LAS VEGAS – UFC on ESPN 55 took place Saturday, and MMA Junkie provided live play-by-play and official results for the event, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
In the main event, Matheus Nicolau (19-5-1 MMA, 7-3 UFC) took on former flyweight title challenger Alex Perez (25-8 MMA, 7-4 UFC). In the co-feature, Bogdan Guskov (16-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) fought Ryan Spann (21-10 MMA, 7-5 UFC) at light heavyweight.
You can find the live play-by-play and official results for UFC on ESPN 55 below:
Gabriel Benitez vs. Hayisaer Maheshate
Round 1 – A couple of hard leg kicks land for Benitez right away. Maheshate fires back with a body kick. He’s moving forward, walking down Benitez. Oh! Big left connects for Benitez. It briefly stuns Maheshate. Three minutes left. Big body kick by Benitez and Maheshate answers back with a body shot. Nasty body kick by Benitez. Maheshate is eating these well. Jab by Maheshate. Leg kick by Benitez. A perfectly timed left lands for Benitez. What a chin on Maheshate. Maheshate with a body kick and then a leg kick. The bell rings shortly after.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Benitez.
Round 2 – Maheshate comes out pressing Benitez. Clean right hand connects for Maheshate! Leg kick by Benitez. And Maheshate with a one, two. Benitez counters Maheshate hard! Maheshate spans Benitez head back with a jab. More lg kicks by Benitez. Pretty even fight so far with Benitez being slightly up it seems. Big right connects for Maheshate. These two are trading hard shots. Maheshate is upping it here at the end. Good combo connects for Maheshate at the end of the round.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Maheshate.
Round 3 – Close fight here. Again, Maheshate comes out pressing, putting Benitez on the back foot. Maheshate is a bit more aggressive here. An eye poke from Maheshate briefly halts the bout. Benitez says he’s good and the fight resumes. Three minutes left. Good jabs by Benitez. Good counter shots by Benitez. He seems a bit more fresh than Maheshate here. Maheshate lands a good left hook. Leg kick by Benitez. One minute left. Good left hand and then some jabs by Benitez. Very close round here. Oh! Flying knee by Benitez. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Benitez. Overall 29-28, Benitez.
Result: Hayisaer Maheshate def. Gabriel Benitez via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Maheshate (10-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC), Benitez (23-13 MMA, 7-8 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Judging: Bryan Miner, Tony Weeks 29-28, Eric Colon 28-29.
Liang Na vs. Ivana Petrovic
Round 1 – Na immediately closes the distance and takes down Petrovic with ease. Petrovic gets back up, but is being pressed against the cage. Shots here and there from Na. Four minutes left. More short punches by Na. Petrovic trying to break free, but unable to. Petrovic breaks free a few secodn after. Good right has by Petrovic. Three minutes left. Na with a clean combo and then presses Petrovic against the cage. They break free, and it’s Petrovic who looks for the takedown. She takes down Na, but they get into a scramble! Na almost gets the back, but Petrovic is able to fight out and get top position on Na. one minute left. Petrovic looking for an arm-triangle. They scramble more and Na reverses Petrovic, but gets caught in an armbar. They’re in a bit of a stalemate position, and Petrovic lands some shots from bottom. The bell rings before Petrovic can get the tap.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Petrovic.
Round 2 – Na closes the distance and presses Petrovic against the cage. Not much being done in terms of damage, but Na is controlling the action. Petrovic breaks free. Now Petrovic is the one that takes down Na. She’s working from side control. Good short elbows by Petrovic. Na goes for an armbar! It looked tight for a second, but Petrovic breaks free and maintains top position. Good shots from top by Petrovic! She’s upping the ground-and-pound. Petrovic gets mount! Nasty, nasty elbows from Petrovic. Na looks bad. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Petrovic.
Round 3 – Petrovic shoots and gets the takedown right away. Petrovic is dominating Na here. She gets the back mount, sinks in some sort of choke that looks like a D’Arce and gets the tap. Na was spent.
Result: Ivana Petrovic def. Na Liang via submission (arm triangle) – Round 3, 1:29
Recap: Ivana Petrovic submits gritty Liang Na with… rear-naked arm-triangle choke?
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Petrovic (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Na (19-8 MMA, 0-4 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognini
James Llontop vs. Chris Padilla
Round 1 – Both fighters very tentative here. Llontop with several leg kicks. Padilla gets a takedown, but Llontop gets up immediately. More leg kicks by Llontop. Llontop walking down Padilla here. Low output from both here. Good jab by Llontop. Padilla shoots again, gets the takedown, but Llontop gets immediately back up. Two minutes left. More leg kicks by Llontop. And now to the body! More leg kicks. Good left hook by Llontop! Padilla shoots takes down Llontop, takes his back, and quickly get the rear-naked choke. It’s over.
Result: Chris Padilla def. James Llontop via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:33
Recap: Chris Padilla makes James Llontop tap in first-round upset
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Padilla (14-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Llontop (14-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Marnic Mann vs. Ketlen Souza
Round 1 – Leg kicks from Mann, as he stays on the outside here against Souza. More leg kicks from Mann. Souza seems to be hesistant or waiting for a big shot! Big right-hand lands for Souza! And spinning wheel kick partially connects. Mann tries to take down Souza, but ends up getting pressed against the cage. Souza lets her free. Good right hand by Souza. Another one. Two minutes left. Souza presses Mann and takes her down. Good shots from top by Souza. One minute left. Mann pushes Souza off. Leg kick by Souza. Leg kick now by Mann. Leg kick then a right hand by Souza. Mann gets a takedown in the final second.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Souza.
Round 2 – Souza immediately pressing Mann. Good right hand by Souza. Souza now presses Mann against the cage. Short shots from Mann. Souza lets Mann go, and they’re back to striking. Souza being the complete aggressor here. Left hook connects for Souza. Two minutes left. Mann just backing up and getting picked apart here. Mann attempts a takedown, and fails. Souza ends on top. Souza working from inside the guard of Mann. Souza ends the round on top.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Souza.
Round 3 – Leg kicks by Mann land. More leg kicks. Mann is pressing forward here, something she wasn’t doing in the previous two rounds. Mann tries to pin down Souza against the cage, but unable to. Oh! Souza unloading on Man. Nasty body shots and hooks to the face by Souza. Mann getting banged up. Mann attempts a standing kimura, drops back and uses it to get top position on Souza. Mann inside the guard of Souza. Short shots from Mann, but little action overall. One minute left. Short shots to the body by Mann. Souza jumps back to her feet. Body kick by Souza, but Mann gets the takedown. Souza reverses the position and the bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Souza. Overall 30-27, Souza.
Result: Ketlen Souza def. Marnic Mann via unanimous decison (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Souza (14-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Mann (6-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Judging: Mike Bell, Sal D’Amato, Chris Lee 30-27
Caio Machado vs. Don’Tale Mayes
Round 1 – Leg kick by Machado, but Mayes counters with a big one, two. Big left hook connects clean for Mayes, Machado eats it well. Big shots by Machado nearly land. Both very tentative. Little output. Big body kick by Machado. Mayes throws one of his own. Leg kick by Machado followed by a left hand. They’re throwing heat now! Oh! Machado gets caught with a huge shot and falls on the ground. Mayes gets top control, but unable to land meaningful ground-and-pound before the bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Mayes.
Round 2 – Mayes seems more confident here and is now pressuring Machado, unlike the first round. A couple of big shots thrown, but neither fighter has landed clean. Good one, two by Machado. Right hand connects for Machado Left hook to the body by Mayes. Body kick by Mayes. Jab by Mayes. Leg kick by Machado. Machado unleading on Mayes! Oh! Mayes with a big counter! The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Mayes.
Round 3 – Machado putting on the pressure here on Mayes. Uppercut by Mayes. Very low output from both here. Good left connects for Mayes. A right hook lands for Mayes. Machado staying on the outside and landing a few shotshere and there. Not a ton going on. Mayes upping the pressure here, lands a good combinattion before the bell.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Machado. Overall 29-28, Mayes.
Result: Don’Tale Mayes def. Caio Machado via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Mayes (11-6 MMA, 4-4-1 UFC), Machado (8-3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Judging: Sal D’Amato, Junichiro Kamijo, Tony Weeks 29-28.
Michal Figlak vs. Austin Hubbard
Round 1 – Jab and leg kick by Hubbard. Figlak pressuing here. Hubbard attemps a takedown, but comes up short. Figlakpressuring and looking for the big shot. Three minutes left. Hubbard gets the takedown, but not for long. Figlak gets back up, just a few seconds after the takedown. Right hand connects for Hubbard. Right hand connects clean for Figlak. One minute left. Left hook for Figlak. Righthand now lands for Hubbard. A lot of feint here. The bell rings. Close round.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Figlak.
Round 2 – Same dynamic: Both fighters tentatively striking with Figlak doing a little more of the pressing. Good righthand by Figlak. Hubbard’s nose is busted up a bit. Jabs by Figlak. Hubbard shoots for a takedown and comes up short. Figlak controlling Hubbard form the front headlock position. Hubbard gets back to his feet. Both land jabs. More jabs from Figlak. Figlak is bleeding from his nose, too. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Figlak.
Round 3 – Body kick by Figlak. Figlak closes the distance and presses Hubbard against the cage. A couple of knees to the thighs from Figlak. Figlak lets Hubbard free, and they’re back to striking. They trade lag kicks and jabs. Three minutes left. Good left by Figlak. It seems Figlak is starting to widen the gap here on a what’s been a fairly uneventful fight. Figlak again closes the distance and presses Hubbard against the cage. Not much going on here, just control. Hubbard breaks free. Two minutes left. Jab by Figlak. Clean right hand connects for Figlak Hubbard shoots and gets the takedown, but Figlak makes his way to the cage and gets up. Hubbard now controlling Figlak. Figlak gets out almost immeidately and now he presses Hubbard against the cage. They break free. Good shot by Figlak. Hubbard shoots and comes up short. Figlak controls from front headlock until the bell.
MMA Junkie scores the rpund 10-9, Figlak. Overall 30-27, Figlak.
Result: Austin Hubbard def. Michal Figlak via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Figlak (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Hubbard (16-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Judging: Mike Bell, Eric Colon, Byan Miner 29-28.
Victor Henry vs. Rani Yahya
Round 1 – Body kick by Yahya. Yahya looking to close the distance on Henry. Yahya closes the distance and presses Henry against the cage. Henry reverses the position. They break free. Body shot by Henry. Leg kick by Henry. Yahya closes the distance and presses Henry agaisnt the cage, as he looks for a takedown.Two minutes left. Yahya gets the takedown, but Henry gets back up and reverses the position. Henry now pressing Yahya against the cage. Yahya breaks free. Good left by Yahya. They’re brawling in the final seconds. Good connections her by Yahya. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Henry.
Round 2 – Both these guys trading, but neither is landing clean. Yahya tries for a takedown, but Henry defends well. Good combo by Henry. Henry is upping the volume and lowering the power and it seems to work for him. Nasty left hook connects for Henry. Henry is walking down Yahya Two minutes left. Right hand connects for Henry. Yahya is just covering up and backing up, he looks tired. Oh! Body shot by Henry and then two right hooks from Yahya. Henry all over Yahya with ground-and-pound. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Henry.
Round 3 – Yahya looks in trouble. He shoots for the takedown, fails and then pulls guard. Good ground-and-pound by Henry. Man, Henry is picking apart Yahya. Oh! Henry drops Yahya. He’s on top landing ground-and-pound. Henri lets Yahya back up. Head kick by Henry! Yahya is covering up! More shots and it’s over! Standing TKO for Henry.
Result: Victor Henry def. Rani Yahya via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 2:36
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Henry (24-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Yahya (28-12-1 MMA, 13-6-1 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Tim Means vs. Uros Medic
Round 1 – Means immediately shoots for a takedown and presses Medic against the cage. Medic reverses Means and landa nice elbow on the break. They’re back to striking, but not for long, as Means presses Medic against the cage. Medic breks free. Oh! Means goes down with a nasty uppercut! It’s over. What a win by Medic.
Result: Uros Medic def. Tim Means via TKO (uppercut) – Round 1, 2:09
Recap: Uros Medic flattens Tim Means with uppercut TKO
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Medic (10-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC), Means (33-16-1 MMA, 15-13 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
David Onama vs. Jonathan Pearce
Round 1 – Good jab by Onama. He’s staying on the ourside while Pearce chases. Pearce has been throwing, but Onama has defended most of the shots well. Pearce shoots for a takedown, but comes up short. They’re back to striking. Big counter right hand by Onama. Pearce’s face is a but battered. Pearce shoots for a takedown and gets it with less than two minutes remaining. Pearce gets the back, but not for long, as Onama reverses and ends on top. One minute left. Pearce gets back up. He tries another takedown, but fails and ends on bottom. Clear round for Onama.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Onama.
Round 2 – Pearce shoots immediately and gets briefly caught in a guillotine! He escapes and taked the back of Onama. Pearce locks in a body trinagle. He’s looking for a rear-naked choke. Onama reverses the position and gets on top of Pearce. They scramble and Pearce once again takes the back of Onama. Three minutes left. Good short elbows by Pearce. Onama gets back to his feet, but he’s being pressed against the cage. Pearce brings the fight back to the ground. Onama reverses! But Pearce reverses the reversal! Crazy scrambles here. Pearce establishes control and gets top position. Onama escapes with 30 seconds left. Good body kick by Pearce. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Pearce.
Round 3 – Left hook by Pearce. Onama with a straight right. Pearce shoots, but Onama defends. Right hand by Pearce, answered by a jab from Onama. Good elbow by Onama. Pearce looking for the takedown, but unable to. Three minutes left. Oh! Big uppercut by Onama. Pearce shoots for a takedown, fails, but presses Onama against the cage. Onama reverses the position and breaks free. Two minutes left. Another takedown stuffed by Onama. Pearce gets a takedown, gets the back, but loses itimmediately. Onama now on top controlling. One minute left. Pearce goes for a kimura, but Onama defends itand gets up. They’re back to striking. Pearce chasing. Wild scenes! Brawling! The bell rings.
MMA junkie scores the round 10-9 Onama. Overall 29-28, Onama.
Result: David Onama def. Jonathan Pearce via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Onama (12-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC), Pearce (14-6 MMA, 5-3 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Judging: Eric Colon, Sal D’Amato, Jerin Valel 29-28.
Jhonata Diniz vs. Austen Lane
Round 1 – They’re swining big right off the bat. Big takedown by Lane. He moves to half guard. Elbow from top by Lane. Lane having a tough time connecting from top, but he;s doinga good job at controlling. Two minutes left. Not much going on. Lane jus controlling. Lane gets mount in the last 10 seconds, lands a few shots and the bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Lane.
Round 2 – Again, Lane closes the distance and looks for the takedown. Lane presses Diniz against the cage, but he breska free. Good jab by Lane. Diniz connects with a few shots. He attemps a takedown, but falls to his back. Diniz kicks his legs as he stands over him. Lane gets up after a few seconds. Good combo by Diniz. Oh! Big shot by Diniz! Lane is badly wobbled. It’s over. Diniz connected with one more shot and sent Lane to the canvas.
Result: Jhonata Diniz def. Austen Lane via KO (punch) – Round 2, 2:12
Recap: Jhonata Diniz freezes Austin Lane with KO combination
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Diniz (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Lane (12-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Ariane da Silva vs. Karine Silva
Round 1 – Front kick by Silva. Silva doing most of the chasing here. Leg kick by Silva. Silva shoots and takes down da Silva. Da Silva pushes Silva away, but stays on her back. Silva kicking da Silva’s legs from top. Silva dives back in the guard of da Silva. Silva going for a guillotine choke, but doesn’t get close to threat and lets it go. Da Silva pushes Silva off and now she stands over Silva. Da Silva with kicks to the legs. Da Silva dives in the guard of Silva and gets a few shots in. Good shots from da Silva. The bell rings and da Silva ends on top.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Silva.
Round 2 – Leg kick by da Silva. Silva attemps a takedown but comes up short. Never mind. There’s a second attempt and Silva takes down da Silva. Oh, nasty elbows from Silva, who’s in half guard. Good control here by Silva. Silva now moves to side control. Three minutes left. Nice scrmable here and da Silva is going for a heel hook. The position looke dpromising, but Silva gets out and now she stands over da Silva, while kicking her legs. Body kick by Silva as da Silva was getting up. Silva brings da Silva back down Silva takes the back of da Silva. Da Silva attemping to set up a knee bar, but the bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Silva.
Round 3 – Good jab to the body and then a right by da Silva. The output from both has slowed down. Leg kick by da Silva. Da Silva lands a good kick to the body, Silva catches it, tries to turn it into a takedown, but fails. She does manage to push da Silva against the fence. Da Silva breaks free. Silva clinches da Silva against the cage, but da Silva reverses. Silva gets a takedown with a minute left in the round. Silva now moves to the back of da Silva.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Silva. Overall 30-27, Silva.
Result: Karine Silva def. Ariane da Silva via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Silva (18-4 MMA, 4-0 UFC), da Silva (17-9 MMA, 6-6 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Judging: Adalaide Byrd 30-27. Mike Bell, Sal D’Amato 29-28.
Bogdan Guskov vs. Ryan Spann
Round 1 – Jab by Guskov. Another one. Spann shoots and presses Guskov against the fence. The fight is paused after Spann landed an accidental low blow. After 30 seconds, the fight resumes back in the same position with Spann pressing Guskov. Another low blow from Spann pauses the action. After a few seconds, the fight resumes. Good right hand by Spann. Leg kick by Guskov. Spann takes down Guskov and is now in his guard. Spann moves to side control. Spann now moves to mount. Two minutes left. Spann now takes the back of Guskov and is gor ing for a rear-naked choke! Spnn only has one hook in. He lets it go. Spann maintains control until the bell.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Spann.
Round 2 – Very tentative here both fighters. Neither is connecting. Big left connects for Guskov. Another one! Spann is wobbled. He goes for a takedown, but Guskov stuffs it. Back to striking. Big one, two for Spann. Guskov with a good combo. Oh! Giant uppercut connects for Guskov! Spann is wobbling all over the place! He goes down. Ground-and-pound by Guskov. Game over! Guskov wins. Incredible finish.
Result: Bogdan Guskov def. Ryan Spann via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:16
Recap: Bogdan Guskov puts away Ryan Spann with punching barrage
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Guskov (16-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Spann (22-9 MMA, 8-4 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Matheus Nicolau vs. Alex Perez
Round 1 – Perez walking down Nicolau. Neither is throwing, they’re waiting on each other. After two minutes, Perez is the first to attack and lands a combo to the body and head. Nicolau still has yet to throw. One, two by Nicolau. A right hand connects for Nicolau. Two minutes left. Body shot by Perez. Leg kick by Perez. Huge left hook connects for Nicolau. Hard leg kick by Perez. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Perez.
Round 2 – Big leg kick by Perez. Another one. A couple more by Perez. He’s far more agressive in this round. Leg kick by Nicolau. Leg kick by Perez. Big shot from Perez stuns Nicolau. Nicolau seems fine. Oh! What a KO! Perez sleeps Nicolau with a giant right hook.
Result:Alex Perez def. Matheus Nicolau via KO (right hook) – Round 2, 2:16
Recap: Alex Perez knocks out Matheus Nicolau with right hook
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Perez (25-8 MMA, 7-4 UFC), Nicolau (19-5-1 MMA, 7-3 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
