LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 238 took place Saturday, and MMA Junkie provided live play-by-play and official results throughout the event at the UFC Apex.
In the main event, Jairzinho Rozenstruik (14-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) took on Shamil Gaziev (12-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) at heavyweight. In the co-feature, Tyson Pedro (10-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC) met Vitor Petrino (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) at light heavyweight.
Check out the round-by-round updates and official results below. You also can get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site reporter Ken Hathaway (@1khathaway ) on Twitter.
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady vs. Loik Radzhabov
Round 1 – Al-Selwady opens things up with a heavy outside leg kick. They circle around the octagon looking for the range. Radzhabov darts in with an attack, but Al-Selwady is light on his feet to evade. Al-Selwady looks for an overhand right, and Radzhabov tries to clinch, but can’t get the grip. A moment later, the clinch is there, but Al-Selwady gets double unders to gain control against the cage. Nothing comes of it and they separate. Radzhabov darts in with a powerful uppercut that lands. Now the pressure is on. Radzhabov closes in for more punches as Al-Selwady drops to the canvas. Radzhabov stays heavy with wrestling control and lands a few nice shots before they return to the middle. The referee pauses the fight to warn both about fence grabs. The action resumes and Radzhabov lands more heavy offense. Al-Selwady responds by clipping Radzhabov with a hard punch of his own.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Radzhabov.
Round 2 – Al-Selwady gets across and looks for the takedown, but it’s not there. Al-Selwady slips a punch and lands a beautiful counter. A moment later, Al-Selwady times another clean right hand counter as Radzhabov darted in. An inside leg kick is there for Al-Selwady as he continues his circling movement. Al-Selwady times a double leg and ends up in a front headlock, but Radzhabov ultimately prevents the takedown. Radzhabov stalks forward looking to land punches, but Al-Selwady changes levels and gets the double leg cleanly this time. After a few seconds of side control on the mat, they return to standing. One last heated exchange before the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Al-Selwady.
Round 3 – Radzhabov comes out aggressively with punches to start the final round, but Al-Selwady hits another nice double leg. Radzhabov is quick to get back up to his feet. Radzhabov gets back to marching forward and unleashes a hard two-punch combo ending in a right that floors Al-Selwady! The swarm is on for Radzhabov and he gets the knockout! What a finish to start the card.
Result: Loik Radzhabov def. Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady via knockout (punches) – Round 3, 0:49
Recap: UFC Fight Night 238 video: Loik Radzhabov knocks out Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady in elongated stoppage
Photos: UFC Fight Night 238: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Al-Selwady (15-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Radzhabov (18-5-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
A.J. Cunningham vs. Ludovit Klein
Round 1 – They touch gloves and Klein immediately unleashes a head kick! Cunningham just evades enough of it, but they end up on the mat in a scramble. Cunningham gets back to his feet, but Klein is right there to unleash a barrage of strikes as he gets up. Cunningham gathers himself and circles, but Klein gets in on a nice single leg attempt. Cunningham gets to one knee, but back up. They’re back in the center now, trading punches. Cunningham slaps with a few inside leg kicks. Klein responds with a fast combo of punches to the head. Cunningham fires back with a clean right. Kicks are exchanged now. It’s a brutal pace right now. Klein cracks Cunningham with a punch, causing his knees to buckle momentarily, but he fires back. Damage is starting to show on Cunningham’s face now. They continue to exchange. Klein pushes forward and lands more and more. Cunningham is fading. Klein digs to the body. A head kick follows. A kick up the middle folds Cunningham over! Klein unloads punches on Cunningham on the canvas, and the referee stops it!
Result: Ludovit Klein def. A.J. Cunningham via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:36
Recap: UFC Fight Night 238 video: Ludovit Klein lives up to ‘Mr. Highlight’ nickname with rare TKO finish
Photos: UFC Fight Night 238: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Cunningham (11-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Klein (21-4-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Keith Peterson
Christian Duncan vs. Claudio Ribeiro
Round 1 – They touch up, and Duncan gets to forward pressure. They trade leg kicks, then Duncan goes to the body with a hard roundhouse. Duncan steps in with a spinning elbow, but Ribeiro has his guard up. Duncan offers a jumping side kick. An inside leg kick follows a few seconds later. A spinning back kick to the body now. Duncan is doing whatever he wants as Ribeiro just stands with his defense up. Duncan offers a head kick now, followed by a elbow. Ribeiro looks to respond, but Duncan circles away and regains the center. Duncan presses Ribeiro into the fence, landing short elbows and knees to the body. Ribeiro gets away and swings big punches. Duncan evades and resets. Ribeiro catches a kick. Duncan attempts to land a spinning back kick with his plant leg ala Joaquin Buckley, but doesn’t connect. Ribeiro gets in on a clinch, and the battle for position is on against the cage.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Duncan.
Round 2 – Ribeiro comes out offering offense early. He just misses the mark with early punches, and looks for a takedown. Duncan defends, separates, but gets back in to complete a takedown of his own. He quickly transitions to full mount and starts raining down nasty elbows! The referee is threatening the stoppage. Ribeiro turns over and the damage from Duncan continues. More and more punches land unanswered and that’s it! A beautiful performance by Duncan capped by a second-round finish on the mat.
Result: Christian Leroy Duncan def. Claudio Ribeiro via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:57
Recap: UFC Fight Night 238 video: Christian Leroy Duncan smashes Claudio Ribeiro with ground-and-pound
Photos: UFC Fight Night 238: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Duncan (10-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Ribeiro (11-5 MMA, 1-3 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Javid Basharat vs. Aiemann Zahabi
Round 1 – No glove touch here. Basharat takes control of the center and begins stalking forward. Zahabi circles to his left, avoiding the initial offerings. Zahabi looks for a pair of leg kicks, but both were checked nicely. Zahabi swings with a big overhand right, taking himself off balance. Basharat looks for a side kick to the body. The activity starts to intensify with both fighters turning up the offense, but neither land clean. Basharat gets a nice punch upstairs though and a kick to the body. Basharat darts in and lands again, finishing with a spinning kick. A moment later, another spinning kick lands, causing Zahabi to stumble backward. Zahabi responds with a couple of strikes, but Basharat answers.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Basharat.
Round 2 – Basharat gets back to his wide, darting stance, offering quick punches and kicks to start the round. A nice step-in knee to the body lands as well. Basharat continues his work behind a left jab. Zahabi gets off a nice combination of punches to give Basharat pause momentarily before getting back to the jab work. Another knee to the body for Basharat lands. A very slick uppercut soon follows. They trade punches, and a takedown attempt from Basharat is easily brushed away. A few moments later, another takedown attempt from Basharat is countered by a front headlock, but Basharat gets out as Zahabi looked to be angling for a choke. Zahabi finds home for a couple of clean punches and a nice kick that buckled Basharat in the closing seconds to get some momentum back before the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Zahabi.
Round 3 – Basharat leads the action from the center to begin the final round. Punches upstairs and to the body keep Zahabi circling on the outside. Zahabi offers a combination and Basharat kicks to the body. An eye poke briefly pauses, but Zahabi doesn’t want time. He then lands a nice kick to the body. Zahabi starts an exchange with punches and Basharat ends the moment with a kick. Just over two minutes left in the fight and they’re starting to turn up the volume. Zahabi begins to move forward with strikes now. A head kick connects, but Basharat appears to just eat it on the chin. Left jabs from Zahabi follow. Basharat answers with a nice right hand. The exchanges continue and Basharat spins with an elbow. Zahabi is wise to it and clinches, looking for a takedown. They return to the center and continue to let the punches fly in the closing seconds.
MMA Junkie scores the final round 10-9 for Zahabi, and he takes the fight 29-28.
Result: Aiemann Zahabi def. Javid Basharat via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 238: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Basharat (14-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Zahabi (11-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Judging: Derek Cleary (29-28), Sal D’Amato (29-28), Bryan Miner (29-28)
Vinicius Oliveira vs. Bernardo Sopaj
Round 1 – Oliveira gets things started with a kick to the body. Sopaj studies the range from the outside, and offers a head kick. Oliveira controlling from the center, looks for a few leg kicks and gets in a nice right hand. Sopaj just misses with a big overhand right after catching a kick. Oliveira attempts another kick, but this one Sopaj catches gets a takedown. Now from the top position, Sopaj lands a couple of nice short elbows before an armbar attempt from Oliveira leads to the action returning to the feet. A nice exchange of strikes follows, led by kicks from Oliveira. Sopaj darts in for a nice takedown and steps right into full mount. Oliveira quickly escapes back to full guard. Sopaj postures up for a few hard punches from the top before the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Sopaj.
Round 2 – Sopaj gets a takedown early in the second round, continuing his success on the mat. He gets the back of Oliveira and flattens him out. Now he unloads right hands. Oliveira attempts to scramble, but can’t gets Sopaj off of him. Oliveira momentarily gets back to half guard, but he tried to spin away and gave up his back again. Sopaj has him flattened again and lands more punches. Oliveira turtles and is able to stand, but Sopaj is still on his back, now looking for a choke. Oliveira shakes him off and rushes in to take top position. Now it’s Oliveira unloading big punches from the top. Sopaj turns and gives up his back as he stands. He goes back to the ground again. Oliveira unloads more punches. An arm triangle is threatened for a few seconds, but Oliveira goes back to punches. Sopaj scrambles to his feet and Oliveira hits him with another big shot. More offense from Oliveira in the closing seconds and Sopaj is hurt! The horn may have just saved him. Wow, what a round!
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Oliveira.
Round 3 – Oliveira presses forward to start the round. They’re trading, but Oliveira connects cleanly. Sopaj appears to be hurt again. Oliveira looks to capitalize, but Sopaj swings with looping punches. Fatigue appears to be setting in from both now. Oliveira connects with a nice combination of punches. An Oliveira kick to the body is caught, but pushes Sopaj away. A nice right hand from Oliveira finds the mark in the next exchange. Sopaj’s output is very low now. Oliveira continues to push forward, landing punches and leg kicks. One minute to go. Oliveira stops the offense to communicate with his corner. Sopaj offers a left. Oliveira chops with a kick and a left hand behind it. Sopaj is hobbled by the leg kick, turns and circles away. But Oliveira runs after him and leaps with a knee that puts Sopaj out cold! WOW! My goodness, what an insane knockout for Oliveira in his debut!
Result: Vinicius Oliveira def. Bernardo Sopaj via knockout (knee) – Round 3, 4:41
Recap: UFC Fight Night 238 video: Vinicius Oliveira scores KO of the Year contender with vicious flying knee
Photos: UFC Fight Night 238: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Oliveira (20-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Sopaj (11-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Keith Peterson
Eryk Anders vs. Jamie Pickett
Round 1 – They meet in the middle and begin lead hand fighting. Anders pressures from the center. He offers a punch to set up a single leg. Pickett gets his leg back and they wrestle for position along the fence. Eventually Pickett separates and eats a left from Anders. Pickett then stings Anders with a beautiful counter right hand. Anders gets back in on a single leg. He lifts Pickett and nearly gets him down, but Pickett’s defense is solid. They separate again. Pickett floors Anders with a hard right hand! He rushes in for follow-ups, but Anders is still there and threatens a submission. Pickett escapes and they’re back to the feet a few moments later. They exchange strikes, with Anders looking for a takedown before the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Pickett.
Round 2 – Pickett looks for a right to start, but Anders evades and slaps with a leg kick. A clinch is initiated by Anders and they jockey for position against the fence, but once again, Pickett’s defense prevents a takedown. They return to the center for a moment before Anders looks for another takedown. This time, Anders is successful. However, nothing occurs on the mat before Pickett gets back to his feet. Anders sticks with the clinch, but Pickett gets free and unleashes a combination. Anders steps away to reset and gets in on another takedown, his easiest completion yet. Anders postures up in half guard, landing punches to the head. Pickett turns and covers up as Anders throws punches until the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Anders.
Round 3 – Anders pressures forward with punches to start. Pickett’s head movement is effective, but Anders changes levels and completes a takedown. First in half guard, then to side control. Anders unloads punches and elbows on Pickett. The referee calls for Pickett to improve, and he works his way up to his feet with Anders still attached to his hips. Two minutes remain, and another takedown by Anders. Working from half guard again, Anders looks to land punches and advance his position. Anders stands for a moment, but goes back in half guard. A choke is threatened, but the horn sounds a few seconds later.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Anders, giving him the fight 29-28.
Result: Eryk Anders def. Jamie Pickett via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 238: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Anders (16-8 MMA, 8-9 UFC), Pickett (13-11 MMA, 2-7 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Judging: Derek Cleary (29-27), Sal D’Amato (29-28), Junichiro Kamijo (29-28)
Stephen Erceg vs. Matt Schnell
Round 1 – They touch gloves and Schnell begins stalking forward behind a left jab. Erceg fires off a fast two-punch combo, cracking Schnell. A clinch follows, but Erceg shakes free, returning to the center. They trade punches in the middle, both just missing the mark. Blood begins to flow from a cut over Schnell’s eye. They continue to let the punches fly in the middle of the cage. Schnell lands nicely, but Erceg responds. Cracking with a combo, Erceg wobbles Schnell, who backs away. But Schnell comes right back into range with a cracking punch of his own. One last heated exchange closes out the round.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Erceg.
Round 2 – Schnell controls from the middle to start, working his left jab. But just as Schnell looks to get his offense going with another jab, Erceg feints a left counter, throws a right to the body, and then comes back up high with a left hook that puts Schnell down for the walk-off knockout! Holy (expletive deleted)!
Result: Steve Erceg def. Matt Schnell via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 0:26
Recap: UFC Fight Night 238 video: Steve Erceg KOs Matt Schnell with clean left hand, calls out Brandon Moreno
Photos: UFC Fight Night 238: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Erceg (12-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC), Schnell (16-8 MMA, 6-6 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Bekzat Almakhan vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
Round 1 – They touch up and begin sizing each other up. Almakhan opens with a head kick, and Nurmagomedov responds with a leg kick. Almakhan goes to the body with a kick. Nurmagomedov closes range and Almakhan drops him with a left hand! Almakhan rushes in, but Nurmagomedov immediately gets a hold of him to complete a takedown and prevent any follow-up damage. Now in control, Nurmagomedov takes the back, locks in a body triangle, and begins landing short punches to the head. Almakhan gets back to full guard with just over a minute to go. Punches and elbows from the top for Nurmagomedov as Almakhan attempts to keep him wrapped up.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Nurmagomedov.
Round 2 – Nurmagomedov kicks to the lead leg to start. A head kick soon after was blocked. Nurmagomedov lands a clean right hand and then quickly changes levels to get a nice takedown. Almakhan gives up some ground control time, but is able to scrable back to his feet and land a kick to the chest of Nurmagomedov as he gets back up, flirting with an illegal strike. A moment later, Nurmagomedov goes back to the takedown and takes full mount. Nurmagomedov postures up and unloads punches from the top. Somehow Almakhan slips out, and they return to their feet. Once again, another beautiful takedown from Nurmagomedov takes the fight back to the ground. In a blink, Nurmagomedov is in full mount raining down more punches. Almakhan gets back to half guard, but the round ends with Nurmagomedov nearly taking the back.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Nurmagomedov.
Round 3 – Nurmagomedov slaps with a leg kick to start. Almakhan lands a strike to the body a moment later. Right at the 4:00 mark, Nurmagomedov changes levels for the takedown. In guard, Nurmagomedov lands a few short elbows. Almakhan attempts to scramble away, but Nurmagomedov remains attached, eventually taking the back. Almakhan does his best to keep the hands locked up to prevent strikes, and opts to put his back on the canvas, giving up full mount. More short elbows for Nurmagomedov as time ticks away. Nurmagomedov postures up for a few punches in the final seconds.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-8 for Nurmagomedov, giving him the fight 30-26.
Result: Umar Nurmagomedov def. Bekzat Almakhan via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-26, 30-26)
Recap: UFC Fight Night 238 results: Umar Nurmagomedov survives knockdown, wins decision, calls out Cory Sandhagen
Photos: UFC Fight Night 238: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Almakhan (17-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Marc Goddard
Judging: Mike Bell (30-25), Bryan Miner (30-26), Jacob Montalvo (30-26)
Muhammad Mokaev vs. Alex Perez
Round 1 – A quick touch of the gloves, and Mokaev opens with a couple of leg kicks. Perez, light on his feet, evades and offers punches that are defended well. Mokaev rips a clean combination upstairs, punctuated with a nice uppercut. Perez darts forward with punches. Mokaev looks for a takedown and eats a knee to the body in the process. Perez shakes free and returns to the center. Another takedown attempt by Mokaev causes a wild scramble, ultimately resulting in a return to the feet. Another single leg from Mokaev, but Perez sprawls nicely. Mokaev continues to move forward with punches, and Perez counters with a combo close to the fence. Mokaev changes levels and completes the takedown. Perez tries to scramble and nearly gives up his back. In the closing seconds, Mokaev postures up landing punches and a couple of short elbows.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Mokaev.
Round 2 – Mokaev doesn’t waste much time before hunting for another single leg. He gets Perez pinned against the fence, but can’t advance further and stumbles on the exit. Perez sweeps the legs out from under him with a hard kick, but Mokaev gets back up. Perez lands a nice flurry of strikes, prompting Mokaev to change levels. Mokaev finds Perez’s back in a standing position. Perez prevents the takedown, and reverses into a front headlock after Mokaev drops down to adjust. Mokaev works free, landing a knee on the exit. Mokaev sneaks in a body shot. Perez charges forward with a punch of his own and clinches. Another short punch lands for Perez, and Mokaev drops down for the takedown. Perez sprawls nicely again, keeping Mokaev pinned down until the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Perez.
Round 3 – Perez comes out stalking forward, patiently looking for an opening. As they near the fence, Perez lands a punch right before Mokaev changes levels, but Perez sprawls. Mokaev peeks out to take the back. Mokaev lifts and hits a beautiful suplex. They don’t stay on the ground though, and the wrestling game continues. Perez gets free, and sprawls another shot from Mokaev. Mokaev keeps adjusting, but can’t get the takedown. They reset, and Mokaev drops down again, but Perez stops another takedown. Less than a minute to go now, and Mokaev drops down as Perez closes distance. Perez keeps the front headlock and Mokaev reverses right before the final horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Mokaev, giving him the fight 29-28.
Result: Muhammad Mokaev def. Alex Perez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Recap: UFC Fight Night 238 results: Muhammad Mokaev out-battles game Alex Perez, calls for Alexandre Pantoja
Photos: UFC Fight Night 238: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Mokaev (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), Perez (24-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Keith Peterson
Judging: Sal D’Amato (29-28), Chris Lee (29-28), Rick Winter (29-28)
Tyson Pedro vs. Vitor Petrino
Round 1 – They touch gloves, and we’re underway. A big head kick from Petrino is the first offering of the fight. Pedro digs in a leg kick for the first landed strike. Another follows a few moments later. Petrino lands a kick to the thigh. It’s a leg kick affair as they continue to trade low strikes while feinting punches upstairs. Petrino lands a jab after a kick from Pedro. Petrino swings wildly again with a big head kick that Pedro easily evades. A well-timed jab from Petrino connects. Pedro gets in a front kick to the body, and Petrino responds with a hard punch. Pedro lands one more leg kick before the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Petrino.
Round 2 – The leg kick exchanges continue in the opening moments. Petrino adds a hook after a kick. Pedro closes the range for the clinch against the fence. Petrino reverses position and changes levels for the double leg, but Pedro defends well. The position stalls and the referee calls for action, but they work through it themselves and get back to the center. Petrino misses with a left, but defends the takedown attempt from Pedro. Another big head kick from Petrino catches nothing but air as Pedro dips under it. The referee calls for action as they dance around in the center of the cage. Petrino ramps up his activity a bit, but nothing significant lands before the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Petrino.
Round 3 – They touch gloves to start the final round, and Petrino opens with a hard kick to the body. A right hand lands for Petrino. He keeps the offensive pressure as high as its been the whole fight, and lands another punch and leg kick. Petrino initiates a clinch, hits a knee to the thigh, but the referee is quick to call for action. Petrino lifts and slams Pedro to the canvas. Just as Pedro works up from one knee, Petrino drags him back to the ground. Pedro works up just to get taken down yet again. Petrino is on the back, and thinks about a rear-naked choke and then an arm triangle. He commits to neither as Pedro turns away. Less than a minute to go, and Petrino is on the back. Pedro turns again, and Petrino applies an arm triangle, but there’s no tap before the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Petrino, giving him the fight 30-27.
Result: Vitor Petrino def. Tyson Pedro via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 238: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Pedro (10-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC), Petrino (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Judging: Mike Bell (30-27), Adalaide Byrd (30-27), Junichiro Kamijo (29-28)
Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Shamil Gaziev
Round 1 – They touch ’em up, and the big boys get the main event started. Gaziev rushes in for a takedown, but Rozenstruik easily circles away. Gaziev keeps with the forward pressure, and eats a punch. Gaziev charges forward for another shot, but Rozenstruik once again easily stops the telegraphed attempt. Rozenstruik lands a left jab before Gaziev attempts another takedown. Rozenstruik stuffs him again, and lands a nice punch on the exit. Another jab from Rozenstruik connects. Gaziev lands a two-punch combo as he closes range. Two from Rozenstruik land. Gaziev swings with a big right hand, but misses. They start to exchange now. Neither land flush, but the moment give Gaziev an opening to clinch. Rozenstruik lands a knee to the body, but Gaziev lifts and dumps Rozenstruik to the canvas. Rozenstruik prevents Gaziev from landing ground and pound before the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Gaziev.
Round 2 – Both fighters look to land punches in the opening exchanges. Rozenstruik’s jab is sharp, and it keeps Gaziev from landing his own offense. Rozenstruik continues to pop Gaziev’s head back with the jab, and mixes it up to the body as well. Gaziev charges forward for a single leg, and looked as if he was going to send Rozenstruik on another ride, but he got his leg back to the ground. Gaziev says with the clinch against the cage, but the action slows and the referee calls for action.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Rozenstruik.
Round 3 – Rozenstruik offers a leg kick to start the action. Gaziev appears fatigued as Rozenstruik peppers out the left jab. Another leg kick for Rozenstruik prompts big swinging hooks from Gaziev. Rozenstruik easily evades and returns to the center, continuing to work behind the jab. Gaziev is winded, nearly spitting his mouthpiece out as he breathes. More jabs from Rozenstruik go unanswered. Rozenstruik adds a nice body-head combination. Rozenstruik appears very comfortable in there right now. Gaziev finds home for a right hand, though. Rozenstruik closes out the round with a few more jabs as he began to lower his hands.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Rozenstruik.
Round 4 – The Rozenstruik jab clinic continues to start Round 4. A leg kick is added. Gaziev charges forward with punches, Rozenstruik counters, and there’s the level change. Rozenstruik prevents the takedown, and they’re back in the clinch. The referee quickly calls for action, and they separate on their own. Gaziev is once again nearly losing his mouthpiece as he breathes. The jab display from Rozenstruik resumes. Rozenstruik adds a big right hook, causing Gaziev to swing back. A punch to the body, followed by another jab upstairs for Rozenstruik. After a few more jabs, Rozenstruik digs in with a powerful leg kick. Less than a minute to go. Rozenstruik knocks Gaziev’s mouthpiece out with a clean jab. The referee returns it to Gaziev, and Rozenstruik gets back to his offense. As the final seconds tick away, Rozenstruik blitzes with strikes until the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Rozenstruik.
Before the final round began, there was some drama unfolding in Gaziev’s corner. Referee Marc Goddard brought in the referee and demanded Gaziev’s corner tell him what their fighter said. Ultimately, Goddard decided to stop the fight.
Result: Jairzinho Rozenstruik def. Shamil Gaziev via TKO (referee stoppage) – Round 4, 5:00
Recap: UFC Fight Night 238 results: Jairzinho Rozenstruik gets TKO win after Marc Goddard hears Shamil Gaziev’s comment to corner
Photos: UFC Fight Night 238: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Rozenstruik (14-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC), Gaziev (12-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Marc Goddard
