UFC 218 ‘Holloway vs Aldo 2’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round-by-Round Scoring

Allen Crowder vs. Justin Willis

Round 1

The southpaw Willis catches Crowder's first kick and sends a left hand down the center. Willis catches another kick, and this time the American Kickboxing Academy fighter feeds Crowder several hard left hands before releasing the leg. Willis catches Crowder rushing inside and grabs him in the Thai clinch to deliver a hard pair of knees. Backing Crowder up to the fence, Willis zaps the UFC newcomer with another hard left straight, and this one nearly buckles Crowder's legs. Willis walks him down, gets a collar tie and shoots an uppercut up the middle to Crowder's chin. Two minutes into the bout, Crowder's face is bright red from all the strikes he's been absorbing. Crowder gets rocked by yet another left hand and staggers backward to the fence. Willis misses with a clinch knee, then releases and absolutely torches Crowder with one final left to the jaw. Crowder collapses in a heap as referee Dan Miragliotta rushes in for the stoppage.

The Official Result

Justin Willis def. Allen Crowder via KO (Punches) R1 2:33

Jeremy Kimball vs. Dominick Reyes

Round 1

Kimball takes 30 seconds before blitzing Reyes with a right hand that backs up the unbeaten fighter to the fence. Kimball gets hold of Reyes and dumps him to the ground, then gets a standing rear bodylock as Reyes climbs back to his feet. Kimball moves to the front of Reyes, now hits a quick trip and pops Reyes with a pair of left hands before "The Devastator" can stand. Now it's Reyes taking down Kimball, landing in side control and putting his hand over Kimball's face to disrupt his breathing. Kimball shifts his hips to put Reyes in guard, but Reyes postures up to land a clean left hand. Kimball kicks Reyes away and rolls to his knees, and Reyes immediately jumps on his back. Reyes secures back-mount with a body triangle as he begins driving elbows into the side of Kimball's head from behind. Refere Bobby Wombacher gives Reyes a pair of verbal warnings for striking the back of the head as they enter the final two minutes of the round. Reyes abandons the striking and applies a rear-naked choke that forces Kimball to tap out quickly.

The Official Result

Dominick Reyes def. Jeremy Kimball via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R1 3:39

Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Sabah Homasi

Round 1

Homasi connects with the first right hand that he throws, along with a couple nice kicks to Alhassan's lead leg. Another overhand right touches the chin of Alhassan, who's biting on some feints from Homasi here in the first minute. Homasi lunges in to strike and gets clipped with a counter from Alhassan, who maybe doesn't recognize the damage that he shot did and lets Homasi off the hook. Alhassan cracks Homasi with another shot a few seconds later, sending Homasi grasping for a clinch or takedown. Instead, Alhassan shoves Homasi against the fence with an underhook. Homasi complains of an eye poke but gets no respite from referee Herb Dean. The welterweights separate and come back to the center of the cage, where Homasi dings Alhassan with a knee to the body, now a right hand over the top. Homasi drives Alhassan to the ground and lands a couple heavy elbows through the judoka's guard. Alhassan powers back to his feet, now halfway through a frantic opening round, and shoves Homasi against the fence again. Homasi tries a sacrifice throw and winds up with Alhassan taking his back, but the American Top Team product is able to escape out the back door. Alhassan pins him to the wall with another underhook. Homasi throws a knee to the body and gets taken down, but again he's able to get back to his feet with ease. Alhassan steps back from the clinch and both fighters begin throwing bombs, just slugging it out in the pocket. Both men connect with punches, but it's a right hand that grazes off of Homai's temple and sends him to the ground. Homasi grabs hold of Alhassan's legs and looks to be working for a takedown when referee Dean steps in to stop the fight. Homasi immediately protests the stoppage, but it's too late.

The Official Result

Abdul Razak Alhassan def. Sabah Homasi via TKO (Punches) R1 4:21

Amanda Bobby Cooper vs. Angela Magana

Round 1

Magana opens with a leg kick, follows with a knee to the body as she catches Cooper stepping inside. Cooper flips to southpaw stance as she advances on Magana, now back to orthodox. Cooper catches a low kick and hustles Magana against the fence, looking for a takedown. Magana defends by grabbing the fence, but Cooper drags her down anyway. The strawweights spring back up, but Cooper keeps Magana pinned to the fence, then tosses her back to the ground. "ABC" steps over to full mount, then takes the back when Magana rolls over. Magana gets a knee in and pushes Cooper back to full guard as they hit the final two minutes of the round. Magana lands a few elbows from the bottom, swings her legs around to look for an armbar, but Cooper snuffs out the sub attempt before it even begins. Working from half guard, Cooper pins down Magana's right arm and slams her head with a few heavy elbows. Magana gives up her back, now full mount again. Cooper alternates between ground-and-pound and a rear-naked choke attempt in the final 30 seconds of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Cooper
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Cooper
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Cooper

Round 2

Magana comes out for round two with a reddened face and some serious swelling underneath her right eye. Cooper wastes little time in taking down "Your Majesty," and Magana immediately begins fishing for an armbar as she controls Cooper's wrists from guard. Cooper leans right to left across Magana's body in half guard, starts to frame up a kimura and then switches back to ground-and-pound, dropping left hands on Magana's face. Cooper passes to side control with 3:30 on the clock and begins landing some heavier elbows which force Magana to give up her back. Cooper slaps on a rear-naked choke but can't force the kneeling Magana to tap out. Magana postures up and looks to slip out the back door, but Cooper adjusts and uses her hooks to take out Magana's base. It's all Cooper at the halfway point of round two, going back and forth between strikes and choke attempts. Magana is offering nothing in return, just covering up as Cooper rains down punches and elbows on her head, but the assault isn't enough to force a stoppage from referee Keith Peterson. Finally, with 40 seconds left, the ref tells Magana that she has to fight back. Magana does nothing to improve her situation, and with Cooper still pounding away, Peterson stops the fight.

The Official Result

Amanda Bobby Cooper def. Angela Magana via TKO (Punches) R2 4:34

Cortney Casey-Sanchez vs. Felice Herrig

Round 1

Herrig comes after Casey with punches in the opening minute, while Casey lands a few low kicks from range and looks to counter Herrig's attacks. Casey catches the veteran stepping inside and zaps her with a clean right hand. Herrig comes over the top with a left hand, then tries to charge forward and walks into a couple hard rights from the backpedaling Casey. The strawweights clinch at the fence, Herrig using double underhooks to work for a takedown. She drags Casey to the mat with 2:10 left on the clock and sets up in half guard, keeping tight chest-to-chest on top, pinning Casey to the ground. Casey tries to bump and roll, can't hit the sweep, then uses a kimura to sweep to top position. The fighters jump back to their feet with 60 seconds remaining. Casey goes to the body of Herrig with a right hook, slides backward to avoid the Jeff Curran pupil's return fire. Herrig tries to burst forward with combinations in the final 10 seconds and walks into another nice right hook counter from Casey.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Casey
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Casey
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Casey

Round 2

Casey looks frustrated with Herrig as the second round begins, landing a leg kick and a right hand, then taking a step back to jaw at the "Lil Bulldog." Casey switches to a wider karate-style stance, then tightens up her guard again after eating a hard left hand from Herrig. The combinations of Herrig are looking a little more accurate in this round, but when she comes over the top with a right hand, Casey is waiting with an uppercut counter. Casey lands a lead uppercut, then a leg kick, but Herrig tags her back with another left hook. Herrig comes back with a right hand that connects to the chin of Casey, leaving "Cast Iron" swinging at air. Herrig comes on strong in the final 10 seconds, backing Casey up against the fence with yet another left.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Casey
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Herrig
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Herrig

Round 3

Casey comes out for the final round with a large mouse on the outside corner of her right eye, and some damage around her left eye as well. There's not much action through the first 90 seconds of the final round, as both strawweights duck and feint in the middle of the cage, waiting to react to something. Casey continues to use her reach advantage to keep Herrig on the outside and make her pay for any wild combinations with counter right hands. Herrig connects with an overhand right, tacks on a few inside leg kicks as she steps back to reset. Inside the final minute of the bout, and still neither woman has put their stamp on this round. A right hand from Herrig bloodies the nose of Casey, who flicks some in Herrig's direction. Herrig charges Casey in the final 10 seconds, landing a few punches, but it's Casey who uses Herrig's momentum to throw her to the ground. A right hook on the nose appears to buckle Herrig's knees just before the horn, though the "Bulldog" keeps her balance.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Casey (30-27 Casey)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Casey (29-28 Casey)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-10 (29-29 Draw)

The Official Result

Felice Herrig def. Cortney Casey-Sanchez via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) R3 5:00

Drakkar Klose vs. David Teymur

Round 1

Klose goes upstairs with a right high kick in the opening seconds of the bout, but Teymur sidesteps it and fires back with a hard inside leg kick. The southpaw Teymur is sticking to the outside, not letting Klose get too close, but now the Michigan native rushes Teymur to land a knee to the body. Klose shrugs at Teymur and stands still in front of the Swede, inviting the striker to engage. Teymur isn't biting and keeps his guard up the whole time, still waiting to counter. Two minutes in, referee Herb Dean pauses the fight and warns the backpedaling Teymur that he needs to engage. Teymur lands a few leg kicks and then hustles Klose against the fence, but the lightweights don't stay in the clinch for long. Klose bursts forward with punches but can't find the mark with anything clean. Teymur counters the American's next punch with a left hook, now another inside leg kick. The action remains sparse down the stretch. Teymur lands a front kick to the body, but Klose capitalizes by catching the leg and driving Teymur to the canvas. Teymur posts and stands right away, and the fighters finish the round on their feet.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Teymur
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Teymur
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Teymur

Round 2

Klose is the aggressor at the onset of round two, but it's the muay Thai stylist Teymur who's landing the cleaner, more accurate punches. Klose starts to look frustrated after a few failed attempts to find Teymur's chin; the Michigan native shoots for a takedown but Teymur does well to keep his balance. Teymur tries a takedown of his own, gets stuffed. Now another shot from Klose, this time lifting Teymur off the ground with a single-leg, but Teymur keeps his balance and slugs Klose with a left hook on the way out. Teymur lands the left again, sending Klose shooting for his legs; Teymur continues to shut down every takedown attempt that Klose throws his way. Klose drives forward with an awkward kick; it's caught by Teymur, who sweeps Klose's other foot out from under him and comes down to Klose's guard. Teymur spends the better part of the final minute on top.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Teymur
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Teymur
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Teymur

Round 3

Teymur catches Klose coming forward and stops him in his tracks with a left high kick to the face. Klose has instant swelling underneath his right eye, but he collects himself and continues to march forward on the Swede. Backed up to the fence, Teymur tries to push Klose away with a hand to the face, but one of his finger catches Klose in the right eye. Klose recovers quickly from the foul, and the fight resumes with just over three and a half minutes on the clock. Klose catches a kick from Teymur, tries to turn it into a takedown, but Teymur yanks the leg back and spins free. Klose lands a spinning back kick to the body, and Teymur gives him a liver kick in return. Klose continues to throw up his arms in frustation when Teymur circles away from an exchange. Teymur lands a left hand to the body, but Klose shoots soon after and secures a takedown. Teymur doesn't stay on his back for more than 20 seconds, and now the lightweights are back on their feet with 60 seconds remaining. Klose keeps coming forward, and Teymur keeps making him pay with leg kicks and quick clinch knees. Teymur tries a late takedown but get stuffed by Klose.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Teymur (30-27 Teymur)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Teymur (30-27 Teymur)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Teymur (30-27 Teymur)

The Official Result

David Teymur def. Drakkar Klose via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) R3 5:00

Yancy Medeiros vs. Alex Oliveira

Round 1

An aggressive Oliveira tags Medeiros with a pair of straight right hands in the opening moments, then pushes the Hawaiian backward with stout kicks to the body. Just when Medeiros looks to be on the ropes, he fires back with a left hand that puts "Cowboy" on his seat. Medeiros tries to pound out the wounded Brazilian, but Oliveira powers back to his feet with a bloodied nose. Oliveira slows down the fight, pressing Medeiros against the fence, then landing a knee to the groin. Referee Bobby Wombacher pauses the fight for Medeiros to recover. When action resumes, Oliveira scores a knockdown of his own, but Medeiros is back on his feet within seconds. Oliveira catches him with another right hand moments later, putting Medeiros on the ground at the base of the fence. Somehow, Medeiros regains his wits and stands up, but Oliveira is all over him, blasting away with more right hands, now slashing elbows in the pocket. Oliveira puts Medeiros in the clinch and drives a knee into his body, but now Medeiros cracks back with a left hand. Medeiros circles away and Oliveira gives chase right away, absolutely relentless in his pursuit of the finish. Medeiros is eating some hellacious shots but won't go down, and both men wobble back to their corners after the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-8 Oliveira
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Oliveira
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 Oliveira

Round 2

Oliveira resumes his walking down of Medeiros as soon as the horn sounds, repeatedly planting front kicks in Medeiros' breadbasket to move him backward. Medeiros swings back with a left hand that forces "Cowboy" to back up momentarily. Two minutes into the second frame, both welterweights are looking tired after a brutal opening round. Medeiros catches Oliveira with a left hand on his already damaged nose, and "Cowboy" covers up against the fence for a few seconds while Medeiros tacks on more punches to the body and head. Oliveira tries his first takedown attempt of the fight, but Medeiros easily fends off the double-leg shot. Oliveira changes levels to drive a straight right hand into Medeiros' midsection, then goes back upstairs to rock Medeiros' head. Another right hand forces Medeiros backward in the final minute, but when Oliveira tries to trip Medeiros to the ground, Medeiros reverses brilliantly and lands in full mount. Medeiros has 30 seconds left to work from the dominant position, and he's trying to finish Oliveira with heavy elbow strikes. Oliveira bucks him off and jumps to his feet, where the welterweights finish the round clinching.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Medeiros
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Medeiros
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Medeiros

Round 3

Oliveira catches Medeiros' first high kick and trips him to the ground, but Medeiros scrambles up before "Cowboy" can capitalize. Oliveira puts Medeiros on the retreat, chasing him down with punches; once the Brazilian catches up to Medeiros, he wraps him up around the waist and hurls the Hawaiian to the canvas. Medeiros gets up and then goes for another ride, and now Oliveira moves to take the back. Medeiros peels away a hook and turns over, putting him on top in Oliveira's guard. The welterweights come back to their feet with 3:20 on the clock, and now it's Medeiros bringing the fight to Oliveira. Suddenly, Oliveira looks finished, backing up to the fence and covering his face with his hands. Medeiros rips into the Brazilian with hooks and knees, and Oliveira hits the canvas. After a few more punches from Medeiros, referee Wombacher steps in to stop the fight.

The Official Result

Yancy Medeiros def. Alex Oliveira via TKO (Punches) R3 2:02

Paul Felder vs. Charles Oliveira

Round 1

Felder presses forward at the start of the bout, but it's Oliveira landing hard leg kicks from his back foot. The Brazilian wraps up Felder with a body lock and drags him to the floor. Felder climbs back to his feet, Oliveira still holding his waist from behind, and "Charles do Bronx" sends Felder back to the ground seconds later. Felder gets to his knees but leaves his neck exposed, and Oliveira wastes no time in applying a D'arce/brabo choke. Oliveira is rolling Felder all around, trying to find the right angle to finish, but Felder is refusing to tap. Oliveira finally steps over to full mount, releases his grip to adjust the choke and throws an illegal knee to Felder's face. The foul goes unnoticed by referee Dan Miragliotta, and now Felder climbs back to his feet. Oliveira tries to jump on his back, but Felder shakes him off. Felder eats a hard upkick as he comes down to Oliveira's guard, then has to defend an armbar attempt. Oliveira continues to shift underneath, grabbing for a leg, but Felder pulls the limb out of danger. Felder stands and drops a heavy right hand on Oliveira's face, finishing the round in top position.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Oliveira
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Oliveira
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Oliveira

Round 2

Oliveira -- who's sporting some damage around the outside corner of his right eye -- quickly traps Felder against the fence with an underhook. Felder turns him around and feeds the Brazilian a short, hard elbow, and suddenly Oliveira goes slumping to the ground. Oliveira might be playing possum, because he immediately begins shifting his guard, angling for an arm when Felder commits to the ground. Felder works from Oliveira's half guard now, their heads right up against the fence. "The Irish Dragon" stands up, dodges an upkick and then kicks at the legs of the prone Oliveira. Back down comes Felder, now setting up in Oliveira's full guard with half the round remaining. Oliveira latches on to Felder's legs and uses a heel hook setup to try and sweep to top position. Felder blocks the sweep and flattens out Oliveira, now going hard for the finish with some heavy elbows from top position. Suddenly, referee Miragliotta steps in to halt the fight; instant replay shows that Oliveira tapped out after one brutal elbow from Felder.

The Official Result

Paul Felder def. Charles Oliveira via TKO (Elbows) R2 4:06

Tecia Torres vs. Michelle Waterson

Round 1

Waterson ducks under a combination from Torres and hits an outside trip in the center of the cage. The "Karate Hottie" climbs on Torres' back as she stands up, but Waterson can't maintain the position as Torres peels away her hooks. Torres marches forward and is cut by a kick to the face, but now it's the "Tiny Tornado" catching a kick and looking for her own trip. Waterson keeps her balance but winds up being caught in Torres' plum clinch, where Torres lands some good knees to the body. Torres muscles Waterson against the fence and slugs the Jackson-Wink MMA fighter with some nice short elbows in the clinch. Waterson breaks out of the clinch with just over a minute remaining, and the strawweights spend most of the final minute striking from range. Torres goes for a last-second single-leg, then abandons the shot and finishes the round strong by slamming Waterson with a standing elbow.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Torres
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Torres
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Torres

Round 2

Waterson dodges a clinch from Torres but eats a right hand over the top; Torres takes a knee to the body in exchange. Waterson is looking to establish her jab and keep the larger Torres at distance, but now the "Karate Hottie" shoots in for another takedown. Waterson works from Torres' half guard, keeping her pinned to the ground in the center of the cage with more than three minutes left in the round. Torres looks for a kimura from the bottom but can't get anything going. She comes a little closer with a triangle attempt, but Waterson never looks to be in serious danger as she postures up and steps over Torres' head. Torres switches to an armbar, but she picks the wrong arm, alowing Waterson to move to side control. The fighters climb back to their feet just before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Waterson
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Waterson
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Waterson

Round 3

Torres picks at Waterson with push kicks, flashing a few high kicks too in the opening minute. Waterson lands the first hard shot of the round, however, with a right hand over the top that backs up the "Tiny Tornado." The 115ers clinch up on the fence, Torres taking the outside position, but Waterson pushes her away. Waterson lands a right hand but gets caught off balance throwing a kick behind it, and Torres blitzes her against the fence again. Waterson's left eye is badly swollen as Torres disrupts a kick and trips her to the ground. Waterson springs back to her feet, but Torres wraps her up and drags her back to the floor. Torres jumps on the back of the karate stylist and goes hunting for a choke, but Torres is riding high and looks in danger of being shaken off. With 50 seconds on the clock, Torres flattens out Waterson and begins unloading with right hands. Referee Keith Peterson is having a close look, but Torres can't produce enough damage to force a stoppage. Waterson escapes from the dangerous position before the end of the round, but it's Torres getting the final say with a right hook.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Torres (29-28 Torres)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Torres (29-28 Torres)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Torres (29-28 Torres)

The Official Result

Tecia Torres def. Michelle Waterson via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Eddie Alvarez vs. Justin Gaethje

Round 1

Gaethje begins pressing the action immediately, forcing Alvarez to the outside with punches and heavy low kicks. Alvarez swings back with a hard right hand, but Gaethje cracks him with a counter on the other side. Alvarez catches a kick and trips Gaethje to the ground, then narrowly avoids kicking the ex-WSOF champion in the head as he stands up. Alvarez begins switching between stances after absorbing some nasty leg kicks; he tries to give Gaethje some kicks in return, but they don't have the same zip behind them. Halfway through the round, Gaethje nearly buckles Alvarez's left leg with another hard chop. Alvarez is still swinging, though, and now catches another kick to trip Gaethje to the floor. Gaethje rolls through and stands up, but Alvarez greets him with a ripping body shot. Alvarez digs into the body again, this time with a pair of hooks. The body work seems to be bothering Gaethje now, but he tags Alvarez back with a left hand. Alvarez wags his finger to say the shot didn't faze him, then blitzes Gaethje with a body shot and more hooks to the midsection. Gaethje is cut on the outside of his left eye, while Alvarez has some damage underneath his left eye. Alvarez tries to surprised Gaethje with a cartwheel kick just before the horn and winds up on his back.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Alvarez
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Alvarez
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Alvarez

Round 2

It's a slower start to round two, as Gaethje strikes from a little further out, picking at Alvarez's damaged lead leg. Gaethje presses forward with snappy jabs, while Alvarez blasts back with a big uppercut to the body. Alvarez rocks Gaethje's head with a nasty jab, changes levels to dodge Gaethje's return fire, but Gaethje times a clean right hand over the top. Gaethje jacks the jaw of Alvarez with a lead uppercut as the 155ers continue to try and knock off one another's heads. Alvarez seems to be the fresher and busier fighter at the midway point of the round, but every time it looks like Gaethje is hurt, the Coloradoan comes storming back with an uppercut or left hand. Alvarez's body blows are starting to take a toll in the latter half of the round; Gaethje goes back to his leg-kicking, briefly forcing Alvarez to switch to southpaw. Alvarez connects with a series of uppercuts, dodges a big left hook from Gaethje and then digs into the body again. Body-head goes Alvarez, now catching a kick and flipping Gaethje head-over-heels to the floor at the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Alvarez
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Alvarez
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Alvarez

Round 3

Alvarez comes out for the final round with the entire right side of his mouth swollen. Gaethje eats a few shots from the ex-Bellator champ to walk forward and land a leg kick. The first kick of the round nearly takes the legs out from underneath Alvarez, who tries to pull guard after absorbing a few more kicks. Alvarez switches to southpaw again to protect his left leg, but he flips back to orthodox as he tries to mount an attack. Gaethje blasts Alvarez with an uppercut, but Alvarez responds with a clinch knee to the body. Two more heavy kicks land to Alvarez's left knee, but he just keeps coming forward. Alvarez ducks under a punch from Gaethje and spins to take his back, then rides him to the floor, but Gaethje quickly climbs back to his feet. Gaethje goes straight back to leg-kicking, trying to chop down Alvarez, now inside the final three minutes of this brutal bout. A clinch from Alvarez offers a brief respite for a suddenly exhausted Gaethje, who looks like he's barely staying standing, wobbling all around the cage. Alvarez walks into the pocket and gets his jaw jacked by a Gaethje uppercut. Standing in the center of the cage, Alvarez pulls down Gaethje's head in the Thai clinch and blasts him with a clean knee to the jaw. Gaethje hits the deck in a daze, and a few follow-up punches from Alvarez is all referee Herb Dean needs to see before stopping the fight. Eddie Alvarez becomes the first man to finish Justin Gaethje in an instant classic and "Fight of the Year" contender.

The Official Result

Eddie Alvarez def. Justin Gaethje via KO (Knee) R3 3:59

Henry Cejudo vs. Sergio Pettis

Round 1

Cejudo takes the center of the cage with a wide stance, following the southpaw Pettis around the perimeter in the opening minute of the bout. Pettis strikes first with an inside leg kick, dodges a lead left hook from Cejudo and feeds the wrestler a counter left in return. Pettis sticks a jab, lands another leg kick, but now Cejudo changes levels and drives the Roufusport product to the floor with an effortless takedown. Cejudo passes straight to side control, leaning left to right across Pettis in the dead center of the cage. Pettis turtles up but blocks Cejudo from taking his back; Cejudo just stays in riding position and feeds Pettis a few punches from behind as they hit the halfway point of round one. Pettis scrambles up to his feet for a few seconds, only to be dumped onto his back again. Cejudo sets up in Pettis' guard this time, then stands over the "Phenom" and comes crashing back to the ground with a hard right hand. Pettis rolls to his knees and Cejudo finishes off the round with a hard knee to the ribs.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Cejudo
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Cejudo
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Cejudo

Round 2

Both flyweights land body kicks in the opening minute of round two, then Pettis comes back with another that lands hard to the right side of Cejudo's rib cage. Cejudo marches forward on Pettis again, but this time Pettis is waiting with a right hand. After 80 seconds on the feet, however, Cejudo drives forward and catches an off-balance Pettis for another easy takedown. Pettis tries to elevate with butterfly hooks, but Cejudo is heavy on top, maintaining his position in Pettis' guard to drop short ground-and-pound. Pettis throws up his legs to try an armbar and gets rolled to his knees. Cejudo lifts him up by the waist and drops him back to the ground, looking to improve his position and throw strikes from behind. Pettis gets back to his feet with Cejudo still wrapped around his waist, and the flyweights separate with 35 seconds on the clock. Pettis flashes a spinning kick but offers little else before the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Cejudo
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Cejudo
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Cejudo

Round 3

Cejudo charges forward on Pettis and gets popped with a straight right hand. Pettis deflects a pair of punches from the wrestler and swings back with another nice right hand. Cejudo's first takedown attempt of the round is stuffed by Pettis, but "The Messenger" lands a hard leg kick as they disengage. After about a minute on the feet, Cejudo shoots again and drives Pettis to the canvas, landing in the prospect's full guard. Pettis pivots underneath, maybe angling for an armbar, but Cejudo doesn't even let him get going. Cejudo stands, then dives back on top of Pettis with a big right hand. Halfway through the final round, Pettis rolls to his knees and gets caught in a front headlock. Pettis goes back to guard as Cejudo shoves him up against the base of the fence. Pettis works back to his feet for a brief moment before being tossed back to the ground. Back up comes Pettis, who finally separates from Cejudo with 70 seconds left to fight. Pettis seems to be waiting to counter, but he's losing precious time as 40 seconds tick away with nothing to show for it. The last action of the fight is Pettis diving for a last-second takedown and being sprawled on by Cejudo.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Cejudo (30-27 Cejudo)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Cejudo (30-27 Cejudo)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Cejudo (30-27 Cejudo)

The Official Result

Henry Cejudo def. Sergio Pettis via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Francis Ngannou vs. Alistair Overeem

Round 1

Overeem charges across the cage and clinches with Ngannou, who turns the "Demolition Man" against the fence with double underhooks. Overeem gets an overhook but can't improve his position, and Ngannou just keeps him trapped there, stomping the Dutchman's feet. Referee Dan Miragliotta breaks up the clinch with 3:30 on the clock. Overeem throws a pair of flailing punches and gets caught with his head leaning forward, and Ngannou makes him pay with an absolutely brutal left hook/uppercut. Overeem's head snaps back, out cold before he even hits the canvas. Referee Miragliotta rushes in to save the stiffened Overeem, but Ngannou dives on him with one last coffin nail hammerfist.

The Official Result

Francis Ngannou def. Alistair Overeem via KO (Punch) R1 1:42

UFC Featherweight Championship:
Max Holloway vs. Jose Aldo

Round 1

Herb Dean is the referee for tonight's 145-pound championship main event. Holloway comes out slinging right hands, trying to split Aldo's mitts with a straight shot down the middle. Aldo, meanwhile, just slides backward, allowing the champion to dictate the pace here in the early going. Holloway counters an Aldo low kick with a short left hand to the chin of the Brazilian. Aldo comes over the top with a right hand, lands another chopping low kicks and gets taunted by Holloway with hands raised. Holloway sticks a jab, slides backward to avoid a murderous right hand from Aldo. Body shot lands for Aldo, and now it's the former champ pressing forward on Holloway. Aldo is already showing some damage underneath his right eye from the jab of Holloway. Inside the final minute of round one, Holloway continues to duck in and out of range, flashing his jab while avoiding Aldo's power punches. Holloway starts showboating in the final 10 seconds and is made to pay by Aldo with a lead uppercut.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Holloway
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Aldo
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Holloway

Round 2

Aldo is doing some work on Holloway's lead leg early in round two, winding up and chopping the champion's left knee with some heavy shots. Holloway seems unfazed by the strikes as he continues to press forward cautiously on the Brazilian with jabs and faints. Aldo goes to the body with a left hook and eats a counter left from Holloway on the other side. Two more low kicks from Aldo have Holloway stepping a little more gingerly on his left leg. Holloway tries to clinch and gets tossed away by the challenger, who rips a left hand into the Hawaiian's body. Holloway tries to catch the next low kick but only succeeds in making Aldo take a few steps backward. Holloway clinches up on the fence with 40 seconds left, then steps back and throws a grazing spinning back kick. Holloway puts a clean one-two on Aldo in the center of the cage, but Aldo gets a glove up to block a left high kick. Holloway tries a flying knee in the last 10 seconds but can't find the chin of Aldo.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Aldo
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Holloway
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Aldo

Round 3

Holloway sticks a left hand into Aldo's breadbasket, but he stays in the pocket too long and gets a knee to the jaw from the Brazilian. Aldo lands a leg kick but has to backpedal as Holloway blitzes him with a combination. Holloway crouches low, hands by his sides, and creeps toward Aldo, inviting him to punch. When Aldo does open up to throw, Holloway comes right back with counterstrikes that back up Aldo against the fence. Aldo is fighting with his mouth wide open as he puts up his left hand to block a Holloway high kick. Meanwhile, Holloway is starting to pour it on, snapping Aldo's head back with precise right hands. Aldo is starting to look wobbly as he continues to absorb punches from the champion. Holloway goes up top with a straight right hand, then rips a left hand to the body. Aldo's head is getting rocked from side to side as referee Dean takes a close look from a few feet away. A desperate takedown attempt from Aldo leads to Holloway forcing him to the ground and wailing on him with ground-and-pound. The ref tells Aldo to fight back or else the fight will be stopped. Aldo is a bloody mess, looking exhausted and barely able to defend himself, and now the fight is waved off. Max Holloway defends his UFC featherweight title with a second brutal stoppage of former 145-pound king Jose Aldo.

The Official Result

Max Holloway def. Jose Aldo via TKO (Punches) R3 4:51