Tag: UFC Fight Night 197

Joel Alvarez unleashes striking clinic to tear through Thiago Moises

Joel Alvarez put on a clinic at UFC Fight Night 197 on Saturday and may have inserted himself into the lightweight contenders picture.

[autotag]Joel Alvarez[/autotag] put on a clinic at UFC Fight Night 197 on Saturday and may have inserted himself right into the lightweight contenders picture.

Alvarez (19-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) made it look relatively easy against [autotag]Thiago Moises[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 4-4 UFC) with a TKO at the 3:01 mark of the opening round. The only downside at all for Alvarez in the win was that he came in heavy for the fight, making him ineligible for a post-fight bonus award.

Alvarez used every bit of his standup arsenal against Moises – punches, kicks, knees and elbows. With Moises backed up against the fence, Alvarez kept the pressure on and with elbows unleashed, he soon had a standing TKO.

“I’ve always said I was a striker. I’m here to strike. I can do it,” Alvarez said in his post-fight interview. “It doesn’t matter (who I fight next). I want to be top 15 in the (division). I’ll take any of them.”

Alvarez has four straight wins after a decision loss in his UFC debut in February 2019, and all four of the wins have been by stoppage. The past three have been in the first round.

UFC Fight Night 197 took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streamed on ESPN+.

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UFC Fight Night 197 results: Andrea Lee outpaces Cynthia Calvillo leading to second-round corner stoppage TKO

Andrea Lee picked up a corner stoppage TKO over Cynthia Calvillo on Saturday.

[autotag]Andrea Lee[/autotag] was too much for Cynthia Calvillo to handle on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 197.

From the moment the fight began, the two flyweight fighters went at it with high striking volume. Both Lee (13-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) and Calvillo (9-4-1 MMA, 6-4-1 UFC) landed often in the opening round, making for an exciting five minutes of action on the prelims at the UFC Apex.

Throughout the second round, Lee’s precision began to take control of the fight as she started to pull away offensively. The longer fighter was able to work behind her jab and keep Calvillo just out of range, which led to accumulating damage to the face of Calvillo.

At the conclusion of the second round, the swelling around Calvillo’s right eye was apparent. After assessing the damage between rounds, the stoppage would come as Calvillo’s corner asked referee Mark Smith to call a stop to the contest.

“One of us had to take an ‘L’, and I just didn’t want it to be me,” Lee said during her post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. She also showed concern for Calvillo’s injuries, wishing that nothing serious occurred.

Lee makes it two straight wins with Saturday’s performance, which followed her second-round submission finish of Antonina Shevchenko at UFC 262 in May.

Up-to-the-minute results of UFC Fight Night 197 include:

  • Andrea Lee def. Cynthia Calvillo via TKO (corner stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00
  • Sean Woodson def. Collin Anglin via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:30
  • Cortney Casey def. Liana Jojua via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Rafael Alves def. Marc Diakiese via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:48
  • Da Un Jung def. Kennedy Nzechukwu via knockout (elbows) – Round 1, 3:04

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UFC Fight Night 197 video: Sean Woodson folds Collin Anglin with sharp body shots

Sean Woodson showed off his hands in a first-round finish of Collin Anglin at UFC Fight Night 197.

[autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag] showed off his hands in a first-round finish of [autotag]Collin Anglin[/autotag] at UFC Fight Night 197.

Woodson (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) evaded Anglin’s (8-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) early pressure in the featherweight matchup on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, the turned his tables on his opponent and started landing with the hands. Eventually, the output added up, and Woodson folded his foe with a nasty body shot for the TKO at the 4:30 mark of Round 1.

Check out the highlights of Woodson’s win below (via Twitter):

After the fight, Woodson said he was pleased with his result and felt he could expose Anglin to the body.

“I’m thrilled with it,” Woodson said in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. “I didn’t feel like myself in the first 10 seconds, but then I felt right into it. I’m so happy to get my first finish in here (with the UFC). I knew the body was going to be the way I finished this fight.”

Up-to-the-minute results of UFC Fight Night 197 include:

  • Sean Woodson def. Collin Anglin via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:30
  • Cortney Casey def. Liana Jojua via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Rafael Alves def. Marc Diakiese via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:48
  • Da Un Jung def. Kennedy Nzechukwu via knockout (elbows) – Round 1, 3:04

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UFC Fight Night 197 video: Rafael Alves taps out Marc Diakiese in less than two minutes

Rafael Alves danced and flipped his way into the octagon at UFC Fight Night 197 then choked out Marc Diakiese.

[autotag]Rafael Alves[/autotag] danced and flipped his way into the octagon at UFC Fight Night 197 then proceeded to manhandle Marc Diakiese for a first-round finish.

Alves (20-10 MMA, 1-1 UFC) hurt Diakiese (14-5 MMA, 5-5 UFC) with a big shot in the opening round of their lightweight bout on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. He pounced once he got close after the initial blow, locking in a guillotine choke that forced his opponent to tap out at the 1:48 mark of Round 1.

Check out a replay of Alves’ handiwork below (via Twitter):

After suffering a loss in his promotional debut earlier this year, Alves gave a more complete outlook on what he’s all about by putting away Diakiese, who has now lost back-to-back fights and is winless since September 2019.

“I’m ready upstairs (on the feet), downstairs (on the ground) – I’ll get it,” Alves said in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. “Dana (White) I’m here to be a champion. I’m born to be a champion.”

Up-to-the-moment results of UFC Fight Night 197 include:

  • Rafael Alves def. Marc Diakiese via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:48
  • Da Un Jung def. Kennedy Nzechukwu via knockout (elbows) – Round 1, 3:04

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UFC Fight Night 197 video: Da Un Jung swarms Kennedy Nzechukwu for first-round KO

Da Un Jung is still unbeaten through five UFC fights after putting Kennedy Nzechukwu to sleep at UFC Fight Night 197.

[autotag]Da Un Jung[/autotag]’s pressure and accuracy were too much for [autotag]Kennedy Nzechukwu[/autotag] to handle at UFC Fight Night 197.

Jung (15-2-1 MMA, 4-0-1 UFC) remained unbeaten in his octagon career Saturday when he stopped Nzechukwu (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) with strikes at the 3:01 mark of Round 1 in the light heavyweight matchup, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The beginning of the end started with a punch that backed Nzechukwu up. Jung swarmed him with elbows, then landed a final blow that put his opponent down and out.

Check out the finish below (via Twitter):

The South Korean prospect said he’s gaining confidence in the aftermath of another win, and he’s prepared for a step up in competition at 205 pounds.

“Come on, everybody,” Jung said in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping.

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UFC Fight Night 197 play-by-play and live results (1 p.m. ET)

Check out live play-by-play and official results from UFC Fight Night 197 in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 197 event, and you can join us for live play-by-play and official results beginning at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT).

UFC Fight Night 197 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

In the main event, former featherweight champion Max Holloway (22-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC) takes on Yair Rodriguez (13-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC). In the co-feature, Marcos Rogerio de Lima (18-7-1 MMA, 7-5 UFC) meets Ben Rothwell (39-13 MMA, 9-7 UFC) at heavyweight.

Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 1 p.m. ET for the prelims on ESPN+ and 4 p.m. ET for the main card on ESPN+.

To discuss the show, be sure to check out our UFC Fight Night 197 discussion thread. You can also get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site reporters John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) and Ken Hathaway (@kenshathaway) on Twitter.

Enjoy the fights, everyone.

UFC Fight Night 197 discussion thread

UFC Fight Night 197 takes place Saturday in Las Vegas, and you can discuss the event here.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 197 event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, which kicks off at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT). You can discuss the event here.

Be sure to follow along with the latest card updates in our UFC Fight Night 197 live results post, and then discuss the event in the comments section below.

Round-by-round updates and official results begin at approximately 1 p.m. ET for the preliminary card and 4 p.m. ET for the main card.

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UFC Fight Night 197 predictions: Max Holloway is unanimous, but what about Yadong?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC Fight Night 197 main card, featuring Max Holloway vs. Yair Rodriguez.

Holloway
vs.
Rodriguez		 de Lima
vs.
Rothwell		 Letson
vs.
Spencer		 Baeza
vs.
Williams		 Arce
vs.
Yadong
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2021: 190-104		 holloway2021
Holloway
(88%)		 rothwell2021
Rothwell
(72%)		 spencer2021
Spencer
(86%)		 baeza2021
Baeza
(51%)		 yadong2021
Yadong
(81%)
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2021: 194-100		 holloway2021
Holloway		 rothwell2021
Rothwell		 spencer2021
Spencer		 baeza2021
Baeza		 yadong2021
Yadong
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2021: 188-106		 holloway2021
Holloway		 rothwell2021
Rothwell		 spencer2021
Spencer		 baeza2021
Baeza		 yadong2021
Yadong
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2021: 184-110
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 holloway2021
Holloway		 rothwell2021
Rothwell		 spencer2021
Spencer		 baeza2021
Baeza		 yadong2021
Yadong
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2021: 182-112
trophy copy 2020 Champion		 holloway2021
Holloway		 rothwell2021
Rothwell		 spencer2021
Spencer		 baeza2021
Baeza		 arce2021
Arce
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2021: 182-112		 holloway2021
Holloway		 rothwell2021
Rothwell		 spencer2021
Spencer		 baeza2021
Baeza		 yadong2021
Yadong
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2021: 181-113		 holloway2021
Holloway		 delima2021
de Lima		 spencer2021
Spencer		 williams2021
Williams		 yadong2021
Yadong
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2021: 177-117		 holloway2021
Holloway		 rothwell2021
Rothwell		 spencer2021
Spencer		 baeza2021
Baeza		 yadong2021
Yadong
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2021: 177-117
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 holloway2021
Holloway		 rothwell2021
Rothwell		 spencer2021
Spencer		 baeza2021
Baeza		 yadong2021
Yadong
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2021: 172-122		 holloway2021
Holloway		 rothwell2021
Rothwell		 spencer2021
Spencer		 baeza2021
Baeza		 arce2021
Arce
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2021: 171-123
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 holloway2021
Holloway		 rothwell2021
Rothwell		 spencer2021
Spencer		 baeza2021
Baeza		 yadong2021
Yadong
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2021: 169-125		 holloway2021
Holloway		 rothwell2021
Rothwell		 spencer2021
Spencer		 baeza2021
Baeza		 yadong2021
Yadong
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2021: 169-125		 holloway2021
Holloway		 rothwell2021
Rothwell		 spencer2021
Spencer		 baeza2021
Baeza		 yadong2021
Yadong
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
2021: 110-68		 holloway2021
Holloway		 delima2021
de Lima		 spencer2021
Spencer		 baeza2021
Baeza		 yadong2021
Yadong

The UFC is back home in Las Vegas this week with a former champion at the top of the lineup.

UFC Fight Night 197 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, former featherweight champion [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] (22-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC) takes on [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC), who is fighting for the first time in more than two years. Holloway is a huge -800 favorite at Tipico; the comeback on Rodriguez is +470. Given those odds, it’s not surprising that not a single one of our 13 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers is picking against Holloway.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Marcos Rogerio de Lima[/autotag] (18-7-1 MMA, 7-5 UFC) meets [autotag]Ben Rothwell[/autotag] (39-13 MMA, 9-7 UFC) at heavyweight. And though Rothwell only is a -165 favorite, he’s got the support of 11 of our 13 staff members.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Leah Letson[/autotag] (5-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) takes on former Invicta champion and former UFC women’s featherweight title challenger [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC). Spencer is a big -320 favorite, and she’s our other unanimous pick.

[autotag]Miguel Baeza[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) may be just a -150 favorite at welterweight against [autotag]Khaos Williams[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC), but he’s got a near-unanimous picks lead at 12-1.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] (17-5-1 MMA, 6-1-1 UFC) is a slim -140 favorite at featherweight against [autotag]Julio Arce[/autotag] (17-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC). Yadong has most of our backing – he’s an 11-2 pick.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Holloway (88 percent), Rothwell (72 percent), Spencer (86 percent), Baeza (51 percent) and Yadong (81 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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UFC Fight Night 197 weigh-in highlights, faceoffs and photo gallery

Check out the video highlights and photo gallery from the UFC Fight Night 197 weigh-ins and faceoffs in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – All the pre-fight activities are in the books for UFC Fight Night 197 following Friday’s official weigh-ins and fighter faceoffs.

In the main event, Max Holloway (22-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC) and Yair Rodriguez (13-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) meet in a high-stakes featherweight clash with significant meaning in the title picture.

At the conclusion of the official weigh-ins, the fighters came face to face for final staredowns. Check out the highlights in the video above and a photo gallery from the weigh-ins and faceoffs below.

UFC Fight Night 197 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The entire card streams on ESPN+.

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UFC Fight Fight 197 video: Max Holloway, Yair Rodriguez lock eyes at final faceoff

Max Holloway and Yair Rodriguez had their first and only faceoff ahead of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 197 main event.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] and [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag] had their first and only faceoff ahead of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 197 main event.

After successfully making weight for the matchup at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, which streams on ESPN+, Holloway (22-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC) and Rodriguez (12-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) engaged in a faceoff in which they were given the opportunity to size each other up for the first time.

As expected with two professionals like Holloway and Rodriguez, there were no antics and no getting physical during the staredown. The two did bring the intensity, though, and showed they are ready to clash in a likely title eliminator in the featherweight division.

Holloway, No. 3 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie featherweight rankings, is currently a massive betting favorite to get the job done, but No. 14-ranked Rodriguez has shown in the past that he can never be disqualified from the possibility of a highlight reel knockout.

Check out the Holloway vs. Rodriguez faceoff ahead of UFC Fight Night 197 above.

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