UFC Vegas 104 ‘Vettori vs. Dolidze’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Yuneisy Duben (125.5) vs. Carli Judice (125)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Judice (-380), Duben (+300)

Round 1

Of all the fight cards the UFC has ever held, UFC Fight Night 254 is certainly one of them. With 10 of the 26 combatants sporting UFC records above .500, this could be one of those shows where the cut list will reach five or more players. We kick things off in the women’s flyweight division with one of those types of matches where a fighter has their back against the wall. Unbeaten Venezuelan Duben (6-0, 1 NC; 0-0 UFC) may have a bit of a gaudy record, but her first five wins came against ladies with a combined record of 0-0 (and a no contest). Standing in her way with a lot on the line will be Judice (3-2, 0-1 UFC), who earned her spot on the roster with a loss on the Contender Series. Fists are soon to fly, and before they do, referee Mark Smith checks them in. There is a quick fist bump that precedes the action. Judice takes to the center of the cage, and Duben walks right towards her and kicks her several times on the lead leg. Judice jabs her way out of an engagement, and she snaps up a question mark kick that surprises her opponent. The Venezuelan plants her feet and throws hands, and when she scores, she circles away. Judice plants her fist on her foe’s face, and she appears more technical than Duben as her strikes are straight while Duben’s are winging and a bit sloppy. Judice cracks Duben with a straight punch combo, and she makes Duben bounce off the fencing. Duben responds with a spinning back fist, and Judice blocks the worst of it and comes out swinging. Duben ricochets off the wall again, and she punches her way out of a tough situation. Judice resets, and she marches the newcomer down and chambers her left leg. Her shin smashes square into the chin, and Duben goes down on her side in a heap. A few follow-up punches from “Crispy” are merely academic, as Smith is rushing in between them to stop the fight. This is a heck of a way to start the night, with Duben ejected violently out of the ranks of the unbeaten while Judice concludes her losing streak with a bang. Headkicks MMA is her team, and she represented it well with that performance.

The Official Result

Carli Judice def. Yuneisy Duben R1 1:40 via TKO (Head Kick and Punches)

Priscila Cachoeira (135) vs. Josiane Nunes (136)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Nunes (-185), Cachoeira (+154)

Round 1

Keeping to the women’s weight categories, bantamweights take center stage next in a must-win for either lady. Stout, power-punching Nunes (10-3, 3-2 UFC) has dropped two straight, while Cachoeira (12-6, 4-6 UFC) should have been released with prejudice after repeatedly gouging Gillian Robertson’s eyes in 2021. One of these two struggling fighters has to win, and referee Chris Tognoni will know first who that is. They touch gloves before getting down to business, and Cachoeira keeps a wide stance as she walks to the middle of the Octagon and punches Nunes square in the face. Nunes loves this idea, and she does the same. The fight immediately devolves into an all-offense fist frenzy, where the two countrywoman blast one another with unguarded power punches. They trade blows without concern for health or well-being, but as the strikes continue to mount, it is the fiery Nunes who is getting the worst of it. Nunes shoots for a desperate double after getting stung, and Cachoeira shuts it down and backs her off with a one-two. Nunes changes things up with a couple heavy low kicks, and she uses the leg kicks to try to open up one to the head. The more compact Nunes cannot quite get her foot up high enough, so she settles for brawling. Cachoeira tags Nunes, Nunes swings back, and the pendulum keeps swinging. With more range on her side, Cachoeira is able to occasionally land and circle away. Nunes keeps her guard up after taking a few especially damaging blows, and she rushes in with a swarm of fists. Cachoeira dances out of the way, bounces off the fence and plants a one-two on the mug. Seeing that Nunes is stunned, “Zombie Girl” opens up with a monstrous uppercut that completely separates Nunes from her senses. “Josi” hits the ground on her face like a sack of bricks, and Cachoeira knows her work her is done and strides away, pounding her chest and raising her arms in the air. It takes a couple seconds for Nunes to come to, and Tognoni has to let her know that she got knocked the heck out. The night is two for two in sweet knockouts from the ladies, and post-fight bonus checks could already be in the mail.

The Official Result

Priscila Cachoeira def. Josiane Nunes R1 2:46 via KO (Punch)

Daniel Barez (126) vs. Andre Lima (126)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Lima (-355), Barez (+280)

Round 1

Keeping things pushing in a lengthy lineup, a classic matchup of Spain vs. Brazil will play out between flyweights. Entram Gym representative Barez (17-6, 1-1 UFC) is aiming to go on a run, while Lima (10-0, 3-0 UFC) won his pro debut in 2022 and never looked back. The two will be joined in the cage by Octagon ranger Kerry Hatley, who is ready for wherever this fight takes them. Fists are bumped before they are traded, and Lima winds up and slams his shin on the lead leg. He does this three more times, until Barez responds with one of his own. Barez steps in with a thudding right hand, but the leg kicks from “Mascote” are damage-dealing and frequently coming. Lima has already reddened up his foe’s leg as he continues assaulting it, and he keeps his guard up to parry a few punches. Lima flashes out a jab and follow with a straight right, and he continues battering the front leg. Lima cracks the Spanish fighter with a huge right, and Barez bends over and briefly reevaluates his life decisions leading up to this point. Meanwhile. Lima marches him down with accurate, clubbing punches, and Barez is taking them well but still hurt. Barez grabs hold of his advancing opponent in pursuit of a takedown, and when that fails, he somehow circles around to take the back. Barez looks for a choke while riding the back, but Lima shimmies him off and gets back to pummeling his front leg. Barez fires back with impunity, and Lima loads up on several body shots to back Barez up. Lima nails the ribcage with a mean-spirited right hand, and he dips and rips the liver with his other fist. Lima spins with a back kick, and Barez slips out of the way and wipes at his bloodied nose. Lima keeps on the with the aggression, walking through jabs to load up. Barez backpedals, absorbs a few more body shots, and one particularly nasty left to the liver drops his hands for a second. Barez tries to back his man off with a step-in knee, and Lima ignores it and unleashes a hellacious kick to the lead leg that is welted up and swollen after four minutes of punishment. As they keep trading, Lima pushes off and his thumb jams into Barez’ eye. Hatley calls time, and Barez takes 30 seconds to recover. On the restart, Lima gest right back to attacking the front calf, with strikes landing with thumps and not slaps. Barez shoots for a takedown, and Lima stonewalls him and jams him up against the fence until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lima
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Lima
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Lima

Round 2

The fighters clap hands and immediately pick up where they left off. Barez sticks out his jabs early to keep Lima from coming at him, but that does not slow “Mascote” one iota. Lima hammers the front leg with kicks, and he mixes in head and body shots as Barez’ nose busts open again. Lima turns his hips into his leg kicks, thrashing Barez with these blows until Barez has to turn or lift his leg up gingerly to take some of the sting out of it. Lima is far from a one-trick pony, as he pounds on Barez’ torso with bad intentions. Barez punches back a few times, but Lima is firmly in the driver’s seat putting it to the Spaniard. Barez circles away after taking a painful leg kick, limping as he tries to escape. Lima is a steamroller of offense, chewing up Barez’ midsection while putting his leg through a veritable wood chipper. Barez wobbles as he backs off, and Lima has to stop to shut down a feeble takedown effort before beating on Barez some more. It is a varied attack of head, body and legs, and when Lima gets in close, he starts shredding Barez with vicious elbows. Hatley wans Lima to not strike behind the head, and Lima changes things up once more and trips Barez up to deposit him to the canvas. Lima postures up in the guard, landing ground-and-pound while blood continues to flow out of Barez’ nose. Barez is able to slow Lima by hanging on in the guard, and he is sucking wind with deep breaths until Lima puts his hand over Barez’ mouth. Lima grinds his elbow down and works on Barez until the round concludes.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Lima
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Lima
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Lima

Round 3

Despite quite a shellacking, a swollen, bloodied and battered Barez is able to answer the bell and double high-five his opponent. Lima says hello with a hard leg kick, and he stays with the strike until Barez attempts to take him down. Lima not only stops it, but reverses him and tackles the Spanish fighter to his back. Barez closes up his guard, and Lima settles for occasional ground-and-pound that is not active enough for Hatley. Barez gets away with a borderline upkick as he throws his legs up for a triangle setup, and Lima stands up and then lowers himself back down in the guard. As Barez turns, Lima scrambles to claim his back, hooking his legs around the waist while fishing for a choke. Barez twists to his side, and Lima actively pursues and eventually finds a rear-naked choke. The submission is instantly tight and partly a neck crank, a bit high on Lima’s right shoulder but gripped so tightly that Barez has no way out. Lima continues to crush on the windpipe until Barez says enough is enough and surrenders. Hatley sees the tap and breaks them apart, and Lima walks off to celebrate with his team after earning his first career submission. “Mascote” is now a perfect 11-0 as a pro, and this performance will almost certainly put him as yet another talented flyweight to watch out for going forward.

The Official Result

Andre Lima def. Daniel Barez R3 3:05 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)

Sam Hughes (116) vs. Stephanie Luciano (116)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Luciano (-238), Hughes (+195)

Round 1

The final women’s match of the evening plays out in the lightest weight category in the promotion. Calling herself “Rondinha” or “Little Ronda,” Brazil’s Luciano (6-1-1, 1-0 UFC) fights quite differently than the woman she named herself after—namely, she has never won a fight by submission. She takes on gritty Fortis MMA product Hughes (9-6, 4-5 UFC), who has alternated wins and losses in her last five outings. The two 115ers have respected referee Mark Smith in the cage with them, and they touch gloves as he watches over the proceedings. Hughes sprints forward, lobbing a leg kick and a few punches after it. Luciano fires back, and Hughes shakes her up with a one-two. As Luciano tries to dip away from strikes, Hughes follows her with a clean right hand. Luciano stands firm and dings Hughes with a pair of punches square on the nose, but “Sampage” is a woman on a mission tonight. Hughes continues plodding ever forward, throwing huge punches at her opponent. Luciano tries to keep her honest with jabs and front kicks, and she sneaks in a leg kick and her second effort is caught. Hughes lifts the leg up and dumps “Rondinha” to the mat, finding herself in an awkward position until the Brazilian explodes back to her feet. Hughes tries to muscle Luciano around against the fence, and she stifles a trip attempt and attacks with an elbow over the top. Luciano escapes from the second elbow slashing at her, and Hughes takes less than a second to reset before crashing the pocket again with a big right hand. Luciano contains her with jabs and low kicks, and when she tries a body kick again, Hughes catches it. Hughes lets it go, and Luciano jumps at her with a kick. Hughes grabs hold of a body lock and jams Luciano to the floor, and Luciano powers her way back upright without being grounded for long. Hughes goes to the body and head, and she allows Luciano to jab her so she can loop right hands over the top. Luciano gets off a one-two, and her leg kicks are starting to get Hughes’ attention. The fists of Luciano are finding their target on the beak of her adversary, marking Hughes up and making her face turn read. Luciano shrugs off a takedown try and jumps at her foe with a flying knee that does not connect. The horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Luciano
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Luciano
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Luciano

Round 2

Like the previous frame, Hughes darts out of her corner ready to engage. She leads off with straight punches that are quickly followed by hooks, and she strikes with her own low kick. This reminds Luciano of the particular strike, and she gives one back. When Hughes throws a naked leg kick, Luciano times a pair of punches over the top and steps in with a knee to the guts. Luciano pins a one-two on the chin to break up Hughes coming at her, and she pushes off the sternum with a front kick. Hughes ties her foe up, and Luciano welcomes this with a knee, a few short punches and an elbow to break. Hughes stutter-steps her way forward to catch Luciano with a right hand, and she changes levels after it to hit a clean double-leg takedown. Luciano hits her seat with her back against the wire, and Hughes steps over to the side and into full mount. “Sampage” rains down elbows until Luciano turns over, and Hughes belts her with right hands until she finds a choke is open. Hughes wraps up a brute force rear-naked choke and wrenches it with all her might, and Luciano fights the hands to defend it. Luciano pulls her toes off the fence to wall-walk and free herself from the precarious position, but not before Smith has to slap her feet a couple times—you cannot pull on the fence with any digit. Hughes remains seated comfortably in full mount, hammering the Brazilian with elbows and punches when she finds an opening. Luciano bucks and turns, only to give her back up again as Hughes is completely in control. Hughes sits up and starts pounding on “Rondinha” with right hands, doing so until Luciano turns about to lay on her back again. Hughes steps over to wrap up a partial crucifix position, and she elbows Luciano again and again as Smith watches very closely. The round ends before Hughes can get the finish she seeks.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Hughes

Round 3

It takes Hughes no more than a couple seconds to shoot in for a takedown. Luciano is able to defend it and get back up in the clinch, and she turns Hughes around and tries to turn the tables on her. Hughes pushes off, and Luciano starts throwing hands. When Hughes trades back, Luciano initiates a clinch and pushes her opponent to the wall. Hughes breaks out of it again, and she ducks into a jab. Hughes performs a jumping switch kick that lands on the solar plexus, and the two women are swinging. Luciano probes with low kicks when trying to keep her distance, but Hughes continues to walk her down and slug her in the chops. Hughes slips a pair of punches, but she walks directly into a right hand. Luciano goes to the body with her foot, and she stifles a takedown shot from the Fortis MMA fighter. They tie up against the wall, and Hughes is the aggressor while Luciano swings labored hooks. Hughes is tighter with straight strikes, while Luciano is putting a lot behind her efforts. Hughes tanks the ones that catch her on the face, and they clash heads when leaning forward. Hughes scores, Luciano responds, and Hughes kicks the lead leg and shoots in for a failed takedown. Luciano looks for a right hand only to eat a body kick, and she throws her leg back to intercept her advancing foe. Luciano steps in with a knee that is just short of the mark, and Hughes kicks her and scores a few punches. Luciano dings her with a spinning back fist, and the two trade leather right to the bell. It’s going to be a close one that could go either way, but we go the distance for the first time today.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Luciano (29-28 Luciano)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Luciano (29-28 Luciano)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Luciano (29-28 Luciano)

The Official Result

Sam Hughes def. Stephanie Luciano via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-27)

Josias Musasa (136: Missed Weight) vs. Carlos Vera (136)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Musasa (-650), Vera (+470)

Round 1

The biggest betting favorite on the lineup, Musasa (8-0, 0-0 UFC) out of the African Knockout promotion is hoping to score one of those big stoppages in his debut, having earned seven of eight wins by strikes. Vera (11-4, 0-1 UFC) has never been knocked out, but he will have to keep his chin off the gunnery range for as long as Musasa swings for the bleachers. Keeping his head on a swivel will be referee Herb Dean, who is paying close attention to the bantamweights and what comes next. No glove touch happens, and instead Musasa introduces himself with a sweeping kick. Vera fires back with a kick with a wide arc, and he works the body and legs before shooting for a takedown. When Musasa steps away, Vera somersaults to channel his inner Ryan Hall—who is his teammate—and try to take the fight down. Musasa walks away and make Vera stand up, and they chop at one another with heavy kicks. Musasa opens up with a pair of punches over the top, and Vera stomps at his foe’s knee a few times. When Musasa bears down on his foe, Vera spins with a wheel kick that smashes square into the face of “The KO Wizard,” who does not so much as flinch. Vera hits his back and motions for Musasa to come at him, but Musasa wants nothing to do with it. Vera fires off a few more kicks when upright, and Musasa catches one and slings him to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Vera again stands up, and he receives a pair of chopping leg kicks on his inner thigh. “Pequeno” comes out swinging, and he misses with his big fists while Musasa sticks him with power leg kicks. Vera tries to punches his way to a clinch, and Musasa has having none of it. While Musasa turns to the side to dodge a right hand, Vera blasts him in the face with a head kick. The debuting Musasa crumbles to the mat, and Vera knows exactly what he needs to do next. Vera leaps down to immediately assume back control, where he wraps up the body triangle and instantly snatches up a rear-naked choke. Still trying to shake off the cobwebs, Musasa successfully fights the hands well enough to stop the submission from choking him out. Vera calmly adjusts his grip and allows Musasa to twist and buck, and he fastens the submission completely under the chin. After a few seconds, Musasa knows his goose is cooked and taps out. Ever the sportsman, Vera releases the grip immediately before Dean even gets to them. This is a big win for Vera, who springs the major betting upset while knocking Musasa out of the list of undefeated fighters.

The Official Result

Carlos Vera def. Josias Musasa R1 3:16 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)

A.J. Cunningham (136) vs. Su Young You (136)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: You (-625), Cunningham (+455)

Round 1

A pair of well-rounded bantamweights keep the prelims moving forward. South Korea’s You (14-3, 2 NC; 1-0 UFC) made his way to the promotion with the third season of Road to UFC, while “The Savage” Cunningham (11-4, 0-1 UFC) failed to claim a roster spot in 2023 only to win on the regionals and get a callup one fight later. The third man in the Octagon will be referee Chris Tognoni, who claps the fighters in as they touch ‘em up. You, in the center of the cage, measures from a great distance, while Cunningham stretches out his arms and feet to see how far away they stand. Over 40 seconds of that plays out in the cage until someone throws a strike, in the form of a low kick from You. The South Korean circles away, allowing Cunningham to slowly crowd him and toss out his own leg kick. You times a right hand over the top and follows with a left, leaning back to dodge the counter and sitting down on a subsequent body kick. Cunningham thumps the front leg with a kick, and he fires off another but gets caught with an overhand right that stumbles him. Cunningham blinks it out and remains chasing after his foe, kicking him in the ribs and chaining two punches together after it. You replies with a leg kick, and he chops the other side of the leg before shooting for a picture-perfect double. You elevates his opponent and deposits him ever-so-gingerly to the mat, where he lands in half guard while Cunningham actively scrambles. You pushes Cunningham flat to his back, and he assumes control in the guard. Cunningham tosses his legs up in pursuit of a possible triangle, and You tosses his legs aside and gets back on top. Cunningham wall-walks to get to his feet, and You throws him down with a single-leg takedown despite Cunningham grabbing the cage and earning a loud warning from Tognoni. Cunningham escapes from mount by bucking wildly, and You climbs back into half guard, where he prefers control over submission or offense. Cunningham sits up and gives his back up, and You holds on from behind and drags him to the floor again. Cunningham stands once more, leaning on the wire until time expires.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 You
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 You
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 You

Round 2

The 135ers get back to it with a glove touch, and then more measuring. Just like the last round, Cunningham is looking for how to get in on his grappling-heavy opponent. He manages to touch You with a few rangy punches, and he wraps his foot up and around You’s shoulder. The two get up close and personal, and it is Cunningham who shoves them away. You tries to clinch again, and Cunningham once more pushes off. You kicks the body, and he loads up on a right hand that he uses to close the distance. Cunningham keeps his safe distance and walks straight into a blistering right hand that stands him up and flattens his nose. You does not capitalize on it, and instead Cunningham is able to shake it out and spin with a wheel kick. Cunningham tries a head kick and falls over, and You cannot take advantage of the slip. Instead, it is Cunningham again who advances and throws, and You counters with looping power shots. Cunningham sits down on a right hand and fights off a single until he is wrestled to his seat, only to burst his way back upright. The second attempt allows the South Korean to put Cunningham on his back, where he assumes half guard immediately. Cunningham maintains a butterfly guard to try to get back to a better position, and he even flirts with rubber guard while stuck pinned to the floor. From out of nowhere, Cunningham wraps up a triangle choke, and You leans and starts hammerfisting his opponent. Cunningham elbows You on the top of a head a few times, which actually squirts You’s head out of the legs locked. A second try from Cunningham does not result in anything other than getting punched in the face, and blood leaks from his visage. You rides the round out until the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 You
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 You
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 You

Round 3

The fighters touch gloves to initiate the final frame, and Cunningham sticks out his jab while chasing You around the Octagon. Cunningham strikes first with a low kick, and they parry half-hearted punches until Cunningham tries to spin for a back kick that is shut down before the kick is thrown. Cunningham continues working his way forward, looking for a right hook over the top and ultimately clashing together as the two keep moving. Cunningham’s uppercut comes up short, and You’s own striking offense has fallen off a cliff. It does not matter, as his takedown is able to easily ground “The Savage” and take away his best weapons. You wraps up Cunningham’s legs between his own to further nullify Cunningham, until he steps over to half guard. You considers an arm-triangle choke from the wrong side, and he adjusts perfectly to step into mount and lean on the side. As You squeezes down with the submission, Cunningham’s head turns a bright shade of crimson. Cunningham is able to survive the maneuver thanks to the cage at his side. You repositions himself to mount, and as he does, Cunningham scrambles and temporarily gets hold of an omoplata shoulder lock. The South Korean wants nothing to do with that, bowling Cunningham over once more until the fight comes to a conclusion.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 You (30-27 You)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 You (30-27 You)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 You (30-27 You)

The Official Result

Su Young You def. A.J. Cunningham via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Waldo Cortes-Acosta (261.5) vs. Ryan Spann (249)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cortes-Acosta (-166), Spann (+140)

Round 1

The preliminaries conclude with a heavyweight match that could provide a new contender when the dust settles. Cortes-Acosta (12-1, 5-1 UFC) has won five of six as a full-framed heavyweight, and his opponent Spann (22-10, 8-5 UFC) is introducing himself to the weight class by no longer cutting weight. The ex-205er weighed 249 pounds, so he will be adequately sized as he also stands an inch taller. Referee Mark Smith will be minding his P’s and Q’s as the big men throw down, and he stands by as they clap hands first. Spann strikes first with a heavy leg kick, and Smith tells the heavyweights to watch their extended fingers. Cortes-Acosta responds with his own low kick, but Spann’s has much more behind it. Cortes-Acosta whiffs on a left hook, and a big overhand right of his bangs into Spann’s raised guard. Spann kicks high and is blocked, and he kicks low but is not. Cortes-Acosta wades in with winging punches, and Spann is well out of harm’s way in time. Spann hammers the front leg with a kick, and he counters one coming his way with a thudding overhand right that stuns the man from Dominican Republic. Cortes-Acosta leans forward and the two clash heads, and Smith calls time to make sure no damage resulted from it. He resumes them, and the fighters trade punches. Cortes-Acosta catches Spann on the temple with a blistering right hand, and he uses his weight to drag Spann to the fence. Spann breaks free and plunks Cortes-Acosta with an overhand right, but Cortes-Acosta’s uppercut shakes him up again. Both men swing their fists from down beneath their hips, getting full torque into it. They both lash out with low kicks, and Cortes-Acosta checks it and draws a funny reaction from his opponent. Spann comes up short with a front kick, and Cortes-Acosta chews up his front leg with another kick. Spann goes to the body with his front kick, and Cortes-Acosta winds up with bad intentions looping his haymakers at the former light heavyweight. They clinch up, and Cortes-Acosta drives punches into Spann until Spann breaks away and launches some of his own. Spann gets off a low kick and slips out of the way from “Salsa Boy,” and Cortes-Acosta measures his man with a jab and a right hand that hurts Spann again. Cortes-Acosta’s forward momentum results in a tie-up, using his higher weight to toss Spann to his back. Spann tries to upkick him in the legs a few times until the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cortes-Acosta
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cortes-Acosta
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cortes-Acosta

Round 2

The fighters lead off with a brief glove touch, and Spann is quick to fight behind his jab. Cortes-Acosta snaps his head back with a straight right hand, and he is met with a front kick to the belly. Cortes-Acosta jabs his man in the belly, but the fist goes low and bangs into Spann’s cup. Smith calls time, and Spann drops to his knees and takes a little under a minute to recover. They resume, and Cortes-Acosta flashes out his jab as Spann does the same. Cortes-Acosta scores a left and a right, and Spann indicates he was poked in the eye. Smith again pauses the action and checks the replay, and they get back to it after a few seconds. Spann jams the body with a kick, and he wings a huge right hand that Cortes-Acosta rolls with. Spann whiffs on another, and a third is met with a sharp jab from his foe. Spann is irritated about getting poked in the eye, and Smith issues a loud warning to Cortes-Acosta. Spann overthrows his punches, and the Dominican is beating him to the punch and clips the Fortis MMA fighter with his overhand right. Cortes-Acosta kicks the inner thigh, and the strike pounds square into his cup. Smith sighs heavily and calls time one more time. Spann crouches down and is not a happy camper after receiving these fouls, and Smith issues a final warning to Cortes-Acosta to keep things clean. The Texan takes more time than before to get his wind back, with Cortes-Acosta getting away with multiple fouls without a point deduction. The fighters get back to business after another 90-second break, and Spann returns to fighting behind his jab. Spann rifles off a calf kick, and Cortes-Acosta lands a powerful right hand across the forward bow. “Superman” dodges a check left hook but is unable to get away from the jab, and Cortes-Acosta loads up on his overhand right and sways the right direction to avoid one coming his direction. Cortes-Acosta prods with a jab until Spann bears down on him, and he uses the jab again to keep Spann honest. A one-two from Spann does not find its target, and he dances away from a similar pair of blows. Cortes-Acosta’s head movement and footwork keeps him safe, and he clubs Spann in the side of the dome. Spann spins with a back kick, and he shoots for a double that is met with 262 pounds of meat and several punches on the side of the head. Spann explodes back to his feet, and Cortes-Acosta is on him clubbing him with fists. Spann swings back, still in trouble, and Cortes-Acosta sticks him with a jab and follows with a short left hook that levels Spann. When “Superman” hits the ground, Smith is already racing in towards the fighters, only to allow a few more punctuating hammerfists and punches to briefly shut Spann’s lights out. Smith gets between them and allows Cortes-Acosta to reposition his foe’s legs who are tangled up with his, and Cortes-Acosta walks off to celebrate his handiwork. The ranked heavyweight calls for fights against either Tai Tuivasa or Derrick Lewis, and both are within his reach given his success in the division thus far.

The Official Result

Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Ryan Spann R2 4:48 via TKO (Punches)

Seung Woo Choi (146) vs. Kevin Vallejos (145.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Vallejos (-520), Choi (+390)

Round 1

Fighters from South Korea will try to end the night victorious when “Sting” Choi (11-7, 4-6 UFC) steps up to the plate. He will receive the honor of welcoming Argentinian gunslinger Vallejos (14-1, 0-0 UFC) to the promotion, having won his last five outings by stoppage. Referee Kerry Hatley will keep things on the up-and-up for as long as this featherweight clash lasts. The bout begins with a glove touch, and the longer Choi backs off to see if he can hit his foe with a lengthy leg kick. He can. Vallejos tries to bear down on him, only for Choi to keep him at bay with several more kicks. Vallejos surges forward with his overhand right flying, and Choi moves just in the nick of time. Choi misses with a high kick as the two keep looking for offense but not catching one another. When Vallejos advances, he gets clipped with a short right. Choi keeps his back to the cage throwing kicks, and Vallejos dings him with a right hand. Choi shakes it off, and Vallejos knows he has his man on the ropes and ducks a big right hand to wind up with another powerful punch. The timing is absolutely perfect, as Vallejos sends Choi flying with his monstrous right hand. Choi collapses on his side, and Vallejos leaps on top of him to drum him out with a stream of punches. Hatley asks Choi to fight back, and when he sees the South Korean is no longer intelligently defending himself, he calls a halt to the contest. Still full of energy, “El Chino” walks to the center of the cage and nails a back flip. Fellow Argentinian Ailin Perez throws a flag from their home country to the victor, who parades it around the cage, amped up from his first UFC win. It was a big one. Unfortunately for him, officials take his flag away after his display for some reason, even though the UFC had reapproved the use of flags again in the Octagon.

The Official Result

Kevin Vallejos def. Seung Woo Choi R1 3:09 via TKO (Punches)

Diyar Nurgozhay (210.5: Missed Weight) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (205.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Nurgozhay (-355), Ribeiro (+280)

Round 1

It’s all violence as two finish-first light heavyweights collide with hopes of making waves in the wide-open division. Nurgozhay (10-0, 0-0 UFC) blew the division’s limit by nearly five pounds and gives up 25% of his purse, not making the most of a first impression thus far. “The Gorilla” Ribeiro (16-7, 1 NC; 1-2 UFC) stands in his way, and with a finish rate of 94%, referee Herb Dean is primed to step in at a moment’s notice if need be. The fighters meander towards another without a glove touch in sight, and Ribeiro starts off with a couple of inside leg kicks. Nurgozhay returns fire with a body kick that brushes the cup of the Brazilian, who adjusts it without a stoppage. Ribeiro kicks high, and Nurgozhay responds with a body kick. Nurgozhay sits down on a left hook, and he blocks a head kick that flies at him. The two continue reaching one another with kicks, and Ribeiro follows one with a one-two up top. Nurgozhay puts a left hand on the ribs before backing off, and he jams a kick on the same spot. When Ribeiro fires off a body kick, Nurgozhay tries to time a counter and misses by a matter of inches. Nurgozhay then doubles up on a body kick, and he ignores a few low kicks that are starting to add up. Nurgozhay scores two of his own before having to back up and reset, and when he does, Ribeiro times a jab and a fierce right hand to send Nurgozhay careening to the mat. Ribeiro allows his opponent to get back up, and he measure the right hand a few more times and has Nurgozhay on his bike retreating. Nurgozhay stands firm suddenly and goes to the body with a right hand, and he spins with a back kick to keep things flowing. Ribeiro slips a haymaker to miss one of his own, and he pounds the body with a kick. Nurgozhay times a ducking Ribeiro with a high kick, and the two start trading up close and personal. Ribeiro ducks a back fist to get hold of a leg, and the horn sounds before he can trip Nurgozhay up.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ribeiro
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ribeiro
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ribeiro

Round 2

Nurgozhay claims the center of the cage to start the round off with a one-two to the body, and he has a body kick follow it. They both throw kicks at the same time, and Ribeiro chips at the front leg with three kicks. Nurgozhay runs forward and tackles the Brazilian to the floor, and he hits a quick mat return when Ribeiro stands. Nurgozhay hangs on from behind while both men are on their knees, and he uses his increased weight to push Ribeiro to his back. “The Gorilla” latches onto a kimura from his back that he uses to sweep his adversary, and rather than let it go to take top control, he continues cranking it with all his might. The limb twists dangerously behind the back, shoulder very nearly out of its socket, and Nurgozhay quickly surrenders. This is a crucial victory for the Brazilian, who notches his first submission win since 2021 and takes away the zero from Nurgozhay’s ledger. This kimura stands as the first in the Octagon since 2023, when Sean Brady tapped Kelvin Gastelum. Nurgozhay gets up, not permanently damaged but quite upset with himself, shaking his head again and again. Ribeiro drops to his knees and points to the sky, and stands up to gyrate his hips in celebration.

The Official Result

Brendson Ribeiro def. Diyar Nurgozhay R2 1:28 via Submission (Kimura)

Da'Mon Blackshear (136) vs. Cody Gibson (136)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Blackshear (-455), Gibson (+350)

Round 1

Despite their middling records with the promotion, the UFC elected to slot this bantamweight tilt between Blackshear (15-7-1, 3-3-1 UFC) and Gibson (21-10, 3-5 UFC) over names like Spann…and others. Grappling could be the difference maker in this contest, and it commences without the fighters touching gloves. Referee Chris Tognoni stands back and stands by. Gibson loads up on a big right hand to start up, and when it is blocked, Blackshear responds in kind. Blackshear surges forward with body shots and a power right hand, and Gibson replies with an identical flurry that knocks Blackshear to the fencing. Gibson looks for a level change, energetically attacking a single and lifting Blackshear’s leg up. Blackshear frees himself, and Gibson marches him down and pummels him in the ribs several times. Blackshear turtles up, perhaps still compromised from body blows, and Gibson is on him not giving him a moment to breathe. Gibson drills Blackshear with a few more body shots and drops down in pursuit of a double. Blackshear defends with a guillotine choke, using the stalling time to recover. Gibson drives a few knees to the body before breaking off, and he plods forward whipping a kick to the lead leg. When Blackshear scores as left hand, Gibson is in his face with a combination. Blackshear backs him away with a few kicks, and simultaneous kicks results in both men toppling to the mat. They spring back up, and Gibson stabs out a jab and shoots for a single. Blackshear backs to the wall and grips a guillotine choke, pulling guard for it but not completing it. Gibson adjusts himself and lowers Blackshear all the way to the floor, and Blackshear fastens his arm around the chin but does not appear to be threatening in this position. Gibson stays calm in the position, and when he sits up, Blackshear transitions to a power guillotine where he imposes his body weight. Blackshear releases the sub to take side control, and Gibson throws his legs up and briefly snares Blackshear in an inverted triangle choke. Blackshear fights out of it and isolates an arm, and he abandons it to wrap up a brabo choke in a north-south position. Gibson hand-fights well enough to defend the efforts, and he retaliates with an armbar that surprises Blackshear but does not get him. The spirited round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gibson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gibson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gibson

Round 2

Replays show that right at the tail end of the round, Blackshear rips a nasty elbow that opened a cut on Gibson’s face. The two get back to business, and Blackshear is immediately giving chase with leaping strikes. Gibson walks into a right hand and is stunned, and Blackshear keeps swinging with bad intentions. Gibson throws back, working the body until he tries to hit a takedown, and Blackshear shuts it down and pushes him away. Gibson strings four punches together, wrapping them around the guard and punctuating the combo with a slapping leg kick. Blackshear fakes a kick and slashes an elbow up top, and Gibson steps in with his fists flying. The two engage in a clinch battle where they slug another with uppercuts, and Gibson gets tired of punching and scoops “Da Monster” up and dumps him to the mat. Blackshear keeps his back to the wire, and he hits a switch to flip Gibson to his back. Blackshear finds himself in side control, keeping tightly pressed to “The Renegade” having opened Gibson up again. Blackshear isolates Gibson’s right arm, and he elbows Gibson in the thigh several times with the sharp part of his elbow. Gripping the two-on-one wrist lock, Blackshear alternates between trying to pull on that arm and elbowing his opponent wherever he can. Blackshear grinds the elbow on Gibson’s increasingly bloodied face, and he stays heavy to disallow Gibson from any bucking or twisting. Blackshear hooks Gibson’s left arm between his legs and traps his foe’s right arm under him as well to set up a crucifix position, where he hammers the California native with elbows. Blackshear finds the kimura again, and he grabs it while seated on top of Gibson’s face in a dominating move. The new Kill Cliff FC convert cranks the limb behind Gibson’s back, giving it all he has until Gibson has no choice but to say “Matte” and tap out. Remarkable! Back-to-back kimura wins in the Octagon is definitely a rarity in company history, and it will be interesting to determine how many times this has ever happened in UFC history. Blackshear lifts his UFC record above .500 while giving “The Renegade” something to be disappointed about.

The Official Result

Da'Mon Blackshear def. Cody Gibson R2 4:09 via Submission (Kimura)

Alexander Hernandez (156) vs. Kurt Holobaugh (155.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Hernandez (-192), Holobaugh (+160)

Round 1

Must-win fights are the name of the game at this UFC Vegas 104 card, as formerly highly touted prospect Hernandez (15-8, 7-7 UFC) has fallen on hard times as of late, winner of just two of his last six. Meanwhile, Holobaugh (21-8, 1 NC; 2-5 UFC) is on his third run in the Octagon, and this stint is more successful than others in the past as he has won a few times. Referee Kerry Hatley will take charge of the lightweights in this next match, and they start things off by bumping fists. Both men let their legs fly, smacking one another with heavy low kicks to start off. Holobaugh jabs to the body and follows with a high kick that bangs into Hernandez’ chest, and the Texan parries another advance from Holobaugh. Hernandez stands his man up with a left hand, and he slides away from any counter. Kicks on the inside and outside of Holobaugh’s leg land, and he surges into action, swarming forward with punches that catch Hernandez on the chin. They bang heads briefly, and before Hatley can say something, Hernandez stops and asks if Holobaugh is alright. They get right back to it, chasing one another around with powerful punch combinations. Holobaugh sneaks in a body kick, and Hernandez responds in kind. This happens again, just with Hernandez striking first. The lightweights take turns engaging, and they continue mirroring one another with their exchanges. One lands, the other gives him something back to think about, and the series carries on. Hernandez comes out swinging with big fists, and Holobaugh slips them and tries to do the same. When Hernandez has his gloves bang into Holobaugh’s, Holobaugh retaliates with a clubbing right hand behind the ear and floors Hernandez with another right hand. Hernandez springs right back up and sits down on a left hand that momentarily stuns his opponent. Hernandez uses his jab to set up strikes, pumping it and putting at least one or two behind it. Holobaugh is just as active, racing at Hernandez and getting met with a takedown attempt. Holobaugh considers grabbing the cage, but he instead sets up a guillotine choke and hits the ground on his back. He continues squeezing the submission, and Hernandez signals a thumbs-up before the bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holobaugh
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holobaugh
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holobaugh

Round 2

Holobaugh has a fire lit under his belly between rounds, and he channels that by marching Hernandez down and throwing everything he can at him. Punches, knees, elbows and even a spinning wheel kick come from “The Hurt,” who is putting the hurt on Hernandez in the early going. Hernandez is tough as a two-dollar steak, and he fires back at his constantly advancing foe. Hernandez chops at the lead leg a few times, and Holobaugh has to change stances because of it. This does not slow Holobaugh, who instead plods forward throwing hands. Hernandez catches him with a right hand, and Holobaugh drills him with his own overhand right that staggers the Texan. Hernandez uses the wall behind him to gather his bearings, and he pushes off of it and re-engages. He only lands a few strikes before Holobaugh is back to imposing his volume and will on his quickly bloodied opponent. Holobaugh checks a kick and meets Hernandez with a right hand, and Hernandez sits in the pocket trying to trade back. When Holobaugh overswings with a right hook, Hernandez takes the wind out of his sails by nailing a perfect double-leg takedown. Hernandez keeps Holobaugh on his back, working with ground strikes while Holobaugh rolls for an armbar. Hernandez is having none of it, staying as heavy as he can while drumming him with several left hands. Holobaugh sells out for the armbar, and he does not have the right grip so Hernandez is in no danger. “The Great Ape” hammers Holobaugh with several big punches, mixing between smothering top control and fierce offense. The round ends with Hernandez hacking at his foe with elbows.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holobaugh
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holobaugh
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holobaugh

Round 3

There is one last clap of hands for the lightweights to engage, and Hernandez immediately shoots in for a double and plants Holobaugh on his back. Hernandez moves to side control, and Holobaugh scrambles and sits up. Hernandez drags him down from behind, and he reasserts himself in half guard while isolating an arm-triangle choke. When Holobaugh scrambles, Hernandez is able to jump on top of him and claim full mount for a second before getting pulled back to half guard again. Holobaugh’s scrambles nearly result in him getting caught in an arm-triangle, and Hernandez is a 155-pound lead weight on his chest. Hernandez has his leg wrapped around Holobaugh’s, and when he moves it, Holobaugh explodes back to his feet. It is now punching time, as Holobaugh wants to slug his foe in the chops. Hernandez looks for the takedown that does not come, and Holobaugh marches him down loaded for bear. Hernandez ducks a punch and hits a crucial double, and he lands in half guard and quickly wraps up a head-and-arm choke. Holobaugh is not overly concerned, with Hernandez not able to get leverage on the other side to lock it down. Holobaugh grabs hold of a kimura—could we see a third in consecutive fights?—but it is not there. Hernandez frees his limb and opens up with torrid offense from up top, laying into “The Hurt” with everything he has left. The two go the distance, and the second round may be the one to decide the victor.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez (29-28 Holobaugh)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez (29-28 Holobaugh)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez (29-28 Holobaugh)

The Official Result

Alexander Hernandez def. Kurt Holobaugh via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (171) vs. Chidi Njokuani (172.25: Missed Weight)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Zaleski dos Santos (-185), Njokuani (+154)

Round 1

A striker’s delight should entertain the masses in the co-main event, one with extremely low stakes in the division but somewhat high from entertainment and violence perspectives. Brawler Njokuani (24-10, 1 NC; 4-3 UFC) takes on spinning whiz kid—although he is 38 years of age—Zaleski dos Santos (25-8-1, 11-4-1 UFC). Steeling himself for what is about to come, referee Mark Smith stands stoically in the Octagon. The 173-pound catchweight contest, one only that weight because Njokuani exceeded the divisional cap by a pound and a half, commences with a fist bump. Zaleski dos Santos lands first in the form of a leg kick, and Njokuani probes back with two kicks, one low and one to the sternum. Njokuani keeps flicking kicks forward, mixing up teep kicks with those to the front calf. Zaleski dos Santos is ready for them, blocking and parrying most of them but still taking some early shots. Zaleski dos Santos’ low kicks are out of range thanks to the rangy Njokuani, whose utility of a stabbing front kick is already flustering the Brazilian. When they throw front kicks at the same time, Njokuani’s foot collides with Zaleski dos Santos’ cup, and Smith calls time. Zaleski dos Santos takes 15 seconds for the inadvertent foul, and they return to kicking one another. Njokuani uses his push kick as a jab, repeatedly planting it anywhere he can land it. Zaleski dos Santos slips a kick and lets loose a right hand, stunning “Chidi Chidi Bang Bang” but not putting him down. Zaleski dos Santos races forward and considers taking the fight down, but it is Njokuani who bowls him over. Neither man interested in the grappling, they bail on the horizontal position and get back to kickboxing range. Njokuani jabs with his front kick, and Zaleski dos Santos catches it and looks for a takedown. As Njokuani tries to kick off with his other leg, he topples over, and Zaleski dos Santos presses him against the fencing. Njokuani keeps his balance with the fence at his back, and he pushes off and slaps Zaleski dos Santos in the face with his foot. Njokuani kicks low and jabs high, and he leans back to watch a high kick fly by. The round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Njokuani
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Njokuani
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Njokuani

Round 2

A fist bump precedes the action in the round, and kicks fly from both sides right after. Zaleski dos Santos gets up close and scores a big right hand, only for Njokuani to back off and smack the Brazilian in the face with the instep of his foot. Zaleski dos Santos tries for a takedown, and the tall man shuts him down and forces him to retreat with a steady diet of kicks. Zaleski dos Santos ducks squarely into a head kick without batting an eye, and he gets back to it by rushing forward with his fists flying. Njokuani pushes off, and a finger slides into his foe’s eye socket to force a brief stoppage. The Brazilian takes 30 seconds to blink it out, and the fighters touch gloves. Zaleski dos Santos comes out swinging, but his fists hit nothing but air. Njokuani peppers his front leg with kicks until he uses it to strike the head and then body. Nowhere is safe for Zaleski dos Santos when he is in this distant range, as his own kicks do not always land and his punches are out of range. When Zaleski dos Santos rushes him, Njokuani times a magnificent knee that smashes the CM System fighter right on the chin. Zaleski dos Santos hits the ground and balls up, and Njokuani leaps on top of him and assaults him with a barrage of elbows including some of the newly legal 12-6 variety. The strikes from “Chidi Chidi Bang Bang” continue raining down until Smith has seen enough, and just like that, Njokuani has performed his first knockout since 2022. Meanwhile, he is the second fighter to ever stop the durable “Capoeira,” with the first Jingliang Li in 2019.

The Official Result

Chidi Njokuani def. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos R2 2:19 via TKO (Knee and Elbows)

Marvin Vettori (186) vs. Roman Dolidze (186)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Vettori (-166), Dolidze (+140)

Round 1

In 2023, Vettori (19-7-1, 9-5-1 UFC) and Dolidze (14-3, 8-3 UFC) tangled in a main card match on UFC 286. The former ended up getting his hand raised on the scorecards, and for some reason, the promotion is running back this middleweight entanglement. Rather than a three-rounder, these two get five rounds to stretch out and ply their respective trades. Before Vettori gets to the cage, he remembers that he did not put on a groin cup. Vettori has to go back to the locker room to get it, resulting in an extremely awkward wait. Absent-minded or mind games, you be the judge. When they both take the cage, referee Herb Dean calls the fighters to the center of the cage to issue final instructions and elicit a fist bump, and the competitors oblige. It’s on with the show. Vettori on the outside measures his jab, and Dolidze returns fire with an axe kick that is well out of range. Dolidze reaches out with his right hand, and Vettori protects himself from it and gets off a low kick. Vettori goes to the front leg a few more times, and he checks one coming back his way. Dolidze rings his bell with a punch combo, as Vettori nods at his opponent after absorbing the blows. Vettori kicks twice low and then high with his foot, and Dolidze drives him back with a right hand. The two lean in and bang their heads together, and Dean sees it immediately and calls time. They take the necessary seconds to shake anything off and return to their distant striking engagement. Dolidze loads up on a big right that bangs into the raised guard, and he has a second come up just short. Vettori jabs and moves, but he does eat a right hand on the temple. Dolidze hammers home a low kick, and the two appear to clash heads again but there is no pause this time. Vettori uses low kicks to keep distance, while Dolidze is all firepower throwing big punches that cause him to slide off-balance. Vettori slips in and out with a sharp left hand, and Dolidze nods at him and swings back violently. Another axe kick from the Georgian goes wide, and Vettori splits the guard with a jab and a one-two. Dolidze responds with a short punch combination, and he sticks out a front kick for good measure. The Italian sneaks in a punch, but his leg kick gets checked as Dolidze smiles. Dolidze marches forward with a right hand, spinning through it with an elbow that brushes past his opponent. They trade kicks to the kneecap, and Dolidze races after him swinging for the fences. Vettori slides out of the way and clips Dolidze with a short right hook. Dolidze shrugs it off and loads up on his right hand, and Vettori is wise to it and a second that follows. Dolidze launches a head kick, and Vettori shoulder-rolls it to keep himself safe. Dolidze considers a level change, but Vettori no-sells it and gets back to boxing distance. The horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vettori

Round 2

Before the round begins, Dean goes over to Dolidze to inform him that he needs to stop pointing his fingers towards his opponent. Dolidze acknowledges him, and the round commences. When Dolidze darts forward, Vettori is out of the way safely. As Vettori slides in and out of range, Dolidze connects at the end of a right hand. Dolidze then pushes off and his thumb jams into Vettori’s eye, and Dean heavily sighs and calls time. There is no point deduction despite the stern warning seconds ago, with the rules more guidelines than anything. Vettori clears his eye quickly, and he wants to make Dolidze pay. They both crack one another with heavy right hands, and Dolidze’s face sports a wry grin. Dolidze tries again to spin for a strike, and this time Vettori closes the distance to shut him down. A third spinning back elbow from the Georgian ricochets off the guard, and they both reset. Both fighters crash together, and Dolidze gets the better of it with a clean right hand. Dolidze plants the ball of his foot on the torso, and he comes up short with his axe kick. Dolidze slaps the calf a few times with the instep of his foot, and Vettori swings with one heavier and wades out of danger as Dolidze fires off a front kick. A Vettori head kick is blocked, and he charges in but does not catch his man with anything. Dolidze kicks low, and Vettori throws high. Dean issues Dolidze another warning for his outstretched fingers, and they leap towards one another to engage and then back off after doing what they want to do. This fight is playing out almost exactly like their first bout a few years ago, with Vettori slipping in and out with more accurate strikes while Dolidze leans on power that occasionally connects. Dolidze gets off a leg kick, and Vettori strides forward and puts a one-two on the chest. A flurry from both men wraps up the round.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze

Round 3

Vettori leads off with his jab, and Dolidze reaches him with a big right hand and swings wide with a left. Vettori kicks his foe in the ribs, and Dolidze eventually pays him back with a similar strike. Vettori tries to sweep the leg, and he has his nose bloodied with a powerful strike. This angers him, and he unloads a fierce combination of fists that sends Dolidze squirrely. Dolidze stumbles, bumbles and fumbles his way towards the fence, and Vettori gives chase and starts pounding on him. The Georgian somehow manages to gather his thought and respond with a big right hand, winging it hard enough to make Vettori think twice about advancing without care. Vettori sticks his foe with a jab and follows with a left, and he shimmies out of the way when Dolidze tries to load up on him. One good right hand comes in from Dolidze, who follows with two head kicks that are blocked. The body kick that follows is much heavier and is not guarded against, prompting Vettori to press the action with a long left. Dolidze goes to the body with a pair of front kicks, and he takes a heavy kick to his calf. Dolidze pushes out a straight right hand down the pipe, and Vettori leans back to dodge the subsequent heavy left. Dolidze connects with a hefty leg kick that makes Vettori both smile and limp. Vettori ducks away from looping punches, seeing the fastballs aimed his way. The leg kicks are much more effective from the Georgian, who raps one off the lead leg and pursues a takedown. Vettori shrugs, not getting taken down, and the horn blares.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vettori

Round 4

With the championship rounds reached, both fighters consider touching gloves but abandon it. Instead, it is Dolidze pressing the pace, loading up on power shots but largely missing the mark. Dolidze times a knee when Vettori ducks, and he beans the Italian with a destructive right hand that cuts him. Dolidze sees the blood leaking and grows in confidence, walking his adversary down and keeping his right hand cocked back ready for attack. Vettori peppers him from a distance as he shakes out the cobwebs, using his jab to keep Dolidze away. Dolidze swarms with three hooks, and the first lands while the other two hit air. Vettori slams his shin on the lead leg of his opponent, and Dolidze lobs bombs that whiz past the Italian’s face. When Dolidze uses a front kick to close in and swipe out a right hand, Vettori skips away and prods him with his jab. Vettori’s strikes are appearing more labored, and his movement is less quick, as Dolidze is able to trap him for a second to string several mighty punches together that splits open a cut on the bridge of Vettori’s nose. Vettori tries to strike back, and he walks straight into a spinning back elbow that lands on his neck. Both fighters smile after the strike lands, and Vettori comes at him with a one two and nods. Dolidze nods back. Dolidze tries an awkwardly angled leg kick, and Vettori laughs at him. The Georgian points to the ground to initiate a brawl, and then pitches out an axe kick that is leagues away from his intended target. Dolidze gets in a front kick, and Vettori clips him behind the ear. Both men score at the end of their punches in an exchange, and Dolidze snaps Vettori’s head back with a right. Dolidze unleashes another heavy right hand, and Vettori runs at him fists flying and connects with a thudding left at the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze

Round 5

The combatants are so ready to get back to it, they start before the cage door is closed. Dean makes sure it gets shut first, and then lets the middleweights go after it. They proceed to brawl, with Dolidze landing flush and Vettori finally standing in the pocket and banging right back. Dolidze has a front kick slide off the cup, and Dean does not see it and tells them to keep going. Dolidze lets loose a hard right hand, knocking the Italian back and away from counters. Vettori drives a knee to the chin, and Dolidze bites down on his mouthpiece and slings wild hooks. Vettori keeps himself safe from most of them and bounces off the fence, only to be met with a front kick from either leg. The Georgian wraps a kick around the guard, and Vettori’s lunges are doing some serious damage to his foe’s face. Dolidze’s eye is swollen and bloodied, and he pays it no mind as he just wants to punch Vettori in the face. Lucky for him, Vettori wants to the same to Dolidze. They punch each other in the face. Again. And again. Dolidze mixes things up with a few front kicks, and one goes low and has Dean call time this time around. Vettori groans and takes about 20 seconds before being ready to go for broke. Dolidze kicks high three times, left, right and left, and he zips a fourth up that manages to get through the guard. Dolidze drills his man on the nose with a knee, and Vettori shakes his head at him. Dolidze’s kicks are the most effective weapons thus far, and as Dolidze kicks high and pushes off, Vettori claims he was poked in the eye again. It is not called, and Dolidze bears down on the Italian swinging with sheer power. Dolidze doubles up on head kicks, and even though it hits the guard, it still knocks him back a step. Another zooming head kick buzzes the tower, and they crash together with fists flying for one last engagement. Dolidze spins for a final elbow, and the match concludes. This rematch will likely lean towards the man who lost the first fight, setting up the UFC for a super-duper rubber match in the future. If they fight a third time, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze (48-47 Dolidze)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze (48-47 Dolidze)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze (48-47 Dolidze)

The Official Result

Roman Dolidze def. Marvin Vettori via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)