The UFC is back in Austin, Texas, for the first time since the epic bout between Featherweights Calvin Kattar and Josh Emmett. This time, the main and co-main events are filled with top-15 Lightweight talent, and the rest of the card is stacked with talent. This is the place for the live results and play-by-play of UFC Fight Night: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan.
Result: Veronica Hardy def. Jamey-Lyn Horth via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29).
Division: Women's Flyweight
Referee: Mark Smith
The first fight of the card gets us going. Hardy opens up first and connects with a hook. Horth tries to press forward, but Hardy blitzes to get back into the center. A sharp jab knocks Horth down momentarily, securing the bigger moments of the round.
The second round is underway. Hardy stays on the outside, opting to blitz in on Horth, who can't keep Hardy grounded. Horth attempted to kick Hardy's body of Hardy but fell to the ground on a catch. Horth continues to try to get the fight to the ground and secures a takedown at the end of the round, and Hardy catches her with a big up kick to close the round out.
Hardy starts the round fast with some quick body kicks. Horth attempts to catch Hardy with elbows when she comes in close and catches her twice. Hardy responds with a brutal body kick. They clinch against the fence, and both land big strikes. A lead elbow floors Hardy down to the canvas, but she gets back up to her feet. The two close out the contest with an exchange of strikes.
Result: Jared Gooden def. Wellington Turman via rear-naked choke at 1:11 of Round 2.
Division: Welterweight
Referee: Jeff Rexroad
Gooden starts the fight with a body jab, and Turman responds with a combo upstairs. A big right-hand gets through for Turman and a leg kick. Gooden goes back to the body, and both men connect with straights. A big right hand and a flying knee get through for Turman. Turman shoots in for a huge takedown and slams Gooden onto the ground. Turman threatens the guillotine but loses it and closes out the round with ground-and-pound.
A massive lead hook for Turman opens the round out. But Gooden comes back with a massive hook and rocks Turman badly. Turman tries to clinch up, but Gooden throws him to the ground and follows up with nasty elbows. Turman tries to escape but falls into a rear-naked choke, and Turman has no choice but to tap out.
Result: Rodolfo Bellato def. Ihor Potieria via TKO (punches) at 4:17 of Round 2.
Division: Light-Heavyweight
Referee: Jacob Montalvo
After a touch of gloves, Bellato takes the center of the octagon. After some exchanges on the feet, Bellato shoots for a takedown but doesn't get it. Potieria starts to tee off on Bellato, who doesn't have an answer about the diverse striking. Bellato tries for another takedown but doesn't get it. Bellato lands a knee to the groin, and the action is halted. Ihor gets back to work in the middle of the cage and continues to outstrike Bellato. It was a frantic end to the round, with both guys swinging massive shots at each other.
Potieria goes back to work but gets clipped with an elbow and a knee. Ihor lands a massive hook and drops Bellato, who somehow survives. Ihor lands massive ground-and-pound strikes and still survives. Bellato scrambles back to his feet and unloads Potieria, who lands a massive right hand and rocks Bellato again. Bellato manages to take Potieira to the ground and starts to unload with his own strikes. He moves to full mount and finishes Potieira with strikes. Comeback of the year contender!
Result: Drakkar Klose def. Joe Solecki via KO (slam) 1:41 Round 1.
Division: Lightweight
Referee: Mark Smith
Solecki starts with a fast takedown attempt and gets it. However, Solecki tries to take the back, and Klose ends up in the top full guard. Scenes! Klose slams Solecki on his head, and he goes unconscious. Unbelievable knockout!
Result: Cody Brundage def. Zach Reese via KO (slam) at 1:49 of Round 1.
Division: Middleweight
Referee: Jeff Rexroad
The fight starts off fast with a fast right hand from Brundage, who shoots in on a single leg and takes Reese down. A huge uptick stuns Brundage for a moment, who enters Reese's guard. Reese tries to lock up a submission but gets slammed on his head and goes out cold. Back-to-back slam KOs!
Result: Miesha Tate def. Julia Avila via Submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:15 of Round 3.
Division: Women's Bantamweight
Referee: Jacob Montalvo
Miesha Tate secures an early takedown and begins the fight with some control time. Tate takes Avilas back and lands some ground strikes before attempting a rear-naked choke. Tate hammered Avila with elbows, some of which strayed behind the head. It's an extremely dominant round from Tate, who finishes on top in full mount.
Avila starts the round strong with some distance strikes, but Tate immediately takes her down. Tate lands some more ground strikes and doesn't let Avila back to her feet. It was a completely dominant performance from Tate through two rounds.
Avila cannot defend the takedown and is down within thirty seconds of the start of the round. This time, she's able to sink in the rear-naked choke and finish the fight.
Result: Dustin Stoltzfus def. Punahele Soriano via Submission (rear-naked choke) and 4:10 of Round 2.
Division: Middleweight
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Stoltzfus starts patiently on the back foot but gets dropped early on by Soriano. Stoltzfus attempts a takedown, but it's easily stuffed, and Soriano makes him pay for it with a big left hand. Both guys land massive overhands and rock each other. It was the same scenario again with the lead hooks, and Stoltzfus secured a huge slam takedown as Soriano got back to his feet. Massive strike sits down Soriano at the end of round 1, saved by the bell.
The second round starts with a much more confident approach from Dustin, who is opening up more with his hands. Soriano is noticeably tired and misses his shots frequently. Dustin lands a massive body kick, Soriano returns with a left straight, and Stoltzfus returns with a huge takedown. Stoltzfus transitions to the back and attempts the rear-naked choke; He locks it in with a minute left to go in the second round.
Result: Joaquim Silva def. Clay Guida via Unanimous Decision
Division: Lightweight
Referee: Mark Smith
Guida is under very heavy pressure early, attempting to land with big hooks. Guida wobbles Silva, but he fires right back and hurts Guida badly with an uppercut. Silva nearly finishes the fight, but Guida survives to close the round out.
Guida immediately back on the pressure, knowing he lost the first. Guida is now mixing in takedowns with his wrestling. Silva attempts a guillotine off a takedown from Guida, but "The Carpenter" escapes it, and they get back to their feet. Guida closes the round out with some huge bombs, as it looks like Silva is fading.
Silva opens up the third round with a head kick that connects. Guida attempts more takedowns but doesn't secure any. Silva attempts another guillotine but cannot get it. The two trade until the end of the fight.
Result: Sean Brady def. Kelvin Gastelum via Submission (kimura) at 1:43 of Round 3.
Division: Welterweight
Referee: Jacob Montalvo
Brady immediately gets the fight to the ground and tries to climb onto Gastelum's back. Kelvin scrambles out and ends up on top. The two get back to their feet, and Brady appears to drop Gastelum with a left hook. Brady controls the rest of the round on the mat.
Round two starts off with a fast shot from Brady. Brady controls the entire round on top of Gastelum, who cannot get out from the smothering pressure of Brady.
It was the exact same start to round three, with Brady again getting Kelvin down. He's attempting a kimura and secures it despite resistance from Gastelum.
Result: Deiveson Figueiredo def. Rob Font via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Division: Bantamweight
Referee: Jeff Rexroad
Font starts the fight with lots of pressure, and Figueiredo is content on the back foot. Figueiredo attempts a takedown, but Font scrambles back up to his feet easily. He gets clipped by a big right hand and then met with a second takedown attempt. Font gets back to his feet and takes a leg kick. Font responds with a combination but gets rocked by Figueiredos's jab, then a right hand. Deiveson finishes the round strong, hurting Font bad.
Font opens round two with a leg kick and gets back on the pressure. Font lands an elbow in close. Figueiredo nets through with a right hand and then a takedown, which Font scrambles up from. It's a closer round, with both men finding success, but Deiveson ends it well with a combination.
The final round starts with a takedown from Figueiredo, and Font responded with his own and a nasty uppercut to the body. Deiveson rocks Font back with a right hand and puts the pressure on with another right and a left hook before securing a takedown and controlling the rest of the fight from on top.
Result: Jalin Turner def. Bobby Green via TKO (punches) at 2:49 of Round 1.
Division: Lightweight
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Green starts fast with a straight punch that catches Turner, who responds with his own shot. Another right-hand gets through for Green, who has his hands down. Massive one-two stuns Green, and a follow-up right sends him crashing to the canvas. Horrible, horrible stoppage ensues. Green eats about a dozen unnecessary ground strikes before the referee finally calls it off.
Result: Arman Tsarukyan def. Beneil Dariush via KO (punch) at 1:04 of Round 1.
Division: Lightweight
Referee: Mark Smith
Tsarykyan comes out very fast, whereas Dariush is calculated with his guard high. Beneil throws a right hand, which clips Tsarukyan. It's over! The right-hand gets through for Tsarukyan, and that puts Dariush out cold in just over a minute.
FOTN Bonus: Rodolfo Bellato vs. Ihor Potieria
Performance Bonuses: Arman Tsarukyan, Jalin Turner, Sean Brady, Dustin Stoltzfus, Miesha Tate, Drakkar Klose, Cody Brundage, Jared Gooden.
What a phenomenal card. It's definitely a pick for the card of the Year.