Garbrandt blasts Almeida in 3 minutes and Stephens upsets Barao by points for UFC Fight Night from Mandalay Bay in Vegas

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Allot of pressure was put on both of the bantamweight headliners tonight for the UFC Fight Night on Memorial Day weekend. One man broke under the pressure and the other totally delivered. It was the young Team Alpha Males’ first UFC main event and he came through for himself and his camp under the bright lights from the Mandalay Bay Events Center inside the Mandalay Bay Casino and Resort in Las Vegas as Cody Garbrandt (9-0) took out the formely undefeated Thomas Almeida (21-1) in under 1 Round via highlight reel KO. ‎The brilliant Brazilian had made a big name for himself in other organizations and that buzz only got bigger when Almeida touched down in the UFC and upped his winning streak of stoppages to 14 out of the last 15 fights. Many wondered how he would do against another top prospect and those answers came very quickly as ‘No Love’ Garbrandt showed his adversary little respect as soon as the 1st Round started.

The Ohio native walked his man down, closing the distance behind missile after missile-like punch and he did not let up-relentless in his approach. Almeida seemed to want to time the 135er coming in but came up just shy of a game changing shot and for his troubles got caught with tight punches and elbows at close counters that dazed him. Garbrandt visibly stunned his man badly within a minute or so of the main event for the UFC Fight Night but didn’t get too wild looking for the home run shot. His patience paid off a minute later as he again walked his opponent down this time ‎landing a clubbing overhand right unto the side of the head of Almeida. Instantly the warrior folded like a lawn chair falling down towards the canvas then tipping over on his side. An alert Garbandt smelled the blood and pounced on him instantly with two wicked hammer fists that sealed the deal at the (2:53) mark of the 1st Round.

Thomas Almeida was not available for comment at the post fight press conference as a precaution due to being given medical attention and taken to a near by hospital because of the knockout loss, Cody Garbrandt on the other hand was in attendance but was direct in his comments. He wanted another top contender to continue working his way to the top of the division and also a fight on the UFC 203 event headlined by fellow Ohio-born fighter and newly mint UFC heavyweight champion, Stipe Miocic. Word from the locker room, Garbrandt will likely be on that card in July.

BARAO DENIED IN FEATHERWEIGHT DEBUT

Former UFC 135lbs champion, Renen Barao (35-4, 1 NC) jumped up to the featherweight division colliding with UFC veteran, Jeremy Stephens (25-12) in an action-packed, Muay Thai-fueled slug fest for 3 exciting rounds. Barao took the first 5 minutes demanding his foe’s respect peppering him with crafty combinations, fighting long and on the outside. Stephens tried to counter but his wide shots missed their mark for the majority of the first 5 minutes and the former title holder did a great job keeping his man backing up, canceling out his offensive output. Going into the 2nd Round ‘Lil Heathen’ Stephens stuffed Barao’s shots, willingly marched forward and finally landed a crushing blow to his man. The #2 ranked Bantamweight was very hurt and gave away that round simply by having to survive it, he also took a few monster shots that historically Stephens has used to put many a fighter away.

The 3rd and final round showed Renen Barao’s toughness and new found durability at 145lbs. He ate power shot after power shot from Jeremy Stephens but kept coming, glad to get into a fire fight and represent his country while the rowdy fans inside of the arena showered the house with a loud chant of ‘USA, USA, USA’. Stephens rallied back from a tough 1st round to find his rhythm and timing and take over for those last few minutes as he clearly took the unanimous decision ‎once the judge’s score cards were read all in unity via 29-28, 29-28 and 29-28.
STORY ‎RETURNS FROM YEAR LAYOFF TO CLAIM DECISION OVER SAFFIEDINE

‎Rick ‘Horror’ Story (20-8) can now smile with victories over former UFC champion Johny Hendricks and tonight over ex-Strikeforce welterweight champ, Tarec Saffiedine (16-5). Both times he did it in style and both times he implemented his wrestling-heavy, grimy and relentless style that only he can execute in the Octagon. Saffiedine is a very experienced fighter all his own having tangled in the Strikeforce hexagon and the UFC’s Octagon but even his knowledge of the game wasn’t enough to solve the Story puzzle tonight.

Rick returned following having pulled out of a fight, neck surgery and about a 1-year layoff. But he looked like a new man with improved conditioning, great leg kicks, and an impressive body attack that visibly slowed down his man in the 2nd and specially the 3rd Round. He constantly backed up his foe along the cage wall, used the clinch to control him and then reeled off some nice inside elbows, kicks and kneess. Rinse and repeat for Story as he picked up the unanimous decision victory with scores of 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27.

CAMOZZI OUT GRAPPLES AND OUT THINKS MIRANDA EN-ROUTE‎ TO UNANIMOUS DECISION WIN

Chris Camozzi (24-10) picked up one of his biggest wins in his career by taking care of Vitor Miranda (13-5) ‎a dangerous striker and submission artist that is a problem for anyone to navigate around in the waters of the Octagon canvas. However, what better way to negate a BJJ ace than to keep the battle upright and land first then pull your man into the mat as soon as he begins mounting an offense?
This was Camozzi’s M. O. for the bulk of the fight as he glided along the Octagon commanding the action behind masterful 1-2 combos, body shots and hooks just outside of range. He also secured the best takedowns of the fight as he pressed his man along the cagewall canceling out Miranda’s offensive movements.

Going into the 3rd Round what also helped Camozzi was that he was the fresher of the two combatants, so much so that while he was clearly ahead his corner emphasized between rounds 2 and 3 during the break to , ‘go for the finish’. Camozzi obliged putting together more and more combinations as he backed his man up for the final 5 minutes cruising to a unanimous verdict.

Once the judge’s score cards were read it was academic; all three had it 30-27 for Chris Camozzi over Miranda in Camozzi’s signature victory this year as he makes the critics take notice with a solid performance.

LARKIN DAZZLES WITH CLEAN AND CRISP STRIKING TO TAKE SPLIT POINTS VERDICT AGAINST MASVIDAL

‘Da Monsoon’ Lorenz Larkin (17-5) ‎ showcased lightning fast kicks, spinning elbows and back elbows, sharp jabs and creative takedowns as he took 1-time Strikeforce title contender Jorge ‘Gamebred’ Masvidal (29-11) the distance nabbing a split decision after the dust settled following their 15 minute battle. The Millennial MMA representative beat his man to the punch and also operated with a wide variety of knees, kicks and punches that completely shut down the normally productive offense of the Cuban striker. What also played a huge factor in his strategy was his mix of solid takedowns and shots that took advantage of Masvidal’s normally upright stance which lacks the proper wide base to stuff a takedown and the multiple attempts by Larkin paid off dividends as the rounds progressed. He also snapped away at his foe’s base with crisp and powerful leg kicks to the shin and thighs of Masvidal, incidentally taking away some of the pop in his punches by targeting his base where the power in punches normally comes from in most fighters.

The California native tripled his foe’s shots and doubled the success of secured takedowns keeping the normally deadly striker, Masvidal, at bay with that technique as well as leading in the striking department. ‘Gamebred’s ‘ best round was the 3rd and final round where he had his best success ‎and managed to get the fight to the ground on his terms locking in multiple guillotine attempts which Larkin defended very well be it a standing guillotine attempt or one the mat when Masvidal got the bout to the mat.

In the end, it was Lorenz Larkin’s Octagon control and ring generalship that enabled him to take the decision. One judge inexplicably awarded the match to Jorge Masvidal which explained the scores of 29-28, 28-29 and 29-28 for Larkin as he continues his rise towards the elite of the welterweight division.

THE IRISH DRAGON FELDER TAKES CLEAR NOD OVER THE SEASONED BURKMAN

Paul ‘The Irish Dragon’ Felder (12-2) made it 2 wins in a row tonight as he out worked and out hustled seasoned UFC veteran Joshua Burkman (29-13) over the course of 15 minutes. This was Burkman’s second outing at 155lbs but likely the toughest assignment that he has had in a long time regardless of weight class since Felder is considered a top future contender in the division. The Colorado native also raised eyebrows tonight effortlessly engaging his man in a fire fight. The two traded heavy leather at lose range and Felder did not budge against the clever boxer but Burkman’s sniper-like accuracy was not in attendance tonight.

Burkman held his own and can hold his head high that he wasn’t not another one of Paul Felder’s KO victims but the scores of 29-28, 29-28 and 29-28 painted the perfect picture this evening, Felder would not be denied and turned ‎away one of the biggest and most reconizable names on his ledger.