"UFC 189: McGregor Vs. Mendes" Results: Huge Conor McGregor Fight, Welterweight Championship, More

Welcome to Wrestling Inc's coverage of UFC 189: McGregor vs. Mendes. We'll have full, live round-by-round coverage of the UFC 189 pay-per-view, and quick results of the prelims starting at 7 pm eastern. You can see our event preview at this link, and highlights of the weigh ins above.

Preliminary Fights

Cody Pfister def. Yosdenis Cedeno via unanimous decision (29-28,29-28, 29-28)

Louis Smolka def. Neil Seery via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Cody Garbrandt defeated Henry Briones via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

John Howard defeats Cathal Pendred via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Alex Garcia defeats Mike Swick via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Matt Brown (#5) defeated Tim Means via submission, Round 1, 4:44

Main Card

Brad Pickett (#15) vs. Thomas Almeida (#14)

Round 1: Pickett tries to close the distance, but gets tagged with straight punches from Almeida. He finally gets inside and finds success with hooks to the head and body. Pickett drops Almeida with big hooks, then again with a knee, and avoids a leglock from Almeida. The two get back up to the feet, and Pickett connects with another big left, but is dropped by a big elbow from TA. Almeida scores with a spinning back elbow. The two slug it out to end the round.

Wrestling Inc scores round 1 10-9 for Brad Pickett

Round 2: Almeida starches Pickett right out of the gate with a flying knee.

Official Result: Thomas Almeida (#14) defeats Brad Pickett (#15) via KO (flying knee), Round 2, 0:29

- Thomas Almeida moves to 20-0.

Brandon Thatch vs. Gunnar Nelson

Round 1: Thatch gets inside and lands a few knees before the two break free. Nelson blasts Thatch with a straight that drops him to the ground, where Nelson takes mount. Nelson briefly goes for a top wristlock, but ends up taking the back and getting a rear-naked choke for the win.

Official Result: Gunnar Nelson defeats Brandon Thatch via submission (rear-naked choke) Round 1, 2:54

- That was a big win for Gunnar Nelson, training partner of Conor McGregor.

Dennis Bermudez (#8) vs. Jeremy Stephens (#11)

Round 1: Bermudez shoots right off the bat, but it's shucked off, and Stephens clips him. Bermudez answers back with a big shot. Bermudez takes Stephens down against the cage. Bermudez ties Stephens up for several minutes, but Stephens gets back to his feet. Stephens lands a leg kick, but gets caught with a great combo by Bermudez. A Bermudez body kick ends the round.

Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Dennis Bermudez

Round 2: Bermudez lands a big uppercut, but Stephens answers with his own that drops DB. Bermudez manages to recover, but that was a big one. The two trade big shots and knock each other down again. Bermudez scores with a big straight and pushes Stephens against the cage. Stephens is dropped by a Superman punch from Bermudez, but they're back up against the cage. Bermudez connects to end a close round.

Wrestling Inc scores the round even at 10-10

Round 3: Stephens opens with a leg kick, and eats one of his own. Stephens hits a flying knee and finishes up with strikes for the win.

Official Result: Jeremy Stephens (#11) defeats Dennis Bermudez (#8) via KO (flying knee), Round 3, 0:32

- That was a fantastic fight. Unfortunate that Stephens missed weight.

UFC Welterweight Championship
Robbie Lawler (c) vs. Rory MacDonald (#2)

Round 1: Lawler connects with a big left early, but it doesn't bother Rory. MacDonald throws a straight right and a body kick. The two trade, and Rory lands a jab. There's a lot of feeling out right now. Lawler stuffs a takedown and lands an iffy knee to Rory's head, but it doesn't affect the challenger. Rory connects with a body kick to end the round.

Wrestling Inc scores Round 1 10-9 for Rory MacDonald

Round 2: Rory opens with another body kick, not a lot of action so far in this one. MacDonald sticks a couple of jabs, gets caught with a left and unloads on Lawler. MacDonald is landing his straight punches almost at will now. MacDonald goes high with a kick that gets blocked by Lawler. The champion scores a nice 1-2 combo, but eats one of his own. The two trade combos, but Lawler connects with another one. They trade again, but Lawler gets the better of it.

Wrestling Inc scores Round 2 10-9 for Robbie Lawler

Round 3: Lawler scores a left that snaps MacDonald's head back. Lawler is starting to get aggressive, and impressively stuffs a Rory takedown. Back on the feet, Lawler connects with two big punches, and looks to be in control. MacDonald almost lands a big head kick two times in a row, but eats a short right hook from Lawler. MacDonald catches Lawler on the end of a couple of punches and a headkick that hurts Lawler. Huge flurry against the cage, flying knee. Another big flurry ends the round.

Wrestling Inc scores Round 3 10-9 for Rory MacDonald

Round 4: Head kick from Rory hurts Lawler, and Rory with another big flurry, and another head kick. Rory is putting the pain on Lawler. MacDonald is spamming head kicks like it's a video game. MacDonald hits a Superman punch, but walks into a right hook and a combo. Lawler with a nice elbow as Rory gets a little reckless. Lawler easily stuffs a takedown, insanely effortlessly for this stage of the fight.

Wrestling Inc scores Round 4 10-9 for Rory MacDonald

Round 5: The two slug it out to open the fight, and Lawler connects with a huge left and crumbles Rory MacDonald. It's over. MacDonald's nose is shattered.

Official Result: Robbie Lawler (c) defeats Rory MacDonald (#2) via TKO, Round 5, 1:00 to retain the UFC Welterweight Championship.

- That was an absolute war. MacDonald probably has a shattered nose, and Lawler's lip is split in half.

- Sinead O'Connor plays Conor McGregor to the cage. Aaron Lewis of Staind plays Chad Mendes to the cage.

Interim UFC Featherweight Championship
Conor McGregor (#3) vs. Chad Mendes (#1)

Round 1: Conor throws a spinning kick and gets taken down early, but gets up and eats a couple of punches. Conor scores a couple of nice kicks and a big straight, but Mendes lands a big right. McGregor using his range really well, but gets caught with a couple of punches that don't bother him. Spin kick and punch from Conor, but he gets taken down. Elbow from Mendes, and tags McGregor with two big punches on the feet. Body kick and a straight from Conor, but he's taken down again.

Wrestling Inc scores Round 1 10-9 for Chad Mendes

Round 2: Mendes shoots after a Conor kick, but doesn't get it. McGregor lands a couple of punches and is taken down. Mendes with a few big punches and elbow. McGregor scores several big elbows to Mendes' head. Mendes goes for a guillotine and McGregor rolls out. The two get on their feet and trade. McGregor crumbles Mendes! It's all over!

Official Result: Conor McGregor (#3) defeats Chad Mendes (#1) via TKO (punches), Round 2, 4:57 to become Interim UFC Featherweight Champion

- Conor McGregor says he wasn't tired at all and can go all day. He says he wanted to prove that he could beat a wrestler. He and Mendes shake hands and embrace. Mendes says that McGregor backs up all of his talk. He puts over all of the Irish fans and says he wishes they had that kind of support in America.