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Tag: UFC Vegas 117

  • Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano Goes No. 1 On Netflix Across North America As UFC Vegas 117 Records Lowest Numbers Of Paramount Era

    Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano Goes No. 1 On Netflix Across North America As UFC Vegas 117 Records Lowest Numbers Of Paramount Era

    It was a rare weekend where the UFC found itself sharing the spotlight, and the results turned out to be surprisingly one-sided.

    While the promotion staged UFC Vegas 117 at the Apex, a new player entered the scene with its debut event on Netflix. Headlined by Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano, the MVP MMA card drew significant attention across North America.

    Despite some criticism around matchmaking, the event still managed to generate strong viewership. According to analyst Dave Meltzer, the broadcast climbed to the No. 1 spot on Netflix in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Interestingly, the event was categorized under “movies” rather than sports or television, yet still performed well globally, even breaking into the top rankings worldwide.

    The timing makes the achievement more notable. The main event aired late on the East Coast, yet still attracted a wide audience, outperforming other major programming in the same category.

    The prelims, streamed for free on YouTube, also gained traction, reportedly reaching over 400,000 concurrent viewers at one stage. While exact figures remain unclear, the early signs suggest strong engagement for a first-time promotion.

    In contrast, the UFC’s offering that night struggled to gain similar momentum. UFC Vegas 117 reportedly delivered the lowest viewership of the promotion’s Paramount+ era, falling significantly below its usual benchmarks.

    Adding to the buzz, the MVP card featured recognizable names beyond its headline bout, including Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz, helping drive curiosity among a broader audience.

  • Arnold Allen Outworks Melquizael Costa In UFC Vegas 117 Headliner

    Needing a win to keep himself in the upper echelon of featherweight contenders, Arnold Allen delivered in style, nearly sweeping the scorecards in a win over Melquizael Costa in the UFC Vegas 117 main event.

    Costa found success early with kicks to the body and scoring control on the ground. Allen, however, responded with his takedowns and boxing, landing strong combinations.

    Allen’s boxing became key, working Costa over with the jab while putting together strong combinations and limiting Costa’s offense. Costa worked the body and looked for submission attempts on the ground, but they were no match for the pressure and defense of Allen, limiting Costa’s attack.

    Allen’s positional pressure continued in the championship rounds, going on to take all three scorecards.

    Arnold Allen Scores Decision Over Melquizael Costa At UFC Vegas 117

    Allen started his MMA career 19-1. He entered this fight, however, having dropped three of his last four. He most recently dropped a decision to Jean Silva at UFC 325.

    Costa sees a six-fight win streak snapped. He entered this bout off a finish of Dan Ige at UFC Houston in February.

  • Doo-ho Choi Scores Brutal Finish in War With Daniel Santos

    The winning ways for the “Korean Superboy” continue, perhaps with the most brutal finish from Doo-ho Choi possible, as he put away Daniel Santos in the UFC Vegas 117 co-main event.

    The two fought a wild first round, as Santos looked to bring heat with brutal striking as the two got into exchanges. Choi worked the jab and weathered the storm, taking over as Santos’ pressure slowed entering round two.

    Choi worked Santos over with pressure and combinations in that second round. He then ended things with some brutal body shots that folded Santos.

    Doo-ho Choi Batters Daniel Santos At UFC Vegas 117

    Choi has now won three straight, 3-0-1 in his last four. This was Choi’s first fight since his finish of Nate Landwehr at UFC 310.

    This snaps a four-fight win streak for Santos, who had won every fight since dropping his UFC debut. Santos entered this fight off a win over Joo-sang Yoo at UFC 320.

  • Khaos Williams Wins Power Punching Battle At UFC Vegas 117

    Khaos Williams Wins Power Punching Battle At UFC Vegas 117

    Khaos Williams is now back in the win column with a needed victory to kick off the UFC Vegas 117 main card, defeating Nikolay Veretennikov.

    Veretennikov tried to be the one to get off to an aggressive start, showing his punching power early. Williams, however, weathered the storm and brought it right back, landing the power that’s brought him attention.

    A series of right hands stumbled Veretennikov, giving Williams the first-round finish.

    Khaos Williams Brings Power In KO Of Nikolay Veretennikov At UFC Vegas 117

    Williams entered this fight 2-3 in his last five, coming in off a loss to Andreas Gustafsson at UFC 316.

    Veretennikov entered this fight off a win over Niko Price in February.

  • Alice Ardelean Performs First Capsule Lock At UFC Vegas 117

    Alice Ardelean Performs First Capsule Lock At UFC Vegas 117

    Alice Ardelean has pulled off a submission unlike anyone has ever seen in the Octagon, using a capsule lock to put away Polyana Viana during the UFC Vegas 117 prelims.

    The two battled for control with their striking pressure, with Ardelean taking control thanks to sharp combinations. Ardelean dropped Viana in the first round before scoring a takedown in the second.

    While on the ground, Ardelean uniquely secured Viana’s leg, twisting it, making Viana scream a verbal submission in what goes down as the first capsule lock submission victory in the UFC’s 30+-year history.

    Alice Ardelean Makes History In Submission Win Over Polyana Viana

    Ardelean has now won three straight. She came into this bout off a decision win over Montserrat Conejo Ruiz at UFC Vegas 110 in November.

    Viana has now lost four straight and five of her last six.

  • UFC Vegas 117 Results: Allen vs. Costa Live Updates & Highlights

    UFC Vegas 117 Results: Allen vs. Costa Live Updates & Highlights

    MMA News updates UFC Vegas 117 results and highlights live as the action unfolds from the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event will feature a featherweight bout between Arnold Allen and Melquizael Costa. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa – Featherweight Main Event

    Allen started his professional MMA career 19-1, quickly rising in the UFC’s featherweight ranks. Allen, however, is just 1-3 in the four fights he’s had since 2023. Allen returned to the Octagon for the first time in over a year this past January at UFC 325, losing to Jean Silva.

    Costa made his UFC debut in 2023, losing two of his first three fights. Since then, however, Costa has built his name, entering tonight on a six-fight win streak. Costa most recently fought at UFC Houston in February, finishing Dan Ige.

    The UFC Vegas 117 co-main event will also be fought at featherweight, as Doo-ho Choi takes on Daniel Santos.

    Choi is 2-0-1 in his last three; however, this will mark his first fight since UFC 310 in December 2024, where he finished Nate Landwehr. After dropping his UFC debut, meanwhile, Santos enters this fight on a four-fight win streak. Santos most recently fought at UFC 320, finishing Joo-sang Yoo.

    If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from UFC Vegas 117!

    How to Watch UFC Vegas 117

    • Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
    • Venue: Meta Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada
    • Streaming: Paramount+ (exclusive)
    • Prelims: 5 PM ET / 2 PM PT
    • Main Card: 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT

    UFC Vegas 117 Quick Results

    • Main Event: Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa — Arnold Allen def. Melquizael Costa via unanimous decision (50-45 x2, 49-46)
    • Co-Main Event: Doo-ho Choi vs. Daniel Santos — Doo-ho Choi def. Daniel Santos via TKO (Rd. 2, 4:29)
    • Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Juan Diaz — Juan Diaz def. Malcolm Wellmaker via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 2, 4:08)
    • Modestas Bukauskas vs. Christian Edwards — Modestas Bukauskas def. Christian Edwards via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
    • Timmy Cuamba vs. Bernardo Sopaj — Bernardo Sopaj def. Timmy Cuamba via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 2, 2:25)
    • Nikolay Veretennikov vs. Khaos Williams — Khaos Williams def. Nikolay Veretennikov via TKO (Rd. 1, 3:31)

    UFC Vegas 117 Results & Highlights

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 5 PM ET)

    Women’s Strawweight: Shauna Bannon vs. Nicolle Caliari

    Result: Nicolle Caliari def. Shauna Bannon via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 3, 3:08)

    Flyweight: Daniel Barez vs. Luis Gurule

    Result: Luis Gurule def. Daniel Barez via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Women’s Strawweight: Alice Ardelean vs. Polyana Viana

    Result: Alice Ardelean def. Polyana Viana via submission (capsule lock) (Rd. 2, 4:36)

    Middleweight: Cody Brundage vs. Andre Petroski

    Result: Cody Brundage def. Andre Petroski via TKO (Rd. 2, 0:44)

    Women’s Bantamweight: Ketlen Vieira vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti

    Result: Ketlen Vieira def. Jacqueline Cavalcanti via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Lightweight: Thomas Gantt vs. Artur Minev

    Result: Thomas Gantt def. Artur Minev via TKO (Rd. 2, 2:51)

    Light Heavyweight: Tuco Tokkos vs. Ivan Erslan

    Result: Ivan Erslan def. Tuco Tokkos via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Main Card (Paramount+, 8 PM ET)

    Welterweight: Nikolay Veretennikov vs. Khaos Williams

    Result: Khaos Williams def. Nikolay Veretennikov via TKO (Rd. 1, 3:31)

    Bantamweight: Timmy Cuamba vs. Bernardo Sopaj

    Result: Bernardo Sopaj def. Timmy Cuamba via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 2, 2:25)

    Catchweight (215 lbs): Modestas Bukauskas vs. Christian Edwards

    Result: Modestas Bukauskas def. Christian Edwards via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

    Bantamweight: Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Juan Diaz

    Result: Juan Diaz def. Malcolm Wellmaker via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 2, 4:08)

    Featherweight: Doo-ho Choi vs. Daniel Santos

    Result: Doo-ho Choi def. Daniel Santos via TKO (Rd. 2, 4:29)

    Featherweight: Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa

    Result: Arnold Allen def. Melquizael Costa via unanimous decision (50-45 x2, 49-46)

  • UFC Vegas 117 Preview: Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa

    UFC Vegas 117 Preview: Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa

    The UFC returns to the Meta Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 16 with a featherweight main event between Arnold Allen and Melquizael Costa, running in direct counter-programming competition with MVP’s Rousey vs. Carano card on Netflix. The main card streams on Paramount+ beginning at 8 p.m. ET, with prelims from 5 p.m. ET.

    Allen, ranked seventh at featherweight, enters the main event in the most difficult position of his UFC career. The 31-year-old has lost three of his last four fights, his only win in that stretch coming against Giga Chikadze in 2024. An extended 2025 absence due to injury was followed by a unanimous decision loss to Jean Silva at UFC 324 in January. A loss on Saturday would push Allen toward the edge of contention.

    Costa presents the most dangerous possible version of that challenge. The Brazilian is ranked twelfth and riding a six-fight winning streak with four finishes, the most recent being a spinning back kick TKO of Dan Ige in February, the first time Ige had ever been finished inside the Octagon. 

    Dooho Choi returns in the co-main event against Daniel Santos in a featherweight matchup that has been rescheduled multiple times, having originally been booked for UFC Perth in September before Choi withdrew, then moved to UFC 328 before being pushed to this card. Malcolm Wellmaker, the standout bantamweight prospect from last year’s Contender Series, faces DWCS signee Juan Diaz in the main card’s most forward-looking fight.

    Main card on Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET: Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa at featherweight over five rounds, Dooho Choi vs. Daniel Santos at featherweight, Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Juan Diaz at bantamweight, Modestas Bukauskas vs. Rodolfo Bellato at light heavyweight, and Timmy Cuamba vs. Bernardo Sopaj at bantamweight.

    Preliminary card on Paramount+ at 5 p.m. ET: Jeremiah Wells vs. Nicolas Dalby at welterweight, Tuco Tokkos vs. Ivan Erslan at light heavyweight, Trey Ogden vs. Thomas Gantt at lightweight, Ketlen Vieira vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti at women’s bantamweight, Cody Brundage vs. Andre Petroski at middleweight, Alice Ardelean vs. Polyana Viana at women’s strawweight, Daniel Barez vs. Luis Gurule at flyweight, and Shauna Bannon vs. Nicolle Caliari at women’s strawweight.