On Saturday, Sept. 21, the UFC hosted its 17th event on ESPN+ from the Mexico City Arena in Mexico City, Mexico.
In the night’s main event, featherweights collided as Mexico’s Yair Rodriguez took on power-punching knockout artist Jeremy Stephens. Rodriguez had been out of action since a stunning, last-second knockout win over Chan Sung Jung at the UFC’s 25th anniversary event last November. Stephens, meanwhile, aimed to snap a two-fight skid. The veteran first fell to former champion Jose Aldo last summer, before coming up short against rising prospect Zabit Magomedsharipov in March.
The 12-fight event kicked off with seven preliminary-card bouts streaming live on ESPN+ at 5 p.m. ET. The five-fight main card followed at 8 p.m. ET, also on ESPN+.
Carla Esparza def. Alexa Grasso by majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Brandon Moreno vs. Askar Askarov ruled a split draw (28-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Irene Aldana def. Vanessa Melo by unanimous decision (30-26 x3)
Steven Peterson def. Martin Bravo by knockout (spinning backfist). Round 2, 1:31
José Quiñónez def. Carlos Huachin by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Kyle Nelson def. Marco Polo Reyes by knockout (strikes). Round 1, 1:36
Angela Hill def. Ariane Carnelossi by TKO (doctor’s stoppage). Round 3, 1:56
Sergio Pettis def. Tyson Nam by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Paul Craig def. Vinicius Moreira by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 3:19
Bethe Correia def. Sijara Eubanks by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Claudio Puelles def. Marcos Mariano by unanimous decision (30-25 x3)