Check out live round-by-round updates and official results from UFC Fight Night 244 in Las Vegas.
UFC Fight Night 244 took place Saturday, MMA Junkie provided live round-by-round coverage and official results. UFC Fight Night 244 (ESPN+) took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Former flyweight title challenger Brandon Royval (17-7 MMA, 7-3 UFC) took on Tatsuro Taira (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in the main event. In the co-feature, JunYong Park (18-6 MMA, 8-3 UFC) meet Brad Tavares (20-10 MMA, 15-10 UFC) at middleweight.
Check out the round-by-round updates and official results below:
UFC Fight Night 244 lineup
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
- Brandon Royval def. Tatsuro Taira via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47)
- JunYong Park def. Brad Tavares via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
- Chidi Njokuani def. Jared Gooden via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Grant Dawson def. Rafa Garcia via TKO (ground-and-pound) – Round 2, 1:42
- Daniel Rodriguez def. Alex Morono via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
- Ramazonbek Temirov def. CJ Vergara via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:50
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)
- Pat Sabatini def. Jonathan Pearce via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:06
- Themba Gorimbo def. Niko Price via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- 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
Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira
Round 1 – Both fighters very tentative here. Neither is comming a minute into the fight. Body kick from Royval gets caught by Taira. Taira tries to turn it into a takedown, but Royval defends well. Back to striking. Clean right lands by Taira. Nice combo by Royval. Counter left by Royval. We’re halfway through the round. One, two connects clean for Royval! Taira’s face is red. Left connects again by Royval. He’s having his way so far. Oh! Big right by Taira stuns Royval! Taira closes the distance and takes down Royval. Royval going for a leg lock. Taira escapes and ends on top. Royval gets back to his feet and the bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Royval.
Round 2 – Royval takes the center of the cage. Taira times Royval and gets his back! Royval scrambling like crazy, but Taira holding on tight. Taira locks in a body triangle for position. Taira looking to work a rear-naked choke. Royval defends well. Two minutes left. Complete control by Taira here. Short shots from the back by Taira. Taira now moves to mount! Royval scrambles out of it, but Taira keeps top position. Taira in half guard now. Short shots by Taira. Royval gets up! The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Taira.
Round 3 – Taira opens things up with a one, two. Taira seems like he’s picked up some confidence. Taira doing most of the pressing here. Taira shoots and presses Royval against the cage. Royval with some elbows and short shots. Royval defends and gets back to striking. A left lands for Royval. One, two by Royval. A left connects now for Royval! Royval is tagging up Taira! Taita shoots for a takedown, but Royval reverses him and takes him down! They scramble! Back to striking! Oh! Knee by Royval! Taira is fading fast! Royval takes Taira’s back! He goes for the armbar! Taira gets out! What a sequence. Now Taira has Royval’s back. One minute left here. Taira going for the rear-naked choke! It looks tight! The bell rings! What a fight.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Royval.
Round 4 – Jab by Taira. Royval comes out pressuring. Taira shoots and presses Royval against the cage. Taira takes down Royval and gets his back. Taira gets the body triangle to lock in the position. Great control here by Taira. Three minutes left. Royval doing everything to escape but unable to. Elbow by Taira. Ground-and-pound by Taira. Taira still in control of Royval. Taira ends the round on top. Very dominant round.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Taira.
Round 5 – Quick combo connects for Royval. Jabs land for RoyvalStraight left by Royval. Taira not throwing much here. Clean left lands for Royval. Taira with a combo of his own. He shoots and takes down Royval! Taira in north-south. Three minutes left. Royval reverses and now he takes down Taira. Taira gets back to his feet but being pressed against the cage by Royval. Royval lets him go. One, two for Royval. Two minutes left. One, two again by Royval. Taira shoots and presses Royval against the cage. Royval breaks free. Big right for Taira. Taira shoots and gets caught in a guillotine! He rolls to his back! Royval get back mount and he threatens with a rear-naked choke! Taira escapes. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Royval. Overall 48-47, Royval.
Result: Brandon Royval def. Tatsuro Taira via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47)
Recap: Brandon Royval digs deep to earn split decision over Tatsuro Taira
Photos: UFC Fight Night 244: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Royval (17-7 MMA, 7-3 UFC), Taira (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Judging: Chris Lee, Ron McCarthy 48-47. Sal D’Amato 47-48.
JunYong Park vs. Brad Tavares
Round 1 – Oh! Park gets dropped early! Tavares follows up and gets his back. He’s attempting to set up a rear-naked choke! Park defending well. Park works his way back to his feet and begins pressuring Tavares. Nice combo lands for Park. Big right hand lands for Tavares. Nice combo by Tavares. Park presses Tavares against the cage. We’re halfway through the round. Tavares breaks free. One minute remaining. Leg kick and ahard one, two by Tavares. Another big leg kick by Tavares. A couple more. There’s an aparent eyepoke and the fight is halted. After seeing the replay and it being a fair blow from Tavares, the fight continues. The bell rings shortly after.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Tavares.
Round 2 – They both trade leg kicks. Park catches a kick and takes down Tavares. Not for long though, Tavares immediately back up. They’re trading several shots. Park with relentless presure. A couple of clean hooks land for Park. Park now pressing Tavares against the cage. Not much going on. They break away. Leg kick and jab by Park. Tavares’s face has some ware. Leg kick then jab by Park. He keeps hitting that sequence on Tavares. We’re halfway through the round. Leg kick by Tavares. Park now is sticking and moving wih his jab. Nice combo by Tavares. Park keeps hetting that jab. More leg kicks and jabs by Park. One, two by Tavares. Final minute. Park’s jab is on point. More jabs. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Park.
Round 3 – Hard one, two lands for Tavares. Oh! Crazy exhange! Park stuns Tavares and then presses him against the cage. Park working hard for the takedown, but solid defense by Tavares so far. Four minutes left. Park still working for the takedown against the fence. Knee to the leg by Park. And after a minute of working, Park finally gets the takedown. He moves to the back of Tavares, but only has one hook in. We’re halfway through the round. Some short shots by Park. More busy shots by Park. Tavares recoves half guard. One minute left. Not much going on here, just Park controlling. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Park. Overall 29-28, Park.
Result: JunYong Park def. Brad Tavares via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 244: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Park (18-6 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Tavares (20-10 MMA, 15-10 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Judging: Mike Bell, Eric Volon 29-28. Junichiro Kamijo 28-29.
Jared Gooden vs. Chidi Njokuani
Round 1 – Jabs by Gooden. Gooden shoots and fails on his takedown attempt, but ends up pressing Njokuani against the cage. Gooden controlling Njokuani. Njokuani reverse sthe position and begins to land some knees to the body. They trade knees to the body. Three minutes left. More knees by Njokuani. Njokuani continues control Gooden and land knees. Uppercut by Njokuani! Gooden reverses the position with one minute left. Njokuani reverses the position and controls Gooden against the cage. Good elbow by Njokuani. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Njokuani.
Round 2 – They trade jabs. Njokuani with a leg kick. Another one. Nice jab then knee by Njokuani. Gooden immediately clinches him and presses him against the cage. Njokuani reverses the position and controls Gooden. Short elbows by Njokuani. Njokuani mixing in knees to the body as well. More knees to the body and short elbows by Njokuani. Gooden doesn’t have an answer to Njokuani’s attacks. Two minutes left. Man, hard elbows by Njokuani! Gooden is getting badly battered. They break away. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Njokuani.
Round 3 – So far, this has been all Njokuani. Body kick by Njokuani. Gooden shoots and takes down Njokuani! He’s working from Njokuani’s guard. Njokuani scrambles and gets back to his feet. Gooden now pressing Njokuani against the fence. Njokuani breaks free. They’re back to striking. Oh! Huge knee to the head lands for Njokuani! Three minutes left. Gooden clinches and presses Njokuani against the cage. Njokuani gets a throw and lands on mount. Gooden recovers half guard. Shots from top by Njokuani. Gooden gets a kimura! Njokuani rolls through and escapes. He ends on top. Nasty elbow by Njokuani. More elbows by Njokuani. Njokuani now controlling Gooden from turtle position. Gooden rolls to his back. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Njokuani. Overall 30-27, Njokuani.
Result: Chidi Njokuani def. Jared Gooden via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 244: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Njokuani (24-10 MMA, 4-3 UFC), Gooden (23-10 MMA, 2-5 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Judging: Mike Bell, Chris Lee, Tony Weeks 30-27.
Grant Dawson vs. Rafa Garcia
Round 1 – Good counter right by Garcia. Dawson looking to stay on the outside and avoid Garcia’s big shots. Dawson shoots and takes down Garcia, Dawson inside Garcia’s guard. Gorund-and-pound from Dawson. Garcia also landing short shots from bottom. Shots from Dawson. Two minutes left. Dawson moves to half guard. Garcia recovera guard briefly, but then Dawson passes again to half guard. Short shots from top by Dawson. Body shots by Dawson. Garcia recovers guard. Big shots from Dawson! The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Dawson.
Round 2 – Leg kick by Dawson. Dawson shoots and gets the takedown! Beautuful execution. Dawson working from guard. Dawson landing huge shots! Garcia is getting beat up here. Oh! Nasty shots by Dawson! They’re adding up. It’s over!
Result: Grant Dawson def. Rafa Garcia via TKO (ground-and-pound) – Round 2, 1:42
Recap: Grant Dawson bloodies Rafa Garcia for TKO, promises to be champ
Photos: UFC Fight Night 244: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Dawson (13-2-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC), Garcia (16-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Alex Morono vs. Daniel Rodriguez
Round 1 – These two throwing heat early on! Rodriguez pressing and Morono on the outisde. Leg kick by Rodriguez. They trade leg kicks. Moreno looking smooth on the feet, seems to have a slight lead. We’re halfway through the round. Big left by Morono. One, two by Morono and then a big right. Another big counter right by Morono. Rodriguez has yet to find his timing and range. Leg kick by Morono and then a big counter right. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Morono.
Round 2 – Staright right connects for Morono. Solid jab by Rodriguez. One, two by Morono. Rodriguez is really struggling to land here. Front kick to the body by Rodriguez. The right hand just keeps landing for Morono. Jab by Morono. And anothet big right by Morono. Two minutes left. Morono is bleeding from his left eyebrow. Good jab by Rodriguez. Morono lands a right. They get into a wild exhcnage right before the bell.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Morono.
Round 3 – Rodriguez is closing the gap here. A much better round for him Oh! A clean left from Rodriguez wobbles Morono. Morono seems to have recovered. Jab and then a right hand by Morono. Jab to the body by Rodriguez. Another right hand by Morono. We’re halfway through the round. Jab by Morono. Oh! Big straight right connecs clean for Rodriguez. Rodriguez presses Morno against the cage. Body shots by Rodriguez. Knee to the body now by Rodriguez. Morebody shots by Rodriguez. They break free. Final minute. Morono pressing Rodriguez here. Neither connecting clean here. Rodriguez ties him up and presses him against the cage. Takedown by Rodriguez! Morono back up and the bell rings. Close fight.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Rodriguez. Overall 29-28, Morono.
Result: Daniel Rodriguez def. Alex Morono via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 244: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Rodriguez (18-5 MMA, 8-4 UFC), Morono (24-11 MMA, 13-8 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Judging: Mike Bell, Adalaide Byrd 29-28. Sal D’Amato 28-29.
Ramazonbek Temirov vs. CJ Vergara
Round 1 – Spinning wheel kick nearly lands for Temirov. Leg kick by Temirov, who’s pressing Vergara. Big left by Vergara. Oh! Huge left drops Vergara! Temirov all over him! Veragara wobbly on his feet. Temirov going for the kill. Oh! Nasty left hook and then a left to the body. Vergara goes down! It’s over!
Result: Ramazonbek Temirov def. CJ Vergara via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:50
Recap: Ramazan Temirov throttles CJ Vergara for first-round debut TKO
Photos: UFC Fight Night 244: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Temirov (18-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Vergara (12-6-1 MMA, 3-4 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Jonathan Pearce vs. Pat Sabatini
Round 1 – Sabatini shoots for an early takedown here and takes down Pearce. Sabatini moves to the back, while Pearce is standing. Pearce is able to break the lock and get Sabatini off his back. Sabatini still controlling him against the cage. Sabatini looking for the takedown. Three minutes left. Sabatini takes down Pearce and controls him Khabil style. Sabatini now moves to half guard. And now the back! Sabatini now in mount and back to back. Sabatini looking to set up the rear-naked choke! So far Pearce defending well. Pearce gets back on his feet. Sabatini has the rear naked choke! There’s the tap!
Result: Pat Sabatini def. Jonathan Pearce via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:06
Recap: Pat Sabatini scores standing choke of Jonathan Pearce
Photos: UFC Fight Night 244: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Sabatini (19-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC), Pearce (14-7 MMA, 5-4 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
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: Themba Gorimbo def. Niko Price via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Recap:
Photos: UFC Fight Night 244: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Gorimbo (14-4 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Price (16-8 MMA, 8-8 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Judging: Mike Bell, Eric colon, Sal D’Amato 30-27.
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: Exhausted Junior Tafa somehow finds energy to TKO Sean Sharaf
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: Adalaide Byrd 29-28, Ron McCarthy 30-27. Sal D’Amato 28-29.
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: Mike Bell, Chris Lee, Tony Weeks 30-27.
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