(Danny Castillo (17-8) vs. Paul Felder (10-0)
(Lightweight Bout – 3 Rounds)
Former WEC standout “Last Call” Castillo took on replacement fighter “The Irish Dragon” Felder in this 155lbs match-up. Both the undefeated Felder who took the bout on a month’s notice opposite the seasoned Team Alpha Male fighter opted to trade leg kicks to open the 1st round. One of them strayed low hitting Castillo below the belt bringing things to a short halt. Once action resumed, Felder continued his leg kick assault which enabled him to switch up from right front kicks to roundhouse kicks with ease as he also threw some knees at his man, a testament to his Taekwondo black belt experience.
Heading into the 2nd round Felder continued applying a leg strikes heavy approach to his fight game plan. Castillo attempted a take down which was stuffed by Felder and the two then returned to the center of the Octagon to trade punches. Both men came at one another landing leg kicks to the shins at the same time. As Castillo followed up the strike with a straight right hand, Felder caught him with a spinning back fist to the face that leveled the Californian. Felder swarmed his man landing two hammer fists as the referee stepped in to prevent any more damage.
Result: Paul Felder remains unbeaten upsetting Danny Castillo via 2nd round KO at (2:09).
Marcus Brimage (7-4) vs. Cody Garbrandt (6-0)
(Bantamweight Bout – 3 Rounds)
The Ultimate Fighter season 14 alum, Brimage welcomed UFC newcomer in Team Alpha Male’s, Garbrandt. The fast paced 135lbs duel came to a standstill in the 1st round when a Brimage left low kick caught his man below the belt, requiring that Garbrandt take a few moments to recover from. Once the action resumed with roughly 3 minutes left, Brimage looked to land clean as he stepped in and out behind his jab as well as quick, short rights. Garbrandt partially caught a leg kick from his foe using it to take the fight to the ground putting Brimage on his back. The pride of Alabama however used an elevator technique to push off, lifting his man from his base in order to pop back to his feet. Another leg kick, this time a left one landed low again by Brimage. Garbrandt took a few seconds of rest before the referee started the match again then rushed in to get revenge on his foe from the foul. In the pocket they traded blistering punches when one of them caught Brimage on the head, noticeably staggering him before the round ended.
They picked up right where they left off exchanging quick lefts or short right hooks as the 2nd round started. The Sacramento native came forward with high kicks along with his crisp, left hooks that had success opening up a cut over the right eye of Brimage. Going into the 3rd round “The Bama Beast” Brimage changed the look of the battle by coming forward implementing his own leg kicks and angles. The Alabama native popped his jab then shot a straight right hand over the top looking to land big. Garbrandt stood his ground searching for a left hook counter that had its moments against his southpaw foe. With 30 seconds left both talented 135ers went to war standing in front of one another exchanging nothing but heat as the crowd went crazy cheering them on. However, Brimage was caught with a short shot on the inside that sent him to the canvas. He got up quickly but his undefeated for smelled blood going for the kill launching a solid combination of left hook, right hand, left hook and ending with another right hand. Brimage crashed unto the canvas as referee Herb Dean called an end to the exciting bout.
Result: Cody “No Love” Garbrandt remains unbeaten in his UFC debut upsetting Marcus Brimage via 3rd round TKO at (4:50).
Shawn Jordan (17-6) vs. (Jared Cannonier) (7-1)
(Heavyweight Bout – 3 Rounds)
The only heavyweight tilt on tonight’s card featured Jordan welcoming UFC newcomer and previously unbeaten warrior Cannonier to the Octagon. The American Top Team representative employed his jab as a range finder before closing the distance on his man using high kicks and left hooks. The pace was slow for the two big men who opted to pick their shots carefully as they circled one another in the middle of the Octagon. The two stepped forward with about 2 minutes left in the round and looked to land some big shots. Jordan did in the form of an explosive game changing punch.
A picture perfect Jordan right hand over the top crashed unto the Texan’s head immediately dropping him to the canvas. The LSU alum instantly swarmed his man with some follow up punches in the form of left hands that ended the night for Cannonier as referee John McCarthy stepped in to call a stop to the action.
Result: Shawn Jordan defeats Jared Cannonier by way of KO at (2:57) of the 1st round.
Evan Dunham (15-6 ) vs. Rodrigo Damm (12-9)
(Lightweight Bout – 3 Rounds)
A pair of seasoned UFC fighters met when lightweights Dunham and Damm squared off in the cage. Dunham was extremely poised for the first round as he stepped into Damm with a jab then followed up with his left hook , applying the combo successfully over and over. Damm didn’t have much of an answer as he walked backwards with only his right hand up and his left near his waist. Dunham mixed up the attack of the 2-punch combination by landing some leg kicks to the shins and thighs of his Brazilian adversary as he kept walking him down with constant strikes.
Going into the 2nd round the Las Vegas based fighter added roundhouse kicks or front kicks to his attempt at shutting down Damm. It worked very well as Damm adjusted slightly to the southpaw’s attack but was caught on the arms and shoulders from Dunham’s kicks. The low guard got him in trouble as Dunham launched a looping right hook that landed since the Brazilian kept his left too low. The few attempts by Damm to even the match sprouted in the 3rd round as he was the one who now pressed forward behind looping right hands and low leg kicks. Nonetheless, Dunham would not be denied as he stayed in the pocket trading leather with his foe. He mixed in a right uppercut lead which paid dividends as Damm was walked down once again about halfway into the final round also getting caught by the punch. Damm egged his opponent on with about 2 minutes left in the fight, asking him to sit an trade which got a roaring response from the crowd. The two lightweights exchanged some clean kicks, right hands and straight lefts at close range to the delight of the UFC fans in attendance shortly before the round came to an end.
Result: Evan Dunham defeats Rodrigo Damm via unanimous decision with scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 30-27.
Omari Akhmedov (14-2) vs. Mats Nilsson (11-4-1)
(Welterweight Bout – 3 Rounds)
The second battle of the night as well as the last fight on the UFC Fight Pass showcased a 170-pound tilt between up and comers, Akhmedov and Nilsson. Akhmedov came at his opponent with heavy artillery in the form of big left and right hooks right off the bat. Nilsson covered up for most of the assault but his high guard left him susceptible to a takedown and Akhmedov alertly secured a pair of those during the first round. Akhmedov repeated the plan of attack for the next 2 rounds by using heavy hooks in the pocket then a quick shot to put Nilsson on his backside. Both take downs landed in the 2nd round by the Russian powerhouse were extremely well timed and came at the most opportune moments when it seemed like Akhmedov was actually getting arm weary from shooting so many big bombs at his man.
In the 3rd round Akhmedov was able to have success using the same recipe but looked visibly tired from his grinding, punch-heavy approach. The most successful part of the bout came for Nilsson in the last 2 minutes of the final round as he planted his man on the mat thanks to a takedown but still failed to keep him there for too long. However, the pride of Denmark went to work looking for a kimura then later transitioned into a tight guillotine that looked like trouble for his man who tried to escape but then was mounted. From the mounted guillotine Nilsson transitioned to a D’arse Choke but time ran out for the Denmark ace.
Result: Omari “Lakec” Akhmedov defeats Mats Nilsson via unanimous decision with scores of 29-28, 29-28 and 29-28.
Alexis Dufresne (5-2) vs. Marion Reneau (5-1 )
(Women’s Bantamweight Bout – 3 Rounds)
Kicking things off as the very first UFC fight of 2015 from inside the MGM Grand casino were a pair of 135ers in Dufresne who welcomed Reneau for her UFC debut. Sporting very similar records it was interesting to see which female fighter would have the edge in this one. Without doubt it was Reneau who put on a striking clinic for the span of 15 minutes as she connected on her taller opponent with straight lefts, right hooks, leg kicks and solid punching combinations. Whether it was against the cage wall or in the middle of the Octagon, the Visalia, California native displayed her dazzling striking skills in and out of the pocket peppering Dufresne with shot after shot as she avoided much damage behind a slick defense using angles to avoid any return fire. This went on round after round leaving Dufresne without much of an option to get back into the battle as she was left with a bloody face and partially swollen right eye.
For the last stanza Reneau closed out strong by pushing her opponent against the cage and really started to let her hands go with combination after combination. Her masterful performance helped Reneau cruise to an easy points verdict for her first ever UFC fight.
Result: Marion Reneau makes an impressive debut upsetting Alexis Dufresne via unanimous decision with scores of 30-26, 30-26 and 30-25.
By: armando romo junior
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