Round 1 – Bonfim came out like he had somewhere to be, sprinting to the center of the cage and immediately establishing his jab. Muhammad stayed on the outside early, working his feints and trying to get a read on the Brazilian, but Bonfim wasn’t biting on much of anything. He stayed disciplined and made sure the former champion didn’t get comfortable.

Muhammad eventually found some success behind those feints, snapping Bonfim’s head back with a sharp 1-2. The problem was Bonfim wasn’t giving him any room to build off it. Every time Muhammad looked ready to settle in, Bonfim was right in front of him applying pressure and chopping away at the legs.

Recognizing those calf kicks were adding up, Muhammad started looking upstairs with counters. The one-twos landed clean at times, but Bonfim kept marching forward and forcing Muhammad toward the fence. Instead of controlling the center, Muhammad found himself having to punch his way out of bad positions.

And man, those calf kicks from Bonfim were nasty. Every time one landed, the crack echoed through the APEX. Muhammad would land a shot and Bonfim would answer with a combination, refusing to let the former champion have the last word in any exchange.

In the final minute, Muhammad decided he’d had enough of fighting off the back foot and started pressing forward himself. Bonfim handled it well, countering effectively and matching the aggression. The round closed with Bonfim firing a kick straight up the middle that missed, but it capped off a strong opening five minutes for the Brazilian, who looked comfortable dictating the pace and geography of the fight.

Round 2 – Muhammad came out with a little more urgency in the second round, looking to push the pace and put Bonfim on the defensive. The problem was every time he tried to close the distance, Bonfim had a counter waiting for him. It forced Muhammad right back into the rhythm of the first round, fighting off the back foot while looking for opportunities to explode into range.

Bonfim’s pressure never really let up. The calf kicks kept landing, and every one of them made it harder for Muhammad to establish the kind of forward movement he wanted. The former champion started circling more, trying to create angles and break up Bonfim’s momentum. He even began firing leg kicks of his own in an effort to slow the Brazilian down.

Knowing he was falling behind in the damage battle, Muhammad started taking bigger risks. He opened up more with his combinations and looked for moments to force exchanges, but those aggressive entries left him vulnerable. Bonfim stayed composed and repeatedly made him pay with sharp counters.

As the round wore on, the damage began to show. Muhammad’s face told the story of the fight, with Bonfim consistently finding the cleaner and heavier shots. Still, Muhammad kept pushing forward and trying to change the momentum, refusing to concede the round.

The final seconds saw Muhammad throwing high kicks in an attempt to steal some attention from the judges, but Bonfim once again looked like the fighter controlling the action as the round came to a close.

Round 3 – Muhammad knew he likely needed something big entering the final round and immediately shot in for a takedown. Bonfim saw it coming from a mile away, stuffed it with ease, and after a brief moment along the fence, the fight was right back where the Brazilian wanted it: on the feet.

Bonfim never abandoned the game plan that got him there. The calf kicks kept piling up, and by this point Muhammad’s lead leg was showing the effects. Every step looked a little heavier as Bonfim continued attacking it.

Then came one of the biggest moments of the fight.

Bonfim uncorked a nasty 1-2 that snapped Muhammad’s head back and sent him stumbling toward the fence. To Muhammad’s credit, he responded by taking more chances and finally finding some success with his own offense, landing a few clean shots as he desperately tried to swing the momentum.

Just under halfway through the round, Bonfim blasted Muhammad with another heavy punch that sent his mouthpiece flying across the cage. Referee Herb Dean had to step in and call time so Muhammad could get it back in, but it was another reminder of who was landing the more damaging shots.

Moments later, Bonfim cracked Muhammad with a huge right hand that visibly stunned the former champion. The Brazilian couldn’t help but smile as he saw the reaction. Muhammad immediately tried to close the distance and tie things up, but Bonfim looked completely dialed in, firing off a combination almost on instinct to shut down the clinch attempt before it could develop.

As the clock ticked down, Bonfim continued piling up damage and landing the cleaner strikes. Muhammad kept fighting and searching for an opening, but the Brazilian remained composed, sticking to his game plan and finishing the fight strong in what looked like a statement performance against a former UFC champion.

Round 4 – Muhammad entered the championship rounds knowing he was likely behind on the scorecards and would need something dramatic to turn the fight around. That meant taking risks, but Bonfim wasn’t interested in giving him any opportunities. Instead, the Brazilian doubled down on the pressure and continued forcing Muhammad to fight while moving backward.

Muhammad kept searching for angles, and whenever he found one, he let his hands go with bad intentions. The problem was that spending the entire fight on the back foot had taken some of the sting and precision out of his offense. As the minutes wore on, Muhammad visibly slowed and began picking his spots more carefully, while Bonfim still looked fresh, bouncing around the cage like the fight had just started.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Muhammad found another gear.

The former champion surged forward and finally began putting Bonfim on the defensive. He landed some of his best shots of the fight and briefly shifted the momentum, giving fans a glimpse of the pressure-heavy style that made him a world champion in the first place.

Unfortunately for Muhammad, the momentum didn’t last long. Bonfim quickly settled back into the fight, regained control of the range, and resumed dictating the pace. When Muhammad was able to march forward and force exchanges, he found success. By that point, however, he simply didn’t have enough left in the tank to sustain it.

Bonfim weathered the late push, returned to controlling the action, and closed out the fight looking every bit like a contender ready to make a serious statement in the welterweight division.

Round 5 – The final round started exactly how you’d expect after 20 plus minutes of fighting. Both men marched to the center of the cage and got right back to work. Bonfim still looked remarkably fresh, bouncing on his feet and staying sharp, while Muhammad looked like a man who knew he needed something special but wasn’t about to quit trying to find it.

Muhammad continued darting in and out, searching for openings and hoping to land the kind of shot that could change the fight. The problem was Bonfim seemed to have an answer for everything. Every entry from Muhammad was met with a counter, a jab, or a defensive adjustment that kept the Brazilian one step ahead.

With a minute remaining, Muhammad essentially emptied the gas tank. The former champion started throwing with everything he had left, looking for one final rally. Bonfim never panicked. He stayed composed, pumping his jab and landing clean shots that repeatedly found their mark as Muhammad pressed forward.

Then came the final 10 seconds.

Both men planted their feet and let their hands fly, trading shots all the way to the horn in a fitting ending to a high-level main event. Neither fighter gave an inch as the crowd roared through the final exchange.

When it was over, Bonfim had secured the biggest victory of his career. Beating a former UFC welterweight champion in convincing fashion could be the win that officially launches him from rising contender to legitimate title threat at 170 pounds.

After showing respect for one former champion he called out another one in Jack Della Maddalena in his post-fight interview saying, “JDM, stay ready.”

Official Result: Gabriel Bonfim def. Belal Muhammad via Unanimous Decision (50-45×3) 

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After fending off the dangerous striker in a back-and-forth middleweight battle, Allen used his post-fight interview to call for a showdown with middleweight champion Sean Strickland, setting the stage for a potential grudge match between two of the division’s most outspoken contenders.

Round 1 – Allen and Shahbazyan wasted no time planting themselves in the center of the Octagon and letting their hands go. Allen’s jab was snapping out like a piston, landing clean and often, while Shahbazyan answered with jabs of his own that simply didn’t carry the same sting.

Every time Shahbazyan threw a shot or two, Allen came right back with a combination. It became a game of “your go, I go,” except Allen’s defense was a step ahead, slipping and avoiding many of the attacks coming his way while still finding openings to fire back.

Allen shot in for a takedown midway through the round, but Shahbazyan stuffed it and briefly forced Allen against the fence. Shahbazyan quickly circled back to the center, where both men were clearly most comfortable exchanging.

As the round entered the final minute, Allen appeared to slow ever so slightly and Shahbazyan immediately took notice. The former title hopeful started opening up with heavier combinations and found more success as he pushed forward. Allen tried to change levels for another takedown, but once again Shahbazyan shut the door.

Sensing momentum swinging his way, Shahbazyan began unloading powerful combinations and forcing Allen to react. Allen mixed in leg kicks to slow him down, but Shahbazyan continued circling and looking for openings. In the final seconds, Allen launched forward with a flying knee attempt, only to get clipped by a sharp Shahbazyan combination before the horn sounded to end an entertaining opening round.

Round 2 – Round 2 opened with Allen immediately pushing the pace, landing a quick flurry while Shahbazyan stayed patient and looked for opportunities to counter. The slower tempo seemed to frustrate Allen, who wasn’t interested in giving Shahbazyan time to settle into a rhythm and repeatedly forced exchanges whenever the action stalled.

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Ziam had won an impressive six straight, while Nolan had notched for consecutive victories coming into Saturday, when one man’s streak would end.

A fast starting opening round saw both fighters exchanged heavy blows in the pocket before Ziam momentarily took the fight to the ground. Quickly returning to his feet, Nolan was able to land a spinning elbow and a takedown of his own. Ziam was able to regain his composure, reversing Nolan on the ground to return to the cage. The fighters would separate with thirty seconds remaining in highly competitive round.

The second started with a big opening combination by Ziam who seemed to be the faster fighter on the feet. Nolan forced the fight to the clinch and pushed Ziam to the cage, controlling position. Midway through the round Ziam stumbled on a spinning elbow and Nolan was able to gain top position on the ground. Ziam potentially could have been down by two round entering the final five minutes.

Ziam was able to find a well timed takedown to start the third and maintained top position for a few minutes landing solid elbows on top. Transitioning to the back Ziam threatened a rear naked choke before falling off and losing position. Nolan was now on top landing solid ground and pound of his own.

After fifteen minutes it seemed as though Tom Nolan would pick up the biggest win of his career. All three judges scored the contest unanimously for Nolan, who surprised many including the oddsmakers with his excellent performance tonight.

Official Result: Tom Nolan def. Fares Ziam by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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Mitchell had over twice the experience of Luna, but had been trading wins and losses since 2022. He entered UFC Vegas 118 having won a decision over Said Nurmagomedov last July.

Luna was stepping in on short notice to replace Victor Henry.

Opening with two side kicks and a left hand, Bryce Mitchell established his offense early. Undeterred, the younger Santiago Luna pushed forward, landing a handful of strikes before changing levels along the cage. Mitchell, a known jiu-jitsu threat, quickly reversed the position to secure top control.

From there, Mitchell dominated the remainder of the round, advancing to full mount and maintaining heavy pressure. Luna attempted to explode out from the bottom, but Mitchell smoothly transitioned to the back, locking in a rear-naked choke attempt. The horn ultimately saved Luna, though Mitchell carried clear momentum into round two.

Back on the feet, Luna’s rhythm was disrupted early in the second as Mitchell charged forward, pressing him against the cage in search of another takedown. This time, Luna managed to reverse position and gain brief control, but Mitchell immediately threatened with a triangle choke from his back. Staying composed, Luna disengaged and returned to his feet.

At range once again, Mitchell continued to hunt for level changes and eventually secured another takedown with a well-timed trip. Similar to the opening round, he controlled the action from top position for the remainder of the frame, likely putting him up 2-0 heading into the third.

Luna came out with urgency in round three, sprinting forward and landing clean punches before initiating a takedown of his own. In a surprising moment, the Tijuana native locked up a D’arce choke, briefly threatening Mitchell. However, unable to fully commit to the squeeze, Luna allowed Mitchell to capitalize, reversing the position and advancing into full mount.

As Luna attempted to build from the bottom, he gave up his back, prompting another rear-naked choke attempt from Mitchell. Though Luna managed to roll free, he was quickly flattened out, and Mitchell continued his relentless grappling attack; eventually securing an arm-triangle choke in the final moments of the fight.

Earning the 10th submission victory of his professional career, Bryce Mitchell picks up his second consecutive win since dropping to bantamweight. Despite suffering his first loss, the 21-year-old Santiago Luna showed toughness and promise, stepping in on short notice against one of the division’s most dangerous submission specialists.

Official Result: Bryce Mitchell def. Santiago Luna by submission (arm-triangle choke), Round 3, 4:52

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A former heavyweight, Tafa was now calling 205lbs home and coming off a win over Kevin Christian back in May. “The Juggernaut,” brother of ex-UFC heavyweight Justin Tafa, was 1-1 in 2026, a year in which he hoped to stay busy.

That desire likely hinged on how Tafa performed against Baraniewski at UFC Vegas 118. The Polish light heavyweight was not only undefeated, but had never left the opening round.

Baraniewski opened the action with a low kick, which Tafa worked his hands and fired a kick, mid-height, of his own. Baraniewski then closed the distance and clinched up along the fence, looking takedown. He could not, however, get the fight down or even keep Tafa pinned to the cage. Instead, it was back to center, with Baraniewski firing more kicks. And after one that stumbled Tada, a second followed that landed with a crack and spun Junior around. He went to the ground, hobbled by the leg kick, which was all the invitation Iwo Baraniewski required to move in for the kill. Punch after punch rained down as Junior Tafa covered up. Ref “Big” Dan Miragliotta didn’t take much convincing to wave the fight off after that.

For Tafa, not the result he was looking for and not one that will see him return soon. Iwo Baraniewski however both remains perfect, and keeps his first-round finish streak alive. He’s now 9-0 as a professional, and called for somebody from the top 15 for his next fight.

Official Result: Iwo Baraniewski def. Junior Tafa by TKO (leg kick and strikes), Round 1, 1:25

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The catchweight was necessitated by Costa stepping up on just nine day’s notice to take the fight. As for Schnell, who did get a full camp, he’d retired following a loss to Cody Durden in 2024, though he’d later admit that was mainly due to his belief that the UFC would cut him after three straight losses.

When it turned out he wasn’t cut, he returned to defeat Jimmy Flick, then found himself submitted by Joseph Morales last year. Which meant he was looking to bounce back opposite Costa.

The first round started cautiously, with Costa looking to counter with big overhand rights as Schnell moved in. Costa connected with a short right hand that got the attention of Schnell near the three minute mark. Moments later Costa landed massive right hand that forced Schnell to shoot a desperation takedown, resulting in Costa ending up on top. Costa would go on to land multiple massive ground and pound punches before veteran referee Herb Dean called a stop to the contest by TKO.

This was the second knockout in a row for Alessandro Costa who should earn a step up in competition next time out.

Official Result: Alessandro Costa def. Matt Schnell by TKO (punches), Round 1, 2:32

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McGhee had last been seen losing a decision to ex-champ Petr Yan in July of last year, and had originally been expected to face Poland’s Jakub Wikłacz before Yannis stepped up to replace him.

Opening in opposite stances, Marcus McGhee took the center of the octagon early, feinting his way into range. Both fighters traded kicks to start, with John Yannis targeting the lead leg, while McGhee answered with spinning back kicks to pressure him toward the cage.

Yannis looked to get his hands going on the outside, but McGhee’s forward pressure made it difficult to find any rhythm. Staying on the gas, McGhee began opening up his boxing late in the round, clearly getting the better of the exchanges on the feet.

Round two saw McGhee pick up right where he left off, opening with a variety of kicks to the body, legs, and head. As the round progressed, the exchanges became more competitive, with Yannis gaining confidence and beginning to fire back. Still, McGhee remained a step ahead, landing the biggest shot of the fight with a clean counter right hand that wobbled Yannis late in the round.

In the third round, both bantamweights met once again in the center, trading shots to the head and body. Yannis pushed the pace early, looking to shift the momentum, but midway through the round, McGhee made a wise adjustment; opting to fight at range and avoid extended exchanges.

As the fight entered its final moments, John Yannis emptied the tank in search of a finish, pressing forward with urgency. However, McGhee’s movement and distance management kept him out of danger, allowing him to close the fight on his terms.

Reaching the judges’ scorecards, Marcus McGhee was awarded a unanimous decision victory, moving to 11-2 as a professional and 5-1 in the UFC. On the other side, John Yannis falls to 10-5, suffering his second loss with the promotion.

Official Result: Marcus McGhee def. John Yannis by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

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Silva looked to get inside on the taller, longer Chairez early in the fight, at times throwing a jab to the body. Chairez’s own jab was a frequently employed weapon; Silva fired off an outside leg kick that connected. Silva hit home with a right hand, an uppercut landed, and moments later a Chairez combo, mainly a straight right set up with a jab, sat Silva down.

Chairez, however, could not take advantage initially. Instead, Silva got back up, and got his own offense going. Chasing a little too much perhaps. A second knockdown, off an uppercut and a hook, had Silva bloodied, and this time Edgar Chairez followed him to the mat, taking the back and locking up the rear-naked choke! In all kinds of discomfort, Silva fought the submission but had no option but to tap in the end!

The win sees Edgar Chairez secure his third straight victory, and second submission finish inside of that span. Bruno Gustavo da Silva falls to 1-4 in his last five fights, and should he stick around he may be fighting for his roster spot next.

Official Result: Edgar Chairez def. Bruno Silva by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 4:13

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The Meta Apex card found both women looking to snap two-fight losing streaks in the bantamweight match-up. Someone was getting back in the win column on Saturday, and in the end, it didn’t take long for a winner to emerge.

With the bout underway, Cachoeira had to contend with an early Chandler uppercut that got her attention, though it was the Brazilan holding center early, forcing Chandler back. Just over a minute in, Cachoeira pressured, overwhelming Chandler, who wound up off-balance and dumped on her back. Cachoeira would let her back up, which turned out to be a mistake when a short right hand rocked Priscila!

Cachoeira wound up on the canvass, Chandler swarming, taking her back. Chandler got both hooks in, and had plenty of time to work. After a bit of maneuvering, Chandler would transition into an arm-bar, quickly forcing the tap!

Quite the comeback for Chelsea Chandler after a year away. She improves her UFC record to 3-3 after debuting in the promotion back in 2022 after time spent in Invicta FC.

“You can expect me to be back with a vengeance. The girls I’ve fought are the toughest in this division, and they fought me when I was eff’d up,” Chandler exclaimed following the win.

Official Result: Chelsea Chandler def. Priscila Cachoeira by submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 3:42

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Leavitt had won two straight coming into Saturday, with his last being his debut at 145lbs. Brito had snapped a two-fight skid in his last outing, with a decision victory over Isaac Thomson.

Round 1 – Leavitt pounced on Brito’s ankles just 10 seconds in, trying to get the fight into his wheelhouse on the ground. Brito maintained top position while Leavitt worked to the cage, but a guillotine attempt off his back allowed Leavitt to gain control. He pushed Brito against the cage and pressed for the takedown, with separations only lasting seconds before Leavitt was all over him again.

After a wild early pace from Leavitt, Brito got aggressive and started winging some big punches. After a few landed, Leavitt dove in on the legs but left his neck exposed. Brito locked up his patented ninja choke and sat into it, forcing a tap late in Round one. Brito was quick to take his shorts off in celebration after the win and has now won two straight.

Official Result: Joanderson Brito def. Jordan Leavitt by Submission (ninja choke), Round 1, 4:19

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