Join us today on Bloody Elbow for live results, discussion, round scoring, and play-by-play as UFC 257 goes down live on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.
Today’s show will feature the return of Conor McGregor to the Octagon, as he fights for the first time in a year when he meets former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier. The co-main event also takes place in the lightweight division, with three-time Bellator 155-pound champion Michael Chandler making his UFC debut against Dan Hooker.
This post will cover the first three fights of the main card.
Today’s show is a standard PPV even though it’s taking place in the UAE. There are two Fight Pass fights, which should kick off around 7pm ET/4pm PT. Things will move to ESPN and ESPN+ for four more fights at 8pm ET, and then we’ll go over to PPV at 10pm ET as per the norm.
Main Card
Jessica Eye vs. Joanne Calderwood Rd 1- They tie right up. Calderwood lands first on the break. Eye forces the clinch, backs Calderwood up against the cage. Calderwood gets free, lands a 1-2. Eye with some dirty uppercuts. Eye gets the clinch again. They trade uppercuts and knees. Eye forces it to the fence. Calderwood gets free. Trading in the middle, in and out of the clinch. Close round. I’ll go 10-9 Eye.
Rd 2- Calderwood landing early. Big kick to Eye’s face. Right hand makes Eye’s eye swell. Calderwood takes her down but backs right back out and up. Eye lands in the clinch. Calderwood lands a spinning back kick to the gut. Eye countering with a hook. Eye gets the TD off a spinning attack. 19-19 after two.
Rd 3– Eye shoots to open. Forces Calderwood to the cage. Ref breaks ‘em up at 2:22. Calderwood scoring on the feet. Eye with a right. Calderwood sprawls to fend off a shot. Calderwood popping at a distance. Knees to the body. Ugly fight in the Thai clinch. Calderwood on my card. 29-28.
Joanne Calderwood def. Jessica Eye via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
Andrew Sanchez vs. Makhmud Muradov Rd 1- They’re circling to open. Muradov landing some kicks. Sanchez shoots, gets stuffed. Muradov with a 1-2 on the break. Eats a left. Lands a kick. Muradov backs Sanchez into the cage. Lands a shoulder in the clinch. They separate. Muradov working the leg kicks and body shots. Sanchez landing to the face. 10-9 Muradov.
Rd 2- Sanchez taking center cage to open the second. Sanchez lands a body kick and a groin kick to Muradov pauses the action. Sanchez pushes him into the cage on the restart. Knee to the groin isn’t called. They break. Sanchez landing the jab. Muradov lands the 1-2. Muradov landing to end the round. I have it for Sanchez. 19-19 after two.
Rd 3- Muradov landing hard shots to the face to start the third. Mixing in some kicks. Sanchez lands but Muradov comes back and staggers him with a right. Follows with a flying knee and a flurry. It’s over!
Makhmud Muradov def. Andrew Sanchez via TKO at 2:59 of Round 3.
Marina Rodriguez vs. Amanda Ribas Rd 1 – Ribas gets the take down, Rodriguez in an odd guard, threatening to take Ribas’ back. They move to a conventional guard position with Ribas on top in Rodriguez’ closed guard. Ribas gets some distance, lands some shots from the top. 10-9 Ribas.
Rd 2 – They clinch up and trade shots in the center of the cage. Rodriguez lands a hard right and drops Ribas! She follows her down, landing shots. Herb Dean moves in but doesn’t stop the fight. Controversy as Rodriguez thinks the fight is over. It’s not! They re-commence and Rodriguez finishes it with more right hands.
Marina Rodriguez def. Amanda Ribas via TKO (punches) at 0:54 of Rd 2.
Dan Hooker vs. Michael Chandler
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