UFC Fight Night Prelims: Roufusport’s Sergio Pettis Rebounds, Outpoints Yaotzin Meza

Sergio Pettis can handle adversity.

Superb lateral movement and a consistent stream of kicks to the legs, body and head spurred the once-beaten Roufusport prospect to a unanimous decision over Yaotzin Meza at UFC Fight Night “Henderson vs. Khabilov” on Saturday at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, N.M. All three cageside judges scored it the same: 29-28 for Pettis (11-1, 2-1 UFC), who rebounded from his January submission defeat to Alex Caceres.

Meza (20-10, 1-3 UFC) was forced to chase the elusive 20-year-old former Resurrection Fighting Alliance champion for much of their 15-minute affair. Pettis was effective countering the oncoming MMA Lab representative and landed the most significant strike of the fight: a kick to the jaw that staggered Meza with less than a minute remaining in the second round.

Benoist Makes Triumphant Return

Lance Benoist picked up his first win in nearly three years, as he captured a unanimous verdict from Strikeforce veteran Bobby Voelker in their undercard duel at 170 pounds. Benoist (7-2, 2-2 UFC) -- who had not fought since September 2012 -- swept the cards with 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 scores, throwing the brakes on a two-fight losing streak.

A smothering clinch game, timely takedowns and effective ground-and-pound were Benoist’s weapons of choice. He did his best work in the third round, where he drove into top position, transitioned to full mount and battered Voelker (24-12, 0-4 UFC) with short punches and elbows. Benoist’s blows resulted in a cut on the bridge of the nose of his 35-year-old foe.

Voelker has now lost four fights in a row.

‘Young Guns’ Jorgensen Outduels Martinez

Repeated takedowns, grinding ground-and-pound and a sturdy chin carried Scott Jorgensen to a unanimous decision over Alliance MMA export Danny Martinez in a preliminary flyweight clash. All three cageside judges sided with Jorgensen (15-9, 4-5 UFC): 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27.

Martinez (16-6, 0-2 UFC) nearly finished it in the second round, where he floored “Young Guns” with a clean left hook to the chin and swarmed with follow-up blows. Jorgensen kept his wits, worked for a takedown and put his 28-year-old counterpart on the mat. The move allowed him to further recover. Martinez more than held his own on the feet -- he staggered Jorgensen again late in the third -- but he could not stay upright long enough to exploit his advantages.

The victory halted Jorgensen’s career-worst three-fight losing streak.

Tuck Heel Strike Finishes Lindsey

MMA Lab export Jon Tuck struck former Victory Fighting Championship titleholder Jake Lindsey into submission in the third round of their undercard battle at 155 pounds. A replacement for the injured Yosdenis Cedeno, Lindsey (9-1, 0-1 UFC) asked out of the match 2:47 into round three.

Tuck (8-1, 2-1 UFC) utilized a stout right hand, takedowns and ground-and-pound throughout the competitive encounter. Lindsey had his moments, as he crowded the Guamanian in the clinch while attacking with knees, standing elbows and body punches. Tuck turned the corner in round three, where he scored with another takedown, achieved full mount and eventually forced the unbeaten newcomer to surrender his back. An exquisitely placed heel strike to the ribs brought it to a close, resulting in a verbal submission from Lindsey.

Cummins Downs Newcomer Narvaez

Reign MMA’s Patrick Cummins swept away Roger Narvaez with second-round punches in an undercard scrap at 205 pounds. A replacement for the injured Francimar Barrosso, Narvaez (6-1, 0-1 UFC) succumbed to the blows 2:28 into round two, his Octagon debut spoiled in decisive fashion.

Cummins (5-1, 1-1 UFC) fed the Legacy Fighting Championship alum a steady diet of takedowns and ground-and-pound. In the second round, he drove Narvaez to the mat with a perfectly timed double-leg and proceeded to tear into him with sweeping punches to the head. The newcomer ultimately turtled under duress, as Cummins closed the deal with a series of unanswered shots.