Check out live round-by-round updates and official results from UFC Fight Night 244 in Las Vegas.
UFC Fight Night 244 takes place Saturday, and you can join us for live round-by-round coverage and official results beginning at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT). UFC Fight Night 244 (ESPN+) takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Former flyweight title challenger Brandon Royval (16-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) takes on Tatsuro Taira (16-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in the main event. In the co-feature, JunYong Park (17-6 MMA, 7-3 UFC) meets Brad Tavares (20-9 MMA, 15-9 UFC) at middleweight.
Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 4 p.m. ET for the prelims on ESPN+ and 7 p.m. ET for the main card on ESPN+.
Enjoy the fights, everyone.
UFC Fight Night 244 lineup
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
- Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira
- JunYong Park vs. Brad Tavares
- Jared Gooden vs. Chidi Njokuani
- Grant Dawson vs. Rafa Garcia
- Alex Morono vs. Daniel Rodriguez
- Ramazonbek Temirov vs. CJ Vergara
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)
- Jonathan Pearce vs. Pat Sabatini
- Themba Gorimbo vs. Niko Price
- Junior Tafa def. Sean Sharaf via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:15
- Julia Polastri def. Cory McKenna via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
- Cody Haddon def. Dan Argueta via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Clayton Carpenter def. Lucas Rocha via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:12
Themba Gorimbo vs. Niko Price
Round 1 – Big leg kick by Gorimbo. They’re swining wild! Oh! Price gets tagged! Big leg kick again by Gorimbo. Another one. And again! Gorimbo with another leg kick. Price has yet to land anything meaningful. Another big leg kick by Gorimbo. Clean right-hand lands for Gorimbo. Gorimbo with another leg kick. One, two by Gorimbo. Leg kick and then a takedown by Gorimbo. Ground-and-pound by Gorimbo. Two minutes left. Price going for an americana from bottom. Gorimbo gets out and lands some big shots. He now takes the back of Price. Price on his feet, but still with Gorimbo on his back. Price slams him, but still being controlled. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Gorimbo.
Round 2 – Gorimbo back to attacking the legs. The pace has slowed down a tad here. Good right hand by Price. Gorimbo closes the distance and takes down Price. He’s on top of Price from turtle position. Big shots by Gorimbo! Price gets back to his feet, but being controlled against the cage. They both trade knees while leaning against the cage. We’re halfway through the round. Price reverses the position. Price working for the takedown. Gorimbo breaks free! Good shots by Price. One minute left. Uppercut connects by Gorimbo! Gorimbo shoots for a takedown and gets it. Shots from Gorimbo. Price goes for a kimura and looks solid, but the bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Gorimbo.
Round 3 – Two hard leg kicks by Gorimbo. Price walking down Gorimbo here. Gorimbo shoots, presses Price against the cage, and then takes him down. Gorimbo working from Price’s guard. Shots by Gorimbo. Price unable to get out. We’re half way through the round. Price really struggling with Gorimbo’s size and strength. Gorimbo moves to half guard. Price kicks him away, but Gorimbo dives right back into guard. Price is able to get back to his feet with a minute left, but still being controlled against the cage. Gorimbo takes Price down and gets his back! Oh! He’s slipping. Gorimbo now th a Suevolev stretch. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Gorimbo. Overall 30-27, Gorimbo.
Result:
Recap:
Photos:
Records: Gorimbo (13-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Price (16-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Judging:
Sean Sharaf vs. Junior Tafa
Round 1 – Big leg kick by Sharaf. Sharaf pressing Tafa. One, two by Sharaf. Tafe with some nice body shots. Sharaf shoots, but Tafa grabs the fence and avoids getting taken down. The referee gives Tafa a warning. Jabs by Tafa. They both trde big leg kicks. Oh! Big combo by Tafa! Good shots by Sharaf, who’s marching foward. The pace has slowed down here. Bog hooks land for Tafa! Sharaf looks like he’s fading. Jabs by Tafa. Tafa now doing the pressing. Leg kick by Sharaf. Final minute. Sharaf with a nice combo and then a takedown! Good shots by Sharaf! Big ground-and-pound. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Tafa.
Round 2 – Sharaf shoots and Tafa stuffs the takedown. Both men look very tired. Oh! Bg right-hand wobbles Sharaf! Tafa lets his foot off the gas. Another big left lands for Tafa. Big right and then a jab by Tafa. Sharaf is exhausted and wobbly. Sharaf is wobbling around! Shots by Tafa. And the referee intervenes! It’s over. Standing TKO for Tafa.
Result: Junior Tafa def. Sean Sharaf via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:15
Recap:
Photos: UFC Fight Night 244: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Tafa (6-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC), Sharaf (4-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Cory McKenna vs. Julia Polastri
Round 1 – McKenna clinches Polastri early against the cage. Good knwws by McKenna. Polastri frames and reverses the position. Oh, nice knees to the body by Polastri. McKenna reverses, and now she’s the one doing the pressing against the cage. McKenna working hard for the takedown. Three minutes left. Good control by McKenna. Polasti reverses. Nasty knee to the body by Polastri. They break away. Kick to the body by Polastri. leg kick by McKenna. Good knees in the clinch by Polastri. Final minute. Big righthand lands for Polostri. Oh! Big knee to the face by Polastri! More knees from the clinch by Polastri. Polastri presses McKenna against the cage. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Polastri.
Round 2 – Flying knee by Polastri connects on McKenna’s chest. Leg kick by McKenna. Polastri clinches McKenna against the fence. Good knees by Polastri. McKenna reverses the position. Polastri landing a few shots on McKenna. Polastri reverses the position. They break free. Polastri shoots, fail, but controls McKenna against the cage. Good knees to the legs by Polastri. Polastri trying to get the back, but unable to. McKenna reverses the position. One minute left. They break free. Polastri pressing and landing shots. Good shot body Polastri. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Polastri.
Round 3 – Same dynamic. Polastri moves forward and walks downs McKenna. Both swinging but neither connecting clean right now. McKenna with a big left. McKenna clinches Polastri, gets reversed, and ets a knee. McKenna reverses again and tries to take down Polastri by the cage. Good defense by Polastri. McKenna working hard for that takedown and she finally gets it! McKenna working from guard. Good shots from bottom by Polastri. Final minute. Good shots by McKenna. McKenna maintains control all the way to the final bell.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, McKenna. Overall 29-28, Polastri.
Result: Julia Polastri def. Cory McKenna via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 244: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Polastri (13-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC), McKenna (8-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Judging:
Dan Argueta vs. Cody Haddon
Round 1 – Big swings to start off the round! They clinch and Argueta presses Haddon against the cage, and then takes him down. Haddon gets back up! Good combo by Haddon. Argueta presses Haddon against the cage. Haddon breaks free and begins to pressure Argueta. Good shots by Haddon. And Haddon stuffs Argueta’s takedown. Oh! Clean one two connects for Haddon. Two minutes left. Argueta shoots, Haddon sprawls, and Argueta gets him in a guillotine. Haddon gets out and they’re back striking. Oh! Nasty shots by Haddon. One minute left. Haddon presses Argueta against the cage. Argueta presses Haddon against the cage. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Haddon.
Round 2 – Haddon back to pressuring. He’s getting busy early. Clean one, two connects for Haddon. Haddon shoots and takes down Argueta. Haddon working from side control. Good shots from Haddon. Haddon works his way to the back. Argueta stands up, while having Haddon on his back. Argueta shakes off Haddon and ends on top. Three minutes left. Not much damage here, just control by Argueta. Haddon back up, but Argueta still tying him up. Haddon gets back to his feet. Body shots by Haddon! Oh! Knee to the head by Haddon. Argueta snaps down Haddon and gets him in a front headlock. Haddon gets out. Nice combos by Haddon. Both fighters look tired. Jab by Haddon. One, two by Haddon. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Haddon.
Round 3 – Haddon catches a kick and lands a clean right. Jabs by Haddon. Argueta looks exhausted. Haddon stuffs a takedown from Argueta. One, two by Haddon. Haddon is picking apart a tired Argueta. Argueta pressuring Haddon now, but unable to lands anything meaningful. Nasty leg kick by Argueta knocks down Haddon. He’s back up. Jab by Haddon . We’re halfway through the round. More shots by Haddon. Argueta is a sitting duck out there. Argueta shoots, almost gets down Haddon, but Haddon defends well. Argueta now presses Haddon against the cage. One minute left. Haddon breaks free. Argueta shoots, buts gets stuffed. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Haddon. Overall 30-27, Haddon.
Result: Cody Haddon def. Dan Argueta via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 244: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Haddon (8-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Argueta (9-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Judging:
Clayton Carpenter vs. Lucas Rocha
Round 1 – Big right hand connects early for Rocha. Carpenter trying to answer back and be aggressive, but Rocha moves out of the way. Rocha with another right hand. Uppercut lands by Carpenter. Carpenter changes levels, shoots, and takes down Rocha with three and ahalf minutes remaining. Carpenter looking to stay on top, while Rocha scrambles. Rocha is bleeding from his left eyebrow. Carpenter moves to half guard. Two minutes left. Rocha scrambling hard, but Carpenter maintaining control. One minute left. Solid elbow by Carpenter. More shots by Carpenter. Carpenter maintains control till the end of the round.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Carpenter.
Round 2 – These two swining a bit wild. Oh! Flying knee lands for Rocha. Rocha with a nice combo. Carpenter is slowing down a bit. Carpenter lands a body kick. He then shoots and gets the takedown. Carpenter immediately advances to the back and gets a body triangle. Carpenter working the rear-naked choke! Rocha is fighting it! Rocha goes to sleep!
Result: Clayton Carpenter def. Lucas Rocha via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:12
Recap: Clayton Carpenter cuts open Lucas Rocha before choking him out
Photos: UFC Fight Night 244: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Carpenter (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Rocha (17-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith