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411’s UFC 263 Report: Adesanya Wins
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Champ Israel Adesanya (183.5 lbs.) vs. #3 Marvin Vettori (184.5 lbs.) – for middleweight title
Champ Deiveson Figueiredo (125 lbs.) vs. #1 Brandon Moreno (125 lbs.) – for flyweight title
Nate Diaz (170 lbs.) vs. #3 Leon Edwards (170.5 lbs.)
#9 Demian Maia (170.5 lbs.) vs. #12 Belal Muhammad (170.5 lbs.)
#14 Paul Craig (204.5 lbs.) vs. #15 Jamahal Hill (205.5 lbs.)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)
#13 Drew Dober (154 lbs.) vs. Brad Riddell (155 lbs.)
Eryk Anders (205 lbs.) vs. Darren Stewart (204.5 lbs.)
#6 Joanne Calderwood (125 lbs.) vs. #3 Lauren Murphy (125.5 lbs.)
#15 Hakeem Dawodu (145.5 lbs.) vs. #14 Movsar Evloev (145.5 lbs.)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
Alexis Davis (134.5 lbs.) vs. #11 Pannie Kianzad (135.5 lbs.)
Matt Frevola (155 lbs.) vs. Terrance McKinney (155.5 lbs.)
Chase Hooper (145.5 lbs.) vs. Steven Peterson (148.5 lbs.)*
Luigi Vendramini (155.5 lbs.) vs. Fares Ziam (156 lbs.)
Jake Collier (264.5 lbs.) vs. Carlos Felipe (262.5 lbs.)
Hello everyone and welcome to 411manaia’s LIVE coverage of UFC 263. I’m Robert Winfree, your regular host providing updates as the evening goes on. The UFC is back on PPV tonight and they brought a pretty darn good card along with them. There are two title fights at the top of the card, both rematches. First a middleweight title fight when champion Israel Adesanya returns to middleweight after a failed bid to capture the light heavyweight title, he’ll be defending against Marvin Vettori. Vettori and Adesanya fought to a split decision in 2018, Vettori now gets a shot at avenging the loss and taking out one of the best fighters in the world. The co-main event is for the flyweight title, in the final card of 2020 Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno squared off for Figueiredo’s flyweight title on 3 weeks notice and turned in one of the best fights of the year when they fought to a draw. The draw as the result of a point deduction to Figueirdo in the third round, now they’re running it back. Also on the main card a first ever five round non-title non-main event fight when Nate Diaz returns to action against top welterweight contender Leon Edwards. On the prelims we’ve got some good fights as well, Drew Dober taking on Brad Riddell should be fireworks, Joanne Calderwood meets Lauren Murphy to probably determine the next challenger to Valentina Shevchenko, and two rising featherweight contenders meet when Movsar Evloev battles Hakeem Dawodu.
UFC 263 comes to the world from the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, USA. On commentary we have Jon Anik, Joe Rogan, and Paul Felder. As for the rules we’re under the newer rules so you need two hands on the mat to be considered downed and we do have limited instant replay use which usually means only looking at fight ending sequences. Also keep in mind we’re in the 30 foot Octagon instead of the 25 footer that’s installed at the UFC Apex facility.
Carlos Felipe has gone 2-1 in the UFC but is on a two fight winning streak and looking to extend that to three here while possibly earning a shot at someone further up the ranks next. Jake Collier has gone 1-1 since returning to action, he last defeated Gian Villante and is trying for his first ever UFC winning streak with a win tonight. Collier is a slight -160 favorite against +140 on Felipe.
Heavyweight Bout: Jake Collier (12-5, 264.5 lbs.) vs. Carlos Felipe (10-1, 262.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Collier is three inches taller and has three and a half of inches of reach advantage. We’ve already got “woo’s” so if you took under 10 seconds in the pool cash that ticket. Both men trade some leg kicks and long range punches, mostly range finding. Collier lands a leg kick then a body kick. Felipe lands a right. Bit of a knee from Collier after he missed a spinning back fist. Collier lands a jab, he’s got a decent feel for the range at this point. Felipe lands a left hook to the body. Right in close from Felipe seems to wobble Collier but Collier fires back. Felipe lands a left along the fence. Collier lands a right then a follow up jab. Both men land lefts in close, Felipe’s right eye is a little busted up but he’s still throwing. Another body shot from Felipe. Collier keeps working the legs while moving, he’s done some good work to the legs all round. Another body shot from Felipe, they get close and trade again. Collier lands a leg kick. They feint away the last 10 seconds or so.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Collier
ROUND TWO: Collier back to working the lead hand. A few stance switches from Collier, they both swing and miss in the pocket. Collier working some inside leg kicks, he’s good about finding spots to sneak those in. Felipe avoids a spinning back kick and lands a jab. They trade in close, then Felipe lands a right to the body. Felipe keeps trying to goad Collier into a brawl and Collier wants to keep this more technical. Collier lands a calf kick. Felipe lands a left to the body, he’s kind of walking Collier down at this point. Felipe lands a right then a leg kick. Collier moves off the fence but not for long. More forward pressure from Felipe, he avoids a few punches and keeps pushing Collier to the fence. Felipe lands a one two. Collier lands a knee to the body but he can’t get off the fence. Bit of a right from Felipe. Glancing one two from Felipe, then he digs a solid left to the body. More body work from Felipe, he’s doing some quality work this round. Felipe blocks a flurry and lands a bit of a right elbow as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Felipe, 19-19 overall
ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the final round. Collier lands a one two. Felipe is backing Collier to the fence, and lands a left to the body. They trade rights, and Felipe lands a left that stuns Collier. Both men swing in the pocket, Felipe gets the better of this and then sprawls away from a double leg. Left hook then a right hook from Felipe, he’s getting to Collier consistently now. Collier lands a right, and eats a couple of counters. Jab from Collier lands. Felipe lands a couple of jabs. Collier lands a leg kick, Felipe counters with a right hand. They trade rights again, Felipe coming forward and lands an uppercut then a left hook. Felipe keeps slipping punches but isn’t countering yet. Felipe lands a right to the body. Another right from Felipe, Collier lands a flurry and they both miss punches to close the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Felipe but a decently close one, 29-28 Felipe overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Carlos Felipe via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)
I can see an argument for Collier in the third, no issues with 29-28 for either man. No interview for the winner.
Fares Ziam has gone 1-1 in the UFC but is coming off of a win and looking to build his first UFC winning streak. Luigi Vendramini has likewise gone 1-1 in the UFC and scored a win in his prior fight, he’s hoping to get his first UFC winning streak up and running.
Ziam is the favorite at -115 while Vendramini is a slight -105 underdog.
Lightweight Bout: Luigi Vendramini (9-1, 155.5 lbs.) vs. Fares Ziam (11-3, 156 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Ziam is five inches taller but has just two inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Ziam working the long range strikes early. Vendramini lands a leg kick. Ziam still working the jab, he’s fighting long quite well. Vendramini really needs a way into the pocket, he’s just kind of bull rushing at random intervals. Bit of a right from Vendramini but the range is still troubling him. Ziam lands a left hook. More jabs from Ziam, he’s starting to bust up the face of Vendramini, and he lands a right behind one of those. Ziam lands a left hook while avoiding a rush. Vendramini lands a leg kick. Both men land punches in close, then Ziam is back to jabbing. Some leg kicks from Ziam, this is going very well for him so far. Vendramini misses a head kick as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Ziam
ROUND TWO: Vendramini is marked up around the eyes, his right one is swelling just a bit on the underside. Ziam back to fighting long, Vendramini is coming forward more now looking to just crash through distance. Vendramini gets a clinch after taking a body kick but Ziam is able to separate quickly. Ziam lands a leg kick, and avoids a takedown attempt. Ziam avoids a looping left and lands a right hand. Left to the body from Ziam. More jabs from Ziam as he avoids the counters, Vendramini is really kind of befuddled offensively. Bit of a right from Ziam. Vendramini misses a right then a left. Vendramini tries a double leg, Ziam defends and separates. Bit of a body shot from Vendramini. Ziam jabbing again. They stare away the las 15 seconds.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Ziam, 20-18 Ziam overall
ROUND THREE: Ziam back to jabbing and moving. Vendramini comes out with a flurry of hooks, he staggers Ziam with a left hook and tries to follow up along the fence. Vendramini has gone wild, he drops Ziam and gets on top in full guard. Half guard now for Vendramini and he’s looking to unload with blows. Vendramini moves to side control, some nice passing so far from him. Full mount for Vendramini, he can’t hold it and gives up half guard but keeps on top. Ziam is struggling a bit, he’s mostly controlling posture but isn’t working to stand up. Vendramini uses a guillotine attack to open up a pass to full mount. Ziam hip escapes to half guard again but can’t get up. All the way to full guard for Ziam, he’s moved to the fence but Vendramini pulls him away from it and lands blows from top position. Elbow from Vendramini lands. Ziam wall walks, but eats a head kick before he gets free. Ziam lands a jab. Vendramini misses a left hook, he might have used too much energy on the ground and can’t replicate that blitz attack. Another right from Vendramini lands, he’s got Ziam along the fence. Vendramini punches into a clinch, and that’s where the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-8 Vendramini but a marginal one, 28-28 DRAW overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Fares Ziam via majority decision (28-28, 29-28 x2)
While I gave Vendramini a 10-8 it was marginal, and Ziam pretty clearly took the first two rounds. No interview for Ziam.
Chase Hooper has gone 2-1 in the UFC, he’s coming off of a win though and is trying to get his first UFC winning streak going. Steven Peterson has gone 2-3 in the UFC but his last time out scored one of the better knockouts in 2019 with a spinning back fist over Martin Bravo. Peterson did miss weight for this fight and could use a win to help smooth over that particular gaff. Hooper is a slight -120 favorite to an even +100 comeback on Peterson.
Featherweight Bout: Chase Hooper (10-0-1, 145.5 lbs.) vs. Steven Peterson (18-9, 148.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Hooper is three inches taller, has four inches of reach advantage, and is a full decade younger in addition to Peterson missing weight. They touch gloves, Hooper fighting southpaw. Peterson lands a leg kick. Peterson lands a right hand. Hooper gets a body lock, and pulls Peterson into side control. Some elbows from Peterson before he gets up and makes Hooper stand. Peterson gets close again, Hooper pulls butterfly guard. They fight up in the clinch, tries to pull for a leg entanglement and winds up on the back as Peterson stands. Peterson lands a knee, Hooper tries a throw and winds up pulling half guard. More elbows from Peterson as he stands free and makes Hooper regain his feet. Hooper lands a body kick, and eats a counter right. Hooper gets a knee tap into full guard. Peterson tries to kick him off, Hooper tries to attack a heel hook but Peterson gets his knee beyond the hips, and Hooper tries to switch to a calf slicer but he’s losing the body control. Hammer fists from Peterson, Hooper tries to go after the leg again and they wind up in 50-50 guard. Hooper moves to top position, again tries to fall back for a leg lock but can’t control the knee line of the leg. Bit of a left hand lands for Hooper to close the round.
SOCRECARD: 10-9 Peterson
ROUND TWO: Hooper misses a hook. Peterson is coming forward, they trade kicks. Hooper lands a one two, then he fires a head kick and tries a double leg but Peterson defends against the fence. Peterson gets Hooper on the fence and works some knees to the body and leg. Elbow from Peterson. Hooper reaches for a single leg, Peterson sells out for a guillotine but can’t keep the grip and Hooper pops his head free. Peterson back up along the fence and Hooper pulls full guard. Some short elbows from Peterson. Hooper tries to play his guard but doesn’t really have a bite on the arms of Peterson. Peterson postures up and lands a hammer fist then looks to pass to side control. More strikes from Peterson, he winds up in a crucifix and lands punches as Hooper pulls guard and the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Peterson, 20-18 Peterson overall
ROUND THREE: Peterson comes out and lands a right, then a left hook. Hooper lands a bit of a left. Peterson avoids a double leg and forces Hooper against the fence. Peterson gets an outside trip and moves to half guard. At this point Hooper’s wilted enough for Peterson to not fear his grappling anymore. Some short elbows from Peterson. Peterson is finding a lot of short blows, including shoulder shrugs, to keep putting damage on Hooper. Arm triangle from Peterson, Hooper is able to roll free and scramble up into the clinch again. Hooper with a spinning takedown, and jumps to the back on the mat with both hooks in. Body triangle now for Hooper. Peterson is able to turn into Hooper and end the round on top with Hooper looking for a 100% shoulder lock.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Peterson, 30-27 Peterson overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Steven Peterson via unanimous decision (20-28, 30-27 x2)
I don’t agree with Hooper getting the third after just a bit of back control with no meaningful damage or submission attempts. No interview again, with 14 fights on the total card you probably need a finish on the prelims to get mic time.
Matt Frevola has gone 2-2-1 in the UFC, he’s coming off of a loss to super prospect Arman Tsarukyan and is trying to avoid his first ever losing streak. Terrance McKinney took this fight on about 4 days notice when Frank Camacho was injured in a car accident, but McKinney has a three fight winning streak all of which are first round finishes and could announce himself to the UFC audience in a big way with a win. Frevola is the favorite at -200 to a +170 comeback on McKinney.
Lightweight Bout: Matt Frevola (8-2-1, 155 lbs.) vs. Terrance McKinney (10-3, 155.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: McKinney is an inch taller, has two and a half inches of reach advantage. McKinney fighting southpaw. One two from McKinney floors Frevola and we’re done! But, in the height of stupidity, McKinney hurts his knee celebrating.
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Terrance McKinney via KO, punches, at :07 of Round 1
The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. McKinney for his work this evening. Mic time for McKinney who just got the fastest finish in UFC lightweight history, asked about his knee he thinks it’ll be fine after he stretches it. He gives glory to God, and mentions he fought just 8 days ago and mentions how amazing this.
Here’s a look at the whole fight. Beautiful one two from McKinney, steps just outside to shorten the distance for the straight, lands the jab and then hits a lovely straight.
7 SECONDS 🤯 WHAT A DEBUT BY TERRANCE MCKINNEY
Stream #UFC263 on @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/xBUo2VAE4Z pic.twitter.com/DdeAlDWu80
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 12, 2021
Pannie Kianzad has gone 3-1 in her current UFC run, she’s on a three fight winning streak and could be staring down some ranked opposition next if she can extend that to four in a row tonight. Alexis Davis is one of the pioneers of women’s MMA, she recently snapped a three fight losing streak by moving back up to bantamweight and is looking to wind down her career with more wins. Your favorite is Kianzad at -230 to a +195 for Davis.
Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Alexis Davis (20-10, 134.5 lbs.) vs. #11 Pannie Kianzad (14-5, 135.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Kianzad is an inch taller while Davis has two inches of reach advantage. Quick combination from Kianzad to get the fight going. Both women land lefts in close. Davis lands a leg kick. Kianzad is looking to work her jab, they punch into a clinch and trade some clinch strikes before hitting the fence. They break without much incident. Kianzad lands a right. A few lefts go back and forth. Kianzad lands a left hook. Right to the body then a left hook from Kianzad. Davis is bleeding from the bridge of her nose. Kianzad lands a right. Jabs from Kianzad, and a left hook again. Both women land rights in close. Kianzad lands an elbow in close. Davis lands a leg kick. Another left hook from Kianzad. Davis lands a body kick. Another left hook from Kianzad, and they trade in close as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Kianzad
ROUND TWO: Both women clinch, and trade then break with an inside leg kick from Davis. Davis lands a leg kick. Kianzad lands a straight right. Bit of a left hook from Kianzad. Davis lands a couple of rights in a brief Thai clinch. Kianzad lands another right at long range. There’s a hard jab from Kianzad. Both women land rights. Another jab from Kianzad. They trade rights again, Kianzad landed better. Another trade of rights, Kianzad is bleeding from the forehead. Davis lands a leg kick. Kianzad lands another left hook. Davis lands a calf kick. Another calf kick from Davis. Some jabs go back and forth, then Kianzad lands a right hand. Davis lands another calf kick. Body kick from Davis. Kianzad lands another jab. Davis lands a leg kick, and Kianzad lands a right hand. Another left hook from Kianzad, Davis trips her down and gets on top as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Kianzad but a close one, 20-18 Kianzad overall
ROUND THREE: Both women landing jabs as we get the last round going. Davis lands a calf kick, and another one but Kianzad lands a left hook to counter the second one. Kianzad lands a right. Right then a left hook from Kianzad. They clash and trade body shots. Kianzad lands a jab. Davis lands an inside leg kick, and eats a counter left. Kianzad lands another left hook. Davis lands a body kick. Kianzad lands a left. They punch, have a brief clinch then Davis lands a knee and a right hand. Kianzad lands a right then a left hook. A few blows traded in close. Davis lands a left, Kianzad with a counter right. Davis lands a right. Kianzad lands a left hook that backs up Davis. A left hook from Kianzad staggers Davis as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Kianzad but another close one, 30-27 Kianzad overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Pannie Kianzad via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)
Kianzad gets an interview, she says she grew up watching Davis fight and it was an honor to share the cage with her. She’d love to fight Raquel Pennington in August, reasonable call out. She says she’s a good grappler but never gets to show it off.
That does it for early prelims, we’re still on ESPN+ as well as ESPN for the rest of the prelims.
Movsar Evloev is undefeated including four wins in the UFC, he’s trying to make the difficult transition from prospect to contender and if he can remain perfect tonight he’ll be due a step up in competition. Hakeem Dawodu has gone 5-1 in the UFC and is on a five fight winning streak, he’s likewise trying to distance himself from the pack of budding contenders at featherweight and being the first man to beat Evloev would probably earn him some ranked opposition. Evloev is the -220 favorite while the +190 comeback on Dawodu is a tempting value bet.
Featherweight Bout: #15 Hakeem Dawodu (12-1-1, 145.5 lbs.) vs. #14 Movsar Evloev (14-0, 145.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Dawodu has an inch of height and reach over Evloev. Both men come out feinting. Evloev lands a right hand. A couple of left hands land for Evloev. Evloev lands a left hook Dawodu lands a leg kick. They split a few jabs. Evloev tries a single leg, finally gets it and Dawodu wall walks but can’t get out of the clinch. Evloev moves to the back, hit a mat return and lands punches as Dawodu moves to the fence with Evloev on his back. Back up to the feet and Evloev is working mat returns and gets the back with both hooks in. Evloev is working for the choke, can’t find it but lands punches while trying to open it up. More punches from Evloev, he’s trying to expose the neck with these but they’re still not fun to eat. Hammer fists from Evloev, Dawodu up but mat returned right away. Back up again, Evloev holds the back as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Evloev, arguably 10-8
ROUND TWO: Dawodu feinting again, lands a front kick to the body. Evloev lands a right, and gets a takedown then moves to the back with one hook in. Dawodu back up but Evloev hits a mat return and moves to his back again. both hooks in for Evloev and he’s working the short punches trying to expose Dawodu’s neck. They scramble back up and Evloev gets a misdirection takedown then hops to the ride position. Evloev is after the choke, that’s more of a crank but he uses the extension to get both hooks in and start working from back mount again. Dawodu is hand fighting well enough but he’s at a severe positional deficiency. More punches from Evloev, he might switch to an arm triangle. Dawodu tries to explode into him but can’t complete the turn. Evloev has gone to a body triangle, lands some hard punches moving around as Dawodu tries to scramble. More punches from Evloev as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-8 Evloev, 20-17 Evloev overall
ROUND THREE: Dawodu is in need of a finish. Both men with some jabs, Evloev lands a left hook. Dawodu avoids a right hand. Leg kick from Dawodu. They clinch up, and Evloev lands a few uppercuts before they break. Dawodu lands a left in close. Evloev lands another uppercut in close. Dawodu sprawls away from a single leg. They clinch then break. Evloev lands another uppercut. They split a few jabs. Dawodu eats a left hook, but lands a left to the body then one to the head. Evloev lands a knee to the body in close. They trade rights in close again. Dawodu avoids a spinning back kick and lands a right. A left from Dawodu stumbles Evloev for a second. Dawodu lands a right to follow up. Evloev has had enough, gets a double leg and moves to the back again and starts landing lefts. Dawodu up, Evloev gets him back down with a mat return. The round closes with Evloev on the back of Dawodu again.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Dawodu, 29-27 Evloev overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Movsar Evloev via unanimous decision (29-27 x3)
Smothering outing from Evloev, that man is a serious problem for anyone at featherweight. No interview for Evloev.
Lauren Murphy is on a four fight winning streak including a couple of finishes, if she can extend that to five in a row here she’ll most likely be the next opponent for Valentina Shevchenko. Joanne Calderwood has gone 4-2 in at flyweight, she had a title shot lost when she took a stay busy fight against Jennifer Maia and lost. Calderwood is coming off of a win and if she beats Murphy tonight would also probably claim the next title shot. Calderwood is your -130 favorite to +110 on Murphy.
Women’s Flyweight Bout: #6 Joanne Calderwood (15-5, 125 lbs.) vs. #3 Lauren Murphy (14-4, 125.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Calderwood is an inch taller while Murphy has an inch and a half of reach advantage. Both women miss punches trying to find the range early. Calderwood is working leg kicks at distance. Bit of a spinning back fist from Calderwood. Calderwood lands a left hook. Murphy gets a clinch and drives things into the fence. Some knees from Calderwood before she slips free. Calderwood back to leg kicking at distance, and they trade left hooks. Murphy lands a right hand to counter a leg kick. Murphy jabs the body, Calderwood still kicking the calf. Calderwood lands a right. Murphy lands a left, and eats a body kick. They clinch up again, knees go back and forth then Calderwood lands elbows. More knees before they break apart. Murphy lands a right. Jab from Murphy, bit of a counter right from Calderwood. Calderwood lands a left hook, then a spinning back fist, Murphy gets a clinch off of it as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Calderwood
ROUND TWO: Calderwood lands a body kick to start the second round. Murphy lands a left. Murphy forces a clinch, and they hit the fence. It takes a minute but Murphy gets a takedown then mounts the legs along the fence line. Rights from Murphy, she’s got the left arm of Calderwood tied up and is landing some good punches. Calderwood is able to get quarter guard but it’s not helping her much. Murphy is threatening an arm triangle choke, can’t get it and Calderwood gets half guard. Some more punches from Murphy on top, she’s fishing for a kimura but bails to land an elbow. Murphy lands elbows to the body and head as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-8 Murphy but a somewhat borderline one, 19-18 Murphy overall
ROUND THREE: Calderwood lands a right to start the round. Some jabs from Calderwood. Murphy with a bit of a right. Calderwood lands a body kick. Bit of a one two from Calderwood, then a body kick. Murphy forces a clinch, lands a knee but eats a body kick as they break. Calderwood lands a left hook. When Calderwood is going forward she’s finding success, Murphy kind of needs to be on the front foot to win. Calderwood lands a left hook. Murphy reaches for a takedown, can’t find it and they trade knees and elbows in a Thai clinch before breaking. Calderwood avoids a double leg and lands an uppercut. They clinch up again, trade knees to the body and Calderwood lands an elbow as they hit the fence. They break without incident. Calderwood lands a jab and a right behind it. A knee to the body from Calderwood, those are adding up as Murphy doesn’t like them. Calderwood lands another long range right. A few rights form Murphy in close. They trade left hooks again. Calderwood lands a right, Murphy returns it. Murphy blocks a spinning back fist. More lefts are traded, then Calderwood lands a flurry as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Calderwood, 28-28 DRAW overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Lauren Murphy via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)
I don’t agree with that at all, not sure how you could give Murphy the first or third. Mic time for Murphy, she got the fight she expected. She wants the tough fights and feels her ability to adapt and fight through these situations makes her one of the best in the world. She’ll learn a lot from this with her team.
Up next is a rematch. Eryk Anders has gone 2-1 with 1 No Contest in his last four fights, unfortunately he also hasn’t won since 2019 and was last involved in a No Contest with Darren Stewart. Anders needs a win pretty badly if he wants to regain the early hype he had. Darren Stewart has also gone 0-1 with 1 No Contest in his last two fights, dropping a split decision to Kevin Holland that he probably should have won, then the No Contest with Eryk Anders after Anders landed an illegal knee. Anders is a slight favorite at -145 to a +125 comeback on Stewart.
Light Heavyweight Bout: Eryk Anders (13-5 1 NC, 205 lbs.) vs. Darren Stewart (12-6 2 NC, 204.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Anders has an inch of height and reach on Stewart. Southpaw for Anders. Stewart doing a lot of stance switching as they feint around each other. Some low leg kicks from Stewart to try and steer Anders around the cage. Anders falling short with lefts while looking to counter. They clinch up and hit the fence, Stewart has a body lock and is working knees to the thigh. Things are stalling out here, Stewart drops for a double leg but can’t find it and Anders spins him into the fence. Some knees are traded while they jockey for position. Hard knee to the body from Stewart then he gets a knee tap into full guard. Anders tries to get his guard in play but Stewart moves to half guard. Some elbows from Anders, Stewart lands a few short punches as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Stewart
ROUND TWO: Anders comes out pushing forward, lands a left and clinches up again. Stewart lands another knee to the body and works some short elbows. Things stall out and the ref breaks them up. Anders tries a double leg, they hit the fence and settle back into the clinch. Stewart spins free but eats a left hand. Some leg kicks from Stewart, Anders lands a left. A right from Stewart lands and they clinch up again. Anders lands an elbow. Anders can’t finish a single leg, and Stewart puts him on the fence then gets free. They clinch again, Anders lands a knee then an uppercut right before the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Anders, 19-19 overall
ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the final round. Both men miss power hand punches. Bit of a right from Stewart. Both men trade leg kicks, then Stewart gets a takedown but Anders reverses him rather quickly. Some lefts from Anders as he works to pass, and does move to side control. Stewart gets half guard and Anders settles there. Anders lands some punches. More lefts from Anders, Stewart is kind of stuck here right now. Anders starts threatening an arm triangle choke, he lands punches as Stewart defends. Stewart sits up, Anders threatens a choke and flattens him back out to land punches. Anders is using a half nelson to keep Stewart controlled as he moves to the ride position and lands lefts to the head. Stewart fights to his feet but Anders is unloading with punches. They’ll end the fight in the clinch.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Anders, borderline 10-8, 29-28 Anders overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Eryk Anders via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27 x2)
No objection to a 10-8 for Anders in the third, but there’s no time for an Anders interview.
Drew Dober just had a three fight winning streak snapped by Islam Makhachev but he’s overall 6-2 in his last eight fights and is trying to get back on the horse with a win. Brad Riddell is on a six fight winning streak including three in the UFC, if he can get his fourth in a row over a proven veteran like Dober he’ll be due a bigger opportunity next time out. Dober is the the favorite at -145 to a +125 comeback on Riddell.
Lightweight Bout: #13 Drew Dober (23-10 1 NC, 154 lbs.) vs. Brad Riddell (9-1, 155 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Dober is an inch taller while Riddell has an inch of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going, Dober fighting southpaw. Both men feinting, Riddell lands a left hook then an inside leg kick. Both men swing hooks in close but neither land flush. Riddell lands another left hook, then a body kick. Dober lands a body kick then a left hand. A left from Dober staggers Riddell. Riddell fights back with a right, then starts looking for a double leg against the fence. Riddell eventually gets the double leg, Dober wall walks immediately but is still clinched. They trade elbows then separate. They trade power hand punches, then Riddell lands an elbow. Dober lands a left to the body then a right hook. Riddell lands a left to the body. They trade power hand punches then hooks. Riddell lands a left hook, but Riddell cut cut up in the hairline during that exchange. Right from Riddell lands. Riddell lands a left to the body. Dober lands a left then a body kick but Riddell cracks him with a counter right. Both men land rights, then Riddell lands another right. Dober’s chin is something else. Riddell with a double jab then a right. Another right from Riddell lands flush and closes the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Dober
ROUND TWO: They couch gloves again. Riddell lands a left hook. Another right lands for Riddell then an inside leg kick. They get close and trade hooks, both men land in that exchange. Both men land body kicks. A left hook then a right from Riddell land flush, Dober just eats them. Dober tries a double leg, and gets it against the fence line. Riddell wall walks, and gets Dober down with an ankle pick. Dober up but Riddell is keeping him on a knee. Back up on the feet but still clinched, Riddell lands knees to the thigh. An elbow from Riddell breaks the clinch. Dober lands a right, but gets taken down against the fence. Riddell into half guard, Dober is cut around the right eyebrow. Some elbows from Riddell but Dober fights up and separates. Riddell lands a front kick to the body. Riddle lands a right and a couple of left hooks. Dober misses a head kick, Riddell is walking him down at this point. Riddell lands a body kick, and takes a counter left. Dober lands a body kick. Stiff right from Riddell, Dober is a maniac because he just eats it. Another right from Riddell, he’s got a real feel for the fight at this point. Riddell lands a left hook then an inside leg kick. Dober with a spinning back kick to the body, Riddell responds with a body kick as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Riddell, 19-19 overall
ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the last round. Riddell lands a right that staggers Dober. Body kick and inside leg kick from Riddell. Riddell lands another right, Dober tries a double leg against the fence. Riddell defends and separates. Dober lands a body kick. Body kick from Riddell. They trade power hand punches. Riddell with another inside leg kick, then an elbow. Another right lands for Riddell. Riddell avoids a few lefts and starts coming forward. Dober lands to the body but eats a couple of counter shots. They trade body kicks. Another body kick from Riddell, then he avoids a few punches and lands a left hook. Dober lands a left, Riddell lands another body kick. Riddell lands a left hook. Dober slips a couple of punches and tries a double leg but Riddell defends and lands an elbow. Another body kick from Riddell. Riddell lands an elbow. Dober lands a right. Riddell slips landing a head kick but is back up before anything can happen. Glancing right from Riddell, then another right. Riddell lands a body kick. Hard right from Riddell wobbles Dober, he looks to follow up and Dober tries a single leg. Riddell uses a kimura sweep , comes up on a single leg and gets it and the round ends with Riddell landing ground and pound.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Riddell, 29-28 Riddell overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Brad Riddell via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
As expected, banger of a fight that’s your Fight of the Night so far. Riddell gets a quick interview, he jokes about always being in these wars and dedicates the fight to a friend who was murdered a few weeks ago and he was never going to lose this one. He puts over Dober as a hard headed guy, and calls himself a muscle car who gets better the longer the fight goes.
On that note, the prelims close. On to PPV for the main card.
Paul Craig hasn’t lost since June of 2019 and was last seen making Mauricio Rua tap out to strikes, if he can extend his unbeaten streak to five tonight while defending his ranking he could take a shot at someone in the top ten next. Jamahal Hill is undefeated including three fights in the UFC, he was last seen finishing Ovince Saint Preux with strikes which earned him a top fifteen ranking. If Hill can take out Craig tonight he’ll continue climbing the light heavyweight ranks and possibly establish himself as the brightest prospect the division has. Hill is your favorite at -285 to a +220 comeback on Craig.
Light Heavyweight Bout: #14 Paul Craig (14-4-1, 204.5 lbs.) vs. #15 Jamahal Hill (8-0 1 NC, 205.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Southpaw for Hill, but he’s doing some stance switching. Hill working kicks early. Craig lands a front kick to the body. Craig lands a jab, gets a clinch and pulls guard. Hill moves to half guard, Craig is working a Mir shoulder lock but loses it. Another armbar attempt from Craig, this one gets tight and Hill wont tap so Craig breaks his arm. The ref either doesn’t realize it or doesn’t care, Craig moves to a triangle and lands elbows, the broken arm is flapping around like loose rubber and the ref finally stops things.
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Paul Craig via TKO, elbows, at 1:59 of Round 1
The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Craig for his work this evening. It looks like Hill tried to signal a tap after the elbow went, utter shame on that ref. Mic time for Craig, he says he’s always down to snap or nap his opponent, and puts over Hill as a tough opponent. He talks us through the finish, noting he switched to the triangle and elbows after he felt the elbow go and knew there was no point it applying more pressure to it. He plays a bit with the crowd to end.
This isn’t the finish, but you can see the left arm of Hill hanging limp because it’s broken.
Statement win by @PCraigmma and undeniable toughness by @JamahalH 😬 #UFC263 pic.twitter.com/kEzHir0J1V
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 13, 2021
Demian Maia just had a three fight winning streak snapped when he was stopped by Gilbert Burns, and while his career is pretty clearly winding down at 43 years of age he’s looking for a few more wins along the way. Belal Muhammad is on a five fight unbeaten streak which is only marred by a No Contest in his last fight, he’s hoping to notch one of the bigger wins of his career if he can best Maia and possibly get a crack at the top five of the division. The odds are with Muhammad at -245 while a Maia win would payout at +195.
Welterweight Bout: #9 Demian Maia (28-10, 170.5 lbs.) vs. #12 Belal Muhammad (18-3 1 NC, 170.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Maia is two inches taller but the reach is identical, Maia is 11 years older than Muhammad as well. Southpaw for Maia, and they touch gloves to get us going. Both men showing the lead hand, Muhammad lands a bit of a right and avoids a takedown. Maia lands a left. Maia on a single leg, drives him to the fence and starts working his takedown sequence. Muhammad gets his leg back, Maia working to switch and gets the double leg. Muhammad is trying to set up a wall walk, he’s up but can’t get free from Maia. Maia tries to elevate the single leg, but Muhammad gets his leg free and separates. Bit of a right from Muhammad. Maia grabs another single leg, forces things to the fence but Muhammad is able to limp leg free. Muhammad lands a left hook. Maia avoids a few punches, gets a single leg against the fence again. Muhammad has some serious balance, he’s hopping around on one leg with relative ease. They trade some blows in the clinch then break. Maia lands a left as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Maia but could go either way
ROUND TWO: Muhammad doing some stance switching. Bit of a left from Maia. Muhammad lands a jab. Another left from Maia. Muhammad defends a single leg attempt and lands a body kick. Jab from Muhammad. Maia lands a combination, but can’t find a single leg when he tries one. Muhammad lands a left. Bit of a left from Maia. They trade power hand punches, but Muhammad follows up and lands a second one. Maia is pretty labored at this point, Muhammad has pretty good read on things. Muhammad lands a right to the body. Maia grabs a single leg and they hit the fence. Muhammad has some seriously good single leg defense against the fence. Maia eats some elbows as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Muhammad, 19-19 overall
ROUND THREE: Muhammad doing a bit of shadow boxing early, Maia lands a left. A left from Muhammad lands. Maia avoids a punch, tries a double leg but Muhammad defends. Muhammad lands a right that stuns Maia for a second. Another Muhammad right lands. Jab from Muhammad. Maia tries a single leg, Muhammad limp legs free. Maia lands a left, but he’s got no pop on his punches. Both men land lead hand hooks then Muhammad avoids a single leg. Muhammad lands a right in close. Muhammad lands an uppercut but eats a solid left hand counter. Maia blocks a high kick, tries another single leg but again Muhammad gets free quickly. Bit of a left from Maia. Muhammad lands a right, Maia tries a single leg but they hit the fence again and things stall out. The grip fighting from Muhammad in this position is impressive. the fight closes in the clinch.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Muhammad, 29-28 Muhammad overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Not sure at all about Muhammad getting the first, I mean Maia didn’t do much but Muhammad did less. No interview for Muhammad.
A public service announcement that this fight is the first non-title non-main event 5 round fight in UFC history. Leon Edwards hasn’t lost since he ran into Kamaru Usman back in 2015, a streak of nine fights. Despite that resume and a few solid names he’s collected along the way tonight represents the biggest name Edwards has faced, and a win should secure him a title shot. Nate Diaz is one of the few genuine stars the UFC has at the moment, he was last seen in November of 2019 when he was stopped by Jorge Masvidal due to cuts and is trying to bounce back from that loss by taking out the rightful number one contender to the title. Edwards is one of the biggest favorites on the card at -560 against a +385 payout on Diaz.
Welterweight Bout: Nate Diaz (20-12, 170 lbs.) vs. #3 Leon Edwards (18-3 1 NC, 170.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Edwards is two inches taller while Diaz has two inches of reach advantage, Diaz is also seven years older. Both men fighting southpaw. Some stance switching from Edwards. Edwards avoids a few punches and starts pressuring Diaz back to the fence. Bit of a left from Edwards. Some taunting from both men, then Edwards lands a hard calf kick. Another leg kick from Edwards. Diaz better address those calf kicks soon, they’re adding up quickly. Edwards stalking forward, but taking his time. Both men are very aware of the full five rounds they have to use. One two from Edwards. Edwards lands a calf kick. Diaz jabs the body. Diaz lands a couple of punches. They clinch up and hit the fence. Edwards spins Diaz to the cage, slips behind him and hits a mat return then gets the back with one hook in. Edwards is looking for that second hook but can’t find it. They scramble, Edwards keeps the back as Diaz moves to the turtle position. Edwards is riding Diaz now and lands some punches from the ride position. Diaz rolls and gets guard, Edwards stands over him and lets him back up. Another calf kick from Edwards closes the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Edwards
ROUND TWO: Diaz misses a right hook, Edwards lands another calf kick. Those calf kicks are becoming a problem for Diaz. Bit of a left from Diaz lands. Both men miss lefts, but Edwards is pushing Diaz back to the fence. They trade right hooks, then Edwards lands a right at distance. Edwards lands another calf kick. Diaz is doing the stance switching thing now. They trade rights, then Edwards slams home another calf kick. They both land punches then clinch up again. Edwards puts Diaz on the fence, ducks behind to the back and trips Diaz down into half guard. Edwards postures up, lands a few punches but Diaz goes for a leg lock and Edwards slips free then they reset on the feet. Hard calf kick from Edwards and Diaz is limping a bit. Glancing left from Edwards lands. Diaz lands a left, Edwards returns it. Edwards lands another calf kick. They clinch again, Edwards spins Diaz to the fence and lands a spinning elbow as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Edwards, 20-18 Edwards overall
ROUND THREE: They trade rights as the round begins, then Edwards lands an elbow in close. Hard jab from Edwards. Another calf kick from Edwards lands. Edwards avoids a punch and they clinch up again. Things hit the fence, very little happens then they break. Edwards lands a body shot. Diaz punches into another clinch, and Edwards spins him to the fence. Edwards with a go behind, gets a takedown into half guard, and settles into the position. Some elbows from Edwards and Diaz is bleeding to the surprise of no one. Edwards stands over Diaz and lets him up. There’s a big cut on the side of Diaz’s head but it’s well away from the eye. Oh, there’s a second cut around that eyebrow on the left side of Diaz, doesn’t look awful but we’ll find out more on the break. Diaz punches into a clinch, Edwards puts him on the fence again and gets behind then takes him down. More elbows from Edwards as he moves to the back and starts looking for hooks. Oh boy, I got a better look at the left eye of Diaz and that’s a nasty cut. Diaz fights up and Edwards cracks him with a spinning elbow as the last real blow of the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Edwards, might be 10-8, 30-27 Edwards overall
ROUND FOUR: Yeah, that cut over the left eyebrow is pretty bad. I don’t think fight ending yet but it could be if it gets worse. Edwards avoids a few punches and lands body kick. Diaz lands a one two. Edwards lands a right hook then a calf kick. Clubbing left from Edwards staggers Diaz for a second. Body kick from Edwards, he’s just chopping Diaz up at every level. Another left lands for Edwards. Edwards lands another left, he’s got a real read on Diaz’s entries now. Another leg kick from Edwards lands. Edwards misses an elbow in close, but he swung for the bleachers on that one. Edwards lands a calf kick. Diaz lands a one two and they clinch again. Edwards lands an elbow as they break the clinch. Edwards with another leg kick. They get close, and Edwards lands an elbow. Again Edwards fades a one two then lands a clubbing left. Diaz avoids an elbow but his offense is muted. They both miss punches as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Edwards, 40-36 Edwards overall
ROUND FIVE: Edwards lands a one two then sweeps Diaz down. Diaz back up immediately, and takes a leg kick. Edwards lands a bit of an intercepting elbow. Diaz gets a clinch and they hit the fence. Not much happens then Diaz breaks the clinch. Edwards lands a left in close. Diaz jabs the body, and Edwards lands a counter left. Diaz lands a one two. Another left lands for Diaz and they clinch up. Edwards blocks a double leg from the clinch. Some knees to the body from Diaz. They break with a right from Diaz. Edwards lands a body kick. Lefts are traded in close. Flurry from Edwards lands, Diaz tries to egg him on but Edwards resets. Edwards slips free in close, but eats a solid one two that wobbles him. Diaz starts charging at Edwards, Edwards backs up and gets a clinch. Bit of an elbow from Diaz, they clinch again and trade in close. One final exchange into a clinch and the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Diaz, 49-46 Edwards overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Leon Edwards via unanimous decision (49-46 x3)
Big win in terms of name value for Edwards, who should get a title shot already. Mic time for Edwards, he puts over Diaz as someone able to take a shot from the kitchen sink and looks forward to his title shot. He says he didn’t feel pressure, this was a normal fight for him and puts over Diaz again but wants his title shot next. Asked how hard that punch was in the end he says hard enough to wobble him.
Diaz gets an interview too, he says he had a hard time getting going and notes he got cut in training a few months ago which threw him off. He wishes he could have taken Edwards out but appreciates all the fans and his coaches, then pimps his after party.
The one two Diaz landed at the end of the fifth round. I can’t wait for people to claim his next fight should be 6 rounds or something similar.
NATE DIAZ ALMOST PULLED THE UPSET IN THE FINAL ROUND 😳 #UFC263 pic.twitter.com/n6oUBiO9ro
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 13, 2021
Brandon Moreno hasn’t lost since 2018, going 4-0-2 since then and was last seen fighting to a draw in a title fight to close out 2020. Moreno is hoping to improve on his performance last time out and lay claim to the UFC flyweight title. Deiveson Figueiredo is the reigning flyweight champion and has two title defenses to his name, submitting Alex Perez and then fighting to a draw with Moreno. Figueiredo is trying to get another title defense under his belt and further establish himself as a dominant champion. These two had one of the better fights all of last year, in light of that action the odds are with Figueiredo at -210 to Moreno’s +165.
Flyweight Title Bout: (c) Deiveson Figueiredo (20-1-1, 125 lbs.) vs. #1 Brandon Moreno (18-5-2, 125 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Moreno has two inches of height and reach on Figueiredo. Figueiredo doing some stance switching early, but normally fights orthodox. Moreno showing the lead hand early. Inside leg kick from Moreno. Figueiredo checks a leg kick. Moreno lands a jab. Figueiredo lands a knee to the body. Hard left to the body from Figueiredo. Moreno lands a left hook but can’t hold onto a clinch. A lot of volume from Moreno so far. They trade leg kicks. Figueiredo lands a right, they clinch then break. Figueiredo lands an elbow, and eats a left counter. Moreno lands a right. Figueiredo lands a calf kick. Moreno ducks under a hook kick. Figueiredo lands a body shot but gets dropped by a left, Moreno jumps on top in half guard. Figueiredo sweeps up to his feet and they break. Moreno is still pumping the jab out. They feint away the final seconds.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Moreno
ROUND TWO: Moreno jabs the body and they trade left hooks. Another left from Moreno. Figueiredo lands a jab, then gets a body lock takedown into half guard. Figueiredo is working for a cradle from half guard, he lands some kidney shots just because he can. Elbow to the kidney from Figueiredo, that’s just mean. Figueiredo is working for a guillotine grip, he’s nearly got it but Moreno fights his head free. Figueiredo thinks about jumping for the guillotine but Moreno gets free and they scramble up into the clinch. Moreno has the back standing and lands knees to the thigh. Mat return from Moreno, he gets the back with one hook in but Figueiredo spins and gets full guard. Elbow from Figueiredo off his back. Moreno lands a few hammer fists. More elbows from Figueiredo, there’s a horrible swelling around the left eye of Moreno. Figueiredo kicks Moreno off, but Moreno gets back on top in full guard. OK, that swelling isn’t as bad as it looked, it’s not impacting his vision yet. Some more elbows from Figueiredo as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Moreno, 20-18 Moreno overall
ROUND THREE: Figueiredo needs to switch things up. Both men feinting as the round begins, that swelling on Moreno isn’t nearly as bad after the cut man got to it. They trade jabs, then Figueiredo lands a left to the body. More jabs are going back and forth, then Figueiredo lands a right to counter a leg kick. Moreno avoids a wild left hook. Moreno lands a right, gets a takedown and moves to the back with both hooks in. Body triangle for Moreno and he’s after the choke but Figueiredo is hand fighting. That choke is in pretty tight, but Figueiredo breaks the choke. Some punches from Moreno, he’s after the choke again, this one is tight and Figueiredo taps.
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER and NEW UFC Flyweight Champion – Brandon Moreno via Submission, rear naked choke, at 2:26 of Round 3
Moreno is the first Mexican born champion in UFC history after that win. Mic time for Moreno, he says the moment is amazing and his life is blessed. He feels amazing, he’s in tears as he switches to Spanish and calls the moment unbelievable. He says this training camp was basically 6 months long as he drilled and planned for Figueiredo, and now he’s here. Some more Spanish, then Rogan reminds him he’s the first Mexican UFC champion and he gives love and words to the people of his country.
Mic time for Figeuriedo, he says he preaches “love thy neighbor” and tonight Moreno was the better man. He would like a rematch in about 4 months.
Marvin Vettori is on a five fight winning streak and hasn’t lost since dropping a split decision to Israel Adesanya, now he gets a chance to not only avenge a prior loss but to claim the middleweight title in doing so. Israel Adesanya is the reigning middleweight champion including two title defenses, he’s coming off of a loss when he moved up to light heavyweight and failed to capture the title in that division. Now back at middleweight Adesanya is trying to defend his title yet again and continue carving out his legacy. The odds are with the champion Adesanya at -275 while Vettori’s comeback sits at +220.
Middleweight Title Bout: (c) Israel Adesanya (20-1, 183.5 lbs.) vs. #3 Marvin Vettori (17-4-1, 184.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Adesanya is four inches taller and has six inches of reach advantage. Vettori fighting southpaw, Adesanya does a lot of stance switching. A lot of feints early from Adesanya, then he lands a leg kick. A lot of long range kicks from Adesanya, Vettori is trying to pressure forward. Some leg kicks go back and forth. Adesanya lands a body kick then a leg kick but Vettori catches it and gets a takedown into full guard. They move to the fence, Adesanya looking to set up a wall walk. Adesanya back up but still clinched. Vettori drops for a single leg, Adesanya lands an elbow and spins free. Adesanya lands a leg kick. Vettori misses some punches. More leg kicks from Adesanya. Vettori moves Adesanya to the fence, but misses a flurry of punches and gets countered. Adesanya lands a calf kick. Bit of a left from Vettori. Adesanya lands a calf kick. Vettori blocks a high kick. More long leg kicks from Adesanya, then a combination that wobbles Vettori. Vettori lands a leg kick, and Adesanya avoids a hard left hand. They trade rights as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Adesanya
ROUND TWO: Hard leg kick from Adesanya. More leg kicks from Adesanya, he’s moving well, and fires a head kick that’s blocked. Vettori lands a bit of a right, and eats a counter left. Adesanya lands a knee to the body. Vettori walks into a right hand, the distance is really becoming a problem for him. Bit of a left from Vettori, and he eats a leg kick. Those leg kicks are adding up quickly, and Adesanya is piling them on. Vettori tries a double leg against the fence, Adesanya defends and lands elbows to the head. Adesanya defends and gets free. Vettori keeps falling short with his punches. Adesanya lands a leg kick, then misses a high kick. Adesanya lands a right. Another chopping leg kick from Adesanya. Vettori misses a few punches along the fence then tries a double leg. Adesanya with elbows and Vettori moves to a clinch to protect his head. Adesanya gets free and fires a glancing head kick. Vettori misses some punches again. Adesanya lands a right and a bit of a head kick to close the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Adesanya, 20-18 Adesanya overall
ROUND THREE: Vettori powers into a double leg along the fence and moves to half guard immediately. Adesanya tries to explode, gives up the back and Vettori is after the choke but Adesanya spins into him and gets on top. Elbows from Adesanya then he stands out of the gard and lands a right passing to half guard. Vettori spins for a leg lock, uses it to sweep and we stand. Apparently Vettori took a finger to the eye coming back up, replay confirms the poke but Vettori is good to continue and we’re back. Adesanya lands an uppercut then a calf kick. That one hurt the leg of Vettori. Another leg kick from Adesanya. Vettori lands a jab. Adesanya lands another leg kick. Another leg kick from Adesanya, Vettori is limping a bit now. Vettori avoids a question mark kick but that leg is hurting. Bit of a right from Vettori, Adesanya counters with a leg kick. Vettori ducks under a head kick. A calf kick from Adesanya drops Vettori then he lands an uppercut but Vettori is back up. Adesanya avoids some punches, then Vettori moves forward into a front kick to the groin and we’ve got time again. That was a pretty solid groin shot, but Vettori was coming forward into it. Adesanya apologizes to Vettori as they restart, and the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Adesanya, 30-27 Adesanya overall
ROUND FOUR: Vettori coming forward again, eats a hard calf kick. Adesanya lands a couple of punches in close. High kick from Adesanya is blocked, then he lands a calf kick. Adesanya lands a right. Vettori tries a double leg on the fence, Adesanya with elbows to the head while defending. Adesanya kicks off the fence and sweeps Vettori, then makes him stand back up. Another calf kick from Adesanya. Bit of a right from Vettori and he gets another clinch but can’t control Adesanya at all. Head kick then leg kick from Adesanya. Vettori lands a leg kick. Another leg kick from Vettori. Adesanya lands a hard inside leg kick. Front kick to the body from Adesanya. Combination from Adesanya concludes with a leg kick. Vettori pushes forward and lands a bit of a left. Adesanya lands a calf kick. Head kick from Adesanya rattles Vettori. Vettori tries a single leg, they hit the fence and things stall out. They’ll ice the rest of the round in the clinch.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Adesanya, 40-36 Adesanya overall
ROUND FIVE: Vettori blocks a head kick. Adesanya lands a leg kick. Double leg attempt from Vettori hits the fence, Adesanya defends and forces a clinch. Vettori tries to change levels again, Adesanya defends and lands an uppercut as they break. Head kick from Adesanya partially lands. Vettori avoids a head kick. Adesanya misses another head kick. Leg kick from Adesanya. Bit of a left from Vettori. Bit of a left from Adesanya. Vettori tries another double leg, they’re against the fence and he slips behind to try a mat return but can’t secure it. Adesanya defending in the clinch, he lands a few punches before the ref breaks them up. Another calf kick from Adesanya then a right hand. Vettori avoids a head kick. Adesanya lands a front kick then a calf kick. A right from Adesanya, Vettori forces a clinch and that’s where the fight ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Adesanya, 50-45 Adesanya overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER and STILL UFC Middleweight Champion – Israel Adesanya via unanimous decision (50-45 x3)
Shut out by Adesanya, Vettori had only a few moments of hope throughout the full 25 minutes. Mic time for Adesanya, he may not like Vettori but he tries to show respect and apparently Vettori thought he won, which is delusional if true. He wasn’t surprised by anything Vettori brought, then dedicates the win to his murdered teammate the same one that Riddell mentioned earlier, and he puts down the belt and bows to it and mentions that man beat him in sparring the last time they squared up. Asked what he’d like next, he says Robert Whittaker is making noise and he like to run that back in Auckland on his own time because he’s the champion.
Well that wraps up UFC 263, which went just shy of 7.5 hours of broadcast time. We’ll be unpacking all of the action from this event tomorrow on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast, plus look ahead to next week when Dan Ige battles the Korean Zombie Chan Sung Jung which is a pretty good fight. I’ll be back next week for that event, and I hope you will be too. Until then thank you again for reading, stay safe out there, and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.
