UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Barboza Rallies To Beat Yusuff

The UFC held the second of back-to-back Fight Night cards at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.

We got a banger coming our way tomorrow 🔥@Super_Sodiq vs @EdsonBarbozaJR in the #UFCVegas81 main event!

[ 4pmET / 1pmPT card start | Live on ESPN+ ] pic.twitter.com/yFaXkPpTJb
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2023

The night’s main event saw Sodiq Yusuff and Edson Barboza square off to decide which fighter would take another step towards the UFC’s featherweight Top 10. Barboza has experienced mixed results following his 2020 move down to the featherweight division, but after surviving a first round where Yusuff nearly finished him the Brazilian went on to earn a unanimous decision and now has back-to-back wins.

The co-main event featured top women’s flyweight contenders Jennifer Maia and Viviane Araujo. Maia snapped a two-fight skid last year by defeating Maryna Moroz before she handed Casey O’Neill her first loss in March, but Araujo halted that momentum and ended her own losing run when she defeated her countrywoman via unanimous decision.

Top 15 flyweights in tomorrow's co-main!@JenniMaiaUFC vs @ViviAraujoMMA at #UFCVegas81 👊

[ 4pmET / 1pmPT card start | Live on ESPN+ ] pic.twitter.com/jTyhAkD996
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2023

The rest of the event’s solid main card included an intriguing bantamweight matchup that saw Jonathan Martinez finish Adrian Yañez with leg kicks, and Michel Pereira also made his middleweight debut with a first-round knockout against Andre Petroski.

Christian Rodriguez handed Cameron Saaiman the first loss of his career to kick off the main card, and the night’s prelims also saw fan-favorites Darren Elkins and Terrance McKinney both get things done inside the distance.

You can find highlights from the event below, as well as the full results for every fight.

Terrance McKinney def. Brendon Marotte

TERRANCE MCKINNEY ONLY NEEDED 20 SECONDS 🤯 #UFCVegas81 pic.twitter.com/TZztQGNMOg
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 14, 2023

Darren Elkins def. TJ Brown

Darren Elkins did damage to force the tap 👏 #UFCVegas81 pic.twitter.com/KO4VmrGiH3
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 14, 2023

Michel Pereira def. Andre Petroski

THE RIGHT HAND FROM MICHEL PEREIRA 💥 #UFCVegas81 pic.twitter.com/EYHusMONeI
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 14, 2023

Jonathan Martinez def. Adrian Yañez

Jonathan Martinez gets another leg kick KO 😳 #UFCVegas81 pic.twitter.com/40iCerLPi3
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 15, 2023

Edson Barboza def. Sodiq Yusuff

Barboza wobbled Yusuff with a wheel kick 😱#UFCVegas81 pic.twitter.com/LOJY99Z3SF
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 15, 2023

Main Card: (ESPN+, 7:00 p.m. ET)

• Main Event: Edson Barboza def. Sodiq Yusuff via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 48-46x2)

• Co-Main Event: Viviane Araujo def. Jennifer Maia via Unanimous Decision (29-28x3)

• Jonathan Martinez def. Adrian Yañez via TKO: R2, 2:26

• Michel Pereira def. Andre Petroski via TKO: R1, 1:06

• Christian Rodriguez def. Cameron Saaiman via Unanimous Decision (30-27x2, 29-28)

Preliminary Card: (ESPN+, 4:00 p.m. ET)

• Darren Elkins def. TJ Brown via Submission (Rear Naked Choke): R3, 2:23

• Tainara Lisboa def. Ravena Oliveira via Unanimous Decision (29-28x3)

• Terrance McKinney def. Brendon Marotte via KO: R1, 0:20

• Melissa Dixon def. Irena Alekseeva via Unanimous Decision (29-28x2, 30-27)

• Chris Gutierrez def. Alatengheili via Unanimous Decision (30-27x3)

• Emily Ducote def. Ashley Yoder via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28x2)

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