One of the biggest cards of the year. So much hype, expectation and waiting for it to end in disappointment for not only Conor McGregor, but MMA fans around the world.
Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway
Round 1:
The contest got off to an incredibly unusual start, with McGregor immediately rushing forward and attempting two kicks that both resulted in him slipping to the canvas. Holloway wasted no time capitalising, moving in with punches as McGregor struggled to find his footing.
The chaotic opening continued as Holloway attacked the leg during McGregor’s attempts to get back up. McGregor repeatedly appeared unable to maintain his balance, slipping and falling once again before Holloway stepped in with further strikes while the Irishman was grounded.
Holloway briefly appeared unsure of what had happened as the action unfolded, but he continued applying pressure. After another leg kick from Holloway, McGregor stepped back and immediately showed discomfort, prompting the referee to intervene and stop the contest.
In a bizarre and unexpected ending, Holloway was awarded the victory after McGregor was unable to continue following the awkward sequence.
In a replay before the fight, it seemed McGregor also had trouble when taking his shoes off on the way to the octagon, but time will tell where the injury came from exactly and how long McGregor will be out for, or if he’ll ever return to the octagon.
Official result: Max Holloway def. Conor McGregor via TKO (injury) – Round 1, 1:09.
Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoit Saint Denis
Round 1:
Benoit Saint Denis came out with immediate aggression, storming forward with heavy punches before following up with a head kick attempt and a takedown entry. However, Paddy Pimblett reacted brilliantly, rolling through the attack and quickly locking up a guillotine choke during the scramble.
As Saint Denis fought to escape, Pimblett transitioned smoothly, turning him onto his knees and tightening the position into a brabo choke. The Frenchman continued trying to work his way free, but Pimblett used the opportunity to elevate the submission further, wrapping his legs around Saint Denis and converting the choke into a rare and highly technical Peruvian necktie.
With Pimblett applying pressure from both his arms and legs, Saint Denis’ resistance gradually faded. Referee Marc Goddard watched closely before stepping in as the Frenchman went unconscious, awarding Pimblett a stunning submission victory in the opening minute.
After the finish, Pimblett celebrated by launching into a wild victory display, soaking in the atmosphere inside the T-Mobile Arena. During his post-fight interview, he embraced the spotlight, calling out a willingness to face any opponent placed in front of him, mentioning potential matchups with names such as Justin Gaethje, Ilia Topuria, and Conor McGregor. He then delighted the crowd by leading them in a rendition of Oasis’ Wonderwall, creating one of the most memorable post-fight moments of the night.
Official result: Paddy Pimblett def. Benoit Saint Denis via technical submission (Peruvian necktie) – Round 1, 0:52.
Mario Bautista vs. Cory Sandhagen
Round 1:
There was no feeling-out process between the two bantamweights, as Bautista came forward immediately looking to engage. Sandhagen responded by using his trademark movement, circling out of range and looking to dart in and out with quick attacks. He landed kicks to both legs early and connected with a clean left hand before following up with a head kick attempt.
Bautista answered by closing the distance and looking for the takedown, but Sandhagen showed strong defensive instincts, sprawling to stay upright before attempting to reverse the position with a body lock of his own. Bautista managed to defend the counter effort and found success in the clinch, repeatedly targeting the same area of Sandhagen’s body with powerful strikes.
Sandhagen eventually broke free with an elbow and a left hook, beating Bautista to the punch as he continued to rely on his head movement to avoid the majority of the incoming offence. However, Bautista refused to slow down and began applying pressure with heavy combinations. Sandhagen absorbed the shots well and responded with a sharp uppercut to the body, while his movement continued to frustrate Bautista’s attacks.
The momentum shifted when Bautista landed a powerful left hook that visibly got Sandhagen’s attention. He followed up with more clean strikes, forcing Sandhagen to reset. The pair continued trading in the pocket, with both men landing significant shots. Sandhagen’s nose began to show damage from the exchanges, but he remained dangerous, landing his own combinations and refusing to back down.
Late in the round, Sandhagen attempted to take the fight to the mat, but both fighters exchanged heavy left hands during the scramble. Bautista eventually secured a takedown, and Sandhagen exposed himself while trying to scramble, allowing Bautista to attack with an unusual kneebar attempt known as the “Suloev Stretch”. Sandhagen defended by firing back with punches until the horn sounded, but he returned to his corner with a noticeable limp.
Score: 10-9 Bautista.
Round 2:
Sandhagen entered the second round clearly compromised by the leg injury, struggling to move freely. Bautista immediately targeted the damaged leg with kicks, repeatedly attacking it whenever Sandhagen attempted to engage with his punches. Sandhagen tried to force more exchanges to discourage the low kicks, but Bautista remained disciplined and continued exploiting the injury.
As Sandhagen’s lateral movement became limited, Bautista found more opportunities to land, although Sandhagen continued showing tremendous toughness and refused to show signs of discomfort. He connected with a double jab and right hand while searching for openings, but his compromised movement made it difficult to maintain his usual evasiveness.
Bautista’s pressure eventually slowed slightly, allowing Sandhagen to find his rhythm. Sandhagen landed a sharp left hook that opened a cut near Bautista’s eye and followed it up with another clean left hand that forced Bautista to briefly check the damage. Bautista continued pushing forward and attempted to wrestle, but Sandhagen defended well and created separation.
Despite the injury, Sandhagen continued to land his straight punches and finished the round strongly, including a final low kick to punctuate the five minutes. It was an impressive display of resilience from the former title challenger.
Score: 10-9 Sandhagen.
Round 3:
With the fight seemingly hanging in the balance, Bautista came out aggressively, looking to regain control. Sandhagen’s movement appeared improved compared to the previous round, but that changed quickly when Bautista landed a devastating right hand that dropped him to the canvas.
On the ground, Sandhagen immediately looked to counter by attacking Bautista’s leg, attempting another submission threat. Bautista managed to escape and allowed Sandhagen back to his feet, where the fight returned to striking. Sandhagen began pressing forward with combinations, but Bautista’s power remained a constant threat.
Bautista soon changed levels and secured another takedown, taking Sandhagen’s back during the scramble. After being warned for strikes to the back of the head, Bautista continued controlling the position while Sandhagen worked back upright. Sandhagen escaped and returned to the centre of the cage, where he attempted to rally with a flurry of punches.
However, Bautista’s wrestling continued to make the difference. He timed another exchange perfectly, taking Sandhagen down from behind and maintaining control. Sandhagen fought back, eventually securing a takedown of his own, although Bautista quickly returned to his feet against the fence.
The final seconds saw both men exchange one last burst of offence, with Sandhagen landing a hard elbow before eating a left hand in return. Bautista closed the fight by securing another takedown as the final horn sounded, leaving the judges to decide a closely contested battle.
Score: 10-9 Bautista.
Official result: Mario Bautista def. Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Brandon Royval
Round 1:
Brandon Royval wasted little time taking control of the centre of the cage, establishing his jab from the opening exchanges. Kavanagh appeared hesitant early on, spending much of the round circling backwards and throwing isolated kicks that Royval dealt with comfortably. Royval’s jab repeatedly found its mark, with several clean shots landing flush on Kavanagh’s nose.
Midway through the round, Royval changed levels and secured a takedown against the fence. Kavanagh threatened with a guillotine choke during the scramble, but Royval calmly escaped the submission attempt and settled into side control. From there, he controlled the position well, landing a steady stream of ground-and-pound before Kavanagh eventually worked his way back to his feet.
Score: 10-9 Royval.
Round 2:
Royval looked to continue his success from the opening round, but his momentum was abruptly halted when he walked straight into a huge counter punch that dropped him to the canvas. Kavanagh immediately swarmed with follow-up strikes in search of the finish, but Royval managed to buy himself valuable time by threatening with an omoplata from his back.
That brief respite allowed Royval to recover, and he soon returned to his feet. Although an immediate takedown attempt came up short, he remained composed despite still feeling the effects of the knockdown. Back in open space, Kavanagh landed another heavy punch that visibly rocked Royval before the two became tied up along the fence.
Royval eventually secured another takedown, but unlike the first round, he was unable to keep Kavanagh grounded. Kavanagh finished the round strongly with another clean punch, leaving the fight level heading into the final five minutes.
Score: 19-19.
Round 3:
Royval came out with renewed urgency, opening the round with a sharp combination before both fighters exchanged heavy shots in the centre of the cage. Kavanagh responded with another powerful punch of his own, but Royval quickly shifted his focus to the grappling, shooting for a takedown that prompted Kavanagh to once again attack a guillotine choke.
Royval escaped the submission attempt and immediately punished Kavanagh with a series of damaging short elbows from close range. The strikes visibly hurt Kavanagh and allowed Royval to begin advancing his position. After briefly threatening to take the back, Royval smoothly transitioned into an arm-triangle choke, forcing Kavanagh to defend once again.
Although Kavanagh survived the choke, Royval maintained control throughout the scramble, eventually taking the back and locking in a body triangle. With his position secured, Royval slid his arm under Kavanagh’s chin and tightened a rear-naked choke. Kavanagh tapped before losing consciousness moments later, sealing an impressive submission victory for the former title challenger.
Official result: Brandon Royval def. Lone’er Kavanagh via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:40.
Terrance McKinney vs. King Green
Round 1:
Terrance McKinney came out at his usual blistering pace, immediately putting King Green under pressure. An early punch clipped Green and briefly had him in trouble, but rather than rushing recklessly for the finish, McKinney remained composed and continued picking his shots. He repeatedly found the target as he backed Green towards the fence, opening a cut and leaving the veteran looking visibly shaken.
Despite the punishment, Green remained defiant, constantly talking to McKinney as the exchanges unfolded. McKinney let his strikes do the talking, eventually securing a takedown against the cage before advancing to full mount. From the dominant position, he unleashed a barrage of punches and elbows, with Green somehow continuing to absorb the damage while verbally engaging throughout.
McKinney then transitioned to Green’s back in search of a submission, but Green showed remarkable composure to escape the position and work his way back to his feet. As soon as the fight returned to the feet, Green surged forward looking to turn the tide, although he was caught by a heavy uppercut during the exchange. Undeterred, he recovered instantly and fired back with a perfectly placed liver shot that dropped McKinney to one knee.
Sensing his opportunity, Green poured on the pressure with a relentless flurry of punches. McKinney was unable to defend himself effectively, forcing the referee to intervene with just one second remaining in the opening round. It was an astonishing comeback from Green, who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in one of the most dramatic finishes of the year.
Official result: King Green def. Terrance McKinney via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:59.
Robert Whittaker vs. Nikita Krylov
Robert Whittaker’s move up in weight presented some early challenges, as he initially struggled to deal with the size and physicality of Nikita Krylov. The Australian also appeared to be feeling the effects of the heavier division, showing signs of fatigue much earlier than fans are accustomed to seeing. Despite that, one aspect of his game remained as sharp as ever: his hand speed.
As the contest progressed, Whittaker’s speed advantage became increasingly apparent. He repeatedly beat Krylov to the punch, finding success with quick one-two combinations and powerful right hands over the top. While Krylov was able to use his strength to make the fight competitive in the opening stages, he found it increasingly difficult to cope with Whittaker’s accuracy and timing.
The end came early in the third round when Whittaker landed another perfectly placed right hand flush on Krylov’s jaw. The shot appeared to do significant damage, potentially even causing an injury, and Krylov immediately signalled that he could no longer continue. The referee stepped in to award Whittaker a technical knockout victory after another composed and clinical striking performance.
Official result: Robert Whittaker def. Nikita Krylov via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:01.
Gable Steveson vs. Elisha Ellison
Gable Steveson secured the first UFC victory of his career, although it was far from a flawless performance. Despite entering the contest as a heavy favourite, Steveson looked somewhat untidy during several wild exchanges, willingly trading powerful shots with Elisha Ellison rather than relying solely on his wrestling pedigree. He also showcased a varied striking arsenal, mixing in body kicks throughout the bout, while a late strike after Ellison protested a low blow drew some attention.
The finish came during a frenetic exchange when Steveson landed a crushing hook that sent Ellison to the canvas. Sensing the opportunity, he immediately followed up with a barrage of ground-and-pound strikes, forcing the referee to step in and award him a first-round knockout victory.
Official result: Gable Steveson def. Elisha Ellison via KO (punches) – Round 1, 2:31.
Cody Garbrandt vs. Adrian Yanez
Adrian Yanez produced an impressive striking display to earn a dominant first-round knockout over former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt. Throughout the contest, Yanez consistently came out on top in exchanges, landing cleaner, heavier punches. Several of those shots visibly rocked Garbrandt, leaving him struggling to regain his footing.
After a series of increasingly damaging exchanges, Yanez finally found the finishing sequence, connecting with a sharp combination that dropped Garbrandt to the canvas. Garbrandt appeared unconscious before he hit the mat, leaving no need for any follow-up strikes as the referee immediately waved off the contest.
Official decision: Adrian Yanez def. Cody Garbrandt by TKO (punches), round 1 (2:47)
Other Results
- 265 lbs.: Gable Steveson def. Elisha Ellison by KO (punches), round 1 (2:31)
- 135 lbs.: Adrian Yanez def. Cody Garbrandt by TKO (punches), round 1 (2:47)
- 145 lbs.: Luke Riley def. Kai Kamaka III by standing TKO (punches), round 1 (3:03)
Early ‘Prelims’
- 125 lbs.: Wang Cong def. Tracy Cortez by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
- 185 lbs.: Damien Pinas def. Cesar Almeida by KO (straight right), round 1 (4:44)
- 135 lbs.: Farid Basharat def. Ryan Garza by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- 185 lbs.: Ryan Gandra def. Zach Reese by TKO (punches), round 1 (1:15)
- 125 lbs.: Alessandro Costa def. Cody Durden by submission (rear naked choke), round 2 (2:19)
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