UFC 232 ‘Jones vs. Gustafsson 2’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round-by-Round Scoring

Brian Kelleher vs. Montel Jackson

Round 1

Bantamweight Kelleher and near-bantamweight Jackson, the only fighter on the card not to make weight, kick off the evening, with Edward Collantes the third man in the cage. The orthodox Kelleher and southpaw Jackson exchange kicks and single jabs warily in the opening minute. A minute in, Jackson stings Kelleher with a left body kick, Kelleher rushes in and clinches him against the fence, and Jackson smacks him in the side of the head with a level right elbow. Kelleher goes to his knees in a daze and Jackson follows him to the canvas, throwing heavy shots. Kelleher turns into his assailant and Jackson locks up a D’Arce choke, eliciting the tap soon thereafter for the first submission win of his professional career.

The Official Result

Montel Jackson def. Brian Kelleher R1 1:40 via Submission (D'Arce Choke)

Curtis Millender vs. Siyar Bahadurzada

Round 1

Welterweights Millender and Bahadurzada square off under the watchful eye of referee Mike Beltran. The first minute is marked by a lot of feinting and single kicks, as Bahadurzada tries to navigate the much longer reach of Millender. Two minutes in, Millender explodes out of nowhere with a spinning back kick that lands on his opponent’s face with a loud crack, drawing oohs from the crowd, but Bahadurzada shakes it off. Two minutes in, Bahadurzada is still having trouble entering punching range, and Millender is stinging him with low kicks. In the last minute, Bahadurzada is trying Superman punch-feints to try and get inside, and the horn sounds on a round contested entirely on the feet. 10-9 Millender.

Round 2

Bahadurzada is more aggressive to open the second frame, coming forward with punches and talking to his foe as he does so. Bahadurzada is stepping in and landing left-right hook combos on a suddenly stationary Millender, who is throwing back. Halfway through the round, Bahadurzada is bleeding from the nose, throwing hard single kicks with little or no setup. Just under the two-minute mark, Bahadurzada steps in, grabs a bodylock and throws Millender to the ground. He sets up in half guard against the fence, trying to advance while throwing the occasional elbow or forearm. Millender is locking Bahadurzada down but making little apparent attempt to sweep or stand. The round ends with Bahadurzada in top position. 10-9 Bahadurzada.

Round 3

Millender is active, using push kicks to the knee and long jabs to keep Bahadurzada outside. Millender lands a hard straight that snaps Bahadurzada’s head back. After a break to let Bahadurzada recover his mouth guard they re-engage. Millender crushes him with a right-handed counter and Bahadurzada is wobbling on his feet drunkenly. Millender pursues, but is extremely cautious. He simply isn’t throwing enough to put his man down for good, and after an eternity, Bahadurzada drops levels and drags him down. After a scramble, it’s Bahadurzada on top. Millender escapes to his feet against the fence, defends a single-leg, and disengages with 75 seconds left. Millender is catching Bahadurzada with punches and takes a huge one in return, but is unfazed. 30 seconds left, Bahadurzada drops for a double-leg and dumps Millender, who reverses him and ends up on top as the horn sounds. 10-9 Millender (29-28 Millender)

The Official Result

Curtis Millender def. Siyar Bahadurzada via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Uriah Hall vs. Bevon Lewis

Round 1

The middleweights prepare to face off, with Marc Goddard set to officiate. They waste no time in throwing down, with Lewis in particular highly aggressive. Lewis lands a front kick to the chin that stumbles Hall, then runs him into the fence. By the four-minute mark, the pace has slowed, with Hall circling and jabbing, with Lewis pursuing and throwing leg and body kicks. Lewis is pot-shotting with long jabs and teeps, but Lewis is both the aggressor and the one landing far more strikes. With 45 seconds left, Lewis catches a kick and tries to hoist it and run Hall down, but Hall turns and escapes. The horn sounds on a round of tense kickboxing. 10-9 Lewis.

Round 2

Round 2 starts as most of the first round went, with Lewis walking down Hall as Hall circles out and throws jabs. Hall is showing the side-on stance that often precedes one of his spinning kicks, and a little under two minutes in, he throws one, hitting Lewis with a spinning back kick to the body. Halfway through the round, most of the offense is coming from Lewis. Lewis rushes in and gets a rear waistlock standing, then pushes Hall to the fence, where he throws hard knees to the legs and butt crack. Hall turns toward Lewis and they clinch against the fence. With a minute left they disengage and reset in the middle, where Lewis continues to peck away. Hall seems to find some urgency in the last half-minute, throwing more punches and another spinning kick shortly before the horn. 10-9 Lewis.

Round 3

Hall comes forward to start the final round, throwing snapping low kicks with both legs. He is the more active fighter in the early going, but allows himself to be hustled to the fence, where Lewis lands a nice uppercut and a level elbow. They break, and a moment later, Hall explodes out of nowhere with a right uppercut as Lewis is stepping in. The blow lands perfectly on Lewis’ chin, knocking him senseless. No follow-up is needed as Uriah Hall walks away with another sensational one-shot KO.

The Official Result

Uriah Hall def. Bevon Lewis R3 1:32 via KO (Punch)

Nathaniel Wood vs. Andre Ewell

Round 1

Mark Smith is the referee as bantamweights Ewell and Wood prepare to engage. Wood is the pursuer in the early going, coming forward and leaping in with punches out of an orthodox stance as Ewell circles out in southpaw. Wood rocks Ewell with a punch and follows him to the mat, but Ewell recovers. As they reset, Wood catches him again, but Ewell staggers back and recovers quickly. There's a quick break for Ewell to get his mouthpiece back. Through half a round, the speed difference is stark, as Wood appears to close the distance on the much longer Ewell effortlessly, and land hard punches punctuated with low kicks. Those kicks appear to be taking their toll, as Ewell is favoring his right leg late in the round. With 30 seconds left they clinch, with Wood pushing Ewell into the fence and looking to trip him to the canvas when the horn sounds. 10-9 Wood.

Round 2

Both fighters are aggressive, standing at short range in the middle of the Octagon and trading punches. Wood’s first low kick stumbles Ewell and spins him halfway around, and a second later Wood drops levels and dumps him in the middle of the cage. Wood is in Ewell’s wide-open guard, looking to advance while throwing single punches and hammerfists. Ewell is doing little from his back, and at the 2:30 mark, Wood is doing steady work, throwing short punches to Ewell’s ribs and trying to pass guard. He succeeds, getting to half guard, but Ewell manages to regain full guard. Wood tries to posture up and throw down harder shots, while Ewell locks him down with an arm over the neck. With less than a minute left, Ewell is doing little but survive, offering no offense from his back. Wood throws a series of six or seven hard rights to Ewell’s ribs shortly before the round expires. It's all Nathaniel Wood. 10-8 Wood.

Round 3

Wood is once again the man coming forward, and it’s less than 30 seconds before he shoots a double against the fence. Ewell defends well, but Wood takes an overhook and uses it to force him down. Wood sets up in Ewell’s full guard and once again works to pass while throwing the occasional strike. Ewell is controlling Wood’s posture and avoiding serious damage, but appears powerless to sweep or escape. With a minute left, Wood stands, dives back in and takes Ewell’s back as Ewell scrambles to his knees. He locks in a rear-naked choke and Ewell, after a brief struggle, taps out. Dominant performance by Nathaniel Wood.

The Official Result

Nathaniel Wood def. Andre Ewell R3 4:12 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)

B.J. Penn vs. Ryan Hall

Round 1

Penn and Hall kick off the final set of UFC fights on Fox, with Edward Collantes the referee. Penn rushes in on a slow hook kick by Hall and lands a fast combination. They clinch against the fence briefly, then disengage. Hall flops to his back and the two BJJ aces engage in a lengthy sequence from Ali-Inoki position, with Hall looking for a leglock while Penn throws kicks. Collantes stands Hall up, and they re-engage. A few moments later, Hall throws a kick, rolls for a leg and comes up with a heel hook. It’s expertly applied and the first American ever to win the Mundials is tapping instantly. Ryan Hall nets a sensational submission of B.J. Penn, who gets up limping. Joe Rogan sounds as though he’s at a funeral.

The Official Result

Ryan Hall def. B.J. Penn R1 2:26 via Submission (Heel Hook)

Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Petr Yan

Round 1

The bantamweight prospects square off, with Mark Smith overseeing the proceedings. Yan walks Andrade down while throwing jabs and one-twos, and Andrade responds with feints and low kicks. A minute and a half in, Yan flings Andrade to the canvas off a caught kick. Andrade flirts briefly with a leglock attempt from his back, but Yan pulls away and they stand. Both men are landing hard shots in the ensuing exchanges, with Yan sticking his man with tight punch combinatiosn and Andrade landing body and leg kicks. In the final minute, it’s Yan who appears to be landing the harder blows. Yan drops levels and drives Andrade to the mat in the waning seconds, and is throwing punches from above as the round expires. 10-9 Yan.

Round 2

Yan marches forward, throwing punches as he did in the first, but now just about everything seems to be landing. Yan’s right straight snaps back the head of Andrade several times in the first minute. Andrade grabs a double collar tie and attempts to throw knees up the middle, but Yan disengages. Two minutes in, Yan hustles Andrade to the fence and grabs a front headlock. Referees Smith warns Andrade against grabbing Yan’s shorts, and once he stops, Yan promptly lateral-drops him into side control. Andrade pops to his knees and Yan spins to the back, throwing punches from a ride position. Andrade spins into Yan, who grabs the front headlock again. Yan is countering everything on the ground, landing heavy leather the whole time. With 45 seconds left, Yan gets a mounted crucifix and lands about a dozen hard elbow shots that leave Andrade bleeding. The horn sounds, ending a five-minute mauling by the Russian. 10-8 Yan.

A moment later, between rounds, Douglas Silva de Andrade's corner throws in the towel.

The Official Result

Petr Yan def. Douglas Silva de Andrade R2 5:00 via TKO (Corner Stoppage)

Cat Zingano vs. Megan Anderson

Round 1

Anderson and Zingano engage, with Marc Goddard the referee. Anderson is stalking, throwing long kicks and jabs. A few moments in, Zingano turns away and flees to the fence, favoring her right eye. Goddard follows her to the fence but does not definitively stop the action, and Anderson gives chase and lands a few punches from behind in the confusion. Goddard waves the fight off, and replay shows that one of Anderson’s kicks dragged a toe across the open eye of “Alpha,” who is still in obvious pain as the cageside doctors attend to her. Quick, strange and painful-looking ending to a promising fight.

The Official Result

Megan Anderson def. Cat Zingano R1 1:01 via TKO (Eye Injury)

Andrei Arlovski vs. Walt Harris

Round 1

Harris begins with a high kick, but Arlovski blocks it. Arlovski lands a right hand and then claims he was poked in the eye. Referee Mike Beltran urges the Belarusian heavyweight to fight on. Harris forces a tie-up and they battle for position against the fence before separating. Harris whiffs on a high kick, and Arlovski answers with a low kick. The combatants trade, with Harris landing a right hook on the inside during the exchange. Another close quarters exchange appears to yield an accidental clash of heads. Harris lands a body kick and misses a massive right hook. Arlovski has a hook kick blocked and then misses the mark on a follow-up spinning back fist. Harris finds the range on several hooks to the head and counters to the body when Arlovski moves forward. Harris lands a straight left in another exchange. 10-9 Harris.

Round 2

Arlovski moves forward and he’s protesting immediately, calling for an eye poke. Beltran didn’t see it, but moments later, Arlvoski appears to absorb another finger to the eye. This time, Beltran calls time and gives “The Pit Bull” some time to recover and warns Harris. The action resumes at the 4:38 mark. Harris times an Arlovski punch and lands a takedown in the center of the Octagon. Arlovski gets up relatively quickly. The crowd at the Forum is getting impatient as the heavyweights seem content to feint and fake in front of one another for an extended period. Harris jabs a right to the body, then connects with a left in an exchange. Another left finds the mark for Harris, who briefly picks up the pace. Harris is denied on a takedown and eats a right on the break from Arlovski. Arlovski lands a sidekick to the midsection but it has little impact. A right to the body lands for Arlovski. A body kick from Arlovski is answered by a right hook from Harris, and an uneventful round draws to a close. 10-10.

Round 3

Arlovski begins with a front kick. Harris stings Arlovski with a short left hand, and the Belarusian briefly backs up into the fence. He quickly recovers and lands a right hand of his own moments later. Harris pressures forward with combinations, throwing heavy hooks. The action slows again, as it often has in this fight. An inside leg kick lands for Arlovski. For the most part, both men are failing to commit to much in the way of offense. A counter right connects for Arlovski. We’re under a minute left in the fight. A right hand from Arlovski lands to the chest of Harris as time winds down. The heavyweights spend the last few seconds in a staring contest, and both raise their arms in triumph after the horn sounds. 10-9 Harris. (30-28 Harris).

The Official Result

Walt Harris def. Andrei Arlovski via Split Decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Chad Mendes vs. Alexander Volkanovski

Round 1

Mendes takes the center of the cage and begins stalking Volkanovski. An extended feeling-out process has ensued, with both fighters probing with kicks in the first minute-plus. Mendes counters his opponent with a two-punch combination. Mendes flurries forward and lands an uppercut to the body before backing off. Volkanovski has a head kick partially blocked. The Aussie thwarts a Mendes takedown attempt. Volkanovski begins to try and establish his jab. A right hand connects for Volkanovski, and Mendes counters. A jab to the body lands for Volkanovski, and Mendes again counters. Volkanovski nods and yells at his foe. Moments later, Mendes gets a takedown. Volkanovski doesn’t stay down long, however. They clinch, and Volkanovski lands a few short shots in close. 10-9 Volkanovski.

Round 2

Mendes misses a flying knee and Volkanovski just smiles at him. Volkanovski lands a short right hand in a close quarters exchange. Mendes stuns his foe with a short right hand. “Money” is in pursuit, and he briefly drops his foe with another punch near the fence. Volkanovski smiles at his foe and drills Mendes with a right hand. Volkanovski moves in with a right hand behind a kick, as Mendes seems to be catching his breath. Volkanovski is teeing off on Mendes near the cage now. The former title challenger shifts gears by changing levels for a takedown near the fence. The Aussie powers up to his feet in a matter of moments. Volkanovski is bleeding from a cut near his eye, while Mendes is bleeding near his nose. Volkanovski follows an inside leg kick with a combination against the fence. Mendes shoots from way out and gets Volkanovski down in the center of the Octagon. “Money” takes his opponent’s back, but Volkanovski hustles back up. “The Great” lands a kick to the body and attacks against the fence. Volkanovski blasts Mendes with a huge elbow. Moments later, a left uppercut to the body followed by a right hand over the top by Volkanovski drops Mendes to his seat against the fence. Volkanovski lands three more follow-up punches to his fallen foe before referee Mark Smith quickly rushes in to stop the fight. A breakout performance for Volkanovski, who has won six straight in the UFC.

The Official Result

Alexander Volkanovski def. Chad Mendes via TKO (Punches) R2 4:14

Corey Anderson vs. Ilir Latifi

Round 1

Latifi makes Anderson stumble with a vicious low kick to his lead leg. He goes right back to the low kick and then goes for a single-leg following an Anderson jumping knee. Latifi lets go and lands a right hand on the break. The Swede dislodges Anderson’s mouthpiece with an uppercut, and time is called to retrieve it. Anderson pressures forward and lands a kick to the body. Latifi stuffs a takedown and stuns Anderson with a left upstairs. Anderson fails on another takedown try. Latifi goes back to the low calf kick, then connects with a left hook moments later. Latifi attacks against the cage, and Andreson fends off a takedown. A right hand lands for Anderson after he ducks under a Latifi punch. Anderson clinches against the cage, but they separate before the final horn. 10-9 Latifi.

Round 2

Anderson begins by working a pair of kicks to the body, using his range. Latifi lands a low kick. Anderson eats a right hand and marches forward without issue. “Overtime” works to defend a takedown against the cage. Latifi transitions to a single leg and then a body lock but it’s to no avail. Anderson lands a punch on the break. Latifi defends a takedown try from Anderson. Anderson rips a right hook to the body, then partially lands a high kick. Latifi seems to be fading, and Anderson applies pressure with kicks, moving forward. Latifi finds a brief second wind and unloads with power punches, but Anderson is able to evade the attacks. Latifi backs up, and Anderson works the body and then the head with a punching combination. Anderson stuffs a takedown and shoves Latifi into the fence with less than a minute to go. Latifi lands a short left on the break, and Anderson responds with a jab. Anderson lands a short left after breaking the clinch before the horn. 10-9 Anderson.

Round 3

Anderson has a high kick blocked, but he lands a body kick shortly thereafter. Latifi goes back to the calf kick that he had success with early, and Anderson appears to wobble briefly. Latifi lands a two-punch combo after separating from the clinch. Anderson continues to be the one advancing, though. Halfway through the round, and this fight appears to be up for grabs. Anderson throws a jab, then has a high kick blocked. Anderson lands a long right hand to the body. Anderson follows a jumping knee that comes up short with a clean right hand. Latifi lands a glancing spinning heel kick, but Anderson shakes it off. “Overtime” presses the action and lands a kick to the body. Latifi lands another low kick to Anderson’s lead leg. Anderson marches forward and snaps Latifi’s head back with a straight right. Anderson ends the stanza with a couple more right hands in a final exchange. 10-9 Anderson (29-28 Anderson).

The Official Result

Corey Anderson def. Ilir Latifi via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Carlos Condit vs. Michael Chiesa

Round 1

Condit is aggressive early, following punching combinations with kicks upstairs against Chiesa, who is making his first foray at 170 pounds. Chiesa ties up with Condit and trips the New Mexican to the mat. Condit is active from his back, threatening with an armbar. A scramble ensues, but Condit is up and they’re back in the clinch. Chiesa lands a knee to the midsection against the cage. “Maverick” trips Condit to the ground and lands in half guard. Condit recovers full guard and Chiesa drops an elbow. Chiesa is staying busy on top, landing periodic ground-and-pound. Condit suddenly transitions to an armbar. It looks tight for a second, but Chiesa slips free and they’re back up. Chiesa clinches and shoves Condit to the fence before dragging his man to the canvas. Chiesa tries to take the back and Condit scrambles and rolls for a leglock. The welterweights trade punches from the 50-50 position. Another scramble ensues before the final horn, and Condit appears to have a reverse triangle in place before the horn. 10-9 Chiesa.

Round 2

Condit lands a couple straight punches at the outset, but Chiesa moves forward and connects with a solid right hand of his own. The standup exchange doesn’t last long, as Chiesa catches a kick and gets a takedown. Chiesa locks up a kimura near the fence, and it appears to be bad news for “The Natural Born Killer.” He ties up the arm and spins it around Condit’s back. “Maverick” extends the arm and applies more pressure, and Condit has no choice but to tap out. Chiesa remarkably finishes the submission with one arm, giving him his first UFC win at 170 pounds. Condit, meanwhile, has lost five in a row.

The Official Result

Michael Chiesa def. Carlos Condit via Submission (Kimura) R2 0:56

UFC Women's Featherweight Title Fight
Cristiane Justino vs. Amanda Nunes

Round 1

They touch gloves and this featherweight title bout is underway. Cyborg is swinging big leather early and she connects during an initial exchange. Nunes isn’t backing down, however and she responds in turn. The combatants continue to exchange at a furious pace, and Nunes, with her back to the fence, buckles Justino with a left hook-right hook combination. Cyborg is hurt, wobbling all over the place, and Nunes continues to land powerful punches. “Cyborg” stumbles forward into a takedown attempt. Nunes shrugs it off and rocks the featherweight queen again, dropping her to her knees with a four-punch combination. Justino stands up and continues to swing wildly, and Nunes wallops Cyborg, sending her to the canvas face-first with a perfectly placed right hand to the temple. This one is over. Justino’s 20-fight unbeaten streak is over, and Nunes is the first two-division female champion in UFC history.

The Official Result

Amanda Nunes def. Cristiane Justino via KO (Punch) R1 0:51

UFC Light Heavyweight Title Fight
Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson

Round 1

Jones starts out on all fours as is his custom. Jones shoots for a takedown then they separate quickly. Jones shoots again, they clinch and “Bones” lands a knee to the cup. After a brief pause the action resumes. Jones is warned for extending his fingers as Gustafsson attacks. Gustafsson lands a knee to the body in close. The light heavyweights trade leg kicks. Jones jabs to the body. Gustafsson slaps at Jones with a left hook; Jones is again warned to watch his fingers. A lead elbow lands clean for Jones, followed by a front kick to the body. Jones forces a tie-up and lands a knee in close before separating. Jones lands a low kick to the knee, then gets in on a single leg. Gustafsson threatens with a choke and Jones releases. Gustafsson misses a Superman punch, but lands to the body with a straight punch. The fighters are still trying to find their range as time winds down. Jones lands a kick to the body before the final horn. Competitive round. 10-9 Jones.

Round 2

Jones throws a front kick to the body early. Jones follows a body kick with an inside leg kick. Jones misses a massive left hook but lands a kick to the body. Jones shoots for a takedown. Gustafsson defends but “Bones” lands a knee on the break. The Swede is struggling to get into range to land his punches. Another left body kick lands for Jones from the southpaw stance. The fight is paused, this time due to an eye poke by Gustafsson. The doctor comes in to examine Jones, who says he’s ready to go. Gustafsson gets a warning, as does Jones, about extending their fingers and we resume the fight at the 3:11 mark. They trade in the pocket and Gustafsson lands to the head with a left. Jones lands a pair of kicks to his foe’s lead leg. Gustafsson pressures but comes up short on his punches. Jones is able to circle out of danger when Gustafsson pressures. “Bones” lands a hard leg kick when Gustafsson switches stances. Another low kick lands for Jones. Jones switches up the kicks, and anoter low kick appears to hurt Gustafsson’s left leg. A right hand lands for Gustafsson. Jones steps in with an elbow, then lands an uppercut to the body. They tie up, and Jones lands a short elbow on the break. “Bones” lands a spinning back kick to the body as time expires. 10-9 Jones.

Round 3

A lead left hook lands on the chin for Jones, and Gustafsson responds by sticking a left jab. Jones explodes for a takedown and gets the Swede on his back in the middle of the Octagon. The Jackson-Wink product immediately drops some elbows on his opponent. Jones continues to work from half guard, then passes to side control, where he drops another elbow. Jones locks up a half nelson to keep Gustafsson from escaping. Jones using the maneuver to transition to Gustafsson’s back, and now he unloads with heavy right hands from back mount. Gustafsson isn’t defending himself from the assault, and after about nine unanswered blows, Mike Beltran dives in to wave off the fight. Once again, Jones is the UFC light heavyweight champion.

The Official Result

Jon Jones def. Alexander Gustafsson via TKO (Punches) R3 2:02