Conor McGregor is back, and the mixed martial arts (MMA) world is abuzz. “The Notorious” makes his return to the Octagon tonight (Sat. October 6, 2018) in attempt to reclaim the lightweight throne. He’ll challenge undefeated grappling specialist Khabib Nurmagomedov. The pair have some very personal issues with one another, making the fight much more interesting.
While McGregor vs. Khabib is certainly the main attraction, UFC 229 offers several great match-ups fight fans will enjoy. In the co-main event, Tony Ferguson and Anthony Pettis will meet in a pivotal lightweight bout. Also, “The Black Beast” Derrick Lewis looks to bounce back from a disappointing performance against Alexander Volkov.
Light heavyweights Ovince Saint Preux and Dominick Reyes are also slated to go one-on-one. And opening up the main card will be a great women’s strawweight bout between Michelle Waterson and Felice Herrig.
Stick with MMA News throughout the night for live results from UFC 229. Follow along with us on Twitter @mmanews_com. Check out MMA News’ live coverage of UFC 229 below:
Main Card:
- Lightweight: (C) Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor
Round 1:
McGregor tries to defend a takedown right off the bat. McGregor defends well momentarily and is delivering elbows and shots as he scoots to the cage. Khabib has McGregor’s feet locked up well. McGregor gets a foot free, but only for a moment. McGregor’s legs are trapped again but McGregor stays scooted against the cage. Khabib is sneaking in a few shots but McGregor seems fine thus far. McGregor is on his back now, as Khabib gets to half guard. Khabib is sneaking off some ground-and-pound, but McGregor survives the first round.
Round 2:
McGregor misses on a few shots to open the round. A bit overhand from Khabib drops McGregor. Khabib is going off now. Khabib shoots in against the cage and takes McGregor down. Khabib gets full mount but loses it and is in McGregor’s full guard now. Khabib ripping off some nice ground-and-pound now. A big elbow lands for Khabib. McGregor is eating some big shots from Khabib now. Khabib goes for a Kimura but McGregor is able to escape. After a failed guillotine, McGregor gets back to his feet but still has Khabib against him on the cage.
Round 3:
Jab lands for McGregor to start the round. Body shot for McGregor lands, but these shots don’t seem to phase Khabib at all. McGregor stuffs a takedown and lands a nice elbow and uppercut to separate. Khabib again goes after Mcgregor against the cage, but McGregor fands him off.
An uppercut lands for McGregor and he also gets a head kick in. Khabib landing now. Mcgregor fires back to the body. McGregor with more shots to the head. McGregor lands a front kick to the body. Another shot to the body for McGregor and Khabib fails on another takedown. A combo for McGregor lands. Khabib in on a takedown against the cage. McGregor survives and the round comes to an end.
Round 4:
A nice combo lands for McGregor. Front kick to the body for McGregor as well. A lead hook gets in for Khabib. Khabib gets in on the takedown and gets it, with McGregor on his knees against the cage. McGregor gets mounted and taken down. McGregor him escapes and tries to get out, but is unable. Khabib locks in the rear-naked choke and McGregor taps out. All hell then breaks loose, Khabib begins jawing off to McGregor’s corner and jumps the Octagon to attack Dillon Danis. The Octagon become flooded with both teams and a huge brawl breaks out. Things seem to have settled.
Official Result: Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Conor McGregor via R4 submission (rear-naked choke, 3:03)
- Lightweight: Tony Ferguson vs. Anthony Pettis
Round 1:
Ferguson opens things up with a kick to the body and an overhand. Pettis lands a leg kick and Ferguson responds with one of his own. Ferguson is limping a bit on his surgically repaired knee. Pettis lands some hooks and Ferguson gets a jab in. Ferguson lands a front kick to the body and Pettis cracks back with a spinning attack.
Ferguson is really keeping a hard pressure on Pettis. He is letting off combos and hits an uppercut and hook clean. A spinning back fist lands for Ferguson, who lands another right hand as Pettis goes for a cartwheel kick. Pettis lands an overhand and Ferguson responds with a straight. A front kick to the body lands for Ferguson, who closes out the round with a nice combination of hooks.
Round 2:
Ferguson eats a big shot and is busted open badly. He wobbles around on the floor before finding the fight on the ground. Someone is busted open terrible and blood is everywhere. It looks like it’s Ferguson. No, it’s from Pettis, he has been cut terribly on his head. The fight is temporarily stopped. Pettis misses on a spinning attack and Ferguson misses on a wild counter. Ferguson with a few leg kicks and a superman punch for Ferguson lands as he proceeds to attack the body.
Ferguson’s pressure is relentless and he continues to land shots. Ferguson is going off, Pettis has cuts on both sides of his face now. A big shot lands for Pettis but Ferguson seems to eat it. Another left-hand lands for Pettis but Ferguson continues to press forward and land. An inside elbow lands for Ferguson. This fight is insane. Ferguson is teeing off against the cage to end the round.
In the corner, Pettis’ hand is broken and he can’t continue the fight. The fight is over. Ferguson is awarded the win.
Official Result: Tony Ferguson def. Anthony Pettis via R2 TKO (corner stoppage, 5:00)
- Light heavyweight: Ovince Saint Preux vs. Dominick Reyes
Round 1:
Reyes lands a nice body kick and 1-2 combo. A high kick is barely blocked by OSP and Reyes follows up with a hook. Reyes continues to attack OSP’s lead leg. Reyes stuffs a takedown from OSP. Reyes goes after OSP against the cage and OSP clinches up and continues to look for the takedown. Big hard elbows to the head from Reyes as he defends the takedown. OSP is able to get the takedown but Reyes is right back up.
OSP is having to eat shots as he works for the takedown. Some big hooks are landing for Reyes now. A head kick lands for Reyes. Reyes definitely has OSP rocked but he isn’t pulling the trigger for some reason. Reyes lands another big overhand. Another head kick land for Reyes. The round comes to an end.
Round 2:
OSP is working for the sidekicks to the body early on. Reyes fends him off with a leg kick. A nice left-hand lands for Reyes. OSP going for a takedown but Reyes stuffs and gets dominant position. Reyes lands a nice kick to the body and follows it up with a leg kick. More leg kicks from Reyes and OSP misses a hook. OSP fails on a takedown and eats a kick to the body. OSP is busted open on his head and is bleeding profusely. They exchange body shots and OSP lands a kick to the body.
Round 3:
Leg kicks for Reyes and OSP lands a head kick that is partially blocked. Front kicks to the body land for Reyes. Pretty uneventful round thus far. Reyes finally catches OSP who tries jolting inside. OSP lands a big shot after catching a Reyes kick. He then shoots in on the takedown and is clinched against Reyes on the cage.
Reyes then gets dominant position. They are able to separate and Reyes hits a leg kick. OSP lands a jab but Reyes responds with a hook. OSP is starting to find a rhythm now. Reyes using great movement and evading OSP’s attacks. Reyes then lands a nice head kick but OSP continues to come forward. Reyes lands a hard leg kick and also a big shot that drops OSP. As OSP falls, however, the horn rings.
Official Result: Dominick Reyes def. Ovince Saint Preux via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Heavyweight: Derrick Lewis vs. Alexander Volkov
Round 1:
Lewis misses on a jumping switch kick. Volkov lands a straight and hook to the body. He seems to be in trouble but Lewis battles back and is moving. A huge shot lands for Volkov and Lewis goes back. There’s an eye poke against Lewis and the fight temporarily stops. Back to the action and a straight lands for Volkov again. Lewis goes for an awkward takedown but ends up on the bottom. He gets to his feet and we’re striking again.
A few big hooks land for Lewis and moves Volkov back. Volkov gets the clinch and trips Lewis down. Volkov is right into side control and is delivering elbows to his face and stomach. Volkov takes the back and is working for a choke. Lewis is able to transition nicely and gets top control. “The Black Beast” now lands some big shots from top position as the round ends.
Round 2:
Volkov hits a jab and follows up with a nice combination. Another few strikes land for Volkov, who is being calculated. More body shots from Volkov, who is hurting Lewis with almost every shot he lands. Lewis really wants the takedown but can’t get it. Body kick lands for Volkov. Lewis tries to burst but can’t get much. Volkov is able to hit a few counter shots. Lewis knocks Volkov’s mouthpiece out and the action is stopped. Once the mouthpiece is back in, the round ends.
Round 3:
Volkov lands some big shots but Lewis is able to survive. Something is hurting Lewis’ eye. He may have a broken orbital bone. A few body kicks land for Voklov. Lewis exploads now with strikes but can’t land. An overhand lands for Lewis but Volkov eats it well. Another big overhand lands for Lewis. Lewis gets a nice lead hook and follows it up with a big shot that puts Volkov down. He follows it up with ground-and-pound and knocks the Russian out. What an amazing comeback.
Official Result: Derrick Lewis def. Alexander Volkov via R3 KO (punches, 4:49)
- Women’s strawweight: Michelle Waterson vs. Felice Herrig
Round 1:
Waterson with a head kick to start things off. Herrig continues to press forward but hasn’t landed yet. Sidekick to the body lands for Waterson as she continues to circle around. Herrig responds with a body kick of her own. Herrig catches Waterson with a nice hook and goes immediately into the clinch.
Herrig has dominant position against the cage but eats some knees to the gut. Waterson gets a nice elbow to the face in. A few failed trip takedown attempts from Herrig and they’re against the cage again. They separate and the round comes to an end.
Round 2:
Right off the bat, Herrig initiates the clinch. A knee to the chin lands for Waterson but Herrig responds with a hook. Another knee to the body from Waterson. A nice elbow from Waterson lands as they separate, and Waterson lands a nice head kick. Herrig clinches and Waterson gets top position with a judo throw.
Some nice elbows from Waterson on top. Waterson keeps top control and is able to stay busy with some shots in between adjusting position. Waterson works for full mount but can’t get it. Instead, Herrig gets full guard. The round comes to an end.
Round 3:
Some strikes land for Waterson but Herrig initiates the clinch again. She separates herself with some nice shots. Waterson goes for a takedown but Herrig changes position and ends up on top. Waterson lands some nice elbows from the bottom. Waterson is staying very busy off the bottom with elbows and shots.
An omaplata attempt from Waterson but it falls flat. The referee stands them up since Herrig wasn’t being active off the top. Herrig again initiates the clinch against the cage. They separate, and Waterson goes for a takedown attempt that’s stuffed. A front kick to the face lands for Waterson before then begin exchanging knees to the body in the clinch. The round comes to an end.
Official Result: Michelle Waterson def. Felice Herrig via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 30-27)
Preliminary Card:
- Flyweight: Jussier Formiga def. Sergio Pettis via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-28)
- Welterweight: Vicente Luque def. Jalin Turner via R1 KO (punches,3:52)
- Women’s bantamweight: Aspen Ladd def. Tonya Evinger via R1 TKO (punches, 3:26)
- Lightweight: Scott Holtzman def. Alan Patrick via R3 KO (elbows, 3:42)
UFC Fight Pass Exclusive Prelims:
- Women’s bantamweight: Lina Lansberg def. Yana Kunitskaya via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Lightweight: Nik Lentz def. Gray Maynard via R2 TKO (head kick and punches, 1:19)
- Welterweight: Tony Martin def. Ryan LaFlare via R3 TKO (head kick and punches, 1:00)
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