UFC 289 ‘Nunes vs. Aldana’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Round 1

Last week, at the beginning of the play-by-play, we remarked that
the UFC was starting off a stretch of a dozen straight Saturdays
(or more) of consecutive live coverage. What a difference a week
makes. Now, with the news of Aug. 26 and Sept. 2 cards rolling in,
fight fans are in week 2 of a record-setting 17 straight weekends
of UFC shows. That string includes five pay-per-views, and the
first one of which is UFC 289 tonight in Vancouver, Canada –
marking the UFC’s return to the northernmost North American nation
after over three years away (UFC Fight Night 158, Sept. 2019). This
relatively shorter show starts things off in the women’s
strawweight division between two women who are in dire need of a
win to hold onto their roster spot. Romania’s Belbita (14-7, 1-3
UFC) may have a popular Instagram account, but she has won just
once in four stints in the Octagon thus far, and is hoping the
fifth time is the charm to make a big impression. Standing in her
way will be Parana Vale Tudo trainee Oliveira (13-6, 1-2 UFC), who
wants to even her promotional record to .500 in her fourth
appearance. The two will look to get back in the win column under
the watchful eye of referee Phil Koldyk, and they show respect
before getting started by bumping their fists together. Oliveira
starts off with a few quick right hands, and her head movement
allows her to sway out of the way when Belbita responds with
counters. Belbita steps in with a one-two, and she is swinging
recklessly with her chin way down. Oliveira stands right in front
of her, willing to trade, and she lifts up a knee aiming to counter
the half-ducking Belbita. Oliveira sticks and moves, and she
absorbs a low kick and gets popped on the way in. Belbita swings
and misses with a jab and a high kick, and her follow-up leg kick
does chop the lead wheel. Oliveira replies with a step-in knee, and
she is missing this strike by a matter of inches. Belbita gets
knocked back with a body kick, and she eats two punches up top
before spurring into action. Oliveira charges with a series of
punches, and she trips up Belbita and tackles her to the floor.
Belbita lands and throws her legs up high for a potential triangle
choke or armbar setup, but the Brazilian is wise to it and fights
the hands. Belbita attempts to stand back up, and Oliveira
shoulders her over to the floor again. Belbita strikes from her
back with multiple elbows, and she kicks off the torso to almost
stand back up. Oliveira drops down for a heel hook or an ankle
lock, and this is a mistake for her as Belbita steps through it and
claims top position. Belbita sits on top from a strange angle
landing body shots until Oliveira explodes back to her feet, and
the two clinch up and trade knees. Belbita lands a solid knee on
the jaw on the break, and the two are quick to re-engage with long,
rangy punches. They trade simultaneous leg kicks, and Oliveira
dodges a looping right hand and misses on her own counter. Belbita
again chambers and fires a big right hand, and this time, it
connects. Oliveira responds in kind, and she gets clipped in a
fierce exchange of fists. Belbita gets off a low kick and fires off
another haymaker, and it is a straight left hand from the Romanian
that concludes the round.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Belbita
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Belbita
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Belbita

Round 2

The strawweights touch their gloves together to start off the
second stanza, and they both come out firing. Belbita strings
together a few punches into a pair of leg kicks, and the second
kick draws a visible reaction out of the Brazilian, who shoots for
a takedown and lands it. Belbita falls to her back and initiates an
offensive guard again, but this time, Oliveira is too slick and
active with strikes to let it get going. Belbita hacks with elbows
off her back, and she scoots her way to the fence and wall-walks to
stand back up. Oliveira clings to her foe tightly, and she hangs on
in this clinch position as Koldyk warns her for more activity.
Belbita pushes off the chest to rip the body with knees, and
Oliveira holds on as best she can even as the knees keep finding
their home. Oliveira gets turned around in the tie-up, and Belbita
continues smacking her with knees. Oliveira takes a deep breath in
the clinch as she gets met with additional knees to the midsection,
and Koldyk separates them. Belbita leads off the reset with two
looping hooks, and Oliveira’s movement and evasiveness is not as
on-point as earlier in the fight. Belbita bullies her foe back to
the wire, and she succeeds in tripping the Brazilian out and
throwing her to the canvas. In half guard, Belbita does work with
punches and one final elbow before the horn blares.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Belbita
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Belbita
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Belbita

Round 3

The final round commences with a glove touch and immediate fire
from both ladies. Belbita whips a right and a left, and she stuns
the Brazilian in a hurry. Oliveira shakes out the cobwebs and
throws back with a vengeance, and her strikes do not have the
impact as the ones that she took on the chin a moment ago. Belbita
slows down from a long blitz of blows to get her jab going, and she
follows one jab with an overhand right. Oliveira slides out of the
way and responds with an outside trip, but Belbita is able to
defend it and back herself up to the fence. Oliveira engages in the
clinch until she takes a knee to the breadbasket, and she thinks
twice about this and backs off. The two jab simultaneously, and
Belbita fires off a right hand that stings her opponent. Oliveira
gets popped when looking for a spin and, on her reset, she has her
lead leg chopped at. The two clinch up in the center of the cage
and drive knees to the chest before Belbita pushes her away, and
the Romanian is the aggressor to follow with a few long, lunging
jabs. Belbita reaches Oliveira with two punches before Oliveira can
get her back, and the volume of Belbita is starting to wear on the
slowing Oliveira. Belbita beats her foe to the punch a few times,
and the Brazilian is unable to dodge and move. Instead, leaps
forward with a flying knee, and she surprises Belbita with it.
Seeing its success, Oliveira spams it a few more times, and they
largely bounce off the guard. Oliveira attempts to take the fight
down, but Belbita pushes her away and looses a head kick and a
right hand. Oliveira takes it on the chin and is no worse for wear,
and she has her head snapped back with a jab. The flying knee tries
for Oliveira do not slow, although they are increasingly
telegraphed and land infrequently at best. Belbita sticks and
moves, evading the desperation looping strikes and getting off a
few jabs, and the fight comes to a conclusion.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Belbita (30-27 Belbita)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Belbita (30-27 Belbita)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Belbita (30-27 Belbita)

The Official Result

Diana Belbita def. Maria Oliveira via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-27, 29-28)

Round 1

Across this $80 pay-per-view, just six of the 11 bouts on the
billing feature at least one competitor with a number next to their
name, with three on the main card. The first rankings-worthy bout
tonight comes all the way down in the early prelims, as Dvorak
(20-5, 3-2 UFC) looks to hold the line and turn things around at
the expense of debuting Australian Erceg (9-1, 0-0 UFC). When the
cage door closes, referee Mitch Cadlick takes charge. The fighters
elect to clap hands to introduce themselves, and the fight begins
with Erceg looking for his distance with range-finding jabs. Dvorak
moves busily from side to side, and he lands a solid low kick to
start his own tally. Erceg whips a head kick at his man that is
circling away, and Dvorak is moving well enough to avoid the worst
of it. Dvorak chops down the calf with a few more blows, and Erceg
walks forward to throw hands and has his chin checked in an
exchange. Erceg shakes it off and responds with a low kick of his
own. Erceg dodges a punch and wings a left hand that tags Dvorak
square on the temple, and Dvorak staggers to the side for a few
steps before regathering his thoughts. Erceg does not overextend
himself, and instead of makes Dvorak come at him. Dvorak cracks his
foe with a solid right hand, and Erceg takes a funny step but is
responds with two punches. Dvorak reaches him with a right hand
over the top, and they keep hacking at one another’s calves. Dvorak
dodges a big right hand and bounces off the fencing, and his calf
gets kicked hard. “The Undertaker” does not let him off the hook,
instead kicking right back at him. Dvorak whiffs on a heavy right
hand and has his guard up just in time to block a head kick. Dvorak
stutter-steps into a low kick and one to the body, and he feints
and fakes to smack Erceg in the face with a pair of crisp fists.
Erceg comes up short on a high kick, and he times a right hand as
Dvorak is ducking. Dvorak goes back to the calf with another kick,
and he spins with a kick that grazes the chest. The round ends as
Erceg gives chase.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dvorak
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Dvorak
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dvorak

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

The Official Result

UFC Women’s 135-Pound Title Fight:
Amanda
Nunes (135) vs. Irene
Aldana (135)

BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING
REPORT | ODDS: Nunes (-320), Aldana (+265)

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 4

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 5

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:

The Official Result