SYDNEY – UFC 293 took place Saturday, and MMA Junkie provided live play-by-play and official results.
UFC 293 took place Saturday at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.
In the main event, middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) put his title on the line against Sean Strickland (28-5 MMA, 25-5 UFC). In the co-feature, Tai Tuivasa (15-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) took on Alexander Volkov (36-10 MMA, 10-4 UFC) at heavyweight.
Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 6:30 p.m. ET for the early prelims; 8 p.m. ET for the prelims card on ESPNews/ESPN+; and 10 p.m. for the main card on pay-per-view. You also can get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site reporter Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn ) on Twitter.
Enjoy the fights, everyone.
Kiefer Crosbie vs. Kevin Jousset
Round 1 – Crosbie is marching down Jousset early. Body shot and leg kick combo by Crosbie. Crosbie connecting early here. Jousset has yet to land anything meaningful. Another leg kick by Crosbie. Body kick and jab by Jousset. Leg kick by Jousset. Jousset is tarting to open up. Oh! Big right hand connects for Crosbie, but Jousset eats it well. Jousset is the one pressing now. Good right hand Jousset, who close the distance and presses Crosbie against the cage. They break free. Two minutes left. Knee to the body by Jousset. Crosbie is bleeding from his left eyebrow. More leg kicks by Jousset. Jousset presses Crosbie against the cage and controls. Jousset gets a takedown and gets the back! He sinks in the rear-naked choke and there’s the tap! Wow.
Result: Kevin Jousset def. Kiefer Crosbie via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:49
Recap: Kevin Jousset slickly squeezes Kiefer Crosbie into submission, calls out Ian Garry
Photos: Kevin Jousset def. Kiefer Crosbie at UFC 293: Best photos
Records: Kevin Jousset (9-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Kiefer Crosbie (10-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jim Perdios
Gabriel Miranda vs. Shane Young
Round 1 – Body kick by Miranda. They get into a scramble and Miranda takes Young’s back. He locks in the body triangle. Miranda working the rear-naked choke. Oh! Miranda puts out Young! It’s over.
Result: Gabriel Miranda def. Shane Young via submission (neck crank) – Round 1, 0:59
Recap: Gabriel Miranda squeezes flailing Shane Young unconscious in 59 seconds
Photos: Gabriel Miranda def. Shane Young at UFC 293: Best photos
Records: Gabriel Miranda (17-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Shane Young (13-8 MMA, 2-5 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Greg Kleynjans
Blood Diamond vs. Charlie Radtke
Round 1 – Body kick by Diamons lands, but Radtke catches it and almost turns it into a takedown. Oh! Radtke gets stunned by Diamond. Radtke gets a hold of him and presses him against the cage. Radtke working hard for the takedown, but Diamond defending well. The crowd starts booing. Radtke still working on the takedown. Three minutes left. Radtke still pressing Diamond against the cage. Short shots by Radtke. They break free with two minutes remaining. One, two lands clean for Radtke. Radtke shoots and gets the takedown, but Diamond immediately back up, and now they’re up against the cage. Radtke controlling against the cage. Radtke controlling Diamond. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Radtke.
Round 2 – Early low blow by Diamond stops the fight. The right quickly resumes. Oh! Radtke wobbles Diamond. Diamond is hurt bad! Diamond clinches and presses Radtke against the cage. Radtke reverses the position almost immediately. Radtke working on the takedown, but Diamond defending well. Three minutes left. Radtke still controlling Diamond, but unable to get the takedown. Referee separates the fighters and resume the fight in the middle of the cage. Right hand by Radtke. Now a left connect for Radtke and Radtke presses Diamond against the cage again. Radtke control. They swing in the final seconds and both connect.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Radtke.
Round 3 – Nice jab by Radtke. Diamond is pressing Radtke and being more agresive than the previous two rounds. Solid jabs land for Diamond. They clinch and Diamond lands two nasty elbows. Radtke reverses the position and presses Diamond against the cage. Short shots land for Radtke. Three minutes left. A low blow lands on Radtke and the fight is paused. The fight resumes. Oh! Spinning back fist lands for Diamond. Radtke presses Diamond on the cage. They break apart. The two swinging hard. Radtke closes the distance and they clinch. Oh no! Another low blow from Diamond. Referee takes a point from Diamond. Radtke goes back to pressing Diamond against the cage. One minute left. Short shots land for Radtke. Radtke controls Diamond all the way to the final bell.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Radtke. Overall 30-26, Radtke.
Result: Charlie Radtke def. Blood Diamond via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Photos: Charlie Radtke def. Blood Diamond at UFC 293: Best photos
Records: Charlie Radtke (8-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Blood Diamond (3-3 MMA, 0-3 UFC)
Division: Weltrweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Judging: Christopher Aliendi, Mark Collett, David Lethaby 29-27.
Nasrat Haqparast vs. Landon Quinones
Round 1 -Leg kick by Quinone to get thing started. More kicks by Quinones. Quinones is staying mobile and beating up the legs of Haqparast. Good jab by Haqparast. Haqparast putting together some good combos, Quinones faces is showing damage. More leg kicks by Quinones. Nasty body shot by Haqparast. Uppercut by Haqparast. Good jab by Haqparast. Quinones keeps his main attack focused on the lede leg of Haqparast. Oh, uppercut by Haqparast. Quinones presses Haqparast against the cage. Haqparast reverses the position. They break free. They swing until the final bell. Good round.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Haqparast.
Round 2 – Haqparast comes out aggressive and tries to take down Quinones but fails. Quinones reverses the position and unloads good body shots. They break free. Nasty leg kick by Quinones. More leg kicks by Quinones. Haqparast’s movement is hindered. Man, Quinones just keeps beating up the lead leg of Haqparast. Good left by Haqparast. Oh! Haqparast wobbles Quinones with a left. Haqparast is putting the pressure. It looks like Quinones recovered. One minute left. Oh! Quinones connects with a headkick. Big left by Haqparast. Another left! Fun fight. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Haqparast.
Round 3 – Haqparast with immediate pressure. Good shots by Haqparast. Oh! Haqparast wobbles Quinones with the left. Haqparast is really taking over the fight now. Nasty body shots by Haqparast. Nonstop pressure by Haqparast. Props to Quinone, he’s showing ridiculous toughness. Three minutes left. Quinones is landing, but his shots appear to have little effect. He also abandoned the leg kicks. Big left hand by Haqparast. Haqparast flowing with combos. Two minutes left. Haqparast all over Quinones. Oh! Elbow by Quinones lands. Haqparast is all over Quinones, hasn’t given him a break. Haqparast shoots for a takedown and Quinones stuffs it. The two get in an incredible brawl in the final seconds. Great fight.
MMA Junikie scores the round 10-9, Haqparast. Overall 30-27, Haqparast.
Result: Nasrat Haqparast def. Landon Quinones via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: Nasrat Haqparast def. Landon Quinones at UFC 293: Best photos
Records: Nasrat Haqparast (15-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC), Landon Quinones (8-1-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPNews/ESPN+
Referee: Marc Goddard
Judging: Eric Colon, Evan Field, Clemens Werner 30-27.
John Makdessi vs. Jamie Mullarkey
Round 1 – Leg kick by Makdessi. Makdessi doing the pressuring. Both trade leg kicks. So far, the two are just trading leg kicks. Body kick by Makdessi, countered by a left from Mullarkey. Hard leg kick by Mullarkey. Two minutes left. Makdessi with a nice combo. They trade leg kicks. Oh! Hard one, two by Makdessi. Jab by Makdessi. Both land a couple more leg kicks before the bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Makdessi.
Round 2 – Nasty leg kick by Mullarkey. Another one by Mullarkey. Right hand connects for Makdessi. Stiff jab by Makdessi. Mullarkey with a jab to the body. Good jab by Mullarkey. Not much action going on. Makdessi catches a kick and lands a solid left hand. The two trade leg kicks. More leg kicks from both. Makdessi still chaing Mullarkey. Oh! Makdessi wobbles Mullarkey bad! Mullarkey on survival mode. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Makdessi.
Round 3 – Makdessi comes out aggressive, pressuirng Mullarkey. Spinning back fist lands for Makdessi. Mullarkey is bleeding from his nose. Flying knee from Mullarkey, but Makdesi counters with a right. Left hook connects for Makdessi. Leg kick by Mullarkey. Leg kick by Makdessi. Stiff jab lands for Mullarkey. Very even fight so far. Stiff jab followed by a right hook from Makdessi. Leg kick by Makdessi. Nasty jab by Makdessi. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Makdessi. Overall 30-27, Makdessi.
Result: Jamie Mullarkey def. John Makdessi via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: Jamie Mullarkey def. John Makdessi at UFC 293: Best photos
Records: Jamie Mullarkey (17-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC), John Makdessi (18-9 MMA, 11-9 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPNews/ESPN+
Referee: Jim Perdios
Judging: Mark Christie, Eric Colon, David Lethaby 29-28.
Jack Jenkins vs. Chepe Mariscal
Round 1 – Oh! Nasty body kick by Jenkins. Mariscal ate it well. An apparent low blow from Jenkins briefly stops the fight but it resumes. Leg kick by Mariscal. Leg kick by Jenkins. Leg kick, then a one, two by Jenkins. Mariscal developing a mouse under his right eye. Two minutes left. Onem two by Jenkins. Now a leg kick. Body kick by Jenkins. Mariscal presses Jenkins against the cage. Knee to the body by Jenkins. They break free and the bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Jenkins.
Round 2 – Jenkins starts the round with a hard leg kick. Mariscal closes the distance and presses Jenkins against the cage. Short shots to the body from Mariscal. Knees to the legs by Mariscal. Jenkins brifly reverses the position, but Mariscal re-gains control again. Knees to the legs by Mariscal. Jenkins breaks away. Good jab by Jenkins. Mariscal presses Jenkins against the cage. Short shots by Mariscal. Oh no! Mariscal hits a throw and injures Jenkins arm in the process. He proceeds with a few shots on an injured Jenkins and referee stops the fight. It looks like Jenkins’ right elbow dislocated.
Result: Chepe Mariscal def. Jack Jenkins via verbal submission (arm injury) – Round 2, 3:19
Recap: Jack Jenkins suffers disgusting arm injury on Chepe Marsical throw
Photos: Chepe Mariscal def. Jack Jenkins at UFC 293: Best photos
Records: Chepe Mariscal (15-6 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Jack Jenkins (12-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPNews/ESPN+
Referee: Greg Kleynjans
Da Woon Jung vs. Carlos Ulberg
Round 1 – Both fighter very tentative here. Ulberg staying on the outside while Jung chases. Ulberg staying mobile and landing leg kicks. More leg kicks by Ulberg. Two minutes left. Jung with a couple of leg kicks of his own. Oh! Huge shots by Ulberg, Jung goes down. Ulber pounces on him, but Jung gets up and action cools down again. Very low output from both.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Ulberg.
Round 2 – Hard jabs by Ulberg. Hard leg kick by Jung. Ulberg now walking foward, seems more confident than Round 1. Hard jabs by Ulberg. Three minutes left. Ulberg back to staying on the outside. Leg kick by Jung. Big one, two by Ulberg. Jung’s face is a bit battered. Man, several hard jabs land for Ulberg. Jung is pressing, but throwing very little. Jung is bleeding from his right eye. Leg kick by Jung. Ulberg keeps working that jab.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Ulberg.
Round 3 – Jung goes back to pressing Ulberg, but with little attack. Ulberg content staying on the outside and jabbing his way to a win. Oh, Jung lands a right. Ulberg eats it well. Another right-hand lands for Jung. Good jabs by Ulberg. Ulberg is slowing down a bit. Ulberg clinches Jung against the fence after a failed takedown attempt from Jung. They break free. Jung shoots for a takedown, briefly gets it, but Ulberg right back up. Two minutes left. Ulberg looks tired. Jung being more agressive. Ulberg presses Jung against the cage. Good knee by Ulberg. And Ulberg gets a takedown! Ulberg gets mount! Big shots from Ulberg. Ulberg is going for the rear-naked choke! It looks tight! The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Ulberg. Overall 30-27, Ulberg.
** The fight was overturned to a submission win, as Jung was seen tapping on the replay.
Result: Carlos Ulberg def. Da Woon Jung via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 4:49
Recap: Carlos Ulberg awarded submission win after review of missed tap
Photos: Carlos Ulberg def. Da Woon Jung at UFC 293: Best photos
Records: Carlos Ulberg (9-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC), Da Woon Jung (15-5-1 MMA, 4-3-1 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPNews/ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Tyson Pedro vs. Anton Turkalj
Round 1 – Turkalj comes out pressuring. Leg kick by Turkalj. Pedro on the outisde. Another hard leg kick by Turkalj. Pedro with his own leg kick. Both land leg kicks. Three minutes left. Both fighters very tentative. Oh! Pedro wobbles Turkalj! Another right hand hurts Turkalj! Pedro drops him with a huge shot! It’s over!
Result: Tyson Pedro def. Anton Turkalj via KO (punches) – Round 1, 2:12
Recap: Tyson Pedro breaks out sword celebration after bludgeoning knockout of Anton Turkalj
Photos: Tyson Pedro def. Anton Turkalj at UFC 293: Best photos
Records: Tyson Pedro (10-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC), Anton Turkalj (8-3 MMA, 0-3 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee: Marc Goddard
Austen Lane vs. Justin Tafa
Round 1 – Jab by Lane. Body kick by Lane. Tafa marching forward and backing up Lane. An apparent accidental eye poke halts the action, but quickly resumes. Leg kciks by Lane. Lef hand connects for Tafa. Oh! Huge left puts down Lane! A few follow-up shots and it’s over! Wow.
Result: Justin Tafa def. Austen Lane via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:22
Recap: Tafa flattens Austen Lane after another eye poke scare
Photos: Tyson Pedro def. Anton Turkalj at UFC 293: Best photos
Records: Justin Tafa (7-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC), Austen Lane (12-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee: Jim Perdios
Felipe dos Santos vs. Manel Kape
Round 1 – They both trade quick leg kicks. Left hand connects for dos Santos. Hard jab by dos Santos. Oh! Kape drops dos Santos. Kape on top looking for ground-and-pound, but dos Santos defeding and staying safe. dos Santos back up. dos Santos is putting the pressure on Kape. He tries to go for a takedown, but Kape gets top. They’re back to striking. Good right hand by dos Santos. Good jabs and a knee to the head by dos Santos. Two minutes left. Good jabs by dos Santos. Kape has some damage on his face. A spinning elbow lands for Kape, but dos Santos eats it well. Body kick by dos Santos. Oh! Spinning elbow by dos Santos and then each land a right hand. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, dos Santos.
Round 2 – Dos Santos with non-stop kicks to the body and legs. Oh! Good right hand connects for dos Santos. Leg kick by dos Santos. Kape is getting outworked here. Good left hook by Kape. Three minutes left. Man, these two are trading! Oh! Huge left from Kape stuns dos Santos. What a chin by dos Santos, he seems fine just a few seconds later. Right hand connects for dos Santos. Oh! Kape unloads a flurry on dos Santos. This fight is insane. These two brawl it out to the bell.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Kape.
Round 3 – They trade leg kicks. Right hand lands clean for dos Santos. Now a clean one, two by dos Santos. Body shot by Kape. A couple of right hands land for dos Santos. Kape is wobbled! Dos Santos all over him! The pressure is on. Kape now lands a big combo. One two stuns Kape! Insane pressure by dos Santos here! He’s making Kape work. Kape with a hard right hand. Kape shoots and gets the takedown. The bell rings. Crazy fight.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, dos Santos. Overall 29-28, Kape.
Result: Manel Kape def. Felipe dos Santos via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Recap: Manel Kape out-battles Felipe Dos Santos, uses anti-gay slur while insulting City Kickboxing
Photos: Manel Kape def. Felipe dos Santos at UFC 293: Best photos
Records: Manel Kape (19-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC), Felipe dos Santos (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee: Greg Kleynjans
Judging: Eric Colon 30-27. David Lethaby, Clemens Werner 29-28.
Tai Tuivasa vs. Alexander Volkov
Round 1 – Early leg kicks by Tuivasa. Stiff jab by Volkov. Another leg kick by Tuivasa. Body kick by Volko. Volkov counters with a couple of shots and a body kick. Leg kick by Tuivasa. Oh! Nice combo by Volkov. Tuivasa is bleeding from his nose. Big leg kick by Tuivasa. Two minutes left. Right hand by Volkov. Body kick by Volkov. Oh! Volkov drops Tuivasa with a right hand. Tuivasa immediately back up. Oh! Nasty combo by Volkov to end the round. Tuivasa is battered.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Volkov.
Round 2 – Big leg kick by Tuivasa. Tuivasa pressuring Volkov. More leg kicks by Tuivasa. Volkov’s leg is hurting. Solid knee and punches by Volkov. Volkov catches Tuivasa off balance and drops him to the ground. Volkov follows and gets half guard. Tuivasa is back up shortly. Tuivasa putting the pressure. One two by Volkov. Volkov catches a kick and takes down Tuivasa He gets mount. Good ground-and-pound by Volkov. Tuivasa unable to get out. Two minutes left. Volkov tries an arm triangle, but Tuivasa gets out. One minute left. Volkov landing short shots on Tuivasa. Volkov going for an Ezekiel choke! And there’s the tap! Wow.
Result: Alexander Volkov def. Tai Tuivasa via submission (Ezekiel choke) – Round 2, 4:37
Recap: Alexander Volkov taps Tai Tuivasa with sneaky Ezekiel choke
Photos: Alexander Volkov def. Tai Tuivasa at UFC 293: Best photos
Records: Alexander Volkov (37-10 MMA, 11-4 UFC), Tai Tuivasa (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee: Herb Dean
Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland
Round 1 – Adesanya takes the outside and looks to attack at range, while Strickland looks to close the distance. Several leg kicks land for Adesanya. Strickland has yet to land anything. Three minutes left. More leg kicks by Adesanya. Strickland lands a jab. Not much going on. Two minutes left. Strickland lands a few good jabs. Leg kick by Adesanya. Oh! Huge right hand drops Adesanya! Adesanya is badly hurt! WHAT! The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-8, Strickland.
Round 2 – Strickland again back to chasing Adesanya. Good jab by Strickland. Output from both is very low. Leg kicks by Adesanya, but Strickland seems to be checking most. Body shot by Adesanya. Good jab by Strickland. Big right by Adesanya. One minute left. Jab by Adesanya. One, two lands for Strickland.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Adesanya.
Round 3 – Single shots from both fighters, but nothing landing clean. The crowd is booing. Leg kick by Adesanya. Another one. Right hand connects for Adesanya. Adesanya is pressing a little more, but Strickland is doing most of the chasing. Big left connects for Strickland! Two minutes left. Jab by Strickland. Oh! Body shot and left hook by Strickland. Leg kick by Adesanya. Jab by Strickland. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Strickland.
Round 4 – Leg kicks by Adesanya. Strickland connects with a jab! Oh! Big left hook by Strickland! And a right! Adesanya is having a tough time connecting. Strickland is walking down Adesanya here. Combo lands for Strickland. Jab by Strickland. Adesanya is on the back foot non-stop. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Strickland.
Round 5 – Adesanya’s face is showing damage. Good jab by Strickland. Strickland is walking down Adesanya. Adesanya’s striking is basically neutralized. He’s unable to land anything. One, two lands for Strickland. Adesanya upping his kicks. Jabs by Strickland. Two minutes left. Right hand lands for Strickland. Adesanya is bleeding from his mouth. One minute left. Right hand lands for Strickland. Strickland is yelling like a mad man! Walks down Strickland! The bell rings!
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Strickland. Overall 49-45, Strickland.
Result: Sean Strickland def. Israel Adesanya via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) – to win middleweight title
Recap: Sean Strickland shocks Israel Adesanya, the world with all-time title upset
Photos:
Records: Sean Strickland (28-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC), Israel Adesanya (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee: Marc Goddard
Judging: Eric Colon, David Lethaby, Clemens Werner 49-46.
