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BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT |
ODDS: N/A
Round 1
After a week off to recharge our collective batteries, the UFC revs
up its engines to begin a seven-week cycle of constant Saturday
combat. Taking to the Mile High City for the first time since 2018,
the 24 fighters on the billing will have to battle high elevation
as well as one another—the UFC planned ahead by booking no fight
above middleweight tonight. The first fight of the night comes
between two welterweights who would not their noses up for a win,
as their combined five outings thus far have resulted in just one
victory between them. That lone W is on the ledger of Elder (8-2,
1-2 UFC), who snared a decision over Genaro Valdez almost exactly
one year ago. Opponent Flowers (12-7-1, 0-2 UFC) has not had his
hand raised since his Contender Series appearance in 2022, although
he has faced established names in Jake Matthews and Michael Johnson
thus far. Referee Joel Ojeda will officiate the proceedings of the
opening bout, one that begins with a sporting glove touch. Flowers
is the immediate aggressor as he walks Elder down, and he easily
parries a high kick as he meanders forward. Flowers gets of a quick
low kick, and he dodges a jab but cannot get out of the way of a
body kick. Elder catches his man with a left, and Flowers strings
together three body kicks in rapid succession as he points to
Elder. Flowers chains those kicks into two sudden knees, and Elder
has to back off and reset. Elder surges forward, digging hands to
the body and going up top, ringing off combinations of punches as
Flowers tries to evade and block them. Flowers shrugs at his man
after eating shots and tries a body kick, and Elder kicks him the
same way. Flowers nods at him as he eats a jab, and he shrugs when
Elder catches him with a right hand over the top. Another overhand
right from Elder connects, and Flowers is trying to have a
conversation but “The Phenom” is only answering him with his fists.
Flowers winds up and fires off a big right hand, and after
celebrating his handiwork, they trade body kicks. Elder slips a
high kick over the shoulder, and Flowers laughs at him and pretends
to wobble. Both men change levels at the same time, and although
Elder tosses his foe to the floor, they scramble to get upright
quickly. Flowers strikes first when returning to his feet, kicking
and jabbing, and he mock dribbles and wobbles around when getting
countered. Elder eats a knee and pushes forward, and he knocks
Flowers awkwardly to the floor. Elder leaps on top to calm things
down, but Flowers wants nothing to do it with it as he scrambles
and flips Elder over. Flowers jumps on Elder’s back, and Elder
flicks him to the floor. Elder thinks about taking top position,
but Flowers works his way to the fence and stays on one knee to not
get tagged with knees. Elder works the body until Flowers stands,
and Flowers shoots for a labored takedown as he appears to have
spent his energy load in less than five minutes. Elder moves into
the guard and slashes down with elbows, and Flowers responds with
an urgent upkick as the exciting round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Elder
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Elder
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Elder
Round 2
Elder sprints out of his corner to start the round, and he pulls
back instead of striking. Measuring a head kick, he then pushes off
with a front kick that presses into Flowers’ cup. Flowers is not
thrilled from the foul, and Ojeda calls time. “Beast Mode” walks
towards the cage and crouches down to put it behind him, and as the
crowd boos him, he waves them on to keep booing while he recovers.
Elder paces back and forth like a caged animal ready to break out,
waiting for Flowers to get back to business. After a little under
two minutes, they get going, and they meet in the middle and
withdraw to measure one another. Elder strafes back and forth,
allowing Flowers to leap attack him and miss. Elder crashes the
pocket, and Flowers times a perfect double to scoop “The Phenom”
off his feet and deposit him to the floor. In the midst of a wild
scramble, Elder trips Flowers up and puts him on his back. Flowers
flirts with a leglock, but Elder pushes through it and starts
exclusively punching Flowers’ body. Elder backs off and finds
another way in, and he jumps straight into full mount.
Elder presses his chest down and secures an arm-triangle choke, and
the fatigued Flowers is in big trouble. Elder locks the choke up
completely and steps to the side, and Flowers is already tapping
out because there is no way out for him. Ojeda calls
the fight, and Elder releases the grip and climbs up top of the
cage to psych the crowd up for him. The crowd approves of the
violence.
The Official Result
Evan Elder def. Darrius Flowers R2 1:46 via Submission
(Arm-Triangle Choke)
BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT |
ODDS: Fremd (-110), Petroski (-110)
Round 1
A pair of middleweights happy to get the job done any way they can
will meet as the prelims roll on. Both Fremd (11-5, 2-3 UFC) and
Petroski (10-3, 5-2 UFC) celebrate exactly four wins by knockout
and four by submission, and both are coming in off rough knockout
losses. Taking charge of the cage will be referee Nick Berens, who
is ready for what is about to come next. The Pennsylvanians touch
gloves, and Petroski drifts back to move to the middle of the
Octagon. Both men measure one another in opposing stances, and
Berens warns them for outstretched fingers. When Petroski engages,
he fires off a mean right hand that knocks Fremd to his seat. As
Fremd climbs up to his feet, Petroski rushes at him and hits a
clean double-leg takedown to land in a guillotine setup from his
opponent. Petroski breaks out of the choke and quickly shifts over
to side control, and Fremd frames off with an elbow and pounds it
into Petroski’s nose to draw a trickle of blood out of the bridge
of it. Petroski pays it no mind as he uses heavy chest pressure and
hunts for a potential arm-triangle choke, only to bail on it when
Fremd defends by turning to his side. Petroski resides on top, and
the crowd starts booing his control while Berens mentions that
Petroski should do more. Petroski answers by stepping over, in
hopes of isolating Fremd’s left arm. Fremd twists and turns to not
let Petroski set anything up, but the result is more ground control
and little more. Petroski steps over to full mount as 80 seconds
remain on the clock, and Fremd bucks like a bronco but cannot get
the cowboy that trains out of Renzo Philly off of him. Petroski
moves himself back to half guard to keep Fremd on his back, and he
jams down a few elbows while otherwise grinding Fremd out. Petroski
gets back to mount, and he smacks Fremd with a single elbow before
Fremd turns around. Fremd gives his back up, and as the horn
sounds, Petroski drills him behind the ear with a strike or two.
Berens calls him on it, and the two go back to their corners.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Round 2
Petroski is warned between rounds to avoid any late strikes, and
when they begin, Petroski says hello to his opponent with a
clubbing right that shakes Fremd up. Fremd responds with a body
kick, and he dips back as Petroski clips him with a head kick.
Fremd tries to reply with one of his own, and Petroski grabs hold
of the leg and use it to dump Fremd to the mat. Petroski jumps on
top, and the two continue moving until Petroski latches onto a
guillotine choke. Fremd shifts to his knees to prevent the choke
from succeeding, but this lets Petroski take his back. Petroski
quickly relocates to full mount, and he starts hunting for an
arm-triangle choke. Petroski clasps his hands together, and he uses
his full body weight to press down while turning Fremd’s head a
brilliant shade of red. Fremd gets a modicum of space as he punches
Petroski in the side, and Petroski comfortably rests on top and
lets the choke go. Fremd kicks him off, and Petroski is forced back
to full guard. It does not take long for Petroski to jump into the
half guard and employ another arm-triangle choke, and Fremd grits
it out once more. Fremd scoots his way to the cage wall, and he
throws his legs up in search of a desperate inverted triangle that
transitions into an armbar. Petroski stays heavy on top until the
horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Round 3
Petroski offers a glove touch to begin the final frame, and Fremd
wants nothing to do with it. Instead, Fremd attacks, practically
sprinting at his opponent with punches and leaping at him with a
flying knee. Petroski backs himself to the wall, taking strikes
from the pumped-up Fremd, but that offense quickly tapers off as
Petroski shifts to the side and gets away. When Fremd gives chase,
Petroski pursues a single-leg takedown and hits it to put Fremd
down once more. The crowd, knowing what is about to come for the
next three-plus minutes, starts booing. Petroski tries to shut some
of those naysayers up by moving straight into full mount, and Fremd
answers after eating one strike by turning around to give up his
back. When Petroski starts fishing for a choke, Fremd turns over
again, only for Petroski to be ready with an arm-triangle choke
setup. Petroski lets it go when Fremd climbs his feet off the wall,
and Fremd’s mad scramble after it gets hold of a quick inverted
triangle choke again. Petroski breaks out of it and gets himself to
side control in a hurry, and his attempt to isolate Fremd’s left
arm begins. Petroski grinds his elbow on Fremd’s face while
considering some armlock, but there is nothing to it as Berens
calls for more action. Fremd explodes to turn to his side, and
Petroski follows him as he twists to partially take Fremd’s back.
Petroski smacks his foe on the sides of the head, and Fremd crawls
to the fence and lean against it. Petroski pounds on him, and Fremd
tugs on the fence in hopes of standing. Petroski hands on from
behind with one hook in, and Fremd shakes his head in
disappointment. The round ends as the audience rains down boos.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Petroski (30-27 Petroski)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Petroski (30-27
Petroski)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Petroski (30-27 Petroski)
The Official Result
Andre Petroski def. Josh Fremd via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-27, 30-27)
BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT |
ODDS: Santos (-395), Agapova (+280)
Round 1
Momentum is the name of the game for this upcoming flyweight tilt,
as Santos (7-1, 2-0 UFC) has some behind her as the winner of four
straight. Her adversary Agapova (10-4, 2-3 UFC) has struggled as of
late, dropping two in a row by submission while not competing since
September 2022. This classic matchup of Brazil vs. Kazakhstan will
receive oversight from referee Joe Coca, and a clap of hands
commences it. Agapova looks for strikes well out of range, and
Santos reaches her with a body kick. Agapova stays back, leaping
forward with a right hand and missing again. Santos closes in and
connects with a pair of strikes, and Agapova dances away. Agapova
jabs feet away from the target, and Santos strides forward brimming
with confidence and decks Agapova with a right hand. Agapova climbs
back to her feet, and Santos slings her right back down to the mat
with emphasis. The Brazilian commits to an arm-triangle choke as
she gets to half guard, and lets it go so she can facilitate a
guard pass to the side. Agapova tries to use her legs to trap
Santos in something and pull her back, but when this fails, Santos
steps over into full mount and goes after an arm-triangle
immediately. Santos gets the grip tight, and Agapova signals a
thumbs-up and turns to the side to protect herself, all while
coughing out her mouthpiece to breathe better. Santos resets and
presses down, bailing on it to land a few body shots and then
re-fastening the submission. Agapova keeps her mouthpiece barely in
her teeth and turns around to get to her knees.
Santos follows her every step of the way and locks up the
rear-naked choke in the blink of an eye. Agapova nearly lets her
gumshield fall out of her mouth in desperation while fighting the
hands, but there is nothing more she can do at this point. Agapova
frantically taps and completely spits her mouthpiece
out as she feels consciousness leaving her body, and Coca rushes
between them to conclude the fight. Santos jumps away and starts
dancing, and the crowd eats it up.
The Official Result
Luana Santos def. Mariya Agapova R1 3:27 via Submission (Rear-Naked
Choke)
BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT |
ODDS: Jackson (-162), Blackshear (+136)
Round 1
The prelims continue as bantamweights meet in the Octagon, with
Jackson (13-2, 7-2 UFC) putting together a quietly successful run
in the UFC as he enters into his 10th fight. The same cannot be
said for Blackshear (14-6-1, 2-2-1 UFC), who hopes to break out of
his .500 record with a victory. The two will be joined in the cage
by referee Nick Berens, who checks them in as they bump fists.
Blackshear lands a leg kick earl y, and Jackson responds with a
right hand that loops around the guard. They hand-fight, and
Jackson sticks out a front kick.
As Blackshear steps in to attack, Jackson releases a
lightning-quick one-two that knocks Blackshear clean off his feet.
As Blackshear’s head ricochets off the mat, it is clear he is out
cold, and Jackson knows that his work here is done but understands
the rules and drops down a few unnecessary punches until Berens
leaps in. While the audience explodes in favor of the
ultra-fast knockout, Jackson signals to bring it down a few notches
and drops a knee out of concern for his wrecked opponent.
Blackshear comes to, although he needs to lean on his coach to
remain upright, and Jackson is relieved and goes to embrace his
fallen foe. The confident Jackson, who finds himself on a mighty
win streak after a vicious knockout, simply tells upcoming
adversaries during his post-fight interview that they need to “sign
the contract.”
The Official Result
Montel Jackson def. Da’Mon Blackshear R1 0:18 via KO (Punch)
BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT |
ODDS: Kline (-122), Jasudavicius (+102)
Round 1
Originally expecting to face Viviane Araujo, powerful Canadian
Jasudavicius (10-3, 4-2 UFC) will now meet the debuting Kline (6-0,
0-0 UFC). The unbeaten Kline, who held titles at two divisions in
Cage Fury FC, steps up on extremely short notice as she previously
planned on appearing on the Contender Series this season. Keeping
tabs on the flyweights will be referee Joel Ojeda, and there is no
glove touch to commence the matchup. Kline moves in and out to get
going, changing stances frequently and ultimately landing with a
leg kick for the first strike of the match. Jasudavicius answers a
second low kick with a right hand counter, and she brings her leg
up to check another kick. When Kline reaches her, Jasudavicius
counters with a sharp left that knocks Kline back. Jasudavicius
nearly sweeps the leg with a low calf kick, and she parries a jab
coming back her way. Jasudavicius fires off a head kick that slams
into the raised guard of her foe, and Kline pays it no mind and
does not appear to hear the “USA” chants in support of her ringing
through the cage. Kline crashes forward, walking through a low kick
and tackles the Canadian to the mat as they possibly clash heads.
Jasudavicius uses butterfly guard in hopes of a sweep, and she
prevents Kline from getting on top. Kline tries to leap over her to
get a better position, but Jasudavicius fights it off and turns the
corner to lift the newcomer up and muscle her to the floor. Kline
crawls to the corner of the cage wall, and Jasudavicius rains down
right hands and an elbow that slams into the back of the head.
Jasudavicius is warned for the illegal blow, and she stays heavy on
top with one hook in and hunts for a rear-naked choke that results
in a face crank. Kline pulls the arm away, and Jasudavicius hangs
on from behind to trap Kline’s left arm from defending herself.
Jasudavicius keeps working from on top until Kline lowers herself
to her back, in part due to “The Archangel” fighting out of a
rear-naked choke setup. Jasudavicius gets away with a knee that
bumps into Kline’s face, and she unleashes some serious
ground-and-pound including at least one more shot to the back of
the head. Kline shifts and turns to stay active, and Jasudavicius
mauls her until the bell ends the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius
Round 2
The women zoom out of their corners and pass one another, and Kline
strikes first with a front kick. Jasudavicius replies with a low
kick, and Kline splits the guard with a left hand. Jasudavicius
fires off a head kick and backpedals to avoid two leaping punches
coming her way. Kline beats Jasudavicius to the punch with a
one-two, and she does this a second time as the Canadian staggers
for a second and gathers her thoughts. The crowd is lathered up by
the striking exchanges, and Jasudavicius reaches her foe with a
right hand to calm them. Jasudavicius sneaks a right hand over the
guard, and she shrugs off a body kick and resets. Jasudavicius
takes a right hand and gives one back, and she snaps out a jab and
pushes off with the ball of her foot. The two fight in a phone
booth, and Kline gets her with an uppercut before breaking.
Jasudavicius steps in with an elbow and backs away when a one-two
finds the mark, and she paws out a left hook when Kline comes at
her. Jasudavicius targets the body, and Kline retreats and tries to
set up a trap to release an elbow while jumping. Jasudavicius ties
her opponent up, and Kline circles around and hops on to take the
back for a split second. Jasudavicius starts blasting the body with
knees after turning Kline back around, and Kline’s body language
changes and she is dragged down to a knee from the Canadian.
Jasudavicius imposes her weight and puts Kline down, briefly
flattening her out and hanging on in dominant position while
blasting the unbeaten woman with elbows and punches. As
Jasudavicius rides, she has one hook in and loops left hands behind
and on the ear. Ojeda warns the Niagara Top Team fighter for
another strike to the back of the head, and Kline turns around and
ends up giving up her back. Jasudavicius welcomes this and hooks up
the body triangle almost immediately, and she begins softening
Kline up with body shots. Jasudavicius searches for a choke as
Kline hand-fights effectively, and she occasionally gets off
strikes as Kline twists and turns. Kline goes to her knees, and
Jasudavicius flips around to snatch up an armbar. Kline bucks her
off and smacks her with three hammerfists before the horn
sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius
Round 3
Jasudavicius appears the fresher of the two as she jogs out of her
corner to begin the last round, while Kline takes to the center of
the cage and prods out a front kick. Jasudavicius jabs her back to
the belly, and this fires Kline up. Kline lashes out with two
mighty one-twos, stumbling the Canadian, but Jasudavicius rises and
lets her have it with retaliatory blows. The two women go
punch-for-punch and kick-for-kick, and Kline’s handiwork excites
the fans enough to cheer for her again. Jasudavicius lets Kline
bounce fists off her guard so she can loop strikes back, and Kline
still manages to reach her with a few blows. Jasudavicius stays
behind a jab and stings her foe with an uppercut, and they clash
heads as they come together. Jasudavicius scores a right hand and a
left, and when Kline backs off, Jasudavicius steps forward with an
elbow. They tie up, and Kline tries to throw the Canadian to the
floor but gives her back up standing. Jasudavicius wrenches Kline
to the floor, and she lands on top and jacks Kline in the jaw with
an elbow. Jasudavicius moves herself to half guard and quickly is
able to assume full mount, but Kline’s scrambling ability allows
her to stand up. This victory is short-lived, as Jasudavicius
slings her back down to the floor like a sack of potatoes.
Jasudavicius lands and immediately presses down heavily to trap
Kline from bucking, and she smothers the newcomer and lands
occasional body shots. Kline tugs her toes off the fencing to try
to improve her position, and Ojeda tells her to knock it off. Kline
closes her guard, and Jasudavicius does not mind as she continues
to work Kline over with ground strikes. Kline turns her back, and
Jasudavicius sells out for a rear-naked choke. Kline backwards
somersaults, and Jasudavicius lets her do this so she can fasten
the choke under the chin. Time expires before the submission lands,
but Jasudavicius drills her with one thudding elbow after the fight
ends. There is no ill will for the strike landing at 15:01, and
they hug it out to conclude the flyweight pairing.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius (30-27
Jasudavicius)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius (30-27
Jasudavicius)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius (30-27
Jasudavicius)
The Official Result
Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Fatima Kline via Unanimous Decision
(30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT |
ODDS: Van (-205), Johnson (+170)
Round 1
Capping off the prelims is the flyweights, who will likely engage
in a high-paced frenzy of feet and fists. Van (10-1, 3-0 UFC),
training out of 4oz Fight Club in Texas, comes in on an eight-fight
win streak with stoppages in six of those. While he has only won
two in a row, Johnson (15-6, 3-4 UFC) is on the first winning
stretch of his UFC career as he has already picked up two decisions
this year. This speedy affair will be joined in the cage by referee
Joe Coca, and it kicks off with an appropriately quick glove touch.
Johnson leads off in a hurry with a leg kick, a jab to the body and
a high kick. Van blocks a subsequent body kick, and he keeps his
guard up to defend a jab. Johnson picks at him from distance,
mixing his attack up to all targets. As Johnson crashes forward, he
clips Van with a right hand, and Van takes it flush and does not
bat an eye. Johnson stays active with several chopping low kicks,
flicking out jabs and flustering Van. Van tries to close the
distance with his own strikes, but Johnson is far more active than
the self-described slow starter. Johnson peppers him with jabs and
low kicks, pushing out a front kick to make Van back away. Van
pushes in with a jab and an overhand right, and he uses it to tie
Johnson up. “InnerG” turns him around and pounds Van in the thigh
and breadbasket with knees, and Van tries to fight out of it to no
avail. Johnson shoots in for a double, and Van stonewalls him and
backs him away with his own jab. Van protects his ribs with a kick
and sets his right hand on the chin. Johnson strings together three
punches in response, and he brushes his face to say Van did not
land. Van ignores this and touches him two more times with an
overhand right, and Johnson stumbles and escapes when backed to the
cage. Van brings up a knee that bounces into the cup, and Johnson
tells Coca he is fine and that there is no stoppage necessary. Van
walks Johnson down, fighting behind a jab and landing right hands
to follow. Van knocks his man off his feet, and Johnson defends
with an armbar off his back. Johnson jumps back to his feet when
Van pulls out of the submission, and he shoots for a takedown that
fails. Johnson prods out jabs, and Van busts him in the chops with
a right and a left. Van makes Johnson shell up with a right hand
and two body shots, and the power difference is fast. Van puts a
lot more behind his strikes, and he gets the reactions he seeks
when landing until the bell rings.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Van
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Van
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Van
Round 2
Van comes out of his corner ready to pick up where he left off,
marching “InnerG” down and landing a few strikes on the way in.
Johnson is also similarly active, picking and poking with distance
strikes. Van smashes him in the face with an uppercut, and Johnson
does not like this and circles away. Van gives chase, chaining
three punches together as Johnson escapes. The Terminator-like Van
plods forward, aiming strikes to the body when not going up top.
Johnson reaches out with a swiping left hook, and it does not make
Van back up one inch. Van comes out throwing with two hooks, and
Johnson barely gets out of the way. Johnson jabs twice and powers
out a left hand, and Van no-sells him and gives him back a sharp
jab that makes Johnson turn his head dismissively. Van pops him
with a left and comes at him with a head kick, and Johnson bounces
off the cage and lets loose with a right hand. Johnson whiffs on
two hooks, and Van stays tightly compact and dings Johnson with a
left hook on the nose. Van buckles the leg with a kick, ignoring
Johnson’s jabs and straight punches. Johnson scores a left, and Van
does too. Van jabs his way into a short combination, and Johnson
punches back as he strafes to the side. Van nails him with a right
hand, and Johnson shakes it off and throws back. Van loops a few
right hands around the guard, and Johnson strikes back and gets in
an elbow down the middle. Van keeps pursuing his foe, and the two
flyweights are trading without fear. Johnson steps through with a
knee, and Van responds with a right hand over the top and barely
blocks a spinning back elbow in time. Van misses with a right as
Johnson jumps forward, and his head kick is blocked. Two Johnson
jabs end the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Van
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Van
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Van
Round 3
There is a brief glove touch to begin the last round, and Johnson
lands the first strike with a right hand. As they both swing for
the fences, Johnson nails his opponent with a right hand. Johnson
blasts the body with a kick and ducks to avoid a screaming left
hook, and he fakes a leg kick to spin with an elbow that bounces
off Van’s forehead. Van tries to make him pay with an overhand
right, but Johnson’s own fast right finds its mark and gets Van’s
attention. Johnson jabs the body and comes up top with two punches,
and his crisp right staggers “The Fearless.”
Johnson walks Van down and clobbers him with a thunderous uppercut,
sending Van careening to the mat. As Johnson leaps down to smash
Van with a big right hand, Coca dives between them, and Van’s head
bounces off the mat to bring him back around. While
Van sits up to potentially protests the stoppage, he realizes he
got his bell rung and that there is nothing more he can do. Johnson
celebrates his wild comeback victory after a thrilling battle, and
he sets the crowd up to drown out the arena with “USA” chants.
The Official Result
Charles Johnson def. Joshua Van R3 0:20 via KO (Punches)
BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT |
ODDS: Alhassan (-162), Brundage (+136)
Round 1
To kick off the main card, the UFC matched up two middleweight
finishers that do not like to waste much time in the cage. All 12
victories for “Judo Thunder” Alhassan (12-6, 6-6 UFC) have come by
knockout, while Brundage (10-6, 4-5 UFC) has seen eight of his 10
pro wins come inside the distance. Keeping control of the cage for
this clash will be referee Dan Miragliotta, and the fighters touch
gloves. Brundage whips a one-two at his foe and shoots for a
takedown. Alhassan laughs in the face of the takedown and stops it
in its tracks while elbowing Brundage in the side of the head, and
he shoves Brundage over and busts him in the face with a number of
ferocious punches. Brundage rolls around to survive the onslaught,
and Alhassan keeps pounding on him. Brundage gets to his knees, and
Alhassan hacks at him with elbows that drill the Factory X fighter
in the side and back of the head. When two slam into his noggin
illegally, Miragliotta emphatically calls time and breaks the
fighters apart because of the fouls. Miragliotta informs Alhassan
of the bad strikes and also tells him that the angle was close to
12-6 as well. Brundage remains on the ground, struggling to clear
his vision as he is clearly compromised from the blows. Miragliotta
has Brundage stand up to try to get his head straight, and he calls
in the doctor to check on Brundage’s condition. Brundage is in a
bad way, as he leans against the cage and is not having a good day.
The bloodthirsty crowd hollers at Brundage, and he takes a seat
against the cage and tells the doctor that his day is over.
Brundage yells at Alhassan, who is upset that there will be a
stoppage but not a win. Miragliotta consults with referee Herb Dean
to confirm that the ruling will be a no contest due to accidentally
illegal elbows, and the fight is waved off with Miragliotta making
the normal arm motions that signal a fight’s conclusion. Meanwhile,
Brundage’s coach tells him what happened, as Brundage appears to
have no recollection of the fight. It is a disappointing result
after the bonkers opening seconds, and one hopes the promotion puts
this match back together in a month or two.
The Official Result
Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cody Brundage is Ruled a No Contest
(Illegal Elbows) R1 0:37
BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT |
ODDS: Rodriguez (-205), Erosa (+170)
Round 1
Always willing to either add to his highlight reel or be a part of
someone else’s, Erosa (29-11, 7-7 UFC) and his .500 record come to
a head with Roufusport’s Rodriguez (11-1, 4-1 UFC). While “CeeRod”
holds four wins on the scorecards, three of those have come in his
last three outings. On the other hand, the last three walks to the
cage for Erosa have ended in the first round. Whether it takes
three minute or three rounds to get to a result, referee Nick
Berens will be here for it from start to finish. The featherweights
bump fists, and Erosa uses a front kick to keep Rodriguez away.
Rodriguez passes right past it and puts his hands on Erosa’s face.
Erosa is reddened up in a hurry from the quick punches from
Rodriguez, and he answers with a pair of looping uppercuts. Erosa
flicks out his jab, and Rodriguez dips down and smashes him in the
face with a head kick. As they trade, Rodriguez’ mouthpiece goes
flying, and Erosa sees it and decides it is time to brawl. They
slug it out fast and furiously until Berens finds a moment to
replace the gumshield, and they get right back to it. Erosa goads
Rodriguez on, and he clips “CeeRod” with a right hand in the midst
of a speedy combination. They both connect with powerful blows, and
Erosa gets off a strong front kick. Rodriguez kicks his man upside
the head, and Erosa tells him to bring it on. Rodriguez does just
that. Erosa manages to get Rodriguez to take a step back with his
own counters, and his front kick to the chest and face are able to
keep the hard-charging Rodriguez relatively at bay. Rodriguez
settles down and tosses out a low kick, and Erosa wags his finger
at him and rings his bell an elbow. Erosa walks his man down and
pounds him in the face with his fists, and Rodriguez responds with
a flurry ending with a right hand that staggers Erosa back. Erosa
gathers his thoughts and marches forward, a cut opened on the
bridge of his nose, and he lets go with a head kick that is
blocked. Another elbow from Erosa comes up short, and he catches a
kick and bowls and trips Rodriguez to the mat. Erosa scrambles to
take Rodriguez’ back and set up a body triangle, and he is quick to
consider an armbar instead of going after the neck like usual.
Rodriguez defends the possible submission and turns to his knees,
and he manages to flip Erosa over. Erosa’s upkicks do not keep
Rodriguez off of him, as Rodriguez leaps at him and punches him
hard.
Erosa ignores them and grabs hold of a guillotine choke, and it is
suddenly and surprisingly tight. Erosa tightens his legs around the
waist of his foe and turns to the side, and falls to his back to
complete the submission. Rodriguez tries to tough it out, but he is
forced to surrender with seconds left on the clock.
Erosa sits up and shoves Rodriguez off of him when Berens
intervenes, springing yet another upset and adding one more
impressive stoppage to his ledger. The victorious “Juicy J” becomes
the first fighter to finish Rodriguez as a professional.
The Official Result
Julian Erosa def. Christian Rodriguez R1 4:49 via Submission
(Guillotine Choke)
BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT |
ODDS: Bonfim (-340), Loosa (+270)
Round 1
In November 2023, hyper-aggressive Brazilian welterweight Bonfim
(15-1, 2-1 UFC) suffered his first career defeat, after starting
things off with 15 straight stoppages. To bounce back from that
loss, he will be matched against “The Last Ninja” Loosa (10-3, 1
NC; 2-1, 1 NC UFC), whose most recent appearance concluded due to
an eye poke. Both men want to wash the bad taste out of their
mouths, and only one will do so as referee Dan Miragliotta watches
on. Hands are swiftly clapped, and they begin to trade leg kicks
immediately. Loosa wings a right hand and drops down in pursuit of
a single, where he pushes the Brazilian against the wall. Loosa
lifts Bonfim off his feet and drops him down to a knee, and Bonfim
easily stands back up. Loosa presses tightly against his foe before
tossing him to the floor, and once more Bonfim is back on his feet
in a second. Loosa keeps the clinch tight, and Bonfim turns him
around and tries to separate. Bonfim drives three knees to the
body, and Loosa backs away and is surprised by the damaging blows.
Bonfim stumbles him with a clean right hand, and Loosa hits the
floor and jumps up to grab hold of Bonfim and elevate him before
depositing him gingerly to the canvas. Bonfim crawls to his knees
towards the cage, and he wall-walks and tugs on the chain links to
stand. Loosa wrenches him back down and knees him in the thigh a
few times, and Bonfim answers with a back elbow or two before
getting dumped down again. Loosa bops his man with several right
hands until Bonfim powers back upright, and they split up to return
to kickboxing range. They jab at one another, with Loosa finding
his home with a few. Bonfim stops a takedown and knees his foe in
the body, and he parries a jab and a right hand. They both flick
jabs at one another, and Bonfim splits the guard with a one-two.
Bonfim loops a left around the gloves, and he stuffs another
takedown and knees Loosa in the face to break out of the tie-up.
They flail at one another with awkward punches, and Loosa kicks him
in the lead leg. Bonfim jabs, stops a takedown and jumps guard for
a guillotine. Loosa stands up straight to not let the choke even
come close, and Bonfim walks him down and busts him in the chops
with a series of punches. Loosa jabs him back as the round
concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Bonfim
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bonfim
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Bonfim
Round 2
Loosa races out of his corner to throw down, and he backs away when
Bonfim is loaded for bear. Bonfim prods out several teep kicks to
the body, using the leg strikes to keep Loosa away until Loosa
sprints and hits an easy takedown. Bonfim climbs back up and knees
Loosa as if to say thanks, and they both target the body with
punches before breaking apart. Bonfim swipes a left hook at the
liver, and Loosa loops a left over the top in response. Their jabs
reach one another, and Bonfim splits the guard with an uppercut.
Loosa takes note of this and does the same, leading Bonfim to get
hold of a brief Thai plum to knee Loosa in the face once before
splitting. Bonfim lands a body kick after dealing with jabs,
investing in several body shots including another knee. Bonfim
sneaks up an uppercut and a knee up the middle, and he clubs the
fighter from DRC with a left and a hard right. Loosa stumbles to
the side and eats another right hand, and he clips Bonfim with a
counter left. Bonfim blasts the body with a kick, and he measures
an uppercut to land in the same place. Loosa ducks down into an
uppercut and shrugs it off, and he trades jabs with his opponent.
Bonfim goes for another uppercut to the midsection and follows it
with a knee, and Bonfim’s knees consistently find their target
either to the body or chin. Bonfim lands another uppercut and gets
his head snapped back with a jab, and the two men continue jabbing
towards one another. Bonfim scores a left hook and lets Loosa duck
down so he can time a second when Loosa lifts his head back up.
Bonfim peppers his man with rangy shots while staying out of range
of most of the responses, ripping a right hand over the top and
shoots in for a double with seconds to spare. Loosa hits his seat,
and the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Bonfim
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bonfim
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Bonfim
Round 3
The fighters double touch gloves to commence the final round, and
strikes are not far behind. Loosa picks and pokes with punches,
while Bonfim puts more behind his own. Loosa kicks the lead leg and
eats a one-two down the pipe. Bonfim disrupts the offense of his
foe with a few jabs, and another one-two from the Brazilian lands
flush. Loosa steels himself and nails Bonfim in the jaw with a
right hand, and “Marretinha” absorbs it without flinching. The
fighters continue working their jabs, and Bonfim gets into a rhythm
of jabs and twos, getting off several in rapid succession while
Loosa tries to find answers. Bonfim scores a solid uppercut and two
knees to follow, and Loosa’s chin is iron while his body is as
well. Bonfim stays active throwing punches, and Loosa’s offense
dwindles. Bonfim jabs twice, pushes off the forehead and lands a
hard cross. The fighter from the Democratic Republic of Congo
shoots for a desperate takedown, driving Bonfim back to the cage
but ultimately not completing it. Bonfim stays on his feet and
pushes Loosa away to dings him with several right hands. Bonfim
kicks Loosa upside the head, and Loosa stays cool and even takes a
knee on the chin to follow without budging. Bonfim tees off on his
opponent that is hardly offering much offense back, allowing him to
string multiple strikes together rapidly without fear of reprisal.
Loosa closes the distance and bullies Bonfim to the wall, and
Bonfim wants nothing to do with the clinch and pops Loosa with
numerous jabs. Bonfim smacks Loosa with several more right hands,
stuffs a takedown and jumps guard for a final guillotine choke.
Loosa lets the Brazilian slide off him like water off a duck’s
back, and time elapses to send Bonfim to the scorecards for the
first time in his career.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Bonfim (30-27 Bonfim)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bonfim (30-27
Bonfim)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Bonfim (30-27 Bonfim)
The Official Result
Gabriel Bonfim def. Ange Loosa via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-27, 29-28)
BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT |
ODDS: Dober (-110), Silva (-110)
Round 1
To keep adopted Coloradoan Dober (27-13, 1 NC; 13-9, 1 NC UFC) on
the lineup, the UFC went through its phone list and ended up
calling recent featherweight* victor Silva (13-2, 2-0 UFC) to bring
the pain—the asterisk is because Silva missed weight when fighting
two weeks ago. Both men prefer to sling leather without fear of
reprisal and let the chips fall where they may, and referee Herb
Dean needs to don his hardhat in the cage for this one. Before
banging it out, the lightweight touch gloves, happy to be competing
tonight. Dober jabs the body and lands a slapping kick to the front
leg, and he pulls back before committing to a second. Dober calmly
walks forward, eventually kicking Silva in the ribs, and Silva
doubles over momentarily. Silva recovers and takes a leg kick, and
he winds up to bust Dober in the chops with a right hand. Silva
slides away before falling into a brawl, and he counters a body
kick with an overhand right. Silva jabs with a front kick, and he
springs away to avoid two punches. “Lord” leaps in the air and
connects with a flying knee, and Dober’s chin holds up well. Silva
gets up close and chucks his man to the floor, and Dober recovers
and takes a left hand that splits open his right eyebrow. Dober
grins as he takes a powerful pair of punches and lashes out with
his own blows, and Silva belts him in the midsection with a loud
kick. Chants of “Dober” drown out the commentary booth, who
channels their energy with a short punch combination that lands
flush. Silva lands again on the eye, and Dober wipes away some of
the blood only to get caught with a right hand. Dober lunges his
way in and gets tagged with a check left hook, and Silva is in his
element as he shakes his hands around and scores a few more
strikes. Silva dances out of the way when Dober jumps at him, and
he just misses with a left hook when his foe lands. Dober cannot
find his target with a few punches, and he eats a front kick for
his effort. Dober whiffs on a high kick, and Silva has a left hook
buzz the chin while he lands cleanly with a body kick. When Dober
lands, Silva slaps his chin, and Dober spins with a wheel kick that
is mere inches shy of his intended mark. Silva offers a high-five
for the untelegraphed strike that might have cleaned his clock, and
the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Round 2
The fighters touch gloves before engaging, and Dober tries to find
a punch to the body. Silva goes high with a kick, and Dober
responds with a wheel kick that again is inaccurate. Dober kicks
the inside thigh and it slides up to bump the cup, and he tells
Dean that he is fine. Dober presses forward to land a few punches,
and Silva backs away to lean against the fence and connect with a
left hook. Dober kicks the body when breaking away, and he narrowly
avoids a punch. Silva looks away and gets nailed with a punch, and
he does this again and gets cracked a second time. Dober chops at
the front leg and leaps forward with a pair of fists flying, and he
punches his way into another body kick. Dober ducks down for a body
shot right into a body kick, and he keeps the pressure on the
Brazilian and catches him with a right hand. Silva shells up, and
Dober unleashes several uppercuts until Silva is ready to blast him
with a counter right. Dober kicks his man in the ribs, and Silva
responds with an elbow to further split Dober’s eyebrow. Silva
comes up short on an uppercut, and he wipes his hands on his shorts
to reset. “Lord” pushes out a front kick to the body and takes a
leg kick back, and Dober knows he will take a shot and does that so
he can close in and punch Silva. Silva backs him off with a quick
right hand, and he beats Dober to the punch with a few blows
including a speedy left hook that staggers the American. Dober
leaps forward to hurt Silva with a Superman punch, and Silva sweeps
the leg with a low kick. Dober springs back to his feet, and he
parries a jump knee at just the right second. Silva splits the
guard with an uppercut and follows with a right hand, and he chops
at Dober’s front leg as well. Dober drives Silva back with a strong
left hand, and he walks into an elbow but ignores it so he can load
up on major power strikes. Dober grips hold of Silva for a moment,
and Silva pushes him away and spins with a picture-perfect elbow
that shakes Dober to his core. The granite chinned Dober stumbles
back, and Silva sees he has his man on the ropes and unleashes a
fury with several swinging punches and a body kick, but he cannot
finish the job before the bell rings.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Round 3
As Silva motions to the crowd to get excited, Dean calls in the
doctor to check on Dober’s cut. Dober is cleared to continue, and
they embrace as the round begins. Fists immediately fly, and both
men get cracked and tank one another’s power shots. Dober shoots in
for a single, and Silva jumps guard for a guillotine choke but
cannot hold on due at least in part due to Dober’s blood. Dober
rushes at him to strike and drops low for a takedown that is
stuffed, allowing Silva to spin with an elbow that puts Dober down
to his seat. Dober climbs back up, and Silva tries to time a knee
that just misses.
Dober backs up, and the cut is massive at this point and positively
pouring blood down his face. Silva points at Dober’s face to have
Dean check on the figurative axe wound above Dober’s eyebrow, and
Dean tells them to keep fighting. Dober plods forward, reaching out
with a left hook but cannot find his range. Silva counters with two
punches and grazes him with a spinning elbow, and Dean calls time
to bring in the cageside physician. There is no way this fight can
continue, as the gash is practically from one end of his eyebrow to
the other. The thrilling encounter is promptly waved
off. Psyched that he is the victor, Silva channels his inner BJ
Penn by licking the blood from his gloves, and he lets loose an
outpouring of emotion before walking over to the commentary booth
to chat with them. With two emphatic wins in the span of a few
weeks, Silva is unquestionably on the map as one to watch going
forward.
The Official Result
Jean Silva def. Drew Dober R3 1:28 via TKO (Doctor Stoppage)
BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT |
ODDS: Ponzinibbio (-205), Salikhov (+170)
Round 1
From one pair of knockout artists to another we go, this time in
the welterweight division. The co-main event presents powerful
Argentinian Ponzinibbio (29-7, 11-6 UFC) against the
self-proclaimed “King of Kung Fu” Salikhov (19-5, 6-4 UFC), and
both men celebrate the majority of their victories via strikes.
Unfortunately for the aging 170ers, they have each gone 1-3 in
their last four, so a win would mean keeping things going while a
defeat might push them closer towards the end. Referee Dan
Miragliotta will be the third man in the Octagon, and he steps back
as the heavy hitters touch ‘em up. Ponzinibbio pushes the pace
early, jabbing his way forward only to get pushed back by a front
kick. Salikhov delivers a solid kick to the body as he shifts to
the side, and he lands one on the lead leg and has a head kick
blocked right after. Ponzinibbio whiffs on a low kick, and Salikhov
leaps at him with a left hook that grazes the jaw. Salikhov tries
that strike again, and Ponzinibbio sees it coming and parries it,
following with a high kick. Salikhov blocks it and gives him one
back, and that too bounces off the guard. Salikhov lands a body
kick backing up, and he cannot get away from a jab to his ribs.
Salikhov spins with no telegraphing and has it ricochet off the
shoulder, and he bursts his way into a short combo of punches.
Ponzinibbio lands with two of three punches on his way forward,
catching the Russian and bullying him back to the wire. Ponzinibbio
lands a calf kick and protects his mug from an overhand right, and
he ducks a spinning back fist and stumbles—not from absorbing the
blow, but from dodging it. Ponzinibbio wags his finger to signal
the strike did not land, and he recovers and stays evasive to not
get caught with subsequent strikes from the “King of Kung Fu.”
Salikhov connects with a left hand, and Ponzinibbio counters and
drops Salikhov. The Russian gets back to his feet, and Ponzinibbio
is marching him down winding up with serious power. Salikhov drives
him back with a solid uppercut, but not before a cut opens up on
the inner eyebrow. Both men appear to slip on the canvas surface
but not because of damage, and they race at one another to trade.
Salikhov lands a heavy right hand, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ponzinibbio
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ponzinibbio
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ponzinibbio
Round 2
The fighters clap hands to begin the second stanza, and Salikhov
takes two attempts to blitz forward and pulls back each time. He
then spins with a wheel kick that buzzes past the jaw, and he keeps
spinning, this time with a back fist. Ponzinibbio backs him away
with a few jabs and a head kick, and he pushes aside a front kick
to wing a right hand. Salikhov scores two left hooks before
spinning with a back kick to the ribs, and Ponzinibbio no-sells it
and tries to respond with a left. Salikhov has another spin broken
up when Ponzinibbio rushes him, and they bounce off one another and
reset. Salikhov jabs out with his toes outstretched, and they tag
one another with punches. Ponzinibbio appears to get the worse of a
left hand, and Salikhov gives chase and swarms him with big
punches. Ponzinibbio absorbs a spinning wheel kick, where even
while blocked it further staggers him. Ponzinibbio rebounds off the
fencing and finds his footing again, and he swings his way forward
to close the distance and stay out of kicking range. Salikhov
responds with a looping right hook that does not connect and a low
kick that does. Salikhov tries another wheel kick, but Ponzinibbio
is wise to it and gets up close and personal. The Russian allows
him to do this so he can time an uppercut, and he plants the ball
of his foot on Ponzinibbio’s sternum for good measure. Ponzinibbio
drives home a one-two, and Salikhov trips him up with a takedown
effort. Salikhov cannot keep him down, and they return upright to
trade hands. The Argentinian fighter swings inaccurately with two
hooks, and his foe answers him with a front kick and a leaping
punch. Salikhov has a left hook parried, and he jumps forward with
a second that is ducked. Spinning with a kick to the body, Salikhov
lands the strike but finds himself on his seat a moment later when
Ponzinibbio surprises him with a takedown. Ponzinibbio hangs on
until the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Round 3
The fighters shake hands and bro-hug to commence the last round,
and strikes are soon to follow. Salikhov lands a swiping left hook
and hops back to avoid a low kick, and the Argentinian ducks to
avoid a second. Salikhov spams front kicks, and Ponzinibbio lets
fly a right hook that bangs into the temple. Salikhov wears it well
and is jabbed back by subsequent strikes, but he gathers steam and
marches forward landing a front kick. Both fighters trade hooks,
and Salikhov dodges a leg kick and spins with a wheel kick that
does not connect. A trio of punches from the Russian do not find
their home, and he whips a left hook that grazes the top of his
foe’s head. Ponzinibbio rushes after him with a pair of punches and
is pushed back by a teep kick, only to crash the pocket and push
“King of Kung Fu” to the cage wall. Salikhov breaks away and
strafes one direction and then the other, and he has a telegraphed
left hook miss the mark by a wide margin. Ponzinibbio attempts a
single that is easily stopped, although he does manage to put
Salikhov against the cage wall. A second attempt manages to bring
Salikhov to his knees, and he drapes himself over Salikhov while
keeping him on a single knee. Salikhov takes a seat, and
Ponzinibbio thinks about moving around to take the back but decides
instead to pursue top position. Ponzinibbio slows the fight to a
crawl by holding the Russian down, and Salikhov sucks wind and
tries with all his might to stand. He eventually gets back to his
feet, and Ponzinibbio is dead set on getting that takedown again.
The last try fails, and the close fight ends in a clinch while the
crowd showers them with boos.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ponzinibbio (29-28
Ponzinibbio)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ponzinibbio (29-28
Ponzinibbio)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ponzinibbio (29-28
Ponzinibbio)
The Official Result
Muslim Salikhov def. Santiago Ponzinibbio via Split Decision
(28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT |
ODDS: Namajunas (-218), Cortez (+180)
Round 1
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:
Round 2
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:
Round 3
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:
Round 4
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:
Round 5
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:
