UFC on ESPN+ 75 live results: Sean Strickland vs. Nassourdine Imavov

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC on ESPN+ 75: Strickland vs. Imavov, emanating from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The UFC kicks off their 2023 campaign with the first of 42 slated events this year, and they get off to a tough start with already a fight week change to the headline bout.

Kelvin Gastelum was forced to pull out of the main event on Monday after suffering a mouth injury during the final day of his training camp. Due to this, Sean Strickland has stepped in on just a few days’ notice to take on Nassourdine Imavov, who was originally scheduled to fight Gastelum, in the five-round headliner. It will be contested at 205 pounds due to the late change, though both men typically fight at middleweight. It is the second straight main event for Strickland, who closed out 2022 with a loss to Jared Cannonier in December. Imavov is looking to extend his three-fight win streak.

In the co-main event, Dan Ige looks to end a three-fight losing skid against Damon Jackson, winner of four straight, in featherweight action. Also on the main card is a middleweight bout between Punahele Soriano and Roman Kopylov, a potential title eliminator in the women’s bantamweight division between Ketlen Vieira and Raquel Pennington, and undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov kicks off the main card against Raoni Barcelos in a bantamweight bout.

Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern time with preliminary action all the way through the main card.

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> Flyweights- Charles Johnson (12-3, 1-1 UFC) vs. Jimmy Flick (16-5, 1-0 UFC)

Both throwing kicks to start. They trade leg kicks. Flick gets a takedown but Johnson reverses and is on top. They scramble to their feet. Johnson lands a body kick and then lands a combo. Johnson lands another combo. Flick with a body kick. Johnson with a high body kick then another. Flick shoots for a takedown but Johnson defends against the fence. Flick completes the takedown and has the back looking for a choke. Johnson reverses and is in the guard of Flick and landing punches and elbows. Johnson continues to land from the top and it is stopped. Nice finish from Johnson to kick off 2023.

Official Result- Charles Johnson def. Jimmy Flick by TKO (strikes) at 4:33 of Round 1

> Featherweights- Dan Argueta (8-1, 0-1 UFC) vs. Nick Aguirre (7-0, 0-0 UFC)

They trade and Argueta gets a takedown. Argueta landing some punches from the top. Aguirre switches positions. Argueta is looking for an armbar. Aguirre gets the back and looks to get the hooks in. He gets the body triangle locked in. Aguirre is looking for a rear-naked choke. Argueta circles into the guard of Aguirre. Aguirre tries to sprawl but Argueta has neck control. Argueta gets the back and looks for a choke. He ends the round there. 10-9 Argueta.

Argueta with some punches to start the second. They clinch against the fence but separate after nothing happens. They trade before clinching against the fence. They break and Argueta lands a combo. Aguirre lands a knee then a right hand. Argueta gets a takedown. Argueta is landing then takes the back and lands punches as he looks for a choke. He gets it locked in but lets go. Argueta is now on top with the mount and lands some shots. Aguirre gives up his back. Argueta looks for the choke again. Argueta lets go and gets back on top and lands a big elbow. 10-8 Argueta, 20-17 Argueta.

Aguirre with a high kick. They clinch against the fence but break quickly. Argueta with a combo. Aguirre keeps throwing high kicks that miss. Argueta gets a takedown against the fence. Argueta with some left hands from the top. He gets the mount and lands some shots. Aguirre tries to escape but Argueta ends up in his guard. Argueta is working from the top. Aguirre tries to scramble out but Argueta remains inside the guard. They get to their feet and Argueta gets one final takedown at the end. 10-9 Argueta, 30-26 Argueta.

Official Result- Dan Argueta def. Nick Aguirre by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Flyweights- Allan Nascimento (19-6, 1-1 UFC) vs. Carlos Hernandez (8-1, 1-0 UFC)

Nascimento lands a leg kick and Hernandez lands a right hand. He lands another. Nascimento with a front kick to the body and gets a brief takedown. He has back control as they stand. Nascimento drags it down and gets the body triangle locked in. They stand but Nascimento jumps on the back and still has the choke locked in and Hernandez taps. Great finish from Nascimento.

Official Result- Allan Nascimento def. Carlos Hernandez by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:16 of Round 1

> Lightweights- Mateusz Rebecki (16-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Nick Fiore (6-0, 0-0 UFC)

Rebecki lands a body kick. He lands another. Fiore lands a combo. Rebecki with another body kick. Rebecki lands a left hand. Rebecki with a combo. Fiore with a leg kick. Rebecki lands a big leg kick. Rebecki with a solid combo ending with a leg kick. He lands a left hand and then to the body and back to the head. Fiore trying to circle away. Rebecki lands a few uppercuts and some body shots before landing to the head. Rebecki scores a takedown. Rebecki lands some big punches from the top to end the first. 10-9 Rebecki.

Rebecki with a combo to start the second round. Fiore with a leg kick. Rebecki with some shots to the body. Fiore looks for a takedown as he pushes it against the fence. They break. Rebecki lands some body shots and a leg kick then scores a takedown. Rebecki landing from the top as he’s keeping Fiore planted on his back. Rebecki finishes the round on top. 10-9 Rebecki, 20-18 Rebecki.

They trade to start the third and Fiore goes for the takedown. Rebecki lands a knee to defend and they separate. Rebecki with a jab then a leg kick. Rebecki gets a takedown. Fiore looked for a guillotine but Rebecki popped his neck out. Rebecki working from the top and keeping Fiore pinned down. Rebecki still in control from the top and lands some shots. Rebecki ends the fight on top. 10-9 Rebecki, 30-27 Rebecki.

Official Result- Mateusz Rebecki def. Nick Fiore by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

> Middleweights- Claudio Ribeiro (10-2, 0-0 UFC) vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan (11-5, 5-5 UFC)

Ribeiro with a calf kick then another. He lands another and then another. He lands a fifth one. Alhassan now checks the calf kick. Alhassan shoots for the takedown against the fence. Alhassan lands a knee to the body. They break. Ribeiro with a leg kick. He lands another. Ribeiro lands a nice right hand. Ribeiro with a high kick. Alhassan goes back for the takedown against the fence. Ribeiro lands a knee. They trade knees. Alhassan with an uppercut to the body. Alhassan with an elbow and lands another and a late combo. 10-9 Ribeiro.

Alhassan starts unloading with some big shots to start the second and has Ribeiro in tons of trouble. He continues to tee off and drops Ribeiro with a big right hand and it is stopped. Big finish from Alhassan!

Official Result- Abdul Razak Alhassan def. Claudio Ribeiro by knockout (punches) at :28 of Round 2

> Bantamweights- Javid Basharat (13-0, 2-0 UFC) vs. Mateus Mendonca (10-0, 0-0 UFC)

They clinch up along the fence but break. Basharat lands a jab. Mendonca with a leg kick. Basharat lands to the body. He lands a leg kick. Mendonca missing with most of his kicks. They trade punches. Mendonca just misses a jumping kick and Basharat lands a combo. Basharat with a body kick then lands a left hand. Mendonca gets a brief takedown and he has the back standing. They scramble to the mat and back up. They break. Basharat with a body kick. Basharat lands a nice left hook. Mendonca with a high kick then a right hand. Basharat gets the takedown. He lands some right hands. They get to their feet and Basharat lands a knee and elbow. He lands a big high kick. 10-9 Basharat.

They trade to start the second as Mendonca rushes forward. Basharat lands a right hand and Mendonca gets a takedown. They get to their feet quickly. Mendonca with a leg kick. He lands a body kick. Basharat with some body shots. Basharat grabs the single leg and scores a takedown. Basharat with some shots from the top. Mendonca tries to roll out from the bottom but Basharat stays on top and lands some more punches. Basharat with some elbows from the top and gets to the mount. Mendonca is cut open. Mendonca goes for a kneebar but time runs out. 10-9 Basharat, 20-18 Basharat.

Mendonca lands a body kick and Basharat grabs it but lets go. They trade combinations. Basharat with a jab then a body kick. He lands a right hand. Mendonca shoots for the takedown but Basharat defends. They tie up and Mendonca pushes it against the fence. They scramble to the ground and Mendonca tries for a triangle choke but Basharat escapes and ends up on top. They scramble to their feet and Basharat gets a takedown but Mendonca has the neck. Basharat pops his head out and is inside the guard. He lands a couple of elbows. Basharat with some shots from the top at the end. 10-9 Basharat, 30-27 Basharat.

Official Result- Javid Basharat def. Mateus Mendonca by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

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> Bantamweights- #11 Umar Nurmagomedov (15-0, 3-0 UFC) vs. Raoni Barcelos (17-3, 6-2 UFC)

Barcelos lands a right hand. Nurmagomedov lands a body kick. Nurmagomedov lands the jab. Both still looking to find their range. Barcelos with a high kick. Both land body kicks and they trade punches. Nurmagomedov with a combo. Both land power punches. Nurmagomedov with the jab. Nurmagomedov with some teet kicks. Barcelos lands a body kick. Nurmagomedov lands a nice left hand after landing some kicks. Barcelos with a body kick. Nurmagomedov with a series of kicks, then Barcelos lands a leg kick and Nurmagomedov counters with some punches. Nurmagomedov then lands a big left hand that knocks Barcelos out cold. What a brutal finish from Nurmagomedov.

Official Result- Umar Nurmagomedov def. Raoni Barcelos by knockout (punch) at 4:40 of Round 1

> Women’s Bantamweights- #2 Ketlen Vieira (13-2, 7-2 UFC) vs. #5 Raquel Pennington (14-8, 11-5 UFC)

Vieira lands a nice right hand. Pennington with a combo. Vieira with a combo. Vieira with a combo as she’s the one pushing forward. Pennington with some jabs. Vieira lands a leg kick. Pennington lands a left and Vieira lands a counter left hook as Pennington was rushing in. Pennington with another jab. Vieira with a combo. They clinch against the fence. Close first round. 10-9 Vieira.

Both looking for openings to start the second. Pennington with a nice combination. She lands a left hook. Pennington grabs the body and pushes it against the fence and has the back. She lets go and starts to land more on Vieira. Vieira with a left hook. They clinch and Pennington with a knee to the body and timeout is called. They get back to action and Pennington with a left hand and body kick. Pennington with a right hand. They clinch against the fence. Pennington with some knees to the body. 10-9 Pennington, 19-19.

They trade some big punches to start the third and both land solid shots before they clinch against the fence. Both land in the clinch and Pennington lands an elbow before they break. Vieira with a leg kick and a combo. They clinch back up against the fence. Pennington lands a big knee and Vieira lands an elbow. Vieira with an elbow. Pennington lands a knee. Vieira gets the back. Pennington with some back punches and Vieira with some knees. Close fight. 10-9 Vieira, 29-28 Vieira.

Official Result- Raquel Pennington def. Ketlen Vieira by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

> Middleweights- Punahele Soriano (9-2, 3-2 UFC) vs. Roman Kopylov (9-2, 1-2 UFC)

Soriano lands a left hand and shoots for a takedown. Kopylov lands a knee as they break. Soriano lands a left hook. Soriano lands a combo. Soriano with more left hands. Kopylov lands the jab and lands another. They trade big shots in the center. Soriano with some hard punches. Kopylov with a jab and Soriano lands a left hand. Kopylov picking up the volume but Soriano landing harder. Soriano lands a jab. Kopylov gets a takedown. They stand and Kopylov lands a combo. 10-9 Kopylov.

They trade to get the second started. Soriano lands some uppercuts. Kopylov lands a combo. Kopylov with a big spin kick to the body. Soriano with a jab. Kopylov lands a right hand. Soriano with a left hand as Kopylov lands a body kick. Kopylov with a big kick and he lands a flurry on Soriano. They trade left hands. Soriano shoots for the takedown but Kopylov defends. Kopylov with a body kick and follows it with a combo and is teeing off as Soriano covers up and it is stopped. Great sequence to finish it for Kopylov.

Official Result- Roman Kopylov def. Punahele Soriano by TKO (strikes) at 3:19 of Round 2

> Featherweights- #13 Dan Ige (15-6, 7-5 UFC) vs. Damon Jackson (22-4-1 1 NC, 5-2-1 1 NC UFC)

Jackson with a high kick. Ige lands a few right hands and Jackson dropped to his knees but popped right back up. Ige lands a right hand. Jackson with a front kick. Ige with some left hands to the body. Ige lands a combo. Ige lands a leg kick. Ige with a head kick but Jackson was able to keep his arm up to block. Jackson grabs a single leg but Ige lands some right hands to defend. We have a timeout for an eye poke. They get back to action and Ige lands a right hand. Ige with a body kick. Jackson with a knee to the body. Ige lands a combo. Ige wobbles Jackson with a left hand. Ige gets a late takedown. 10-9 Ige.

Ige lands a body kick and Jackson lands some punches. Ige attacks the body with a left hook. Jackson with a leg kick. They clinch for a moment against the fence but break. Jackson with a head kick but Ige had his arm up. Ige lands a right hand and Jackson is cut open. Ige lands a left to the body. Ige with a left hook to the chin of Jackson. They trade in close range. Ige drops Jackson with a big left hook and walks off as it is all over. What a finish by Ige.

Official Result- Dan Ige def. Damon Jackson by knockout (punch) at 4:13 of Round 2

> Light Heavyweights- #7 MW Sean Strickland (25-5, 12-5 UFC) vs. #12 MW Nassourdine Imavov (12-3, 4-1 UFC)

Strickland comes right forward and Imavov lands a leg kick. Strickland lands a jab. Imavov lands a left hook. Imavov lands a right hand. He lands a left hand. Strickland lands a combo. Strickland with a body kick and Imavov lands a right hand. Imavov lands a left hand. Strickland lands a right hand. Imavov circling away as Strickland is marching forward and lands. They trade inside the pocket. Strickland lands the jab. Strickland lands an uppercut. Imavov lands a right hand. Close round. 10-9 Strickland.

Strickland landing some teet kicks as he’s pressing forward. He lands the jab. They’re both landing inside the pocket. Imavov lands a left hook. He lands a right hand. Strickland with a front kick. Strickland gets a takedown but they scramble right up and are tied up against the fence. They break. They trade punches before clinching again and Strickland pushes it to the fence. They trade and Imavov lands a short hook and an elbow. Another close round. 10-9 Imavov, 19-19.

Strickland with some short kicks to start the third. Imavov with a combo. He then lands the jab. They trade inside the pocket. Imavov with the jab and Strickland with a body kick. Strickland lands a right hand. Imavov with a left hook. Strickland lands a jab. Strickland lands a left hand. Imavov lands a left hook. He follows it with a leg kick. Imavov with another leg kick and Strickland lands a right hand. They continue to trade but both keeping it close. They clinch and Imavov lands a knee. Another close round. 10-9 Strickland, 29-28 Strickland.

Strickland lands a combo. Imavov with a body kick. Strickland lands the jab and then a right hand. Imavov with a snap jab. Strickland with a combo. He lands another combo. Imavov lands a right hand. Strickland with a jab. They clinch and Strickland pushes it against the fence. Strickland lands another combo. Imavov lands a right hand. Strickland with a jab. Strickland with a double jab then a right hand. Imavov lands a right hand. Strickland with a combo. 10-9 Strickland, 39-37 Strickland.

Strickland landing the jab to start the final round. Imavov lands a right hand. They both land combos inside the pocket. Strickland with a combo after a brief clinch. They clinch and Strickland pushes it against the fence. They battle for underhooks but break to the center. Imavov swings with a right hand but Strickland ducks and they briefly clinch. Strickland with a right hand. They tie back up. Imavov lands as they break. Imavov with a knee then a right hand. They trade right hands. They tie up and Imavov lands as they break. Wild finish. 10-9 Imavov, 48-47 Strickland.

Official Result- Sean Strickland def. Nassourdine Imavov by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)