The Octagon heads back north of the border, returning to Canada for UFC On ESPN+ 120 at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The main event is a pivotal middleweight bout between Reinier de Ridder and Brendan Allen. de Ridder fights for the fifth time in just a year on the UFC roster, and is looking to remain undefeated inside the Octagon and earn a title shot. Allen, who is taking this fight on short notice replacing Anthony Hernandez, looks for his second straight win.
In the co-main event, Kevin Holland looks to build some momentum in the welterweight division as he looks to get back into the win column against rising Canadian contender Mike Malott, winner of his previous two outings.
Also on the main card is a pair of top-ten battles as Marlon Vera takes on Aiemann Zahabi in a bantamweight clash; and Manon Fiorot takes on Jasmine Jasudavicius in a big women’s flyweight bout. Plus, bantamweights Charles Jourdain and Davey Grant square off; and an explosive lightweight battle between Kyle Nelson and Matt Frevola kicks off the main card.
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> Women’s Bantamweights- Melissa Croden (6-2, 0-0 UFC) vs. Tainara Lisboa (7-3, 2-1 UFC)
Croden works the jab and lands a leg kick as Lisboa fires back a right hand. Croden lands a right hand and Lisboa returns fire with a combo. Croden lands a stiff jab and a body kick. They clinch and both land knees as Lisboa pushes it to the fence while landing a pair of knees. They trade big shots as they separate. Croden lands a jab as Lisboa lands a combo and gets the clinch, where she lands some knees. Croden reverses position and lands some knees of her own. Lisboa lands an elbow on the break. Croden rocks Lisboa with a jab and then lands a combo as Lisboa shoots for a takedown and pushes it against the fence. Lisboa lands a left hand as they break. Croden lands another big punch. They trade inside the pocket. Lisboa lands a solid right hand. Lisboa lands a solid combo. Croden lands a right hand. Close round. 10-9 Lisboa.
Croden lands a leg kick as Lisboa lands a combination. Lisboa lands a flurry as Croden lands a jab. Lisboa pushes it against the fence and lands some knees. They both then land knees before Lisboa gets it to the ground, but Croden is able to force a scramble up. Croden rushes forward and lands a jab. They trade before Lisboa forces another clinch. Croden briefly reverses and they separate. Lisboa rushes in to land and they tie up when Croden scores a takedown. Croden lands a lot of punches from the back and has control as they stand and Croden lands some more. Croden lands a big elbow and they separate. Croden lands a leg kick and then a combo and drops Lisboa with some punches. Croden starts landing from the top. Lisboa is trying to find an arm as she’s in survival mode. Croden lands some knees to end the round. 10-9 Croden, 19-19.
Croden lands a big right hand and a stiff jab. Croden lands a leg kick and a right hand that stuns Lisboa. Croden lands but Lisboa is able to score a takedown. They end up back on the feet and tied up. Lisboa tries a trip but Croden defends and grabs the neck. Croden gets Lisboa down to the mat. Croden gets to her feet and lands a few punches while standing. Lisboa looks for a leg to lock in a kneebar. Croden gets out and gets the back and lands lots of punches. She gets on top and lands some more punches. Lisboa is trying to squirm out of trouble. Croden gets the half-guard and lands some more shots. Croden gets the crucifix position and is landing. They stand but Croden continues to pour it on with pressure and punches. Lisboa falls to the ground and Croden ends it with some hammerfists. Big finish to get the debut win for Croden!
Fight Result- Melissa Croden def. Tainara Lisboa by TKO (punches) at 4:32 of Round 3
> Middleweights- Azamat Bekoev (20-3, 2-0 UFC) vs. Yousri Belgaroui (8-3, 0-0 UFC)
They trade leg kicks early. Bekoev lands a right hand. Belgaroui lands a jab and a kick. Belgaroui lands a jab and Bekoev lands a right hand. Bekoev scores a takedown and gets the back as they get to their feet. Bekoev lands and Belgaroui lands some elbows and Bekoev has a cut opened up as they stand. They trade and Bekoev attacks the takedown as they clinch. They separate. Bekoev lands some big right hands. Belgaroui lands a combination. Belgaroui lands a right hand and Bekoev is backing up. Belgaroui lands a jab and a right hand as Bekoev shoots for a takedown. 10-9 Belgaroui.
Belgaroui lands a leg kick. They trade body shots. Bekoev just misses a big right hand. They trade jabs. Bekoev lands a solid right hand. Bekoev lands a big punch but then Belgaroui lands a big knee and an uppercut. He’s starting to land with more volume in this round after a big first. Bekoev lands a big right hand and they tie up. They separate and trade and Bekoev is tired. He shoots for a takedown but Belgaroui defends and has side control and is landing elbows. Bekoev is trying for a takedown as he is dripping blood. They separate. Belgaroui lands a stiff elbow and a big knee. Belgaroui lands a big right hand that hurts Bekoev. 10-9 Belgaroui, 20-18 Belgaroui.
Belgaroui landing the jab at will to start the third as he mixes in a right hand. Belgaroui lands another right hand and Bekoev is wobbly on his feet. Belgaroui is landing and has Bekoev hurt. Belgaroui with some big right hands and it is stopped as Bekoev is only standing because of the fence. What a finish from Belgaroui!
Fight Result- Yousri Belgaroui def. Azamat Bekoev by TKO (punches) at :55 of Round 3
> Women’s Strawweights- Stephanie Luciano (6-2-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Ravena Oliveira (7-2-1, 0-1 UFC)
Luciano lands a pair of leg kicks. She keeps pressing forward and throwing kicks. She lands another calf kick. Luciano is side stepping the combos that Oliveira is throwing. Oliveira lands a combo. Luciano is relying on landing leg kicks. Oliveira lands a right hand. Luciano with a right hand. They trade inside the pocket. They trade leg kicks. They both land while throwing. Luciano throws a jumping knee and Oliveira lands a right hand. 10-9 Luciano.
Oliveira is throwing but Luciano is ducking the punches. Luciano lands as Oliveira throws. Luciano lands a leg kick. Oliveira connects with a right hand as Luciano landed a knee. They clinch for a bit and Luciano lands before they break. Luciano is avoiding the offense Oliveira is throwing. Luciano with a leg kick. Oliveira lands a high kick. Luciano with an axe kick and lands some leg kicks. Oliveira barely lands a right hand. They trade inside the pocket. Oliveira lands a right hand. Luciano lands a high kick and a jab. Luciano with a right hand. Luciano landing with far more volume here in the second. Luciano scores a takedown. Luciano lands punches from the top to end the round. 10-9 Luciano, 20-18 Luciano.
> Middleweights- Danny Barlow (9-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. Djorden Santos (10-2, 0-1 UFC)
> Flyweights- #14 Bruno Silva (14-7-2 1 NC, 4-4 1 NC UFC) vs. Hyun Sung Park (10-1, 3-1 UFC)
> Bantamweights- Cody Gibson (21-11, 3-6 UFC) vs. Aoriqileng (25-12 1 NC, 3-4 1 NC UFC)
> Lightweights- Kyle Prepolec (18-9, 0-3 UFC) vs. Drew Dober (27-15 1 NC, 13-11 1 NC UFC)
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> Lightweights- Kyle Nelson (16-6-1, 4-5-1 UFC) vs. Matt Frevola (11-5-1, 5-5-1 UFC)
> Bantamweights- Charles Jourdain (16-8-1, 7-7-1 UFC) vs. Davey Grant (15-7, 8-6 UFC)
> Women’s Flyweights- #2 Manon Fiorot (12-2, 7-1 UFC) vs. #5 Jasmine Jasudavicius (14-3, 8-2 UFC)
> Bantamweights- #7 Marlon Vera (23-10-1, 15-9 UFC) vs. #9 Aiemann Zahabi (13-2, 7-2 UFC)
> Welterweights- #15 Kevin Holland (28-14 1 NC, 15-11 1 NC UFC) vs. Mike Malott (12-2-1, 5-1 UFC)
> Middleweights- #4 Reinier de Ridder (21-2, 4-0 UFC) vs. #9 Brendan Allen (25-7, 13-4 UFC)
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