The Ultimate Fighting Championship stayed at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight for UFC 252: “Miocic vs Cormier 3.” The card was headlined by a UFC Heavyweight Championship trilogy matchup between defending champ Stipe Miocic and former titleholder Daniel “D.C.” Cormier.
In the bantamweight co-main event, “Sugar” Sean O’Malley squared off against Marlon “Chito” Vera. Former heavyweight champion Junior “Cigano” dos Santos battled fellow contender Jairzinho “Bigi Boy” Rozenstruik in a featured bout. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the UFC 252 card.
UFC Heavyweight Championship
Stipe Miocic vs Daniel “D.C.” Cormier
Round 1:
Miocic landed lead left hooks early in the fight and Cormier responded with a takedown. Miocic battled back up to his feet and he broke free from the clinch. Miocic landed a quick one-two and he followed with a right hand to the body. Both men landed right hooks and time was called when Miocic was poked in the left eye. The fight continued after a momentary delay and Miocic continued to target the body. He followed with a combination to Cormier’s face and Cormier answered back with a right hook. Big right hands were exchanged late in the round and Cormier landed one to Miocic’s temple that briefly wobbled him. Close opening round. 10-9 Miocic.
Round 2:
The second round began with an exchange of leg kicks and time was briefly called when Cormier was kicked in the groin. The fight continued and Miocic landed a lunging combination. Both men landed leg kicks and Cormier followed with three short hooks in close. Another flurry landed for Cormier, but Miocic answered back with a lead left hook and a right hand to the body. Jabs were exchanged and Miocic connected with a left hook. Miocic avoided two clinch attempts and Cormier chased after him with jabs and a right hook. Cormier mixed up his strikes with jabs, right hands and a leg kick. Miocic chased after him with punches and he dropped Cormier with right hands in the final seconds. The round ended with Cormier on top in mount and a dazed Cormier holding on. 10-9 Miocic.
Round 3:
Miocic pressed the action with right hands and a head kick attempt early in round three. The fighters traded power punches and Miocic landed more right hooks. He held Cormier against the fence and landed a spinning back elbow to the body on the break. Miocic pressed forward with two lunging hooks and he clinched once more. Right hooks were exchanged on the break and Cormier began to throw kicks to Miocic’s leg and body. Both men landed right hands and Cormier followed with a leg kick. A right hook landed for Miocic late in the round and Cormier was poked in the eye shortly before the bell. 10-9 Miocic.
Round 4:
Both men landed solid jabs early in the fourth round and Miocic backed Cormier up against the cage once again. Cormier broke free and he began to land leg kicks. Miocic answered with a right hook and another clinch. Cormier once again broke free and he landed a hard right hook. Both men connected with right hands and another clinch followed. In the final minute, Cormier threw one-twos from a distance and he landed a hard right hook shortly before the bell. 10-9 Miocic by a slim margin.
Round 5:
Miocic landed a flurry and a pair of long jabs in the opening minute of round five. A lengthy clinch followed until Cormier broke free. He landed two right hoks and Miocic responded with a three-punch combo. Cormier punched his way into another clinch and Miocic held him against the cage. Cormier circled out and both men landed one-twos. Miocic looked for a takedown and Cormier stuffed it. He continued to score with right hooks over the top. Miocic clinched and Cormier briefly trapped him in a standing guillotine choke. 10-9 Cormier. Very close fight.
Winner: Stipe Miocic by Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) after five rounds. He improves to 20-3-0 and remains the UFC Heavyweight Champion.
Marlon “Chito” Vera vs “Sugar” Sean O’Malley
Round 1:
O’Malley landed kicks to Vera’s lead leg and body in the opening 90 seconds. Vera attempted a head kick and O’Malley hurt his right leg while faking a movement forward. He immediately began to limp and Vera kicked at his leg as O’Malley constantly circled to the sides. O’Malley pressed forward with punches, but he lost his balance due to the injured leg and fell to the mat. Vera rushed in with punches from the top. He landed a big left hand and an elbow that stunned O’Malley and continued to land punches until the fight was stopped.
Winner: Marlon Vera by TKO (Elbow & Punches) at 4:40 of round one. He improves to 16-6-1.
Jairzinho “Bigi Boy” Rozenstruik vs Junior “Cigano” dos Santos
Round 1:
The fighters traded leg kicks in the opening minute and dos Santos landed a right hand to the body. He followed with two body kicks and both men landed overhand rights. Dos Santos missed with a winging right hand but landed a follow-up left hook. Dos Santos continued to throw punches to the body and Rozenstruik countered with leg kicks. He caught a kick from dos Santos and rushed at him with punches. Dos Santos circled out and landed a huge right hand, but Rozenstruik did not react at all. Time was called when dos Santos was kicked in the groin. Action resumed and the round ended soon after. 10-9 dos Santos.
Round 2:
Rozenstruik chased after dos Santos with punches early in the second round and both men landed leg kicks. Dos Santos connected with an overhand right and a long jab. A period of inactivity followed until dos Santos landed a big right hook that froze Rozenstruik momentarily. Soon after, a left-right combo from Rozenstruik sent dos Santos crashing to the mat. Rozenstruik immediately dove in with more punches on the ground. Dos Santos tried to stand up, but he was dropped again with a left hook and Rozenstruik continue to land punches until the bout was stopped.
Winner: Jairzinho Rozenstruik by TKO (Punches) at 3:47 of round two. He improves to 11-1-0.
Daniel “The Pit” Pineda vs Herbert “The Blaze” Burns
Round 1:
Pineda landed a huge right hand in the opening seconds, but Burns was unfazed and he took Pineda down. Pineda stood and he landed a back elbow strike followed by a left hook to the body. He took Burns down and threw elbows and punches from the top. Pineda postured up with a big right hand and he avoided a triangle choke attempt. More punches scored for Pineda and he momentarily passed to side control. Burns tried to kick Pineda off, but Pineda settled back into his guard and he continued to throw punches and hammerfists from the top. 10-8 Pineda.
Round 2:
Burns opened the second round with leg kicks and a takedown into Pineda’s half-guard. He opened a cut near Pineda’s left eye with punches and worked to take Pineda’s back in a scramble. Pineda threw elbows to Burns’s thigh and Burns transitioned to mount. Pineda scrambled from the bottom and briefly got back to his feet. Burns got him back down, but Pineda reversed into top position and he moved to a top-side crucifix. Pineda landed elbows and punches to Burns’s forehead. He continued to land unanswered elbows until the fight was stopped.
Winner: Daniel Pineda by TKO (Elbows) at 4:37 of round two. He improves to 27-13-0, 2 NC.
Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili vs John “The Magician” Dodson
Round 1:
Dvalishvili countered an early leg kick from Dodson with a series of knees in the clinch as he looked for a takedown against the cage. Dodson stayed on his feet, but Dvalishvili landed numerous knees to his thighs. He continued to attack Dodson’s legs with knee strikes from back control, but Dodson prevented him from scoring a takedown. Dvalishvili landed a left hand on the break and he followed with two leg kicks late in the round. 10-9 Dvalishvili.
Round 2:
After a brief exchange of kicks, Dvalishvili grabbed on to Dodson’s leg and tried for a takedown. Dodson stayed on his feet and circled away. Dvalishvili clinched and picked him up, then slammed Dodson down to the mat. Dodson immediately stood up and Davlishvili grazed with a spinning backfist. He landed a right hook and pinned Dodson against the fence. Dvalishvili caught a knee and dumped Dodson to the mat, only for Dodson to stand back up. Dodson finally landed a flurry late in the round and Dvalishvili responded by taking him down. 10-9 Dvalishvili.
Round 3:
Dodson fought off a takedown attempt and landed a short left hook early in the final round. Dvalishvili landed an overhand right and he shot in for a takedown against the cage. He got Dodson down for a split second, but Dodson instantly rose to his feet. Dvalishvili landed a hard right hand and Dodson immediately answered with a left hook. Dvalishvili cracked Dodson with a hard right cross and he dumped him to the mat. Dodson stood against the cage and the fighters traded punches at the bell. 10-9 Dvalishvili.
Winner: Merab Dvalishvili by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 12-4-0.
(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)