The most anticipated fight of the year has arrived and MMASucka will be providing UFC 254 results all night. Ever since May when the fight was set up, fans have been awaiting the lightweight unification bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje.
It was in May that Gaethje captured the UFC interim lightweight title. In order to do so, he snapped Tony Ferguson‘s twelve fight win streak. He put on an outstanding performance against Ferguson as he would finish him by round five TKO. Prior to that, Gaethje put together three straight first round KO/TKO wins in three straight main events. The first of them was a knockout against James Vick at UFC Fight Night 135. He followed that up with a knockout win over Edson Barboza at UFC on ESPN 2. Finally, before fighting for the interim title, he defeated Donald Cerrone by TKO at UFC Fight Night 158.
As for the champion, Nurmagomedov looks to improve his undefeated record to 29-0 with a win over Gaethje. Since he defeated Al Iaquinta for the vacant title, Nurmagomedov has gone on to defend his belt twice. The first of those fights was one of the biggest fights in UFC history as he faced off against former featherweight and lightweight champion, Conor McGregor at UFC 229. He would win the fight in the fourth round, submitting McGregor, before igniting the infamous post-fight brawl. After serving a nine month suspension for the brawl, Nurmagomedov returned to the cage in September 2019 as he faced interim champion Dustin Poirier at UFC 242. He won his second straight fight by submission that day, finishing Poirier with a rear naked choke in the second round.
UFC 254 Results
The co-main events will also feature a high stakes match up, this in the middleweight division. After picking up a win in his first outing since losing the title, Robert Whittaker gets a chance to earn another shot. To do so, he has to get past the fast rising heavy hitter in Jared Cannonier. After losing the middleweight title to Israel Adesanya, Whittaker returned to the cage this summer. He appeared in the main event of UFC on ESPN 14 as he defeated former welterweight title challenger Darren Till by unanimous decision. As for Cannonier, he has won his last three straight fights by TKO over David Branch, Anderson Silva and Jack Hermansson. The winner will look to get the next shot as Adesanya.
Also, before the co-main event will be a good fight in the heavyweight division. Coming off a UD loss to Curtis Blaydes, Alexander Volkov looks to pick up a win over Walt Harris. Harris enters the fight coming off a second round TKO loss to Alistair Overeem earlier this year. They each look to bounce back with a win in a heavyweight division that seems stagnant at the moment.
Kicking off the main card will be a light heavyweight rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Ion Cutelaba. Their last fight ended in a controversial stoppage after Cutelaba appeared to act hurt to bait Ankalaev, which seemingly fooled the ref. Following that fight will be a women’s flyweight fight between Lauren Murphy and Liliya Shakirova. Murphy is coming off three straight wins, most recently defeating Roxanne Modafferi, while Sharikova makes her UFC debut with an 8-1 record. Finally, before the heavyweight bout will be a middleweight fight between Jacob Malkoun and Phillip Hawes. Both fighters will be making their debuts with Hawes coming off Dana White’s Contender Series.
Follow along with MMASucka as we provide you with the results throughout UFC 254.
MAIN CARD (PPV/ESPN+ – 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT)
Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Justin Gaethje via Submission (Triangle Choke) at 1:34 of Round Two
Robert Whittaker def. Jared Cannonier via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Alexander Volkov def. Walt Harris via TKO (Strikes) at 1:15 of Round Two
Phillip Hawes def. Jacob Malkoun via Knockout (Punches) at 0:18 of Round One
Lauren Murphy def. Liliya Sharikova via Submission (Armbar) at 3:31 of Round Two
Magomed Ankalaev def. Ion Cutelaba via Knockout (Punches) at 4:19 of Round One
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN 2/ESPN+ – 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT)
Tai Tuivasa def. Stefan Struve via Knockout (Punches) at 4:59 of Round One
Casey Kenney def. Nathaniel Wood via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Shavkat Rakhmonov def. Alex Oliveira* via Submission (Guillotine) at 4:40 of Round One
Da-Un Jung vs. Sam Alvey is deemed a Split Draw (29-28, 28-29, 28-28)
PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+ – 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT)
Miranda Maverick def. Liana Jojua via TKO (Doctor’s Stoppage) at 5:00 of Round One
Joel Alvarez** def. Alexander Yakovlev via Submission (Armbar) at 3:00 of Round One
*Oliveira missed weight at 173 pounds and will forfeit twenty percent of his purse
**Alvarez missed weight at 159.5 pounds and will forfeit thirty percent of his purse
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