UFC 279 LIVE: Diaz vs Ferguson and Chimaev vs Holland fight results tonight
Re-live updates from a drastically-reworked fight card at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena
Nate Diaz exited the UFC with a submission victory on Saturday, beating fellow fan favourite Tony Ferguson in the final fight of his UFC contract.
Diaz had been scheduled to take on the UFC’s fastest-rising star, Khamzat Chimaev, in the main event of UFC 279, but Chimaev weighed in seven-and-a-half pounds over the welterweight limit, causing the card to be drastically reworked. American Diaz ultimately took on compatriot Ferguson, who was originally due to face Li Jingliang. The Chinaman instead fought Daniel Rodriguez, whose original opponent Kevin Holland went up against Chimaev.
Diaz and Chimaev both emerged as submission winners from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with 37-year-old Diaz forcing Ferguson, 38, to tap out to a guillotine choke in the fourth round, after Chimaev had submitted Holland with a D’Arce choke in the co-main event. “I outdid everybody on pay, I outdid everybody on surviving,” Diaz reflected on his UFC career in his post-fight interview. “I wanna get out [of] the UFC for a minute and show all these other fighters how to own up another sport. Then I’m gonna be right back here to get a motherf*****g UFC title.” Re-live updates from UFC 279 below.
UFC 279 LIVE
Tiuliulin vs Pickett – Round 2
That was accidental from Tiuliulin, and his first ‘low blow’ didn’t even appear to land low, but he’s been docked a point!
He’s angry and goes right after Pickett, dropping him with a hard elbow! Tiuliulin isn’t quite able to mount any effective offensive on the canvas, though, and Pickett stands.
Now Tiuliulin drops Pickett with a knee against the fence and launches a series of punches as Pickett shells up! The fight is stopped; Tiuliulin gets the TKO win!
UFC 279 LIVE
Tiuliulin vs Pickett – Round 2
More forward pressure from Tiuliulin. Pickett bursts forward and feints some takedown attempts.
Big elbows land for Tiuliulin in close! His face is marked up from some punches, however.
Again Pickett claims there was a low blow... and this time he’s right. A knee caught him right in the cup!
UFC 279 LIVE
Tiuliulin vs Pickett – Round 1
Tiuliulin is starting to land more right hands, then he throws a body kick that causes Pickett to hit the deck, claiming it was a low blow.
To be honest, it seemed to land above the belt line...
UFC 279 LIVE
Tiuliulin vs Pickett – Round 1
Pickett opens up in a southpaw stance. Tiuliulin comes forward, looking for right straights, but he’s caught with a short left.
A Pickett front kick comes up narrowly short. Lots of circling to the left from Pickett now, before he shoots for a double-leg takedown.
He drives Tiuliulin back to the fence, where Tiuliulin sprawls well to stuff the takedown. The middleweights are back in the open now, and Pickett is being backed up.
A right hand gets through and catches Pickett’s attention!
UFC 279 LIVE
Next up is Denis Tiuliulin vs Jamie Pickett at middleweight.
UFC 279 LIVE
“I’m a turtle shell; you let me get your back, I’m staying there,” Barnett says of the finish.
“I heard y’all cheering me, I felt it, and I love y’all for it,” he tells the T-Mobile Arena crowd. “I’m nothing without y’all.”
UFC 279 LIVE
Chris Barnett def. Jake Collier via second-round TKO (ground strikes, 2:24).
UFC 279 LIVE
Collier vs Barnett – Round 2
Barnett with a clean one-two! Good start to the round for him. Now he puts his head down again and just swings wild straight punches. “Barnett” is the chant in Las Vegas!
Collier tries for a trip, but Barnett sprawls, scrambles behind his opponent and lands heavy punches! Collier appears to be hurt, and Barnett gets to mount and rains down more shots!!
Eventually the referee stops it! Barnett gets the comeback win!
UFC 279 LIVE
The ringside doctor comes in to evaluate Barnett, and tells the heavyweight that he’s okay to continue for now.
Barnett’s mouth is askew, though, and his left eye is swollen shut!
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