UFC on ESPN+ 31 play-by-play and live results

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 31 event, and you can join us for live play-by-play and official results.

The event takes place at the UFC Apex and streams entirely on ESPN+.

In the main event, rising middleweight prospect Edmen Shahbazyan looks to make a name for himself with a signature win against Derek Brunson. And in the co-headliner, Joanne Calderwood, who is forgoing a title shot, takes on Jennifer Maia in a women’s flyweight bout.

To discuss the show, be sure to check out our UFC on ESPN+ 31 discussion thread. You can also get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site video editor Ken Hathaway on Twitter.

Enjoy the fights, everyone.

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Current fight

Vincent Cachero vs. Jamall Emmers

Round 1 – The size difference is evident – even before the fight begins. There’s a reason Cachero usually fights at 135 pounds. Emmers looks huge. The fighters are opening up and exchanging early. Both fighters connect hard simultaneously. Emmers fires a one-two. He looks very loose. Cachero isn’t fazed. He’s moving straight forward. Emmers lands a series of knees in the clinch. They separate. Cachero lands a leg kick. Emmers hits a front kick to the body. Cachero shoves Emmers down after catching a kick. Emmers pops up and grabs hold of Cachero. Emmers has Cachero in a headlock. They separate and Cachero lands a low blow. Timeout is called. The action resumes. Emmers lands a low kick. Emmers grabs the plum clinch and rattles off some knees. Cahcero pops out and Emmers cracks a body kick. Emmers tries an overhand right. Cachero lands to the body with a punch. Both fighters land right hands. Emmers lands a knee. Cachero shoots for a takedown but Emmers stuffs it. They separate. Emmers goes back to the clinch, landing knees. Cachero ties him up and pushes Emmers against the fence. Emmers continues to dive into the clinch, connect with knees, and pop out. Emmers shoots for a takedown and gets it. Emmers is in Cachero’s guard. The horn sounds. 10-9 Emmers.

Round 2 – Both fighters come out offensive-minded. Emmers connects with a vicious uppercut. That one hurt Cachero but he has a good poker face. Emmers gets aggressive and unloads a handful of calculated strikes to Cachero’s head. Emmers ties up Cachero and throws him to the canvas. Cachero gets up but Emmers still has a hold of him. They separate and Emmers lands a combination. Emmers lands a right hand and ducks out of a Cachero right hand. Emmers lands a punch. Emmers responds with a leg kick. Both fighters trade. Emmers appears to be landing the harder shots but Cachero won’t’ go down. Cachero lands a nice punch but Emmers takes him down. Emmers is in Cachero’s guard. The round ends. 20-18 Emmers.

Round 3 – Emmers lands a right hand. Emmers lands a combination and shoots for a takedown. Cachero defends and they separate. Emmers shoots again and gets it. Emmers is in Cachero’s guard. Cachero tries to squirm away but Emmers passes to half guard. Emmers is working for a kimura. He steps into side control. Cachero wiggles out of the submission attempt. Cachero works to his feet. Emmers is pushing him against the fence. Cachero reverses and pushes Cachero against the fence. They separate with about two minutes left on the clock. Emmers shoots for a takedown. He’s pushing Cachero against the fence. Emmers lands a hard knee to Cachero’s head. They separate. Emmers gets a takedown moments later. Emmers lands in side control. Cachero gives up his back and Emmers grabs hold with double hooks. Emmers is working for a rear-naked choke but Cachero is defending. Emmers mounts Cachero right before the horn sounds. MMA Junkie scores it 30-27 Emmers.

Result:
Records: Vincent Cachero (7-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) vs. Jamall Emmers (17-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee:
Judging:

Results

Cody Durden vs. Chris Gutierrez

Round 1 – The small cage is back! Last time Gutierrez was here, he wrecked Vince Morales’ leg. Let’s see if leg kicks come into play here. Well, it didn’t take long – but it’s Durden firing off first. Durden lands a hard leg kick. Gutierrez responds with a leg kick. Durden gets a takedown. This is a nice start for the UFC newcomer. Durden maneuvers to Gutierrez’s back. He has the body lock halfway-in. Durden is softening up Gutierrez with short punches. Now Durden has double hooks in. Durden is extending Gutierrez backward, looking for a choke. Gutierrez is flattened out but is defending against Durden’s hands. Gutierrez sits up. Durden is sitting up against the cage on Gutierrez’s back. Durden is landing short punches. Durden goes for another choke. No dice, but he rolls Gutierrez, where Gutierrez is flat and face-down. Gutierrez postures up and lands a series of punches. Gutierrez doesn’t like that and rolls backward. Durden still has Gutierrez’s back, but Gutierrez is now face-up. With less than 10 seconds left, Gutierrez rolls and lands on top of Durden. The round ends. That was dominant. 10-8 Durden.

Round 2 – Gutierrez opens up with a hard leg kick – and two more. Durden shoots for a takedown. This time, Gutierrez defends it. Durden is pushing Gutierrez against the fence. Gutierrez circles away and lands a leg kick. Durden shoots again but Gutierrez pushes him off again. Gutierrez lands a body punch. Durden shoots again. Gutierrez stuffs him and lands on top. Durden stands up. Gutierrez winds up for a knee and kicks Durden right in the groin. Durden yelps and the referee calls timeout. After a two-minute timeout, Durden gives his thumbs up and the action resumes. The fighters exchange. There’s a lot more boxing going on now – rather than kickboxing. Durden is aggressive and Gutierrez lands a right hand. Durden falls on a kick but pops back up. Gutierrez lands another leg kick. Durden ties up Gutierrez in a single leg attempt. Gutierrez initially fends off the attempt but Durden is relentless. Durden eventually drags Gutierrez to the mat. Gutierrez shoots for an armbar. This is fairly tight. Gutierrez leverages Durden and rolls on top, all the while holding onto the submission attempt. The round ends with Gutierrez still trying to get the submission locked in. 19-18 Durden.

Round 3 – Gutierrez lands a high kick. Durden lands a low kick. Gutierrez misses on a low kick. Durden lands a low kick. They’re going kick-for-kick. Both fighters have slowed. Their kicks are more distance-maintainers right now. Durden returns to favor from earlier and kicks Gutierrez in the groin. Gutierrez only needs a few seconds after the timeout and the action resumes. Durden lands a leg kick. Gutierrez tries a high kick. It’s blocked. Gutierrez lands a spinning back kick. Durden shoots for a half-hearted takedown but pulls up before he gets to Gutierrez. Durden shoots for another takedown but Gutierrez pushes him away. Durden shoots again – this time on a single-leg. As Durden is fighting for a leg, Gutierrez cranks him with a punch. Durden falls down but grabs for Gutierrez’s leg again. Durden gets up and they separate. Gutierrez goes back to his leg kicks, landing a pair. Durden slips in an exchange and Gutierrez follows him into his guard. Gutierrez lands a few punches and stands up. With Durden still on the mat, Guiterrez tries a rolling thunder onto his downed opponent. The horn sounds. MMA Junkie scores it 28-28 – a draw.

Result: Chris Gutierrez vs. Cody Durden ends in a unanimous draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28)
Records: Chris Gutierrez (15-3-2 MMA, 3-1-1 UFC) vs. Cody Durden (11-2-1 MMA, 0-0-1 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Judging:

Nate Maness vs. Johnny Munoz

Round 1 –