That's a wrap on this weekend's UFC Fight Night! Some shoe-ins for bonuses and some excellent fights.
Let's see how it went.
Result: Tainara Lisboa def. Jessica-Rose Clark by submission at 4:20 of round 3.
Division: Women's Bantamweight
Referee: Larry Carter
Lisboa is showing she belongs here in the UFC right from the start. Clark is landing some nice combinations that don't phase Lisboa. Clark pushes the wrestling up against the fence to tire out the debutant. The crowd begins to boo, and Lisboa digs deep to reverse the position. They step away from the fence, and Clark keeps trying to wrestle, but her takedown is reversed, and Lisboa ends up on top for the remaining minute. Round 1 is 10-9 Lisboa.
Clark continues with more wrestling in round 2 and eventually gets a short-lived takedown, but Lisboa wall-walks her way back to standing. Lisboa lands good strikes on the break and controls the center on the feet. Lisboa's wrestling and striking are looking incredible here in the debut. Then, Lisboa lets her hands go in the final minute of round 2. Lisboa takes a clear 10-9 in round 2.
A big mistake from Lisboa ends with Clark on top in the opening minute of round 3. Lisboa is showcasing an active guard, throwing her legs up to set up a submission. Lisboa eventually locks in a tight armbar attempt, but Clark is wise to it and stacks Lisboa in defense. Clark escapes, and they make their way back to their feet. A short while later, Lisboa takes the back and wastes no time with the rear naked choke, getting the tap with 40 seconds to go in the fight.
Result: Bryan Battle def. Gabriel Green by KO at 00:14 of round 1.
Division: Catchweight (173 lb)
Referee: Wayne Spinola
These two men are straight into it right away! Green rushes the action and chases Battle back to the fence with strikes. However, Battle lands a beautiful counter shot that leaves Green unconscious on the canvas at only 14 seconds in. We have a clear Knockout of the Night at only the second fight thus far.
Result: Mandy Böhm def. Ji-Yeon Kim by split decision (27-28, 28-27, 28-27.)
Division: Women's Flyweight
Referee: Larry Carter
Kim lands a huge right hand that rocks Böhm early, and Kim rushes a flurry of punches to get the finish. Böhm wrestles and recovers well to end up on top. Böhm gets a close submission attempt but is ultimately unsuccessful. Kim ends up on top, with Böhm still hunting for submissions from the bottom. The wrestling continues, and Böhm ends the round on top; despite the control from Böhm, the damage in the opening seconds scores Kim the round 10-9.
Kim is back to striking at the beginning of round 2. Böhm pushes the wrestling against the fence and lands some good strikes in close. The wrestling continues, and Kim drags Böhm to the mat. Kim is on top stacking Böhm's submission attempts. With no advancements, referee Larry Carter stands the 2 up. Böhm shoots another takedown, and Kim slips in a tight guillotine with 30 seconds to go. The buzzer for round 2 sounds, and Kim kicks Böhm off of her. The referee takes a point for the unsportsmanlike conduct before round 3 starts.
Round 3 begins with more of the wrestling we've seen throughout this bout. While wrestling against the fence, Böhm has a hand on the mat, and Kim throws an illegal knee. The referee stops the action to call in a doctor, who deems Böhm unable to continue. They go to the early scorecards as the bout is over 1.5 rounds. The point deductions and illegal moves do not work in Kim's favor, and she loses the split decision.
Result: Douglas Silva de Andrade def. Cody Stamann by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28.)
Division: Catchweight (140 lb)
Referee: Wayne Spinola
Silva de Andrade starts the fight with heavy kicks, mixing them well into the legs, body, and head. There is a clear power advantage to Silva de Andrade, but Stamann is evading well. Stamann gets a big takedown where Silva de Andrade throws an illegal up-kick, and the referee stops the action briefly. The referee should have given Stamann the top position back but didn't for whatever reason. So they begin to throw down for the remaining minute of round 1. Stamann takes round 1 with a 10-9.
Stamann lands a massive counter in the opening minute of round 2. Both men are throwing bombs and finally letting their hands go. They are both throwing an intelligent array of strikes; uppercuts, counters, and combinations. Stamann is having an even better round 2, dodging Silva de Andrade's blitz and returning with his own. Round 2 ends with Stamann wrestling Silva de Andrade against the fence. Round 2 is a 10-9 to Stamann.
Stamann is countering well in round 3, and lands a few big shots that look like they could have ended Silva de Andrade's night. Silva de Andrade seems more tired than Stamann. Stamann lands two huge shots halfway through the third round that drops Silva de Andrade and put him on top. Stamann is having a beautiful round 3, but Silva de Andrade is an absolute warrior. They continue to go to war for the closing minute. Stamann takes round 3 10-9, potentially 10-8, after nearly getting the finish.
Silva de Andrade makes the unanimous decision after a Fight of the Night war. Although I can't entirely agree with the decision, it's not impossible.
Result: Karl Williams def. Chase Sherman by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27.)
Division: Heavyweight
Referee: Keith Peterson
This fight is the first Heavyweight bout on the card, with the only other being the main event.
Both men are feeling each other out in the opening minutes. Sherman's striking combinations are looking phenomenal. Williams scores a big takedown with a minute to go in the first round. Some significant strikes from Williams nets him round 1 in the closing seconds.
Williams opens round 2 with some fast striking, but Sherman's seems better. Sherman is throwing kickboxing like an absolute professional. Sherman's work with Tyrone Spong is paying off. Round 2 is much better for Sherman as he keeps it standing. Round 2 is 10-9 Sherman.
We could be 1-1 going into the third and final round.
This fight is an incredible striking battle between these two men. Round 3 is slow, as both men seem tired. However, Sherman lands some emphatic leg kicks that force Williams to spin around. Round 3 could go either way, 10-9 Sherman or 10-9 Williams.
Result: Matt Brown def. Court McGee by KO at 4:09 of round 1.
Division: Welterweight
Referee: Dan Mirgliotta
Two veterans take center stage in the Octagon.
McGee gets a takedown early and briefly takes the back of Brown but is quickly bumped off, and then they continue to wrestle against the cage. With no advancements in the clinch, the crowd starts to boo, and referee Dan Mirgliotta warns the pair to show some action. They restart in the center, and after a short moment, Brown lands a huge right-hand walk-off knockout with 1 minute to go in the round.
Result: Alex Morono def. Tim Means by submission at 2:09 of round 2.
Division: Welterweight
Referee: Wayne Spinola
These men are exchanging heavy shots right off the bat. They struggle to work out each other while in an open stance. The closing seconds of round 1 are super exciting as they start to throw down. The round could go either way, but 10-9 Means is my assumption.
Round 2 gives us some wrestling exchanges. Morono grabs a guillotine and pulls guard, ultimately getting the tap.
Result: Carlos Ulberg def. Ihor Potieria by TKO at 2:09 of round 1.
Division: Light Heavyweight
Referee: Keith Peterson
Potieria shoots a takedown early but is unsuccessful. Ulberg returns with a glancing head kick. Ulberg lands a fantastic step-back counter and rains down the ground and pound. Ulberg steps off without the referee's interference. Keith Peterson sees Potieria out on the canvas and waves he bout off for a first-round knockout.
Result: Ian Garry def. Daniel Rodriguez by TKO at 2:57 of round 1.
Division: Welterweight
Referee: Dan Mirgliotta
These two men begin slow and intelligent. Garry lands a huge head kick 3 minutes into round 1 that rocks and drops Rodriguez. Garry rushes Rodriguez with strikes, ending the fight for the first-round TKO.
Rodriguez had gone 20 fights in a row without losing by KO/TKO. Garry moves to 12-0 and is one of UFC's biggest up-and-coming prospects.
Result: Johnny Walker def Anthony Smith by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27.)
Division: Light Heavyweight
Referee: Keith Peterson
Walker opens the round by showing feints that don't seem to fool Smith. Next, Walker throws head kicks and flying knees, looking for another highlight. Smith rushes forward, and Walker lands a fantastic counter that drops Smith to a knee. Walker hunts for the finish, but Smith recovers and gets the takedown and top position. Walker gets back to his feet and gets a takedown with 1 second remaining in the round. Walker takes round 1 with a 10-9 after the knockdown.
Smith throws a bomb counter that Walker eats like nothing. Walker is adding up the calf kicks, and Smith is returning with his own. Smith lands a big left hook that, again, Walker eats. Walker is much slower in this second round. Smith begins talking to Walker, claiming, "You're attacking my family." Round 2 comes to a close on the feet; Smith takes round 2 with a 10-9, and we are 1-1 going into the third and final.
Walker is countering well despite being tired. An enormous right hand from Smith forces Walker to retreat, but Walker keeps piling on the leg kicks. Something seems to bother Smith as he takes a knee, and Walker goes in for the finish. Walker cannot get it, and Smith gets back to his feet. The lead leg of Smith looks compromised. Walker lands a flying knee in the closing seconds, which leaves him moments away from getting the finish. Ultimately Smith survives to hear the bell, and Walker takes round 3 with a 10-9. Walker takes the unanimous decision.
Result: Jailton Almeida def. Jairzinho Rozenstruik by submission at 3:43 of round 1.
Division: Heavyweight
Referee: Dan Mirgliotta
The main event is underway! Almeida changes levels immediately, and Rozenstruik defends well, but Almeida is right back at it and scores the takedown in the first minute. After that, Almeida gets the mount, drops the ground and pound, leaving Rozenstruik with a choice; take the shots or turn over and give up your back. Rozenstruik chooses the latter, and Almeida sinks in the choke quickly, winning him the submission in round 1.