UFC on Fox 15 Results: ‘Machida vs. Rockhold’ Play-by-Play & Updates

Eddie Gordon vs. Chris Dempsey

Round 1

Dempsey moves straight at Gordon, flicking out jabs and trying to close the gap, but “Truck” is waiting with counter left hands as he cuts angles around the outside. Gordon stuffs a shot from Dempsey and turns him around to put the wrestler’s back against the fence. Dempsey shoves off and comes at Gordon throwing head-down punches. Gordon sprawls on another double-leg attempt from Dempsey and now catches him in a front headlock, but Dempsey scoots backward and gets back up from his knees. Dempsey charges Gordon again, winging overhand rights, and now he catches the Serra-Longo fighter with a couple clean shots. When Dempsey shoots again, though, Gordon is ready for it and snuffs out the takedown attempt. Dempsey comes back up and fights with Gordon on the fence for a moment, but when the middleweights separate, it’s Gordon tagging Dempsey with three or four stiff right hands. Dempsey steps into the pocket and eats another punch to give Gordon a right hand in return. The fighters spend the final 15 seconds of the round on the fence, Dempsey on the outside.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Gordon
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Gordon
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Gordon

Round 2

Gordon opens up with a pair of punches and then sidesteps to leave Dempsey shooting for legs which aren’t there. Dempsey tries to clinch up high and then change levels for a double, but Gordon turns him around on the fence with an underhook. Gordon releases, backs up and puts a jab on Dempsey’s reddened left eye. Dempsey strings together a couple punches and moves in to clinch again, but this time Gordon drops down and hits an easy takedown about 90 seconds into the round. Gordon is leaning left to right in side control, working for an arm-triangle choke on the far side. Dempsey rolls to his knees, nearly giving up his back, but he scrambles up before Gordon can secure the position. Gordon clinches up, pulls his head out of a loose headlock and releases Dempsey from the clinch soon after. Dempsey connects with a pair of right hands over the top; Gordon comes back with a counter right hook that seems to hurt the Pennsylvanian. Down to one minute remaining in the second frame, and now Dempsey is showing wear beneath his right eye as well as his left. Dempsey double-pumps a jab in Gordon’s face, changes levels and finally completes a takedown just before time runs out.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Gordon
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Gordon
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Dempsey

Round 3

Gordon shoots for a quick takedown, floors Dempsey and has to work his way out of a guillotine choke. Once Gordon is out, Dempsey pops back to his feet. Dempsey makes Gordon slip while sprawling on a shot and uses the opening to push “Truck” against the fence. Gordon takes a short left hand to the cheek, turns Dempsey around and exits the clinch. A left hook seems to stun Gordon, prompting Dempsey to swing for the fences. The follow-up punches don’t connect, so Dempsey shoots a double. Gordon sprawls, rises and gets a standing rear-waist lock. Dempsey turns around and peels away Gordon’s hands to escape. Both 185ers are swinging tired punches with two minutes left. Gordon changes levels for a takedown and nearly gets snared in another guillotine. Again, Gordon is able to free his head but unable to keep Dempsey on the floor. Gordon sticks out long jabs to try and keep Dempsey at bay, but Dempsey keeps coming and hits a single-leg takedown at the fence with less than one minute remaining. Gordon gets up, only to be dragged back down to the ground, where Dempsey finishes the fight in side control, dropping punches.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Dempsey (29-28 Gordon)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Dempsey (29-28 Gordon)
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Gordon (29-28 Gordon)

The Official Result

Chris Dempsey def. Eddie Gordon via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) R3 5:00

Diego Brandao vs. Jim Hettes

Round 1

Brandao opens with a few leg kicks, but after absorbing two, Hettes catches the third and drags the Brazilian to the ground. Right back up pops Brandao, clinching with Hettes and tripping him to the ground. The featherweights land in the whizzer position and stand again, and now it’s Brandao lifting and slamming Hettes with a rear-waistlock takedown. Brandao jumps on Hettes’ back as soon as they hit the ground, working to set up a rear-naked choke. When Hettes peels Brandao off his back, Brandao switches to an arm-triangle choke. Hettes slips out of this, regains half guard and then swivels to put Brandao in his open guard. Hettes tries an omoplata, forcing Brandao to stand and allowing Hettes to switch to a heel hook. This time, both men come back to their feet. Hettes clinches up with Brandao and tries to trip him to the ground, but Brandao grabs the fence to prevent the takedown, drawing a warning from referee Dan Miragliotta. Brandao hits an outside trip and bursts Hettes’ cauliflowered left ear with a pair of elbow strikes. Hettes dives for another heel hook and uses the sub attempt to force another stand-up. Inside the final minute of a busy opening round, Hettes grabs over-unders and tries to hustle Brandao against the cage. Brandao breaks loose and pops the American with a pair of snappy punches. Between rounds, the cageside physician examines Hettes’ ear and advises referee Miragliotta to stop the fight.

The Official Result

Diego Brandao def. Jim Hettes via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) R1 5:00

Tim Means vs. George Sullivan

Round 1

The taller Means walks down Sullivan, flicking out long punches and then stuffing a takedown attempt. A few front kicks keep Sullivan out of striking range, though he sneaks a right straight through Means’ gloves. Sullivan eats a couple clean punches before opting to clinch with the “Dirty Bird” and work on the fence. Means spins him around and elbows Sullivan twice in the head, then backs away to the center of the cage. Means keeps working with range strikes, kicking at Sullivan’s lead leg and now mixing in some body shots. Sullivan puts a step-in knee on Means’ stomach before returning to his back foot. Means is keeping the pressure on in the final minute of the round, though Sullivan isn’t making it easy, swinging with big right hands whenever Means gets close enough. Means closes out the round with a nifty spinning elbow that catches Sullivan on the jaw.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Means
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Means
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Means

Round 2

Means continues to apply pressure early in round two, mixing up his strikes with punches and kicks to the New Jerseyan’s body and head. Sullivan gets one back with a kick to the body, answered by Means with a left hook upstairs and a shot to the gut. Means dodges an elbow, evades a body shot and then drubs Sullivan with a pretty left hook. Sullivan is rocked near the cage but still swinging back, so Means grabs hold and tosses him to the canvas at the base of the fence. Means stands, knees Sullivan in the rear end and then comes back down to set up in his half guard. Means works from top position halfway through the round, elbowing Sullivan’s body. He allows Sullivan to stand, and Sullivan takes the opportunity to blitz the “Dirty Bird” with punches. Means seems unfazed and continues to walk forward on Sullivan, who is landing sporadic shots but mostly being overwhelmed by Means’ volume. Sullivan walks into the pocket with a slow clinch and gets sent to the canvas by a level elbow. Means doesn’t have long to work and stands over the downed Sullivan dropping elbows until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Means
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Means
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Means

Round 3

Means starts the round with a push kick and an outside leg kick when Sullivan tries to step into range. A couple right hands slow Sullivan’s roll momentarily, but he’s soon back at it, lunging at the larger man with punches and standing elbow strikes. Means’ defensive guard keeps him safe before he resumes front-kicking and jabbing, picking apart Sullivan from range. Means sweeps the lead leg of Sullivan and lands on top in side control to deliver a couple knees to Sullivan’s rib cage. There’s not a ton of offense coming from Means on top, but he is heavy, not allowing Sullivan to go anywhere. Referee Keith Peterson calls for action as the welterweights work on the mat with half a round remaining. Sullivan tries to roll free and gets trapped with his right side flush to the ground. When Sullivan sits up, Means snares his head and arm, then flattens him out on the ground to force a tap due to an arm-triangle choke.

The Official Result

Tim Means def. George Sullivan via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) R3 3:41

Takeya Mizugaki vs. Aljamain Sterling

Round 1

Sterling moves quickly to clinch and press Mizugaki against the fence, but Mizugaki forces the “Funk Master” to rethink by turning the corner and nearly securing a rear waistlock. Sterling busts loose, comes back and shoots on Mizugaki’s legs, but again winds up with an underhook, pressing the Japanese fighter on the cage. Mizugaki keeps his balance through a single-leg takedown attempt, and the bantamweights trade knees underneath, Sterling landing to the legs and Mizugaki to the body. Referee Gasper Oliver breaks up the fighters with 2:00 on the clock. Mizugaki lands a counter uppercut on the leaning Sterling, then takes a leg kick and ducks under a left hook. Sterling tries another single and this time manages to run Mizugaki to the ground at the base of the fence. Mizugaki scrambles to stand, manages to get back to his feet but is immediately wrapped up and tripped back to the mat. Mizugaki stands again and is pushed against the cage by Sterling, who finishes the round with a glancing overhand right.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Sterling
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Sterling
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Sterling

Round 2

Sterling gets another quick takedown but can’t keep Mizugaki on the mat, and the bantamweights wind up back on the fence in the clinch. Mizugaki throws a couple knees to the body before Sterling releases and backs out to the center. Mizugaki snuffs out a takedown attempt in the middle of the cage and clips Sterling with an overhand right to counter a body kick. Mizugaki is finding his mark with some solid right hands, but it’s all single shots from the WEC veteran. Sterling wraps him up for another takedown halfway through the round; Mizugaki is immediately back on his feet, then dragged back down to the floor, where Sterling jumps on his back. Sterling has one hook in, trying to secure the other, but he’s being blocked by the cage on Mizugaki’s right side. Sterling rips him away from the fence and secures the back-mount with a body triangle, then begins fishing for a rear-naked choke with about 90 seconds on the clock. Sterling spikes Mizugaki’s body with some BJ Penn-style heel strikes, but the shots mostly miss and they cause Sterling to lose the body triangle. He regains the triangle, but now Mizugaki is working two-on-one wrist control to defend the RNC until time runs out.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Sterling
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Sterling
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Sterling

Round 3

Mizugaki opens the final frame with a left hand to the body and a right upstairs, but the shots only graze as Sterling backpedals away. Sterling shoots a single, gets stuffed and winds up on his knees. He drives forward again and this time uses the single-leg to run Mizugaki up to the fence, then to the ground. Mizugaki gives up his back, and Sterling once again secures the position with a body triangle. Mizugaki twists around to wind up in Sterling’s guard, but Sterling slaps on an arm-triangle choke from underneath. It’s a low-percentage maneuver, but Sterling is in perfect position, squeezing on Mizugaki’s head and right arm until he taps out.

The Official Result

Aljamain Sterling def. Takeya Mizugaki via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) R3 2:11

Corey Anderson vs. Gian Villante

Round 1

Anderson strings together some nice combinations early, going low and high on Villante with leg kicks and hooks. Villante lands a leg kick of his own, eats a right cross and puts another hard kick on Anderson’s lead leg. The quicker Anderson is picking off Villante’s punches with straight counters, but Villante is able to stuff the Anderson takedown attempt behind it. Anderson grabs at Villante’s legs again, gets pushed away and rushes back with another flurry of punches. Villante keeps working his low kicks and then goes up top wth a right high kick that smacks Anderson’s face. Anderson eats it and keeps walking forward, but Villante’s kicks are getting the better of the exchanges at the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Villante
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Villante
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Villante

Round 2

Villante lands half a dozen more low kicks in the opening minute of the round, a few of them checked by Anderson, whose only answer is a nice left hook. Villante is throwing punches seemingly only to get into kicking range, as the New Yorker’s legs are landing with much more effectiveness than his hands. Anderson has lost some pop in his punches as they reach the midway point of the bout, but when Villante gets in the pocket without throwing a low kick, “Beastin’ 25/8” makes him pay with a swiping left hook. Villante scores with three or four more low kicks, then gets tagged with a right hand that opens up a cut beneath his left eye. Villante is breathing heavy now, stepping forward and looking comparatively flat-footed while Anderson stays busy with jabs and right hooks in the final minute of the round. Anderson comes alive in the last 10 seconds, reacting to a leg kick with an uppercut, a pair of hooks and a leaping knee to close the round.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Anderson
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Anderson
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Anderson

Round 3

Anderson checks Villante’s leg kicks at the start of the last frame, returning fire with quick, straight punches. Villante knocks him off-center with a clubbing left hook and scores with a leg kick behind it. Anderson digs to the body, slips out of the way to avoid a Villante uppercut. More jabs from Anderson now, and a spinning kick which just touches the flank of Villante. The 205ers exchange a few jabs, then Anderson bursts forward with a knee to the gut and a left hook. Another knee lands to the body of Villante, but Anderson misses with a flying knee shortly after. A right cross from Anderson leaves Villante blowing out his nose. Villante counters a left hook with a straight shot, then pushes Anderson away as he grabs for a high double. The round is still very much up for grabs with 90 seconds left, and now Villante backs up Anderson with a couple hard punches. An overhand right on the temple sends Anderson careening into the fence off balance. Villante swings tired right hands to try and finish, but referee Liam Kerrigan is already on his way in to save the dazed and unresponsive Anderson.

The Official Result

Gian Villante def. Corey Anderson via TKO (Punches) R3 4:18

Ovince St. Preux vs. Patrick Cummins

Round 1

St. Preux takes the center of the cage and fires off a body kick, then a stiff jab that leaves Cummins blinking. Cummins times the next kick from St. Preux and rushes him to the ground, but “OSP” springs right back to his feet. Another double-leg from Cummins lands the fighters in the whizzer, and when they come back up, it’s Cummins holding on to a headlock and shoving St. Preux against the cage. Cummins gets his head under St. Preux’s chin and knees his legs, while the taller St. Preux fires back with a couple knees to the body before they disengage. St. Preux lands a knee to the body that sends Cummins shooting, and again St. Preux denies the shot. Two minutes left in the opening round, and Cummins takes a spinning back kick to the gut in order to wrap up St. Preux and take him down. St. Preux won’t stay on the canvas, again bouncing back up to continue picking at Cummins with rangy body kicks and huge left hooks. Cummins lands a leg kick and leaves St. Preux swinging at air with an overhand right counter. St. Preux shoots a very long single-leg which Cummins sits down, landing a couple hammer fists before St. Preux stands. Cummins lunges into the pocket with his head low, swinging an overhand right, and St. Preux picks him off with a beautiful counter uppercut. Cummins hits the ground in a daze, and St. Preux kneels down in his opponent’s half guard to deliver right hands that knock the wrestler unconscious, sending referee Dan Miragliotta into action.

The Official Result

Ovince St. Preux def. Patrick Cummins via KO (Punches) R1 4:54

Jim Miller vs. Beneil Dariush

Round 1

Dariush opens with leg kicks, stepping backward and flicking out long jabs to keep the local New Jersey favorite out of range. Miller covers up under a combination and then comes back to slug Dariush with a hard left hook in the pocket. Dariush goes to his back foot again, this time getting a little more power on his low kicks. Miller rushes him against the cage, but Dariush grabs the Thai plum and sends a hard knee up the center. Dariush changes levels to try a single-leg, but Miller grabs hold of a kimura and rolls the Kings MMA fighter over the top. Miller switches to a triangle, then tries to work a triangle-armbar, but Dariush is already slipping out. Dariush sets up on top in Miller’s half guard, working to pass while framing up an arm-triangle choke on the left side. Miller is hip to it and keeps elevating Dariush with butterfly guard, then pulls rubber guard to try and cinch a triangle. Dariush pulls out and stands, catches Miller driving forward and finishes the round socking Miller in the side of the head with left hands.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Dariush
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Miller
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Dariush

Round 2

Dariush closes the gap and goes for a takedown against the fence, spinning Miller off the cage to drag him to the ground. Dariush is looking for the arm-triangle again, but his commitment to the choke leaves him open to a butterfly sweep. Miller grabs a guillotine and pulls guard to try and finish; Dariush pulls his head out and slips straight into full mount, then attaches himself to Miller’s back as the Jersey fighter rolls over. Dariush secures back-mount with a body triangle and tries to snake his left arm beneath Miller’s chin. Miller rolls over, leaving Dariush back in full mount. After another brief arm-triangle setup, Dariush postures up with elbows and punches which force Miller to give up his back. Dariush slaps on what looks like a deep RNC, but Miller peels his hands away and continues to fight off the choke in the final minute of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-8 Dariush
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-8 Dariush
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 Dariush

Round 3

Dariush wrangles Miller against the cage with an underhook and trips him to the ground, then works to advance to mount. Miller stays busy underneath, keeping Dariush in half guard and pushing on his face to keep Dariush out of arm-triangle position. Dariush has the choke set up but he’s on the wrong side, so he releases and moves to north-south position. Miller goes to his knees, then rolls through to put Dariush back in half guard. With 1:40 on the clock, Dariush passes to mount, then to back-mount when Miller turns over. Miller stands up and rolls through but cannot shake Dariush off his back, held in place as he is with a body triangle. Dariush is threatening with a rear-naked choke once again in the closing minute. Miller stands up and dives forward, trying to spike Dariush’s head on the mat as time runs out, though it looks like Miller knocked his own head instead.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Dariush (30-26 Dariush)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Dariush (29-27 Dariush)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Dariush (30-26 Dariush)

The Official Result

Beneil Dariush def. Jim Miller via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Paige VanZant vs. Felice Herrig

Round 1

Herrig goes straight after VanZant, and the strawweights wind up in the clinch. Herrig scores with a couple quick uppercuts before VanZant attempts a throw. Herrig comes out on top in the scramble and climbs on VanZant’s back. VanZant fends off a rear-naked choke attempt and gets to her knees, but Herrig tries the choke again and pulls her backward. VanZant tries to twist around in guard and come out on top, then has to slip out the back door as Herrig tries to take her back again. Herrig grabs hold of an armbar, then releases as VanZant spikes Herrig’s head on the mat. Herrig clips the standing VanZant with an upkick, and now the strawweights come back to their feet. Herrig takes the outside position as they clinch on the fence, then backs away after a few foot stomps from VanZant. Back to the clinch they go, now with VanZant on the outside, and this time she successfully executes the same throw she tried earlier. Herrig is busy underneath, threatening with an armbar while VanZant connects with two or three solid right hands. Inside the last minute of the opening frame, VanZant lands an elbow to the face, moves to half guard and throws a few elbows at Herrig’s left thigh. VanZant stands up in the final 10 seconds, then drops back to the ground with a too-late heel hook attempt.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 VanZant
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 VanZant
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 VanZant

Round 2

VanZant slips to the ground throwing a kick, bounces back up and pushes Herrig against the cage again. Herrig lands a knee to the body and turns VanZant around, tries to climb on her back but gets denied. It’s back to the clinch, VanZant on the outside but Herrig connecting with uppercuts. VanZant spins to the rear, gets a waistlock and drags Herrig to the ground, but Herrig turns around mid-fall to wind up on top. Before Herrig can establish top position, VanZant rolls her over with a whizzer. VanZant only manages a few punches on top before Herrig returns the favor with another sweep. The 115-pounders stand and clinch again, pummeling for position on the fence while trading short punches. VanZant throws a knee, Herrig catches the leg and trips her to the ground. VanZant rolls over Herrig to land on top in scarf-hold position, then sits up and decks Herrig with a few good right hands. Herrig looks to be fading underneath, her face reddening as she continues to absorb punches, but she finds the energy to try an armbar. VanZant stays calm and extracts her arm, then comes back down in north-south position with 40 seconds on the clock. VanZant ends the round with a bunch of punches from standing position which rattle Herrig’s head on the canvas.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 VanZant
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 VanZant
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 VanZant

Round 3

VanZant starts the last stanza with a kick to the body and one to the leg before Herrig presses in to clinch. VanZant trips the veteran to the ground and applies more ground-and-pound from half guard, posturing up to place a knee on Herrig’s throat. Herrig looks to be grabbing for a leg underneath but can’t find an opening as VanZant keeps throwing a steady stream of punches. With three minutes on the clock, Herrig escapes out the back; the kneeling VanZant keeps punching, unaware that Herrig is slipping around to take her back. Bleeding from her nose, Herrig tries to snare VanZant in a choke, but she doesn’t have the back-mount secured and VanZant just stands up to escape. VanZant is starting to wail on Herrig now, unloading with short but effective right hands while referee Vitor Ribeiro looks on from nearby. Herrig is still angling for a leg from underneath in the final minute, but it’s too late in the game and VanZant is too fresh. VanZant sits up with 30 seconds to go and socks Herrig’s face with half a dozen hard shots, then finishes the fight in Herrig’s closed guard.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 VanZant (30-27 VanZant)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 VanZant (30-27 VanZant)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 VanZant (30-26 VanZant)

The Official Result

Paige VanZant def. Felice Herrig via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27) R3 5:00

Cub Swanson vs. Max Holloway

Round 1

The featherweights spend the opening minute testing the range, flicking out jabs and low kicks in the center of the cage. Swanson goes up top with a right high kick, blocked and answered in turn by Holloway. A right hand to the body scores for Holloway, and Swanson gives him a leg kick. Swanson plants a hand on the ground and launches a high kick at Holloway’s head, but it’s blocked. Holloway leaps into range with a knee to the body but can’t find his mark with the follow-up punches. Swanson charges into the pocket and eats a counter left hook; the Jackson-Wink MMA fighter is already wearing some redness around his left eye. A spinning-back kick to the body knocks Swanson backward a few steps. Swanson blocks a right high kick and gives Holloway one to the body, answered by Holloway with another body kick. Holloway is getting the better of the exchanges here, making Swanson cover up and look tentative late in the round. Swanson drops to the ground after a right hand to the temple in the closing seconds but jumps back up and swings a four-punch combo at Holloway.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Holloway
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Holloway
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Holloway

Round 2

Holloway puts a kick on Swanson’s gut, then switches high and hits the chest. Swanson is pressing forward but not letting his hands go, allowing Holloway to be the more active fighter. Holloway is keeping busy with lots of lateral movement, kicks and long punches. Swanson is sticking to single shots and waiting for openings, then having to cover up when Holloway busts out his offense. Holloway is getting cute midway through the round, shrugging and grinning after Swanson slaps his face with a high kick. Swanson puts a good right hand in Holloway’s breadbasket and keeps walking after the Hawaiian, who continues countering well from his back foot. Body-head combination scores for Holloway, who blocks a high kick and circles out. A leaping knee to the body draws a grimace from Swanson, but Holloway doesn’t rush in. At the 10-second clapper, Holloway zaps Swanson with a left uppercut.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Holloway
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Holloway
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Holloway

Round 3

Swanson digs an underhook and presses Holloway against the fence, but Holloway slips out the other side and pops Swanson with a hook on the exit. Swanson blocks a high kick but falls to the ground throwing a spinning kick; Holloway allows him to stand and lands another knee to the gut as Swanson charges him. Holloway sends Swanson to the ground with a punch and then a kick to the liver. Swanson tries to pull guard, can’t, and winds up on his knees. Holloway moves to take the back of Swanson, who rolls over and gets caught in an arm-triangle choke. The choke looks deep, but Swanson stays alive until Holloway releases. Holloway doesn’t secure side control and Swanson rolls out the other side. The featherweights are back on their feet with just over two minutes on the clock. Holloway keeps Swanson out of range with some oblique kicks, and Swanson just stays on the outside with his left hand cocked. A pair of straight lefts rock Swanson, and Holloway tries to capitalize by grabbing a guillotine and coming down on top to try and finish the choke from full mount. Swanson tries to ride out the choke but he’s caught and has no choice but to tap out.

The Official Result

Max Holloway def. Cub Swanson via Submission (Guillotine Choke) R3 3:58

Ronaldo Souza vs. Chris Camozzi

Round 1

The southpaw Camozzi strikes first with a pair of inside leg kicks, then backs up as “Jacare” presses forward to land two hard right hands. Camozzi counters the next right from Souza with a jab and another kick, but the Brazilian changes levels and easily floors Camozzi with a takedown near the fence. Camozzi wraps up Souza’s arms from underneath, trying to hold him in half guard, but Souza walks off the fence and passes to side control on Camozzi’s left side. Souza leans across, hitting Camozzi’s ribs with a couple punches before diving over the top to set up an armbar. Camozzi goes to his back and tries to clasp his hands as Souza works to extend his right arm. Camozzi is trapped, and as soon as Souza moves to fully extend the armbar, Camozzi taps out.

The Official Result

Ronaldo Souza def. Chris Camozzi via Submission (Armbar) R1

Lyoto Machida vs. Luke Rockhold

Round 1

Referee Keith Peterson is the third man in the cage for tonight’s middleweight main event. Machida throws out an early punching combo, pulls up short and starts circling the perimeter, while fellow southpaw Rockhold sets up in the center. Machida steps in with an overhand left that grazes Rockhold’s face and just misses with the follow-up right hook. The next time Machida throws the combination, it connects. Rockhold throws a right hand which wraps around Machida’s head and knocks the Brazilian to the ground. Rockhold tries for a mounted guillotine but is quickly pushed off by Machida, who tries to wrap up the AKA fighter from underneath. Rockhold steps over to full mount just two minutes into the bout, but Machida hooks a leg and tries to slip out the back door. Machida stalls out in half guard, resting on his right side in the center of the cage, and Rockhold gives him a couple elbows to the ribs. Halfway through the round, Rockhold reclaims guard, then throws an upkick to try and get some space from his standing opponent. Machida rolls to his knees, and Rockhold jumps on his back, dragging the “Dragon” back to the canvas when Machida tries to stand. Rockhold is unable to secure the back-mount before Machida shakes him off. Nonetheless, Rockhold stays on top, bullying Machida at the base of the cage with hard right hands. Machida posts and stands, keeping his left hand on the canvas, so Rockhold kicks out Machida’s base leg and jumps on his back again. With 40 seconds left, Rockhold is postured up on Machida’s back, throwing hard punches. Rockhold slips his left arm under Machida’s throat but can’t coax the tap, so the American releases to drill Machida with a big elbow to the face before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-8 Rockhold
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-8 Rockhold
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 Rockhold

Round 2

Machida resumes his circling at the edge of the cage, catches a low kick from Rockhold and fires back with a left hand over the top. The Brazilians’ right eye is swollen but not shut. Again, the middleweights tangle up and Rockhold is able to simply shove Machida to the ground. Rockhold pounces, nearly mounting Machida but getting caught in half guard at the last second. Rockhold works elbows from the top while Machida tries to slip out the back. Rockhold stays heavy and passes to mount, then back-mount when Machida rolls over. Rockhold goes for the rear-naked choke again; this time it’s deep, and the belly-down Machida taps the canvas in submission.

The Official Result

Luke Rockhold def. Lyoto Machida via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R2 2:31