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RFA 18 Play-by-Play: Results & Updates



Sherdog.com contributor Trula Howe reports from Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, N.M., at approximately 9:15 p.m. ET with live RFA 18 updates.

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Check out the MMA Forums to discuss the card or enter your comments and predictions below.

Jesse Long vs. Federico Betancourt

Round 1

Jesse Long made his mutual professional debut against Federico Betancourt. After weathering an early storm by Betancourt, Long established his wrestling dominance and after about a minute of dominant wrestling, locked in a brabo choke that put Betancourt to sleep, (belatedly noticed by the ref after about 10 seconds of unconsciousness), giving Long the win by technical submission at 3:35 of the 1st round.

The Official Result

Jesse Long Def. Federico Betancourt Technical Submission (Brabo Choke) R1 3:35

Tim Sosa vs. Zac Riley

Round 1

Riley fires first with legkick, headkick and spinning backkick, Sosa clinches and goes for takedown but gets reversed, Riley lands in half guard, Sosa pulls it back to full guard, throwing elbows up, attempting triangle, but Riley stands up, Riley powers forward, rocking Sosa back with jabs, then Sosa pulls in a double and lands the takedown against the cage, pushing Riley's legs over his head and after about a minute of no position advancement, Sosa is able to posture up and drop elbows, standing up, then dropping back into Riley's full guard to finish the round. 10-9 Riley.

Round 2

Sosa started the action in the second round, but a little too gung-ho, and landed an accidental low blows. Riley took less than a minute to recover, and the two exchanged body kicks. Riley scored another takedown to half guard, but pulled himself down to the floor. After little advancement, the two stood again, and Riley held the clinch against the cage until the referee separated them. back in the middle , and both fighters throwing combinations, Sosa pulled in a Thai clinch and delivered several knees to body of Riley, Riley again held the clinch against the cage, Sosa throwing intermittent knees and a nice uppercut, answered by short sharp elbows to the head by Sosa. Riley worked on a single, but Sosa denied and the round ended. 10-9 Sosa.

Round 3

Riley landed a legkick that tripped Sosa, but he popped back up and landed a stiff right cross. Riley grabbed him in for the clinch again, they reverse dominant position several times, Sosa throwing knees from either side, then Sosa lifted Riley completely off them at and dropped him down into side control, Riley tried to escape by rolling in different directions, but Sosa maintained dominant position, moving to half guard, Eventually Riley is able to pull it back to full guard, but Sosa stayed busy, dropping elbows and head shots. Sosa postured up and dropped a couple bombs then dropped back into Riley's guard, finishing the round with more elbows and head shots. Definitely Sosa's round, and the easiest round to judge of the three.

The Official Result

Tim Sosa Def. Zac Riley Decision (Unanimous) [30-27, 30-27, 29-28] R3 5:00

Adrian Cruz vs. Justin Linn

Round 1

Linn leads with a legkick, then the two threw simultaneous kicks, clashed knees audibly in the middle of the cage and Cruz immediately grabbed his leg, unable to put weight on it. Linn rushed in and Cruz fell down and covered up while the referee rushed in the stop the fight. :22 TKO for Linn. Possible broken bone, cage doctors still examining.

The Official Result

Justin Linn Def. Adrian Cruz TKO (Leg Injury) R1 0:22

Mehdi Baghdad vs. Evan DeLong

Round 1

Delong threw the first kick, briefly caught by Baghad. Delong landed a hook that rocked Baghdad and he rushed in, but Baghdad stood up right away. Delong landed a couple more jabs, Baghdad caught another leg kick, Baghdad paced methodically, waiting for his window, and then he found it. He rushes in with a flurry of hooks, finishing the combination with a perfect headkick directly to the face of Delong. Although Delong stayed up for a moment, two more left hooks dropped him to the mat cold, giving the KO win to Baghdad at 1:55 of the first round.

The Official Result

Mehdi Baghdad Def. Evan DeLong KO (Head Kick and Punches) R1 1:55

Brenda Gonzales vs. Heather Bassett

Round 1

After a brief exchange the two clinched, with Gonzales on the outside driving in knees. Gonzales' push-kick was answered by Bassett's slow headkick. Basset's attempt at a spinning-back fist was answered by a stiff jab from Gonzales. Gonzales threw a legkick and Bassett dove in for a takedown, which ended with Bassett in the half guard of Gonzales against the cage. Gonzales worked to control the wrists of Gonzales, while pulling one arm through and cranking her hips, and Bassett tapped out at 2:48 due to the armbar.

The Official Result

Brenda Gonzales Def. Heather Bassett Submission (Armbar) R1 2:48

Chidi Njokuani vs. Steve Hanna

Round 1

Hanna pushed forward, shooting early. Njokuani stepped back and threw one solid leg kick. The two clinched and Hanna is working unsuccessfully for a takedown. Njokuani is throwing rib shots, Hanna throwing knees. Hanna grabbed one leg, still working for takedown, but Njokuani stepped out and took control of the cage center landing jabs and cutting angles. Again Hanna shot for a takedown, but Njokuani just stepped away. More unchecked legkicks scored by Njokuani. Then Hanna took control center of the cage, but in the middle of one angle a left hook dropped Hanna. Njokuani just motioned for him to stand back up, not willing to go to the ground, landing a two loud body shots, and Hanna tried again to take Njokuani down. Round finished in the clinch. 10-9 Njokuani.

Round 2

Njokuani landed a body kick followed by another unchecked leg kick. Hanna holding the cage control, but not really throwing anything. Hanna finally got his takedown, although Njokuani quickly reversed into the guard, landing a few head shots while Hanna apparently worked on a triangle attempt. Njokuani leaned back and dropped a couple elbows, and after a lull in the action, the referee stood them up. Hanna again took the fight to the clinch against the cage, putting up a couple half-hearted knees. wWhen the referee again separated them, the bleeding cut on Hanna's face could be seen, apparently opened by one of Njokuani's elbows. 10-9 Hanna.

Round 3

Njokuani started the third round with two quick jabs and a leg kick, followed by a superman right hook that hit Hanna flush. Hanna kept coming forward, and again brought the fight back to the clinch against the cage, working for another takedown. Knees exchanged and Hanna again gets the fight down to the ground, but Njokuani reversed on the way down, lands in his guard, remaining briefly then standing back up. The two trade leather and Njokuani lands more unchecked leg kicks and a body kick, finishing with a left hook. Hanna fell down and motioned for Njokuani to join him on the ground, but Njokuani declined and motioned him to get back up, so did the ref. Njokuani did get the fight to the ground again, and dropped relentless and vicious body and head shots, then stepped back again, and the ref motioned for Hanna to get up. Hanna just held on to finish the round. 10-9 Njokuani.

The Official Result

Chidi Njokuani Def. Steve Hanna Decision (Unanimous) [30-26, 30-27, 30-27] R3 5:00

Ulysses Gomez vs. Abel Cullum

Round 1

Cullum shook off four years of ring rust with a quickness. After checking a couple leg kicks, he rushed in and grabbed Gomez taking him down to guard, Gomez reversed but Cullum had an iron grip on his head, leaving no escape from the guillotine choke, and Gomez tapped at 1:29 of the 1st round.

The Official Result

Abel Cullum Def. Ulysses Gomez Submission (Guillotine Choke) R1 1:29

Matt Manzanares vs. Alexandre Pantoja

Round 1

After a bit of measuring, Pantoja struck forward first, but was immediately countered by Manzanares. Then Manzanares landed a right hook that made Pantoja step back. A few combinations are exchanged as both men are evidently trying to pace themselves for a five-round war. Leg kicks thrown by Pantoja, and are countered by Manzanares. Pantoja pushed several hooks in followed by a grab to clinch, but after no progress made the referee split and reset. Body shots for Manzanares, followed by more measuring and pacing. The round is finished with a nice combo exchange. 10-9 Manzanares.

Round 2

Pantoja drills jabs. Manzanares is counterstriking accurately and with volume. Pantoja grabs and clinches in, then gets the takedown to full mount, where he attempts an armbar. Manzanares escapes and the two stand again. Manzanares' striking is on the money, but Pantoja's chin is solid and he counters before getting the takedown. He takes Manzanares' back and sinks in the rear-naked choke. Manzanares refuses to tap, deciding to go to sleep instead, and this time the referee saw him lose consciousness.

The Official Result

Alexandre Pantoja Def. Matt Manzanares Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R2 2:38
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