UFC 274 results: Charles Oliveira submits Justin Gaethje to become lightweight contender, Carla Esparza regains UFC strawweight title

When Bruce Buffer announced Charles Oliveira by his name, he officially lost the UFC lightweight title. That was a result of him missing weight during fight week. Oliveira did not seem to be bothered by that one bit, instead looking like a man on a mission against Justin Gaethje.

With the win, Oliveira is the number one contender for the UFC lightweight title. 

The fight started off hot right away, as expected. Gaethje did drop Oliveira down a few times with some hard shots, but Oliveira was able to recover. Oliveira ended up landing a few big shots of his own that dropped Gaethje. Bleeding by the eye, Oliveira was struggling at first to avoid any of Gaethje's shots. He also tried to drop Gaethje down to the floor willingly, but Gaethje wasn't having any of it. 

Eventually, Oliveira knocked Gaethje down with a punch. He then went to the back of Gaethje, as he has done previous times before. After multiple submission attempts, he finally landed a rear-naked choke to take out Gaethje and sent the crowd into a frenzy. 

MORE: MMA Schedule 2022: Date, division, location for upcoming fights

Oliveira is now on an eleven-fight win streak, with six of those wins coming by way of submission. 

With the win, Oliveira has a chance to fight once again for the UFC lightweight title. Challengers he could potentially face include Michael Chandler, who knocked out Tony Ferguson earlier in the night. There is also Islam Makhachev and Conor McGregor.

In the co-main event, Carla Esparza went 2-0 against Rose Namajunas to regain the UFC strawweight title. In a fight ultimately lacking much action, Esparza managed to win back the title she lost over seven years ago. She is now on a six-fight win streak while Namajunas' three-fight win streak has come to an end. 

Here's how it all went down:  

UFC 274: Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje results Charles Oliveira forces Justin Gaethje to tap, becomes number one contender for lightweight title 

12:55 a.m. ET - The main event is up next, as Charles Oliveira faces Justin Gaethje for the UFC lightweight title. Bruce Buffer announced Oliveira and he is now no longer champion after missing weight. Gaethje landed a big left kick, but Oliveira landed a big right hand that hurt Gaethje. Down goes Oliveira following a shot. Down goes Oliveira again following a hook. Oliveira is bleeding by the eye. Gaethje lands more big blows. Combinations. Oliveira drops Gaethje by the arm but he gets back up. Jumping front kick by Oliveira. Big punch knocks Gaethje down and Oliveira goes onto his back. He lands a triangle but Gaethje is out. Rear-naked choke and Gaethje taps out. 

The most dangerous finisher in the UFC strikes again ????

[ @CharlesDoBronxs | #UFC274 ] pic.twitter.com/E0EgLi71A2

— UFC (@ufc) May 8, 2022

Carla Esparza def. Rose Namajunas via split decision (47-48, 49-46, 48-47), regains the UFC strawweight title

Round five (12:30 a.m. ET) - Namajunas pulls Esparza off when she attempted a takedown. Right hand by Namajunas. Both trade shots now, with Esparza landing a big punch to the jaw of Namajunas. Namajunas lands a counter right hand. Phantom shots being thrown as Namajunas tries for a leg kick. Takedown attempt by Namajunas as the final bell rang. 

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Namajunas (48-47 Namajunas) 

Round four (12:25 a.m. ET) - Another takedown attempt by Esparza (which lands) and now she is on the back of Namajunas. Back on the feet, Namajunas with a few phantom jabs. As Esparza goes for a takedown she lands a shot to the face. Both trade shots. A big right by Namajunas after some takedown defense. 

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Esparza (38-38) 

Round three (12:20 a.m. ET) - The crowd is doing the wave as there is little action in this fight. Another takedown attempt by Esparza and then a kick. She then takes her down again but Namajunas is back up again. Uppercut by Namajunas. Knee on the inside by Esparza. Combinations by Namajunas. Big reach by Namajunas and she slips. Superman punch attempt by Esparza misses. 

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Esparza (29-28 Namajunas) 

Round two (12:15 a.m. ET) - Esparza with a takedown but Namajunas gets back up. Namajuans with a few jabs. She continues to move around the octagon, as Esparza has not provided any offense except for the takedown attempt. 

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Namajunas (20-18 Namajunas) 

12 a.m. ET - UFC strawweight title fight up next, with Rose Namajunas defending against former rival Carla Esparza. Both circle around the octagon, with Esparza stalking Namajunas. Now they start striking, and Namajunas lands a jab. She lands a few more shots to end the round. 

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Namajunas 

Daniel Cormier was just announced as the next inductee in the UFC Hall of Fame. 

Michael Chandler obliterates Tony Ferguson in round two

11:40 p.m. ET - A front leg kick from hell drops Tony Ferguson and the fight is over. 

???? #UFC274 pic.twitter.com/qimbcNY0Yg

— UFC (@ufc) May 8, 2022

11:30 p.m. ET - Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson is up next, hoping to bring some life back into the crowd. They are electric as the two face off. Ferguson goes for the leg kick right away. Chandler with combinations. Low leg kick by Chandler. A few leg kicks by Ferguson. Left hook and jab by Chandler. Big shot by Ferguson drops Chandler. Ferguson with leg kicks to the face now, and Chandler is bleeding by the nose. Counter blows by Ferguson connect. Chandler just drops him with a big double-leg takedown. Ferguson tries going for a submission, but Chandler just starts throwing down shots on a downed Ferguson. Ferguson using his defense by landing elbows to the head of Chandler.  

Ovince Saint Preux def. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27) 

11:15 p.m. ET - Lights are off in round three and the fans are using their phones to entertain themselves. OSP is now walking all over "Shogun" as the latter tries to land anything. "Shogun's" bleeding on top of the head. This is anyone's fight as neither are showing they have what it takes to break it open. OSP was limping by the end of the fight, as the crowd continues to boo. OSP gets the win. 

After 3 RDs, the victory belongs to @003_OSP ????

[ #UFC274 | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/cbSgXTfJoR ] pic.twitter.com/WNp48dsnbj

— UFC (@ufc) May 8, 2022

10:55 p.m. ET - Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs. Ovince Saint Preux is up next. OSP and "Shogun" start things off with some missed kicks. Leg kicks starting to land. "Shogun" lands combination shots and controls the cage. He tries for more combinations, with a second punch connecting. "Shogun's" chest is bright red as OSP tries to lay shots into him. OSP in round two went for high kicks. "Shogun" goes back to the leg kicks. A game of cat and mouse now as the crowd is getting restless. 

Israel Adesanya vs. Jared Cannonier headlines UFC 276 on July 2. Co-main event is Volkanovski vs. Holloway 3.

#UFC276 is going to ???????????????????????????????? ???????????? pic.twitter.com/6Ux9DWQQIZ

— UFC (@ufc) May 8, 2022

Randy Brown def. Khaos Williams via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

10:35 p.m. ET - Brown with a right hand to start round two, and now he landed a low kick. Big jab by Brown and now he is showing great head movement by blocking Williams' shots. Trading shots now, and Williams has Brown up by the cage. In the center right now, Brown has managed to battle back. Brown reaching for shots. Round three sees Brown move forward but Williams counters wit a big shot that drops Brown. Right by Brown as he avoids Williams' shots. Now by the cage, Brown tries to punch him off. Big elbow by Williams. Brown has him up by the cage and lands a knee. Superman Punch by Williams to end the fight. 

RUDEBOY secures the victory via split decision ????

[ @TouchNgo_ | #UFC274 | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/cbSgXTfJoR ] pic.twitter.com/0I6pATiwYl

— UFC (@ufc) May 8, 2022

10:20 p.m. ET - The main card has officially begun. Opening up is Randy Brown vs. Khaos Williams. Williams with a few kick attempts and is reaching for his shots. Brown countered with a small slap-type shot. Williams with a few combinations. Front leg kick by Brown barely connects. Both are just trading shots now. Williams hits Brown with an uppercut and Brown was slipping. On the floor now, Williams tries for the choke. Back on his feet, Brown tries a flying knee. He now has Williams up by the cage. 

UFC 274: Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje prelims results

9:50 p.m. ET - Round two begins with Trinaldo hurting Roberts, pushing him into the cage. He then lands an uppercut, and now Roberts is bleeding by the eye. Big shot by Trinaldo by the cage and another. He locks in a guillotine but Roberts gets out of it. Trinaldo traps him on the floor and starts landing elbows. Now they are both on their feet trading shots. Round three sees Roberts looking a little rejuvenated. They trade shots again, but now Trinaldo is against the cage. Big leg kick by Roberts, and Trinaldo counters with a big shot. Big uppercut counter by Trinaldo. Trinaldo wins via unanimous decision to end the main card. 

43 & still going strong ????

[ @MassarandubaMMA | #UFC274 ] pic.twitter.com/k25S4gi6nV

— UFC (@ufc) May 8, 2022

9:40 p.m. ET - Francisco Trinaldo vs. Danny Roberts in welterweight action is next. Roberts with a leg kick to start things off. Trinaldo with a right that missed and then decided to hold Roberts against the cage. He is missing big shots as Roberts goes for the leg kick. Roberts is now playing the aggressor, pushing Trinaldo back. Trinaldo with a few combinations but Roberts lands shots that breaks through the defense. High leg kick by Roberts. 

A little action after the bell ????????

[ #UFC274 | Prelims Live on @ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/KSCDXRCX3U

— UFC (@ufc) May 8, 2022

9:20 p.m. ET - Dumont was swinging away in round three and landed a knee to the face. She did not take advantage, however, and Chiasson pulled her up against the cage and would not let her move. Dumont then landed combinations and Chiasson is exhausted. Chiasson fought back by holding her against the cage. It was enough to get her the split decision win. 

9 p.m. ET - Up next is a featherweight fight between Macy Chiasson and Norma Dumont. Chiasson starts with a leg kick. Dumont with a kick that lands and pushes Chiasson back. Chiasson with an unblocked punch while Dumont tries to take control of the octagon. Dumont is advancing more in round two, while Chiasson is trying to find her distance. Chiasson has Dumont up by the cage. She gets on Dumont's back but falls out, now Dumont's on top and in control. Somehow, Chiasson ended up holding her by the cage again. 

8:40 p.m. ET - Matt Schnell vs. Brandon Royval in flyweight action is next. Both were flying right out of the gate. Schnell drops Royval and starts pounding away. Royval then locked in the submission and got Schnell to tap. Fast-paced fight that ended just like that. 

DONE IN ONE ????

[ @BrandonRoyval | #UFC274 ] pic.twitter.com/uEiLdXAqRW

— UFC (@ufc) May 8, 2022

8:15 p.m. ET - The prelims for UFC 274 have begun. Heavyweights Blagov Ivanov and Marcos Rogerio de Lima starts things off. Lima landed a below the belt shot in the first few seconds of the fight and was warned. Both started swinging away at one another. Ivanov had de Lima up against the octagon multiple times. Big right by de Lima to end round two. Ivanov with a huge right to start round three. de Lima had him up by the cage, but the ref wanted action. de Lima dropped Blagov with a takedown before the end of the third round. Ivanov ended up getting the unanimous decision win. 

7:45 p.m. ET - The early prelims have ended. The biggest wins were by Lupita Godinez, Tracy Cortez, and Andre Fialho. Fialho gave UFC 274 its first knockout of the night. 

Andre Fialho drops Cameron VanCamp ????

???? @espnmma pic.twitter.com/CpXuD5exEp

— Sporting News Fights (@sn_fights) May 7, 2022

6 p.m. ET - It was announced on the early prelims that Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon is off due to a non-COVID illness suffered by Cerrone. 

UFC 274 fight card

Main Card (10 p.m. ET) 

• Charles Oliveira def. Justin Gaethje via rear-naked choke (3:22 into round round) to become number one contender for the UFC lightweight title
• Carla Esparza def. Rose Namajunas via split decision (47-48, 49-46, 48-47) for the UFC strawweight title
• Michael Chandler def. Tony Ferguson via KO (0:17 into round two) 
• Ovince Saint Preux def. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27) 
• Randy Brown def. Khaos Williams via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Prelims (8 p.m. ET)

• Francisco Trinaldo def. Danny Roberts via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-26, 30-27)
• Macy Chiasson def. Norma Dumont via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
• Brandon Royval def. Matt Schnell via guillotine choke (2:14 into round one) 
• Blagoy Ivanov def. Marcos Rogerio de Lima via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)

Early Prelims (5:30 p.m. ET)

• Andre Fialho def. Cameron VanCamp via TKO (2:35 into round one) 
• Tracy Cortez vs. Melissa Gatto; Flyweights
• C.J. Vergara def. Kleydson Rodrigues via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Lupita Godinez def. Ariane Carnelossi via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–26, 30–26)
• Journey Newson def. Fernie Garcia via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)

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