Welcome to F4WOnline.com's live coverage of UFC On ESPN+ 79: Yan vs. Dvalishvili, emanating from The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Octagon heads to an old, but familiar, venue, returning to The Theater at the Virgin Hotel, which was formerly The Joint at The Hard Rock Hotel, with an exciting card headlined by a pivotal bantamweight bout.
Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Petr Yan looks to get back into the win column and end the long win streak of Merab Dvalishvili in the five-round headline bout. Yan is looking to end a two-fight losing skid as he's coming off a close decision loss to Sean O'Malley at UFC 280 in October. Dvalishvili comes into this fight riding an eight-fight win streak, with his most recent win coming over soon-to-be UFC Hall Of Famer Jose Aldo at UFC 278 in August.
In the co-main event, it is a battle of big heavyweights as Alexander Volkov takes on Alexandr Romanov. Also on the main card is a catchweight bout at 215 pounds between Nikita Krylov and Ryan Spann in a re-scheduling of a main event bout from two weeks ago that was cancelled on fight day, plus a bantamweight bout pitting Said Nurmagomedov against Jonathan Martinez.
Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern time with preliminary action all the way through the main card.
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> Welterweights*- Carlston Harris (17-5, 2-1 UFC) vs. Jared Gooden (22-8, 1-3 UFC)
*Gooden missed weight by six pounds
Gooden with a jab then a leg kick. He lands another leg kick as Harris lands a right hand. Gooden with another big leg kick but Harris checks it. They clinch but quickly break away. Harris with a body kick. Harris with two right hands. They trade jabs. Gooden with a leg kick. Harris lands a solid jab that backs Gooden up a little. Harris landing some shots that hurt Gooden. Harris lands a combo inside the pocket. They trade in close range. Harris lands an elbow and they trade jabs. Harris rocks Gooden with a right hand and then lands a knee and a flurry to end the round. 10-9 Harris.
Harris shoots for a takedown right away but Gooden stuffs it and they clinch against the fence. Harris gets the takedown and is working from the half-guard landing left hands. Harris with a couple of elbows from the top. They're exchanging body shots on the mat. Harris keeping pressure from the top and is looking for a guillotine choke. Gooden gets out and Harris is in side control. He ends the round there. 10-9 Harris, 20-18 Harris.
Harris goes right for the clinch as he's attacking the neck. He gets the back of Gooden on the mat. They get to their feet and Harris is pressuring Gooden against the fence. Harris gets it back to the mat against the fence and is landing right hands. They scramble up and both land before Harris gets another takedown. Harris trying to get the back as he lands some punches. They get to their feet and Harris is trying to get it back down as Gooden is landing. Harris gets it back down. He lands from the top to end the fight. 10-9 Harris, 30-27 Harris.
Official Result- Carlston Harris def. Jared Gooden by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Flyweights- #15 Tyson Nam (21-12-1, 3-3 UFC) vs. Bruno Silva (12-5-2 1 NC, 2-2 1 NC UFC)
Silva with some quick leg kicks. Nam lands a right hand. He lands a right hand as Silva was circling away. Silva lands a combo. Nam lands a big combo and Silva had to escape danger. They trade leg kicks. Silva lands a body kick and Nam counters with a hard right hand. Silva with a combo but Nam is the one pressuring. Silva lands a body kick then Nam chases him down and lands a body kick and a combo. 10-9 Nam.
Silva lands a front kick to the chin that drops Nam and he quickly gets on top and starts to land. Silva gets the back and locks in a rear-naked choke and Nam goes out cold! What a finish from Silva!
Official Result- Bruno Silva def. Tyson Nam by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:23 of Round 2
> Women's Flyweights- Ariane Lipski (14-8, 3-5 UFC) vs. JJ Aldrich (11-5, 7-4 UFC)
Lipski with a quick leg kick. Lipski with a combo inside the pocket after Aldrich lands a left hand. Lipski with a high kick as Aldrich lands a jab. Lipski with a combo. Aldrich shoots for a takedown and Lipski lands a couple of knees as they clinch. Lipski lands as Aldrich goes for a takedown, but Lipski defends. Lipski gets the underhook. They break and Lipski lands a combo with a high kick. They clinch and Lipski lands a few knees. Aldrich shoots again and Lipski defends with knees to the body as they break. Lipski lands some big shots at the end of the first. 10-9 Lipski.
Lipski with a leg kick. She lands another. Aldrich lands a quick combo. Lipski with a combo. Lipski continuing to land with more volume halfway thru the second as she's being way more active and pressuring. Aldrich looked to shoot but Lipski landed to keep her from doing so. Lipski with a big combo ending with a right hand but Aldrich also landed in that exchange. Aldrich shoots for the takedown but Lipski defends with the knees. Lipski lands a right hand. Lipski with a body kick. They trade late. 10-9 Lipski, 20-18 Lipski.
Lipski landing with more volume to start the third but Aldrich is pressuring and lands a couple of leg kicks. Lipski lands some beautiful combos and a couple of nice right hands. Aldrich tries a takedown and almost had it but Lipski stayed on the feet. They clinch against the fence. Lipski gets a brief takedown and lands some knees to the body as they get to their feet. They separate. Aldrich with a body kick then a left hand. Lipski with a combo and she gets a big takedown late. 10-9 Lipski, 30-27 Lipski.
Official Result- Ariane Lipski def. JJ Aldrich by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Bantamweights- Victor Henry (22-6, 1-1 UFC) vs. Tony Gravely (23-8, 4-3 UFC)
Gravely with a body kick. Gravely with another kick as Henry lands a right hand. Henry with some body kicks. He's really using the teet kick early. They trade in close range. Henry with a high kick. Gravely with a combo and a leg kick. They clinch against the fence. They trade knees against the fence. Gravely lands a right hand as they break and Henry then lands a body kick. Henry with a side kick. They trade right hands. Gravely gets a brief takedown and has the back against the fence. He gets it back down late. 10-9 Gravely.
Gravely trying right for the takedown but Henry defends and they trade on the feet. Henry lands a combo. Gravely tries for a takedown from a distance but Henry sprawls. They stand and Henry with some body kicks and is now pressuring with punches and combos. Gravely lands a knee to the body and Henry lands a combination in return. Henry with a big combo as he's mixing to the head and body. Gravely is able to get a takedown. Gravely gets the back. They get to their feet and break and Henry lands some shots. Henry with a knee to the body and is unloading with punches to the head. Henry with another knee to the body. Henry with heavy volume but Gravely lands an uppercut. Gravely trying a takedown but Henry landing elbows to defend. Gravely dragged it down for a moment but they pop up and Henry lands some knees. They trade late. 10-9 Henry, 19-19.
Henry pressuring to start the third and lands some combos. Henry with some kicks. Gravely shoots for a takedown but Henry sprawls away. Gravely shoots again but Henry defends. They trade combos in close range. Henry pouring it on with volume and lands an elbow but Gravely fires right back. Henry with a right hand and Gravely with a leg kick. Gravely shoots for a takedown but Henry defends. Gravely lands a nice right hand. Henry lands as they're clinched then lands a nice combo after they break. Henry pushes it against the fence looking for a takedown. They trade combos in close range. Gravely gets a takedown but Henry scrambles and has a leg and is looking for a submission. Henry looking for a kneebar but Gravely landing right hands to defend. They end up scrambling and Henry has the back as they stand. Gravely with an elbow and a knee. Henry with a knee. Really good fight. 10-9 Henry, 29-28 Henry.
Official Result- Victor Henry def. Tony Gravely by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
> Middleweights- Sedriques Dumas (7-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Josh Fremd (9-4, 0-2 UFC)
They trade leg kicks. Dumas lands a solid right hand followed by a jab and some leg kicks. They trade leg kicks. Dumas with a combo and Fremd is having trouble finding openings. Fremd with a leg kick. They trade against the fence and Fremd gets a takedown into side control. Dumas was looking for a triangle choke as Fremd moved into his full guard. They get to their feet and Fremd has the neck but Dumas escapes. Fremd with a body kick. Fremd with a combo. Fremd looks for a takedown against the fence. Dumas with a knee. 10-9 Fremd.
Dumas lands a right hand. Dumas looking to land the jab and lands a leg kick. Fremd lands a combo that wobbles Dumas and then scores a big takedown. Fremd is in the half-guard and landing. Dumas is able to reverse and scramble up but Fremd gets the back and gets it back down. Fremd has the neck and is looking for a guillotine and Dumas taps. Great finish and showing from Fremd.
Official Result- Josh Fremd def. Sedriques Dumas by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:00 of Round 2
> Bantamweights- Raphael Assuncao (27-9, 12-6 UFC) vs. Davey Grant (14-6, 5-5 UFC)
They trade leg kicks. Grant with a leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Assuncao lands a right hand. Grant tries to land a body kick but Assuncao grabs the leg and takes him down. Assuncao lands and Grant tries for a triangle choke but Assuncao escapes and switches to the back. They scramble up and Grant grabbed the fence for a moment. They trade leg kicks. They trade in close range. Grant with a left hand. Assuncao lands a right hand but Grant counters with a combo. Grant lands a left hook. They clinch against the fence. 10-9 Grant.
Grant lands some leg kicks. Assuncao grabs a single leg and looks for a takedown against the fence. He doesn't get it and they break and both are landing. Assuncao grabs Grant and gets it down to the mat and has the back. Assuncao is looking for a choke late but time runs out on the round. 10-9 Assuncao, 19-19.
Both looking for openings. Grant is landing more and drops Assuncao with a right hand and is pouring it on. Assuncao is able to recover and looks for a takedown. He gets Grant down and works from the top but they scramble up. Grant is pressuring and lands a left hook. Assuncao was trying for a takedown but Grant grabbed the fence and Keith Peterson called time and takes a point away. Grant with a high kick and then drops Assuncao again with a spinning back fist. Assuncao tries a takedown and Grant is looking for a reverse triangle choke and has it in and Assuncao goes to sleep! Wow, what a finish!
Official Result- Davey Grant def. Raphael Assuncao by submission (reverse triangle choke) at 4:43 of Round 3
Assuncao left his gloves in the Octagon afterwards, signaling this is his final fight.
> Heavyweights- Karl Williams (7-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Lukasz Brzeski (8-2-1 1 NC, 0-1 UFC)
Williams with a combo and Brzeski catches a kick but lets go of the leg. Brzeski gets a brief takedown. Williams gets a takedown and is landing punches but they scramble to their feet. They break. Williams has gotten a few takedowns this round. They trade punches. Williams just misses an elbow. They clinch and it gets pushed against the fence and they go crashing into it hard. They break after Brzeski lands. Williams with a right hand. 10-9 Williams.
Williams rocks Brzeski with a punch and Brzeski stumbles to the ground. Williams goes after him and grabs him and slams him to the mat. Williams with some left hands ad Brzeski has a big cut opened. Williams with lots of big punches. They get to their feet and Brzeski lands a spinning elbow. We have a brief timeout for something and Williams put his hands on his knees for a moment. Both are tired. Williams gets a takedown. He lands from the top and then gets another late takedown. 10-9 Williams, 20-18 Williams.
Brzeski with a body kick. Brzeski with a combo. Williams gets a takedown against the fence. Williams keeping in on the ground and landing punches from the top. He ends the fight landing from the top. 10-9 Williams, 30-27 Williams.
Official Result- Karl Williams def. Lukasz Brzeski by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
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> Light Heavyweights- Vitor Petrino (7-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Anton Turkalj (8-1, 0-1 UFC)
Turkalj lands a left hand as Petrino scores a takedown. They get to their feet. They remain clinched up against the fence as they battle for underhooks. Turkalj gets a takedown but they pop right back to their feet. They break from the clinch. They trade kicks. Petrino rocks Turkalj with some punches and gets a takedown and lands from the top. 10-9 Petrino.
Turkalj lands and shoots for a takedown but Petrino defends. Petrino lands a big left hand and then a big right hand. Turkalj is trying for a takedown but Petrino is rocking him and then Petrino scores a takedown. They get to their feet and Turkalj gets the back and scores a takedown. He was looking for a choke but Petrino spins into his guard. They get to their feet and Turkalj has the back and takes it down. Mark Smith warns Petrino to not grab the cage. Turkalj has the back and looks to get the hooks in. They get to their feet. Turkalj lands a big combo that wobbles Petrino. Turkalj grabs him and looks to get it down. They trade spinning back elbows late. 10-9 Turkalj, 19-19.
Turkalj with some leg kicks and Petrino lands a leg kick. They trade inside the pocket and Turkalj grabs the back and drags it down. Turkalj has the body triangle and is working for a rear-naked choke. Petrino escapes and spins right into mount and grabbed the fence once again. Turkalj is able to escape and gets the back of Petrino and takes it back down. They get to their feet and both land punches and Turkalj grabs the back against the fence. Petrino gets a big slam takedown and has the back and lands as the fight ends. Close fight. 10-9 Petrino, 29-28 Petrino.
Official Result- Vitor Petrino def. Anton Turkalj by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
> Bantamweights- Mario Bautista (11-2, 5-2 UFC) vs. Guido Cannetti (10-6, 4-5 UFC)
Cannetti with a leg kick. He lands another. Bautista shoots for a takedown and gets it. Bautista working from the half-guard and trying to set something up. Bautista passes to the side and looks for the neck. Cannetti scrambles to his feet and he scores a trip takedown. They get up and Bautista gets a takedown and briefly had the mount. He gets the back and they stand with Bautista on the back of Cannetti. Cannetti is having to carry him as Bautista is looking for a choke. Bautista gets a suplex takedown and has a choke locked in and Cannetti taps! Great showing from Bautista.
Official Result- Mario Bautista def. Guido Cannetti by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:18 of Round 1
> Bantamweights- #14 Said Nurmagomedov (17-2, 6-1 UFC) vs. Jonathan Martinez (17-4, 8-3 UFC)
Nurmagomedov with some early kicks. Nurmagomedov with more leg and body kicks. They trade leg kicks. Nurmagomedov with a flurry landing both kicks and punches. They go to the mat and Nurmagomedov has the back and locks in a choke but it's not under the chin. Martinez escapes but Nurmagomedov has it locked back in. Martinez escapes and they stand. They battle for takedowns against the fence. They break and Martinez lands and Nurmagomedov lands a right hand. They clinch and Martinez lands an elbow. Martinez gets the back for a moment. 10-9 Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov with some leg kicks and Martinez counters with some leg kicks of his own. Nurmagomedov scores a takedown. He works from the top then they work their way up and are clinched against the fence. Both are working in the clinch and they break free. They trade leg kicks. Nurmagomedov with a high kick. They trade leg kicks late. 10-9 Nurmagomedov, 20-18 Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov lands a kick and lands a punch as Martinez either slipped or got dropped and Nurmagomedov gets on top. Nurmagomedov is in the full guard of Martinez and lands some punches. Martinez looks for a triangle choke from the bottom and locks in an armbar and has it in tight but Nurmagomedov is able to escape. Nurmagomedov grabs the back and is now looking for a choke. Martinez escapes and they get to their feet. They're clinched against the fence and Martinez lands some knees. They separate and trade late. Great fight. 10-9 Nurmagomedov, 30-27 Nurmagomedov.
Official Result- Jonathan Martinez def. Said Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> 215-pound Catchweights- #6 LHW Nikita Krylov (29-9, 10-7 UFC) vs. #8 LHW Ryan Spann (21-7, 7-2 UFC)
Spann lands a jab that rocks Krylov early. Krylov with a leg kick as he recovered. They tie up and Krylov lands a knee. They go to the mat and Spann ends up in the mount. They scramble as Krylov is grabbing the leg. Spann is looking for a D'Arce choke. He lets go of that but still has the neck. They get to their feet and Krylov has the back. Krylov gets the back and drags it down. Spann reverses and Krylov has the neck and looked for the guillotine choke but Spann gets out. Krylov has the back and is landing left hands. They're scrambling and Krylov remains on the back. Spann makes him spill over and Spann gets in the guard but Krylov locks in a triangle choke and gets Spann to tap! Great submission from Krylov and this was a crazy one-round fight.
Official Result- Nikita Krylov def. Ryan Spann by submission (triangle choke) at 3:38 of Round 1
> Heavyweights- #8 Alexander Volkov (35-10, 9-4 UFC) vs. #14 Alexandr Romanov (16-1, 5-1 UFC)
Romanov going right for the takedown against the fence. Romanov pulls him away and Volkov grabbed the fence and got a loud warning. They separate. They have a clash of heads. Volkov lands a kick. Romanov shoots for a takedown but Volkov sprawls and looks for the back. Volkov is looking to set up a choke as he lands left hands. Volkov with lots of punches looking to finish. Volkov with lots of punches from the back and it gets stopped. That was quick work from Volkov.
Official Result- Alexander Volkov def. Alexandr Romanov by TKO (punches) at 2:16 of Round 1
> Bantamweights- #2 Petr Yan (16-4, 8-3 UFC) vs. #3 Merab Dvalishvili (15-4, 8-2 UFC)
Dvalishvili gets Yan down right away and lands some punches as they get to their feet. Dvalishvili goes for another takedown but Yan defends. Yan with a leg kick. Dvalishvili lands a right hand. Dvalishvili lands a leg kick. Yan with a leg kick. They trade punches. Yan with a body kick. Dvalishvili tries a takedown but Yan slips away. Dvalishvili tries a single leg but Yan is staying on his feet and Dvalishvili lets go. Yan with a leg kick. Yan working the kicks. Dvalishvili lands a nice left hook. Dvalishvili tries for a takedown and they went to the mat briefly but stand. Dvalishvili has the neck and lands a couple of knees. 10-9 Dvalishvili.
Yan comes forward and works the jab. Dvalishvili gets a brief takedown but they break and Dvalishvili lands a big right hand. Dvalishvili with a leg kick. He lands another that hurts Yan. Dvalishvili lands a right hand. Yan lands a left hand. Dvalishvili gets a takedown. Yan is able to get up and they separate. Yan with a left hand to the body. Dvalishvili with some high body kicks. Yan gets it down briefly but they work to the feet and Yan has the back. Dvalishvili reverses. They break. Dvalishvili gets the back and scores a takedown against the fence but they get to their feet. Yan gets a late takedown. 10-9 Dvalishvili, 20-18 Dvalishvili.
They trade kicks. Yan with a leg kick. Dvalishvili pressing forward and lands against the fence. Dvalishvili grabs the single leg and pushes it against the fence. They break. Dvalishvili tries a takedown but slips off the back. Dvalishvili grabs the back and has control against the fence before they separate. Dvalishvili pulls guard but they scramble to their feet and break. Dvalishvili tries for a takedown but they break late. 10-9 Dvalishvili, 30-27 Dvalishvili.
Yan lands a left hand as Dvalishvili is looking for the takedown. Dvalishvili lands a right hand. Dvalishvili grabs the back against the fence and lands knees and gets it down. They get to their feet and Yan has it pushed against the fence and the body locked. Dvalishvili lands some combos. Dvalishvili with a left hook. Yan gets a takedown but they pop right back to their feet. 10-9 Dvalishvili, 40-36 Dvalishvili.
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Dvalishvili pressing forward and both land. Dvalishvili looks for a takedown but Yan is defending against the fence. Dvalishvili gets it to the mat but they get to their feet. Dvalishvili lands an elbow as they break. Dvalishvili with a combo. They trade jabs. Dvalishvili gets a takedown. They trade and Dvalishvili gets a takedown. They get up. Dvalishvili lands a big right hand. Dvalishvili looks for a takedown but Yan defends and they exchange shots at the end. Just a complete performance from Dvalishvili here. 10-9 Dvalishvili, 50-45 Dvalishvili.
Official Result- Merab Dvalishvili def. Petr Yan by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)