UFC on ESPN 55 play-by-play, live results

LAS VEGAS – UFC on ESPN 55 takes place Saturday, and you can join us for live play-by-play and official results. UFC on ESPN 55 (ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN+) takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

In the main event, Matheus Nicolau (19-4-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) takes on former flyweight title challenger Alex Perez (24-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC). In the co-feature, Bogdan Guskov (15-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) meets Ryan Spann (21-9 MMA, 7-4 UFC) at light heavyweight.

Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 4 p.m. ET for the prelims on ESPN2/ESPN+ and 7 p.m. ET for the main card on ESPN/ESPN+. You also can get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site reporter Ken Hathaway (@1khathaway ) on Twitter.

Enjoy the fights, everyone.

Gabriel Benitez vs. Hayisaer Maheshate

Round 1 – A couple of hard leg kicks land for Benitez right away. Maheshate fires back with a body kick. He’s moving forward, walking down Benitez. Oh! Big left connects for Benitez. It briefly stuns Maheshate. Three minutes left. Big body kick by Benitez and Maheshate answers back with a body shot. Nasty body kick by Benitez. Maheshate is eating these well. Jab by Maheshate. Leg kick by Benitez. A perfectly timed left lands for Benitez. What a chin on Maheshate. Maheshate with a body kick and then a leg kick. The bell rings shortly after.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Benitez.

Round 2 – Maheshate comes out pressing Benitez. Clean right hand connects for Maheshate! Leg kick by Benitez. And Maheshate with a one, two. Benitez counters Maheshate hard! Maheshate spans Benitez head back with a jab. More lg kicks by Benitez. Pretty even fight so far with Benitez being slightly up it seems. Big right connects for Maheshate. These two are trading hard shots. Maheshate is upping it here at the end. Good combo connects for Maheshate at the end of the round.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Maheshate.

Round 3 – Close fight here. Again, Maheshate comes out pressing, putting Benitez on the back foot. Maheshate is a bit more aggressive here. An eye poke from Maheshate briefly halts the bout. Benitez says he’s good and the fight resumes. Three minutes left. Good jabs by Benitez. Good counter shots by Benitez. He seems a bit more fresh than Maheshate here. Maheshate lands a good left hook. Leg kick by Benitez. One minute left. Good left hand and then some jabs by Benitez. Very close round here. Oh! Flying knee by Benitez. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Benitez. Overall 29-28, Benitez.

Result: Hayisaer Maheshate def. Gabriel Benitez via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Maheshate (10-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC), Benitez (23-13 MMA, 7-8 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Judging: Bryan Miner, Tony Weeks 29-28, Eric Colon 28-29.

Liang Na vs. Ivana Petrovic

Round 1 – Na immediately closes the distance and takes down Petrovic with ease. Petrovic gets back up, but is being pressed against the cage. Shots here and there from Na. Four minutes left. More short punches by Na. Petrovic trying to break free, but unable to. Petrovic breaks free a few secodn after. Good right has by Petrovic. Three minutes left. Na with a clean combo and then presses Petrovic against the cage. They break free, and it’s Petrovic who looks for the takedown. She takes down Na, but they get into a scramble! Na almost gets the back, but Petrovic is able to fight out and get top position on Na. one minute left. Petrovic looking for an arm-triangle. They scramble more and Na reverses Petrovic, but gets caught in an armbar. They’re in a bit of a stalemate position, and Petrovic lands some shots from bottom. The bell rings before Petrovic can get the tap.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Petrovic.

Round 2 – Na closes the distance and presses Petrovic against the cage. Not much being done in terms of damage, but Na is controlling the action. Petrovic breaks free. Now Petrovic is the one that takes down Na. She’s working from side control. Good short elbows by Petrovic. Na goes for an armbar! It looked tight for a second, but Petrovic breaks free and maintains top position. Good shots from top by Petrovic! She’s upping the ground-and-pound. Petrovic gets mount! Nasty, nasty elbows from Petrovic. Na looks bad. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Petrovic.

Round 3 – Petrovic shoots and gets the takedown right away. Petrovic is dominating Na here. She gets the back mount, sinks in some sort of choke that looks like a D’Arce and gets the tap. Na was spent.

Result: Ivana Petrovic def. Na Liang via submission (arm triangle) – Round 3, 1:29
Recap: Ivana Petrovic submits gritty Liang Na with… rear-naked arm-triangle choke?
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Petrovic (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Na (19-8 MMA, 0-4 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognini

James Llontop vs. Chris Padilla

Round 1 – Both fighters very tentative here. Llontop with several leg kicks. Padilla gets a takedown, but Llontop gets up immediately. More leg kicks by Llontop. Llontop walking down Padilla here. Low output from both here. Good jab by Llontop. Padilla shoots again, gets the takedown, but Llontop gets immediately back up. Two minutes left. More leg kicks by Llontop. And now to the body! More leg kicks. Good left hook by Llontop! Padilla shoots takes down Llontop, takes his back, and quickly get the rear-naked choke. It’s over.

Result: Chris Padilla def. James Llontop via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:33
Recap:
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Padilla (14-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Llontop (14-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean

Marnic Mann vs. Ketlen Souza

Round 1 – Leg kicks from Mann, as he stays on the outside here against Souza. More leg kicks from Mann. Souza seems to be hesistant or waiting for a big shot! Big right-hand lands for Souza! And spinning wheel kick partially connects. Mann tries to take down Souza, but ends up getting pressed against the cage. Souza lets her free. Good right hand by Souza. Another one. Two minutes left. Souza presses Mann and takes her down. Good shots from top by Souza. One minute left. Mann pushes Souza off. Leg kick by Souza. Leg kick now by Mann. Leg kick then a right hand by Souza. Mann gets a takedown in the final second.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Souza.

Round 2 – Souza immediately pressing Mann. Good right hand by Souza. Souza now presses Mann against the cage. Short shots from Mann. Souza lets Mann go, and they’re back to striking. Souza being the complete aggressor here. Left hook connects for Souza. Two minutes left. Mann just backing up and getting picked apart here. Mann attempts a takedown, and fails. Souza ends on top. Souza working from inside the guard of Mann. Souza ends the round on top.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Souza.

Round 3 – Leg kicks by Mann land. More leg kicks. Mann is pressing forward here, something she wasn’t doing in the previous two rounds. Mann tries to pin down Souza against the cage, but unable to. Oh! Souza unloading on Man. Nasty body shots and hooks to the face by Souza. Mann getting banged up. Mann attempts a standing kimura, drops back and uses it to get top position on Souza. Mann inside the guard of Souza. Short shots from Mann, but little action overall. One minute left. Short shots to the body by Mann. Souza jumps back to her feet. Body kick by Souza, but Mann gets the takedown. Souza reverses the position and the bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Souza. Overall 30-27, Souza.

Result: Ketlen Souza def. Marnic Mann via unanimous decison (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Souza (14-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Mann (6-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Judging:

Caio Machado vs. Don’Tale Mayes

Round 1 – Leg kick by Machado, but Mayes counters with a big one, two. Big left hook connects clean for Mayes, Machado eats it well. Big shots by Machado nearly land. Both very tentative. Little output. Big body kick by Machado. Mayes throws one of his own. Leg kick by Machado followed by a left hand. They’re throwing heat now! Oh! Machado gets caught with a huge shot and falls on the ground. Mayes gets top control, but unable to land meaningful ground-and-pound before the bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Mayes.

Round 2 –

Result:
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Records: Machado (8-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Mayes (10-6 MMA, 3-4-1 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Judging:

Michal Figlak vs. Austin Hubbard

Round 1 –

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Records: Figlak (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Hubbard (16-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee:
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Victor Henry vs. Rani Yahya

Round 1 –

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Records: Henry (23-6 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Yahya (28-11-1 MMA, 13-5-1 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee:
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David Onama vs. Jonathan Pearce

Round 1 –

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Records: Onama (11-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC), Pearce (14-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
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Tim Means vs. Uros Medic

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Records: Means (33-15-1 MMA, 15-12 UFC), Medic (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee:
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Jhonata Diniz vs. Austen Lane

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Records: Diniz (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Lane (12-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee:
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Ariane da Silva vs. Karine Silva

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Records: da Silva (17-8 MMA, 6-5 UFC), Silva (17-4 MMA, 3-0 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee:
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Bogdan Guskov vs. Ryan Spann

Round 1 –

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Records: Guskov (15-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Spann (21-9 MMA, 7-4 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
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Matheus Nicolau vs. Alex Perez

Round 1 –

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Records: Nicolau (19-4-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC), Perez (24-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee:
Judging: