Nolan Stops Carneiro in Las Vegas Main Event
The card's six finishes in 12 bouts show why fans should watch the next UFC Apex booking announcements.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Mixed Martial Arts
Local MMA fans at the UFC Apex get a Las Vegas card built around a 155-pound main event, where Tom Nolan stopped Renato Carneiro by TKO. Six of the card's 12 matches ended in finishes.
Why it matters
With the UFC Apex in the city and a card this heavy on finishes, the bout results feed directly into who gets booked next and which fighters are rising in the Las Vegas-based roster. The fight-by-fight matchup talk tells local fans where the division is headed.
The card produced six finishes in 12 bouts, with Nolan's 1:28 third-round stoppage of Carneiro the quickest finish in the main event. Nolan's record stands at 12-1 and Smith's at 14-0, but the source does not show how either compares to the rest of the division.
The players
Tom Nolan
Nolan defeated Renato Carneiro by TKO in the 155-pound main event and is projected to face Manuel Torres next.
Renato Carneiro
Carneiro lost the main event to Tom Nolan by TKO in the third round.
Jacobe Smith
Smith won a unanimous decision over Randy Brown in the welterweight co-feature and is linked to a matchup with Mike Malott.
Manuel Torres
Torres lost to Rafael Fiziev at UFC Baku in June and is the projected next opponent for Nolan.
Dan Miragliotta
Miragliotta made the decision to stand the fighters up in the main event.
The details
Nolan took Carneiro's back and sat in a body triangle before breaking through with punches in the third round of the 155-pound main event at the UFC Apex. In the welterweight co-feature, Jacobe Smith moved the action to the canvas and outwrestled Randy Brown to a unanimous decision. Projections in the source point to Nolan facing Manuel Torres next and Santos facing Edwards next.
Timeline
June: Torres lost to Rafael Fiziev at UFC Baku, setting up his next matchup.
May: Jonathan Micallef edged Themba Gorimbo by split decision at UFC Perth.
November 1, 2026: The UFC Vegas 123 event article was published.
Beyond the Strip
The UFC Apex has become a regular home for the promotion's Las Vegas cards, and this event fits that pattern of finish-heavy local shows. The result sets up the next booking cycle for several fighters who will be on local cards.
If you plan to catch a fight at the UFC Apex, expect the next card to be built around the bouts that were just booked. Check the UFC schedule before you plan a weekend around a specific matchup.
The takeaway
Watch which of the projected matchups, Nolan against Torres or Santos against Edwards, gets officially booked next. Local fans can track announced bouts on the UFC schedule.
Further reading
For more on the local scene, see Mixed Martial Arts.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sherdog.
