The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Brazil on Saturday night for UFC 224: Nunes vs. Pennington at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro. The event is headlined by a women’ bantamweight title fight between current titleholder Amanda Nunes and top contender Raquel Pennington. In the co-main event, top middleweight contenders Kelvin Gastelum and Ronald “Jacare” Souza square off. If that wasn’t exciting enough, the main card kicks off on pay-per-view with a meeting between Brazilian mixed martial arts legends Vitor Belfort and Lyoto Machida, while jiu-jitsu ace Mackenzie Dern enters the cage against Amanda Bobby Cooper for her sophomore appearance inside of the Octagon.
Don’t waste another second! The full results and video highlights from Saturday’s pay-per-view can be seen below.
UFC 224: Fight Time & Viewing Details
Event: UFC 224: Nunes vs. Pennington
Date: Saturday, May 12, 2018
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Venue: Jeunesse Arena
Pay-Per-View Card Time: 10:00 P.M. EST
Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass, FX, Pay-per-view
UFC 224 Results & Video Highlights
MAIN CARD
Amanda Nunes def. Raquel Pennington via TKO (punches) – Round 5, 2:36 – to defend women’s bantamweight title
It didn’t take long for the champion to find her groove, while Pennington, who was returning from a one and a half year layoff, was struggling to find her rhythm. Nunes immediately cracked Pennington with some heavy leg kicks that were knocking the challenger off her feet. Nunes had the clear power advantage and was throwing heavy leather looking to establish her dominance early. Pennington appeared more comfortable in Round 2, and she saw an increase in her output. The challenger put the champion on the mat before landing a takedown and throwing some elbows as the round came to a close.
After being on her back at the end of the second frame, Nunes came out in Round 3 going back to the basics. She returned to the heavy leg kick while stringing together her combinations and landing a big takedown of her own. The champion remained in control for the duration of the round.
The champ is in rare form tonight.@Amanda_Leoa #UFC224 pic.twitter.com/mrkFZ5Zpdp
— UFC (@ufc) May 13, 2018
In the fourth round, Pennington continued to eat shots from the champion, with Nunes landing some devastating knees in the clinch. Pennington told her corner before the final round that she was done, but she was convinced to go back out for the final frame where she was once again dominated by the Brazilian.
“I’m done!”
Corner: “No, no, no, no.”
Raquel Pennington is finished in the fifth round just moments after telling her corner “I’m done” 🤔 #UFC224 pic.twitter.com/wU52xiCaLE
— UFC 224: Nunes vs. Pennington on BT Sport (@btsportufc) May 13, 2018
Nunes opened up a nasty cut that had Pennington leaking on the mat before the referee stepped in to stop the fight.
Kelvin Gastelum def. Jacare Souza via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Jacare was controlling position against the cage in the opening round when he looked for a single-leg to take the fight to the mat. Gastelum initially maintained his balance, but Jacare eventually pulled guard and attacked the leg. The jiu-jitsu ace then used the leg to sweep into top position where he transitioned to side control. Jacare made his way back to mount and was landing some ground-and-pound before attacking Gastelum’s arm when the opportunity presented itself. Gastelum fought off the first attempt, but Jacare switched position and tried to lock in the submission from another position but Gastelum escaped again as the round expired. Gastelum was throwing heavy leather in Round 2 and avoiding Jacare’s takedown attempts. Gastelum was able to find more success at range, while also staying out of the clinch. Jacare appeared to be slowing down when Gastelum hit a beautifully timed one-two that dropped the Brazilian to the mat.
THE ONE – TWO!@KelvinGastelum #UFC224 pic.twitter.com/zroic1dDMV
— UFC (@ufc) May 13, 2018
Jacare was fading despite returning to his feet and the two fighters stood in the center of the cage to slug it out as the second round came to an end. Despite being dropped, the hometown favorite was looking to rally to finish the round strong.
In Round 3, Gastelum continued to rely on his strong chin and takedown defense to force Jacare to abandon his ground game while swinging for the fences and leaving himself open to a strong counter from Gastelum. Jacare briefly scored a takedown at the midway point of the final round, but Gastelum bounced right back to his feet. With 30 seconds remaining, Jacare shot for another takedown, before Gastelum bounced back and ended the round by going all-out for the finish. It was all up to the judges and Gastelum came away with the split-decision win in enemy territory.
“Hopefully I’m in line next for that title. If not, then I’m ready for anybody. But I feel like the winner of this fight should fight the winner of Yoel and Whittaker,” Gastelum said after the fight.
Mackenzie Dern def. Amanda Bobby Cooper via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:27
MACKENZIE DERN GETS IT DONE IN BRAZIL 🇧🇷 #UFC224 pic.twitter.com/fj3JJrUyjA
— UFC (@ufc) May 13, 2018
Dern came out showing little fear on the feet, despite Cooper’s extensive experience in the stand-up game and Brazilian’s world-class jiu-jitsu credentials. Dern stood with Cooper for the first two minutes and cracked the American with a huge overhand right that crumbled Cooper. Once Cooper was on the mat, Dern jumped on top of her opponent and used her advantage on the ground to quickly lock in a rear-naked choke finish.
John Lineker def. Brian Kelleher via knockout (punch) – Round 3, 3:43
ALL HE KNOWS IS POWER SHOTS❗@JohnLineker #UFC224 pic.twitter.com/QEQRdzelgu
— UFC (@ufc) May 13, 2018
Both men had their moments in the first round, with Kelleher landing some big counters. However, Lineker caught Kelleher multiple times and caught his opponent off balance to send him tumbling to the mat. In the second round, we saw much of the same, with both men swinging for the fences, but it was Lineker who appeared to be getting the better of the exchanges with huge shots to the body. Early in Round 3, Lineker grabbed ahold of Kelleher’s neck and was looking for the guillotine, but he was in no position to finish. Lineker then showed off his power once aain with a huge left hand that sent Kelleher crumbling to the mat unconscious.
Lyoto Machida def. Vitor Belfort via knockout (kick) – Round 2, 1:00
THE DRAGON ROARS AGAIN! 🐲 @LyotoMachidaFW #UFC224 pic.twitter.com/ILXkb9DYvo
— UFC (@ufc) May 13, 2018
Lyoto Machida pulled off an incredible front kick finish in Round 2 of his bout with Vitor Belfort. After landing the kick flush, Machida paid his respects to the fellow Brazilian legend, who was in the last fight of his UFC contract. Following the impressive knockout, Machida grabbed the mic and called out Michael Bisping.
“Michael Bisping, I’m still waiting for you.” #UFC224 pic.twitter.com/loJprgigcu
— UFC (@ufc) May 13, 2018
PRELIMINARY CARD
Cezar Ferreira def. Karl Roberson via technical submission (arm triangle) – Round 1, 4:45
Cezar Ferreira put Karl Roberson to sleep 💤 pic.twitter.com/wIsvv4SSsd
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) May 13, 2018
Ferreira was able to have his way with Roberson on the mat after landing a takedown early. Roberson did attempt to fight back and was throwing punches from his back while mounted, but Ferreira was able to lock in an arm triangle and move to side control to choke his opponent unconscious. Roberson had initially made his way back to the feet after an early Ferreira takedown, but the Brazilian was relentless and did not cease the opportunity once the bout returned to the mat.
Aleksei Oleinik def. Junior Albini via submission (Ezekiel choke) – Round 1, 1:45
Aleksei Oleinik finishes the fight with yet another Ezekiel choke. pic.twitter.com/UambFMvU57
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) May 13, 2018
Oleinik was cut open early, but was able to rely on his slick choke game to lock in an Ezekiel choke while the two men were still standing. Albini took the fight to the ground and had Oleinik on his back, but the Russian was able to use his strong squeeze from the bottom to force Albini to tap. It was the second Ezekiel choke of Oleinik’s UFC career.
Davi Ramos def. Nick Hein via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:15
Once the fight hit the mat, Ramos was able to impose his dominance on the ground, working for a kimura before transitioning to Hein’s back. Hein was hanging tough, but Ramos turned the choke into a crank and squeezed as hard as he could to force the tap from Ramos for the big win. It all started to go downhill for Hein when he gave up the easy takedown and allowed Ramos to work his magic. After the fight, Ramos called out UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Davi Ramos doesn’t have time for the second round. pic.twitter.com/xBUEsI7sCf
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) May 13, 2018
“I know you’re very good at the wrestling Khabib, but I’m coming for you brother,” he said during the post-fight interview.
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos def. Sean Strickland via knockout (kick, punches) – Round 1, 3:1
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos heel kick KO 😳 pic.twitter.com/wnvRvWyEOz
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) May 13, 2018
To open up the FX portion of the preliminary card, Zeleski dos Santos wasted no time getting the crowd on their feet with a perfectly-timed and brilliantly placed spinning heel kick that landed flush on Strickland. Sensing his opponent was in danger, Zelski dos Santos pounced on a rocked Strickland to add some follow-up punches until the referee jumped in to stop the fight. That is now five consecutive victories for the Brazilian.
Warlley Alves def. Sultan Aliev via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00
HEATING UP IN RIO! #UFC224 pic.twitter.com/rehnAtjoy3
— UFC (@ufc) May 12, 2018
Alves was finding success in the clinch throughout the opening two rounds, while Aliev found himself with a busted right eye entering the final frame. Aliev’s eye was swollen completely shut and the referee was forced to step in and call the fight between rounds.
Jack Hermansson def. Thales Leites via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 2:10
WHAT. A. COMEBACK.@JackTheJokerMMA #UFC224 pic.twitter.com/Xcg3ydPWxD
— UFC (@ufc) May 12, 2018
After the opening round, Hermansson showed some great toughness after suffering what appeared to be a clear injury. Leites was dominating the top position and applying shoulder pressure to look for the arm-triangle. Hermansson continued to fight from his back while Leites was being patient and waiting for the opening while continuing to make Hermansson work. Hermansson was able to escape the second round despite ending with Leites in the mount position. Hermansson exploded to start the final round with a flying knee, before working hard for a guillotine. Leites escaped danger and then worked for a submission of his own, immediately locking in the anaconda choke. Hermansson managed to escape and found himself in the mount after a failed sweep by Leites. Hermansson was then able to posture up and delivered some heavy ground-and-pound to rally for the surprising win. What a comeback.
“I broke my rib in the first round. I could feel it float around there. It was terrible,” Hermansson said after the fight. “The most painful thing I ever experienced.”
Ramazan Emeev def. Alberto Mina via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Markus Perez def. James Bochnovic via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:28
THERE’S THE TAP❗Perez starts the night off STRONG for Brazil. #UFC224 pic.twitter.com/Ntcf27EFJ8
— UFC (@ufc) May 12, 2018
Perez made no secret of the fact that he wanted to neutralize Bochnovic’s huge reach advantage in the division from the opening bell. After securing a big takedown, Perez was able to control the fight and ultimately took Bochnovic’s back before forcing the tap with around 30 seconds remaining in the first round.
UFC 224 Post-Fight Press Conference
Watch the UFC 224 Post-fight Press Conference live following the event.
