UFC 247 play-by-play and live results

February 09, 2020
Sport

HOUSTON – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Saturday’s UFC 247 event, and you can join us for live play-by-play and official results beginning at 6:15 p.m. ET (3:15 p.m. PT).

The event takes place at Toyota Center in Houston. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

In the main event, light heavyweight champion Jon Jones (25-1 MMA, 19-1 UFC) puts his title on the line against unbeaten challenger Dominick Reyes (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC). In the co-main event, women’s flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko (18-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) is a massive favorite of as much as 16-1 against Katlyn Chookagian (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC).

Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 6:15 p.m. ET for the UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+ prelims, 8 p.m. ET for the prelims on ESPN, and 10 p.m. ET for the main card on pay-per-view.

To discuss the show, be sure to check out our UFC 247 discussion thread. You can also get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site reporters John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) and Mike Bohn (@mikebohnmma) on Twitter.

Enjoy the fights, everyone.

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Round 1 – Lingo immediately puts forward pressure on Zalal, throwing multi-strike combinations and that back him up toward the fence. Zalal breaks free of the clinch, but struggles to keep himself in open space. Zalal shoots in for a takedown that leads to clinching against the fence, but Lingo turns him around. They break and Zalal lands a pair of leg kicks. Lingo comes just short of landing a vicious straight right. Zalal goes for another takedown and nearly gets Lingo down before a scramble sees him return upright. Zalal shoots again, and is rejected again. Lingo lands some solid punches and Zalal attempts to return fire. The pace slows a bit in the final minute, and Zalal is able to perfectly time a takedown that puts Lingo on the mat. He quickly kicks Zalal off, though, and the round ends with Linda responding with a takedown of his own. MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Lingo.

Round 2 – Zalal needs less than 20 seconds before he pursues his first takedown of the fight. He’s in deep on a double leg against the cage, and eventually manages to scoop Lingo and put him on his backside. Lingo refuses to stay content in the position, though, and fights to stand back up. Zalal does a good job of establishing control, however, and is burning time off the clock by holding, but not doing much in the way of damage. Lingo finally stands up with just over two minutes remaining, buy Zalal still has a hold of him and drops down for an anaconda choke. Lingo gets out of and gets back up before eating a hard kick to the torso from Zalal. After exchanging a few strikes, Zalal shoots for another takedown and gets it. He controls from top position for most of the final 45 seconds to solidify the round. MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Zalal.

Round 3 – Zalal brushes Lingo with a head kick in the opening seconds, but it doesn’t do damage. He fakes a takedown and comes up the middle weigh ta nice knee and short punch, and Zalal appears to be finding comfort and confidence. Lingo continues to pressure with forward motion, but he’s having troubling finding a home for his punches. Zalal gets a takedown and gets it. Lingo tries to scramble free, but can’t get out from bottom. Lingo kicks Zalal off him and gets back up, but Zalal keeps ahold and drags the fight back down from a front headlock position. Lingo stands again and Zalal lets him go with just under 90 seconds remaining. Lingo pursues with some desperation but ultimately finds himself right back into grappling exchange where he’s being held. Zalal goes for another choke, but can’t secure it before the round ends. MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Zalal, giving him the 29-28 edge on our scorecard.

Result: Youssef Zalal def. Austin Lingo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: Youssef Zalal vs. Austin Lingo fight photos
Records: Youssef Zalal (8-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Austin Lingo (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass
Referee: Jeff Rexroad
Judging: Robert Alexander, Chris Lee, Robin Williams (30-27)

Round 1 – Both fighters come out of the gate throwing heavy kicks to the legs and body. Ewell is swinging with absolute heaters but he’s just out of range. Martinez remains composed, but the speed appears to be a problem early on. Martinez catches a kick and nearly turns it into a takedown, but to no avail. Martinez lands a good counter punch that gets some of Ewell’s respect. Ewell answers back with a hard overhand that catches Martinez off balance, though it’s not a full knockdown. Ewell starts to attack the body with his hooks and is throwing in a touch of a showboating. He’s landing a lot of good punches, forcing Martinez to initiate the first takedown attempt of the contest. Ewell stops it, but he’s pushed against the cage and held there as clock burns off.They break into the final 15 seconds and Martinez and Ewell throw caution to the wind and exchange some wild, reckless bombs. Nothing lands super clean, but the fans love it. MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Ewell.

Round 2 – Ewell connects with a solid counter right hand to start the second frame, but Martinez isn’t going away. Ewell goes back to the body work, and his punches to that area are forcing Martinez’s hands to drop slightly. Ewell connects with a very nice short right hand followed by a knee up the middle. Martinez is struggling to get into a rhythm, while Ewell is cranking up the aggression. Ewell walks into a hard right hand that causes him to pull back a little, but he doesn’t appear hurt. Martinez’s most effective weapon thus far have been the leg kicks, and he lands one that slightly buckles Ewell. The punches of Ewell remain crisp, however, and he seems comfortable with his pace. Martinez steps in with a hard body punch that backs Ewell up then he follows with a clean punch. Martinez is finding success now, and he drops Ewell with a leg kick. Martinez applies solid pressure in the final seconds, swaying the round in his favor. MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Martinez, making it even.

Round 3 – With the fans pleased by the action going into the final round, the pacing moves back a gear as both fighters look for their moment. Ewell throws a bizarre standing hammerfist, and is moving around the cage a lot with opes to counter. Martinez finally throws something just over a minute in. Martinez is the one moving forward, but his output is not at the level of Ewell midway through the round. Ewell attacks both the head and body, while Martinez’s offense is almost exclusively front kicks down the middle. He mixes in some high and low kick attempts, and Ewell attempts to respond with a flying knee that falls just shy of its target. Martinez lands four nice leg kicks in a short span, but Ewell continues to be mobile. Martinez eats a hard kick to the body. Both fighters go wild once again in the final 10 seconds, making it a close round. MMA Junkie scores it 10-9 for Martinez, though, giving him the 29-28 nod on our scorecard.

Result: Andre Ewell def. Jonathan Martinez via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
Photos: Andre Ewell vs. Jonathan Martinez fight photos
Records: Andre Ewell (16-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC), Jonathan Martinez (11-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Judging:

Round 1 – Pilarte lands a hard high kicks shot early, they get into a striking exchange then Newson follows up moments later with an absolute bomb of a right hand that sends Pilarte snapping back to the canvas. He jumps on top with additional punches and the referee deems Pilarte unfit to protect himself and the bout is stopped just 38 seconds after it began. Huge first UFC triumph for Newson.

Result: Journey Newson def. Domingo Pilarte via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:38
Photos: Journey Newson vs. Domingo Pilarte fight photos
Records: Journey Newson (10-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Domingo Pilarte (8-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass
Referee: Jacob Montalvo

Round 1 –

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Records: Mario Bautista (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Miles Johns (10-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee:
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Round 1 –

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Records: Alex Morono (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC), Khaos Williams (9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee:
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Records: Andrea Lee (11-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Lauren Murphy (11-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Rankings: Lee No. 12, Murphy honorable mention
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee:
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Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee:
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Records: Ilir Latifi (14-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC), Derrick Lewis (22-7 MMA, 13-5 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Rankings: Lewis No. 6; Latifi No. 13 light heavyweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee:
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Records: Mirsad Bektic (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), Dan Ige (12-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: Bektic No. 13
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee:
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Round 1 –

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Records: Juan Adams (5-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC), Justin Tafa (3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
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Records: Valentina Shevchenko (18-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC), Katlyn Chookagian (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Rankings: Shevchenko No. 1, No. 2 pound-for-pound; Chookagian No. 4, honorable mention pound-for-pound
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
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Round 1 –

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Records: Jon Jones (25-1 MMA, 19-1 UFC), Dominick Reyes (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: Jones No. 1, No. 2 pound-for-pound; Reyes No. 4
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee:
Judging: