UFC 277 ‘Pena vs. Nunes 2’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Orion Cosce (172.5: Missed Weight) vs. Mike Mathetha (169.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cosce (-175), Mathetha (+150)

Round 1

Who’s ready for some Texas-based action tonight? The UFC sure is, with a lucky 13 bouts going down in the American Airlines Center in Dallas, culminating with a pair of rematches that have belts on the line. Before we get up there, we need to churn through some prelims, and the night starts with what should be a lot of action for as long as it lasts. In a fight initially booked at welterweight, Cosce (7-1, 0-1 UFC) missed weight by a pound and a half ahead of his contest with “Blood Diamond” Mathetha (3-1, 0-1 UFC), and it’s anyone’s guess how it will affect his performance – although it will hurt his pocketbook should he record a bonus-worthy victory or fight. Despite the weight miss, the fighters are cordial and they touch gloves in front of referee Jacob Montalvo. It’s on! The New Zealand native starts off the fight with several kicks, keeping Cosce at range early. Cosce drops back and puts his hands in the air when Mathetha lands flush with a few punches and a kick, and he does not press forward. Instead, Mathetha works him with kicks from afar, until he frustrates Cosce enough to wing an overhand right. As the fist smashes into the face of “Blood Diamond,” Cosce changes levels and settles to jam Mathetha into the wall instead of securing a takedown. The fans start letting out “woos” as Cosce continues to grind, and Mathetha rips a few short knees to the body to their delight. They trade knees on the inside as Cosce holds on tight, and the knees appear more effective for the Kiwi as he turns Cosce around and lines a few more up. When Mathetha turns his man around, Cosce threatens with a hip toss by wrapping his arm around the back of Mathetha’s neck, only for it to fail. Cosce finds another angle when they are tied up, and he throws Mathetha to the mat, landing right in side control. The American lands a few punches and forces Mathetha to scramble, allowing Cosce to grab back control for a moment and look for an armbar. As Mathetha explodes out of the position, Cosce does not let him go, pulling off a belly-to-back suplex that inadvertently lands Cosce on his own head. Mathetha tries to take his back, but Cosce scoots around to get top position. Mathetha once more works his way upright, and he kicks Cosce upside the head and falls over as echoes of horns blare in the arena.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cosce
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Cosce
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cosce

Round 2

The welterweights meet in the middle, and they start off just like the first round, with Mathetha picking at him with rangy kicks to the body and legs. Cosce fires back with a high kick, and it bounces off the shoulder. Cosce connects with a left hand, and Mathetha is the one to try for some kind of level change. This is everything Cosce could ask for, as he turns Mathetha around, thwarting the try, and goes back to crushing “Blood Diamond” into the fence like he was trying to squeeze blood from a stone. Cosce calmly works the thighs with knees as he moves for a half-hearted level change. As he moves his upper body down, he suddenly springs up with a left elbow over the top to Mathetha’s surprise. Cosce drops down for a double-leg takedown entry, and Mathetha fights the hands to not let Cosce clasp them around his hips. As Mathetha manages to separate, his posture is changed and his strikes appear more labored. Cosce’s sharper strikes find the target quicker, and he shrugs off a body kick and a head kick. Cosce targets the body with punches, and Mathetha replies with a knee and an elbow. As they crash together like ships in the night, Mathetha awkwardly turns about and suddenly accelerates, with his elbow blasting Cosce right in the face while Cosce reaches out with a standing back fist. Cosce does not know where he is at the moment, wobbling back to the fence as Mathetha tries to recover from the off-balance move as well. Mathetha charges, but his pressure ends up putting Cosce into the wall after scoring with a flush knee that bends Cosce over. Cosce gathers himself, trying to shake out the cobwebs, he clinches up tight. Mathetha pushes him off, knees Cosce in the face a few times, and one knee rocks Cosce and makes Mathetha fall over at the same time. Cosce blinks it out and lets Mathetha stand up, so that they can brawl for a few seconds before the dramatic round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mathetha
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Mathetha
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Mathetha

Round 3

Mathetha controls the cage early with distance strikes, chipping away with leg strikes before going up top with a knee. Cosce returns fire, aiming most of his blows to the midsection, and Mathetha knees him a few more times for good measure. Cosce moves in for a double, and he secures a smooth throw in the form of a lateral drop that plants Mathetha on the floor. The Kiwi uses every bit of energy he has to stand back up, but once he does, Cosce follows him and takes his back. “Galaxy” drags Mathetha down from behind and sets up a body triangle as he hunts for a rear-naked choke, and Mathetha is trapped and trying to turn through it. Cosce considers shifting over to full mount, and he threatens with an arm-triangle choke as he moves over to the mount position. Cosce crushes his shoulder on the throat to lock the choke up, and Mathetha bucks him off with a furious movement. Cosce remains in smothering top control, where he drops down his fists a few times before hunting for an arm-triangle on the other side. When that too fails, Cosce rails his man with increasingly effective elbows. Mathetha attempts to scramble, and this puts him in a precarious position as Cosce briefly claims north-south posture. “Blood Diamond” turns, his shine starting to fade, as Cosce takes his back once more and hooks in the body lock. Every time Mathetha moves, Cosce follows him smoothly, eventually taking mount back again and pounding Mathetha with an elbow. Mathetha eventually gets Cosce back to his half guard, but Cosce rides out the round in this position and concludes the fight with ground-and-pound.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cosce (29-28 Cosce)
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Cosce (29-28 Cosce)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cosce (29-28 Cosce)

The Official Result

Orion Cosce def. Mike Mathetha via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Nicolae Negumereanu (205) vs. Ihor Potieria (204)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Potieria (-130), Negumereanu (+110)

Round 1

Like the bus that couldn’t slow down, violence-heavy fights keep on moving. This next match comes at 205 pounds, as the resurgent Romanian finisher Negumereanu (12-1, 3-1 UFC) and his 83% stoppage rate greet debuting Ukrainian Potieria (19-2, 0-0 UFC), who counters with a 79% finish rate on his own end. Referee Kerry Hatley may have his hands full with this light heavyweight battle, as these two combine for 20 first-round stoppages in their careers. There is no glove touch, and Potieria practically sprints out of his corner but does not engage with anything. The Ukrainian jabs out a few times before starting a conversation, and he works “Nick” with kicks to the calf and right hands on the jaw. Negumereanu responds with a right hand over the top, and he presses forward to go after a takedown. Negumereanu keeps Potieria pushed up tightly to the wall, and he hunts for a trip as he ties his foe’s leg up with his own. Potieria snakes his own leg out of the tie-up, but as he does, Negumereanu nails him with a right hand over the top before squeezing him against the wire more. With leverage in his favor, Negumereanu topples over and flattens Potieria on his back. Negumereanu begins to hammer his opponent with heavy punches, and Potieria recovers to full guard. The newcomer bursts back to his knees, giving up his back in the process, but this does not work against him as he is able to get upright before Negumereanu can take it. Negumereanu scoops up a single-leg takedown and plops Potieria right back down again, and Potieria lays on his back and takes a few kicks before Negumereanu lets him up. Negumereanu catches Potieria with a left hand, and Potieria pays him back with two low kicks. Negumereanu sneaks a right hand over the top, and he counters a Potieria leg kick as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Negumereanu
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Negumereanu
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Negumereanu

Round 2

Fists get bumped to start the round, and Negumereanu comes out hot, winging punches and catching Potieria unaware. Potieria rebounds with a solid right hand, but he gets stood up with a counter left. Negumereanu times a leg kick to put a straight right down the pipe, and Potieria takes it flush and starts to get his jab going. Potieria snipes his man with a left hook as Negumereanu goes for a kick, and both men start getting excited and ready to brawl. Negumereanu clips him with a right, and he lands another that shakes the beard, but Potieria settles and tosses out low kicks. Potieria comes in and they clash heads by accident, and Negumereanu lands harder in an exchange and rocks the Ukrainian. Negumereanu clinches his foe up and pushes him to the wall, where he unloads with elbows, uppercuts and a spinning back fist for good measure. When Negumereanu stands back, Potieria’s hands drop as he looks spent. Negumereanu, on the other hand, is still fresh as a daisy as they reach the midpoint of the second frame. Potieria goes for a spinning strike, but it is so telegraphed that the fans in the back rows see it coming first. Negumereanu mixes in a level change with knees, and he follows them with fists that knock Potieria to the fencing. Knowing he has Potieria on the ropes, Negumereanu unleashes a fury of fists that batter “The Duelist” up against the wire. A crisp uppercut dislodges the mouthpiece of Potieria and send it clear into the stands, and Negumereanu does not let up one moment. With looping punches, powerful uppercuts and a nasty knee in the middle of a salvo, Negumereanu works Potieria over with everything he has. “Nick” clobbers Potieria with punches and knees until Hatley steps in to save Potieria from his own toughness. When Hatley intervenes, Potieria’s legs give way beneath him immediately, and he slumps to the mat with nothing left to give. What a performance for the Romanian, who finds himself on a four-fight win streak inside the Octagon and positions himself as one to watch at 205 pounds going forward.

The Official Result

Nicolae Negumereanu def. Ihor Potieria R2 3:33 via TKO (Punches and Knees)

Joselyne Edwards (137.5: Missed Weight) vs. Ji Yeon Kim (135)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Edwards (-125), Kim (+105)

Round 1

The second of two fights once set for standard weight classes only to have one competitor miss weight is around the corner. In her unsuccessful return to bantamweight after a trip to 145 pounds, Edwards (11-4, 2-2 UFC) tipped the scales 1.5 pounds above the limit when she stepped up on short notice. She will be taking on flyweight convert Kim (9-5-2, 3-5 UFC) and will almost certainly hold a size advantage against the struggling South Korean. A win would go long way for either of these ladies, and referee Mike Beltran understands this as much as they do and is ready for what comes next. What does actually come next is a touch of gloves. Edwards takes the center of the Octagon immediately, and she walks through a few punches from Kim to fire back heavier. Edwards scores low kicks, and Kim throws back with similar blows, as they try to find their respective ranges. Edwards steps in with a high kick that misses, and a right hand that collides with the shoulder. Kim sneaks a right hand as Edwards comes in, and the Panama native lines up a few more leg kicks. “La Pantera” jumps forward with a switch kick to the gut, and Kim keeps moving on the outside in an effort to find an angle to get in. The pitter-patter leg kicks from Edwards continue to connect, and she tries another jumping switch kick that comes up short of the mark. Kim lines a right hand down the pipe, and Edwards leans back and shrugs it off. When Kim strings a few punches together, Edwards marches through them to chain a combination together. Kim keeps laterally moving, and she circles into a solid body kick. The ladies swing and miss with punches and kicks, as Kim remains on the outside keeping a safe range from taking any blow flush. Edwards plods forward, pushing out a front kick, and Kim scores a left hand but cannot do more as she backs off when Edwards comes at her. With 30 seconds to go, both women let their hands fly, ignoring head movement and much defense so that they can brawl it out. Kim appears to get the worse of an exchange, forcing her to back off and reevaluate this decision. Edwards clinches her up and plows her into the wall, where they trade knees until the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Edwards
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Edwards
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Edwards

Round 2

Fists get touched to open up the second round, and Kim reaches with lunging punches so that she can touch Edwards before she gets countered. Kim spins with a back kick and a back fist, and both come up short. Edwards continues her calm, straight-forward movement, where she busts up Kim’s nose with punches. Like the end of the last round, Kim steels herself and starts throwing haymakers, and Edwards obliges her and connects with some of her own. Kim once more is the first to separate, and she skips on the outside to score a right hand over the top. Edwards blinks it out and returns to her kick-heavy approach, aiming kicks to the calves, ribs and dome. Edwards stabs her toes to the liver, and Kim blocks a subsequent head kick and measures a right hand that staggers Edwards back – not from any noteworthy damage, but due to a loss of balance. Kim comes forward with a leaping leg kick, and Edwards replies with a few down low as well. Kim turns her hips into another kick, one that lands with an audible slap. Kim stands right in front of Edwards, and she clashes her shin twice into Edwards’ when Edwards tries to kick her. Edwards keeps pawing out with her low kick, and as Kim kicks her in the side, Edwards boots Kim in the body that is much harder. Kim ignores this so that she can walk the Panama native down and nail her with an overhand right, and Edwards is surprised but not overly concerned with it, as she swats away the remainder of the combination. Edwards strides forward with front kicks, just missing with one up top, and Kim reaches her with a straight left. The South Korean leans back as a kick zooms past her, and Edwards attempts to fire off a hook kick to follow it up. Kim boots Edwards in the body, and Edwards ties her up and looks for a knee. At the sound of the bell, Edwards hits a trip takedown, but Kim flips her over the second they hit the mat.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kim
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Kim
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kim

Round 3

The pace from Edwards remains constant, with chipping leg kicks to start things off, and little behind them. Kim is able to push through them and smack Edwards in the face with a right hook, and Edwards pushes out front kicks that come up short. Kim loads up with a few more heavy fists, and at the end of an exchange, Edwards appears to hurt her right leg and starts limping. Kim does not take advantage of this lapse any more than usual, throwing a few punches but not reaching Edwards as Edwards uses push kicks to her favor. Edwards plods forward and hunts for a throw, but Kim keeps her balance and backs up to the fence to stay upright. Kim tries to turn her foe around, but as she does, Edwards muscles Kim over her hip to throw the South Korean to the ground. Edwards lords over her in side control, pounding on her until she switches to mount. Kim slides out the back door, and Edwards snags hold of an armbar. Kim stays composed, wriggling her wrist out of danger and sliding her arm out, and she stands back up and lets Edwards do the same. Kim’s forward movement on the restart leads to a tie-up from “La Pantera,” and Edwards strings together three clean punches that knock Kim’s head around. Kim gathers her thoughts and comes up short throwing back, with Edwards successfully keeping her at bay. Edwards lowers her hands, as if to lure “Fire Fist” in to attack, but this just leads to an awkward lull where they stare at one another as if they had dropped their controllers. With 20 seconds to go, Edwards throws caution to the wind, and she lays into Kim with a long punch barrage. Kim obliges with one final brawl, and the two ladies throw down with all they have left until the quiet horn and the louder Beltran end the fight.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Edwards (29-28 Edwards)
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Edwards (29-28 Edwards)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Edwards (29-28 Edwards)

The Official Result

Joselyne Edwards def. Ji Yeon Kim via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

Adam Fugitt (171) vs. Michael Morales (170.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Morales (-600), Fugitt (+450)

Round 1

To round out the early prelims, unbeaten Ecuadorian Morales (13-0, 1-0 UFC) draws short-notice newcomer Fugitt (8-2, 0-0 UFC) in the welterweight division. Stoppage rates at 85% or higher accompany these two men, so referee Herb Dean will need to be on his A-game. There is no touch of gloves starts off the match, and instead Morales is the initial aggressor with a sharp jab. They kick at the same time, forcing them to recalibrate early, and Fugitt recovers first with a high kick. The newcomer aims a kick to the ribcage to follow, and it just snakes under the guard. A second crashes into Morales’ raised arms, and Morales finds himself blocking this kick a few more times. Morales catches the leg one time to make Fugitt think twice on this, and Morales backs off and does a running man stride to bring Fugitt towards him. Fugitt does not falter on his kick-heavy approach, and he just misses with an overhand right. Morales catches a leg, and he gets popped with a right hook that makes him drop it. Morales snipes Fugitt with a straight right that causes some swelling on the left eye, and he winds up an hammers Fugitt with one over the top. Fugitt reels and ducks forward, going after a body lock takedown and throwing the unbeaten fighter to the ground. The Oregon native considers playing in the active guard of Morales, and he gets kicked off but lowers himself back in the guard to calm down. Fugitt stacks his man up in an effort to set up ground-and-pound, and he backs all the way off so that he can jump over to pass guard. Morales uses upkicks effectively to threaten, and he sweeps Fugitt to the side and allows himself to stand up. Morales clubs his man with a looping right hand, dropping Fugitt to a knee, but Fugitt gathers himself and ducks a counter. Fugitt winds up with a left that knocks Morales back a step, and Morales lines up a few jabs and gets his head snapped back with a left hook. Both men start trading with brutal shots, and Morales is using his head movement with his chin up and his hands down, but he is still able to get the better of the exchange. Morales tries to grab hold of Fugitt and connect with some shots, but the last strike in the form of a jab shakes Fugitt up.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Morales
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Morales
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Morales

Round 2

The second round opens up with a cautious Morales looking to counter over the top, and Fugitt powers his way forward with jabs to close the distance. Fugitt throws a high kick that bounces off the shoulder, and he spins with a back elbow as Morales jumps forward with a superman punch. Neither powerful blow lands, and they get back to range, where Morales tags his man with a right hand. The jab of the undefeated fighter is working to decent effect, marking up Fugitt’s nose and stifling his forward momentum. Morales starts grinning as the crowd lets go with woos, and Fugitt cracks him with a right hand that makes Morales bounce off the fence. Fugitt punches his way in, ignoring a pair of jabs to rip the body with a left. Fugitt winds up with power punches, forcing Morales to retreat and get back to his jab game. A head kick from Fugitt misses by a matter of inches, and Morales splits the guard with a left. The newcomer keeps moving forward, his nose bloodied from strikes, and he throws bombs as Morales does the same. Fugitt kicks and falls over when it does not land, and Morales lets him up. Fugitt smiles and sticks his tongue out, and he keeps his perpetual forward movement with punches and a takedown effort. The Ecuadorian shucks it off but cannot stop a body kick from slamming into his side. Morales blocks a head kick and pokes out with a left, and he slips an oncoming strike to land a right. Fugitt chains two punches together, and Morales turns it up and puts five or six together to the head and body. Fugitt takes them all flush without batting an eye, and he swings with a looping punch in order to close the distance. The newcomer knees the body and ducks down for a takedown, but Morales is able to stuff it and get out of the way in time. Morales dances a jig, and Fugitt has a laugh, and the two get back after it. The punches come practically simultaneously, with Morales just slightly more accurate. Morales taunts his man when Fugitt misses with a spinning back elbow, and he sneaks in a right just before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Morales
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Morales
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Morales

Round 3

After 10 minutes of combat, they elect to touch gloves. Morales breaks off and pushes out a jab, and he stays on his bike when Fugitt charges like a bull. Fugitt attacks a takedown, and Morales skirts out of the way and pops him with a right. Fugitt lets loose with a left hand that manages to catch Morales flush, and Morales darts in for a double. The unbeaten fighter stands him up, sticks him with a left and looses a short right hand that separates Fugitt from his senses momentarily. Fugitt drops to his knees and still manages to work his way back up, but Morales is on him like a cheap suit. A long string of unanswered punches, where he pushes off instead of clinching so that he can measure his shots better, pounds into Fugitt’s jaw one after the other. A final flush right hand on the ear sends the newcomer crashing to the mat, and Dean has seen enough. The Entram Gym prospect from Ecuador is now a perfect 14-0 as a pro, and he just successfully registered his 11th victory by knockout.

The Official Result

Michael Morales def. Adam Fugitt R3 1:09 via TKO (Punches)

Rafa Garcia (155) vs. Drakkar Klose (155.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Klose (-230), Garcia (+195)

Round 1

Opening up the ABC- and ESPN-aired prelims is what should be a fun lightweight matchup, even if Klose (12-2-1, 6-2 UFC) is now battling late replacement Garcia (13-2, 2-2 UFC). Both fighters prevailed on the same event in April, locking down second-round finishes of Brandon Jenkins and Jesse Ronson, respectively, so the “Matches to Make” choice appeared to be an easy one. They touch ‘em up with referee Jacob Rosales watching on, and Klose claims the center of the cage but is nowhere close to his opponent. Garcia stays on the outer edge of the cage as Klose feints with jabs, and the first strike is actually a stomping kick to the knee from Klose. Klose kicks on the inside and outside of the leg, and Garcia swarms him with an overhand right that bowls him over – not from it actually hitting him hard, but from Garcia’s body tackling him down. Klose gets back up and starts working the calf, until Garcia closes the distance and aims punches to the body. The American greets him with knees until they split up, and Klose fakes a body kick and rips one on the other side before tying Garcia up. Klose effectively uses the calf kick to decent effect, as Garcia powers through it to club Klose in the chops with a left. Klose staggers back and tries to give one back, but Garcia is smooth on the outside as he kicks the knee and nearly buckles it. Klose gives chases, and in an ensuing clinch, they throw short punches one after the other. Klose forces a separation, with his legs appearing to be fully back under him again, and he walks Garcia down and measures a jab. When “Gifted” bites on it, Klose changes levels. Klose is unable to get the first takedown try, but Garcia turns around and gives up his back. This allows Klose to trip him out and plant Garcia on his face for a moment. Garcia powers his way back up, and he grabs the fence to keep himself balanced as Klose attempts a mat return. Klose trips Garcia’s left leg out beneath him again to plant him down, and he starts slugging away on Garcia. “Gifted” checks his face to make sure he is not bleeding, and when he does, Klose sucks his leg out and makes it so Garcia cannot simply power his way back up as easily as before. Garcia rolls for a leglock, and Klose breaks it up before anything can come from it. When they both get to their knees, the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Klose
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Klose
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Klose

Round 2

Klose races out of his corner to start the next round, and he plants a wheel kick upside Garcia’s head before shooting for a takedown in the first 10 seconds. Garcia stuffs it but absorbs a few knees to the body when Klose bails on it, and Garcia powers his way out to the center of the Octagon. The lightweights feint and fake their way towards one another, with Klose employing his stomp kick and swinging his shin to the body. Garcia dips back and absorbs a glancing right hand, but he is no worse for wear. Klose lets go with a body kick, and Garcia cannot pin him down or trap him to land with impunity. Garcia begins to chop the legs down a few times, and Klose switches stance after absorbing the blows. Garcia winds up on a right hook, but Klose dips back and answers with a short left. Garcia, using his momentum in his favor, pushes through and knocks Klose off his feet with a double. “Gifted” gives Klose several gifts in the form of his fists, before stepping into half guard. The posture remains tight as Garcia does not want to give up any space or allow a sweep or any bucking movement, but this also results in a stalemate. The crowd is not a fan of this nullifying half guard for Garcia, and Klose moves his head around to dodge punches before Montalvo steps in to stand them up. Garcia shoots the second they get stood up, and Klose staves it off and connects with a solid left hand. As Garcia aims a right hand over the top, Klose ducks down for a possible takedown entry, and Garcia snatches this up to hunt for a standing guillotine choke. There is nothing to it, and Klose shucks it off and absorbs the end of a left hand. Garcia misses with a spinning back kick, and Klose is suddenly energized and he charges in with his head in the air to throw bombs. Garcia retreats, and he weathers the storm before scooping Klose’s legs out and planting him down to the ground. A few punches for the fighter out of Mexico land before the horn resounds in the arena.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Garcia

Round 3

Klose is the initial aggressor to start off the final round, pushing the pace and sticking his hands out to back Garcia off. The Michigan native jabs and makes Garcia dip down right into a head kick, and Garcia tanks it without budging. Garcia hunts for a takedown, and he redoubles his effort with a double that takes Klose off his feet. Klose threatens with a guillotine choke off his back, but with the cage behind him, there is no leverage to secure anything, and Garcia is comfortable without concern. Klose explodes back to his feet, and he throws hands to again force Garcia to back from one side of the cage to another. Klose allows Garcia to come at him so that he can set up a clinch in his favor, where he slams knees and punches into Garcia’s body. Klose senses that Garcia is fatiguing, and he strides forward without a care in the world, targeting the midsection and preparing to stuff takedowns. Klose gets Garcia’s attention with a low kick, and he has a clubbing right slide off the shoulder into the chin. Garcia’s hands largely drop by his waist, waiting for Klose to close the distance, so that he can lift them and sling something heavy. He has a thudding left connect cleanly, but Klose totally ignores it so that he can do more work to the body. Klose ties his man up after a failed takedown entry so that he can batter the body with punches and the occasional knee. Klose changes this up with his own takedown try, and Garcia pushes him off and backpedals. Garcia shoots for a single, and Klose gets shoved back to the wall and knees the ribs a few times to conclude the fight. Both men raise their hands after 15 minutes of combat, and some will almost certainly attempt the joke that the Klose fight was a close fight.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Klose (29-28 Klose)
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Klose (29-28 Klose)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Klose (29-28 Klose)

The Official Result

Drakkar Klose def. Rafa Garcia via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Hamdy Abdelwahab (264.5) vs. Don'Tale Mayes (255)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Mayes (-180), Abdelwahab (+155)

Round 1

Strap in, this one won’t likely last very long. At heavyweight, Mayes (9-4, 2-2 UFC) will aim to run his win streak to three, and he will need to do so at the expense of the first Egyptian-born fighter in UFC history in Abdelwahab (5-0, 0-0 UFC). The newcomer has won all five of his pro bouts by knockout, having made his debut back in Oct. 2021. If there is a slight record disparity, it is because his first two matches took place under bare-knuckle MMA rules, which are legitimate under the sanctioning bodies in which they took place. A solid 520 pounds will test the cage now, not counting referee Kerry Hatley, and the large sluggers touch hands before aiming for the head. Mayes whiffs on a low kick, and Abdelwahab comes at throwing a huge right hand that just misses the mark. Mayes uses leg kicks to keep a safe range, as Abdelwahab is chambering to throw nothing but fire. Mayes scores a leg kick and gets tagged on the way back, but he connects with another low, heavy kick. Mayes swipes out with a pair of punches to get Abdelwahab on his heels, and Abdelwahab wings a right hand that slams into the guard. Mayes takes a step back and gets cracked with a massive right hand, and it does not even land flush and shakes him up. Abdelwahab aims another that comes up short, and he blocks a body kick. Mayes comes out swinging, and Abdelwahab intercepts him with a left. Abdelwahab delivers a monstrous right hand that strips Mayes’ legs out, and Mayes springs back up and gets pummeled with a few more punches. Mayes looks to move, and Abdelwahab suplexes him and drives his fists into Mayes’ jaw. “The Hammer” does not go for broke when he has Mayes hurt, instead slowing his pace so as to not gas out, and Mayes returns to his knee. Abdelwahab knees him on the thigh a few times as he also attempts to trip Mayes out, but Mayes slowly works his way up and signals to Hatley that he is stuck in a stalemate position. Mayes resorts to putting his palm on the mat to not allow knees to the head, and Abdelwahab calmly knees him until Hatley tells him to do more. Abdelwahab does not change his approach, and Hatley steps in to separate them. Mayes, grateful for the stand-up, leaps in the air with a flying knee that is well off-target. Abdelwahab shakes his finger at the inaccurate Mayes, but his pace has fallen off completely. Mayes shadowboxes with punches and kicks, and Abdelwahab brawls with him right to the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Abdelwahab
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Abdelwahab
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Abdelwahab

Round 2

Mayes and Abdelwahab meet in the middle of the cage, and Abdelwahab winds up with a big leg kick and follows it with an overhand right. Mayes wobbles back but keeps himself composed, and he pushes out side kicks to the body and legs to keep out of haymaker distance. Abdelwahab just misses with a left hook as Mayes comes towards him, and Mayes winds up with an audible kick to the body. Mayes scores a left and a knee that glances off the head of Abdelwahab, and Abdelwahab is stunned from the blows and his left eye is hurt. “Lord Kong” releases a barrage of kicks, punches and knees, and Abdelwahab takes them on the chin and even ducks into an uppercut. Abdelwahab survives the assault and gets back to the center of the cage, and he starts throwing widely telegraphed knockout blows that all come up short. Mayes skims his chin with an uppercut that could knock out a bullmoose, and Abdelwahab counters with a right hand. Mayes slows down, kicking the body and legs, and Abdelwahab swarms him with a pair of inaccurate punches. Mayes jabs the body and kicks the same spot, and he is not throwing with reckless abandon like before. Abdelwahab cannot seem to find his range as he overcommits to powerful blows, and he lets loose with a body kick that collides with the top of the cup. Hatley sees the replay and believes the strike may have been legal, and he forces Mayes back to action after less than 30 seconds of recover. Mayes darts in with a straight left hand, but Abdelwahab sits down on three punches that knock his head around. Abdelwahab bites down on his gumshield and swings for the fences, only for his groin to get kicked as well. Hatley does not see it, so Abdelwahab groans and then shoots in for a takedown. The Egyptian wrestler takes Mayes cleanly off his feet and secures half guard, and he starts landing a few punches and elbows. Sensing the success of the elbows, he releases a few more, and the horn separates them.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mayes
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Mayes
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Mayes

Round 3

The heavyweights meet in the middle with a glove touch, right after Abdelwahab’s corner gives him one brilliant piece of advice: “Smash.” Abdelwahab punches his way into a takedown entry, and he rips Mayes off his feet and throws him down to the mat for an exclamation point. Keeping Mayes’ back pinned to the wall on his seat, Abdelwahab uses the crown of his head to press on Mayes’ chest to hold him there. Mayes scoots his way back upright, and as soon as he does, Abdelwahab trips his leg out and drops Mayes back down with ease. Abdelwahab hangs on in half guard, slashing down with elbows, and the crowd begins to get frustrated with the slowing pace. Hatley takes a close eye on the proceedings, as Abdelwahab is holding him down, and Abdelwahab postures up and drills him with a left. Mayes turns to his side to try to get back up, and he does manage to work his way to the wall again on his backside. Abdelwahab lowers him back down before Mayes can quite get the right posture to stand, and he hooks Mayes’ right leg beneath his own. The heavyweight grind continues, with the wrestler wrestling and landing punches on the inside. Mayes gets tagged with an uppercut, and he looks to sit up, only to get wrenched back down. Abdelwahab delivers a pair of clean uppercuts on the chin, and he sets Mayes on his seat once more when Mayes tries to get up. Hatley decides he has had enough of this, and he stands them up. Abdelwahab gets on his bike with his hands down, and Mayes jumps at him with a flying knee. Mayes kicks the body, and Abdelwahab tells him to bring it on and keep hitting him. Mayes obliges him, kicking the body and landing a few punches. Abdelwahab fires back ferociously, and he gets rocked with a right hand at the end of a torrid exchange. The big men brawl it out right to the bitter end, with their chins holding up and this fight resting in the hands of the judges.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Abdelwahab (29-28 Abdelwahab)
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Abdelwahab (29-28 Abdelwahab)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Abdelwahab (29-28 Abdelwahab)

The Official Result

Hamdy Abdelwahab def. Don'Tale Mayes via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Rafael Alves (155.5) vs. Drew Dober (155.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Dober (-205), Alves (+175)

Round 1

The way the lightweight division is these days, talented competitors like Dober (24-11, 1 NC; 10-7, 1 NC UFC) and Alves (20-10, 1-1 UFC) can be on the outside looking in for the top 15. Even a dynamite win over the other likely will not lead to a spot on the list, but it can’t hurt. Referee Mike Beltran draws the charge for this matchup, and the veterans with at least 30 fights under their respective belts bump fists to begin. Alves strikes first, with a front kick up the middle. As he kicks, tape peels on his foot, and he stops the fight to look at it and try to pull it off. Beltran checks to see if it is an injury, but it is not, so he shouts for Alves to fight now. Alves responds with a Capoeira-style kick, and Dober rolls with it and fires back with a more conventional kick up high that knocks Alves back. Alves, using Dober’s momentum against him, tackles Dober over and jumps awkwardly into full mount for a second. Dober pulls him back to the half guard, and Alves is very active trying to pass and move, favoring position over submission by a wide margin as he has not thrown so much as a strike on top. Dober recovers a closed guard, and Alves stacks him up and looks to break the leg grip around his waist by elbowing Dober in the face. Dober does not want to get tagged with these strikes, so he loosens up, but he tightens it when he notices Beltran is preparing to stand them up. Dober clings to his man on top like Saran wrap, and Alves answers by kicking off and jumping back up. The Brazilian slaps his foe’s legs a few times with kicks, prompting Dober to stand back up. Alves counters an advancing Dober with a right hand, but Dober manages to smack him upside the head and back him off. Alves replies with a flying knee, and Dober wears it well and throws heavy leather. Alves scores a right, making Dober stumble, but Dober gathers his thoughts and prepares for another violent exchange. These two 155-pound car crashes slam into one another with everything in their respective strikes, and Alves white-knuckles it as he leans back with his hands down to avoid a Dober barrage. Dober connects, backs off, and fires of a spinning wheel kick at the bell that bounces off Alves’ shoulder.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Alves
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Alves
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Alves

Round 2

Alves offers a glove touch to start off Round 2, and Dober is happy to oblige him. Alves then paws out a low kick, and Dober knocks him back with an overhand right. Alves telegraphs a flying knee, and Dober reacts just enough to discourage Alves from throwing it. Dober begins to march the Brazilian down, targeting the body and mixing strikes up with the head. Dober delivers a nasty body kick that Alves absorbs flush, but the pressure of Dober is starting to draw some heavy, deep breaths from “The Turn.” Dober keeps in Alves’ face, throwing hands and feinting to draw out reactions. Dober lands three straight left hands to the body in rapid succession, and he intercepts a jumping Alves with a left that pounds into the pectoral. Alves is able to get away from the fence, and he utilizes a push kick to the body to back Dober off a few feet. Like a Doberman, Dober does not let Alves off the hook, snarling and throwing haymakers as Alves shells up. Alves’ volume has diminished while Dober continues a steady workrate, and Dober rolls with a heavy right hand that comes his way. Dober takes a left on the chin so that he can mark Alves up with four or five, only to get met with a solid knee up the middle. The American does not relent with his body attacks, kicking the ribs and aiming his left hook at the liver consistently. Dober catches Alves standing still with three hooks, and Alves has to blink it out and gets clipped with another on the way out. “The Turn” takes his turn with a flying knee, and Dober takes it on the solid chin of his and slings a left hand back. They trade powerful punches, and Dober’s appear to have a more appreciable effect as Alves is backing off. Dober throws a right hand, and his thumb scrapes into the eye as Alves reacts in pain. Beltran sees it and the physical reaction and pauses the action, and eventually calls in the doctor. If the new ABC rules are in effect at UFC 277 in Dallas, Alves should be able to take a maximum of five minutes to recover. Alves says that he is good to go, hugs the doctor and ushers him out of the cage. Beltran brings them together after a 90-second pause, telling them to watch their fingers, and the action resumes. Dober lets loose with a high kick, and Alves eats it and Dober falls over. This prompts an absolutely furious flurry of fists and feet, and Alves takes them all and starts dancing and doing moves. Dober does not wade in recklessly, and he catches Alves coming in with a knee as Alves looks for a late-round takedown. Alves falls to his back, flirting with upkicks, and the round ends. Dober reaches down, helps Alves up, and the two embrace after 10 fun minutes thus far.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dober
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Dober
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dober

Round 3

Having an absolute blast, the two fighters hug it out as the last round kicks off. Dober pushes the pace, stretching out with a left hand, and Alves backs off and blocks a subsequent high kick. Alves spins with a wheel kick that Dober is able to guard against, and he clips Alves with a right in response. The Brazilian ducks for a single, and Dober hops back and frees his leg to stop it. Alves fires off a body kick as Dober comes towards him, and Dober strings five punches together to the head and body, with the latter cleanly connecting. Alves sticks a charging Dober with a left, but he cannot slow the American’s short blitz as Dober still lands two of his own. Alves kicks out the leg, and Dober’s leg is chewed up but he remains on his feet. Alves fakes a left, and Dober ignores it and lances a left hand to the liver that completely disables the Brazilian. Alves’ legs give out after a short, delayed reaction, and he crumbles to his knees, completely done. Dober thinks about hammering the nail, but the sign of physical surrender coupled with Beltran’s intervention make him think otherwise. What a fight, and what a finish. With that victory for Dober, all of his last five triumphs have come by knockout.

The Official Result

Drew Dober def. Rafael Alves R3 1:30 via KO (Punch to the Body)

Alex Morono (171) vs. Matthew Semelsberger (171)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Semelsberger (-165), Morono (+140)

Round 1

Putting an end to the prelims, welterweight action fighters Morono (21-7, 1 NC; 10-4, 1 NC UFC) – who gets a huge pop from his home state crowd – and Semelsberger (10-3, 4-1 UFC) battle it out with sights on a spot in the top 15 if they are lucky. Whether this match places the victor among the ranked or not, it should be a thriller, and referee Dan Miragliotta has his shoes laced up and is ready to go. Gloves get touched to start things off, and they reach at one another with alternating fists. Morono comes out swinging, and Semelsberger ducks back and lands a leg kick. Semelsberger connects with a left hand at the end of a short combo, and Morono is right there to get his leg kick in a follow-up blow. Morono wings three punches over the top, and they knock Semelsberger’s hair back but do not get his attention. The Texan tags Semelsberger with a right as “Semi the Jedi” kicks, and he follows it with another. The rights continue to connect for Morono, who mixes things up with an inside leg kick. Morono spins with a back kick that grazes the body, and he plants a right hand on the chin that might have wobbled Semelsberger. Semelsberger’s poker face goes away after the right and left that stung him, but he slows down and chips at Morono’s calf. Morono just misses with a wheel kick by a matter of inches, and Morono whiffs on a one-two slightly as well. Morono again tags Semelsberger with a right, and Semelsberger leans over and keeps his feet beneath him. Morono catches a kick to the ribs, and he wades forward into a flurry of punches as they both throw down. Semelsberger keeps tight with an uppercut, but Morono beats him to the punch with a crisp right. Morono ignores a jab so that he can push out a straight right hand down the pipe, and he retreats to reset and his reddening calf continues to turn a darker shade from the kicks. A pinky from Semelsberger pokes into the eye as Semelsberger pushes out, and Morono does not need long to blink it out before he is ready to roll. On the reset, Semelsberger rushes into the clinch, and he jams Morono up while Morono looks for a Thai clinch. A couple elbows is all it takes for Morono to force Semelsberger to reconsider the position, and the latter backs away. Morono gives chase and pops him with a right hand, and his strikes have busted Semelsberger’s left eye up significantly with both swelling and bleeding. Semelsberger goes back to the calf kick, and Morono targets a right hand to that damaged spot. The horn sounds as Semelsberger paws out with a front kick.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Morono
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Morono
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Morono

Round 2

The round begins with a more aggressive Semelsberger, who scores a trio of punches and punctuates them with a loud calf kick. Morono does not bite when Semelsberger leaps at him with a knee, and he instead drills Semelsberger with a right hand on the eye that was tended to between rounds. Morono does not stop his good work of right hands on that same spot again and again, with short, swarming combinations that draw increasingly visible reactions from his opponent. Semelsberger looks to walk through them, but Morono beats him to the punch in the subsequent exchanges. Semelsberger dips with an uppercut, and Morono just slides out of the way. Semelsberger whiffs on a left hook, and he ambles forward with a lot of movement. “Semi the Jedi” succeeds connecting with a flush right hand, but Morono answers in kind. The eye is closing fast for Semelsberger, and Morono backs off as his leg gets chopped again. Semelsberger sees that his uppercut is close to landing, so he loads up on it. Morono shrugs it off and starts jabbing the eye, and Semelsberger jumps with a kick that bounces off Morono’s side. A long string of unanswered jabs come from “The Great White,” who is cerebrally attacking the damaged spot constantly. Semelsberger lands a kick, and Morono responds wit ha right hand over the top. Three punches come from the Texan, and Semelsberger tries to give Morono pause with multiple leg kicks. Morono’s huge right hands continue to grow the swelling around Semelsberger’s left eye, and Semelsberger charges in for a possible body lock takedown try. Morono looks to counter him, and they end up pushed up against the wall. They jockey for position back and forth, and Morono sneaks up a knee before selling out to drag Semelsberger down. Semelsberger ends up falling forward on to his opponent, and Morono falls to his back and quickly sets his offensive guard in motion. The Texan isolates the right arm and hunts for an armbar, but Semelsberger punches his way out of it with several big hammerfists. With seconds left in the round, Semelsberger lets go with everything he has, slugging away with punches and elbows, but Morono survives the attack and makes it to the bell. The doctor may take a close look at the eye of Semelsberger between rounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Morono
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Morono
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Morono

Round 3

Miragliotta calls in the doctor to assess Semelsberger’s condition, and he is cleared to continue despite the substantial swelling. Knowing he might be on borrowed time, Semelsberger crashes forward with a swarm of punches. Morono fires back, and he ducks down right into a flying knee. The knee from Semelsberger knocks Morono clean off his feet, and Morono is in a bad way but able to clear his cobwebs enough to set up a rubber guard from his back. Morono looks for an omoplata, and he uses the opportunity to scramble and work his way back up to his feet. When clinched up, Semelsberger jumps and knees the Texan square in the jaw, and it is Semelsberger’s mouthpiece that goes flying despite the blow. After a lull in a clinch, Miragliotta replaces the mouthpiece and lets them continue fighting in the clinch. Morono senses a spinning back elbow coming and ducks in the nick of time, and he backs off to the middle of the cage to reset. Morono catches his man on the way in with a few jabs, and he follows them with right hands as the mouse all around Semelsberger’s eye has popped and started bleeding significantly. The two jab at one another, and Morono hops away from a low kick. Two short shots from Morono stagger Semelsberger briefly, and he scores several jabs as Semelsberger swings recklessly at him. Semelsberger gives chase, stepping in with knees and throwing kicks to any target he can find. Morono fires back with an overhand right, and Semelsberger steels himself and counters with a crisp left. Morono keeps his head on a swivel and gets cracked with a punch, and Semelsberger rushes at him with a flying knee that “The Great White” is able to block. Morono pushes off and scores a few punches, and the right hands from Morono are landing practically at will as Semelsberger might not be able to see at all out of his left eye. Nevertheless, Semelsberger remains tough, still swinging and throwing. Semelsberger springs forward with a superman punch, and he ends up in a clinch that Morono tries to turn into a double. Morono switches his grip to a standing guillotine choke, and he uses it to control the posture so that he can knee his man in the face. Morono breaks off, and Semelsberger practically sprints at him lobbing bombs. Morono returns fire, and this wild slugfest somehow goes the distance. Semelsberger drops to his knees after a hard-fought battle, and the Texan strides off with his arms in the air. Win or lose, Morono gave the Texas faithful plenty to cheer for in this 15-minute scrap.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Semelsberger (29-28 Morono)
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Semelsberger (29-28 Morono)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Semelsberger (29-28 Morono)

The Official Result

Alex Morono def. Matthew Semelsberger via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Magomed Ankalaev (206) vs. Anthony Smith (206)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ankalaev (-500), Smith (+400)

Round 1

For one man on this main card opener, a title shot looms at 205 pounds. The massive favorite Ankalaev (16-1, 8-1 UFC) has strung together eight straight wins since his shocking last-second defeat to Paul Craig in 2018, and he has done everything in his power to erase the memory of that fateful night. Former title challenger Smith (36-16, 11-6 UFC) is not concerned about his foe from Dagestan, confident that he has fought – and beaten – tougher tests than the one soon to be in front of him. The first man tonight to know how it ends will be referee Jacob Montalvo, and there is no interest in a glove touch between the light heavyweights. Smith takes the center of the cage and absorbs an early low kick, and they proceed to measure one another for a time. Smith goes up high with a kick that is easily blocked, and he aims his toes at the liver but is just shy of the mark. Ankalaev replies with a low kick, and he aims another to prompt Smith to throw one back. Smith’s is checked, and after another lull, Smith tosses up a head kick. The Russian checks a body kick that comes at him by raising his knee, and the respect for the power of one another is high as the strike totals are extremely low at the midpoint of the round. Smith sits down on a kick on the outside of Ankalaev’s knee, and he slowly moves forward and dodges the swiping right hands that zip at him. Several check right hooks from Ankalaev miss the mark, and Smith catches a kick to throw one hard low. A big kick from the Russian irritates Smith, and the chess match continues. Ankalaev blitzes forward with an inaccurate left and a head kick, and Smith shrugs it off and has a counter get blocked. Ankalaev strings together a combination ending with a kick on the calf, and Smith dips a strike to wing a right hand that grazes the beard. Smith gets shoved over when they clash together, and Ankalaev elects to kick his legs a few times until the horn sounds to end this tepid frame.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ankalaev
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-10
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ankalaev

Round 2

Smith comes out of his corner to march Ankalaev down, and he throws a few low kicks and punches his way forward. Smith uses his momentum to pursue a double, and Ankalaev acquits himself and stays upright. When “Lionheart” cannot secure it, he pulls guard to drag Ankalaev into a bad situation, and Ankalaev sits up comfortably and gets off a few short punches before getting pulled on top of Smith. The fighter out of Dagestan does not want to take this top position, fighting off Smith’s effort and staving off a single-leg try before smacking Smith with several punches. Smith rolls to his back, but when Ankalaev does not bite, he sits up again to tie the Russian up. Ankalaev is having none of it, and he postures up and starts blasting Smith with standing-to-ground punches. The punches are doing serious damage and draw some blood, and Montalvo is watching over the situation very closely. Smith, on his knees, takes continuous punishment, and Montalvo rescues him from the onslaught. When separated, Smith remarks that something of his is broken, possibly his leg or ankle. The doctors come in to attend to Smith. In victory, Ankalaev has likely recorded the biggest win of his career and possibly punched his ticket for a shot at the belt.

The Official Result

Magomed Ankalaev def. Anthony Smith R2 3:09 via TKO (Punches)

Alexandre Pantoja (125.5) vs. Alex Perez (125.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pantoja (-180), Perez (+155)

Round 1

Just like the previous match, the victor in this contest – depending on who gets their hand raised – could be next for the belt, depending on how the Deiveson Figueiredo situation shakes out. Both Pantoja (24-5, 8-3 UFC) and Perez (24-6, 6-2 UFC) have suffered losses to that man in the last couple years, while the former has beaten ex-champ Brandon Moreno already – twice if you include the victory on “The Ultimate Fighter.” The logjam of the division will be cleared up a little more after this fight ends, and referee Kerry Hatley is ready to keep the pace with these two 125-pound contenders. They touch gloves, and come out fighting. The brawl is instant, as Pantoja charges out swinging hammers. Perez is right there to throw down with him, and they proceed to smash one another in the face with punches in bunches. A brief lull after the wild early exchange leads to Pantoja changing levels, tripping Perez, and circling around to take Perez’ back standing. The Brazilian sets up a body lock and he starts busting Perez upside the head. Pantoja changes things up with a palm-to-palm face crank, and he makes Perez’s life miserable as he crushes on it with all his might. When that does not succeed, “The Cannibal” snatches up a neck crank with a grip on the other side, and he crushes down with his forearm. Perez leans back, struggling to stay afloat, and the crank is not even under the chin. It does not matter for Pantoja, who forces Perez to say “matte” and live to fight another day. This is a remarkable win for Pantoja, making a statement and shouting in his post-fight interview that he is the next flyweight champion. It may be hard to argue that he should be up next, after blasting through a former title challenger in about 90 seconds.

The Official Result

Alexandre Pantoja def. Alex Perez R1 1:31 via Submission (Neck Crank)

Derrick Lewis (264.5) vs. Sergei Pavlovich (254.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pavlovich (-125), Lewis (+105)

Round 1

The UFC knew exactly what it was doing when this featured heavyweight fight was booked. One man holds the promotion’s all-time knockout record, while the other is a sturdy Russian striker who has won his last three with his fists. Lewis (26-9, 1 NC; 17-7 UFC) who likely will end the night with the biggest pop from the crowd, will try to get back on track after a stunning knockout against the stoic Pavlovich (15-1, 3-1 UFC). Referee Dan Miragliotta will need to keep his wits about him at all times, lest he get clipped by an errant blow, as fighters sporting knockout rates of 80% or higher are about to clash in front of his eyes. Lewis trots out of his corner and offers a glove touch, and it is accepted as the “USA” chants rain down in support of him. Lewis starts with a leg kick, and Pavlovich strides forward and sticks out a jab. Lewis does not bite on any feints, and he scores with a big left hand. They proceed to start slugging it out, and Lewis gets rocked with a right hand on the jaw. The Russian, seeing that Lewis got tagged, cracks Lewis with an uppercut and a right hand that knocks Lewis face-first into the fencing. Lewis backpedals, and Pavlovich gives chase and bombards him with punches. Lewis bends over to avoid the blows, and Pavlovich slugs him with several punches to force Lewis to fall forward and bonk his head on the mat. Lewis springs right back up, and Miragliotta intervenes to stop the fight, clearly seeing something others did not see as Lewis protests the stoppage immediately. The fans are outraged by what they believe to be an early stoppage, and Lewis may have been in trouble but he appeared to have his wits about him given his incensed reaction. Regardless of the feelings on the finishing sequence, Pavlovich has just officially recorded the biggest win of his career in hostile territory. Big fights almost certainly loom for the man out of Eagles MMA.

The Official Result

Sergei Pavlovich def. Derrick Lewis R1 0:55 via TKO (Punches)

UFC Flyweight Title Fight:
Brandon Moreno (124.5) vs. Kai Kara France (124.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Moreno (-210), Kara-France (+180)

Round 1

The first championship bout of the evening comes up at the flyweight division, although it is for the interim variety. Champ Figueiredo looms for the victor, and he is seated cageside as he recovers from his surgery. Whether it is a fourth meeting with Moreno (19-6-2, 7-3-2 UFC), or a fresh matchup against City Kickboxing’s own Kara France (24-9, 1 NC; 7-2 UFC), the two men have five rounds to figure that out. As a reminder, they faced one another before at UFC 245 in 2019, and Moreno took home a decision after three fun rounds of action. Referee Herb Dean will draw the assignment for this co-main event, who is up to the task of keeping up with these gentlemen for 25 crazy minutes if needed. There is a great deal of intensity between them, but they still decide to touch their gloves. Kara France has a look in his eye that echoes his intentions, and he marches Moreno down but pulls back when Moreno strikes at him. The chants of “Mexico” ring out through the building, and neither man engages with much of note as they try to find their distance. Moreno springs forward to throw a left, and Kara France bounces back and forward. As Kara France comes in kicking, his foot collides with the cup, causing a halt in the action. Dean tells Moreno to take his time, and Moreno only needs about 40 seconds before he is good to go. Kara France is not discouraged to throw low kicks when they resume, and Moreno holds his hands outstretched but in the confines of the rules as his fingers are straight up in the air. This keeps Kara France at bay, but it also results in a bit of inaction until Moreno attacks. When he kicks, Kara France quickly answers him right back, and Moreno hops back to reset. Moreno winds up with a low kick, and he clips the Kiwi with a left hook. Kara France bounces off the wall, his nose slightly reddening, and his volume is almost nonexistent three minutes into the title fight. Kara France kicks low and gets countered with a left over the top, and he dips down and blasts Moreno in the face with a sudden right hand. Moreno eats it like a tamale and gathers his thoughts, where he changes levels for a takedown in order to recover. The defense holds up for Kara France, who stops the takedown from succeeding but cannot make Moreno pay for his attempt. Kara France tosses out a naked leg kick, and Moreno counters him quickly. Kara France again charges in with a big right, and Moreno rolls with it and does not seem any worse for wear. The Kiwi kicks the calf and backs off, and Moreno rushes at him and kicks him back to the body. Moreno swipes out with a left that makes a mark on the face of Kara France, and Moreno showboats a little as he blitzes in to attack. A single front kick from Moreno ends the tentative round.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Moreno
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Kara France
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Moreno

Round 2

The second round starts a little more interestingly, as Kara France darts in with a looping right hook early on. Moreno attempts to change levels and counter him with a takedown, but Kara France is a brick wall and does not flinch. Kara France pokes with a single leg kick, and Moreno’s response is more effective. Moreno lets loose with a high kick right after it, and Kara France blocks it. Jabs get traded, and Kara France attempts to follow one with a head kick. Moreno ducks under it and manages to take Kara France’s back standing up. Kara France uses the fence behind him to keep his balance, even though Moreno drags him to a knee, and he blocks a chicken wing elbow that Moreno tosses at him. Kara France springs out of the position and breaks free before getting tagged on the separation, and Moreno looks for a quick takedown in the middle of the cage. Kara France stuffs it and blocks the subsequent head kick effort, as Moreno is continuously keeping him guessing. Although he hits nothing but air, Kara France loads up on several big punches, and Moreno is wary of that power. Moreno cracks him with a right hook, and he pins a one-two on Kara France’s face. A Moreno jab disrupts the forward movement of the Kiwi, who settles for a leg kick and absorbs one back harder. These flyweights are playing the “anything you can do, I can do better” game with one another, and Moreno gets the better of these mirror match exchanges. Moreno holds on to the center of the Octagon as Kara France circles around him, and he uses his jab effectively a few times. Moreno misses with a head kick, and he falls over as a result. As Kara France lets him up, Kara France runs at him with his fists flying, but Moreno is able to stay elusive and dodge them. Moreno’s head movement keeps him from absorbing the brunt of the swinging fists from Kara France, and he boots Kara France in the face with his shin at the 10-second clapper. Moreno scores a few punches to the body, and the horn stops this round that was somewhat more entertaining than the last but still in need of some action.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Moreno
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Moreno
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Moreno

Round 3

The third round opens up with a solid kick from the City Kickboxing fighter, who scores a solid shot on the inside calf of his opponent. In an exchange, Moreno falls to his back, and Kara France unloads with ground-and-pound that slashes a big cut open around Moreno’s right eye. With Moreno on his knees, Kara France hammers him with several vicious punches, and Moreno still works his way back up. Kara France gives chase, ducking a telegraphed spinning back elbow, and he lays into Moreno with several more punches. Moreno gathers his wits at blood trails down his face, and he starts to walk Kara France down. Kara France tags him with a big right hand on the way in, and Moreno takes it well but is wearing it. Kara France kicks low and punches high, and he has successfully found his range on the former champion. Moreno pushes out a few jabs, but Kara France is unabated and plants his shin on the lower leg of Moreno. Kara France stays on his bike, working the leg and body with distance strikes, and Moreno cannot pay him back. Kara France stands him up with a left, and Moreno comes back with a leg kick and a one-two. The Kiwi walks into a left hand and shrugs it off, and Moreno has gotten back in his rhythm with jabs and kicks. Moreno sneaks in an uppercut as Kara France is dipping a strike, and Kara France counters with a left hook. Kara France times a jab with a right hand over the top, and Moreno keeps moving as if it never landed. Moreno’s jab draws a takedown shot from Kara France, and Moreno stops it and pushes Kara France away with a left hand. With his opponent in the perfect position, the ex-champ winds up with a kick that slaps horrifyingly right into the liver, and Kara France collapses like a demolished building. Sensing the finish is there for the taking, “The Assassin Baby” finishes the job with a long string of punches as Herb Dean allows Kara France every opportunity to fight out of the bad spot. The Kiwi is zapped and not able to do anything about this predicament, and Dean intervenes to save Kara France from any further beating. This victory for Moreno, who is now the interim champion, makes him officially the next challenger for Figueiredo, his old nemesis, for their historic fourth match. The champion, who is watching from the front row, marches to the cage with sunglasses on. Figueiredo holds up his belt and grins at Moreno, who is still speaking with commentator Joe Rogan about his win. Moreno tells his rival that he forgives him for anything from the last few fights, and he apologizes for anything he did wrong as well. The two flyweight champs shake hands and appear to have squashed any beef they had before, with as much respect as an in-cage faceoff has seen in the UFC in years. The fourth scintillating battle should come in the next few months, and it will be worth the wait.

The Official Result

Brandon Moreno def. Kai Kara France R3 4:34 via TKO (Body Kick and Punches)

UFC Women's Bantamweight Title Fight:
Julianna Pena (134.5) vs. Amanda Nunes (135)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Nunes (-275), Pena (+230)

Round 1

In 2021, Pena (11-4, 7-2 UFC) shook up the sport as she dethroned mighty favorite and two-division queen Nunes (21-5, 14-2 UFC), doing so by taking the best that Nunes threw at her and tapping her out in Round 2. Whether this was a “fluke” as some have coined it, or the changing of the guard, this rematch will almost certainly give a clearer picture on the women’s bantamweight division. The final fight of this evening will be officiated by referee Mike Beltran, who might not be needed long. Despite coaching against one another on the latest season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” the perceived bad blood does not prevent a touch of gloves. Neither woman throws a single strike for the first 25 seconds, until Nunes lands a kick to the body. Nunes switches her stances back and forth, missing with a pair of push kicks to the knee. Pena is cautious to engage with anything as Nunes is not rushing towards her, and she blitzes in with a short combination and backs of when Nunes prepares to counter. Nunes scores two punches on the inside, and Pena strings two back at her only to absorb a heavy leg kick on the inside. Nunes lands a solid uppercut, but is one-and-done with it. When Pena walks forward, Nunes plants a right hand behind her ear that bends her over, but Pena rolls with it and gathers her thoughts. Nunes stands firm any time Pena advances, coiled up and ready to make Pena pay for advancing. Pena whiffs on a head kick, and Nunes swats at her but misses the mark. Pena throws so hard she nearly falls over, and Nunes catches her with a right hook that drops Pena to a knee. The champ shakes it out and gets smacked with another check hook. Pena gets her balance and then has her lead leg kicked for good measure, causing some swelling to brow on Pena’s lead leg. Nunes chambers her right hook, and Pena is concerned with the strike but not afraid to attack, as she plants a straight right hand down the middle. Pena swings wildly, and Nunes smiles at her and jabs her up. Nunes gets her head snapped back when throwing a leg kick with her guard down, and she shoots in for a takedown that Pena easily sees coming. Pena’s right hand collides on the chin, and Nunes swings back with a left that knocks Pena back. Nunes knocks the champ back to the wall, and the horn sounds to end the first round. They high-five after five minutes of combat.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nunes
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Nunes
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Nunes

Round 2

The bantamweights meet right in the middle to start off the round, and Pena leans back when Nunes fires a front kick at her. Pena darts in recklessly, with her hands by her hips, and “The Lioness” knocks her clean off her feet with a crisp right hand. Nunes does not dive into the guard to let Pena recover, and stands back to get Beltran to stand her up. Pena is still rocked, and Nunes settles down and attempts to catch a kick. Pena runs forward again, hands outstretched like Fabricio Werdum chasing Stipe Miocic, and Nunes snipes her with a right hand that again drops the champion feebly to the mat. Nunes backs off to admire her work, and Pena forces her way back upright again and into the lion’s mouth. Pena takes a front kick to the body, and she decides once more to attack with a straight charge. Nunes gets clipped this time, but she manages to fire back and get Pena’s attention. Pena takes two punches square on the chin, and Nunes measures that counter right hook. The two hand-fight with alternate stances, and Nunes leans back when Pena kicks at her. Nunes circles around as Pena kicks her and turns the corner, and they briefly brawl. Nunes plants the ball of her foot on Pena’s sternum, and Pena returns fire with a right over the top that misses the mark. Nunes intercepts an advancing Pena with a right, and she stings Pena once more with two punches. A straight left hand from the former 135-pound queen strips Pena’s legs away for what is the third knockdown of the round, and Pena scampers back upright as Beltran pays close attention. Nunes’ head kick gets blocked, and she smacks Pena with a back fist as Pena races forward. Nunes swats away a front kick so that she can measure her dangerous right hand, and she changes stances and rattles Pena. Pena steps on her toes and lands with a punch that makes Nunes stagger back, but it is due to the off-balance nature of the feet, and not from a damaging blow. The clinch is where the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Nunes
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-8 Nunes
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Nunes

Round 3

They are happy to touch gloves to start off the third round, and Nunes pins a left hand straight through the guard to begin. Pena walks through a check hook from Nunes, and Nunes spins with an elbow that smashes square into the champion’s face. Pena takes it flush and keeps on trucking somehow, walking forward to back Nunes away. Pena pushes forward to initiate a clinch, and Nunes tosses her aside and kicks her in the body without effort. Nunes scores a left, and Pena surges forward with a string of punches that Nunes wears well. Pena gets clipped and knocked back but not down, and Nunes throws the champ down to her back to make a statement. Pena closes her guard, and this allows Nunes to bust her in the face with brutal elbows. Pena hangs on with a high guard, even punching off her back, and Nunes fights off an omoplata or triangle setup. Using her elbows, Nunes scores strikes from on top, and Pena reaches her left leg for any submission she can muster. “The Lioness” rips open the flesh on the hairline of her opponent with an elbow, and blood begins to flow quickly. Another hacking elbow comes from Nunes, and Pena hunts for the left arm of her opponent for either an armbar or a shoulder lock. Nunes spins out of it and resumes control on top, and she steps to half guard where she can land more strikes. Pena flails off her back, but Nunes lords over her until the round concludes.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nunes
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Nunes
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Nunes

Round 4

Pena’s offense to begin the round comes in the form of several jabs, and as she sticks them out, Nunes ducks them. The Brazilian continues through the hips to take Pena down and put her flat on her back, resuming the position where she controlled much of the last round. Pena’s offensive guard gives a moment of concern, as she tries to isolate the arm for an armbar or omoplata, and Nunes turns all the way around and belts Pena in the face. Pena hunts for a triangle choke, and when that fails, she goes after another omoplata. The featherweight queen moves to try to escape, and she falls straight into armbar submission danger. Nunes miraculously fights out of the lock by setting up an inverted triangle choke, and she pushes over to side control to stop any more submissions from coming her way. Pena reasserts full guard, and Nunes presses her foe’s neck against the wall to prevent the leverage for subs. Nunes hammers her with an elbow, and she sits up to drop three more down. Pena fights it off with an armbar, and she powers back to her feet, bloody, bruised and swollen but not defeated. Nunes is confident, and she grins before shooting in for an easy takedown. Pena looks disappointed forgetting taken back down again, and Nunes slashes her with more elbows as Pena’s face is that of a horror movie character. Nunes sits up and stands up when Pena flirts with a submission, and Beltran stands Pena up instead of allowing them to have this odd position. Nunes cracks Pena with a few punches, and she slips and falls forward to get a takedown. Pena, flat on her back, is bleeding into her own eyes, and she likely cannot see at all. Despite this, Pena reaches for a triangle choke, and Nunes pushes it away without concern. The bloody round comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nunes
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Nunes
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Nunes

Round 5

The ladies hug it out to start out the final stanza, and Nunes strikes first with a venomous leg kick. Pena is still fresh despite likely losing every round, and she swings violently and may have connected with Nunes to get her attention. The former champ changes levels to scoop Pena off her feet, and she succeeds in putting her down. Pena walks off the wall with her feet in pursuit of a n armbar, and she changes to a triangle as she traps Nunes briefly. Nunes is able to use the fence to defend against maneuver, and she lowers herself down when Pena turns to her knees. Nunes hooks up an anaconda choke, and blood sprays from the top of Pena’s head on the mat. Nunes cannot finish it, likely because of the plasma that Pena has donated to the UFC fund tonight, so Pena stands back up. Pena is only on her feet for seconds before Nunes rushes in for a takedown, and Pena falls to her back in hopes of any Hail Mary type of submission try. “The Venezuelan Vixen” isolates Nunes’ left arm for a kimura in search of a sweep, but as he does, Nunes takes her back. Nunes slithers over to the top again, and she lands in half guard where Pena cannot throw her legs up. Nunes drops down punches and elbows until Pena pulls her back to the closed guard. Pena gets elbows several more times on the forehead, and it is unclear how many cuts she has suffered in this bout. Nunes stands up, and Pena nails her with an upkick. This allows Nunes to jump down to punch her in the guts, and Pena doubles over in pain. Pena is compromised from the blow, and Nunes turns around to take her back. Nunes traps her with a body triangle and secures the rear-naked choke, but Pena manages to break the leg grip around her waist and spin out of the choke. Nunes transitions to an arm-triangle choke, and this too does not succeed largely from the blood covering Pena’s whole face. Nunes backs off and stands to her feet, and she starts dancing when hearing the 10-second clapper. Pena tries one last time to get back to her feet and throw something at Nunes, but Nunes is out of the way and celebrates what should be a clear-cut win to get her belt back, exact revenge and establish dominance in the division. The two champions share a lengthy embrace after 25 thrilling minutes of action, blood, heart and intensity. Nunes is now, and once again, a simultaneous two-division champion. It’s anyone’s guess what is next for her, at either 135 or 145 pounds, as no clear-cut challenger looms in either division she reigns. She claims in her post-fight interview that she wants to take some time to see her family and recover, but says she will be back soon. “The Lioness” calls for a beer to drink on her way out, like a regular Tai Tuivasa, and she has certainly earned it. Whenever she fights again, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nunes (50-44 Nunes)
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Nunes (50-44 Nunes)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Nunes (50-44 Nunes)

The Official Result

Amanda Nunes def. Julianna Pena via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-44, 50-43)