UFC 222 live blog: Cat Zingano vs. Ketlen Vieira

This is the UFC 222 live blog for Cat Zingano vs. Ketlen Vieira, a women’s bantamweight bout at Saturday night’s UFC event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Zingano returns to the Octagon for the first time since July 2016. She is coming off back-to-back losses after winning the first nine fights of her MMA career. “Alpha” fights the undefeated Vieira, who is coming off of a second-round submission of Sara McMann, on the evening’s main card.

Check out the UFC 222 live blog below.

Round 1: Referee Jason Herzog will oversee the main card opener. Zingano very aggressive to start she scores with a flurry and tries to tie up. Vieira counters and shrugs her off. Zingano using a lunging right to close the distance and tie up, but Vieira isn’t having it. She’s catching Zingano with counter punches. Zingano walks through some punches to get a body lock. Vieira sprawls and slips away again. Left hand catches Zingano around the ear, then another. Body kick by Zingano. Zingano gets a clinch and scores with knees to the body. Vieira times a trip, gets Zingano down, and starts working from top position. Their legs are tangled up and Vieira can’t advance to mount. She’s still firmly in control, landing short punches. Round ends with Vieira in half guard.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Vieira.

Round 2: Zingano opens up the second frame with a pair of body kicks. She’s really whiffing on her hook attempts though. They clinch up and Vieira takes her down with a gorgeous throw. She on top in partial mount with Zingano on her side, not wanting to turn and give up her back. Vieira looking for an arm triangle. Zingano explodes to push Vieira off, but Vieira takes her time and dives back down into Zingano’s guard. Vieira advances to half guard. Zingano defending from bottom, but not able to get Vieira off. Vieira landing short punches. She gets up and Zingano is hesitant to stand up with Vieira hovering over her. Vieira gets back into full guard. Not much damage of note on the mat, but Vieira is in complete control. Hammer fist, then a left hand scores for Vieira. Zingano fires a capoeira kick from the bottom that clips Vieira’s body.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Vieira. Overall 20-18, Vieira.

Round 3: Head kick lands cleanly for Zingano and she follows up with a wild combination. In the midst of all that, Zingano appears to have inured her leg, she’s visibly limping and hopping up and down on one leg. Vieira takes her down to the mat. Zingano is pinned down against the cage and Vieira gradually makes her into half guard using ground-and-pound. She can’t advance much further though and Zingano eventually gets the fight back to its feet. Zingano trips Vieira up as they’re both standing and then fires off some uppercuts from behind as Vieira stumbles. Vieira recovers and clinches up. Herzog separates the fighters with 45 seconds to go. Zingano pressing forward with big hooks, a kick to the body. Vieira ties her up and takes some knees to the body.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Vieira. Overall 30-27, Vieira.

Official decision: Ketlen Vieira def. Cat Zingano via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)