This is the live blog for Gabriel Bonfim vs. Randy Brown, the welterweight main event for UFC Vegas 111 on Saturday night.
Just 28 years old and already ranked No. 14 in the UFC welterweight rankings, Bonfim has been on a tear since joining the UFC in 2023. At 5-1 in the promotion, Bonfim is riding a three-fight winning streak and coming off the biggest win of his career, a split decision victory over Stephen Thompson in July. Now Bonfim looks to cement himself as a top 15 fighter so he can make a push in the stacked 170-pound division.
A UFC fighter since 2016, Brown has had plenty of success in the promotion, but has been unable to truly break out as a true contender, due to unfortunately timed losses. Most recently that came in the form of a split decision defeat to Bryan Battle at UFC 310, but Brown rebounded with a knockout of Nicolas Dalby in April to get him a crack at a welterweight ranking.
Check out the live blog for Bonfim vs. Brown below.
Well, folks, this is it. The bout we’ve all been waiting for!
There’s only one fight remaining at UFC Vegas 111, so let’s watch Gabriel Bonfim and Randy Brown assault one another.
Brown is out first and he’s all business. He’s rocking black shorts? Something dark, can’t tell if it’s black or blue.
Now it’s Bonfim’s turn. He’s coming out to something a little more somber from a music standpoint and he looks serious but like, less mean? Almost emotional. He’s rocking the Brazilian yellow shorts.
Tale of the Tape and Announcements
Bonfim is 7 years younger, 2 inches shorter, and is giving up 5.5 inches in reach. But he’s the betting favorite at -170, with the comeback on Brown at +140.
Joe Martinez gets things going. Ben Cartlidge, Eric Colon, and Sal D’Amato are the judges for this main event. Mark Smith is the referee.
Martinez does his whole song and dance and the crowd tries to get loud. Both men pace back and forth while they are announced. They meet in the middle for final instructions, touch gloves, and it’s game time.
Both men out in orthodox. Bonfim takes the center early but Brown fires a snapping jab out early, testing that range. Bonfim fires a calf kick and Brown takes the center form him. A bit of a pressure battle here as both men want to come forward. But Bonfim is starting to chop that front leg already. He’s landed 4 or 5 calf kicks to Brown’s left leg already.
And again. He is chopping wood in there and despite his reach, Brown has yet to get the distance under control. In fact, because Bonfim just wants the lead leg, he’s landing and Brown is coming up short as he punches upstairs. Bonfim doing a nice job of drawing Brown forward and then chopping the leg. Stats have him with 11 already.
And now Bonfim lands a nice left hook as Brown got a little frustrated and came in ugly. Brown now swinging heavy hooks in response, which are coming up well short. And Bonfim goes up top with a head kick that lands! Brown eats it and slightly rolls, but Bonfim kinda chewing him up on the feet right now.
Brown looking for counters now when Bonfim commits but again, he’s not getting anywhere with it, and Bonfim keeps working the legs. Bonfim’s defense has been on point as well. He’s started very strong. Brown tries to run him back and goes for a jump knee but there’s an eye poke while he’s jumping. Bonfim takes a quick break and we’re back to the action and the round ends.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Bonfim.
Bonfim landed 19 leg kicks in Round 1. Yeesh. Brown can’t live like that.
And Bonfim out hot to start this round, backing Brown up and landing a right hand. Brown with a bit of urgency though and fires a big combo, with the right hand landing. Brown just tried to bait a calf kick to then draw an exchange and it kind of worked, but he still ate a hook. Brown landed a nice body shot right after, though.
Bonfim lands a couple calf kicks. He’s firmly taken hold of the center now.
Exchange and Brown ducked in and Bonfim landed a big knee! Sent Brown crashing back to the canvas! Bonfim also fell over but he got up to pounce and Mark Smith intervened! Brown was covering up and WOW. That is a BAD stoppage, in my opinion.
Man, the replay really makes it look like a bad stoppage. Brown was definitely hurt, and maybe Bonfim would have put him away, immediately, but Brown was covering up and protested immediately. He clearly had some wits about him. Gotta let that go on.
Gabriel Bonfim def. Randy Brown via KO (knee) — 1:40, Round 1.
Bonfim talks through the fight, saying he knew he could attack the calf and that would open up the knee. Then Bonfim calls out Colby Covington, saying he will retire him, before shouting out his daughter and his team.
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