The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to the Big Apple this weekend for UFC 223. The event has gone through a whirlwind of a week, with three changes in the main event leading up to Saturday night’s show at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Initially, the main event was supposed to be a showdown between interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson and undefeated contender Khabib Nurmagomedov. However, Ferguson suffered a freak injury and was pulled from the card.
That led to featherweight champion Max Holloway stepping in on short notice to save the card. Unfortunately, on the day of weigh-ins, Holloway was deemed medically unfit to fight by the New York State Athletic Commission giving Nurmagomedov his third opponent for Saturday, Al Iaquinta, a New York native on a five-fight winning streak.
Those were hardly the only shakeups on the card, too.
After a tirade from Conor McGregor on Media Day, two fighters were injured and forced to pull from their bouts. Michael Chiesa withdrew from his bout with Anthony Pettis after suffering multiple facial lacerations when McGregor threw a dolly through the window of the fighter bus. Borg pulled out of his bout with Brandon Moreno after getting glass fragments in his eye, and Artem Lobov vs. Alex Caceres was scrapped due to Lobov’s involvement with McGregor’s attack, which landed the Irishman behind bars.
But despite all of the fight week drama, we have made it to Saturday and everyone is ready for the fighters to make their way to the cage and for the action to get underway.
Don’t waste another second! The full results and video highlights from Saturday’s pay-per-view can be seen below.
UFC 223: Fight Time & Viewing Details
Event: UFC 223: Nurmagomedov vs. Iaquinta
Date: Saturday, April 7, 2018
Location: Brooklyn New York
Venue: Barclays Center
Pay-Per-View Card Time: 10:00 P.M. EST
Broadcast: FOX Sports 1, Pay-per-view
Live Stream: Stream 1 (Prelims) | Stream 2 (PPV) | Stream 3 (PPV)
UFC 223 Results & Highlights
Main Card (10:00 p.m. ET, Pay-per-view)
Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Al Iaquinta via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-43, 50-43) – for the lightweight championship
Iaquinta took the center of the cage early and was not allowing Nurmagomedov to control the cage. However, Nurmagomedov eventually shot for a low single and was able to plant Iaquinta on his back. Nurmagomedov wasted no time going for Iaquinta’s back, but the New York native was able to find his way back to his feet. Nurmagomedov immediately got Iaquinta back to the mat and was pressuring his opponent up against the fence in dominant position. Nurmagomedov continued mauling Iaquinta while raining down his feared ground-and-pound.
After missing on his first takedown attempt, Nurmagomedov was able to latch on to Iaquinta’s leg and got the fight right back to the back. Nurmagomedov transitioned to Iaquinta’s back and continued to ride the dominant position while sucking the energy out of his opponent. The undefeated challenger sunk both hooks in and began fishing for Iaquinta’s neck. Nurmagomedov flattened Iaquinta out and began throwing heavy shots while Iaquinta desperately searched for a way out.
Nurmagomedov was more willing to strike in the third round and was trading back in forth, which led to Iaquinta landing his cleanest shot of the fight. Nurmagomedov was finding a home for his jab, however, which left Iaquinta’s nose bloodied. But Iaquinta was not ready to stand down and continued throwing heavy leather.
Nurmagomedov continued to show a willingness to stand rather than to get the fight back to the mat where he was having the most success. But midway through the round, he attempted a shot but Iaquinta escaped for the third straight time. Iaquinta had his best moment of the fight when he attempted a takedown of his own, before landing a heavy punch as Khabib moved to separate.
Nurmagomedov shot for an immediate takedown to start the final frame but again came up short. Iaquinta responded with a heavy rip to the body and left hand, before unloading a strong uppercut looking to finish the fight. Nurmagomedov was clearly exhausted and was putting himself in danger by leaving every exchange with his chin in the air. Once he missed the takedown attempt, Nurmagomedov upped his aggression and unleashed a flurry that damaged Iaquinta’s left eye and allowed the fight to return to his comfort zone on the mat. Now that the fight was back on the mat, Nurmagomedov poured it on and held dominant position until the final bell.
Rose Namajunas def. Joanna Jedrzejczyk via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) – for the women’s strawweight championship
There was plenty of tension and excitement in the building as the co-main event kicked off, with Jedrzejczyk showing quick movement to bounce in and out of the pocket, while Namajunas came out with her usual calm, collected approach. Namajunas began to throw more volume as the round reached its midway point and was beginning to land her right hand. In the final ten seconds, both women landed a heavy shot that buckled their opponent before the bell.
Namajunas was playing an incredible game from the outside, jumping in and out to clip Jedrzejczyk before sliding out of danger. Namajunas was getting comfortable and throwing her combinations with ease, while Jedrzejczyk continued struggling to find her offensive groove. After every exchange, Namajunas was landing a left hook on the way out.
Namajunas opened up Round 3 by coming over the top with a big right hand that sent Jedrzejczyk backward. Despite a slow start, Jedrzejczyk continued to come forward and was focusing on attacking the lead leg of Namajunas. As she began incorporating her kicks, the former titleholder appeared to be gaining her confidence. The leg kicks were noticeably slowing Namajunas down and Jedrzejczyk’s full offense was coming together.
Jedrzejczyk kept the offensive firepower coming to start Round 4, while Namajunas was able to land an overhand left that briefly stifled the attack. The champion’s movement was obviously giving her problems, however, as the leg kicks kept flying. Jedrzejczyk began smiling as she came into her rhythm and appeared to feel the momentum in her favor.
To open the final round, Namajunas brought the same energy she had in the first two rounds and unleashed a flurry that was connecting. Both women were swinging for a finish, knowing they needed to win Round 5 to get the win. It was an incredibly close fight that was five rounds of a standup war, but it was Jedrzejczyk who was wearing the more visible damage. With just 30 seconds left in the fight, Namajunas was able to secure a quick takedown that may have been enough to secure the win. It headed to the judges as the two women embraced to share their respect.
Renato Moicano def. Calvin Kattar via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Both men were patient out of the gate as they were feeling out their opponents. After 90 seconds, Kattar unleashed a huge shot that rocked Moicano. However, the Brazilian was able to quickly recover. The two men returned to the center of the cage as they looked to establish their preferred pace. Moicano was attempting to keep a distance and began chopping away at Kattar’s leg with some inside leg kicks. As Moicano was chopping away with his kicks, he began finding more openings for his hands.
In Round 2, Moicano continued chopping away at his opponent’s legs while Kattar struggled to find his base and get behind his punches.
Moicano continued to roll in the final round, with Kattar’s nose busted up. Kattar’s movement was severely limited after the assault on his inside leg and Moicano was able to slide out of danger and easily counter. Moicano was turning up his output as the final frame wound down, mixing in beautiful combinations and finding a home for his uppercut. Moicano was able to ride out the round as he continued his striking clinic until the closing bell.
Zabit Magomedsharipov def. Kyle Bochniak via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Magomedsharipov had a long reach advantage and was making no secret that he wanted to fight on the outside. Magomedsharipov cracked Bochniak with a left hook early and was keeping calm as his opponent was trying to push the pace. Magomedsharipov was showcasing his flashy style and never appeared concerned about what Bochniak was bringing to the table.
Despite getting cracked by some of Magomedsharipov’s best strikes, Bochniak was not slowing down. Bochniak was eating his opponent’s strikes but began taunting Magomedsharipov from the pocket. Magomedsharipov got the fight to the mat with a brilliant foot sweep.
Bochniak continued to hang tough, but Magomedsharipov shot for a takedown and was able to drag Bochniak to the mat. Magomedsharipov began to slow down as the final round was winding down and Bochniak was pushing forward. Bochniak attempted to unless one final flurry and got right in Magomedsharipov’s face in the final ten seconds as the two men slugged it out in a wild finish until the final bell for a clear contender for Fight of the Night.
According to Ariel Helwani, Magomedsharipov’s spectacular performance came despite a broken hand which he reportedly suffered in the locker room.
Chris Gruetzemacher def. Joe Lauzon via TKO (corner stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00
Lauzon, as he has been known to do, was aggressive out of the gate and instantly looked to push the pace in. Lauzon cracked Gruetzemacher with a heavy shot, but Gruetzemacher was able to stuff the takedown. Lauzon moved to butterfly guard but was unable to complete the sweep. Lauzon attempted to roll for a kneebar before transitioning to a heel hook, but Gruetzemacher escaped. Once the fight returned to the feet, Gruetzemacher was able to land some heavy strikes of his own which made a noticeable impact on Lauzon in the closing seconds of the round.
Gruetzemacher was controlling the bout early in Round 2, with Lauzon’s face swelling and cuts opening as Gruetzemacher mixed up shots to the body and head. Lauzon was not backing down, but he had nothing behind his punches and was noticeably fading.
After Round 2, Lauzon’s corner threw in the towel to bring an end to the fight after an impressive performance from Gruetzemacher which was a decision that was rightfully made.
Preliminary Card (8:00 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1)
Karolina Kowalkiewicz def. Felice Herrig via unanimous decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Kowalkiewicz was finding a home for her right hand early, while Herrig was circling around the canvas and looking to counter the former title contender. Herrig, however, was able to close the distance and engage the clinch where she worked some dirty boxing before Kowalkiewicz broke free. Kowalkiewicz tried to catch Herrig with a rolling kneebar and ended up in guard, before a slick triangle sweep that landed her in top position as the opening frame came to an end.
Kowalkiewicz was dictating the pace in the opening minutes of Round 2, as the two women continued to stand in front of each other and exchange. Kowalkiewicz was mixing knees and elbows into her arsenal as Herrig began to show the damage on her face.
The pace never slowed down, but Herrig was visibly the more exhausted of the two. Kowalkiewicz began to cruise as the round was winding down, while Herrig was unable to mix up her strikes. Herig did crack Kowalkiewicz with a big left with just one minute remaining in the ground, but Herrig failed to capitalize and instead went in for the clinch. The fight ended with both women swinging for the fences as we went to the judges’ scorecards.
Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Evan Dunham via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 0:53
Aubin-Mercier came out with a relentless pace and immediately began pouring punishment on the veteran Dunham. Aubin-Mercier engaged the clinch and threw a left knee right to the liver that caused Dunham to retreat. While pouring on the punishment, Aubin-Mercier drilled Dunham with a second knee to the liver which folded his opponent in half just one minute into the fight.
Ashlee Evans-Smith def. Bec Rawlings via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Rawlings came out looking to push the pace but ran right into Evans-Smith’s right hand. Evans-Smith showed no respect for Rawlings’ power and began chasing her opponent down. Evans-Smith capped off her impressive start with a takedown at the buzzer. The pace slowed in Round 2, but both women remained willing to trade in the pocket. Despite a more even round, Evans-Smith continued to land the more effective punching.
Evans-Smith continued her high output in the final frame while mixing in more kicks to her attack. Despite having more success in the closing minute of the bout, Rawlings appeared to do too little too late as we reached the final bell.
Devin Clark def. Mike Rodriguez via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
It was the promotional debut for Rodriguez, who immediately found himself fighting with his back to the cage as Clark came pushing with the pressure. After a brief stall, referee John McCarthy separated the two fighters and Rodriguez showed off his big power with a leg kick that dropped his opponent to the mat.
Rodriguez tried to show off his explosiveness again with a flying knee, but was countered and put on his back. Clark finished Round 1 in top position, raining down some heavy ground-and-pound. When he had the distance, Rodriguez was able to use his power to put Clark in danger, but Clark used his superior grappling to keep his opponent against the cage, neutralizing his strengths. An exhausted Rodriguez was completely overwhelmed in the final round by Clark and his dominant top position en route to an easy decision win.
UFC 223 Post-Fight Press Conference
