Benavidez vs. Morrell Results: Live updates of the undercard and main event

MMA Fighting has the Benavidez vs. Morrell results for the David Benavidez vs. David Morrell event going down on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

When the main event begins around 11 p.m. ET, check out our Benavidez vs. Morrell live round-by-round updates for our live blog of the main event.

David Benavidez and David Morrell meet in a battle of undefeateds with Benavidez putting his interim WBA champion light heavyweight champion belt on the line and Morrell puts his WC light heavyweight title up. Benavidez won his belt with a unanimous decision victory over Oleksandr Gvozdyk this past June, while Morrell won his title by defeating Radivoje Kalajdzic this past August.

Also on the card, Brandon Figueroa defends his WBC featherweight title against Stephen Fulton in the co-main event, and Mirco Cuello faces Christian Olivo for the interim WBA featherweight title in an undercard bout.

Check out Benavidez vs. Morrell results below.

Fight Card

David Benavidez def. David Morrell via UD (115-111 x2, 118-108) (live blog) | Highlights

Stephen Fulton def. Brandon Figueroa via unanimous decision (116-112, 116-112, 117-111)

Isaac Cruz def. Angel Fiero via unanimous decision (96-94, 97-93, 98-92)

Jesus Ramos Jr. def. Jeison Rosario via 8th-round TKO (2:18)

Prelims

Mirco Cuello def. Christian Olivo via 10th-round TKO (2:01)

Yoenli Feliciano Hernandez def. Angel Ruiz via fifth-round TKO (1:06)

Curmel Moton def. Frank Zaldivar via third-round TKO (1:51)

Check out the Benavidez vs. Morrell undercard live blog below:

Jesus Ramos Jr. vs. Jeison Rosario

Round 1: Rosario is in black trunks with silver trim, Rosas in black trunks with white trim. Ramos in southpaw, Rosario in orthodox and he advances behind a probing jab early. Ramos now snapping a heavy jab inot the gloves while Rosario looks for openings and move forward. Rosario tags the body nicely and then Ramos returns fires. He’s putting some salt on these shots but Rosario’s gloves are catching everything.

Ramos rips a pair to the body. He’s starting to really work that area and he’s landing cleanly. Rosario hasn’t done much other than jab and cover up. Oof. Ramos lands a 4-punch combination and finishes heavy to the body. Rosario needs to do something about that.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Ramos.

Round 2: Rosario back to advancing but he’s still not doing anything. He landed 3 punches in the first round and Ramos is having success. A little more urgency here after a minute, but Ramos keeps digging into that body. Jab jab, setting distance, then change levels. Rosario throwing back more now, trying to work his way into this fight but Rosas keeps throwing in combination and landing.

Rosas is really working in here. A lot of volume and he may have staggered Rosario! A series of combinations have Rosario in full defense mode as Rosas keeps hammering the head then the body.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Ramo, 20-18 Ramos overall.

Round 3: Referee calls time before the round to warn both fighters about keeping the punches above the belt. Then we’re right back to the same story. Rosario keeps following Ramos around, flashing a jab, and getting tagged. Ramos’ jab is snapping and then he’s assaulting the body. Rosario is completely playing catchup here.

Yeesh. Ramos is absolutely destroying Rosario’s body. He’s landing so clean and so heavy. You can hear the thudding and the question is simply how long can Rosario take this. He’s going to feel this tomorrow, that’s for sure. Man, Ramos is putting him in the hurt locker right now.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Ramos, 30-27 Ramos overall.

Round 4: I don’t know how many ways I can say the same thing: Ramos is having his way in there. Brutal body shots, mixing levels, punishing and moving. Commentary informs us that Ramos is landing almost 50 percent of his power punches, which is insane. Most of those are to the body, too. 48 body shots landed, a graphic informs us.

Rosario hanging tough in there, still coming forward and putting the jab out there but Ramos TAGS him with a combination up top this time. Goodness this is mean stuff. Ramos is battering the body, then the head, then sliding out of counter range. His combinations are so clean.

MMA Fighting score the round 10-9 Ramos, 40-36 Ramos overall.

Round 5: Rosario having more success backing up Ramos this round, instead of getting led around by the nose. But he’s still not getting his own offense off and Ramos keeps hitting him. Ramos is either taking this round off or slowing down, because he’s in retreat mode. Nevermind, he rips the body with a three piece. Maybe he was just trying to draw Rosario in.

Ramos is putting a lot of power into these shots and he’s opening up now. Combination after combination and Rosario has no answer. He’s not quitting, but he’s getting beaten up. Showing off his durability for sure. More combinations and Rosario touches the mat for the first time but it was definitely a push down and is ruled as such.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Ramos, 50-45 Ramos overall.

Round 6: Ramos has landed 100 more punches through the halfway mark. A whooping is happening.

OH! Now a real whooping is happening as Ramos TAGS Rosario! Uppercut snaps Rosario’s head back and he wobbles! Ramos pouring it on him, looking for the finish but Rosario defending and moving and survives the storm. Credit to Rosario because that looked bad.

Ramos still chopping wood in there and Rosario’s return offense has fallen off completely. He is functionally a moving heavy bag in there as Ramos keep pounding away.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Ramos, 60-54 Ramos overall.

Round 7: Credit to Rosario, he is still competing. When Ramos stops moving, he can land his right hand, but that’s about it. But he’s not quitting, despite Ramos continuing to massacre his ribs.

Rosario having a bit more success as Ramos is moving away trying to draw him in. Until he stops and then Ramos hits him a bunch.

OH! There it is! A 1-2 to the top of the head plants Rosario! Ramos caught him coming forward and FINALLY dropped him. But Rosario beats the count and there’s short time left in the round. Ramos pounces and wails away trying to get a finish but Rosario covers and moves, fires back and moves and makes it to the bell.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-8 Ramos, 70-62 Ramos overall.

Round 8: The ringside doctor checks on Rosario before the 8th round and he says he wants to keep fighting. Honestly, his corner should stop this but they’re prepared to let him suffer more and so we start. And credit to Rosario, he seems recovered and is back to his same game.

That game isn’t working, if you recall. Ramos is lighting him up and continues to do so. Same story as before. More body work, more head shots. Rosario hanging tough. OOF! Big combination puts a jolt in Rosario and a few more shots from Ramos get the referee to step in an waive this fight off!

Official Decision: Jesus Ramos Jr. def. Jeison Rosario via 8th-round TKO (2:18)

Isaac Cruz vs. Angel Fierro

Round 1: Cruz is in blue and white trunks while Fierro is in black and camo. Andboth men come out throwing right away! This is rock’em sock’em robots right from the jump. Neither man is jabbing as they taking turns ripping huge uppercuts and hooks. Cruz is really whipping this uppercut in and Fierro is digging in with hooks to the body.

Oof! Cruz tags Fierro with a nasty right hand that moves him back. Then digs the body. Fierro meeting force with force as Cruz marches him down. OH! Cruz with a 4-punch combo that moves Fierro back. But he digs in and returns fire. Both men are going to clear 100 punches this round, easily. Nice right hook from Cruz. And then to the body. Then he digs the body. Fierro fires a combination of hooks before the bell.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Cruz.

Round 2: Cruz right back on the march. Fierro getting backed up to the ropes and Cruz thumps him. Big left hook up top from Cruz but Fierro is made of stern stuff. So Cruz starts clubbing the body. Then Fierro fires back. Cruz is overpowering Fierro early on here, even though he’s landing his own shots. But Cruz keeps mashing him with huge power shots.

HA! Bolo punch from Cruz lands. Fierro keeps firing back when he has room to breath, but Cruz is smothering him early and then thumping. If they can kep up this pace for 10 rounds it will be insane. Yeesh Cruz lands a nasty overhand right. Fierro lands a good combination as he retreats though. Insane pace in this fight.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Cruz, 20-18 Cruz overall.

Round 3: Right back to the woodchipper. Cruz is marching Fierro around the ring at will though Fierro is landing better off his back foot now. He’s starting to put a jab in the way of the advances.

Btu Cruz cannot be deterred. He keeps bullying in. Fierro landing some counters and trying to move but Cruz is a pitbull. And during a tie-up Fierro goes down from a shove.

OH! Fierro lands a big right hand! Cruz got tagged and now Fierro is going weapons free! Cruz diggin in but Fierro staggers him! Fiero has an opening but Cruz won’t go down and fires back! This is an insane round! The bell finally intervenes but WOW.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Fiero, 29-28 Cruz overall.

Round 4: Cruz lands a right hand to start but he’s looking a little slower in there while Fierro has pep in his step. But what does Cruz care? He’s coming in with the thunder. Both men digging to the body as Cruz keeps marching. Fierro finding hooks around the guard and there’s an accidental head clash as Cruz just torpedoed in with his head.

We restart and Cruz rips the body. Fierro eats a pair of left hands up top now as he tries to counter and misses. Another left hand from Cruz. He’s landing MONSTER shots and Fierro is taking them cleanly. And Fierro is still finding success catching Cruz at times. GOOD LORD Cruz just landed the hardest punch I’ve ever seen up top and Fierro shook it off. Back to the brawl until the bell.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Cruz, 39-37 Cruz overall.

Round 5: Right back to it! Cruz has not stopped throwing the hardest punches you can imagine and Fierro keeps taking them and responding with clean shots of his own. He’s landing good counter combinations as Cruz keeps thudding the body and head. OH! After a tie-up, referee goes to break them and Cruz throws a headbutt! He only gets a warning but that was dirty.

Nice uppercut for Fierro. But a great right hand from Cruz backs Fierro up! These two men have chins of mithril. Cruz getting a touch wild at times and Fierro staying sharp when he can get a moment of air. JEEZ a left from Crus snaps Fierro’s head around but he seems unphased. And another! I don’t know how you hurt Fiero because Cruz is throwing the kitchen sink at him and getting nothing.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Cruz, 49-46 Cruz overall.

Round 6: Back at it. Apparently Cruz is landing 53 percent of his power punches and given how powerful they are, that’s A LOT. But Fierro is still more than in this. And Cruz is a bit slower this round. Fierro backing hum up now and getting his own combinations off. Cruz digs in but Fierro has space now and he’s using it. When Cruz doesn’t keep him moving, Fierro can get things going.

Nice combination to the body and head from Fierro. Cruz definitely either slowing down or taking the round off. But he’s eating uppercuts. JEEZ! Cruz threw a right from his ankle that landed and Fierro just shook it off. This is a legendary chin performance from Fierro tonight. So Cruz digs the body while Fierro fires up top. This is a truly insane battle.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Fiero, 58-56 Cruz overall.

Round 7: Cruz on the march this round and that’s obviously better for him. He lands big up top and Fierro moves off. Now they meet in the middle in a pseudo clinch and both men take a break. They deserve it. When the restart, Cruz really starts looking to the body. Fierro keeps hammering uppercuts as Cruz is keeping his head low.

Fierro definitely slowing down too. Both men have to be gassed given the pace of this thing. Not the same left of power being slung. Cruz marching forward less and Fierro’s getting to land in space again. Good right for Cruz then Fierro responds then Cruz tags him. That was a back-and-forth round and the first one I really don’t know how deserves to win.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Cruz, 68-65 Cruz overall.

Round 8: Fierro with some pep in his step to start the round and he backs Cruz up early. Both men stand 10 toes down and sling. Fierro really starting ot land his right hand but gets warned for touching the mat. He’s dipping low when they collide and bailing down.

Cruz with a left up top. Fierro eats a couple then returns. Cruz finding a second wind here with nasty hooks. Cruz is landing MONSTER shots this round and Fierro is completely unfazed. Fierro digging in. This is getting INSANE again. Standing int he middle and both men teeing off. They’ve landed over 1,000 combined punches and they aren’t slowing down.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Fiero, 77-75 Cruz overall.

Round 9: Fierro got plenty of energy somehow and Cruz does seem to be slow this round. Fierro ripping combinations and backing Cruz up. Cruz still landing his shots though but they don’t have the same thump this round. And Fierro is now throwing volume, less power but volume.

Astonishing conditioning from both men but Fierro in particular seems fresh. And he’s backing Cruz up and ripping him along the ropes. Cruz has to come back and fire and eats a few as a result. Back in space and Cruz is landing big shots but Fierro is landing 2 to 1 at this point. 30 seconds left in the round and this is a full on dogfight this round. Both men swinging for all their worth.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Fiero, 86-85 Cruz overall.

Round 10: Final round and all to play for. This seems like it might be legendary. And they meet in the middle and start throwing. Fierro is putting such a pace out there right now, it’s insane. Cruz still has more power in the shots but he’s throwing less. Neither man willing to give an inch now!

2 minutes left and both men want this one. OH! Huge left hand from Cruz up top but Fierro takes it. Fierro cannot be hurt and Cruz starts backing up. Nevermind, we dig down again. This is the Fight of the Year by a mile. Both men showing everything you could ever hope for as Cruz is rallying with powershots. 10 seconds and they stand toe to toe in the middle and slug until the end. The crowd is on its feet as it should be. That is as good of a fight as you’ll ever see.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Fiero, 95-95 draw overall.

Official Decision: Isaac Cruz def. Angel Fiero via unanimous decision (96-94, 97-93, 98-92)

Brandon Figueroa vs. Stephen Fulton Jr.

Round 1: Figueroa in white and black trunks, Fulton in trunks made to look like jorts with shoes made to look like Timberlands. Incredible fit.

Feeling things out early from both sides, lots of feints and probings jabs. Neither man committing as they circle the center. Figueroa mixing his stances up occasionally. Neither man establishing much in there. Maybe Figueroa was a little more active?

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Figueroa.

Round 2: Still the same to start Round 2. Figueroa switching stances and maybe a touch more active while Fulton is staying defensive. Now Figueroa ups the ante and lunges in. Fulton really looking for his counters and find a nice one, snapping Figueroa’s head back.

This fight is quite the change from the feature bout insanity. Very tactical as Fulton keeps looking for his countering opportunities and Figueroa is starting to force the issue a little more. He’s collapsing the space and jumping in and having some success. And he keeps the work going until the bell.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Figueroa, 20-18 Figueroa overall.

Round 3: Figueroa comes right out but Fulton has more pep in his step this round, and steps him off. Fulton starting up open up with his counters. And then lands a good looping right hand. Fulton is backing Figueroa up now and Figueroa grabs him for some infighting.

Nice work inside from both men to the body but Fulton gets the better of it. Figueroa really forcing his way inside to smother Fulton now, who keeps trying to pick him off. Great right hand from Fulton lands and he’s starting to outland Figueroa cleanly. Another right hand. Fulton has opened up the offense and that’s paying dividends.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Fulton, 29-28 Figueroa overall.

Round 4: Figueroa comes right out for the roughhousing. Fulton has this figured out now though and he’s pot-shotting well in space. Figueroa is making it ugly at times though and scoring there. Fulton navigating those spots better and he’s not letting Figueroa get to the body at all.

Fulton is starting to land clean now, even when he’s backing up. Nice combination snaps Figueroa’s head around. But Figueroa keeps coming at him. He won’t be deterred.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Fulton, 38-38 overall.

Round 5: The commentary is telling me that Figueroa has getting schooled and I partially agree. Fulton is obviously the better boxer but Figueroa is making things choppy at points. Fulton smothering the offense well enough for the most part though.

Nice uppercut from Fulton during some close fighting and then Figueroa puts Fulton in the corner and tries to find something. Fulton is doing a good job of not taking anything meaningful there though. He’s also finding a falling uppercut when they’re in close. Figueroa just keeps putting his head down and getting inside though.

Fulton rips the body inside and that was mean. Another combination inside. He’s really starting to tune Figueroa up inside.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Fulton, 48-47 Fulton overall.

Round 6: Figueroa is exclusively getting inside now which is bad as he’s getting massacred there. He tries some dirty boxing and gets warned while Fulton digs the body. Now Figueroa lands some decent uppercuts and then Fulton returns. These two are in a phone booth and chipping away. No room to breath.

Leaning from both men and then hooks and uppers. Figueroa not landing much to the body while Fulton is, which I bet pays dividends. And the fans are booing and whistling. This is not a barnburner, though it looks grueling.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Fulton, 58-56 Fulton overall.

Round 7: Figueroa’s corner does not like what they’re seeing. Which makes sense because it’s not his best. And so he comes out with fire and puts Fulton into the corner, but Fulton clinches and drives off.

More infighting from these two and the crowd is getting restless. This is a lot of the same with Figueroa crashing in and Fulton smothering, then working the body. Combinations from Fulton on a break but Figueroa crashes right back in. Figueroa is insisting on fiht a battle he is losing. The crowd is whistling loudly. They want more as Fulton keeps leading him around and putting a right hand on him. Figueroa is landing so little now and nothing of major note. I don’t know what he’s thinking.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Fulton, 68-65 Fulton overall.

Round 8: Figueroa is having success putting Fulton into the corner but does nothing with it. In fact, Fulton is landing the better shots when he gets put there. He has the reads and a plan and he’s chewing Figueroa up coming in and when the fight gets inside. And the crowd quickly starts its booing.

Figueroa is marching forward constantly but no meaningful offense. Fulton starting to string together combinations inside. Figueroa gets him to the ropes and then Fulton hits him. Figueroa is tapping with useless arm punches and then getting hit. This is a baffling performance. Fulton keeps landing uppers on the inside that Figueroa has nothing for.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Fulton, 78-74 Fulton overall.

Round 9: Fulton appears to have this in the bag and his corner tells him to not get careless. Figueroa keeps coming forward and gets Fulton to the ropes but again, no offense. Fulton has outlanded Figueroa in every round per the compubox stats.

More arm punches from Figueroa as he puts Fulton on the ropes again. Fulton keeps going uppers and hooks in the phone booth. More of the same from both sides. This fight has its rhythm and it’s not changing. Fulton is winning so he doesn’t want to change it and Figueroa either can’t or won’t do anything different. He should rty though as Fulton keeps working him over inside.

Now Figueroa starts digging real punches to the body but it’s late to the game.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Fulton, 88-83 Fulton overall.

Round 10: Oo, Figueroa comes out and does better with some real punches as he backs Fulton up. He needs to keep this up but it might be too late. Fulton ties up, Figueroa with arm punches. Figueroa is getting Fulton to the spots he wants but that’s all. Fulton may be slowing those as he’s more hittable it seem and Figueroa has not taken a backward step all night.

Fighting in the phone booth. Then Figueroa gets Fulton to the ropes and Fulton fires. He’s very comfortable with his back to the ropes. More work here thought Figueroa is doing better this round. He’s starting to dig in with these punches perhaps because Fulton is slowing a bit. He keeps chopping inside and this is going to be Figueroa’s first round in a long time.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Figueroa, 97-93 Fulton overall.

Round 11: Figueroa right back on the march. Fulton back to the ropes, ties up, counters. Fulton with more urgency early in this round, moving more. His corner wants him off the ropes. But Figueroa keeps pressuring and lands a good upper. Figueroa gets Fulton to the corner and this time he pushes off. Phone booth in the centr now as they turn and fight. Fulton with more volume in this space. He’s upping the effort.

Ugly clinch work here. Both men getting grimy in there. Short shorts, grabbing, pivots. Fulton leaning on Figueroa. Snaps his head with an uppercut. Both men throwing much more now, making statements.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Fulton, 107-102 Fulton overall.

Round 12: Final round and Figueroa likely needs a finish. Maybe the judges are blind, but unlikely.

Figueroa keeps marching forward and Fulton sits down on a few counters. Figueroa pressing the action though. He’s walking right into counters though as Fulton catches him coming in. Clinch and infighting. Figueroa is all forward pressure. Fulton sticking jabs in the way and defending. He’s trying to cruise to a win. Figueroa puts him on the ropes and rips the body a few times.

Figueroa keeps crashing in. Fulton with some nice footwork and a big counter. Figueroa relentless as he’s been all night. Fulton landing and moving, then clinching. He should be on his way to a clear victory.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Fulton, 117-111 Fulton overall.

Official Decision: Stephen Fulton def. Brandon Figueroa via unanimous decision (116-112, 116-112, 117-111)