LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 31 event, and you can join us for live play-by-play and official results.

The event takes place at the UFC Apex and streams entirely on ESPN+.

In the main event, rising middleweight prospect Edmen Shahbazyan looks to make a name for himself with a signature win against Derek Brunson. And in the co-headliner, Joanne Calderwood, who is forgoing a title shot, takes on Jennifer Maia in a women’s flyweight bout.

To discuss the show, be sure to check out our UFC on ESPN+ 31 discussion thread. You can also get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site video editor Ken Hathaway on Twitter.

Enjoy the fights, everyone.

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Current fight

Derek Brunson vs. Edmen Shahbazyan

Round 1 –

Result:
Records: Derek Brunson (20-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC) vs. Edmen Shahbazyan (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Judging:

Results

Cody Durden vs. Chris Gutierrez

Round 1 – The small cage is back! Last time Gutierrez was here, he wrecked Vince Morales’ leg. Let’s see if leg kicks come into play here. Well, it didn’t take long – but it’s Durden firing off first. Durden lands a hard leg kick. Gutierrez responds with a leg kick. Durden gets a takedown. This is a nice start for the UFC newcomer. Durden maneuvers to Gutierrez’s back. He has the body lock halfway-in. Durden is softening up Gutierrez with short punches. Now Durden has double hooks in. Durden is extending Gutierrez backward, looking for a choke. Gutierrez is flattened out but is defending against Durden’s hands. Gutierrez sits up. Durden is sitting up against the cage on Gutierrez’s back. Durden is landing short punches. Durden goes for another choke. No dice, but he rolls Gutierrez, where Gutierrez is flat and face-down. Gutierrez postures up and lands a series of punches. Gutierrez doesn’t like that and rolls backward. Durden still has Gutierrez’s back, but Gutierrez is now face-up. With less than 10 seconds left, Gutierrez rolls and lands on top of Durden. The round ends. That was dominant. 10-8 Durden.

Round 2 – Gutierrez opens up with a hard leg kick – and two more. Durden shoots for a takedown. This time, Gutierrez defends it. Durden is pushing Gutierrez against the fence. Gutierrez circles away and lands a leg kick. Durden shoots again but Gutierrez pushes him off again. Gutierrez lands a body punch. Durden shoots again. Gutierrez stuffs him and lands on top. Durden stands up. Gutierrez winds up for a knee and kicks Durden right in the groin. Durden yelps and the referee calls timeout. After a two-minute timeout, Durden gives his thumbs up and the action resumes. The fighters exchange. There’s a lot more boxing going on now – rather than kickboxing. Durden is aggressive and Gutierrez lands a right hand. Durden falls on a kick but pops back up. Gutierrez lands another leg kick. Durden ties up Gutierrez in a single leg attempt. Gutierrez initially fends off the attempt but Durden is relentless. Durden eventually drags Gutierrez to the mat. Gutierrez shoots for an armbar. This is fairly tight. Gutierrez leverages Durden and rolls on top, all the while holding onto the submission attempt. The round ends with Gutierrez still trying to get the submission locked in. 19-18 Durden.

Round 3 – Gutierrez lands a high kick. Durden lands a low kick. Gutierrez misses on a low kick. Durden lands a low kick. They’re going kick-for-kick. Both fighters have slowed. Their kicks are more distance-maintainers right now. Durden returns to favor from earlier and kicks Gutierrez in the groin. Gutierrez only needs a few seconds after the timeout and the action resumes. Durden lands a leg kick. Gutierrez tries a high kick. It’s blocked. Gutierrez lands a spinning back kick. Durden shoots for a half-hearted takedown but pulls up before he gets to Gutierrez. Durden shoots for another takedown but Gutierrez pushes him away. Durden shoots again – this time on a single-leg. As Durden is fighting for a leg, Gutierrez cranks him with a punch. Durden falls down but grabs for Gutierrez’s leg again. Durden gets up and they separate. Gutierrez goes back to his leg kicks, landing a pair. Durden slips in an exchange and Gutierrez follows him into his guard. Gutierrez lands a few punches and stands up. With Durden still on the mat, Guiterrez tries a rolling thunder onto his downed opponent. The horn sounds. MMA Junkie scores it 28-28 – a draw.

Result: Chris Gutierrez vs. Cody Durden ends in a unanimous draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28)
Records: Chris Gutierrez (15-3-2 MMA, 3-1-1 UFC) vs. Cody Durden (11-2-1 MMA, 0-0-1 UFC)
Recap: Chris Gutierrez, Cody Durden make history in unanimous draw at UFC on ESPN+31
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Judging: Derek Cleary, Sal D’Amato, Dave Hagen

Vincent Cachero vs. Jamall Emmers

Round 1 – The size difference is evident – even before the fight begins. There’s a reason Cachero usually fights at 135 pounds. Emmers looks huge. The fighters are opening up and exchanging early. Both fighters connect hard simultaneously. Emmers fires a one-two. He looks very loose. Cachero isn’t fazed. He’s moving straight forward. Emmers lands a series of knees in the clinch. They separate. Cachero lands a leg kick. Emmers hits a front kick to the body. Cachero shoves Emmers down after catching a kick. Emmers pops up and grabs hold of Cachero. Emmers has Cachero in a headlock. They separate and Cachero lands a low blow. Timeout is called. The action resumes. Emmers lands a low kick. Emmers grabs the plum clinch and rattles off some knees. Cachero pops out and Emmers cracks a body kick. Emmers tries an overhand right. Cachero lands to the body with a punch. Both fighters land right hands. Emmers lands a knee. Cachero shoots for a takedown but Emmers stuffs it. They separate. Emmers goes back to the clinch, landing knees. Cachero ties him up and pushes Emmers against the fence. Emmers continues to dive into the clinch, connect with knees, and pop out. Emmers shoots for a takedown and gets it. Emmers is in Cachero’s guard. The horn sounds. 10-9 Emmers.

Round 2 – Both fighters come out offensive-minded. Emmers connects with a vicious uppercut. That one hurt Cachero but he has a good poker face. Emmers gets aggressive and unloads a handful of calculated strikes to Cachero’s head. Emmers ties up Cachero and throws him to the canvas. Cachero gets up but Emmers still has a hold of him. They separate and Emmers lands a combination. Emmers lands a right hand and ducks out of a Cachero right hand. Emmers lands a punch. Emmers responds with a leg kick. Both fighters trade. Emmers appears to be landing the harder shots but Cachero won’t’ go down. Cachero lands a nice punch but Emmers takes him down. Emmers is in Cachero’s guard. The round ends. 20-18 Emmers.

Round 3 – Emmers lands a right hand. Emmers lands a combination and shoots for a takedown. Cachero defends and they separate. Emmers shoots again and gets it. Emmers is in Cachero’s guard. Cachero tries to squirm away but Emmers passes to half guard. Emmers is working for a kimura. He steps into side control. Cachero wiggles out of the submission attempt. Cachero works to his feet. Emmers is pushing him against the fence. Cachero reverses and pushes Cachero against the fence. They separate with about two minutes left on the clock. Emmers shoots for a takedown. He’s pushing Cachero against the fence. Emmers lands a hard knee to Cachero’s head. They separate. Emmers gets a takedown moments later. Emmers lands in side control. Cachero gives up his back and Emmers grabs hold with double hooks. Emmers is working for a rear-naked choke but Cachero is defending. Emmers mounts Cachero right before the horn sounds. MMA Junkie scores it 30-27 Emmers.

Result: Jamall Emmers def. Vincent Cachero via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Records: Vincent Cachero (7-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) vs. Jamall Emmers (18-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Judging: Tony Weeks, Eric Colon, Ron McCarthy

Nate Maness vs. Johnny Munoz

Round 1 – Munoz comes out kick-heavy. Maness blocks his attempts. The two fighters tie up and push off. Maness gets aggressive but doesn’t land anything. Maness connects on a hard punch. Munoz goes back to his kicks. Munoz ducks under a Maness punch attempt and grabs hold of the body. Munoz walks Maness to the fence. Munoz knees Maness in the groin. Timeout is called and Munoz loses his position. The action resumes and Munoz hits Maness in the groin again. After another timeout, the action resumes. Munoz ties up Maness and tries to take him down. Maness is fighting well. Munoz gets Maness to the mat. Munoz is in half guard. He moves to side control. Munoz working for an arm submission. He uses it to get into mount. Munoz lands hard ground-and-pound. Maness rolls over and Munoz flattens him out. Munoz lands hard punches and Maness is saved by the bell. 10-9 Munoz.

Round 2 – Maness has switched stances to begin Round 2. Munoz shoots for a takedown but Maness defends. Maness lands a right hand. Munoz shoots again. Maness stuffs but Munoz grabs under-hooks on the way to their feet. Munoz pushes Maness against the fence. Maness escapes and lands a combination. Munoz shoots again. He’s pushing Maness against the fence. Clinched up, both fighters land short shots. Munoz is sliced open. He’s bleeding. Maness reverses position. Then Munoz reverses. Smith returns them to the center after a fence grab from Munoz. Moments after they resume, Munoz shoots again. Maness defends but Munoz is back to pushing Maness against the fence. Maness tries a flying knee as Munoz tries a sidekick. Munoz is knocked over. Referee Mark Smith stands him up. Munoz shoots for a single-leg and gets it. The round ends after Munoz advances to half guard. 20-18 Munoz.

Round 3 – The groin-shot-a-palooza continues. Munoz hits Maness in the cup in the opening exchange. That’s the six groin shot tonight – and the third from Munoz. Referee Mark Smith takes a point. That’s huge. Could we see another draw? Let’s find out. The action resumes and Munoz shoots for a takedown. Maness stays upright but Munoz is pushing him against the fence. Munoz continues to shove Maness into the cage. He needs to work here. I’m surprised the referee hasn’t separated them. This has gone on for a while. OK. There we go. Referee Mark Smith separates them and Maness comes out of the reset gunning. Munoz ties him up and brings him right back to the cage. This isn’t pretty but Munoz, the 48-hour replacement, is winning. Maness reverses Munoz, who returns the favor with a reversal of his own. Maness grabs double under-hooks and gets Munoz down. Munoz attacks for a leg off his back. Munoz is attempting a calf slicer from the bottom – but the horn sounds. MMA Junkie scores it 29-27 Munoz.

Result: Nate Maness def. Johnny Munoz via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Records: Nate Maness (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) vs. Johnny Munoz (10-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Judging: Mike Bell, Dave Hagen, Chris Lee

Jonathan Martinez vs. Frankie Saenz

Round 1 – Saenz lands a right hand, followed by another right hand, followed by a takedown. Martinez gets back up against the fence. Saenz is pushing him into the fence. After a struggle, Martinez pushes Saenz off. Saenz is utilizing his movement early, circling around Martinez. At the same time, Martinez is calm, not wasting any movement. Martinez lands a combination. Martinez lands a low kick. Martinez connects on a counter knee. Now Martinez is pressuring Saenz. As the clock winds down, Martinez lands consecutive, successful combinations on Saenz, who is on the retreat. The horn sounds. 10-9 Martinez.

Round 2 – Saenz blocks a Martinez high kick. Head kick after head kick, Martinez continues to pump the same strike. Martinez lands a hard punch. Saenz responds with a combination. Saenz is using a lot of feints but isn’t doing much offensively. Saenz shoots for a takedown and Martinez defends successfully. Martinez lands a high kick which wobbles Saenz, who retreats. Martinez is opening up. In the midst of his attack, Martinez switches his striking levels by landing a few push kicks to Saenz’s midsection. One kick in particular definitely got Saenz’s attention. Martinez floors Saenz with a big left hand. Martinez pounces and connects on a series of punches. Saenz survives and gets up but he’s wearing the damage he sustained moments ago. He’s bleeding from the right side of his head. Martinez tries another high kick but Saenz blocks it. Saenz rushes in for a takedown but Martinez stuffs him. OH! Another high kick floors Saenz. Martinez pauses, then pounces. Saenz is trying to survive – and he does. The round ends. 20-17 Martinez.

Round 3 – Any guesses on how this round begins? If you said “groin shot,” you’re correct! Martinez lands low on Saenz. After a moderate pause in the action, Tognoni resumes the fight. Martinez has another high kick blocked. Saenz rushes in for a takedown and Martinez lands a crushing knee which crumples Saenz. Martinez lands a series of punches and Tognoni jumps in. That’s it. A pretty one-sided performance from Jonathan Martinez.

Result: Jonathan Martinez def. Frankie Saenz via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 0:57
Records: Jonathan Martinez (12-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) vs. Frankie Saenz (13-7 MMA, 5-5 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni

Trevin Giles vs. Kevin Holland – CANCELED

The fight between Giles and Holland was canceled moments prior to walkouts after Giles fainted before the walkout.

Bobby Green vs. Lando Vannata

Round 1 – The rematch is underway. Green lands a kick to the stomach. Vannata lands a combination. Green cracks him with a right hand. Vannata lands another combination. No surprise, Green is talking to him. Green lands a low kick. Vannata says something back. Both fighters land simultaneously but Vannata stuns Green. Vannata stumbles to the mat himself and both fighters resume. They briefly tie up and then separate. Vannata lands a jab. Both fighters exchange. A few exchanges later, Green floors Vannata with a punch. Green lands on top but Vannata gets up. Vannata clinches against the fence. They separate and both fighters land hard punches. Green continues to talk trash, with his hands down. This fight is living up to the hype. Green tags Vannata with a hard overhand. Vannata is bleeding from his nose. The round ends and the two fighters high-five. 10-9 Green.

Round 2 – The two fighters pick up where they left off. They exchange. Vannata lands a leg kick. Green ties up Vannata against the fence. They separate. The two fighters exchange. Green lands a push kick to the stomach. Green gets a takedown. Green is in Vannata’s full guard. The two fighters scramble to their feet. Vannata is pressuring Green, but both fighters have slowed. They trade leg kick for a leg kick. Green is still chirping Vannata. Vannata moves forward. Green moves out of danger. Green lands a jab. Vannata gets a takedown and ducks around to Green’s back. The two fighters get up. Vannata catches a Green kick and lands a punch. The round ends and the two fighters chatter. 20-18 Green.

Round 3 – Vannata lands a hard combination. Vannata throws a high kick but Green blocks. The two fighters clinch and Green lands a series of knees. A big elbow from Green floors Vannata. Green pounces and ends up in a postured-up half guard. The two fighters scramble up and connect on punches. Vannata takes a minute to reset. Green takes Vannata to the mat again. He’s in half guard. Vannata works his way back to his feet and pushes Green off. There’s about 90 seconds left on the clock. Each fighter lands a punch. They tie-up and separate. Vannata lands a hard punch. Vannata loops in for a combination. He’s getting aggressive. Green starts to find success but Vannata fires back. Vannata tries a spinning back kick but falls over. The round, and the fight, ends when the horn sounds. MMA Junkie scores it 30-27 Green.

Result: Bobby Green def. Lando Vannata via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Records: Bobby Green (25-10-1 MMA, 6-5-1 UFC) vs. Lando Vannata (11-4-2 MMA, 3-4-2)
Recap: Bobby Green beats Lando Vannata in rematch
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Judging: Mike Bell, Derek Cleary (30-27); Junichiro Kumijo (30-26, giving a 10-8 in Round 3)

Randy Brown vs. Vicente Luque

Round 1 – Luque lands a leg kick. Brown responds with a body kick. A hard Luque jab has Brown pirouetting as he whiffs on a punch. The two fighters point-fight, exchanging technical punches and kicks. Luque is targeting the lead leg of the long, lengthy Brown. In a follow-up exchange, Brown misses and Luque connects with a hard right hand. Brown is knocked down, but recovers instantly. Luque pounces and is in Brown’s guard. Luque postures up and stands up. Brown gets up. They’re back in the center. Luque connects on another punch, as he stalks Brown. Moments later, Brown shoots for a takedown. He’s pressing Luque against the fence. With 10 seconds left, the two fighters break. Luque is bleeding from above his right eye. The round ends. 10-9 Luque.

Round 2 – Brown comes out kicks-a-plenty. Luque returns the favor by ripping a low kick – straight to Brown’s cup. A timeout is called. The action resumes. Luque eats a Brown punch and lands two of his own. Luque lands a leg kick. Brown falls to the mat. From the standing position, Luque lands some kicks to his downed opponent. Luque lets Brown up. Brown misses on an uppercut. Luque lands an overhand left. Luque whiffs on a right hand. Both fighters miss. The two fighters tie up and Luque separates with a knee. Luque uses his footwork to back Brown up against the fence. Luque throws a combination but Brown bobs and weaves out of danger. Brown shoots for a takedown and gets it. Brown lands right into side control. Luque flips over and gets to his feet. They separate. Luque lands a leg kick. Luque catches a Brown body kick and fires a leg kick. Luque presses Brown against the fence. Brown leans toward the canvas and Luque blasts him with a knee. Brown goes down and Luque fires a trio of follow-up punches. That’s it. With just a few seconds left in the round, Luque knocks out Brown. Impressive.

Result: Vicente Luque def. Randy Brown via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 4:56
Records: Randy Brown (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) vs. Vicente Luque (19-7-1 MMA, 12-3 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith

Joanne Calderwood vs. Jennifer Maia

Round 1 – The co-main event is underway. Joanne Calderwood bypasses a title shot to take on another top contender. Will it pay off? Let’s find out. Maia opens up with some jabs. Calderwood lands a leg kick. Maia fires back with a hard one-two combination. Calderwood continues to pump her kicks. Maia lands an uppercut. Maia tries a front kick to the face but misses. Calderwood catches the kick and shoves Maia to the mat. Calderwood in on top of Maia on the ground against the fence. Calderwood is in half guard. Maia is working for a submission. She’s creeping up her left leg for a triangle choke. Calderwood is now in Maia’s full guard. Calderwood yankers her arms out of danger. Maia shoots up for an armbar. She might have it. This looks tight. Maia readjusts – and gets that tap! Jennifer Maia spoils Joanne Calderwood’s title shot. Wow!

Result: Jennifer Maia def. Joanne Calderwood via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 4:29
Records: Joanne Calderwood (14-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC) vs. Jennifer Maia (18-6-1 MMA, 3-2 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog