UFC on ESPN 71 (ESPN/ESPN+) takes place Saturday, and you can join us for live round-by-round coverage and official results beginning at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT). UFC on ESPN 71 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
In the headliner, Tatsuro Taira (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) takes on short-notice replacement opponent HyunSung Park (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in a flyweight matchup.
Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 6 p.m. ET for the prelims on ESPN and ESPN+ and 9 p.m. ET for the main card on ESPN and ESPN+.
Enjoy the fights, everyone.
UFC on ESPN 71 lineup
MAIN CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)
- Tatsuro Taira vs. HyunSung Park
- Chris Duncan vs. Mateusz Rebecki
- Elves Brener vs. Esteban Ribovics
- Nora Cornolle vs. Karol Rosa
- Neil Magny vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
- Danny Silva vs. Kevin Vallejos
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
- Nathan Fletcher vs. Rinya Nakamura
- Tresean Gore vs. Rodolfo Vieira
- Nick Klein vs. Andrey Pulyaev
- Austin Bashi vs. John Yannis
- Felipe Bunes vs. Rafael Estevam
- Piera Rodriguez def. Ketlen Souza via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Felipe Bunes vs. Rafael Estevam
Round 1 – Bigleg kicks from both. Neither guy backing up, both right in the middle of the octagon. Big leg kicks again from both. It looks like Bunes are a little stronger. Estevam shoots, they scramble and the fight resumes in the striking. Now Bunes shoots and Estevam defends well. Three minutes left. Jab to the body and then a takedown by Estevam. This time Estevam maintains top position. He’s working from guard. Triangle attempt fails by Bunes. Estevam moves to side control. Oh! Bunes with a rare buggy choke from bottom! It’s hard to tell how tight it is. Estevam is locked in there, unable to get out. Almost a minute goes by and the bell rings. Tough round to score.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Estevam.
Round 2 – Estevam pressing here. Oh! Bunes with two clean shots. Again! It looks like the tide is turning. Oh! Estevam eats a knee, as he gets the takedown. Estevam seems ok. Good ground-and-pound by Estevam. Nasty elbow from Estevam. Estevam working from guard. We’re halfway through the round. Bunes looks tired. More elbows from top by Estevam. There shots are adding up! Estevam moves to side control. Bunes goes to turtle position and Estevam continues to land a steady flow of shots. Estevam now looking to take the back of Bunes. Bunes gets up, but gets pressed against the cage by Estevam. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Estevam.
Round 3 –
- Result:
- Recap:
- Photos:
- Records: Bunes (14-7 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Estevam (13-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
- Division: Lightweight
- Referee:
- Judging:
Piera Rodriguez vs. Ketlen Souza
Round 1 – Rodriguez begins pressing Souza. Leg kicks from Rodriguez. Souza now walking down Rodriguez. They clinch and Rodriguez lands four nasty knees to the body. Souza eats them well. Another big knee by Rodriguez. Big left by Souza. Heavy combo connects for Souza. They clinch. We’re halfway through the round. More nasty knees and then an elbow by Rodriguez. Left connects for Souza. Rodriguez shoots and gets her first takedown of the fight. Souza trying to push off Rodriguez, but unable to. Good scramble by Souza, who gets back to her feet. One minute left. Oh! They both connect. Rodriguez with a takedown. Souza looking to get a kimura. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Rodriguez.
Round 2 – Knees by Rodriguez and then a head kick! What a chin on Souza. Leg kick by Rodriguez. Front kick to the body by Rodriguez. Rodriguez with a solid combo, she’s really found her range. Rodriguez presses Souza against the cage and takes her down. Souza gets back to her feet almost immediately after the takedown. Flying knee by Souza, but Rodriguez uses that to take her down. Rodriguez working from half guard. Souza scrambles out and presses Rodriguez against the cage. Two minutes left. Oh! These two are brawling. Spinning elbow by Rodriguez! Souza presses Rodriguez against the cage. Short shots here and there by Souza. They free. Rodriguez shoots, but just as she gets the takedown, the bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Rodriguez.
Round 3 – Nasty combo by Rodriguez right off the start. Leg kicks by Rodriguez. The output has dropped here from both ladies. Rodriguez scores a takedown, but Souza scrambles to her feet. Souza presses Rodriguez against the cage, and looks for the takedown. Rodriguez breaks free. Leg kicks by Rodriguez. Left hook lands for Rodriguez. Souza is pressing here, she wants the win. They both connect here with left hooks. Oh! Clean left by Souza. Rodriguez shoots and gets a takedown. Rodriguez controlling from half guard. One minute left. Souza trying to use the butterfly guard to get back to her feet, but Rodriguez counters and ends on side control. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Rodriguez. Overall 30-27, Rodriguez.
- Result: Piera Rodriguez def. Ketlen Souza via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Recap:
- Photos:
- Records: Rodriguez (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC), Souza (15-6 MMA, 2-3 UFC)
- Division: Women’s flyweight
- Referee: Chris Tognoni
- Judging:
