UFC on ESPN+ 120 live results: Reinier de Ridder vs. Brendan Allen
The Octagon heads back north of the border, returning to Canada for UFC On ESPN+ 120 at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The main event is a pivotal middleweight bout between Reinier de Ridder and Brendan Allen. de Ridder fights for the fifth time in just a year on the UFC roster, and is looking to remain undefeated inside the Octagon and earn a title shot. Allen, who is taking this fight on short notice replacing Anthony Hernandez, looks for his second straight win.
In the co-main event, Kevin Holland looks to build some momentum in the welterweight division as he looks to get back into the win column against rising Canadian contender Mike Malott, winner of his previous two outings.
Also on the main card is a pair of top-ten battles as Marlon Vera takes on Aiemann Zahabi in a bantamweight clash; and Manon Fiorot takes on Jasmine Jasudavicius in a big women’s flyweight bout. Plus, bantamweights Charles Jourdain and Davey Grant square off; and an explosive lightweight battle between Kyle Nelson and Matt Frevola kicks off the main card.
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> Women’s Bantamweights- Melissa Croden (6-2, 0-0 UFC) vs. Tainara Lisboa (7-3, 2-1 UFC)
Croden works the jab and lands a leg kick as Lisboa fires back a right hand. Croden lands a right hand and Lisboa returns fire with a combo. Croden lands a stiff jab and a body kick. They clinch and both land knees as Lisboa pushes it to the fence while landing a pair of knees. They trade big shots as they separate. Croden lands a jab as Lisboa lands a combo and gets the clinch, where she lands some knees. Croden reverses position and lands some knees of her own. Lisboa lands an elbow on the break. Croden rocks Lisboa with a jab and then lands a combo as Lisboa shoots for a takedown and pushes it against the fence. Lisboa lands a left hand as they break. Croden lands another big punch. They trade inside the pocket. Lisboa lands a solid right hand. Lisboa lands a solid combo. Croden lands a right hand. Close round. 10-9 Lisboa.
Croden lands a leg kick as Lisboa lands a combination. Lisboa lands a flurry as Croden lands a jab. Lisboa pushes it against the fence and lands some knees. They both then land knees before Lisboa gets it to the ground, but Croden is able to force a scramble up. Croden rushes forward and lands a jab. They trade before Lisboa forces another clinch. Croden briefly reverses and they separate. Lisboa rushes in to land and they tie up when Croden scores a takedown. Croden lands a lot of punches from the back and has control as they stand and Croden lands some more. Croden lands a big elbow and they separate. Croden lands a leg kick and then a combo and drops Lisboa with some punches. Croden starts landing from the top. Lisboa is trying to find an arm as she’s in survival mode. Croden lands some knees to end the round. 10-9 Croden, 19-19.
Croden lands a big right hand and a stiff jab. Croden lands a leg kick and a right hand that stuns Lisboa. Croden lands but Lisboa is able to score a takedown. They end up back on the feet and tied up. Lisboa tries a trip but Croden defends and grabs the neck. Croden gets Lisboa down to the mat. Croden gets to her feet and lands a few punches while standing. Lisboa looks for a leg to lock in a kneebar. Croden gets out and gets the back and lands lots of punches. She gets on top and lands some more punches. Lisboa is trying to squirm out of trouble. Croden gets the half-guard and lands some more shots. Croden gets the crucifix position and is landing. They stand but Croden continues to pour it on with pressure and punches. Lisboa falls to the ground and Croden ends it with some hammerfists. Big finish to get the debut win for Croden!
Fight Result- Melissa Croden def. Tainara Lisboa by TKO (punches) at 4:32 of Round 3
> Middleweights- Azamat Bekoev (20-3, 2-0 UFC) vs. Yousri Belgaroui (8-3, 0-0 UFC)
They trade leg kicks early. Bekoev lands a right hand. Belgaroui lands a jab and a kick. Belgaroui lands a jab and Bekoev lands a right hand. Bekoev scores a takedown and gets the back as they get to their feet. Bekoev lands and Belgaroui lands some elbows and Bekoev has a cut opened up as they stand. They trade and Bekoev attacks the takedown as they clinch. They separate. Bekoev lands some big right hands. Belgaroui lands a combination. Belgaroui lands a right hand and Bekoev is backing up. Belgaroui lands a jab and a right hand as Bekoev shoots for a takedown. 10-9 Belgaroui.
Belgaroui lands a leg kick. They trade body shots. Bekoev just misses a big right hand. They trade jabs. Bekoev lands a solid right hand. Bekoev lands a big punch but then Belgaroui lands a big knee and an uppercut. He’s starting to land with more volume in this round after a big first. Bekoev lands a big right hand and they tie up. They separate and trade and Bekoev is tired. He shoots for a takedown but Belgaroui defends and has side control and is landing elbows. Bekoev is trying for a takedown as he is dripping blood. They separate. Belgaroui lands a stiff elbow and a big knee. Belgaroui lands a big right hand that hurts Bekoev. 10-9 Belgaroui, 20-18 Belgaroui.
Belgaroui landing the jab at will to start the third as he mixes in a right hand. Belgaroui lands another right hand and Bekoev is wobbly on his feet. Belgaroui is landing and has Bekoev hurt. Belgaroui with some big right hands and it is stopped as Bekoev is only standing because of the fence. What a finish from Belgaroui!
Fight Result- Yousri Belgaroui def. Azamat Bekoev by TKO (punches) at :55 of Round 3
> Women’s Strawweights- Stephanie Luciano (6-2-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Ravena Oliveira (7-2-1, 0-1 UFC)
Luciano lands a pair of leg kicks. She keeps pressing forward and throwing kicks. She lands another calf kick. Luciano is side stepping the combos that Oliveira is throwing. Oliveira lands a combo. Luciano is relying on landing leg kicks. Oliveira lands a right hand. Luciano with a right hand. They trade inside the pocket. They trade leg kicks. They both land while throwing. Luciano throws a jumping knee and Oliveira lands a right hand. 10-9 Luciano.
Oliveira is throwing but Luciano is ducking the punches. Luciano lands as Oliveira throws. Luciano lands a leg kick. Oliveira connects with a right hand as Luciano landed a knee. They clinch for a bit and Luciano lands before they break. Luciano is avoiding the offense Oliveira is throwing. Luciano with a leg kick. Oliveira lands a high kick. Luciano with an axe kick and lands some leg kicks. Oliveira barely lands a right hand. They trade inside the pocket. Oliveira lands a right hand. Luciano lands a high kick and a jab. Luciano with a right hand. Luciano landing with far more volume here in the second. Luciano scores a takedown. Luciano lands punches from the top to end the round. 10-9 Luciano, 20-18 Luciano.
Luciano lands a leg kick and Oliveira misses her counter offense. Luciano with a leg kick. Luciano scores a takedown and Oliveira had the neck, but let go. Luciano pushes it to the fence in the half-guard and lands some right hands. Luciano stands and lands some punches. She grabs the back of Oliveira as she gets up. Luciano scores a trip takedown. Luciano takes the back of Oliveira and is working for a choke. She has it locked in and Oliveira taps! Luciano picks up the big submission win.
Fight Result- Stephanie Luciano def. Ravena Oliveira by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:50 of Round 3
> Middleweights- Danny Barlow (9-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. Djorden Santos (10-2, 0-1 UFC)
Barlow with a couple of kicks early and then he works the jab. Santos lands a left hook. Barlow with an inside leg kick that Santos checks. Santos lands a leg kick. Barlow lands a jab. They trade inside the pocket. Santos lands a right hand. Santos lands some inside leg kicks. Barlow lands a left hand and Santos counters with a right hand. Barlow lands a straight left hand. Barlow lands to the body. They trade leg kicks. Barlow lands a combo as Santos lands a right hand. Santos scores with a right hand. Barlow with a body kick. Barlow with a pair of leg kicks. Barlow lands a pair of left hands and both swing at the end. 10-9 Barlow.
They trade in close range. Santos landing in close range and Barlow backs him up with leg kicks. Barlow lands and Santos has his mouth piece knocked out. It is put back in and Barlow lands another big left hand. Barlow works the jab. Santos lands a combination. Barlow lands a left hand. They trade and timeout is called for an eye poke. They get back going and start trading punches. Barlow lands several left hands and has Santos in trouble. Barlow lands a big combination and Santos is hurt bad. Barlow lands to the body. Barlow with another combination. Santos lands a combination. Santos with a body kick. He hurts Barlow with a right hand and now he has Barlow in trouble. They are just trading big punches and Barlow lands a big right hand. Crazy ending to the round. 10-9 Barlow, 20-18 Barlow.
Santos rushes forward and lands a right hand. Santos lands a combo and lands a pair of right hands but slips on a kick. Santos gets up as Barlow is unable to capitalize. Barlow works the jab as Santos lands a few right hands. Barlow lands a left hand. Barlow works the jab as Santos is firing back with big punches. Barlow lands a left hand. Barlow lands a kick and slips to the mat and Santos jumps inside of Barlow’s guard. Santos with some shots from the top as he works in an elbow. Santos stands and gets the back of Barlow as they stand. They separate. Santos lands a big right hand. Santos with a double right hand. 10-9 Santos, 29-28 Barlow.
Fight Result- Djorden Santos def. Danny Barlow by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Flyweights- #14 Bruno Silva (14-7-2 1 NC, 4-4 1 NC UFC) vs. Hyun Sung Park (10-1, 3-1 UFC)
Silva coming forward and lands a leg kick and a right hand. Park grabs the leg and scores a takedown against the fence. They get up and are tied up. Park lands some knees and they break free. Silva lands an uppercut to the body. They trade and Park shoots for a takedown, but Silva sprawls. Silva scrambles to the back and gets a big slam suplex but they get right up. They break and Silva lands a big knee. They trade at a distance as Silva lands a jab. Park gets a brief takedown and lands some as Silva gets up. They separate. They trade kicks and Park lands an uppercut. 10-9 Silva.
Silva lands a big left hook that knocks Park down. Silva moves to the back and is working for a choke. Park is able to scramble out and they get to their feet. They trade and Silva scores a takedown. They get to their feet and Silva pushes it against the fence and they trade short punches. Park lands a pair of right hands as Silva works the jab. Silva with a pair of uppercuts. Silva grabs a leg and scores a takedown. Silva ends the round landing from the top. 10-9 Silva, 20-18 Silva.
Park lands a combo. They trade and Silva looks for a takedown, but Park lands a knee and a body combination. Silva is backing up and Park lands a knee. Park with some body shots as they’re tied up and lands a left hook on the break. Silva lands an uppercut as Park lands a combo. They trade stiff jabs. Park lands a kick and Silva grabs it and scores a takedown. They get to their feet and Silva has the back and drags it down. Silva working for a choke from the back. Park scrambles out but Silva is able to lock it back on and Park taps! What a finish from Silva!
Fight Result- Bruno Silva def. Hyun Sung Park by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:15 of Round 3
> Bantamweights- Cody Gibson (21-11, 3-6 UFC) vs. Aoriqileng (25-12 1 NC, 3-4 1 NC UFC)
Gibson lands a big right hand. Aoriqileng then drops Gibson with a massive right hand and some follow-up shots end it all. What a finish from Aoriqileng!
Fight Result- Aoriqileng def. Cody Gibson by knockout (punches) at :21 of Round 1
> Lightweights- Kyle Prepolec (18-9, 0-3 UFC) vs. Drew Dober (27-15 1 NC, 13-11 1 NC UFC)
They trade in close range. Dober lands a leg kick. Dober with another leg kick. He lands another and then a big left hand. Prepolec lands a head kick. Dober with another leg kick then lands another left hand. Dober with another leg kick. Dober lands a left hand. Prepolec with a left hand. Dober lands a leg kick then a combination. Prepolec lands a left hand. Dober lands an inside leg kick that looked like a groin strike, but Prepolec wanted to keep going. Dober lands a leg kick. Prepolec with a leg kick as Dober lands a combo. They trade in close range. Dober with a high kick. Dober lands a left hand. 10-9 Dober.
Dober lands a leg kick and a body shot. Prepolec throws back with a flurry of punches and a high kick. Dober’s nose is bloody. Dober with a right hook. Dober lands a series of left hands and mixes in some combinations. Dober with a spin kick and connects with a solid left hand. Prepolec works the jab to the head and body. Dober lands and Prepolec lands a head kick. Dober lands a left hand and then another. They trade jabs. Dober with a body kick. They trade in close range and Dober lands a leg kick. Prepolec lands a right hand that hurts Dober. Dober looks for a takedown but Prepolec defends it and they stay on the feet. Dober lands a combo. Prepolec with a head kick. Prepolec lands an uppercut and a punch that puts Dober on his knees to end the round. 10-9 Prepolec, 19-19.
They trade and Dober lands a massive groin kick and Prepolec goes right down in pain. Dober has a point taken away. Prepolec is able to continue. Dober lands some big punches and has Prepolec in trouble. Prepolec looks for a takedown but Dober lands a big knee and is pouring on the left hands. Dober unloading with knees and elbows and now uppercuts. Dober lands an uppercut and it is stopped! Dober needed the finish after the point deduction and he got it.
Fight Result- Drew Dober def. Kyle Prepolec by TKO (strikes) at 1:16 of Round 3
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> Lightweights- Kyle Nelson (16-6-1, 4-5-1 UFC) vs. Matt Frevola (11-5-1, 5-5-1 UFC)
Frevola lands a body kick and is throwing more early on. Frevola lands a right hand. They trade against the fence as Frevola lands an elbow and Nelson lands a left hand, then they circle away and reset. Both men slip as they throw. Nelson lands a leg kick. Frevola lands a solid right hand. They both land jabs. Nelson with a high kick. Nelson lands a heavy leg kick and Frevola lands a high kick. Frevola gets the back and lands a big slam takedown. Nelson is trying to scramble out and Frevola has a front headlock. Frevola with a knee to the body. Frevola jumps on the back but jumps off to keep control along the fence. They separate and Nelson hurts Frevola with a right hand. They are swinging and Nelson drops Frevola with a right hand. Nelson gets on top and is landing and Frevola is hurt and it is stopped with just seconds to go! What a finish from Nelson!
What? We are continuing even though there was time left on the clock when Dan Miragliotta stepped in.
They are trading and Nelson hurts Frevola with a head kick. Nelson lands a knee and a combination. They both land and Frevola looks for a takedown. They separate. Frevola lands a right hand. Frevola lands a head kick. Nelson lands a head kick and Frevola lands a right hand. Frevola is pressing forward and landing more. Nelson lands a leg kick. Nelson with a body kick. Nelson with a right hand. Nelson with a lead elbow. I feel weird scoring this. 10-9 Nelson, 20-17 Nelson.
Nelson hurts Frevola with a body kick. Nelson lands a head kick. He hurts Frevola with a left hand. Nelson lands another head kick. They clinch against the fence and Nelson lands to the body. They separate. They trade and Nelson scores a takedown and takes the back. Nelson is landing and gets the mount. Nelson looked for an arm-triangle choke, but Frevola was able to spin to the guard of Nelson. They scramble up and Nelson scores a takedown. Nelson lands and they get up late and trade. 10-9 Nelson, 30-26 Nelson.
Fight Result- Kyle Nelson def. Matt Frevola by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
> Bantamweights- Charles Jourdain (16-8-1, 7-7-1 UFC) vs. Davey Grant (15-7, 8-6 UFC)
Grant lands a body kick. Jourdain lands a combination ending with a high kick. Grant lands a pair of inside leg kicks. Jourdain lands a left hand. Jourdain with a high kick then lands a Superman punch and a right hand. Grant lands a right hand. Jourdain lands a flying knee. Grant lands a leg kick. Jourdain with a body kick then drops Grant with a flying knee. Jourdain starts landing from the top and Grant is busted open. Jourdain with some big punches and then locks in a guillotine choke and Grant taps! What a finish from Jourdain!
Fight Result- Charles Jourdain def. Davey Grant by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:05 of Round 1
> Women’s Flyweights- #2 Manon Fiorot (12-2, 7-1 UFC) vs. #5 Jasmine Jasudavicius (14-3, 8-2 UFC)
Fiorot lands a jab. She lands another jab. Jasudavicius connects with a right hand. Fiorot stuns Jasudavicius with a left hand. Fiorot starts teeing off and gets Jasudavicius down and continues to land punches and it is all over! Big finish from Fiorot!
Fight Result- Manon Fiorot def. Jasmine Jasudavicius by TKO (punches) at 1:14 of Round 1
> Bantamweights- #7 Marlon Vera (23-10-1, 15-9 UFC) vs. #9 Aiemann Zahabi (13-2, 7-2 UFC)
Vera pressing forward and lands a high kick. Zahabi with a leg kick. Zahabi lands a body kick. Vera throws a head kick. Zahabi with an inside leg kick. They trade left hooks. Vera lands a combo. Vera lands a leg kick. Zahabi lands a combination ending with a solid left hand. Vera with a jab, then a front kick and a leg kick. Vera throws more kicks. Zahabi lands a left hook and then another left hand. Zahabi lands a combo and two body kicks. Zahabi with more aggressive action at the end of the first. 10-9 Zahabi.
Zahabi lands a body kick. Zahabi with some more kicks. Vera lands a high kick. Zahabi lands a jab. Vera with a left hand. Zahabi throws a kick, but Vera catches it and lands a quick flurry. Vera with a right hand. They trade body kicks and Vera lands a combo. Vera then drops Zahabi with a jab. Zahabi scrambles to his feet but is still on wobbly legs. Vera with a high kick. Vera with a combo ending with a left hook to the body. Vera lands a body kick. Vera with a high kick and a combo. Zahabi lands a combination but eats a jab from Vera. Zahabi turning on the volume as he lands to the body and then another combination. Zahabi with a solid combo. 10-9 Vera, 19-19.
Vera with a high kick and Zahabi lands a knee. Zahabi with a body kick. Vera lands a high kick. Zahabi with a leg kick followed by a jab. Vera lands a short uppercut. Vera with a pair of left hands. Zahabi lands a right hand. Zahabi with a quick flurry. Vera lands a solid left hand. Zahabi pressing forward and lands a combination. Zahabi with an uppercut. Zahabi with a pair of kicks and Vera attacks the body. Vera with some body kicks. Zahabi with a leg kick. Vera lands a left hand. Zahabi with more volume landed in the round. Zahabi rushes in and lands. Vera lands a leg kick. They trade body kicks and both men start teeing off on each other to end it. 10-9 Zahabi, 29-28 Zahabi.
Fight Result- Aiemann Zahabi def. Marlon Vera by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
> Welterweights- #15 Kevin Holland (28-14 1 NC, 15-11 1 NC UFC) vs. Mike Malott (12-2-1, 5-1 UFC)
Holland lands some leg kicks early as Malott is finding home for some punches. They trade and Malott lands solidly. Malott lands a kick and Holland catches it and lands a right hand and Malott goes down to the mat. Holland lands from the top. Malott is able to grab a leg and reverse and they scramble. Malott has the back but Holland is able to scramble up. Malott gets a takedown but Holland uses the momentum to roll up to his feet. Groin strike by Malott and timeout is called. They get going and Holland is throwing but Malott is able to grab the body lock. Malott lands another groin strike with a knee and timeout is called again. Holland uses his full five minutes and is continuing though he is clearly still hurting. Malott lands two left hands. They clinch and Holland lands an elbow on the break. 10-9 Malott.
The doctor checks on Holland before the round and he continues. They trade jabs. Malott lands a combination. Holland lands a right hand. Malott with a jab and Holland lands an uppercut. Holland lands a right hand. Malott lands a right hand. Malott with a front kick. Holland lands a combo. Malott with a right hand. Malott with a front kick and then a nasty left hook. Holland lands a leg kick. Holland with a right hand. Malott with a combo against the fence and lands a knee to the body. Holland lands a right hand and an uppercut. They trade late. 10-9 Malott, 20-18 Malott.
Holland with an inside leg kick. Malott lands a body kick. Holland throwing side kicks as Malott is able to land left hooks. Malott with a combo as they tie up for a brief moment. Malott with a pair of body kicks then lands a right hand as Holland was coming in. Holland lands a combination. Holland with a series of jabs. Malott picks Holland up and slams him to the mat. Holland lands some elbows from the bottom. Malott is able to get inside the full guard and Holland and lands. Malott looking for an arm-triangle choke. He has it locked in but Holland is able to slip himself out. They clinch to end it. 10-9 Malott, 30-27 Malott.
Fight Result- Mike Malott def. Kevin Holland by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Middleweights- #4 Reinier de Ridder (21-2, 4-0 UFC) vs. #9 Brendan Allen (25-7, 13-4 UFC)
They clinch right up and de Ridder scores a takedown and is right into the mount position. He has Allen pinned down and Allen is just laying there. Allen tries to roll and de Ridder maintains top control. de Ridder has the back now and is looking to lock in the body triangle. He has the body triangle locked on. de Ridder lands as he tries to flatten Allen out. de Ridder lands is looking for a choke as he’s attacking the neck. Allen is defending but de Ridder lands some elbows and punches from the back. de Ridder looks for an arm but Allen escapes. 10-9 de Ridder.
de Ridder lands a body kick. Allen lands and just misses a spinning elbow. They clinch against the fence with de Ridder having body control. de Ridder gets Allen down to the mat. de Ridder tries to take the back, but Allen is able to reverse and ends up on top. Allen lands an elbow and then another one. Allen lands another elbow. de Ridder looking to throw his legs up and roll for an arm. Allen with more shots from the top. Allen lands some more from the top. de Ridder looking for something with his legs as Allen lands. 10-9 Allen, 19-19.
de Ridder gets the back and drags it to the ground and has back control. de Ridder has the body triangle locked on and is working for a choke, but Allen is fighting the hands. Allen is trying to turn and de Ridder looks for an arm-triangle choke, but Allen gets out of it and is now inside the guard of de Ridder. Allen with an elbow from the top. de Ridder is looking to attack an arm, but Allen is landing from the top. Allen controlling from the top and landing as de Ridder is looking tired. Allen lands and de Ridder looks for a triangle choke late, but Allen is able to escape at the end. 10-9 Allen, 29-28 Allen.
Allen rushes right in and picks de Ridder up, carries him around and dumps him to the ground in front of his corner. Allen controlling from the top and landing as de Ridder is looking to attack an arm, but not doing much from the bottom. Allen lands some big right hands. Allen gets side control and is smothering from the top. Allen is looking for an arm. Allen lands from the top. 10-9 Allen, 39-37 Allen.
de Ridder’s corner throws in the towel in between rounds as de Ridder is completely gassed out and is too exhausted to continue, giving Allen the big win.
Fight Result- Brendan Allen def. Reinier de Ridder by TKO (corner stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 4
MMA writer & live coverage specialist, contributor to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter