UFC on ESPN 44 live results: Max Holloway vs. Arnold Allen
The Octagon returns to Kansas City for the first time since April 2017 with UFC on ESPN 44 from the T-Mobile Center, featuring an excellent card headlined by an exciting featherweight bout with one of the all-time greats in UFC history.
Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway looks to start another run at the title when he returns to action against the ultra-tough Arnold Allen in the five-round headliner. Holloway is fighting for the first time since a title fight loss to Alexander Volkanovski at July’s UFC 276 as he looks to start another run towards the title.
Allen has been super impressive during his UFC run as he’s undefeated inside the Octagon at 10-0 and has won twelve straight overall.
In the co-main event, it’s another fun featherweight bout as Edson Barboza takes on Billy Quarantillo. The main card also features Dustin Jacoby vs. Azamat Murzakanov, Tanner Boser vs. Ion Cutelaba, Pedro Munhoz vs. Chris Gutierrez, and fan favorite Clay Guida vs. Rafa Garcia kicking off the main card.
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> Women’s Bantamweights*- Joselyne Edwards (12-4, 3-2 UFC) vs. Lucie Pudilova (14-7, 3-5 UFC)
*Edwards missed weight by one pound
Edwards starts with a leg kick. They both throw punches. Pudilova with a combo and Edwards lands a right hand. Edwards with a leg kick and Pudilova lands a knee. Pudilova scores a takedown. Pudilova working from the top and lands a left hand. Pudilova with some big shots from the top. Pudilova stands and wanted Edwards up, but Pudilova gets right back into the half-guard. Edwards is able to get up and lands some shots and they separate. They clinch against the fence and Pudilova lands a knee. 10-9 Pudilova.
Pudilova shoots for a takedown after both throw punches and Edwards has the neck but they break. Pudilova gets a takedown and moves into side control and has head pressure. Pudilova landing some elbows. Pudilova gets the back and with the body triangle. She gets to the mount and lands some elbows. Pudilova in control from the top as the round ends and she lands more heavy elbows. 10-9 Pudilova, 20-18 Pudilova.
Edwards with a leg kick and then another. Pudilova lands a jab. Pudilova pushes it against the fence. Edwards switches position. They break and both land leg kicks. They’re trading and Edwards is getting the better of it. Edwards with a body kick. Edwards lands a right hand. She lands a leg kick. Pudilova with a right hand. Pudilova lands a nice knee and grabs the back of Edwards. Pudilova gets a brief takedown. They both land as they’re tied up. Edwards with a leg kick. 10-9 Pudilova, 30-27 Pudilova.
Official Result- Joselyne Edwards def. Lucie Pudilova by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
> Bantamweights- Aaron Phillips (12-4, 0-3 UFC) vs. Gaston Bolanos (6-3, 0-0 UFC)
Phillips with a body kick. Bolanos with a leg kick and then another. Bolanos with a high kick after Phillips lands a knee to the body. Bolanos with some leg kicks. Bolanos with some punches. Phillips lands a high kick. Bolanos with a combination. Bolanos lands a leg kick. Bolanos with a body kick and then some leg kicks. Phillips tries a flying knee and it barely lands to the body. 10-9 Bolanos.
They both land leg kicks and Phillips scores a takedown. Bolanos lands some elbows from the bottom but was getting warned about the back of the head. They get to their feet and Phillips lands a left hand after Bolanos lands. Phillips gets another takedown and goes right into the mount. Phillips gets the back and is working for a choke. Bolanos is defending. Phillips tries again but Bolanos escapes and gets to his feet. Bolanos with some leg kicks. Bolanos with a right hand as he goes into the guard of Phillips. Bolanos lands more and Phillips gets to his feet. Bolanos with a combo. They make it to the end. 10-9 Phillips, 19-19.
Bolanos with a leg kick. Bolanos with a right hand and a high kick. Bolanos gets it to the mat and lands some big shots from the top before he stands. Bolanos with some standing left hands as Phillips is on his back and Bolanos goes to the mat. They get to their feet. Bolanos with a spinning elbow. He tries again and Phillips is able to duck under and get a takedown. Phillips has the back and is landing body punches. Phillips stays on the back until the end. 10-9 Bolanos, 29-28 Bolanos.
Official Result- Gaston Bolanos def. Aaron Phillips by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
> Women’s Strawweights- Bruna Brasil (8-2-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Denise Gomes (6-2, 0-1 UFC)
Brasil with a leg kick. Gomes with a hard leg kick and lands a big right hand as they clinch. They’re tied up against the fence and Gomes lands some knees. Brasil switches positions. Gomes with a big knee. She lands an elbow. Gomes switches positions. Brasil lands a knee. They break and Gomes lands a nice right hand. Brasil with a leg kick. Gomes with an inside leg kick. Gomes scores a takedown. 10-9 Gomes.
Gomes with a combo as she’s pressing forward. Gomes misses a right hand but clinches against the fence. They break after battling. Gomes lands and Brasil goes to her back and Gomes lands some standing punches then some standing kicks. Brasil gets to her feet. Gomes drops Brasil with a right hand. Gomes landing some big shots from the top and it is stopped. Big win and finish from Gomes!
Official Result- Denise Gomes def. Bruna Brasil by TKO (punches) at 2:42 of Round 2
> Lightweights- Lando Vannata (12-6-2, 4-6-2 UFC) vs. Daniel Zellhuber (12-1, 0-1 UFC)
Vannata with some leg kicks. They trade some hard punches. They trade leg kicks. Zellhuber lands some leg kicks and Vannata lands some leg kicks then lands a body kick and back to the leg kick. Zellhuber with a combo and lands a big knee and drops Vannata to the mat. Zellhuber is landing big punches and looking for the finish. Lots and lots of punches are landing and Vannata is somehow surviving. This could’ve easily been stopped a few times. Vannata gets to his feet and they trade punches. 10-8 Zellhuber.
They trade to start and Zellhuber lands the jab. Zellhuber lands the jab and Vannata lands a leg kick. Vannata lands a big right hand. Zellhuber with a leg kick. Vannata lands another big right hand. Vannata shoots for the takedown but Zellhuber defends so Vannata abandons the attempt. Vannata lands some nice punches and kicks. 10-9 Vannata, 19-18 Zellhuber.
They trade and Vannata loses his mouth piece. They trade and Zellhuber lands some big shots before they clinch. They separate and Vannata gets his mouth piece back. They trade left hands. Vannata lands a combo. Zellhuber with a leg kick. Vannata with an uppercut. Zellhuber lands a right hand. Zellhuber with a big head kick. Vannata with a combo and a head kick. Close final round. 10-9 Zellhuber, 29-27 Zellhuber.
Official Result- Daniel Zellhuber def. Lando Vannata by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 30-27)
> Women’s Strawweights- Gillian Robertson (11-7, 8-5 UFC) vs. Piera Rodriguez (9-0, 2-0 UFC)
Robertson with some leg kicks. They both land some punches and Rodriguez with a leg kick. Robertson with a left hand. They trade and Robertson pulls guard and they go to the mat. Robertson with an elbow from the bottom. Robertson trying to sweep and grabs the leg as Rodriguez stands and gets it back down and is now working from the top. Robertson working from the top and lands some shots. 10-9 Robertson.
Robertson gets an immediate takedown to start the second. Rodriguez is attacking the arm but Robertson is trying to escape away. Robertson gets to side control. Robertson gets to the mount and lands some shots from the top. She continues to land from the top with some elbows. Rodriguez lands a few shots from the bottom. Rodriguez is cut open and Robertson lands more elbows. Robertson gets back to side control and looks for the arm but Rodriguez gets it out. Robertson back to the mount and lands some more elbows. Robertson gets the armbar in and it is stopped by the referee. Rodriguez is saying she didn’t tap or submit and Keith Peterson is saying she did. Replay shows there was one tap so Peterson is in the right.
Official Result- Gillian Robertson def. Piera Rodriguez by submission (armbar) at 4:21 of Round 2
> Light Heavyweights- Zak Cummings (24-7, 9-4 UFC) vs. Ed Herman (24-15 1 NC, 13-11 1 NC UFC)
Cummings with a combo. Herman tries a takedown but Cummings defends and then drops Herman with a left hand. Cummings lands from the top and Herman tried for an armbar as Cummings was standing. He lets Herman up. Cummings lands some more punches and they clinch. Herman tries a knee and slips and they go to the mat. Herman lands an illegal upkick and we have a timeout. They get back to action. Cummings lands a combo. Cummings with a body kick. Cummings with a couple of left hands. They trade and Cummings with a body kick. Herman lands a body shot. Cummings lands a left hand. Cummings lands late. 10-9 Cummings.
Cummings lands a left hand and they clinch. They separate. Cummings lands a left hook and Herman goes to his butt but gets up. Cummings lands a left hand. They clinch against the fence. Cummings with a leg kick and left hand and Herman slips to the mat. They trade. Herman lands a left hand. Cummings lands and Herman goes to the mat and Cummings gets on top. Cummings is landing and Herman lands another illegal upkick. Herman has a point taken away. They get back to action and Cummings with some body kicks. Cummings with some big left hands. Herman lands a left hand. 10-8 Cummings with the point deduction, 20-17 Cummings.
Cummings with some leg kicks and Herman falls to the mat. Cummings with some leg kicks. Cummings lets Herman up. They trade and Cummings lands a big left hand. Cummings lands a left hand and Herman goes down again and looks to have hurt his leg. Cummings lets Herman back up. Cummings with a leg kick and they have a wild exchange. Cummings lands a left hand. Cummings with more left hooks. Cummings rocks Herman with some punches. Cummings drops Herman with a combo and it is stopped. What a showing from Cummings!
Official Result- Zak Cummings def. Ed Herman by TKO (punches) at 4:13 of Round 3
*Both Cummings and Herman announced their retirements after the fight
> Flyweights- #4 Brandon Royval (14-6, 4-2 UFC) vs. #5 Matheus Nicolau (19-2-1, 7-1 UFC)
Both circling around early and land leg kicks. Royval drops Nicolau with a big knee and right hand and starts landing big punches and elbows and gets the stoppage! What a finish from Royval!
Official Result- Brandon Royval def. Matheus Nicolau by knockout (strikes) at 2:09 of Round 1
> Featherweights- Bill Algeo (16-7, 3-3 UFC) vs. TJ Brown (17-9, 3-3 UFC)
They’re trading a lot to start and Algeo is landing leg kicks as Brown is switching stances. Both land some combos. Algeo lands a right hand and Brown kind of slips and then Algeo scores a takedown. Brown gets to the top and is looking for the arm and the kimura. They get to their feet and are clinched along the fence. Both land some big punches. Brown connects with some right hands and is pouring it on. Brown with a right hand. Algeo lands as he circles away. Algeo with a leg kick. Brown with a combo. They trade shots late. 10-9 Brown.
Algeo with some kicks to start the second and Brown lands a right hand. Algeo with some big shots and Brown looks for the takedown. Algeo is defending but Brown briefly gets it down. They stand and Brown lands an elbow and they trade. Algeo drops Brown with a right hand and gets on top. Algeo has Brown in the crucifix and is landing left hands from the top. Algeo gets the back and locks in a rear-naked choke. Brown taps! What a finish from Algeo!
Official Result- Bill Algeo def. TJ Brown by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:40 of Round 2
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> Lightweights- Clay Guida (38-22, 18-16 UFC) vs. Rafa Garcia (15-3, 3-3 UFC)
Guida lands a right hand and Garcia lands a leg kick. Guida with a combination. Garcia lands a combo. Guida with a leg kick as Garcia lands a right hand. They trade in close range. Garcia lands a combo. Garcia lands a combo. Garcia lands a leg kick. Garcia lands a left hand. Garcia landing with more volume as both are landing inside the pocket. 10-9 Garcia.
Garcia lands a nice uppercut. Guida with a leg kick. Garcia lands inside the pocket. Garcia lands a short uppercut as Guida was rushing in. Guida lands a nice combo. Guida tries for a takedown but Garcia shakes it off and lands an elbow. Garcia lands a couple of jabs. Both land inside the pocket. Garcia is landing with more volume and Guida is cut open. Garcia lands the jab. Garcia with a combo. Garcia with a combo but Guida does land some punches. Garcia lands a right hand. 10-9 Garcia, 20-18 Garcia.
Garcia with a leg kick. Guida with a high kick and goes for a takedown but Garcia defends. Garcia lands an uppercut. They trade inside the pocket and Garcia landed a leg kick. They trade punches. Garcia lands a combo. Guida tries a takedown but Garcia defends. Garcia lands a right hand. Garcia lands a combo. Garcia landing the jab and pressing forward. They trade inside the pocket late. 10-9 Garcia, 30-27 Garcia.
Official Result- Rafa Garcia def. Clay Guida by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Bantamweights- #9 Pedro Munhoz (19-7 2 NC, 9-7 2 NC) vs. #13 Chris Gutierrez (19-3-2, 7-1-1 UFC)
Gutierrez lands some leg kicks early on. Munhoz with a body kick. Gutierrez with a leg kick. Munhoz drops Gutierrez with a left hand. Munhoz gets on top and is in the guard of Gutierrez. Munhoz working from the top and lands some good shots. Munhoz is looking to get the arm but Gutierrez gets to his feet. Munhoz has the back. They break and Munhoz lands some big punches and shots late. 10-9 Munhoz.
Gutierrez lands a leg kick. Munhoz lands some punches and they trade leg kicks. Munhoz lands a couple more. Gutierrez is still mainly landing leg kicks but there isn’t a ton of action happening in this round. Munhoz with a left hand and a leg kick. Gutierrez with a right hand. Gutierrez with some leg kicks. They trade jabs. Munhoz with a left hand to the body. Close round. 10-9 Gutierrez, 19-19.
They trade to start the third. Munhoz lands a right hand. He lands a couple of leg kicks. Munhoz lands some kicks. Gutierrez lands a right hand. Munhoz lands a leg kick. Gutierrez lands a nice left hand. Munhoz is pressing forward. They trade kicks. Munhoz with a leg kick. Gutierrez with a right hand. Munhoz with a leg kick. Gutierrez with a left hand. Munhoz lands a left hand. They trade some hard punches. Gutierrez lands an elbow. Gutierrez slips late and Munhoz ends the fight on top. Close fight. 10-9 Munhoz, 29-28 Munhoz.
Official Result- Pedro Munhoz def. Chris Gutierrez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Light Heavyweights- Tanner Boser (20-9-1, 4-4 UFC) vs. Ion Cutelaba (16-9-1 1 NC, 5-8-1 UFC)
Boser with the jab as Cutelaba lands a leg kick. Boser lands a right hand and Cutelaba lands a counter right hand. Boser with the jab. Cutelaba with a body kick. Boser lands a right hand. Boser lands the jab. Cutelaba just misses a big right hand. He lands one and Boser goes to his knees. Cutelaba lands some more punches and then scores a takedown. Cutelaba with some right hands from the top and is landing lots of punches and it is stopped. Big finish from Cutelaba.
Official Result- Ion Cutelaba def. Tanner Boser by TKO (punches) at 2:05 of Round 1
> Light Heavyweights- #13 Dustin Jacoby (18-6-1, 6-3-1 UFC) vs. #15 Azamat Murzakanov (12-0, 2-0 UFC)
Jacoby with some leg kicks. Murzakanov lands a left hand. Jacoby lands a leg kick. Murzakanov lands the jab and Jacoby with another leg kick. Murzakanov lands a combo. Murzakanov lands a jab and Jacoby stumbles back. Murzakanov pressing forward. Murzakanov lands a left hand. Murzakanov lands to the body and then a left hand to the head. Jacoby lands a leg kick. They trade and Murzakanov gets a takedown. They quickly get back to the feet. Murzakanov lands a left hand and Jacoby with a combo. 10-9 Murzakanov.
Murzakanov lands a left hand. Jacoby with a high kick. Murzakanov lands a left hand after landing to the body. Jacoby presses it against the fence and is pressuring in the clinch. They trade short knees against the fence. They break to the center. Murzakanov lands a left hand. They trade jabs. Jacoby with a leg kick. Jacoby lands a high kick. Murzakanov drops Jacoby with a punch and is teeing off late as Jacoby is hurt. Murzakanov lands several left hands but Jacoby survives the round. 10-9 Murzakanov, 20-18 Murzakanov.
They’re trading to start the third. Both land leg kicks. Jacoby lands a nice combo. Jacoby lands the jab. He lands a high kick. He lands a body kick. Jacoby lands a combination. Murzakanov lands a left hand. They tie up against the fence and Jacoby has the advantage. They separate. Jacoby shoots for the takedown and gets it after landing some punches. Jacoby landing on the mat. They get to their feet. Jacoby looking for the takedown but Murzakanov defends. They trade late. 10-9 Jacoby, 29-28 Murzakanov.
Official Result- Azamat Murzakanov def. Dustin Jacoby by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Featherweights- #14 Edson Barboza (22-11, 16-11 UFC) vs. Billy Quarantillo (17-4, 5-2 UFC)
Quarantillo immediately grabs the single leg and looks for the takedown. Quarantillo lets go as they’re clinched against the fence but the separate. Barboza with a leg kick. Quarantillo lands a right hand. Quarantillo lands the jab. Quarantillo lands a leg kick then they trade jabs. Barboza with a leg kick and a combo. Quarantillo tries for the single leg against the fence. They break. They both land right hands. Barboza then lands a knee as Quarantillo was coming in and Quarantillo dropped and was out cold. What a finish from Barboza! Wow!
Official Result- Edson Barboza def. Billy Quarantillo by knockout (knee) at 2:37 of Round 1
> Featherweights- #2 Max Holloway (23-7, 19-7 UFC) vs. #4 Arnold Allen (19-1, 10-0 UFC)
Allen with a leg kick then a kick to the nuts of Holloway and we have a timeout. They resume action. Holloway with a combo. They trade high kicks. Holloway with a combo. Allen lands a nice left hand. Holloway lands a left hand. Holloway with a body kick as Allen was throwing a punch. Holloway lands a combo. They trade leg kicks. Holloway with a spin kick and he’s landing slightly more here. Holloway with a body kick. 10-9 Holloway.
They’re both looking for openings to start the second. They trade leg kicks. Allen lands a big left hand. Allen with more big shots and lands a front kick. Allen lands another left hand. They trade combinations in close range. Holloway starting to land counter shots and lands a big body kick. Allen lands a left hand. Holloway lands a head kick. Close round. 10-9 Allen, 19-19.
They trade inside the pocket. Holloway with a solid combination. They’re both landing and Holloway is landing then circling away. Allen lands a left hand. Holloway lands a very nice combination. Holloway with a body kick after they trade punches. Both are constantly moving. They trade in close range and Holloway lands while Allen misses. Allen’s face is showing some damage. Holloway with a big body kick. Holloway with a combo as Allen was coming in. Holloway lands a spinning back fist. 10-9 Holloway, 29-28 Holloway.
They trade to start as Holloway lands. Holloway circles away as Allen is missing leg kicks. Holloway with the jab after he lands to the body. Allen is slowing down a little. Holloway with a couple of leg kicks. Holloway with a right hand to the body. They trade punches. Holloway with a combo but Allen lands a high kick. Allen is able to capitalize as Holloway stumbles and lands a high kick. Allen with a high kick but Holloway blocks it. Allen lands a straight left hand but Holloway fires back and lands a body kick. Allen lands a nice left hand. Holloway just misses a wheel kick. Holloway lands a high kick. Allen lands a left hand and Holloway fires back with an uppercut. 10-9 Holloway, 39-37 Holloway.
Allen coming forward and both are landing. Allen then lands a combo. Allen lands a nice left hand and tries to swarm but Holloway circles away. Allen lands a body kick. Holloway with a knee to the body then lands another knee and an elbow. Holloway lands a right hand. Holloway lands a body kick. They clinch against the fence. Holloway lands a body kick. Allen lands a body kick and a right hand. Allen lands a quick flurry. Holloway lands a body kick. Allen scores with the left hand. Holloway with a body kick then Allen trips him up with a leg kick. They clinch and Allen is pressuring and looking for a takedown. They break and Allen lands some big shots late and Holloway lands a big right hand late. 10-9 Allen, 48-47 Holloway.
Official Result- Max Holloway def. Arnold Allen by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)