{{short description|UFC mixed martial arts event in 2018}} {{Infobox MMA event |name=UFC Fight Night: The Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez |image=230px |promotion=Ultimate Fighting Championship |date= {{start date|2018|11|10}} |venue=Pepsi Center |city=Denver, Colorado |attendance=11,426<ref name="gate&attendance">{{Cite news|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2018/11/ufc-fight-night-139-denver-11426-attendance-946700-live-gate-korean-zombie-yair-rodriguez|title=UFC Fight Night 139 draws announced 11,426 attendance for $946,700 live gate|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2018-11-11|access-date=2018-11-11}}</ref> |gate=$946,706<ref name="gate&attendance" /> |previousevent=UFC 230: Cormier vs. Lewis |followingevent=UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio }}
'''''UFC Fight Night: The Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez''''' (also known as '''''UFC Fight Night 139''''') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on November 10, 2018, at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, United States.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2018/07/ufc-announces-2018-schedule-september-through-end-of-year|title=UFC announces rest of 2018 schedule from September through end of year|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2018-07-08|access-date=2018-07-09}}</ref>
== Background == The UFC celebrated its 25th anniversary at this event, given its first event took place on November 12, 1993, in Denver at the now-demolished McNichols Sports Arena.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/07/07/ufc-25-anniversary-fight-denver|title=UFC announces official 25th anniversary Fight Night was in Denver|publisher=denverpost.com|author=Sara Grant|date=2018-07-07|access-date=2018-07-17}}</ref> UFC officials went to a throwback theme for the event, using the original UFC logo, and non-Fox related television graphics were based on the original pay-per-view broadcast.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2018/11/ufc-fight-night-139-retro-broadcast-25th-anniversary-denver|title=UFC Fight Night 139 broadcast goes retro for 25th anniversary|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Blue Corner|date=2018-11-10|access-date=2018-11-14}}</ref>
A featherweight bout between former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and former UFC Featherweight Championship challenger Chan Sung Jung was expected to serve as the event headliner.<ref name="DenverME">{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/24153056/frankie-edgar-chan-sung-jung-bout-set-ufc-fight-night-nov-10|title=Frankie Edgar-Chan Sung Jung bout is set for UFC Fight Night on Nov. 10|work=espn.com|author=Brett Okamoto|date= 2018-07-20|access-date=2018-07-20}}</ref> However, on October 26, it was reported that Edgar pulled out due to injury and was replaced by The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America featherweight winner Yair Rodríguez.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/10/26/18031464/frankie-edgar-out-of-ufc-denver-main-event-yair-rodriguez-steps-in-against-chan-sung-jung|title=Frankie Edgar out of UFC Denver main event, Yair Rodriguez steps in against Chan Sung Jung|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Marc Raimondi|date=2018-10-26|access-date=2018-10-26}}</ref>
Ricardo Ramos was expected to face Ricky Simón at the event. However, on October 15, it was reported that Ramos pulled out due to a hand injury, and in turn, Simon was removed from the card as well.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/10/16/17983738/ricardo-ramos-injured-out-ufc-denver-fight-with-ricky-simon|title=Ricardo Ramos injured, out of UFC Denver fight with Ricky Simon|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Guilherme Cruz|date=2018-10-16|access-date=2018-10-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/10/23/ufc-denver-card-changes-announced/|title=UFC Denver 25th anniversary card changes announced|publisher=denverpost.com|author=Joe Nguyen|date=2018-10-23|access-date=2018-10-24}}</ref>
A lightweight bout between Beneil Dariush and Chris Gruetzemacher was expected to take place at the event. However, on October 19, it was reported Gruetzemacher withdrew from the event due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer Thiago Moisés.<ref name="GruetzemacherOut">{{Cite news|url=http://mmadna.nl/thiago-moises-pakt-short-notice-partij-tegen-beneil-dariush-tijdens-ufc-denver5/|title=Thiago Moisés takes a short notice match against Beneil Dariush at UFC Denver|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Marcel Dorff|date=2018-10-19|access-date=2018-10-19|language=nl}}</ref>
A women's strawweight bout between Maycee Barber and Maia Stevenson was expected to take place at the event. However, on October 20, it was reported that Stevenson pulled out from the event due to injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Hannah Cifers.<ref name="prelimsupdate">{{Cite news|url=http://mmadna.nl/hannah-cifers-vervangt-maia-stevenson-tegen-maycee-barber-tijdens-ufc-denver/|title=Hannah Cifers replaces Maia Stevenson against Maycee Barber at UFC Denver|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Marcel Dorff|date=2018-10-20|access-date=2018-10-21|language=nl}}</ref>
A light heavyweight bout between Alonzo Menifield and Saparbek Safarov was expected to take place at the event. However it was reported on October 21 that Safarov pulled out from the event for undisclosed reasons and the bout was scrapped.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://mmadna.nl/alonzo-menifield-vs-saparbek-safarov-gecanceld-voor-ufc-denver/|title=Alonzo Menifield vs. Saparbek Safarov canceled for UFC Denver|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Marcel Dorff|date=2018-10-21|language=nl|access-date=2018-10-22}}</ref>
Jordan Espinosa was expected to face Mark De La Rosa at the event. However, on November 4, it was reported that Espinosa pulled out from the event and was replaced by Joby Sanchez.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mmadna.nl/joby-sanchez-pakt-short-notice-partij-tegen-mark-de-la-rosa-in-denver/|title=Joby Sanchez grabs short notice party against Mark de la Rosa in Denver|publisher=mmadna.nl|date=2018-11-04|author=Marcel Dorff|access-date=2018-11-05|language=nl}}</ref>
A bout between former UFC Flyweight Championship challengers Ray Borg and Joseph Benavidez was expected to take place at the event. However, Borg pulled out on November 7 due to medical issues and the bout was cancelled.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/platform/amp/2018/11/7/18072454/ray-borg-ruled-out-of-fight-against-joseph-benavidez-at-ufc-denver|title=Ray Borg ruled out of fight against Joseph Benavidez at UFC Denver|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Dave Doyle|date=2018-11-07|access-date=2018-11-07}}</ref>
At the weigh-ins, former UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship challenger Raquel Pennington weighed in at 138 lb, 2 pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit of 136 lb. She was fined 20 percent of her purse, which went to her opponent former UFC Women's Featherweight Champion Germaine de Randamie and the bout proceeded at catchweight.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloodyelbow.com/platform/amp/2018/11/9/18078442/video-ufc-denver-korean-zombie-vs-yair-rodriguez-official-early-weigh-ins-live-stream|title=UFC Denver weigh-in results and video: Korean Zombie 146, Rodriguez 145.5|publisher=bloodyelbow.com|author=Anton Tabuena|date=2018-11-09|access-date=2018-11-09}}</ref>
==Results== {{MMAevent}} {{MMAevent card|Main Card (Fox Sports 1)}} {{MMAevent bout |Featherweight |Yair Rodríguez |def. |Chan Sung Jung |KO (elbow) |5 |4:59 |Tied for latest finish in UFC history. }} {{MMAevent bout |Welterweight |Donald Cerrone |def. |Mike Perry |Submission (armbar) |1 |4:46 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Catchweight (138 lb) |Germaine de Randamie |def. |Raquel Pennington |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Lightweight |Beneil Dariush |def. |Thiago Moisés |Decision (unanimous) (30–25, 30–25, 30–26) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Women's Strawweight |Maycee Barber |def. |Hannah Cifers |TKO (punches) |2 |2:01 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Lightweight |Michael Trizano |def. |Luis Peña |Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 30–27) |3 |5:00 }} {{MMAevent card|Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1)|header=no}} {{MMAevent bout |Women's Strawweight |Ashley Yoder |def. |Amanda Cooper |Decision (split) (29–28, 27–30, 29–28) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Featherweight |Bobby Moffett |vs. |Chas Skelly |No Contest (overturned) |2 |2:43 |Originally a technical submission (brabo choke) win for Moffett; overturned after Skelly appealed the loss due to a controversial referee call.<ref name="overturned">{{Cite news|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/06/colorado-commission-changes-chas-skellys-2018-loss-to-bobby-moffett-to-no-contest|title=Colorado commission changes Chas Skelly's 2018 loss to Bobby Moffett to no contest|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King|date=2020-06-24|access-date=2020-06-25}}</ref> }} {{MMAevent bout |Lightweight |Davi Ramos |def. |John Gunther |Submission (rear-naked choke) |1 |1:57 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Lightweight |Devonte Smith |def. |Julian Erosa |KO (punches) |1 |0:46 | }} {{MMAevent card|Early Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)|header=no}} {{MMAevent bout |Flyweight |Eric Shelton |def. |Joseph Morales |Decision (split) (29–28, 27–30, 30–27) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Bantamweight |Mark De La Rosa |def. |Joby Sanchez |Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 30–27) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent end|notes=yes}} <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-denver-2018|title=UFC Fight Night: Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez|publisher=Ultimate Fighting Championship|access-date=2018-08-03}}</ref>
==Bonus awards== The following fighters were awarded $50,000 bonuses:<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2018/11/ufc-fight-night-139-denver-bonuses-yair-rodriguez-doubles-up-100000-cowboy-cerrone-korean-zombie|title=UFC Fight Night 139 bonuses: Yair Rodriguez doubles up for $100,000 in Denver|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2018-11-11|access-date=2018-11-11}}</ref> *''' Fight of the Night: Yair Rodríguez vs. Chan Sung Jung''' *'''Performance of the Night: Yair Rodríguez''' and '''Donald Cerrone'''
==Aftermath== On June 24, 2020, it was announced that Bobby Moffett's submission win against Chas Skelly was overturned by the Colorado Office of Combative Sports after Skelly appealed the loss due to a referee call. Its stoppage was considered highly controversial at the time, as the referee waved off the fight in the midst of a submission sequence.<ref name="overturned" />
== See also == * List of UFC events * 2018 in UFC * List of current UFC fighters
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{UFC Events}} {{2018 in mixed martial arts}}
Category:UFC Fight Night Category:2018 in mixed martial arts Category:2018 in sports in Colorado Category:Mixed martial arts events in Denver Category:November 2018 sports events in the United States