mma / Reports

411’s UFC Fight Night Report: Makhachev Dominates Green

February 26, 2022 | Posted by Robert Winfree
UFC on ESPN+ 60 Image Credit: UFC

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
#4 Islam Makhachev (160 lbs.) vs. Bobby Green (158 lbs.)
Misha Cirkunov (185.5 lbs.) vs. Wellington Turman (185 lbs.)
Priscila Cachoeira (125 lbs.) vs. Ji Yeon Kim (126 lbs.)
Joel Alvarez (156 lbs.) vs. #13 Arman Tsarukyan (156 lbs.)
Armen Petrosyan (186 lbs.) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (186 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)
Ignacio Bahamondes (154.5 lbs.) vs. Rong Zhu (160 lbs.)*
Josiane Nunes (145.5 lbs.) vs. Ramona Pascual (146 lbs.)
Terrance McKinney (156 lbs.) vs. Fares Ziam (155 lbs.)
Jonathan Martinez (144 lbs.) vs. Alejandro Perez (144.5 lbs.)
Ramiz Brahimaj (170.5 lbs.) vs. Micheal Gillmore (170.5 lbs.)
Victor Altamirano (123 lbs.) vs. Carlos Hernandez (125 lbs.)


Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC on ESPN+ 60. I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host for the evening. Tonight we’ve got a card that has suffered some serious setbacks, including losing the original main event of Beneil Dariush vs. Islam Makhachev when Dariush got injured close to the fight date. Stepping in on short notice is Bobby Green, who competed just a couple of weeks ago at UFC 271 and now could get the biggest win of his career if he can stop the surging contender Makhachev. The next most interesting fight on the card is a lightweight clash between Joel Alvarez and Arman Tsarukyan, both men are surging in the lightweight division and this fight represents a significant opportunity for either of them to earn a step up in class for their next fight. Elsewhere on the card “Robocop” Gregory Rodrigues will be in action against Armen Petrosyan, Ignacio Bahamondes will be trying to follow up is knockout of the year contender when he takes on Rong Zhu, and the featherweight fight between Jonathan Martinez and Alejandro Perez has some serious fireworks written on it. After that it’s a lot of hoping for good action despite being a bit lacking on paper.

UFC on ESPN+ 60 comes to the world from the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Brendan Fitzgerald, Michael Bisping, and Paul Felder will be on commentary. As for the rules, Nevada uses most of the newer ones but you still only need one hand on the mat to be considered downed. We do have the use of instant replay, and the fight can be restarted after it’s used if that’s applicable to the situation. Also keep in mind we’re in the smaller 25 foot cage instead of the 30 footer.

Victor Altamirano brings a four fight winning streak into his UFC debut, he was last seen winning his way into the promotion via the Contender Series and now looks to make a good first impression on the UFC audience. Carlos Hernandez is on a seven fight winning streak and also enters the UFC via the Contender Series, he’s trying to extend that streak and begin his climb through the flyweight ranks. The odds are close but lean towards Hernandez at -160 to +140 on Altamirano.

Flyweight Bout: Victor Altamirano (10-1, 123 lbs.) vs. Carlos Hernandez (7-1, 125 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Altamirano has three inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Altamirano, but both men look like they will do some stance switching. Hernandez misses a hook and they tie up but separate without incident. Another clinch, they trade knees to the body then break. Altamirano avoids a hook. Inside leg kick from Hernandez. They trade lefts then we get another clinch but again nothing comes of it. Altamirano lands a short left hook. Jab from Altamirano then he eats a knee to the body. Altamirano lands a leg kick then eats a counter right from Hernandez. They trade lefts but Hernandez landed the better punch. Body kicks go back and forth. Hernandez lands a left in close then takes a body kick in response. Altamirano lands a head kick then a body kick. Hernandez lands a head kick but Altamirano just eats it. They clinch up and Hernandez gets a body lock takedown into full guard. Hernandez is postured up and looks for punches before Altamirano gets him all the way tied up into his guard. Altamirano uses a half guard pass to scramble back up and they start circling again. They both miss punches as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Hernandez but a very close round

ROUND TWO: Altamirano gets back to working the lead hand as the round begins. They tie up, Hernandez lands a knee to the body. More knees from Hernandez before they separate. Altamirano keeps pressing forward, he lands a body kick then clinches again. Bit of a knee from Hernandez as they break. Hernandez pressures forward and lands a knee. Altamirano avoids a few punches, he’s got pretty good head movement, then lands a body kick. Hernandez lands a right hand. Altamirano lands a left to the body, then another one after Hernandez lands a right hand. A left from Altamirano seems to stun Hernandez, then he digs the liver again with his left hand. Hernandez misses a head kick then they tie up and hit the fence. They break without incident and get back to fighting. Altamirano lands another high kick but Hernandez lands a combination in return. Hernandez starts pressing forward and lands a few more punches. Bit of a right form Hernandez and he avoids the counters. Altamirano lands a solid body kick. Both men land power hand punches then Altamirano lands another body kick. Altamirano’s body work has been consistent this round. Hernandez lands a body kick then they trade punches. They clinch up then break as Altamirano lands a body kick. Hernandez lands a right, then hits a hip toss but Altamirano springs back up and they end the round in the clinch.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Altamirano but again a close one, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: They clinch up rather quickly then hit the fence. They fight for a takedown but neither man secures one and they separate. Altamirano lands another body kick, that right hand from Altamirano is starting to drift down. A combination from Altamirano lands then he avoids the counters. Hernandez lands an inside leg kick and they clinch up. Altamirano drives Hernandez into the fence and starts working knees. Hernandez lands a knee of his own before they break. Both men land punches in close. Altamirano lands an elbow and a leg kick, he’s starting to pull away with his work rate as the fight drags on. Another clinch and again Altamirano gets Hernandez onto the fence. Hernandez spins free and they reset. Hernandez lands a combination of punches then a kick. Altamirano has a high kick blocked, then they clinch again. They fight for position in open space then Hernandez lands a knee as they break. Bit of a left from Hernandez. Altamirano lands a body kick. Left to the body from Altamirano then he takes a counter from Hernandez. Hernandez avoids a punch and clinches up but he wont find a takedown before they break. Altamirano lands a body kick but Hernandez counters with a knee and punches. Another body kick from Altamirano and they clinch. Hernandez lands knees then an elbow and Altamirano lands a body kick as they break. Altamirano hits a double leg, Hernandez wall walks immediately and lands an elbow as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Altamirano but these two were insanely well matched the whole way, 29-28 Altamirano overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Carlos Hernandez via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

My only gripe is the 30-27 from the semi-sentient can of soup that is Sal D’Amato. Mic time for Hernandez, he acknowledges the jitters but then mentions watching Michael Bisping fight Chael Sonnen from the nose bleed seats back in the day and now he’s here getting interviewed by him.

Ramiz Brahimaj has gone 1-2 in the UFC and he’s coming off of a loss to Court McGee, now he’s trying to bounce back and get his UFC record to the .500 mark. Michael Gillmore lost his UFC debut last year and now tries to get that all important first win in the Octagon. Brahimaj is a hefty -350 favorite to a +270 comeback for Gillmore.

Welterweight Bout: Ramiz Brahimaj (9-4, 170.5 lbs.) vs. Micheal Gillmore (6-4, 170.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Gillmore is an inch taller but the reach is identical. Brahimaj avoids a punch and gets a double leg, he jumps to the back as Gillmore tries to wall walks and he starts looking for the choke. Gillmore is hand fighting but Brahimaj is really after the choke. Brahimaj goes for a neck crank, he can’t quite get under the chin but he’s adjusting his grip and Gillmore’s face is starting to change color. Gillmore breaks the grip and Brahimaj moves to full mount, then goes for the back and gets the choke this time and forces the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Ramiz Brahimaj via Submission, rear naked choke, at 2:02 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Brahimaj for his work this evening. Mic time for Brahimaj, he’s pretty happy with the performance and refused to feel sorry for himself after his last loss. He talks us through the finish, then jokes around with Belal Muhammad for gifts he owes both him and Paul Felder. To close he thanks the UFC for approving his Kosovo fight kit and it means a lot to him as his grandfather is from Kosovo and it means a lot to him to to represent that country which has been through so much.

Alejandro Perez has been with the UFC since 2014 but he only recently snapped a two fight losing streak, now he’s trying to build his first winning streak since 2018 and prove he’s still a worthwhile addition to the roster. Perez is usually a bantamweight so we’ll see if he’s making this a more permanent move or if it’s just a one off. Jonathan Martinez has gone 5-3 in the UFC but is 2-1 since returning to featherweight, now he’s looking for his first winning streak in the weight class and to begin the difficult climb up the ranks. The odds are surprisingly heavy in this one, favoring Martinez at -290 while the +230 comeback on Perez is a very tempting value bet.

Featherweight Bout: Jonathan Martinez (14-4, 144 lbs.) vs. Alejandro Perez (22-8-1, 144.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Martinez is two inches taller with three inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Martinez, they touch gloves to get us going. A lot of circling from Perez, and you can tell Martinez is the larger man of frame. Both men land leg kicks, they’re just probing and range finding. Martinez lands a body kick then takes an inside leg kick. Martinez checks an inside leg kick. Perez blocks a high kick but he’s becoming a bit too defensive. Bit of a right from Perez then he blocks a high kick. Martinez checks another leg kick, he’s on point with those. Bit of a body kick from Martinez. Perez lands a left to the body then blocks a high kick. Martinez avoids a few punches. Martinez lands a front kick to the body, his kicking game is on point and at kicking distance he’s chewing up Perez. A head kick from Martinez lands, Perez catches it but takes some punches while holding the leg before he lets it go. Martinez lands another high kick. A couple of leg kicks from Martinez then he avoids some punches. Perez lands a right hook just a couple of seconds before the bell that drops Martinez but he wont have enough time to follow up.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Martinez but you could argue the other way based on the knockdown

ROUND TWO: Martinez gets right back to kicking as the round begins. Body kick from Martinez lands. Perez lands an inside leg kick after missing a few punches. Martinez lands a leg kick, that lead leg of Perez is starting to get red around the knee. Bit of a right from Perez then he blocks a kick. Martinez avoids a couple of right hands. Things slow down a bit, both men are feinting but they both seem like they’re still looking for something. Perez lands a right. Martinez lands jab then a leg kick. Perez goes southpaw, and takes three calf kicks in a row. Bit of a head kick from Martinez then they trade some jabs. Perez goes orthodox again and lands an uppercut. Perez blitzes forward with a flurry, a lot of which lands just before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Martinez, 20-18 Martinez again

ROUND THREE: Perez comes out and lands a right, then takes a counter left. Both men land punches in close but Perez is pushing things and looking to brawl. Martinez lands a left hand. Perez lands a right hand. They both land punches in close. Martinez lands a counter right but barely misses the follow up left. Front kick from Martinez lands. Perez starts coming forward, he lands a calf kick but takes a counter left. Martinez lands a counter left. Bit of a jab from Perez. Martinez avoids a spinning back fist then lands a left. Perez is trying a lot of spinning attacks now, he’s getting a bit desperate. Martinez lands a jab then a chopping left hand. Perez feints in close and tries a double leg but Martinez defends. Front kick from Martinez lands. Perez lands a body kick. Stiff jab from Martinez lands. Bit of a head kick from Martinez, then he and Perez get close and trade for the final few seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Martinez, 30-27 Martinez overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Jonathan Martinez via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

I don’t object to Perez taking the first on the knockdown, fortunately the right man won. Martinez thinks he’s getting better and thanks his team for that, then notes he got caught off balance more than being truly hurt but acknowledges the blow. He feels he’s still growing and looks forward to the future.

Terrance McKinney is on a four fight winning streak including a successful UFC debut last year, now he’s trying to keep that momentum going. Fares Ziam has gone 2-1 in the UFC but he is on a two fight winning streak and if he can extend that to three in a row here he’ll be due a slightly bigger opportunity for his next bout. This one is extremely close by the odds, -115 for Ziam to -105 on McKinney.

Lightweight Bout: Terrance McKinney (11-3, 156 lbs.) vs. Fares Ziam (12-3, 155 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Ziam is three inches taller and has an inch and a half of reach advantage. They touch gloves, McKinney fighting southpaw. Ziam lands an inside leg kick that sweeps McKinney down, but he comes up on a takedown and gets Ziam down. McKinney starts working from full guard, he passes to side control rather quickly. Ziam starts working to wall walk, McKinney moves to knee on belly but gets caught in half guard, though that does seem to settle things down. McKinney lands some body shots and starts working to posture up. Bit of a right from McKinney. Ziam looks to wall walk again, McKinney jumps for his back then transitions to full mount. McKinney starts riding between mount and back mount, he grabs the choke but the angle isn’t quite right though after a few seconds of McKinney continuing to squeeze prompts the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Terrance McKinney via Submission, rear naked choke, at 2:11 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. McKinney for his work this evening. Mic time for McKinney, he feels great and gives love to a lot of people and offers prayers for Ukraine. He thinks his willingness to take risks is a big asset, plus he’s got God on his side and thinks it’s his time. He talks us through the finish and again says the division better be ready. Asked about the future he wants to fight in two months.

This isn’t a perfect rear naked choke, ideally you want to be chest to chest and get your head on the opposite side of the choking arm to help leverage the choke properly, but if you’ve got a good enough squeeze you can kind of make up for that. McKinney seems to have a good squeeze, and you can see a bit of the angle on the crank that might make things hard as well, but there’s also a bit of inexperience from Ziam here, there are definitely things defensively he could have done here.

Josiane Nunes is on a seven fight winning streak that includes her UFC debut last year, now she’s trying to extend that and start making moves through the ranks. Ramona Pascual took this fight on short notice, hence the featherweight weight class, but she’s on a four fight winning streak and could make a bit of a splash if she’s able to upset the streaking Nunes. Nunes is your favorite at -225 to a +185 comeback on Pascual.

Women’s Featherweight Bout: Josiane Nunes (8-1, 145.5 lbs.) vs. Ramona Pascual (6-2, 146 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Pascual is five inches taller but Nunes has an inch of reach advantage. Both women fighting southpaw. Pascual looks much larger of the two, and she lands a leg kick. Nunes blocks a middle kick and has a left hand blocked. Pascual lands another leg kick then they trade punches in close with both women landing. They trade leg kicks then Pascual lands a couple of knees to the body before blocking punches. Body kick from Pascual lands. Pascual lands a bit of a left elbow then a body kick. Nunes eats a leg kick then lands a couple of punches. Both women land punches in the pocket. Some jabs go back and forth then Nunes tries to flurry but can’t find the target. Nunes eats a knee to the body but times a left hand counter that sits Pascual down for a second. Pascual lands a series of knees to the body then Nunes avoids a clinch. Nunes lands a left in close and gets a bit of a brawl. Pascual hits a double leg to stifle that offense and starts working from full guard. Some punches land for Pascual. Nunes fires elbows from her back and is trying to get her guard working. Pascual passes to side control, then north-south position. Nunes fights to her feet but eats body shots along the way as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Nunes but a close one

ROUND TWO: Pascual is pressing forward again as the round starts. Nunes lands a left but takes several blows in return. Another left from Nunes lands. Pascual lands a knee to the body but Nunes cracks her with a left hand. Nunes unloads along the fence with punches, Pascual tries a takedown but Nunes smothers her and gets on top in full mount. Elbows from Nunes as she moves to the back while Pascual rolls to her knees. Pascual looks to base up and shake Nunes off, she does so and they reset. There’s some serious swelling under the right eye of Pascual from all those lefts she’s taken. Spinning back fist from Pascual partially lands. Nunes lands another left. Body kick from Nunes lands, Pascual is fading and her offense is falling apart. Pascual lands a leg kick but Nunes is building confidence and has started landing in combination now. Nunes lands a left. Pascual hits a double leg into full guard. Things are stalling out a bit, they trade a couple of elbows but there’s not much going on. Pascual fires a couple of elbows to keep the ref from standing them up, that should allow the round to end in this spot.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Nunes, borderline 10-8, 20-18 Nunes overall

ROUND THREE: Pascual’s right eye is kind of a mess but it’s not bad enough to end the fight yet. Nunes blocks a high kick and lands a left hand. Nunes blocks a takedown attempt and lands a couple of punches. Pascual lands a couple of punches but there’s not much on her offense right now. Pascual forces a clinch then lands a knee as Nunes gets away from her. Bit of a spinning back fist from Pascual. Both women land lefts. Nunes lands another couple of punches. Both women land leg kicks. Nunes lands a left. Body kick from Pascual then Nunes avoids a reaching takedown. Nunes avoids another takedown attempt and unloads with a few punches then a body kick. Nunes lands another left hand. Spinning back fist from Pascual, then she punches and hits a double leg. There’s not much time left and Nunes grabs a double wrist lock to stall things out as Pascual tries to start something from half guard as the round ends.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Josiane Nunes via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27 x2)

No issues with a 10-8 for Nunes. Mic time for Nunes and her translator, she puts over Pascual for taking the fight on short notice and performing so well. She says she’s always been aggressive, gives glory to God and thanks her coaches.

Zhu Rong has gone 1-1 in the UFC and he’s coming off of a win, but he missed weight for his last fight and then missed again here which casts serious doubt about his future in the lightweight division. Ignacio Bahamondes has gone 1-1 in the UFC but scored a lovely wheel kick knockout in his last fight and now tries to build his first UFC winning streak. Bahamondes is the -200 favorite to +170 on Rong.

Lightweight Bout: Ignacio Bahamondes (12-4, 154.5 lbs.) vs. Rong Zhu (19-4, 160 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Bahamondes is a whopping six inches taller and has four and a half inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Bahamondes lands a jab then a calf kick. A bit of stance switching already from Bahamondes, the uses a jab to keep Rong out of reach. More long range kicks from Bahamondes. Another leg kick from Bahamondes lands. Rong misses a right hand. More jabs from Bahamondes, he’s busting up the nose and left eye of Rong. They trade leg kicks then Bahamondes lands jabs while circling. Bahamondes lands a body shot then a left up stairs. Rong is being rendered ineffective offensively by the reach and output of Bahamondes. A few more lefts from Bahamondes land then a leg kick. Rong has had enough of this and tries a double leg, but Bahamondes uses a guillotine threat to push him over and get on top in half guard. Bahamondes lands an elbow. Rong is trying to get his half guard working but Bahamondes is landing punches and elbows then transitioning to a front headlock to keep him on the bottom. Bahamondes postures up and lands punches as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Bahamondes, nearly a 10-8

ROUND TWO: Rong starts the round aggressively, he backs Bahamondes up and looks to unload with punches. Body shot from Rong lands. Bahamondes lands a left hand but he’s still kind of stuck on the fence. Front kick from Bahamondes then a left to the body. Rong gets close and lands a couple of body shots but eats a counter right hook. Bahamondes lands a stiff right hand then some jabs. A left body shot from Bahamondes lands. Rong lands a right to the body. Bahamondes gets back to jabbing, and he’s adding straight punches to the body as well. Rong lands a couple of punches. Leg kick then a left from Bahamondes land. Bahamondes lands a right hand then avoids a counter. Some more long range punches from Bahamondes land. Rong falls short on a couple of punches. Bahamondes lands a one two. Body kick from Bahamondes lands. Rong misses a right hand. Calf kick and jab from Bahamondes, he’s gotten back to sniping and breaking down Rong at distance. Rong lands a right to the body but eats a counter punch. Bahamondes lands a one two. Bahamondes lands a front kick to the body then a right hand. Rong lands a right hand. Bahamondes hits the body again then lands a few jabs. A stiff counter right from Bahamondes lands to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Bahamondes, 20-18 Bahamondes overall

ROUND THREE: Rong comes out pushing forward again, and he takes a right hand for his troubles. Bahamondes lands a few jabs, but Rong backs him to the fence and looks to unload with punches. Bahamondes lands an uppercut. Rong tries a double leg, he gets this one and lands in full guard but Bahamondes sweeps him immediately and regains his feet. They get back to punching each other with things favoring Bahamondes. Bahamondes lands a left to the body then a body kick. Rong reaches for a double leg, Bahamondes defends and grabs a ninja choke on the way down, he holds it as Rong tries to roll to his back but the pressure is still there and Rong has to tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Ignacio Bahamondes via Submission, ninja choke, at 1:40 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Bahamondes for his work this evening. Mic time for Bahamondes, he’s super happy and felt everything just clicked for him today then puts over his corner and coaches. He’s been telling us for a while he can do everything and finally got to show it, then says having his father in his corner for this fight was a blessing.

That does it for the prelims, but we’re still on ESPN+ for the main card.

Armen Petrosyan brings a two fight winning streak into his UFC debut and now looks to capitalize on the only chance he’ll get to make a first impression. Gregory Rodrigues is on a four fight winning streak including two wins in the UFC, he’s trying to extend that streak here and make a case for fighting a more well known opponent next time. The odds lean towards Rodrigues at -150 while a Petrosyan win would payout at +130.

Middleweight Bout: Armen Petrosyan (6-1, 186 lbs.) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (11-3, 186 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Rodrigues has a significant four inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Both men do some feinting as they circle. Rodrigues lands a right hand, that got Petrosyan’s attention. Both men work leg kicks, they’re still trying to get a feel for things. Rodrigues lands a left hook. Petrosyan jabs the body then lands a left hook of his own. Rodrigues is the aggressor thus far, and he’s done a pretty good job of getting Petrosyan to the fence. They get close and both men land punches in the pocket. Rodrigues lands a couple of jabs. Petrosyan starts getting his own jab working, they’re not landing much yet but it’s something for Rodrigues to deal with. They trade leg kicks. Petrosyan lands a body kick. More long range attacks from Petrosyan, he’s starting to get a read on Rodrigues. Rodrigues lands a body shot. They split jabs a few times. Petrosyan avoids a one two. Petrosyan lands a leg kick. Rodrigues keeps backing Petrosyan up. Petrosyan lands an inside leg kick then a body kick a the last blow of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Petrosyan

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves again. Petrosyan lands a leg kick. Rodrigues lands a bit of a right hand. Both men punch to the body then Rodrigues lands a couple of rights that stumble Petrosyan for a second. Rodrigues is pushing forward looking to force the fight, Petrosyan lands a body kick and continues circling. Petrosyan lands a left hook in close. They trade punches again but Petrosyan lands the better punches and he’s got Rodrigues backing up now. Rodrigues eats a body shot then lands a left hook. A right from Rodrigues lands flush. A lot more forward pressure from Petrosyan this round. Petrosyan jabs the body then lands a bit of a right hand. They trade body shots then a left hook from Petrosyan wobbles Rodrigues, but he fires back with a right hand. Petrosyan lands a body kick. Rodrigues lands a jab. A left hook for Rodrigues lands, but Petrosyan counters with a punch then a body kick. Double leg from Rodrigues connects and he starts working on top. Petrosyan is looking to wall walk, Rodrigues slips to his back but Petrosyan gets chest to chest as they stand. They break without incident. Rodrigues lands a jab then eats a body kick. Petrosyan lands a leg kick but eats a counter right to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rodrigues, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: They hug to start the last round. Petrosyan lands a leg kick. Both men landing some jabs. Petrosyan lands a right hand but eats a left in return. They trade leg kicks, Rodrigues keeps pressing forward and lands punches then a heavy head kick and they clinch up. Rodrigues uses a headlock throw, then jumps to the back and tries a kneebar but Petrosyan scrambles through. Rodrigues scrambles to top position, then gets the back and grabs the choke. Petrosyan’s nose is a bloody mess but he defends the choke. Petrosyan is able to break the body triangle of Rodrigues and stands free then they get back to trading punches. Both men land jabs. Petrosyan lands a body kick. Bit of a right from Rodrigues, then another one in close. Petrosyan lands a couple of leg kicks then eats a jab. Both men land in close. Elbow from Petrosyan, and Rodrigues cracks him with a right hand in return. Rodrigues lands a leg kick. Bit of a right from Rodrigues lands. They split some jabs then Petrosyan lands a body kick. More leg kicks from Petrosyan, he’s still in this thing. Rodrigues eats a knee as he tried a takedown, Petrosyan then lands a body kick. They wind up not throwing for the final couple of seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rodrigues but a close one, 29-28 Rodrigues overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Armen Petrosyan via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

I don’t agree with that 30-27 at all, but 29-28 for either man is acceptable. Mic time for Petrosyan and his translator, he was confident that he could get a finish but Rodrigues was tough and puts him over. Asked about the last round he says he was never going to tap and will fight to the end. That’s probably the Fight of the Night thus far, those two went at it.

Arman Tsarukyan has gone 4-1 in the UFC and is on a four fight winning streak that has seen him crack into the top fifteen rankings, now he’s looking to extend that streak and set his sights on those ranked above him for his next bout. Joel Alvarez has also gone 4-1 in the UFC and is on a four fight winning streak, if he can beat Tsarukyan here he could well crack the top fifteen rankings and start looking to climb towards the title picture. Tsarukyan is the -260 while the +210 payout on Alvarez might be a tempting value bet.

Lightweight Bout: Joel Alvarez (19-2, 156 lbs.) vs. #13 Arman Tsarukyan (17-2, 156 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Alvarez is a whopping nine inches taller with four and a half inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. The height difference is almost comical considering they both made weight. Tsarukyan is probing at distance, he’s looking for a way to close the distance. Alvarez tries a kick but Tsarukyan catches it and gets a takedown into full guard. Tsarukyan is working to posture up and start threatening to pass, he lands a few elbows while Alvarez starts working his guard up higher. Tsarukyan passes towards half guard, but Alvarez is able to stop him from getting all the way around his knee then closes up full guard. Bit of a punch from Tsarukyan. Alvarez is trying to play his guard but he’s struggling to really get it working. Tsarukyan lands some punches while looking for a few different passes, he gets to a front headlock position but he can’t get past the guard and Alvarez closes his full guard. Some body to head punches from Tsarukyan. Short elbow from Tsarukyan lands. Alvarez tries to work his guard again, but Tsarukyan elbows him and Alvarez is a bloody mess in a hurry. Tsarukyan keeps landing elbows, that cut is bleeding badly and is located just over the right eye. The round ends there, but that cut might be a fight stopper.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Tsarukyan

ROUND TWO: OK, that cut wasn’t under the eyebrow like it appeared, it’s around the bridge of the nose and the inside of the left eyebrow of Alvarez. It’s still a pretty bad cut, but the doctor says he can continue. Tsarukyan quickly hits a double leg into side control. Mounted crucifix for Tsarukyan, he starts dropping elbows, that cut is bleeding again and it’s flowing into both of Alvarez’s eyes. More elbows from Tsarukyan, he’s just unloading from side control. Alvarez rolls to his knees but Tsarukyan starts pounding him out from the ride position. Tsarukyan rides Alvarez on the mat and keeps landing punches to the head. Alvarez, to his credit, is still trying to wall walk. Tsarukyan keeps stripping his posting limbs and landing punches, we’re not too far from this being stopped given how Alvarez can’t defend himself. Yeah, there we go, the ref halts the fight.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Arman Tsarukyan via TKO, punches, at 1:57 of Round 2

That was a great performance from Tsarukyan, if you’re still ignorant to that man’s ability I don’t know what to tell you. Mic time for Tsarukyan, he likes to surprise his opponents and prove he can fight everywhere, that’s why he can fight everyone differently. He talks us through some highlights, and he’s happy with the win and would like to fight a top ten opponent and hopefully fight in a main event next. I say give him what he wants. He says his goal is to fight for the title, and would love to have a rematch with Islam Makhachev once Makhachev becomes champion.

Here’s the elbow from the first round that cut Alvarez. The blood starts flowing fast and furious, Tsarukyan is a serious problem for the division.

Ji Yeon Kim has gone 3-4 in the UFC and is on a two fight losing streak, she needs a win here for a bit of job security as well as to draw her UFC record to the .500 mark. Priscila Cachoeira should have been cut after her disgusting behavior in her last fight when she was tapped out by Gillian Robertson, she’s got a UFC record of 2-4 and probably needs a win just to maintain her roster spot. The odds lean towards Kim at -155 against +135 for Cachoeira.

Women’s Flyweight Bout: Priscila Cachoeira (10-4, 125 lbs.) vs. Ji Yeon Kim (9-4-2, 126 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Kim has a whopping seven inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. A bit of feinting from both women, Cachoeira is pressing forward but runs into an uppercut. Calf kick from Cachoeira. Kim avoids a right hand. Some jabs from Kim and she avoids Cachoeira’s wide hooks. Kim lands a right hand. Jab from Kim, she’s getting a feel for the range now and is starting to open up. Both women land lefts in close. Kim lands a few inside leg kicks while circling. Cachoeira lands a left then a right, but takes a few counters. Kim lands a few rights. Cachoeira misses a right hand. Bit of an uppercut from Cachoeira. Kim misses a kick and then avoids some counter hooks. Bit of a left from Kim, then she starts jabbing again. Cachoeira misses a right hand. Cachoeira tries a double leg, hits it and they end the round in the clinch on the fence as Kim wall walks.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Kim but could easily go the other way

ROUND TWO: Kim starts pumping the jab again as the round starts. A few jabs land for Kim but she needs to up the pace from the last round. Kim lands a right hand. Kim lands a left, Cachoeira is falling just short with a lot of her punches. One two from Kim lands then an inside leg kick. Cachoeira misses another right and eats a counter. Both women miss punches, then Kim lands a left. Cachoeira lands a right hand. They split some jabs then Kim lands a right. Cachoeira lands a superman punch. Cachoeira’s left eye is starting to swell up, not badly but it’s definitely there. Kim lands another few jabs then a left hook. A few rights land for Kim as she avoids Cachoeira’s wild punches. Both women miss punches, then Kim lands a left hook. They split jabs again. Kim lands another one two. Cachoeira misses a right and eats a couple of counters. Kim lands another right hand, she’s started to really pick Cachoeira apart. Cachoeira misses more hooks and she’s getting countered at every turn. Kim lands a few more jabs, then they trade rights. Another right from Kim lands. They get close and trade punches but even there Kim seems to be getting the better of things. Kim off balances Cachoeira with a left hook. Cachoeira misses a few punches to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Kim, much easier to score this time, 20-18 Kim overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the final round. Kim gets back to landing one two’s and a left hook staggers Cachoeira. Cachoeira just starts charging forward with punches but Kim hurts her with counters before they fall into a clinch. Kim breaks free and gets back to straight punches. More jabs from Kim land, she’s coming forward now and Cachoeira seems to be fading. Cachoeira is swinging wide and still getting countered, it’s starting to go south for her quickly. Both of Cachoeira’s eyes are bruised and swelling. Kim lands a right then a left hook. Cachoeira lands a right hand. Kim with a couple of leg kicks then gets back to jabbing and moving. A left from Kim seems to wobble Cachoeira. Kim lands a right hand. More jabs from Kim, she’s cruising at this point. Kim lands a right hand. Stiff right from Kim, then another one. Cachoeira just eats it and comes forward but she can’t find any offense and Kim keeps countering her. Bit of an elbow from Cachoeira, they get close and we get a brawl for a bit and Kim keeps landing but Cachoeira is in full on zombie mode. Kim is bleeding around the left eye from the elbows of Cachoeira, adn they clinch up. Both women unload in close. Kim is landing more volume but Cachoeira is still swinging elbows. One two from Kim. Cachoeira throws a few knees but can’t quite land flush. They clinch again and Cachoeira lands elbows then Kim clobbers her with a right hand as they break to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Kim, 30-27 Kim overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Priscilla Cachoeira via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Calling BS on that one. Mic time for Cachoeira and her translator, she says she was confident and thanks everyone who supports her. She talks us through the last round then gives love to her coaches and family before lobbying for a post fight bonus.

Misha Cirkunov has gone just 1-3 in his last four fights and most recently lost in his middleweight debut, now he’s sticking with middleweight and badly needs a win to try and salvage his time in the UFC. Wellington Turman has gone 2-3 in the UFC but he’s coming off of a win and now looks to get his first UFC winning streak up and running. Cirkunov is a slight -135 favorite to +115 on Turman.

Middleweight Bout: Misha Cirkunov (15-7, 185.5 lbs.) vs. Wellington Turman (17-5, 185 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Cirkunov is three inches taller, has a significant five inches of reach advantage, and is nine years older. Southpaw for Cirkunov, who lands a left hand to start the fight. Body kick from Cirkunov. Turman is looking to feint in, he tries a single leg but Cirkunov defends and they clinch up. Turman winds up on the back, he hits a mat return then gets the backpack position as Cirkunov stands. Turman is after the choke, Cirkunov is hand fighting. Cirkunov keeps control over Turman’s left arm, that makes it very hard for Turman to go for the choke. Turman gets his arm free, switches the choking arm and goes for the choke but Cirkunov breaks his hooks and slings him to the ground then unloads with punches from top position. More punches from Cirkunov, Turman tries to come up on a single leg but Cirkunov grabs a north-south choke. Cirkunov is flattening out with the chokebut he can’t keep the head on the side of the body and has to switch to the ride position as Turman rolls. More punches from Cirkunov, Turman tries to granby roll but Cirkunov is riding him and landing punches the whole way as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Cirkunov

ROUND TWO: Cirkunov lands a body kick, then Turman returns it. Both men land power hand punches, then Turman grabs a front headlock but Cirkunov pushes him into the fence. They trade some knees to the body. Turman lands a few sneaky little elbows but Cirkunov foot sweeps him down and lands in full guard. Armbar from Turman, that came out of nowhere but it’s tight and Cirkunov taps.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Wellington Turman via Submission, armbar, at 1:29 of Round 2

Mic time for Turman and his translator, he feels great but knows he gassed himself out just a bit going for the choke but his coaches got him back into the fight between rounds. He puts over his coaches and training partners, then to close he says he’s come from a really bad place in life but he was able to move to Connecticut and train with Glover Teixeira and expresses gratitude for all of that.

Here’s a look at the finish, it happens in the blink of an eye. Cirkunov gets just a little lax with his right arm as Turman overhooks it, from there it’s just lightning fast hips to beat any possible following from Cirkunov and he gets the very quick tap. Nice stuff.

Islam Makhachev is on a nine fight winning streak that has seen him climb quite high in the stacked lightweight division, if he can extend that streak here he is the next most logical title challenger and could easily fight for the belt before the end of the year. Bobby Green took this fight on very short notice, hence the catchweight, but he’s enjoying a career resurgence these days and is looking to seriously upset the apple cart by taking out one of the very best lightweights in the world. It’s not terribly surprising that the odds are heavily with Makhachev at -850 to a +575 comeback for Green.

Catchweight Bout: #4 Islam Makhachev (21-1, 160 lbs.) vs. Bobby Green (29-12-1, 158 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Green has half an inch of reach advantage. Southpaw for Makhachev, he tries a head kick right away but can’t quite land it. Green starts stalking forward, Makhachev lands a leg kick then a front kick to the body. Southpaw for Green now, he avoids a front headlock position and they reset. Both men miss kicks, they’re still getting a feel for each other. Bit of a left from Makhachev. Makhachev catches a kick and is able to force a clinch on the fence. Both men land knees to the body as Makhachev is looking for trips. Green is able to break the clinch but Makhachev shoots a double leg and gets Green down. Makhachev starts passing immediately, he’s almost into full mount. Green looks to hit a half guard sweep but Makhachev’s base is too strong and he starts working out of half guard. Punches from Makhachev as he’s looking to pass into full mount. Makhachev uses a kimura threat to get full mount and lands punches. Green to a hip but Makhachev is riding him and landing punches the whole way. Full back mount for Makhachev now and he unloads with punches and the ref waves the fight off as Green couldn’t address the position.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Islam Makhachev via TKO, punches, at 3:23 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Makhachev for his work this evening. That’s 10 in a row for Makhachev, he should be the next title contender. Mic time for Makhachev, he feels good and gives glory to God and he’s happy to show off the result of all of his work. He wishes well to Beneil Dariush and hopes he gets healed up soon. Asked about the next fight he wants a title fight, he’s ready for it and just wants a date and location. To close he sends love to everyone back in Dagestan.

Mic time for Green as well, he’s disappointed but this is what happens when you do this on short notice. He’d love a better chance down the line, he knew the wrestling was coming and would love a rematch.

Well on that note, UFC on ESPN+ 60 comes to a close. We’ll be unpacking all of the results from this card tomorrow on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast, plus we’ll look ahead to UFC 272. I’ll be back next week for UFC 272, which has a casual friendly main event of Colby Covington taking on Jorge Masvidal, and a really good co-main event when Rafael dos Anjos will battle Rafael Fiziev (There can be only one Rafael I guess), and I hope you’ll be here too. Until then stay safe out there, and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.