Round 1 – Both women pawing the jab from range, seeking angles and reactions. Jojua with a right to the body. Casey flurries punches and throws a front kick to the body. Two-punch combination from Casey. She throws a right to the body. Casey leading the exchanges now. Low kick scores. Jojua swinging back but without the same pop. Jojua’s nose busted up. Casey sitting down on her punches and having success. Casey digging to the body and firing up top. Casey just picking her shots here. Big kick to the body. Jojua thinks takedown but doesn’t get close. More striking exchanges, but Casey getting the best of it. Jojua shoots forward again and does get the takedown late. They trade punches on the floor until the end, but MMA Junkie gives it to Casey, 10-9.
Round 2 – Casey again leading the exchanges. Jojua answering but with less volume and power. Casey scores with a clean right. She kicks to the body. Low kick scores. Jojua picking up the pace a bit. She does land a right hand. Casey lands a front kick. High kick lands, and then a left hand. Jojua pressuring more, but she’s not necessarily having a ton of success. Jojua does land a big right. Casey to the body and then kicks, as well. Jojua is the one moving forward, but she’s taking damage. Casey lands a high knee but then slips back to the floor. Jojua sets up on top. Casey ties things up underneath. Late scramble before the bell. Jojua has a ton of damage around the nose. MMA Junkie gives the round again to Casey, 10-9.
Round 3 – Jojua willing to mix it up, but Casey landing more frequently. Casey flurrying punches together. Jojua has blood streaming from the nose, but she’s walking forward and looking to mix it up. She rushes forward to wrap the body, but it’s not there. Casey slips and moves, stringing together punches. Casey’s jab on point. The right hand is coming behind it. Jojua is walking through it all, but she’s wearing the damage. Casey doesn’t seem to be slowing late. Punches in bunches and a high kick behind it. Casey chops the legs. Jojua shoots from range, but Casey sees it and steps aside. Casey with a high kick. Jojua just brawling now here in the final minute. Casey with an elbow inside. Jojua moving froward until the end. She shoots and does get a takedown, but it’s too late. MMA Junkie gives the final round to Casey, 10-9, and awards her the fight 30-27.
Result: Cortney Casey def. Liana Jojua via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 197: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Cortney Casey (10-9 MMA, 6-8 UFC), Liana Jojua (8-5 MMA, 1-3 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Marc Goddard
Judging: Mike Bell (30-27), David Tirelli (30-27), Junichiro Kamijo (30-27)
