UFC on ESPN 55 play-by-play and live results

LAS VEGAS – UFC on ESPN 55 takes place Saturday, and you can join us for live play-by-play and official results. UFC on ESPN 55 (ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN+) takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

In the main event, Matheus Nicolau (19-4-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) takes on former flyweight title challenger Alex Perez (24-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC). In the co-feature, Bogdan Guskov (15-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) meets Ryan Spann (21-9 MMA, 7-4 UFC) at light heavyweight.

Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 4 p.m. ET for the prelims on ESPN2/ESPN+ and 7 p.m. ET for the main card on ESPN/ESPN+. You also can get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site reporter Ken Hathaway (@1khathaway ) on Twitter.

Enjoy the fights, everyone.

Gabriel Benitez vs. Hayisaer Maheshate

Round 1 – A couple of hard leg kicks land for Benitez right away. Maheshate fires back with a body kick. He’s moving forward, walking down Benitez. Oh! Big left connects for Benitez. It briefly stuns Maheshate. Three minutes left. Big body kick by Benitez and Maheshate answers back with a body shot. Nasty body kick by Benitez. Maheshate is eating these well. Jab by Maheshate. Leg kick by Benitez. A perfectly timed left lands for Benitez. What a chin on Maheshate. Maheshate with a body kick and then a leg kick. The bell rings shortly after.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Benitez.

Round 2 – Maheshate comes out pressing Benitez. Clean right hand connects for Maheshate! Leg kick by Benitez. And Maheshate with a one, two. Benitez counters Maheshate hard! Maheshate spans Benitez head back with a jab. More lg kicks by Benitez. Pretty even fight so far with Benitez being slightly up it seems. Big right connects for Maheshate. These two are trading hard shots. Maheshate is upping it here at the end. Good combo connects for Maheshate at the end of the round.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Maheshate.

Round 3 – Close fight here. Again, Maheshate comes out pressing, putting Benitez on the back foot. Maheshate is a bit more aggressive here. An eye poke from Maheshate briefly halts the bout. Benitez says he’s good and the fight resumes. Three minutes left. Good jabs by Benitez. Good counter shots by Benitez. He seems a bit more fresh than Maheshate here. Maheshate lands a good left hook. Leg kick by Benitez. One minute left. Good left hand and then some jabs by Benitez. Very close round here. Oh! Flying knee by Benitez. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Benitez. Overall 29-28, Benitez.

Result: Hayisaer Maheshate def. Gabriel Benitez via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Maheshate (10-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC), Benitez (23-13 MMA, 7-8 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Judging: Bryan Miner, Tony Weeks 29-28, Eric Colon 28-29.

Liang Na vs. Ivana Petrovic

Round 1 – Na immediately closes the distance and takes down Petrovic with ease. Petrovic gets back up, but is being pressed against the cage. Shots here and there from Na. Four minutes left. More short punches by Na. Petrovic trying to break free, but unable to. Petrovic breaks free a few secodn after. Good right has by Petrovic. Three minutes left. Na with a clean combo and then presses Petrovic against the cage. They break free, and it’s Petrovic who looks for the takedown. She takes down Na, but they get into a scramble! Na almost gets the back, but Petrovic is able to fight out and get top position on Na. one minute left. Petrovic looking for an arm-triangle. They scramble more and Na reverses Petrovic, but gets caught in an armbar. They’re in a bit of a stalemate position, and Petrovic lands some shots from bottom. The bell rings before Petrovic can get the tap.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Petrovic.

Round 2 – Na closes the distance and presses Petrovic against the cage. Not much being done in terms of damage, but Na is controlling the action. Petrovic breaks free. Now Petrovic is the one that takes down Na. She’s working from side control. Good short elbows by Petrovic. Na goes for an armbar! It looked tight for a second, but Petrovic breaks free and maintains top position. Good shots from top by Petrovic! She’s upping the ground-and-pound. Petrovic gets mount! Nasty, nasty elbows from Petrovic. Na looks bad. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Petrovic.

Round 3 – Petrovic shoots and gets the takedown right away. Petrovic is dominating Na here. She gets the back mount, sinks in some sort of choke that looks like a D’Arce and gets the tap. Na was spent.

Result: Ivana Petrovic def. Na Liang via submission (arm triangle) – Round 3, 1:29
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Photos: UFC on ESPN 55: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Petrovic (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Na (19-8 MMA, 0-4 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognini

James Llontop vs. Chris Padilla

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Records: Llontop (14-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Padilla (13-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee:
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Marnic Mann vs. Ketlen Souza

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Records: Mann (6-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Souza (13-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
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Caio Machado vs. Don’Tale Mayes

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Records: Machado (8-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Mayes (10-6 MMA, 3-4-1 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
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Michal Figlak vs. Austin Hubbard

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Records: Figlak (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Hubbard (16-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
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Victor Henry vs. Rani Yahya

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Records: Henry (23-6 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Yahya (28-11-1 MMA, 13-5-1 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
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David Onama vs. Jonathan Pearce

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Records: Onama (11-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC), Pearce (14-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
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Tim Means vs. Uros Medic

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Records: Means (33-15-1 MMA, 15-12 UFC), Medic (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
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Jhonata Diniz vs. Austen Lane

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Records: Diniz (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Lane (12-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
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Ariane da Silva vs. Karine Silva

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Records: da Silva (17-8 MMA, 6-5 UFC), Silva (17-4 MMA, 3-0 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
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Bogdan Guskov vs. Ryan Spann

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Records: Guskov (15-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Spann (21-9 MMA, 7-4 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
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Matheus Nicolau vs. Alex Perez

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Records: Nicolau (19-4-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC), Perez (24-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN+
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