UFC FIGHT NIGHT: Prelims Results Recap

UFC-Fight-Night—Dos-Anjos-vs-Alvarez-

Alberto Mina (13-0) vs. Mike Pyle (27-12-1)

(Welterweight Bout – 3 Rounds)

Both 170ers came out meeting in the center of the cage showing conventional stances. Pyle countering the Mina offense which saw double left hooks and big overhand rights. With about 2 minutes in, Mina abandoned the ‎stand up approach and shot in on Pyle securing a takedown. After a stalemate of roughly a minute with Mina not getting anything going working out of his foe’s guard, the referee stood them up which incidentally benefited Mina who connected clean on Pyle with 3 left hooks right after. The Las Vegan stumbled backwards landing along the cage wall then flipped over in hopes of throwing up an armbar attempt. Mina didn’t fall for any traps working his ground and pound along the cage wall before Pyle defended and blocked then used the clinch and muscled his way back up to his feet. Shortly thereafter, Mina went for a big overhand right then shot in for a takedown, banking one more just before the round came to an end.

Going into Round 2 Mina was swinging for the fences on Pyle after hitting another takedown attempt. Pyle was able to bounce back from it but his offense was little to none existent as the seconds ticked away. Mina measured his man after Pyle landed a partially blocked spinning low leg kick and ran at him then leaped into the air ‎hitting a flying switch knee. Pyle was simoultanously turning to his right to avoid the strike as the right knee crashed landed perfectly on his chin, as soon as he dropped to the mat like a bag of hammers Mina followed up with some vicious hammer fists as his foe turned and covered up prompting the referee to stop the action.

RESULT: ‎Alberto “Soldier of God” Mina remains undefeated via 2nd Round KO at (1:17) over Mike Pyle via flying knee and follow up strikes.
Mehdi Baghdad (11-4) vs. John Makdessi (15-4)

(Lightweight Bout – 3 Rounds)

Baghdad and Makdessi kept the action standing and in the center of the Octagon for the first 5 minutes of the match. It was Baghdad’s over hand right or high kick versus Makdessi’s counter punching ability and side to side movement behind a crisp and steady jab. Neither man really got anything significant off and both of their counter-heavy approaches negated much fireworks as each minute passed on.

Going into Round 2 the two traded at close quarters and started picking up their combinations. Baghdad was persistent with his ‎overhand right-jab combo and Makdessi implemented his jab-hook as his way into his man’s chest. Briefly they would trade punches followed by kicks but the more the battle progressed the more technical that it became with both now fighting at an almost sparring partner-like pace. A good pace nonetheless since there was action on the feet and for all of Round 2 absolutely no sign of a takedown attempt. Both 155ers closed with a punch-punch-leg kick variation looking to land on the pocket equating one another’s landed punches in what could be anyone’s round based on activity versus accuracy.

Heading into Round 3, Baghdad stepped on the gas landing big on his foe. He jabbed his way into close range and followed up with a knee then a shot to the temple ‎of Makdessi who stumbled backwards along the canvas. As he started to get up and tried his best to gather his wits, Baghdad followed up with some solid left hooks driving him along the cage wall. Makdessi desperately tried a triangle choke which his foe defended well but it slowed down the arsenal of Baghdad. The Canada resident managed to prop back up to his feet and then landed some clean shots in the pocket as he muscled Baghdad along the cage wall. Baghdad circled out then began to operate at his range this time beating his man to the pocket forcing Makdessi to counter which he did willingly. The tide completely turned as he started landing clean jabs and crosses momentarily stunning his foe. Baghdad fell back on the mat off of a clean Makdessi double left hook and survived the last few seconds as the Canada export did his best to close out strong but ran out of time doing so.

RESULT: ‎John “The Bull” Makdessi defeats Mehdi Baghdad via Split Decision with scores of 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 .
Dileno Lopes (19-3) vs. Anthony Birchak (13-3)

(Bantamweight Bout – 3 Rounds)

The first match of the evening to go the distance featured Birchak putting Lopes on the defensive to start off Round 1 by driving him back with slick kicks and 2 and 3-punch combinations. He also controlled range by doubling his low leg kicks and blending them in with his power punches. ‎Lopes tried to stop the momentum of his man by looking to secure a rear naked choke even though he was unsuccessful but Birchak kept the fight standing and gladly carried Lopes on his back for the last few minutes of the round.

Going into Round 2 Lopes seemed visibly worn out from the multiple shots that he was throwing as well as the punches that he received. Birchak drove him back with crisp shot after shot and didn’t let up on the assault of mixing in his blows with his rapid fire leg kicks. He kept this up for the bulk of Round 2 and when needed, he used the clinch to regroup and cancel out any offense that Birchak tried to string together.

Heading into Round 3 the emphasis was in Lopes corner that he was possibly down in the rounds but unfortunately he did not fight like it. His punches were now far and in-between and they were getting wilder and wilder while on the other hand, ‎Birchak kept a high guard and slipped the shots while stuffing any and all of his foe’s takedowns while landing clean blows. The Arizona native easily took Round 3 by simply walking his man down for the remaining 2 minutes and peppering Lopes with shots just outside of range .

‎RESULT: Anthony “El Toro” Birchak defeats Dileno Lopes via Split Decision with scores of 30-27, 28-29, and 29-28.
Pedro Munhoz (12-2) vs. Russell Doane ‎(14-6)

(Bantamweight Bout – 3 Rounds)

Munhoz and Doane put on a striking fire fight for the entirety of their short lived but action-packed affair. ‎Both men traded kicks, straight shots, body shots and hooks at close range and willingly stayed in the pocket regardless of the damage absorbed. Doane went to work with his 2 and 3-punch combinations while Munhoz gave as good as he got countering aggressively with strikes of his own and in heavy volume.

During a momentary break to the action when Doane retreated along the cage wall seemingly stunned from a punch, Munhoz jumped guard like a leaping cat wrapping his arm over and around his man’s neck. Doane dropped to his back from the pressure and let his man sink in his hooks, locking up the choke even tighter forcing the very surprising tap.

‎RESULT: Pedro “The young Punisher” Munhoz defeats Russell Doane via 1st Round guillotine choke at (2:08).
Jerrod Sanders (15-3) vs. ‎Felipe Arantes (18-7-1, 2 NC)

(Bantamweight Bout – 3 Rounds)

Arantes started off super fast against Sanders shooting off knees, leg kicks and power punches at all angles as he marched towards him but within seconds Sanders closed distance and got the fight to the mat. From there he nullified the talented striker by keeping him continuously planted on his back. ‎He worked from top control getting to mount then as Arantes turned and scooted away from any precarious positions, Sanders stuck to him like glue and pinned him along the cage for the entire second half of Round 1 , landing some ground and pound along the way.

Going into Round 2, the Brazilian again came in guns blazing looking to jab and hook his way into the pocket. Sanders smoothly ducked under for a single, turned the corner and planted his man on the canvas about a minute into Round 2. Sanders worked his standing to ground strikes and caught his man on some occasions but slightly overcomitted to the striking assult leaving his arm out off of a right punch. Arantes threw up a quick armbar attempt that trapped his man’s limb as he hyper extended it with his stretched out legs applying pressure giving Sanders no choice but to submit.

RESULT: Felipe “Cowboy” Arantes stops Jerrod Sanders via armbar submission at (1:39) of Round 1.
Lukasz Sajewski (13-2) vs. Gilbert Burns (11-1)

(Lightweight Bout – 3 Rounds)

Sajewski took the fight to Burns charging him for the first 2 minutes of the match using a barrage of hooks and jabs and various other leg strikes. Burns moved along on the defensive for those first few moments and finally closed range on his own terms looking to judo throw his man or hip toss him in hopes of bringing him to the ground but coming up short. The Brazilian ground wizard then shot in for a takedown along the cage wall, didn’t get it, but stuck close to his man turning him and attacking his back. Sajewski defended the rear naked choke attempt preventing Burns from sneaking his forearm under his chin to lock in the submission however, Burns still had a tightly wrapped body triangle. From there, he stepped over and transitioned to a lightning-fast armbar that was deep and tight giving Sajewski no choice but to tap.

RESULT: Gilbert Burns finishes Lukasz Sajewski via arm bar submission at (4:57) of Round 1.
Reginaldo Vieira (14-4) vs. Marco Beltran (8-4)

(Bantamweight Bout – 3 Rounds)

‎Vieira immediately closed the distance and shot in on Beltran securing a takedown along the cage wall during the first minute of Round 1. Beltran temporarily popped back up to his feet but seconds later he was dragged down again as the Brazilian changed levels on him along the cage wall. Vieira worked hard for a single leg and dumped his man unto his back side however, like a spring Beltran instantly landed then propped back upright. Beltran grew tired of the wrestle-heavy attack and decided to force the action to the center of the cage and let his hands go as the final minute ticked away. He had moderate success as Vieira obliged but sooner rather than later the Sao Paulo, Brazil native drove him back, shot in securing a double leg takedown and sunk in one final takedown before the round ended.

Going into Round 2 a fire fight broke out in the middle of the Octagon as both men traded leather at close range. Vieira returned fire before returning to his bread and butter and getting in one more takedown on his man. The Mexico City native this time reversed the position getting top ‎control. He got back to his feet and landed some wicked standing to ground strikes on his man. Vieira alertly threw up some up kicks hitting his foe directly in the face on one of the attempts, Beltran wrapped his arm around it tucking it under his arm pit then dropped to his seat searching for a toe hold or leg lock. From there they grappled for control on the ground and the Mexico City representative transitioned to his man’s back, sinking in his hooks and getting a rear naked choke locked in giving the TUF Brasil winner no chance but to tap.

RESULTS :‎ Marco Beltran finishes Reginaldo Vieira via Rear Naked Choke at (3:04) of Round 2.
Alvaro Herrera (9-4) vs. Vicente Luque (9-5-1)

(Welterweight Bout – 3 Rounds)

Herrera and Luque kicked off the UFC Fight Night from inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in the MGM Grand Casino‎. The 170-pound fighters took the first few minutes to feel each other out before Luque began operating behind his superior ground game. He launched a few kicks at the lower leg of his foe then shot in for a take down and completing it at about the halfway mark of Round 1. He managed to drag his man over to the cage wall and successfully kept Herrera pinned along the fence for the next few minutes. He managed to work back to his feet for a few moments before Luque drove him backwards and got him to the mat once again, sneaking in some small bursts of ground and pound just before the bell sounded ending the round.

Going into Round 2 Herrera let his hands go a bit. As soon as this happened, he missed with a left hook and Luque ducked under it shooting in for a single leg. He pressed and pressed for it eventually getting it and dragged his man over to the cage wall again. Luque worked out of top control and kept the position for the next few minutes as Herrera was on the defensive trying to post or wall walk but lacked any success. With 2 minutes remaining he finally got back to his feet, threw a spinning back fist which Luque ducked under then switched levels in order to get the takedown again. ‎This time Luque really went to work, passing his foe’s guard and applying an Anaconda Choke. Herrera had no choice but to submit being completely defenseless to the move and tapping as the referee stepped in to waive it off.

RESULT: Vicente “The Silent Assassin” Luque finishes Alvaro Herrera via anaconda choke submission at (3:52) of Round 2.

By; armando romo junior