UFC 228 comes your way tonight from the American Airlines Center, in Dallas Texas.
The card is headlined by welterweight title fight between champion Tyron Woodley and challenger Darren Till.
Initially the card was to be co-headlined by a women’s flyweight title fight between champion Nicco Montaño and Valentina Shevchenko. However, Montaño was transported to a hospital due to a health concern, just prior to the official weigh-ins.
Jarred Brooks vs. Roberto Sanchez (Flyweight/125)
Round 1: Sanchez lands a few quick shots and drops levels for a take down. They’re in an odd position right now, Sanchez is standing with Brooks holding onto him in a sort of half guard position. Sanchez has worked his way into mount somehow, and he has a guillotine. Very interesting grappling exchange there. Brooks escapes the guillotine and he’s looking for a heel hook. Sanchez is landing hammer fists, but Brooks still has the heel. Sanchez briefly escapes but Brooks now has the other heel. Sanchez escapes the position and he’s now controlling Brooks against the fence. (10-9 Sanchez) He won the majority of the grappling exchanges and scored with a few take-downs. Brooks seemed a bit confused on how to finish the heel hook, but he at least showed that he is a threat on the ground.
Round 2: Brooks missed with a jab and Sanchez drops for a single leg. Sanchez is now controlling things against the fence. Sanchez goes for a take down, but Brooks scrambles out and takes control against the fence. Sanchez chooses to pull guard and we’ll see what he can do from his back. Brooks is pressuring from the top, but strikes are few and far between. Sanchez is starting to move his hips, but he doesn’t have much time left in the round. 10-9 Brooks
Round 3: Jared Brooks connects with a solid uppercut to start the round. Sanchez closes the distance and moves the fight against the fence, but Brooks reverses the position. Brooks has a body lock and uses it to take Sanchez down. Brooks is working from side control and it looks like he is trying to isolate the opposite arm of Roberto Sanchez. Sanchez escapes the position, but Brooks grabs his neck as he does so. Just more control by Brooks, he is just the better wrestler at this point in the fight. Sanchez is starting to get tired and Jared Brooks is turning it up. Nice elbow lands for Brooks just before the round ends. Brooks game plan was clear and he utilized it effectively. 10-9 Brooks
Result: Jarred Brooks def. Roberto Sanchez via Split Decision
(13)Lucie Pudilova vs. (12)Irene Aldana (Bantamweight/135)
Round 1: Long feeling out process to start the round. Aldana connects with a solid left hook and follows it up with an uppercut! Pudilova is moving forward with a constant jab but Aldana is doing a good job of avoiding most of them with her side to side movement. Aldana connects with a solid right hand. Pudilova connects with a high hand of her own. Pudilova is turning it up! She lands a solid left, right and then a head kick! Aldana is covering up against the fence! She attempts a spinning back fist, but it appeared to miss. Daniel Cormier is pointing out that Pudilova doesn’t seem bothered by the power that Aldana has and that does seem to be the case, especially considering that last flurry. 10-9 Pudilova
Round 2: More of the same early. Pudilova connects with a solid right hand and then follows it up with a high kick. Aldana seems to be struggling a bit, she’s being affected by punches before they even land. Pudilova continues to move forward and doesn’t seem bothered by anything Aldana is doing. Aldana lands a leg kick but Pudilova counters with a high kick. The leg kicks are starting to effect Pudilova a bit it seems. Aldana attempts a takedown but she can’t quite get it done before the round ends. 10-9 Pudilova
Round 3: Aldana connects with a front kick early and Pudilova seemed to feel it. Pudilova lands a high kick and they’re just trading. Pudilova is busted open but still moving forward. Lots of kicks being thrown by both fighters. Aldana is now busted open as well. This has turned into a pretty interesting fight. Pudilova moves forward with a right hand but gets countered and eats a hard-left hook for her efforts. Pudilova is attacking and lands a solid jab! Aldana returns a hook just as the round ends! That third round was very sloppy but very exciting! 10-9 Aldana
Result: Irena Aldana def. Lucie Pudilova via Split Decision
Jim Miller vs. Alex White (Lightweight/155)
Round 1: Jim Miller opens the round with a low kick. Miller looks good early. Miller connects with a big left and White is hurt! Another left hand connects, and White is down! Miller is attacking with punches and elbows! White turtles up and Miller takes the back. He’s looking for a rear naked choke and this fight is over! Wow! Great performance by Jim Miller.
Result: Jim Miller def. Alex White via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) Round 1, 1:29
Diego Sanchez vs. Craig White (Welterweight/170)
Round 1: Sanchez charges White early! He’s a mad man! White grabs the neck and Sanchez could be in trouble here. Sanchez slams White to the mat and escapes the guillotine. White recovers guard but Sanchez is attacking with elbows and punches from the top. Up kick lands for White! Lots of action here early. Sanchez is landing some hard shots and White is clearly showing that he doesn’t like them! Sanchez takes side control and he is landing more shots from there. White recovers guard, but Sanchez stacks him and lands another series of hard shots. Absolutely dominant round by Diego Sanchez. 10-9 Sanchez
Round 2: Sanchez starts the round out with another quick takedown. White lands a hard-up kick and Sanchez appeared to be rocked for a moment there. Sanchez is applying intense pressure and White doesn’t seem to know how to handle it. Sanchez is moving back and forth from side control and into a sort of backwards mount position. Sanchez is just putting on a clinic here tonight. Total domination on the ground with his movements. He’s dominating positionally and mixing in plenty of ground and pound. 10-8 Sanchez
Round 3: White comes out early with some big shots! He connects with something, but it wasn’t clear what it was. Sanchez is down but he grabs a leg and pulls White down with him. Sanchez is back in top position. Sanchez is controlling the legs of Craig White and he’s landing shot after shot. Sanchez moves into side control, and then back into mount. Just constant positional changes by Sanchez. 10-9 Sanchez
Result: Diego Sanchez def. Craig White via Unanimous Decision
UFC FX Prelims
Charles Byrd vs. Darren Stewart (Middleweight/185)
Round 1: Byrd is having some success early with his right hook. Stewart closes the distance, but Byrd comes away with an under hook and he’s now controlling the action. Byrd attacks with a standing guillotine but Stewart manages his way out of it. Byrd throws a high kick that just misses but he takes the opportunity to grab an under hook on the off balanced Darren Stewart. Stewart connects with a short elbow and then another just as the round ends. 10-9 Byrd
Round 2: They are swinging early! Byrd is eating some hard shots here. Stewart connects with a hard elbow and then a hard-right hand. Byrd is trying to return shots, but Stewart has him playing defense! Stewart connects with another big shot and a hard elbow and Byrd is down and this fight is over! That was quite a turn around after a slow first round for Darren Stewart! That makes two straight wins after a rough start and both have been by impressive stoppages.
Result: Darren Stewart def. Charles Byrd via TKO (Punches and Elbows) Round 2, 2:17
Geoff Neal vs. Frank Camacho (Welterweight/170)
Round 1: Neal opens up with a left hook and follows it up with a high kick that just misses. Camacho is moving forward but Neal is landing lots of shots moving backwards. Neal connects with a jab and follows it up with a second one. Camacho secures an under hook and forces the action against the fence. Neal separates and lands another left hand. He follows it up with a left hook and then a right and Camacho is down! Camacho dives for a leg but Neal is landing some shots and looking for a finish. Looks like Camacho will survive the round though. 10-9 Neal
Round 2: Neal connects early with a hard-left hand and Camacho is hurt! Neal moves in with a series of strikes and exits with a hard uppercut! Camacho is surviving but he is taking a beating! Neal lands a big flying knee! Camacho is somehow still standing! Back in the center and Neal lands a HUGE head kick and THAT IS IT! Damn that was a hell of a KO and will for sure be a KO of the year candidate! Neal was very accurate and powerful, and it seemed like it was only a matter of time. Camacho really wasn’t returning much in the second round and was basically just a punching bag.
Result: Geoff Neal def. Frank Camacho via KO (Head kick) Round 2, 1:23
(8) Aljamain Sterling vs. (10) Cody Stamann (Bantamweight/135)
Round 1: They’re both throwing strikes early but not much is landing. Sterling lands a nice front kick to the body and closes the distance for a takedown. Stamann is using the fence to keep himself standing though and reverses the position with just over two minutes remaining in the round. Stamann is looking for a takedown but Sterling reveres the position and they separate. Sterling goes for a takedown of his own but Stamann counters and scores with a takedown. Sterling throws up a triangle from his back and its looking good but Stamann is surviving. Nice escape by Stamann and he scores with another takedown just before the round ends. 10-9 Stamann
Round 2: Stamann throws a body kick early but Sterling catches it and takes him down. Sterling takes the back but Stamann is up. Stamann completes a takedown but Sterling sweeps him. Sterling has a full nelson. Interesting position here. Stamann escapes but Sterling stays on him. Okay the fight just ended, and I will do my best to describe what was a very odd submission. Sterling has the back of Stamann as he stands but Sterling grabs hold of one of his opponents’ legs and pulls. Stamann submitted and it was a sort of modified kneebar, while Sterling had the back of Cody Stamann. Very unique but effective submission there.
Result: Aljamain Sterling def. Cody Stamann via Submission (Kneebar) Round 2, 3:42
(6) Carla Esparza vs. (9) Tatiana Suarez (Strawweight/115)
Round 1: Suarez scores with an immediate takedown and she is applying heavy pressure from the top. Esparza can’t create any space and she is getting absolutely dominated. Esparza is eating some hard elbows! Esparza recovers guard, but Suarez continues landing very hard elbows! Esparza finally gets a break and works to her feet, but Suarez takes her right back down. 10-8 Suarez
Round 2: Suarez scores with another quick takedown. Esparza pops right back up but Suarez maintains control against the fence. She completes a trip takedown and is back in top control. She moves into side control and continues laying down elbows. Esparza sweeps and she’s on her feet! Suarez is looking for a single leg, but Esparza shakes it and they are back in the center! Suarez is relentless though and completes another takedown. 10-9 Suarez
Round 3: Suarez starts the round with a double leg takedown. Her 8th of the fight. She is controlling from the top position and attempting to take the back of Carla Esparza. She moves into mount, but Esparza quickly recovers guard. She is allowing Tatiana Suarez to work without any attempt to control her. Esparza is threatening with an armbar from the bottom, but Suarez easily escapes and lands a hard elbow. Suarez moves back into mount and is landing elbows and punches with just about a minute left in the round. Esparza isn’t doing much to defend herself. Suarez is landing some hard shots and this fight is over. Nice late stoppage there for Tatiana Suarez. She dominated with her grappling and should be very close to a title shot.
Result: Tatiana Suarez def. Carla Esparza via TKO (Punches and Elbows) Round 3, 4:33
UFC 228 Main Card
Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Niko Price (Welterweight/170)
Round 1: Alhassan is throwing some wild hooks early and he connects with a big one! He follows it up with a left hook and then a right, Price is hurt but still on his feet! Alhassan is staying on him and connects with a big left hook and then a right uppercut and Price is down! The ref steps in and this fight is over!
Result: Abdul Razak Alhassan def. Niko Price via KO (Punches) Round 1, 0:43
(5) Jimmie Rivera vs. (7) John Dodson (Bantamweight/135)
Round 1: Rivera connects first with a low kick and Dodson returns a jab. Dodson catches a low kick from Jimmie Rivera and gets a quick takedown. Rivera pops right back up though and they are back in the center. Rivera lands another low kick. You have to figure he is attempting to slow Dodson down a bit with the focus on low kicks. Both guys are showing allow of respect for the other. Rivera lands a quick series of left hands and just avoids a return shot from Dodson. Dodson moves in with a body shot but eats a hard-left hand for his efforts just as the round ends. 10-9 Rivera
Round 2: They are circling as the round begins. Both guys are landing but Rivera appears to be just a bit quicker with landing. Dodson throws a head kick, but Rivera moves in and lands a nice pair of hooks. Dodson throws another head kick and this time it lands but Rivera appears to be okay. Dodson doesn’t appear to be fighting like himself at this point and its quite a departure from round one. He isn’t using much movement and is pretty much just standing in front of Rivera. Rivera attempts an inside leg kick but connects with a groin kick and we have a brief pause in the action. Back to it and Dodson lands a nice kick to the body and shakes a Rivera takedown attempt just as the round ends. 10-9 Rivera
Round 3: Rivera lands a hard-left hand as the round starts and then follows it up with another that snapped Dodson’s head back. Dodson is allowing Rivera to lands lots of shots, he appears to be in a bit of a trance. Lots of movement for Rivera in this round, he’s cutting Dodson off anytime Dodson does use movement. Rivera connects with a hard-low kick, you have to wonder if those are paying a part in Dodson’s performance. Rivera lands a hard-right hand as they clinch. Dodson lands a series of shots to the body as the round ends. 10-9 Rivera (30-27 Rivera)
Result: Jimmie Rivera def. John Dodson via Unanimous Decision
(15) Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Brandon Davis (Featherweight/145)
Round 1: They’re feeling each other out early and exchanging the occasional low kick. Zabit moves in with a quick jab that lands hard on the chin of Brandon Davis. Davis throws a body kick but Zabit counters with a solid right hand. Zabit’s leg is starting to show a bit of damage with two minutes left in the round. Davis is pressuring Zabit with the pressure of his jab. Zabit lands a solid switch kick to the body. He moves in for a body lock and quickly takes Davis down to one knee, but Davis is defending well. Zabit completes the takedown with a slam but Davis pops right back up. 10-9 Zabit
Round 2: Davis opens up with a kick to the body but Zabit catches it and takes him down. Davis quickly works back to his feet but Zabit is maintaining control against the fence. He completes the takedown and is now working from half guard. Zabit completes another takedown and he takes the back of Brandon Davis. Davis keeps getting up but Zabit is just relentless with his grappling pressure. Davis is up but Zabit has the back and he just did pretty much the same thing that Aljamain Sterling did earlier. This fight is over. It was a sort of modified banana split. I’m not sure that submission was ever completed in the UFC before tonight and so far, we have seen two.
Result: Zabit Magomedsharipov def. Brandon Davis via Submission (Kneebar) Round 2, 3:46
(15) Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Brandon Davis (Featherweight/145)
Round 1: They’re feeling each other out early and exchanging the occasional low kick. Zabit moves in with a quick jab that lands hard on the chin of Brandon Davis. Davis throws a body kick but Zabit counters with a solid right hand. Zabit’s leg is starting to show a bit of damage with two minutes left in the round. Davis is pressuring Zabit with the pressure of his jab. Zabit lands a solid switch kick to the body. He moves in for a body lock and quickly takes Davis down to one knee, but Davis is defending well. Zabit completes the takedown with a slam but Davis pops right back up. 10-9 Zabit
Round 2: Davis opens up with a kick to the body but Zabit catches it and takes him down. Davis quickly works back to his feet but Zabit is maintaining control against the fence. He completes the takedown and is now working from half guard. Zabit completes another takedown and he takes the back of Brandon Davis. Davis keeps getting up but Zabit is just relentless with his grappling pressure. Davis is up but Zabit has the back and he just did pretty much the same thing that Aljamain Sterling did earlier. This fight is over. It was a sort of modified banana split. I’m not sure that submission was ever completed in the UFC before tonight and so far, we have seen two.
Result: Zabit Magomedsharipov def. Brandon Davis via Submission (Kneebar) Round 2, 3:46
Jessica Andrade vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz (Strawweight/115)
Round 1: Andrade attacks early with some violent hooks. Karolina is just trying to avoid the shots. Things have slowed after that initial flurry and Andrade might be a bit winded. Andrade lands another big right hook! Karolina needs to make something happen because she is eating some big shots here. Karolina moves in with a flurry but Andrade counters with a right hook and then a left! Karolina Kowalkiewicz is down, and this fight is over! Walk off KO for Andrade! She was just far too powerful for Kowalkiewicz
Result: Jessica Andrade def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz via KO (Punches) Round 1, 1:58
© Tyron Woodley vs. (2) Darren Till for UFC Welterweight Championship
Round 1: Woodley is looking for a takedown early but Till is using the fence to stay up. The ref steps in and we get a break against the fence. Weird separation there. Woodley throws a big right hand but Till mostly avoids it. Lots of respect being shown early. Woodley steps in with a left but fakes it and lands a nice shot to the body on his way out. Woodley closes the distance with a jab and shoots for a single but Till regains his footing. They are briefly against the cage again and we see another quick separation. Till has thrown virtually nothing so far. 10-9 Woodley
Round 2: Woodley connects early with a huge shot and Till is down! Woodley is attacking with elbows and punches! Till is in serious trouble here! Till is eating some hard elbows! Till manages to secure a half guard but Woodley is landing some hard shots. Woodley moves into mount but Till pops right out of it and Woodley is back in side control. Woodley appears to be tiring a bit but its hard to tell, either way he is still landing some hard shots from the top with 1-minute left in the round. Woodley moves into side control and he is looking for a darce choke and its over! That was a well-rounded performance by Woodley and he just defended his belt for the 4th time.
Result: Tyron Woodley def. Darren Till via Submission (Darce Choke) Round 2, 4:19
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