SYDNEY, Australia — “UFC 127: Penn vs. Fitch” takes place this evening at Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia, and features a welterweight main event between former two division champion B.J. Penn (16-7-1) and top 170-pound contender Jon Fitch (26-3, 1 NC).

In the co-main event, England’s Michael Bisping (21-3) will attempt to silence veteran Jorge Rivera (18-7) and move one step closer to a shot at the middleweight championship.

ProMMAnow.com (www.prommanow.com) will provide live results and play-by-play commentary during tonight’s event which airs in the U.S. LIVE on Pay-Per-View starting at 10 p.m. ET. Three preliminary card fights will air LIVE and FREE on ION Television at 9 p.m. ET, but first, two prelim bouts will air LIVE and FREE on the UFC Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ufc) at 8 p.m. ET.

While you are waiting for the fights to start, head over to our ProMMAnow.com UFC 127 staff picks to get our thoughts and predictions on each fight, then go check out the UFC 127 weigh-in video and “Countdown to UFC 127” show in our UFC Room.

Also, immediately following tonight’s fights will be the UFC 127 post-fight press conference. Fight fans can watch the presser live in our UFC Room starting at approximately 1:15 a.m. ET.

UFC 127 quick results:

MAIN CARD (Televised on Pay-Per-View 10 p.m. ET)

• Jon Fitch fights B.J. Penn to a majority draw (29-28, 28-28, 28-28)
• Michael Bisping def. Jorge Rivera by TKO (punches) Rd 2 (1:54)
• Dennis Siver def. George Sotiropoulos by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-28, 30-27)
• Brian Ebersole def. Chris Lytle by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Kyle Noke def. Chris Camozzi by submission (rear-naked choke) Rd. 1 (1:35)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Televised on ION 9 p.m. ET)

• Ross Pearson def. Spencer Fisher by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Alexander Gustafsson def. James Te Huna by submission (rear-naked choke) Rd. 1 (4:27)
• Nick Ring def. Riki Fukuda by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Televised on Facebook 8 p.m. ET)

• Anthony Perosh def. Tom Blackledge by submission (rear-naked choke) Rd. 1 (2:45)
• Tie Quan Zhang def. Jason Reinhardt by technical submission (guillotine choke) (0:48)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Not Televised)

• Mark Hunt def. Chris Tuchscherer via knockout (punches) Rd. 2 (1:41)
• Curt Warburton def. Maciej Jewtuszko by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

UFC 127 play-by-play:

185 lbs. Tie Quan Zhang vs. Jason Reinhardt

Round 1 – Reinhardt eats a couple shots and a leg kick. Reinhardt ducks, shoots and Zhang locks on a quick guillotine and puts Reinhardt to sleep. It’s over just like that. Tough luck for the 41-year-old Reinhardt who has been out of action for over three years. Check out our interview with Jason Reinhardt leading up to this fight.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Tie Quan Zhang def. Jason Reinhardt by technical submission (guillotine choke) (0:48)

205 lbs. Anthony Perosh vs. Tom Blackledge

Round 1 – Huge applause for Mr. Anthony Perosh. Perosh is a co-owner of a gym with Elvis Sinosic. Tom Blackledge is a training partner of Michael Bisping. Front kick to the body from Blackledge and then a leg kick. Left jab from Blackledge and Perosh shoots, stuffed. Head kick blocked by Perosh. Lands a right, shoots, stuffed. Nice one two from Perosh and shoots again. Blackledge grabs a front headlock and Perosh puts him down. Perosh now on top, lands a big left hand while hovering. Blackledge throws up a triangle but Perosh gets right out and gets mount. Perosh takes the back of Blackledge as he turtles up. Perosh, a BJJ black belt, chokes out Blackledge to the roar of the crowd. He laps the Octagon and throws his hands up in celebration, getting his first win in the Octagon.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Anthony Perosh def. Tom Blackledge by submission (rear-naked choke) Rd. 1 (2:45)

185 lbs. Nick Ring vs. Riki Fukuda

Round 1 – Fukuda is from Tokyo. Ring from Calgary, Alberta, and has Greg Jackson.  in his corner. Southpaw vs. southpaw. Two leg kicks from Ring. Another one. Another one, is checked. Another leg kick from Ring and Fukuda shoots and gets a double leg. Ring holds on, gets guard, looking for an armbar then triangle. He’s almost got it locked on and Fukuda is trying to back out but Ring has a tight grip on his wrists. Fukuda escapes and gets up, they separate and square up. Leg kick by Fukuda. Left hand from Fukuda. Leg kick checked by Fukuda, again. Again. Again. Fukuda misses with a leg kick. Then checks one. Nice left from Fukuda. Ring grabs a collar tie and lands a knee. Ring throws a body kick that hits Fukuda’s arm. Fukuda checks a leg kick. Left hand from Fukuda. Leg kick from Fukuda. Nice right hook from Fukuda lands on the back of the head. Right hand from Ring and Fukuda shoots and gets the takedown. On top in half guard. I score the round for Fukuda 10-9.

Round 2 – Fukuda checks a kick. Inside leg kick from Ring. Fukuda checks one. Nice left from Fukuda as he counters a kick. Fukuda checks a kick and misses with a body punch. Fukuda misses a combo, shoots, stuffed. Checks a kick. Head kick from Ring, Fukuda gets a nice takedown and puts Ring on his back. Ring pushes Fukuda off, gets to his feet, lands a knee from the clinch. Fukuda checks a kick. Again. Left hand from Ring counters an uppercut. Left hand from Ring. Fukuda’s shot is stuffed. The clinch, knee from Fukuda to the body, he checks a kick, lands a left counter. Leg kick from Fukuda but eats a left hand. Right hook from Fukuda. Leg kick from Ring. They both throw punches, head kick from Ring. Close round, but I give it to Fukuda 10-9.

Round 3 – Leg kick from Fukuda. Then lands a left. Leg kick from Ring. Uppercut from Fukuda, shoots and gets a nice takedown. Fukuda on top in half guard. Ring gets full guard and Fukuda lands a few punches but Ring is able to get to his feet. Left hand from Fukuda. He checks a kick. Lands several uppercuts from a half collar tie. Leg kick from Ring and Fukuda gets another nice takedown. Ring gets up but Fukuda drags him down with a front headlock and puts Ring on his back. Less than two minutes to go. Crowd boos a little probably at what they perceive as a rather slow pace at this point. Fukuda still on top with less than a minute. Ring looks for a kimura with half a minute left. Ref stands up the stale mate. They square up. Right hand from Fukuda, leg kick from Ring and that’s it. I give the round 10-9 to Fukuda and the fight 30-27 to Fukuda. Riki Fukuda is the best fighter I’ve seen come out of Japan to fight in the UFC in a long time. And he just got robbed.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Nick Ring def. Riki Fukuda by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

205 lbs. Alexander Gustafsson vs. James Te Huna

Round 1 – Clinch and Te Huna throws Gustafsson to the mat and moves to side control quickly. Looking for the crucifix, showing good top control. Te Huna gets half guard, now full guard. This Aussie crowd is loud and chanting like a pro soccer game. Gustafsson stands and Te Huna presses him into the cage. Gustaffson looks for a standing guillotine, lets it go. There’s a continuous chant going on it seems. Gustafsson gets a takedown, gets side control, moves to north-south and Te Huna gets up to the cheers of the crowd. He changes levels and gets a takedown, still holding one leg, Gustafsson quickly takes his back, flattens him out and locks on a choke. Full mount from Gustafsson, lands some shots, Te Huna gives up his back and Gustafsson chokes him out and it’s complete silence. Now they cheer when Te Huna raises Gustafsson’s arm.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Alexander Gustafsson def. James Te Huna by submission (rear-naked choke) Rd. 1 (4:27)

155 lbs. Ross Pearson vs. Spencer Fisher

Round 1 – Fisher coming forward. Left from Pearson and Fisher with an inside leg kick. Leg kick from Pearson, lands a right. Leg kick from Pearson. Left counter from Pearson scores. Body kick from Pearson. Fisher throws his hands up, lands a body shot and Pearson connects with a right. Fisher catches a leg and puts Pearson on his back. Pearson throws up a triangle, then armbar, Fisher drops him on his head and they get up. Knee from the clinch by Pearson. Leg kick checked by Fisher. Left from Fisher. He checks a kick. Head kick from Pearson. Leg kick from Fisher. Pearson shoots, eats a knee. Right hand from Pearson. Fisher stalking lands a leg kick. I score that round for Fisher 10-9.

Round 2 -Right hook from Fisher. Fisher throws his hands up calling Pearson on. Body kick from Pearson and Fisher smiles. Right hand from Pearson. Then a big leg kick. Fisher still stalking, lands a straight left. Leg kick from Pearson and Fisher lands a big left.  Body shot from Pearson skimming punch. Body shot from Pearson and a solid body kick. Straight right by Pearson. One, two jab from Fisher. Inside leg kick from Fisher. And Pearson gives one in return. Nice straight left from Fisher. Pearson ducks a combo, shoots, gets a body lock. Lands a left from the clinch. Fisher throws a big elbow that misses and they square up in the center. Big left to the body then a right from Pearson. Nice left from  Pearson. Knee and a right and left from Pearson rocks Fisher. Another left right from Pearson, then a body shot. Left jab from Pearson before the bell and I think he stole the round 10-9.

Round 3 – Leg kick from Pearson. Misses with a huge overhand right. He shoots. Elbow to the spine from Fisher and he is warned. Pearson gets the takedown but Fisher uses the fence to get right up. They separate and exchange shots. Left from Fisher. He checks a kick. Nice left from Pearson and Fisher connects in return. Pearson shoots and gets stuffed. Fisher with a front headlock. They stand up. Nice left from Fisher, he checks a kick and Pearson lands a one two and a leg kick. Left hook from Fisher. Uppercut from Pearson connects. Body kick and a right from Pearson. Body shot Pearson. Leg kick Pearson. Fisher scores with a hook. Nice hook with a right and left to the body from Pearson, he catches a kick and puts Fisher on his back. Fisher gets up by pushing Pearson off with his feet. Pearson immediately gets another takedown and is on top in half guard. Pearson trying with some ground and pound but Fisher defends well. I give the round to Pearson 10-9 and the fight to Pearson 29-28.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Ross Pearson def. Spencer Fisher by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

185 lbs. Kyle Noke vs. Chris Camozzi

Round 1 – Leg kick from Noke and Camozzi returns the favor with two. Noke misses a head kick. Body shot and body kick from Camozzi, Noke gets a body lock and takedown and gets full mount right away. He postures up, scramble, Noke takes his back, hooks in, and Camozzi taps out quickly. Beautfiful performance from Kyle Noke and the Aussie crowd erupts in applause for one of their own! — Everytime Goldy says, “Outstanding!” I think I’m playing the UFC video game.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Kyle Noke def. Chris Camozzi by submission (rear-naked choke) Rd. 1 (1:35)

NOTES: They just showed a promo for “UFC 128: Shogun vs. Jones” that is the best looking event preview I’ve seen in some time from Zuffa. It will pump you up!

170 lbs. Chris Lytle vs. Brian Ebersole

Round 1 – Ebersole does a cartwheel kick that lands but does no damage. Lylte lands a combo to the body and head. Big right hand from Lylte. Ebersole eats a counter right, he shoots, stuffed. Big body shot from Lytle, another, catches a leg kick and lands a punch. Ebersole goes for a single leg and Lytle locks on a guillotine, they flip over and flip again and Lytley ends up on top in half guard and Ebersole has him in a side headlock. Lytle locks on a guillotine from full guard. He lets it go and gets up. Elbow from Ebersole, pressing Lytle against the cage. Lytle drops down for another guillotine attempt, his third. Tries to switch to a triangle and loses position. Rolls for a kneebar but Ebersole is out and on top. Big shoulder smash from Ebersole and Lytle is cut. They had to yell for a cut man. I score the round for Lytle 10-9.

Round 2 – One, two, body shot from Lytle. Leg kick from Ebersole, Lylte lands a body shot. Big leg kick from Ebersole. Right coutner from Lytle. Spinning back kick from Ebersole. Uppercut from Lytle. Big elbow from Ebersole. Right hook from Lytle. Another one and an uppercut. Nice body kick, very fast from Ebersole, he shoots, stuffed. Leg kick from Ebersole. Lytle with a left. Leg kick from Ebersole. Body kick from Lytle. Lytle with a slew of hooks. Leg kick from Ebersole and a big body shot from Lytle. Ebersole with a takedown, but Lytle gets up and Ebersole drops him with a jumping knee. Ebersole locks on a choke, lets it go. Lytle with his back against the cage, he gets up but Ebersole drags him down. Lylte back up. Ebersole grabs a collar tie, big elbow from Ebersole. Ebersole slams him hard. Shoulder shot from inside full guard, more of them. Big round for Ebersole 10-9. This guy is pretty exciting to watch.

Round 3 – Cartwheel kick hits a Lytle wall and falls flat. Lytle lets him up and lands a flurry. Ebersole shoots, stuffed. Lytle goes for a standing kimura, they drop to the ground and Lylte locks on an arm in guillotine, lets it go. Ebersole has a body lock as they stand. Lytle drops down with another guillotine. He’s on top this time in half guard. Ebersole rolls him and Lytle lets it go finally. Ebersole on top inside full guard. They stand up. Ebersole drops levels, they go down momentarily but are right back up, clinched against the cage. Ebersole loses his mouthpiece. Ref separates them and rinses the gum shield. One minute to go. Knee to the head from Lylte. Ebersole shoots and puts Lytle down, he rolls for a kneebar after they stand. Ebersole on top, big elbow. They stand and Lytle’s face is bloody. Ebersole falls to his back with a big grin after the bell. I score the round for Ebersole 10-9 and the fight for Ebersole 29-28.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Brian Ebersole def. Chris Lytle by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

170 lbs. George Sotiropoulos vs. Dennis Siver

Round 1 – George gets a ton of applause. Chants start. Head kick from Siver blocked. Inside leg kick from Siver. George shoots, and is pushed aside. Nice right hand from George. Siver with a big leg kick. Siver kicks, George catches it, pushes him against the cage. Siver hits him while hopping on one leg and George lets it go. Siver clips him with a shot. George shoots and Siver pushes him aside. Front kick Siver. Big leg kick from Siver. Left jab from George. Siver barely misses the face with a wheel kick. Siver clips him with another punch. They exchange big shots and Siver drops George with a left. George gets up and gets dropped again with a hook. George tries to keep Siver down but Siver gets up and makes him stand. Siver clips him again and George is still standing and swinging. Siver is looking for the KO, lands a big right. Siver barely misses a KO punch and George fires back and misses. Big round for Siver 10-9.

Round 2 – Those punches would have knocked out a lot of men. George got hit big in the first round. He seems relatively okay though. Here they go. Siver lands a shot, falls off balance. George is trying to box with him to set something up. George using more feints and jabs. Siver has a very dangerous hook and just misses with it. Lands a right. Leg kick Siver. Front kick Siver. George shoots and gets tossed aside by the strong Siver. Siver lands a big shot. Head kick from Siver. George grabs a single leg and Siver just pulls his leg right out. Front kick from George. George’s punches look very slow. He could very well still be hurt from round one. Leg kick from Siver. Right hand from both guys. Left hand from George, grabs a single, Siver shakes it off and they exchange shots. Left hand from Siver. Thirty seconds to go. Right hand from George and then he lands a head kick on Siver. Head kick from Siver 10-9. I still give the round to Siver. Rogan gave it to George.

Round 3 – Leg kick to head kick from Siver. Double shot. George goes for a single, can’t get it. Leg kick Siver. George grabs a single and Siver shrugs it off. Head kick from George and lands a jab. Left hook from Siver. Leg kick from Siver. He stuffs another takedown attempt. Big punch combo from Siver to the body. Siver stuffs another takedown attempt. Two minutes to go. Leg kick from Siver. Spinning back kick to the gut from Siver, George grabs the leg but Siver pulls out. Leg kick Siver. Left hook Siver, then a leg kick. Leg kick check by George. Spinning side kick to the gut again by Siver. I give the round 10-9 and fight to Siver 30-27.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Dennis Siver def. George Sotiropoulos by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-28, 30-27)

185 lbs. Michael Bisping vs. Jorge Rivera

Round 1 – They are already talking to each other right when they get in the cage. This is going to be crazy. Jorge swings first, misses. Jorge swings, Bisping swings and misses. Bisping gets a takedown. Jorge is back up. Bisping shoots, gets stuffed. Leg kick from Bisping. Bisping gets a takedown fairly easy. Jorge gets to his knees to get up and Bisping gives him a big illegal knee while both his knees were on the ground. Jorge is hurt badly. They ask him if he can continue and Jorge says yes. They take one point from Bisping. Head kick from Jorge. (I’m having some power outage issues here guys– I apologize for the lack of detail on this one. Not sure how the round ended.)

Round 2 – Leg kick Bisping. Big left hook and a right from Bisping. Jorge shrugs off a takedown attempt and Bisping lands a big right, more punches, over and over, a knee, a body shot. Jorge is just covering up. He’s very hurt and is taking big shots. The ref stops it and it’s all over. Bisping wins via TKO.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Michael Bisping def. Jorge Rivera by TKO (punches) Rd 2 (1:54)

NOTES: Obviously the big question is how much the illegal knee hurt Jorge in the first round. Obviously, he’s going to say he wants to keep fighting, but he no doubt was hurt.

170 lbs. B.J. Penn vs. Jon Fitch

Round 1 – BJ comes out quick and goes for a takedown, grabs a single but cant get it. Clinched. Swapping knees. Weird gameplan no doubt. Penn leaning on him against the cage. Fitch turns Penn around and drops levels looking for his own takedown. He has Penn’s leg and Penn punches him in the face. Fitch backs up lands some shots, then drops down for a shot again. Penn puts some elbows in the side of Fitch’s head. Penn lands some shots and gets the takedown. Penn takes Fitch’s back with both hooks in. Locks on the body triangle. Fitch turtles up and only one hook in, now both in. Penn still has his back with both hooks as the roll to Penn’s back. Fitch turns in Penn’s guard and is now on top. One minute to go. Penn pushes him off, gets up, eats a small shot. Fitch shoots back in, stuffed. Leaning on Penn, drops levels again. Grabs a single, can’t get Penn down. Penn with a short shot before the bell. Got to give Penn the round pretty easily 10-9.

Round 2 – Penn comes out, Fitch lands a high kick. Penn goes to throw a knee and Fitch gets the takedown. Penn trying to get up. Fitch drives knees into Penn’s shin, but Penn gets up, Fitch still hanging on to a leg. They exchange knees then rabbit punches. Elbow from Fitch, drops levels and Penn puts some elbows to the side of his head. Elbow from the clinch from Penn. Knee to the thigh from Fitch, throws punches and Fitch is cut from that elbow. Ref Herb Dean calls for work. Fitch is bleeding out of his nose. They separate. Penn shoots, gets a double leg on Fitch. Unbelievable. Takes Fitch’s back again. They roll back to the ground and Fitch spins and ends up on top inside full guard. Fitch’s corner calling for big damage. He starts on with the elbows and punches. Lands a few good shots on BJ from top position. BJ with butterfly guard , now Fitch in half guard. Penn gets up just before the bell. Gotta give Fitch the round 10-9.

Round 3 – Fitch’s corner tells him he needs to finish it. Big right hand from Fitch, he shoots and gets the takedown. Inside full guard, closed. Fitch pushes Penn against the cage on his back and starts landing elbows. Penn pushes him off and gets up. Fitch lands a punch, gets a takedown. Penn gets up and Fitch grabs a body lock from behind. Knees to the thighs and he puts BJ down again. Fitch landing some punches to the body over and over, elbows, wearing Penn down. Three minutes left to go and Fitch is dominating here. Penn is getting smashed and he’s got him in the grinder just like he said he was going to do. Penn throws up his legs but Fitch shakes them off and goes back to work over and over relentless pounding. Thirty seconds left. Big round for Fitch 10-9. A few boos from the crowd.  Penn looks very dejected after the fight.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Jon Fitch fights B.J. Penn to a majority draw (29-28, 28-28, 28-28)

NOTES: Fitch said after the fight that if his 13 wins aren’t enough to warrant a title shot he will fight BJ in a rematch if that’s what they want. Penn said he didn’t know what he would do with his career if he lost but since the “gods were nice to him” he would fight Fitch in a rematch if he wanted to go again. He also said he felt like he had lost.

My knockout of the night goes to Mark Hunt. I think he was the story of the night actually. There were quite a few experts not giving Hunt a chance in Hell in this fight and had him all packed up and ready to leave the UFC. But he KO’d Chris Tuchscherer and walked away very casually even before the ref stepped in. Beautiful uppercut KO. Congrats to Mr. Hunt.