3, 2-1 UFC)

*Rowe missed weight by 2.5 pounds

They trade leg kicks. Price with a right hand. Price with a flurry of punches. Rowe with the jab after landing a flying knee. Price lands a right hand. Price with a flurry against the fence. Rowe lands a right hand. Rowe rocks Price with a right hand. They exchange kicks. Rowe with the jab. They trade right hands. Price lands a right hand. Rowe with a left hand and follows it with a right hand. 10-9 Rowe.

We have a brief timeout early for a groin strike. Price goes on the attack as they get back to action landing a leg kick and pressing forward. They clinch for a moment but break and Rowe lands a right hand. Price gets a brief takedown but they get right up. Rowe lands a big right hand. Rowe with the jab as Price lands a leg kick. Price tries for a takedown but Rowe easily stuffs it. Rowe with a combo. They trade jabs and Price with a right hand. Rowe grabs the neck but Price rolls out of trouble. Rowe gets the back on the mat and has the body triangle locked in. Rowe looking for a choke. Price fights it off. They get to their feet. They trade right hands. 10-9 Rowe, 20-18 Rowe.

Price coming forward to start the third. Price with a combo. Price lands some shots that hurt Rowe. Price with a knee and then some punches and Rowe is retreating. Price lands and Rowe goes to the mat. Price lands from the top. Price in the half-guard and landing. He lands a big elbow. They get to their feet. Price with a combo and a body kick. Rowe lands a right hand. Rowe lands a jab and then some right hands hurt Price. Rowe with a big knee and Price goes to the mat. Rowe with a big flurry and Price is in trouble and it is stopped! What a finish by Rowe in a great ending to the fight.

Official Result- Phil Rowe def. Niko Price by TKO (punches) at 3:26 of Round 3

> Middleweights- Eryk Anders (14-7 1 NC, 6-7 1 NC UFC) vs. Kyle Daukaus (11-3 1 NC, 2-3 1 NC UFC)

Daukaus with a leg kick. Daukaus with a jab. They trade punches. Anders with some left hands and Daukaus lands a knee. Daukaus lands a nice jab. Daukaus tries a high kick and Anders grabs the leg and gets it to the mat. Daukaus gets up. Anders with a leg kick and then another. Anders drops Daukaus with a left hand and Anders lands from the top but Daukaus is trying to get up. They both land in close range. Daukaus with a combo. Anders lands a left hand. Daukaus with a body kick. Anders with a combo to the body. Anders with a combo. Clash of heads and Daukaus goes down and we have a timeout. They get back to action and Anders hurts Daukaus late. 10-9 Anders.

They come out trading to start the second and Daukaus shoots for a takedown. Daukaus trying hard for it but Anders is defending and landing to the body. Anders with some hammerfists as he’s defending and he gets away. Daukaus lays on his back and Anders is standing. Anders with some punches from the top as he lands to the body then the head. Daukaus is ordered up. Daukaus with a leg kick. Anders rocks Daukaus and Daukaus goes for a takedown and Anders is landing from the top. Anders with lots of shots from the top and it is stopped. Big finish from Anders.

Official Result- Eryk Anders def. Kyle Daukaus by TKO (punches) at 2:45 of Round 2

> Middleweights- #8 Jack Hermansson (23-7, 10-5 UFC) vs. Roman Dolidze (11-1, 5-1 UFC)

Hermansson with some quick leg kicks. Hermansson with a high kick then back to leg kicks. Dolidze lands a left hand. Hermansson connects with a left hand. He goes back to the leg kick. Hermansson gets a takedown and Dolidze has the neck looking for a guillotine choke. Hermansson pops out and is in the guard of Dolidze. Dolidze sweeps to the top but they get to their feet. Hermansson working for a takedown against the fence. They break. Hermansson with a couple of kicks. Hermansson lands a right hand then a body kick. Hermansson with a leg kick. 10-9 Hermansson.

They’re trading to start the second. Hermansson lands a right hand. Hermansson with a leg kick. Dolidze with a left hand to the body. Hermansson with a body kick. He lands another. Dolidze with very low output here in the first half of the fight. Hermansson with a right hand to the body. Hermansson scores a takedown. Dolidze looking to sweep and for the armbar. Dolidze now working for a reverse triangle choke but Hermansson escapes. Dolidze now gets the back and has a calf slicer in and is landing punches from the back. Dolidze gets the finish! Wow, what a reversal to get the finish.

Official Result- Roman Dolidze def. Jack Hermansson by TKO (punches) at 4:06 of Round 2

> Heavyweights- #4 Tai Tuivasa (15-4, 8-4 UFC) vs. #5 Sergei Pavlovich (16-1, 4-1 UFC)

Pavlovich with a big combo to start and Tuivasa returns fire. Pavlovich drops Tuivasa with a punch and Tuivasa gets back up. Pavlovich drops him again but Tuivasa gets up. Pavlovich with big punches and Tuivasa goes back down and it is over. Pavlovich with the big finish and Tuivasa is cut open badly. Big win for Pavlovich.

Official Result- Sergei Pavlovich def. Tai Tuivasa by knockout (punches) at :54 of Round 1

> Flyweights- #6 Matheus Nicolau (18-2-1, 6-1 UFC) vs. #7 Matt Schnell (16-7 1 NC, 6-4 1 NC UFC)

Both are looking for openings. Schnell lands a right hand after Nicolau lands. Nicolau with a leg kick. Schnell lands a left hand. Schnell with a body kick. Nicolau with a low kick. They trade jabs. Nicolau drops Schnell with a left hand and lands some big elbows before they get to their feet. Nicolau lands a combo. Nicolau with a leg kick. 10-9 Nicolau.

Schnell pressing forward as he lands a right hand. Schnell lands another. Nicolau lands a punch and forces Schnell down to the mat. Nicolau gets into the guard of Schnell. They stand. Nicolau rocks Schnell with a left hand. Nicolau drops Schnell with a right hand and some follow-up shots end it all. Big finish for Nicolau.

Official Result- Matheus Nicolau def. Matt Schnell by knockout (punches) at 1:44 of Round 2

> Welterweights- Bryan Barberena (18-8, 9-6 UFC) vs. #7 LW Rafael Dos Anjos (31-14, 20-12 UFC)

Barberena pressuring with kicks to start. Barberena still throwing kicks and Dos Anjos grabs the leg and pushes it against the fence looking to get it down as they’re clinched. Dos Anjos gets it down. Dos Anjos looking for the arm-triangle choke as he’s trying to get his leg out on the other side but the fence is blocking him. He lets go but is in mount and lands some punches. Dos Anjos with big body shots from the top. Barberena with short shots from the bottom as Dos Anjos retains the mount. Barberena trying to work his way up but Dos Anjos is dominating from the top. Dos Anjos finishes the round on top. 10-9 Dos Anjos.

Barberena with some kicks and they clinch against the fence. Dos Anjos gets the body lock and is working for the takedown. Dos Anjos working hard to get it down but Barberena has been able to keep it or get back to his feet. Dos Anjos gets the full takedown and is in the half-guard. Dos Anjos with some body shots from the top. Dos Anjos gets the back and is working for a choke but it’s on the chin. He has it locked in and Barberena taps! Big finish for Dos Anjos in his return to welterweight.

Official Result- Rafael Dos Anjos def. Bryan Barberena by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:20 of Round 2

> Welterweights- #6 Stephen Thompson (16-6-1, 11-6-1 UFC) vs. Kevin Holland (23-8 1 NC, 10-5 1 NC UFC)

They both throw kicks. Thompson lands a left hand as they tie up against the fence. They break. Holland with a leg kick. Thompson with a leg kick then Holland throws one. They tie up and Holland with a few left hands before breaking. Thompson with a big left hand. Holland with a leg kick. They trade punches. Holland rocks Thompson with a punch and lands a knee. Thompson lands a left hand. Holland rocks Thompson with a big right hand. Thompson lands a left and just misses a head kick. They tie up and trade knees and Holland lands big elbows before they break. Thompson with a head kick. They trade punches. Thompson lands a big right hand. Holland with some kicks. Holland lands some kicks. Fun round. 10-9 Holland.

They trade leg kicks to start the second. Thompson with a big head kick. Thompson with a flurry of punches. Holland lands some leg kicks. Holland lands a right hand. Thompson with another head kick and Holland is barely blocking them. Thompson with a flurry against the fence and Holland lands a knee. They trade kicks. Thompson lands a left hand. Holland briefly gets it down but stands and wants Thompson up. Thompson with a body kick. Thompson lands a left hand. Thompson seemingly landing better in this round. Thompson with a body kick. Holland lands a shot and Thompson slips and now Thompson lands a flurry. Thompson with a high kick and lands a big flurry that has Holland hurts. Holland lands a right hand. 10-9 Thompson, 19-19.

They trade kicks. Holland with a body kick. They trade leg kicks. Thompson with a jumping switch kick. Thompson with a left hand and then another. They briefly scramble to the mat after tangling together but get right to their feet. Thompson with a combo. Holland with a leg kick. Thompson lands a left hand. Both land some shots before they clinch up. They break. Thompson lands a nice right hand. Thompson lands a combo against the fence. They clinch but break. Holland just misses then Thompson lands a big combination against the fence. Thompson with a body kick. Thompson lands a right hand. Thompson with a spin kick. 10-9 Thompson, 29-28 Thompson.

Thompson with a side kick then an axe kick. They clinch against the fence for a moment and don’t do anything as they clashed heads. They break and clinch back up after both land kicks. They break. Thompson with a body kick then a left hand. Holland with a leg kick and Thompson with a big body kick. He lands another then a combination and Holland tries for a takedown. The fight is suddenly stopped while they’re clinched and everyone thinks it’s a finish but it’s actually a timeout for a groin strike. This got weird but they get back to action. Thompson with a body kick. Thompson with a wheel kick to the head. Thompson with a big combo. Thompson landing lots of big punches. Thompson with a side kick. Thompson with some leg kicks. They trade big punches. Thompson lands a big combo and Holland goes down. Thompson is on top landing big shots as the round ends. 10-8 Thompson, 39-36 Thompson.

Holland’s corner calls off the fight after the fourth round due to Holland suffering a hand injury during the fight. Excellent call by the corner. Big win for Thompson and this was an absolutely tremendous fight.

Official Result- Stephen Thompson def. Kevin Holland by TKO (corner stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 4