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Not much was expected of Yana Kunitskaya in the UFC 222 headliner, but for one fleeting moment, she had Cristiane Justino on the defensive.

After being rocked by a right hand in an initial exchange, the former Invicta FC titlist dove low for a takedown and was able to take “Cyborg” to the canvas. The Brazilian then rolled to her knees and attempted to crawl away. When she tried to stand, Kunitskaya briefly jumped on her back.

It didn’t last, however, as Justino was able to free herself from the predicament in relatively short order. Kunistkaya never really had an opportunity to attempt a rear-naked choke.

“It’s why I’m so sad, because I feel I can control this fight at some points,” Kunitskaya said at the post-fight press conference. “But what happened, everyone saw.”

Once the combatants resumed trading on the feet, it was only a matter of time before “Cyborg” asserted herself. Justino floored Kunitskaya with another big right hand and ended the conte…

Frankie Edgar was supposed to receive his third featherweight title shot at UFC 222, but an injury to reigning champion Max Holloway spoiled those plans.

Rather than bow out of the event altogether, Edgar elected to accepted a dangerous bout against Brian Ortega, with the winner moving on to face Holloway at a later date. What resulted was a disheartening defeat for the 36-year-old New Jersey native, as he was finished for the first time in his 29-fight career. The end came in devastating fashion: Ortega rocked Edgar with a standing elbow, floored him with a massive uppercut and sealed the victory with a pair of hammerfists on the mat 4:44 into round one.

After the fight, Holloway took to Twitter to offer praise for “The Answer.”

“You had nothing to gain from taking that fight [Frankie Edgar]. But you took it; you defended what you already earned,” Holloway wrote. “There’s no belt for sacrificing everything, but true fans and Jersey knows no belt can outshi…

It may have looked like a cakewalk for Cristiane Justino against Yana Kunitskaya at UFC 222, but that’s not how “Cyborg” prepared.

“I was ready for five rounds, and I didn’t know what Yana was going to do in the fight,” Justino said in a backstage interview on UFC.com. “But I was prepared for everything. I always think it’s going to be more rounds. I’m really happy with this fight.”

Justino barely broke a sweat in her second successful title defense, as she rocked Kunitskaya with her first punch of the fight, weathered an early takedown attempt and ultimately overwhelmed the Russian with heavy hands for a technical knockout victory at the 3:25 mark of round one. The 34-year-old Brazilian improved to 5-0 in the UFC, and only Holly Holm has been able to make it to the final bell against the Chute Boxe representative.

Before Justino agreed to face Kunitskaya on short notice to give UFC 222 a championship headliner following Max Holloway’s withdrawal from the c…

Sherdog's live UFC 222 coverage kicks off Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Check out the MMA Forums to discuss the card or enter your comments and predictions below.

Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Result …

Leandro Higo may have been a deserving challenger, but Darrion Caldwell made him look like something less.

Caldwell retained the Bellator MMA bantamweight championship and did so in resounding fashion, as he submitted Higo with a guillotine choke in the first round of their Bellator 195 headliner on Friday at the Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Higo (18-4, 1-2 Bellator) conceded defeat 2:36 into Round 1, submitting for the first time in his 22-fight career.

After the two men traded low kicks, Caldwell (12-1, 9-1 Bellator) swooped in for a pair of takedowns, the second more secure than the first. Higo attempted to rise to an upright position but left his neck exposed in the process. Caldwell bit down on a crouching guillotine against the fence, moved to a mounted position and prompted the tapout.

Now operating out of the Alliance MMA camp, Caldwell has rattled off three straight wins.

In the bantamweight co-main event, onetime Pacific Xtreme Co…

Bellator MMA didn’t waste any time finding an opponent for the promotion’s most recent free agent signing.

On Thursday, the company revealed that it had inked long-time welterweight standout and former Ultimate Fighting Championship title challenger Jon Fitch to a multi-fight deal. Just a day later, Bellator MMA has revealed that Fitch will make his promotional debut at Bellator 199 on May 12, taking on British banger Paul Daley in a welterweight affair at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

The Fitch-Daley clash is expected to be the co-feature of the Bellator 199 bill, which is headlined by the Bellator heavyweight world grand prix quarterfinal bout between Ryan Bader and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal.

Fitch, who turned 40 years old on Feb. 24, has won six of his last seven bouts. Since succumbing to a kneebar from Rousimar Palhares in their December 2014 World Series of Fighting welterweight title bout, the former Purdue Boilermaker wrestler has won four in a row, kn…

Sherdog's live Bellator 195 play-by-play kicks off Friday at 7 p.m. ET.

Check out the MMA Forums to discuss the card or enter your comments and predictions below.

Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Round 2 Sherdog Scores Round 3 Sherdog Scores The Official Resul…

Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Unsurprisingly, after his nasty second-round knockout loss to Jeremy Stephens, Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight Josh Emmett is facing a potentially lengthy sit on the sidelines.

On Friday, the Florida State Boxing Commission released its list of 14 fighters facing medical suspensions following UFC on Fox 28, which took place last Saturday night at the Amway Center in Orlando. The 32-year-old Emmett was at the forefront of the list, facing a potential 180 days on the shelf unless otherwise cleared by a physician.

The Team Alpha Male product enjoyed a successful first round in his clash against Stephens, even dropping “Lil Heathen” late in the frame on a short right hand. However, disaster - - and controversy - - struck in the second stanza when Stephens levelled Emmett with a left hand and opened up with a torrent of elbows. As Emmett tried to scramble back to his …

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKhn_YXmNRg&w=560&h=315]

The Bellator 195 headliner was made official at Thursday’s weigh-ins, as Bellator MMA bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell (134.7) and challenger Leandro Higo (134.2) hit their marks in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

The bout will mark Caldwell’s first defense since claiming the title with a unanimous decision conquest of Eduardo Dantas at Bellator 184 last November.

Bellator 195 kicks off Friday at 7 p.m. ET from Winstar World Casino and Resort. The prelims will stream live on Sherdog.com and the main card will air exclusively on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET.

Bellator 195 Weigh-in Results: Darrion Caldwell (134.7) vs. Leandro Higo (134.2)Joe Warren (135.8) vs. Joe Taimanglo (135.8)Emily Ducote (124.5) vs. Kristina Williams (125.2)Juan Archuleta (144.5) vs. William Joplin (144.9)Fernando Gonzalez (174.8) vs. Armando Servin (171.2)Cris Williams (145.8) vs. Daniel Carey (145.4)Romero Cotton (185.4) v…

Outspoken lightweight Kevin Lee believes that if Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov were to ever fight inside the Octagon, it would be the Irishman, not the Russian raising his hand.

Although for that fight to happen in the near future, Nurmagomedov will have to get past one of the most dangerous men in the division in Ultimate Fighting Championship interim lightweight ace in Tony Ferguson at UFC 223 on April 7.

Lee fought Ferguson at UFC 216 back in October last year and was outclassed, eventually succumbing to a triangle choke in the third round.

Lee recently spoke to MMA NYTT on the matchup and why he believes that “The Notorious” would find success against “The Eagle.”

“Yeah, I think Conor would get him, and it would blow people’s minds, and it would blow him out of proportion, they would think Conor’s just some fu--ing magical god or some whatever, because people are stupid anyway. But, in the real of what it is, Khabib is very hittable. He has a lo…

Miesha Tate isn’t buying the “changed man” routine from Jon Jones anymore.

The retired former UFC bantamweight queen wasn’t impressed with Jones’ defense during his California State Athletic Commission hearing on Tuesday, where “Jonny Bones” expressed complete confusion as to how the anabolic steroid Turinabol got in his system just prior to UFC 214.

“To purposely do steroids like a week before a fight and ruin all those months talking to all those kids, it would just be stupid,” Jones said during the hearing. “I’m absolutely not the same person I was three years ago when I got into a hit-and-run car accident.

"You can call me many things. You can call me a party boy, wild child, knucklehead … but a cheater is something I will never admit to,” Jones later added. “That’s something I’ll never say that I am."

Ultimately, the CSAC fined Jones $205,000 and revoked his license. Jones won’t be able to reapply for a license until August at the earliest. Howev…

A pivotal bantamweight showdown between Jimmie Rivera and Marlon Moraes will headline the UFC’s Fight Night event in Utica, N.Y., on June 1.

The promotion confirmed the pairing on Wednesday. UFC Fight Night takes place at the Adirondack Bank Center and will be televised on Fox Sports 1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

Rivera enters the matchup on a 20-fight winning streak that includes five triumphs in the Octagon. The Team Tiger Schulmann representative competed just once in 2017, taking a three-round verdict over Thomas Almeida at UFC on Fox 25. A proposed clash with ex-champion Dominick Cruz at UFC 219 fell through when Cruz was forced to withdraw due to injury.

Moraes, the former World Series of Fighting bantamweight champ, debuted in the promotion with a split-decision loss to Raphael Assuncao. He has since rebounded to take a split verdict over John Dodson at UFC Fight Night 120 before knocking out Aljamain Sterling with a knee in the first …

Perhaps the picture of UFC President Dana White and former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar taken recently was more than just a publicity stunt.

Lesnar was in Las Vegas for the WWE’s Elimination Chamber event over the weekend and he posed for a picture with White — a Vegas resident — during his visit. White appeared on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio on Tuesday with Kevin Harvick and was asked about the odds of a Lesnar return to the UFC.

“They’re very, very, very good,” White said.

"They're very, very, very good." -@ufc President @danawhite to @KevinHarvick on @BrockLesnar's chances of fighting again in UFC. Listen in #HappyHours pic.twitter.com/p8ZCdrR9Kt

— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) February 28, 2018

There has been plenty of talk surrounding Lesnar as his current contract with World Wrestling Entertainment nears its end. Of course, Lesnar is still under suspension for failing a USADA drug test in relation to UFC …

While it still might not be clear how the anabolic steroid Turinabol ended up in Jon Jones’ system during an in-competition drug test in relation to UFC 214, there is at least some clarity regarding the punishment for his transgression.

During a hearing on Tuesday, the California State Athletic Commission revoked Jones’ license in the state and fined him 40 percent of his purse -- $205,000 – from UFC 214. The revocation comes with a one-year period of ineligibility, meaning that Jones will not be able to reapply for a license until August at the earliest. That term is expected to be recognized in other states and by the UFC, as well. Jones was also fined an additional $5,000 by CSAC.

Jones defeated Daniel Cormier via third-round TKO at UFC 214 in Anaheim, Calif., on July 29. That result was overturned to a no contest and Jones was stripped of the 205-pound belt once news of the failed drug test surfaced.

“Let USADA give their discipline, when that’s complet…

A lightweight bout between Mairbek Taisumov and Evan Dunham is official for UFC 223.

The Las Vegas-based promotion confirmed the matchup to Newsday. UFC 223 takes place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on April 7 and is headlined by a lightweight championship clash between interim titlist Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov. In the co-main event, Rose Namajunas will defend her strawweight crown in a rematch against Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

Taisumov has compiled an impressive five-fight winning streak in the Octagon, with all of those triumphs coming by knockout or technical knockout. Most recently, the 29-year-old Russian knocked out Felipe Silva 1:24 into the opening round of their bout at UFC Fight Night 115 on Sept. 2.

The 36-year-old Dunham is unbeaten in his last five appearances, although his last outing resulted in a majority draw with Beneil Dariush at UFC 216. Prior to that, Dunham had earned four consecutive unanimous decision wins over Rick…

A featherweight showdown pitting Emmanuel Sanchez against Sam Sicilia will co-headline Bellator 198.

The promotion revealed the matchup on Monday night. Bellator 198 takes place at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., on April 28 and features a heavyweight grand prix matchup between Fedor Emelianenko and Frank Mir. The card will be televised on the Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.

Sanchez has won six of his last seven in the California-based organization, with his only defeat coming at the hands of former title challenger Daniel Weichel via split decision. “El Matador” scored the biggest victory of his tenure to date at Bellator 184, when he submitted ex-champ Daniel Straus with a triangle choke in the third round.

Sicilia signed with Bellator on the heels of a three-fight skid in the UFC. He made his debut at Bellator 189, taking a unanimous decision over Marcos Galvao. Sicilia went 5-7 during his UFC stint and is 16-8 as a professional overall.<…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will plant its flag in a South American country other than Brazil for the first time on May 19 when it visits Santiago, Chile.

The Las Vegas-based promotion announced the first five bouts for the UFC Fight Night card on Monday: Alexa Grasso vs. Tatiana Suarez at strawweight; Vicente Luque vs. Chad Laprise at welterweight; Diego Riva vs. Guido Cannetti at bantamweight; Poliana Botelho vs. Syuri Kondo at strawweight and Andrea Lee vs. Veronica Macedo at flyweight.

The event takes place at the Movistar Arena and will be televised on Fox Sports 1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass. A headliner has not yet been revealed.

Grasso, the highly touted prospect from Mexico, has won two of her three Octagon appearances, including a split verdict against Rando Markos in her most recent outing at UFC Fight Night 114. Suarez, meanwhile, owns a 5-0 mark that includes wins over Viviane Pereira and Amanda Bobby Cooper in the Octagon.…

A late change has occurred on the UFC Fight Night 127 card, as Bradley Scott will replace Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos and meet Jack Marshman on March 17 in London.

The promotion’s European branch announced the change on Monday. UFC Fight Night 127 takes place at the O2 Arena and is headlined by a heavyweight tilt between Fabricio Werdum and Alexander Volkov. The card will stream in its entirety on UFC Fight Pass.

The 28-year-old Scott has alternated wins and losses throughout his seven-bout Octagon tenure. He last appeared at UFC Fight Night 114, where he suffered a first-round technical knockout loss to Jack Hermansson on Aug. 5.

Marshman is 2-2 in four promotional appearances, including a first-round submission defeat against Antonio Carlos Jr. at UFC Fight Night 119 on Oct. 28. The 28-year-old Welshman owns a 22-7 career mark.

Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

French prospect Tom Duquesnoy will attempt to get back on the winning track when he faces Terrion Ware at UFC Fight Night 127.

Promotion officials announced the bantamweight pairing on Monday. UFC Fight Night 127 takes place at the O2 Arena in London on March 17 and is headlined by a heavyweight tilt pitting Fabricio Werdum against Alexander Volkov. The card will stream in its entirety on UFC Fight Pass.

Duquesnoy saw a 12-fight unbeaten streak come to an end at UFC 216, as he dropped a split decision to Cody Stamman on Oct. 7 in Las Vegas. It was the Paris native’s first defeat since falling to Makwan Amirkhani in February 2013. “Fire Kid” earned a second-round TKO triumph over Patrick Williams in his promotional debut at UFC on Fox 24.

Ware also joined the Las Vegas-based organizatin in 2017 and came up short in both of his appearances, dropping decisions to Stamann and Sean O’Malley. The 31-year-old owns a 17-7 career reco…

Credit: Dave Mandel/Invicta FC Credit: Dave Mandel/Invicta FC Credit: Dave Mandel/Invicta FC Credit: Dave Mandel/Invicta FC Credit: Dave Mandel/Invicta FC Credit: Dave Mandel/Invicta FC Credit: Dave Mandel/Invicta FC Credit: Dave Mandel/Invicta FC Credit: Dave Mandel/Invicta FC Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com Credit: Dave Mandel Credit: Dave Mandel Credit: Dave Mandel Credit: Dave Mandel Credit: Dave Mandel Credi…

Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA Bellator 194Credit: Bellator MMA [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0pTrj5Y6nQ&w=560&h=315]

Bellator 194’s headliner is good to go, but par for the promotion, the weigh-ins were not without …