UFC 264 ‘Poirier vs. McGregor 3’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Yaozong Hu (185.5) vs. Alen Amedovski (186)

Round 1

The bout was canceled on Saturday afternoon due to COVID-19 protocols for Amedovski's team. The news was first reported by ESPN.

Zhalgas Zhumagulov (125.5) vs. Jerome Rivera (125.5)

Round 1

Tonight’s the night, and it’s going to happen again and again. Has to happen. Nice night. Las Vegas is a great town. UFC 264 is in full force inside of the jam-packed T-Mobile Arena, with 12 fights at our disposal leading to the big kabosh in the main event. We begin in the flyweight division, as two men in dire need of a win come to blows when Kazakhstan’s Zhumagulov (13-5, 0-2 UFC) takes on former featherweight Rivera (10-5, 0-3 UFC). Referee Chris Tognoni is on top of the action in what could be a fast-paced affair, and there is no glove touch to clock in the contest. Instead, Rivera comes forward using long kicks to belt his opponent in the body, and Zhumagulov closes in on him quickly to stop this from happening. When he does, Rivera counters him with a knee up the middle. Zhumagulov rips multiple leg kicks on the inside as chants rain down from an excited crowd for “USA.” Rivera backs away and spams kicks from both legs, and he gives his opponent a few leg kicks back for good measure. Rivera paws out a few jabs to surprise Zhumagulov, and he swats away a leaping combination as the shorter man charges towards him. Rivera plays the matador again when Zhumagulov swarms him, but Zhumagulov clips him with a right hand that Rivera practically ignores. Rivera throws a front kick to the body, but he gets cracked with a counter left hand that hurts him and drops him to a knee. “The Renegade” tries to gather his thoughts with a takedown attempt, and Zhumagulov’s eyes light up as he snatches hold of Rivera’s neck with a modified guillotine choke. Rivera looks to stand all the way up to break the grip, and he gets to his feet, but Zhumagulov has him locked down with this unorthodox power guillotine choke. With Rivera’s neck torqued at an unearthly angle, he grimaces and taps out on Zhumagulov’s back to surrender. That’s one way to get on the board for Zhumagulov, earning his first UFC victory and notching his first career submission with a spectacular standing choke.

The Official Result

Zhalgas Zhumagulov def. Jerome Rivera R1 2:02 via Submission (Guillotine Choke)

Omari Akhmedov (185.5) vs. Brad Tavares (184.5)

Round 1

Back to middleweight, two men floating in the division for some time finally meet when Akhmedov (21-5-1, 9-4-1 UFC) takes on Tavares (18-6, 13-6 UFC). This matchup between perennial top-15 talents will receive oversight from referee Marc Goddard, and the veterans show a sign of respect by touching gloves. Both men reach out at one another to find their range, and the first strike comes in about 25 seconds when Tavares rushes in with two punches. Akhmedov looks to counter, and he gets his lead leg kicked for his trouble. The Hawaiian flicks out a jab, and he chains it into a one-two that knocks Akhmedov off-balance. Akhmedov counters with a right hand, and Tavares shrugs it off and lands a sweeping kick to Akhmedov’s front knee. Akhmedov whiffs on a big right hand, and Tavares keeps him at bay with a sharp, snappy jab. The Russian retaliates with a jab, but his lead leg is chopped down and he gets popped with an overhand right. Tavares sticks and moves, staying loose and flowy while Akhmedov loads up on big shots. One strike from “Wolverine” partially lands enough to cut Tavares around his right eye, and it starts to swell up quickly. Akhmedov crashes forward into a takedown attempt, but the Hawaiian bounces off the ground and scampers to his feet thanks to the fence behind him. Akhmedov redoubles his effort, only to get kneed in the face when Tavares breaks free. Tavares tries to sting him with a jab, and he gets cracked with a counter right hand and stumbles back to the cage wall. Akhmedov gives chase, and he clinches up instead of trying to deal more damage while Tavares gathers his thoughts. Tavares gets kneed in the groin in the close clinch, and Goddard gives the fouled fighter a moment to get his breath back. It takes less than 30 seconds for Tavares to give the sign to continue, and he picks right back up attacking the lead leg of his foe. Tavares rips and uppercut and dips the looping punches, with Akhmedov loading up on bombs that only graze the target. A heavy leg kick from Tavares hurts Akhmedov, and he struggles to find his balance as Tavares aims another right at the same spot. The Russian plows forward to take Tavares down, and when Tavares stuffs it, they start brawling. Tavares gets the better of the exchange, sending Akhmedov staggering back, and the round ends with Tavares signaling to the crowd to cheer for them.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tavares

Round 2

There is a touch of gloves to begin the second stanza, and Tavares lets rip a big right hand. Akhmedov bites down on his gumshield and throws everything he has into looping hooks that get Tavares’ attention. Tavares counters effectively, forcing Akhmedov to shoot in low for takedown. The Russian lands it, but only for a moment before Tavares explodes back to his feet. Tavares is able to break the grip in the clinch and push off, where he resumes with a solid jab. Akhmedov aims a left hand counter when this happens, and Tavares rolls with it and chops down the Russian’s lead leg twice. Akhmedov changes stances because of the kick, and he throws with full power but hits nothing but air. Tavares once more targets the lead leg to give Akhmedov some pause, and Akhmedov’s power strikes are inaccurate as they blow Tavares’ hair back. Akhmedov fires a heavy leg kick back, and he blocks a head kick that zooms towards him. Tavares has a body kick caught, and Akhmedov bears down on him and starts to put hands on Tavares’ chin. The Hawaiian circles out to get his bearings, and he frustrates “Wolverine” with another low kick. Akhmedov loops wide shots at Tavares, and Tavares gets off a jab and a calf kick. The kick gets countered well by Akhmedov, who clubs him with a solid right hand. This same exchange happens again, with Akhmedov finally getting the timing to stop these damaging leg kicks. When Akhmedov ducks down, Tavares greets him with a knee on the chin and backs away to lump his leg up with another kick. The Dagestan native sells out with a takedown attempt from afar, but Tavares stays on his bike and makes Akhmedov miss him completely. Tavares flicks out a jab and draws out a huge counter from Akhmedov, and Akhmedov does get off a right hand that Tavares shrugs off. The round ends with another jab from the Hawaiian.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Akhmedov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tavares

Round 3

The middleweights clap hands to commence the final round, and Tavares comes out with kicks high and low. Akhmedov slings a right hand and his own leg kick, and now it is Tavares that wants to counter this. Tavares slips a few wild punches from the Russian, and he catches Akhmedov on the way in with a nasty leg kick. Akhmedov’s lead leg gives out on him and he topples to the canvas, and when he climbs back up, Tavares slaps it one more time. Akhmedov walks through one more kick and tries to blast Tavares in the face, and he does manage to sneak through a straight right hand. Tavares doubles up on the leg kick, and Akhmedov’s wheel may be busted but he is still winding up with bad intentions. Tavares and Akhmedov trade jabs, and a one-two from Tavares makes Akhmedov retreat. The Hawaiian hacks at the damaged leg of his opponent a couple more times, and Akhmedov keeps a stiff upper lip and misses with big right hand counters. Akhmedov thumps a leg kick that makes Tavares spin around, and Tavares dings him with a right hand when he regains his composure. Akhmedov attacks the leg and Tavares appears frustrated, but Akhmedov crashes in to take the fight down, only to get shoved to his back. Tavares lets him up and jabs him in the face a few times, doing so to disrupt the advancement of Akhmedov. One jab dislodges Akhmedov’s gumshield, and Goddard notices this and has him replace it. Tavares slings a head kick, and when Akhmedov blocks it, he appears energized and starts chasing after Tavares with heavy punches. Tavares counters with a thunderous left hand, and Akhmedov is wobbled. The Hawaiian looks to finish the job with a head kick, and Akhmedov stays on his feet but his nose is busted up. Tavares gets off punches at will, and spins with a back kick to the body to knock Akhmedov a few feet back. Tavares ends the round in style with a few strikes, and is ready to fight a few more rounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tavares (30-27 Tavares)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Tavares (29-28 Tavares)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tavares (30-27 Tavares)

The Official Result

Brad Tavares def. Omari Akhmedov via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Jennifer Maia (125.5) vs. Jessica Eye (125.5)

Round 1

Two former flyweight title challengers tangle next to headline the early prelims, when Maia (18-7-1, 3-3 UFC) squares off with Eye (15-9, 1 NC; 5-8, 1 NC UFC). Just about 65 percent of the combined bouts for these women have gone to the scorecards, and that rate skyrockets to 85 percent when only looking at Eye and Maia’s UFC matches – so the judges may be involved in this one. Referee Herb Dean is ready for whatever happens, and there is no glove touch to start things off. Eye takes the center of the cage and starts reaching out with her left hand, more with probing shots than jabs. The strikes begin to sharpen as she finds her range, flicking it out a few times as Maia backs away. Eye changes things up with a few punches to the body, and Maia leans in to throw heavier strikes but gets shoved away before getting off of note. Eye sticks Maia with a few punches before Maia rips a leg kick, and when Eye steps in to attack, Maia cracks her square on the chin with a loud knee. After the strike, Maia begins to lead the dance, and both women tumble to the ground in an exchange. Eye gets back up first, and when Maia stands up, she gets kicked in the face. Maia rips the body as she retreats, with Eye spamming punches. Eye plants the ball of her foot on Maia’s midsection, and she slips a few big punches but gets tagged by the Brazilian in a flurry. Maia kicks the body, and lands with a right hand but gets countered with a left hand. As Maia closes the distance, Eye catches her with a stern uppercut, forcing Maia to backpedal and swipe out with a body kick. Eye walks through a head kick to keep throwing hands, with a constant aggressiveness where she ignores punches that land on the chin. Eye swarms Maia with punches, and even gets off a back fist when Maia swings back at her. Eye ducks a big right hand to target the body, and Maia shakes it off and reaches out with another overhand right. The two women trade hands one after the other, and Maia breaks up her approach with a couple leg kicks. Eye eats a solid right hand, and when she comes forward, Maia tattoos her body and head with strikes. Eye jabs out and gets kicked in the face, but she ignores it and walks face-first into a right hand. Both women land heavily, and they clinch up, leading to a throw attempt from Maia. Eye counters this by tossing Maia to her back, and she ends the round on top with a few elbows.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Eye
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Eye
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Eye

Round 2

The ex-flyweight challengers pick up right where they left off, throwing hands and catching one another. Eye just backs up in time to avoid a front kick that soars towards her face, and she gets back to jabbing and setting up punches with those jabs. Eye counters a left hand with a stomp kick to the knee, and she also interrupts Maia with a left hand as the Brazilian looks to unload on her. Maia gets off a solid right hand, and Eye shrugs it off and comes forward like a 125-pound jabbing Terminator. Eye kicks the leg, and when they get caught up in an exchange, Eye hits a takedown to put Maia down again. Maia quickly sweeps her to gain an advantageous position, so Eye scrambles wildly to get back up and avoid any possible danger. Eye gets back to her preferred range, with several left hands that disrupt the movement of Maia. Maia bites down on her mouthpiece and swings a right hand that catches Eye flush on the jaw, but the Ohioan does not even register the strike and continues to plod forward. Maia scores a front kick to the chest, and as soon as she pulls her leg back, Eye kicks it. Maia finds her range with body shots, and she surprises Eye with another sharp knee up the middle. Eye begins to work that lead leg with a few kicks, stabbing the calf as Maia looks irritated. Maia stings her with a right hand, and Eye counters with a right hand as these two women continue to trade with one another. Eye slaps at the calf with a kick, and she evades the counter but gets tagged when Maia throws another right hand over the top. Maia snaps Eye’s head back, and the two clash heads to open up a huge cut on Eye’s forehead, and the blood starts flowing fast. Eye knows she is cut so she starts swinging wildly. She manages to land effectively on Maia as she pressures the Brazilian back, and she holds Maia on the fence until the round ends. The doctors are going to take a close look at this cut, smack on the center of her forehead like a third eye.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Maia
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Maia
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Maia

Round 3

Eye’s corner does a good job sealing the cut between rounds, allowing the match to continue. Eye starts the round with jabs, jabs and more jabs as Maia is forced to play defense. Every so often, Eye kicks the leg, and she sees the big punches coming. She does not notice a right hand that pounds her right on the forehead, but she rolls with it and continues to press forward and smack Maia with a right hand. Maia winds up with a right hand up top and another to the body, all while flicking her jab out repeatedly. Maia finds her home with an overhand right, and Eye ducks down to rip the body. The women go strike for strike with one another, and Maia lands with a single punch before Eye kicks her lead leg. Eye snaps out a stinging jab as Maia looks to circle away, and she takes a glancing blow of an uppercut before marching ahead. Eye lands a right hand, and then clips the Brazilian with an uppercut, all while ignoring punches that come her way. Eye targets the body and gets countered over the top, opening the cut on her forehead. Eye’s face quickly transforms into a crimson mask, and she seems to flip a switch when blood flows down her face as she assaults Maia with wild punches. She rushes Maia into the clinch, but she cannot land a takedown as the Brazilian stays on her feet and pushes her away. Eye jabs her way in and takes a knee flush on the chin, and the two women start blasting each other with heavy punches. The two throw down right to the bell, and a bloody Eye celebrates after a wild battle.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Eye (29-28 Eye)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Eye (29-28 Eye)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Eye (29-28 Eye)

The Official Result

Jennifer Maia def. Jessica Eye via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Trevin Giles (185.5) vs. Dricus Du Plessis (185.5)

Round 1

Kicking off the ESPN preliminary portion of the card is a rescheduled middleweight banger pitting the surging Houstonian Giles (14-2, 5-2 UFC) against South Africa’s Du Plessis (15-2, 1-0 UFC) and his 100 percent finish rate. Holding on tight will be referee Chris Tognoni, although the two touch gloves before swinging for the bleachers. The South African begins with a whipping body kick, and Giles drops his hands and throws them a few times as Du Plessis shells up. Du Plessis kicks Giles’ lead leg a few times, until Giles checks one and throws a front kick up the middle. A jumping switch kick comes from Du Plessis, which gets blocked. Giles eats a heavy leg kick but fires his opposite leg up towards Du Plessis’ head. Giles just misses with a huge right hand, and his hands are by his waist while the South African chips at him with leg kicks. Giles strides forward to land a salvo of punches, and one splits the guard and gets Du Plessis’ attention. Giles dances out of the way when Du Plessis charges at him, and he walks right into a heavy leg kick. Giles gets his guard up in time when a head kick zooms at his face, and he absorbs a subsequent leg kick flush. Du Plessis reaches out to the body with his instep, and Giles keeps his footing and pounds his shin into Du Plessis’ knee. Both men fly at the other and crash together, and it is Giles that has to back off for a moment. Du Plessis punches his way into a double leg takedown attempt, and he transitions to a single and puts Giles down for a moment. The American pops back up, and he jumps guard for a guillotine choke only to get lifted in the air and tossed to the ground like a sack of potatoes. When they hit the ground, Du Plessis instantly slices to mount, but Giles breaks free only to surrender his back. Giles falls to the ground to defend himself, and Du Plessis chains his submission into a Suloev stretch kneebar. Giles rolls through it, and the wild scramble where Giles winds up on top and then gets swept with a kimura allows Du Plessis to get on top and claim mount again. Giles times a big elbow to roll through and avoid the blow, but gives his neck up as Du Plessis tries to cinch up a choke with seconds left. The round ends before “Stillknocks” can elicit any tap.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Du Plessis
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Du Plessis
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Du Plessis

Round 2

A clash of heads from the previous round displays a cut on Du Plessis’ head, but there is no issue and the fight continues. Du Plessis opens up with a body kick, and Giles retreats but walks right into another. Giles snaps his left hand out and makes Du Plessis stumble, so the Texan rips a left hand to the liver. Giles stings him with a flying knee when Du Plessis shoots in for a takedown, and the desperate attempt falls short when Giles scurries out of the way. The South African kicks Giles’ lead leg again to decent effect, and both trade left hands. Du Plessis bears down on the calf again, and gets countered with a left hand when kicking the body. A few quick leg kicks from “Stillknocks” come out, and he spins with a back fist that glances off the forward bow. Giles wears it well and rushes forward with his hands down, and like a bolt of lightning, Du Plessis strikes with a right hand that sends the Houstonian crumbling to the floor. “Stillknocks” dives on top with some standing-to-ground punches to finish the job, and Giles’ eyes roll around in his head until Tognoni mercifully stops the fight. With that knockout, Du Plessis now celebrates 16 finishes in 16 career wins, and none are more important than the one he just scored over Giles.

The Official Result

Dricus Du Plessis def. Trevin Giles R2 1:41 via KO (Punches)

Ryan Hall (145) vs. Ilia Topuria (145.5)

Round 1

The next matchup is a highly anticipated featherweight tilt between the returning grappling wizard Hall (8-1, 4-0 UFC) against the unbeaten Spaniard Topuria (10-0, 2-0 UFC). Something’s gotta give between these two, with Hall’s last loss coming in 2006 while Topuria has yet to taste defeat. Referee Jason Herzog will be taking charge to make sure everything is above board, and a half-hearted glove touch is what we get to start the fight. Hall meets him in the center of the cage and backs away, circling around the cage while Topuria stalks him down. Hall lands the first strike, a kick to the body, and Topuria just looks at him. Hall pump-fakes a possible takedown to get a reaction out of the Spaniard, and he hits him with a spinning hook kick. Hall rolls for an Imanari roll to pursue a leg, and Topuria does not bite, kicks his outstretched leg a few times and lets him stand back up. Hall whiffs on a left hand, and another as he rolls for some sort of a tackle to grab Topuria’s leg. Once more, Topuria shrugs it off and lets Hall somersault around to miss. Hall’s fourth roll manages to snare Topuria, and he grabs Topuria’s glove to hold on to him but cannot keep him grounded. Hall rolls through and elbows Topuria in the side of the head, and Topuria takes his back and lands a few punches before breaking free. Hall walks into a few punches, and Topuria gets confident as he cracks Hall with a right hand. Hall flops to roll and take him down, and he lets Topuria wade into his guard but Topuria springs out of the way. Hall ducks a punch with his hands down, and he boots Topuria in the body twice. “The Wizard” rolls through a few more times, and Topuria never bites so the crowd begins to turn on him. The Spaniard stings him with a right hand, and Hall ducks down to roll and grab a heel but cannot get it. Hall continues to roll around and pop back up as if he were in a gymnastics class, and Topuria walks into a right hand but darts out of the way from yet another Hall roll. Hall connects with a spinning heel kick, and he dodges and weaves from any Topuria aggression. When Hall attempts another heel kick, Topuria closes the distance to bully Hall to the ground. “El Matador” dives after him and stuns him with hammerfists, and his right hand starts to do damage as he continues to club Hall on the chin again and again. As Hall turns to his side, he has no where else to go and is trapped, and Topuria keeps smashing him in the face. The damage mounts until Hall is relieved of his consciousness, and Herzog steps in to stop the fight. This is a huge win for the undefeated Topuria, who may have just earned a spot on the rankings with a smart performance.

The Official Result

Ilia Topuria def. Ryan Hall R1 4:47 via KO (Punches)

Niko Price (169.5) vs. Michel Pereira (170.5)

Round 1

Fans have been hyped about this next welterweight rumble since it was announced, as power-punching Price (14-4, 2 NC; 6-4, 2 NC UFC) will finally throw down with the high-flying Pereira (25-11, 2 NC; 3-2 UFC). What is about to happen, no one really knows, and this includes the two involved. The hands of referee Mark Smith will be full for as long as this lasts, and there is a glove touch before the two handle their business. Price is the early aggressor, putting the Brazilian on his heels, but Pereira sits down on a jab that knocks Price back and knocks out ESPN+ for a few moments. There is a nasty eye poke on Pereira that fans watching could not see, and Pereira takes 30 seconds to recover before getting back to it. Pereira throws out a front kick and gets caught with an overhand right, and the American pressures him to pursue a double leg takedown. Price cannot get him grounded, as Pereira frames him up despite Price holding on to the wire with his fingers. Pereira shoves him off, and he aims a counter right hand when Price slings a kick to the body. Price falls to his back and Pereira lets him back up, and both men trade kicks. The crowd begins to chant “Niko” as the action stalls, and it quick subsides when the two do not do much of note. Pereira slings a head kick that is mostly blocked, and he springs off the fence with a superman punch but is clinched immediately. The Floridian ties him up and gets kneed up the middle, and when Pereira gets a little distance, he scores a thudding right hand and a solid back fist as well. Pereira snaps Price’s head back with a jab, and he stings Price with three punches. Pereira walks through a front kick to toss Price to the ground, and the Brazilian narrowly evades a swinging upkick before letting Price back up. Pereira works the body with a few knees when they close in, and Price takes a left hand that opens him up on the bridge of his nose. Price goes after a low calf kick, and a bloody nose irritates Pereira, who wipes at it before swinging a left hand at his adversary. Pereira flies at Price with a rolling thunder kick, comes up well short of the mark, gets to his feet and plants his foot on Price’s chest to end the round.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Pereira

Round 2

The welterweights touch gloves to begin Round 2, and both get off single kicks. A kick that may have collided with the liver draws a grimace out of Price, but Price walks through it and starts kicking at Pereira’s legs. When Price loses his balance a little, Pereira shoves him over. Like a maniac, Pereira back flips through the air and nails Price in the face with his foot when he lands. In the ensuing melee, Pereira hops over into mount, and he starts landing ground-and-pound from on top. The snakelike Pereira slowly sneaks an arm around Price’s throat to hunt for an arm-triangle choke, and when that fails, he sits up and pounds on Price with heavy punches. Price turns over to give up his back, and when Pereira is there with a rear-naked choke setup, Price turns back over into the dangerous full mount position. Price fights off a kimura and explodes to his feet without giving up his back, and he rolls through with a leglock. Pereira pushes off and the two get back to their feet much to the delight of the audience. Price bears down on Pereira and starts blasting him with punches, and Pereira appears fatigued from trying to put his man away earlier. Price changes levels for a single leg takedown, and Pereira defends it by threatening with a guillotine choke before Price stands back up. Price squeezes his foe against the fence until the Brazilian pushes off, and Pereira swats at him with inaccurate strikes. Pereira flails with punches as Price crashes in to clinch, and he gets off a right hand on the break. Both men start to tee off on one another in the waning seconds, and their knees do not buckle as they continue to do damage until the bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Pereira

Round 3

The welterweights are ready to get back to it, and they touch gloves to clock in the last round. Price walks forward throwing hands, and Pereira is there to greet him with a wild brawl where both men throw caution to the wind and nail each other with powerful shots. Pereira may have gotten the better of the exchange, as Price lowers his head to clinch and gather himself until he gets pushed off. Pereira circles away and has his leg kicked, and Price loads up on a right hand. Pereira wings a kick that careens off of Price’s cup, and “The Hybrid” falls to the ground in agony. Smith implores for Price to take more time as Price want to run back out, and Pereira apologizes when they start up after a 30-second break. The furious flurry from both men reintroduces one to the other in recklessly exciting fashion. Price walks Pereira down and throws heavy strikes, and a punch from Price opens up a cut under Pereira’s right eye. Price kicks low, and when he aims one high, Pereira ducks it in time. Price charges like a bull to attack, and Pereira meets him with a knee up the middle and a power jab. Price doggedly pursues him until he takes a kick to the liver that ejects his mouthpiece from the sheer force. Price picks it up, and the two begin to trade again. Price tags Pereira with a few punches, and Pereira gives some back until he gets kicked in the face. A brief clinch allows Pereira to knee Price in the chest a couple times, and the Brazilian backs off with power jabs. The crowd goes wild for Price as he lands with ferocious blows, and the clinch leads to knees and uppercuts en masse. Pereira looks to take a breath and retreat along the outside of the cage, and he grabs Price and tries to take him down. Price rolls through it and elbows Pereira on the side of the head a few times to stand back up. Price backs “Demolidor” up and starts unloading on him with lethal punches, rocking Pereira and forcing Pereira to tie him up. Price will not let this stand, and he chases Pereira down and kicks at him until Pereira attempts a takedown. Price defends with punches to the body as he sprawls to stay upright, and he charges at Pereira when the 10-second clapper sounds. The welterweight bangers throw everything they have into one final salvo, and they drill each other with nasty shots until the final horn blares to end this thriller of a battle.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Price (29-28 Pereira)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Price (29-28 Pereira)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Price (29-28 Pereira)

The Official Result

Michel Pereira def. Niko Price via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Carlos Condit (171) vs. Max Griffin (170.5)

Round 1

The prelims will be capped off by a welterweight battle that sees “The Natural Born Killer” Condit (32-13, 9-9 UFC) try to go on a three-fight win streak against the heavy-handed Griffin (17-8, 5-6 UFC). Depending on the result, either Condit will fall below .500 in the UFC or Griffin will rise to that level, barring an unusual turn of events. Referee Marc Goddard will keep a watchful eye on the violence that is about to be bestowed in the cage, and the fighters do not touch gloves before inflicting said violence. Griffin charges out of his corner to attack, with a low kick and several high kicks to sends the former WEC champ backing away. Condit greets him with a few punches to back him off, and he puts together a combination and a head kick that gets slapped away. Griffin chops down Condit’s lead leg multiple times, and Condit’s calf is already reddening from them. Condit fires off a body kick, and he cannot get out of the way from another leg kick. Griffin walks through a punch to land a heavier one, and his leg kick that follows spins Condit around. “The Natural Born Killer” does not block the kicks or check them, and he tries to go after Griffin with his own but Griffin is right there with another. Condit turns about with another few kicks, and the damage is mounting fast as Condit appears to be struggling with it. Condit chips at the calf and then the body, but he absorbs one more low kick. Condit is forced to switch stances, and Griffin greets the change of position with one on the other leg. Condit marches forward to attack, only to get his lead leg chopped down beneath him. Condit ducks down into a right hand, and Griffin slips it and comes back with an overhand right. Condit just comes up short with a counter right hand when Griffin advances, and he does kick the body successful on the way out. Griffin’s leg kick makes Condit pick it up and try to move with it, and the ex-champ strides in and kicks the body. Condit’s calves are swelling up fast, and he tries to connect with a spinning kick but gets pushed back. Griffin blasts him with a right hand, sending Condit crashing into the wall and down to the ground. Griffin looks for a finish, delivering some heavy ground-and-pound, but Condit threatens with an offensive guard and survives to fight his way back to his feet. Condit jumps at his foe with a flying knee, and Griffin sits down on a leg kick and takes a right hand on the chin. Condit marches forward to brawl, and Griffin is there to greet him until he ducks out of the way to avoid most of the danger before the bell rings.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Griffin
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Griffin
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Griffin

Round 2

The second round begins with both fighters meeting in the center of the Octagon, but neither commit to any strikes until Condit launches a head kick. Griffin blocks it and targets Condit’s lead leg with impunity, and the former champ can do nothing but take it. Condit takes a traditional martial arts stance as he looks to wind up a side kick, and he steps in to clinch and drill Griffin in the chin with a knee. Condit catches Griffin on the end of a right hand to send “Pain” staggering back, but it is likely out of balance and not damage. Griffin gains his composure and fires off a right hand, and he beats Condit to the punch with a follow-up jab. Condit ducks down into a leg kick, and he gets off a body kick but is countered on the way out. Condit checks a leg kick for the first time, and he whiffs on a body kick but sprints forward with a trip and throw takedown. Griffin manages to get back to his feet, only to meet a right hand from Condit. Condit sits down on a right hand as well, and a left to the body follows. Griffin keeps his right hand up high to counter Condit, and he takes a kick to the body while watching Condit’s movement. Condit’s pace appears to be growing while Griffin’s is decreasing, and Condit advances with a spinning kick that bounces off his intended target. Griffin scores a leg kick, and Condit ducks down to trip his foe but cannot achieve it. Condit unloads with several punches to the head and body, and he marks up Griffin with a clean right hand. Condit reaches forward with an elbow, a right hand, and a cartwheel kick that comes up short. Condit ignores a low kick to crack Griffin on the chin, and “The Natural Born Killer” ignores a leg kick so that he can continue to strike. Griffin times Condit when Condit darts forward with a right hand, and Condit leads the dance and boots “Pain” in the side with a kick. Griffin pushes Condit away and the two jab at the same time, and Condit slips and delivers a right hand. Condit dips in with a left hand and a head kick, and the round ends when Griffin kicks him back.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Condit
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Condit
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Condit

Round 3

Between rounds, we can see the damage on Condit’s nose, but he pays it no mind and is ready for the final frame. Condit offers a glove touch, and Griffin pushes his hand away and tries to get off an overhand right. Condit ducks down and clocks Griffin in the chin with a head kick, but the Californian eats it like a steak. Griffin blitzes forward to attack, and he clubs Condit with a few punches to make “The Natural Born Killer” fall into the cage wall. Condit catches a body kick, and he pushes Griffin over to force Griffin to roll through and get back up. As Griffin tries to stand up, Condit batters him with strikes, until Griffin gathers his thoughts and starts to land hard hooks. Griffin scores single punches square on the chin, and Condit walks through them and throws right back at him. Condit slips one such punch to land a left hand, and Griffin stands tall and scores again. A three-punch combination stands Condit up, but Condit is not concerned and instead is fired up as he strings together a length combination to back Griffin up. At the end of a salvo, Condit tags Griffin with a right hand, and Griffin looks for a right hand counter but comes up short. Condit jabs out and flusters Griffin for a moment, before stepping in with an elbow. Condit advances with long, stinging jabs, and he walks face-first into a right hand that he completely ignores. Condit digs a left hand to the body and draws a pained reaction out of “Pain,” and he shoots in for a takedown to keep Griffin guessing. The takedown does not succeed, but Condit is able to knee in the body a few times. Griffin smashes Condit in the face with a right hand, and he bullies Condit into the fence and hits a takedown. Griffin takes half guard, but Condit rolls and is able to stand up after briefly threatening with an armbar. Griffin clings on to him for one final takedown try, and Condit attacks with a kimura and a guillotine but neither are there. Condit drops down to attack a leg of his opponent, and he takes Griffin’s back at the bell. This is going to be a close one.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Griffin (29-28 Griffin)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Griffin (29-28 Griffin)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Griffin (29-28 Griffin)

The Official Result

Max Griffin def. Carlos Condit via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Sean O'Malley (135.5) vs. Kris Moutinho (135)

Round 1

The main card opener draws a short-notice replacement for O’Malley (13-1, 5-1 UFC), who now meets newcomer Moutinho (9-4, 0-0 UFC) in a bantamweight clash of unusually colored hair. Referee Herb Dean neglected to dye his own hair for this fight, and there is no glove touch before the two get after it. Moutinho comes out guns blazing, swinging at the heavy favorite but getting kicked away on the way forward. O’Malley kicks the body and leg a few times, and Moutinho is not concerned as he continues to press ahead. O’Malley scores with long, reaching punches as Moutinho rushes in recklessly, and Moutinho gets his head snapped back with a counter punch. Moutinho gets off a few leg kicks of his own to make O’Malley stumble, and he keeps his foot on the accelerator as he stalks “Sugar” down. Three crisp punches land from O’Malley, and a front kick and a head kick come up quickly. O’Malley stings Moutinho with several punches, and Moutinho wears it well even as his green hair flows around from every blow. Moutinho marches straight at O’Malley, not cutting angles or doing anything besides walking directly at O’Malley and trying to swarm him with punches. O’Malley rings the Massachusetts native’s bell with an uppercut and several more punches, and he decides to start showboating instead of finishing his foe off. O’Malley lands flush to the head and body without issue, and the green-haired Moutinho walks through them without wobbling. O’Malley clips him with a left hand coming in, and Moutinho charges fearlessly even as he gets tagged repeatedly. Moutinho kicks the leg, O’Malley scores with a right hand, and a front kick and a right hand follow as O’Malley’s accuracy is virtually perfect. Moutinho laughs off strikes as he absorbs them, and surprises O’Malley with a right hand as he leaps ahead. Moutinho digs his shin into O’Malley’s lead leg, and he points at his opponent when he lands it. Moutinho lands low with a kick and absorbs punches and knees without even flinching. Moutinho springs at him with looping right hands, and O’Malley counters well and staggers him. Moutinho gets cracked with a crisp right hand and falls to the ground, and O’Malley hunts for a choke but cannot get it in time. Moutinho barely is able to make it to his corner between rounds, but he does make it to the end of the first period.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 O’Malley
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 O’Malley
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 O’Malley

Round 2

Moutinho is still hurt after trying the one-minute recovery period, but when the bell rings, he rushes at O’Malley with big punches. O’Malley continues to tag him with punches up top, and he snaps Moutinho’s head back with several jabs and mixes it up with front kicks. Moutinho eats a spinning kick to the body, and O’Malley winds up with a body kick and a head kick. The chin on Moutinho cannot be questioned as he plods forward seemingly unfazed as he gets clobbered with quick strikes. Moutinho gets off a few kicks to the body while he pursues O’Malley, and he throws hammers but cannot find their target. O’Malley makes Moutinho’s knees weak with a barrage of blows, but Moutinho is a resolute newcomer as he walks through a head kick. Moutinho walks face-first into a right hand, and he shakes it off and continues to give chase. Moutinho throws with everything he has at “Sugar,” and O’Malley is there to dodge the majority of the strikes and counter him effectively. Moutinho stalks O’Malley down but he misses with his bombs as O’Malley touches him again and again with crisp punches and clean front kicks. Moutinho shrugs off the powerful strikes, even rolling with a huge right hand from O’Malley, and he swarms O’Malley but ends up colliding with his guard. Moutinho walks through a punch to land a right hand, and he digs another to the body as O’Malley takes a deep breath. Moutinho welcomes a brawl, and when he gets one, he knocks O’Malley’s mouthpiece out. O’Malley ducks and blasts Moutinho in the face with a right hand, and he looks shocked that Moutinho is able to take it and keep coming. Moutinho ignores a front kick to the body to tie him up against the fence, and he lands a few short shots on the inside before the bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley

Round 3

O’Malley opens the round with a stomp kick to the knee, and when he lands another leg kick, Moutinho starts talking to his opponent. Moutinho races forward to attack, and he eats punches and has his nose busted up but is not concerned. He manages to get off a few punches, and he may have stunned O’Malley for a moment with a barrage. O’Malley ducks and cracks his man, taking deep breaths and landing effectively with practically everything he throws. Moutinho shakes his head after O’Malley kicks him in the head, and he blitzes O’Malley but cannot corner him. Moutinho kicks O’Malley’s lead leg several times and surprises O’Malley with a right hook, but O’Malley replies with a trio of big punches. O’Malley digs a few front kicks to the body and overhand rights score one after the other, and Moutinho is bloodied but still walking forward as Terminator comparisons ring true for the newcomer. O’Malley smashes Moutinho in the face with several insane right hands, and Moutinho keeps his pace and pressure without budging. Moutinho eats a right hand and a stiff body kick, and he lands a right hand and points at O’Malley. Moutinho sneaks up a head kick and the two land right hands at the same time, but O’Malley strings together several more before Moutinho can get there. O’Malley is the matador in this fight, scoring again and again as Moutinho shrugs it off. O’Malley punishes Moutinho with a long salvo of punches, and as Moutinho is ready to fire back, Dean leaps in to call off the fight with an unexpected standing TKO. Dean may have saved Moutinho from 30 more seconds of brain trauma, as the strike totals were approaching Max Holloway numbers, but Moutinho was not out on his feet and was still throwing right back at his opponent. Fans are not thrilled by that stoppage, and it’s hard to disagree with them. O’Malley was working Moutinho over, and the numbers will back that up, but Moutinho was still in the fight and ready to battle to the bitter end.

The Official Result

Sean O’Malley def. Kris Moutinho R3 4:33 via TKO (Punches)

Irene Aldana (139.5: Missed Weight) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (134.5)

Round 1

The lone catchweight contest of the night comes above the women’s bantamweight division after Aldana (12-6, 5-4 UFC) missed weight. Kunitskaya (14-5, 1 NC; 4-2 UFC) will be receiving 30 percent of her opponent’s purse as a result, and the fight stayed together with referee Jason Herzog taking the center of the Octagon. The Mexican fighter offers an apologetic glove touch for her weight error, and Kunitskaya accepts it. Kunitskaya commences her assault on Aldana’s lead leg with a kick, and she tries to clinch up but gets thwarted. When Aldana escapes, she gets kicked to the body and evades an axe kick. Kunitskaya sinks a heavy leg kick home, and she gets jabbed on the way in to break up a kicking salvo. She lands another kick and a pair of punches before trying to tie up. When she cannot clinch, she backs away and fires off a spinning kick, but Aldana blocks it and winds up in the clinch. Aldana lands a strike on the way in to bust Kunitskaya’s nose up, and the two trade thudding knees to the body. Kunitskaya spins and misses with a kick, and she takes a strong leg kick and gets clipped by a right hand. Aldana dances on the outside with crisp boxing, and Kunitskaya tries to get inside but eats a stern strike to the body that makes her lower her right arm. Aldana takes a pair of body kicks when she reaches to throw punches, and Kunitskaya counters several punches ahead of time with longer kicks. Aldana is able to get off an overhand right when Kunitskaya charges her, but Kunitskaya is not concerned as she blitzes forward and knees Aldana in the face. Out of nowhere, a clean left hand lifts Kunitskaya off her feet and sets her on her back, and Aldana chases after her to rain down punches and elbows. Kunitskaya defends herself with upkicks as she flails her legs, and one foot slaps Aldana in the face to give the Mexican fighter some pause. Aldana tries to get in on her, but she absorbs several upkicks that keep her at bay. Aldan drops down to pin Kunitskaya’s arm down and blast her in the face with punches, doing damage and making Kunitskaya turn over. Herzog warns Kunitskaya to defend herself as she gets pummeled with vicious left hands from Aldana, and when a bloodied Kunitskaya turns to her knees and starts taking thudding right hands, Herzog calls a halt to the fight. This is a crucial win for the fighter out of Mexico, who bounces back from a humbling loss to Holly Holm to knock out a top-five opponent. In her post-fight interview, Aldana does not want to rush a championship opportunity, much like her countryman and current flyweight king Brandon Moreno.

The Official Result

Irene Aldana def. Yana Kunitskaya R1 4:35 via TKO (Punches)

Tai Tuivasa (263) vs. Greg Hardy (264.5)

Round 1

As per usual, an unranked heavyweight brawl takes high placement on the main card over other ranked fighters below it, this time with Tuivasa (11-3, 5-3 UFC) and Hardy (7-3, 1 NC; 4-3, 1 NC UFC) ready to throw fastballs. A full 527.5 pounds will measure between these sluggers, along with 16 knockouts in their combined 18 victories. Referee Mark Smith is already holding on to his proverbial hat inside the Octagon, and the heavyweights decide to touch gloves before throwing down. Hardy points to the center of the cage to incite a brawl, and Tuivasa laughs it off with several heavy leg kicks that catch Hardy off-guard. Hardy stings Tuivasa with a long left hand, and he peppers Tuivasa with several jabs before absorbing a popping leg kick. Tuivasa sits down on a right hand, and Hardy eats it like a Vegemite sandwich and fires right back at him. Both big men blast each other with power punches, and the Aussie staggers as he backs off, surprised that Hardy's right hand on the temple hurt him. Hardy crashes in to put him away, and Tuivasa is right there like Scott Smith against Pete Sell, nailing Hardy with a right hand and freezing him in his tracks with a missile of a left hand. Hardy’s legs crumble beneath him as if he were a puppet that had its strings cut, and Tuivasa leaps on his damaged opponent to pound him out. It does not take more than a couple follow-up punches for Smith to call the fight, as Hardy’s eyes roll back in his head from the hammering shots. A speedy victory leads to Tuivasa leaping on top of the cage, and he calls for his corner to supply him with his trademark celebratory beverage. The commission does not get in the way, allowing the ecstatic Aussie to drink beer out of a shoe to the delight of the T-Mobile Arena. He calls on fans to supply him with more shoeys on the way out in his post-fight interview, and pounds a few as he strides back to the locker room. Jorge Masvidal is there to greet him, and he meets “Bam Bam” with a warm, alcohol-soaked embrace.

The Official Result

Tai Tuivasa def. Greg Hardy R1 1:07 via KO (Punches)

Gilbert Burns (170.5) vs. Stephen Thompson (170.5)

Round 1

The co-main event comes in the form of a potential welterweight title eliminator between recent challenger Burns (19-4, 12-4 UFC) and “Wonderboy” Thompson (16-4-1, 11-4-1 UFC). This interesting style matchup that presents a striker against a grappler – but that grappler has heavy hands – could provide for some intriguing action. Looking on is referee Marc Goddard, and there is nothing but respect between these two 170-pounders who touch gloves to seal the cage. Thompson keeps a traditionally wide stance, and Burns mimics the same stance as the two try to find a way in. Neither throw a single strike for the first 45 seconds, when Thompson lands a light leg kick. Burns ducks down to throw an overhand right, and he tries to chase “Wonderboy” down and land a huge shot and a head kick, but they come up short. Burns dives low for a single, and Thompson defends against the fence and fights off a subsequent double leg takedown attempt as well. Burns continues to grind in this position as the crowd starts to turn on the fighters, so Burns knees Thompson in the thigh a few times. This stalemate continues as Goddard calls for them to work, so Burns drops down for another takedown try that comes up short. Burns picks up a single and lifts Thompson up to set him down, where he finally gets the takedown he was seeking. Burns hold on from a half guard position as he looks to tie up an arm-triangle choke, and when “Wonderboy” scoots to the fence, Burns lands a few right hands on him. Burns has the karateka locked down in this position, keeping him grounded as Thompson tries to work his way up the fence. Thompson posts off a hand to get to his knees, and Burns thumps him in the chest with a hard knee. Burns delivers right hands on the chin until Thompson stands up, and the two men break away with seconds to go. As Burns charges in, Thompson clips Burns with a right hand, and drops Burns to a knee. When Burns stands up, Thompson fires off a head kick, and the bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Burns
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Burns
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Burns

Round 2

The glove touch begins the second round, and “Wonderboy” starts off with a solid kick to Burns’ calf. Thompson switches stances and avoids a head kick to come up short with a spinning back kick of his own. Thompson whiffs on a series of punches, as Burns backs off to a safe distance before re-engaging to fire off a right hand. Thompson gets off a kick to the body, and Burns returns fire with a leg kick. “Wonderboy” irritates his foe with a few side kicks to the leg and body, and he parries a leaping Burns with ease. Thompson’s toes reach the midsection when he kicks, and he stands tall when Burns kicks his thigh back. Thompson slings a head kick that gets blocked in time, and a spinning heel kick gets through the guard and may have hurt Burns. Burns charges like a man possessed, throwing caution to the wind and catching Thompson on the end of a right hand. “Wonderboy” hops out of the way and stings Burns with a straight left hand, splitting the guard and making Burns retreat. The karate fighter kicks the lead leg, follows it with a few punches, and ignores a leg kick that comes his direction. When Burns advances, Thompson is there with a side kick to the chest to push the Brazilian back. Thompson pulls his leg free when Burns advances to take him down, and he circles out to crack Burns with a right hand. Thompson stays elusive and defensive as he reaches a right hand out, and Burns intercepts him with a leg kick and a right hand. Burns leaps forward and hits a takedown from a long distance, putting Thompson on his seat against the fence. Thompson returns to a knee at the 10-second clapper, and both men start clubbing each other with right hands like a grounded version of Frye-Takayama until the horn blares.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Thompson
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Burns
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Thompson

Round 3

The welterweights touch both hands to begin the last round, and “Wonderboy” steps back to get off a head kick that is partially blocked. A side kick that follows splits Burns’ guard and smacks him in the face, and Thompson looks to follow it up with a few lunging punches. Burns walks right into a right hand, and Burns smiles at him and gets punched a few more times as his smile fades. Thompson has Burns backpedaling as he lands whenever he throws a strike, and Burns is stuck watching the karateka do work on him. Burns takes a flush spinning heel kick to the side of the head and drops to a knee, and when he scrambles back to his feet, he throws hands with reckless abandon. Thompson welcomes it and lands a few more strikes as he backs away to a safe distance, and Burns crashes in to try to take him down. The attempt fails, but the redoubled effort for Burns puts Thompson on his back in side control. With Burns content to sit in this position as precious seconds tick off the clock, both men punch one another in the side again and again. Burns holds tight to keep “Wonderboy” stuck on the ground, pulling Thompson’s wrist out when the American looks to stand back up. Burns embraces the grind to pepper Thompson with short left hands, racking up control time and scoring points with these punches. Thompson tries to pull himself back up, but Burns is on him like fly paper until he wraps his arm around Thompson’s neck. Thompson sits down instead of falling into this choke, and Burns elects to blatantly punch him several times to the back of the head and neck. The crowd does not appreciate this final exchange, and the fans shower the Brazilian with boos as the fight concludes.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Burns (29-28 Burns)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Burns (30-27 Burns)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Burns (29-28 Burns)

The Official Result

Gilbert Burns def. Stephen Thompson via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Dustin Poirier (156) vs. Conor McGregor (156)

Round 1

The headliner is upon us. Although no belt is on the line for this trilogy match, this has all of the “big fight feel.” Both Poirier (27-5, 1 NC; 19-5, 1 NC UFC) and McGregor (22-5, 10-3 UFC) have knocked one another out once, and both are angling to notch another to end the series with a bang. The referee assigned to this marquee matchup is Herb Dean, who was the cage official for both of their previous meetings as well. There is no touch of gloves. McGregor opens the fight with a spinning back kick that comes up short, and he puts another together to land on Poirier’s arms. McGregor lands to Poirier’s leg, and he goes up high but misses. Poirier fires off a counter front kick that misses, and he absorbs several leg kicks. A sharp left hand from McGregor catches Poirier off-guard, and he lands another heavy leg kick. McGregor just misses with a huge right hand, and the two men start trading vicious leg kicks. McGregor assaults Poirier’s lead leg with kicks, and he follows one with a solid overhand left. Poirier meets him with a big left hand, and he hurts McGregor with another to force the Irishman to clinch up with him. Poirier turns him around and attempts a single leg takedown, and McGregor defends with a guillotine choke as Poirier lifts him up and sets him down. McGregor cinches up the guillotine choke as Poirier lowers himself into the guard, and he is forced to let it go when Poirier steps over using the cage. Poirier pops his head out and sits up to land a left hand, and McGregor ties him up but gets elbows in the face for his effort. McGregor elbows Poirier in the side of the head, and he hacks at Poirier with these elbows while Poirier gathers himself and gets into the guard. Poirier starts unloading with ferocious elbows on McGregor, who absorbs them all without blocking a single blow. Poirier sits up and nails McGregor in the face, and McGregor upkicks his foe off of him for a moment. Poirier climbs back into the guard, and he postures up to sting McGregor with ground-and-pound. Poirier avoids an upkick and rocks McGregor, and McGregor rocks Poirier with an upkick. Poirier smashes his opponent with elbow after unanswered elbow, and McGregor sits down with a guillotine choke but does not have it tied up. “The Diamond” backs off to complain about McGregor grabbing his gloves, and Dean allows McGregor to stand back up in the confusion. Poirier sits down on a huge right hand that appears to knock McGregor off of his feet, and McGregor falls to his seat and his ankle twists in a horrible way. When the horn sounds, it is clear that McGregor is done, and there is no way this fight will continue. The doctor practically sprints into the cage to observe the damage that was done to McGregor’s leg, and Dean quickly notices that McGregor’s leg is either broken, dislocated or something else gnarly. This is unquestionably a disappointing ending to what was shaping up to be a wild one, but Poirier now goes two-up on McGregor with two knockouts – this one a TKO – to his credit. Upon seeing the replay, McGregor took a bad step after both men swung for the fences, and his leg folded beneath him. McGregor shouts to Dean to end the fight by doctor stoppage and not for some other method of victory for his opponent, and he is incensed at the result and appears to want to do it again soon when he recovers.

In his post-fight interview, Poirier claims that McGregor broke his leg on a checked kick, and that the damage was done as the round progressed and a strike landed to send McGregor off-balance and snap the ankle. Poirier explains his frustration with McGregor’s rhetoric in the leadup to their match, about how McGregor wanted to kill him. Poirier wishes that McGregor goes home to his family and heals up, in a sharp contrast to the way McGregor carried himself. He then dedicates his victory to a young man fighting cancer, saying that the young man is a real warrior.

An irate McGregor is then interviewed from a seated position, and he screams, “this is not over!” McGregor further insults Poirier, cursing at the man that just got his hand raised and trying to incite drama about Poirier’s wife. Poirier all but ignores it, walking out of the cage while several commissioners and security guards keep them separated – even while McGregor is receiving a splint on his leg while sitting down. If there is to be a fourth match, you better believe we will be here for it, and we hope you are too. What a wild night of fights.

The Official Result

Dustin Poirier def. Conor McGregor R1 5:00 via TKO (Leg Injury)