UFC mixed martial arts event in 2019
UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje (also known as UFC on ESPN 2 ) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on March 30, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania .[ 2]
Background
This was the third UFC event in Philadelphia and the first since UFC 133 in August 2011.[ 2]
A lightweight bout between Edson Barboza and former WSOF Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje served as the event headliner.[ 3] [ 4]
A strawweight bout between Alexa Grasso and Marina Rodriguez was scheduled at UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2 . However, it was reported on December 17, that Rodriguez pulled out of the event due to a hand injury.[ 5] The pairing was left intact and rescheduled for this event.[ 6] In turn, it was reported that Grasso was pulled from the bout due to injury and replaced by former WSOF Women's Strawweight Champion Jessica Aguilar .[ 7]
A bantamweight bout between former UFC Flyweight Championship challenger Ray Borg and Liu Pingyuan was scheduled to take place at the event.[ 8] However, it was reported on March 13, that Liu was replaced by newcomer Kyler Phillips for an undisclosed reason.[ 9] In turn, Phillips was removed from the card on March 25 for undisclosed reasons and replaced by Casey Kenney .[ 10]
At the weigh-ins, Borg weighed in at 137.75 lb, 1.75 lb over the bantamweight non-title fight limit of 136 lb. He was fined 20% of his fight purse and his bout against Kenney proceeded at catchweight.[ 11]
Results
Main Card (ESPN)
Weight class
Method
Round
Time
Notes
Lightweight
Justin Gaethje
def.
Edson Barboza
KO (punch)
1
2:30
Middleweight
Jack Hermansson
def.
David Branch
Submission (guillotine choke)
1
0:49
Featherweight
Josh Emmett
def.
Michael Johnson
KO (punch)
3
4:14
Women's Strawweight
Michelle Waterson
def.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
3
5:00
Light Heavyweight
Paul Craig
def.
Kennedy Nzechukwu
Submission (triangle choke)
3
4:20
[ a]
Featherweight
Sodiq Yusuff
def.
Sheymon Moraes
Decision (unanimous) (29–27, 29–28, 29–28)
3
5:00
Preliminary Card (ESPN)
Women's Strawweight
Marina Rodriguez
def.
Jessica Aguilar
Decision (unanimous) (29–26, 29–27, 29–27)
3
5:00
[ b]
Lightweight
Desmond Green
def.
Ross Pearson
TKO (punches)
1
2:52
Featherweight
Kevin Aguilar
def.
Enrique Barzola
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
3
5:00
Middleweight
Kevin Holland
def.
Gerald Meerschaert
Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 30–27)
3
5:00
Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+)
Catchweight (137.75 lb)
Casey Kenney
def.
Ray Borg
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27)
3
5:00
Women's Flyweight
Maryna Moroz
def.
Sabina Mazo
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)
3
5:00
Bantamweight
Alex Perez
def.
Mark De La Rosa
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
3
5:00
^ Nzechukwu was deducted one point in round 3 due to repeated eye pokes.
^ Rodriguez was deducted one point in round 1 due to repeated eye pokes.
[ 12]
Bonus awards
The following fighters were awarded $50,000 bonuses:[ 13]
Fight of the Night: Justin Gaethje vs. Edson Barboza
Performance of the Night: Jack Hermansson and Paul Craig
See also
References
Upcoming events are in italics
Flagship events Fight Nights (on Spike TV) UFC on Versus/UFC Live UFC on Fox UFC on FX UFC on Fuel TV Fight Nights (on FS1, FS2, FXX, or UFC Fight Pass) UFC on ESPN (or ESPN2) Fight Nights (on ESPN+) UFC on ABC The Ultimate Fighter Finales