UFC FIGHT NIGHT 115 LIVE REPORT
SEPTEMBER 2, 2017
ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS AT AHOY ROTTERDAM
ON UFC FIGHT PASS
Keep it locked here all afternoon for live updates of today’s UFC: Rotterdam event. My name is Michael Grocke and I’ll have quick results and analysis of the preliminary card followed by live round by round coverage of today’s main card.
Be sure to check out the MMA Talk for Pro Wrestling Fans podcast where I host every Monday at 6PM CT at pwtorchlivecast.com. You can also read my columns right here at MMATorch and for you sports bettors check out my website thefightingchampion.com. Follow me on Twitter @FightChampBlog.
Stefan Struve takes on Alexander Volkan in a battle of heavyweights in today’s main event. The co-main event takes place in the middleweight division where Siyar Bahadurzada goes up against Rob Wilkinson. The main card rounds out with Marion Reneau taking on late replacement, Talita Bernardo and Leon Edwards vs. Bryan Barberena.
Early Prelims
(1) Thibault Gouti (11-3) vs. Andrew Holbrook (12-1) – Lightweight 155 lbs.
Result: Thibault Gouti over Andrew Holbrook by TKO (4:28 of Round 1)
(2) Bojan Mihajlovic (10-5) vs. Abdul-Kerim Edilov (16-4) – Light Heavyweight 205 lbs.
Result: Abdul-Kerim Edilov over Bojan Mihajlovic by TKO (2:32 of Round 2)
(3) Mike Santiago (21-9) vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov (12-1) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
Result: Zabit Magomedsharipov over Mike Santiago by Submission – Rear Naked Choke (4:22 of Round 2)
Grocke’s Viewpoint: Wow, what a debut for Magomedsharipov. He completely dominated that fight from the opening horn. That was a tough first fight for Santiago coming out of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. The UFC certainly didn’t do him any favors. Magomedsharipov is definitley someone to keep an eye on in the featherweight division.
(4) Francimar Barroso (19-5, 1 NC) vs. Aleksandar Rakic (8-1) – Light Heavyweight 205 lbs.
Result: Aleksandar Rakic over Francimar Barroso by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Grocke’s Viewpoint: Rakic dominated that fight on the feet. Barroso had some success briefly in the second round when he took Rakic to the mat. Unfortunately for Barroso he couldn’t keep Rakic down and control him. Once Rakic got back to his feet he dominated on the feet again. Great performance from Rakic.
(5) Rustam Khabilov (21-3) vs. Desmond Green (20-5) – Lightweight 155 lbs.
Result: Rustam Khabilov over Desmond Green by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Grocke’s Viewpoint: That was a good fight. The constant pressure by Khabilov was a little too much for Green here. Green had the most success when he went to the ground, but he didn’t do it often enough. Khabilov was the aggressor and won the exchanges on the feet earning him the decision.
(6) Michel Prazeres (22-2) vs. Mads Burnell (8-1) – Lightweight 155 lbs.
Result: Michel Prazeres over Mads Burnell by Submission – North-South Choke (1:26 of Round 3)
Grocke’s Viewpoint: Burnell had no answer for Prazeres’s take downs. Whenever the fight was on the feet Burnell had success, but when the fight went to the ground it was all Prazeres. It was a smart game plan and executed to perfection by Prazeres.
(7) Mairbek Taisumov (25-5) vs. Felipe Silva (8-0) – Lightweight 155 lbs.
Result: Mairbek Taisumov over Felipe Silva by Knockout (1:24 of Round 1)
Grocke’s Viewpoint: Sweet Jesus, what a knockout! A short right hand from Taisumov on the temple of Silva and it was lights out. Kudos to Taisumov for just walking away and not hitting Silva with more shots. This might land Taisumov in the Top 10 after that performance.
(8) Darren Till (14-0-1) vs. Bojan Velickovic (15-4-1) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
Result: Darren Till over Bojan Velickovic by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Grocke’s Viewpoint: Till pretty much dominated the entire fight. He was able to land his full aresenal. Velickovic had some success with leg kicks, but that was about it. Respect to Velickovic for surviving the big elbow that cut him in the first round. Till says he’s the best fighter in the world. He’s not short on confidence.
Main Card
(9) Leon Edwards (13-3 vs. Bryan Barberena (13-4) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
ROUND ONE: A feeling out process for the first minute with each fighter landing a leg kick. Edwards just misses with a high head kick and Barberena comes back with a solid low kick. Edwards returns the favor with a low kick of his own with just over three minutes to go. Edwards appears to be the quicker fighter as he shoots in and lands a take down. He takes the back with a little over two minutes to go in the round. Barberena tries working back to his feet but Edwards holds him down. Edwards looks for the RNC with 1:11 left. Edwards has both hooks in. Barberena gets back to his feet just as the horn sounds after fighting off the RNC for the last minute of the round.
10-9 Edwards
ROUND TWO: Barberena comes out and throws a head kick that misses and a leg kick that lands. Edwards ties Barberena up and runs him to the fence. They reverse position against the cage a minute in. They trade knees in the clinch. Edwards pushes Barberena off of him and they are back to center at the 3:30 mark. Edwards catches a kick and takes Barberena down. With three minutes to go Edwards looks to take the back again. Barberena gets back to his feet and tries fighting Edward’s hands. Barberena turns into Edwards and lands elbows to the head of Edwards in the clinch. They separate with 1:20 left. Barberena catches Edwards with a big shot that drops Edwrds with 55 seconds to go. He pounces and starts landing hammer fists in an attempt to end the fight. Edwards survives the onslaught as he covers up from bottom.
10-9 Barberena
ROUND THREE: They touch gloves to start the final round. Barberena eats a left hand that doesn’t seem to faze him. Edwards start to work the lead leg of Barberena. BArberena keeps coming forward and lands a right hand flush. Edwards changes levels and takes Barberena to the mat with 3:30 left in the round. Edwards lands short right hands from top position. Barberena tries working to his feet but Edwards takes his back. Edwards looks for the RNC with 2:15 to go. Barberena is caught in a body lock while trying to fight off the RNC. Edwards releases the choke as Barberena gets back to his feet with a minute to go. Barberena lands some elbows in the clinch. The fight ends with a scramble and neither fighter gaining control.
10-9 Edwards
Result: Leon Edwards over Bryan Barberena by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Grocke’s Viewpoint: That was a good fight. Both guys worked hard and I had the fight scored the exact same way. Edwards landed key take downs and was able to control Barberena for big parts of the first and third rounds. Barberena had success when the fight was on the feet but he had no answers for Edward’s take downs. Ultimately it cost him the fight.
(10) Marion Reneau (7-3-1) vs. Talita Bernardo (5-1) – Bantamweight 135 lbs.
ROUND ONE: Reneau comes out and takes center cage. Bernardo goes for a single leg and gets a take down forty-five seconds into the fight. Reneau works her way to the fence. Bernardo has top position but isn’t landing anything. Reneau sweeps and and looks to escape but Bernardo grabs a heel hook. Reneau fights out of it and in the scramble Reneau gets an arm and looks for an arm bar. Nice job by Bernardo to get out and now has top position. They scramble and Bernardo takes Reneau’s back. Reneau quickly turns into Bernardo. With under a minute left Bernardo works from top position. The round ends with Bernardo in top position but not doing much with the dominate position. She did control Reneau for most of the round which probably won her the round.
10-9 Bernardo
ROUND TWO: They touch gloves to start the second round. Reneau comes out and looks to want to pick up the pace here. She’s doing an excellent job cutting the cage off and lands a beautiful over hand right. Bernardo goes for a take down but can’t finish it. Both fighters stand at center cage with 3:20 to go. Reneau lands a nice over hand right. With two minutes to go Bernardo tries to goad Reneau to go to the mat but Reneau isn’t having it. Bernardo lands a take down, but Reneau is up quickly with 2:20 left. Reneau is starting to have success on the feet as Bernardo looks to be tiring. Reneau lands some heavy shots with Bernardo’s back to the fence. Bernardo eats a big combination and shoots in but the round ends.
10-9 Reneau
ROUND THREE: Barnardo goes for a double leg but can’t finish. She tries again and gets the take down forty seconds in. Reneau has a triangle but Bernardo steps over. Reneau keeps the triangle on and looks for an arm. With three minutes to go Bernardo slips out and drops her weight back onto Reneau and works from top position. Reneau tries for a guillotine. Reneau transitions and takes Bernardo’s back. She sinks in a RNC with 1:40 left in the round. This looks more like a neck crank. Bernardo fights out but Reneau takes the back and is landing heavy ground and pound with under a minute left. Reneau in full mount and is blasting away on Bernardo. That’s it, the fight is stopped.
Result: Marion Reneau over Talita Bernardo by TKO (4:54 of Round 3)
Grocke’s Viewpoint: That was a tougher fight than I expected for Reneau. Kudos to Talita Bernard for taking the fight on extremely short notice and representing herself very well in the fight. She has excellent grappling skills, but lacks in the stand-up. At forty years old Marion Reneau continue to look good. Her cardio is second to none.
(11) Siyar Bahadurzada (22-6-1) vs. Rob Wilkinson (11-0) – Middleweight 185 lbs.
ROUND ONE: Touch of glove to start. Front kick for Wilkinson. Bahadurzada catches a kick and goes for a take down, but Wilkinson scrambles back to his feet quickly. The fight takes place on the feet with 3:30 to go. Wilkinson looks to maintain distance with his longer reach. Not much action until Wilkinson lands a take down with 2:33 to go. Bahadurzada is quickly back to his feet. Wilkinson lands knees and forearms in the clinch with just under two minutes to go. Bahadurzada lands a big shot on the break. Back to center. Bahadurzada lands a big shot that drops Wilkinson and Bahadurzada goes for a choke on the ground. Wilkinson slips out and gets back to his feet. He seems to have recovered. Wilkinson lands a take down with under thirty seconds to go, but again Bahadurzada is back up. Wilkinson lands a big knee in the clinch as the round ends.
10-9 Bahadurzada
ROUND TWO: Wilkinson comes out trying to establish distance with kicks and jabs. It looks like Bahadurzada is just trying to get the timing down while looking to land the right hand. Big over hand right lands flush for Bahadurzada after Wilkinson misses with a jab. A straight left for Bahadurzada. Big overhand right drops Wilkinson and he’s hurt. Bahadurzada pounces, but Wilkinson scrambles back to his feet. Wilkinson seems to be out on his feet and Bahadurzada drops him again with a left hook. Bahadurzada lands big shots from on top as Wilkinson turtles and that’s it.
Result: Siyar Bahadurzada over Rob Wilkinson by TKO (3:10 of Round 2)
Grocke’s Viewpoint: During the whole fight it just looked like a matter of time before Bahadurzada figured out Wilinson’s timing and landed the knockout punch. Wilkinson did a solid job of getting Bahadurzada to the ground but he just couldn’t keep him there. The only way Wilkinson was going to win was to outpoint Bahadurzada by getting take downs and controlling him there. Bahadurzada was able to get back up with relative ease and at that point it was just a matter of time as long as the fight remained on the feet.
(12) Alexander Volkov (28-6) vs. Stefan Struve (32-8) – Heavyweight 265 lbs.
ROUND ONE: Sweet Jesus, these men are tall! Struve comes out and opens with front kicks. Volkov pushes forward with a couple of feeling out punches. Struve chops away with an side low kick a minute in. Struve is moving well around the cage with Volkov walking him down. Vlokov catches a kick and Struve goes to the mat but Volkove doesn’t follow him there. Struve lands a few big shots as both fighters look content to stand and trade. With two minutes to go the fight continues to be fought on the feet. Volkov goes to the body with a punch. Struve is doing an excellent job of mixing his punches in with kicks. A big uppercut lands for Struve. Vlokov goes back to the body with just under a minute to go. Struve with a head kick just misses but lands a big knee. Volkov doesn’t look fazed and he lands a take down with fifteen seconds to go. Some big ground and pound from Volkov as the round ends.
10-9 Struve
ROUND TWO: Volkov has a nasty cut under his left eye from the knee in the first round. Struve bouncing on his toes while Volkov stands flat footed. A minute in Struve is the one moving forward. Struve pokes Volkov in the eye and the fight is stopped. Struve knew it and immediately stuck his hand out in acknowledgment. As the fight resumes they touch gloves. Hardy calls for a redesign of the gloves, which I agree with. Struve is beating Volkov to the punch on most of the exchanges. With 2:30 to go they stand center cage and trade punches. Volkov lansds a big right and starts pressuring Struve. Struve gets more distance and pokes Volkov in the eye again. That one looked worse than the first one. A final warning for Struve. They stand center cage and trade punches with 1:28 as the fight is resumed. Volkov lands a nice combination with under a minute to go. He lands a big right hand that hurts Struve. Volkov mixes it up with kicks and punches landing both as the round ends.
10-9 Volkov
ROUND THREE: Struve comes out working his jab. Big left from Volkovand now we have a double eye poke. The ref brings both fighters in and implores them to keep it clean. Time is back in and they stand at center cage with four minutes to go. Volkov looks to be having more success with the right hand now. Neither fighter is looking to take the other down. Big low kick from Volkov buckles Struve and Volkov follows with a right hand. Volkov with two low kicks and a right hand. Struve is looking tired as Volkov walks him down. A huge uppercut from Volkov drops Struve and he pounces. He lands a few more big punches and the fight is over.
Result: Alexander Volkov over Stefan Struve by TKO (3:30 of Round 3)
Grocke’s Viewpoint: That was a heavyweight fight. Both guys landed big punches throughout. Struve definitely looked like he was gassed out coming into the third round. Volkov took some big shots but just kept moving forward until he finally caught Struve with the knockout blow.
Struve says Volkov was the better man today and landed the bigger shots. Struve says he needs to take a break for a little bit. He seems to be pretty broken up over losing the fight. I thought there were a few late stoppages, but the main event was stopped at the right time. Volkov’s next fight will be against a top 5 contender. For Struve, he seemed like a fighter at the crosss roads so it will be interesting to see what his next move is.
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