Join us today on Bloody Elbow for live results, discussion, round scoring, and play-by-play as UFC 230 goes down in Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The main event will see UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier putting his belt on the line against hard-hitter Derrick Lewis. The co-main will have former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman taking on perennial contender Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza.
This post will cover the main card.
The show kicks off on Fight Pass at approximately 6:15pm ET with four fights. The card then moves to FS1 at 8pm ET for four more bouts, then onto the main PPV card. The full lineup and schedule follows. The prelims will be covered in a separate post.
Check out this week’s MMA Vivisection for predictions, analysis and betting odds on the each matchup.
Daniel Cormier vs. Derrick Lewis
Round 1 - Lewis with a body kick. Now a leg kick. Cormier responds. Lewis head kick attempt is blocked. Cormier wades in with a left and scoops a single, dumping Lewis to the mat. DC lands some short shots. The crowd is already unhappy. Lewis turns over to get up. He gets to his feet but Cormier still has a hold of him. He drags him back down. More work in half guard with not a lot happening. Now Cormier is opening up a bit with punches as Lewis gets to a knee. 10-9 Cormier.
Round 2 - Body kick from Cormier. Lewis with a combination and a front kick. Lewis just misses with the right. One does connect but not with full power. Cormier fakes a takedown and lands a left. He then goes for the takedown and gets it. Lewis back to his knees but eats a few knees. Cormier puts him back down. He gets the back and sinks a choke. It’s over.
Daniel Cormier defeated Derrick Lewis via submission (rear naked choke), 2:14 of round 2
Chris Weidman vs. Jacare Souza
Round 1 - Weidman with a lead right. He’s pawing with the jab. Jacare with the right. He’s trying to walk Weidman down. They get into the clinch. Weidman lands a knee, Jacare with a left, and they separate. Weidman puts together two combinations and wobbles Jacare! Jacare fires back with a right over the top. Souza goes to the body. Jacare with a body kick, Weidman counters with a left. Outside leg kick from Souza. Weidman goes back to the jab. Straight right from Weidman lands again. Body shot. Jacare with a hard leg kick. Weidman with a left. Jacare goes back o the body. They exchang shots and Weidman gets the best of it. 10-9 Weidman.
Round 2 - They trade outside leg kicks. Jacare with an overhand right. Weidman continuing on with the jabs and outside leg kicks. Body shot from Weidman. Both men land. Jacare with a right hook, Weidman with short shots. Jacare really pressing. Body shot, and overhand right from Souza. Weidman with a huge lead right and Jacare is stunned. Jacare with a punch and a knee to the body. Jacare with a big overhand right! Jacare with an extended series of strikes that connect, then he misses with a wild overhand right. Weidma with the lead right again. Jacare with a head kick that’s blocked. Weidman caught the leg and dumped Jacare on his butt. He’s up, but they’re clinching against the cage throwing punches inside. Weidman gets Jacare to his knees. Jacare rolls through and ends up on top, but Weidman scurries away just as Jacare throws a haymaker. 10-9 Weidman.
Round 3 - Weidman with a jab. Outside leg kick from Jacare. Weidman with a body kick and a left. Now a right. Jacare back to the brutal body shots. Another leg kick from Jacare. They’re landing huge shots! Jacare is getting the best of it - for now. Weidman with a step-in knee and they’re getting at it again in close. Uppercut and a standing elbow from Weidman. Jacare a little stunned again. Another step-in knee from Weidman. Body kick from Souza. Three minutes to go. Jacare with a leg kick and a hard right. He puts together another combo. More body work. Huge right! Weidman goes down! Weidman was done, but the ref told Jacare to continue. He basically said no, as Weidman tried to feebly grab his leg. So Jacare hit him with four more shots and Mirgliotta finally stopped it. Horrible reffing.
Jacare Souza defeated Chris Weidman via TKO (strikes), 2:46 of round 3
David Branch vs. Jared Cannonier
Round 1 - Inside leg kick from Branch. Cannonier with an outside leg kick. Branch immediately shoots. Cannonier gets thrown down twice. Branch tries to take his back but Cannonier gets up. Nice knee and a right from Cannonier. Body jabs from Branch, counter right from Cannonier. Branch ducks under again and gets Cannonier to his butt on the floor. Branch has a leg grapevined and is holding the far arm. Cannonier gets back up but Branch stays on him. They separate. Jabs from Branch. Leg kicks too. Branch looking for yet another takedown. Cannonier is doing his best to fight them off. They separate and Branch retreats as Cannonier charges forward with punches and a kick. 10-9 Branch.
Round 2 - Cannonier with a jab and a leg kick. Branch fires back. Cannonier with a right that drops Branch! He jumps all over him with punches against the cage, and it’s over! Big upset!
Jared Cannonier defeated David Branch via TKO (strikes), :29 of round 2
Karl Roberson vs. Jack Marshman
Round 1 - Roberson with a body kick that is blocked. Long left, and again. He ducks a punch and backs Marshman to the fence. Counter left scores for Roberson. Another. Hard inside leg kick. Marshman with a slapping leg kick. Body kick from Roberson. Nice head movement too after Marshman tries to counter. They trade low kicks. Roberson with a huge left. Marshman comes right back though. Marshman with a body shot. Marshman goes body/head. Very nice. Body kick from Roberson. 10-9 Roberson.
Round 2 - Roberson comes forward right away, but isn’t throwing. Nice straight left. Marshman with a body and leg kick. They brawl briefly inside. Beautiful lead left pushes Marshman back. He steps up and lands to the body. Knee to the body from Marshman. Body kick and a lead left from Roberson. Marshman comes back with a right. They trade again! Roberson with a big takedown. Roberson tries to move to side. He eventually gets there like a minute later. 10-9 Roberson.
Round 3 - Roberson with a hard counter left. Body kick. Marshman with an inside leg kick. A huge counter left again. Marshman just takes it. That’s a hell of a chin. There’s a bunch of blood coming out of his mouth though. To the point that his mouthpiece is falling out. Another shot from Roberson. Roberson with a big takedown halfway through the round. He’s just controlling position. He moves to side then mount, with a minute to go. 10-9 and 30-27 Roberson.
Karl Roberson defeated Jack Marshman via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
Derek Brunson vs. Israel Adesanya
Round 1 - Adesanya moving forward. Outside leg kick. Brunson in on his legs immediately. He switched to a body lock and backed Adesanya to the cage. Brunson grabs Adeanya’s shorts, and Adesanya complains. He flips Brunson off. Herb Dean separates them and they restart in the middle. Brunson scoops a single but can’t get anything. He comes right back in and they clinch again. Brunson with a left as Adesanya tries to escape. Brunson literally tries to dive on his ankles as he gets away. Back in the center again. Adesanya with a straight right. Adesanya stuffs a takedown attempt. Outside leg kick from Adesanya. Question mark kick. Brunson changes levels nicely but he still can’t get Adesanya to the floor. Adesanya scrambles away and lands a big knee! Brunson is stunned! Knee and a head kick and Brunson goes down again! He’s back up and lands a left. Adesanya with an accurate shot and Brunson is down again! Finally Herb Dean steps in, even though Brunson wasn’t out. He didn’t protest the stoppage.
Israel Adesanya defeated Derek Brunson via TKO (strikes), round 1