UFC 277 Results, Live Coverage, and Discussion: Amanda Nunes and Brandon Moreno Reclaim Their Titles!

Welcome to Fightful.com‘s results, live coverage, and discussion for UFC 277: Pena vs. Nunes.

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.

Main Card (PPV, 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. ET)

• (#1) Amanda Nunes def. Julianna Pena (C) via unanimous decison (50-45, 50-44, 50-43) — UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship
• (#1) Brandon Moreno def. (#2) Kai Kara-France via TKO (body kick) (4:34, R3) — Interim UFC Flyweight Championship
• (#11) Sergei Pavlovich def. (#5) Derrick Lewis via TKO (strikes) (0:55, R1)
• (#4) Alexandre Pantoja def. (#6) Alex Perez via submission (rear-naked choke) (1:31, R1)
• (#4) Magomed Ankalaev def. (#5) Anthony Smith via TKO (punches) (3:09, R2)

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

• Alex Morono def. Matthew Semelsberger via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Drew Dober def. Rafael Alves via KO (punch) (1:30, R3)
• Hamdy Abdelwahab def. Don’Tale Mayes via split-decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• (#15) Drakkar Klose def. Rafa Garcia via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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

• Michael Morales def. Adam Fugitt via KO (punch) (1:09, R3)
• Joselyne Edwards def. Ji Yeon Kim via split-decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
• Nicolae Negumereanu def. Ihor Potieria via TKO (knees) (3:33, R2)
• Orion Cosce def. Blood Diamond via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Play-by-Play

Julianna Pena (C) vs. (#1) Amanda Nunes — UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship

Round One – Nunes comes out firing and pops off an early 1-2 that lands. Pena continues the forward push but walks into another 1-2 and Nunes lands a leg kick to boot. Nunes cracks Pena with an overhand right and it stuns the champion. Pena comes back with a left hook, then a right that also finds its mark and the champion drops to a knee but quickly scrambles back to her feet. Nunes lands another 1-2, Pena lands a left hook and Nunes dives in for a takedown but Pena holds her balance and shoves Nunes back. Nunes rocks Pena with a left hook, then a straight right and the champion retreats but the horn sounds to signify the opening frame coming to an end.

Round Two – Nunes wallops Pena with a right hook and Pena falls to a knee then rolls back to the mat. Nunes lets her up but drops her right back down with another right hook. Nunes, again, lets Pena back up and referee, Mike Beltran tells Pena to get back to her feet, which she does. Nunes lands a front kick to the body, Pena whiffs on an overhand left and walks into a right hook from the challenger. Nunes rocks Pena with yet another right hook and Pena drops the mat once more but gets back up per Nunes, and the referee’s request. Nunes fires off another right hook and Pena is stunned once again but she comes back with a right hook of her own and cracks Nunes. Pena latches on for the clinch but the buzzer sounds and this one is headed to round number three.

Round Three – Nunes goes for a spinning back elbow but Pena ends up landing a hook in a wild sequence. Nunes clinches and gets the fight against the fence. Pena forces her way out and lands a 1-2 on the break. Nunes latches onto Pena and sweeps the champion to the mat. Nunes lands on top, Pena holds her close to the body, Nunes looks to create separation but can’t quite seem to do so. Pena looks for the triangle, Nunes fights out and lands starts reigning down elbows and the champion is busted open across the right side of her forehead. Pena looks for an armbar but Nunes slides out and ends up in side control, where she unloads with an elbow. Pena starts firing off wild shots from the bottom but the horn sounds and this one is headed to the championship rounds.

Round Four – Nunes immediately takes Pena down and ends up in top control with over four and a half minutes to work. Nunes unloads some ground and pound, Pena, once again looks for the arm but Nunes avoids and settles back in with top control. Nunes goes for side control, Pena has an armbar, Nunes scoots to the fence and pushes herself off to get out of the hold and ends up with side control with over two and a half minutes to go. Nunes wallops Pena with elbows, Pena scrambles, Nunes keeps firing off shots, Pena uses the cage to get back to her feet but Nunes scoops and drops Pena right back on the mat. Nunes gets up and lets Pena back to her feet with 30-seconds to go in the round. Nunes fires off a 1-2 and drops Pena right back to the mat with a trip. Nunes lands a couple shots, Pena throws up a triangle, Nunes avoids and the buzzer sounds to send this one to the fifth and final round.

Round Five – Nunes dives in for another takedown, Pena latches on and pulls Nunes down into her guard. Pena looks for an armbar, Nunes stands to loosen the hold and does. Nunes counters into a guillotine but Pena avoids and gets back to her feet. Nunes grabs Pena’s arm and trips her right back to the mat. Nunes looks for side control, Pena scrambles back to her knees, Nunes looks for the back but Pena falls back to the mat and Nunes ends up back with top control. Nunes fires off some left hands, Pena scrambles but Nunes holds the position for the time being. Nunes rocks Nunes with a right hand, stands up, jumps back down and looks for the choke, Pena defends, and Nunes rides out the final few seconds on top and this one is headed to the judge’s scorecards.

Result: (#1) Amanda Nunes def. Julianna Pena (C) via unanimous decison (50-45, 50-44, 50-43)

(#1) Brandon Moreno vs. (#2) Kai Kara-France — Interim UFC Flyweight Championship

Round One – Kara-France cracks Moreno with a kick below the belt right off the bat. Moreno takes a few seconds to recover and the fight is quickly resumed. Moreno lands a 1-2, Kara-France lands a low kick, Moreno just misses a looping left hand, Kara-France grabs ahold of Moreno and the pair end up clinched against the fence. Kara-France shoves Moreno aside and lands a 1-2, Moreno comes back with a front kick to the body, Kara-France lands a left hook at the buzzer and the opening frame comes to a close.

Round Two – Kara-France lands a 1-2 to begin round number two. Moreno latches onto Kara-France and clinches against the fence. Moreno lands a knee to the body but the pair break free. Back in the center of the octagon, Kara-France lands a right hook, Moreno goes for a takedown but Kara-France holds his balance and lands another 1-2. Moreno goes for a leg kick but Kara-France kicks the other leg and Moreno falls to the mat. Moreno pops right back up and lands a 1-2, Kara-France misses an overhand right, Moreno lands a counter right hook and the horn sounds to end round number two.

Round Three – Kara-France with a low kick to start. Kara-France trips Moreno and lands on top. Moreno is busted open under his right eye. Moreno scrambles back to his feet, Kara-France cracks him with a 1-2 then another kick to Moreno’s lead leg. Kara-France lands yet another low kick then rips a 1-2 that lands. Kara-France dives for a takedown, Moreno shoves him aside and drills him with a kick to the body and Kara-France drops to the mat, Moreno rushes Kara-France and drills him with ground and pound and this one is waved off! Moreno is the NEW Interim UFC Flyweight Champion and seemingly earned himself yet another matchup with Deiveson Figueiredo.

Result: (#1) Brandon Moreno def. (#2) Kai Kara-France via TKO (body kick) (4:34, R3)

(#5) Derrick Lewis vs. (#11) Sergei Pavlovich

Round One – Pavlovich backs Lewis up with forward pressure early. Lewis rips a right hook to the body, Pavlovich comes back and rocks Lewis with a left hook and stuns him. Pavlovich peppers Lewis with a bevy of shots and sends Lewis face-first to the canvas with a right hand and this one is waved off! Lewis is not happy with referee, Dan Miragliotta but it did appear if Lewis was out, at least for a second.

Result: (#11) Sergei Pavlovich def. (#5) Derrick Lewis via TKO (strikes) (0:55, R1)

(#4) Alexandre Pantoja vs. (#6) Alex Perez

Round One – Pantoja cracks Perez with a 1-2, trips him to the mat and shoves Perez to the cage. Perez scrambles to his feet but Pantoja latches himself onto the back, Perez walks to the fence, Pantoja works the hands and looks for the choke, Perez tries to use the cage to push himself off, Pantoja tightens the grip and Perez taps! What a finish by Alexandre Pantoja!

Result: (#4) Alexandre Pantoja def. (#6) Alex Perez via submission (rear-naked choke) (1:31, R1)

(#4) Magomed Ankalaev vs. (#5) Anthony Smith

Round One – Not much early as both men engage in a bit of a feeling out process to start. Ankalaev with a low kick, Smith returns fire with one of his own. Smith lands a side kick to the body, Ankalaev pops the jab and lands a front kick to the midsection. Ankalaev lands a 1-2 then partially lands a high kick that sends Smith retreating to the fence. Ankalaev with another 1-2 then lands a low kick and a straight left. Smith fires off a looping right hook but misses, Ankalaev trips Smith to the mat and unloads some kicks to Smith’s calves and thighs. Smith with a kick to the shin and the two exchange kicks until the horn sounds to end the opening frame.

Round Two – Smith shoots for a takedown, Ankalaev holds his balance and backs himself up to the cage inside of the clinch. Smith drops down to the mat, looking for a trip but Ankalaev shoves Smith back and ends up in top control. Ankalaev starts dropping down some heavy ground and pound, Smith’s struggling to scramble and this one is waved off! After the stoppage, Smith points out his seemingly injured ankle to the ringside physcians and he’s helped out of the octagon.

Result: (#4) Magomed Ankalaev def. (#5) Anthony Smith via TKO (punches) (3:09, R2)

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