JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Saturday’s UFC 261 event, and you can join us for live play-by-play and official results beginning at 6:15 p.m. ET (3:15 p.m. PT).
UFC 261 takes place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
In the main event, welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (18-1 MMA, 13-0 UFC) takes on Jorge Masvidal (35-14 MMA, 12-7 UFC) in a rematch. In the co-feature, women’s strawweight champ Zhang Weili (21-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) meets former titleholder Rose Namajunas (9-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC). And women’s flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko (20-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) fights former 115-pound champ Jessica Andrade (21-8 MMA, 12-6 UFC) in a third title fight.
Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 6 p.m. ET for the early prelims on ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET for the prelims on ESPN, and 10 p.m. ET for the main card on pay-per-view.
To discuss the show, be sure to check out our UFC 261 discussion thread. You can also get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site reporters John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn), Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) and Ken Hathaway (@kenshathaway) on Twitter.
Enjoy the fights, everyone.
Place legal, online bets on today’s fights in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA, WV at BetMGM Sportsbook. New customer offer: Risk-free first bet. Bet now! Please gamble responsibly.
Ariane Carnelossi vs. Na Liang
Round 1 –
BetMGM Odds: Carnelossi -225, Liang +180
Result:
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Records: Ariane Carnelossi (12-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Na Liang (15-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee:
Judging:
Qileng Aori vs. Jeffrey Molina
Round 1 –
BetMGM Odds: Aori -110, Molina -110
Result:
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Records: Qileng Aori (18-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Jeffrey Molina (8-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee:
Judging:
Kazula Vargas vs. Rong Zhu
Round 1 –
BetMGM Odds: Zhu -250, Vargas +200
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Records: Kazula Vargas (11-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC), Rong Zhu (17-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
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Judging:
Danaa Batgerel vs. Kevin Natividad
Round 1 –
BetMGM Odds: Batgerel -190, Natividad +160
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Records: Danaa Batgerel (8-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Kevin Natividad (9-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
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Judging:
Tristan Connelly vs. Pat Sabatini
Round 1 –
BetMGM Odds: Sabatini -250, Connelly +210
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Records: Tristan Connelly (14-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Pat Sabatini (13-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee:
Judging:
Brendan Allen vs. Karl Roberson
Round 1 –
BetMGM Odds: Allen -160, Roberson +135
Result:
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Records: Brendan Allen (15-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Karl Roberson (9-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN
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Judging:
Dwight Grant vs. Stefan Sekulic
Round 1 –
BetMGM Odds: Grant -225, Sekulic +185
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Records: Dwight Grant (10-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC), Stefan Sekulic (12-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee:
Judging:
Randy Brown vs. Alex Oliveira
Round 1 –
BetMGM Odds: Brown -155, Oliveira +130
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Records: Randy Brown (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC), Alex Oliveira (22-9-1 MMA, 11-7 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee:
Judging:
Jimmy Crute vs. Anthony Smith
Round 1 –
BetMGM Odds: Crute -200, Smith +165
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Records: Jimmy Crute (12-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Anthony Smith (34-16 MMA, 9-6 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
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Judging:
Uriah Hall vs. Chris Weidman
Round 1 –
BetMGM Odds: Weidman -125, Hall +105
Result:
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Records: Uriah Hall (16-9 MMA, 9-7 UFC), Chris Weidman (15-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee:
Judging:
Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Andrade
Round 1 –
BetMGM Odds: Shevchenko -500, Andrade +350
Result:
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Records: Valentina Shevchenko (20-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC), Jessica Andrade (21-8 MMA, 12-6 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee:
Judging:
Zhang Weili vs. Rose Namajunas
Round 1 –
BetMGM Odds: Weili -200, Namajunas +170
Result:
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Records: Zhang Weili (21-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC), Rose Namajunas (9-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee:
Judging:
Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal
Round 1 –
BetMGM Odds: Usman -400, Masvidal +310
Result:
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Records: Kamaru Usman (18-1 MMA, 13-0 UFC), Jorge Masvidal (35-14 MMA, 12-7 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee:
Judging: