Welcome to Wrestling Inc.’s live coverage of UFC Fight Night 271, headlined by Israel Adesanya versus Joe Pyfer and emanating from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
Adesanya looks to finish a three-fight losing streak and keep in contention for the UFC Middleweight Championship he has held twice. Pyfer, alternatively, looks to increase his winning streak and climb the rankings.
Before heading into the most important event, women’s flyweight contenders Alexa Grasso, No. 3 ranked, and Maycee Barber, No. 5 ranked, will fight each other. And 19-7 veteran Michael Chiesa draws an in depth to his profession with a fight against Niko Price at welterweight.
Julian Erosa will fight Lerryan Douglas at featherweight, Mansur Abdul-Malik and Yousri Belgaroui will fight at middleweight, and Terrance McKinney faces Kyle Nelson at lightweight.
The most important card is scheduled to start at 8 PM ET and shall be available to observe within the US via Paramount+, UFC Fight Pass, and TNT Sports internationally.
Terrance McKinney vs. Kyle Nelson – Lightweight Three Rounds
Round one begins and Kyle Nelson drops Terrance McKinney to a knee with a leg kick, but McKinney comes back with a headkick that drops Nelson to the ground and rushes Nelson with hammerfists on the bottom. The referee gets between them and calls an end to the fight throughout the first minute.
Terrance McKinney def. Kyle Nelson via TKO in Round One
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Yousri Belgaroui – Middleweight Three Rounds
Round one begins and each Abdul-Malik and Belgaroui test each other with leg kicks and jabs to determine the space.
Belgaroui comfortable to be fighting on the skin, peppering the calf with leg kicks and teeps to shut the push Abdul-Malik back. Abdul-Malik appearing too obvious in attempting to size up the takedown, struggling to get to the within as Belgaroui continues to work behind his kicks.
Belgaroui lands a calf kick that forces Abdul-Malik to shake his leg out, and a lump may be very clearly beginning to form on the shin. Abdul-Malik clumsily lunges for the takedown and gets stung for it. Belgaroui is just stinging Abdul-Malik with kicks to the leg and torso immediately. Abdul-Malik finds a slight rhythm together with his jabs and goes for a fast flurry towards the tip of round one, but nothing really comes of it.
Round two begins with Abdul-Malik landing a solid front kick to the sternum of Belgaroui, and after receiving one other stinging leg kick he goes for the takedown. Belgaroui manages to remain on his feet and the stand-up resumes. Abdul-Malik now throwing punches seemingly designed to distract for the takedown, shown as he goes for the clinch against the cage to no avail.
Abdul-Malki shoots for a double-leg and gets it, with Belgaroui climbing back to his feet only be brought back down. Belgaroui escapes and attains waist control, sinking knees into the hamstrings of Abdul-Malik. Belgaroui continues with knees to the torso and shots upstairs cutting Abdul-Malik’s brow open. Belgaroui is on the lookout for the finish with elbows and knees, and Abdul-Malik throws a spinning backfist only to get caught with a right straight dropping him to the ground. Belgaroui seizes upon him with hammerfists. However the buzzer sounds and Abdul-Malik is saved from defeat for now.
Round Three begins and Abdul-Malik is throwing shots trying to change his fortune, but he’s clearly fatigued. Belgaroui lands anther head kick and Abdul-Malik is swinging wildly to no avail. Abdul-Malik gets a double-leg takedown but can not seem to do anything with it. Belgaroui powers back right into a standing position, and the stand-up resumes with Abdul-Malik trying yet one more spinning backfist. Belgaroui plasters Abdul-Malik with two more shots to the pinnacle, but Abdul-Malik tries for an additional takedown.
Belgaroui delivers a shot to the torso which hurts Abdul-Malik, dropping him with a follow-up clinch knee square on the nose. The referee calls the fight immediately.
Yousri Belgaroui def. Mansur Abdul-Malik via TKO in Round Three
In between fights, a package plays as Demetrious Johnson is welcomed into the Modern Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame.
Julian Erosa vs. Lerryan Douglas – Featherweight Three Rounds
Round one begins with each fighters testing their range with kicks, and Julian Erosa goes on the offense once a Lerryan Douglas calf kick appears to significantly hurt.
Douglas exchanges with Erosa and catches him square on the button, rocking him backward to an “Ooooh” from the group and commentary. Douglas buries one other kick deep into the calf of Erosa and peppers his face as his comes forward, with Erosa wobbling but recovering. Douglas throws a straight jab and it drops Erosa, and he continues to bust open his nose with more shots to the face.
Erosa is up and down like a yo-yo immediately, getting back up simply to be dropped again, and the referee finally calls it.
Lerryan Douglas def. Julian Erosa via TKO in Round One
Michael Chiesa vs. Niko Price – Welterweight Three Rounds
Round one begins and Niko Price grapples the waist of Michael Chiesa as he throws a punch combo upstairs. The motion is taken to the bottom and Chiesa manages to get to the back of Price, on the lookout for the choke. He gets it in snug, and Price taps out quickly.
Chiesa finishes his profession with a submission in only over a minute.
Michael Chiesa def. Niko Price via Submission in Round One
Alexa Grasso vs. Maycee Barber – Flyweight Three Rounds
Round one begins and each try to seek out the goal with jabs, Maycee Barber throws a headkick to no avail, and Alexa Grasson clips Barber with a kick to the leading calf. Barber continues to attempt to find her range with jabs but to this point only kicks have found the goal. Numerous firing and missing is broken by a fast combination from Grasso.
Barber comes forward and Grasso rocks her with a one-two, Barber drops to the ground and Grasso seizes upon her with a squeezing rear choke. Barber doesn’t even get to tap before the referee breaks the hold for the finish. Barber is out, sprawled on her back, barely responsive.
Alexa Grasso def. Maycee Barber via TKO in Round One
Israel Adesanya vs. Joe Pyfer – Middleweight Five Rounds
Round one begins and Israel Adesanya starts to check Joe Pyfer with jabs and an attempted head kick. Pyfer shoots for a takedown but Adesanya stays upright against the cage. Pyfer throws an uppercut within the tussle and Adesanya breaks the hold.
Adesanya throws one other kick upstairs but Pyfer returns a one-two that grazed past Adesanya’s head. Adesanya coming forward with kick feints and with the space closed lets go together with some strikes. But Pyfer comes back with one other left hook to push Adesanya back. Pyfer shoots for an additional takedown and again they wind up against the cage. Adesanya threatens with the query mark kick but Pyfer comes back with one other solid shot to the face.
Adesanya mixes it up with kicks to the calf, shots to the body, after which on the lookout for the pinnacle. But Pyfer manages to get the takedown eventually with just 10 seconds to go, and the round involves an end.
Round two begins and Adesanya catches Pyfer with a solid left kick to the body. He stings Pyfer with a leg kick and he appears to be feeling it, but as Pyfer comes forward he catches a finger to the attention and an official trip is known as.
The fight resumes and Pyfer comes through Adesanya’s jabs to go for an additional takedown. It doesn’t work and the stand-up resumes. Pyfer throws a mix and gets a right hand in return, and Adesanya follows up with one other one-two and attempts an inside trip, appearing to be feeling himself.
Pyfer comes back with repetitive counter left hooks to Adesanya’s chin as he comes forward, they usually’re trading now. Pyfer gets the higher of it and has Adesanya guarded up against the cage, Adesanya comes back though. But he gets dropped by Pyfer for an additional takedown, assuming the back control and going for the rear choke on Adesanya.
Adesanya is gasping immediately, throwing punches behind him and squirming away from the choke. Pyfer mounts, Adesanya rolls over and Pyfer has back control again. Pyfer is just throwing shots from the back position and the referee gets between them. Pyfer has beaten Adesanya via TKO.
Joe Pyfer def. Israel Adesanya via TKO in Round Two
Adesanya guarantees to proceed fighting, “I’m not f***ing leaving.”