UFC Fight Night 252 live updates: Results, round-by-round coverage of every fight

UFC Fight Night 252 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 Fight Night 252 (ESPN+) takes place at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

Former flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) will try to snap a two-fight skid since he unretired when he meets Song Yadong (21-8-1 MMA, 10-3-1 UFC) in the main event. Middleweight standouts Brendan Allen (24-6 MMA, 12-3 UFC) and Anthony Hernandez (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) meet in the co-feature.

Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 6 p.m. ET for the prelims on ESPN+ and 9 p.m. ET for the main card on ESPN+.

Enjoy the fights, everyone.

UFC Fight Night 252 lineup
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)

Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong
Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez
Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto
Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Jean Silva
Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

Ibo Aslan vs. Ion Cutelaba
Melquizael Costa vs. Andre Fili
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Nick Klein
Ricky Simon def. Javid Basharat via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:58
Austin Vanderford def. Nikolay Veretennikov via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:13
Nursulton Ruziboev def. Eric McConico via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 0:33
Modestas Bukauskas def. Rafael Cerqueira via knockout (punches) Round 1, 2:12

Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Nick Klein
Round 1 – They touch’em up and start sizing each other up as Abdul-Malik stalks foward. Klein offers a kick and then ducks under a punch from Abdul-Malik, looking for a single leg. It’s sprawled nicely, though. Klein kicks to the body and then the inside leg. Abdul-Malik continues to patiently stalk forward. Klein grabs another single leg attempt, but it’s defended well. A spinning back elbow out of nowhere wobbles Abdul-Malik! Klein rushes in! He gets the takedown, but Abdul-Malik works up and prevents follow-up punches well. Klein stays attached to him, grinding him against the cage. Eventually Abdul-Malik gets free and looks for a spinning elbow of his own just seconds before the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Klein.

Round 2 –

Result:

Recap:

Photos:

Records: Abdul-Malik (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Klein (6-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC)

Division: Middleweight

Broadcast: ESPN+

Referee: Jason Herzog

Judging:

Javid Basharat vs. Ricky Simon
Round 1 – The tradition of “U-S-A” chants to start the fights tonight continues, this time in support of Simon, who is from the PNW. After the opening exchanges, Simon finds a standing back take, lifts and dumbs Basharat to the canvas, but can’t keep the fight on the ground. Simon closes in for another takedown, but Basharat gets away. “Ricky” and “Let’s go Ricky” chants alternate from the crowd. Basharat steps in with a nice knee and punches. Simon charges foward with punches to set up a level change. Basharat keeps it standing, and gets away. Basharat lands a sharp left. A hard knee to the midsection gets through for Basharat. Simon steps in and sleeps Basharat out of nowhere with a wicked two-punch combo! WOW! Basharat is out cold!

Result: Ricky Simon def. Javid Basharat via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:58

Recap:

Photos:

Records: Basharat (14-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC), Simon (21-6 MMA, 9-5 UFC)

Division: Bantamweight

Broadcast: ESPN+

Referee: Mike Beltran

Austin Vanderford vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
Round 1 – Chants of “U-S-A” echo through the arena as this one gets underway. Vanderford lands a couple of quick jabs. Veretennikov lunges forward with a left. A 1-2 combination not far behind it. Vanderford changes levels nicely for a clean takedown. Vanderford looks for ground and pound while Veretennikov tries his best to keep him pulled in close. Vanderford gets in a couple of solid elbows, opening a cut. Vanderford threatens an arm triangle, but lets it go. He looks for it again though a moment later with short time on the clock. Vanderford gives up on it again and tries to get in some more ground and pound.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Vanderford.

Round 2 – Vanderford looks to go right back to his wrestling game. He lifts Veretennikov and gets him down after some initial resistance. More ground and pound from the top with elbows and big punches. Vanderford traps a wrist underneath and really starts to unload with big left hands. The referee steps in closer. Veretennikov is stuck. More punches unanswered and that’s it! TKO finish for Vanderford! Veretennikov gets up and walks over, shoving Vanderford for some post-fight drama.

Result: Austin Vanderford def. Nikolay Veretennikov via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:13

Recap:

Photos:

Records: Vanderford (13-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Veretennikov (12-6 MMA, 0-2 UFC)

Division: 175-pound contract weight

Broadcast: ESPN+

Referee: Kevin MacDonald

Eric McConico vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
Round 1 – They touch ’em up, and McConico starts the action with an inside leg kick. The crowd chants “U-S-A” to show their support for McConico as the feel-out process continues. Those chants quickly turned into boos as neither fighter offer offense. Ruziboev swings with a big right hand that just misses. McConico is staying cautious as he circles to his right. Ruziboev blitzes forward with punches and catches a kick, driving McConico into the cage. Not much comes from the clinch, and they’re back in the center. Ruziboev darts forward with a punch, and a few more a moment later.

MMA Junkie scores the roudn 10-9 for Ruziboev.

Round 2 – McConico comes out aggressive with punches, but Ruziboev is game to answer. A sharp right hand wobbles McConico! He stumbles backward across the cage. Ruziboev gives chase and unloads punches until McConico goes down and the ref stops the fight! Woah!

Result: Nursulton Ruziboev def. Eric McConico via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 0:33

Recap: UFC Fight Night 252 video: Nursulton Ruziboev TKOs Eric McConico after multiple knockdowns

Photos: Nursulton Ruziboev def. Eric McConico at UFC Seattle: Best photos

Records: McConico (9-3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Ruziboev (35-9-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC)

Division: Middleweight

Broadcast: ESPN+

Referee: Keith Peterson

Modestas Bukauskas vs. Rafael Cerqueira
Round 1 – Bukauskas comes out of the gate with an axe kick, that doesn’t come close to connecting. Cerqueira slaps with a hard inside leg kick. Another kick to the body. Bukauskas responds with a pair of kicks. Now a speedy combination upstairs for Bukauskas. Cerqueira sits on a 1-2 and cracks with the right hand. Another clean 1-2 for Cerqueira. And another. Bukauskas fires back with a big left hand! Cerqueira is hurt! Bukauskas swarms for the finish! Each punch goes unanswered and Cerqueira crashes to the mat. It’s over! A first round KO to start the show!

Result: Modestas Bukauskas def. Rafael Cerqueira via knockout (punches) Round 1, 2:12

Recap: UFC Fight Night 252 video: Modestas Bukauskas kicks off Seattle event with TKO – and a backflip

Photos: Modestas Bukauskas def. Rafael Cerqueira at UFC Seattle: Best photos

Records: Bukauskas (17-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC), Cerqueira (11-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC)

Division: Light heavyweight

Broadcast: ESPN+

Referee: Jeff Hoiby

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UFC Fight Night 252 final faceoffs

UFC Fight Night 252 main card betting odds
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)

Henry Cejudo +220 vs. Song Yadong -270
Brendan Allen +275 vs. Anthony Hernandez -345
Melsik Baghdasaryan +380 vs. Jean Silva -500
Alonzo Menifield -240 vs. Julius Walker +195
Rob Font +135 vs. Jean Matsumoto -160

UFC Fight Night 252 prelim betting odds
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

Melquizael Costa -120 vs. Andre Fili +100
Ibo Aslan -190 vs. Ion Cutelaba +160
Eric McConico +235 vs. Nursulton Ruziboev -290
Javid Basharat -220 vs. Ricky Simon +180
Mansur Abdul-Malik -1350 vs. Nick Klein +800
Modestas Bukauskas -270 vs. Rafael Cerqueira +220

UFC Fight Night 252 hype video

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