UFC Rochester: Rafael dos Anjos vs. Kevin Lee live blog

This is the UFC Rochester live blog for Rafael dos Anjos vs. Kevin Lee, the welterweight main event at Saturday’s UFC event at the Blue Cross Arena.

Dos Anjos, a former UFC lightweight champion turned welterweight title contender, is looking to get back into the win column after dropping a pair of decisions to former interim champion Colby Covington and current champion Kamaru Usman. Similarly, Lee, a former interim lightweight challenger, is hoping to find new life at welterweight after coming up short to Al Iaquinta in their lightweight rematch in December.

Check out the UFC Rochester live blog below.

Round 1

Dan Miragliotta is the third man in the Octagon for this one. After a touch of the gloves, dos Anjos opens up with a barrage of heavy kicks. Lee responds wit ha flurry of his own. Lee connects with a hook and drops Dos Anjos. Dos Anjos is reeling, giving Lee a chance to pounce on his stunned opponent. Dos Anjos makes his way back to his feet but can’t escape the barrage from Lee. Dos Anjos circling with his back to the fence as Lee drops down for a single leg.

Lee still working for the takedown as dos Anjos looks for a standing Kimura against the fence. Lee starting to work the body with punches but still can’t manage to secure the takedown. With 90-seconds left, Lee connects with an uppercut from the clinch before breaking free. Lee connects with a body kick and follows up with a knee to dos Anjos’ chin. Dos Anjos looks for the switch kicked followed by the flying knee before dropping down and securing the takedown in the center of the canvas. Dos Anjos looking for a guillotine but can’t finish the submission as Lee breaks free as the round comes to a close.

MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Lee.

Round 2

Lee looks to pick up right where he left off as he looks for the front kick to the body. Dos Anjos misses with a standing elbow and finds himself, once again, trapped against the fence. Lee secures the takedown but gets stuck in a guillotine. Lee breaks free, climbs back to his feet and drops down for another single leg takedown. Lee misses badly with a right high kick. Dos Anjos responds with his own left head kick before dropping down and securing the takedown.

Lee finds himself with his back to the fence as Lee uncorks a flurry of strikes. Lee is, again, look for the takedown against the fence, much to the chagrin of the crowd. Dos Anjos threatening with another standing Kimura but doesn’t find much success. Lee working dos Anjos’ body with knees from the clinch. Dos Anjos breaks free, connects with a knee followed by a straight left. Lee drops down for another takedown with 20-seconds left in the round.

MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Lee.

Round 3

Dos Anjos opens up with a flying knee, momentarily stunning Lee. Dos Anjos plant a left jab and a straight right on Lee’s nose. Lee misses badly with a left hook but finds a home for a body kick. Dos Anjos ducks under, secures the takedown and immediately goes to work from side control. Lee makes his way back to his feet but eats a knee to the midsection on his way up. Dos Anjos looking for a single leg but Lee reverses and secures back control. Dos Anjos shakes his opponent free, secures the dominant position before transitioning to back control. Lee manages to escape again but is immediately dragged back down.

Lee back to his feet now as he looks for his own takedown. Dos Anjos is trying to shake Lee free as his opponent hangs on for dear life. Lee secures back control with 30-seconds but is immediately shoved off. With 10-seconds left Lee drops down for another ill-fated takedown.

MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Dos Anjos.

Round 4

Both men are sucking air heading into the fourth frame. Lee opens up with a left jab followed by a right handed fastball between the eyes. Dos Anjos responds with a right jab. Both look to plaster a kick across their opponent but Lee accidentally connects with a low blow. After a few seconds to shake it off, both men go back to trading leather in the center of the canvas. Both men trade thunderous blows to the body, as the crowd voices their approval.

Lee shoves Dos Anjos into the fence but can’t find much offense as the two separate. Dos Anjos eats a right kick to the body. Lee shoots in and shoves Dos Anjos back into the fence. Not much action happening, as both men appear exhausted. They separate and dos Anjos immediately looks for his own takedown. Lee shoves him free and snatches up a leg. Dos Anjos squirms free and secures top position. Working from full mount, Dos Anjos steps over and locks on deep arm triangle.

With the oxygen escaping his body, Lee is forced to tap.

OFFICIAL RESULTS: Rafael dos Anjos defeats Kevin Lee via submission (arm triangle) at 3:47 of Round 4