UFC 295 ‘Prochazka vs. Pereira’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Dennis Buzukja (145.6) vs. Jamall Emmers (147: Missed Weight)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Emmers (-258), Buzukja (+210)

Round 1

There’s not much like a live sporting event at Madison Square Garden. The UFC makes its annual pilgrimage to the world-famous arena with a show that took several huge hits but came back with a vengeance. The main card alone promises plenty of action, but before then, eight prelims play out on the various ESPN and streaming networks out there. The fights commence with a match scheduled at featherweight only to get a slight tweak on weigh-in day. Coming in one pound heavy, Emmers (19-7, 2-3 UFC) will hope that surrendering a percentage of purse is the only thing he loses today against New York’s own Buzukja (11-3, 0-1 UFC). Buzukja offers his hand outstretched, and the heavy fighter choose not to accept it under the nonsense-free gaze of referee Keith Peterson. It’s on with the show. Buzukja sticks out a few jabs early, and Emmers is on him with multiple low kicks. Emmers charges forward, getting in a right hand and slipping back from the counter. A second blitz from Emmers gets through the defense of his opponent, and Buzukja defends himself but gets cracked with a right hand in the midst of a flurry. “Pretty Boy” again dips back to evade the strikes coming back, and he lines up a straight right hand down the pipe that smashes square into Buzukja’s chin. The New Yorker collapses in a heap, and Emmers pounces immediately. Emmers batters Buzukja with a number of mighty hammerfists, and as Buzukja turns to his side, Peterson steps in to call a halt to the action. The victor immediately calls for “50Gs,” but due to his weight miss, a post-fight bonus is all but off the table. Nevertheless, Emmers earns his first finish in the Octagon while becoming the first fighter to ever stop “The Great” as a pro.

The Official Result

Jamall Emmers def. Dennis Buzukja R1 0:49 via TKO (Punches)

Kevin Borjas (125.8) vs. Joshua Van (125.8)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Van (-218), Borjas (+180)

Round 1

A pair of once-beaten whirling dervish flyweights will take center stage next in a fight that might not last terribly long. Both Van (8-1, 1-0 UFC) and Borjas (9-1, 0-0 UFC) celebrate one decision apiece, so referee Mike Beltran is ready to intervene at a moment’s notice given their respective paces. They do not bother touching gloves before going about their business. Van prods out early with a low kick as Borjas misses on range-finding jabs, but Borjas manages to find the target once or twice. Van jabs to the midsection, and Borjas turns his hips into a leg kick. When Van does not acknowledge it, Borjas kicks the same spot. This prompts Van to his own low kick, in which Borjas retaliates immediately with a front kick to the midsection. Borjas circles back, pops out a leg kick, and gets chin-checked with a sharp jab. Borjas replies with a solid strike, and both men are largely aiming single strikes at one another. They go tit-for-tat with jabs and leg kicks, with neither showing a large advantage, although Van puts a little more into his strikes that mostly go wide. Borjas pokes the midsection with the ball of his foot, and Van chambers and fires two stern calf kicks in a hurry. Borjas continues feeding Van a steady diet of frustrating jabs, although those and his kicks are largely all that connect until he jumps forward with a switch kick and tags Van with a right hand. Borjas spins with a wheel kick that grazes off the guard, and he rushes at his opponent and hurts Van with a right hand and sets the youngster on his seat. Van shakes out the cobwebs as Borjas crashes forward and drills him in the chest with a jump knee. Van ricochets off the fencing and looks for counters, but Borjas is able to evade the brunt of them and strike back. A number of jabs and hefty leg kicks find their home for “El Gallo Negro,” and he runs forward in pursuit of a left hook that Van narrowly evades. When Van resets, Borjas slams his shin on the calf of his foe. Borjas sticks and moves with his jab, and he sneaks a front kick in and is driven back with a left hook from the fighter born in Myanmar. Borjas races forward, the bridge of Van’s nose trickling blood, and he ties Van up in a clinch against the fence until the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Borjas
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Borjas
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Borjas

Round 2

The second round opens with the two testing one another, but the pace picks up in a hurry when Van starts to crowd his opponent. Borjas leans back and belts Van with a left hook, and Van bounces away and recovers. Borjas keeps on his bike as Van pursues him, picking away with jabs and leg kicks as Van closes in. Borjas changes levels, only to go up high with a big one-two, and Van sways and looks to loop two punches together in response. Van walks face-first into a jump knee and does not bat an eye, and Borjas whips a kick to the body to follow. Van embodies his “The Fearless” nickname by striding forward, unfazed, and he connects with a big right hand on the jaw. Van finds his range with a short combination that ends with a head kick, and he rips the body when Borjas looks to escape. Van marks up the Peruvian with a number of head and body shots, and he backs off to measure a spinning wheel kick that careens off the shoulder. Van digs two heavy shots to the body and goes up top, and he continues working the midsection with a litany of strikes. As Borjas drops his hand, Van boots him upside the face. Borjas steels himself and nails Van in the face with a right hand, and Van completely shrugs it off and continues his high-pressure approach. Borjas keeps away, not letting Van crowd or corner him, but Van is still able to find the liver with a left hand. Van sneaks in a number of jabs and lets Borjas overswing in a counter, and he eats a left hand and keeps right on plodding forward. Van continues to mix his strikes up to the head and body, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Van
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Van
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Van

Round 3

The two flyweights reach the final frame, and Van is ready to pick up right where he left off and sticks out a number of jabs in rapid succession. Van targets the lead leg when not jabbing, and Borjas responds with a right to the breadbasket and a clapping calf kick. Borjas sits down on counters, connecting cleanly with a few, but Van no-sells them and fires right back fearlessly. When Borjas swings hard, Van level changes and lifts Borjas up so he can slam him down. Borjas scrambles, allowing Van to drop back and pursue a leglock. Borjas is able to break the submission setup up so he can stand up, and they both so do. Van continues to press the pace, and he connects with numerous shots before attempting a single-leg takedown. The 22-year-old bails on it so he can open up with strikes to the head, which then allow him to work the body. The offense of Van continues to keep his foe guessing, and Borjas tries to retaliate and counter with step-in knees or other single powerful blows, but Van largely sees them coming and blocks or dodges them. Van jabs up high, punches the body and then kicks low to light up all targets like the dummy on “Three Ninjas.” Van shows no sign of slowing, flowing with offense and chaining strikes together. Borjas tags him with a jump knee, and Van takes a right hand on the chin that shakes him up. A rattled Van maintains the composure to get hold of a body lock and throw Borjas down to the mat, and he quickly steps over to half guard. From there, Van sneaks into side control and looks to maintain a crucifix that turns into a scarf hold with an armlock. Borjas brilliantly sweeps “The Fearless” and dumps him on his back, where he uses the position to take the back. As Van continues to move wildly, he gets back on top. Van rides out the round on top with a few ground strikes, concluding a thrilling 15-minute affair.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Van (29-28 Van)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Van (29-28 Van)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Van (29-28 Van)

The Official Result

Joshua Van def. Kevin Borjas via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

John Castaneda (137.6) vs. Kyung Ho Kang (138)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Castaneda (-142), Kang (+120)

Round 1

Even if South Korea’s “Mr. Perfect” Kang (19-9, 1 NC; 8-3, 1 NC UFC) has not been perfect as a member of the UFC roster, his pattern of three wins followed by a defeat has held perfectly for the last decade. Should this continue, it would mean a victory over Castaneda (20-6, 3-2 UFC) tonight. Due to this pairing coming together on late notice, it will be contested at a catchweight of 138 pounds, and neither mad had a problem with the scales ahead of time. Prior to the action, a touch of gloves is shared, and referee Dan Miragliotta is on standby. Kang stays light on his feet early to hops back to avoid a low kick, and he jabs with the ball of his foot to Castaneda’s chest. Castaneda responds with a quick leg kick, and Kang crowds him and looks to corner him. The South Korean fighter sits down on a body kick, and he springs away from a counter. Castaneda gives him a body kick back, but he does get countered before he can get away. Castaneda starts to chew up the lead wheel with a plethora of calf kicks, and he whips a kick to the side that makes Kang grimace. Castaneda spins with a back kick to the body as well, with very few strikes aimed up high early. Castaneda jabs the head and body, and he gets driven back with a straight right hand. Castaneda goes body and leg with a punch and a kick, and Kang ignores the strikes and continues to walk him down. Castaneda just misses with a right hand as Kang closes in, and he keeps chipping at the inside and outside of Kang’s left leg. Castaneda jabs the body and slides to the side, and he brings his shin high to bang into Kang’s raised guard. Kang checks a kick as he plods forward, and he belts Castaneda in the midsection with his own foot. Castaneda doubles up on leg kicks and spins with a heel to the ribs, and he surprises Kang with a left hand. Castaneda does not slow down kicking the front leg, and he wades through a few strikes to sit down on a right hand. Kang counters with a clean straight right, and he finds his target with a second shortly thereafter much to the dismay of “Sexi Mexi.” Castaneda comes up short with a body kick, and he darts forward suddenly with two swiping punches that brush sweat from Kang’s brow. Kang intercepts Castaneda with a jab, and he bull-rushes forward and goes wide. Castaneda stays elusive and lands a number of additional kicks until the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda

Round 2

The second round begins in a hurry, as Kang is ready to hit harder than before. When Castaneda attempts a low kick, Kang sends Castaneda to his seat with a right hand. Castaneda climbs back up and is not concerned, as he keeps right on kicking. Kang whiffs with an elbow from up close, and he lands his own leg kick for good measure. Castaneda tags him with a right hand over the top, and Kang sees the success of that kick and goes to the same spot. Castaneda jabs and moves, and he clips Kang with a short right hand. Kang shakes it out and absorbs a leg kick, and Castaneda times his right hand again. Kang looks for his own counter during a leg kick, and this allows Castaneda to duck it and sneak around to take his back. Castaneda looks to take Kang down, and he succeeds in scooping up the Korean from behind and dropping him down on his arms. Kang turns around, his back to the fence and his backside on the floor, but Castaneda controls him from any further activity. Kang explodes to get back to his feet, and he targets the body and gets blasted with one to the solar plexus. Kang protests that the kick went low, and Miragliotta calls time and checks on the replay. Miragliotta rules the strike was clean, and they get back to it. Castaneda sprints into action, working Kang’s leg to draw a counter, duck it and take Kang’s back again while upright. Kang defends from the takedown attempt this time around, so Castaneda meets him with a thudding kick to the ribs and numerous punches up high. Castaneda connects with a punch and kick to the body, and he lands a kick on the inside and outside of Kang’s lead leg to follow. Kang prods out his jab, and he smacks Castaneda with an ineffective left. Kang puts a little more mustard behind a left hand, but Castaneda does not flinch. Castaneda fires a left hand over the top, and Kang gets tagged with a series of punches from “Sexi Mexi.” The sparring match of a round ends as Kang shells up against the fence.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda

Round 3

Castaneda hops out of his corner offering a glove touch, and Kang accepts it and kicks him square in the groin. Castaneda groans but waves Miragliotta off, as he is energized and wants to walk it off. As Kang kicks his body again, Castaneda rifles a right hand down the middle on the chest and knocks Kang down. Kang climbs back up, and Castaneda is on him, stringing together combinations of punches and leg kicks. The latter starts to draw reactions out of his opponent, as Kang is wearing it from the assault to his left leg. Kang toughs it out and gets back to his own forward momentum, and he comes in close enough to block a body kick. Castaneda mixes things up with kicks to the body and legs, and he punches the head and body. A few head shots from “Sexi Mexi” make Kang nod at him and try to entice a brawl, but Castaneda instead backs off as a strike from Kang appears to have opened a cut on the top of his right eye. Castaneda scores a clubbing right hand, and Kang lures him into the slugfest he wanted, as the two trade punches. Kang backs off, taking the worse of the exchanges, and Castaneda follows after him and pursues a single. Castaneda drags Kang to the mat, and Kang explodes back up and is met with a solid left hand and a liver kick. Kang fires back, getting a bit of space from the crowding Castaneda, and he gets Castaneda’s attention with a kick to the ribs. Castaneda sprints forward, looking for a high crotch to lift and dump Kang, and Kang keeps his balance when lowered to the floor. Kang keeps moving and lets Castaneda slide off the side and back, and he threatens suddenly with a guillotine choke. Castaneda escapes and retreats, and Kang gives chase and loads up on all the offense he can muster until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda (30-27 Castaneda)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda (30-27 Castaneda)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda (30-27 Castaneda)

The Official Result

John Castaneda def. Kyung Ho Kang via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Jared Gordon (155.6) vs. Mark O. Madsen (155.6)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Gordon (-198), Madsen (+164)

Round 1

Lightweights dance as the prelims roll on, as Gordon (19-6, 1 NC; 7-5, 1 NC UFC) looks for his first win this year. Having tasted defeat in MMA for the first time last year, Madsen (12-1, 4-1 UFC) will be aiming to get his hand raised for the first time in 2023 as well. Something’s got to give, and referee Marc Goddard will be keeping things above board. With plenty of respect between the two fighters, they gladly touch their gloves together to make things official. Madsen is the one to advance first, and he walks through a half-hearted leg kick to clinch up in the middle of the cage. Gordon pushes off to escape, and Madsen ducks a looping right hand. Gordon rips a right hand to the body, and when they close in, Madsen knees him in the body and head. They smash fists on the other’s faces, and Madsen targets the body with knees and punches as Gordon rests on the fencing. Gordon gathers himself and pushes off the cage wall so he can gain some space, and he looks to get his boxing going only to have to duck a huge right hand. Madsen bullies “Flash” back to the wall, where he spams knees up the middle and dirty boxes with strikes to the midsection. Ever so often, Madsen sneaks in an uppercut, and this flusters the New Yorker and makes him need to escape. Madsen is on him like a cheap suit, connecting with a clean right hand, and forcing Gordon to take a funny step as he gets driven back to the cage. Madsen knees Gordon a few times as he wears on Gordon, until Gordon again gets out. Gordon looks for some pocket boxing success before Madsen closes in, and Madsen manages to get up tight and get in more knees. Madsen cracks Gordon with two left hands, and he meanders forward with two more heavy blows before gripping Gordon in the clinch. Gordon shucks him off and elbows Madsen on the temple, and he pops Madsen with an uppercut. Gordon takes advantage of this moment and pounds Madsen in the face with an elbow, and he whips a right hand over the top that crashes square into Madsen’s ear. The Danish fighter crumbles, and “Flash” leaps in a flash to finish the job. Gordon delivers a pounding on the defeated Madsen until Goddard pulls him off, and New York is on the board tonight! On his post-fight interview, Gordon claims that his grandfather fought four times in the building—Madison Square Garden—and that he used to shoot heroin in Penn Station beneath the same building before knocking someone out under its lights. Gordon declares that you can do anything you put your mind to, and he celebrates his big knockout with his team.

The Official Result

Jared Gordon def. Mark O. Madsen R1 4:42 via TKO (Elbow and Punches)

Viacheslav Borshchev (154.8) vs. Nazim Sadykhov (155.6)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sadykhov (-135), Borshchev (+114)

Round 1

Two strikers from Asia that relocated to America to train with prominent MMA gyms will do battle in this next lightweight affair. Winner of nine straight since dropping his pro debut, Azerbaijan-born Longo/Weidman MMA product Sadykhov (9-1, 2-0 UFC) will step into the Octagon to throw hands with Russia’s Borshchev (7-3, 2-2 UFC) out of the Team Alpha Male Stable. Bragging rights for the camps and a step up the pecking order will be in store for the winner, and before that happens, the lightweights clap hands. Referee Keith Peterson dons his proverbial hard hat and boots nonsense to the curb as these two flamethrowers with 89% and 86% stoppage rates, respectively, are about to go at it. Sadykhov strikes first with a low kick, and Borshchev responds with a side kick to the lead leg as well. The two trade kicks to the same targets, and Sadykhov gets off a jab to the body and has a head kick glance off the guard. “Slava” steps back and goes low with a kick, before going high with his shin. Sadykhov guards them both and knees the body, and he considers a level change but lets it go. A powerful kick from the Team Alpha Male forces Sadykhov to spin all the way around to recover, and when he resets, he lines up a right hand down Broadway. Sadykhov takes a few more thudding leg kicks, and Borshchev strings together punches up high and trips Sadykhov up with a kick on the way out. Sadykhov gathers himself and keeps his guard high to block the oncoming fire, and he checks a kick and backs Borshchev off before shooting in on the hips. Borshchev shuts it down and blasts Sadykhov to the body with a right hand, and Sadykhov retaliates with counters. Borshchev hammers the leg with a kick and strings four punches together to immediately follow it, and then retreats to sneak an inside leg kick in after. Sadykhov comes up short with a one-two, and he pops Borshchev with a leg and eats a right hand. Sadykhov continues barreling forward, letting loose with fists and a body kick. Borshchev reels and kicks the leg to spin Sadykhov around again, and he jackhammers the front leg to make Sadykhov stumble. A powerful left hand from Sadykhov rattles “Slava,” forcing the Russian-born fighter to backpedal. Sadykhov marches him down, but Borshchev has recovered in time and is ready to throw hands. Borshchev lambastes Sadykhov with another vicious kick, and Sadykhov tries to spin through it with a back fist. Borshchev blocks and connects with a right hand, and the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Borshchev
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Borshchev
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Borshchev

Round 2

The fighters clap hands again to lead off the round, and Sadykhov advances to load up on four punches, then goes after a high kick at the conclusion of a combination. Borshchev counters and drills Sadykhov’s lead wheel with a kick, and Sadykhov raises it gingerly and hops around before changing stances. Borshchev strides forward, brimming with confidence, and he puts seven or eight punches on his opponent before spinning Sadykhov all the way around with a devastating leg kick. Sadykhov absorbs two punches flush on the chin and is ready to lash out, only for Borshchev to duck and spin with a back fist that smacks him upside the noggin. Sadykhov shakes it off and walks through a calf kick to pat out jabs, and he ducks under a looping left hand. Sadykhov fakes with a kick and rifles two punches up top, and Borshchev retaliates immediately with a body kick. Sadykhov unloads with a left hand, and Borshchev is rocked badly. Sadykhov releases a high kick that knocks Borshchev to his seat, and he leaps on top to strike. Borshchev gathers his thoughts while on his back, but Sadykhov is not about to let him off the hook as he slashes down with an elbow that splits Borshchev’s head wide open. Borshchev looks to scramble, and he manages to get back to his feet out of sheer force of will. Sadykhov cracks his foe with a few punches, and a big one-two knocks Borshchev back. Sadykhov times his strikes to attempt a takedown, and he puts “Slava” on his back. Borshchev defends and even trips Sadykhov, but Sadykhov steps over to claim full mount, all while blood pours in Borshchev’s eyes. Sadykhov gets dragged to half guard and considers an arm-triangle choke, and he drops down a few elbows. Borshchev turns to his stomach and powers his way back up, and he lands once but gets knocked back. Sadykhov hurts him again, and he tanks an elbow on the chin right at the bell to make him raise his arms in the air in celebration.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Sadykhov
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Sadykhov
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-8 Sadykhov

Round 3

After a little examination, Borshchev is cleared to continue, and he is grinning as he is ready to start off the last round. Sadykhov races towards him throwing punches, and he slips a strike and marks the body. Borshchev kicks the leg to spin Sadykhov around, and Sadykhov tackles him down courtesy of a single. Borshchev bucks and twists to try to kick Sadykhov off of him, and Sadykhov frustrates him with a few strikes but cannot keep him there. Borshchev turns over and pops back to his feet, where he is ready to throw hands. Borshchev works the body, and Sadykhov responds with a knee that splits the guard. They trade right hands at the same time, and Borshchev slams his fist into Sadykhov’s midsection and measures a high kick that is barely blocked. Borshchev continues investing in body work, and he lines up a few punches that ring Sadykhov’s bell. Sadykhov tries to recover and takes a left to the body and a right to the head. Borshchev leans back to dodge a strike and snipes Sadykhov with a right hand, and he strings four and then two punches together in rapid succession before kicking out Sadykhov’s leg. Borshchev rips the body and goes up top, and he completely ignores a head kick. Borshchev kicks him back with a heavier blow, leading Sadykhov to crash the pocket and take him to the mat. Borshchev uses his legs and an active butterfly guard to keep Sadykhov from advancing, and Sadykhov jumps over to take a dominant position but only holds it for a second before Borshchev is flipped over and turned to his knees. Borshchev climbs back up and works the body, and a knee bounces off his head that makes Sadykhov tumble to the mat. Borshchev kicks the leg and trades punches, and he evades a head kick and counters with a left hook. Borshchev connects with a partial Superman punch, and he boxes Sadykhov up with punches in bunches. Sadykhov is relegated to single strikes, and he rushes forward to take Borshchev down. Borshchev stands with a second to go, and he blocks a high knee to conclude the fight. Depending on how judges scored the second round, this blood-and-guts thriller could end up as a draw.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Borshchev (28-28)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Borshchev (28-28)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Borshchev (28-28)

The Official Result

Viacheslav Borshchev vs. Nazim Sadykhov is Scored a Majority Draw (29-28, 28-28, 28-28)

Mateusz Rebecki (155.8) vs. Roosevelt Roberts (158: Missed Weight)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Rebecki (-700), Roberts (+500)

Round 1

Originally expecting he would come to blows with Tajikistan’s Nurullo Aliev, on ultra-late notice, Rebecki (18-1, 2-0 UFC) will instead welcome Roberts (12-3, 1 NC; 4-3, 1 NC UFC) back to the Octagon. The eight-fight vet left the organization in 2021 after getting posterized by Ignacio Bahamondes, and two wins on the regional circuit plus an appearance on the 31st season of “The Ultimate Fighter” led to “The Predator”—no not that one—getting a return ticket to the UFC. Unfortunately for Roberts, his second chance at a first impression will start off rough, as he could not reach the lightweight limit, coming in two pounds heavy and losing a hefty chunk of his purse. The two will proceed with referee Mike Beltran as their third, and the combatants happily exchange a fist bump. Roberts measures a right hand, and he just misses Rebecki. Rebecki rips a few kicks down low, and he comes up short with big swinging fists. Roberts backs off, looking for a knee to counter, and Rebecki follows him and secures a double-leg takedown to put Roberts on the mat. Rebecki slashes down with an elbow on the forehead, and he maintains position while landing some sporadic ground-and-pound. Rebecki grinds down with his elbow, frustrating the taller fighter, until Roberts kicks his feet in pursuit of a sweep. This backfires for him, as Rebecki takes side control in a hurry. Roberts is able to power his way back up through sheer muscle, and Rebecki drags him down to his face from behind. As Roberts recovers, Rebecki slithers around to take the back and get both hooks in. Rebecki smacks Roberts on the sides of his head, softening his man up until Roberts times an explosion to turn around and stand up. Before he gets all the way up, Rebecki snares him in an armbar, and “The Predator” has just become the prey. Roberts tries to roll through to defend against the submission, but this places him in even greater danger. Rebecki continues to torque the arm with all his might, and Roberts screams out before his arm breaks and his tendons snap. Beltran is immediately on the action to make sure nothing goes awry, but Rebecki releases the grip as soon as he hears the verbal submission. The Polish fighter is in all smiles when he stands back up, and he calls for the UFC to hold an event in Poland soon.

The Official Result

Mateusz Rebecki def. Roosevelt Roberts R1 3:08 via Submission (Armbar)

Lupita Godinez (115) vs. Tabatha Ricci (115.4)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Godinez (-170), Ricci (+142)

Round 1

A place in the strawweight top 10 likely looms for the victor between surging grappler Ricci (9-1, 4-1 UFC) and battle-tested Godinez (11-3, 6-3 UFC), with a slight logjam up top of the division but plenty of room to move around. The former celebrates a win streak of four, while the latter has had her hand raised three times in a row, and referee Dan Miragliotta will be the first to know which one will be broken tonight. Eager to get after it, the 115ers skip past a fist bump and Ricci is jittery with strikes right off the bat. Godinez ignores the fluttery movement and reaches out with a pair of one-twos, and both come up short. Ricci misses on a kick and dodges a right hand that zooms past her face. Ricci tosses out a low kick, and Godinez fires off another one-two that is a whisker closer. Ricci reaches her foe with a right hand, and they crash together with single strikes at the same time. Godinez paws out a jab, and she meets Ricci with a stern right hand on the nose. Ricci blinks it out and flicks out low kicks. When Godinez overswings on a right hand, Ricci rushes at her and grabs hold of a body lock to take the fight down. Godinez balances from one side of the cage to the other, and she keeps on her feet and breaks away. Ricci whiffs on a pair of punches and gets driven back with a right hand, and she resets and kicks low. Godinez crowds her foe with a right hook, and she keeps her jab going. A right hand from the Brazilian bounces off the guard, and Godinez catches her and beans her with a right hand. Ricci topples to her seat, and springs back up to tie Godinez up. Ricci presses her opponent against the fence, where she looks to shake out any cobwebs, only to get popped with a knee to force a break. Ricci scores with a right hand, and Godinez greets her with one of her own. Ricci avoids a jumping right hand and ducks beneath a swinging hook, but she does not manage to get off anything from her own side. Ricci is stonewalled when changing levels, and Godinez shoves her back and knees Ricci in the chest. They both get off single swiping punches, and it is Godinez’ punch that follows and dings Ricci again. Ricci wears it well and absorbs a few more punches, and Godinez stalks her down calmly and catches her with a jab. Ricci surprises Godinez with a straight left that buckles Godinez’ knees, and Godinez wobbles but fires back with a right hand before the bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Godinez
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Godinez
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Godinez

Round 2

The strawweights meet in the middle to engage, and Ricci fires off strikes first as she lunges with jabs and punches. Godinez parries or dodges and scores with a counter. Godinez wings a left hook and a right hand, and she follows suit with a left hook that catches Ricci flat-footed. Ricci tosses out a leg kick, and misses with a one-two, as Godinez aims a left to her midsection. Godinez hooks a left around the raised guard, and Ricci is shoved back by a left hand down the middle. Ricci throws frantically, while Godinez is far more composed and tagging her cleanly. Ricci secures a right hand on the temple, and Godinez brushes past it to strike back only to be met with a low kick. A number of Ricci punches hit nothing but air, and Godinez tags her with a left hook. Godinez lunges forward, stinging Ricci with another left hook, and a third really gets Ricci’s attention. Godinez continues to find her home with her big left, and when Ricci hits her back, the impact is nowhere near as significant. Ricci strings three punches together and shoots in, only to be met with a stuff and a solid right hand. Ricci marks up her foe’s nose with a few punches, a head kick, and a sneaky spinning back fist when resetting. Godinez stops the takedown effort from succeeding, and she turns Ricci’s head with a straight right hand. Ricci’s striking accuracy rate is likely low, while Godinez continues to connect cleanly without fear. Ricci takes a left hand flush, and Godinez sits down on a pair of punches to follow. As Godinez rushes in, Ricci snipes her with a left hand and their heads clack together, and Godinez falls to her back. As Ricci leaps on top of her fallen foe to land strikes, the horn blares.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Godinez
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Godinez
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Godinez

Round 3

The last round kicks off with an aggressive Ricci, who puts a plenty of punches together but is met by the oncoming Godinez. Godinez throws harder, and they bang heads together again during an exchange. Ricci commits to a leg kick, and she aims a right hand over the top and shoots in for a takedown. Godinez leans her back to the wall to stop it from succeeding, and when Ricci’s attempt fails, the Brazilian elects to swipe several elbows over the top. Godinez pushes her off, her nose leaking a bit, and the two start trading hands from up close. Ricci shoots for a single, and Godinez drops to a knee to defend it and thwarts it completely. “Loopy” keeps her guard high to defend from the jabs and straight punches, and she knocks Ricci back with a clean one-two. Godinez swipes out with a left hook, and she presses forward and walks square into a right hand. Godinez counters and blocks a head kick, and she hops back when Ricci kicks at her leg. Ricci lands at the end of a right hand, and she takes a punch flush on the mouth that knocks her head back. The two engage in brief flurries where both land with one or two shots, and Godinez follows with a solid left hand as Ricci sharply exhales. Godinez counters a short barrage with a right hand, and she lands a heavy kick to the ribs. Ricci throws wild, and a strike catches Godinez and wobbles her briefly. Godinez gathers her thoughts and changes levels in pursuit of a single, and she abandons it when pushing “Baby Shark” to the wall. Godinez lets Ricci’s hands bounce off her gloves and delivers retribution on the chin, and the two trade leather right to the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Godinez (30-27 Godinez)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Godinez (30-27 Godinez)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Godinez (30-27 Godinez)

The Official Result

Lupita Godinez def. Tabatha Ricci via Split Decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

Alessandro Costa (125.4) vs. Steve Erceg (125.6)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Erceg (-166), Costa (+140)

Round 1

Crashing into the UFC in June with a huge upset win over a ranked David Dvorak, Australia’s Erceg (10-1, 1-0 UFC) hopes his sophomore effort is just as solid as his UFC debut. Looking to halt his momentum will be Costa (13-3, 1-1 UFC), a former Lux Fight League champ who holds eight first-round finishes on his resume. They will be joined in the cage by referee Marc Goddard, and the preliminary headliner commences as the two flyweights touch gloves. Erceg takes to the center of the cage, and he slowly works his way forward without throwing much of note. When Costa aims a kick low, Erceg counters with a piston-like right hand. Erceg tosses out a leg kick, and a second kick makes Costa spring into action with a hard right hand. Costa flicks out a jab, and Erceg pushes out one back and kicks the inside and outside of his leg. When Costa kicks back, Erceg has a check ready. Costa’s big right hand bounces off the guard, and he swings two hooks as Erceg bears down on him. Erceg gets backed off, but still connects with a power jab. Costa flails long and connects with part of an overhand right, but Erceg is able to move with it to take some of the sting out of it. Erceg prods out his jab and snaps the head back with a right hand, and Costa kicks him in response. Costa rings Erceg’s bell with an overhand right, and he tries to chain another and is met with a knee up the middle and a right hook. Erceg splits the guard with a one-two, and he puts three together and sways to the side to make Costa hurl punches at nothing but air. Erceg goes between the gloves with an uppercut, and he lines up a huge right hand and busts Costa in the face. Costa attempts to take him down as he is rattled, and Erceg spins him around and climbs straight into full mount. Costa turns to his side, and Erceg snatches up a rear-naked choke. Costa is in huge trouble but manages to gut out the submission, as he turns his body and keeps moving. Erceg tries to trap him with another choke attempt, but Costa explodes to get back to his feet, and he pushes the Aussie to the wire. The round ends with both men attempting inaccurate front kicks.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Erceg
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Erceg
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Erceg

Round 2

To start off the second stanza, the Australian fighter again claims the middle of the Octagon and moves forward, to force Costa to immediately backpedal. Erceg launches a head kick that pounds into the guard, and he shoves Costa and bounces him off the fence. Costa goes for a home run right hand, and Erceg evades it by a matter of millimeters. Costa is a man on a mission, looking for giant strikes, and he connects with numerous huge strikes as Erceg takes them or tries to keep moving. Costa drives a knee up the middle, and Erceg recovers and returns to put pressure on his opponent. Costa winds up with a hefty leg kick, and a subsequent overhand right stings Erceg again. Costa swings with a mighty right hook once more, and he shoots in low for a single to catch Erceg unaware. Erceg defends himself by getting pushed back to the wall, and Costa drags him down and shifts himself to half guard in a hurry. Costa tries to smash his foe with ground-and-pound, but he throws himself off-balance and allows Erceg to sneak out the back door and climb back to his feet, where he pushes Costa into the wall from behind. Erceg lowers himself down to grip hold of a single, and Costa gets away with a fence grab to stay upright. Erceg knees the body a few times while tightly pressed on his adversary, and Costa jumps guard for an armbar out of nowhere. Erceg defends himself smoothly and lets them both stand, but he continues to press his weight on his aggressive opponent. Costa pushes off, and he lets his hands go to knock Erceg back. As Erceg is wobbled, Costa tackles him to the canvas. The Brazilian turns over to pursue an armlock, and Erceg flips him over and grinds him with elbows on the face until the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Costa
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Costa
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Costa

Round 3

The flyweights have reached Round 3, and Erceg is quick to resume the trend where he started the first two rounds pushing the pace early. Erceg backs Costa off, threatening knees and level changes, and Costa blocks a jump knee that is aimed at his dome. Erceg pushes him up to the fencing, and he fights off a trip to keep on his feet. Erceg looks to drag his man down, but Costa awkwardly keeps his balance and may have grabbed the cage again. Erceg transitions to a single, and Costa belts him with an elbow to back him off. Costa comes up short with a sweeping low kick, and Erceg jabs him multiple times in the face before timing a clean level change. Costa is on the mat for barely a second before jumping back up, and Erceg squeezes him up against the fencing to control him further. Costa gets off a solid right hand to back off the Aussie, and Erceg gathers his thoughts and pushes him back to the wall. Erceg looks to tie the legs up and trip Costa down, and Costa hits his knees and powers back up without batting an eye. Costa attempts his own far-side trip that does not succeed, and Erceg elbows him and eats two knees in the belly for his effort. Costa turns him around and sells out for a single, and he dumps Erceg down but cannot control him. Erceg is upright before Costa knows it, and he is pushing the Brazilian against the wall to run out the clock. Costa frames off with knees to the body, and Erceg responds in kind. Erceg cannot get his foe down, and he settles for clinch control until the final horn wraps the fight.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Erceg (29-28 Erceg)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Erceg (29-28 Erceg)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Erceg (29-28 Erceg)

The Official Result

Steve Erceg def. Alessandro Costa via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Diego Lopes (145.4) vs. Pat Sabatini (145.8)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sabatini (-120), Lopes (+100)

Round 1

The main card is upon us, and it should provide a grappler’s delight as the two featherweights about to invade the Octagon combine for 23 submission victories without a single defeat via tapout. Aiming to prove he is not just a grappler, action-packed Brazilian contender Lopes (22-6, 1-1 UFC) will bring his 89% finish rate and try to threaten every step of the fight. With not a great deal of New Yorkers on the card, the UFC dipped into the Tri-State Area to pull Pennsylvanian Sabatini (18-4, 4-1 UFC) up onto the billing, and he too would like to showcase his jiu-jitsu chops when it counts. Referee Keith Peterson will draw the assignment for the pay-per-view opener, and the fighters quickly touch ‘em up. No nonsense will be permitted for the next 15 minutes or less. Both men bounce up and down while quite distant from one another, and Lopes tries to reach with a kick. Sabatini surges forward with a three-punch salvo that gets Lopes’ attention, and Lopes has to shake it off early. Sabatini jumps with a switch kick to the body, and Lopes looks to catch it but lets it go all while chants for “USA” rain down in support of Sabatini. The Pennsylvanian comes up short with another jump kick, and the two come together for a possible takedown effort of some sort. Lopes stands his man up with an uppercut as they try to get upright, and Sabatini is stunned when he tries to take a step back. The Brazilian immediately follows suit with a vicious right hand on the temple, and Sabatini might be out on his feet as he turns to another direction and his eyes go wide. Lopes will not let this fish get away, and he charges after Sabatini with powerful fists until pushing Sabatini down to his side. Lopes traps the Pennsylvania native’s arm behind his back and begins battering Sabatini with his free hand. Sabatini, unable to block his face and clinging to consciousness, gets knocked out, back in, and out again as Lopes punishes him with right hands. Peterson recognizes that Sabatini cannot defend himself at all, and he calls a stop to the beating. What a performance for Lopes, who likely catapults himself into featherweight contendership by wrecking a tough out in about a minute and a half.

The Official Result

Diego Lopes def. Pat Sabatini R1 1:30 via KO (Punches)

Matt Frevola (155.6) vs. Benoit St. Denis (156)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: St. Denis (-230), Frevola (+190)

Round 1

Referee Mike Beltran cannot blink as he watches over this lightweight banger. Three first-round knockouts in a row bolster the recent resume of New York native Frevola (11-3-1, 5-3-1 UFC), while French foe St. Denis (12-1, 1 NC; 4-1 UFC) has performed four straight finishes on his own right. Before the flurries of fists and feet that are sure to bless the cage commence, the contenders-to-be tap their fists together. St. Denis introduces himself with a head kick, and Frevola leans back to dodge it. Frevola kicks low, and when he attempts to throw hands, St. Denis catches him on the way in with another low kick that may have grazed the cup. St. Denis aims a kick to the body, and Frevola does the same. A kick from Frevola makes him stumble, and St. Denis rushes towards him and jumps guard with a guillotine choke. Frevola escapes the danger, stands back up, lifts the Frenchman in the air and slams him down. St. Denis is able to power back up, and when he pushes Frevola back to the fence, he absorbs a stern knee to his guts. Frevola breaks off, circling away to reset, but the French fighter gives chase. St. Denis chambers and launches his left shin at the dome, and it clatters off Frevola’s forehead and puts him all the way out. St. Denis, not sure if Frevola was still with it, drops to his knees and clobbers an unconscious Frevola with a few left hands, all while Beltran sprints towards them to stop the fight. Frevola comes to shortly after, and there is absolutely no ill will between the two, as they salute one another and thank the other for their personal previous military services. What a spectacular knockout!

The Official Result

Benoit St. Denis def. Matt Frevola R1 1:31 via KO (Head Kick)

Jessica Andrade (116) vs. Mackenzie Dern (115.6)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Dern (-198), Andrade (+164)

Round 1

A crossroads fight looms for these two strawweights wanting to make either another run in the case of Andrade (24-12, 15-10 UFC) or their first run in the case of Dern (13-3, 8-3 UFC) at the throne. The former champ has struggled as of late, dropping three in a row this year, while Dern has alternated wins and losses in her last five. Two women enter, one woman leaves. Referee Keith Peterson will keep tabs and eject nonsense from the featured fight of the night, one that begins with a sporting glove touch. Dern pushes out a jab early and a few front kicks to the belly, and Andrade ignores anything that comes her way as she keeps a poker face and slowly walks forward. Dern strafes to the side and pecks at Andrade with low kicks, and they crash together and Dern looks to throw her to the ground with a head lock. Andrade hits the mat and scrambles immediately, where she gets up and prepares to strike. Dern kicks, and Andrade catches it and backs her off with a right hand. Andrade comes up short with a few punches, and a leg kick. Dern plants her own leg kick on the thigh, and she swings for the fences and engages in a brief brawl with the former champ. Dern ducks down and sticks out a right hand, and Andrade parries it and catches a front kick. Andrade lets fly a leg kick, and she gets backed off by a series of punches from the jiu-jitsu player. Andrade lets Dern fall to the ground while flurrying, and she eats a strike on the way down before climbing back up. “Bate Estaca” connects with leg kicks and drills her in the side of the head with two hooks, as Dern’s striking liabilities are allowing her to eat shots. Dern is wide-eyed and jabbing, and Andrade continues to work Dern’s lead leg over with heavy kicks. Dern pierces out a one-two and shoots low for a single, and Andrade backs off and defends the submission. Andrade walks her down and blasts her in the face with a right hand, and Dern falls to the mat and attempts a desperation takedown as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Andrade
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Andrade
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Andrade

Round 2

The second round kicks off with a one-two from Dern, and she follows with another but gets tagged with a right hand on the way out. Andrade chains the counter with a pair of leg kicks, and Dern thinks about changing stances but elects to keep her left foot forward so she can jab her way into a takedown entry. Andrade gets out of the way and jabs her back, and she whiffs on an uppercut when Dern ducks down. Andrade continues chipping away at calf kicks, and Dern flies off-balance again when striking. Dern lashes out with a four-punch salvo, and Andrade coolly dodges the worst of them and comes back up top. Dern lands first, but Andrade lands last. Dern lumbers forward and gets in a left hand over the top, and she tries for a takedown but gets clubbed in the side of the head with a left. Dern’s legs give way beneath her, and Andrade lets her stand up so she can let Dern try to strike with her. Dern does just that, and Andrade lays into her with a fierce barrage of punches and low kicks to bust up Dern’s nose. Dern unloads with everything she has, and Andrade counters her brilliantly with a right hand that sets Dern down to the ground again. Andrade walks off, expecting that Peterson will step in, but Dern is still barely with it and is allowed to get up. As “Bate Estaca” lets her back up, Dern gets her bearings slightly, only for her balance to betray her as her knees wobble like a newborn deer as she backs to the wall. Andrade calmly strides forward, knowing the finish is right around the corner, and she unloads with a jab, a power left hook and jackhammering right straight that puts Dern down once and for all. Dern flops to her back like a fainting goat, almost looking like she was betrayed by her team and the referee for allowing the fight to continue, and Peterson has seen more than enough. The losing streak for the former champion has ended violently, and Andrade shows the division she is still a factor as she becomes the first woman to finish the star grappler in MMA.

The Official Result

Jessica Andrade def. Mackenzie Dern R2 3:15 via TKO (Punches)

UFC Interim Heavyweight Title Fight:
Sergei Pavlovich (259.8) vs. Tom Aspinall (261.6)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Aspinall (-118), Pavlovich (-102)

Round 1

The interim heavyweight strap looms, while current champ Jon Jones is on the mend from shoulder surgery. It is unclear if the winner of this fight will face the victor between the rescheduled Jones-Stipe Miocic tilt that may happen next year, as a lot of factors remain. This silver medal will be vied for by a pair of finishers that have each claimed six victories opposite a single defeat in the UFC thus far, and in those 14 fights, only Aspinall (13-3, 6-1 UFC) has reached Round 2. Once. The betting line that Pavlovich (18-1, 6-1 UFC) and Aspinall reach the final bell is currently around -1400, although that same prop for Jailton Almeida and Derrick Lewis last week was an astounding -3500, and everyone knows what happened. This is MMA, where anything can and often does happen. The fighters share an embrace when brought together, and referee Dan Miragliotta takes a deep breath. Pavlovich keeps his left hand out early to measure, and Aspinall kicks the lead leg in a hurry. Aspinall splits the guard with a front kick that just grazes the midsection, and a kick is checked by Pavlovich. A flurry from the Russian dislodges Aspinall’s mouthpiece, and he appears surprised at the power that came his way as he resets it. Pavlovich blocks a high kick and crowds his man with an overhand right that connects and hurts Pavlovich. Aspinall reaches out with a left, and follows with a momentous right hook that collides square into the temple. Pavlovich’s eyes go wide as his balance gives out, and he slowly collapses to his back like a flan in a cupboard. Confidence through the roof, Aspinall pounces, and he completely hammers the nail with three hammerfists before Miragliotta reaches him to shove the new champion off of the fallen Russian. Aspinall has done it, becoming the third Brit to claim a UFC belt, and joining Michael Bisping and Leon Edwards. What a night of fights so far, and there is one more championship to go.

The Official Result

Tom Aspinall def. Sergei Pavlovich R1 1:09 via TKO (Punches)

UFC Light Heavyweight Title Fight:
Jiri Prochazka (204.2) vs. Alex Pereira (204)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pereira (-130), Prochazka (+110)

Round 1

Prochazka (29-3-1, 3-0 UFC) wants his belt back, and badly. The Czech finisher honorably relinquished his claim on the 205-pound crown when suffering an injury in 2022, and plenty of shenanigans ensued. Due to a Benny Hill-esque series of unfortunate events, “BJP” will get to vie for the vacant strap, and he will do against former middleweight kingpin Pereira (8-2, 5-1 UFC) of all people. Someone may get knocked out in short order, and referee Marc Goddard hopes that it will not be him. As soon as Prochazka enters the cage, the two lock into an eye-to-eye staredown that carries practically all the way through the introductions and instructions. Barely blinking, the two share a double glove touch and bow at one another when they meet in the middle. What follows will likely be mayhem. Prochazka keeps his hands low out of the gate and prods out a few leg kicks while working at awkward angles, and Pereira’s hands are high and he is composed. Pereira jabs to the chest, and he has the side of his foot careen off the same spot. Prochazka ducks down for a level change and rips an uppercut up high that pounds into Pereira’s chin, and Pereira shakes it off in surprise. “Poatan” kicks Prochazka’s leg out with one heavy blow, and when Prochazka jumps back to his feet, Pereira kicks it again. Prochazka changes stances and flicks out a front kick after missing with an uppercut, and a third calf kick from Pereira compromises the lead leg of the former light heavyweight champ. Pereira kicks it again, and Prochazka is in a bad way as he switches stances repeatedly to shake his legs out. Prochazka leaps forward and reaches a right hand over the top, and he comes up short with a high kick. Pereira intercepts him with a crushing calf kick, and Prochazka drops down low for a potential takedown. Pereira defends with a guillotine choke, and Prochazka grits it out, lifts Pereira into the air and powerslams him down, landing in half guard. Prochazka postures up and starts dropping down a few punches, and Pereira is hand-fighting and protecting himself from the worst of it. Prochazka lowers himself chest-to-chest and considers isolating an arm, but he elects to sit up and elbow the Brazilian in the forehead. Prochazka drives down another elbow until Pereira fights back to his feet, and he climbs back up with the wall behind him. Pereira, on his feet, scores a solid right hand and just misses with a calf kick. The horn sounds right after a Prochazka uppercut.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Pereira

Round 2

Prochazka locates himself in the center of the cage to start the round, and he gives ground so he can sink in a short left hook when Pereira advances towards him. Prochazka parries the strikes that come from the Brazilian, and he flicks out a jab and checks a calf kick. Prochazka comes over the top with a right hook, and Pereira jabs him in the midsection. Prochazka pushes his man back with a jump kick to the body, and he whiffs on a pair of huge hooks when he lands. Pereira connects with a jab and kicks the body, and Prochazka nods at him and accepts a leg kick. They collide with hooks at the same time, and Prochazka backs his foe off with a right hook and a knee to the body. Pereira tries to counter him, and Prochazka catches him with several looping shots. Pereira fires back, and he gets Prochazka’s attention but does not back him off. The Czech fighter works the body with knees when up against the fence, and Pereira breaks off and takes a breath. Pereira drives home a heavy low kick, forcing a stance switch, and when Prochazka goes back to orthodox, Pereira kicks it again. Prochazka crashes the pocket, and he walks into a right hand. Prochazka knees him up the middle when he initiates the clinch, and he gets shoved as Pereira gets away. Pereira reaches out with a jab and takes a leg kick, but he gives one back much harder. Prochazka swings a one-two that rings Pereira’s bell, and Pereira sits down on a counter and blasts Prochazka in the face with a right hand and a scooping left hook that drops Prochazka down. Prochazka, on his knees, considers a takedown, and “Poatan” rails into him with elbows to the side of the head. Prochazka falls to his back, and Goddard waves the fight off in what immediately looks premature. Prochazka rolls to his knees when Pereira dismounts him, and he is extremely disappointed and briefly protests the stoppage by claiming he is still with it. The crowd is not thrilled by the conclusion of the match, but the result is what it is. The victorious Pereira has now remarkably claimed a championship belt in a second division, certainly setting the record for the quickest of any UFC fighter to pick up belts in two different weight classes. In his post-fight interview, Pereira calls for Israel Adesanya to come back and meet him at 205 pounds to challenge him for his belt. The company appears to have other immediate plans, and Pereira will likely meet former champ Jamahal Hill next. This dramatic turn of events caps off a wild night of combat that saw finishes for all five bouts on the main card, and six first-round finishes throughout the billing. One could scarcely ask for more. There is little time to savor this event, however, as the UFC trucks back to the Apex next week to end this short stretch of Saturdays before Thanksgiving in the U.S. We will be here for that next fight card, and we hope you are too.

The Official Result

Alex Pereira def. Jiri Prochazka R2 4:08 via KO (Punches and Elbows)