UFC on ESPN 45 live results: Song Yadong vs. Ricky Simon

The Octagon is back inside the UFC Apex for another Las Vegas fight card with UFC on ESPN 45 — this one being headlined by a pair of top ten bantamweights looking to break into the title picture.

Eighth-ranked Song Yadong takes on tenth-ranked Ricky Simon in the five-round main event in what looks to be an exciting bout. Yadong is looking to get back into the win column after suffering a loss to Cory Sandhagen in September that ended a three-fight win streak. Simon comes into this fight having won five straight fights with three of those coming via a finish.

Also on the main card is a pair of middleweight bouts as Caio Borralho takes on Michal Oleksiejczuk while Rodolfo Vieira battles Cody Brundage. Plus, Julian Erosa takes on the debuting Fernando Padilla while Marcos Rogerio de Lima battles Waldo Cortes-Acosta.

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> Women’s Bantamweights*- Hailey Cowan (7-2, 0-0 UFC) vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth (5-0, 0-0 UFC)

*Cowan missed weight by 1.5 pounds

Cowan throwing front kicks to start. Horth lands an inside leg kick. Horth lands a body kick and follows it with a right hand. Cowan lands a combo. Horth lands a body kick. Cowan with a combo. Horth with another body kick and Cowan fires back with punches. Cowan lands a body kick then a spin kick to the body. They clinch against the fence. They separate and Cowan lands some kicks. Horth lands a head kick. Cowan rushes in with some punches and tries for a takedown but Horth defends. They’re clinched against the fence and Cowan lands an elbow. Cowan has a cut above her left eye. Cowan with a combo. 10-9 Cowan.

They clinch right away to start the second and Cowan has the advantage. They trade body shots. Horth lands a right hand as they break. They trade left hands. Cowan lands a body kick. Horth lands a right hand. Horth lands a body kick but Cowan grabs the leg and scores a takedown. Cowan lands an elbow but Horth is able to sweep to her feet and they clinch right back up. Cowan lands a knee to the body and Horth lands a right hand as they break. Horth lands another right hand. They trade kicks. Cowan lands an uppercut and they clinch against the fence. They trade knees. They break and trade right hands and Cowan gets Horth on the mat at the end. 10-9 Cowan, 20-18 Cowan.

They trade and clinch against the fence. Cowan tried for the takedown but Horth grabbed the fence. Cowan lands some knees as they’re clinched. Cowan gets a takedown but Horth scrambles and takes the back as they get to their feet. They separate and both land punches. Horth lands a hard right hand. Cowan looks gassed and is keeping her hands low. Cowan lands a left hand. Horth with a head kick and follows with a right hand. Horth lands a leg kick. They trade punches. Horth lands a body kick then a right hand. Cowan gets a takedown. She ends the fight on top. Close fight. 10-9 Horth, 29-28 Cowan.

Official Result- Jamey-Lyn Horth def. Hailey Cowan by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Bantamweights- Journey Newson (10-4 1 NC, 1-3 1 NC UFC) vs. Marcus McGhee (6-1, 0-0 UFC)

Both throwing punches and kicks but neither landing. They then trade leg kicks. McGhee lands a leg kick. McGhee tries for a flying knee but Newson grabs him though he lets go. Newson lands a right hand. He lands a left hand then a leg kick. They trade kicks. McGhee lands a left hand. They trade punches. Newson looks for the takedown and McGhee is able to scramble away. They clinch against the fence but break quickly. McGhee with a high kick. He lands a spin kick. Newson lands a right hand then a combo. Close round. 10-9 Newson.

They trade kicks. McGhee lands a right hand as Newson was rushing in. Newson lands a couple of kicks. They tie up against the fence and Newson gets a brief takedown but they get right up. McGhee drops Newson with a left hand and McGhee gets on top and get the back. McGhee looks for a choke and he has it in and Newson taps! What a debut win for McGhee!

Official Result- Marcus McGhee def. Journey Newson by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:03 of Round 2

> Women’s Bantamweights*- Stephanie Egger (8-3, 3-2 UFC) vs. Irina Alekseeva (4-1, 0-0 UFC)

*Alekseeva missed weight by four pounds

Both throwing a lot of kicks and Egger is landing more of them. Alekseeva lands a combo. Egger lands a leg kick. She lands another. Alekseeva lands a right hand. They’re trading shots in close range. Alekseeva lands some big punches. Egger gets the back and Alekseeva rolls for a leg and is looking for a kneebar. She has it locked in and Egger taps! What a finish from Alekseeva.

Official Result- Irina Alekseeva def. Stephanie Egger by submission (kneebar) at 2:11 of Round 1

> Flyweights- Cody Durden (14-4-1, 3-2-1 UFC) vs. Charles Johnson (13-4, 2-2 UFC)

They trade and scramble to the mat but get up. Durden then gets a takedown and takes the back as they stand and he is on the back of Johnson working for a choke. Durden landing left hands. Durden still working but Johnson defending and Durden gets on his feet. Durden gets a brief takedown and still has the back. Durden drags it back down for a moment. They separate. Durden lands a leg kick. Johnson lands a leg kick. They trade in close range. Durden lands a leg kick. Durden lands a body kick. Durden scores a takedown. Durden gets it down again and Johnson looks for a reverse triangle choke but time runs out. 10-9 Durden.

They trade and Johnson lands some good punches before Durden scores a takedown. Durden has the back and is working for the choke. Durden has the body triangle in and is landing punches from the back as he’s still trying to find an opening for the choke. They stand and Durden is on the back. They get to their feet and break. Durden lands a right hand. Johnson lands a left hook and a body kick. Durden lands another right hand. Johnson lands a right hand. Johnson with a body kick. Johnson lands a combo. 10-9 Durden, 20-18 Durden.

Johnson landing kicks early in the third and lands some punches. Durden attempts a takedown but Johnson defends it. Durden lands a body kick. They continue to trade and Durden lands a nice right hand and then another. Durden goes for the takedown but Johnson is able to defend. Durden backs off but lands a right hand. Durden scores the takedown. They get to their feet and Durden has the back. He gets the body triangle and is in the backpack position again on the feet. Durden still with control and pressure from the back. Durden ends the fight on the back. 10-9 Durden, 30-27 Durden.

Official Result- Cody Durden def. Charles Johnson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Heavyweights- Martin Buday (11-1, 2-0 UFC) vs. Jake Collier (13-8, 5-7 UFC)

Collier lands inside the pocket early. Collier lands a body kick and some more punches. They trade inside the pocket. Buday lands a leg kick. They trade jabs and punches. Collier lands a right hand. They trading against the fence. Both land some big shots. They separate. Collier lands a leg kick. Collier with a combo. Buday lands an uppercut. Collier landing the jab. Collier lands a combo. Collier continues to land more here. Collier lands to the body. Collier lands then they clinch. Buday lands an elbow on the break. Buday lands but Collier kicks his leg out and they go to the mat. Collier takes the back and lands a big right hand. Collier with big shots at the end. 10-9 Collier.

Buday lands an uppercut as Collier is coming forward. They trade inside the pocket and both land some good punches. Collier lands a right hand against the fence. They trade jabs. Buday starting to land more here. Collier pushes it against the fence. Buday lands inside the pocket as they get away from the fence but Collier pushes it back. They separate and Buday lands better before clinching back up. Both are exhausted. Collier lands a knee then Buday lands a knee. Buday hurts Collier with a big right hand. They clinch right back up and Buday lands a knee. They break and Collier looks wobbly but keeps it clinched. Both land body shots. 10-9 Buday, 19-19.

Buday landing more as they come to the center of the Octagon. Collier lands a leg kick and Buday counters with a combo. Buday lands an uppercut and Collier looked rocked, so Buday landed another. They clinch against the fence and Buday with another uppercut. They separate and Collier is complaining of an eye poke and we have a timeout. They get it back to action. They clinch and both land some knees. Collier pressing it against the fence. Collier lands a combo as they break. They crash to the mat and Buday is on top and landing. Collier is looking for the arm-triangle from the bottom but Buday is landing as he has the mount. Buday with punches from the top. He stands and Collier stays on his knees and Buday lands more to end it. 10-9 Buday, 29-28 Buday.

Official Result- Martin Buday def. Jake Collier by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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> Welterweights- Josh Quinlan (6-0 1 NC, 1-0 UFC) vs. Trey Waters (7-1, 0-0 UFC)

They trade and scramble to the mat, but they get up. They scramble back down to the mat but work back to the feet and Quinlan has Waters pressed against the fence. Quinlan lands as they break. Waters lands the jab. Quinlan lands a leg kick. Waters scores with a left hook. Waters lands a combo. Quinlan with some more leg kicks. Waters with some jabs. Waters lands a right hand. They trade and Quinlan scores a takedown. 10-9 Waters.

Quinlan lands a left hand that hurts Waters and they trade in close range. Waters lands the jab. He continues to poke with the jab. Waters lands a combo. They trade and Waters lands the jab. Quinlan lands a leg kick then Waters lands some counter punches. Quinlan lands a leg kick and tries for a takedown but Waters defends. They trade and Waters lands a combo. Waters lands a right hand. Waters lands a leg kick. Waters lands a nice right hand. Quinlan lands a leg kick that hurts Waters. Waters lands a combo and they go to the mat at the end. 10-9 Waters, 20-18 Waters.

They’re trading to start the third. They’re trading in close range and Waters lands some big shots. Quinlan’s face is showing some good damage. Quinlan lands a leg kick. Waters lands a combo as Quinlan was coming forward. Quinlan lands a right hand. Quinlan shoots for the takedown but Waters defends. Waters lands a big right hand and Quinlan is hurt. Quinlan throws a combo but Waters lands a right hand. Waters lands a right hand. They trade and Waters scores a takedown. They get up but go right back down at the end. 10-9 Waters, 30-27 Waters.

Official Result- Trey Waters def. Josh Quinlan by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Heavyweights- Marcos Rogerio de Lima (20-8-1, 9-6 UFC) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (9-0, 2-0 UFC)

de Lima lands some leg kicks then attacks the body. Cortes-Acosta lands a combo. de Lima with another hard calf kick. de Lima with some leg kicks. de Lima with some more shots and he scores a takedown but they get to their feet. Cortes-Acosta with a body kick. They both land before clinching. Cortes-Acosta lands some knees. They break. de Lima with a hard leg kick. Cortes-Acosta lands the jab. de Lima with more leg kicks. Cortes-Acosta with a spin kick. They clinch against the fence. 10-9 de Lima.

de Lima with a leg kick. He lands lots more leg kicks. He’s landing more leg kicks. de Lima shoots and scores the takedown against the fence. He’s in the half-guard and lands some punches. de Lima trying to work to the mount. They get to their feet and de Lima still has the back. de Lima gets it back to the ground and is working from inside the guard of Cortes-Acosta. They get to their feet and Cortes-Acosta lands a punch. de Lima with another leg kick. Cortes-Acosta lands a combo. de Lima tries for a takedown against the fence. They break and Cortes-Acosta with a right hand. 10-9 de Lima, 20-18 de Lima.

They trade to start the third. de Lima with another leg kick. They trade inside leg kicks. de Lima not doing much here as he’s tired. Cortes-Acosta with a combo but de Lima covers up. de Lima with another hard leg kick. Cortes-Acosta lands a right hand after several jabs. They trade left hooks. Cortes-Acosta lands a combo. Cortes-Acosta with more jabs. de Lima shoots for the takedown but Cortes-Acosta is defending. They trade at the end. 10-9 Cortes-Acosta, 29-28 de Lima.

Official Result- Marcos Rogerio de Lima def. Waldo Cortes-Acosta by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Featherweights- Julian Erosa (28-10, 6-6 UFC) vs. Fernando Padilla (14-4, 0-0 UFC)

Erosa with a leg kick and left hook to start. They trade punches. Padilla lands a leg kick. Erosa scores with the jab. They trade inside the pocket and Padilla lands a nice jab. Padilla with the teet kick. Padilla rocks Erosa with a big combo and then buckles him with a right hand. Erosa gets up and Padilla lands a right hand and it is stopped and Erosa is upset. He seemed like he was okay and this is a questionable stoppage. I think it was a little early but Padilla gets the win regardless.

Official Result- Fernando Padilla def. Julian Erosa by TKO (punches) at 1:41 of Round 1

> Middleweights- Rodolfo Vieira (8-2, 3-2 UFC) vs. Cody Brundage (8-3, 2-2 UFC)

Brundage landing punches and he has Vieira in trouble. Brundage with some big shots and Vieira is covering up and tries to get the takedown. They’re clinched against the fence as Vieira is trying hard to get it down. We have a timeout for a groin strike on Vieira. They get back to action and Vieira has a cut open. He lands a leg kick. Brundage drops Vieira with a right hand and gets on top and is landing. Vieira looking to sweep as he’s eating punches. Vieira gets the back of Brundage with a hook in and is landing punches. Vieira lands more at the end. 10-9 Brundage.

Vieira shoots right in for a takedown as he has the single leg. Brundage has the neck and is looking for a guillotine choke. Vieira gets his neck out and is on top. Vieira looking for the arm-triangle choke. Brundage is trying to fight it off. It is in tight and Brundage taps! What a comeback from Vieira after nearly getting finished.

Official Result- Rodolfo Vieira def. Cody Brundage by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 1:28 of Round 2

> Middleweights- Caio Borralho (13-1 1 NC, 3-0 UFC) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (18-5 1 NC, 6-3 1 NC UFC)

Oleksiejczuk just misses a left hand. Borralho lands a body kick then a leg kick. Oleksiejczuk lands some to the body and head. Borralho lands a leg kick as Oleksiejczuk lands a left hand. Oleksiejczuk with some body shots and lands a left to the jaw. Oleksiejczuk lands another left hand. They trade as Borralho lands a couple of leg kicks. Borralho shoots for the takedown but Oleksiejczuk defends. They trade and Borralho looks for the takedown and lands a knee as they break the clinch. Oleksiejczuk lands a left hand. We have a timeout for a groin strike. They get back to action and Borralho lands a jumping knee. Oleksiejczuk lands a combo to the body. Oleksiejczuk rushes in with some punches. Borralho lands to the body. Borralho gets the back and scores a takedown. They go to the fence. He lands and lands some knees to the body. 10-9 Borralho.

They trade to open the second. Borralho gets the takedown. They get right to their feet. Borralho gets the mount and lands some shots from the top. Borralho now has the back with the body triangle in. He’s landing left hands as Oleksiejczuk is trapped. Borralho gets the rear-naked choke locked in and Oleksiejczuk taps! Big finish for Borralho as he looked impressive here.

Official Result- Caio Borralho def. Michal Oleksiejczuk by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:49 of Round 2

> Bantamweights- #8 Song Yadong (19-7-1 1 NC, 8-2-1 UFC) vs. #10 Ricky Simon (20-3, 8-2 UFC)

Simon with a high kick. They’re now feeling each out now. Simon shoots for a takedown but Song defends it easily and lands a leg kick. Song lands a right hand. Simon lands a leg kick. Song lands a hard body kick. Simon lands a right hand. Song with a leg kick. Simon lands a combo. Simon ducks under a right hand and they clinch. They separate. Simon lands a right hand. Song lands the jab. Simon with the double jab followed by a right hand. Simon lands a jab. Close round. 10-9 Song.

They trade jabs. Simon lands the jab. Song with a combo and Simon goes down for a moment but gets up. Song has the neck but Simon turns it into a takedown and is in side control. They scramble up and break. It was a clash of heads that knocked Simon down. Song lands a left hand. He lands another. Song lands a left hand to the body. Song with a combo. Simon is circling away. Simon with a body kick. Song lands a leg kick. Song lands a left hand to the body. Simon scores a takedown. He lands some big hammerfists from the top at the end. 10-9 Song, 20-18 Song.

They trade to start and Song lands a left hand right to the groin of Simon and we have a timeout. They get back to action and Song lands some leg kicks. They trade leg kicks. Simon shoots for the takedown but Song defends easily. Simon lands a right hand. They trade left hands. Song hurt Simon with his left hand. Song lands a nice right hand. Song backs Simon up with a combo. They both miss head kicks. 10-9 Song, 30-27 Song.

Simon tries a flying knee but it doesn’t work out. Song lands a combo to the body. Song lands a right hand. Song lands a stiff jab. Simon shoots for the takedown but Song defends. Song lands a combo. Simon is still circling away. Song pressing forward and lands a right hand followed by two leg kicks. They trade right hands. Song lands a body kick and Simon tries a takedown but Song gets away. Song lands to the body. Simon lands a straight left hand. Song drops Simon late with a left hand but time runs out before he can capitalize. 10-9 Song, 40-36 Song.

Song with a leg kick as Simon lands a jab. Simon lands a right hand. Song lands a big right hand that hurts Simon. Song follows with a leg kick. Song drops Simon again with a left hand. Song gets on top and is landing and has the back and keeps landing and it is stopped! Big finish for Song Yadong to get the win!

Official Result- Song Yadong def. Ricky Simon by TKO (punches) at 1:10 of Round 5