July 02, 2023 / By mobanmarket
The Octagon is back in Canada for the first time since September 2019 with Saturday's UFC 289 — a pay-per-view from Vancouver offering featuring arguably the greatest female fighter of all-time looking to add to her legacy.
UFC women's bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes makes her ninth career title defense, and the first of her second reign as bantamweight champ, when she defends against Irene Aldana in the main event.
Nunes regained the title with a dominant win over Julianna Pena in July and were scheduled to finish their trilogy tonight, but Pena was forced out due to broken ribs. Aldana stepped in on the heels of wins in four of her last five fights.
The co-main event features a pivotal lightweight bout with title shot implications as former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira takes on Beneil Dariush. Oliveira is coming off of losing the title to Islam Makhachev in October while Dariush comes into this fight riding an eight-fight win streak.
Also on the main card: Mike Malott vs. Adam Fugitt, Dan Ige vs. Nate Landwehr, and Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Eryk Anders. Capping off the prelims is a battle of ranked middleweights as Nassourdine Imavov takes on Chris Curtis.
ESPN PRELIMS | 7 PM ET/4 PM PT
> Women's Strawweights- Diana Belbita (14-7, 1-3 UFC) vs. Maria Oliveira (13-6, 1-2 UFC)
They're trading in the center to start. Belbita lands a nice right hand. Belbita lands a leg kick just after Oliveira misses a flying knee. They trade combos inside the pocket. Oliveira lands a right hand and scores a takedown. Belbita throws her legs up and is landing some elbows from the bottom. Oliveira drops back and is looking for a leg lock but Belbita spins out of trouble and ends up on top. They get to their feet and Belbita lands a knee. She lands another as they break. Belbita lands a couple of leg kicks as Oliveira lands the jab. Belbita lands a big combination. Belbita with a leg kick and right hand late. 10-9 Belbita.
They come out swinging and Belbita lands some punches and Oliveira lands a leg kick. Oliveira gets a takedown. Belbita with some elbows from the bottom. Oliveira is doing a good job of defending from the top as both are landing, then they scramble to the feet. Oliveira has it pushed against the fence. Belbita landing right hands to the body as Oliveira isn't doing much. They break. Belbita landing the jab after they're separated. Belbita catches a kick and pushes it against the fence. Belbita gets a big takedown and works from side control to end the round. 10-9 Belbita, 20-18 Belbita.
Belbita lands to start and connects with a big left hook. Belbita continuing to fire right hands and lands a knee before they clinch. Oliveira lands a combo in close range but Belbita continues to press forward. Belbita lands a big right hand. Belbita lands a couple of jabs. She lands a combo before they clinch. They break and Belbita lands an elbow. Both are landing jabs but Belbita is being more effective with them. Oliveira lands a jumping knee. They continue to trade until the end with Belbita landing more. 10-9 Belbita, 30-27 Belbita.
Official Result- Diana Belbita def. Maria Oliveira by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
> Flyweights- #10 David Dvorak (20-5, 3-2 UFC) vs. Stephen Erceg (9-1, 0-0 UFC)
Dvorak lands a couple of leg kicks. Erceg lands a leg kick. He lands a big left hand. Dvorak starting to land more as both are landing calf kicks, but Dvorak is landing the right hand. They trade calf kicks. Dvorak misses a right hand and Erceg is able to land a body kick. Dvorak lands a combo. Dvorak lands a calf kick. 10-9 Dvorak.
Dvorak lands a good combination to the body. Erceg lands a right hand and Dvorak lands a counter knee and right hand. Both are swinging as they're circling around but nothing is really landing. Dvorak lands a couple of leg kicks. They trade kicks. They trade and Erceg has Dvorak in trouble then drops him with a head kick. They scramble and Erceg locks in a guillotine choke but Dvorak is popping his head out. They scramble and Erceg lands an upkick and Dvorak lands some shots from the bottom, then they trade big shots at the end of a wild round. 10-9 Erceg, 19-19.
Erceg lands a combination. They trade inside the pocket. Dvorak tries a takedown but Erceg is able to scramble to the back but Dvorak scrambles out of the position. Dvorak lands a right hand. They clinch for a moment but break. Dvorak shoots for a takedown but Erceg scrambles and looked for the neck but they get to their feet. Dvorak gets a takedown. He's in the half-guard and lands an elbow. They scramble and Erceg grabs the neck and is threatening. They scramble back to their feet. Erceg gets a takedown and has the back as they get to their feet. Erceg lands a knee. Erceg lands some punches at the end. 10-9 Erceg, 29-28 Erceg.
Official Result- Stephen Erceg def. David Dvorak by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
ESPN PRELIMS | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT
> Featherweights- Kyle Nelson (13-5-1, 1-4-1 UFC) vs. Blake Bilder (8-0-1, 1-0 UFC)
Bilder lands a left hand. Nelson lands a right hand. Bilder scores with a left hook. Bilder lands a punch then shoots for a takedown and pushes it against the fence. Nelson reverses positions and neither is doing a whole lot. Bilder is landing small body punches as Nelson is landing foot stomps but not much else. They break as Bilder lands a right hand. They trade kicks. Bilder lands a high kick. Nelson lands a nice left hand then hurts Bilder with a right hand. 10-9 Bilder.
Bilder landing the jab early. He lands a body kick and ducks under a right hand from Nelson. Nelson might've landed a low blow that got missed and then connects before they clinch up. Bilder is pressuring against the fence. They separate. They trade jabs. Nelson lands a head kick. Nelson lands a leg kick. Both have cuts opened up as they trade. Nelson with another high kick and they trade leg kicks. Nelson is pressing forward and lands some leg kicks. He lands another as Bilder was circling away. 10-9 Nelson, 19-19.
Both are swinging early and looking to land leg kicks. Bilder is looking for a takedown against the fence. Nelson reverses position and has Bilder pressed against the fence. They are separated. Bilder lands a high kick. They're trading and both land some solid right hands. They trade leg kicks. They trade late and Nelson lands some big punches. Close fight. 10-9 Nelson, 29-28 Nelson.
Official Result- Kyle Nelson def. Blake Bilder by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
> Bantamweights- Aiemann Zahabi (9-2, 3-2 UFC) vs. Aoriqileng (24-9, 2-2 UFC)
Aoriqileng with a leg kick. He lands a body kick. He lands another leg kick but eats a counter combination from Zahabi. Aoriqileng lands another leg kick. Zahabi drops Aoriqileng with a left hand and then lands from the top to end it. Big knockout for Zahabi!
Official Result- Aiemann Zahabi def. Aoriqileng by knockout (punches) at 1:04 of Round 1
> Women's Flyweights- #15 Miranda Maverick (11-4, 4-2 UFC) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (8-2, 2-1 UFC)
Maverick lands some left hands early. Jasudavicius lands a combo. Maverick lands a left hand and a body kick. They clinch and trade knees. They trade and Maverick looks for a takedown but Jasudavicius defends against the fence. Jasudavicius is able to get the takedown and is on top against the fence. Maverick is looking for an armbar from the bottom but Jasudavicius is defending from the top. Jasudavicius is still defending as Maverick is attacking the arm as the round ended. 10-9 Maverick.
Jasudavicius comes out with a high kick to start. Maverick lands a left hand then they exchange punches. They trade inside the pocket and Jasudavicius lands a big right hand as they clinch against the fence. Jasudavicius gets a big takedown and is working in the center as she's landing a lot of punches from the top. She gets the back of Maverick and gets the body triangle locked in. Jasudavicius with some big shots from the back as she has a big round. 10-9 Jasudavicius, 19-19.
Maverick lands a left hand to start then Jasudavicius counters with a left hand. Maverick throwing elbows but Jasudavicius is being more active and landing more. She throws a big flurry and Maverick is on the run. Jasudavicius with some leg kicks. Jasudavicius continuing to push the pace and pressure but Maverick lands a left hand. Jasudavicius gets a takedown and is landing from the top. Jasudavicius has the back as they get to their feet and she is landing knees. She has a big finish to the fight. 10-9 Jasudavicius, 29-28 Jasudavicius.
Official Result- Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Miranda Maverick by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Middleweights- #12 Nassourdine Imavov (12-4, 4-2 UFC) vs. #14 Chris Curtis (30-10, 4-2 UFC)
Curtis lands a few leg kicks to start. He lands another then a left hand to the body. Imavov with some leg kicks. Curtis with another leg kick. Imavov lands a combo. They clinch against the fence and both land before they break. Imavov lands a right hand then a short elbow. Curtis lands a left hand before Imavov initiates a clinch. Imavov gets Curtis down and is on the back and is looking for a rear-naked choke. He lets go and Curtis is able to get back to his feet. 10-9 Imavov.
Both pressing forward and Curtis lands a leg kick. Imavov lands some leg kicks. Imavov with a combo. Imavov with a right hand after Curtis attacks the body. Curtis lands a leg kick as he eats a combo from Imavov. Imavov with a right hand to the body. They clinch against the fence and Imavov lands an elbow on the break then a combo. They clinch again and clash heads, so we have a timeout. The fight is stopped as Curtis can't see and time has run out on the timeout, so this will be a no contest.
Official Result- Nassourdine Imavov vs. Chris Curtis ruled a no contest due to an accidental clash of heads at 3:04 of Round 2
ESPN+ PPV MAIN CARD | 10 PM ET/7 PM PT
> Middleweights- Marc-Andre Barriault (15-6 1 NC, 4-5 1 NC UFC) vs. Eryk Anders (15-7 1 NC, 7-7 1 NC UFC)
Barriault lands a body kick then drops Anders with a right hand. He gets on top then gets the back and is landing as they get to the feet and remain tied up. Barriault lands a short right hand that hurts Anders. Anders lands a knee then a couple more. Anders lands a left hand as they almost break. Barriault lands a knee then an elbow then Anders lands an elbow. Anders with some knees. They break. Anders with some knees and a left hand. They trade short elbows. They separate and both land. Anders lands a right hand. Anders lands a knee and follows it with a flurry before they separate. Barriault lands a body kick. They clinch and both land knees. Anders lands some left hands on the break. Barriault lands a knee and elbow as they clinch again. Barriault lands a left as they break again. They clinch again and Barriault lands a big knee as Anders is looking for a takedown. They break and Anders lands a left hand. 10-9 Barriault.
Barriault lands a body kick. Barriault lands another but Anders is pressuring. They clinch and Barriault lands a combo as they break. Anders lands a body kick. Anders lands a left hand. We have a timeout for a groin strike by Barriault. They get back to action. Barriault lands a right hand. Anders lands a straight left hand. Anders lands a couple more left hands and shoots for a takedown against the fence. Anders scores a takedown. Barriault gets up against the fence but eats a left from Anders. They trade before breaking. Barriault lands a short left hand and we have another groin strike timeout by Barriault. They get back to action and Anders lands some left hands. Barriault lands a body kick and Anders lands a combo. Anders lands a couple of right hands. Barriault lands a body kick then a left hand. Barriault with another right hand. Anders lands a body kick then a left hand. Close round. 10-9 Anders, 19-19.
Barriault coming forward and lands a body kick. Anders lands a knee then a left hand. Barriault lands a body kick. They clinch against the fence and Anders lands some knees. They break and Barriault lands a body kick but eats a left hand from Anders. Barriault lands a jab. He lands a body kick. Anders lands to the body but Barriault lands two big shots with an elbow and punch. Barriault lands a nice right hand. They trade as Barriault is circling around. Barriault lands the jab then Anders lands inside the pocket. Barriault lands two big right hands then a body kick in a flurry. Barriault lands a hard jab. They trade big punches. They trade jabs. Anders with a high kick. 10-9 Barriault, 29-28 Barriault.
Official Result- Marc-Andre Barriault def. Eryk Anders by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Featherweights- #13 Dan Ige (16-6, 8-5 UFC) vs. Nate Landwehr (17-4, 4-2 UFC)
Ige coming forward throwing the jab. Ige lands a right hand. Landwehr lands a body kick. Ige comes forward and lands a left hook to the body. Ige lands a combo. He lands another. Ige lands a leg kick. Ige lands to the body. Landwehr lands a leg kick. Ige lands a right hand and Landwehr looks for a takedown but Ige defends. Ige lands a combo then they trade jabs. Ige lands a left hook to the body. Landwehr tries a head kick but Ige blocks it. Landwehr starting to land a little bit more as the round goes on. Ige drops Landwehr late with a big left hand. 10-9 Ige.
Landwehr throwing leg kicks early as Ige lands a combo. Landwehr grabs a leg but Ige defends and escapes. Ige lands a combo but Landwehr makes him eat a knee. Ige pushes Landwehr against the fence and lands a combo. Ige with a right hand to the body. Landwehr lands a right hand but Ige counters with a right hand. Ige is cut open at the nose. Ige lands to the body then a left hand up top. Landwehr lands a couple of jabs. They trade inside the pocket. They trade in close range. Landwehr lands a front kick to the body. Ige is being more active. Landwehr lands an uppercut and they clinch against the fence. Ige drops Landwehr again with a left hand and Landwehr is hurt bad. Ige lands from the top and Landwehr lands an upkick that may have been illegal but it was a wild end to the round. 10-9 Ige, 20-18 Ige.
Ige lands a combo. Ige scores a right hand but Landwehr is coming forward. Ige lands a left hand and Landwehr was wobbled. Ige lands to the body. Landwehr lands a jab. They continue to trade in close range. Ige pushes it against the fence and they trade positions. Landwehr lands against the fence. They separate. Ige lands a right hand as Landwehr lands a knee to the body. Ige lands a nice right hand. Landwehr grabs a leg but lands a right hand as he lets go. They trade in close range. They each go for a takedown late. Landwehr lands an elbow. 10-9 Ige, 30-27 Ige.
Official Result- Dan Ige def. Nate Landwehr by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Click Here: Italy National Team soccer tracksuit
> Welterweights- Mike Malott (9-1-1, 2-0 UFC) vs. Adam Fugitt (9-3, 1-1 UFC)
Malott lands a body kick and Fugitt is hurt. Malott lands another as Fugitt landed a left hand. Malott lands a right hand. Malott lands another body kick. Malott lands a groin strike but there is no timeout as Fugitt can go on. Malott gets a takedown and was in side control for a moment but ends up in the guard of Fugitt. Malott stands and Fugitt is able to get up. Fugitt throws a kick and Malott is able to turn it into a takedown. Malott ends the round on top. 10-9 Malott.
Malott lands a body kick and Fugitt falls to the mat. Malott locks in a guillotine choke as he gets on top and it is in tight and Fugitt taps. What a finish from Malott!
Official Result- Mike Malott def. Adam Fugitt by submission (guillotine choke) at 1:06 of Round 2
> Lightweights- #1 Charles Oliveira (33-9 1 NC, 21-9 1 NC UFC) vs. #4 Beneil Dariush (22-4-1, 15-4-1 UFC)
Oliveira lands a head kick. Dariush lands a left hand. They clinch and both land knees. Dariush gets it down and is in the half-guard of Oliveira. Dariush then moves to the full guard but both are landing on the ground. Oliveira is looking for a leg. Dariush is able to escape and gets back into the guard of Oliveira. Both are landing punches. They scramble to their feet. Oliveira lands a head kick and follows with a left hand. Oliveira drops Dariush to a knee with a right hand. Dariush is now down and Oliveira is on top landing a lot of punches and it is stopped! What a massive win for Oliveira!
Official Result- Charles Oliveira def. Beneil Dariush by TKO (punches) at 4:10 of Round 1
> UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship- C Amanda Nunes (22-5, 15-2 UFC) vs. #5 Irene Aldana (14-6, 7-4 UFC)
Nunes lands some early kicks. Nunes lands a body kick. Nunes gets an easy takedown but lets Aldana get right back up. Nunes lands another body kick. They trade jabs. Nunes lands a body kick. Nunes lands a spin kick. Aldana just looks frozen as she's not really doing much. Nunes with a body kick but Aldana lands a right hand. Nunes lands but Aldana counters with a big right hand. Nunes lands a big right hand. 10-9 Nunes.
Nunes lands the jab. Nunes lands a combo then a leg kick. Nunes lands a couple of leg kicks. Aldana out there not doing a whole lot. Nunes fakes a takedown and lands a combo then scores with a leg kick. Nunes lands a combo and gets Aldana down for a second. Nunes lands some big leg kicks. Nunes scores a big combo. Nunes lands then they trade jabs. Aldana misses a head kick as Nunes ducks under and gets a takedown, but they get right back up and Nunes lands a leg kick. 10-9 Nunes, 20-18 Nunes.
Nunes lands a right hand then some jabs. Nunes with a flurry and Aldana is backing up. Aldana is throwing the jab but not landing much. Aldana lands a leg kick. Nunes gets a brief takedown and they scramble up at the fence, but Nunes gets it right back down. Nunes with some elbows from the top. Aldana scrambles but Nunes slams her back down. They get up and Nunes pushes it against the fence. Nunes gets it down as Aldana almost grabbed the fence and Nunes has the back. Nunes went for the arm but Aldana stood and landed a right hand as Nunes got up. Nunes lands an elbow. They trade jabs. Nunes lands a big right hand then a knee and some big punches. 10-9 Nunes, 30-27 Nunes.
Nunes lands a leg kick then a jab. Aldana lands a leg kick. Nunes lands a big elbow then lands a big combination. Nunes lands a couple of jabs. Nunes lands the jab again. Nunes tries for a takedown but Aldana defends. Aldana defends another takedown attempt from Nunes, but Nunes lands a couple of jabs. Nunes gets a takedown but lets Aldana get right back up. They clinch against the fence but separate as Nunes tried for a takedown. Nunes lands a hard combination. Nunes lands some hard punches and Aldana actually lands some good punches. Nunes lands a right hand. Nunes lands a hard left hook and then a big right hand. Nunes with a right hand to the body. Nunes with some more punches at the end. 10-9 Nunes, 40-36 Nunes.
Nunes lands the jab then a right hand. Nunes goes for a takedown and Aldana lands a knee, but Nunes finishes the takedown. She gets into the full guard of Aldana. Nunes landing from the top. Nunes working from the top and doing enough to keep it on the mat. Nunes gets into the full mount and starts landing body shots. Nunes continues to control from the top and is landing a lot of punches. Aldana is doing nothing on the bottom. Nunes finishes the fight landing from the top. Complete domination from Nunes. 10-8 Nunes, 50-44 Nunes.
Official Result- Amanda Nunes def. Irene Aldana by unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-43) to retain the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship
*Breaking- Nunes announces her retirement following the fight.
Categories: