UFC Fight Night Prelims: Hacran Dias Outpoints Darren Elkins to Snap Two-Fight Skid

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Hacran Dias may yet become a factor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s featherweight division.

Repeated takedowns and an active top game carried Dias to a unanimous decision over Darren Elkins at UFC Fight Night “Machida vs. Dollaway” on Saturday at the Jose Correa Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil. All three cageside judges scored it for Dias (22-3-1, 2-2 UFC): 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27.

Elkins (18-5, 7-4 UFC) seemed to be stuck in neutral for much of the match. Dias -- who entered the cage on a two-fight losing streak -- tagged him with intermittent power punches using both hands and delivered takedowns in all three rounds, showing little regard for the American wrestler’s grappling skills. Elkins made his move late in the third round, where Dias tired and left the door ajar. The Duneland Vale Tudo veteran took top position, advanced to the mounted crucifix, scored with unfettered punches and climbed to full mount in the closing seconds. However, the finish he needed did not materialize, leaving Dias to walk away with the victory.

Related: UFC Fight Night Play-by-Play

Issa Neck Crank Submits Sasaki

Evolve MMA’s Leandro Issa submitted onetime Shooto Pacific Rim champion Yuta Sasaki with a second-round neck crank in an undercard clash at 135 pounds. Sasaki (18-2-2, 1-1 UFC), who had never before been finished, asked out of the match 4:13 into round two, his eight-fight winning streak at an end.

Issa (13-4, 2-1 UFC) never let the Japanese standout breathe. He backed up Sasaki with power punches and kicks, secured takedowns with little resistance and stifled the promising 25-year-old with a crushing top game. In the second round, Issa withstood a brabo choke from the bottom, settled in a dominant position and ultimately achieved full mount. Sasaki surrendered his back, and after a brief struggle, Issa snatched the neck crank for the finish.

The 31-year-old Issa has won 10 of his past 12 bouts.

‘Dirty Bird’ Means Outduels Alexandre

Former three-division King of the Cage titleholder Tim Means leaned on relentless forward pressure and a multi-pronged standup attack, as he captured a split decision from “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” Season 3 graduate Marcio Alexandre Jr. in a preliminary welterweight encounter. All three cageside judges scored it 29-28, two of them siding with Means (22-6-1, 4-3 UFC).

Means wore down the Brazilian karateka with his pace. He was warned for what appeared to be a clean knee strike to the head -- referee Eduardo Herdy declared it illegal -- and survived a high kick from Alexandre (12-2, 0-2 UFC) in the second round before finding another gear in the third. Knees, straight lefts and kicks to the body were his weapons of choice, and “Lyoto” could not keep up. By the time their 15 minutes was up, Alexandre’s face told the tale: He bore a bloody nose, a cut on his right cheek and a hematoma around his left eye.

The 30-year-old Means has rattled off four wins in five appearances.

Miranda Spoils Collier Debut

Team Nogueira’s Vitor Miranda put away former Resurrection Fighting Alliance champion Jake Collier with a late first-round head kick and follow-up punches in their undercard scrap at 185 pounds. Miranda (10-4, 1-1 UFC) closed the deal 4:59 into round one, recording his fifth win in six outings.

Collier (8-2, 0-1) controlled much of the encounter, as he executed a pair of takedowns, scored with some ground-and-pound and passed freely between side control and half guard. The 26-year-old American also threatened with a brabo choke. However, Miranda scrambled to his feet in the waning moments of the first round and stunned the prospect with a right high kick, leaving him open for the fight-finishing volley.

The loss snaps Collier’s five-fight winning streak.