The octagon returns to Pennsylvania this evening for UFC Philadelphia, a thirteen-bout fight card headlined by a lightweight scrap between Edson Barboza and Justin Gaethje.
The former World Series of Fighting lightweight champion, Gaethje, will be looking to build off the momentum of his first-round knockout victory over James Vick this past August in Lincoln.
Meanwhile, Edson Barboza was last seen in action at December’s UFC event in Milwaukee, where he scored a third-round TKO victory over Dan Hooker.
In tonight’s co-main event middleweight standouts David Branch and Jack Hermansson will square off in hopes of moving up the 185-pound ranks.
Branch has gone 2-2 in his most recent stint with the UFC. The former WSOF “champ champ” suffered a TKO loss to Jared Cannonier in his most recent appearance at UFC 230.
As for Jack Hermansson, “The Joker” is coming off back-to-back stoppage victories over opponents Thales Leites and Gerald Meerschaert.
If that wasn’t enough to get you interested, tonight’s UFC Philadelphia event also features a featherweight fight between Michael Johnson and Josh Emmett, as well as a strawweight bout between fan favorites Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Michelle Waterson.
Get all of tonight’s UFC Philadelphia live results and event highlights below:
UFC Philadelphia Main Card (7pm EST on ESPN):
Edson Barboza vs. Justin Gaethje – Gaethje def. Barboza via KO (Punch) at 2:30 of Round 1
David Branch vs. Jack Hermansson – Hermansson def. Branch via submission (guillotine) at 0:49 of Round 1
Josh Emmett vs. Michael Johnson – Emmett def. Johnson via KO (punch) at 4:14 of Round 3
Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Michelle Waterson – Waterson def. Kowalkiewicz via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Paul Craig vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu – Craig def. Nzechukwu via submission (triangle choke) at 4:20 of Round 3
Sheymon Moraes vs. Sodiq Yusuff – Yusuff def. Moraes via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28 x2)
UFC Philadelphia Prelims (3:30 EST on ESPN+):
Jessica Aguilar vs. Marina Rodriguez – Rodriguez def. Aguilar via unanimous decision (29-26, 29-27 x2)
Desmond Green vs. Ross Pearson – def. Pearson via TKO (strikes) at 2:52 of Round 1
Kevin Aguilar vs. Enrique Barzola – Aguilar def. Barzola via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Kevin Holland vs. Gerald Meerschaert – Holland def. Meerschaert via split-decision (29-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Ray Borg vs. Casey Kenney – Kenney def. Borg via unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
Maryna Moroz vs. Sabina Mazo – Moroz def. Mazo via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Mark De La Rosa vs. Alex Perez – Perez def. De La Rosa via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Who are you picking to win tonight’s UFC Philadelphia headliner between Justin Gaethje and Edson Barboza? Sound off in the comments section PENN Nation!