Watch the incredible video highlights from UFC 196 last night!
Watch the incredible video highlights from UFC 196 last night!
Fight fans rejoice as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to pay-per-view (PPV) for what is expected to be a thrilling UFC 196 main card TONIGHT (Sat., March 5, 2016) inside MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Featherweight champion Conor McGregor collides with ex-Lightweight title challenger Nate Diaz in a main event contested at 170 pounds. Both McGregor and Diaz have traded words and let their hands go prior to this emotionally-driven headliner, which is sure to produce fireworks.
In the co-main event, we have reigning women's bantamweight champion Holly Holm looking to defend her 135-pound belt for the first time against scrappy wrestler Miesha Tate. Holm's camp thinks this will be light work, while Tate pegs movement as the key to beating "Preacher's Daughter."
But first, fans will be entertained -- or bored -- by a slate of seven "Prelims" tilts, which are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET on Fight Pass, before they cross over to FOX Sports 1 (FS1) for the final four at 8 p.m. ET.
Here are the results recaps for the four "Prelims" bouts scheduled for FS1:
Brandon Thatch vs. Siyar Bahadurzada
After succumbing to the jiu-jitsu abilities of his past two opponents, "Rukus" needed a victory here in a bad way over the Afghani striker Bahadurzada.
Lot of movement from Thatch. Thatch moves in between stances, now in southpaw. Good leg kicks. Minimal output from "The Great" thus far. As I say that, he moves forward, launching the right hook a few times. Thatch getting in and out of striking range nicely, but he's tied up now. Thatch is getting tagged in the clinch. He needs to stay away from that. He scores a takedown later, goes for a choke and now ends up on his back. Thatch is searching for the triangle. Now he's moving towards the fence, looking to wall walk. Bahadurzada steps over and is sitting on the right leg of Thatch. Thatch stands up as the bell sounds. 10-9 Thatch
Big front kick to the face from Thatch, but he gets hurt via a left hand from Bahadurzada, who nabs the takedown. He's now in full guard. Bahadurzada posturing up looking to punish the Coloradoan. Thatch continues to throw his legs up, but he's not really latching onto any submissions. Referee John McCarthy stands them up with 3:00 left. Solid right from Thatch. Thatch pushes forwards, but eats knee and uppercuts in the clinch. The 31-year-old Bahadurzada connecting with elbows and short punches in full guard. Hammerfists now. Thatch is lost. I don't see him winning this fight unless it's by knockout. 19-19 Bahadurzada
Thatch stalking Bahadurzada, who throws wildly. The Jackson-Wink MMA representative tags Thatch, who drops to the mat and his ground assault begins. Hammerfists incoming. Bahadurzada slows down as Thatch recovers. McCarthy stands the two fighters up with 2:45 left in the affair. A depleted Thatch is taken down yet again. Bahadurzada staying busy and racking up the strikes to the body and head. He gets Thatch to tap via an arm-triangle choke moments later.
Result: Siyar Bahadurzada via third-round submission
Erick Silva vs. Nordine Taleb
The Brazilian Silva took on the Canadian-based striker Taleb in a pivotal welterweight exchange for his UFC career.
Taleb is a big man at welterweight. He lands first, but both men are tentative. Silva is keeping a wide base. Big swing and a miss for Silva. Hard body kick for Tristar Gym's Taleb. Taleb is fighting tall and long. Both men are talented, but Silva needs to prove himself. Been very inconsistent so far in his Octagon career. Taleb catches a body kick and gets the takedown, but Silva gets back up. Silva is riled up. Tactical is one thing Silva won't be in this tussle. He's now training with Rafael Cordeiro so that should make a difference. We'll see. Poor takedown attempt from Silva sees him eat a knee from Taleb. 10-9 Taleb
Silva plodding forward. He needs to get his act together. Miranda is getting backed up, but manages to land a straight right hand that stops Silva in his tracks and sends him crashing to the canvas. One more punch for good measure and that's all she wrote.
Taleb improves his overall record to 12-3, while Silva falls to 18-7-1 (NC).
Result: Taleb via second-round TKO
Vitor Miranda vs. Marcelo Guimaraes
Talented Brazilian middleweights went to war as Team Nogueira's Miranda looked to stunt the rise of the well-rounded Guimares.
Miranda uncorks a high kick to begin. Guimaraes moves to obtain the clinch. He's searching for the trip. So far, Miranda's takedown defense looks sturdy. He's muscular, as is Guimaraes. Good scramble by both men. Guimaraes tried to dump Miranda on his back. "Magrao" training at American Top Team now, notes commentator Mike Goldberg. They are separated by the referee. Good jabs for "Lex Luthor." Guimaraes targeting the leg. Big, big left hook connects for Guimaraes as he starts in the clinch once more. Great balance on display by Miranda. Guimaraes now drops for the double leg as Miranda looks to land elbows in defense. It seems like a very similar matchup to the one we witnessed just before this tilt. They are separated again with 30 seconds left. Miranda mixes his combinations up so fluidly; he goes to the head one minute and then the body. Guimaraes scores to the leg. Another tough round to score. 10-9 Miranda
Guimaraes works his way into the clinch, searching for the takedown. Miranda uncorks some elbows, a knee in the clinch, punches and then a huge high kick, causing the referee to halt the fight in round two.
Result: Miranda via second-round TKO
Darren Elkins vs. Chas Skelly
Top-15 featherweight Darren Elkins sought back-to-back victories, which is something he hasn't achieved since 2013, when he faced the upstart "Scrapper" on FS1.
A right hand to the body scores for Skelly. He's pressured into the fence by the wrestler Elkins. One underhook for the Indiana native. Little bit of dirty boxing and knees. He's been training with Team Alpha Male for this fight. Solid shots chipping away at the defense of Elkins, who now is on the move going backwards. Skelly tripped down to the mat by Elkins, who gets caught in a heel hook. He shows smart defense and maneuvers out of it, but he's not out of danger. Skelly keeps targeting the leg of his opponent. Both men make it back to their feet with just over two minutes left. Elkins scores with a good left hook. Nice uppercuts in the clinch by "The Damage." They tangle up in the clinch, both men connecting. Elkins fights his way into the clinch once more and that's where they stall until the bell rings. Tough round to judge. 10-9 Elkins
Elkins gets clubbed rushing in. He's okay. Big right hand for Elkins. He dumps the Texas native Skelly on his back. Skelly attacked with submissions, but Elkins finds his way into the full guard of the former. Hard left hands raining down from Elkins. Skelly needs to get back to his feet. He's a good jiu-jitsu practitioner off of his back and he reminded me in our interview a few weeks back that he would test the top game of Elkins. Skelly gets back to his feet halfway through the round. Elkins still in hot pursuit. The 31-year-old is continuously kneeing the thigh. Back down to the mat. Typical Elkins fight; no frills and constant overwhelming pressure. Elkins is in half guard. Elkins is scoring with big punches. Pure domination by Elkins. 20-17 Elkins
Huge body kick for Elkins, who has Skelly moving backwards. He has officially given up. Elkins brings him down to the mat. Double underhooks in the clinch now. Back to full guard for Elkins. Skelly manages to get back to his feet. Elkins cracks him with a punch. A big slam for Elkins and now he jumps on his back. He sees the opening for a choke, but he abandons it. Skelly pushes forward, leaning on Elkins. He's got no energy. Gotta hand it to Elkins, his style might not be the most entertaining but he just beats guy. There's no other way around it. 30-26 Elkins
Elkins improves his overall record to 20-5, while Skelly drops to 15-2 and sees his four-fight win streak snapped.
Result: Elkins via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-27, 30-26)
For continuous coverage of the entire UFC 196 card, including live updates and play-by-play, click here and here.