UFC on ABC 6 took place Saturday, and MMA Junkie provided live play-by-ply and official results. UFC on ABC 6 (ABC/ESPN/ESPN+) took place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (26-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) took on short-notice replacement opponent Ikram Aliskerov (15-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in the main event. Sergei Pavlovich (18-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) took on former Bellator heavyweight champ Alexander Volkov (38-10 MMA, 12-4 UFC) in the co-feature.
Below, you can find the play-by-play, official results and more details from UFC on ABC 6.
ChangHo Lee vs. Xiao Long
Round 1 – They start brawling right off the bat. Lee connects with two right hands. Long closes the distance and presses Lee against the cage. Nice elbow by Long on the break. Long closes the distance again on Lee. Long is cut from his left eyelid. Long gets the takedown. We’re halfway through the round. Lee gets back up, but still being presses against the cage. Good knees by Lee from the clinch. They keep reversing each other against the cage. They break free. They’re in the middle of the cage clinching and hitting each other on the body. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Long.
Round 2 – Right back in the clinch. They break free. They’re clinching again. Long presses Lee against the cage. They keep hitting each other with body shots from the clinch, neither seems to be doing too much damage. They keep fighting for position, but with Long doing most the controlling. Very solid knees by Lee. Long controlling here. Odd fight. Lee reverses the position. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Lee.
Round 3 – They’re back in the clinch. Short punches from both. A couple of good knees to the body by Lee. They clinch against the cage. A scramble breaks out and Lee takes the back. Lee looking to set up an armbar from the back. Three minutes left. Lee loses the back control and Long now takes Lee’s back. Lee escapes and presses Long against the cage. Long reverse the position. Non-stop clinching from both. Both connect with short shots. The bell rings. Very lackluster fight that can go either way.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Long. Overall 29-28, Long.
Result: ChangHo Lee def. Xiao Long via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Photos: UFC on ABC 6: Best photos from Saudi Arabia
Records: Lee (10-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Long (26-9 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Thomas Fan
Judging: Vitolo Paolillo, Clemens Werner 29-28. Anders Ohlsson 28-29.
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Brendson Ribeiro
Round 1 – Gadzhiyasulov putting on the pressure on Ribeiro. Leg kicks from both. Ribeiro shoots, almost gets the takedown, but a clear fence grab from Gadzhiyasulov stops it. Herzog adjusts Gadzhiyasulov and the fight resumes. Ribeiro working for the takedown. He has Gadzhiyasulov tied up, and pulls off mat returns, but no takedowns. Robeiro controlling Gadzhiyasulov against the cage. We’re halfway through the round. Gadzhiyasulov reverses the position and now controls Riberio against the cage. Robeiro breaks free. One minute left. Good jab by Ribeiro. Leg kick from Robeiro buckles Gadzhiyasulov. Ribeiro goes for a head kick but gets taken down. Gadzhiyasulov controls, doesn’t land anything in the final second. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Ribeiro.
Round 2 – They trade leg kicks. More kicks by Ribeiro. Gadzhiyasulov’s leg is banged up. Gadzhiyasulov shoots, but gets caught in a guillotine! It looks tight! Gadzhiyasulov is struggling. And he’s out! Gadzhiyasulov working form half guard. Three minutes left. Not much damage from Gadzhiyasulov, just controlling. Good elbow by Gadzhiyasulov. Gadzhiyasulov goes for an arm-triangle, but Ribeiro gets out. Good control here by Gadzhiyasulov. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Gadzhiyasulov.
Round 3 – Both testing each other’s range. Ribeiro shoots, but gets reversed and Gadzhiyasulov ends on top. Pure control here by Gadzhiyasulov. Ribeiro is looking to scramble, but unable to get Gadzhiyasulov off him. Gadzhiyasulov is not doing much damage here, just working hard to maintain position. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Gadzhiyasulov. Overall 29-28, Gadzhiyasulov.
Result: Magomed Gadzhiyasulov def. Brendson Ribeiro via majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)
Photos: UFC on ABC 6: Best photos from Saudi Arabia
Records: Gadzhiyasulov (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Ribeiro (15-7 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Judging: Mark Collett, David Lethaby 29-28. Vito Paolillo 28-28.
Muin Gafurov vs. Kyung Ho Kang
Round 1 – Oh, nasty calf kick by Gafurov. Again, Gafurov is targeting those legs. Oh! Gafurov drops Kang with a leg kicks. These are doing damage early. Kang shoots for a takedown, tries to transition to a throw, and ends on the bottom. Gafurov with pure control here, he has Kang pinned down. Not much damage from Gafurov, just control. Kang scrambles out and presses Gafurov against the cage. Kang jumps on Gafurov’s back. Gafurov slams him and the bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Gafurov.
Round 2 – Good front kick to the body by Kang. Kang ducks under a punch from Gafurov, and takes him down. Kang controlling from half guard. Kang moves to mount. Great top control. Gafurov tries to scramble out, but gets caught in a reverse triangle. Gafurov gets out, and now he’s on top of Kang. We’re halfway through the round. Kang gets up, but is being controlled by Gafurov against the cage. Gafurov lets him free. Nice combo by Gafurov! Kang shoots and Gafurov gets him in a front choke. Gafurov now pressing Kang against the cage. He lets him free. Gafurov buckles Kang with a leg kick. Oh! They’re both brawling. Kang shoots, but fails. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Gafurov.
Round 3 – Nice right hook by Gafurov, as Kang closes the distance. Kang gets a takedown. Nice grappling here by Kang. He mounts Gafurov. Short shots land for Kang. Gafurov gets back to his feet. Kang shoots and takes him down again, but they immediately scramble and Gafurov ends up pressing Kang against the cage. Just control by Gafurov, no damage. Kang takes him down. Forty-five seconds left. Gafurov scrambles out. Oh! Spinning wheel kick wobbles Kang. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Gafurov. Overall 30-27, Gafurov.
Result: Muin Gafurov def. Kyung Ho Kang via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: UFC on ABC 6: Best photos from Saudi Arabia
Records: Gafurov (19-6 MMA, 1-2 UFC), Kang (19-11 MMA, 8-5 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Marc Goddard
Judging: Ben Cartlidge, Anders Ohlsson, Clemens Werner 30-27.
Nicolas Dalby vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov
Round 1 – Big leg kick by Fakhretdinov early. Dalby closes the distance and presses Fakhretdinov against the cage. Knees to the legs from Dalby. Fakhretdinov breaks free. Fakhretdinov pressing Dalby. Leg kick by Dalby. Fakhretdinov tries to take down Dalby, fails, but presses Dalby against the cage. Dalby reverses and presses Fakhretdinov against the cage. Good right gand by Fakhretdinov on the break. Oh! Dalby gets dropped. He’s back up, but Fakhretdinov going in for the kill. Fakhretdinov presses Dalby against the cage. Nice elbow by Fakhretdinov on the break. Oh! Knee to the head by Fakhretdinov. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Fakhretdinov.
Round 2 – Big takedown early by Fakhretdinov. Dalby gets back up, but being pressed against the cage. Dalby reverses. They break free. Dalby presses Fakhretdinov against the cage. They break free. Nice combo by Dalby. Body kick by Fakhretdinov. It seems like Fakhretdinov is slowing down. Head kick partly lands for Dalby. Dalby presses Fakhretdinov against the cage. They break. Fakhretdinov shoots and gets the takedown. Fakhretdinov controlling Dalby legs by the cage, has yet to flatten him down. Dalby gets up. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Dalby.
Round 3 – Fakhretdinov closes the distance and presses Dalby against the cage. Good control by Fakhretdinov. Fakhretdinov gets the takedown, but only controlling the legs by the cage. Daly’s back hasn’t hit the canvas. Fakhretdinov just controlling here. We’re halfway through the round. Dalby gets free, but Fakhretdinov gets him back down seconds later. Dalby back up. Dalby hits the switch and gets on top of Fakhretdinov. Fakhretdinov back up and they’re striking. Fakhretdinov presses Dalby against the cage. Dalby breaks free. Oh! Dalby wobbles Fakhretdinov with a head kick. Fakhretdinov presses Dalby against the cage, but Dalby reverses. Good uppercut by Dalby. They’re brawling it out! The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Dalby. Overall 29-28, Dalby.
Result: Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Nicolas Dalby via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Photos: UFC on ABC 6: Best photos from Saudi Arabia
Records: Fakhretdinov (23-2-1 MMA, 4-0-1 UFC), Dalby (23-5-1 MMA, 7-4-1 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Thomas Fan
Judging: Ben Cartlidge, David Lethaby 29-28. Anders Ohlsson 28-29,
Felipe Lima vs. Muhammad Naimov
Round 1 – Big leg kick by Lima. Lima looking very explosive. Push kick from Lima sets Naimov off balance. Oh! Flying knee by Lima. Lima presses Naimov against the cage. They break free. Leg kick by Naimov. Two hard leg kicks by Lima. Crazy speed from Lima. Naimov trying to tie up Lima, but unable to. Nice combo by Lima. Man, he’s looking good. Naimov clinches Lima, and Lima goes for a leg lock. Lima lets it go and ends on bottom. Elbows from bottom by Lima. Naimov controlling, but not doing much damage. Naimov maintains top control. Lima pushes him off, and the bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Lima.
Round 2 – Lima is crazy explosive in his striking and takedown defense. He’s giving Naimov a tough time. Lima is walking down Naimov. Leg kick by Lima. Naimov with a leg kick if his own. They briefly clinch and Naimov lands a knee to the body. The striking output has slowed down here. Naimov presses Lima against the cage. One minute left. Lima breaks free. Good combo by Lima, but a one, two lands for Naimov. Naimov is doing most of the pressing here. Leg kick by Lima. The bell rings. Very close round.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Naimov.
Round 3 – Leg kicks for Naimov early in the round. Lima seems to have a sense of urgency, as he presses Naimov. Lima clinches Naimov and presses him agaisnt the cage. He gets the takedown and takes Naimov’s back He sinks in the rear-naked choke out of nowhere! It’s tight. It’s all over! What a debut by Lima.
Result: Felipe Lima def. Muhammad Naimov via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 1:15
Recap: Felipe Lima shocks Muhammad Naimov with late finish on short notice
Photos: UFC on ABC 6: Best photos from Saudi Arabia
Records: Lima (13-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Naimov (11-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Thomas Fan
Jared Gordon vs. Nasrat Haqparast
Round 1 – Nice combo by Gordon to start off the round. Haqparast answers back with a body shot. Gordon shoots, grabs a leg and backs Haqparast against the cage. Haqparast gets oout immediately. Two big lefts for Haqparast. Gordon pressuing Haqparast. Another left by Haqparast. Jab by Gordon. Gordon shoots and presses Haqparast against the cage. Haqparast defending well so far. Haqparast gets out. Haqparast has a cut underneath his left eye. Two minutes left. Gordon shoots and presses Haqparast against the cage. Haqparast gets out again. Good left again by Haqparast. Gordon presses Haqparast against the cage, he’s working for the takedown. Good dirty boxing now by Gordon by the cage. Oh! Nice combo by Haqparast. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Haqparast.
Round 2 – Again, Gordon with the pressure here and so far Haqparast with good counter striking. Good left by Haqparast. Gordon presses Haqparast against the cage. Crazy pace and pressure by Gordon. They break apart. Good combo by Haqparast that ends with a body shot. Jab by Gordon. One, two by Gordon. A series of right hands connect for Gordon. Haqparast is fading, he seems to be caving in with Gordon’s pressure. Gordon non-stop pressure. Clean righthand by Haqparast. They trade jabs. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Gordon.
Round 3 – Very close fight here. Solid jab and combo by Haqparast. Gordon with some solid jabs, too. Gordon continues to pressure Haqparast. They broth trade jabs. They keep exchanging shots, as Gordon presses and Haqparast counters. We’re half wat through the round. Good right hand by Gordon. Jabs by Gordon. Good combo by Haqparast. Oh! Clean right by Haqparast. Gordon’s left eye is shut. They’re slugging it out. Bight right by Haqparast. Jabs by Gordon. The bell rings. Very close fight.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Haqparast. Overall 29-28, Haqparast.
Result: Nasrat Haqparast def. Jared Gordon via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Photos: UFC on ABC 6: Best photos from Saudi Arabia
Records: Haqparast (17-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC), Gordon (20-7 MMA, 8-6 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Ritch Mitchell
Judging: Mark Collett, Sal D’Amato 29-28. Clemens Werner 28-29.
Volkan Oezdemir vs. Johnny Walker
Round 1 – Oezdemir pressuring Walker. Big leg kick by Walker. Now leg kick by Oezdemir. Huge leg kick by Walker. Oezdemir with a leg kick. Walker now with a leg kick. Walker seems content backing up and countering. Kick heavy approach by both. Another leh kick by Oezdemir. Oh! Nice combo connects clean for Oezdemir. It looks like it stunned Walker. Oh! Walker is wobbled! Oezdemir all over him. It’s over! Vicious KO by Oezdemir.
Result: Volkan Oezdemir def. Johnny Walker via KO (punches) – Round 1, 2:28
Recap: Volkan Oezdemir leaves Johnny Walker stiff after terrifying knockout
Photos: UFC on ABC 6: Best photos from Saudi Arabia
Records: Oezdemir (20-7 MMA, 8-6 UFC), Walker (21-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ABC/ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Shara Magomedov vs. Antonio Trocoli
Round 1 – Leg kick by Magomedov. Another one. Oh! Trocoli with a right hand. He now presses Magomedov against the cage. Short punches by Trocoli. God control here by Trocoli. Nothing going on really. Referee breaks them up and resumes the fight on the feet. We’re halfway through the round. Magomedov with many leg kicks, while staying on the outside. Two more leg kicks by Magomedov. Trocoli shoots and presses Magomedov against the cage.Control here by Trocoli. Nothing going on. Just control. Short arm shots land for Trocoli. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Magomedov.
Round 2 – Again, Magomedov with a kick heavy attack. Trocoli tries to take down Magomedov and fails. More leg kicks by Magomedov. Another one. Another leg kick lands for Magomedov. Very lackluster fight. Body shot by Magomedov. Trocoli is not throwing much if anything. Big right for Magomedov. Leg kick by Magomedov. Trocoli is just chasing. Trocoli presses Magomedov against the cage. Two minutes left. Short shots land for Trocoli. Trocoli goes for a takedown, but Magomedov does a clear fence grab. No point taken, just a warning given. They break apart. Trocoli shoots and Magomedov stuffs it. Leg kick by Magomedov. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Magomedov.
Round 3 – Head kick by Magomedov that partly lands. Leg kick by Magomedov. Again. More kicks by Magomedov. And now a left by Magomedov. Trocoli is just standing there. One, two lands for Magomedov. More leg kicks by Magomedov. Head kick by Magomedov, but not witha ton of power. Three minutes left. More leg kicks by Magomedov. A righthand connects clean for Magomedov. Trocoli is hurt! Magomedov all over him! Trocoli goes down and it’s over!
Result: Shara Magomedov def. Antonio Trocoli via KO (punches) – Round 3, 2:27
Recap: Shara Magomedov blitzes Antonio Trocoli for first UFC stoppage
Photos: UFC on ABC 6: Best photos from Saudi Arabia
Records: Magomedov (13-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Trocoli (12-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ABC/ESPN+
Referee: Marc Goddard
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Daniel Rodriguez
Round 1 – Gastelum pressing Rodriguez. Leg kicks by Gastelum. Good jab by Rodriguez. Hard leg kick by Gastelum. Another one. Good jabs by Gastelum. Jab by Gastelum and then a low kick. We’re halfway through the round. Hard hooks connect for Gastelum. Gastelum looking good so far. Oh! Brilliant combo by Rodriguez, Gastelum eats that well. Two big lefts. connect for Gastelum. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Gastelum.
Round 2 – They trade leg kicks. Sound defense by Gastelum. Rodriguez having a tough time connecting clean. One, two lands for Gastelum. And a nice left lands for Rodriguez. Jab by Gastelum. Nice combo by Rodriguez. Gastelum shoots and gets the takedown. We’re halfway through the round. Rodriguez gets back up. Jabs then body shots by Gastelum. Nice combo by Rodriguez. Left lands for Gastelum. Rodriguez is bleeding from his nose. Hard leg kick and then a right hook by Gastelum. What a fight here. Hard leg kick for Gastelum. Big one, two for Rodriguez. Gastelum gets a takedown in the final second. Close round.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Gastelum.
Round 3 – Leg kick by Gastelum. Another one. One, two lands by Rodriguez. The pace has slowed down a bit. Hard jab by Gastelum. Another one. Leg kick by Gastelum. Rodriguez with a good counter left. Jab by Gastelum. Gastelum closes the distance and takes down Rodriguez. We’re halfway through the round. Gastelum working from side control. Short elbows by Gastelum. Rodriguez pulls Gastelum into guard. One minute left. Gastelum now in half guard. Ground-and-pound by Gastelum. Gastelum lets Rodriguez back up. Gastelum shoots and takes down Rodriguez. Elbows by Gastelum. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Gastelum. Overall 30-27, Gastelum.
Result: Kelvin Gastelum def. Daniel Rodriguez via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Recap: Kelvin Gastelum apologizes to Dana White after beating Daniel Rodriguez
Photos: UFC on ABC 6: Best photos from Saudi Arabia
Records: Gastelum (19-9 MMA, 13-9 UFC), Rodriguez (17-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ABC/ESPN+
Referee: Ritch Mitchell
Judging: Mark Collett, Clemens Werner 30-27. Ben Cartlidge 29-28.
Sergei Pavlovich vs. Alexander Volkov
Round 1 – Leg kick byVolkov. Volkov staying on the outside, as expected. Leg kick by Volkov. Pavlovich being reserved here. Big body kick by Volkov. Jab by Pavlovich. legkick by Volkov. Leg kick by Volkov. Three minutes left. Volkov is looking good. Jab by Volkov. Pavlovich is having a tough time with the range. Jab by Volkov, but Pavlovich answers with a right hook. Great fight management by Volkov. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Volkov.
Round 2 – Leg kicks lands for Volkov. Pavlovich is bleeding a bit from his nose. Pavlovich is chasing, but not landing. Volkov is using tons of movement and landing long range shots. More leg kicks by Volkov. We’re half way through the round. Pavlovich is just chasing here. Leg kick then jab by Volkov. Big shot by Pavlovich. Leg kick by Volkov. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Volkov.
Round 3 – Leg kick by Volkov. Pavlovich needs to do something different because he’s getting picked apart. Leg kick, jab by Volkov. Pavlovich is more agressive now. He throws a couple of big shots, but Volkov blocks. We’re half way through the round. Pavlovich is bleeding a lot from his nose and mouth. Starightleft connects for Volkov. Jabs by Volkov. Pavlovich is getting picked apart. Side kick by Volkov. Body shot by Pavlovich. Head kick then jab by Volkov. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Volkov. Overall 30-27, Volkov.
Result: Alexander Volkov def. Sergei Pavlovich via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Recap:
Photos: UFC on ABC 6: Best photos from Saudi Arabia
Records: Volkov (38-10 MMA, 12-4 UFC), Pavlovich (18-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ABC/ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Judging: Anders Ohlsson, Clemens Werner 30-27. Vito Paolillo 29-28.
Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov
Round 1 – Leg kicks by Whittaker. Whittaker in and out in his attacks. Oh! Whittaker wobbles Aliskerov with a right hand! Uppercut by Whittaker! It’s over! What a KO by the former champion.
Result: Robert Whittaker def. Ikram Aliskerov via KO (uppercut) – Round 1, 1:49
Recap: Robert Whittaker blasts Ikram Aliskerov for quick knockout
Photos: UFC on ABC 6: Best photos from Saudi Arabia
Records: Whittaker (26-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC), Aliskerov (15-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ABC/ESPN+
Referee: Marc Goddard
