UFC 261 Prelims: Randy Brown Drops, Chokes Out Alex Oliveira

HE ONLY NEEDED ONE ARM @TouchNgo_

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Randy Brown’s rangy striking and crafty submission game proved to be a lethal combination against Alex Oliveira at UFC 261.

Brown (13-4, 7-4 UFC) won for the third time in his last four outings in the evening’s featured preliminary bout, submitting the veteran Brazilian with a rear-naked choke in front of a sellout crowd at Vystar Veteran’s Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday night. “Rude Boy” ended the welterweight bout 2:50 into Round 1, as he locked in a one-arm rear-naked choke. Oliveira (22-10-1, 2 NC, 11-8, 1 NC UFC) has lost five of his last seven promotional appearances.

The “Cowboy” enjoyed some success early, when he chopped away at Brown’s lead leg with low calf kicks. Brown was able to bide his time and find his opening, and he floored Oliveira with a straight right hand to the chin. Brown followed his man to the canvas in pursuit of the finish, but Oliveira was able to survive the ensuing barrage of ground-and-pound. However, when the Rio de Janeiro native returned to his feet, Brown locked in a rear-naked choke as the combatants stood. Although Oliveira prevented Brown from connecting both hands, the Budokan Martial Arts Academy was able to fall back to the canvas, tighten the one-arm squeeze and elicit the tapout.

Grant Edges Returning Sekulic

It wasn’t pretty, but Dwight Grant did just enough to edge Stefan Sekulic via split decision in a welterweight encounter. Judges Chris Lee and Howard Reichbach submitted 29-28 scorecards for Grant, while Derek Cleary saw it 29-28 in favor of Sekuic, who was fighting for the first time since September 2018.

In a bout where action came at a premium, Grant (11-3, 3-2 UFC) was slightly more active over the first 10 minutes. The Alliance MMA representative landed the occasional right hand — including a solid flurry in Round 2 after stuffing a takedown — while Sekulic (12-4, 0-2 UFC) often appeared reluctant to pull the trigger. Sekulic had his best moment at the end of the final stanza, when he wobbled Grant with a straight left hand, landed a takedown near the fence and locked in a tight guillotine choke. Had the move been applied earlier, the fight might have ended via submission, but in this case Grant was able to survive until the final horn.

Related » UFC 261 Round-by-Round Scoring

Allen Ankle Lock Vanquishes Roberson

Brendan Allen showed how quickly he can seize an opportunity on the canvas by submitting Karl Roberson late in the opening stanza of a middleweight showdown. The ex-Legacy Fighting Alliance champion made Roberson (9-4, 4-4 UFC) tap out to an ankle lock 4:55 into Round 1 for his eighth win in his last nine professional outings. All four of Roberson’s UFC defeats have come via submission.

Allen (16-4, 4-1 UFC) didn’t stand for too long against his opponent, who has experience under the Glory Kickboxing banner. The 25-year-old Sanford MMA landed a pair of takedowns against Roberson in Round 1, but for the most part his foe did a good job neutralizing Allen’s ability to pass guard. Roberson made his fatal mistake in the waning seconds, when he attempted to secure a leg lock in a scramble on the canvas. That allowed Allen to lock in the fight-ending maneuver, and Roberson could only resist for a few seconds before yelping in pain.

Sabatini Uses Takedowns, Grappling to Control Connelly

Pat Sabatini enjoyed an impressive promotional debut, as he relied on well-timed takedowns and dominant topside grappling to cruise to a unanimous decision over Tristan Connelly at featherweight. All three cageside judges scored the bout for Sabatini: 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28. Connelly (14-7, 1-1 UFC) was making his first UFC appearance at 145 pounds after scoring an upset of Michel Pereira in his Octagon debut at welterweight.

Sabatini (14-3, 1-0 UFC) changed levels under Connelly’s looping punches for takedowns relatively early in both the first and second rounds. From there, the former Cage Fury Fighting Championships title holder was able to float and transition from one dominant position to another. Sabatini ended both periods attached to Connelly’s back, but his Canadian opponent did well to defend all submission attempts. Sabatini slowed somewhat in Round 3, but by then he had already racked up a comfortable lead on the scorecards.

Vargas Outduels Rong

Mexico City native Rodrigo Vargas spoiled the promotional debut of Zhu Rong, earning a unanimous decision triumph in a lightweight matchup. Cageside judges submitted tallies of 30-26 and 29-28 (twice) for Vargas (12-4, 1-2 UFC), who ended a two-bout skid.

Vargas appeared to hold an edge in volume when it came to striking exchanges. While Rong did have success landing right hands, the Combate Americas veteran usually had an answer with a stiff jab, punching combinations and kicks to the calf and body. He also threatened with a pair of guillotine chokes in Round 2, though Rong (17-4, 0-1 UFC) was able to escape on both occasions. The 21-year-old China native did his best work in the final frame, with he twice buckled Vargas with punches and ended the round in top position.

Molina Holds Off Aori

Once Jeff Molina found a rhythm, there wasn’t much Qileng Aori could do. The Dana White’s Contender Series alum found his rhythm over the second half of the fight, earning a unanimous verdict over his Chinese counterpart. All three judges submitted scorecards for Molina: 29-28, 29-28 and 29-27.

Early on, Aori (18-8, 0-1 UFC) led the dance, as he pressured his opponent and consistently found a home for his right hand. Momentum shifted in Round 2, when Molina (9-2, 1-0 UFC) landed a pair of knockdowns — including one in the waning seconds. Aori continued to walk Molina down in Round 3, but he paid the price for a lack of head movement as Molina countered, landed in combination and worked the body effectively. Aori’s eyes were nearly swelled shut by the end of the round, but that didn’t prevent him from rocking Molina during one furious exchange near the fence before the final horn. It wasn’t enough to get the nod from the judges, however.

Carnelossi Pounds Out Debuting Liang

Ariane Carnelossi survived a wild opening-round sequence to earn her first Octagon triumph, as she defeated newcomer Na Liang via technical knockout in a strawweight encounter. A barrage of ground-and-pound from the Sao Paulo native brought a halt to the contest 1:28 into Round 2, ending Liang’s four-bout winning streak.

Liang (13-5, 0-1 UFC) rocked Carnelossi (13-2, 1-1 UFC) with a right hand during a furious opening exchange before securing a body lock takedown and threatening with an armbar. Once Carnelossi gathered her bearings, she gradually took control, and she nearly finished the fight with ground-and-pound from mount at the end of the opening stanza -- an assault that resulted in an exhausted Liang being helped to her corner after the horn. Carnelossi quickly regained top position following a scramble in the second frame, and after a short salvo of hammerfists, referee James Folsom decided he had see enough.