LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 207 event, and you can join us for live play-by-play and official results.
UFC Fight Night 207 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.
Two top 10 heavyweights in the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings face off in the main event, as hard-hitting heavyweight Jairzinho Rozenstruik (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) takes on the towering Russian Alexander Volkov (34-10 MMA, 8-4 UFC). In the co-feature, the undefeated Movsar Evloev (15-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) takes on perhaps his toughest test yet in Dan Ige (15-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC).
To discuss the show, be sure to check out our UFC Fight Night 207 discussion thread. You can also get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site reporter Ken Hathaway (@kenshathaway) on Twitter.
Enjoy the fights, everyone.
JJ Aldrich vs. Erin Blanchfield
Round 1 – All right it’s 9:57 a.m. and the fighters are already walking to the cage. I dig it. Let’s do this more. We’re jumping right into an intriguing bout here, too. One of the most highly-touted women in MMA, Erin Blanchfield is about to battle JJ Aldrich, who called for the matchup before it was made. Blanchfield goes high and then slips. She hits the canvas and pops up. Blanchfield is throwing a lot of kicks and knees to the body early. Even when they land though, Aldrich catches them. She has her timing down well. Blanchfield briefly ties up Aldrich against the fence before the fighters separate. Blanchfield lands a sneaky left hand. Both fighters are leaning into their punches. They unsurprisingly clash heads. Referee Chris Tognoni calls timeout. Both fighters say they’re good and then a clash of heads happens again immediately on the resuming of the round. Aldrich takes down Blanchfield briefly. Blanchfield gets up and lands a body kick before the round ends. 10-9 Aldrich.
Round 2 – Aldrich lands a good combination. Blanchfield needs to work on her striking defense. She’s essentially walking into punches. Blanchfield jabs and then lands a one-two. That was a good combination. Aldrich shoots immediately thereafter. They hit the canvas, but Blanchfield pops up against the fence. Blanchfield grabs hold of Aldrich’s neck and is torquing. The high-elbow guillotine is cranking. I think Aldrich is struggling. Yep. There’s the tap! A nice out-of-nowhere finish from Blanchfield. She remains undefeated in the UFC.
Result: Erin Blanchfield def. JJ Aldrich via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 2:38
Recap: Erin Blanchfield submits JJ Aldrich with standing choke
Records: JJ Aldrich (11-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC), Erin Blanchfield (9-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Andreas Michailidis
Round 1 – Michailidis retreats immediately and Fakhretdinov shoots for a takedown against the fence. Eventually Fakhretdinov dumps Michailidis to the canvas. He’s on Michailidis’ back. Michailidis worked his way up to the feet. Michailidis works his way up. They separate and chuck knuckles. Fakhretdinov grabs hold again. The two fighters tumble to the canvas and transition upward. Fakhretdinov pushing Michailidis against the fence. They remain on the fence until the round ends. 10-9 Fakhretdinov.
Round 2 – Fakhretdinov shoots immediately and gets the taken down. Not much activity here, just Fakhretdinov in Michailidis’ guard. Michailidis can’t get up. That’s what it boils down to. He shifts to his side and then back to guard. Michailidis gets up finally and misses on a whiffing spinning backfist as the round ends. So yeah, not much happened in that round, but it’s clear who won it. 20-18 Fakhretdinov
Round 3 – A hug starts off the round and somewhere Dana White groans. They clinch and Michailidis lands a nice knee on the break. Any momentum that strike built was quickly destroyed. Fakhretdinov dumps him right down. Here we are, once again, staring at Fakhretdinov laying on top of Michailidis. Fakhretdinov lands a few short, annoying punches. Fakhretdinov moves to half guard and cracks Michailidis with a LOUD elbow that draws blood – a lot of it. He is gushing from a gash on the right side of his head. Blood is squirting now. Yikes. Fakhretdinov doesn’t care though. He is working for side control. Michailidis defends the wrist well, but gives up his back. Michailidis gets up. What a tough dude. Fakhretdinov tries to sweep his legs but Michailidis defends. Well, he defended momentarily. Fakhretdinov du,ps him backward and works for a choke. He finishes the fight with a series of punches and a knee as the buzzer sounds. Domination. 30-26 Fakhretdinov.
Result: Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Andreas Michailidis via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
Records: Rinat Fakhretdinov (21-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Andreas Michailidis (14-5 MMA, 1-3 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Judging:
Jeff Molina vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov
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Records: Jeff Molina (10-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Zhalgas Zhumagulov (14-6 MMA, 1-3 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
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Tony Gravely vs. Johnny Munoz
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Records: Tony Gravely (22-7 MMA, 3-2 UFC), Johnny Munoz (11-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
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Benoit Saint Denis vs. Niklas Stolze
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Records: Benoit Saint Denis (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Niklas Stolze (12-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
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Zarrukh Adashev vs. Ode Osbourne
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Records: Zarrukh Adashev (4-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC), Ode Osbourne (10-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
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Daniel Argueta vs. Damon Jackson
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Records: Daniel Argueta (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Damon Jackson (20-4-1 MMA, 3-2-1 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
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Alex Da Silva vs. Joe Solecki
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Records: Alex Da Silva (21-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC), Joe Solecki (11-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
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Felice Herrig vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz
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Records: Felice Herrig (14-9 MMA, 5-4 UFC), Karolina Kowalkiewicz (12-7 MMA, 5-7 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
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Alonzo Menifield vs. Askar Mozharov
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Records: Alonzo Menifield (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC), Askar Mozharov (25-7 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
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Poliana Botelho vs. Karine Silva
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Records: Poliana Botelho (8-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC), Karine Silva (14-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
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Lucas Almeida vs. Michael Trizano
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Records: Lucas Almeida (13-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Michael Trizano (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
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Movsar Evloev vs. Dan Ige
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Records: Movsar Evloev (15-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC), Dan Ige (15-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
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Alexander Volkov vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
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Records: Alexander Volkov (34-10 MMA, 8-4 UFC), Jairzinho Rozenstruik (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
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