UFC Stockholm Live Event Report

Preliminary Card (ESPN)

Joel Alvarez def. Danilo Belluardo via TKO (Punches and Elbows) Round 2, 2:22

Devin Clark def. Darko Stosic via Unanimous Decision

Bea Malecki def. Duda Santana via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) Round 2, 1:59

Frank Camacho def. Nick Hein via TKO (Punches) Round 2, 2:56

Stevie Ray vs. Leonardo Santos (Lightweight)

Favorite: Santos -160

Round 1: We’re seeing some back and forth action to get things going. This is the first fight for Santos since mid-2016, he’s undefeated in the UFC but injuries have been an issue for the Brazilian. Santos connects with a pot shot right hand and Ray is down and out! Wow, that came out of nowhere!

Result: Leonardo Santos def. Stevie Ray via KO (Punch) Round 1, 2:17

Tonya Evinger vs. Lina Lansberg (Bantamweight)

Round 1: Evinger is pressuring early, she forces Lansberg against the fence, much to the chagrin of the crowd. Evinger is keeping things against the fence, she has an under hook and she’s controlling the position well. Lansberg reverses the position after landing a hard elbow, and winds up in the mount position! She is landing some serious shots from the top position here! (10-9 Lansberg)

Round 2: Evinger forces the fight against the fence to get things started. She’s controlling and looking for a takedown. Lansberg scores with a trip and Evinger is down, and Lansberg is opening up with some ground and pound. Evinger is taking lots of elbows and punches to the face here. (10-9 Landsberg) Lansberg is just the better fighter here tonight.

Round 3: Lansberg forces the fight against the fence in the early going. Lansberg has a body lock and she’s landing elbows and punches from that position. Evinger separates and attempts a hip toss, but Lansberg counters and ends up in top control. Lansberg is landing some vicious ground and pound, lots of punches, a stoppage here would not be unwarranted. (10-9 Lansberg) (30-27 Lansberg)

Result: Lina Lansberg def. Tonya Evinger via Unanimous Decision

Analysis: Absolute one-sided beatdown.

Main Card (ESPN+)

Sung Bin Jo vs. Daniel Teymur (Featherweight)

Favorite: Jo -150

Round 1: Teymur connects early with a right hand! Jo is stunned! Teymur scores with a knee to the jaw! He secures a clinch but Jo scrambles off the cage and connects with a shot of his own! Teymur takes the fight to the ground, and he’s now controlling from top position. Jo is looking to set something up from his back but Teymur is aware. (10-9 Teymur)

Round 2: Jo scores with a kick to the body. Teymur returns fire with a series of low kicks. Teymur is pressuring, he’s keeping Jo against the fence with forwarding movement. Jo isn’t doing much of anything and Teymur is starting to show frustration. Very odd round, Jo isn’t throwing any offense and Teymur is just chasing him down and trying to land. (10-9 Teymur)

Round 3: Lots of movement in the early part of the round, but Jo still isn’t doing much engaging. Teymur is continuing to target the lead leg, and whatever else Jo leaves available for him. Teymur scores with a takedown! Jo is working off his back but Teymur is staying on him. Jo scrambles and eats an overhand in the final moments of the round. (10-9 Teymur) (30-27 Teymur)

Result: Daniel Teymur def. Sung Bin Jo via Unanimous Decision

Analysis: Not a great fight but good performance overall for Teymur.

Damir Hadzovic vs. Christos Giagos (Lightweight)

Round 1: Giagos opens up with a big kick to the mid-section. After a few exchanges, we see Giagos shoot and complete his first takedown of the night. Giagos is looking for a Darce choke, but Hadzovic sweeps him and scrambles to his feet. Giagos takes him right back down though and he is now working from his opponent’s guard. They scramble again, and Hadzovic lands a few clean shots in the final moments of the round. (10-9 Giagos)

Round 2: Hadzovic lands a knee to get things started, but Giagos doesn’t waste much time in taking his opponent down. Giagos takes the back, but Hadzovic is protecting himself and working back to his feet. Hadzovic is connecting with some hard shots but Giagos is just eating them and moving forward. Hadzovic scores with a takedown but can’t keep Giagos down. Both guys seem to be tiring, lots of output here, and Hadzovic is connecting with the occasional big hit. (10-9 Giagos)

Round 3: Giagos lands an uppercut to the body to break the ice. He changes levels for a takedown and completes it, planting Hadzovic on his back in the process. Hadzovic creates a bit of space and climbs back to his feet. He’s moving forward but Giagos is tagging him with accurate shots. Giagos scores with a takedown with just under three minutes left in the round. Hadzovic sweeps, but Giagos recovers guard for a bit of control. (10-9 Hadzovic) (29-28 Giagos)

Result: Christos Giagos def. Damir Hadzovic via Unanimous Decision

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UFC STOCKHOLM PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS 6/01: Grocke’s updated odds & predictions for every fight

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Chris Fishgold vs. Makwan Amirkhani (Featherweight)

Favorite: Amirkhani -120

Round 1:  Amirkhani opens up with a flying knee to get things started! Fishgold appeared to expect it though. We see a break in the action as Fishgold catches a finger to the eye… Back to the action and Fishgold trips Amirkhani up with an inside leg kick. Amirkhani changes levels and takes Fishgold down to the mat. Fishgold is tying Amirkhani up in all sorts of sub attempts, but Amirkhani is scrambling! Good stuff here. Amirkhani attempts a guillotine in the final moments of the round but the bell sounds. (10-9 Amirkhani)

Round 2: Fishgold lands a big right hand in the early part of the round. Lots of back and forth exchanges. I’m surprised we haven’t seen Amirkhani attempt another takedown. He connects with a low kick to the groin and Fishgold is down… we see another break in the action. Amirkhani shoots, but Fishgold catches him in a guillotine! Amirkhani is defending and escapes into side control. Amirkhani has a Darce, and it’s deep! Fishgold is attempting to escape but can’t and he’s forced to tap!

Result: Makwan Amirkhani def. Chris Fishgold via Submission (Darce Choke) Round 2, 2:25

Aleksandar Rakic vs. Jimi Manuwa (Light-heavyweight)

Favorite: Rakic -230

Round 1: Rakic connects with a jab and then a HIGHLIGHT reel KO Headkick! Manuwa just never got a chance to do a thing! Wow! 47 seconds!

Result: Aleksandar Rakic def. Jimi Manuwa via KO (Headkick) Round 1, 0:47

Analysis: Wow… I don’t mean to sound dramatic but that was a breath-taking KO. Rakic set it up with the jab, and as Manuwa shifted away from the punch he went right into the kick.

 

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MCGRATH: The last chance for Alexander Gustafsson

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Alexander Gustafsson vs. Anthony Smith (Light-heavyweight)

Favorite: Gustafsson -230

Round 1:  Smith scores with an overhand right to break the ice. Smith is forcing Gus to move a lot, and he can’t get his back away from the cage. Gus is throwing lots of kicks, mostly teep and low kicks. Gus connects with a right hand, and then another! Smith returns a left as the round ends. (10-9 Smith) Slow round until the end. Gus took his time doing anything while Smith was a bit more active and aggressive. Round 2 should be good.

Round 2: Smith is working to cut off the cage. Gus seems content to land jabs and straights from a distance while avoiding the big shots from Smith. Smith connects with a big left hook! Gus is moving forward a lot more in the round, it’s a positional battle on the feet so far. We’re seeing lots of defense from Gus, as well as movement and volume. Smith resorted to lots of pot shots in the second round, but he connected with several. (10-9 Gus)

Round 3: We see a big exchange to start the round! Smith connects with a swinging left hook, but Gus walks through it! Smith gives him a smile and keeps moving forward. Gus lands a jab to the body; he really has great speed and movement for a fighter his size. We’re seeing lots of double jabs from Gus, lots of straight shots. Gus scores with a clean jab, Smith grabs a hook though and scores with an elbow as they separate. Gus connects with a hard kick to the midsection and Smith is hurt! Gus grabs a body lock and trips Smith to the mat! He lands a few shots before the bell rings. (10-9 Gus)

Round 4: They clinch early and Smith trips Gus down to the mat! It was a poorly timed throw by Gus that led to the trip! Smith takes the back and sets two hooks. Gus is doing a good job of working out of the position, but Smith flattens him out to take away all the progress! He sinks in a rear naked choke and Gus taps! Wow, the crowd is silenced!

Result: Anthony Smith def. Alexander Gustafsson via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) Round 4, 2:38