UFC returns to UFC APEX with a featherweight contenders’ bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks, as No. 1 ranked contender Max Holloway battles No. 3 Yair Rodriguez. Hard-hitting heavyweights collide in the co-main event when Ben Rothwell faces Marcos Rogerio de Lima.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT: HOLLOWAY vs RODRIGUEZ will take place Saturday, November 13 from UFC APEX in Las Vegas. All bouts will stream on ESPN+, with the prelims beginning at a special start time of 10 a.m. PT/ 1 p.m. ET and the main card at 1 p.m. PT/ 4 p.m. ET.
*The main event is scheduled for five rounds. The remaining fights are all scheduled for three rounds. | Official Scorecards
UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs Rodriguez Results
Just Happened:
Cynthia Calvillo vs Andrea Lee
Louisiana’s Andrea Lee was impressive from start to finish as she halted fellow flyweight contender Cynthia Calvillo in two rounds.
Both fighters set a fast pace as the bout began, but it was the ultra-busy Lee taking the early lead as she landed jab after jab on the forward marching Calvillo. By the end of the round, both were bleeding from the nose, but Lee was clearly in a better place in the fight.
In the second, Lee kept tagging Calvillo, hurting her with body shots as the punch stat numbers added up. Lee did appear to injure her left hand in the round, but it ultimately didn’t matter, as Calvillo wasn’t able to continue, with the fight officially ending at 5:00 of the second stanza.
With the win, the No.12-ranked Lee moves to 13-5. The No.5-ranked Calvillo, who replaced Jessica Eye on short notice, falls to 9-4-1.
Official result – Andrea Lee def. Cynthia Calvillo via TKO (corner retirement) at 5:00 of round two | Official Scorecards
Sean Woodson vs Collin Anglin
In a clash of Dana White’s Contender Series alums at featherweight, Sean Woodson stopped Collin Anglin in the first round.
Woodson’s height and reach advantage was a bridge too far for Anglin to cross, despite his best efforts, and after the St. Louis native hurt his foe with a little over a minute left in the first round, a series of body shots forced referee Herb Dean to step in and stop the fight at 4:30 of the opening frame.
Woodson moves to 9-1 with the win. Anglin falls to 8-3.
Official result – Sean Woodson def. Collin Anglin via TKO (strikes) at 4:30 of round one | Official Scorecards
Cortney Casey vs Liana Jojua
Flyweight veteran Cortney Casey snapped a two-fight losing streak, winning a clear-cut unanimous decision over Liana Jojua.
Casey (10-9) had a big first round, using her crisp striking attack and a substantial reach advantage to bloody her foe’s nose and dominate the action. Even a late takedown by Jojua saw Casey doing the better work as she fought off her back.
There was more of the same in the second and third, Jojua (8-5) getting a little more aggressive, but not enough to deter Casey, who sailed to victory via three scores of 30-27.
Jojua missed weight for the bout at 128.5 pounds.
Official result – Cortney Casey def. Liana Jojua via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | Official Scorecards
Marc Diakiese vs Rafael Alves
Brazil’s Rafael Alves earned his first UFC victory in impressive fashion in lightweight action, submitting Marc Diakiese in the opening round.
With the two getting into the fight in the early going, Alves (20-10) stunned Diakiese (14-5) with a left hand and followed up with a flying knee. The Brit looked for a takedown, but he ran right into a tight guillotine choke that forced the tap out at 1:48 of round one.
Official result – Rafael Alves def. Marc Diakiese via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:48 of round one | Official Scorecards
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Da-Un Jung
In the light heavyweight opener, Da-un Jung extended his current unbeaten streak to 15 with a first-round knockout of Kennedy Nzechukwu.
Both fought at a measured pace to begin, each getting in a couple shots in, but after a right elbow staggered Nzechukwu, Jung went all-in for the finish and he got it, with a series of follow-up elbows by the South Korean ending matters. The official time of referee Chris Tognoni’s stoppage was 3:04 of round one.
Jung moves to 15-2-1 with the win. Nzechukwu falls to 9-2.
Official result – Da-un Jung def. Kennedy Nzechukwu via KO (strikes) at 3:04 of round one | Official Scorecards
Up Next:
UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs Rodriguez Prelims
Thiago Moises vs Joel Alvarez
- No. 15 ranked lightweight contender Thiago Moises (15-5, fighting out of Indaiatuba, Brazil) squares off with rising star Joel Alvarez (18-2, fighting out of Asturias, Spain)
UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs Rodriguez Main Card
Song Yadong vs Julio Arce
- No. 15 ranked bantamweight contender Song Yadong (17-5-1 1NC, fighting out of Heilongjiang, China) and Julio Arce (17-4, fighting out of Bayside, N.Y.) look to steal the show
Miguel Baeza vs Khaos Williams
- Miguel Baeza (10-1, fighting out of Davie, Fla.) locks horns with Khaos Williams (12-2, fighting out of Detroit, Mich.) in an action-packed welterweight contest
Felicia Spencer vs Leah Letson
- Former women’s featherweight title challenger Felicia Spencer (8-3, fighting out of Orlando, Fla. by way of Montreal, Quebec, Canada) takes on Leah Letson (5-2, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.)
Co-Main Event: Ben Rothwell vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima
- Ben Rothwell (39-13, fighting out of Kenosha, Wisc.) hopes to continue his momentum following a submission win over Chris Barnett in May. A 20-year MMA veteran, he also holds notable finishes against Alistair Overeem, Josh Barnett and Matt Mitrione. Rothwell is now gunning for his 40th professional win by stopping De Lima in impressive fashion.
- Marcos Rogerio de Lima (18-8-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) intends to make the most of his second co-main event opportunity by becoming the first fighter to finish Rothwell in over eight years. During his time on the UFC roster, he has delivered notable wins against Maurice Greene, Ben Sosoli and Igor Pokrajac. De Lima now looks to stop Rothwell and earn a shot at the heavyweight top 15.
Main Event: Max Holloway vs Yair Rodriguez
- Max Holloway (22-6, fighting out of Waianae, Hawaii) aims to build off his sensational victory over Calvin Kattar in January, which saw the former champion set a new record for significant strikes in a single UFC bout at 445. Throughout his career he also holds memorable wins against Jose Aldo (twice), Brian Ortega and Frankie Edgar. Holloway now has his sights set on staking his claim for a title opportunity with another highlight-reel finish.
- Yair Rodriguez (13-2 1NC, fighting out of Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico) returns to action for the first time since his Fight of the Night win over Jeremy Stephens in late 2019. During his UFC run, The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America winner has secured spectacular KO victories over Chan Sung Jung, BJ Penn and Andre Fili. Rodriguez now looks to earn the biggest win of his career and establish himself as the top contender for a featherweight title shot.
