Main Card:
Khamzat Chimaev (W) vs Rhys McKee – Welterweight Bout
Welterweights kick off the show as Khamzat Chimaev breaks history for the fastest turnaround in UFC history as he welcomes Rhys McKee to the UFC octagon. This fight was just one-sided for the entire 3 minutes it lasted, Chimaev got the early takedown and was just raining down ground and pound from all different dominant positions, after at least 50 strikes the ref stepped in and called the fight and Chimaev breaks the record for quickest turnaround victory in UFC history.
Alex Oliveira (W) vs Peter Sobotta – Welterweight Bout
We’re sticking at welterweight for the next fight on the main card as Alex Oliveira faces Peter Sobotta. This was a war of kicks in the first round as Sobotta opened the round with a stinging body kick, but Oliveira hit back with a front kick to the body which hurt Sobotta. Both guys kept throwing the kicks, both to the legs and body with Oliveira constantly looking for that potent front kick. 10-9 Oliveira.
Round 2 was exceptional work for Oliveira as he just kept on finding a home for his body kicks, especially that front kick. Sobotta just couldn’t find a way to get into Oliveira’s range and those body kicks just kept on coming. The fight was stopped twice, for a low hit and an eyepoke and the round ended with Oliveira knocking Sobotta down with a nasty strike over the top as Sobotta looked for a body kick. 20-18 Oliveira, easily.
Round 3 was pretty lackluster, Sobotta needed a finish to win the fight but he never looked like getting one, or even wanting to get one. He shot for a takedown but failed and Oliveira just kept landing body kick after body kick to Sobotta to win all 3 rounds for me. 30-27 should be the score cards and the judges agreed with the scores as Oliveira gets the decision win.
Paul Craig (W) vs Gadzhimurad Antigulov – Light Heavyweight Bout
We move up to the light heavyweight division on the main card as Paul Craig takes on Gadzhimurad Antigulov in what should be a submission showdown. Antigulov came out aggressive at the first bell, piecing a quick 1-2 together and taking Craig to the ground within the first minute of the fight. From there, Antigulov started swinging some heavy ground and pound, but Craig threatened with an arm triangle off his back. Antigulov escaped but didn’t take the warning as he left himself open for another arm triangle, this time Craig locks it in tight and gets the tap for the quick submission win, a submission win that ties him for the most submission wins at light heavyweight in the UFC.
Carla Esparza (W) vs Marina Rodriguez – Women’s Strawweight Bout
We now switch to the women as we have a bout between two top ten rated strawweight contenders doing battle in Carla Esparza and Marina Rodriguez. Carla Esparza started really well in this first round, taking Marina down and enjoying a good amount of time on top, laying shots down. Marina was throwing some nasty elbows from the bottom though and she caught Carla with one that sliced her open, blood pouring everywhere. Marina then turned the tables on Carla, getting dominant position and laying some more elbows down, she then pieced together a couple of right hands at the end of the round, 10-9 Marina for me.
Round 2 started like round 1, with Carla shooting and getting a takedown early on and keeping dominant position for the majority of the round. However, she stayed much more active this time around and really hit Marina with some nice shots from above. Marina got a little opening late on and hit some nice ground and pound as Carla looked for an ankle submission and I’d say it’s 19-19 after 2.
Carla carried the momentum of round 2 and started really well in round 3 getting another early takedown and enjoying great moments with some nice ground and pound. Marina was constantly looking to get back to her feet but could never shake Carla off her and Carla was becoming more active with her ground and pound. Carla got another 2 takedowns in the fight and I have it 29-28 Carla. Carla got the nod from the judges, one somehow scoring it 30-27 to Carla.
Continued on the page below.
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via USA TODAY Sports
