UFC 273 LIVE results: Volkanovski vs Korean Zombie latest updates
Re-live updates from a stacked card, where two title fights followed Khamzat Chimaev vs Gilbert Burns
Rising star Khamzat Chimaev stayed unbeaten with a split-decision win against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 on Saturday.
Chimaev (11-0) had won his previous 10 fights via finish, absorbing just one significant strike across four UFC bouts prior to his welterweight meeting with former title challenger Burns in Jacksonville, Florida. And, while the Russian-born Swede lived up to the hype in beating the No 2-ranked 170lbs fighter in the UFC, he did not run through Burns (20-5) as some had predicted. Both men dropped one another and took each other down in a wildly entertaining fight that had the fans captivated from start to finish, with Chimaev, 28, eventually edging past the Brazilian via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28).
After that highly-anticipated bout, the co-main event saw Aljamain Sterling unify the men’s bantamweight belts against Petr Yan. Jamaican-American Sterling won the title from Yan last year when the Russian was disqualified for landing an illegal knee in a fight that he looked on course to win. Yan (16-3) went on to win the interim belt late last year while Sterling (21-3) recovered from neck surgery, and their rematch at UFC 273 was fuelled by bad blood.
Many fans expected Yan to ease past Sterling, but a highly-competitive fight saw Sterling dominate his rival on the canvas in the second and third rounds, before the Russian came on strong in the final two frames – as he so often does. It all came down to a close first round, and Sterling got the nod 48-47, 47-48, 48-47. In the main event, Alexander Volkanovski put on a clinic to retain the men’s featherweight title, stopping the “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung in the fourth round as referee Herb Dean stepped in with the challenger out on his feet.
Australian Volkanovski (24-1) had dropped Sung Jung (17-7) numerous times throughout the contest, proving too fast and slick for the 35-year-old veteran. Re-live updates from the UFC 273 main card and prelims, below.
UFC 273 LIVE
Full report here:
Khamzat Chimaev edges brutal clash with Gilbert Burns at UFC 273
Chimaev stayed unbeaten with the split-decision win, before two title fights played out in Jacksonville
UFC 273 LIVE
Zombie is tearful. He hints that he’ll consider whether or not to fight again.
UFC 273 LIVE
Zombie: “I felt like I hit a wall that I could not get over.”
UFC 273 LIVE
Volkanovski: “He actually took a bit more than I wanted to, I started to feel bad, I think they could’ve stopped it sooner.
“I’m not the most athletically gifted guy. It’s drive.”
UFC 273 LIVE
Alexander Volkanovski def. Chan Sung Jung via fourth-round TKO (0:45, punches).
UFC 273 LIVE
Round 4
Volkanovski lands a clean one-two that stuns Zombie, then another one-two!
Referee Herb Dean steps in and stops the fight with Zombie still standing!
It’s all over.
UFC 273 LIVE
Round 3
Zombie comes forward with a flurry of decent strikes, but Volkanovski seems to be okay...
The champion times a takedown well and gets Zombie to the mat against the fence.
Zombie fights back to his feet but is dropped late in the round!
UFC 273 LIVE
Round 2
The featherweights trade leg kicks. Volk half-drops Zombie with a lead left hook on the counter.
He drops the challenger again, this time with a harsh right hand! Some clean punches from Volk with Zombie on the mat, but Sung Jung is able to recover and stand...
Good trip now by Volk, who seals another dominant round.
UFC 273 LIVE
Round 1
Chants of “Zombie” from the crowd. Volkanovski lands a left hand, then a low kick. Now a body kick.
Nice counter left from Volkanovski during a fast exchange. He’s the faster and more accurate fighter so far. He’s catching Zombie on the end of jabs.
Zombie’s face is bloodied already. Volk switches stances. He wobbles Zombie slightly with a right overhand...
The champion easily secures a takedown against the fence, but Zombie stands quickly.
Volk drops Zombie with a counter punch, then a low kick. A great first round for the champion.
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