UFC 248 Results: Two Title Fights & The Sugar Show Returns To The Octagon
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Main Card (10pm EST., ESPN+ Pay-Per-View)
UFC Middleweight Championship
Israel Adesanya def. #3 Yoel Romero by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) to retain the title
UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship
Zhang Weili def. #4 Joanna Jedrzejczyk by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) to retain the title
Beneil Dariush def. Drakkar Klose by KO via punch (1:00, R2)
Neil Magny def. Li Jingliang by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Alex Oliveira def. Max Griffin by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Preliminary Card (8pm EST., ESPN)
Sean O’Malley def. Jose Quinonez by TKO via strikes (2:02, R1)
Mark Madsen def. Austin Hubbard by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Rodolfo Vieira def. Saparbeg Safarov by submission via arm triangle choke (2:58, R1)
Gerald Meerschaert def. Deron Winn by submission via rear naked choke (2:13, R3)
Preliminary Card (7pm EST., ESPN+)
Giga Chikadze def. Jamall Emmers by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Danna Batgerel def. Guido Cannetti by KO via strikes (3:01, R1)
Danna Batgerel vs. Guido Cannetti
Round One: The round begins with Cannetti briefly dropping Batgerel with a leg kick, Cannetti goes for a high kick and Batgerel blocks it. Cannetti and Batgerel get into a few wild striking exchanges, Batgerel nails a kicking Cannetti with a counter right. Batgerel charges at Cannetti while taking some swings at him, Batgerel then pops Cannetti with a two punch combination. Cannetti again briefly drops Batgerel with a leg kick, Batgerel gets up and he attacks Cannetti with more combos. Cannetti nails an incoming Batgerel with a kick to the midsection, Batgerel drops a swinging Cannetti with a counter left hook and he pounces on him with more strikes until the referee jumps in.
Official Result: Danna Batgerel def. Guido Cannetti by KO via strikes (3:01, R1)
Jamall Emmers vs. Giga Chikadze
Round One: The round begins with Chikadze attempting a spinning back kick against Emmers, Chikadze lands some leg kicks against Emmers. Chikadze rocks a swinging Emmers with a counter right hook, Chikadze chases Emmers down while swinging away at him. Emmers starts landing some leg kicks of his own against Chikadze, Chikadze attacks Emmers with some kicks to the midsection. Chikadze backs up Emmers after throwing a few lefts at him, Chikadze and Emmers get into a brief striking exchange. Chikadze goes for a jumping head kick as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Chikadze
Round Two: The round begins with Emmers attempting a flying knee strike against Chikadze, Emmers nails a swinging Chikadze with a counter right. Chikadze goes for an overhand left and Emmers blocks it, Chikadze comes forward and he attacks Emmers with a combination. Emmers scores a takedown on Chikadze and he gets the half guard, Chikadze sweeps Emmers and he gets top control. Chikadze postures up and he attacks Emmers with strikes as he stood up, Chikadze accidentally pokes Emmers in the eye and the fight is halted. The fight resumes with Emmers going for another flying knee strike, Chikadze rocks Emmers with a left hook. The fighters clinch and Emmers lands some knee strikes, Emmers gets Chikadze up against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Emmers throws a few body kicks, Emmers then nails Chikadze with a knee strike to the midsection. Chikadze and Emmers exchange high kicks as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Emmers (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)
Round Three: The round begins with Chikadze attacking Emmers with a multiple punch combination, Emmers comes forward as the fighter swing away at each other. Emmers clocks a swinging Chikadze with a counter right uppercut, Chikadze responds by cracking Emmers with a series of lefts. Emmers continues backing up Chikadze while getting into some striking exchanges, Chikadze again pops Emmers with a few lefts. Emmers scores a takedown on Chikadze and he gets the full guard, Emmers lands ground and pound as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Emmers (Final Score: 29-28 for Emmers)
Official Result: Giga Chikadze def. Jamall Emmers by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Gerald Meerschaert vs. Deron Winn
Round One: The round begins with Meerschaert kicking Winn in the midsection, Meerschaert accidentally kicks Winn low and the fight is halted. The fight resumes with Meerschaert taking some swings at Winn, Meerschaert also starts attacking Winn with some leg kicks. Winn comes forward and he takes some swings against Meerschaert, Winn scores a takedown on Meerschaert and he immediately postures up. Meerschaert gets up and he swings away at Winn, Winn backs Meerschaert into the cage wall while landing a multiple strike combination. Winn then cracks a backing Meerschaert with a right to the midsection, Meerschaert cracks Winn with a left. Winn barely grazes the face of Meerschaert with a high kick, Winn also cracks Meerschaert with a kick to the midsection. Meerschaert responds by nailing Winn with a step in knee strike, Winn stuns Meerschaert by landing a two punch combination. Meerschaert and Winn exchange a few lefts while swinging at each other, Meerschaert throws a left as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Winn
Round Two: The round begins with Meerschaert immediately attacking Winn with a left, Winn pops a swinging Meerschaert with a counter left. Meerschaert continues attacking Winn with a plethora of lefts, Winn responds by working the body of Meerschaert. Meerschaert then cracks Winn with a kick to the midsection followed by a left, Winn starts attacking Meerschaert with some leg kicks. Winn looks for a takedown before kicking Meerschaert in the midsection, Meerschaert uses the jab to keep Winn at a distance. Meerschaert then cracks Winn with multiple lefts to the midsection, Meerschaert backs up Winn while cracking him with more lefts. Winn cracks a swinging Meerschaert with a counter right hook to the midsection, Meerschaert recovers and he nails Winn with a knee strike as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Meerschaert (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)
Round Three: The round begins with Meerschaert peppering Winn with jabs, Meerschaert also attacks Winn with some lefts. Meerschaert goes back to attacking the midsection of Winn, Winn comes forward and he rocks Meerschaert with a right hook. Winn charges forward and he swings away against Meerschaert, Meerschaert rocks a swinging Winn with a multiple strike combination. Meerschaert drops Winn with a follow up combination, Winn gets up and Meerschaert drags him back to the ground while gaining back control. Meerschaert locks in a rear naked choke and a tap out follows.
Official Result: Gerald Meerschaert def. Deron Winn by submission via rear naked choke (2:13, R3)
Rodolfo Vieira vs. Saparbeg Safarov
Round One: The round begins with the fighters taking some swings at each other, Safarov lands some leg kicks against Vieira. Safarov rocks Vieira with a front kick to the face, Vieira scores a takedown and Safarov gets right back up. Vieira scores another takedown on Safarov and he gets back control, Vieira attacks Safarov with some ground and pound. Vieira gains the full mount on Safarov while landing some more strikes, Vieira locks in an arm triangle choke and a tap out follows.
Official Result: Rodolfo Vieira def. Saparbeg Safarov by submission via arm triangle choke (2:58, R1)
Mark Madsen vs. Austin Hubbard
Round One: The round begins with Hubbard attacking Madsen with some leg kicks, Madsen grabs Hubbard and he gets him against the cage wall. Madsen scores a takedown on Hubbard and he gets back control, Hubbard gets up as Madsen swings away at him. Madsen drags Hubbard back to the ground and he gets back control, Hubbard scrambles to his feet and Madsen gets him back against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Hubbard throws more leg kicks, Madsen scores another takedown on Hubbard and he gets side control. Madsen rolls for a few chokes and Hubbard escapes them all, Hubbard scrambles to his feet and Madsen gets him against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Madsen gets Hubbard back against the cage wall until the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Madsen
Round Two: The round begins with Hubbard attacking Madsen with a step in knee strike, Madsen scores a takedown on Hubbard after landing a two punch combination. Hubbard eventually gets Madsen back in his full guard, Hubbard scrambles to his feet and Madsen gets him against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Hubbard attacks Madsen with a high kick attempt, Madsen scores another takedown on Hubbard and he gets back control. Madsen attacks Hubbard with some ground and pound, Hubbard scrambles to his feet and he separates from Madsen. Hubbard starts attacking Madsen with some leg kicks, Madsen looks for a takedown and Hubbard counters with a knee strike as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Madsen (Overall Score: 20-18 for Madsen)
Round Three: The round begins with Hubbard kicking Madsen in the midsection, Madsen scores a takedown on a swinging Hubbard and he gets the full guard. Hubbard scrambles to his feet and he attacks Madsen with leg kicks, Hubbard rocks Madsen with a jumping knee strike to the face. Madsen grabs Hubbard and he gets him against the cage wall, the fighters separate and swing away at each other. Hubbard nails Madsen with another knee strike to the face followed by an uppercut, Hubbard then cracks Madsen with a left hook to the midsection. Madsen grabs Hubbard and he gets him against the cage wall, Madsen drags Hubbard to the ground and he gets back control. Hubbard gets back to his feet and he separates from Madsen, Hubbard comes forward and he nails Madsen with a right. Hubbard nails Madsen with a jump knee strike followed by a right, Hubbard swings at Madsen as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Hubbard (Final Score: 29-28 for Madsen)
Official Result: Mark Madsen def. Austin Hubbard by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Sean O’Malley vs. Jose Quinonez
Round One: The round begins with O’Malley attacking Quinonez with a front kick to the midsection, Quinonez eats a leg kick before nailing O’Malley with a counter left. O’Malley starts landing some leg kicks against Quinonez, O’Malley cracks Quinonez with a spinning back kick to the midsection. O’Malley then nails Quinonez with a right followed by a body kick, O’Malley drops Quinonez with a combination and he pounces on him with more strikes until the referee jumps in.
Official Result: Sean O’Malley def. Jose Quinonez by TKO via strikes (2:02, R1)
Alex Oliveira vs. Max Griffin
Round One: The round begins with Griffin taking some swings at Oliveira, Griffin cracks Oliveira with a right. Oliveira nails Griffin with a front kick to the midsection, Oliveira grabs Griffin and he gets him up against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Oliveira starts landing some combinations against Griffin, Griffin lights up Oliveira with a straight right. Griffin scores a takedown on Oliveira and he gets the full guard, Griffin attacks Oliveira with some ground and pound. Griffin advances to the half guard against Oliveira, Oliveira scrambles to his feet and Griffin holds him against the cage wall. Griffin scores another takedown and Oliveira gets right up as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Griffin
Round Two: The round begins with Oliveira attacking Griffin with some leg kicks, Oliveira also cracks Griffin with an uppercut. Oliveira grabs Griffin and he gets him up against the cage wall, the fighters separate and the ref halts the fight so the doctor can check a cut on Griffin. The action resumes with Oliveira attacking Griffin with more leg kicks, Oliveira then cracks an incoming Griffin with a short right hook. Oliveira backs Griffin up against the cage wall while swinging away at him, the fighters separate and Oliveira throws some front kicks to the body. Oliveira looks for a takedown as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Oliveira (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)
Round Three: The round begins with the fighters swinging away at each other, Oliveira grabs Griffin and he gets him against the cage wall. Griffin spins Oliveira and Oliveira attacks him with elbow strikes, the fighters exchange some strikes while in the clinch. The fighters separate and Oliveira quickly scores a takedown on Griffin, Oliveira gets the full mount and Griffin gets him in the half guard a short time later. Oliveira transitions to the full mount against Griffin, Oliveira attacks Griffin with ground and pound. Griffin sweeps Oliveira and he winds up getting top control, Griffin attacks Oliveira with some ground and pound. Griffin lands more strikes on Oliveira as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Oliveira (Final Score: 29-28 for Oliveira)
Official Result: Alex Oliveira def. Max Griffin by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Neil Magny vs. Li Jingliang
Round One: The round begins with Jingliang attacking Magny with some leg kicks, Magny stays at a distance while attacking Jingliang with jabs. Magny also pops Jingliang with a two punch combination, Jingliang grabs Magny and he gets him up against the cage wall. Jingliang rocks Magny with a right as they separated, Jingliang follows a rocked Magny while swinging wildly at him. Magny scores a takedown on Jingliang and he gets back control, Jingliang scrambles to his feet and Magny holds him against the cage wall. The fighters exchange some strikes while in the clinch, the fighters separate and Magny gets Jingliang back against the cage wall. Magny cracks Jingliang with a knee strike to the midsection, Jingliang scores a takedown on Magny and Magny quickly gets back up. Magny backs Jingliang up while landing knee strikes to the midsection, Magny lands some jabs as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Jingliang
Round Two: The round begins with Magny attacking Jingliang with a multiple strike combination, Jingliang grabs Magny and he gets him against the cage wall. Magny attacks Jingliang with a bunch of rights while in the clinch, Jingliang briefly separates and he attacks Magny with a left. Magny scores a takedown on Jingliang and Jingliang gets back up while eating strikes, Jingliang separates from Magny while swinging away at him. Magny quickly grabs Jingliang and he gets him back against the cage wall, Magny separates and he cracks Jingliang with a plethora of strikes. Magny scores a takedown on Jingliang as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Magny (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)
Round Three: The round begins with Jingliang coming forward while swinging away at Magny, Magny stays at a distance while peppering Jingliang with strikes. Jingliang continues charging at Magny while swinging at him, Jingliang starts landing some leg kicks against Magny. Magny grabs Jingliang and he gets him up against the cage wall, Magny nails Jingliang with a knee strike to the head as they separate. Magny scores a takedown on Jingliang and he gets the half guard, Magny attacks Jingliang with ground and pound. Magny transitions to back control on Jingliang while landing more strikes, Magny swings away at Jingliang as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Magny (Final Score: 29-28 for Magny)
Official Result: Neil Magny def. Li Jingliang by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Beneil Dariush vs. Drakkar Klose
Round One: The round begins with Dariush attacking Klose with a left followed by a body kick, Klose responds by clocking Dariush with a few rights. Dariush grabs Klose and he scores a takedown on him, Klose gets back up and Dariush holds him against the cage wall. Dariush jumps on the back of a standing Klose, Dariush peppers Klose with some short range strikes. Dariush hunts for the rear naked choke against Klose and Klose defends until the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Dariush
Round Two: The round begins with Klose attacking Dariush with some leg kicks, Dariush accidentally kicks Klose low and the fight is halted. The fight resumes with Klose cracking Dariush with a right, Klose crushes a swinging Dariush with a counter right hook. Klose backs up Dariush while swinging wildly at him, Dariush fires back and he rocks a swinging Klose with a combination of his own. Dariush flattens Klose with a left hook and Klose goes out cold.
Official Result: Beneil Dariush def. Drakkar Klose by KO via punch (1:00, R2)
UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship
Zhang Weili (c) vs. #4 Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Round One: The round begins with the fighters exchanging some leg kicks, Weili attacks Jedrzejczyk with a multiple punch combination. Jedrzejczyk responds by cracking Weili with a right, Jedrzejczyk and Weili get into a striking exchange. Weili backs up Jedrzejczyk after throwing a two punch combination, Weili comes forward and she cracks Jedrzejczyk with a pair of rights. Weili and Jedrzejczyk continue exchanging a variety of kicks, Weili cracks a swinging Jedrzejczyk with a counter right hook. Weili starts stunning Jedrzejczyk by landing counter strikes, Weili cracks Jedrzejczyk with a kick to the midsection. Jedrzejczyk fires back and she cracks Weili with some combos as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Weili
Round Two: The round begins with the fighters getting into a brief striking exchange, Jedrzejczyk stuns Weili with a straight right. Jedrzejczyk and Weili also exchange some leg kicks, Weili comes forward as the two exchange more strikes. Weili backs up a swinging Jedrzejczyk by landing a pair of counter rights, the fighters clinch and battle along the cage wall. Jedrzejczyk starts landing strikes while in the clinch, Weili breaks the clinch while landing elbow strikes on Jedrzejczyk. Weili cracks a swinging Jedrzejczyk with a counter right hook, Weili rocks Jedrzejczyk with a follow up right and a side kick. Weili scores a takedown on Jedrzejczyk and Jedrzejczyk gets back up, Weili lands another counter right on a swinging Jedrzejczyk. Jedrzejczyk nails Weili with a front kick to the midsection, Weili cracks Jedrzejczyk with a counter left hook. Jedrzejczyk nails Weili with a head kick as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Weili (Overall Score: 20-18 for Weili)
Round Three: The round begins with the fighters immediately swinging away at each other, Jedrzejczyk stays at a distance while picking Weili apart with punches. Weili comes forward and she cracks Jedrzejczyk with a two punch combination, Jedrzejczyk and Weili also exchange a bunch of leg kicks. Jedrzejczyk nails a kicking Weili with a counter left hook, Weili nails a kicking Jedrzejczyk with a counter right. Jedrzejczyk comes forward and she cracks Weili with a multiple punch combination, Weili backs Jedrzejczyk into the cage wall as they exchange more strikes. Weili scores two takedowns on Jedrzejczyk and Jedrzejczyk gets back up each time, the fighters separate and Weili kicks Jedrzejczyk in the midsection. Weili then hits a swinging Jedrzejczyk with a counter left hook, Jedrzejczyk responds by popping Weili with a multiple punch combination. The fighters get into one more exchange as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Jedrzejczyk (Overall Score: 29-28 for Weili)
Round Four: The round begins with the fighters immediately exchanging a variety of kicks, Weili hits a swinging Jedrzejczyk with a counter right. Jedrzejczyk comes forward and she attacks Weili with a combination, Jedrzejczyk and Weili exchange some counter strikes. Weili rocks a swinging Jedrzejczyk as both land counter left hooks, Jedrzejczyk stuns Weili with a knee strike to the face. Jedrzejczyk grabs Weili and she nails her with more knee strikes. Jedrzejczyk then cracks Weili with a three punch combination, Jedrzejczyk then cracks Weili with a left hook. Weili recovers to land a counter left hook on a swinging Jedrzejczyk, Jedrzejczyk and Weili also exchange some rights. Jedrzejczyk comes forward and she cracks Weili with an elbow strike while eating a multiple punch combination, Weili and Jedrzejczyk clinch and battle along the cage wall. Weili nails Jedrzejczyk with a combination as they separate, Jedrzejczyk recovers and pops Weili with a left. Weili throws a leg kick as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Weili (Overall Score: 39-37 for Weili)
Round Five: The round begins with the fighters getting into a wild striking exchange, Jedrzejczyk and Weili exchange some leg kicks as well. Jedrzejczyk nails Weili with a kick to the midsection, Jedrzejczyk backs up Weili after landing a right. Weili responds by landing a counter left hook on a swinging Jedrzejczyk, Weili follows up by landing more left hooks on Jedrzejczyk. Jedrzejczyk responds by nailing Weili with a right, Jedrzejczyk then cracks a swinging Weili with a pair of left hooks. Jedrzejczyk and Weili get involved in more wild striking exchanges, Jedrzejczyk grabs Weili and she gets her against the cage wall. Jedrzejczyk lands a few strikes before separating from Weili, Weili then hits a swinging Jedrzejczyk with a counter right hook. Weili also cracks a kicking Jedrzejczyk with a kick to the midsection, Jedrzejczyk nails Weili with a spinning back fist as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Weili (Final Score: 49-46 for Weili)
Official Result: Zhang Weili def. Joanna Jedrzejczyk by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) to retain the title
UFC Middleweight Championship
Israel Adesanya (c) vs. #3 Yoel Romero
Round One: The round begins with the fighters dancing around each other, Adesanya starts attacking Romero with some leg kicks. Romero responds by landing his own leg kicks on Adesanya, Adesanya backs up Romero by taking a few swings at him. Romero fires back and he cracks Adesanya with a left, Romero nails Adesanya with a jumping round kick to the midsection. Romero throws a final leg kick as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Romero
Round Two: The round begins with Romero attacking a kicking Adesanya with a counter overhand left, Adesanya goes for a head kick and Romero avoids it. Adesanya and Romero exchange a few leg kicks, Romero swarms on Adesanya while unleashing some lefts on him. Adesanya continues kicking away at Romero and Romero avoids almost all of them, Romero eats a kick while attacking Adesanya with a counter left. Adesanya starts attacking Romero with some head kick attempts, Adesanya lands a jab as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Romero (Overall Score: 20-18 for Romero)
Round Three: The round begins with Romero landing a counter left on a kicking Adesanya, Adesanya starts attacking Romero with some leg kicks. Romero responds by landing some leg kicks of his own, Adesanya stays on the outside while taking some swings at Romero. Romero comes forward and he nails Adesanya with an overhand left, Romero then nails Adesanya with a kick to the midsection. Adesanya responds by nailing Romero with a front kick to the midsection, Adesanya backs up Romero after landing a front kick to the face. Adesanya then nails Romero with a right to the midsection as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Adesanya (Overall Score: 29-28 for Romero)
Round Four: The round begins with Adesanya attacking Romero with some leg kicks Romero backs up after throwing a multiple strike combination. Adesanya stays on the outside while taking some swings at Romero, Adesanya accidentally pokes Romero in the eye and the fight is halted. The fight resumes with Romero scoring a takedown and Adesanya gets right back up, Romero and Adesanya take turns swinging at each other and little of it lands. Adesanya then pops Romero with a two punch combination, Romero charges at Adesanya and swings at him as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Adesanya (Overall Score: 38-38 for Draw)
Round Five: The round begins with Adesanya attacking Romero with a high kick, Adesanya starts landing some leg kicks against Romero. Romero starts hunting for the takedown against Adesanya, Romero backs up Adesanya after landing a left. Romero starts landing some leg kicks against Adesanya, Romero then cracks Adesanya with a few lefts. The fighters have a brief striking exchange as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Romero (Final Score: 48-47 for Romero)
Official Result: Israel Adesanya def. Yoel Romero by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) to retain the title
