UFC Vegas 65 Results, Live Coverage, and Discussion: Kennedy Nzechukwu Knocks Out Ion Cutelaba In Makeshift Main Event!

Welcome to Fightful.com‘s results, live coverage, and discussion for UFC Vegas 65: Lewis vs. Spivac.

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.

***UPDATE***

During the prelims it was announced on the UFC broadcast that Derrick Lewis has came down with a non-COVID, non-weight cutting illness before arriving to the UFC Apex and has been pulled from the main event against Serghei Spivac. Tonight’s originally scheduled co-main event between Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Ion Cutelaba has been elevated to the main event and will remain a three round bout.

Results

Main Card (ESPN+, 4:00 p.m. EDT/1:00 p.m. PDT)

• Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Ion Cutelaba via TKO (strikes) (1:02, R1)
• Waldo Cortes-Acosta def, Chase Sherman via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Muslim Salikhov def. Andre Fialho via TKO (strikes) (1:03, R3)
• Jack Della Maddalena def. Danny Roberts via TKO (strikes) (3:24, R1)

Prelims (ESPN+, 1:00 p.m. EDT/10:00 a.m. PDT)

• Charles Johnson def. Zhalgas Zhumagulov via split-decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Jennifer Maia def. Maryna Moroz via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Miles Johns def. Vince Morales via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Ricky Turcios def. Kevin Natividad via split-decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Vannesa Demopoulos def. Maria Oliveira via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Brady Hiestand def. Fernie Garcia via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Natalia Silva def. Tereza Bleda via TKO (spinning back kick) (1:27, R3)

Play-by-Play

Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Ion Cutelaba

Round One – Cutelaba whiffs on an overhand right to start. Cutelaba latches onto Nzechukwu and trios him to the mat for a takedown but Nzechuwku scrambles and quickly gets back to his feet. Cutelaba goes right back in for another takedown but Nzechukwu slides out and tries to slam Cutelaba, but Cutelaba evades and stomps on Nzechukwu’s foot as the horn sounds to end the opening frame.

Round Two – Cutelaba lands a low kick to start. Cutelaba shoots for a takedown but Nzechukwu drills him with a knee and Cutelaba is hurt. Nzechukwu rushes in and starts unloading on Cutelaba and referee, Keith Peterson has seen enough! Statement performance from Kennedy Nzechukwu!

Result: Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Ion Cutelaba via TKO (strikes) (1:02, R2)

Chase Sherman vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Result: Waldo Cortes-Acosta def, Chase Sherman via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Andre Fialho vs. Muslim Salikhov

Round One – A low kick for Salikhov opens the action. Salikhov goes for but misses a spinning back kick and eats an uppercut from Fialho for his troubles. A 1-2 lands for the Portuguese-contender as does a left hook that looks to have Salikhov on (somewhat) wobbly legs. Fialho drills Salikhov with another left hook and this one has a well forming around Salikhov’s left eye. Fialho clinches Salikhov against the fence but Salikhov quickly forces the break and lands a left hook at the horn that ends the opening frame.

Round Two – Salikhkov cracks Fialho with a spinning back fist and Fialho is hurt. Salikhov partially lands a spinning back kick to the head, then lands a 1-2 and a spinning kick to the body. Fialho is hurt bad and is just throwing out of desperation, somehow finds a home for a right hook but completely whiffs on an overhand left and falls to the mat, where Salikhov immediately jumps on top and starts hammering down some heavy shots. For how badly he’s been hurt this round, Fialho actually defends well but eats a slicing elbow from Salikhov on the ground but the buzzer sounds to perhaps save Fialho from being finished.

Round Three – Fialho doesn’t look quite right still even after the break and Salikhov clearly senses that as well and immediately pushes forward to start the final frame. A 1-2 lands for the Russian-born contender and another spinning back kick to the body folds Fialho but somehow he’s still (barely) standing, albeit knelt over. Fialho pops up but eats a left hook, then another 1-2 and yet another left hook and referee, Chris Tognoni has seen enough and this one is over! What a comeback by Muslim Salikhov!

Result: Muslim Salikhov def. Andre Fialho via TKO (strikes) (1:03, R3)

Jack Della Maddalena vs. Danny Roberts

Round One – Maddalena drills Roberts with a 1-2 to start. Maddalena starts peppering in the jab before clocking Roberts with another 1-2, and Roberts is already hurt as he retreats to the cage as Maddalena lights him up with a bevy of shots to both the body and head. Maddalena wallops Roberts with a wild combination, all of which seemingly lands and Roberts is dropped to the mat. Maddalena swarms Roberts and lands some heavy shots, Roberts scrambles to his feet but Maddalena swarms him once again and starts firing off shot after shot. Roberts shoots for a desperation takedown but Maddalena evades and rips a right hook to the body of Roberts and Roberts is down for a second-time and after a few follow up shots from Maddalena, this one is mercifully waved off! Jack Della Maddalena is REAL!

Result: Jack Della Maddalena def. Danny Roberts via TKO (strikes) (3:24, R1)

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