LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 230 took place Saturday night and veteran Edson Barboza was able to leave with his hand raised.
UFC Fight Night 230 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.
In the main event, Barboza (24-11 MMA, 18-11 UFC) outpointed Sodiq Yusuff (13-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in an all-out war. In the co-feature, Viviane Araujo (12-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC) was able to edge fellow Brazilian Jennifer Maia (21-10-1 MMA, 6-6 UFC) in a women’s flyweight bout.
Below, you can find the full results and play-by-play commentary for the event.
Emily Ducote vs. Ashley Yoder
Round 1 – They both trade leg kicks. Good one, two by Ducote. And a hard right hook connects for Ducote! Yoder eats it well. Another right hand by Ducote. Yoder is mostly shadow-boxing and landing a few kicks here and there. Nothing significant has yet to land on her part. Good body shot by Ducote. Leg kick by Ducote. Two minutes left. Yoder connects with a clean left. Good jab by Yoder. Ducote has bruising on her right eye. Hard leg kick by Ducote. Oh! Giant head kick connects for Yoder! Ducote seems unfazed and continues to march down Yoder. Ducote gets a takedown in the final seconds. Close round.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Yoder.
Round 2 – Good left by Yoder. Yoder is now putting on the pressure and chasing, contrary to the first round. Another left connects for Yoder. Good body shot by Ducote. Three minutes left. Good combo by Ducote. Right hand by Ducote! Big right hand by Ducote again! Yoder answers with a left. Another big right connects for Ducote. And again! Yoder is cut from her nose. One, two by Yoder. Both are pretty even on volume, but Ducote seems to have more power. Yoder presses Ducote against the cage in the 15 final seconds. They split and the bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Ducote.
Round 3 – These two are ramping it up in this final round. Yoder definitely is upping the pressure here. Good combo ended with a body shot by Ducote. Yoder connects ith a few good jabs. Leg kick by Ducote. Yoder clinches Ducote and lands a few knees. Big elbow by Yoder on her way out. Yoder seems to be outworking Ducote here. Good jab by Yoder. Left hook connects for Ducote. One, two by Yoder. Big right by Ducote. What a fight we got here. Two minutes left. Oh! Giant right by Ducote. Again! Body shot by Ducote. Yoder is bleeding from her left eye. Two big hooks land for Ducote. Oh! And a right for Ducote to end the round. Crazy fight.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Ducote. Overall 29-28, Ducote.
Result: Emily Ducote def. Ashley Yoder via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 230: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Emily Ducote (13-8 MMA, 2-2 UFC), Ashley Yoder (8-9 MMA, 3-8 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Judging: Derek Cleary 30-27. Eric Colon, Sal D’Amato 29-28.
Heili Alateng vs. Chris Gutierrez
Round 1 – Nasty leg kicks by Gutierrez. Alateng so far doesn’t seem affected, as he keeps marching forward. Gutierrez has a non-stop attack with the kicks. He’s staying on the outside and just punishing Alateng with kicks. Alateg having a tough time connecting here. Leg kick by Alateg. A lot of mixed punches by Alateg. Gutierrez with a couple of leg kicks to end the round.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Gutierrez.
Round 2 – Man, Gutierrez is lighting up Alateng with leg kicks. Alateng is having a tough time closing the distance. A low blow from Gutierrez stops the fight. Alateng takes a few seconds to recover and the fight resumes. More leg kicks by Gutierrez. Two minutes left. Good left hand by Gutierrez. Alateng has a big hematoma on his left leg. Alateng just can’t find the target. More leg kicks by Gutierrez. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Gutierrez.
Round 3 – Again, Gutierrez is just lighting up Alateng with leg kicks, and he backs up and Alateng chases. Alateng growing more desperate, but still not connecting. Three minutes left. Alateng closes the distance and clinches Gutierrez. Alateng gets the takedown! Gutierrez gets back up and gets back at attacking the legs. Gutierrez goes for a leg lock but unable to get anything. They’re back to striking. Gutierrez clinches Alateng, but gets taken down. The bell rings immediately after.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Gutierrez. Overall 30-27, Gutierrez.
Result: Chris Gutierrez def. Heili Alateng via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 230: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Chris Gutierrez (20-4-2 MMA, 8-2-1 UFC), Heili Alateng (16-9-2 MMA, 4-1-2 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Judging: Sal D’Amato, Ron McCarthy, Bryan Miner 30-27.
Irina Alekseeva vs. Melissa Dixon
Round 1 – Alekseeva come out pressuring Dixon here. Good mix of leg kicks and punches by Alekseeva. She is fighting a bit wild, while Dixon is keeping technical. Good counter jabs here by Dixon. Dixon is making Alekseeva pay for some of her wild shots. Oh! Big right hand by Alekseeva drops Dixon. Alekseeva jumps on top and begins ground-and-pound. Dixon keeping composed appears to have recovered. Dixon gets back up, but Alekseeva takes her down. One minute left. They’re stuck in a weird stalemate on the ground. Dixon takes her back! Just 20 seconds remaining. Some shots land for Dixon. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Alekseeva.
Round 2 – Alekseeva attacking with leg kick here. Oh! Big right hand from Dixon wobbles Alekseeva! Dixon takes her down and immediately gets mount. Now Dixon moves to the back. Good control here by Dixon, but not much damage being done. Alekseeva tries to scramble out, but Dixon is doing a great job at keeping control. Dixon briefly gets mount and lands some heavy shots. Now back to back control. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-8, Dixon.
Round 3 – Good jabs by Dixon. Hard right connects for Dixon. She’s now walking down Alekseeva. Good shots here by Dixon. Alekseeva hits Dixon with a judo throw and gets the takedown. Dixon reverses the position and ends with back control. Alekseeva is exhausted. Two minutes left. Complete control here by Dixon. Dixon gets mount and begins to land heavy shots. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Dixon. Overall 29-27, Dixon.
Result: Melissa Dixon def. Irina Alekseeva via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 230: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Melissa Dixon (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Irina Alekseeva (5-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Division: Women’s bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Judging: Chris Lee 30-27. Derek Cleary, Anthony Manes 29-28.
Brendon Marotte vs. Terrance McKinney
Round 1 – Oh! Giant knee from McKinney drops Marotte! McKinney all over him with ground-and-pound! It’s over! WOW.
Result: Terrance McKinney def. Brendon Marotte via TKO (Knee to the head, then punches) – Round 1, 0:20.
Recap: Terrance McKinney wastes Brendon Marotte in 20 seconds
Photos: UFC Fight Night 230: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Terrance McKinney (15-6 MMA, 5-3 UFC), Brendon Marotte (8-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Tainara Lisboa vs. Ravena Oliveira
Round 1 – Big right for Lisboa in the first few seconds. Oliveira staying on the outside and Lisboa walking her down. One, two combination lands for Lisboa! Oliveira immediately presses her against the cage. Oliveira controlling. And Oliveira gets a takedown with two minutes left. Lisboa gets back up but Oliveira keeps the clinch. Now Lisboa takes down Oliveira. Lisboa connecting with ground-and-pound. Lisboa gets the back, and then loses it, but still on top. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Lisboa.
Round 2 – Lisboa gets an immediate takedown. She’s working from half guard. Good ground-and-pound for Lisboa. Three minutes left. Lisboa in complete control here. Two minutes left. Oliveira recovers guard, but still getting controlled and taking shots from time to time. Oliveira goes for an armbar, she threatens, but Lisboa gets out. Oliveira on her feet, but getting controlled against the cage by Lisboa.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Lisboa.
Round 3 – Oliveira connects with a few shots and then presses Lisboa against the cage. After a minute, Lisboa gets out and then she presses Oliveira against the cage. They get into a scramble and Oliveira ends on top. Oliveira working from half guard. Oliveira gets side control, lands some shots. Good control here by Oliveira. Lisboa gets back up in the final 30 seconds and gets a takedown. Oliveira gets back up. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Oliveira. Overall 29-28, Lisboa.
Result: Tainara Lisboa def. Ravena Oliveira via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 230: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Tainara Lisboa (7-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Ravena Oliveira (7-1-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Women’s bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Judging: Eric Colon, Junichiro Kamijo, Anthony Manes 29-28.
TJ Brown vs. Darren Elkins
Round 1 – Brown lands a few leg kicks, but gets takedown down early by Elkins. Elkins maintaining good control and landing some ground-and-pound although not much power behind his shots. Brown gets back up and takes down Elkins with two minutes left. They scramble and Elkins takes the back. He sinks in the rear-naked choke! It looks tight! Brown gets out but still getting controlled on the back. Elkins controls all the way to the bell.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Elkins.
Round 2 – Brown hits Elkins with a knee to the forehead. Good leg kick by Brown. Nice elbow by Brown. They get into a nice scramble and Elkins ends on top. They scramble again and Brown ends on top. Three minutes left. Another scramble and this time Elkins ends on top. What a wild fight. Good control here by Elkins. Another scramble and the fight gets back on the feet. That doesn’t last long and Elkins gets the takedown. Elkins controls for a bit but Brown escaped. Elkins reverses Brown and ends on top. They scramble just as the bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Elkins.
Round 3 – Crazy fight here with back and forth grappling. Elkins gets a takedown early here and gets back of Brown. Elkins moves to mount. Good control here by Elkins. Elkins gets the back. He sinks the rear-naked choke and it’s over! Elkins wins!
Result: Darren Elkins def. TJ Brown via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 2:23
Recap: Darren Elkins submits TJ Brown in vintage performance
Photos: UFC Fight Night 230: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Darren Elkins (29-11 MMA, 18-10 UFC), TJ Brown (17-11 MMA, 3-5 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Christian Rodriguez vs. Cameron Saaiman
Round 1 – These two come out firing! Oh! Nice combo by Rodriguez. He’s walking down Saaiman. Rodriguez hits Saaiman with a spinning back first and then takes him down. Rodriguez locks in an anaconda choke, but Saaiman gets out. They’re back to striking. Hard leg kick by Saaiman. Very even fight so far. Rodriguez closes the distance and comes up short on a takedown. Hard body kick by Rodriguez. Rodriguez is bleeding from his left eyebrow. They trade until the bell.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Saaiman.
Round 2 – Very competitive fight. Rodriguez putting on the pressure on Saaiman here. They scramble and Rodriguez attacks with an anaconda choke. Saaiman gets out, gets top control and then makes his way to the back of Rodriguez. Saaiman loses the back. Rodriguez now gets the back control. Saaiman gets out. They scramble again and Rodriguez ends on top. One minute left. Rodriguez controlling Saaiman from turtle position. Saaiman goes for a leg lock. Rodriguez landing ground-and-pound. Rodriguez gets out and the bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Rodriguez.
Round 3 – A couple of hooks land for Rodriguez. And a knee! And an elbow! Nice combo by Rodriguez. Saaiman tries to take him down but unable to. Solid jab by Rodriguez. Rodriguez clearly the more powerful striker. Saaiman with a solid combo. Oh! Nasty combo by Rodriguez. These two are going back and forth. Rodriguez takes down Saaiman. Saaiman gets back up and eats an elbow in the process. Rodriguez and Saaiman go toe to toe till the bell. Fun fight.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Rodriguez. Overall 29-28, Rodriguez.
Result: Christian Rodriguez def. Cameron Saaiman via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 230: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Christian Rodriguez (10-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Cameron Saaiman (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC)
Division: 140-pound catchweight (Rodriguez missed the bantamweight limit)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Judging: Derek Cleary, Tony Weeks 30-27. Sal D’Amato 29-28.
Michel Pereira vs. Andre Petroski
Round 1 – Hard body kick by Pereira. Oh! Big right hand by Pereira drops Petroski! Ground-and-pound by Pereira and it’s over! Amazing middleweight debut.
Result: Michel Pereira def. Andre Petroski via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:06
Recap: Michel Pereira runs through Andre Petroski in 185-pound debut
Photos: UFC Fight Night 230: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Michel Pereira (29-11 MMA, 7-2 UFC), Andre Petroski (10-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Jonathan Martinez vs. Adrian Yanez
Round 1 – Strong leg kicks by Martinez. A hard leg kick buckles Yanez. Another hard leg kick by Martinez. Oh! Another leg kick by Martinez puts Yanez limping. Yanez is in pain. Brutal leg kicks by Martinez. Two minutes left. Martinez drop Yanez with a leg kick! Man this is hard to watch. Martinez is just picking apart Yanez with leg kicks. Yanez lands a left hook as he eats a leg kick. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Martinez.
Round 2 -Martinez is just chewing up Yanez’s left legs with kicks. Yanez falls to the ground in pain. Martinez lets him back up. More leg kicks. Stiff jab by Martinez. One, two by Martinez. Yanez can barely stand. Martinez drops Yanez with a leg kick and it’s over! Wow.
Result: Jonathan Martinez def. Adrian Yanez via TKO (leg kicks) – Round 2, 2:26
Recap: Jonathan Martinez chops away for leg kick TKO of Adrian Yanez
Photos: UFC Fight Night 230: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Jonathan Martinez (19-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC), Adrian Yanez (16-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Viviane Araujo vs. Jennifer Maia
Round 1 – Good uppercut by Maia. Araujo is pressing her and Maia seems ok with countering. Leg kick by Araujo. Oh! The two connect in a fiery exchange. Leg kick by Araujo. Three minutes left. Left hook by Araujo. Big right hand by Araujo, as they break from a brief clinch exchange. Another leg kick by Araujo. Good right hand by Maia. Maia fails on a takedown. A front kick to the face by Maia connects, but with very little power.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Araujo.
Round 2 – Araujo gets an early takedown here. Maia back up, but she’s Araujo takes her back. They’re back down on the canvas. Good control here by Araujo. Three minutes left. Araujo is looking for a rear-naked choke, but Maia is defending well. Two minutes left. Araujo is controlling well with a body triangle. Araujo not doing much damage, but controlling Maia. Araujo keeps control all the way to the bell.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Araujo.
Round 3 – Leg kick by Maia. Nice jab by Maia. Leg kick by Araujo. Maia’s jab is on point this round. Araujo is not throwing much. Araujo attempts a takedown and pins Maia against the fence. Araujo working hard for the takedown, but unable to get it. Maia gets out with two minute remaining. Now Maia gets the takedown. Maia now controlling Araujo against the cage. One minute left. Maia drops for an armbar, but Araujo escapes. Araujo now on top. Maia attempting submissions of her back but unsuccessful. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Maia. Overall 29-28, Araujo.
Result: Viviane Araujo def. Jennifer Maia via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 230: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Viviane Araujo (12-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC), Jennifer Maia (21-10-1 MMA, 6-6 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Judging: Sal D’Amato, Junichiro Kamijo, Ron McCarthy 29-28.
Sodiq Yusuff vs. Edson Barboza
Round 1 – Oh! Big shots from both! And Yusuff wobbles Barboza with a right hand. Yusuff is pressuring Barboza. Barboza gets dropped! Barboza is back up. Massive right by Yusuff. Barboza is badly hurt. Yusuff is on a non-stop attack! Barboza is tough. Yusuff gets a takedown on a wobbled Barboza. Big elbows from top by Yusuff. Barboza going for a leg lock, but Yusuff gets out. Yusuff on top landing ground-and-pound. Barboza recovers guard and has Yusuff tied up. It seems like Barboza has recovered, although Yusuff is in full control here. Barboza goes for another leg lock and Yusuff escapes. Bog shots from Yusuff. Barboza is bleeding from his left eyebrow. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-8, Yusuff.
Round 2 – Yusuff with non-stop pressure here. Barboza is trying to fight him off with kicks and punches, but just can’t get Yusuff off him. Barboza looks battered. Hard leg kick then jab by Yusuff. Yusuff clinches Barboza and presses him against the cage. Three minutes left. Barboza breaks free. Barboza is now pressing Yusuff. He’s finding his range. Barboza stuns Yusuff with a straight right. Good body shots by Barboza. A couple of hooks land for Barboza. Close round.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Barboza.
Round 3 – Nasty body shot by Barboza! Barboza clinches Yusuff briefly, and they’re back to striking. Yusuff connects with some nasty shots. Barboza clinches for a bit and then they break free. A low blow from Yusuff halts the fight for a few seconds and it resumes. Huge left hook by Barboza! Barboza is now walking down Yusuff. Nasty body shot by Barboza. Yusuff output is slowing down. Oh! Spinning wheel kick connects for Barboza! Yusuff goes down! Barboza all over him! Non-stop ground-and-pound! Yusuff survives the round. Wild fight.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-8, Barboza.
Round 4 – Spinning body kick lands for Barboza. Barboza is walking down Yusuff here. Barboza clinches and presses Yusuff against the cage. They break free. Both fighters are slowing down. Barboza seems to have a bit more speed and pop, though. Big left hook by Yusuff. Two minutes left. Both trade jabs. Big body kick by Barboza. Man, what a fight. The two keep exchanging until the bell.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Barboza.
Round 5 – Barboza, again, comes out pressing Yusuff. Both are landing but Barboza seems to have the better quality shots. Big left hook for Yusuff. They trade jabs. Right hook connects for Yusuff. Barboza is stepping it up! Nasty body shot by Barboza. And Barboza gets a takedown! Yusuff back up, but he’s being controlled against the cage. Barboza maintains control until the bell. Great fight.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Barboza. Overall 48-45, Barboza.
Result: Edson Barboza def. Sodiq Yusuff via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-46, 48-46)
Recap: Edson Barboza rallies from early scare to earn nod over Sodiq Yusuff
Photos: UFC Fight Night 230: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Edson Barboza (24-11 MMA, 18-11 UFC), Sodiq Yusuff (13-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Judging: Chris Lee 49-46. Derek Cleary, Sal D’Amato 48-46.
