Relive 1 NEWS NOW's live coverage of UFC 234 from Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne.
Israel Adesanya makes it three from three for the Kiwis in Melbourne. And a great show of sportsmanship from Adesanya and Silva at the end.
Israel goes 16-0 in his MMA career - he says Anderson Silva is the Michael Jordan of mixed martial arts. He gets boos from the crowd after taking a dig at Aussie middleweight champion Robert Whittaker for not showing up. Whittaker withdrew from the UFC 234 event due to a hernia in his abdomen.
"Anderson thank you, oh my God my friend. You have been doing this for a long time and I appreciate you," said Adesanya.
6:15pm: Israel Adesanya v Anderson Silva (middleweight) Adesanya defeats Silva by unanimous decision
A great fight that goes the distance! The Kiwi Israel Adesanya wins the bout by unanimous decision. Both fighters bow to each and Adesanya is in tears. Both fighters tell each other "you are the man!".
6:13pm: Israel Adesanya v Anderson Silva (middleweight)
ROUND 3 - Adesanya gets the better of their exchanges and Anderson Silva has a bruised right eye. Silva tries to bate Adesanya into fighting in the pocket and Israel backs off with both fighters moving back into the middle of octagon. Anderson Silva eats some big punches and he simply smiles and throws back a right kick for good measure. What a fight! Both fighters embrace at the end of the fight!
6:08pm: Israel Adesanya v Anderson Silva (middleweight)
A Silva chant goes up from the Melbourne! Adesanya appears to have hurt the Brazilian with a brutal leg kick.
6:07pm: Israel Adesanya v Anderson Silva (middleweight)
ROUND 2 - Adesanya stuns Silva momentarily early in the round. Midway through the round Anderson has his best moment of the fight, landing some great combination of punches. Israel Adesanya lands some brutal leg kicks and Silva is starting to find his rhythm in the second round. A close round that could have gone to either fighter.
6:02pm: Israel Adesanya v Anderson Silva (middleweight)
The crowd erupt as both fighters start showboating at the end of round one. The feints and fakes from Adesanya is really causing Anderson Silva trouble.
6:00pm: Israel Adesanya v Anderson Silva (middleweight)
ROUND 1 - Israel Adesanya lands a leg kick, not a lot of action in the first minute as both fighter's feint and establish their distance. Anderson Silva lands a leg kick of his own. Adesanya stalks Silva, the Brazilian changes things up and he charges Adesanya. The Kiwi starts to find his range and he wobbles Silva with a right hand. But Silva lands a straight left and right that catches the attention of Adesanya.
5:54pm: Israel Adesanya v Anderson Silva (middleweight)
They touch gloves and Adesanya gives him a wink as Herb Dean goes over the rules.
5:51pm: Israel Adesanya v Anderson Silva (middleweight)
Israel Adesanya crawls into the octagon and the Melbourne crowd cheer. Not too far away now as Bruce Buffer gets the introductions underway!
5:41pm: Israel Adesanya v Anderson Silva (middleweight)
It's main event time! Israel Adesanya is set to step into the octagon to take on MMA great Anderson Silva.
5:38pm: Lando Vannata v Marcos Rosa Mariano (lightweight) Vannata defeats Mariano via first round kimura submission
A dominant straight forward finish for Vannata, showcasing a sensational ground game. Up next Israel Adesanya takes on MMA legend Anderson Silva.
5:36pm: Lando Vannata v Marcos Rosa Mariano (lightweight)
ROUND 1 - Macros Rosa Mariano lands some brutal kicks to Vannata's body early in the round. Lando Vannata takes his Brazilian to the ground and gets to work. Lando lands some good right hands and left elbow with Macros happy to fight off his back. A huge right elbow lands for Lando Vannata and Macros Rosa Mariano appears to be hurt. The American gets a first round finish with only 10 seconds remaining in the first round - he cranks Mariano's right arm and he taps.
5:25pm: Lando Vannata v Marcos Rosa Mariano (lightweight)
Up next Brazilian Marcos Rosa Mariano takes on American Lando Vannata in the new co-main event in a lightweight bout.
5:17pm: Rani Yahya v Ricky Simon (bantamweight) Simon beats Yahya via unanimous decision
The American gets the job done - Ricky Simon wins the fight via unanimous decision.
5:16pm: Rani Yahya v Ricky Simon (bantamweight)
ROUND 3 - Ricky Simon and Rani Yahya are not afraid to exchange. Ricky is getting the better out of the exchanges, with the American landing cleaner blows. With only 40 seconds left in the bout Ricky is happy to take the fight to the ground, Ricky tries some ground and pound and the siren sounds after a brilliant bout.
5:10pm: Rani Yahya v Ricky Simon (bantamweight)
ROUND 2 - Ricky Simon has a cut above his right after an accidental had butt. Rani Yahya has Ricky Simon hurt after landing a viscious right hand. Yahya starts chasing Simon around the ring and Simon pulls out a shoulder charge which drops Rani Yahya. A close round that could have gone to either fighter.
5:04pm: Rani Yahya v Ricky Simon (bantamweight)
ROUND 1 - Ricky Simon floors Rani Yahya with some huge punches. Simon rocks Yahya initially with a counter right hand midway through the round. He waits for Yahya to get back to his feet and he hurts him again this time with a left hand. It's been all Ricky Simon in the first round.
4:47pm: Rani Yahya v Ricky Simon (bantamweight)
Up next Brazilian Rani Yahya takes on American Ricky Simon in bantamweight bout.
4:43pm: Montana De La Rosa v Nadia Kassem (women's flyweight) De La Rosa defeats Kassem via armbar submission
ROUND 2 - Montana De La Rosa takes Nadia to the ground again, she attempts an armbar before switching it to a triangle, she then switches back to an armbar and she gets the submission as Nadia Kassem taps.
4:39pm: Montana De La Rosa v Nadia Kassem (women's flyweight)
ROUND 1 - De La Rosa rushes Kassem and takes her to the ground. It was all the American in the first round. The Aussie fighter tried a kimura submission with 20 second left in the round, but De La Rosa defends the attempt with ease as the first round siren sounds.
4:28pm: Montana De La Rosa v Nadia Kassem (women's flyweight)
Up next American fighter Montana De La Rosa takes on Australian Nadia Kassem in a flyweight bout.
4:21pm: Jimmy Crute v Sam Alvey (light heavyweight) - Crute wins by first round TKO over Alvey
ROUND 1 - Jimmy Crute lands a big right kick to the body of Sam Alvey early in the round. Jimmy Crute lands a massive right hand which rocks the American and he is floored. Crute backs off and referee doesn't stop it. The Aussie goes in for the kill and throws a bunch of right hands and the ref steps in to stop the bout. Alvey pops up to his feet and he protests the stoppage, replays showed Alvey had his thumbs up whilte taking punishment on the ground.
4:15pm: Jimmy Crute v Sam Alvey (light heavyweight)
And we are underway! Jimmy Crute throws a high right head kick but Alvey defends.
4:09pm: Jimmy Crute v Sam Alvey (light heavyweight)
Australian Jimmy Crute is set to take on American veteran Sam Alvey, making his way to the octagon first is Alvey and he is crying and smiling. A big moment for the American - his first PPV event fight.
3:47pm: Devonte Smith v Dong Hyun Ma (lightweight)
TKO! American fighter Devonte Smith finishes this bout with an incredible first round knockout! He rocks Dong with a big right hand before following up with a barrage of punches before referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the fight.
3:31pm: Shane Young v Austin Arnett (featherweight)
Shane Young has won the fight via unanimous decision. All three judges scored the fight 30-27 in favour of the Kiwi fighter.
3:30pm: Shane Young v Austin Arnett (featherweight)
ROUND 3 - Shane Young again is happy to walk down Austin Arnett and takes some shots. The crowd find their voice as Young lands a straight right early in the round. The Kiwi starts to turn it on midway through the fight and Arnett back pedals then throws counter punches. A big overhand right lands late in the round for Shane Young. The Kiwi pours it on with a minute left in the round as Arnett continues to back away. The crowd goes nuts as Shane Young knocks down Austin Arnett with a one-two combination. A huge right hook floors the American as the crowd cheer at the end of their three round war.
3:24pm: Shane Young v Austin Arnett (featherweight)
ROUND 2 - Shane Young continues to walk down Austin Arnett, but he is taking some shots here. Young has some serious swelling around his left eye. A big straight left lands for Young with two minutes remaining in the fight. A cracking right hand lands for Young with a minute left in the round. Shane Young rocks Austin with a combination of punches and they both start to exchange. Austin yells at Young as the Kiwi starts to tee off, landing his punches at will at Austin's head. A big round for Young who really hurt Austin Arnett.
3:18pm: Shane Young v Austin Arnett (featherweight)
ROUND 1 - Shane Young is the shorter fighter, he shows some good movement establishing his jab early. Arnett lands some good punches on Young, as the American continues to change his stance from southpaw to orthodox. Shane Young is eating some shots early in this fight, not a good sign for the Kiwi. He's finding it difficult to time his shots. At the end of the first round Young wobbles Arnett with a combination of punches. The siren saves the American - Shane Young is happy to take punishment as walks down his rival Arnett. Replays show that it was two left hooks and a right that really hurt Austin Arnett.
3:10pm: Shane Young v Austin Arnett (featherweight)
Shane Young's bout is underway against Austin Arentt!
3:06pm: Shane Young v Austin Arnett (featherweight)
Up next another Kiwi fighter - Shane Young takes on US rival Austin Arnett in a featherweight bout.
3:01pm: Kai Kara France v Raulian Paiva - (flyweight)
Kai Kara France has won the bout via split decision, with two judges scoring the fight 29-28 to Kai Kara France. The third judge scored the fight 29-28 to Raulian Paiva.
2:59pm: Kai Kara France v Raulian Paiva - (flyweight)
ROUND 3 - Raulian Paiva starts to find his rhythm with his combinations. Paiva is warned by the official after landing an illegal kick to Kai Kara France's groin. The fight is momentarily stopped and both fighters meet back in the middle of the octagon. Kai Kara France takes Paiva down to the ground, but the Brazilian fighter manages to scrabble back to his feet. Another right lands for Kai but Paiva continues to move forward towards the Kiwi fighter. Late in the round Kai Kara France lands a huge left hand but the Brazilian refuses to go down. Kai Kara France hits a take down with just five second left in the bout. You would have to say Kai Kara France has won this bout by unanimous decision.
2:52pm: Kai Kara France v Raulian Paiva - (flyweight)
ROUND 2 - Kai Kara France attempts a take down and Paiva ends up top on the ground. Kai shows great power as he explodes from the bottom and gets the fight back to the feet. Kai gets taken down again and he lands a great up kick while on the ground. He manages to get the fight back on the feet. Paiva looks hurt late in the round with Kai Kara France landing a huge right hand. Paiva recovers and he attempts a guillotine choke on Kara France, but the hooter sounds to end the round.
2:45pm: Kai Kara France v Raulian Paiva - (flyweight)
ROUND 1 - Kai Kara France is the shorter fighter and the Kiwi lands a huge overhand right which momentarily rocks Paiva. The Brazilian really needs to be careful here as Kai lands another overhand right on the button. Two minutes into the Paiva attempts a take down but he is unsuccessful. Kai is showing some excellent feet movement in the octagon, slipping in and out of range - landing his punches at will. Raulian Paiva came back towards the end of the round, stalking Kai around the cage as he teed off some punches and kicks.
2:39pm: Kai Kara France v Raulian Paiva - (flyweight)
We are about to get started as Bruce Buffer introduces both fighters.
2:26pm: Kai Kara France v Raulian Paiva - (flyweight)
It is Kai's second fight in the UFC but this is his 27th pro MMA fight. His rival Paiva is making his debut today in the UFC, he has a professional MMA record of 18 wins and one.
In Kai Kara France's last fight at UFC Fight Night Adelaide in December, he earned a fight night of the night bonus after his dominant unanimous win over US rival Elias Garcia.
2:18pm: Kai Kara France v Raulian Paiva - (flyweight)
Up next New Zealand's own Kai Kara France takes on Brazilian fighter Raulian Paiva in a flyeight bout.
2:15pm: Teruto Ishihara v Kang Kyung-ho - Kang wins via first round rear naked choke
ROUND 1 - Kang is clearly the bigger man in the ring as he throws a right that connects early, Ishihara lands a flush counter left hook which wobbles Kang. Kang goes down momentarily but he composes himself and recovers. These guys came here to fight, not afraid to exchange. Kang gets the best out their exchanges and it appears Ishihara is hurt. The fight goes to the ground and Kang submits Ishihara via a rear naked choke.
2:10pm: Teruto Ishihara v Kang Kyung-ho - (bantamweight)
Japan's Teruto Ishihara gets things started in the UFC 234 prelims, he takes on South Korean fighter Kyung-Ho Kang in a bantamweight bout.
Preview:
With Kiwi-born Australian Robert Whittaker out of his middleweight title defence, New Zealand fans will get to see Israel Adesanya come up against his hero, the legendary Anderson Silva.
One of the most popular up and comers in mixed martial arts right now, Kiwi-Nigerian Adesanya can today show his wares as one of the UFC's main drawcards for years to come. However, that all depends on his performance in the octagon this afternoon.
Rod Laver Arena will play host to more Kiwi connections, with both Kai Kara France and Shane Young also looking for victories to establish themselves further in the UFC.
Fight card:
Preliminary card (2pm)
Lightweight - Devonte Smith v Dong Hyun Ma
Featherweight - Shane Young v Austin Arnett
Flyweight - Kai Kara France v Raulian Paiva
Bantamweight - Teruto Ishihara v Kang Kyung-ho
Main card (4pm)
Middleweight - Israel Adesanya v Anderson Silva
Bantamweight - Rani Yahya v Ricky Simon
Flyweight - Montana De La Rosa v Nadia Kassem
Light Heavyweight - Jim Crute v Sam Alvey
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