UFC on ESPN 54 live results: Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorot

The UFC closes out a busy month of March with a return to Atlantic City, New Jersey, for the first time in six years for UFC on ESPN 54 from the famed Boardwalk Hall.

The main event is a pivotal bout in the women’s flyweight division as second-ranked Erin Blanchfield takes on third-ranked Manon Fiorot. Both are on long win streaks as Blanchfield has won nine straight while Fiorot has won eleven straight. The winner is expected to earn a title shot at against current champion Alexa Grasso.

The co-main event sees an exciting matchup in the welterweight division as Vicente Luque takes on Joaquin Buckley. Also on the main card is former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman looking to get back into the win column against knockout artist Bruno Silva; middleweights Nursulton Ruziboev and Sedriques Dumas squaring off; and Bill Algeo taking on Kyle Nelson in featherweight action.

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> Bantamweights- Angel Pacheco (7-2, 0-0 UFC) vs. Caolan Loughran (8-1, 0-1 UFC)

Pacheco lands a leg kick. Pacheco lands a jab then Loughran lands a stiff right hand. Pacheco lands to the body. Loughran lands a right hand. Pacheco lands a leg kick. Loughran with an overhand right. Loughran with another right hand as Pacheco lands a leg kick. Loughran lands a hard right hand. He lands another. Loughran with another right hand. Loughran lands a left hook then an uppercut. Pacheco with a jab and leg kick then back to the jab. Loughran lands an uppercut then a big right hand. Loughran with a flurry against the fence. Loughran with a combination. Pacheco with a couple of jabs and lands to the body as Loughran lands a counter right hand. They trade late. 10-9 Loughran.

Pacheco lands a left hook and Loughran lands back with some big right hands. Pacheco lands a jab. Pacheco lands a right hand and Loughran lands one before getting a takedown. Loughran takes the back against the fence. Loughran has the body triangle and is looking for a choke. Loughran starts pouring on right hands and is landing a lot of them but it keeps going. Loughran keeps the back and starts landing more punches. Loughran continues to land as he moves to the half-guard. They get to their feet and Loughran lands an elbow on the break. Loughran with a leg kick. Pacheco lands a body kick. They clinch at the end. 10-9 Loughran, 20-18 Loughran.

Loughran lands and Pacheco lands and lands awkwardly on his leg and his ankle is hurt. Loughran with a flurry of punches and lands a pair of leg kicks. Loughran with a combo to the body followed by a right hand. Loughran looks for a takedown against the fence. They separate. Loughran lands a combo. Loughran continues to land and Pacheco lands a jumping knee. Loughran with a pair of right hands and gets a takedown. They get to their feet and Loughran lands an elbow. Loughran with a leg kick then a right hand. Loughran with a leg kick followed by a jab. Pacheco lands a left hand that hurts Loughran and then lands a flying knee but Loughran is able to get a takedown from it. They get up and Loughran with a combo. 10-9 Loughran, 30-27 Loughran.

Official Result- Caolan Loughran def. Angel Pacheco by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

> Middleweights- Andre Petroski (10-2, 5-1 UFC) vs. Jacob Malkoun (7-3, 3-3 UFC)

They trade and Malkoun makes Petroski stumble after landing a jab. Petroski misses a head kick and lands a leg kick as he eats a right hand from Malkoun. Petroski lands a left hand as Malkoun lands a jab and right hand. Malkoun presses forward and lands. Petroski lands a left hand and Malkoun briefly falls to the mat but quickly gets up. Malkoun looks for a takedown as he pushes it against the fence. They separate. Petroski with a leg kick. Malkoun lands a right hand. Petroski with a high kick and Malkoun lands a right hand to the body. Petroski gets a takedown and they scramble. Petroski has the back but they get to their feet and separate. Close round. 10-9 Malkoun.

Petroski with a leg kick. Petroski looks for a takedown but Malkoun defends and Petroski falls to the mat after hitting his head on the hip of Malkoun. Malkoun lands with a body kick on the ground and starts landing from the top and gets the finish. Big win for Malkoun.

Official Result- Jacob Malkoun def. Andre Petroski by TKO (strikes) at :39 of Round 2

> Women’s Flyweights- Viktoriia Dudakova (8-0, 2-0 UFC) vs. Melissa Gatto (8-2-2, 2-2 UFC)

*Breaking: This fight has been cancelled after Dudakova was pulled from the fight due to medical issues.

> Light Heavyweights- Ibo Aslan (12-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Anton Turkalj (8-3, 0-3 UFC)

Aslan with a leg kick and Turkalj lands a leg kick. They continue to trade kicks. They exchange right hands. Turkalj with a body kick and Aslan catches it and lands a right hand. They trade snap jabs. Turkalj lands a right hand and they trade. Turkalj with a flying knee. Aslan with a leg kick. They trade punches. Turkalj with a leg kick. Turkalj lands a flurry as he rushes in and presses Aslan back. Aslan then lands a combination. Aslan with another winging combo. Aslan with a leg kick. 10-9 Turkalj.

They’re swinging wildly and have a wild exchange in the pocket. Aslan lands a big right hand. They trade inside the pocket again. We have a timeout for a groin strike. They get back to action. Aslan with a calf kick. Aslan lands a left hand that hurts Turkalj. Turkalj slips on a head kick but Aslan can’t take advantage. Aslan lands a right hand. Both throwing wild haymakers. Aslan with a right hand. He lands a leg kick. They trade right hands. Aslan with a big right hand. Aslan with a pair of leg kicks. 10-9 Aslan, 19-19.

Turkalj lands a right hand and a body kick. Aslan catches it and lands a right hand. Turkalj lands a right hand. Turkalj with a combo. They trade right hands. Aslan with a big right hand and Turkalj is stumbling and falls down and it is stopped! Big finish from Aslan!

Official Result- Ibo Aslan def. Anton Turkalj by TKO (punch) at 1:32 of Round 3

> Featherweights- Dennis Buzukja (11-4, 0-2 UFC) vs. Connor Matthews (7-1, 0-0 UFC)

Matthews with a body kick as Buzukja lands a left hand. They trade body and leg kicks. They trade more kicks. They trade wild punches. Matthews lands a leg kick. Buzukja lands a combo. Buzukja with a leg kick. Both throwing a lot but not landing much. Matthews lands a leg kick. Buzukja with a left hand and a leg kick. Buzukja with a leg kick. Matthews lands a body kick. Buzukja lands a left hook then a right hand. We have a timeout for a groin strike. Buzukja lands a high kick as they get back. Buzukja with a high kick. Matthews lands a right hand. Buzukja with a right hand. Buzukja with a leg kick followed by a combination. 10-9 Buzukja.

They trade leg kicks. Buzukja lands a right hand. Matthews with a combo against the fence. Buzukja lands a hook kick to get back to the center. Buzukja lands a left hand and Matthews stumbles a little. Buzukja with a combo and Matthews lands a right hand. Buzukja mixing punches and kicks as he is landing more. Buzukja lands a combo. Matthews with the jab. Buzukja with a body kick. Matthews lands a right hand. Buzukja with a left hook. They trade leg kicks. Buzukja with a left hook. Buzukja lands a big right hand. Buzukja follows with a combo. Matthews grabs the back looking to get it down but Buzukja is defending. Matthews gets the takedown. They scramble to their feet and separate. Matthews lands a right hand and Buzukja counters with a body combination. Matthews with a right hand. 10-9 Buzukja, 20-18 Buzukja.

Buzukja drops Matthews early with a left hand and starts teeing off from the top and gets the finish! Big finish for Buzukja to pick up his first UFC win.

Official Result- Dennis Buzukja def. Connor Matthews by TKO (punches) at :22 of Round 3

> Featherweights*- Julio Arce (18-6, 5-4 UFC) vs. Herbert Burns (11-4, 2-2 UFC)

*Arce missed weight by one pound

Burns pressuring early as Arce is circling around, but not much action is taking place. Burns with a body kick. Arce with a stiff jab. Burns with a high kick. Arce lands a left hand. Arce with a left hand to the body. Timeout for a groin strike by Burns. They get back to action and Burns lands a body kick and shoots for a takedown. Burns lands another knee to the groin and we have another timeout. Burns has a point taken away. They get back to action. Burns with a high kick. Burns looks for a takedown. Arce lands a knee as they break. Arce with a left hand to the body. Burns lands a right hand. He lands another as he looks for a takedown. 9-9 round due to the point deduction.

Arce hurts Burns with a right hand as Burns was rushing in. Burns lands a flying knee. They clinch and Burns lands a knee. Arce lands a knee in the clinch. Arce drops Burns with a knee but lets him up. Arce with a combo and a head kick. Arce with a big flurry against the fence and drops Burns with a left hand and it is stopped. What a finish from Arce!

Official Result- Julio Arce def. Herbert Burns by TKO (punches) at 2:00 of Round 2

> Women’s Strawweights- #5 Virna Jandiroba (19-3, 5-3 UFC) vs. #10 Loopy Godinez (12-3, 7-3 UFC)

Jandiroba lands a right hand. Jandiroba with a jab. Godinez lands a jab. They trade in close range. Jandiroba gets a takedown but Godinez is able to get to her feet. They remain clinched against the fence. Godinez with a knee. Jandiroba rolls for a leg lock. They get to their feet and trade right hands. Jandiroba with a jab. Godinez lands a right hand. Godinez lands a right hand. Jandiroba pushes it against the fence. Jandiroba drags it down and is able to get the back of Godinez. Jandiroba looked for the neck. 10-9 Jandiroba.

They trade to start the second as Godinez lands a leg kick. They trade in close range with Godinez landing more. Jandiroba lands a combo. Jandiroba looks for a takedown but Godinez ends up on top. Godinez with a hammerfist. Godinez looking for a leg lock. Jandiroba with a pair of hammerfists. She lands more hammerfists. Godinez lands a right hand from the bottom. They scramble and Jandiroba still landing. They get to their feet. They trade. 10-9 Jandiroba, 20-18 Jandiroba.

Jandiroba looking for the takedown. They are tied up against the fence. They separate. Jandiroba lands a combination. They trade before clinching up. Godinez with some knees. Godinez lands as they break. Jandiroba rushes it and lands. Godinez lands a nice left hand. Godinez lands a knee. Jandiroba shoots for a takedown but Godinez defends. They tie up against the fence and are scrambling on the mat. Jandiroba is on the back as they get to their feet. Jandiroba looking for a rear-naked choke. Jandiroba has it across the jaw and is squeezing as Godinez is bleeding. Jandiroba with punches at the end. 10-9 Jandiroba, 30-27 Jandiroba.

Official Result- Virna Jandiroba def. Loopy Godinez by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

> Featherweights- Nate Landwehr (17-5, 4-3 UFC) vs. Jamall Emmers (20-7, 3-3 UFC)

Emmers hurts Landwehr with a right hand and lands some follow-up shots but Landwehr circles away. Emmers lands to the body but falls off balanced. Emmers with more right hands. Emmers with some more hard punches. Landwehr lands a right hand. Emmers landing some big right hands and Landwehr has a big cut opened up. Landwehr lands a big right hand. Landwehr stuns Emmers with a right hand. They tie up and Landwehr with some uppercuts as Emmers lands some knees. They separate. Emmers lands a combination. Landwehr with a pair of right hands. Landwehr lands an uppercut and drops Emmers with a punch and Emmers is out! What a huge comeback from Landwehr!

Official Result- Nate Landwehr def. Jamall Emmers by knockout (punches) at 4:43 of Round 1

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> Welterweights- Chidi Njokuani (22-10 1 NC, 2-3 UFC) vs. Rhys McKee (13-5-1, 0-3 UFC)

They trade short leg kicks. Njokuani with a pair of leg kicks. McKee lands a grazing right hand. Njokuani with another leg kick. Njokuani with a leg kick as McKee lands a combo. Njokuani with more leg kicks. McKee lands a nice right hand. They exchange leg kicks and McKee with a pair of right hands. Njokuani with more kicks. McKee with a right hand and then another. They trade leg kicks. They clinch and McKee with a little dirty boxing before he pushes it to the fence. Njokuani with a knee in the clinch. He lands another. Njokuani with an elbow. They are separated by Keith Peterson. McKee with a jab. Njokuani with a body kick then a pair of leg kicks. 10-9 Njokuani.

Njokuani with a hard leg kick as McKee lands a right hand. They clinch again. Njokuani with a knee. They separate. Njokuani with an elbow followed by a knee. Njokuani with a pair of leg kicks with a jab mixed in. McKee tries for a takedown and Njokuani lands a knee to the head. Njokuani gets the back and they scramble up and are tied up against the fence. Njokuani lands a hard elbow. McKee trying hard to get it down by sweeping but Njokuani keeping it on the feet. Njokuani with an elbow. McKee lands a knee. Njokuani with more knees. 10-9 Njokuani, 20-18 Njokuani.

Njokuani with a leg kick. Njokuani tries for a takedown but they separate. Njokuani with a body kick then a leg kick. Njokuani with a knee to the body and they clinch up. They separate. Njokuani with a pair of knees. Njokuani lands a right hand. Njokuani gets the takedown. They quickly get up and Njokuani has the back. McKee lands to the body as Njokuani lands a right hand. Njokuani lands a pair of elbows as they clinch back up. They are separated. McKee trying again for the takedown. McKee lands a knee. Njokuani lands some knees as they break. Njokuani with a body kick. Njokuani with a spinning elbow. 10-9 Njokuani, 30-27 Njokuani.

Official Result- Chidi Njokuani def. Rhys McKee by split decision (28-29, 30-27, 30-27)

> Featherweights- Bill Algeo (18-7, 5-3 UFC) vs. Kyle Nelson (15-5-1, 3-4-1 UFC)

Algeo with a body kick and he keeps throwing kicks. Algeo with a leg kick and a body kick. Nelson lands a body kick. Nelson hurts Algeo with a right hand and both are swinging before they tie up against the fence. They break away. Algeo with a leg kick then a body kick. Nelson with a leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Algeo with a right hand. They trade jabs. Algeo with a spin kick. Nelson lands a left hand. Algeo with a leg kick then a right hand to the body. Nelson rocks Algeo with a right hand and swarms with big punches. Nelson lands a knee and both are swinging with wild punches. Nelson lands a big right hand and then another. Nelson with another right hand and is still landing and it is stopped on the feet. Algeo immediately protesting and it might have been early but he was eating hard punches.

Official Result- Kyle Nelson def. Bill Algeo by TKO (punches) at 4:00 of Round 1

> Middleweights- Nursulton Ruziboev (33-8-2, 1-0 UFC) vs. Sedriques Dumas (9-1, 2-1 UFC)

Ruziboev lands a right hand. Dumas with a right hand. Ruziboev with an uppercut and lands a combo. Ruziboev with another right hand. Ruziboev lands to the body. Ruziboev with a body kick. Dumas pressing forward. Ruziboev with an uppercut. Dumas complains of an eye poke and Ruziboev starts landing punches and drops Dumas, then lands a barrage from the top to get the finish. Big finish from Ruziboev.

Official Result- Nursulton Ruziboev def. Sedriques Dumas by knockout (punches) at 3:18 of Round 1

> Middleweights- Chris Weidman (15-7, 11-7 UFC) vs. Bruno Silva (23-10, 4-4 UFC)

Weidman with a body kick. He lands a front kick to the body. Silva with a body kick. Weidman with some body kicks. Weidman lands a right hand that hurts Silva for a moment. Weidman lands some knees as he grabs the neck. Weidman gets a takedown and looks for the back. Weidman with some left hands from the back. Not much is happening. Weidman with some knees to the thighs. Silva is doing nothing. Weidman with more knees. 10-9 Weidman.

Weidman with a leg kick and Silva lands a right hand. Weidman with a leg kick. Weidman with a pair of body kicks. Weidman with a body kick. Silva lands a right hand. Both land punches in an exchange. Weidman shoots for a takedown but Silva defends. Silva lands a left hand and complains of an eye poke and we have a timeout. They get back to action. Weidman with a leg kick then a body kick. They trade jabs. Weidman lands a nice jab. Silva lands a combo. Weidman with a body kick. Silva with a combination. Silva with a big left hand. Weidman lands a right hand. Weidman with a left hand. Weidman with a combo as Silva was covering up. Weidman with a big flurry against the fence. Close round. 10-9 Weidman, 20-18 Weidman.

Silva lads a jab. We have a timeout for a double eye poke. They get back to action. Both land body kicks. Silva lands a combo. They trade right hands. Weidman lands a right hand. Weidman drops Silva with a left hand and Silva was grabbing his eye. Weidman with a flurry from the top and it is stopped. Silva is complaining about the stoppage but Weidman picks up a massive win. They originally announced it as a TKO win for Weidman, but it was changed to a technical unanimous decision win after the commission ruled it was a foul and they went to the scorecards.

Official Result- Chris Weidman def. Bruno Silva by technical unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) at 2:18 of Round 3

> Welterweights- #11 Vicente Luque (22-9-1, 15-5 UFC) vs. Joaquin Buckley (17-6, 7-4 UFC)

They clash legs with kicks. Buckley with a leg kick. Luque with a leg kick. Luque with a pair of kicks. Buckley lands a double jab. Luque with a body kick and Buckley counters with a combination. Buckley lands a left hand. Luque with a body kick. Luque with a leg kick. Buckley lands a leg kick. Luque with a body kick. Luque gets it somewhat on the mat late. Close round. 10-9 Luque.

Luque with a body kick. Buckley with a flying knee but Luque blocked it. Luque with a leg kick. Luque lands another leg kick. Buckley with a leg kick. Buckley with a head kick that Luque mostly blocks. Buckley with a combination. Buckley lands a right hand. They go to the mat with Buckley on top and he starts landing lots of punches from the top. Big flurry from Buckley as Luque is covering up. Buckley with more punches and it is stopped! Big win for Buckley!

Official Result- Joaquin Buckley def. Vicente Luque by TKO (punches) at 3:17 of Round 2

> Women’s Flyweights- #2 Erin Blanchfield (12-1, 6-0 UFC) vs. #3 Manon Fiorot (11-1, 6-0 UFC)

They trade to start as both land punches and leg kicks. Fiorot with a right hook. She lands a left hand. Fiorot with a body kick as Blanchfield rushes in. Fiorot with a body kick and a right hand. Fiorot gets a big takedown. Blanchfield has the neck and locks in a guillotine choke. Fiorot scrambles to her feet. Blanchfield still has the choke locked in on the feet. Blanchfield lets go. Blanchfield with an elbow as they break. Fiorot lands a left hand. Blanchfield with a leg kick. Fiorot with a combo. Fiorot landing with slightly more volume. They clinch and trade knees and Fiorot lands a right hand as they break. 10-9 Fiorot.

They trade punches as both are pressing forward. Blanchfield with a high kick. Blanchfield gets it down but Fiorot reverses and they stand. They clinch back up and Blanchfield has the body lock but lets go. Fiorot with a right hook. Fiorot with another right hook as Blanchfield tries to land. Fiorot with a jab. Blanchfield with a body kick. Blanchfield is pressing forward but just can’t find openings. They trade in close range. Fiorot with a side kick and a right hook. Blanchfield lands a right hand. 10-9 Fiorot, 20-18 Fiorot.

They trade as Blanchfield is still trying to rush in and land. Fiorot lands a left hand and is working the jab. Blanchfield lands a right hand. Blanchfield lands a left hand. They tie up for a moment but quickly separate. Fiorot lands a right hand. Fiorot lands a right hand after Blanchfield lands. Blanchfield with a leg kick and body kick. Fiorot with a combo. They trade in close range. 10-9 Fiorot, 30-27 Fiorot.

Fiorot with a combo as Blanchfield rushes in. Blanchfield lands a body kick. They trade in close range. Blanchfield landing some punches as Fiorot is retreating. They both land flurries. Blanchfield with a body kick. Fiorot with a combination. Blanchfield with a body kick. Both are landing a lot but Fiorot with more volume and is connecting better. Fiorot with a side kick. 10-9 Fiorot, 40-36 Fiorot.

Fiorot lands a left hand as Blanchfield lands a right hand. Blanchfield lands a head kick. Fiorot with a jab. Blanchfield lands a right hand. Blanchfield with a leg kick. Blanchfield with a body kick. Fiorot with a right hook. Blanchfield with a body kick. Fiorot with a side kick to the body then lands a combination. Blanchfield keeps trying to rush in and land but Fiorot is using her reach to keep Blanchfield from landing. Blanchfield with a combination. Fiorot lands a big left hand. They tie up and Blanchfield pushes it to the fence. Fiorot with a side kick. They have a wild exchange late. 10-9 Fiorot, 50-45 Fiorot.

Official Result- Manon Fiorot def. Erin Blanchfield by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)