Early Prelims
Cory Sandhagen def. Austin Arnett TKO (punches) at 3:48 of Round 2
Niko Price def. George Sullivan Submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:21 of Round 2
Prelims
Vinc Pichel vs. Joaquim Silva (Lightweight/155)
Round 1: Long feeling out process. Pichel charges in with a 1,2-low kick. Silva lands a nice right hand with about 1:30 remaining in the round. Nice body kick by Silva. He’s making Pichel work for everything here. As the round ended Silva appeared to slip, and Pichel shot for a double leg but couldn’t get it. DRAW
Round 2: Nice low kick by Pichel. He’s looking for a takedown against the fence but can’t get it and they separate. Lots of kicks being thrown by both men. Silva seems a bit hesitant to attack. Silva tries a wild spinning back kick but falls off balance. Pichel takes advantage and rushes forward looking for a takedown, but Silva shakes him. Nice uppercut, followed up with a low kick by Pichel as the round ends. 10-9 Pichel
Round 3: Silva comes out with a couple of nice low kicks. Pichel has used the jab well tonight and is continuing to do so. Silva throws a head kick but can’t manage it and slips. Nice left hook by Silva. They’re trading big shots now. Silva lands a nice right hook and follows it up with a body kick. Pichel returns a kick of his own. Silva is really starting to land these hooks, and Pichel looks for a body lock to avoid them. Good final round there. 10-9 Silva (I think this should be a draw, but it will probably be 29-28 Silva)
Result: Vinc Pichel def. Joaquim Silva via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Analysis: Well I was wrong. I guess Pichel won the 1st and 2nd on the scorecards. It seemed like Silva did enough, but it was still a solid win for Pichel. He called out Al Iaquinta in his post-fight speech. I doubt it happens but at least he called somebody out.
Justine Kish vs. Ji Yeon Kim (Women’s Flyweight/125)
Round 1: Good back and forth round. Not much notable occurred. 10-9 Kish
Round 2: Kim lands a nice right hand to start the round. Kish is a former kickboxer, I am not sure of Kim’s background but she’s managing well on the feet. Nice low kick by Kish. She follows it up with a nice right hand. She’s continuously landing right low kicks, and hooks. Kim isn’t throwing much. Nice body shot, left hook combo by Kish with 30 seconds left. 10-9 Kish
Round 3: Kish comes out with a series of spinning back fist…always interesting to see that. Kim got poked in the eye and they take a short break. Both women are firing wild shots off, some are landing, and some aren’t. Kish is busted open. Kim is far more aggressive in this round than in the previous two. Kish is still in it though. Nice body kick by Kish. Kish is really taking a lot of shots here and should consider a takedown or a clinch. Just as I say that she throws a spinning back fist that just misses. Good fight. 10-9 Kim (29-28 Kish)
Result: Ji Yeon Kim def. Justine Kish via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Analysis: I don’t agree with the judge that scored it 30-27 Kim, but aside from that it’s a fine decision. Kim did almost nothing in the second round, no way she won it. Kish took a beating in the 3rdthough, and the 1st was very close.
Randa Markos vs. Juliana Lima (Women’s Strawweight/115)
Round 1: Markos lands a nice elbow as she closes the distance and grabs a clinch. Markos is controlling Lima against the fence. Lima finds herself stuck here a lot. She reverses the position, but just long enough for me to type that and then she back against the fence. Lots of positional changes here against the fence. Markos might be looking for a hip toss here. Lima gets a trip and winds up in Markos’ guard, but Markos gets a quick sweep as the round ends. Close round. 10-9 Markos
Round 2: Markos closes the distance with a flurry, but Lima gets another trip and winds up on top. She’s looking for the mount, but Markos has her trapped in a half guard. They wind up back in the guard, and the ref quickly stands them up. Markos gets a body lock and drags Lima down to the mat. She’s on top in the mount position, and landing shots on Lima. Lima escapes into a half guard position, and establishes and under hook, but she’s taking shots. The round ends with Markos landing short shots from Lima’s guard. 10-9 Markos
Round 3: Markos throws Lima early, and is raining down shots from the mount. I couldn’t see what the throw was. She was landing some nice shots there for a second, but Lima managed to recover half guard. Markos has grinded Lima down with near constant pressure tonight. Lima is struggling underneath, she’s breathing heavy and isn’t really attempting to get up. Markos moves to side control, but Lima bent her body in some crazy unnatural way and managed to escape into the standing clinch and they are back against the cage. Nice escape by Lima, but she was already tired and that didn’t help things. 10-9 Markos (30-27 Markos)
Result: Randa Markos def. Juliana Lima via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Analysis: Grinding performance from start to finish by Markos. She negated Lima’s length and striking ability by constantly taking her down. This is her fourth win in the UFC and it’s the best performance that I’ve seen from her. In her post fight interview, she requested a top 5 opponent and I could see her getting one. She also mentioned that she suffered some significant injuries four weeks ago but still pushed through. Good performance by her tonight.
Katlyn Chookagian vs. Mara Romero Borella (Women’s Flyweight/125)
Round 1: Borella lands a nice low kick to get things started. This is her second fight in the UFC, and her first with a full camp. Chookagian is active early but isn’t landing much. Still though its keeping Borella off her. Borella is having some success with the low kick but isn’t following them up with anything. She lands a head kick as the round ends. 10-9 Chookagian
Round 2: Chookagian comes out with the same aggression that she had in the first. She lands a nice front kick, the first notable strike of the round. She’s throwing in high volume but it’s hard to tell what’s landing. Borella pushes the fight against the fence and is looking for a takedown but Chookagian shakes her but eats a knee in the process. Borella really needs to get going here. Jon Anik just said that Chookagian has landed 23 of over 120 strikes thrown. 10-9 Chookagian
Round 3: More of the same. Chookagian is landing from a distance, and Borella is just stalking, but not throwing much. Borella gets a body lock and moves the fight against the fence. Borella gets the takedown, and she’s in Chookagian’s guard. Chookagian looks for a triangle, and Borella bails out. 10-9 Borella (29-28 Chookagian)
Result: Katlyn Chookagian def. Mara Romero Borella via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Analysis: Hard fight to call. Chookagian was more active but was missing most of her shots, while Borella was a bit more efficient. Borella’s lack of activity at certain points probably cost her the fight.
Mirsad Bektic vs. Godofredo Pepey (Featherweight/145)
Round 1: Bektic backs Pepey against the fence early, but Pepey fires back with a stiff uppercut that sends Bektic back. Bektic lands a huge right hand to the body and that’s going to be it. Pepey covers up and the ref steps in. Nice return to form by Bektic on the heels of his first career loss.
Result: Mirsad Bektic def. Godofredo Pepey via TKO (Punch to body) at 2:47 of Round 1
Analysis: Mirsad Bektic has looked great throughout most of his UFC career, and tonight was no different. Pepey was game early but offered nothing once Bektic cracked him. After the fight he suggested that he fight the winner of the Andre Fili/Dennis Bermudez fight which would make sense.
Bobby Green vs. Erik Koch (Lightweight/155)
Round 1: Eric Koch does not look like Eric Koch. Anyway, he comes out early and land a nice jab. He’s getting through and tagging Green. Nice 1,2 by Green, and he’s looking for a takedown. Koch sprawls and they’re back on the feet. Nice right hook by Koch, but Green takes it well. Koch gets the fight down and gets the mount. He lands some nice elbows and Green gives up the back to avoid them. He’s looking for a rear naked choke, but Green is resilient and they’re back on the feet. Koch looks a bit tired. Green lands a nice head kick, and quickly gets a body lock. Green lands a nice right as the round ends. 10-9 Green
Round 2: Koch is looking for a bit shot, but Bobby Green is making him miss. Green has some of the better head movement at 155 when he is focused. Lots of body punches here by Green. Koch is returning his own. Green lands a nice body kick, he’s landed it several times now. Nice 1,2 by Koch. This is a fun fight so far. 10-9 Green
Round 3: Bobby Green is throwing a lot of strikes early. Koch just doesn’t seem to know what to do. He looks for the clinch, but Green reverses it and gets a takedown. Green gets to side control and lands some nice elbows, but Koch manages to sweep him. Koch needs to make something happen here if he wants to win. Green is back on top, on his side in side control. He transitions to the mount and lands several hard shots as the round ends. 10-9 Green (30-27 Green)
Result: Bobby Green def. Erik Koch via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Analysis: Good fight but Green was better on the feet and on the ground. Koch looked good early but seemed to get tired and his attack didn’t really change. It was a consistent 1-2 and takedown attempts. Good performance by Green though.
Main Card
Drew Dober vs. Frank Camacho (Welterweight/170)
Round 1: Camacho catches Dober with a nice right hook early. If I am not mistaken I think this is the first fight at 170 for Dober who has previously competed at 155. Camacho gets a nice trip and is on top of Dober in side control but they’re quickly back on the feet. Camacho avoids a Dober straight right and lands a nice body hook. Dober is landing a leg kick every time Camacho moves in. Nice uppercut by Camacho but he just missed the follow up hook. Lots of hooks and uppercuts by Camacho. Dober lands a nice elbow and looks for a takedown but Camacho trips him and winds up on top again. Dober threw up a straight armbar but couldn’t get it. 10-9 Camacho
Round 2: They clinch early, and Dober goes for a takedown, but gets reversed and Camacho is back on top. They’re quickly back on the feet. Dober lands a left body hook, right straight combo. Camacho is looking very tired, and Dober is turning it up. Camacho’s breathing with his mouth wide open. Dober is starting to work his jab, and Camacho isn’t really getting out of the way. Dober is alternating between the head and body. Camacho is still throwing some fierce shots, but they aren’t landing. Camacho is eating the jab anytime that he moves forward. Dober lands a body kick, but Camacho fires right back with a right hook. Dober lands two right hands as the round ends. 10-9 Dober
Round 3: Camacho looks to have recovered a bit in between rounds. Dober looks for a takedown early, but still can’t manage to get it. Dober again looks for a takedown, but Camacho trips him and Dober is on his back again, with Camacho on top. Dober works his way back up, and they’re back in the center. Dober lands a nice back kick, it’s been there for him all night. Camacho is starting to look winded again, which is good for Dober. I wouldn’t be shocked if Dober’s output alone wins him this fight. Dober again fails on a takedown, and Camacho lands a nice body shot as the round ends. 10-9 Camacho (29-28 Camacho)
Result: Drew Dober def. Frank Camacho via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Analysis: Close fight, with lots of back and forth action and a fight of the night candidate. Dober claims that he will move back to 155 after this performance. I’m not sure that I agree with the decision, but it was what it was.
Jordan Rinaldi vs. Gregor Gillespie (Lightweight/155)
Round 1: Gillespie hurts Rinaldi early with a head kick and has him backing up. Rinaldi throws a kick, but Gillespie catches it and looks for a single but can’t get it. They scramble, and Gillespie gets a takedown. He’s controlling from side-control, but Rinaldi is trying to improve position. Gillespie transitions to the mount, and Rinaldi is just holding on. Rinaldi rolls and gives up his back. Gillespie is landing some big shots, and Rinaldi is just squirming around. Gillespie moves to side control, and then back to mount. More big punches by Gillespie, and Rinaldi is just trying to survive but the ref steps in.
Result: Gregor Gillespie def. Jordan Rinaldi via TKO (Punches) at 4:45 of Round 1
Analysis: Another great performance by Gillespie and he is a fighter to watch.
Dennis Bermudez vs. Andre Fili (Featherweight/145)
Round 1: Bermudez is setting the pace early and gets a body lock. Fili has a long reach advantage, so this will probably be Bermudez’ strategy throughout the fight. Fili lands a couple nice shots as they separate and gets a quick double leg. But Bermudez is right back on his feet. Fili gets another takedown as the round ends and that makes it hard to score. 10-9 Bermudez? Close round.
Round 2: Fili gets a take down early but can’t hold it. Bermudez seems to really be struggling with the size of Fili. He goes for a high crotch, but Fili is too big and manages to avoid it. Bermudez is getting tagged when he tries to close the distance, and he’s getting reversed on most of his takedown attempts. He’s looked best tonight when he’s been able to hold Fili against the fence. Bermudez throws a low kick, Fili catches it, and completes a takedown. Bermudez is throwing elbows from his guard and manages to get up without wasting much time. 10-9 Fili
Round 3: Bermudez lands a nice low kick, but Fili manages to trip him. Fili lands a nice head kick, but his output has slowed a bit. Bermudez has apparently landed 23 leg kicks. Bermudez just hit Fili in the groin, and the ref steps in. The replay shows that it was a knee that caused the temporary stoppage. They restart with 2:30 remaining. The low kicks are starting to take a toll on Fili…they probably have been for a while now. Bermudez lands a jab and right hook against the fence. Rough round for Fili. 10-9 Bermudez (29-28 Bermudez)
Result: Andre Fili def. Dennis Bermudez via Split Decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
Analysis: This has been a weird night of fights. I don’t really disagree with the decision, but it was just a strange fight on top of a night of strange fights.
Jacare Souza vs. Derek Brunson (Middleweight/185)
Round 1: They start off slow, but Brunson can speed up at any time. Brunson rushes in, but Souza back peddles and briefly gets a takedown. Brunson lands a nice combination, but Souza counters with a nice body shot. Souza lands a big head kick!! He’s picking his shots, but he has Brunson hurt here and the ref steps in. Maybe a little early but that was a big head kick.
Result: Jacare Souza def. Derek Brunson via KO (Head kick and punches) at 3:50 of Round 1
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