UFC 229: Khabib vs McGregor Live Results

Holtzman’s first punch is a big left hook that finds its mark and makes the crowd go “oooooh” but Patrick is still good to go. Both lightweights are throwing out here swinging as Patrick connects with a hook of his own. Holtzman is bringing that heat with every punch, you just get the feeling that if any of these shots connect it could be over. Both fighters land good kicks and some blood is trickling from the left eyebrow of Holtzman. Patrick presses forward but at that exact moment Holtzman hits Patrick with a leg kick that sends him to the ground with Holtzman on top. Good ground and pound from Holtzman as Patrick shows his athleticism with a upkick that nearly connects from the ground as the round ends.

Patrick strikes first in the second but Holtzman gets a good shot of his own in there. Very entertaining fight so far, as Patrick goes for a takedown but Holtzman slips away. Both fighters have been aggressive and have pushed the pace. On the outside of the Octagon Holtzman is able to get ahold of Patrick and take him down and use his ground and pound game to do some damage with big elbows. Patrick just misses with a huge hook. Man these guys are throwing hands. The round ends after a scramble for clinch position.

Before the clock starts Holtzman calls out to Patrick asking to make this fight end with a finish. Gotta love that. On the feet both fighters are finding success until it is Holtzman that lands the big shot putting Patrick on his back. After multiple shots from above Holtzman works into full mount and continues to bring down massive elbows and shots. Just absolutely devastating elbows that end the fight. Insane.

Official result: Holtzman defeated Patrick by KO 3:42 third round.

Right away Lansberg looking very aggressive. The two bantamweight clinch in the center of the Octagon briefly before Kunitskaya uses a leg trip to slam Lansberg to the canvas. Kunitskaya worked some ground and pound but Lansberg was able to make her way to her feet only to have Kunitskaya put her back down on the ground. Kunitskaya landed in side control after the take and used her length to pin Lansberg down as she dropped punches and elbows down to the head and body as the round ended.

Two good front kicks from Kunitskaya to start the second. She also throws a couple body kicks as well. She is definitely being the aggressor here in the second, pushing Lansberg back to the cage and clinching. Lansberg had her best moment of the fight at about the 2:20 mark, catching Kunitskaya with a straight cross that got Kunitskaya’s attention, as well as the crowds. Kunitskaya shook it off and went back to the clinch, utilizing her knees to the body to do damage as both fighters end the round engaged against the fence.

Lansberg with a couple nice punches to start the final frame, including a good overhand right. Kunitskaya goes back to her game plan and pushes Lansberg up against to the fence so she can dictate the pace and keep Lansberg from striking. Kunitskaya takes down Lansberg from the clinch but once again Lansberg gets back up. The urgency picked up in the last minute of the fight as Lansberg has started swinging for it all. But Kunitskaya is able to catch her off balance and secure a take down in the final seconds of the round.

Official result: Kunitskaya (30-27 x 3) defeated Lansberg by Unanimous Decision.

THEY SAID IT:
Yana Kunitskaya : ““I am not happy with my performance but, of course, I am happy to have a dominant victory. My biggest problem thus far in my UFC career has been mental and I am working to build my confidence as I fight more. I want to finish fights, that is my number one goal. After the performance tonight, I hope that the UFC will turn me around quickly for another fight. I would like to fight again in the next few months. My target is to face the winner of Aspen Ladd and Tonya Evinger, so I will be watching their fight closely tonight. I think they are both tough girls and I would love to put on a show with one of them.”

Some nice punches from Lentz early. His striking looked to be timed up perfectly right off the bat. It was a combination of a big cross followed by a nice right hook that stumbled Maynard. The punch hurt Gray but after backing up to the cage Lentz applied some more pressure and big shots. And after a sometime clinched up combined with ground and pound, Maynard is bloodied up. Lentz immediately hurts Maynard with yet another massive right hook. Maynard covers up as Lentz pours it on but yet again Maynard survives. Lentz switches it up and goes for a guillotine but Maynard slips out with Lentz on top laying down a mixture of heavy straight punches and elbows. With less than 40 seconds to go Lentz started landing a flurry of shots as Maynard does his best to avoid damage, he is finally able to get to his feet and ends the round looking very tired from all those blows. All Lentz in that one.

Lentz patient to start the second, but Maynard is aggressive. Connecting on a big shot of his own that momentarily stunned Lentz but Lentz fired back immediately catching Maynard and stunning him. Both lightweights starting swinging for the fences when out of no where Lentz cracked Maynard with a huge head kick that sent Maynard flying in the air. And that is all she wrote on that one. Lentz jumped on top and finished the fight with a couple punches.

Official result: Lentz defeated Maynard by TKO at 1:19 in Round 2.

THEY SAID IT:
Nik Lentz : “I feel amazing. I don’t know what to attribute it to but something has changed inside of me. After I had my second kid, I just felt a change over me. I’m not the same person or fighter that I used to be and I hope everyone took notice of that tonight. I specifically asked to be on this card to knock someone out. They decided to give me a real challenge to complete that task in Gray Maynard and I’m glad that they did. Gray is one of the toughest guys to ever fight in the UFC and I think that beating him is a statement for any fighter. I’ve been in the UFC a long time now and I’ve changed a lot since I was 25-year-old Nik. I didn’t have the confidence, I didn’t have the skills, I wasn’t good enough. I’ve been on long win streaks and lost. Through that, I realized that it’s not just about winning. It’s about putting on a show. It’s about entertaining the fans. Now, with a win like that, I feel confident in saying that I’m the best in the world… No matter who my next opponent.”

A quick touch of the gloves and we are off! LaFlare very active to start, using his kicks to the leg and to the body effectively. Martin lands a nice cross and then he uses a kick of his own to trip LaFlare as the two exchange. After a brief clinch Martin continued using his movement and counter striking. LaFlare lands back to back big kicks to Martin’s ride side that sent Martin backing up. La Flare looks to be focusing hard on body damage. In the final 45 seconds of the round both fighters starting swinging, with LaFlare connecting on another good body kick.

LaFlare goes in for another one of his big kicks and Martin catches him with a massive cross that drops LaFlare to his back. Martin pounces with heavy shots from the top but LaFlare survives that initial onslaught. After working his ground game for a bit, Martin is able to take LaFlare’s back on the outside of the Octagon but LaFlare slips away and gets back into guard. Martin puts himself into position to attempt another submission but LaFlare escapes and gets right back to his feet for the final minute of the round.

Martin has figured out LaFlare timing and his punches are finding their target. LaFlare absorbs a shot but hits Martin with a leg kick that forces the welterweight to fall but get right back up. Then Martin throws a head kick of his own and hits LaFlare perfectly. Then he jumps on top and lands some hammer fists and that was all she wrote. Wow what a performance from Martin.

Official result: Martin defeated LaFlare by TKO at 1:00 in Round 3.

THEY SAID IT:
Tony Martin : “That was a beautiful performance if you ask me. Ryan Laflare is a tough guy, one of the biggest welterweights, size-wise, and no one has fought him like I just did. I controlled the ground game, the striking exchanges and I worked really hard on my Muay Thai coming in here tonight. People think of me as a grappler and I rarely threw kicks in my previous fights but my striking is deadly and I’m glad I got to show that tonight. This is the perfect start to my career at welterweight and I want to keep that moving. I want the winner of Cowboy Cerrone vs. Mike Perry. Both of those guys like to stand and trade and that’s intriguing to me. Like I said, people think I’m a grappler but my right hand will hurt you. I’m 29 years old and this is my time to make a run to the top of this division.”