UFC 263: Adesanya vs Vettori 2 Results

Collier and Felipe kept a fast pace on the feet in the opening round, each having their positive moments during the exchanges, with Collier edging things as he marked up his foe’s face and was the busier of the two with not only punches, but kicks to the leg.

The pace dipped in the second as Collier tired, and Felipe took advantage and surged into the lead, and while the third was close, Felipe was the fresher fighter and he showed it en route to the decision victory.

Official result: Carlos Felipe def. Jake Collier via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) | Official Scorecards

Ziam’s slick and patient striking attack allowed him to control the first round completely, and there was more of the same in the second as the Frenchman was content to pick and peck at Vendramini as he tossed aside the Brazilian’s takedown attempts. But in the third, Vendramini finally found daylight when he rocked Ziam and finally got him to the mat. Once there, Vendramini looked for the finish by any means necessary. With 1:40 left, Ziam got back to his feet and went into a defensive mode as he eluded the rushes of his foe until the final horn.

Official result: Fares Ziam def. Luigi Vendramini via majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28) | Official Scorecards

Peterson continued to not just hold his own with Hooper on the mat but use his strength and experience to land the blows that put another round in the bank heading into the final frame, where the pattern continued for much of the round. Hooper made his move in the final minute, but Peterson continued to defend well until the horn.

Peterson missed weight for the bout at 148.5 pounds.

Official result: Steven Peterson def. Chase Hooper via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) | Official Scorecards

As soon as the two lightweights were waved into battle, they touched gloves and then McKinney landed a quick 1-2 that put Frevola on the canvas. Seconds later, the follow-up barrage brought in referee Jason Herzog to stop the fight at :07 of the opening stanza, making it the fastest finish in UFC lightweight history.

With the win, McKinney moves to 11-3. Frevola falls to 8-3-1.

Official result – Terrance McKinney def. Matt Frevola via knockout at :07 of the first round | Official Scorecards

MORE UFC 263: Israel Adesanya | Marvin Vettori | Deiveson Figueiredo | Brandon Moreno | Leon Edwards | Nate Diaz | Demian Maia | Belal Muhammad | Jamahal Hill | Paul Craig | Joanne Calderwood | Matt Frevola | Brad Riddell

Davis, remaining patient, began targeting Kianzad’s lead leg in the second stanza, and “Banzai” was clearly affected by the steady stream of calf kicks, prompting the Canadian to up her punching work rate as the round progressed, bloodying her foe in the process.

The third round was the closest of the fight, with both combatants getting in their share of shots before the bout went to the judges.

Official result: Pannie Kianzad def. Alexis Davis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) | Official Scorecards

It was back to the same position on the mat early in round two, and Evloev’s swarming and punishing style allowed him to keep dominating the action. 

Dawodu was finally able to get his offense his gear in the third round, as he kept the fight standing, and with a little over a minute left, he stung the Russian with a pair of lefts. But Evloev responded with a takedown, allowing him to run out the clock and pick up the victory.

Official result: Movsar Evloev def. Hakeem Dawodu via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | Official Scorecards

Murphy changed the location of the fight in the second stanza as she took Calderwood to the mat and pinned her there as she landed hard punches. Calderwood wasn’t ever in serious danger, but she did lose the round big, forcing her to have to take the third round to tighten things up, and the Scotland native did just that, only to fall short of victory on two of the three judges’ scorecards.

Official result: Lauren Murphy def. Joanne Calderwood via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) | Official Scorecards

Eryk Anders vs Darren Stewart

In a light heavyweight rematch of their March no contest, Eryk Anders won a three-round unanimous decision over Darren Stewart.

Scores were 29-28, 29-27, 29-27 for Anders, now 14-5, 1 NC. Stewart falls to 12-7, 2 NC.

The fans were restless in the first round as the two fighters methodically looked to get their offenses in gear, and in a largely tactical frame, a takedown by Stewart with 42 seconds left may have been the difference on the scorecards.

In the second, the fight continued to be fought mainly in the clinch, with neither fighter doing much in terms of consistent scoring at close range, but Anders’ likely edging it.

Stewart took Anders to the mat in the first minute of round three, but Anders reversed position and quickly settled into half-guard. On the canvas, Anders finally began to dominate, as he kept Stewart pinned as he let loose with ground strikes. Stewart tried to fire back late to avoid a stoppage, and he did that, sending the fight to the scorecards.

Official result: Eryk Anders def. Darren Stewart via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-27) | Official Scorecards

Neither fighter backed off as round two began, and they kept taking turns rocking each other before a takedown by Dober a minute in. Riddell reversed and grappled from the dominant position and soon the two separated before a takedown by the Auckland product. With under two minutes to go, the fighters were standing and swinging, Riddell taking a slight edge.

Riddell’s right hand was on target in the third round, forcing Dober to seek a takedown. He didn’t get it, but he was able to buy the time to reset his offense. The two were then cagey around each other, but Riddell finished strong, rocking Dober again and slamming him to the mat just before the final horn.

Official result: Brad Riddell def. Drew Dober via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | Official Scorecards

The No.14-ranked Craig moves to 15-4-1 with the victory. The No.15-ranked Hill falls to 9-0, 1 NC.

Official result – Paul Craig def. Jamahal Hill via TKO (strikes) at 1:59 of the first round. | Official Scorecards

The 43-year-old Maia was going after the takedown consistently in the first round, but Muhammad’s defense was solid throughout, as he only allowed one trip to the mat. In the second, the gap widened, as Maia appeared to lose steam on his takedowns while Muhammad upped his work rate with his strikes. Nothing changed in the third round, with Muhammad’s striking solid throughout as he continued to avoid Maia’s takedown attempts and lock up a win.

Official result: Belal Muhammad def. Demian Maia via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | Official Scorecards

Diaz appeared to be surging early in the third round, but Edwards’ third takedown was followed by strikes that bloodied the Stockton native. Diaz, not surprisingly, was undeterred by the blood, but Edwards pushed the action, drilling Diaz with another elbow late in the frame.

Edwards landed the biggest shot of the fight a minute into round four, a left hand that even drew an acknowledgement from Diaz, who went right back into the pocket, only to eat another left and then got tripped to the mat. Just when it looked like Diaz was running out of options, he got some good shots in with a little over 90 seconds to go, but he wasn’t following up, leaving him with just five minutes to turn the fight around.

The final round opened with a 1-2 and a trip by Edwards, and time began ticking away on Diaz, who appeared to jar “Rocky” briefly before clinching with him against the fence. Unable to get anything done there, Diaz and Edwards separated, and with a minute left, Diaz finally rocked his opponent with a flush left hand and had him on wobbly legs. Diaz went on the attack in the closing seconds, but despite eating more shots, a couple well-timed clinches kept Edwards upright until the fight ended.

Official result: Leon Edwards def. Nate Diaz via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) | Official Scorecards

After eating another stiff jab to start the second frame, Figueiredo scored a takedown and began to work on the mat. But thanks to some good defense, Moreno escaped and returned to his feet, where he locked up with the Brazilian and then scored his own takedown, keeping Figueiredo grounded for the rest of the round.

The striking exchanges heated up in the third, but in the second minute, Moreno surprised Figueiredo with a takedown and then took the champion’s back as he looked for a rear naked choke. And with over three minutes left, that wasn’t a good thing for Figueiredo, who was forced to tap out to the choke at 2:26 of round three.

With the win, Moreno moves to 19-5-2. Figueiredo falls to 20-2-1.

Official result – Brandon Moreno def. Deiveson Figueiredo via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:26 of round three | Official Scorecards

Vettori got a takedown to begin the third round and he took Adesanya’s back briefly before the New Zealander reversed position. A scramble followed, with Vettori taking an inadvertent eye poke as the two rose. When the action resumed, Adesanya’s leg kicks were landing with thudding efficiency, one even putting the Italian on the deck briefly in the closing minute. A low kick by Adesanya may have been the most telling of the round, though, halting the action momentarily just before the horn.

Another Vettori takedown took place in the second minute of the fourth frame, but Adesanya reversed position immediately and go back to his feet, where he continued to mix up his attacks as Vettori followed him ineffectively. 

There would be no miracle comeback from Vettori, who just wasn’t able to implement his game plan or hurt the champion enough to turn things around.

Official result: Israel Adesanya def. Marvin Vettori via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) | Official Scorecards