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WASHINGTON – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 7 event, and you can join us for live play-by-play and official results beginning at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT).
The event takes place at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
In the main event, Alistair Overeem (45-17 MMA, 10-6 UFC) takes on Jairzinho Rozenstruik (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in a heavyweight fight. In the co-feature, Cynthia Calvillo (8-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) meets Marina Rodriguez (12-0-1 MMA, 2-0-1 UFC) in a catchweight bout (Calvillo missed the women’s strawweight limit by 4.5 pounds).
Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 5:45 p.m. ET for the UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+ early prelims, 7 p.m. ET for the prelims on ESPN, and 9 p.m. ET for the main card on ESPN.
To discuss the show, be sure to check out our UFC on ESPN 7 discussion thread. You can also get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site reporter Mike Bohn (@mikebohnmma) on Twitter.
Enjoy the fights, everyone.
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Current fight
Jacob Kilburn vs. Billy Quarantillo
Round 1 –
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Records: Jacob Kilburn (8-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Billy Quarantillo (12-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee:
Judging:
Results
Makhmud Muradov vs. Trevor Smith
Round 1 – Smith takes the center to start the fight, with Muradov bouncing lightly on the outside, moving side to side. Muradov looking to jab and slip, while Smith looking to counter from the middle and lands a low kick. Smith leaps forward with a left that misses. Punches being traded, with Muradov looking to set up the jab. Smith lands with a low kick to the groin, and we take a break. Smith apologizes following a quick restart. Muradov continues to shift side to side, looking for angles. Jab pumping out, and a quick right comes behind it. Muradov looks very comfortable on the feet. Smith standing firm in the pocket, but he’s a step behind right now. Muradov working on the outside but the busier man and setting the tone. He lands a right hand over the top. Smith firing but has a little more loop in his shots. He lands a kick to the body in the final minute. He’s gritty, but Muradov finding the mark a bit more often. MMA Junkie gives the first to Muradov, 10-9.
Round 2 – Smith still again in the middle, but Muradov slick and fast on the outside. He’s landing the quick jab and setting up other shots behind them, including a right to the body. Right hand lands over the top. Still, Smith moving forward, and he lands with a big right hand of his own. Smith whiffs on a homerun blow. Muradov continues to stick and move. Right hand scores. Smith counters with a low kick, but he’s not adding shots together. They trade left hands. Muradov working jabs as he moves. Smith trying to make it ugly on the feet, but he’s not looking for a takedown so far. Little more than a minute left. Muradov with a nice right to the body. He’s so quick and accurate. Smith durable and not backing down, and he does move into a clinch, but nothing there. Muradov just too quick. He lands a late knockdown and jumps on the back, looking for the choke. He’s in position, but the bell sounds. MMA Junkie gives it again to Muradov, 10-9.
Round 3 – Smith looking to push the pace to start the third. He rushes forward and fires big punches, but Muradov able to slip back out to the center. Muradov remains content to work with his back against the cage, but his punches are first to the mark. Muradov with a big shot to the body, and he smiles, knowing he hurt his opponent. Still, Smith very durable, and he recovers and is looking to engage. Straight punches landing for Muradov. Smith staggers a bit, but he’s trying like mad to make something happen. Still, it’s one-way traffic, for the most part. No one will ever doubt Smith’s toughness. He’s taking some serious punches and wearing them very well. Big right lands for Muradov. He’s pushing until the end. Another dig to the body, and then the big right up top. Vicious blow as Smith’s hands dropped, and he’s out cold from the shot on the chin. Brutal.
Result: Makhmud Muradov def. Trevor Smith via knockout (punch) – Round 3, 4:09
Recap: Makhmud Muradov sends Trevor Smith’s mouthpiece flying with brutal knockout
Photos: Makhmud Muradov vs. Trevor Smith photos
Records: Makhmud Muradov (24-6 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Trevor Smith (15-10 MMA, 5-7 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+
Referee: Kevin Mulhall
Virna Jandiroba vs. Mallory Martin
Round 1 – Martin works to the center, and they trade punches quickly. Jandiroba backs away and changes levels, driving froward and scoring the takedown. Martin grabs the guillotine as she falls back, holding the neck on the right side. Martin only in half-guard, and she can’t get the pressure she needs to finish. Jandiroba looking to move past the legs, and Martin still holding the neck. No pressure, and Martin finally lets it go. She waited too long, and Jandiroba immediately keeps the right arm in as she sets up an arm-triangle choke. Martin folds her body back and is surviving, and Jandiroba finally lets it go. Wow. Tense moments, and they scramble back to the feet and restart. Martin presses into the clinch, and they work against the cage. Martin tries to change levels, but the takedown isn’t there. Jandiroba grabs a Thai clinch and lands a few big knees to the body. Martin pulls away. She’s gritty, and she’s landing some punches while on the feet. Jandiroba again changes levels and gets the takedown, but Martin again is holding on to the guillotine. It’s just not there, and Jandiroba pops her head out. Jandiroba finishes on top, and MMA Junkie gives her the round, 10-9.
Round 2 – Martin again looking to be aggressive on the feet, but Jandiroba changes levels and immediately has the takedown. She slips around to the back on a scramble. Hooks are in, and Jandiroba is on her own back. Right arm is under the neck. Martin trying to battle the hands, but Jandiroba doing a good job of tucking them behind the head. Martin refusing to go away easy, but this choke is clearly in place. Just before she goes to sleep, Martin taps.
Result: Virna Jandiroba def. Mallory Martin via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:16
Photos: Virna Jandiroba vs. Mallory Martin photos
Records: Virna Jandiroba (15-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Mallory Martin (6-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight
Rankings: Jandiroba No. 11
Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+
Referee: Keith Peterson
Joe Solecki vs. Matt Wiman
Round 1 – Solecki holds the center to start and kicks low. Wiman does the same in reply, but Solecki immediately changes levels and drives through for the takedown. Wiman with full guard underneath. Wiman tries briefly to scramble, sitting up and reaching to his right, but Solecki advances into half-guard and postures up and looks to punch. Wiman alertly moving underneath, but he’s struggling underneath to really get anything going. Wiman trying to scramble, but Solecki sneaks around to the back and starts punching away. He looks for the choke, punching as he does. Wiman tough and survives the damage tripodding up and trying to escape. He nearly does, but Solecki resets the hook as they fall back to the floor. Solecki still on top and just banging away. Wiman trying to cover, and he is moving, but Solecki is just firing punches after punch. Wiman refusing to go away. Tough as nails, and he survives until bell. MMA Junkie gives the round to Solecki, 10-8.
Round 2 – Wiman looking to make something happen, and he fires out a big right hand. Solecki tries to change levels, and Wiman grabs the guillotine as he falls. It looks briefly threatening, but Solecki pops his head out shortly after. Wiman now holding guard. It’s closed, and Solecki stands up and looks to break it. He can’t quite get past the legs. Solecki trying to punch from inside his opponent’s guard, but it looks like he’s slowing a little bit. Solecki again stands but can’t get past the guard. Wiman is offering very little in terms of countering, but he’s not taking nearly as much damage as did in the first. Solecki backs away with a little more than a minute remaining. Wiman in the middle, and he wants to strike. He drops his hands and asks for some engagement. He rifles off a few punches. Solecki changes levels and shoots forward. He gets the takedown. Wiman again tries to grab a guillotine as they fall, but it’s not there. Round ends, and MMA Junkie gives it to Solecki, 10-9.
Round 3 – Wiman flat-footed in the center, hoping to strike. Still, Solecki isn’t going to be teased into playing that game. He changes levels and brings the fight to the floor, again pulling free from a guillotine with relative ease and taking the top. Solecki punching when he can, but Wiman is doing a decent job of minimizing the damage. Solecki does posture up and lands a few big left hands. Wiman certainly frustrated, stuck on his back. He’s trying to scramble, but Solecki is just in absolute control on top. Wiman really not trying to get back to his feet. He knows he’s stuck. He’s trying to keep the damage to a minimum. Solecki able to slip to the back and get both hooks in place. Less than a minute remains. Wiman holding the arms and defending well, but there is no offense at all. Solecki pushing until the end, trying for the finish. Wiman’s frustration coming through at the end as he starts jawing in the final seconds. Still, this fight is one-sided. MMA Junkie gives the final round to Solecki, 10-8, and awards him the fight, 30-25.
Result: Joe Solecki def. Matt Wiman via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
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Records: Joe Solecki (9-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Matt Wiman (16-9 MMA, 10-7 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee: Fernando Yamasaki
Judging:
Bryce Mitchell vs. Matt Sayles
Round 1 – Mitchell pushes forward and fires a side kick to the body. He slips under a huge right hand from Sayles and then slips inside and drives the action to the canvas. Great timing. Mitchell in side control. He’s controlling well and looking for opportunities to advance. He postures up and steps over to mount. Sayles switches to his side and looks for an opportunity to escape, but Mitchell counters and adjusts and is right back to mount. Nice control from the top. Sayles staying active and looking for any potential to counter, but Mitchell with a slick little adjustment that nearly sees him take the back before adjusting again and setting back up in mount. Sayles turns again, but Mitchell takes the back. Mitchell setting up a twister. It’s telegraphed, but he’s got the legs locked in place. He works on the upper body, and yes, it’s there. Slick work. He makes the adjustment and gets the finish via the rare submission. Fantastic finish.
Result: Bryce Mitchell def. Matt Sayles via submission (twister) – Round 1, 4:20
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Records: Bryce Mitchell (12-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC), Matt Sayles (8-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee: Dan Miragliotta
Thiago Alves vs. Tim Means
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Records: Thiago Alves (23-14 MMA, 15-11 UFC), Tim Means (28-11-1 MMA, 10-8 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN
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Rob Font vs. Ricky Simon
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Records: Rob Font (16-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC), Ricky Simon (15-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN
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Cody Stamann vs. Song Yadong
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Records: Cody Stamann (18-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Song Yadong (15-4 MMA, 4-0 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: Stamann No. 11
Broadcast: ESPN
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Yana Kunitskaya vs. Aspen Ladd
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Records: Yana Kunitskaya (12-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Aspen Ladd (8-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC)
Division: Women’s bantamweight
Rankings: Ladd No. 4, Kunitskaya No. 11
Broadcast: ESPN
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Ben Rothwell vs. Stefan Struve
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Records: Ben Rothwell (36-12 MMA, 6-6 UFC), Stefan Struve (29-11 MMA, 13-9 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN
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Cynthia Calvillo vs. Marina Rodriguez
Round 1 –
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Records: Cynthia Calvillo (8-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC), Marina Rodriguez (12-0-1 MMA, 2-0-1 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight (Calvillo missed the women’s strawweight limit by 4.5 pounds)
Rankings: Calvillo No. 8, Rodriguez No. 12
Broadcast: ESPN
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Alistair Overeem vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Round 1 –
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Records: Alistair Overeem (45-17 MMA, 10-6 UFC), Jairzinho Rozenstruik (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Rankings: Overeem No. 8, Rozenstruik honorable mention
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee:
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