UFC Vegas 117 ‘Allen vs. Costa’ play-by-play, results & round scoring

Arnold Allen (145)
vs. Melquizael Costa (145.5)Doo Ho Choi (146) vs.
Daniel Santos (145)Malcolm Wellmaker
(135.5) vs. Juan Diaz (135.5)Modestas
Bukauskas (213.5) vs. Christian Edwards (214.5)Timothy Cuamba (136)
vs. Bernardo Sopai (136)Nikolay
Veretennikov (205.5) vs. Kalinn Williams (170.5)George Tokkos (205.5)
vs. Ivan Erslan (205.5)Artur Minev (155) vs.
Thomas Gantt (156)Ketlen Vieira
(136) vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti (135.5)Cody Brundage
(185.5) vs. Andre Petroski (185.5)Alice Ardelean (116)
vs. Polyana Viana (115.5)Daniel Barez (125.5) vs.
Luis Gurule (125.5)Shauna Bannon
(115.5) vs. Nicolle Caliari (115.5) Sherdog’s live
UFC Vegas 117 coverage will begin Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. The
event is also known as
UFC Fight Night 276.

Shauna
Bannon (115.5) vs. Nicolle
Caliari (115.5)

Round 1

Kerry Hatley is the referee. They swing right away during a furious
and brief exchange. Caliari closes distance and executes a throw,
but Bannon is able to return to her feet. Not much later, Caliari
executes another head-and-arm throw and lands inside full guard.
Bannon is crafty from her back, as she neutralizes the Brazilian
while looking for submission openings. Caliari stands briefly, but
can’t clear the legs and ends up diving back into full guard.
Caliari drives her forearm into her foe’s neck, while Bannon
peppers her with annoying punches from her back. Caliari tires to
stay busy with short punches to the ribs. Bannon creates a scramble
with her guard but Caliari stands and drops a forceful right hand.
Caliari shifts to a north-south position, and Bannon has her feet
on the fence. Caliari looks to frame a kimura, but Bannon won’t
allow the Brazilian to separate her hands. Caliari transitions to a
back take just before the horn. Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield
scores the round: 10-9 Caliari
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Caliari
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Caliari

Round 2

Caliari is aggressive, pressing forward with punches before forcing
the clinch. Caliari clings to a leg, pulls Bannon off the cage and
then secures a rear body lock. Caliari is able to plant Bannon on
the canvas, again landing in her foe’s full guard. Caliari drops an
elbow and dives back into guard. Bannon throws more short strikes
from her back. Bannon is able to create space with her guard.
Caliari stands and Hatley orders a standup. Bannon pressures
forward, but Caliarri responds and tags her. Caliari catches a kick
and shoves Bannon into the wire. Bannon lands a sharp body kick and
Caliari drops low for a takedown. Bannon defends well and turns her
opponent into the cage. Bannon lands a short elbow in the clinch.
Caliari counters with a throw attempt, but Bannon is able to
reverse into top position. She sets up in half guard, where she
lands a short elbow. Bannon is heavy on top, but Caliari is active
on bottom trying to create scrambles. Bannon floats on top and she
ends the round with some solid ground-and-pound. Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bannon
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Bannon
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Bannon

Round 3

Bannon fires off a jab and a pair of low kicks. Bannon moves in
with a 1-2 and moves away. Caliari turns up the aggression,
flurrying with a short punching combination before shoving the
Irishwoman into the fence. Caliari denies a hip toss from her foe
and rolls into top position. An earlier punching flurry seems to
have had a pernicious effect on Bannon’s face, as she has a serious
mouse over her left eye. Caliari seems to be in control in half
guard, applying pressure while landing short punches and elbows
from above. The Brazilian is thinking about an arm triangle.

Caliari applies the squeeze and the passes to the correct side to
complete the choke. Bannon has no choice but to tap out. A
successful strawweight debut for Caliari, who has her first UFC
victory to boot.

The Official Result

Nicolle Caliari def. Shauna Bannon via Submission (Arm-Triangle
Choke) R3 3:08

Daniel
Barez (125.5) vs. Luis Gurule
(125.5)

Round 1

Jerin Valel is the referee. Barez uses his lead hand early, and
then he tages Gurule with a right hand. Barez is also mixing in leg
kicks well. Barez catches a kick and lands several strikes before
relinquishing the limb. Gurule wakes up and pressures with a series
of punches before punctuating the assault with an elbow. Barez
slows it down with a clinch. Back at range, Gurule lands another
heavy shot. Barez is able to get a takedown and take his foe’s
back. Gurule scrambles into top position and hunts for a choke.
Barez is eventually able to scramble up. Gurule lands a short elbow
and they break. Barez pumps his jab to keep his adversary at bay.
Gurule tags Barez with several right hands. Barez steps in with a
knee and then shoots for a takedown, shoving Gurule into the wire.
Gurule turns his man and lands some short shots before Barez breaks
free. Another right gets through for Gurule. They trade before the
horn, and it’s a Gurule right that seems to have the most impact.
Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9
Gurule
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Gurule
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gurule

Round 2

Barez targets the legs and then throws a jab. Gurule moves in but
eats a hard counter from the Spainard. Gurule marches forward with
a combination. Gurule with a hard kick to Barez’s lead leg. A
couple rights land for Gurule, but Barez is firing back with
combinations. Barez stings Gurule with a counter right, and the
American shoots. Barez denies it and lands a combination, mixing
punches to the head and body .A right over the top gets through for
Barez. Barez is landing more combinations this round. Gurule forces
the issue, and he starts landing a variety of punches. These two
are trading willingly. A right from Gurule tags Barez. Gurule goes
on the assault and Barez appears to be wobbled. Gurule follows him
and unloads near the fence. Barez tries to slow things with a
takedown, but Gurule takes the back and executes a beautiful
suplex. Barez stands and they clinch near the fence. Gurule lands a
stiff 1-2 and Barez shoots out of desperation. Gurule sprawls and
pushes his man into the fence. He creates space and tees off with a
combination. Barez answers with a spinning attack. Gurule backs up
Barez with a left before the horn. Sherdog Scores Tristen
Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gurule
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Gurule
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gurule

Round 3

Gurule lands a combination and follows with a low kick. Gurule is
throwing in volume quite well, and he backs Barez into the fence,
where he unloads with a barrage of short punches and elbows. Barez
pushes Gurule off the fence and they separate. Gurule follows a
punching combination with kicks to the body. Gurule tries a level
change but Barez remains upright. Gurule measures and lands a
right. They clinch in the center of the cage. They break and Barez
tries to go on the attack. However, it’s Gurule with another solid
right hand. Barez moves forward and connects with an impactful
right. Barez is still throwing, but anytime he seems to be gaining
momentum, Gurule has an answer. A right snaps Barez’s head back.
The flyweights continue to trade, but again it’s Gurule who snaps
the Spaniard’s head back with a right. Gurule is landing at will,
rocking Barez with hooks to the dome. Barez has plenty of fight in
him, as he continues to answer with offense of his own. The fight
ends with one last spirited exchange, and Valel wraps up Barez
before he can unleash a spinning attack after the horn. Sherdog
Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gurule (30-27
Gurule)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Gurule (30-27 Gurule)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gurule (30-27 Gurule)

The Official Result

Luis Gurule def. Daniel Barez via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27,
30-27) R3 5:00

Alice
Ardelean (116) vs. Polyana
Viana (115.5)

Round 1

Eric McMahon is the referee. They trade leg kicks early. Viana with
a front kick and then a long right hand. Ardelean answers with a
solid right. The fight is halted briefly due to what was thought to
be an eye poke, but it’s determined that Viana was punched in the
eye. The fight resumes in short order and the strawweights trade
punches furiously. Ardelean is putting on the pressure and she tags
Viana in close. Viana answers with a knee. They clinch and Viana
lands a slashing elbow. Moments later, Ardelean stuns and briefly
drops Viana. The Brazilian hustles to her feet and tries to regain
her bearings. They clinch and trade knees. Viana turns her foe into
the wire. Ardelean frees herself and returns to the center. Viana
lands a hard body kick. Ardelean lines up a big right hand that
finds the mark. Viana continues to have success with body kicks,
using her superior range. Ardelean keeps the pressure on and she
snaps the Brazilian’s head back with a three-punch combination.
Another body kick for Viana. Ardelean ends a combination with a
body kick, and Viana responds with a body kick of her own before
the horn. Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9
Ardelean
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Ardelean
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ardelean

Round 2

Ardelean backs Viana up and lands a combination. Ardelean forces
her way into the clinch and plants the Brazilian on the mat.
Ardelean is in half guard. The Romanian utilizes heavy top pressure
but isn’t doing much in the way of ground-and-pound. McMahon asks
for some better work. Ardelean with some short punches to the ribs
and Viana recovers full gaurd. Viana gets active from her back with
elbows and punches as she controls Ardelean with a body triangle.
They remain in this position, and Ardelean is doing her best to
find openings from ground-and-pound from above as . McMahon calls
for action from Ardelean again, and just when it seems like a
standup might be ordered,
Viana suddenly taps out with the body triangle still in place. As
it turns out, Ardelean had stepped over the foot while moving her
foe’s leg to the inside to apply significant pressure to Viana’s
knee. A clever way to end the fight for Ardelean after what had
largely been a pedestrian round. It’s believed to be the first
submission of its kind in UFC history.

The Official Result

Alice Ardelean def. Polyana Viana via Verbal Submission (Capsule
Lock) R2 4:36

Cody
Brundage (185.5) vs. Andre
Petroski (185.5)

Round 1

Chris Tognoni is the referee. It’s a deliberate beginning for the
middleweights. Petroski land a low kick. Petroski fires a
combination and Brundage circles out. Petroski backs his man up and
lands a calf kick. Brundage partially lands a straight right. Both
men remain very patient as we reach the halfway point of the round.
Burndage lands a front kick to the gut and eats a series of calf
kicks. Petroski catches Brundage with a knee as he moves forward.
Petroski shoots and lands in side control to negate a guillotine
attempt from Brundage. Brundage keeps his grip for a while before
relen. Brundage seems content to hold his opponent close to limit
offense. Petroski creates some space and lands a few right hands
from top position. Petroski goes knee on belly and then achieves
mount as the horn sounds. Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores
the round: 10-9 Petroski
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Petroski

Round 2

Brundage throws a looping right and then seconds later, drops his
foe with a massive left hook after feinting another right.
Brundage pounces and unleashes a hailstorm of ground-and-pound in
pursuit of the finish. Petroski is defending well at first, but
Brundage is relentless. The shots are beginning to get through and
Tognoni is taking a close look. The veteran official gives Petroski
plenty of leeway, but the Pennsylvania-based fighter isn’t
improving his situation — so the fight is waved off. That ends
a four-bout winless streak for Burndage.

The Official Result

Cody Brundage def. Andre Petroski via TKO (Punches) R2 0:44

Ketlen
Vieira (136) vs. Jacqueline
Cavalcanti (135.5)

Round 1

Jerin Valel is the referee. Vieira steps in with a hard right hand.
Cavalcanti with a front kick down the middle. An inside leg kick
lands for Cavalcanti. Cavanlcanti with another low kick and Vieira
answers with a right. Vieira lands a leg kick of her own. Vieira
fires off another right, but Cavalcante has her guard up
Calvalcante with a front kick. Vieira lands a combination. It’s
been a slow paced opening round as we approach 1:00 to go.
Cavalcanti continues to chip away with leg kicks. Vieira catches a
kick but can’t follow up. Cavlacanti gets aggressive and they
trade, Vieira landing a left hhook and right hand. Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Vieira
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Vieira
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vieira

Round 2

Vieira shoots about 15 seconds in. Cavalcanti defends against the
fence. Vieira lands knees to the gut and thighs. Vieira lifts
Cavalcanti, pulls her off the fence and eventually puts her foe on
the mat. Vieira is in Cavalcanti’s full guard, and she drops a
heavy shot from above. Cavalcanti fires an elbow from her back.
Vieira stays busy enough with ground-and-pound, and Cavalcanti
doesn’t appear to have a path back to her feet. Short hammerfists
land for the Brazilian, and Cavalcanti answers with elbows and
hammerfists from her back. Vieira is methodical from above,
controlling position and landing punches when the opportunity
presents itself. Vieira has spent the majority of the round in
control and that should be enough to earn the scorecards. Sherdog
Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Vieira
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Vieira
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vieira

Round 3

Cavalcanti probes with a front kick and straight punches. Vieira
answers with a right hand. Cavalcanti puts together more punches,
as she seems to know more urgency is needed. Cavalcanti lands a
pair of inside leg kicks. She pressures Vieira, looking to connect
with her hands. Vieira sticks a couple of jabs. Cavalcanti with
another leg kick, and then a right hand finds the mark. Vieira
blocks a body kick. Vieira lands a jab. Cavalcanti isn’t opening up
enough to really turn the tide, though she is landing more this
round. Cavalcanti has Vieira backed up near the fence as she looks
for openings. Cavalcanti lands a decent right, then has a high kick
partially blocked. Cavalcanti remains on the offensive, but she
needs to open up more. A body kick finds a home for the Portugal
naitve. Cavalcanti ends the round with another body kick and a
punching combination. Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the
round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (29-28 Vieira)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Vieira (30-27 Vieira)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vieira (30-27 Vieira)

The Official Result

Ketlen Vieira def. Jacqueline Cavalcanti via Unanimous Decision
(29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Artur Minev
(155) vs. Thomas
Gantt (156)

Round 1

Kerry Hatley is the referee. Gantt shoots within 10 seconds and
lands some knees in close afte Minev defends. A shoulder strike
lands for the American. More knees for Gantt in the clinch. Gantt
remains dogged in pursuit of the takedown and he trips Minev to the
mat. The Ukrainian hustles right back to his feet. Another heavy
shoulder strike lands for Gantt in the clinch. Minev is warned
about grabbing the cage. Minev is able to reverse the position and
lands a hard knee to the gut. Gantt is able to reverse and grounds
Minev. Gantt with a mat return after his foe pops right back up.
Gantt is attached to Minev as the clinch battle continues. Minev is
doing well to remain upright for as long as he has. Gantt grabs the
clinch and Minev digs the body with a quick combination. Moments
later, Gantt lands an audible shot to the cup. Minev is no worse
for wear and the fight resumes quickly. Gantt closes the distance
and finds himself attached to Minev with a body lock. Minev defends
the takedown against the fence but eats a shoulder strike for his
troubles. The round ends with Gantt still pushing Minev into the
fence. Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9
Gantt
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Gantt
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gantt

Round 2

Minev opens with a calf kick. Gantt is already looking to close the
distance. Minev fends him off and shoves the American into the
fence. Gantt lands a knee and gets an underhook, but he can’t get
Minev on the floor. They separate and Gantt lands a clean jab
before shooting once again. Gantt goes to work with knees in close
quarters as he drops low for a takedown. He gets Minev down. While
it looked for a moment like Minev was going to accept the position,
the Ukrainian is back up again. Gantt responds with a high
amplitude mat return. It’s just rinse and repeat for Gantt, who
gets Minev down yet again. Gantt traps the wrist and tees off with
gorund-and-pound.
Gantt has back mount and he postures up, landing more unanswered
punches as Minev seems to be fading. Minev isn’t defending himself
and Hatley steps in to wave off the fight. The Dana White’s Contender Series graduate has his first UFC
victory.