UFC 222 live blog: Sean O’Malley vs. Andre Soukhamthath

This is the UFC 222 live blog for Sean O’Malley vs. Andre Soukhamthath, a bantamweight bout at Saturday night’s UFC event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

O’Malley, a Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series contract winner who is 9-0 as a pro, fights Soukhamthath, who is coming off of his first UFC victory last December, on the evening’s main card.

Check out the UFC 222 live blog below.

Round 1: O’Malley takes the center of the cage, Soukhamthath circling. Leg kick by O’Malley lands on the inside of Soukhamthath’s right leg, looks like it hurt him. Spinning kick for O’Malley misses. Outside leg kick, O’Malley. Soukhamthath scores with a straight right. Lots of volume from O’Malley, not much connecting. He lands another solid inside leg kick that causes Soukhamthath to slip. Jab by O’Malley, Soukhamthath goes in to grapple and eats a knee as he ducks down. O’Malley’s stance switching is stopping Souhamthath from initiating any offense. He scores a big kick to the body. O’Malley drops Soukhamthath with a straight punch and he’s in survival mode backing up, trying to avoid a kill shot. He’s wobbled by a high kick.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, O’Malley.

Round 2: Soukhamthath wants to push the pace right away, but it’s all O’Malley with another low kick and a couple of straight punches. Kicks to the body are scoring big for O’Malley. Right hand over the top, O’Malley. Lunging straight left connects for O’Malley, and he follows up with a right hand. Soukhamthath shoots and gets the takedown. O’Malley aggressive from the bottom and he’s looking for a triangle choke. He’s firing elbows from bottom as he works to secure the triangle. Soukhamthath nearly ends up in an armbar, but he yanks his limb free and manages to get side control. Back into half guard. Punches to the body by Soukhamthath. O’Malley gets his knees in between, he’s trying to kick Soukhamthath off. He manages to flip Soukhamthath over and briefly works for a guillotine choke before standing up. O’Malley nearly lands an illegal kick but it appears to have hit Soukhamthath’s arms. O’Malley dives on top and looks for ground and pound, then finishes in control with a rear-naked choke attempt.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, O’Malley. Overall 20-18, O’Malley.

Round 3: Soukhamthath out fast again, O’Malley pops him with a counter left. Soukhamthath clinches and O’Malley’s takedown defense holds up. They move back to the center of the Octagon. Kicks to the body have Soukhamthath off balance. It looks like O’Malley’s leg was hurt somehow, Soukhamthath lands an inside leg kick and goes in for a takedown. Soukhamthath in half guard, he’s not doing a lot of damage though. O’Malley works his way back to his feet. Soukhamthath rips a body shot. O’Malley’s foot clearly injured, he’s on one leg. Soukhamthath with the takedown again. They scramble up and O’Malley hits Soukhamthath with a spinning elbow. Another takedown by Soukhamthath. He advances to side control and hits some knees to the body. O’Malley can’t even stand afterwards, he clearly has an injured leg.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Soukhamthath. Overall 29-28, O’Malley.

Official result: Sean O’Malley def. Andre Soukhamthath by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-28)