Welcome to FightLine’s live coverage of UFC on ESPN+: Smith vs. Teixeira from the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
All of the action will stream live on ESPN+ with Anthony Smith taking on Glover Teixeira in the main event. The two former light heavyweight title contenders battle over five rounds.
Along with Smith vs. Teixeira, Ben Rothwell takes on Ovince Saint Preux in a heavyweight contest.
Rounding out the main card will be Alexander Hernandez vs. Drew Dober in the lightweight division, Ricky Simon vs. Ray Borg at bantamweight, Andrei Arlovski vs. Philipe Lins in the heavyweight division and Michael Johnson vs. Thiago Moises at lightweight.
On the prelims, Sijara Eubanks battles Sarah Moras, Gabriel Benitez faces Omar Antonio Morales Ferrer, Hunter Azure takes on Brian Kelleher and Chase Sherman meets Isaac Villanueva.
The card needed some last-minute shuffling after a planned bout between Marvin Vettori and Karl Roberson was scratched. Roberson weighed in at 187.5 pounds, but Vettori agreed to fight.
However, the bout was scrapped after Roberson was declared medically unfit to compete. The two nearly came to blows in the fighter hotel, which was caught on camera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WeFGkiKmoY
The action begins at 6 p.m. ET with the prelims, while the main card starts at 9 p.m. ET.
UFC On ESPN+: Smith Vs. Teixeira Quick Results
Glover Teixeira def. Anthony Smith via TKO (strikes) at 1:05 of Round 5
Ben Rothwell def. Ovince Saint Preux via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Drew Dober def. Alexander Hernandez via TKO (strikes) at 4:25 of Round 2
Ricky Simon def. Ray Borg via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Andrei Arlovski def. Philipe Lins via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Thiago Moises def. Michael Johnson via submission (heel hook) at :25 of Round 2
Sijara Eubanks def. Sarah Moras via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Omar Antonio Morales def. Gabriel Benitez via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Brian Kelleher def. Hunter Azure via KO (strike) at 3:40 of Round 2
Chase Sherman def. Ike Villanueva via TKO (strikes) at :49 of Round 2
Live fight-by-fight coverage continues on the next page!
Chase Sherman Vs. Ike Villanueva
Coming off a win in his UFC debut, Villanueva enters having won four in a row and is unbeaten at heavyweight. He will likely be returning to light heavyweight after his though, though, which is his normal division.
Sherman rebounded from three consecutive Octagon losses to win three fights in a row competing for Island Fights over the past year-plus. All three victories came inside of the first round.
These two like quick finishes and we could be positioned for a fast start.
Several leg kicks by Sherman are finding a home, but Villanueva continues to press forward with nice combinations. Huge overhand right misses by Villanueva, but his 1-2 lands to the face with some pop.
Sherman with heavy, heavy hands and lands a knee as Villanueva is stuck against the fence. However, he comes firing back in the final seconds of the round.
At the start of the second, the injured leg of Villanueva was obvious and Sherman took advantage, landing an elbow that led to the end of this one.
Chase Sherman def. Ike Villanueva via TKO (strikes) at :49 of Round 2
Hunter Azure Vs. Brian Kelleher
The unbeaten Azure is searching for his ninth victory overall, coming up from Dana White’s Contender Series. He earned his initial UFC victory over Brad Katona last year.
Kelleher has posted a record of 4-3 during his Octagon run, which started in 2017 with a submission of Iuri Alcantara. He is 20-10 overall including 16 finishes.
Nice little scrambles here early on as Kelleher searches for the takedown. Azure doing a fantastic job of defending. Power punches aplenty by Azure as he continues to dominate the striking portion of this featherweight contest.
All Azure through the first half of the second round, piling up strikes and not showing any signs of fatigue. Nice little knee up the middle lands as Kelleher is reeling. They separate with Kelleher landing one strike and Azure about four.
Kelleher finding his rhythm, putting together his own combination of strikes as he drops Azure out of nowhere. This one is all over with a great finish for Kelleher as he put it together. Perfectly-placed hook led to the finish in this one.
Brian Kelleher def. Hunter Azure via KO (strike) at 3:40 of Round 2
Gabriel Benitez Vs. Omar Antonio Morales
Nice battle of left-handed fighters here in the lightweight division between Benitez and Morales. Some heavy kicks are starting to find a home by Morales, who continues to advance.
Both men have some bruising on the face with blood trickling down. They are also talking smack to each other, throwing much of the same things. Morales with a huge connection near the end of the first round.
Really fun fight here featuring two evenly matched fighters that are doing a lot of the same attacks inside the Octagon. Straight-right followed by a kick to the body by Morales as he walks Benitez down.
Best round so far here in the third for Benitez, but Morales is not going anyway. As Daniel Cormier noted, whichever fighter is pushing forward and applying the pressure, is having more success.
They close with a flurry and we head to the scorecards for the first time.
Omar Antonio Morales def. Gabriel Benitez via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Sijara Eubanks Vs. Sarah Moras
We conclude the prelims with the lone female fight of the night between Eubanks and Moras.
Eubanks has dropped two fights in a row, losing back-to-back decisions to former UFC title challenger Bethe Correia and Aspen Ladd. Moras has lost four of her last six, with three of them being decision defeats – including to ex-UFC champion Jessica Andrade.
Good first round from both as Eubanks appeared to get the better of Moras. Now, though here in the second, Moras is the more aggressive fighter. Her corner noted that Eubanks comes out fast and fades, and that has been the path of the second here.
However, Eubanks is still firing off with big, punishing shots. Eubanks fends off a takedown and immediately scores with one of her own. Eubanks would love to get the finish, but she should be up 2-0 and closing in on the win.
Moras on her back, which makes her dangerous with her submission game. And Moras tries to secure an arm, shifting ever-so-slightly to try and secure it. Eubanks is right in her own corner, listening in to her coaches.
Sijara Eubanks def. Sarah Moras via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
We start the main card next on the following page.
Michael Johnson Vs. Thiago Moises
Moises a young pup compared to Johnson, a veteran of The Ultimate Fighter. Johnson will also hold a slight reach advantage for this lightweight contest.
Johnson holds a career record of 19-15, while Moises is 12-4 overall.
Both men come firing out after one another as they want to get it on. All standup right now, and that has stuck to the plan for Johnson who said he would work hard to avoid any groundwork.
Johnson winning the striking battle so far, peppering Moises with shot after shot by staying active and quick. The pressure of Johnson is keeping Moises at bay, not allowing him to get anything going through the first round.
Moises with the pressure to start the second, attacking and grabbing a leg. In just seconds, Moises gets the submission, forcing Johnson to tap.
Thiago Moises def. Michael Johnson via submission (heel hook) at :25 of Round 2
Andrei Arlovski Vs. Philipe Lins
Arlovski, a former UFC heavyweight champion, is just 1-4 with a no-contest since 2018, including a first round loss to Jairzinho Rozenstruik in November. His lone win during that stretch came over Ben Rothwell, who will fight later tonight.
Lins, meanwhile, looks for his fifth consecutive win after competing several times for Bellator and the PFL in recent years. His win in December over Josh Copeland came in the finals of the 2018 PFL Heavyweight Tournament.
Interestingly enough, these two are teammates at American Top Team. And there was no touch of gloves.
Lots of switching of stances by both fighters here early on, with Lins kind of taking control of the contest. Crazy series of strikes by Lins as they came in a flurry inside of the clinch.
Counter-right by Lins backs Arlovski up and he appears hurt. Lins, though, remains calm and does not engage, resulting in several kicks from Arlovski. Another great exchange from in close and both men remain standings – somehow.
Both of these men are landing with serious, serious strikes both in terms of hands and kicks. Oh man, Lins gets Arlovski low and we have a break. With no crowd, the reaction of “The Pitbull” are loud and for real, as he’ll need some time to overcome this.
Up until that pause, Arlovski was controlling the round. Lins, though, firing back here, returning fire and Arlovski is backing up quickly.
Arlovski showing more of his array of skills, tossing up some kicks both to the middle and legs. Experience has definitely helped Arlovski, who has been switching stances constantly.
Lins, though, lands with a nasty shot here, sticking with his hands and avoiding any leg kicks to not risk the chance of being docked a point after his low blow. This has been a very strong fight for Arlovski over the final stages of the past two rounds.
Andrei Arlovski def. Philipe Lins via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Ricky Simon Vs. Ray Borg
We move to the bantamweight division next as Simon seeks to end a two-fight losing streak. The 27-year-old won 15 of his first 16 before back-to-back losses in 2019 to Urijah Faber and Rob Font.
Borg, meanwhile, a year younger, has overcome so much outside the Octagon. He has picked up two wins in a row, including a decision over Rogerio Bontorin in February to improve to 13-4.
Real nice start for these two, as Simon is working the jab while looking for a power right-hand. Borg, though, answers back with his own striking. In the second, Simon with a huge takedown in the early stages to gain control of the match.
Some fun trash-talking between these two that we can hear with the crowd non-existent for the event. Simon, though, continues to be the aggressor and more active fighter.
All Simon here so far through two rounds, but Borg has the ability to make something happen here in the final five minutes. Simon approaching 10 successful takedowns in this one-sided performance.
Ricky Simon def. Ray Borg via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
More main card action continues on the next page.
Alexander Hernandez Vs. Drew Dober
We move to the lightweight division with Hernandez chasing his fourth UFC victory in five tries. The 15th-ranked fighter is 11-2 overall with six finishes in his career.
Dober has picked up back-to-back wins to improve to 22-9 thanks to finishes of Nasrat Haqparast and Marco Polo Reyes. He is 8-5 with a no-contest since joining the UFC in 2013.
Hernandez using his kicks to keep Dober at bay in the early going, as he constantly is moving forward and applying the pressure. Dober gets in close and lands, including a huge right to the face.
Exchange of eye pokes at the end of the first and start of the second appears to have ignited a bit of an aggressive side to both of these men. Just like the opening round, Dober is walking him down, controlling the Octagon in most aspects of this fight.
Dober connects and drops Hernandez for a brief moment as he continues to work. Hernandez, eating some good shots, gets taken down to the canvas with 90 seconds left in the round.
A teammate of new interim UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, Dober gets up and adds his name to the list of winners for the fight camp, earning a finish with some nasty, nasty shots as the ref steps in with Hernandez against the fence.
Drew Dober def. Alexander Hernandez via TKO (strikes) at 4:25 of Round 2
Ben Rothwell Vs. Ovince Saint Preux
After a run at light heavyweight that included a 2016 bout with Jon Jones for the interim title, Saint Preux makes the move up to heavyweight. The former college football player scored a victory last September over Michal Oleksiejczuk to improve to 24-13.
Greeting him in the division is veteran Rothwell, who owns 37 wins among his 49 career bouts. That includes a win this past December over Stefan Struve via TKO.
Despite this being his first heavyweight bout since competing as an amateur, OSP’s size makes him a perfect candidate to compete here as he does not look small compared to Rothwell at all.
Huge head-kick attempt by OSP results in Rothwell securing the choke with plenty of time to work. Rothwell owns a submission win over Josh Barnett among others, as OSP is defending well.
The power of Rothwell appears to be slowing OSP down considerably as he is caught against the fence and eating several big knees. To the body and a loud “pressure” chant by Rothwell’s corner.
In the final moments, OSP lands and drops Rothwell, who survives but could leave us tied at one round apiece heading to the third.
Aggressive start to the round for OSP but it is Rothwell who is doing damage. He connects, throws up some knees and Saint Preux answers back with shots of his own. While not pretty, Rothwell dominated the final moments and could have stole the fight thanks to that.
Ben Rothwell def. Ovince Saint Preux via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Anthony Smith Vs. Glover Teixeira
It’s time for the main event of the night as a pair of former challengers to Jon Jones’ reign atop the light heavyweight division meet.
Smith, who scored three consecutive finishes over Rashad Evans, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Volkan Oezdemir to earn a 2019 title shot vs. Jones, is coming off a submission over Alexander Gustafsson that improved his record to 33-14.
Teixeira has reeled off three consecutive wins over Nikita Krylov, Ion Cutelaba and Karl Roberson, faced Jones in 2014 after winning 22 of his first 24 pro bouts. The 40-year-old owns 17 knockout and eight submission victories.
While unable to score with a takedown, Teixeira dominates the first round with his striking. Smith was never able to get much offense going, relying on his defense to make it out of the first.
More of Octagon control out of Teixeira, but this time, Smith quickly works to the center. Better offensive output in the early stages of the second from “Lionheart.” Pretty big cut has opened up around the left eye of Teixeira from the attacks of Smith.
Strong third round by Teixeira, as he controls Smith with his exceptional strength. The Brazilian has been repeatedly working for the submission in the latter stages of the round, latching himself on Smith’s back.
With under a minute to go, Teixeira has opened up a cut on Smith’s face and is peppering him with short, quick shots while continuing to work for the submission. A completely dominant round by Teixeira, but Smith survives.
The doctor checked over Smith before the fourth, but we’ll continue. Immediately Teixeira is pressuring him, looking for the finish. Could be elementary from here, but Smith fires back, looking for an elbow before eating several uppercuts and shooting for a takedown.
An incredible effort by Smith to survive both the offensive onslaught and submissions attempts by Teixeira, but he is battered and bruised after four rounds of action.
For as much heart as Smith showed, Teixeira came out and ended this one quickly in the fifth, securing the victory and remaining on the edge of title contention.
Glover Teixeira def. Anthony Smith via TKO (strikes) at 1:05 of Round 5
