Aleksandar Rakic def. Thiago Santos via unanimous decision:

A light heavyweight bout kicked off UFC 259, as the returning Tiago Santos took on Aleksandar Rakic.

• Round 1: Rakic led the fight early, pressuring Santos and cornering him against the cage early. Santos managed to counter, returning the cornering action by delivering some low kicks before both men refocused and squared up again, now dead-center of the octagon. Rakic returned the kick from earlier with a massive low kick strike of his own, as Santos charged with a massive right hand that ended up missing. Rakic began to rely on kicks for this round before Santos managed to rock Rakic with a massive light-handed strike. Recovered, Rakic resorted back to the kicks once again as the first round came to a close.
• Round 2: Both competitors touch gloves, as Rakic again went back to kicks and leg strikes to start his second-round offense. Santos struggled to find an opening, as Rakic led his offense back towards the cage. Santos recovered from the cornered offense, delivering a hard low rick to Rakic. Unphased, Rakic launched with a huge strike and just skimmed past Santos with a flying knee attempt to end round 2
• Round 3: Santos came out with a fiery offense to start round 3, but Rakic was waiting. Rakic used the momentum to push Santos up against the cage wall once again. Back and forth offense between the two before Rakic attempted a single-leg takedown. Santos fought off the submission attempt before the buzzer sounded, ending both the round and the fight.

Islam Makhachev def. Drew Dober via submission:

• Round 1: Both men launched a few range finders, testing each other out before a single-leg takedown attempt from Makhachev. Dober countered by locking Makhachev’s leg, stopping him from getting a full lock-in mount. After some back and forth strikes and weight shifting, Makhachev got full mount control and locked in an armbar. Dober looked like he was stuck in a losing battle but miraculously managed to get out of the submission just before the round ended.
• Round 2: Makhachev dominated early, downing Dober less than 40 seconds into the round! Dober managed to shuffle towards the cage, using it as leverage to get back up to a standing base, but Makhachev was set on taping out Dober, wrestling to the ground once again. Makhachev unloaded some strikes to try and K/O Dober but to no avail. Dober was able to withstand the onslaught, as the buzzer sounded to end round two.
• Round 3: Makhachev wasn’t letting Dober get any sort of advantage, flooring him again within 30 seconds. Dober tried to get to his feet, tried to counter with a kimura, but nothing was working. Makhachev changed up his position, locked in a triangle choke and Dober could do nothing but tap out.

Aljamain Sterling def. Petr Yan via disqualification:

• Round 1: Sterling takes charge early, landing some very solid kicks and jabs. Yan is caught off guard, backing up before getting hit with a flying knee. Sterling keeps his advancement going before Yan wakes up and counters an incoming kick. Sterling recovers, unleashing another flying knee. Sterling tries a takedown, but it’s denied by Yan before changing up his style and executes the takedown, followed up by another knee. Yan gets to his standing base and unloads two massive hits, surprisingly sending Sterling to the mat, but Sterling recovers fast, only to quickly be floored by Yan again. Body shot exchanges from both men as Sterling recovers. Yan comes back with fury, suplexing Sterling to the mat. The buzzer sounds shortly thereafter, ending the round.
• Round 2: Sterling comes out the gate early, landing some jabs and kicks. Axe kick cutoff by Yam connects, followed up by hard leg kicks. Sterling is floored, but Yan lets him get to his feet. Sterling shakes the cobwebs by connecting with a combo to the body. Yan on the defensive, as Sterling tries to initiate a takedown. Yan shakes it off, dodging Sterling’s offensive, and lands a left hook. Sterling again tries to takedown Yan, but Yan counters with a successful takedown of his own just before the buzzer sounds, ending round 2.
• Round 3: Both men are ramping up their game now, landing hard shots immediately. Sterling changes his style and lands a low blow shot. More strong offensive back and forth, with Yan leading the successful strike connection points. Sterling attempts a takedown but Yan has other ideas. Yan takes control as Sterling slips during a strike attempt, landing a throw and some brutal leg kicks. Yan pauses as he lets Sterling back up. Sterling unloads a few kicks upon rising, Yan returning the favour. Just as the buzzer sounds, Yan connected with a takedown. Saved by the bell for Sterling.
• Round 4: Sterling fires out with some kicks, but Yan gets his takedown. Yan follows up with a strike, Sterling returns with a knee. Body shot combination from Sterling, Yan returns with a strike as both men then deliver a leg kick combo. Yan’s offense takes a hit as a few strike attempts are either missed or countered, Sterling leading the charge. Yan refocuses and hits a variety of strikes on Sterling. Sterling’s starting to look fatigued, more offense from Yan until a surprising illegal knee connects, stopping the match. Sterling can’t recover, making him the winner via DQ.

Amanda Nunes def. Megan Anderson via submission:

• Round 1: Nunes pressures Anderson early, stunning her with a series of furious strikes and blows. A huge right-hand leaves Anderson reeling, seemingly hurt. Moments later, Anderson drops to the ground, showing signs of pain from the unloaded strikes. Nunes pouches on the downed Anderson, locking in a submission. Anderson had no way to counter or switch, taping out early into round 1.

MAIN EVENT – Jan Blachowicz def. Israel Adesanya via unanimous decision:

• Round 1: Jan strikes first with a kick, Adesanya returns with a kick of his own before some range finder jabs. Front kick from Adesanya counters Jan’s advancement towards the cage. More back and forth exchange of kicks, before Adesanya pushes back Jan, only for his advancement to be countered by a jab and body kick. Jan fires off a few punches, but most are blocked. The buzzer sounds shortly after, ending the round.
• Round 2: Jan gets the first hits, landing some kicks as Adesanya fakes out Jan with a spinning kick attempt. Adesanya gets a strike in, only for Jan to deliver the receipt of the strike with a massive right-handed strike. He followed it up with a few nice jabs and then an outside leg kick. Adesanya misses with a question mark kick attempt, Jan charges in with a combo. Adesanya defends with leg kick strikes, only for the match to stop temporarily, after an accidental low blow via Adesanya. Match continued with Jan as he connected with a body kick, Adesanya attempted to return the favour. Adesanya seemingly hits another low blow, but the ref doesn’t stop the match this time (huh?). Both men unload massive bomb hits to finish off the round.
• Round 3: Jan scores a clean combo straight away, tunneling and looking to down Adesanya. Adesanya’s mood changes, dropping huge strikes on Jan. Gets to the stage where Adesanya is starting to stun Jan, as Jan bear-hugs him, using the cage for leverage in the lock-up. Adesanya hitting a boxing combo on Jan’s ears, followed by a trade-off of hard, solid strikes between the two. Jan is looking tired, manages to land a nice powerful combo before bear-hugging again. Adesanya got out of the hug attempt fast and hit a huge strike to end the round.
• Round 4: Adesanya is ready to go, as Jan seemingly struggles to continue with fatigue setting in. But Jan actually manages to suck in some second wind and drop 4 successful massive hits, eventually sending Adesanya head recoiling. Adesanya shakes it off, swapping strikes because Jan charges and takes down Adesanya. Jan hits some elbows during the mount, as Adesanya struggles to regain composure. Hammerfists strikes from Jan, sequelled by shots to the ears. Jan switches his guard, moving to a side control. Jan remained in firm mount control until the buzzer sounded.
• Round 5: Both men swap hard combos to start the final round. Adesanya unleashes a surprise spinning back kick, hitting Jan in the midsection, then taunts Jan! Jan furiously takes down Adesanya, as Adesanya immediately squirms his way to the fence. Jan remained in control once again, scoring solid combo strikes before the end of the final round.

Written by: Brutaleo