UFC 276 Results, Live Coverage And Discussion: Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski Outclass Their Opponents To Retain Titles

Welcome to Fightful.com‘s results, live coverage, and discussion for UFC 276: Adesanya vs. Cannonier.

We will bring you full results for tonight’s card. Scroll down to the Disqus boards below and chat with fellow MMA fans during the event.

Results

Main Card (Pay-Per-View, 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT)

• Israel Adesanya (C) def. (#2) Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
• Alexander Volkanovski (C) def. vs. (#1) Max Holloway via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
• Alex Pereira def. (#4) Sean Strickland via KO (punch) (2:36, R1)
• Bryan Barberena def. Robbie Lawler via TKO (strikes) (4:47, R2)
• (#9) Pedro Munhoz vs. (#13) Sean O’Malley Ends In A No Contest

Prelims (ABC, ESPN & ESPN+, 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT)

• Jalin Turner def. Brad Riddell via submission (guillotine choke) (0:45, R1)
• Jim Miller def. Donald Cerrone via submission (guillotine choke) (1:32, R2)
• Ian Garry def. Gabe Green via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Dricus Du Plessis def. Brad Tavares via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Early Prelims (ESPN & ESPN+, 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT)

• (#13) Andre Muniz def. (#9) Uriah Hall via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• (#13) Maycee Barber def. (#10) Jessica Eye via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Julija Stoliarenko def. Jessica-Rose Clark via submission (armbar) (0:42, R1)

Play-by-Play

Israel Adesanya (C) vs. (#2) Jared Cannonier

Round One – Adesanya opens with a leg kick, then another. The Las Vegas crowd pours down the ‘Izzy! Izzy! Izzy!’ chants and Cannonier returns the favor and lands a low kick of his own. Adesanya with another low kick, Cannonier lands another as well and Adesanya lands one more to boot. Cannonier lands another kick to the lead leg of the champion and follows it up with a front kick to the body. Adesanya with a jab then another low kick before having a high kick blocked. Adesanya with a 1-2, Cannonier lands a right hook then a low kick and Adesanya lands a straight right to the body. Cannonier continues to chop at the lead leg of the champion and Adesanya returns fire with a calf kick. Cannonier lands a straight left to the body then goes back to the leg and ducks under a spinning head kick from the champion that gets an audible gasp from the fans in attendance at the T-Mobile Arena. Adesanya lands a lighting quick straight right and the horn sounds to end the opening frame.

Round Two –  Adesanya lands a high kick then immediately drills Cannonier with a side kick to the body. Adesanya with a low kick, Cannonier lands a side kick to the mid-section, Adesanya comes back with another kick to the lead leg and Cannonier lands a right hook. Cannonier jumps in for the clinch but Adesanya evades and Cannonier meets him with a jab. Adesanya cracks Cannonier with an overhand right but pokes the challenger in the eye which garners a stoppage from referee Herb Dean. The main card opener between Sean O’Malley and Pedro Munhoz was deemed a no contest after a second-round eye poke but Dean tells the cageside physician that there’s no need to check on Cannonier and this one is resumed. Adesanya with a pair of low kicks, Cannonier does the same then the champion peppers Cannonier with a 1-2 at the buzzer and this one is headed to the third round.

Round Three – Adesanya with a low kick to start. Cannonier rips a left hook to the body and Cannonier lands a flurry and backs the champion up to the fence. Cannonier works the body with some short lunches and grabs the leg but Adesanya slides out and gets this one back to the center of the octagon. Adesanya with a 1-2 but just misses a head kick and Cannonier gets the clinch and has the champion pressed against the cage. Cannonier lands some knees to the thighs and mid-section of Adesanya and is trying to wear out the champion. Cannonier rides out the rest of the round draining Adesanya against the fence but Adesanya shoves him aside and lands a side kick to the body at the horn and this one is headed to the championship rounds.

Round Four – Adesanya cracks Cannonier with a straight left to start. The challenger rips a right hook to the body of Adesanya and the champion comes back with a 1-2. Adesanya has a high kick blocked and Cannonier wallops him with a right hook then goes for a wild overhand right but Adesanya slides out. Cannonier clinches and lands a pair of short right hands but Adesanya slides out and lands a low kick while back in the center of the octagon. Cannonier immediately clinches again and keeps ripping short punches to the body of the champion. Adesanya scrambles but Cannonier holds firm and keeps Adesanya against the fence and cracks Adesanya with an elbow on the break and the buzzer sounds that’ll send this one to the fifth and final round.

Round Five – Cannonier cracks Adesanya with a right hook to start. Cannonier with a straight right to the body and Adesanya comes back with a low kick. Cannonier lands a side kick to the body, Adesanya lands another kick to the lead leg and just misses a high kick. Adesanya lands a step-in elbow, Cannonier with a straight left, Adesanya with another low kick and Cannonier partially lands an overhand right. Adesanya whiffs on a looping right uppercut, Cannonier clinches and pushed Adesanya to the fence. Cannonier looks for the trip, Adesanya holds his balance but Cannonier doesn’t let go and keeps this one against the cage for the time-being. Adesanya tries to explode but Cannonier adjusts and keeps the champion clinched up and looks for a single-leg but Adesanya spins out and breaks back to the center of the octagon. Cannonier cracks Adesanya a right hook then clinches again. Adesanya forces the break and lands a side kick to the chest and just misses a straight right. Adesanya can’t quite find the range for a head kick but lands a 1-2 and the horn sounds that’ll send this one to the judge’s scorecards.

Result: Israel Adesanya (C) def. (#2) Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)

Alexander Volkanovski (C) vs. (#1) Max Holloway

Round One – A lengthy feeling out process starts the trilogy off. Holloway lands a low kick, then another. Volkanovski peppers the challenger with a jab then wallops him with a left hook. Holloway with a 1-2, Volkanovski fires back with a left hook then another low kick. Volkanovski opens up with a 1-2 then gets the clinch but Holloway lands a knee to the body before they break. Holloway with a left hook, the champion comes back with a left hook then a side kick to the body. Volkanovski rips a right hook to the body and goes back up too with a left hook. Holloway finds a home for a straight right and clinches Volkanovski, who shoves Holloway aside. Holloway just misses a massive overhand right and the champion makes him pay with a 1-2 then another low kick. A flurry from both men ends the opening frame as the horn sounds.

Round Two – Volkanovski opens up with a 1-2 then rips a right hook to the body of Holloway. The champion cracks Holloway with a right hook then another 1-2 and a low kick to boot. Volkanovski clinches Holloway against the fence but Holloway’s quick to force the break. Volkanovski just misses a right hook and Holloway goes up top with a kick but just misses the mark. Volkanovski drills Holloway with a heavy low kick then peppers Holloway with a jab before ripping a right hook to the body. Holloway works the jab then lands a 1-2 and a right hook. Volkanovski cracks Holloway with a left hook and the buzzer sounds to end round number two.

Round Three – Volkanovski opens with a 1-2 then continues to work the jab. The champion cracks the challenger with a right hook but Holloway comes back with a flurry and rocks the champion with a blistering quick right hook that backs Volkanovski up to the cage. Volkanovski rips a 1-2 then another flurry and switches it up to the body with a right hook. Volkanovski continues to land seemingly everything and a massive gash has opened up under Holloway’s left eye. Volkanovski gets the clinch and has Holloway against the fence. Volkanovski gets some control time but Holloway explodes and gets this one back to the center of the octagon. Volkanovski wallops Holloway with a right hook then adds a 1-2 behind it that also hit it’s mark. Holloway lands a step-in knee to the body then clinches but Volkanovski evades and cracks the challenger with a left hook then rocks him with a 1-2 at the buzzer and this one is headed to championship rounds.

Round Four – Volkanovski continues to go on the attack and lands a 1-2 to start before initiating the clinch. Holloway drags himself off the fence but walks into yet another 1-2 and a low kick from the champion. Holloway with a side kick to the body but Volkanovski catches it and shoves Holloway back. Holloway lands the side kick to the body this time then lands a pair of front kicks to the body as well. Volkanovski works the jab then lands a low kick before catching and dispatching of another body kick attempt from the challenger. Volkanovski peppers Holloway with the jab and clinches but Holloway is quick to circle back to the middle of the octagon. Holloway misses a high kick, the pair trade leg kicks and the horn sounds to send this one to the fifth and final round.

Round Five – It would appear that Holloway needs a finish to avoid being 0-3 against Volkanovski and perhaps having any chance to claim gold in the UFC’s 145-pound division. A touch of the gloves starts off the final frame and it’s time for the 15th and quite possibly the final round of this historic trilogy. Holloway immediately dives in for a takedown but Volkanovski holds firm and shoves Holloway to the fence. Holloway breaks and lands a low kick then a 1-2 back up top. Volkanovski whiffs on a right hook, Holloway goes for another takedown but is once again shunned by the champion. Volkanovski presses Holloway against the cage then cracks him with an elbow on the break. Volkanovski with a low kick, Holloway comes back with a side kick to the body and his left eye is leaking like a faucet as the final 90-seconds of this one quickly approaches. Volkanovski works the jab, Holloway partially lands a high kick, the champion comes back with a low kick and a left hook back up top. Volkanovski lands a right hook, Holloway with a counter left hook, Volkanovski comes back with a pair of jabs, Holloway swings wildly in the final 10-seconds but to no avail and the horn sounds to send this one to the judge’s scorecards.

Result: Alexander Volkanovski (C) def. vs. (#1) Max Holloway via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)

(#4) Sean Strickland vs. Alex Pereira

Round One – Strickland comes out the aggressor but walks into a 1-2 from Pereira. Strickland comes back with a flurry and a low kick but Pereira absolutely wallops him with a left hook and after a single follow up right hand, referee Jason Herzog waves this one off! The biggest win of Pereira’s blossoming MMA career!

Result: Alex Pereira def. (#4) Sean Strickland via KO (punch) (2:36, R1)

Robbie Lawler vs. Bryan Barberena

Round One – Barberena starts this one off with a 1-2 that lands. Lawler fires back with a left hook that narrowly misses and ‘Bam Bam’ lands a counter left. Lawler whiffs on an uppercut, Barberena lands a 1-2 and Lawler cracks Barberena with a front kick to the body. Lawler nails Barberena with a right hook then rips another right hook but this time, to the body. Barberena lands a step-in left elbow, Lawler lands a right hook, Barberena cracks ‘Ruthless’ with a left hook and then goes to the body with another left hook. Barberena with a low kick, then a side elbow and peppers Lawler with the jab. Lawler lands a 1-2, Barberena continues to find a home for the elbows and Barberena lands a 1-2 then goes to the mid-section with a right hook then goes right back up top with another right hook as the horn sounds to end a wild opening frame.

Round Two – Barberena lands a 1-2 and Lawler comes back with a right hook that stuns Barberena. Lawler cracks ‘Bam Bam’ with another right hook and Barberena retreats to the cage but he fights his way out of his with an elbow followed by a 1-2. Lawler with a 1-2, Barberena misses a lazy head kick and Lawler lands a side kick to the body. Lawler with a 1-2 but Barberena cracks him with another elbow, then another, then a third. ‘Bam Bam’ follows it up with a 1-2, then a right hook but Lawler responds with a straight right but Barberena cracks him with an elbow and starts teeing off, referee Mark Smith warns Lawler to defend, Barberena continues to swarm with a bevy of shots and this one is waved off!

Result: Bryan Barberena def. Robbie Lawler via TKO (strikes) (4:47, R2)

(#9) Pedro Munhoz vs. (#13) Sean O’Malley

Round One – Munhoz with a low kick to start. O’Malley returns fire with a front kick to the mid-section then just missed an overhand right. Not much action as both men are in a bit of a feeling out process for the first half of the round. O’Malley goes for another front kick but this time, he goes too low and referee Jason Herzog calls for a break in the action. Munhoz gives the OK and this one is back underway after just a few moments. O’Malley lands a low kick and follows it with a spinning back kick to the body that finds a home. Munhoz goes for a spinning wheel kick but O’Malley evades and rips another kick to the body at the buzzer and the opening frame comes to an end.

Round Two – O’Malley cracks Munhoz with an overhand right then a 1-2 to open the round. O’Malley pokes Munhoz in the right eye and the bout is once again halted. Herzog has the cageside physician come and check on Munhoz, who takes a closer look at the Brazilian contender and this one is waved off.

Result: (#9) Pedro Munhoz vs. (#13) Sean O’Malley Ends In A No Contest

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