The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to Arena Jaraguá in Jaraguá do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil tonight for UFC Fight Night 36: “Machida vs Mousasi.” The event was headlined by a middleweight bout between Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida and Gegard “The Dreamcatcher” Mousasi.

Also on the card, former Strikeforce champion Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza took on Francis “Limitless” Carmont in the middleweight co-feature. Erick “Índio” Silva battled Japanese veteran Takenori Sato in a welterweight bout. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the UFC Fight Night 36 card.

Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida vs Gegard “The Dreamcatcher” Mousasi

Round 1:
Machida circled on the outside and kicked at Mousasi’s leg early on. He followed with a hard body kick and Mousasi walked forward with a leg kick of his own. A nice left uppercut landed for Machida and the fighters traded punches in close. Machida threw a body kick late in the round. 10-9 Machida.

Round 2:
More leg kicks were exchanged in round two and Mousasi landed a short left hand in close. Machida answered back with a body kick and he drilled Mousasi with a head kick that landed flush. Mousasi caught Machida’s leg and clinched briefly before Machida backed away. Mousasi threw a kick to the upper body and avoided a head kick. He countered a lunging elbow from Machida with two uppercuts. A nice one-two and a leg kick scored for Mousasi and he avoided Machida’s counterpunches. Mousasi tried for a takedown and Machida countered with a flurry. Close round. 10-9 Machida, barely.

Round 3:
The fighters exchanged cautious jabs and leg kicks in the second round. Mousasi tried for a takedown and Machida stuffed it. Mousasi jabbed and Machida closed in with a combination. Machida kicked to the body and opened a cut on the bridge of Mousasi’s nose. Machida landed a step-in knee, but Mousasi tagged him with a three-punch flurry. Standing elbows scored for both fighters and Machida tried for a takedown. 10-9 Machida.

Round 4:
Machida missed with a front kick in round four and Mousasi took him down, but Machida scrambled back up to his feet. Both men landed leg kicks and Machida threw another front kick. He dumped Mousasi to the mat and moved to half-guard. Mousasi swept and Machida eyed a kimura. He tried for an omoplata from the bottom and Mousasi punched his way free. Machida got to his knees and Mousasi hopped on his back. Machida shrugged him off and Mousasi landed an illegal upkick. Action resumed after a brief break and the bell sounded soon after. 10-9 Machida.

Round 5:
Machida rushed in with punches and a head kick attempt in round five. A left hand landed for Machida and he followed with a knee to the body. Mousasi snapped his head back with a jab and Machida began to bleed from the nose. Machida tripped Mousasi and wound up on top in half-guard. Machida took Mousasi’s back and attempted a rear-naked choke. Mousasi escaped and Machida landed a diving right hand just before the bell. 10-9 Machida.

Winner: Lyoto Machida by Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) after five rounds. He improves to 21-4-0.

Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza vs Francis “Limitless” Carmont

Round 1:
Souza landed a spinning back kick early in the fight and jumped on Carmont’s back. He dragged him down and worked for a rear-naked choke from back control. He nearly secured the choke, but Carmont managed to prevent him from grasping his hands together. Souza landed hammerfists from the back and continued to work for submissions until the end of the round. 10-9 Souza.

Round 2:
Souza pressed forward with a leg kick and two right hands in the second round. He kept Carmont on the defensive and walked forward with more looping punches. Carmont clinched and tried for a takedown against the cage, but Souza broke free. Carmont landed an overhand right and Souza shot in for a takedown. Carmont stayed on his feet and connected with a nice right hand. He followed with a combination and a winging right. Souza chased him down and punched to the head and body. He tried for a takedown and Carmont stayed up. Close round. 10-9 Carmont.

Round 3:
The final round began with punches from Souza, who took Carmont down into back control. Souza landed hammerfists and punches while setting up a rear-naked choke. Carmont tried to escape from Souza’s body triangle, but he could not. Souza punched from the back and nearly secured a rear-naked choke, but Carmont tucked his chin in and escaped. Carmont attempted to stand, but Souza held him down and came close to finishing the fight with another rear-naked choke as time expired. 10-9 Souza.

Winner: Ronaldo Souza by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 20-3-0, 1 NC.

Erick “Índio” Silva vs Takenori Sato

Round 1:
Silva hurt Sato with a body kick right away and he followed up with a barrage of punches. Sato dove in for a desperation takedown and Silva landed a series of right hands until Sato was unconscious.

Winner: Erick Silva by KO (Punches) at 0:52 of round one. He improves to 16-4-0, 1 NC.

Nicholas “Nico” Musoke vs Viscardi Andrade

Round 1:
Andrade ducked under a combination from Musoke and took him down in the opening minute. Musoke fought his way back up and Andrade floored him with a massive right hand. Andrade began to celebrate, but Musoke recovered and Andrade dropped down into his guard. From the top, Andrade landed punches, but Musoke regained his composure and got back to his feet. Andrade landed more looping right hands, but Musoke began to counter with lefts. 10-9 Andrade.

Round 2:
Musoke took Andrade’s back in round two and tried to drag him down to the mat. Andrade broke free and Musoke tripped him. Andrade stood and Musoke hurt him with a head kick. He followed with punches, but Andrade recovered against the cage. Musoke took Andrade down and landed punches and hammerfists from Andrade’s guard. He postured up with harder punches and remained on top until the end of the round. 10-9 Musoke.

Round 3:
Following an early striking exchange in round three, Musoke closed the distance and took Andrade’s back. He secured a takedown and worked for a rear-naked choke from back control. Musoke locked on a body triangle to prevent Andrade from rolling and escaping. Musoke stayed on Andrade’s back until time expired. 10-9 Musoke.

Winner: Nicholas Musoke by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 12-2-0, 1 NC.

Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira vs Andy “The Little Axe” Ogle

Round 1:
Power punches were exchanged right away and Oliveira took Ogle down. He hopped on Ogle’s back and worked to set up a standing rear-naked choke. Oliveira dragged Ogle down and continued to hunt for the choke. He stayed on Ogle’s back all the way until the bell and landed hammerfists with his free hand. 10-9 Oliveira.

Round 2:
Oliveira took Ogle down early in round two, but Ogle shrugged Oliveira off of his back and wound up on top. He landed short punches until Oliveira battled back to his feet. Oliveira tripped Ogle again, but Ogle once again reversed on the way down. This time, Oliveira got back to top position and he attempted a Brabo choke, then an anaconda choke. Ogle escaped and the fight returned to the feet. Ogle got Oliveira down against the cage and he struck from the top until Oliveira scrambled and took his back. Oliveira tried for a rear-naked choke until the end of the round. 10-9 Oliveira.

Round 3:
Oliveira dropped Ogle with a counter hook just seconds into round three. Ogle recovered and escaped from a rear-naked choke attempt. Oliveira tried for a guillotine choke as the fight returned to the feet and he pulled guard, but Ogle punched his way free. The fighters stood and Ogle reversed a takedown. Ogle landed a diving right hand, but Oliveira countered by trapping him in a triangle choke. Ogle tried to pull his head free, but he could not and was forced to submit.

Winner: Charles Oliveira by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 2:40 of round three. He improves to 17-4-0, 1 NC.

(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)