UFC Fight Night Results: ‘Machida vs. Romero’ Play-by-Play & Updates

Danny Martinez vs. Sirwan Kakai

Round 1

Kakai takes the center of the cage to start the bout, then slides backward to avoid early combinations from the American. Martinez keeps pushing forward, winging heavy punches, but it’s Kakai connecting with counter jabs in the opening minute. A few left hooks get through for Martinez, though Kakai covers up to deflect the brunt of the shots. Kakai shoots low and completes a double-leg takedown against the fence, but Martinez stands right back up with Kakai still wrapped around his waist. Referee John McCarthy warns Martinez for grabbing the fence, while Kakai tries to put all his weight on Martinez and pull him back to the mat. Martinez spins him around and exits the clinch with a left hook, but Kakai comes right back with a snappy pair of punches. Martinez presses forward and walks into a knee from Kakai which connects right on the jaw of “The Gremlin.” Kakai tries to pound him out on the ground, but Martinez regains his footing and tries to circle away. Kakai catches up with him, grabs the Thai clinch and sends another pair of knees up the middle before releasing. A few seconds later, another big knee slams into Martinez’s face, and Kakai follows up with a slashing pair of standing elbows. Somehow still standing, Martinez slows Kakai’s pace with a brief guillotine attempt. Now it’s Martinez’s turn to charge forward, and he catches Kakai with a clinch knee of his own. The round ends with Martinez thumping Kakai with left hands against the fence, having successfully stolen back some momentum from the American Top Team product.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Kakai
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Kakai
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Kakai

Round 2

Kakai gets back to work with jabs and hooks in the center of the cage, while Martinez is headhunting, looking for the homerun shot with big left hands. Doing well to avoid Martinez’s shots, Kakai continues to use economical striking to get the better of the exchanges. Now it’s a takedown for Kakai against the fence, and a couple solid punches when Martinez climbs back to his feet. Kakai trips him back down, then does it once more when Martinez stands up again. With 90 seconds left in the round, Kakai is trying to climb onto Martinez’s back, but he’s being blocked by the fence. “Zohan” winds up trapping the left leg of Martinez, holding him down and dropping punches while the American sits up against the cage. Martinez bursts back to his feet with 30 seconds on the clock, and again he finishes the round strong, marching on Kakai with punches and launching into the air with a flying knee just before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Kakai
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Kakai
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Kakai

Round 3

Martinez is still throwing hard at the start of round three, and a few of his heavy left hands are finding their way to Kakai’s chin. Kakai is on his back foot, still landing counters and jabs, but now clearly wary of Martinez’s offense. Martinez rips into Kakai’s body with a pair of hooks, comes back upstairs with a right hand and then shoves a left straight in Kakai’s face. Kakai tries to shoot on Martinez’s legs and gets denied, so he fakes another shot and clips Martinez with a right hook. With two minutes remaining, Kakai explodes into a double-leg and floors Martinez near the fence. Again, Kakai tries to slip around and take the back, but again Martinez’s seated position against the fence is blocking the Swede’s progress. Kakai tries to pull Martinez off the fence and winds up losing the position, and now Martinez gets back to his feet. Martinez ends the last round chasing after Kakai with punches, and the first fight of the night will go to the judges.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Kakai (30-27 Kakai)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Martinez (29-28 Kakai)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Martinez (29-28 Kakai)

The Official Result

Sirwan Kakai def. Danny Martinez via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Steve Montgomery vs. Tony Sims

Round 1

Sims tests the distance with long right hands but can’t find his mark on the 6-foot-4 southpaw Montgomery. A few popping jabs touch the chin of Sims before he opts to shoot for a takedown and winds up holding Montgomery against the cage. Montgomery reverses, sends a knee up the middle and releases to back up to the center of the cage. Sims connects with a counter left hook in an exchange, but seconds later, Montgomery cracks the shorter man with a big knee on the chin. Sims regains his senses, presses in on Montgomery and uncorks a beauty of a left hand, square on the chin of “Creepy Steve.” Montgomery falls to the mat face-first, then gets pounded unconscious by Sims’ follow-up punches, prompting referee James Warring to halt the bout.

The Official Result

Tony Sims def. Steve Montgomery via KO (Punches) R1 2:43

Leandro Silva vs. Lewis Gonzalez

Round 1

The southpaw Silva lands an inside leg kick to open, but it strays high and he gets a warning from refere Jorge Alonso to watch where his kicks are landing. Gonzalez closes the gap and pushes the Brazilian against the fence, but “Buscape” quickly reverses the position and trips Gonzalez to the ground. Gonzalez breaks out of a front headlock and climbs back to his feet, now two minutes into the round. Silva puts a thudding kick on Gonzalez’s gut, then another, and he adds a knee as he rushes Gonzalez against the fence. Gonzalez reverses the momentum, changing levels and driving Silva to the ground with a double-leg in the center of the cage. Silva drops back to try a heel hook, but Gonzalez twists out of it and winds up in the Brazilian’s guard. Silva kicks Gonzalez’s hips out and jumps back up with just over one minute remaining. Silva whiffs on a heel kick, sends a knee up the middle, but Gonzalez catches it and finishes the round with a takedown.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Silva
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Gonzalez
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Silva

Round 2

Gonzalez backs up Silva to the fence and then tries to shoot low, but “Buscape” stands him up and turns him around to try a takedown of his own. Gonzalez defends, holds Silva against the cage for a few seconds and then releases when Silva threatens with the Thai clinch. Silva connects with a long left hand, steps into the pocket and grabs double underhooks to push Gonzalez against the cage. Gonzalez blocks a trip takedown, so Silva wraps up his legs and lifts Gonzalez into the air for a double-leg slam. Gonzalez quickly sweeps, nearly landing himself in a triangle, but he shucks Silva’s legs and stacks up the Brazilian a few feet away from the fence. Silva kicks him away and jumps back to his feet, then dodges a wild spinning back fist attempt from the American. A long single-leg shot from Gonzalez is sprawled upon by Silva, who hooks his opponent’s back leg and then transitions to the back with 20 seconds on the clock. Gonzalez wards off Silva’s rear-naked choke attempt, so “Buscape” finishes the round peppering him with punches.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Silva
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Silva
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Silva

Round 3

Gonzalez attacks with some heavy right hands at the start of round three but mostly comes up short as Silva weaves and angles away. Silva gets an underhook and shoves Gonzalez against the fence; after a few seconds, referee Alonso calls for work and the welterweights respond by separating. Midway through the round, Silva catches Gonzalez rushing forward with wild punches and cracks him with a counter right cross. Gonzalez backs up to the fence and gets caught with a step-in knee by Silva, who follows Gonzalez to the ground and slips around to jump on his back. Silva only has one hook in as he fishes for a choke, then an armbar, and Gonzalez is able to slip out the back door to escape the dangerous position. Silva goes from sitting up against the fence to taking Gonzalez’s back again, but Gonzalez slips right back out. With 40 seconds left, it’s Gonzalez on top, starting to connect with ground-and-pound as Silva shrimps underneath. “Buscape” climbs back to his feet in the closing moments, eats another right hand and slips around to take Gonzalez’s back just before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Silva (30-27 Silva)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Silva (29-28 Silva)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Silva (30-27 Silva)

The Official Result

Leandro Silva def. Lewis Gonzalez via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Alex Oliveira vs. Joe Merritt

Round 1

Oliveira quickly pushes Merritt against the fence with an underhook and begins looking for an inside trip, but “Joey Slash” keeps a wide base and fends off the takedown for over a minute. Switching to a single-leg, Oliveira begins to peel Merritt off the fence. Merritt grabs the cage to thwart the takedown, prompting a warning from referee Herb Dean. Halfway through the round, Oliveira continues to work for the takedown, and now he finally lifts and slams Merritt to the ground. Merritt tries to stand, allowing Oliveira to jump on his back and secure the position with both hooks. Oliveira switches to a body triangle and continues to hunt for a rear-naked choke, but Merritt is doing well to block the submission. Instead, Oliveira thumps the American’s face with five or six right hands, drawing a grimace from Merritt. With 45 seconds on the clock, still locked in the body triangle, Merritt turns over to take top position. He drops a few elbows on Oliveira’s face, allows the Brazilian to stand and hits him with a knee just before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen 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 rushes across the cage to close the distance and sock Merritt with a long right hand. Merritt circles out and dodges the next bunch of punches from Oliveira, who slips throwing a high kick and is left on the ground as Merritt hops away. Oliveira gets up and counters Merritt’s next combination with a hook, then stuffs a double-leg attempt and forces Merritt to the ground, landing in mount. Merritt rolls to his knees, and when Oliveira tries to jump on his back, Merritt bucks him off and sweeps to take top position. “Cowboy” keeps an open guard, hunting for an arm-triangle choke from underneath, trying to keep Merritt’s head in tight. Merritt slashes through Oliveira’s guard with a pair of hard elbows, then clings on as Oliveira stands up and drills the Brazilian with a knee which slices open his face. Oliveira tries a double-leg against the fence, drags Merritt to the ground and jumps on his back again. Merritt stands with Oliveira still clung to his back, slowly slides back to the ground and escapes a rear-naked choke in the process. Oliveira keeps working for the RNC with over a minute remaining, but Merritt looks to be out of danger for the moment. Merritt rolls over to take top position and winds up in a triangle which he slams his way out of just before the round expires.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Oliveira
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-10
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Oliveira

Round 3

Oliveira steps forward with punches and front kicks, backing Merritt up to the fence where the Brazilian shoots in to attempt another double-leg takedown. Merritt stands him up, and now the welterweights work around the edge of the cage with Oliveira working to rip “Joey Slash” to the ground with a body lock. Two minutes in, the 170-pounders remain in the same position. Oliveira changes levels, Merritt threatens with a kimura, and Oliveira comes back up to the standing position. Oliveira tries to pull his man to the ground and accidentally pulls Merritt into mount, where the American connects with a couple hard elbows before being bucked off. Oliveira eats a knee as he climbs back to his feet, but he wraps up Merritt and slams him back to the ground a few seconds later. Merritt rolls to his knees, drives forward but can’t get a hold of the Brazilian’s legs. After absorbing a couple hammer fists, Merritt clambers back up, only to be whipped back to the mat. Oliveira has the back again with less than one minute to go, and he spends the remainder of the bout hunting for a rear-naked choke.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Oliveira (30-27 Oliveira)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Oliveira (30-28 Oliveira)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Oliveira (30-27 Oliveira)

The Official Result

Alex Oliveira def. Joe Merritt via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Hacran Dias vs. Levan Makashvili

Round 1

Dias backs up Makashvili with a few kicks low and outside, and the Georgian answers with a leg kick of his own before circling away. Two minutes in, the featherweights continue to trade low kicks, now in the center of the cage. Dias tries an overhand right and comes up short, then backpedals as Makashvili charges forward with a pair of heavy punches. Makashvili gets in on a single-leg, but Dias stands him up and the 145ers wind up clinching on the fence. They separate with just over a minute remaining, and now Dias is back to walking forward, moving Makashvili toward the fence. Dias drops levels and gets a takedown, then spends the final half minute applying pressure on top while Makashvili tries to shift and angle for submissions underneath.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Dias
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Dias
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Dias

Round 2

Makashvili catches a leg kick and hustles Dias to the ground, but the Brazilian swings his left leg over his opponent’s head and begins working on Makashvili’s left arm. Dias switches to a belly-down armbar, gives that up and attaches himself to Makashvili’s back instead. The mount is high for Dias, too high, and Makashvili slips right out the back door. Makashvili stands, leaving Dias on his back, and then dives back to the ground, straight into a loose triangle attempt from the Nova Uniao fighter. Dias slowly works to cinch the choke with three minutes remaining, but Makashvili breaks free by lifting and slaming “Barnabe” to the ground. Midway through the round, it’s Makashvili back on top, peppering Dias with short right hands. Dias scrambles up, clinches and trips Makashvili to the ground, but the Georgian is back on his feet within a few seconds. Makashvili drives forward to attempt another takedown, can’t complete it and winds up being taken down by Dias instead. Dias rides out the last 30 seconds in top position, burying his head in Makashvili’s chest.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Dias
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Dias
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Dias

Round 3

Makashvili throws a leg kick high and inside -- too high, in fact, and referee John McCarthy pauses the action to give Dias a minute to recover from the groin shot. When action resumes, Makashvili hugs Dias against the fence for 30 seconds or so, until Dias shoves him away and angles back to the center of the cage. They go straight back to the fence, Makashvili digging for a single-leg now, but Dias defends by hopping on one leg. Referee McCarthy calls for work, but the fighters remain in the clinch, and the ref breaks them up halfway through the round. Ten seconds later, they’re back on the fence, Makashvili on the outside. Dias turns him around, gets reversed and avoids having his back taken by scraping off Makashvili against the cage. Dias changes levels grabs for Makashvili’s legs and works for a takedown while boos rain down from the Floridian crowd. Makashvili wraps up Dias by the waist and trips him to the ground, landing in the Brazilian’s half guard for the final 15 seconds.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Makashvili (29-28 Dias)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Makashvili (29-28 Dias)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-10 (30-28 Dias)

The Official Result

Hacran Dias def. Levan Makashvili via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) R3 5:00

Thiago Santos vs. Steve Bosse

Round 1

Santos chops Bosse’s lead leg with a kick inside, then backs up when the Canadian presses forward and puts one on the body. In a flash, Santos whips his left leg up and slams his shin into Bosse’s head. Bosse is out cold instantly and crashes to the ground, where he’s rescued by referee James Warring before Santos can unload with follow-up punches.

The Official Result

Thiago Santos def. Steve Bosse via KO (Head Kick) R1 0:29

Eddie Gordon vs. Antonio Carlos Jr.

Round 1

Gordon sticks a long jab into the face of Carlos, who presses forward to force the New Yorker’s back against the fence. “Truck” turns Carlos right around with an underhook, then the Brazilian shoves him away and charges forward to change levels for a takedown. Carlos tries to hold Gordon on the ground with a front headlock, but Gordon works back to his feet and is met by three or four knees to the face. Carlos keeps Gordon held against the cage, where “Cara de Sapato” delivers a pair of hard knees to Gordon’s body. The middleweights continue clinching on the fence, jockeying for position, with Carlos finally securing another takedown at the one-minute mark. Carlos marks up Gordon’s face with punches, elbows and forearms, closing out the round with a series of solid left hands and a pair of knees to the body.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Carlos Jr.
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Carlos Jr.
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Carlos Jr.

Round 2

Carlos keeps Gordon moving backward through the opening minute of round two, flicking out long jabs and kicks to hold the American at range. Gordon is offering almost nothing in terms of offense, and when he does throw punches at Carlos’ body, they mostly come up short. Two minutes in, Gordon opts to press Carlos against the fence, but the clinch doesn’t go anywhere and Carlos escapes midway through the round. Gordon sticks a jab, and now it’s Carlos’ offense which is beginning to slow. Carlos works a single-leg against the fence, changes to a double and brings Gordon to the ground with 70 seconds left. “Cara de Sapato” turns up the heat with his punches in the final 20 seconds, then drops back to grab for a heel hook just before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Carlos Jr.
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Carlos Jr.
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Carlos Jr.

Round 3

Gordon pumps a few jabs in the face of Carlos, who answers with a loud, chopping kick to the outside of Gordon’s lead leg. A double-leg shot from Carlos winds up with both 185ers on the fence, and now Gordon takes the outside position, grabbing for a takedown of his own. “Cara de Sapato” threatens with a front headlock, but Gordon slips his head free and holds the Brazilian against the fence for a few seconds. Carlos creates space, escapes and drives back on “Truck” to score a takedown near the fence. Gordon looks for a triangle, but the Brazilian jiu-jitsu stylist easily shucks the leg to pass to side control, then slips around to take Gordon’s back. Carlos secures the position with a body triangle and gets busy working for a rear-naked choke with two minutes on the clock. Carlos can’t get under the chin of Gordon and has to soften him up with punches from the back. Eventually, Gordon leaves his neck exposed, Carlos snakes his arm around his throat, bears down and coaxes a tap.

The Official Result

Antonio Carlos Jr. def. Eddie Gordon via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R3 4:37

Lorenz Larkin vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio

Round 1

Larkin backs up to the fence and keeps Ponzinibbio out of striking range with a few front kicks. “The Monsoon” rushes forward on Ponzinibbio with a quick left hand and a pair of low kicks, then circles away as the Argentinian throws a combination. The welterweights reset in the center of the cage, where Larkin pushes Ponzinibbio backward with a push kick to the chest. Two minutes into the round, Ponzinibbio lands a solid kick to the body, tries to wrap up Larkin but can’t get hold. Larkin is landing hard low kicks at will, mixing in sweeping left hands as Ponzinibbio chases after him. Ponzinibbio closes the gap with a left hook to the body, then digs an underhook and holds Larkin against the fence. Larkin breaks out and touches the body of Ponzinibbio with a leaping, turning kick. Ponzinibbio lands a leg kick, misses on a couple reaching punches but comes in behind them to try a single-leg on the fence. Larkin defends and sprawls against the fence with one minute left in the round. Ponzinibbio pulls him away from the fence, releases the limb and takes another hard chop to his left leg.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Larkin
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Larkin
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Larkin

Round 2

Ponzinibbio presses out from the center again, and Larkin circles to his right until he finds an opening to crack the Argentine with a left hand. Now it’s Ponzinibbio backing up against the fence as Larkin sends straight punches down the pipe. Larkin slips throwing a huge left hook, then gets clipped with a hard left from Ponzinibbio as he stands back up. Ponzinibbio whiffs on a series of four or five punches, then gets a hard chop to his already discolored lead leg. They’re trading punches in close quarters now, both men in danger, but it’s Larkin who connects with a left hook, a right hook, another left. Ponzinibbio hits the ground in a state, and Larkin is all over him, blasting away with punches under the armpit as Ponzinibbio kneels and tries to stand. Ponzinibbio struggles back to his feet, only to be mashed with more punches. Referee Herb Dean sees that Ponzinibbio is on rubber legs, barely staying vertical, and Dean mercifully stops the bout.

The Official Result

Lorenz Larkin def. Santiago Ponzinibbio via TKO (Punches) R2 3:07

Lyoto Machida vs. Yoel Romero

Round 1

Machida opens with a right high kick which misses but backs away Romero, then the Brazilian connects with a grazing kick to the body. The southpaws are toe-to-toe in the center of the cage, and now it’s Romero hitting Machida in the ribs with a kick. Machida gives Romero a chop on the lead leg before moving to the perimeter and cutting angles away from the wrestler. Another leg kick lands for Machida, who circles away from a Romero high kick. Romero steps inside to land a low kick and eats a quick counter punch for his trouble. Down to the final minute of the opening round, Machida walks in to put a knee on Romero’s body, then steps back out of the pocket just as quickly. Romero counters a Machida punch with a grazing left hand counter in the closing seconds.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Machida
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Machida
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Machida

Round 2

Both men land stiff left hands in the first exchange of the round, and Romero follows up with a body kick. Machida moves back to the edge of the cage and begins picking at the Cuban’s lead leg with more snappy low kicks. A straight left scores for Machida, another leg kick, and the 185-pounders continue to circle midway through the round. Romero grabs Machida’s head and tries a leaping knee, misses and has to bail out of the pocket to avoid Machida’s counterpunch. Another straight left gets through for Machida, who backpedals with his hands up as Romero tries to bomb him with an overhand haymaker. Romero closes in on Machida near the fence and lands a left hand over the top. The next left from Romero lands on Machida’s jaw and puts the karate stylist on the retreat momentarily. Machida puts Romero off balance with a kick to the right leg, then hits him on the other side with a body shot. Romero ends the round by bouncing off the fence with a “Showtime” punch and then trying to clinch with Machida, who wags his finger after the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Romero
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Romero
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Romero

Round 3

Romero is the aggressor at the start of round three, but he walks into a couple hard leg kicks. The Cuban ducks under a wide left hand from Machida and hits the former champ with a low kick of his own. Faking a level change, Romero comes back up and clinches with Machida, then trips him to the ground. Romero lands in half guard and postures up, then blasts Machida with half a dozen massive elbows, knocking “The Dragon” out cold. Referee McCarthy steps in to stop the fight, and Romero celebrates by jumping over the top of the cage, having just secured the biggest victory of his MMA career.

The Official Result

Yoel Romero def. Lyoto Machida via KO (Elbows) R3 1:38