UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos Results | Prelim Winners, Highlights & Interviews

Bia Mesquita of Brazil secures a rear choke submission against Montse Rendon of Mexico in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Meta APEX on March 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Live Results, Highlights, Post-Fight Interviews With The Prelim Winners And More From UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos, Live From Meta APEX In Las Vegas On March 14, 2026

By E. Spencer Kyte, On X: @SpencerKyte • Mar. 15, 2026

The opening slate at the Meta APEX on Saturday offered a little bit of everything, including a thunderous stoppage, a couple slick submissions, and a pair of thoroughly entertaining bouts that went the distance. If you missed any of the action, do not fret — just keep reading and enjoy our fight-by-fight account of what transpired.

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Results, Highlights & Backstage Interviews

Myktybek Orolbai defeated Chris Curtis by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Myktybek Orolbai registered his third straight win and fifth victory in six UFC starts to close out the prelims, utilizing his superior grappling to grind out veteran Chris Curtis.

Myktybek Orolbai of Kyrgyzstan takes down Chris Curtis in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Meta APEX on March 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

The 28-year-old from Kyrgyzstan did well to work inside and drag Curtis to the canvas from a body lock, returning him to the mat as many times as it took in order to wear him down and chip away. Curtis had no answers for the suffocating grappling pressure, with Orolbai setting a new record for the most takedowns in a welterweight contest on his way to a lopsided win.

Orolbai is quickly becoming a dark horse threat in the welterweight division, with his debut win over Uros Medic continuing to age well now that “The Doctor” has graduated into the Top 15. While he didn’t add another finish to his resume, this kind of mauling is even more demoralizing and makes Orolbai and even more dangerous force in the 170-pound ranks.

Vitor Petrino defeats Steven Asplund by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Vitor Petrino and Steven Asplund engaged in a heavyweight slobberknocker late in the prelims, slinging serious leather for 15 minutes.

Vitor Petrino Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos

Asplund had Petrino on wobbly legs in the first, but couldn’t get him out of there, allowing the hulking Brazilian to work back into the round before he mixed in some grappling to slow the burly American in the second. Asplund again put Petrino on skates early in the third, but he recovered quickly, and continued landing at a steady clip with great efficiency.

When the tens and nines were added up, it was Petrino that came out ahead, earning his third straight win since moving to heavyweight. The Cristiano Marcello protégé remains a work in progress, but it’s clear his power and precision will continue to serve him well as he develops.

Elijah Smith defeats SuYoung You by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:04 of Round 2

Elijah Smith secured a second-round submission win to extend his winning streak to eight, building on his highlight reel slam finish from last August.

Elijah Smith Forces The Tap In Round Two | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejo

SuYoung You was able to control the action in the first with his wrestling, dragging Smith to the canvas multiple times, but failing to do any appreciable damage. In the second, Smith clocked the South Korean with heavy hands right out of the corner and as You scrambled to his feet, the Dana White’s Contender Series grad quickly latched onto the fight-ending choke.

The 23-year-old is now 3-0 inside the Octagon and looking like an ascending force in the bantamweight division. He showcased all aspects of his game here, and is someone to keep close tabs on going forward.

Manoel Sousa defeats Bolaji Oki by knockout (right hand) at 4:12 of Round 3

Manoel Sosa and Bolaji Oki engaged in an entertaining lightweight back-and-forth midway through Saturday’s prelims, with the Brazilian newcomer’s power serving as the differentiating factor in the fight, with Sousa turning out the lights late in the third.

Manoel Sousa Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos

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Sousa clipped and dropped Oki straight away, but the longer tenured DWCS grad responded well, working to top position and landing well before getting tagged again in the final seconds. The second was a “power versus volume” frame, but in the third, Sousa took over, gathering momentum as the round progressed before putting Oki out in the final minute of the contest.

Manoel Sousa Gets Debut KO Victory | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejo

After earning a third-round stoppage win last season to secure his contract, “Manumito” followed suit to put a stamp on his debut. Now 14-1 overall with a dozen wins coming inside the distance, the 28-year-old Brazilian looks like he could be an all-action addition to the 155-pound weight class.

Eryk Anders defeats Brad Tavares by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Eryk Anders and Brad Tavares threw down in a clash of middleweight veterans on Saturday, with the former Alabama linebacker collecting the decision win.

Eryk Anders Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos

Anders hurt Tavares multiple times in the first, sitting him down and chasing a finish, only for the horn to sound. After Tavares responded by stinging Anders in the second, “Ya Boi” turned to his grappling to neutralize the offense coming back his way and secure himself a return to the win column.

All thee scored the fight in favor of Anders, who moved to 18-9 overall with the win. Following the decision, Anders announced his retirement, bringing an end to his MMA career after nine years in the UFC and more than a decade in the sport.

Bia Mesquita defeats Monste Rendon by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:07 of Round 1

Bia Mesquita delivered an incredible performance in her sophomore appearance on Saturday, blowing through Montse Rendon to secure her second consecutive stoppage win since arriving in the UFC.

Bia Mesquita Gets The Tap In The First | UFC Fight Night Emmett vs Vallejos

The 10-time Brazilian jiu jitsu world champion staggered Rendon on the feet straight out of the chute, chasing her to the cage, where she forced her to the canvas. After climbing into mount and forcing Rendon to give up her back, Mesquita locked up the rear-naked choke and secured the tap.

Now 7-0 as a professional and showing big improvements each time out, the Brazilian rising star already looks like a force in the bantamweight division. Her striking looked outstanding here and her jiu jitsu is legitimately world class, making Mesquita a serious threat in the 135-pound weight class already.

Hecher Sosa defeats Luan Lacerda by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Hecher Sosa and Luan Lacerda set the bar for Fight of the Night honors in the second bout of the day, combining to deliver a thoroughly entertaining back-and-forth battle in the bantamweight division.

Hecher Sosa Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos

The Brazilian Lacerda, who ended a lengthy layoff with a win last October in Rio, was the more effective of the two for most of the opening round, working behind a sharp jab, a knee up the middle, and the ability to drag Sosa to the canvas. But after the debuting Spaniard began to claw back into the fight in the second, he stayed on the gas and took the fight to Lacerda, landing the more telling blows.

It all came down to how the judges interpreted things, and when the scorecards were collected and tallied, it was Sosa that came out ahead. This was a gutsy and impressive effort for the recent Dana White’s Contender Series grad, who pushed his winning streak to a dozen with his first UFC victory.

Piera Rodriguez defeats Sam Hughes by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Piera Rodriguez pushed her winning streak to three with a second career win over Sam Hughes to kick off Saturday’s action at Meta APEX. The ascending Venezuelan was sharp from the start, pushing the pace and taking the fight to Hughes, whom she bested by decision when they first me a couple years ago. She was able to maintain her pace and continue dictating the terms of engagement for the majority of the contest, landing the more significant and meaningful blows throughout.

Piera Rodriguez Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos

All three judges saw the fight in favor of Rodriguez, awarding the Dana White’s Contender Series grad a clean sweep of the scorecards. Now 5-2 in the UFC and on a solid run of success, it’ll be interesting to see what comes next for “La Fiera” after a dominant effort to begin the year.

UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos took place live from Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 14, 2026. See the final Prelim & Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC FIGHT PASS!

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Prelim Results | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos

Results, Highlights & Backstage Interviews

Myktybek Orolbai defeated Chris Curtis by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Vitor Petrino defeats Steven Asplund by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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Elijah Smith defeats SuYoung You by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:04 of Round 2

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Manoel Sousa defeats Bolaji Oki by knockout (right hand) at 4:12 of Round 3

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Eryk Anders defeats Brad Tavares by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

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Bia Mesquita defeats Monste Rendon by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:07 of Round 1

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Hecher Sosa defeats Luan Lacerda by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

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Piera Rodriguez defeats Sam Hughes by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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