TORONTO – This is the UFC 206 live blog for Tim Kennedy vs. Kelvin Gastelum, a middleweight bout at Saturday night's UFC event at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.
Kennedy, who has won four of his past five fights, will face Gastelum, who has won three of his past five fights, on the main card.
Check out the UFC 206 live blog below.
More Coverage: UFC 206 Results | UFC news
Round 1: Big middleweight clash here. Kennedy returns after extended break, and Gastelum debuts in the bigger class. Referee for this one is Big John McCarthy. Kennedy opens with a head kick, and then goes low with one. It's Gastelum pursuing. They clinch for a moment, and it's quickly muscled out of by Kennedy. Now Kennedy ducks in and tries for a takedown, and they are on the fence. Gastelum an oak tree. But Kennedy momentarily drags him down. Gastelum stands back up, wearing Kennedy on his back. Now knees from Kennedy into the backs of Gastelum's thighs, softening things for another takedown. This one counts. He has Gastelum's back more towards the center, and he's hitting him with wraparound punches to the face. He is all over Gastelum, who stands — still with Kennedy suffocating him from the back. Gastelum trying to turn on fence, but Kennedy — all strength and determination — won't allow it. Kennedy trying to knee him, and he does right in the ass. Still, Gastelum turning trying to break free from this predicament. Can't. Not the most aesthetically pleasing fight, but finally Gastelum peels Kennedy's wrists off and spins out. They swing, and Gastelum looks like he's dying to get some offense. Kennedy once again clinches, and tucks a good uppercut in there. Both guys huffing a little bit. That was some toil on that fence for the bulk of the round. Head kick from Kennedy. Gastelum still pressing, and Kennedy timing him up a bit. But right at the end of the round Gastelum catches Kennedy, and wobbles him a little — and he hits him a couple of times just before the horn on the retreat. WHOA. MMA Fighting scores R1 for Gastelum.
Round 2: Kennedy grabs Gastelum and rams him into the links, and now it's Gastelum with Kennedy's back. He has Kennedy in a squatting position, and Kennedy keeping a knee on the canvas. Now Gastelum takes the back, and jumps on Kennedy just as he gets to his feet. Kennedy able to slip through the sweaty arms and now he gets the position on Gastelum; again, the knees to the thighs. Those aren't doing much, but there is control there. Gastelum pops Kennedy on the break, and again that looked like it caught Kennedy a bit. Gastelum definitely game to strike here, and he's landing when he does. Kennedy has a mouse forming. He's tired, and doesn't look all that steady. Side kick from Kennedy, and Gastelum just goes right in anyway. Kennedy smartly ducks down and tackles Gastelum on the fence, but Gastelum muscles back up immediately. It's Kennedy with his back to the links, and he now gets up too. Just two guys laying sludge. Gastelum pops Kennedy in the mouth with a short right, and takes a deep breath. Attrition is real here. Kennedy nearly fell over landing a shot there, he's shaky. Gastelum may be depleted as well. But he's definitely doing more. And once again he lights Kennedy up at the end of the round with a couple of lunging straight punches. MMA FIghting scores R2 for Gastelum, 10-9 (20-18 overall)
Round 3: They touch gloves. Gastelum with a shot, and now he's teeing off on the fence. Kennedy trying to return fire but he has very little in that pocket. Gastelum trying to put him away. This is crazy. Gastelum a picture of poise and he's now on the near side of the fence laying leather on Kennedy, who is just bobbing and faltering. Plenty of blood on Kennedy now. He eats another jab, and manages to push forward. Good heart here from Kennedy, as you'd expect from a special forces fighter. He's huffing out of his mouth, and his nose is a mess though. Gastelum just methodically throwing shots, some one offs, some in sequences. Kennedy leans his entire body — and might — into a takedown attempt, but the solid Gastelum just bounces off. And now Gastelum lands a wicked left hook, followed by a series of strikes on the fence, and Kennedy is down! He's going for the kill, and there is the stoppage! McCarthy has seen enough. Great showing by Gastelum there.
UFC 206 official results: Kelvin Gastelum def. Tim Kennedy via TKO (punches) at 2:45 of R3