UFC on ESPN+ 121 live results: Steve Garcia vs. David Onama
The UFC kicks off a busy month of November as the Octagon returns home inside of the UFC Apex in Las Vegas for tonight’s UFC on ESPN+ 121.
The main event is a battle of ranked featherweights each competing in their first main event as 12th-ranked Steve Garcia takes on 13th-ranked David Onama. Garcia comes in riding a six-fight win streak, last beating Calvin Kattar in July. Onama enters the fight on the heels of four consecutive wins with his last coming over Giga Chikadze in April.
The co-main event sees top ten heavyweights square off as Waldo Cortes-Acosta takes on Ante Delija. Also on the main card is a welterweight bout pitting Jeremiah Wells against Themba Gorimbo; a battle of featherweight prospects as Isaac Dulgarian takes on Yadier del Valle; and a welterweight slugfest between Charles Radtke and Daniel Frunza.
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> Women’s Strawweights- Talita Alencar (6-1-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. Ariane Carnelossi (15-3, 3-2 UFC)
They trade to start as Carnelossi lands a left hook. Alencar lands a body kick as Carnelossi fires in a combo. Alencar forces it against the fence as they clinch. Carnelossi lands a right hand as they break. They trade against the fence and Alencar circles away. Alencar lands a combination. Carnelossi looks for a takedown against the fence. Carnelossi with some punches as she’s pressuring Alencar against the fence. They trade knees as they take turns reversing position. Alencar gets a brief takedown as Carnelossi gets up. Alencar lands an elbow as they separate. They clinch back up with Carnelossi in control and she lands some knees. Alencar gets a takedown and Carnelossi is throwing upkicks. Alencar gets on top and lands to end the round. 10-9 Alencar.
They come out trading punches and leg kicks as Carnelossi is being aggressive to start the second. They trade punches. Carnelossi chasing Alencar around and landing. Alencar lands a high kick. They trade leg kicks. Alencar lands a right hand, and Carnelossi fires back a right hand and a leg kick. Carnelossi lands more heavy leg kicks. Carnelossi is taking over on the feet. Alencar rocks Carnelossi with a right hand and lands a big knee and gets Carnelossi down to the mat. Alencar has head control as they scramble. Alencar is looking for a crucifix position as Carnelossi is trying to break the grip. Alencar lands a few elbows and they go to the mat. Alencar lands from the back. Alencar has the back late and a choke locked in but Carnelossi survives. Wow. 10-9 Alencar, 20-18 Alencar.
Carnelossi pushing forward and they both land. Alencar lands a jab. Carnelossi landing with more volume as Alencar is tired. Carnelossi throws a kick and Alencar grabs the leg and scores a takedown. Alencar is working to get the top as Carnelossi is attacking a foot. Alencar controlling on the ground and landing to the body. Alencar has the back against the fence. Alencar locks in a rear-naked choke and it forces Carnelossi to tap late in the fight.
Fight Result- Talita Alencar def. Ariane Carnelossi by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:36 of Round 3
> Welterweights- Phil Rowe (11-5, 4-3 UFC) vs. Seokhyeon Ko (12-2, 1-0 UFC)
Ko with some early leg kicks and Rowe fires back one. Ko lands a left hand and scores a takedown. Ko controlling and lands some elbows from the half-guard. Ko gets inside the full guard of Rowe and then starts landing as he has the back on the mat. They stand and Ko is able to get Rowe back to the mat. Ko with some short elbows from the top. He continues to land some more. Ko with a few more. 10-9 Ko.
Rowe lands a right hand and Ko hurts him with a left hand. Rowe backs up to the fence and Ko grabs a leg and scores a takedown. Ko is working from side control with short shots and looks to take the mount, but only gets to the half-guard. Ko with lots of pressure and punches and elbows from the top. Ko landing lots of punches and elbows from the top. Ko looking for the mount but he keeps on top and keeps smothering Rowe. 10-9 Ko, 20-18 Ko.
They trade leg kicks. Ko lands another and Rowe lands a right hand. Ko scores a takedown and lands some big elbows from the top. Rowe is trying to escape from the top but Ko is keeping him pinned. Ko is mixing elbows and punches and even lands some knees when Rowe tries to scramble out. Rowe attacks a leg but Ko is defending and lands some elbows. They stand and Ko pressues it against the fence and lands some knees. 10-9 Ko, 30-27 Ko.
Fight Result- Seokhyeon Ko def. Phil Rowe by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
> Women’s Strawweights- Alice Ardelean (10-7, 1-2 UFC) vs. Montserrat Conejo Ruiz (10-4, 1-3 UFC)
Ardelean pushes forward and they trade leg kicks as both land punches. Ardelean with a right hand to the body as they trade in close range. Ruiz is landng and connects with a few left hands. Ardelean is landing in close range. Ruiz lands a left hand but eats a combo from Ardelean. Ardelean lands a combo but eats a combo from Ruiz. Ruiz initiates a clinch, but nothing much happens as they separate. Ardelean lands as Ruiz charges forward. Ardelean jumps on the back late and has control. 10-9 Ardelean.
Ardelean lands a high kick. They trade inside the pocket. Ardelean lands a combination and is getting the better of the volume. Ruiz looks for a takedown but Ardelean defends and Ardelean lands inside the pocket. They trade kicks and Ardelean lands a right hand. They clinch for a moment but break. Ardelean is pressuring Ruiz and lands, though Ruiz lands some. Ruiz shoots for a takedown but Ardelean defends it. Ardelean working to the head and body. Ruiz lands a left hand but Ardelean fires back a combination. Ardelean with a jab that Ruiz is walking right into. Ardelean pulling ahead even more with far more volume. 10-9 Ardelean, 20-18 Ardelean.
They trade to start the third as Ardelean is pressing forward and Ruiz is throwing punches that aren’t connecting. Ardelean lands a body kick and they clinch up. Ruiz has good position but Ardelean is scrambling out and Ardelean lands. Ardelean with a pair of jabs. They trade inside the pocket and Ardelean lands better but Ruiz connects with a left hand. They trade leg kicks. They trade combs and Ruiz lands short kicks. Ardelean lands inside the pocket. Ardelean hurts Ruiz with a right hand. Ruiz gets a late takedown. 10-9 Ardelean, 30-27 Ardelean.
Fight Result- Alice Ardelean def. Montserrat Ruiz by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Women’s Bantamweights- #3 Ketlen Vieira (15-4, 9-4 UFC) vs. #4 Norma Dumont (12-2, 8-2 UFC)
Vieira lands a heavy leg kick and Dumont returns one of her own. They trade leg kicks and Vieira attacks the body. They trade inside the pocket. Dumont lands a leg kick. Vieira lands a leg kick. They trade and Dumont lands a left hand. Both land some more punches. They trade leg kicks. Dumont with a heavy leg kick. She lands another. Vieira shoots for a takedown and gets it and has the back. She flattens Dumont down and looks for an arm-triangle choke. She has it locked in but Dumont is able to fight it off and survive. 10-9 Vieira.
Dumont comes forward and lands a body kick. Vieira with a right hand. Dumont lands a leg kick. Dumont lands a jab. Vieira lands a body shot. Dumont with a combo. Dumont with a heavy leg kick as they trade inside the pocket. Vieira lands a leg kick. They trade kicks. Dumont lands a combination. They clinch up and Dumont lands a knee before they separate. Vieira lands a takedown. Vieira working inside the guard of Dumont. Vieira working from the top as she lands some left hands. Vieira now attacking the neck for an arm-triangle choke. She lets go and is controlling in the half-guard. Vieira with some body shots. 10-9 Vieira, 20-18 Vieira.
Dumont lands two right hands and Vieira circles away. Dumont with a combo and they clinch against the fence. Dumont has an overhook on and lands some knees, but Vieira is pressuring and has been able to land some knees. They separate and Dumont lands and Vieira is firing back. Dumont is pressuring. Dumont with a right hand to the body. Dumont lands a combo. Vieira lands a right hand. Dumont lands a right hand and a leg kick. Dumont with a late combo and Vieira lands a big right hand. 10-9 Dumont, 29-28 Vieira.
Fight Result- Norma Dumont def. Ketlen Vieira by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
> Middleweights- Donte Johnson (6-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Sedriques Dumas (10-3 1 NC, 3-3 1 NC UFC)
Dumas lands a front kick and scores a takedown. Dumas is leaning on Johnson but there isn’t much action is going on. Johnson gets up and Dumas has the leg. Johnson with some hammerfists and he escapes and grabs body control. Johnson gets a big slam takedown despite Dumas trying to grab the fence. They scramble up and Johnson has control along the fence. Dumas lands a knee. They separate. Dumas tries to spin but Johnson gets a takedown and has the back as they stand. They break as Johnson lands. Dumas keeps spinning. Johnson lands a right hand and Dumas shoots, but Johnson ends up on top. Johnson with a big elbow. 10-9 Johnson.
Dumas lands a body kick as Johnson lands a left hand. Dumas shoots for a takedown but Johnson defends and then scores a takedown. Johnson is attacking the neck and lands some short punches. Johnson stands and lands as Dumas lands a rolling kick. Johnson grabs the neck and locks in a choke and Dumas immediately taps.
Fight Result- Donte Johnson def. Sedriques Dumas by submission (guillotine choke) at 1:25 of Round 2
> Bantamweights- Timmy Cuamba (9-3, 1-2 UFC) vs. ChangHo Lee (11-1, 2-0 UFC)
Cuamba lands a right hand as Lee lands a leg kick and Lee starts looking for a takedown against the fence. Lee has the back and drags it down. They stand with Lee on Cuamba’s back. Lee landing right hands from the back. Cuamba is fighting the hands as Lee is hitting him and Lee is looking for an opening. Lee controls from the back until the end as he takes Cuamba down. 10-9 Lee.
Cuamba lands a leg kick and tries a flying knee, but Lee grabs the body and is looking for a takedown. Cuamba has the neck and is looking to roll for a choke. Lee escape. Cuamba lands a right hand but Lee is able to clip him with a left hook. Lee lands and scores a takedown. Cuamba looking for a choke from the bottom. He lets go. They scramble up and Lee has control. Lee gets it down but Cuamba reverses it to the feet and they separate. Lee lands a left hook. Cuamba lands a right hand. Lee drops down for a takedown against the fence. Cuamba defends as they scramble and break. Lee lands a left hand as Cuamba lands a spinning elbow. Cuamba with a pair of knees. Cuamba scores a takedown and has the back. Cuamba has the hooks in and looks for a choke. 10-9 Cuamba, 19-19.
Lee works the jab and Cuamba looks for a takedown, but Lee defends it. They separate and Cuamba lands a body kick but slips to the mat, and Lee jumps on the back. Lee is attacking the arm but Cuamba is able to shake himself free. Cuamba is attacking the ankle and staying on top as Lee is trying to scramble up. They get to their feet and Cuamba lands a knee before scoring a takedown. Cuamba has back control with the body triangle locked on. Cuamba is squeezing as the fight ends. 10-9 Cuamba, 29-28 Cuamba.
Fight Result- Timmy Cuamba def. ChangHo Lee by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Light Heavyweights- Billy Elekana (8-2, 1-1 UFC) vs. Kevin Christian (9-2, 0-0 UFC)
They trade leg kicks. Elekana lands a front kick. Christian lands a leg kick. He lands another. Elekana fires back a leg kick. Christian with a body kick. He lands another. He lands an inside leg kick. Elekana drops Christian with a big left hand and starts lading from the top. Elekana grabs the back and locks in a rear-naked choke and Christian was tapping where the referee couldn’t see and he eventually goes out and the fight is all over! What a finish by Elekana!
Fight Result- Billy Elekana def. Kevin Christian by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:33 of Round 1
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> 130-pound Catchweights- Allan Nascimento (21-6, 3-1 UFC) vs. Cody Durden (17-8-1, 6-6-1 UFC)
Durden lands a right hand. They trade jabs. Nascimento throws a kick and Durden grabs it and takes him down, but they stand. Durden lands a jab. Nascimento with a calf kick. He lands another leg kick. Nascimento with a leg kick as Durden works the jab. Nascimento with a pair of leg kicks. Durden lands a body kick. They trade punches. Durden lands a leg kick. Durden lands a right hand and then one to the body. Durden lands again and lands a leg kick. They trade and Nascimento is back landing leg kicks. They trade inside the pocket. Nascimento with some front kicks. Durden lands a right hand. They trade heavy leg kicks. Nascimento with a left hand. 10-9 Durden.
Nascimento attacking with kicks as they trade punches in close range. They trade and Nascimento lands some knees and more leg kicks. Durden lands a right hand. Nascimento with more leg kicks as he works the jab. Durden also working the jab. Nascimento continues to fire leg kicks in there but eats a heavy right hand combination from Durden. They trade near the fence. Durden lands a right hand. Nascimento hurts Durden with a punch and then locks in a guillotine choke. He has Durden in trouble as Durden is trying to spin out but Durden taps! Nascimento picks up the win.
Fight Result- Allan Nascimento def. Cody Durden by submission (anaconda choke) at 3:13 of Round 2
> Welterweights- Charles Radtke (10-5, 3-2 UFC) vs. Daniel Frunza (9-3, 0-1 UFC)
Radtke lands a leg kick. Radtke lands a high kick. They trade inside the pocket as Radtke lands an uppercut. Radtke scores a takedown and has the back with a hook in. Radtke lands some big punches from the back and Frunza is covering up. Radtke has the body triangle locked on and is landing before he locks in a choke. Frunza is trying to fight it but the choke is in deep. Frunza was able to fight it off. Both landing punches now. Radtke landing more. 10-9 Radtke.
Frunza lands a body kick. They clinch against the fence. Radtke has the body lock and is able to foot sweep and get Frunza down to the mat. Radtke gets inside the guard and starts landing as Frunza is trying to defend from the bottom. Radtke with some elbows from the top. Frunza is cut open on the bottom. Radtke with punches to the head and body. Radtke with more heavy shots from the top from side control. 10-9 Radtke, 20-18 Radtke.
They trade and Radtke scores a takedown. Radtke landing from the half-guard with some heavy left hands. Radtke in total control from the top as he continues to land and gets top mount and half back mount. Frunza is doing nothing on the bottom and gets warned for grabbing the fence. Radtke has the back with the body triangle locked on. Radtke locks in a rear-naked choke and it is in deep and Frunza taps.
Fight Result- Charles Radtke def. Daniel Frunza by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:29 of Round 3
> Featherweights- Isaac Dulgarian (7-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. Yadier del Valle (9-0, 1-0 UFC)
Dulgarian looks for a takedown but del Valle sprawls and gets the back. del Valle has the body triangle locked on and is looking for a choke. Dulgarian is trying to roll out and del Valle starts landing punches. del Valle flattens Dulgarian out and is landing big punches. del Valle locks in a rear-naked choke. Dulgarian is trying to fight it off. del Valle is working for the choke. It is in deep. Dulgarian is trying to fight it off but he ends up tapping. Big finish from del Valle!
Fight Result- Yadier del Valle def. Isaac Dulgarian by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:41 of Round 1
> Welterweights- Jeremiah Wells (12-4-1, 4-2 UFC) vs. Themba Gorimbo (14-5, 4-2 UFC)
Gorimbo lands a right hand and scores a takedown. They scramble and Gorimbo has the back on the feet. Wells is defending and they scramble to the ground with Gorimbo in full mount. Gorimbo with some right hands from the top. Wells gives up his back. They get to their feet and Wells looks for a takedown, but Gorimbo counters and ends up on top in the half-guard. They scramble up, but Gorimbo is able to get it back down. They end up getting back to their feet and remain tied up. Wells gets a late takedown. 10-9 Gorimbo.
Gorimbo lands a body kick. Gorimbo scores a takedown and works inside the guard. They scramble up and Wells has the neck standing but ends up letting go. They trade and Wells lands a left hand. Wells scores a takedown and is working from the top as he lands to the body and has neck control. Wells gets the mount but Gorimbo is able to reverse to the top and end the round on top. 10-9 Wells, 19-19.
They trade body kicks and Wells lands a right hand. Gorimbo gets a takedown and Wells has the neck and is looking for a choke, but Gorimbo is being patient in trying to escape. Gorimbo gets his neck out and is in the top half-guard and looking for an arm-triangle choke. Wells slips out and they go to the fence and scramble to the feet. Wells looks for a takedown and is able to score. Wells is looking for an arm-triangle choke. Wells lets go and has the back. Gorimbo is trying to scramble out but Wells is maintaining control. Wells gets side control and is landing punches and elbows. Wells with more short elbows from the top. 10-9 Wells, 29-28 Wells.
Fight Result- Jeremiah Wells def. Themba Gorimbo by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Heavyweights- #6 Waldo Cortes-Acosta (14-2, 7-2 UFC) vs. #9 Ante Delija (26-6, 1-0 UFC)
> Featherweights- #12 Steve Garcia (18-5, 7-2 UFC) vs. #13 David Onama (14-2, 6-2 UFC)
MMA writer & live coverage specialist, contributor to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter