The Latest: Ecuador’s Marlon Vera stops Hernandez at UFC 239

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Latest on UFC 239 (all times local):

6:20 p.m.

Marlon Vera has earned his fourth consecutive victory at UFC 239, surviving an unexpectedly strong challenge from UFC newcomer Nohelin Hernandez to win by submission in the second round.

Vera improved to 14-5-1, but the Ecuadorian veteran was in trouble a few times. After getting stuck underneath Hernandez repeatedly, Vera finally landed a flying knee to Hernandez’s face and finished on the ground.

Hernandez (9-3) replaced Sean O’Malley on late notice for his UFC debut, but he hung in and even surprised Vera by escaping an armbar attempt and getting into mount late in the first round.

Earlier on the undercard, Brazil’s Cláudia Gadelha earned a one-sided decision over Canada’s Randa Markos. Neither fighter did much in a dull three-round boxing match, but Gadelha won for the fourth time in six fights since losing a strawweight title shot in 2016.

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5:15 p.m.

Chinese prospect Song Yadong knocked out Mexico’s Alejandro Pérez with a single right hand in the first round of their bout at UFC 239.

The 21-year-old Song (14-3) was impressive in his North American pro debut. The bantamweight caught Pérez looking to throw a kick and swiftly landed a right to Pérez’s head, putting him out on his feet.

Song is 4-0 in the UFC, and the promotion is eager to make him a star in its efforts to gain a larger promotional foothold in Asia.

Song trains at the Northern California gym of longtime UFC title contender Urijah Faber.

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4:55 p.m.

The UFC’s biggest show of the summer is underway at T-Mobile Arena.

Jon Jones will defend his light heavyweight title against Brazil’s Thiago Santos in the main event of UFC 239 immediately after Brazilian two-belt champion Amanda Nunes defends her bantamweight title against ex-champion Holly Holm.

Jones and Nunes are widely considered the top two pound-for-pound fighters in mixed martial arts, and both are favored to retain their belts against lively challengers.

The card also includes a lively welterweight showdown between unbeaten Ben Askren and veteran Jorge Masvidal.

Unbeaten prospect Edmen Shahbazyan got the most impressive victory in the early preliminary bouts. The 21-year-old from Glendale, California, obliterated Welsh veteran Jack Marshman in just 72 seconds, finishing with a rear naked choke.

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