View source for UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens

{{short description|UFC mixed martial arts event in 2019}}
{{Infobox MMA event
|name= UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens
|image= UFC_on_ESPN+_17.jpg
|promotion=[[Ultimate Fighting Championship]]
|date={{start date|2019|09|21}}
|venue=[[Mexico City Arena]]
|city= [[Mexico City]], Mexico
|attendance=10,112<ref name="GateBonus">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmanews.com/ufc-mexico-city-bonuses/|title=UFC Mexico City bonuses & attendance revealed|date=2019-09-22|publisher=mmanews.com|author=Fernando Quiles Jr.|access-date=2019-09-22}}</ref>
|gate=
|previousevent=[[UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje]]
|followingevent=[[UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Cannonier]]
}}
'''''UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens''''' (also known as '''''UFC Fight Night 159''''' or '''''UFC on ESPN+ 17''''') was a [[mixed martial arts]] event produced by the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] that took place on September 21, 2019, at [[Mexico City Arena]] in [[Mexico City]], Mexico.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/5/12/18616420/ufc-announces-dates-third-fourth-quarter-2019-including-returns-sacramento-san-antonio-mexico-city|title=UFC announces dates for third, fourth quarter of 2019, including returns to Sacramento, San Antonio, Mexico City|author=Newswire|date=2019-05-12|publisher=mmafighting.com|access-date=2019-05-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmamania.com/2019/5/12/18616619/ufc-reveals-event-schedule-for-q3-q4-remainder-of-2019|title=UFC reveals event schedule for remainder of 2019|author=Ryan Harkness|date=2019-05-12|publisher=mmamania.com|access-date=2019-05-12}}</ref>
==Background==
While not officially announced by the organization, the promotion was initially targeting a featherweight bout between former title challengers [[Brian Ortega]] and [[The Korean Zombie|Chan Sung Jung]] to serve as the event headliner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmamania.com/2019/7/15/20695323/ufc-report-brian-ortega-korean-zombie-targeted-fight-night-mexico-city-sept-21-mma|title=Brian Ortega vs Korean Zombie targeted for Fight Night event in Mexico City on Sept. 21|author=Adam Guillen Jr.|date=2019-07-15|publisher=mmamania.com|access-date=2019-07-15}}</ref> However, promotion officials elected to go in another direction and a featherweight bout between [[The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America]] featherweight winner [[Yair Rodríguez]] and [[Jeremy Stephens]] served as the main event.<ref name="MCME">{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/27263597/sources-yair-rodriguez-fight-native-mexico|title=Yair Rodriguez to fight in native Mexico|author=Ariel Helwani|date=2019-07-26|work=espn.com|access-date=2019-07-27}}</ref>
A women's strawweight bout between Istela Nunes and former [[Invicta Fighting Championships#Strawweight Championship|Invicta FC Strawweight Champion]] [[Angela Hill]] was scheduled for the event. However, on August 12, it was reported that Nunes was removed from the card due to a failed drug test.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/8/12/20802788/istela-nunes-fails-drug-test-out-ufc-mexico-city-fight-angela-hill-mma|title=Istela Nunes out of UFC Mexico City with anti-doping violation|author=Guilherme Cruz|date=2019-08-12|publisher=mmafighting.com|access-date=2019-08-13}}</ref> She was replaced by [[Ariane Carnelossi]].<ref name="AC">{{Cite web|url=https://mmadna.nl/ariane-carnelossi-vervangt-istela-nunes-tegen-angela-hill-tijdens-ufc-mexico-city/|title=Ariane Carnelossi replaces Istela Nunes against Angela Hill during UFC Mexico City|author=Redactie|date=2019-08-13|publisher=mmadna.nl|access-date=2019-08-13}} {{in lang|nl}}</ref>
[[Alex Perez (fighter)|Alex Perez]] was scheduled to face [[Sergio Pettis]] at the event. However, Perez pulled out of the bout on August 26 citing an injury.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2019/08/ufc-mexico-city-alex-perez-out-sergio-pettis-fight|title=Alex Perez withdraws from UFC on ESPN+ 17 fight vs. Sergio Pettis in Mexico City|author=Farah Hannoun|date=2019-08-26|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|access-date=2019-08-26}}</ref> He was replaced by promotional newcomer [[Tyson Nam]].<ref name="TysonNam">{{Cite web|url=https://mmadna.nl/tyson-nam-vervangt-alex-perez-tegen-sergio-pettis-tijdens-ufc-mexico-city/|title=Tyson Nam replaces Alex Perez against Sergio Pettis during UFC Mexico City|author=Redactie|date=27 August 2019 |publisher=mmadan.nl|access-date=2019-08-28}} {{in lang|nl}}</ref>
[[Marion Reneau]] was scheduled to face [[Irene Aldana]] at the event. However, Reneau pulled out of the bout on September 11 for undisclosed reasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2019/09/marion-reneau-out-against-irene-aldana-ufc-mexico|title=Marion Reneau out of planned bout with Irene Aldana at next week's UFC on ESPN+ 17|author=John Morgan|date=2019-09-11|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|access-date=2019-09-11}}</ref> She was replaced by promotional newcomer [[Vanessa Melo]].<ref name="MeloIn">{{Cite web|url=https://esportes.yahoo.com/noticias/vanessa-apos-miss-simpatia-apos-002825450.html|title=Vanessa 'Miss Sympathy' replaces Marion Reneau to fight at UFC Mexico|author=Diego Ribas|publisher=esportes.yahoo.com|date=2019-09-11|access-date=2019-09-11}} {{in lang|pt}}</ref> At the weigh-ins, Melo weighed in at 140 pounds, 4 pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit of 136. She was fined 30% of her purse and her bout with Aldana proceeded at a catchweight.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/9/20/20875678/ufc-mexico-city-weigh-in-results-short-notice-replacement-vanessa-melo-misses-weight-by-four-pounds|title=UFC Mexico City weigh-in results: Short-notice replacement Vanessa Melo misses weight by four pounds|author=Alexander K. Lee|date=2019-09-20|publisher=mmafighting.com|access-date=2019-09-20}}</ref>
==Results==
{{MMAevent}}
{{MMAevent card|Main Card (ESPN+)}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|[[Yair Rodríguez]]
|vs.
|[[Jeremy Stephens]]
|No Contest (accidental eye poke)
|1
|0:15
|An accidental eye poke rendered Stephens unable to continue.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Strawweight
|[[Carla Esparza]]
|def.
|[[Alexa Grasso]]
|Decision (majority) (28–28, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Flyweight
|[[Askar Askarov]]
|vs.
|[[Brandon Moreno]]
|Draw (split) (28–28, 29–28, 27–30)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Catchweight (140 lb)
|[[Irene Aldana]]
|def.
|[[Vanessa Melo]]
|Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–26, 30–26)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|[[Steven Peterson]]
|def.
|[[Martin Bravo]]
|KO (spinning backfist)
|2
|1:31
|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Preliminary Card (ESPN+)|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight
|[[José Alberto Quiñónez]]
|def.
|Carlos Huachin
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|[[Kyle Nelson (fighter)|Kyle Nelson]]
|def.
|[[Polo Reyes]]
|TKO (punches)
|1
|1:36
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Strawweight
|[[Angela Hill]]
|def.
|[[Ariane Carnelossi]]
|TKO (doctor stoppage)
|3
|1:56
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Flyweight
|[[Sergio Pettis]]
|def.
|[[Tyson Nam]]
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Light Heavyweight
|[[Paul Craig]]
|def.
|[[Vinicius Moreira]]
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|1
|3:19
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Bantamweight
|[[Bethe Correia]]
|def.
|[[Sijara Eubanks]]
|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|[[Claudio Puelles]]
|def.
|Marcos Rosa Mariano
|Decision (unanimous) (30–25, 30–25, 30–25)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent end|notes=yes|MMAevent bout=}}
<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-septemer-21-2019|title=UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens|date=14 May 2019 |publisher=Ultimate Fighting Championship|access-date=2019-09-16}}</ref>
==Bonus awards==
The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.<ref name="GateBonus" />
*'''Fight of the Night: Carla Esparza vs. Alexa Grasso'''
*'''Performance of the Night: Steven Peterson''' and '''Paul Craig'''
== See also ==
{{portal|martial arts|Mexico}}
* [[2019 in UFC]]
* [[List of current UFC fighters]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{UFC Events}}
{{2019 in mixed martial arts}}
[[Category:UFC Fight Night]]
[[Category:2019 in mixed martial arts]]
[[Category:Mixed martial arts in Mexico]]
[[Category:Sport in Mexico]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Mexico City]]
[[Category:2019 in Mexican sports]]