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UFC Fight Night 251 takes place Saturday, and you can join us for live round-by-round coverage and official results beginning at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT). UFC Fight Night 251 (ESPN+) takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Former middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier (17-8 MMA, 10-8 UFC) headlines against Gregory Rodrigues (16-5 MMA, 7-2 UFC). In the co-feature, Calvin Kattar (23-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC) meets the surging Youssef Zalal (16-5-1 MMA, 6-3-1 UFC) at featherweight.
Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 4 p.m. ET for the prelims on ESPN+ and 7 p.m. ET for the main card on ESPN+.
Enjoy the fights, everyone.
UFC Fight Night 251 lineup
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
- Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues
- Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal
- Dylan Budka vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
- Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov
- Andre Petroski vs. Rodolfo Vieira
- Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)
- Angela Hill vs. Ketlen Souza
- Jesus Aguilar vs. Rafael Estevam
- Gabriel Bonfim vs. Khaos Williams
- Vince Morales vs. Elijah Smith
- Valter Walker def. Don’Tale Mayes via submission (heel hook) – Round 1, 1:17
- Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Julia Avila via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Vince Morales vs. Elijah Smith
Round 1 – Morales quickly takes control from the center, prompting Smith to circle on the outside. Morales offers punches first, which Smith is able to evade. Now Smith fires his initial strikes. Smith connects beautifully with an uppercut, popping Morales’ head up. Morales continues to press forward with a combo of punches, adding a kick that lands flush to the junk. Smith folds over in pain as the referee pauses the fight. It’s a bad one, and Smith takes his time as the Apex falls completely silent. The on-screen timer shows 2:48 elapsed before the restart. Smith lets his hands go, landing nicely. Morales stays in close range. Smith paws his hand out and pokes Morales in the eye, causing another pause in the action. This time, the break is less than a minute. Smith doubles up the jab. A heated exchange of punches sees both fighters land clean. Morales stays forward, landing nice punches. Smith goes to leg kicks. Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it with just a few seconds remaining.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Smith.
Round 2 – Morales gets back to heavy foward pressure, and lands an early quick combo. Morales charges in again with punches, but this time Smith gets a hold of him, lifts, carries him across the cage, and slams him to the mat. Smith takes the back and slaps on a rear naked choke. It’s tight, but he’s slipping off the side and he loses it. They scramble, with Morales coming up on a single leg. Morales gets the takedown and slaps on a D’arce choke. Morales has it tight, but Smith remains calm as he works through it. He’s finally out. They scramble for position again, and Morales ends up with another D’arce. It’s not there. A Japanese necktie for Morales! Smith powers out. More scrambles. Morales takes control momentarily. Smith gets back in control right at the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Morales.
Round 3 –
Result:
Recap:
Photos:
Records: Morales (16-8 MMA, 3-6 UFC), Smith (7-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Judging:
Don’Tale Mayes vs. Valter Walker
Round 1 – Walker gets the action started with a leg kick. A moment later, he rushes in for a big takedown, completeing it without much resistance. Short strikes are offered from the top, but now Walker rolls for a heel hook! He secures it and gets the tap! Woah!
Result: Valter Walker def. Don’Tale Mayes via submission (heel hook) – Round 1, 1:17
Recap:
Photos:
Records: Mayes (11-7 MMA, 4-5 UFC), Walker (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Dan Miragliotta
Julia Avila vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti
Round 1 – They touch gloves and Avila opens the action with a pair of leg kicks. Cavalcanti fires off a fast punching combo as the feel out process continues. More kicks from Avila, and other combination from Cavalcanti. They remain in striking range, but stay patient with their offerings. Cavalcanti turns up the volume with her punches, keeping Avila on the back foot near the fence. Avila finds a home for a solid counter right, but it doesn’t get Cavalcanti to back off. Two big hooks land for Cavalcanti. Avila answers with a punch. Cavalcanti continues to fire solid punches, winning the final exchanges of the round.
MMA Junkie scores it 10-9 for Cavalcanti.
Round 2 – Cavalcanti gets right back into striking range. Avila offers strikes quickly, but Cavalcanti steps back to evade. Avila charges forward but eats a hard right hand counter. Cavalcanti continues to dictate the pace of the fight by leading the exchanges with effective punches and well-timed kicks. Avila’s corner says, “No more backing up.” Cavalcanti gets a hold of a kick, and the right hand sends Avila down. Avila scrambles to get a hold of Cavalcanti to get a takedown. Avila controls from the top, but she’s busted open somewhere, somehow – perhaps from the punch. Cavalcanti holds on well to prevent damage until the round concludes.
MMA Junkie scores it 10-9 for Cavalcanti.
Round 3 – Once gain, Cavalcanti gets to her spot. Avila’s corner is very vocal right now about turning up the aggression. Avila offers a combination, but isn’t able to keep her forward momentum. Cavalcanti regains control and puts together 1-2 combos behind feints. Avila remains on the outside near the fence, offering intermittent right hands. A takedown attempt from Avila isn’t there. One minute to go now. Cavalcanti backs slightly out of range of Avila’s offerings while landing her own strikes. Avila closes in to clinch, and there’s one more exchange before the horn.
MMA Junkie scores it 10-9 for Cavalcanti, giving her the fight 30-27.
Result: Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Julia Avila via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos:
Records: Avila (9-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC), Cavalcanti (9-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC)
Division: Women’s bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Judging: Derek Cleary, Eric Colon, Sal D’Amato
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 251.