WWE’s Extreme Rules show on 9/26 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH was decent. Most of the matches were good, but there was nothing blow away.
The show was built around two bouts, Roman Reigns vs. Demon Finn Balor for the Universal title and Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair for the women’s title. Both had gimmicked finishes.
The Demon match ended with Demon ont the top rope when the top rope suddenly collapsed and he fell into the ring injured, and got pinned by a spear. The bout had been the most exciting on the show, but at one point the idea was that Demon had died. Then his music played and he acted as though he was resurrected, and in fact, that was the verbiage used, and he made a comeback until the rope broke.
In the Smackdown women’s title match, Belair powered out of the disarmer and set up the KOD when Sasha Banks ran into attack Belair for the DQ. Banks also laid out Lynch after the match to set up a three-way program.
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FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
No show tonight but Garrett Gonzalez and I will be back tomorrow night covering the news of the week and Bryan and I will be up Sunday talking G-1.
Lots in the new issue out today:
A review of Extreme Rules, looking at booking, poll results, star ratings and interest levels
A review of this week’s G-1 show, standings, star ratings, and how real life affects Japanese pro wrestling
UFC 266, the story behind the story, business notes, what matches are to be made next and interest levels
How the Stardom Five Star Grand Prix changed and why several major show main vents had to change plus a look at the finals
A look at the CMLL anniversary show
Eddie “Snowman” Crawford, a look at his two unique major runs, being manged by Muhammad Ali and how Memphis handled a shoot angle but the unhappy ending of his career
All the ratings details including where wrestling ranked among sports the last week, where the cable shows ranked in the cable listings for the week, youngest skewing sports show of the week, what happened for the first time this year involving Raw vs. Dynamite and what audience AEW is winning in and losing in.
Ticket sales to the upcoming major WWE and AEW shows
Jon Jones arrest details
Dana vs. Oscar
WWE U.K PPV updated news
Vince McMahon-Oliver Luck lawsuit updated news
How last weeks’ cable main events did in comparison
Canadian TV viewership in detail with a lot of notable differences from the U.S.
The draft tonight is on Smackdown from Baltimore. We are told a lot of NXT talent is in Baltimore. Nobody gets told anything but you have to be there. Sasha Banks vs. Bianca Belair is advertised plus Edge is on tonight’s show. PWInsider reported Brock Lesnar was scheduled to be on the show.
Rampage tonight:
Bryan Danielson vs. Nick Jackson – said to be one of the best matches in AEW history
Thunder Rosa vs. Jade Cargill vs. Nyla Rose no rules
Orange Cassidy vs. Jack Evans hair vs. hair
UFC tomorrow is from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+:
Alejandro Perez (136) vs. Johnny Eduardo (135.5)
Stephanie Egger (135) vs. Shanna Young (134.5)
Douglas Silva de Andrade (135) vs.; Gaetano Pirello (134.5)
Devonte Smith (155.5) vs. Jamie Mullarkey (155.5)
Bethe Correira (138.5) vs,. Karol Rosa (135.5) – Correira missed weight and was fined
Antonina Shevchenko (125.5) vs. Casey O’Neill (125)
Joe Solecki (155.5) vs. Jared Gordon (155)
Alexander Hernandez (154.5) vs. Mike Breeden (158.5) -Breeden missed weight and was fined
Misha Cirkunov (185.5) vs. Krzysztof Jotko (185.5)
Alex Oliveira (169.5) vs,. Niko Price (170.5)
Kevin Holland (183.5) vs. Kyle Daukaus (185.5)
Thiago Santos (206) vs. Johnnie Walker (204.5)
The Aspen Ladd vs. Macy Chiasson fight is off because Ladd could barely walk at weigh-ins.
G-1 on Sunday from Nagoya, actually starts midnight Saturday night Pacific time:
Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs.Kosei Fujita
Toru Yano vs. Bushi
Great O’Khan vs.Kenta
Tanga Loa vs Yujiro Takahashi
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Shingo Takagi vs. Kota Ibushi
GCW has announced Rina Yamashita and Masashi Takeda for its 11/12 show in Detroit and 11/13 show in Chicago. The 10/9 show in Atlantic City with Jon Moxley vs. Nick Gage is now sold out.
WWE
Ronda Rousey’s new show “Rowdy’s Places” has debuted on ESPN+. The first season will have several pro wrestling episodes including one on ECW and one on Kurt Angle.
UFC
Derrick Lewis vs. Chris Daukaus and Cub Swanson vs. Darren Elkins have been added to the 12/18 show.
Rogerio Bontorin was cleared from the rest of his drug test suspension when he provided a supplement that tested for the same substance he had tested positive for and faces Brandon Royval on 1/15. Kay Hansen vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius is also on that show.
OTHER NEWS
Dean Muhtadi, the former Mojo Rawley, will be the new co-host of TMZ Sports every Monday through Friday on FS1.
Adam Scherr, the former Braun Strowman has signed on to be an analyst for the Mr. Olympia contest as well as for arm wrestling championships on NBC Sports Network.
The PFL announced a multi-year deal with Athletic Sports Group and Fight Globe, to secure international distribution of PFL live events outside the U.S. and Canada starting in 2022. PFL plans to double the number of live events next year noting the deal with ESPN has led to a 39 percent increase in TV viewership in the U.S. market.
Dragon Gate’s Keisuke Okuda faces shoot boxer Hiroaki Suzuki in an MMA fight on tomorrow’s Rizin show.
AAW tonight live on FITE TV from Merrionette Park, IL:
Allysin Kay vs. Skye Blue vs. Christi Jaynes for women’s title
Hakim Zane vs. Ace Austin vs. Myron Reed for Heritage title
Stallion Rogers & Jake Something vs. Larry D & Shane Mercer for tag titles
Joeasa & Robin Steele vs Mance Warner & Manders in a double dog collar chain match
Jigsaw vs. Davey Vega
Gringo Loco & Arez vs. Laredo Kid & Aramis
Plus Jake Alexander, Fred Yehi, Mat Fitchett and others
Innovate Wrestling on 11/6 from Kingsport, TN at the Civic Auditorium
NFC on 10/22 at Tannery Row in Buford, GA.
Bare Knuckle Fighting announced a show on 10/23 in Wichita, KS with local star Dave “Caveman”Rickels vs. Julian Lane as the main event.
Revolution Wrestling Federation on 11/7 in Harrisburg, PA at the Midtown Arts Center with Lance Archer, Justin Credible, Mad Man Pondo and Colby Corino.
Paradigm Pro Wresting on 10/15 in Sellersburg, IN will combine UWFI rules matches, hardcore matches and Myron Reed vs,Surge D for the Paradigm championship and Shane Taylor vs. Calvin Tankman.
There is a UWN PPV show on FITE TV with the finals of its world title tournament at 9:30 p.m. Eastern tomorrow with Mike Bennett vs. Chris Dickinson as the title match.
Zoe Skye & Willow Nightingale vs Sea Stars is on the MLW show tomorrow night in Philadelphia.
IWF 25th anniversary celebration starts with an 11/20 show in North Arlington, NJ at the High School. Gary Capetta will be the ring announcer.
IWA East Coast on 10/8 in Charleston, WV at the Appalachian Power Park with Ricky & Kerry Morton (Ricky’s son) vs. Mad Man Pondo & Duke the Nuke as the main event. Also on the show is Warhorse and Jake Crist.
Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC Fight Night 128: Barboza vs. Lee, emanating from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The Octagon returns to New Jersey for the first time since 2014 with a fight card that has a lot of depth and a lot of intrigue.
The event is headlined by two men looking to get back into the title picture as Edson Barboza takes on Kevin Lee. Both men saw their win streaks ended in their previous bouts, and a return to the win column for either one keeps them in the hunt in the crowded lightweight picture. Lee comes into the fight having missed weight by one pound, and that could play a key different.
In the co-main event, former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar makes a questionable quick return to action, taking on Cub Swanson, in a rematch of a November 2014 bout won by Edgar. Also among the main card fights is undefeated bantamweight Brett Johns battling Aljamain Sterling, and long-time exciting UFC veteran Jim Miller fights in his home state against Dan Hooker.
Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time with preliminary action all the way through the main card.
UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS | 7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT
> Tony Martin (12-4, 4-4 UFC) vs. Keita Nakamura (33-8-2 1 NC, 4-5 UFC) Welterweights
Both miss head kicks early. Nakamura lands a left hand. They trade jabs. Head kick from Martin glances, but he follows with a right hand and then drops Nakamura for a moment with another right hand. Martin lands another right hand. Martin with a left hook and then follows with a right hand. Nakamura just misses a left hand but lands a body kick. Martin then rocks Nakamura with another right hand. Nakamura scores a takedown but Martin has the neck. They ride out the round on the mat. 10-9 Martin.
They trade punches and Martin lands a right hand. There isn’t a whole lot of action going on in this fight. Martin lands a counter combo after Nakamura misses a left hand. Martin lands another right hand to the chin. They trade punches. Martin lands a jab. Nakamura can’t land anything. Martin with another right hand. They trade kicks and Martin cracks Nakamura with another right hand and then a head kick. Nakamura gets a late takedown but Martin has a guillotine locked in as the round ends. 10-9 Martin, 20-18 Martin.
Martin coming out after Nakamura with some right hands. Nakamura gets a takedown but Martin grabs the arm. They scramble on the mat and get to their feet. Martin lands another right hand. Martin lands a couple of left hooks. Martin with another right hand. Nakamura doing a whole lot of nothing. Nakamura gets a takedown but Martin reverses to the top and grabs the arm looking for a late submission but is unable to get it. 10-9 Martin, 30-27 Martin.
Official Result- Tony Martin def. Keita Nakamura by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
FOX SPORTS 1 PRELIMS | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT
> Corey Anderson (#10, 9-4, 6-4 UFC) vs. Patrick Cummins (#11, 10-4, 6-4 UFC) Light Heavyweights
Anderson landing the jab early. Cummins works for a takedown against the fence. They trade punches. Anderson lands a right hand and has Cummins in trouble. Anderson with a knee. They are trading against the fence. Cummins is bleeding already. Cummins shoots in and eats a knee. Anderson with a big elbow and then an uppercut. Anderson lands a left. Cummins in a lot of trouble. Anderson lands a combo and grabs the leg of Cummins and gets a takedown. They get to their feet and break. Anderson with some body kicks. Anderson gets another takedown and has the back and is landing punches. They get to their feet. 10-9 Anderson.
They trade early. Cummins looking a lot stronger in the first minute but Anderson is still landing. They clinch and Anderson with some diry boxing before they break. Anderson lands a right hand. Anderson gets a big takedown. Anderson has the back but Cummins is able to get to his feet and shakes Anderson off. Anderson with a leg kick. Anderson with a left hand. Cummins is hanging on but Anderson firmly in control as he gets another takedown. Anderson gets the back. They get to their feet but Anderson with one last big takedown to end the round. 10-9 Anderson, 20-18 Anderson.
Anderson lands a left hand. Anderson gets another takedown and has the back again. They get to their feet but Anderson has a hold of Cummins and gets him back down. Anderson has back control again. They get to their feet for a moment before Anderson takes it back down. Anderson has the back and working for a choke but lets it go. They get to their feet but Anderson gets yet another takedown. He’s cruising to victory. Anderson with punches from the back. Anderson with a dominant win. 10-8 Anderson, 30-26 Anderson.
Official Result- Corey Anderson def. Patrick Cummins by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
Bahadurzada with a leg kick. Chagas just misses a flying knee. They trade and Chagas goes for a kick but Bahadurzada grabs the leg and takes Chagas down. Bahadurzada in the full guard of Chagas and landing some punches from the top. Chagas is able to transition and take the back of Bahadurzada and is working for a choke. Chagas still working for it while looking for wrist control. They get to their feet but Chagas still has the back and drags the fight back down. Chagas has the back to end the round. 10-9 Chagas.
They trade punches to start the second round. Bahadurzada lands a hard uppercut. Chagas just misses a head kick. Bahadurzada landing with more volume in this round and he is hurting Chagas with body shots. Chagas is firing back. Bahadurzada then lands a vicious liver kick that sends Chagas to the ground and lands an uppercut as he’s going down and this fight is stopped. That was a vicious finish by Bahadurzada.
Official Result- Siyar Bahadurzada def. Luan Chagas by knockout (kick & punch) at 2:40 of Round 2
> Merab Dvalishvili (7-3, 0-1 UFC) vs. Ricky Simon (12-1, 0-0 UFC) Bantamweights
Dvalishvili with a spinning back kick and then a body punch followed by a right hand. He goes for another spin kick but misses and Simon grabs him but they break. They go to the mat but scramble to their feet. Dvalishvili with a head kick but Simon counters with a right hand. Dvalishvili with a quick combo. Dvalishvili then drops Simon with a big right hand. They get to their feet but Simon still in trouble. Dvalishvili chasing him around the Octagon and throwing punches. Simon is surviving. Dvalishvili grabs the back but unable to get a takedown as they break. They trade late. 10-9 Dvalishvili.
Dvalishvili lands a couple of punches. Simon misses a spinning back fist. Both are throwing punches but missing them. Dvalishvili grabs the single leg and gets Simon down for a moment but they get up as Simon shakes him off. Dvalishvili lands a left hand. Simon gets a takedown and is in the full guard and lands a couple of elbows. Simon gets the back but they scramble to their feet and break. Dvalishvili grabs the back and gets a brief takedown. They get to their feet and at the fence. Dvalishvili gets a brief late takedown. 10-9 Dvalishvili, 20-18 Dvalishvili.
Simon grabs the back of Dvalishvili and is working for a takedown against the fence. Dvalishvili spins out and they break. Dvalishvili lands a big right hand. Dvalishvili with a leg kick. Simon shoots for a takedown and gets it and is in half-guard. They scramble back to their feet. Dvalishvili continues to press the action and lands some punches. Dvalishvili with a combo and a head kick. Dvalishvili with a big takedown less than a minute left. Simon grabs the neck and has a guillotine locked in and has Dvalishvili in a lot of trouble. It is tight. Holy crap Dvalishvili survived almost a full minute in a deep guillotine and looked out at times. That was a crazy sequence. 10-9 Simon, 29-28 Dvalishvili.
Ok, this decision doesn’t make sense. The referee determined that Dvalishvili was out at the end of the fight and awarded the fight to Simon by TKO. I’ve never seen anything like this before.
Official Result- Ricky Simon def. Merab Dvalishvili by TKO at 5:00 of Round 3
> Ryan LaFlare (13-2, 6-2 UFC) vs. Alex Garcia (15-4, 5-3 UFC) Welterweights
LaFlare with a body kick. Garcia just misses a big right hand. Garcia with a body kick. They are feeling each other out. They clinch against the fence. LaFlare gets a brief takedown. LaFlare with some knees to the body. They break. LaFlare with a body kick and they clinch again but Garcia escapes. Garcia with the double right hand. LaFlare trips Garcia up with an inside leg kick. Not much to the round. 10-9 LaFlare.
LaFlare gets a takedown inside the first minute of the round. Garcia able to scramble to the top but they get to their feet. Garcia gets a takedown but LaFlare has the neck. Garcia gets the back and lands a couple of punches. LaFlare is able to scramble out to his feet. Garcia gets another takedown but LaFlare ends up in the half-guard after a scramble. LaFlare looking to set up a choke but he’s not doing much else. LaFlare with some body punches from top. 10-9 LaFlare, 20-18 LaFlare.
Garcia lands a couple of punches. LaFlare tries a body kick but Garcia able to counter it into a takedown. Not much happens on the mat and the referee stands them up. LaFlare with a body kick. Garcia blocks a head kick from LaFlare. Garcia goes for a takedown but it is defended. They go to the mat and LaFlare has the back but nothing happening and they are stood up again. They trade late. Dull fight. 10-9 LaFlare, 30-27 LaFlare.
Official Result- Ryan LaFlare def. Alex Garcia by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
FOX SPORTS 1 MAIN CARD | 10 PM ET/7 PM PT
> Jim Miller (28-11 1 NC, 17-10 1 NC UFC) vs. Dan Hooker (15-7, 5-3 UFC) Lightweights
They trade kicks. Hooker with some more kicks and lands a right hand. Miller with a leg kick. Miller lands a left hand. Hooker lands the jab. They trade big punches. Hooker with a leg kick. Miller grabs the leg of Hooker off a kick and gets a takedown. Miller working in Hooker’s full guard. They get to their feet. Hooker lands a right hand and then drops Miller with a big knee right to the jaw and finishes him off with one more punch on the mat. Big knockout win for Hooker as Miller was out.
Official Result- Dan Hooker def. Jim Miller by knockout (knee) at 3:00 of Round 1
They announced Matt Serra as the Pioneer Wing inductee into the 2018 UFC Hall Of Fame.
Sterling trying for some side kicks early. Sterling with a body kick. Johns lands a combo. Sterling with a leg kick. Sterling with an inside leg kick and they clinch. Sterling gets a takedown but they scramble and reverse and Sterling ends up on top against the fence. They get to their feet and Sterling with some knees to the body. They break the clinch. Sterling with a body kick. Sterling with another body kick. Johns gets a late takedown and Sterling has the neck as the round ends. 10-9 Sterling.
They trade kicks. Sterling lands a right hand. Johns lands a right hand. Johns lands a flying knee to the body. Johns working for a takedown. Sterling sprawls on the takedown and both look for an advantage on the mat. Sterling with a knee to the body. They break and Sterling lands a combo to the head and body. Sterling lands a lot of punches. Johns lands a punch as well. Johns with a left hand to the body. Sterling lands a combo and then scores a takedown. Sterling with body punches on the mat. They get back to their feet. They are broken up from the clinch. Sterling lands a left hand. Johns misses a spin kick. 10-9 Sterling, 20-18 Sterling.
Sterling with a body kick. Johns tries to land some punches but Sterling ducks under them all. Sterling with a couple of leg kicks. They are clinched with Sterling in control and he lands a knee to the body. Sterling takes the back. Johns reverses. Sterling still in control of the clinch. Sterling with some knees to the body. They are broken up by the referee. Sterling misses a spinning elbow and Johns misses a flying knee. Sterling grabs the single leg and works for a takedown but now controls the clinch. They break and Sterling grabs the back and gets a big takedown. Sterling works for the hooks. Big punches from the back by Sterling and this should wrap it up for him. 10-9 Sterling, 30-27 Sterling.
Official Result- Aljamain Sterling def. Brett Johns by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> David Branch (#8, 21-4, 3-3 UFC) vs. Thiago Santos (#12, 17-5, 9-4 UFC) Middleweights
Santos with a body kick. They trade punches. Santos with a leg kick. They trade kicks. Santos with another leg kick. Santos lands a left hand. Branch drops Santos with a right hand out of nowhere and then finishes him off with a couple of hammerfists on the mat. Big knockout win by Branch as the right hand connected clean.
Official Result- David Branch def. Thiago Santos by knockout (punches) at 2:30 of Round 1
They trade punches early. Sherman with a body kick and Willis counters with an uppercut. Willis lands a big left hand. Willis rocks Sherman with another left hand. Sherman catches his legs and lands a high kick. Sherman with a leg kick followed by a right hand. Willis is hurting Sherman when he lands. Willis drops Sherman with a big left hand and gets on top and lands some more punches looking to finish. Sherman ties him up on the mat. They get to their feet. Both men firing. Sherman with some leg kicks. They clinch and Willis lands an uppercut. They survive the round. 10-9 Willis.
Sherman with a body kick. Willis lands a right hand. Willis lands another big left hand. Sherman pokes Willis in the eye and we have a break. They get back to action. Willis lands another big left hand but Sherman is taking them well. Sherman with a front kick to the body and then a high kick. Sherman with a head kick but Willis pushes him to the mat in the process. Willis gets in the guard. Willis landing some punches from the top as Sherman is unable to get out from the bottom. Willis rides the round out on top. 10-9 Willis, 20-18 Willis.
They trade a little early before clinching. Sherman lands a knee followed by an elbow. Sherman lands a combo ending with a body kick. They clinch with Sherman in control against the fence. Sherman with an elbow. This fight has gotten ugly. They break. Willis lands a left hand. They clinch again and Willis in control. They break with thirty seconds left. Willis lands a combo. Sherman with a body kick. Sherman with an elbow late. 10-9 Sherman, 29-28 Willis.
Official Result- Justin Willis def. Chase Sherman by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Frankie Edgar (#3, 22-6-1, 16-6-1 UFC) vs. Cub Swanson (#4, 24-8, 9-4 UFC) Featherweights
They feel each other out early. They trade punches. Edgar misses a high kick. Edgar with a body kick. Swanson lands a left hand. Edgar with the double jab. Edgar lands a right hand. Edgar with a leg kick. Swanson lands a right hand. Edgar hurts Swanson with a right hand and goes for a takedown but it is defended. Edgar lands a left hook as they break. Edgar with a leg kick. Swanson lands a left hand. Edgar slips on a kick. They trade punches. Swanson with a leg kick followed by a spin kick. Close round. 10-9 Edgar.
They trade punches and Swanson lands a left hook. Edgar lands a right hand. Edgar with a combo ending with a right hand. Swanson with a left hand and Edgar fires back with a leg kick. Edgar with an inside leg kick followed by a head kick. Edgar with a right hand followed by a leg kick. Edgar goes for a takedown but it is defended. Edgar with a leg kick. Swanson lands a left hand. Edgar with a nice combo. They trade punches. Swanson lands a big right hand. Edgar is cut under his right eye. 10-9 Edgar, 20-18 Edgar.
They trade early. Edgar with a body kick. Swanson with a left hand. Edgar lands a left hand after breaking a brief clinch. Swanson lands a right hand. Edgar lands one of his own. Edgar lands another right hand. Swanson lands some body punches. Swanson with a right hand and just misses a head kick. Swanson defends a takedown attempt from Edgar. Swanson lands an elbow as Edgar comes in and follows with a left hook. Swanson lands a combo. Edgar fires back with a right hand. Swanson with a body kick. It goes the distance. 10-9 Swanson, 29-28 Edgar.
Official Result- Frankie Edgar def. Cub Swanson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Edson Barboza (#5, 19-5, 13-5 UFC) vs. Kevin Lee (#6, 16-3, 9-3 UFC) 157-pound Catchweights (*Lee missed weight by 1 pound)
They feel each other out and Lee scores a takedown against the fence. Lee gets into side control and now into the mount and lands some hammerfists. Lee back into the full guard of Barboza. Lee mounts Barboza again and lands a lot of big punches and Barboza is in trouble as they are against the fence. Lee with some big elbows. Barboza has a big welt under his right eye. Lee with more punches and elbows from the mount. Lee back into the half-guard. Hammerfists from the top by Lee. Barboza gets his guard back but still eating punches from Lee. Lee back into the mount and lands some big elbows. Lee with more punches to end the round. Dominant round by Lee. 10-8 Lee.
Lee with a head kick. Barboza shot for a takedown but missed it by a mile. They clinch but break. Lee lands a big body kick. Lee gets a big takedown against the fence. Lee in the full guard of Barboza. He lands a big right hand and then lands a few more. Lee back into the half-guard. He gets to the mount and lands some more big punches. Lee now takes the back for a moment. He lands some huge elbows. Right hands and hammerfists from Lee. This isn’t even competitive. Lee with more big elbows. This fight could be stopped at any time. Another dominant round for Lee. 10-8 Lee, 20-16 Lee.
Barboza with a body kick. Lee with a head kick. Lee shoots for a takedown but it is defended. Barboza with a spinnign wheel kick and Lee is in a lot of trouble as it connects and Lee looked out on his feet. Holy cow that was close. Lee recovered and cleared himself and got a takedown and is now on top. Lee lands a few punches but they get back to their feet. Barboza with a leg kick. Lee lands a couple of right hands that rock Barboza. Barboza with a front kick to the body. Lee with a huge body kick and Barboza returns with a leg kick. Barboza with a body kick. Lee with a head kick followed by a right hand. 10-9 Barboza, 29-26 Lee.
Lee with a right hand but Barboza fires back with a body kick and a huge left hand. Lee gets a takedown against the fence. It was getting crazy on the feet for a moment. The fans are booing this because they want to see them fight on the feet but Lee did what he needed to do because he is getting in trouble on the feet. Lee working in the guard of Barboza and is landing punches and elbows. Barboza has been unable to get up from the bottom. Lee gets in the full mount and is landing hammerfists. Lee with more punches from the top. Lee ends the round strong. 10-8 Lee, 39-34 Lee.
Barboza lands a right hand. They are trading on their feet. Lee with a combo and Barboza is cut open under his right eye. Barboza lands a left hook. Lee lands a right hand and goes for a takedown but it is defended. Lee pushes Barboza up against the fence. They break and we have a timeout for the doctor to check the huge cut on the eye of Barboza. The doctor has called off the fight due to the cut. It goes down as a TKO win for Lee in a fight he dominated for a huge portion of.
Official Result- Kevin Lee def. Edson Barboza by TKO (doctor stoppage) at 2:18 of Round 5
Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC Fight Night 123: Swanson vs. Ortega, eminating from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.
The Octagon heads to Fresno for the first time with a five-round main event in the featherweight division as Cub Swanson takes on the undefeated Brian Ortega.
Swanson, in the last fight on his current UFC contract, is looking for his fifth consecutive win while Ortega looks to avoid his first loss and build on his impressive string of four straight final round finishes.
Also on the card is a featherweight bout between Jason Knight and Gabriel Benitez in the co-main event position, and a bantamweight affair with two men looking to get into title contention as Marlon Moraes takes on Aljamain Sterling. In prelim action, Alexis Davis and Liz Carmouche battle in a women’s flyweight bout that could also have title shot implications on the line.
Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time with preliminary action all the way through the main card.
UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS | 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT
> Antonio Braga Neto (9-2 1 NC, 1-1 UFC) vs. Trevin Giles (10-0, 1-0 UFC) Middleweights
Former UFC fighter Frank Trigg is the referee, the first UFC fight he has officiated. Giles came out with a quick combo that rocked Neto. He is working to land the jab. He slipped on an uppercut but Neto unable to take advantage. Giles landed a right hand and slipped out of the way of Neto’s leg kick attempts. Neto grabbed a body lock and got a trip takedown. Neto trying to pass guard against the fence. Neto with a knee to the chest of Giles. Neto now in full mount. Giles is surviving on the mat but Neto in complete control late. 10-9 Neto.
Giles landing the jab early. Giles landed a big left hook. Neto landed a counter left hook. Giles back to snapping the jab and landing. Giles landed a huge right hand and Neto was hurt. Neto is much slower this round. Giles landed a hard right but Neto rocked Giles with a counter right hand. Giles was running away and then rocked Neto with a big right hand that really hurt Neto. Giles landing the jab again. Neto in trouble. Giles pouring on the jab late. Neto doing almost nothing. Giles lands a big right hand against the cage. Another hard right at the end from Giles. 10-8 Giles, 19-18 Giles.
Giles fresh coming out for the third. Neto scored a takedown but Giles got to his feet and Neto slipped out over the back and they were back standing. Giles lands a right hand then another followed by the jab. Neto holding his hands low. Giles with a straight right hand. Giles with another. This is close to being stopped. Giles with a hard right hand that knocks Neto out. Big win by Giles as he stays undefeated.
Official Result- Trevin Giles def. Antonio Braga Neto by TKO (punches) at 2:27 of Round 3
> Chris Gruetzemacher (13-2, 1-1 UFC) vs. Davi Ramos (6-2, 0-1 UFC) Lightweights
They both come out swinging. Ramos landed a big knee to the body. They trade kicks. Ramos with some big punches, some are missing. Gruetzemacher with a leg kick. They go to the mat and Gruetzemacher on top landed some punches but they got to their feet. Ramos lands an uppercut. Ramos lands a flying knee that doesn’t hurt Gruetzemacher. Ramos gets a takedown into half-guard. Ramos looking to set up a choke. Gruetzemacher landing punches from the bottom. Ramos finishes on top. 10-9 Ramos.
Ramos lands a big combo to start the second. He drops Gruetzemacher for a moment with a right hand. They get up and Ramos gets a takedown but the referee quickly stands them up. That was a bad standup. Ramos whiffs on a takedown. Gruetzemacher is now coming forward as Ramos is slowing down. Gruetzemacher lands a right hand. Ramos misses more takedown attempts. Ramos lands two big right hands. Gruetzemacher lands a right hand followed by a knee. Ramos lands a combo and gets a takedown. 10-9 Gruetzemacher, 19-19.
Ramos gets a body lock immediately and gets a takedown and has the back and a rear-naked choke locked in and he gets Gruetzemacher to tap! That was quick and impressive.
Official Result- Davi Ramos def. Chris Gruetzemacher by submission (rear-naked choke) at :50 of Round 3
They crack each other with big punches in the first minute. They trade but not much landing and not much going on. They continue to look for openings. Perez is looking for counters but Alcantara is not throwing to give him a chance. They trade kicks with thirty seconds left. Alcantara connects with a left hand. Alcantara tries for a flying knee. Not much of a round. 10-9 Alcantara.
Perez throws a combo but nothing really lands. Alcantara throws a kick but Perez catches the leg and kicks Alcantara to the mat, but he gets up. Alcantara with a leg kick. Perez with one. They are doing nothing. Alcantara lands a straight right hand. Perez with a leg kick. Perez with another and Alcantara counters with a combo against the cage. This fight is not good. 10-9 Alcantara, 20-18 Alcantara.
Something has to happen this round. Unfortunately, nothing has in the first minute. Neither doing anything still two minutes in. They throw leg kicks that completely miss. Perez misses a right hand. Still not much happening with two minutes left. Perez sweeps the leg of Alcantara. Alcantara with a front kick. Perez dropped Alcantara for a moment but did nothing to capitalize. This fight is over. It was terrible. 10-9 Perez, 29-28 Alcantara.
Official Result- Alejandro Perez def. Iuri Alcantara by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Dvalishvili throws early and gets the clinch. They trade knees. Saenz lands some big knees to the body as Dvalishvili looks for a takedown. They scramble and Dvalishvili grabs the back. Dvalishvili is cut over his eye. They break as Saenz lands some knees. Dvalishvili gets a takedown. They get to their feet. They break. Dvalishvili with a kick. Saenz with a kick and Dvalishvili counters it into a takedown. They get up and Dvalishvili is working hard for a takedown but the round ends. 10-9 Dvalishvili.
Dvalishvili gets a takedown to start the second but they work back to their feet. Dvalishvili with an elbow on the break. Saenz lands a knee in the clinch. Dvalishvili working hard for a takedown against the fence and gets it for a moment. Dvalishvili with a brief takedown. He gets another. Saenz trying to work towards the cage to use it to get up. Referee Frank Trigg stands them up. Dvalishvili lands a left hand. They trade punches. 10-9 Dvalishvili, 20-18 Dvalishvili.
Dvalishvili gets a takedown after they clash heads. Saenz working to get up but Dvalishvili trips him back down. They get right back up. Dvalishvili lands a spinning back fist. Saenz with a head kick. They trade punches and Saenz connects with a knee and lands a right hand. Saenz with a spinning back fist. Dvalishvili has a takedown stuffed by Saenz. They are scrambling. This fight is a grind. They break and Saenz lands a big uppercut. Close final round. 10-9 Saenz, 29-28 Dvalishvili.
Official Result- Frankie Saenz def. Merab Dvalishvili by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
> Carls John de Tomas (8-1, 0-1 UFC) vs. Alex Perez (18-4, 0-0 UFC) Bantamweights
Perez with some leg kicks early. Perez misses a right hand. Perez with a leg kick. Tomas ducks under a right hand. Perez with some kicks and Tomas lands to the body. Tomas with a left hand. Perez grabs a neck as they drop to the mat and is looking for a choke. He has a D’arce choke locked in and is looking for the tap but loses it. Perez still has the neck and is working for a choke again. Perez gets into the guard of Tomas and lands a big elbow. 10-9 Perez.
Perez gets a takedown into side control and lands a couple of elbows. Tomas gives up his back and Perez is landing punches. Perez looking for full back control and is softening Tomas up with punches. Perez gets the D’arce choke locked in again and this time Tomas taps! Big dominant win for Perez in his UFC debut.
Official Result- Alex Perez def. Carls John de Tomas by submission (D’arce choke) at 1:54 of Round 2
> Luke Sanders (11-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Andre Soukhamthath (11-5, 0-2 UFC) Bantamweights
Soukhamthath misses a head kick. Sanders lands a left hand. Sanders lands a combo starting with a hard left hand. Sanders with a head kick. Both land punches. They trade punches. Sanders with a leg kick. Sanders lands a combo and they clinch against the fence. Sanders has full control against the fence. Sanders with a short elbow. Sanders with an elbow at the end of the round. 10-9 Sanders.
They are trading and Sanders is landing with more volume. Soukhamthath then drops Sanders with a big right hand and then started landing punches. Sanders was face down and Soukhamthath was landing lots of punches and the referee stopped the fight. Sanders protested but he was face down and not intelligently defending himself so the stoppage is justified.
Official Result- Andre Soukhamthath def. Luke Sanders by TKO (punches) at 1:06 of Round 2
> Alexis Davis (#10 WBW, 18-7, 5-2 UFC) vs. Liz Carmouche (#11 WBW, 11-5, 3-3 UFC) Women’s Flyweights
They come out swinging early and Davis gets the clinch against the fence. Carmouche with short punches. They are separated by referee Frank Trigg. Davis with a right hand and Carmouche gets a trip takedown into side control. Carmouche with some knees to the body on the ground. They get to their feet and Carmouche working for another takedown. They get back to the mat. Carmouche in the high guard and landing knees. Davis going for an armbar from the bottom. She almost has it. Davis has it tight but Carmouche survives the round. 10-9 Carmouche.
Davis coming out with combos and then Carmouche counters with combos. Carmouche throws a leg kick and Davis catches it and takes Carmouche down. Davis in the full guard and landing punches to the body. Both looking to transition on the mat. Davis still working in the guard landing punches. Carmouche looking for an opening for a triangle from the bottom. Both women landing on the ground. They are stood up. Both land punches. Carmouche with a front kick and then two right hands. Davis with a leg kick and they clinch. Davis with some short knees. Carmouche with a late takedown. 10-9 Davis, 19-19.
Both coming out swinging. Davis with a leg kick and Carmouche with a big combo and she has Davis hurt but then takes Davis down. That might have been a mistake. Carmouche in the guard and lands some knees. Both landing body punches. Davis looking for an armbar now and she has Carmouche in trouble. Carmouche picks Davis up and slams her down and is able to break the armbar attempt. Carmouche moves to side control. Both landing punches on the mat. Davis looking for an escape and she sweeps to the top. Davis reigning down a lot of punches and she has a big finish to the round. She tried to steal it there. 10-9 Carmouche, 29-28 Carmouche.
Official Result- Alexis Davis def. Liz Carmouche by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
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> Albert Morales (7-2-1, 1-2-1 UFC) vs. Benito Lopez (8-0, 0-0 UFC) Bantamweights
They are swinging right away. Lopez with some kicks and Morales grabs the back and tries for a takedown but it is defended. Morales drops Lopez with a punch but Lopez gets up and drops Morales with a flying knee. Morales gets up and they are in a wild exchange and Morales goes back down. Lopez has a one-arm guillotine choke locked in and is looking to finish. Morales is able to get up and they are throwing bombs at each other. Lopez throws a flying knee and falls to the ground and Morales grabs the back as they stand. Morales landing punches from the back. Lopez with some back elbows. They are stuck there until the end of the round. Wild round. 10-9 Lopez.
Lopez lands a right hand and both land the jab. Lopez with a big body kick. The pace has slowed a little. Morales with a leg kick. Morales lands some left hands. Lopez with a spin kick to the body and then a head kick. Lopez landing big punches as he has Morales hurt. Morales with some kicks and then lands a combo. They trade punches. Morales lands some punches as he presses forward. Morales with a leg kick. Lopez with a jumping head kick. 10-9 Lopez, 20-18 Lopez.
Lopez with a body kick. Morales with a leg kick. They trade kicks. Lopez with a big head kick but he misses his uppercuts. Morales is cut under his right eye. Lopez with another head kick. Morales lands a right hand. They trade punches. Morales with a left hand. Morales with another. Lopez with a high kick. Morales with a left hook. They exchange and Lopez just misses a flying knee. Morales with a leg kick and a late combo. Close fight. 10-9 Morales, 29-28 Lopez.
Official Result- Benito Lopez def. Albert Morales by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
> Eryk Anders (8-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Markus Perez (9-0, 0-0 UFC) Middleweights
Anders closing the distance as he’s looking to land the left hand. Anders has the body lock against the fence and lands a knee. Anders lands a right hand on the break after Perez lands a knee. Anders with a right hand and goes back to the clinch. Perez now has the clinch advantage and he picks Anders up and slams him to the ground. Perez looking for a choke and he is squeezing. Anders gets out and ends up on top. They get to their feet and Anders lands a knee. Anders with a high kick then a knee. Anders with a left hand. Anders grabs the back. Anders with a combo on the fence. Perez lands a left hand and then runs away from Anders. 10-9 Anders.
Perez on the retreat early as Anders presses forward. Anders lands some left hands. Anders stalking Perez around the Octagon. Anders lands some big punches and Perez has a chin on him. Anders with another left hand. Anders lands some more left hands. Perez still running away inside the Octagon but lands a spinning back elbow. Anders with a big left hand. Perez with a body kick. Anders gets on top and lands some left hands. Anders lands some big punches. Perez gets up and Anders gets him down and lands more big punches. 10-9 Anders, 20-18 Anders.
Anders gets the fight down to the mat and is landing. They get to their feet and Anders lands some big punches and has Perez in trouble. Anders gets a takedown and is in the half-guard. Anders landing some punches to the body but not a lot is happening. Anders looking to improve position and is just landing from the top. Anders gets to his feet but gets right back into top position and is landing short punches. Both are tired. 10-9 Anders, 30-27 Anders. Anders won the fight and then called out Lyoto Machida for a fight in February in Brazil.
Official Result- Eryk Anders def. Markus Perez by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-25, 29-28)
> Scott Holtzman (10-2, 3-2 UFC) vs. Darrell Horcher (13-2, 1-1 UFC) Lightweights
Holtzman shoots for an early takedown but it is defended by Horcher. Hotlzman with a knee to the body. Holtzman gets a takedown and is on top landing punches from the half-guard. Horcher able to reverse and he is on top. They get to their feet. They trade and Horcher gets a takedown. They get to their feet and Horcher lands a right hand and Holtzman slips on a kick at the end. Close round. 10-9 Holtzman.
They are trading and Horcher drops Holtzman with a left hand. Horcher then lands two more hard left hands. Holtzman has a cut on his nose and he gets a takedown against the fence. Holtzman landing punches from the top before they get to their feet. Holtzman gets another takedown and is working from the half-guard. Holtzman is landing punches from the top as he postures up and then lands an elbow. They are stood up by the referee and Holtzman is angry about it. It was a bad standup. Holtzman immediately gets another takedown. Holtzman stands and lands to the body and goes back into the guard and lands more ground-and-pound to end the second. 10-9 Holtzman, 20-18 Holtzman.
They exchange punches and Holtzman gets a brief takedown. They get up and separate and trade punches before Holtzman shoots for another takedown. He doesn’t get it but has position standing against the fence. Holtzman lands an elbow and then goes back for another takedown. He gets it and is landing more punches from the top. Horcher has no takedown defense in this fight. They are stood up again and Holtzman isn’t happy again. Holtzman misses a flying knee and Horcher rocks him with a left hand but Holtzman takes the fight back down. Holtzman in half-guard and rides the fight out. It should be a clear win for him. 10-9 Holtzman, 30-27 Holtzman.
Official Result- Scott Holtzman def. Darrell Horcher by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Sterling goes for a kick but Moraes catches the leg and tosses Sterling down, though he gets up. Moraes drops Sterling with a right hand and Moraes goes after him on the mat but Sterling grabs the arm. Moraes quickly gets out and they get to their feet. Moraes then throws a kick but his knee catches Sterling right in the jaw and Sterling goes out cold! A vicious knockout by Moraes in impressive fashion.
Official Result- Marlon Moraes def. Aljamain Sterling by knockout (knee) at 1:07 of Round 1
> Jason Knight (#15, 17-3, 4-2 UFC) vs. Gabriel Benitez (19-6, 3-2 UFC) Featherweights
Knight comes out firing away with right hands to start. Benitez landing kicks and Knight drops Benitez for a moment with a right hand. Knight with a kick and then goes for a takedown and gets it for a moment. The referee stopped the fight and took a point away from Knight as he bit Benitez. That is a first. They get back to action and both are firing away. Benitez gets a takedown and has top position but gets to his feet and Knight follows. Benitez rocks Knight with a left hand. Benitez lands a left hand and then a leg kick. Knight goes for a takedown but it is defended. Benitez gets the round big due to the point deduction. 10-8 Benitez.
Both men land punches to start the second. Knight needs to win these two rounds. They both land combos. Knight gets a takedown but Benitez gets right back up and they clinch. Knight with another takedown but Benitez reversed position to the top. They get to their feet and start exchanging. Benitez is more active with his striking and we have another timeout as Knight poked Benitez in the eye. They get back to action and Benitez is landing more punches and some big left hands. Knight is hurt. 10-9 Benitez, 20-17 Benitez.
Knight trying to push the action but Benitez has counters for him. Benitez lands a big head kick and then a combo. Knight lands a right hook. Benitez lands some right hands followed by a left hand. He lands some more. Knight unable to get any offense going. Knight goes for a takedown but Benitez steps aside and Knight falls to the mat. Benitez landing more combos and Knight just isn’t doing anything. Benitez with a late takedown into mount and he was throwing elbows. Knight tries for a heel hook but time runs out. 10-9 Benitez, 30-26 Benitez.
Official Result- Gabriel Benitez def. Jason Knight by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-27)
> Cub Swanson (#4, 24-7, 9-3 UFC) vs. Brian Ortega (#6, 12-0 1 NC, 4-0 1 NC UFC) Featherweights
Swanson on the attack with leg kicks early on. Ortega looking for openings but Swanson is quick on his feet. They each tag each other with wild punches. Swanson back on the attack with leg kicks. Swanson misses a big right hand but lands a combo in return. Swanson with a hard right hand. Ortega lands a combo in return. Swanson with some right hands to the body. Swanson with a right hand then a head kick then a couple of left hands then a right to the body. Ortega grabs the neck of Swanson and drags him to the mat and has a D’arce choke locked in but Swanson survives the round. It was close. 10-9 Swanson.
Swanson back on the attack with strikes but Ortega is applying pressure and landing some. Ortega is making Swanson miss a lot of his punches. Head kick from Ortega blocked by Swanson. Swanson back to the body and just misses an elbow on the break. Swanson with some body punches and then lands an uppercut. Swanson lands a right hand and then Ortega shoots for a takedown but it is defended. Ortega grabs the neck and has a jumping guillotine choke locked in and Swanson taps out! Wow, a big submission win for Ortega as he remains undefeated.
Official Result- Brian Ortega def. Cub Swanson by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:22 of Round 2
Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC 206: Holloway vs. Pettis, eminating from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The event is headlined by a battle for the Interim UFC Featherweight Championship as Max Holloway takes on former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis. This bout is a replacement for the original main event, which was scheduled to be UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier defending against Anthony Johnson.
This fight will only be a title fight for Holloway after Pettis missed weight on Friday. If Pettis were to win, there would be no interim champion, so there is a lot on the line for Holloway. Holloway has put together one of the most impressive win streaks in the UFC, having won nine straight fights.
The co-main event is a potential barnburner in the welterweight division as Donald Cerrone looks to extend his three-fight win streak when he takes on Matt Brown. A featherweight bout between sluggers Cub Swanson and Doo Ho Choi, and a middleweight bout between Tim Kennedy and Kelvin Gastelum also highlight the main card.
Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 6:30 PM eastern time with preliminary action all the way thru the main card.
Ortiz got a couple of takedowns early but Makovsky was defending. Ortiz got back mount and was looking for a choke when Makovsky got out and reversed with a takedown of his own. They were grappling in a clinch with both landing some knees and elbows. Makovsky got a takedown late but Ortiz reversed into full guard on top as the round ended. 10-9 Ortiz in the first. Ortiz went back into grappling mode in the second and got a takedown and took the back of Makovsky. Ortiz was attacking with punches and elbows from the back and was looking to find a choke. Makovsky was able to scramble out to the feet. Makovsky got a late takedown but Ortiz scrambled out and landed some knees to the body. 10-9 Ortiz in the second and I had him up 20-18. Makovsky got a takedown in the third but Ortiz had the neck but Makovsky got free into the guard. Ortiz was able to get to his feet and was able to push the fight against the fence for a moment. Makovsky was able to defend some takedown attempts from Ortiz before Ortiz finally got him down and moved to mount and was landing some strikes. They got up and Ortiz drug it down for a moment late. Makovsky got a late takedown but Ortiz was able to scramble out onto top. I had the third 10-9 for Ortiz and Ortiz winning 30-27 overall. Ortiz got the decision, but one judge gave the fight to Makovsky. I wouldn’t agree with that at all, but the right guy won.
Official Result- Dustin Ortiz def. Zach Makovsky by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
> Jason Saggo (12-2, 3-1 UFC) vs. Rustam Khabilov (20-3, 6-2 UFC) Lightweights- Khabilov missed weight, coming in at 158.5 pounds
Khabilov was on the attack early with punches and kicks but Saggo came back and landed some kicks before Khabilov landed two big right hands and scored a takedown. Khabilov spent the rest of the round in the guard but was mostly neutralized by Saggo in the guard. It was still a 10-9 round for Khabilov. Both were tentative on their feet landing kicks before Saggo landed a jumping kick. Khabilov was being patient on the feet and found the takedown with less than two minutes to go in the round. Saggo was able to get to his feet but started eating a lot of huge strikes from Khabilov. He had Saggo in trouble late but Saggo escaped. Khabilov was able to reverse a Saggo takedown attempt at the end of the round. A 10-9 round for Khabilov, and I had him up 20-18. They were trading strikes early in the third. Khabilov got a takedown into the guard of Saggo. Khabilov landed a lot from the top. They got up and Khabilov got another takedown. Saggo almost reversed to an armbar but Khabilov escaped to the guard. Khabilov got a third takedown in the round late. That was definitely a 10-9 round for Khabilov and I had him winning a clear 30-27 decision. He took the decision on all the scorecards, and Khabilov called out Kevin Lee in his post-fight interview.
Official Result- Rustam Khabilov def. Jason Saggo by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> John Makdessi (14-5, 7-5 UFC) vs. Lando Vannata (8-1, 0-1 UFC) Lightweights
They were trading back-and-forth early. No real openings were there but Vannata was the aggressor. Makdessi was landing jabs. Out of nowhere Vannata knocked Makdessi out cold with a spinning wheel kick! A highlight reel finish and a big knockout win for Vannata. One of the best knockouts of the year. Vannata may be a lot richer at the end of the night.
Official Result- Lando Vannata def. John Makdessi by knockout (head kick) at 1:40 of Round 1
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> Mitch Gagnon (12-3, 4-2 UFC) vs. Matthew Lopez (8-1, 0-1 UFC) Bantamweights
Lopez got a takedown stuffed early. Gagnon then rocked Lopez with a big punch and swarmed on looking for the finish. Gagnon had Lopez in a lot of trouble landing punch after punch. Gagnon had the back and looked to lock in a choke but Lopez was able to defend and scrambled to guard. Lopez amazingly recovered but the fight should have been stopped. They got up and both men dropped looking for leg locks. Lopez survived the round but clearly 10-9 for Gagnon. Gagnon went for a takedown in the second but Lopez reversed into full guard. Gagnon was able to scramble out but Lopez drug him to the ground and was looking for a choke from the back. Lopez got into mount but Gagnon got back up. Lopez got another takedown late. 10-9 round for Lopez and I have it even 19-19, but Gagnon could’ve gotten a 10-8 first. Gagnon landed a low blow at the start of the third. Lopez recovered and then got a takedown and was grinding from the top. Gagnon was able to get to his feet. Lopez scored another big takedown. Lopez landed quite a few punches from the back. Lopez went for a choke but the fight ended without him finding it. 10-9 third round for Lopez and I have him winning 29-28. It’ll come down to how the first round is scored. Lopez won on all scorecards. Interestingly, no judge gave a 10-8 round in the first for Gagnon, but one judge had a 10-8 round for Lopez, likely the third.
Official Result- Matthew Lopez def. Mitch Gagnon by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
> Valerie Letourneau (#9, 8-5, 3-2 UFC) vs. Viviane Pereira (11-0, 0-0 UFC) Women’s Strawweights- *Letourneau missed weight, coming in at 117.5 pounds
Letourneau caught a leg and scored a takedown and was in the mount against the fence. Letourneau landing punches from the top. Pereira was able to get back to her feet. Pereira had Letourneau against the fence and was trying a takedown but Letourneau is just too big for her. Pereira just holding the clinch and Letourneau lands some knees. 10-9 opening round for Letourneau. They were trading in the second round. Pereira standing a lot on the outside and Letourneau being the more aggressive fighter. Pereira got a takedown off the clinch against the fence. Pereira landed some hammerfists and then let Letourneau back up. 10-9 second round for Pereira, 19-19 after two. They were trading in the third with neither getting the edge. A very slow third round. They got in a clinch and neither got the edge. They traded at the end. No clear round winner in the third. I’m giving it 10-9 to Letourneau for volume, and have it 29-28 Letourneau. Pereira took the fight on two scorecards. Not a bad call as neither did anything in that third round, or in most of the fight.
Official Result- Viviane Pereira def. Valerie Letourneau by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
> Olivier Aubin-Mercier (8-2, 4-2 UFC) vs. Drew Dober (17-7 1 NC, 3-3 1 NC UFC) Lightweights
They were trading earlier and Aubin-Mercier dropped Dober with a left hand briefly. Dober was bleeding heavily from the nose. Aubin-Mercier was landing the jab at will and tagged Dober with a left hand and then dropped him for a moment with a body punch. Dober slipped on a kick. Dober cracked him late with a left hand and another. 10-9 round for Aubin-Mercier. Dober dropped Aubin-Mercier with a left hand and went right into the full guard. Aubin-Mercier grabbed a leg lock and used it to sweep Dober and he ended up into the full guard of Dober. Aubin-Mercier transitioned to the back and was able to get the arm under Dober’s neck and locked in a rear-naked choke. Dober tapped out and Aubin-Mercier gets the win by submission! First win for a Canadian fighter tonight.
Official Result- Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Drew Dober by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:57 of Round 2
They were trading with Krylov landing primarily kicks and Cirkunov punches. Cirkunov got a takedown. Krylov got to his feet. Krylov landed a body kick followed by a right hand. Cirkunov got another takedown but Krylov scrambled up and got a takedown of his own. Cirkunov swept to the top but they scrambled up. Cirkunov landed a big left hand and got another brief takedown. Cirkunov dropped Krylov with a left hand and locked in a deep guillotine and Krylov tapped! Cirkunov with the submission win in the first! That’s eight straight wins overall for Cirkunov, four straight in the UFC. Cirkunov expressed a desire to fight Shogun Rua in his post-fight interview.
Official Result- Misha Cirkunov def. Nikita Krylov by submission (guillotine choke) at 4:38 of Round 2
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> Jordan Mein (29-10, 3-2 UFC) vs. Emil Meek (8-2-1 1 NC, 0-0 UFC) Welterweights
Mein is back from retirement. They traded leg kicks and Mein got a takedown but Meek got right back up. Meek landed a big leg kick and Mein countered with a takedown. They scrambled to their feet. Meek started landing punches that stunned Mein. They traded punches and Mein landed a big right hand. Mein landed two kicks then a left hand and got a takedown. Meek made a grimace and pointed to his ribs. They got up and started trading. Meek hurt Mein with a right hand. Fun first round. 10-9 Mein. Mein landing leg kicks in the second but Meek is coming back with a flurry of punches. Meek scored a takedown. Meek working from half-guard as Mein is doing nothing on the bottom. Meek looking for an arm-triangle in the mount. He had it in but Mein hip escaped. Meek landing punches from the top as the round ended. 10-9 Meek in the second, 19-19 so far. They traded early in the third and Meek pushed Mein against the fence. Meek got a takedown. The pace really slowed. Meek remaining on top and neither doing much. The crowd booing the slow pace of the round. Meek with more punches from the top. Mein tried a kimura but couldn’t get it as the fight ends. 10-9 Meek and I have it 29-28 Meek. All three judges had it the same.
Official Result- Emi Meek def. Jordan Mein by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Tim Kennedy (#10, 18-5, 3-1 UFC) vs. Kelvin Gastelum (#8 WW, 12-2, 7-2 UFC) Middleweights
The first round was mostly all Kennedy as he took Gastelum down multiple times and was wearing him down with a body lock. Gastelum was able to escaped and tagged Kennedy a couple of times and Kennedy had a swollen right eye, and Gastelum rocked him late. I think he stole it at the end so I had it 10-9 Gastelum.
Kennedy tried to put this fight back to a grind in the second with a body lock but Gastelum escaped and was getting the better of the striking battle. Gastelum definitely had a speed edge on the feet and Kennedy started to show signs of gassing as the round wore on. 10-9 round for Gastelum and I had him up 20-18.
Gastelum was picking Kennedy apart on the feet early in the third round and had him close to being finished. He continued to tee off and dropped Kennedy and finally finished it in the third as John McCarthy stepped in. A big win for Gastelum and he looked very good in this fight. He expressed his desire to go back to 170 pounds after the fight. He looked great here so that might not be the right move.
Official Result- Kelvin Gastelum def. Tim Kennedy by TKO (punches) at 2:45 of Round 3
> Cub Swanson (#4, 23-7, 8-3 UFC) vs. Doo Ho Choi (#11, 15-1, 3-0 UFC) Featherweights
They were going back-and-forth on their feet with both men landing hard punches. The output was more Swanson but Choi was connecting more and landing with more power and he had some real snap on his punches. All action on the feet in the first round. I had it 10-9 Choi.
The second round was so awesome. They were throwing punches back and forth and both men had the other close to being finished. They were just cracking each other in an amazing sequence. Swanson changed the pace for a moment but they got back up and were cracking each other with punches again. At one point, Swanson landed a cartwheel kick and a spinning back fist in back-to-back sequences. They both somehow survived. One of the best rounds of the year. I had it 10-9 Swanson, 19-19 after two.
The third round was nuts as well. They were just hitting each other with everything they had. Swanson cracked Choi with so many punches it was unreal how his chin held up. Both men were just hitting each other so hard. Swanson had Choi in trouble a lot but Choi was unreal in survivng. It was another amazing round. Swanson dropped him at the end. We have a late front runner for fight of the year. I had round three 10-9 for Swanson and the fight 29-28 for Swanson.
The crowd went crazy after the fight. All three judges had the fight for Swanson. He credited Choi for calling him out and making him question himself and said he trained hard for the fight. Choi- “If this is what losing feels like, I’m going to train even more, and I’m not going to lose again.” He said he is a huge fan of Swanson and really wanted to fight him.
Official Result- Cub Swanson def. Doo Ho Choi by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
> Donald Cerrone (#5, #10 LW, 31-7 1 NC, 18-4 UFC) vs. Matt Brown (#14, 20-15, 13-9 UFC) Welterweights
The first round mostly stayed standing and they were cracking each other, but Cerrone had more volume and had Brown in trouble. Brown did land some big punches and had Cerrone in a triangle choke at one point, but Cerrone escaped. Brown came on better at the end of the round. I had it 10-9 for Cerrone.
They were trading and Brown dropped Cerrone at one point and had him in trouble. Cerrone then ended up dropping Brown a few moments later. Both were landing, but as the round wore on, it looked like Cerrone’s punches were doing more damage and had Brown in more trouble.. Brown’s face was a bloody mess in this round. It was close, but I had it 10-9 for Cerrone based on damage. I had it 20-18 Cerrone.
They hugged at the start of the third round, but it didn’t last much longer after that. Cerrone landed a perfectly placed head kick and Brown went out cold! A highlight-reel knockout win for Cerrone! Cerrone said he wanted on the Denver card on January 28 in his post-fight interview.
Official Result- Donald Cerrone def. Matt Brown by knockout (head kick) at :34 of Round 3
> Max Holloway (#2, 16-3, 12-3 UFC) vs. Anthony Pettis (#5, 19-5, 6-4 UFC) Interim UFC Featherweight Championship for Holloway, Pettis missed weight, coming in at 148 pounds
The first round was a lot of a feeling out process. Holloway was leaving himself wide open and Pettis was able to strike accordingly with side kicks and high kicks. Holloway started to find his strikes late and was landing clean and hard strikes as the round progressed. It started going his way at the end. I had it 10-9 for Holloway.
Holloway knocked Pettis down early in the second and Pettis got up and was starting to be more aggressive, likely sensing he was down in the fight. He kept closing in on Holloway, but that allowed Holloway to attack the body. Holloway was getting the better of the exchanges so Pettis tried to turn this into a clinch grind but the round ended before he could get anything going. I had round two 10-9 for Holloway, and him up 20-18.
As we start round three, it appears Pettis has a broken hand. It clearly has affected his gameplan as he stopped throwing his right hand and was mostly going for kicks. Holloway was executing his offense very well, mixing his striking with some well-timed trip takedowns. Pettis did hurt him with some jabs but that seems to be his main course of offense. Holloway then landed a beautiful sequence to the body that stunned and dropped Pettis and Holloway poured on the punches until Yves Lavigne stepped in and stopped it. A big finish by Holloway and he is now the Interim UFC Featherweight Champion.
Holloway called out Jose Aldo to unify the championships at UFC 208 in Brooklyn in February. Pettis said he broke his right hand with the first punch, and said he was going back to 155 pounds as the weight cut to 145 pounds is too much for him.
Official Result- Max Holloway def. Anthony Pettis by TKO (strikes) at 4:50 of Round 3
Here’s some advice for your gambling and fantasy needs for Saturday’s UFC 206 event in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, headlined by Max Holloway taking on Anthony Pettis for the Interim UFC Featherweight Championship on pay-per-view.
MAIN CARD
Interim UFC Featherweight Championship- Max Holloway (16-3) vs. Anthony Pettis (19-5)
Betting Odds: Holloway (-210), Pettis (+175) DraftKings Salaries: Holloway- $8,800, Pettis- $7,400 Key Statistic: Pettis has never been finished in his career Analysis: This is a very interesting and high-level fight for the interim championship at 145 pounds. Holloway is on fire, having won nine straight fights, but he fights the toughest opponent he has had since that streak began in Pettis. Pettis is a man who has never been finished in his career, extremely durable and ultra flashy. He presents a different style that Holloway hasn’t seen in those nine fights. Holloway has to be prepared for an opponent who will look to finish him in any possible way. Holloway is a pressure fighter whereas Pettis is someone who is patient in looking for openings. Holloway is much improved over his young career, and he throws a lot of volume on his feet. Pettis may try and take this fight to the mat and Holloway has been submitted in his career. This is really a close fight. With it being so close, a bet on Pettis isn’t a bad move at all. Holloway is significantly higher in fantasy salaries, and I don’t see him finishing Pettis, which limits his value. However, this fight will go 25 minutes if Holloway is ahead, and volume adds up. Both men are good fantasy plays as Pettis can score the finish.
Donald Cerrone (31-7 1 NC) vs. Matt Brown (20-15)
Betting Odds: Cerrone (-290), Brown (+245) DraftKings Salaries: Cerrone- $9,300, Brown- $6,900 Key Statistic: Cerrone with 16 career wins by submission Analysis: Cerrone and Brown are ready to throw down in a welterweight slugfest serving as the co-main event on Saturday. Cerrone has been on a tear since moving up to 170 pounds, winning three straight to become a bonafide contender. Brown needs a win badly in this one, but it is a tall order. As exciting as Cerrone is in fights, he is also very smart and calculated, and his best shot at winning is actually getting the mat to the ground. Cerrone has won 16 fights by submission, while Brown has been submitted ten times in his career. Cerrone is better on the feet, but Brown is good at applying pressure, and Brown will have a size edge over him. Cerrone is just too technically good for Brown, and I see a submission win for him. Cerrone has the highest salary value on this card, and is the biggest betting favorite. He is a good play for both.
Cub Swanson (23-7) vs. Doo Ho Choi (15-1)
Betting Odds: Swanson (+190), Choi (-230) DraftKings Salaries: Swanson- $7,300, Choi- $8,900 Key Statistic: Choi has 12 wins by knockout Analysis: Swanson is a big-time veteran of the sport, with 12 years of experience at just 33-years-old. Choi is a super prospect at 25-years-old and winner of 13 straight fights. Choi has three wins in the UFC, all by knockout in the first round. This is his toughest test. Swanson is quick on his feet but tends to keep his hands low, and Choi is an excellent counterpuncher with tremendous power. He is also good enough of a defensive wrestler that he will be able to negate any level changes that Swanson comes at him with. Swanson has only been knocked out once in his career, but he does have a lot of mileage on him. If there is a fighter who is going to be the next to finish him on the feet, Choi is the perfect candidate. I like Choi a lot in this fight. However, with all of that being said, Swanson holds some real value at $7,300 in fantasy as he is Choi’s toughest fight yet, and there is always that potential for upsets by veterans.
Tim Kennedy (18-5) vs. Kelvin Gastelum (13-2)
Betting Odds: Kennedy (-135), Gastelum (+115) DraftKings Salaries: Kennedy- $8,300, Gastelum- $7,900 Key Statistic: Kennedy hasn’t fought since September 2014 Analysis: Kennedy welcomes Gastelum back to 185 pounds in his first fight in over 26 months. Kennedy is a strong middleweight, and Gastelum is going to be giving up some size. Kennedy has power and is a great wrestler, though Gastelum is a solid wrestler himself. Gastelum is a southpaw, and he might have a slight edge on the feet, but Kennedy is a pressure fighter who isn’t afraid to turn a fight into a grind. He is an excellent grappler who knows how to keep opponents on the mat, and he is adept at winning scrambles. This might not be a crowd-pleasing fight, but I’m picking Kennedy to win it by decision. They’re close on the betting odds, so you can make some money on this fight. I’m not sure if I would favor either in fantasy line-ups as I don’t expect a finish here. Kennedy would be the play there, though, with his ability to score takedowns, which rack up points.
Jordan Mein (29-10) vs. Emil Meek (8-2 1 NC)
Betting Odds: Mein (-155), Meek (+135) DraftKings Salaries: Mein- $9,000, Meek- $7,200 Key Statistic: Mein coming out of retirement to fight for first time since January 2015 Analysis: Mein makes his return to competition as he welcomes the debuting Meek. It’s a tough first fight coming out of retirement for Mein, who is still young at 27, but will be fighting for the 40th time. Mein is a skilled striker with good power, with 16 knockout wins. He has also been finished seven times in his career. Meek has killer instinct as all of his wins have come by a finish, and he has ultra power in his hands, and he is a better grappler. Mein has stayed training during his retirement, but ring rust is hard to shake off. He is the more talented fighter, and that might be enough to get him the win. Meek is an excellent play in fantasy at a $7,200 salary. You’d be foolish to not consider him.
PRELIMS
Nikita Krylov (21-4) vs. Misha Cirkunov (12-2)
Betting Odds: Krylov (+100), Cirkunov (-120) DraftKings Salaries: Krylov- $8,100, Cirkunov- $8,100 Key Statistic: Krylov has never been the distance in his career Analysis: This is a rare fight between two prospects at 205 pounds, and it’ll determine which one is closer to title contention. Both men are big light heavyweights. Krylov is a proven finisher, having won all 21 of his fights by finish. He also has been finished in all four of his losses. Cirkunov has ten wins by finish, and has been submitted in both of his losses. Krylov is a better striker while Cirkunov is a better wrestler. This is a dead-even fight, both in betting odds and fantasy value. Krylov is the better bet to score a finish, and he would be the fantasy play in this one.
Olivier Aubin-Mercier (8-2) vs. Drew Dober (17-7 1 NC)
Betting Odds: Aubin-Mercier (-170), Dober (+150) DraftKings Salaries: Aubin-Mercier- $8,200, Dober- $8,000 Key Statistic: Aubin-Mercier averages just under three takedowns per fight Analysis: Two southpaws match up in an interesting bout at 155 pounds. Aubin-Mercier is big and athletic for the weight class and is a strong takedown artist. Dober is more technical on his feet, but he has an underrated submission game. Aubin-Mercier has to work his takedown game as Dober will make him pay on the feet, especially with counters. Aubin-Mercier is just a slightly better fighter, and he has seven wins by submission. I feel like he is getting his eighth, and is a good fantasy play. I would avoid Dober at his salary.
Valerie Letourneau (8-5) vs. Viviane Pereira (12-0)
Betting Odds: Letourneau (-175), Pereira (+155) DraftKings Salaries: Letourneau- $8,400, Pereira- $7,800 Key Statistic: Letourneau has a 7-inch height advantage Analysis: Pereira makes her UFC debut boasting an undefeated record, but gets a former title challenger in Letourneau. Letourneau is going to have a huge size advantage, with seven inches in height, five inches in reach, and she cuts a lot of weight to make 115 pounds. She is the better striker of the two. Pereira is going to have to hope for a takedown and some time from the top. I think Letourneau will be able to keep it standing and take a decision. Neither fighter is a recommended fantasy play in your line-ups.
Mitch Gagnon (12-3) vs. Matthew Lopez (8-1)
Betting Odds: Gagnon (-155), Lopez (+135) DraftKings Salaries: Gagnon- $8,600, Lopez- $7,600 Key Statistic: Gagnon has eleven wins by submission Analysis: Gagnon returns after being out of action for almost two years. Lopez looks to rebound from his first career loss suffered in his UFC debut. Gagnon is quick on his feet but lacks the true power that Lopez holds. Gagnon is the better takedown artist, and he is more adept at finding submissions. Lopez has seven wins by finish, all in the first round, so he is dangerous. Gagnon has eleven submission wins, ten of which came in the first round. This will be explosive. Lopez is a good value play in fantasy contests at a modest $7,600 salary.
John Makdessi (14-5) vs. Lando Vannata (8-1)
Betting Odds: Makdessi (+160), Vannata (-185) DraftKings Salaries: Makdessi- $7,500, Vannata- $8,500 Key Statistic: Both men land over five significant strikes per minute Analysis: This will be a high-volume action fight. Makdessi has probably peaked as a fighter as he fights the same fight offensively and defensively in his recent fights. Vannata has taken notice of that, and he himself is an excellent lightweight prospect. As good as Makdessi has looked, this feels like a fight to get Vannata a win. Makdessi can be tricky on his feet, but Vannata has more tricks of his own, and has a good grappling game to back him up. He is more powerful, more athletic, and better overall, and this feels like a lock for him to win. He is a good bet and a great fantasy play as I see him getting a finish.
Jason Saggo (12-2) vs. Rustam Khabilov (20-3)
Betting Odds: Saggo (+170), Khabilov (-200) DraftKings Salaries: Saggo- $7,100, Khabilov- $9,100 Key Statistic: Khabilov has 28 takedowns in UFC competition Analysis: Saggo is a potent striker but he has a huge test in front of him in the form of Khabilov, one of the most-gifted takedown artists at 155 pounds. Khabilov averages over four takedowns per 15 minutes, and we know that will be coming. He is also solid on his feet. The biggest knock on Khabilov is his ability to be completely inactive in fights. It could cost him and Saggo is a decent underdog pick. If he doesn’t give away rounds, Khabilov is a safe bet to win the fight. I’m not sure how valuable he will be in fantasy contests, as while takedowns score a lot of points, he isn’t a guaranteed finish, something his $9,100 salary will need.
Zach Makovsky (19-7) vs. Dustin Ortiz (15-6)
Betting Odds: Makovsky (-160), Ortiz (+140) DraftKings Salaries: Makovsky- $8,500, Ortiz- $7,700 Key Statistic: Ortiz has never been finished in his career Analysis: These guys are mirror images, and this should be a technical flyweight fight to open the action on Saturday. It could also become a very boring fight. Ortiz has never been finished in his career, and I don’t expect that to change on Saturday. Makovsky is a more skilled wrestler, and Ortiz may just be a tad better on the feet. Neither man will likely take a lot of chances, but both could be fighting for their roster spot. I would pick Makovsky to win this fight by a decision. I wouldn’t play either in fantasy contests, but if I had to, Ortiz has better value at a $7,700 salary.
