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UFC 245 Main Event:
Welterweight: UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman (15-1) vs. Colby Covington (15-1)
Result: Usman via TKO Round 5 (3:52)
Round 5: Its all over! Usman drops Colby twice with two big shots and jumps on top and gets the finish over a battered Colby Covington. What a fight.
Round 4: Another razor close round...this fight is so close. Colby landed heavier shots in that round but Kamaru had the offensive output. Newshub score: Usman 10-9 but could go either way.
Round 3: That was Kamaru's round. Picked apart Colby on the feet and is really hurting Colby with body shots. Colby thinks his jaw is broken and they have just shown the relay and it was a heavy right from Usman. Newshub score: Usman 10-9.
Round 2: Another very very close round. Both guys are landing but Colby's stuff has a bit more sting on it. Kamaru hurt Colby at the end of the round with a couple of body shots. Newshub score: Covington 10-9 but it was very close.
Round 1: Super close round to start. Zero wrestling from two of the best grapplers in MMA. Colby landed the heavier shots but got hurt to the body. Hard to score: Newshub score: Covington 10-9.
Featherwight: UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway (21-4) vs. Alexander Volkanovski (20-1)
Result: Volkanovski via decision (48-47 x2, 50-45)
Wrap: What a masterful performance from Alex Volkanovski ... shut out the greatest featherweight of all time to win UFC Gold. Auckland's City Kickboxing has a second UFC champion.
Round 5: Left lands for Holloway but Volk replies with a counter. Leg kick lands for Volk. Double jab lands for Volk. Overhand lands for Volk...Max pressuring him but Volk is throwing back. Double jab lands for Max. Left body shot lands for Volk and a right to the jaw. Jab lands for Max but Volk replies with an inside leg kick. Volk shoots Max against the fence but Holloway seperates. Jab lands for Volk and a nice elbow ... Volk shoots again but Max stuffs nicely. Jab lands for Volk. Double jab lands for Volk as Max misses on a big uppercut. Left hook lands for Max...Volk clinches as the fight comes to an end. Newshub score: Volkanovski 10-9 and the fight 49-46.
Round 4: Right, left combo lands for Volk and he lands a lovely right as Max closes the gap. Leg kick lands for Volk. Jab lands for Holloway. Volk shoots but Max stuffs it. Inside leg kick lands for Volk and a body shot. Mac lands a nice uppercut. Holloway lands a nice combo but Volk replies with two leg kicks. Right hand lands for Volk but Max replies with his best shot of the fight ... upercut. Volk lands a left. Max lands a body shot that hurts Volk. Volk replies with another leg kick. Lead elbow lands for Volk but Max replies with a one-two. Overhand right lands for Volk. Close close round. Newshub score: Holloway 10-9 but it could go either way.
Round 3: Right hook lands for Volk. Front kick lands for Volk and another low kick. Lead right hook lands for Volk but Holloway lands a a shovel uppercut. Right hand lands for Volk. Volk lands a left hook then a right kick followed by a left low kick. Big right lands for Volk and a left. Holloway pushing forward but Volk is landing. Hollowa lands a nice knee that scores ... and a left that lands. Max misses a big spinning back fist as the round ends. Newshub score: Volkanovski 10-9.
Round 2: Body shot lands for Max but Volk throws a nice right. Leg kick lands for Volk. Short right lands for Volk. Inside leg kick lands for Volk but he misses a big right. Thumping leg kick lands for Volk followed by an inside leg kick. Max lands a nice three punch combo but Volk replies with a leg kick. Holloway lands another one-two and Volk smiles. Lead right hooks lands for Volk followed by a heavy low kick. Holloway lands a stiff straight jab. Volk lands two leg kicks to finish. Newshub score: Volkanovski 10-9.
Round 1: Holloway lands a jab out of the gate. Nice body shot for Max. Leg kick lands for Volk and he lands a short left on the break. Another low kick lands for Volk. Body shot lands for Volk....Holloway lands a a straight left. Volk lands another low kick. Overhand right lands for Volk but Max lands a counter left. Volk shoots and pushes Max against the cage but Max seperates. Inside leg kick lands for Volk and he should take the round. Newshub score: Volkanovski 10-9.
6:20pm - The champ is on his way out. Make no mistake about it, Max Holloway is the greatest featherweight of all time.
6:15pm - Ring walks taking place ... 'The Great' is out first. The City Kickboxing trained fighter coming out to the Game of Thrones theme.
Womens bantamweight: UFC Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes (18-4) vs. Germaine de Randamie (9-3)
Result: Nunes via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45 and 49-45)
Round 5: Nunes gets the takedown again out of the gate .... the most dominant striker in women's MMA history is refusing to strike. Nunes controlling easily from the top ... not doing much but enough to keep the ref from standing them up. Nunes throwing pillow strikes from guard. Germiane has nothing left to give. Nunes coasting to victory here with a minute on the clock. They seperate and Germaine throws an upkick but Nunes avoids as the fight ends. Newshub score: Nunes 10-9 and the fight 49-45.
Round 4: Nunes has zero interest in striking and easily earns a takedown out of the gate. Nunes in control but she gets lazy and Germaine throws up a triangle and she locks it in .... Nunes rolls and manages to escape and gets top control back.Not much happening ... Nunes just resting on top...both ladies are spent. Newshub score: 10-9 Nunes
Round 3: Germaine lands a nice stiff right but Nunes gets the takedown again and she has half guard. Nunes lands a nice elbow from the top. Nunes so dominant in this position. Nunes not doing a lot but Germaine has no offence from her back. Nunes rains down a couple of big right hands. This round is all Amanda ... she has Germaine in real trouble here as she lands a big elbow .... Germaine lands a big up kick that lands on Nunes but the champ recovers and has top control again. Nunes rides the round out in control. Newshub score: 10-9 Nunes
Round 2: Body shot lands for Germaine and Nunes is on the back foot for the first time. Germaine lands a right over the top. Nunes misses a overhand. Level change from Nunes and she earns a takedown. Referee stands them back up. Head kick lands for Germaine but Nunes looks okay. Flying knee lands for Germaine ... Nunes clinches and Germaine lands a big knee that hurts Nunes. Another high knee land for Germaine. Nunes shoots and lands a takedown. Big elbow lands for Nunes from the top. Germaine throws up her kegs for a triangle but Nunes escapes as the rouns ends. Newshub score: De Randamie 10-9 but it was close
Round 1: Nunes throws a huge overhand to start but Germaine is fine. Takedown for Nunes and she pulls for a gulliotine but Germiane is out. Nunes back on top now and landing from the top.....big shots now. Germaine covering up and back to full guard. Nunes dominating and the end feels near. Nunes is raining down the pain from the top .... Germaine rolls but Nunes locks in an arm triangle. Germaine survives. Nunes looks very very tired as the round ends. Germaine guts it out. Newshub score: Nunes 10-8.
Bantamweight: Jose Aldo (28-5) vs. Marlon Moraes (22-6-1)
Result: Moraes via split decision (29-28 x2, 29-29)
Round 3: Right hook lands for Aldo. Triple jab lands for Moraes. Moraes lands a couple of nice rights. Aldo advancing but not getting to Moraes in this round. Jab lands for Aldo. Flying knee misses for Also. Moraes lands a jab. Aldo stuns Moraes with a stiff right cross. Moraes over the top with a right lands. Leg kick lands for Moraes and a left hand. Moraes had a takedown stuffed and Aldo lands a shot on the break. Close fight comes to an end. Newshub score: Moraes 10-9 and the fight 29-28 but it's very close.
Round 2: Aldo stalking Moraes with pressure although he's not landing clean. Body punch lands for Aldo as does an uppercut. Moraes just jabbing and moving at the moment. Three punch combo lands for Aldo but Moraes replies with a big right. Spinning head kick is blocked by Aldo. Right hook lands for Aldo but he misses a flying knee. Uppercut lands for Aldo but Moraes lands a nice right in reply. Newshub score: Aldo 10-9.
Round 1: This should be a great fight ... Aldo dropping to 135 after dominating 145 for so long. Moraes coming off a title loss to Henry Cejudo earlier this year. Moraes lands a huge left head kick to open and hurts Aldo .... Also hurt by a second heqad kick but he recovers. These guys are throwing hard with intent to hurt. Moraes landing more but Aldo still there and landing a few himself. Also lands a body shot followed a big right hand that hurts Moraes but Moraes scores a takedown at the end of the round. Newshub score: Moraes 10-9.
Bantamweight: Urijah Faber (35-10) vs. Petr Yan (13-1)
Result: Yan via KO Round 3 (00.47)
Round 3: Faber is so tough to be still in this fight. Head kick lands for Yan but Faber survives .... the clinch and Yan lands another left head kick and Faber is out cold. Fight over.
Round 2: Faber lands a nice left hook that gets Yan's attention. Yan still walking forward with pressure but not landing much. Faber clinches and forces Yan against the cage. Knee lands forn Faber but Yan escapes the clinch. Faber is dropped by a big three punch combo from Yan but he's up quickly and lands a huge left hand that rocks Yan .... Faber clinches and Yan lands a huge left elbow that drops Faber. Big cut above Faber's left eye. Yan lands a nice jab, Faber's looks like he has a broken eye socket. Yan scores a takedown as the round closes. Newshub score: Yan 10-8.
Round 1: Almost set for a start to the main card featuring former WEC bantamweight champion Urijah Faber taking on the very talented Peter Yan. Faber struggling with establishing his distance .... Yan not striking but getting reads with his feints. Yan misses with a big right head kick. Faber can't land a takedown as Yan escapes nicely. Not alot happening. They exchange a couple of lefts. Yan lands a nice elbow that gets Faber's attention. Inside leg kick lands for Faber. Tough round to score. Newshub score: Yan 10-9 but it's close.
UFC 245 Prelims Card
Welterweight: Mike Perry (13-5) vs. Geoff Neal (12-2)
Result: Neal via KO Round 1 (1:30)
Wrap: Another big knockout. Neal times a left high kick perfectly and staggers Perry ... he follows up with another one and then a flurry of right and left hands and Perry is out. Big win for Geoff Neal.
Women's bantamweight: Irene Aldana (11-5) vs. Ketlen Vieira (10-0)
Result: Aldana via KO Round 1 (4:51)
Wrap: Wow! Huge left hook ends the fight from the 10th ranked Aldana. Great fight with both ladies throwing hard and looking for the finish. Aldana finds out with the big left and follows up wth a couple extras on the ground before the referee calls it.
Middleweight: Omari Akhmedov (19-4-1) vs. Ian Heinisch (13-2)
Result: Akhmedov via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Wrap: Prett uneventful fight - Akhmedov controlled range on his feet for the first 12 or so minutes. Heinisch finished strong but time ran out.
Welterweight: Matt Brown (21-16) vs. Ben Saunders (22-12)
Result: Brown via TKO Round 2 (4:55)
Wrap: Saunders dominated the first round with ground control, almost gaining victory through a couple of submission attempts. But the veteran Brown proved super tough and gutted out a couple of tricky spots. Brown eventually overwhelmed Saunders with strikes earning a stoppage with a few seconds to go in the second frame.
UFC 245 Fight Pass Prelims Card
Featherweight: Chase Hooper (6-0-1) vs. Daniel Teymur (7-3)
Result: Hooper via TKO Round 1 (4:04)
Round 1: Hooper gets rocked by a big right hand but he recovers quickly and gets top control. He locks in a rear naked choke but Teymur somehow escapes ..... Hooper has mount and is pounding away with elbows .. referee steps in and stops the fight.
Flyweight: Kai Kara-France (20-7) vs. Brandon Moreno (15-5-1)
Result: Moreno via unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
Round 3: Moreno looking slick as he lands a nice counter right followed by a head kick but Kai blocks it. Kai lands a right leg to the dome but Moreno shakes it off. Leg kick lands for Kai but Moreno is landing that jab at will. Jab lands for Kai but Moreno continues to pressure and land. Kai needs a finish I think. Moreno lands a straight left and backs Kai up some more. Left lands for Kai but Moreno replies with a right. Moreno hurts Kai with a body shot as the round comes to an end. Newshub score: Moreno 10-9 and the fight 29-28.
Round 2: Jab lands for Kai but Moreno lands a nice body kick. Kai swings and misses with a combo .... Moreno lands as they break. Moreno lands a nice body shot that has Kai moving back but he avoids a quick attack from the Mexican. Head kick lands for Moreno and a body shot. Kai getting pressured here and stuggling. Kai's nose is busted ... he's taking a licking in this round as Moreno gains in confidence. Jab lands for Moreno as does a hard left as the round comes to a close. Newshub score: Moreno 10-9.
Round 1: These two shared a room together during The Ultimate Fighter flyweight season in 2016. and have been friendly all week. Until now. Body punch from Moreno lands. Kai looking for a big right misses, but he lands a left. Kai looking good but Moreno is slightly longer so there is danger there when the Kiwi attacks. Kai rocks Moreno with a big right and follows with a hard leg kick. Kai lands a nice right that cracks Moreno. Another Kai right lands but Moreno lands a head kick that is blocked. Newshub score: Kara-France 10-9.
Women's flyweight: Jessica Eye (14-7) vs. Viviane Araujo (8-1)
Result: Jessica Eye via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Round 3: Araujo lands a heavy right hand to open the round. Outside leg kick lands for Eye as does an inside leg kick. Body shot lands for Eye and she stuffs a takedown nicely. Araujo lands a right but misses on another takedown attempt. Big right lands for Jessica and she stuffs another takedown. Body shot lands for Jessica as does an inside leg kick and she stuffs another takedown as the round comes to an end. Newshub score: Eye 10-9 and the fight 29-28 but it could go either way.
Round 2: Eye lands a nice right to the jaw followed by a body shot. Another nice right lands for Jessica and a leg kick .... she is growing in confidence. Araujo with a great level change and earns a well timed takedown. Eye is traight back up though .... another close round here. Big right hand lands for Eye. Inside leg kick lands for Eye and she shoots for a takedown but can't quite secure it as the round ends. Newshub score: Eye 10-9.
Round 1: Both ladies exchanging offence on the feet ... nothing to significant landing so far. Araujo starting to get the better of Eye ... she's a little bit quicker. Araujo gets a takedown and had half guard. Eye gives up her back but she creates enough space to seperate and escape. Eye aggressive now on the feet and she shoots for the takedown but it's not there. Tough round to score but i'll give to Araujo. Newshub score: Araujo 10-9.
Middleweight: Oskar Piechota (12-2) vs. Punahele Soriano (6-0)
Result: Soriano via KO Round 1 (3:17)
Round 1: Soriano drops Piechota a minute into the first and starts hammering away from top. Piechota rolls to his back and then slips out of the clutches of Soriano and rolls for a Kimura. Soriano escapes and gets back on top .... they stand back up. Soriano drops Piechota again with a huge left, right combination and that's the end of the fight!
Hello fight fans and welcome gto live commentary of UFC 243: Usman v Covington.
Two fights in particular stand out from a New Zealand perspective this afternoon with two City Kickboxing fighters in action.
First up will be Kiwi Kai Kara-France who takes on Mexican Brandon Moreno on the early prelims - that fight should take place around 1:15pm.
And the co-Main Event will see Hawaiin Max Holloway, the UFC featherweight champion, defends the title against Australian Alexander Volkanovski.
'The Great' trains alongside Kara-France, Israel Adesanya, Dan Hooker and a plethora of other elite UFC calibre talent.
The Main Event will see the grudge match of the year tale place when Kamaru Usman defends welterweight gold against Colby Covington. The two have a deep-seated dislike for each other so expect fireworks inside the Octagon.
NZ TAB odds
Kai Kara-France $1.59, Brandon Moreno $2.25
Amanda Nunes $1.27, Germaine de Randamie $3.45
Max Holloway $1.52, Alex Volkanovski $2.40
Kamaru Usman $1.52, Colby Covington $2.40
Fight Card
UFC 245 Main Event:
Welterweight: UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington
Double co-Main Event:
Featherwight: UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway vs. Alexander Volkanovski
Womens bantamweight: UFC Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes vs. Germaine de Randamie
Main Card:
Bantamweight: Jose Aldo vs. Marlon Moraes
Bantamweight: Urijah Faber vs. Petr Yan
UFC 245 Prelims Card
Welterweight: Mike Perry vs. Geoff Neal
Women's bantamweight: Irene Aldana vs. Ketlen Vieira
Middleweight: Omari Akhmedov vs. Ian Heinisch
Welterweight: Matt Brown vs. Ben Saunders
UFC 245 Fight Pass Prelims Card
Featherweight: Chase Hooper vs. Daniel Teymur
Flyweight: Kai Kara-France vs. Brandon Moreno
Women's flyweight: Jessica Eye vs. Viviane Araujo
Middleweight: Oskar Piechota vs. Punahele Soriano
