UFC 268 play-by-play and live results

Round 1 – Bruce Buffer is back, as is Joe Rogan. People are trickling in for the first of 14 fights. Let’s do this thing. Remember, CJ Vergara missed weight for this one. This is the second straight fight Ode Osbourne has fought someone heavier than they should be. Vergara lands a jab. Osbourne winds up and just misses with a flying knee. Both fighters land lefts. A audible left hand glances Osbourne’s head but he doesn’t seem worse for the wear. Osbourne dives for a leg. Vergara drops back and Osbourne doesn’t even touch him. One body kick lands by Osbourne, then another. Vergara lands a left hand – and another. After a lot of misses from both guys, Vergara has found his range. Vergara hooks Osbourne’s body. Osbourne misses another flying knee. Osbourne catches Vergara’s kick and walks his opponent back to the cage. Vergara keeps his balance and slips his leg out. Vergara lands an outside leg kick. Vergara connects on a high kick, then a left hand to close out the round. 10-9 Osbourne.

Round 2 – The fighters trade and Vergara lands a left hand. A couple of boos drift down from the rafters. New York crowd is still tough after all these months off. Osbourne connects on a short, punching combination. Vergara throws, misses, and is tagged by an Osbourne punch. Osbourne eats a left and lands a right. They trade in the pocket and Vergara wins that exchange. Osbourne looked hurt for half a second but they reset. Vergara lands an outside leg kick. Osbourne throws a tired left hand. Vergara lands a right to the body. That’s become his target. Vergara keeps looking for a front kick a la Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort, but he’s missed by a wide margin on all of his attempts. Vergara lands a jab. A hard head kick from Vergara hits the mark, but Osbourne catches the kick and takes him down. Osbourne finishes the round on Vergara’s back. 19-19.

Round 3 – Vergara lands a stiff jab. He’s fighting with a sense of urgency here. He rips a body kick and eats a right jab. Vergara lands a right hand and eats a big counter. Vergara runs right at him and lands three or four knees to the body in an impromptu plum clinch. Osbourne shoves Vergara to the canvas. Vergara gets up and Osbourne shoots for a double leg. Vergara easily avoids and misses on a bunch of punch attempts. Vergara denies another takedown attempt. Vergara looks like the fresher fighter but Osbourne is still landing at a solid clip. Vergara ties him up but Osbourne circles him around and separates. Osbourne lands a left hand. They tie up again and Osbourne lands a sneaky punch in the clinch. Three minutes left on the clock and Vergara is still pushing, though exhausted. The two fighters tie up and tumble to the mat. It’s anyone’s moment but Vergara capitalizes it by scrambling and landing on top. Vergara looks to move to half guard but Osbourne has a very tightly closed guard. Vergara is throwing some ground-and-pound but nothing is really landing. Osbourne briefly threatens a submission. Vergara lands some elbows finally. The crowd oohs. Osbourne tries to cage-walk but Vergara advances to half guard. The round, and the fight, ends with Vergara on top. First and third rounds were close. MMA Junkie scores it 29-28 Osbourne.

Result: Ode Osbourne def. CJ Vergara via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Photos: Ode Osbourne def. CJ VergaraRecords: Ode Osbourne (10-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC), CJ Vergara (9-3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)Division: FlyweightBroadcast: ESPN+Referee: Mike BeltranJudging: Dave Tirelli, Derek Cleary, Eric Colon (29-28, scoring Round 3 for Vergara)

Round 1 – This one should be a banger. Did I just jinx it? Maybe. We’ll find out. Both fighters come out in karate stances. They’re fighting from a long distance. In and out they go. Melsik Baghdasaryan lands the first leg kick – and the second one. He misses on a third. Bruno Souza, who missed weight yesterday, has a very wide stance. He’s nothing throwing much while on the retreat – much like his mentor Lyoto Machida. The fans are booing. So maybe I did jinx this a tad. Whoops. Anyway, Baghdasaryan is moving forward with Souza rotating around him. Souza lands a counter left hand. Souza hits him in the body with a kick. Baghdasaryan jabs the body. Tap-tap Souza touches Baghdasaryan’s body with two short body kicks. Baghdasaryan responds with a kick of his own. It didn’t look like Souza liked that. He shot immediately. He’s pushing Baghdasaryan against the fence. Baghdasaryan defends and knees Souza to the body. They’re still clinched, though, and Baghdasaryan turns him around. Baghdasaryan is warned about a fence grab. The fighters separate. Baghdasaryan lands a punch and Souza stumbles, though it may have been the result of a slip rather than damage. Baghdasaryan misses on a high kick, then lands on a high kick. The horn sounds. 10-9 Baghdasaryan.

Round 2 – Souza lands a solid punch to start the round. He could use more of those. Inactivity is hurting him right now. Baghdasaryan ducks out of the way of another combination and stalks Souza all the way across the cage. Souza’s back touches the cage and he circles away. Baghdasaryan misses on a Dennis Siver-esque spinning back kick to the body. Baghdasaryan lands a leg kick, then another, and another. Souza dashes in and eats a right hand. Baghdasaryan jabs the body. They both miss. Souza is wearing some redness on the outside of his left leg. He switched stances briefly. Souza shoots for a takedown, gives up on it, and lands a nice knee. Referee Todd Anderson has issued warnings to seemingly both fighters about open hands and head clashes in the last 10 seconds. Baghdasaryan lands a left hand. The two fighters are opening up now. They exchange in the most action-packed sequence of the fight. The round ends. 20-18 Baghdasaryan.

Round 3 – Souza lands a kick to the body. Baghdasaryan tries an axe kick, which misses by a slim margin. That would’ve been something. Souza lands a three-punch combination. Not sure where that has been all night but he needs more of it. Souza lands a leg kick and blocks a Baghdasaryan kick. Souza is much more aggressive this round. Again, very Machida-esque. Baghdasaryan lands an outside leg kick. Souza tries another jumping knee. Souza connects on a stepping back elbow. That was sneaky and landed. Both fighters have slowed. Baghdasaryan cracks a wild overhand right. Souza lands a combination. The fight ends with a horn. MMA Junkie scores it 29-29 Baghdasaryan.

Result: Melsik Baghdasaryan def. Bruno Souza via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Photos: Melsik Baghdasaryan def. Bruno SouzaRecords: Melsik Baghdasaryan (7-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Bruno Souza (10-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)Division: FeatherweightBroadcast: ESPN+Referee: Todd AndersonJudging: Sal D’Amato, Doug Crosby, Eric Colon (29-28, scoring Round 3 for Souza)

Round 1 – Dustin Jacoby lands a leg kick to start off this one. He’s aggressive early with his jabs. The two fighters continue to jab way. The action is stopped after an inadvertent eye poke by Jacoby. After a brief break, the action resumes. John Allan blasts forward with a combination and eats a jab. Jacoby tries a head kick but it’s blocked. The point-fighting continues. Jacoby lands a combination and tries a spinning elbow before the round ends. 10-9 Jacoby.

Round 2 – Allen lands a leg kick and tries to go high. This has been essentially a kickboxing match thus far. Jacoby flails his arm in the air for a distraction and tries a knee. There’s a lot of missing going on, but Jacoby lands a leg kick. They trade punches. Jacoby pokes Allan in the eye again. That one looked worse. The doctor comes in to examine and gives the OK. Referee Marc Goddard warns Jacoby but no point is taken. The action resumes. Jacoby misses on a flying knee. He tries again. No dice. The round ends. 20-18 Jacoby.

Round 3 – The jabbing, kicking match continues with, you guessed it, jabs to the head and kicks to the leg. Allan isn’t getting blown out of the water by any means, but Jacoby just seems to be doing what they’re doing a little bit better. Allan pushed the action and lands a leg kick. Jacoby comes over the top with a right hand, then kicks the leg. Allan grabs Jacoby and throws a knee to the head. That looks like it was blocked. Now, Jacoby is the one moving forward. Jacoby tries a head kick, a weapon he’s thrown all night to no avail. It’s blocked. Jacoby jabs. There’s a minute left in the fight. Allan connects on a straight right, then a jab to the body. Jacoby flicks his hand to the sky and throws a combination. They clinch and break. The round ends. MMA Junkie scores it 302-7 Jacoby.

Result: Dustin Jacoby def. John Allan via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)Photos: Dustin Jacoby def. John AllanRecords: John Allan (13-7 MMA, 0-2 UFC), Dustin Jacoby (16-5-1 MMA, 4-2-1 UFC)Division: Light heavyweightBroadcast: ESPN+Referee: Marc GoddardJudging: Dave Tirelli, Michael Bell (29-28, scoring Round 3 for Allan); Doug Crosby (30-27)

Round 1 – Gian Villante makes his final walk to the cage with close friend Chris Weidman and coach Keith Trimble. It’s cool he gets to do this in front of his home state crowd. The fight kicks off with both men hesitant and tentative. The kicking battle from the last fight. These are some big boys. Chris Barnett tries a multi-punch combination. Most of the strikes are being blocked. Barnett lands a spinning back kick to the body. Villante ties up Barnett against the fence before the round ends. I have no idea on that one. Let’s say 10-9 Villante.

Round 2 – Barnett chops a leg kick. This is a low output fight, as many may have anticipated. Barnett tries a jumping spin kick. It whiffs. Barnett kicks Villante’s body and tries a huge overhand right that misses. Villante tires a head kick though he doesn’t have the same dexterity. It’s blocked. A superman punch misses for Barnett. Moments later, Barnett crumples Villante with a spinning wheel kick to the head. No, I am not kidding. Villante tumbles to the canvas. Barnett covers up on all fours and Barnett rains down punches. That’s it. What an unexpected sequence of events. Holy moly. Knockout of the Year candidate.

Result: Chris Barnett def. Gian Villante via TKO (wheel kick) – Round 2, 2:23Recap: Chris Barnett spoils Gian Villante’s retirement with incredible spinning wheel kickPhotos: Chris Barnett def. Gian VillanteRecords: Chris Barnett (22-7 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Gian Villante (17-14 MMA, 7-11 UFC)Division: HeavyweightBroadcast: ESPN+Referee: Dan Miragliotta

Round 1 – There’s a lot of hype behind Ian Garry, but apparently Jordan Williams hasn’t heard it since he just landed a nice two-punch combination. Garry retreats. They meet again and Williams gets the better of that exchange. Garry is trying to gauge his distance with his jab. He looks a tad more timid inside the UFC cage than he did on the regional scene. Williams shoots for a takedown against the fence. They’re clinching. Garry turns him around and they break. His nose is busted. Williams throws a head kick, which is blocked. Garry ducks out of a Williams combination. Williams lands an overhand left. Williams dives in and eats a massive Garry right hand. He’s out on his feet. Garry lands another massive right that folds Williams over backward. The man has heat in his hands. After a sketchy first few minutes, Garry has made his mark in the UFC.

Result: Ian Garry def. Jordan Williams via knokcout (punches) – Round 1, 4:59Recap: Ireland’s Ian Garry scores first-round KO in debut at UFC 268Photos: Ian Garry def. Jordan WilliamsRecords: Ian Garry (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Jordan Williams (9-6 MMA, 0-3 UFC)Division: WelterweightBroadcast: ESPN+Referee: Mike Beltran

Round 1 – The two fighters touch gloves. After a few brief exchanges, Nassourdine Imavov lands a right hand and then a leg kick. Imavov jumps in and eats a counter right from Edmen Shahbazyan. As Imavov closes, Shahbazyan grabs hold and pushes him against the fence. Imavov tries pushing Shahbazyan away, but the grip is tight. Shahbazyan drops for a single leg. Imavov pogo-sticks on on leg and keeps his balance. Shahbazyan lifts Imavov’s leg and dives for a takedown. Imavov snatches a guillotine choke. The grip looks deep but Imavov doesn’t have control of the body and Shahbazyan scrambles out and up. Imavov ties up Shahbazyan against the fence. They separate, exchange, and clinch again. Imavov lands an elbow on the break, then a nice uppercut. They tie up again and Imavov tries a takedown. Shahbazyan ties up Imavov against the fence and complains of a groin strike. The referee did not see it and the final 10 seconds wind down. 10-9 Imavov.

Round 2 – Imavov is bleeding from his right eye area. He tries a combination but Shahbazyan answers with a better one. A right hand lands for Imavov and he ties up Shahbazyan. More fence pushing. Shahbazyan reverses position and goes for a single leg again. Coach Fernand Lopez, in the corner of Imavov is barking instructions. As that’s going on Imavov sinks in a deep high-elbow standing guillotine. Shahbazyan appears to panic but he wiggles his way out of it. Now, he’s one again shooting for a takedown on Imavov against the fence. Imavov snatches the neck for a third time. You’d think Shahbazyan would learn. He escaped danger twice. Will he be able to a third time? His face is red as they hit the canvas. He escapes but doesn’t protect his neck yet again. Another guillotine attempt from Imavov, but Shahbazyan breaks out again. Now Shahbazyan jumps for a guillotine. These two are going guillotine-for-guillotine. Imavov appears to be out of danger. He pops his head out and is in Shahbazyan’s guard. A slicing elbow from Imavov busts Shahbazyan up. Imavov works to the crucifix position and lands some short punches and elbows to his crimson opponent Shahbazyan. There are 30 seconds on the clock. Shahbazyan is trying to buck his way out but he can’t. That’s it! Imavov finishes him with strikes in Round 2!

Result: Nassourdine Imavov def. Edmen Shahbazyan via TKO (ground-and-pound) – Round 2, 4:42Recap: Nassourdine Imavov TKOs Edmen Shahbazyan into third straight lossPhotos: Nassourdine Imavov def. Edmen ShahbazyanRecords: Nassourdine Imavov (11-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Edmen Shahbazyan (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC)Division: MiddleweightBroadcast: ESPNews/ESPN+Referee: Keith Peterson

Round 1 – Phil Hawes is putting on a striking clinic early. He lands a bunch of punches to the head of Chris Curtis, who is defending by backing up with his hands over his head. Hawes rips a body kick. Curtis is bleeding. Hawes cranks a straight right hand on Curtis’ face. That hurt. Curtis did not go down and continues to circle. Hawes lands another combination. I’m not sure what Curtis’ gameplan was coming into this fight but he’s got to figure it out as soon as possible. Hawes lands another right hand and follows it with a knee. Hawes fakes a takedown and lands again. For a guy who was thought, at one point, as a grapple-only fighter, he’s sharp. Curtis lands a combination. Finally. Hawes returns. Curtis is targeting Hawes’ body now. I guess he’s trying to slow this onslaught down. Oh! Curtis catches him with a left hand. Hawes is wobbled. He lands another combination and a knee to the body. Hawes crumples. Curtis pounces and puts him out. Holy moly! Chris Curtis has done it.

Result: Chris Curtis def. Phil Hawes via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 4:27Recap: Chris Curtis pulls off upset, stops Phil Hawes to win long-awaited debut at UFC 268Photos: Chris Curtis def. Phil HawesRecords: Chris Curtis (27-8 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Phil Hawes (11-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC)Division: MiddleweightBroadcast: ESPNews/ESPN+Referee: Todd Anderson

Round 1 – Al Iaquinta finally gets to fight in front of the Madison Square Garden crowd. Very cool – and you know MMA Junkie superfan Bobby Green always brings it, too. So this should be good. Iaquinta hasn’t fought in two years but he comes out as confident as ever. He heads right at Green, who avoids Iaquinta’s powershots. The “Iaquinta” chants have begun. Green feeds him a crisp one-two combination. Iaquinta misses on an overhand left. Green busts a jab in Iaquinta’s face. Green’s hands are as low as ever. It’s why fans love him, but he’s got to watch out. Iaquinta lands a jab and Green drops him with a punch. Iaquinta is hurt and Green is pounding away. That’s it. Green gets the finish, much to the dismay of the New York City crowd. That’s Green’s first finish in eight years!

Result: Bobby Green def. Al Iaquinta via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:25Recap: Bobby Green drops, hammers Al Iaquinta for first-round TKOPhotos: Bobby Green def. Al IaquintaRecords: Bobby Green (28-12-1 MMA, 9-7-1 UFC), Al Iaquinta (14-7-1 MMA, 9-6 UFC)Division: LightweightBroadcast: ESPNews/ESPN+Referee: Marc Goddard

Round 1 –

Result:Recap:Photos:Records: Andreas Michailidis (13-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Alex Pereira (3-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC)Division: MiddleweightBroadcast: ESPNews/ESPN+Referee:Judging:

Round 1 –

Result:Recap:Photos:Records: Michael Chandler (22-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Justin Gaethje (22-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC)Division: LightweightBroadcast: Pay-per-viewReferee:Judging:

Round 1 –

Result:Recap:Photos:Records: Shane Burgos (13-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC), Billy Quarantillo (16-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC)Division: FeatherweightBroadcast: Pay-per-viewReferee:Judging:

Round 1 –

Result:Recap:Photos:Records: Frankie Edgar (24-9-1 MMA, 18-9-1 UFC), Marlon Vera (19-7-1 MMA, 11-6 UFC)Division: BantamweightBroadcast: Pay-per-viewReferee:Judging:

Round 1 –

Result:Recap:Photos:Records: Rose Namajunas (10-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Zhang Weili (21-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC)Division: Women’s strawweightBroadcast: Pay-per-viewReferee:Judging:

Round 1 –

Result:Recap:Photos:Records: Kamaru Usman (19-1 MMA, 14-0 UFC), Colby Covington (16-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC)Division: WelterweightBroadcast: Pay-per-viewReferee:Judging: