UFC Vegas 71 results and recap: Pavlovich finishes Blaydes in opening round as Silva stops Tavares

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Las Vegas, April 23: Sergei Pavlovich got closer to UFC Heavyweight title contention with first round stoppage of Curtis Blaydes in the main event of UFC Vegas 71: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes at the UFC Apex Facility in Las Vegas on Saturday (April 22).

The 11-fight card saw five fights end in stoppages, five go the distance and one end in No Contest. Among the five stoppage wins, all were either knockouts or technical knockouts, including the headliners of the show as the Octagon returned to the Apex.

The pivotal clash of ranked heavyweights, No. 3 ranked Pavlovich versus No. 4 ranked Blaydes, was all action while it lasted. Pavlovich stuck to his word and used powerful punches that denied Blaydes the chance at a takedown.

Within the first round he got it done with a left-right combination, and after his sixth first-round KO, Pavlovich said, "Usually it's the strikers that get bonuses, not the people who finish on the ground. Hopefully I get the bonus this time as well. And hey, where's my belt?"

Middleweights Brad Tavares and Bruno Silva came out at the bell throwing huge shots at each other. In the very first round, Silva connected to the jaw of Tavares with a knee, then knocked him down with a right punch, and the referee halted the bout.

Of the TKO victory, Silva said, "People, did you like it? I am happy at this moment. I work hard every day. I have the utmost respect for Brad Tavares and I love that I got to fight him. It was the 20th knock of my career. Bonus for fight of the night!"

The main event and co-main event winners - Pavlovich and Silva - were awarded performance of the night bonuses along with Christos Giagos and Montel Jackson, who also secured first-round stoppage wins on the preliminary card.

Also on the main card, a lightweight bout between Bobby Green and Jared Gordon was declared a No Contest after an accidental clash of heads midway through the opening round after Iasmin Lucindo and Jeremiah Wells earned decision wins in their respective bouts.

UFC Vegas 71 Results

Main Card

1. Heavyweight Bout: Sergei Pavlovich defeated Curtis Blaydes by TKO (strikes) at 3:08 of Round 1

2. Middleweight Bout: Bruno Silva defeated Brad Tavares by TKO (strikes) at 3:35 of Round 1

3. Lightweight Bout: Bobby Green and Jared Gordon is declared a No Contest (accidental clash of heads) at 4:35 of Round 1

4. Women's Strawweight Bout: Iasmin Lucindo defeated Brogan Walker by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

5. Welterweight Bout: Jeremiah Wells (30-27, 30-27) defeated Matthew Semelsberger (29-28) by split decision

Preliminary Card

1. Lightweight Bout: Christos Giagos defeated Ricky Glenn by KO (left hand) at 1:35 of Round 1

2. Bantamweight Bout: Montel Jackson defeated Rani Yahya by KO (punches) at 3:42 of Round 1

3. Women's Featherweight Bout: Norma Dumont defeated Karol Rosa by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

4. Heavyweight Bout: Mohammad Usman defeated Junior Tafa by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

5. Featherweight Bout: William Gomis (29-28, 29-28) defeated Francis Marshall (29-28) by split decision

6. Bantamweight Bout: Brady Hiestand defeated Batgerel Danaa by TKO (punches) at 4:21 of Round 3