This is the UFC 189 live blog for Brad Pickett vs. Thomas Almeida, a bantamweight bout at Saturday night's UFC event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Pickett, who has won two of his past five fights, will face Almeida, who is 19-0 in his career, on the main card.
Check out the UFC 189 live blog below.
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Round 1: The 23-year old Thomas Almeida comes into this fight with a lot of hype. He and the vet Pickett to kick off the UFC 189 main card. The referee is "Big" John McCarthy. They touch them up. Pickett trying to get off his jab, but they are feeling out the distance. Right hand from Pickett lands, and Almeida bounces out. As Almeida comes in Pickett drops another right on him. Leg kick from Almeida, who is being patient. A couple of lefts from Pickett, who is out-quicking Almeida early. Almeida throws wild and Pickett sneaks an undercut into his gut. Pickett finding a home early for both hands, and now he drops him with a hook! Almeida get up and gets dropped again, this time with a knee! Wow, Pickett is off to a great start. Almeida clearing cobwebs, and he looks recovered, but he was rocked twice. There's some blood on Almeida's head. Pickett stands his ground as Almeida comes in and slams a right home again. Now Almeida drops Pickett with a right hand, and they scramble on the ground. Wow. They stand, and they trade right there, both planted on their heels. What a fight. Now both guys winging. Finally they separate enough to reset. Fantastic exchanges. Both guys getting clipped. Pickett at center, and he's coming forward -- but now Almeida lands a series of shots from range, and Pickett eats them. Bam, yet another right hook from Pickett, this time it just slides right through Almeida's chin. They exchange again as the horn sounds. MMA Fighting scores R1 for Pickett, 10-9.
Round 2: They touch gloves again, after one of the better rounds of 2015. Almeida to center, and Pickett tries to take his head off with a right. WHAT! Almeida just obliterated Pickett with a flying knee, a walk-off KO. He had his arms in the air the moment it landed! That's it. What a knockout. Pickett fell backwards like he was on the dream flow, arms straight out at his sides.
UFC 189 officials results: Thomas Almeida def. Brad Pickett via KO (flying knee) at :29 of R2