AUSTIN, Texas – UFC on ESPN 52 took place Saturday, and below you can find the play-by-play and official results of the event.
UFC on ESPN 52 took place at Moody Center. The main card aired on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.
In the main event, Beneil Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) was stopped by Arman Tsarukyan (21-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) at lightweight. And Bobby Green (31-15-1 MMA, 12-10-1 UFC) also fell short to short-notice opponent Jalin Turner (14-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) in the lightweight co-feature.
Plus, former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo (22-3-1 MMA, 11-6 UFC) moved to bantamweight and defeated Rob Font (20-8 MMA, 10-4-1 UFC), and former women’s bantamweight champ Miesha Tate (21-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) submited Julia Avila (9-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) to close out the prelims.
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Veronica Hardy vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth
Round 1 – Good body kick by Horth. Both fighters testing each other’s range. Hardy gets in a body kick of her own. Leg kicks by Horth. Hardy is bouncy while staying on the outside. Horth is pressing most of the time. Body shot by Hardy. Oh! Good combo from Hardy. Stiff jab by Hardy knocks Horth off balance. Oh! Hardy drops Horth with a right hand. Horth gets right back up and seems ok. Hardy closes the distance and presses Horth against the cage. They break free. A clear eye poke from Hardy halts the bout. Horth takes a few seconds and the fight resumes. Oh! Big left hook by Hardy. The bell rings,
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Hardy.
Round 2 – Big body kick by Horth, but Hardy answers back with a one, two. Hardy noticeably faster than Horth here, she’s keep beating her to the punch. Hardy catches a kick from Horth and takes her down. They get back up and now Horth presses Hardy against the cage. Hardy reverses the position. Good elbow by Hardy. Two minutes left. They keep switching positions against the cage. Horth initiates a takedown, they scramble, and Horth ends on top. Horth now standing over Hardy. Oh! Big up kick by Hardy. Horth looked stunned and dived back in the guard of Hardy. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Hardy.
Round 3 – Horth likely feeling the urgency, comes out very aggressive. Good elbow by Horth here. She landed a second one in short distance. Horth walking down Hardy. Hardy presses her against the cage. They break free. Horth far more aggressive in this round, she’s doing quite well. Horth pressing Hardy against the cage. Two minutes left. More elbows by Horth. This might be the most dominant round of the entire fight. Horth catches Hardy off balance, and she falls to the ground. They’re back up. Horth presses Hardy against the cage. They keep reversing each other. Hardy with swelling on her forehead. Some dirty boxing here. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Horth. Overall 29-28, Hardy.
Result: Veronica Hardy def. Jamey-Lyn Horth via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Photos: Veronica Hardy def. Jamey-Lyn Horth at UFC on ESPN 52: Best photos
Records: Hardy (8-4-1 MMA, 3-4 UFC), Horth (6-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Judging: Patrick Patlan, Sal D’Amato 29-28. Jacob Montalvo 28-29.
Jared Gooden vs. Wellington Turman
Round 1 – Good jabs by Gooden. Gooden pressing Turman here. Oh! Clean, one two by Turman. Leg kick by Gooden. They both land leg kicks. Big righthand by Turman. Hard leg kick by Gooden. Leg kick by Turman Good left hook by Turman. They’re both trading evenly so far, Turman with a bit more power through. Good combo by Turman. Two minutes left. Leg kick by Turman. Good jabs by Gooden. Turman shoots for a takedown, lifts Gooden and slams him to the ground. Turman working from half guard. Turman going for a guillotine while on top, but Gooden slips out. Good ground and pound by Turman. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Turman.
Round 2 – Oh! Huge shot here by Turman! Gooden is wobbled! Oh! Gooden rocks Turman! They’re both on skates. Wild exchanges! Gooden gets a judo throw! Gooden is on top landing big shot! He sinks in a rear naked choke now! There’s the tap! It’s over! What a sequence.
Result: Jared Gooden def. Wellington Turman via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:11
Recap: Jared Gooden batters Wellington Turman, tops off wild comeback with choke
Photos: Jared Gooden def. Wellington Turman at UFC on ESPN 52: Best photos
Records: Gooden (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC), Turman (18-8 MMA, 3-6 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jeff Rexroad
Rodolfo Bellato vs. Ihor Potieria
Round 1 – Bellato immediately begins pressing Potieria. Bog leg kick by Potieria. Bellato presses Potieria in hopes to get a takedown, but falls short. Both these guys are throwing heat, but have yet to land cleanly. Leg kick by Potieria. Big left hook by Potieria. Bellato eats a big left again. Bellato is bleeding from his nose. Left lands for Bellato. Bellato presses Potieria against the cage. A knee to the groin from Bellato halts the action. The fight resumes after a minute. Potieria clearly with the cleaner shots. Big left by Potieria. Bellato closes the distance on Potieria and presses him against the cage. They break away. Now dirty boxing by the cage. Potieria landing big shots. What a chin on Bellato. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Potieria.
Round 2 – Oh! Big one, two by Potieria. Good knee to the head and then elbow by Bellato. Oh! Huge left wobbles Bellato! Potieria lands more shots. Bellato falls to the gorund. Potieria landing nasty shots on Bellato! More hammer fists. Bellato is hurt bad. Potieria slowing down the attack. Potieria now a lot more measured with his shots. Bellato back to his feet! Bellato pressing here but taking big shots by Potieria. Two minutes left. Oh! Bellato takes down Potieria! He’s now working from half guard. Potieria looks tired. Bog shots by Bellato from top. Bellato gets mount. Non-stop shots from Bellato from mount! The referee stops the fight! What a comeback!
Result: Rodolfo Bellato def. Ihor Potieria via TKO (ground-and-pound) – Round 2, 4:17
Recap: Rodolfo Bellato TKOs Ihor Potieria with insane Comeback of the Year contender
Photos: Rodolfo Bellato def. Ihor Potieria at UFC on ESPN 52: Best photos
Records: Bellato (12-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Potieria (20-5 MMA, 1-3 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jacob Montalvo
Drakkar Klose vs. Joe Solecki
Round 1 – Oh! Solecki immediately goes for a takedown and eats a few short punches in the process. Solecki advances top half guard. Solecki tries to go for the back, but loses position. Klose on top in guard. Solecki goes for an armbar! Klose picks him up and slams him! It’s over! Wow!
Result: Drakkar Klose def. Joe Solecki via KO (slam) – Round 1, 1:41
Recap: Drakkar Klose bounces Joe Solecki’s head off canvas for all-time slam KO
Photos: Drakkar Klose def. Joe Solecki at UFC on ESPN 52: Best photos
Records: Klose (14-2-1 MMA, 8-2 UFC), Solecki (13-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Cody Brundage vs. Zach Reese
Round 1 – Oh! Big right hand by Brundage early! Brundage shoots for a low single and gets it. Brundage controlling Reese by the cage. Reese attempts an armlock, but Brundage slips out. Brundage gets caught in a triangle! Oh! It’s over! Brundage slammed and knocked out Reeese. What a finish. Back to back slam KO’s.
Result: Cody Brundage def. Zach Reese via KO (slam) – Round 1, 1:49
Recap: Cody Brundage channels ‘Rampage’ with slam KO out of triangle
Photos: Cody Brundage def. Zach Reese at UFC on ESPN 52: Best photos
Records: Brundage (10-5 MMA, 4-4 UFC), Reese (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jeff Rexroad
Julia Avila vs. Miesha Tate
Round 1 – Tate immediately closes the distance with jabs and presses Avila against the cage. A few seconds later, she gets the takedown. Tate now in half guard. Tate now takes the back of Avila! Tate landing some ground and pound. Complete control here by Tate. Tate trying to set up submissions, but Avila is defending well. Body triangle by Tate. Tate now moves to mount. More shots from top by Tate, but little damage. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Tate.
Round 2 – Tate presses Avila and eats a few shots before getting another takedown 20 seconds into the round. Avila recovers guard and lands an elbow. Avila taking many shots here. She’s bleeding from her mouth. Tate gets half guard. Body shots by Tate. Two minutes left. Complete control here by Tate. Tate advances to half guard. Tate much busier with ground-and-pound this round. Now she takes Avila’s back. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-8, Tate.
Round 3 – Again, Tate gets a takedown and moves to the back of Avila in less than a minute. Tate now working a neck crank! There’s the tap! It’s over. What a showing by Tate.
Result: Miesha Tate def. Julia Avila via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 1:15
Recap: Miesha Tate dominates Julia Avila for late submission
Photos: Miesha Tate def. Julia Avila at UFC on ESPN 52: Best photos
Records: Tate (21-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC), Avila (9-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC)
Division: Women’s bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jacob Montalvo
Punahele Soriano vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
Round 1 – Oh!Big right hand early for Soniano wobbles Stoltzfus. Stoltzfus recovers quickly. A low blow from Stoltzfus halts the action. It resumes a few seconds after. Leg kick from Stoltzfus. Body kick by Soriano. Left hook by Soriano, as he counters Stoltzfus. Stoltzfus connects with a right hand. They briefly clinch, and break away quickly. Two minutes left. Oh! Huge left by Soriano. Again, Soriano stuns Stoltzfus. Stoltzfus closes the distance and takes down Soriano. Soriano immediately back up, gets presses against the cage for a few seconds, and then breaks free. Another big left by Soriano. Great chin on Stoltzfus. Oh! Soriano gets dropped a second before the bell.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Soriano.
Round 2 – Good leg kicks by Stoltzfus here. The pace of the fight has slowed down considerably. Big body kick by Stoltzfus. Now a big right hand by Stoltzfus followed by a takedown. Soriano back up, but being presses against the cage. Stoltzfus brings the fight back to the ground and takes Soriano’s back! Stoltzfus sinks in a rear-naked choke! There’s the tap!
Result: Dustin Stoltzfus def. Punahele Soriano via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:10
Photos: Dustin Stoltzfus def. Punahele Soriano at UFC on ESPN 52: Best photos
Records: Stoltzfus (15-5 MMA, 2-4 UFC), Soriano (9-4 MMA, 3-4 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Clay Guida vs. Joaquim Silva
Round 1 – Silva backing up a ton here, as Guida looks to close the distance. Several hooks thrown by Guida, but they mainly hit the guard of Silva. Not a ton going on, it’s mainly Guida chasing Silva. Oh! It looks like Guida wobbled Silva! Silva drops Guida with an uppercut now! Silva all over Guida! Guida is trying to get the fight to the ground, but unable to. They fight in the clinch against the cage until the bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Silva.
Round 2 – Ok, things are heating up here. Silva comes out aggressive. Guida gets a takedown, but Silva reverses him and keeps the fight standing. Big knees by Silva in the clinch. Guida with a right hand! They get back to the center of the cage. Guida shoots for a takedown and Silva goes for a guillotine! Guida gets out! Guida pressing Silva against the cage now, as Silva finds his way back to his feet. Two minutes left. Guida is trying to get the takedown against the cage. And he gets it! Silva back up, but still being held by Guida. Another takedown by Guida and again, Silva back up, but still locked. Guida controls until the bell.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Guida.
Round 3 – Good left hook and leg kick combo by Guida. Oh! head kick connects for Silva, but Guida seems to be ok. Uppercut by Silva. Guida not throwing much here, but neither is Silva. Guida shoots for a takedown, and ends up pressing Silva against the cage. Two minutes left. Silva reveres the position, but gets pinned against the cage again. One minute left. Guida just controlling here, no damage. Silva goes for a standing guillotine! He uses it to takedown Guida. Guida back up, but being pressed against the cage. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Silva. Overall 29-28, Silva.
Result: Joaquim Silva def. Clay Guida via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Recap: Joaquim Silva edges Clay Guida by decision in entertaining scrap
Photos: Joaquim Silva def. Clay Guida at UFC on ESPN 52: Best photos
Records: Silva (13-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC), Guida (38-21 MMA, 18-18 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee: Mark Smith
Judging: Gino Garcia, Sal D’Amato, Chris Lee 29-28.
Sean Brady vs. Kelvin Gastelum
Round 1 – Leg kick by Gastelum. Gastelum is pressing the action here. Brady clinches with Gastelum here and presses him against the cage. Brady gets a takedown and moves to Gastelum’s back. Gastelum is defending well so far. Gastelum gets out and ends on top! Solid transition to an escape. Brady gets back to his feet and the fight resumes in striking. Right hand by Brady. Left hook connects for Brady and drops Gastelum! Gastelum seems ok and goes to turtle position with Brady controlling from top. One minute left. Good control here by Brady. Brady now takes the back. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Brady.
Round 2 – A couple of leg kicks land for Brady. Gastelum throw a leg kick of his own and gets taken down by Brady. Brady gets full mount. Gastelum gets back to half guard. He loses it again and now gets mounted. Brady completely controlling Gastelum here. One minute left. Not much damage from Brady, but insane control of all positions. The bell rings. Brady finishes on top.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Brady.
Round 3 – Good left by Gastelum. Brady shoots for a takedown and gets it. The crowd boos. Brady sinks in an arm-triangle, but Gastelum gets out. Brady now threatening with the kimura. It’s tight! There’s the tap!
Result: Sean Brady def. Kelvin Gastelum via submission (kimura) – Round 3, 1:43
Recap: Sean Brady torques Kelvin Gastelum’s arm with nasty kimura
Photos: Sean Brady def. Kelvin Gastelum at UFC on ESPN 52: Best photos
Records: Brady (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), Gastelum (18-9 MMA, 12-9 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee: Jacob Montalvo
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Rob Font
Round 1 – A lot of fainting from both fighters. Font is mainly the one pressing the action here, while Figueiredo stays on the outside. Figueiredo shoots and gets the takedown, but Fint gets back up immediately. Back to striking. Big right hand by Figueiredo. Figueiredo shoots and the takedown. Dont is back up, but being pressed against the cage. Font breaks free. Leg kick by Figueiredo. Good jabs by Font. Halfway through the round. Nice one two by Font. Oh! Big jab then right hand by Figueiredo stuns Font. Good jab by Font, who seems to have recovered. Big left by Figueiredo. Oh, Figueiredo wobbles Font with a left. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Figueiredo.
Round 2 – Leg kick by Font. Figueiredo closes the distance and presses Font against the cage. Good control here by Figueiredo. Oh, a knee to the groin by Figueiredo halts the action. The referee resumes the fight on the feet. Good elbow in close quarters by Font. Good right hand by Figueiredo. Halfway through the round. Leg kick by Font, Figueiredo answers with one of his own. Figueiredo shoots and gets a takedown. Font gets back up, but eats an elbow. Font having a tough time connecting here. Good combo by Figueiredo to end the round.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Figueiredo.
Round 3 – Both tried to take each other down at the start of the round, but neither was successful. Good body shot by Font. Oh! Huge shot by Figueiredo. Font is on skates! Figueiredo going after the finish. Font now with a big right. Figueiredo eats it well. Figueiredo smells blood. Figueiredo shoots and gets the takedown. He’s in half guard. Figueiredo moves to mount. Two minutes left. Good elbows by Figueiredo. Figueiredo with a steady flow of ground-and-pound. Font gets up in the final seconds.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Figueiredo. Overall 30-27, Figueiredo.
Result: Deiveson Figueiredo def. Rob Font via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Recap: Deiveson Figueiredo impresses in 135-pound debut with win over Rob Font
Photos: Deiveson Figueiredo def. Rob Font at UFC on ESPN 52: Best photos
Records: Figueiredo (22-3-1 MMA, 11-6 UFC), Font (20-8 MMA, 10-4-1 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee: Jeff Rexroad
Judging: Patrick Patlan, Mike Beltran, Gino Garcia 30-27.
Bobby Green vs. Jalin Turner
Round 1 – Big bombs from both right off the bat! Leg kick by Turner. Another one. Right hand by Green. Oh! Good right by Turner. Huge left by Turner. Green eats it well. Massive right hand drops Green! Turner jumps on him with huge ground-and-pound! He keeps going. It’s over! What a gross stoppage.
Result: Jalin Turner def. Bobby Green via KO (ground-and-pound) – Round 1, 2:49
Recap: Referee permits Jalin Turner to bludgeon Bobby Green in elongated stoppage
Photos: Bobby Green vs. Jalin Turner at UFC on ESPN 52: Best photos
Records: Turner (14-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC), Green (31-15-1 MMA, 12-10-1 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Beneil Dariush vs. Arman Tsarukyan
Round 1 – Dariush comes out aggressive. A quick punch combination finalized with a knee drops Dariush! It’s over! What a finish.
Result: Arman Tsarukyan def. Beneil Dariush via KO (right hand) – Round 1, 1:04
Recap: Arman Tsarukyan flattens Beneil Dariush in 64 seconds
Photos: Arman Tsarukyan def. Beneil Dariush at UFC on ESPN 52: Best photos
Records: Tsarukyan (21-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC), Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee: Mark Smith
