Live now! UFC 305 “Du Plessis vs. Adesanya” match-by-match, results and round rankings

Sherdog’s live coverage of UFC 305 begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.

UFC 305: Du Plessis vs. Adesanya, Saturday at 10 ET on ESPN+. Order now!

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Nicoll (-230), Aguilar (+190)

Round 1

The RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, hosts the UFC today in what could become an annual stop. Like UFC 284 last year, the 2024 UFC 305 package includes plenty of locals with favorable matchups that could lead to exciting violence. Nine of tonight's 12 fights feature a competitor from Australia or New Zealand or a representative of those countries, with one pitting an Australian against a New Zealander and the other two featuring a Chinese welterweight. We'll start with a classic Australia vs. Mexico matchup, with Nicoll (8-0, 0-0 UFC) introducing himself to the organization with the crowd behind him. He's battling the overweight Aguilar (10-2, 2-1 UFC), who weighed in a pound and a half over the flyweight limit and had to give up 20% of his purse to his opponent. The referee for the first fight of the evening is Steve Perceval, and he'll open things up as the fighters touch gloves. Nicoll starts with a leg kick, and his second is met with counters from the Mexican. Aguilar charges at him, swinging his fists and eventually clinching before suddenly grabbing the Australian from behind. Nicoll responds with a kimura sweep that knocks them both to the mat, and he turns to grab his opponent's back and throw hooks. Nicoll starts with powerful punches from either side of the head, momentarily flattening Aguilar as he pounds away at him. Aguilar gets on his knees and turns to get his back on the mat, and Nicoll doesn't mind as he strikes with elbow strikes. Nicoll knees him in the stomach while he's sitting upright, landing some punches but losing his balance. Nicoll gets rolled upside down and does a handstand as Aguilar holds on to take him down. As Nicoll recovers, Aguilar jumps out of cover with a guillotine choke and it's immediately close.
Aguilar ties his legs around his opponent's waist and Nicoll tries to pull his neck out, but he is bone-dry and trapped in a dangerous position. Aguilar alerts Perceval that Nicoll may be unconscious, and Perceval tests the resistance of Nicoll's right arm. He falls to the ground. Perceval lifts the lifeless limb again before intervening, and he and Aguilar roll Nicoll onto his back to reveal that Nicoll is completely unconscious, his eyes eerily wide open. Aguilar sits up and lifts his defeated opponent's legs to get the blood flowing back into Nicoll's skull. In an instant, Nicoll was knocked out of the ranks of the undefeated and Aguilar completely silenced the crowd. It may be disappointing for Aguilar that he lost his chance at post-fight bonus money by not making weight, as that soporific submission might have otherwise earned an extra check.

The official result

Jesus Santos Aguilar defeats Stewart Nicoll R1 2:39 by technical submission (guillotine choke)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Song (-192), Glenn (+160)