ABU DHABI – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 14 event, and you can join us for live play-by-play and official results.
The event takes place at Flash Forum on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The entire card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
In the main event, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker takes on Darren Till in a pivotal matchup for the division. And in the co-headliner, Mauricio Rua takes on Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in a trilogy bout.
To discuss the show, be sure to check out our UFC on ESPN 14 discussion thread. You can also get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site reporter John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) on Twitter.
Enjoy the fights, everyone.
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Current Fight
Round 1 – Herbert comes out with a lot of movement. Trinaldo is really protecting his right side with his hands. Herbert lands a good combination. Trinaldo responds with a hard body kick. That hurt. Trinaldo is pressing the action – and lands a nice combination. Trinaldo ties up Herbert against the fence and takes him down. After a brief period on the ground, Herbert starts standing up and Trinaldo snatches his neck. After a brief guillotine choke attempt. Herbert gets up and reverses the clinch position on Trinaldo. Moments later, Trinaldo regains a dominant position and dumps Herbert to the mat. Trinaldo briefly threatens a rear-naked choke but Herbert lays down on the mat. Trinaldo lands some ground-and-pound before Herbert shoves him off. Herbert once again tries to get to his feet. After a brief struggle, Herbert gets up. They break and Herbert pushes Trinaldo against the fence. Herbert lands a hard knee to the face. Trinaldo responds with a hard punch. The two fighters separate, tie up, and Herbert drags Trinaldo to the mat. The round ends. 10-9 Trinaldo.
Result:
Records: Jai Herbert (10-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Francisco Trinaldo (25-7 MMA, 15-6 UFC)
Division:
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee:
Judging:
Results
Round 1 – A touch of gloves and the final UFC Fight Island bout (for now) is underway. Castaneda comes out aggressive, landing leg kicks and punches. The UFC debutant is wasting no – moving forward, forward, forward. Wood resets and lands a nice combination of his own. Wood lands a push kick to the stomach. Castaneda sem-catches the kick and shoves Wood’s foot aside. Castaneda continues pushing forward. Wood lands a combination. A left hand gets through for Wood. Castaneda doubles up on leg kicks to Wood’s lead leg. Both fighters are attacking the legs. Wood cracks Castaneda with a hard right hand. Castaneda shakes his head, but Wood lands again. Castaneda grabs hold of Wood. They separate and fire. Castaneda lands a high kick followed by a leg kick. The round ends. 10-9 Wood.
Round 2 – Castaneda continues his aggression at the start of Round 2. Wood jabs. Castaneda misses on a left hand. Wood lands a leg kick. Castaneda lands an overhand left. Wood peppers the lead leg of Castaneda with kicks. Wood lands a kick to the outside of Castaneda’s lead leg. The two fighters tie up and separate. Another leg kick lands for Wood, who follows it up with a two-punch combination. Castaneda is bleeding from above his right eye. Wood shoots for a takedown. Castaneda’s butt hits the mat but he springs back up. Wood still has a hold of Castaneda and presses him against the fence. Castaneda scoots out and Wood lands a loud leg kick. Castaneda lands a punch. Wood doubles up on his jab but Castaneda answers with a left hand. Another hard leg kick lands for Wood. Castaneda counters with a hard right hand. 20-18 Wood.
Round 3 – Wood lands an outside leg kick. Both fighters start exchanging. Wood finds success with his left hand. Wood rips Castaneda’s body with a punch. Castaneda lands a combination. Wood connects with a left hand. Wood lands a leg kick. Wood grabs hold of Castaneda and breaks with a pair of elbows. Wood misses on a combination. Castaneda also whiffs but follows up misses with a landed leg kick. Castaneda connects with a left hand. Wood answers with a pair of punches. Wood grabs the plum clinch and lands a pair of knees. The output from both of these men through 13 minutes in impressive. Castaneda lands a leg kick and Wood connects with a punch. Wood gets Castaneda down, who pops up. They trade and separate but the round (and the fight) is over. The horn has sounded. 30-27 Wood.
Result: Nathaniel Wood def. John Castaneda via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Records: John Castaneda (17-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Nathaniel Wood (17-4 MMA, 4-1 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee:
Judging:
Round 1 – Stolze comes across the cage quickly. They touch gloves and Stolze lands a leg kick – and another. There’s a lot of movement from Stolze early. Emeev throws a punch and drives right into a takedown. Stolze hits the ground but springs back up and runs out of Emeev’s clutches. Emeev catches a Stolze kick and takes him down. Stolze threatens a triangle but gives it up. Emeev lands an elbow. Stolze scoots backward toward the fence. Emeev is working for a front choke. Emeev switches grips and is trying to drag Stolze to the mat. Stolze stands up and pops his head out. Stolze presses Emeev against the cage. After a bunch of cage-pressing, the two fighters break. Stolze lands a push kick to the midsection. Emeev shoots for a takedown. Stolze pulls down for a guillotine choke. Emeev lands some short body shots and pops his head out of the submission attempt. Now Emeev is in Stolze’s guard. Stolze pushes Emeev off and gets to his feet. Stolze lands a massive knee that appears to stun a takedown-shooting Emeev. Stolze pounces and lands some follow-up shots. Emeev defends and the round ends. Stolze stole it. 10-9 Stolze.
Round 2 – Emeev stumbles early in the fight. I’m not sure if he lost his balance or twisted something. Emeev lands a good combination. He’s finding his range more in this round. The two fighters exchange. Stolze taps Emeev with a leg kick. Emeev connects on a combination while rushing in. Emeev lands a right hand. A hard jab puts Stolze on his back foot for a second. Stolze is looking tired here. Emeev continues to push forward. Stolze switches stances and lands a side kick to Emeev’s midsection. Emeev walks Stolze down and blasts him with a right hand. Stolze hangs tight and circles back toward the center. The round ends. 19-19.
Round 3 – The two fighters clinch and Emeev switches to the back, standing in the clinch. Emeev is trying to drag Stolze down but he can’t. While he’s holding the clinch, Emeev lands a hard knee to the head of Stolze. That one looked like it hurt. Stolze scrambles away and lands a combination. Stolze tries another knee like he did in the first. This time, it doesn’t land as cleanly. Moments later, Stolze gets Emeev down – but only momentarily. Stolze pushes Emeev off. Stolze tries yet another knee as Emeev shoots in for a takedown. This one doesn’t land. Emeev grabs hold and has Stolze tied up against the fence. Emeev switches to the standing back clinch again. Emeev lands a series of knees to the hamstring and head of Stolze – all the while they are still clinched. Stolze drops to his knees, potentially as a defense for the knees to the head. Stolze stands up. Emeev continues to hit Stolze in the midsection with knees. With seconds left in the round, Stolze pulls for a guillotine choke, but he runs out of time. MMA Junkie scores it 29-28 Emeev.
Result: Ramazan Emeev def. Niklas Stolze via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Records: Ramazan Emeev (19-4 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Niklas Stolze (12-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Dan Movahedi
Judging:
Round 1 – Kianzad lands a cracking combination and introduces herself to Correira. Moments later, Correira shoots for a single-leg takedown but Kianzad defends. Kianzad lands a leg kick. Correia connects on a right hand. Kianzad answers. Kianzad tries to clinch but Correia moves away. Kianzad lands but Correia lands with a harder counterpunch. Both fighters land punches. Kianzad pumps the jab. Correia connects on a left hand. Correia rushes in and Kianzad swings her around with the clinch. Correia connects on a combination. Kianzad is utilizing her angles phenomenally thus far. She looks really good all things considered. Correia lands a combination. Kianzad connects on a left hand. Kianzad lands a kick to the midsection. Correia blocks the next kick that Kianzad throws. The 10-second clacker sounds and Correia thinks the round is over! She goes to fist bump Kianzad who cracks her with a hard punch and series of follow-ups. Luckily for Correia, the round ends. Man, that was odd. Jeez. 10-9 Kianzad.
Round 2 – Kianzad connects on a big combination – picking up right where she left off. Correia’s face is swollen. The two fighters engage in close range and Kianzad falls on her back. Correia dives into Kianzad’s full guard. Correira lands some light ground-and-pound and then separates herself from Kianzad. That was another odd decision from Correia. She essentially let Kianzad up. Kianzad goes back to trying to engage Correia in the clinch every time the Brazilian dives in. Kianzad lands a combination. Correia appears to the most tired fighter. Kianzad is rotating around the former title challenger. Kianzad lands a few punches before the round ends. 20-18 Kianzad.
Round 3 – Kianzad pumps the jab at the start of the round. Both fighters land punches simultaneously. Kianzad continues to rotate around Correia. Both fighters appear to have regained some of their energy in between rounds. Kianzad lands a combination followed by a push kick to the stomach. Both fighters let go of their hands and Correia connects on a vicious left hook. Kianzad’s eye is swollen. That was the best strike of the fight for either fighter, in my opinion. Kianzad keeps touching her injured eye, keeping her hand next to it almost as a blocker. Kianzad lands a one-two combination. Correia shoots for a takedown. She briefly gets Kianzad down, but never truly controls her. Kianzad gets up. Both fighters exchange. Both of them are wearing some serious damage. Kianzad lands a combination, but misses on the final punch and flies forward off balance. She remains on her feet. Correia ties up Kianzad against the fence but they separate. With 15 seconds left in the round, Correia gets a takedown on Kianzad. For the remainder of the round, Kianzad ties up Correia’s arms, so no offense is rained down from the top. MMA Junkie scores the fight 30-27 Kianzad.
Result: Pannie Kianzad def. Bethe Correia via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Records: Bethe Correia (11-5-1 MMA, 5-5-1 UFC), Pannie Kianzad (13-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC)
Division: Women’s bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Rich Mitchell
Judging:
Round 1 – Both men circled the octagon to feel out the range. Pessoa launched a spinning wheel kick at Boser, who easily avoided. Boser uses his feints and footwork to get in range and attacks with a leg kick. Pessoa is standing in the center looking to counter as Boser moves in and out. Neither are throwing much, though. Pessoa finally charges with a combination, but Boser avoids and lands another leg kick. The pace of the fight continues to be the same. Pessoa struggles to connect clean on Boser, who is an active moving target and getting out of the way. Boser piles up more leg kicks, and takes the first round 10-9 on the MMA Junkie scorecard.
Round 2 – Boser goes back to his game plan to start the second round, connecting with a leg kick just seconds into. Pessoa starts to find his timing a bit, though, and tags Boser with a solid combination. Pessoa shoots for a takedown, but Boser shucks it off and uses foot movement to get out of range. Boser steps into the pocket and land a hard right hand then a left moments after. Pessoa is looking somewhat lost and just then Boser blasts Pessoa with a right hand. Pessoa immediately reacts and starts holding his eye. He falls to the ground and covers up, allowing Boser to jump in and land some follow-up punches that force referee Herb Dean to step in for the first finish of the night.
Result: Tanner Boser def. Raphael Pessoa via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:36
Records: Tanner Boser (19-6-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Raphael Pessoa (10-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Round 1 – The fight opens with a feeling out process between both sides. They exchanges some kicks and feelers with the hands, but no one commits heavy. Grundy initiates the first grappling situation around one minute in and nearly gets top positions. Evloev keeps patient while trapped in a front headlock then spins free and out of Grundy’s grip. Only a few seconds pass on the feet before Grundy shoots for another takedown, though, and managed to get a much better position from on top. He quickly locks in a D’Arce choke and it looks incredibly deep. Evloev winces, but he somehow spins out of danger and gets back to the feet. Evloev starts to pressure Grundy with his stand up and finds a home for some solid punches. Grundy looks hurt briefly and is backing up, which allows Evloev to strike more. Grundy looks very uncomfortable int he stand up, and Evloev senses it. Grundy gets a late takedown, but he can’t do anything with it. MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, favoring Evloev’s damage over Grundy’s grappling.
Round 2 – Grundy is looking to get the fight back on the mat in the early moments of the second frame. He is able to get ahold of Evloev, but fails to keep him on the canvas. Evloev knows what his opponent is trying to do and has the confidence to get back up, so he starts to let the hands go. Evloev’s jab is causing Grundy to react nearly every time, and Grundy is trying to answer back with big haymakers. Grundy is landing almost nothing at range, though, and Evloev tags him with a nasty one-two combination. Grundy dives for another takedown, but it’s stopped again. Evloev lands another jab and keep control of his striking to close the round with momentum on his side. MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 again for Evloev.
Round 3 – Grundy’s right eye is showing a lot of damage to begin the final round, and Evloev sees blood in the water. He mixed up his striking against a defensive Grundy, who is still looking to level change and shoot for takedowns. He finally gets one roughly two minutes in, but Evloev knows exactly how to stand up. He grabs the wrists and scrambles free and back into striking range. Evloev touches Grundy with a stepping knee and a solid uppercut a few seconds later. Evloev overcommits and gets himself taken down again, but it’s just a matter of seconds before he stands back up and takes control in the clinch. They break soon after, and Evloev continues to pepper Grundy with punches and kicks over the final minute to close out an obvious winning performance. MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Evloev, giving him a w 30-27 win overall.
Result: Movsar Evloev def. Mike Grundy via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Records: Movsar Evloev (13-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC), Mike Grundy (12-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee: Marc Goddard
Judging:
Round 1 – Collier shows off his athleticism but misses on a high kick. The two fighters exchange. Collier is getting aggressive. Collier throws a punch and Aspinall counters with a knee to the midsection. Two follow-up punches by Aspinall floors Collier. That’s it. A quick stoppage debut by Tom Aspinall.
Result: Tom Aspinall def. Jake Collier via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:45
Records: Tom Aspinall (8-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Jake Collier (11-5 MMA, 3-4 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Dan Movahedi
Round 1 – No touch of gloves and the two fighters exchange kicks. Dalby lands a combination and follows it up with a body kick. There’s a massive, visible size difference. Dalby is much larger. Dalby is coming forward with a very kick-heavy attack. He’s utilizing his kicks to keep Ronson at bay. Ronson lands a hard kick of his own. Dalby jumps in and grabs hold of the plum clinch. He backs Ronson up against the cage and switches from the clinch to a takedown attempt. Ronson fends Dalby off and rotates him around. The two fighters return to trading in the center of the cage. Ronson lands a straight left hand which floors Dalby. Ronson pounces and mounts Dalby. After a couple elbows, Dalby gives up his back. Ronson sees an opportunity and sinks in the rear-naked choke. Dalby taps. What a UFC return for Jesse Ronson after going 0-3 in his first stint.
Result: Jesse Ronson def. Nicolas Dalby via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:48
Records: Nicolas Dalby (18-4-1 MMA, 2-3-1 UFC), Jesse Ronson (22-10 MMA, 1-3 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Marc Goddard
Round 1 –
Result:
Records: Alex Oliveira (21-8-1 MMA, 10-6-1 UFC), Peter Sobotta (17-6-1 MMA, 4-5 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee:
Judging:
Round 1 –
Result:
Records: Gadzhimurad Antigulov (20-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC), Paul Craig (12-4-1 MMA, 4-4-1 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee:
Judging:
Round 1 –
Result:
Records: Carla Esparza (16-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC), Marina Rodriguez (12-0-2 MMA, 2-0-2 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee:
Judging:
Round 1 –
Result:
Records: Alexander Gustafsson (18-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC), Fabricio Werdum (23-9-1 MMA, 11-6 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee:
Judging:
Round 1 –
Result:
Records: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (23-9 MMA, 10-9-1 UFC), Mauricio Rua (26-11-1 MMA, 6-6 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee:
Judging:
Round 1 –
Result:
Records: Robert Whittaker (20-5 MMA, 11-3 UFC), Darren Till (18-2-1 MMA, 6-2-1 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
Referee:
Judging: