Join us today on Bloody Elbow for live results, discussion, round scoring, and full play-by-play as UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez goes down on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.
The headliner comes in the flyweight division, with the title up for grabs in a rematch between Deivision Figueiredo and Joseph Benavidez. Figuieredo made weight this time, which makes this mean a lot more. Figueiredo won the first fight over weight, off a controversial headbutt, so we’ll get some resolution tonight.
This is an ESPN+ show and is kicking off slightly earlier than usual. The seven-fight preliminary card is scheduled to start at 5pm ET/2pm PT on ESPN+. The main card kicks off at 8pm ET/5pm ET.
Main Card (ESPN+)
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Joseph Benavidez (Flyweight Title)
Round 1 - Benavidez gets Figueiredo to buckle slightly with a leg kick. Spinning back kick to the body from Figueiredo. Immediate knockdown by Figueiredo on a right hand. Huge elbow by Figueiredo and he’s going for the rear-naked choke. Benavidez is in trouble. Figueiredo adjusts and it looks tighter but he still can’t get it. Third time is the charm, surely? It was under the chin but Benavidez hand fights brilliantly and he’s out of the choke once more! Benavidez is back to his feet. Slow two punches by Benavidez surging forward. Short left hook from Benavidez and a leg kick. Another right hand puts Benavidez down momentarily. He bounces back up but any hard shot is hurting him. Got him again on a straight right but he stays upright on this occasion. Another smooth right by Figueiredo and another knockdown. Huge elbows from Figueiredo and I don’t know how much longer this can last. Deiveson is in full mount and raining down a barrage of shots. Rear-naked choke attempt number five by Figueiredo and this time Benavidez goes completely unconscious! Deiveson Figueiredo is your new flyweight champion!
Official result: Deiveson Figueiredo def. Joseph Benavidez by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:48 of round 1 to become new UFC flyweight champion
Jack Hermansson vs. Kelvin Gastelum
Round 1 - Oblique kick and body kick from Hermansson. Gastelum reaches out with the jab. Early takedown attempt by Hermansson who is instantly flipped to the bottom. Hermansson goes after a leg but Gastelum is privy to it. He goes back into guard and again Hermansson attacks the leg and he’s going for a heel hook! It looks like he’s got it! HE DOES! Jack Hermansson taps out Kelvin Gastelum! What a night for submissions.
Official result: Jack Hermansson def. Kelvin Gastelum by submission (heel hook) at 1:18 of round 1
Marc Diakiese vs. Rafael Fiziev
Round 1 - Early leg kick from Diakiese. Spinning wheel kick is avoided by Fiziev, who then thuds home a heavy body kick and closes the distance to clinch up. Takedown by Fiziev and into Diakiese’s half-guard. Diakiese scrambles to his feet and gets out of the headlock, but he is cracked with another body kick. Fiziev aggressive and landing early. Another body kick by Fiziev and another one. Dikiese just misses on a left high kick. Body kick and a knee by Fiziev. Body shot and head strikes by Fiziev and Diakiese fails on a reactive takedown. Fiziev on top and landing some strikes. He is bleeding from his nose. Back to the feet they go and Diakiese is getting worked over. Borderline 10-8 but I think it’s “just” 10-9 Fiziev.
Round 2 - Back to the body kicks for Fiziev, but Diakiese answers with a right hand. Diakiese pops Fiziev with a jab. Right hand and a body kick from Fiziev, who avoids the high kick and lands a leg kick in such slick fashion. Body kick by Fiziev is caught this time but Diakiese does nothing with it. Leg kick by Fiziev and a two-punch combo upstairs. Fiakiese only throwing single shots and with little success. Fiziev digs in with a hook to the body and now he’s scored with two leg kicks and a body kick. Takedown attempt by Diakiese is stuffed by Fiziev, but Diakiese at least lands a knee to the body before exiting. Fiziev’s leg kicks and body kicks are relentless. Diakiese places a left hook to the body well. Two kicks by Fiziev and then they both miss power shots upstairs. Closer round but a Fiziev round still in my book. 20-18 Fiziev.
Round 3 - Diakiese throwing with a sense of urgency buy Fiziev is willing to trade with him. Diakiese way off on a spinning backfist. Counter left by Fiziev off of a missed Diakiese right. Another leg kick and body kick combo by Fiziev. Rafael presses forward with big punches that miss but the kicks don’t miss. Under three minutes to go and Diakiese needs to go for broke. Fiziev had a hold of a leg but fails to get Diakiese down. Spinning kick and Fiziev looked to get hit by it but he just showed no effects at all. Diakiese shoots for a takedown and Fiziev fends him off and once again continues the kicking assault. Big right hand by Diakiese and Fiziev look stunned momentarily! Another right by Diakiese but Fiziev has a hell of a chin. One minute to go. Body shot by Fiziev and a brutal kick across the midsection. Diakiese jabs the body and throws a spinning heel kick that is blocked. Slick left hook by Diakiese. Fiziev’s spinning backfist is off the mark. Switch knee from Diakiese. He’s winning this round but he needs a KO and he is not going to get it. 10-9 Diakiese but 29-28 Fiziev.
Official result: Rafael Fiziev def. Marc Diakiese by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Ariane Lipski vs. Luana Carolina
Round 1 - Lipski lands a straight right against a bolt upright Carolina. Then a body shot connects and Carolina falls down. Lipski on top in guard. Carolina has Lipski in a heel hook and that backfires badly because Lipski used that opportunity to counter with one of the nastiest kneebars you’ll ever see. Fight over!
Official result: Ariane Lipski def. Luana Carolina by submission (kneebar) at 1:28 of round 1
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Askar Askarov
Round 1 - Mookie here taking PBP duties right now. Immediate guillotine attempt from Pantoja but Askarov pops his head out. Now he goes for a triangle choke and then an armbar! This is all inside of a minute. Askarov on top and Pantoja threatens with a heel hook. Pantoja back to his feet and Askarov leans on him against the fence, then takes him down. Askarov takes the back as Pantoja stands up. Pantoja rolls for a leg and it’s not there, then he throws an upkick, creating separation to stand again. Askarov drops for a single leg and Pantoja does well to defend this. Insane scramble and back take from Pantoja! The Brazilian is looking for the rear-naked choke and he has the body triangle. Askarov fights the hands. Pantoja throws a left hand trying to soften up Askarov. The round ends with Pantoja maintaining back mount and the body triangle. 10-9 Pantoja.
Round 2 - Askarov throws a low kick that appeared to stray low. Good straight right counter by Askarov. Stiff jab by Pantoja. Body shot lands for Pantoja. Takedown by Askarov and Pantoja throws up a triangle-armbar and Askarov is privy to it. Pantoja is back up again and Askarov is in on a double leg. He lifts Pantoja upbut can’t keep him down. Knee to the body by Pantoja on the exit. Askarov changes levels quickly and is able to get Pantoja’s back for a brief moment, but Pantoja reverses position and they’re in a body lock. They separate and Pantoja lands a counterpunch off of Askarov’s leg kick. Jab connects for Askarov, who then shoots for another takedown and can’t get it. Pantoje fights off a choke and he gets Askarov’s back! Both hooks in with under 20 seconds to go. A couple of punches Pantoja and then slips off the back and the round ends. 19-19.
Round 3 - They hug it out to start the final round. Leg kick by Askarov and Pantoja throws a tired looking body kick. Good left hand by Askarov upstairs. Caught kick and right hand by Pantoja puts Askarov off balance and Pantoja is now on top. Askarov kicks him off and they’re back to their feet, and Pantoja is taking some punches. Hard jab by Askarov. Pantoja shoots and it’s easily stuffed. Good right hand by Askarov and Pantoja misses on the uppercut. Pantoja’s pace has dropped considerably. Askarov’s spinning backfist is off target. Body kick by Pantoja. Askarov with an inside leg kick. And another one. A minute to go and looks like Askarov is winning this round. Both men swinging and Askarov hit Pantoja low, but no time is wasted. Big left by Askarov. Massive right by Askarov and an exclamation point on that round. 29-28 Askarov.
Official decision: Askar Askarov def. Alexandre Pantoja by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+)
Roman Dolidze def. Khadis Ibragimov by TKO (knee and punches) at 4:15 of round 1
Grant Dawson def. Nad Narimani by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 29-27)
Joel Álvarez def. Joseph Duffy by submission (guillotine choke) at 2:25 of round 1
Brett Johns def. Montel Jackson by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Amir Albazi def. Malcolm Gordon by submission (triangle choke) at 4:42 of round 1
Arman Tsarukyan def. Davi Ramos by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Sergey Spivak def. Carlos Felipe by majority decision (28-28, 29-27, 29-27)
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