Stipe Miocic (L) throws a punch against Daniel Cormier during their heavyweight championship fight

The Body Lock brings you UFC 241 live fight results and play-by-play updates from all of the action taking place in Anaheim, California, on Saturday, August 17.


Watch the UFC 241 live stream on ESPN+

UFC 241 is headlined by the UFC Heavyweight Championship rematch between Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic.

In the co-main event, Anthony Pettis faces Nate Diaz in a highly-anticipated welterweight clash. Before then, Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa will battle in what should be a brilliant middleweight fight.

Our coverage of the UFC 241 early prelims has now commenced. Leave a comment below to discuss the fight card with us.

UFC 241 live fight results

Main Card (ESPN+) – 10:00pm ET / 7:00pm PT

  • Stipe Miocic def. Daniel Cormier via TKO (punches) – R4, 4:09 ? (video) (play-by-play)
  • Nate Diaz def. Anthony Pettis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) (video) (play-by-play)
  • Paulo Costa def. Yoel Romero via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) (video) (play-by-play)
  • Sodiq Yusuff def. Gabriel Benitez via TKO (punches) – R1, 4:14
  • Derek Brunson def. Ian Heinisch by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Prelims (ESPN) – 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT

  • Khama Worthy def. Devonte Smith via TKO (punches) – R1, 4:15
  • Cory Sandhagen def. Raphael Assuncao (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
  • Drakkar Klose def. Christos Giagos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Casey Kenney def. Manny Bermudez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Early Prelims (ESPN+) – 6:15pm ET / 3:15pm PT

  • Hannah Cifers def. Jodie Esquibel via unanimous decision (30-28, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Kyung Ho Kang def. Brandon Davis via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
  • Sabina Mazo def. Shana Dobson via unanimous decision (30-24, 30-25, 30-25)

UFC 241 play-by-play updates and live fight results 1

UFC 241 main card play-by-play updates

Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic

Click here for play-by-play updates from Cormier vs. Miocic

Click here for video highlights from Cormier vs. Miocic

Anthony Pettis vs. Nate Diaz

Click here for play-by-play updates from Pettis vs. Diaz

Click here for video highlights from Pettis vs. Diaz

Yoel Romero vs. Paulo Costa

Click here for play-by-play updates from Romero vs. Costa

Click here for video highlights from Romero vs. Costa

Gabriel Benitez vs. Sodiq Yusuff

Round one

Yusuff is marching forward and throwing heavy hands. Benitez trying to respond with leg kicks and punches of his own but no success yet. Another big right hand lands for Yusuff and then he follows through with a left hook. Benitez struggling with a cut over his eye. Knee by Benitez slows Yusuff’s forward movement temporarily. Great leg kick to the inside of Benitez’s lead leg. Benitez responds with his own. A hard body kick connects for Benitez. Yusuff head kick is blocked. As Benitez goes low with a kick, Yusuff counters with a right hand immediately.

Benitez lands a hard punch and Yusuff falls. He’s now following Yusuff and looking for the finishing shot. Yusuff’s recovered very well and maintained safe distance now. Both fighters settling into their respective ranges.

With not long remaining in the first round, Yusuff blasts Benitez with a counter right hook over the top of Benitez’s left cross. He follows it up with ground and pound and referee Herb Dean stops the fight.

Official result: Sodiq Yusuff def. Gabriel Benitez via TKO (punches) – R1, 4:14

Derek Brunson vs. Ian Heinisch

Round one

Ian Heinisch cracks Derek Brunson with a left high kick and Brunson takes it extremely well. He clinches with Heinisch and walks him back to the cage. Heinisch bobs and weaves and misses with a right hook. Brunson calm – he hasn’t tried much yet. High kick by Brunson is blocked. Heinisch takedown attempt stuffed by Brunson. A slow start from Brunson. Heinisch the one setting the pace so far. Brunson takedown attempt grabs a single-leg and has Heinisch against the cage. Heinisch maintains his balance and lands some shots against Brunson in return. Brunson connects with a head kick. Heinisch returns one of his own but it’s blocked. Heinisch hasn’t had much success following that opening high kick, but that was the most significant moment of the round.

The Body Lock scores round one 10-9 for Heinisch.

Round two

Exchanging low kicks to start round two. Heinisch dives in for a single-leg but Brunson evades. Brunson now lands some shots and sprawls on Heinisch’s takedown attempt. Heinisch attempts to sit up and secure half guard. Brunson lands a nice left hand. Heinisch lands a right. Brunson’s starting to pick up now in the middle of round two. Lands some hard punches and now is pushing Heinisch against the cage. Lands a good left hook. Heinisch appears to be tiring and Brunson – who remained calm in round one – is the one who looks the fresher of the two. Brunson leads with a left hook that misses and then slips. Heinisch can’t make him pay. Nothing really landing for either fighter right now. Heinisch misses two right hands. Brunson evades and resets. Brunson loads up and then Heinisch comes in for a takedown. Brunson makes him back up by hitting him with some powerful punches.

The Body Lock scores round two 10-9 for Brunson.

Round three

Both fighters are exchanging heavy hands. Brunson changes the pace with a takedown. Heinisch scrambles and gets back to his feet. Crazy pace so far in the third round. Brunson with underhooks against the cage now. Heinisch frames and pushes him away. Brunson walking him down but Heinisch responds to that aggression with some punches and kicks of his own. Heinisch’s punches aren’t landing. Brunson body kick connects well. Heinisch dives for a takedown and Brunson sprawls. A great trip by Brunson sees Heinisch land in the turtle position, but he retreats and stands back up. Heinisch big right hand lands. Brunson now leading with his right jab and connecting. Brunson stopping Heinisch’s forward momentum by using front kicks to the body. Heinisch is coming forward now trying to win the round with just 70 seconds to go. Unbelievably pace set by these two fighters. Both swinging wildly and missing. Story for both guys in this round has been to duck and respond with heavy hooks. Heinisch trying to trap Brunson against the cage and land some strikes but Brunson doing a good job of evading and countering. Crazy five minutes of action.

The Body Lock scores round three 10-9 for Brunson.

Official result: Derek Brunson def. Ian Heinisch by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) 

UFC 241 prelims play-by-play updates

Khama Worthy vs. Devonte Smith

Round one

Both fighters relaxed to start the first round. Worthy more active through the first minute. Smith’s high kick is blocked. Low kick connects for Smith. Worthy looks fast as he tags the lead leg of Smith with a leg kick. Worthy has been controlling the center of the cage so far. Smith leg kick and then Worthy responses with a 1-2. Both fighters are trading hard leg kicks now. Very patient start from the two, who are showing lots of respect for the power of the other. Worthy crushes Smith with a left hook counter that drops Smith to the floor. That’s a big win for Worthy, who took this fight on just one-week notice.

Official result: Khama Worthy def. Devonte Smith via TKO (punches) – R1, 4:15

Raphael Assuncao vs. Cory Sandhagen

Round one

Cory Sandhagen leg kick answered with a punch from Raphael Assuncao. As Sandhagen tries to kick the legs of Assuncao, he is responding with fast punches. Lead jab into left uppercut for Sandhagen. Sandhagen pressure is forcing Assuncao back now. Body kick for Assuncao. Sandhagen swapping stances and working the lead leg now with kicks. Another inside leg kick for Sandhagen. Assuncao having trouble timing Sandhagen so far. Sandhagen tags Assuncao and is now picking up the pace. He’s looking great – hits the body of Assuncao with a right hand. Assuncao waiting to find the right moment to counter, but it hasn’t been there for him. Clinching against the cage for a moment and then back to the middle. Sandhagen looks superb so far – picking good openings to target and sliding out of range before Assuncao can answer. Flying knee by Sandhagen. Assuncao unable to let his hands go as he remains hesitant to lead and hasn’t been able to counter.

The Body Lock scores round one 10-9 for Sandhagen.

Round two

Sandhagen starts round two with a leg kick and a push kick to the body. Sandhagen reaching out and overloading Assuncao with feints and different options. He reaches with a punch after some clinch work and then Assuncao dives in and secures a takedown. A strange spot right now, however, as Sandhagen is on top but facing away from Assuncao. He turns and then lands on top in half guard. Assuncao scrambles and now is the one sitting on Sandhagen facing away. Sandhagen turns and the two scramble again. Assuncao wraps around the waist of Sandhagen and starts attacking the leg of Assuncao. He sweeps but Assuncao ends up on top. Another very strange position that allows Sandhagen to turn in and he now enters Assuncao’s full guard. As Assuncao tries to scramble, Sandhagen closes the gap and smothers him. Sandhagen’s leg and arm are trapped inside Assuncao’s legs, but he’s on top and able to land some strikes.

The Body Lock scores round two 10-9 for Sandhagen.

Round three

Sandhagen’s pressure the difference here. It’s enabling him to let his punches and kicks go as Assuncao moves backward. Sandhagen isn’t committing with anything unnecessary, just touching Assuncao right now. Body kick from Sandhagen and Assuncao grabs the body of Sandhagen in response. Sandhagen’s jab is connecting. Assuncao lands a jab of his own during a Sandhagen combination. The leg kicks from Sandhagen have been effective now that Assuncao has slowed. Huge slam by Assuncao that was initiated from the clinch. He looks better when grappling with Sandhagen than when striking. He has relied on his counter strikes in this fight – as always – but hasn’t had the success that would be required to win rounds. Assuncao improved in the final two rounds but it wasn’t enough to win both rounds.

The Body Lock scores round three 10-9 for Sandhagen.

Official result: Cory Sandhagen def. Raphael Assuncao (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Drakkar Klose vs. Christos Giagos

Round one

Giagos comes forward with a right hand and Klose is ready to counter so he bails on the attempt. A body kick lands for both fighters. Giagos his punches throwing with plenty of power at medium range. Klose walking Giagos back. Lead right hand connects for Giagos, Klose comes forward as a response. Giagos connects with another right hand that seems to stun Klose for a moment. He now has Klose against the cage. Klose landing some punches to the body. Klose high kick is blocked. A good low kick by Giagos. Now has double underhooks and walks Klose back to the cage. Giagos looks very strong in this fight so far. Klose trying to separate but Giagos incredibly strong in the position. Giagos mixing up his strikes and connecting well. A slow start from Klose so far but he moves forward with 30 seconds remaining in the round and pushes Giagos back. Klose finishes with some heavy punches.

The Body Lock scores round one 10-9 for Giagos.

Round two

These two are throwing now. Both fighters land heavy shots to start the round. A knee by Giagos and some punches from Klose. Giagos secures a takedown and is now in Klose’s full guard. Clinch battle against the cage sees Klose connect with some good knees to the body. Giagos single-leg into body lock takedown. He immediately passes to side control. Klose trying to stand and Giagos digs his hooks in and takes the back. He goes after the rear-naked choke but can’t get it underneath the chin. Klose in trouble here. Giagos heavy on his back. Klose trying to shake Giagos off as he was too high up on the back.

Giagos takes some deep breaths as they reset before landing a heavy right hook. Klose now pushing the pace because Giagos seems to be fading. Some hard punches land for Klose and he stacks Giagos, who has now fallen to the mat. Klose trips Giagos and now starts working him with some ground and pound. This round has been a battle of two halves as Klose is now the one turning it on. Klose moves through to side control and lands some elbows from the top – one of them opens up a cut above Giagos’ eye.

The Body Lock scores round two 10-9 for Klose.

Round three

Klose comes out fast in round three. Giagos defends a takedown attempt and now has his back against the cage. Giagos’ punches have lost their power and speed. A heavy leg kick sweeps Giagos to the ground. Klose looking great in round three but needs to be careful as he moves forward. Giagos landing some big punches as Klose gets reckless. Seemingly too fatigued to really make an impact, though. Klose looks in great shape – Giagos doesn’t. Klose secures the clinch and now works Giagos’ body with some punches. Giagos still landing some hard shots. Both fighters have their hands down by their waist. Giagos has landed more strikes in the latter half of this round. Klose has been trying to work him against the cage. Klose picks up Giagos and puts him on his shoulder before slamming him down to the mat. Klose now on top, but not for long as Giagos returns and starts slinging punches. Klose was setting the pace for the entire round but Giagos was landing some big punches, as well.

The Body Lock scores round three 10-9 for Klose.

Official result: Drakkar Klose def. Christos Giagos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Manny Bermudez vs. Casey Kenney

Round one

Glove touch and Kenney goes high with a kick. He’s now working the lead leg of Bermudez. Bermudez stalking but eats another couple of leg kicks. Switch high kick from Kenney is blocked again. Bermudez clearly looking to grapple but can’t close the distance yet. Double underhooks for Bermudez and a takedown. Now in half guard and Kenney trying to invert. Bermudez staying heavy on top, though, and now has head and arm control. Bermudez lands in half guard now. Full guard for Kenney now and he backs toward the cage. Bermudez unable to work from top position and they stand up.

Kenney with a brilliant hip toss now and lands on Bermudez. Kenney passes Bermudez’s guard and is now in side control. Bermudez trying to invert from side control but uses it to regain half guard with a strange form of lockdown on the far leg. Bermudez trying to scoot out to the side. Kenney has the whizzer as Bermudez tries to move out of the position and disallows him from sweeping. Bermudez is backed up by Kenney, who is landing some hard strikes.

The Body Lock scores round one 10-9 for Kenney.

Round two

Bermudez coming for a takedown and Kenney defends against the cage. Kenney falls to his knees and Bermudez comes straight into full mount. Kenney quickly tries to escape but Bermudez staying on top. Kenney ends up on top now after Bermudez attempts a mounted triangle. Bermudez is doing a great job of putting Kenney in very awkward positions. Kenney comes out and tries to lock up a rear-naked choke but does not have hooks to secure the position. He lands in side control now and Bermudez being forced to work.

Kenney landing some strikes to the head of Bermudez, who now turns into the turtle position. Kenney again tries to take the back of Bermudez but can’t dig his hooks in. Bermudez lands a nice right hand. He catches a kick from Kenney and then works Kenney back to the cage. Kenney collapses to his knees and Bermudez now going after the back. As he attempts to get the choke Kenney escapes and ends up on top. Both fighters had their moments in round two.

The Body Lock scores round two 10-9 for Kenney.

Round three

Bermudez marching toward Kenney and just trying to close the distance. Kenney now unloading his punches. He is landing clean with some hard strikes. Kenney now pushing Bermudez to the cage. He trips Bermudez and lands on top, but it doesn’t take long for Bermudez to sweep and end up in half guard. Bermudez hunting for submissions from the top position. Multiple attempts at chokes and arm locks. Kenney being overwhelmed by Bermudez in the final minutes of round three.

The Body Lock scores round three 10-9 for Bermudez.

Official result: Casey Kenney def. Manny Bermudez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

UFC 241 play-by-play updates and live fight results 1

UFC 241 early prelims play-by-play updates

Hannah Cifers vs. Jodie Esquibel

Round one

Plenty of lateral movement from Esquibel early. Cifers showing both stances. Esquibel moves forward behind some punches and Cifers stands her ground before countering. Cifers trying to make Esquibel pay for coming forward. A slow round so far. Cifers body kick lands and then Esquiebl answers. Esquibel high kick. Front kick now and then another high kick from Esquibel. Cifers struggling to time her counter strikes and has had no success when leading. Cifers with a heavy leg kick and now Esquibel sitting down on her punches. Cifers defending the takedowns well so far.

The Body Lock scores round one 10-9 for Cifers.

Round two

Esquibel trying to close the distance. A hard leg kick lands for Cifers and Esquibel is in trouble. Esquibel goes after the double-leg takedown and gets it this time. Cifers locks up full guard. Esquibel trying to posture up but Cifers doing a good job of holding. Referee Jason Herzog stands them up because Esquibel hadn’t done anything from the position. They stand and Cifers now pushing the pace. Esquibel lands in a strange triangle-armbar submission attempt. Cifers attempts to go belly-down with the armbar but Esquibel uses the momentum to roll out. Esquibel lands two kicks. Cifers deflecting with her arms.

The Body Lock scores round two 10-9 for Cifers.

Round three

Esquibel throwing out punches that are falling short – hard to know whether this is some attempt at feinting or she is just badly misjudging distance. Cifers just comfortably staying outside of range and in no danger, she’s yet to return any strikes yet 90 seconds into the round. Cifers leg kick and right hand. Esquibel’s strikes just aren’t landing. The calf kick features in this round again as Cifers targets the left leg of Esquibel. Cifers comes forward with a punch and Esquibel answers with an easy takedown. She lands in the full guard position that referee Herzog stood them up from last round. Not much activity from either fighter and Herzog stands them up.

One minute remaining in the round now. Cifers goes after the lead leg. The vast majority of Esquibel’s punches are falling short. Esquibel now landing some kicks but Cifers landing more strikes overall, despite throwing less. Takedown attempt from Esquibel ends in a reversal at the end of the round.

The Body Lock scores round three 10-9 for Cifers.

Official decision: Hannah Cifers def. Jodie Esquibel via unanimous decision (30-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Kyung Ho Kang vs. Brandon Davis

Round one

Early leg kick by Davis and then Kang returns one of his own. It’s Kang controlling the center of the cage so far and he’s starting to back Davis closer to the cage walls now. Kang lunges in for a takedown as Davis returns to the center but Davis defends well and then separates. Kang’s boxing is smooth so far – he’s landing his straight punches already. Lands a jab and then slides back out of range. Davis is damaging Kang’s left leg with kicks. Kang’s jab has been the most important strike so far in this fight but Davis’ work to the lead leg may have a greater impact later on. Kang drops Davis with a punch and then jumps on his back. Secures one hook and now Davis is trying to scrape him off by using the cage. Kang ends up in half guard and then slides his leg through into full mount. Davis did good work overall when considering the calf kick, but Kang’s knockdown was the important moment of the round, together with his consistent boxing.

The Body Lock scores round one 10-9 for Kang.

Round two

It didn’t take long for Davis to go back to the low calf kick. Kang shoots and grabs the ankle of Davis but the attempt is defended well. Kang ends up landing in half guard after a scramble and now moves his free leg over and across to tie up the legs. Davis stuck against the cage. He lands an up-kick and that gives him some time and space to return to his feet. Davis latches onto a quick Thai clinch in the center of the cage but misses with a knee. Kang swaps stances after Davis’ work to the lead leg. These kicks seem to be taking their toll now. Kang backs up to the cage and Davis now pressuring. Solid right hand connects for Kang. These two are throwing bombs now. Kang’s boxing has become less effective now that his movement has been impacted.

The Body Lock scores round two 10-9 for Davis.

Round three

Davis lands three heavy leg kicks in the first 20 seconds of the round. Davis slips and Kang moves into side control with ease. Kang mostly just holding the position. He’s yet to open up with any ground and pound. Two warnings from the referee to become more active but Kang just holds the position. The referee stands them up from side control. They stand up and it doesn’t take long for Kang to get side control again. He’s just holding onto Davis. Davis eventually gets back up. Kang is tiring but manages to come forward and secure a takedown. Kang lands in Davis’ full guard. Davis is more active from the position, though. He’s landing some elbows from the bottom. Kang landing a couple more strikes now.

Very interesting round from a scoring perspective. Kang landed in side control after a slip early in the round and didn’t use the position to do anything at all. Kang stalled from top position throughout the round. Davis was more active with striking but didn’t have enough time on the feet to impact the scorecards. Close round that we’re scoring for Kang.

The Body Lock scores round three 10-9 for Kang.

Official decision: Kyung Ho Kang def. Brandon Davis via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

UFC 241 play-by-play updates and live fight results 1

Sabina Mazo vs. Shana Dobson

Round one

Both fighters look to get their kicking games started early. Dobson walks in behind a 1-2. Mazo crushes her with a left body kick and then advances. Dobson appears to be hurt by the body kick and this has allowed Mazo to close the distance and attempt to finish. She becomes a little too reckless, however, and ends up shooting for a takedown instead. She lands in Dobson’s full guard. Dobson locks Mazo up and disallows her from posturing up completely. Mazo active with ground and pound, mixing it up between elbows and punches.

Dobson lifts her hips and almost sweeps Mazo, but is unsuccessful. Mazo now punching the body from inside Dobson’s full guard. Mazo frames with her left arm and then uses her free right arm to strikes Dobson. Retreats just enough to pass the guard and move into half guard. Dobson returns to her feet against the cage and Mazo continues the pressure by landing some knees and then another takedown. Dobson survives the round, but it was a dominant five minutes from Mazo.

The Body Lock scores round one 10-8 for Mazo.

Round two

Dobson starts the round by trying to work her jab. Lands cleanly but then Mazo goes right back to the kicks. It’s Mazo left kick that’s doing all of the work. She’s targeting the legs, body, and head. They clinch and it’s now Mazo with a Thai clinch as Dobson rests her back against the cage. Mazo maintains the position but is yet to open fire. Occasional knees to the body and legs are landing but without much power. Dobson just accepting the poor position as Mazo keeps up the strikes. Mazo has controlled the clinch for over a minute now. She takes Dobson down to the ground and ties her legs up with her own. Now she slides into half guard and applies shoulder pressure to the face. They stand back up with 30 seconds left in the round. Dobson loads up on a big right hand that falls short. Mazo push kick to the body.

The Body Lock scores round two 10-9 for Mazo (20-17)

Round three

Mazo needs a finish to win. She is applying more pressure at the start of this round and attempting to land straight punches. Mazo slides away from Dobson’s advance with a check left hook. She’s maintaining a safe distance away from Dobson and using this range to target the legs with kicks. Dobson lands a big right hand but is hurt to the body. This could be the end of the fight. Dobson covers up as Mazo advances and lands some heavy knees from the clinch. Mazo is framing and landing knees to the head and body now. Dobson can’t escape the Thai clinch. Mazo turns the position into a takedown and now has side control. She works the body of Dobson here with knees. Ends the fight with ground and pound. Very impressive three rounds from Mazo.

The Body Lock scores round three 10-8 for Mazo (30-25)

Official result: Sabina Mazo def. Shana Dobson via unanimous decision (30-24, 30-25, 30-25)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *