UFC on ESPN+ 81 live results: Mackenzie Dern vs. Angela Hill

The Octagon is back at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas after a couple of weeks away for tonight’s UFC on ESPN+ 81 which closes out the promotion’s month.

Mackenzie Dern and Angela Hill square off in a battle of ranked strawweights in the five-round main event. It will be Dern’s third main event, but she’s still in search of her first main event win following a loss to Yan Xiaonan in October. Hill is in her second main event as she looks to extend a two-fight win streak.

In the co-main event, it’s a middleweight clash as Edmen Shahbazyan takes on Anthony Hernandez. The main card will feature a welterweight fight between Andre Fialho and Joaquin Buckley, as well as a battle of lightweight veterans when Diego Ferreira takes on Michael Johnson.

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> Welterweights- Takashi Sato (16-6, 2-4 UFC) vs. Themba Gorimbo (10-4, 0-1 UFC)

Gorimbo with a head kick and a combo to start. Gorimbo tries a takedown but Sato defends as they get to their feet and are tied up against the fence. Gorimbo trying to life Sato up to slam him down but Sato staying on his feet. Sato gets a brief takedown but they get right up and Gorimbo gets Sato down. They get to their feet and Sato has body control and is trying to get it back down. Gorimbo reverses position and lands a couple of body shots followed by a knee. Sato gets a trip takedown but Gorimbo scrambles and takes the back and has the neck. Gorimbo looking for a choke. Gorimbo is landing punches from the back. 10-9 Gorimbo.

Sato rushes forward to start the second but Gorimbo lands a body kick. Gorimbo then drops Sato with a big right hand and gets on top and is landing lots of punches trying for the finish. Sato somehow survives and starts to work back up and they stand. Sato with a knee to the body. They clinch against the fence. Gorimbo gets the back and is trying hard to get Sato down. Sato gets a takedown. They get to their feet and Gorimbo is trying to get it back down as Sato lands some elbows. Gorimbo relentless with the pressure as they’re on the feet. They separate. 10-9 Gorimbo, 20-18 Gorimbo.

Sato comes forward and lands a left hand. Gorimbo lands a body kick and they tie up. Gorimbo putting the pressure on against the fence. Gorimbo gets it down. Sato gives up his back and Gorimbo lands some punches. He continues to land punches as he has the body triangle locked in. Gorimbo still with big pressure. Sato is able to spin into the guard of Gorimbo and lands some shots. Gorimbo is covering up as Sato lands some punches and time runs out. 10-9 Gorimbo, 30-27 Gorimbo.

Official Result- Themba Gorimbo def. Takashi Sato by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Women’s Flyweights- Natalia Silva (14-5-1, 2-0 UFC) vs. Victoria Leonardo (9-4, 1-2 UFC)

They trade in close range. Silva with a high kick. Silva lands a combo. Silva with some body kicks followed by a combo. Silva lands a combo and drops Leonardo with a left hand. Leonardo tries to attack a single leg but Silva is sprawling. They get to their feet and Silva lands a few head kicks as Leonardo was covering. Silva lands a right hand then a head kick and Leonardo is covering up and it is stopped. Big finish by Silva and a great showing.

Official Result- Natalia Silva def. Victoria Leonardo by TKO (strikes) at 2:58 of Round 1

> Lightweights- Chase Hooper (11-3-1, 3-3 UFC) vs. Nick Fiore (6-1, 0-1 UFC)

They trade right away. Hooper lands a left hand and briefly gets it down but they get to their feet. Fiore tries a trip and Hooper grabs the leg and is trying to roll but Fiore is scrambling and is now on top. Hooper grabs the leg and tried something but they get to their feet. They’re back on the mat and Fiore is on top in the north-south position as Hooper is looking for a reverse triangle. They get to their feet. Fiore lands an elbow and Hooper lands a right hook followed by some punches then a left hand against the fence. They trade inside the pocket with Hooper landing more. Hooper lands a left hand then a knee as they tie up but Fiore gets it to the mat and is in side control. Hooper reverses and they get to their feet. Hooper lands two left hands. Hooper stuns Fiore with a left hand and is landing lots of punches and elbows against the fence as the round ends. 10-9 Hooper.

Hooper throws a kick but Fiore grabs a leg and gets it down despite eating a few punches from Hooper. Fiore passes to side control then into full mount. Hooper goes for the legs and throws some punches from the bottom. Hooper looking for a heel hook and is rolling but Fiore gets out from it. They get to their feet. Hooper throwing lots of punches and pressuring. Hooper with a series of body shots. Hooper throwing lots of punches and is landing but Fiore is covering up. Hooper lands a head kick. Hooper lands a knee, then a combo, then an elbow. They’re tied up and Hooper lands a knee. They break and Fiore lands a couple of punches. Hooper lands some elbows and just keeps landing shots. Fiore landed a couple of right hands. They clinch and Fiore gets a takedown. Hooper gives up his back as the round ends. 10-9 Hooper, 20-18 Hooper.

Fiore going right for the takedown as he grabs the leg and Hooper is landing punches. Fiore gets it down. Fiore stands and Hooper lands an upkick before standing. Hooper with a combo. Hooper lands to the body. Fiore is connecting some but it is still all Hooper with pace and volume. They go back to the mat and Hooper is on top as Fiore is bleeding. Hooper stands and gets the back of Fiore. They get to their feet and are clinched against the fence. They break and Hooper with a combo. Hooper lands a body kick. Hooper gets it down and has back control as he’s landing punches. He lands more to end it. 10-9 Hooper, 30-27 Hooper.

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

> Heavyweights- Ilir Latifi (16-8 1 NC, 9-6 UFC) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (9-1 1 NC, 2-1 1 NC UFC)

Nascimento landing more punches as they trade early. Latifi lands a couple of hard punches but Nascimento stuns him with some punches. Nascimento lands two hard right hands. Nascimento lands a left hook to the body. Nascimento with some more punches and Latifi lands a heavy leg kick. Nascimento still landing slightly more but Latifi is picking up his volume. Latifi lands a right hand before Nascimento lands a late flurry. 10-9 Nascimento.

Latifi throwing more to start the second as he lands a right hand. The pace is slowing down. Latifi lands a left hand. Latifi lands a leg kick as Nascimento is pressuring and lands a combo. Latifi gets a big takedown and is working inside the guard of Nascimento. Latifi landing from the top as he’s landing heavy shots to the head and body. Latifi ends the round on top. 10-9 Latifi, 19-19.

They have a heavy exchange on the feet. Nascimento lands a body kick. Nascimento scores with a left hand. Latifi lands a big left hand but eats an even bigger left hand from Nascimento. Latifi backing up after they trade in close range. Nascimento lands a leg kick. Nascimento lands an uppercut as Latifi was trying for a takedown. Latifi pushes it against the fence and grabs the shorts of Nascimento. Herb Dean separates them and gives Latifi a warning. Nascimento lands a combo. Latifi gets a takedown and has the back as they get to the fence. They get to their feet. Nascimento with a knee to the body. They separate and trade left hands. Latifi lands late. Close fight. 10-9 Nascimento, 29-28 Nascimento.

Official Result- Rodrigo Nascimento def. Ilir Latifi by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

> Welterweights*- Orion Cosce (8-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Gilbert Urbina (6-2, 0-1 UFC)

*Cosce missed weight by 1.5 pounds

Urbina lands a left hook and follows with some big punches as he had Cosce in trouble. Urbina lands some knees to the body then a jab. Cosce is able to recover. Cosce lands a leg kick. They trade big left hands inside the pocket. They clinch against the fence and Urbina gets a takedown. He lands an elbow to the body from the top. Urbina lands more punches from the top. Urbina gets the full mount as Cosce almost gives up his back as Urbina lands some punches from the top. Urbina with some big elbows from the top. Urbina now gets side control but goes back to the mount and lands to the body. Urbina with more punches from the mount. Urbina looking for an arm-triangle choke but is in the mount. He lets go but continues to land lots of punches from the top. Urbina gets the back and lands big punches as the round ends. 10-8 Urbina.

Cosce lands a body kick. Urbina lands a leg kick. He lands another after a combo. Urbina landing to the head and body as he mixes punches and kicks. Cosce is keeping his hands low as he complained about possibly having a broken rib. Urbina lands a body kick then drops Cosce with a knee and it is stopped. Big finish by Urbina!

Official Result- Gilbert Urbina def. Orion Cosce by TKO (strikes) at 2:55 of Round 2

> Women’s Strawweights*- Karolina Kowalkiewicz (14-7, 7-7 UFC) vs. Vanessa Demopoulos (9-4, 3-1 UFC)

*Demopoulos missed weight by 1.5 pounds

Demopoulos lands a combo to start. She lands more punches as Kowalkiewicz was pressing forward. They trade right hands. Kowalkiewicz lands a combo against the fence. Kowalkiewicz lands a jab. Demopoulos tries a takedown but Kowalkiewicz defends, though Demopoulos lands a left hand. They trade against the fence. They trade right hands. Kowalkiewicz lands a combo ending with a nice right hand. Kowalkiewicz with pressure as they clinch. Kowalkiewicz lands two right hands as they break. Kowalkiewicz lands a big right hand. Demopoulos scores with a right hand. They trade inside the pocket. Demopoulos lands a leg kick but eats a right hand from Kowalkiewicz. 10-9 Kowalkiewicz.

Kowalkiewicz landing the jab and stuns Demopoulos briefly with one. Kowalkiewicz continues to press forward though Demopoulos lands some leg kicks. Both are landing punches with Kowalkiewicz landing with more volume as she remains a step ahead. Kowalkiewicz lands a right hand. Kowalkiewicz lands a leg kick then a combo. Demopoulos lands a body kick but gets wobbled by a right hand from Kowalkiewicz. Kowalkiewicz lands a right hand. They trade right hands. Kowalkiewicz scores with another right hand and then another. They trade inside the pocket. 10-9 Kowalkiewicz, 20-18 Kowalkiewicz.

They trade before Demopoulos pulls guard and they go to the mat. Kowalkiewicz lands from the top. Demopoulos tries for the leg but Kowalkiewicz escapes to her feet. Kowalkiewicz lands a jab. They trade punches. They trade jabs. Kowalkiewicz lands a jab. Kowalkiewicz lands an uppercut. Kowalkiewicz lands a body kick. Demopoulos lands a right hand and Kowalkiewicz slips to the mat but gets right up. Demopoulos lands another right hand. They trade jabs and Kowalkiewicz lands a right hand. Demopoulos lands a right hand. 10-9 Kowalkiewicz, 30-27 Kowalkiewicz.

Official Result- Karolina Kowalkiewicz def. Vanessa Demopoulos by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Lightweights- Hayisaer Maheshate (9-2, 1-1 UFC) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (6-3, 1-2 UFC)

Borshchev landing some leg kicks early. He lands some more as Maheshate is looking for an opening. Borshchev lands a left hook to the body. Maheshate lands a head kick. Borshchev lands a body kick then a left hand to the body. Maheshate lands a combo but Borshchev is starting to turn up the volume. We have a timeout for an eye poke. They get back to action and both are trading. They exchange body kicks and jabs. They trade in close range and Borshchev lands a big left hook. Maheshate lands a right hand but then Borshchev drops him with a right hand and lands some big punches to end the round. 10-9 Borshchev.

Borshchev lands a combo and a leg kick as Maheshate lands a jab. Maheshate looks for a takedown but Borshchev defends. Borshchev lands a big right hand. Borshchev drops Maheshate again with a right hand. They clinch and Borshchev lands some knees before they both land right hands on the break. Borshchev drops Maheshate again with a right hand and finishes it off with punches from the top.

Official Result- Viacheslav Borshchev def. Hayisaer Maheshate by TKO (punches) at 2:37 of Round 2

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> Lightweights- Diego Ferreira (17-5, 8-5 UFC) vs. Michael Johnson (21-18, 13-14 UFC)

Johnson lands a left hand. Ferreira lands a leg kick. Johnson lands a combination. Ferreira lands a high kick. Johnson scores with a combo as Ferreira lands a body kick. Ferreira lands a right hand but eats a left hand from Johnson. They trade big punches inside the pocket. Ferreira lands a jab as Johnson lands to the body. Johnson wobbles Ferreira with a left hand. Ferreira lands a jab. They trade jabs as both land combos as well. Ferreira lands a body kick then a combo. 10-9 Johnson.

Johnson lands a quick combination. Johnson scores a body kick. Johnson lands a left hand then Ferreira scores with a head kick. Ferreira shoots for the takedown but Johnson defends. Ferreira then lands a big right hand that puts Johnson out cold as he falls straight back to the mat. What a knockout by Ferreira!

Official Result- Diego Ferreira def. Michael Johnson by knockout (punch) at 1:50 of Round 2

> Welterweights- Andre Fialho (16-6 1 NC, 2-3 UFC) vs. Joaquin Buckley (15-6, 5-4 UFC)

Buckley lands a head kick. He then lands a leg kick. Buckley with a couple more kicks. Fialho has done very little but finally lands a body kick. Buckley lands a combo. Fialho lands a right hand then a body kick. Fialho lands a head kick. Fialho lands a left hook. Buckley gets a big takedown but they get right back to the feet. Fialho lands a body kick. Buckley gets another brief takedown but they get to their feet before the end of the round. 10-9 Buckley.

They trade and we have a timeout for a groin strike. They get back to action and Fialho lands a right hand. Buckley lands a left hand then a high kick. Buckley lands a combination then a leg kick. Fialho scores with a jab. Buckley coming forward but eats a right hand then a body kick from Fialho. They’re trading and we have a brief timeout for a clash of heads, but they get right back to action. Almost immediately, Buckley drops Fialho with a head kick and finishes it off with one more punch. Fantastic knockout from Buckley.

Official Result- Joaquin Buckley def. Andre Fialho by TKO (head kick) at 4:15 of Round 2

> Women’s Strawweights- Emily Ducote (12-7, 1-1 UFC) vs. Loopy Godinez (9-3, 4-3 UFC)

Godinez rushes in with a combo as Ducote lands a leg kick. Godinez lands another combo. Ducote lands a left hand. Godinez lands another combo. Godinez with a big right hand. Godinez lands a combo ending with a high kick. Ducote lands a combo but Godinez counters with a nice combo. Lots of volume early on from Godinez. Godinez lands another combination. Godinez lands a hard leg kick. Godinez continuing to land with more volume. She lands a hard right hand. Godinez lands more to end the round. 10-9 Godinez.

Godinez lands a combo to start the second. Ducote lands a leg kick then a body kick but Godinez counters with a combo. Ducote lands a calf kick. Godinez then lands a big combo ending with a calf kick. Ducote attempts a takedown but Godinez defends and lands a couple of knees. Godinez with a leg kick and they trade inside the pocket. Godinez lands a combination. They trade and Ducote lands a left hook. Ducote lands a nice combo. Ducote with a front kick to the body. Godinez lands a knee as Ducote shot for a takedown. Godinez lands a combo. Godinez went for a takedown but Ducote defends, though Godinez lands a knee on the break. They trade late. Close round. 10-9 Godinez, 20-18 Godinez.

Ducote pressing forward and both are landing. Godinez lands a right hand. They trade heavy calf kicks. Ducote lands a combo, then Godinez lands a combo, then they trade leg kicks. They trade inside the pocket. They both land hard punches that stun one another. They trade combinations against the fence. Godinez is just landing the harder shots even though it’s pretty even on the feet. They trade inside the pocket. Ducote lands a body kick. Godinez lands a big combo. Ducote gets a brief takedown but they get right up. Godinez lands a combo and scores a late takedown. 10-9 Godinez, 30-27 Godinez.

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

> Middleweights- Edmen Shahbazyan (12-3, 5-3 UFC) vs. Anthony Hernandez (10-2 1 NC, 4-2 UFC)

They trade and Shahbazyan lands a stiff jab. Hernandez clinches but eats a knee from Shahbazyan and Shahbazyan lands some follow-up shots. Hernandez shoots for a takedown but Shahbazyan defends and they break. Shahbazyan lands a right hand and a leg kick. Shahbazyan lands a nice right hand. Hernandez looks for a takedown as he pushes it against the fence. Hernandez drops down looking for a guillotine but Shahbazyan escapes and lands some big punches, then an uppercut on the way up. Shahbazyan lands a body kick. Hernandez looks for the takedown against the fence. Shahbazyan defends and lands some punches. Shahbazyan has the neck standing and they go to the mat, where Shahbazyan gets full mount. Shahbazyan looking for an armbar but Hernandez escapes. Hernandez looking for a guillotine choke but Shahbazyan escapes. They get to their feet. Hernandez lands a big right hand then gets a takedown. Hernandez looks for a choke but they get up. Wild round. 10-9 Shahbazyan.

Hernandez looks for a takedown as he pushes it to the fence. He gets it down and has the neck and is in control. They get to their feet. Shahbazyan lands the jab but eats a big elbow from Hernandez. They clinch after Shahbazyan lands a knee. He lands another. Shahbazyan goes to the mat and Hernandez lands a knee. They almost got to their feet but Hernandez keeps Shahbazyan down on the mat. Shahbazyan has the mount and looks for a guillotine but switches and now has a better position but Shahbazyan is able to escape. Hernandez lands an elbow from the top. He lands some more from side control. Hernandez gets back into the full guard of Shahbazyan. Hernandez lands some more big elbows. Big round for Hernandez. 10-9 Hernandez, 19-19.

Hernandez gets Shahbazyan down to the mat early on and is landing elbows. Shahbazyan is cut open from those elbows and Hernandez is pouring it on and it is stopped. Big finish from Hernandez to get the win.

Official Result- Anthony Hernandez def. Edmen Shahbazyan by TKO (elbows) at 1:01 of Round 3

> Women’s Strawweights- #8 Mackenzie Dern (12-3, 7-3 UFC) vs. #14 Angela Hill (15-12, 10-12 UFC)

They rush right to the center and Hill lands before they clinch. Dern lands to the head and body in the clinch. Dern with some knees. They break and are trading in the center and Dern lands a big right hand. Dern then gets a big throw takedown but Hill reverses and they scramble back to the feet. Hill lands a jab but then Dern knocks Hill down with a right hand. Dern gets into side control. Dern with heavy pressure from the top. Dern ends up getting to her feet but is pressuring Hill standing. Dern goes down and looks for a leg. Dern steps to the mount and is landing a lot of punches and big elbows from the top. Dern now looks for the arm. She’s trying to pull for the armbar but Hill defends until the end. 10-8 Dern.

Dern landing some big punches to start the second but Hill did land a couple of jabs. Dern is chasing Hill around the Octagon. Dern lands a right hand and Hill is able to take the back standing. Dern spins and they are tied up against the fence and both land knees. They break. Both throwing wild punches but mostly missing before they tie up. They both work in the clinch before breaking and Hill lands some big punches and lands a knee as they clinch. 10-9 Hill, 19-18 Dern.

Hill lands a big knee and Dern stumbles to her back. Dern looking to throw her legs up for a triangle choke as Hill went into her guard. They get to their feet and Dern lands a knee that wobbles Hill and they go back to the mat. They get to their feet and Dern has the body and pushes it against the fence. Dern gets it to the mat and steps over into the mount. Hill trying to use the fence to escape. Dern staying on top and lands some left hands. Dern with some big punches from the top. Dern now has the back of Hill. Dern with elbows and punches from the top. Dern with big shots from the top. Dern going for the armbar. Dern with big punches and Hill survives. 10-8 Dern, 29-26 Dern.

Dern comes out swinging before they clinch against the fence. Hill lands a knee. Hill lands a right hand as they break. They trade in close range and Dern lands a big elbow. Dern lands a leg kick and pushes it against the fence. They’re trading knees but not a ton of action going on. Dern lands on the break then lands a combo. Hill lands and uppercut. Hill grabs the back on the feet and Dern rolls them to the mat. Dern spins and ends up on top inside of Hill’s guard. 10-9 Dern, 39-35 Dern.

Dern gets Hill down right away and is working inside the guard of Hill. Dern moves to side control and is looking to isolate an arm. Dern gets into side control and lands some elbows. Dern now looking for an arm and the kimura. Dern now landing a lot of punches from the back and then gets the mount. She is landing big punches and elbows and looking for the late finish. Dern lets up and goes back looking for the arm. Dern now lands some more punches and Hill survives the fight. Outstanding showing from Dern. 10-9 Dern, 49-44 Dern.

Official Result- Mackenzie Dern def. Angela Hill by unanimous decision (49-43, 49-44, 49-44)