UFC 287 ‘Pereira vs. Adesanya 2’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Jaqueline Amorim (115.5) vs. Sam Hughes (116)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Amorim (-245), Hughes (+205)

Round 1

For the third time in five weeks, the UFC is asking its fans to empty their pocketbooks and shell out $80 for a fight card. This event in Miami, with a championship rematch a mere six months in the making sitting atop the marquee, might have something to offer everyone. The now dozen-bout billing begins in the women’s strawweight division, with a match that would be well-suited for an LFA headliner. Unbeaten Amorim (6-0, 0-0 UFC) will make her first walk to the Octagon tonight, where she meets “Sampage” Hughes (7-5, 2-4 UFC). The first fight of the night begins with a touch of gloves in front of referee Andrew Glenn, and it’s on with the show. Amorim introduces herself with a few sweeping kicks, and Hughes dodges or blocks them all. Hughes paws forward a jab, and she is met with a pair of right hooks from the Brazilian. Hughes claims she was poked in the eye, and Glenn does not recognize it so they do not stop. Hughes walks her opponent down, but she gets countered repeatedly by Amorim. Hughes presses forward with jabs outstretched, and Amorim shoots in from afar with a takedown. Hughes defends from her back with an armbar, but Amorim laughs this off and steps over to a dominant position. As Hughes scrambles, Amorim takes her back and briefly considers an armbar setup. Hughes fights it off and explodes back to her feet, and she elbows her foe in the face before defending another level change. Amorim grabs hold of a single-leg takedown and lifts Hughes off the ground to toss her to the mat like a sack of potatoes. Hughes instinctually keeps her legs high for a potential triangle choke, and Amorim slides through and allows Hughes to move to her knees so she can take the back. Briefly flirting with a kimura lock from the back, she instead gets both hooks in and hunts for a rear-naked choke. Amorim secures the body triangle and strangles Hughes, but the tough Hughes grits it out and fights the hands to defend from the choke. Hughes stands up, and Amorim remains on her back and wrenches on the neck. Amorim locks it down, and Hughes fights the hands again to defend the choke and does so by getting her fingers in the gloves. Amorim switches to a palm-to-palm grip as Hughes falls to her back, and once again Hughes survives while still firmly entrenched in the danger zone. Amorim retains her tight body triangle around the waist, and she abandons the back take to step over into mount and set up an arm-triangle choke. Hughes scrambles and gets slugged in the chops, and she manages to stand up. The round ends as she chases Amorim across the cage.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Amorim
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Amorim
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Amorim

Round 2

Amorim has reached the second round for the first time as a pro, and Hughes appears energized as she pushes forward and drives Amorim to the wall. Amorim jumps to guard, and Hughes backs off and lets her stand up. Amorim swings with a body kick, and Hughes lays into her with a pair of punches. Amorim rushes in for a takedown, and Hughes bowls her over and moves into the guard. Amorim sets up the body triangle off her back, keeping Hughes from dropping down ground-and-pound. Hughes looks to free her hands to bust the Brazilian in the face, but Amorim is clinging tightly and looking to sneak her arm under Hughes’ knee. Hughes wrenches out her left hand to bop Amorim in the nose a few times, and Amorim flails with her legs and pushes Hughes off of her to force the standup. Hughes strides forward with a few punches, and a takedown effort from Amorim is again thwarted by “Sampage.” Hughes makes Amorim stand up again, and she dings her with a few punches. Amorim falls to her back, and Hughes complains to Glenn about grabbing the glove. Amorim fastens the body triangle with Hughes on top, and she postures up in the guard and rains down punches. Amorim turns to pursue a leglock, and Hughes rips it out and stands. Amorim is slow to follow her up, seemingly running out of steam, and she pursues a desperation takedown that is easily stuffed. The crowd rains down boos as Amorim overcommits to a single, and she turns it to a double-leg and ends up pulling guard instead. Amorim goes after a heel hook, but Hughes slides the leg free and stands up. Hughes decides to pursue a single of her own, and she dumps Amorim on her back and holds her there until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Hughes

Round 3

Everyone and their brother in Hughes’ corner informs her that her opponent is exhausted. The third round opens with a glove touch, and Hughes is the immediate aggressor to pick up right where she left off. Amorim flails feebly with her fists, and Hughes ignores them and gets off a right hand. “Sampage” fires off a high kick, and Amorim flops to her back and looks to tie Hughes up. Hughes escapes, and the Brazilian stands and backs up against the cage. Hughes punts her in the face with a front kick, and Amorim moves to her back again and puts her legs around the waist. Hughes opens up with heavy hammerfists and elbows, and Amorim tries to fight back but is getting into a failed slugfest from her back. Hughes settles down when Amorim gets the body triangle around the waist again, and Amorim turns to a side in hopes of setting up a two-on-one wrist lock. Hughes continues to fight off that kimura setup, all while punching the body and otherwise frustrating the unbeaten fighter. Hughes does not slow her methodical offense, and a long series of left hands land on the jaw. Amorim paws back every time to little effect, and she turns over with the body triangle still in play for an armlock. Amorim is warned for grabbing the inside of the glove, and Hughes does not like this and opens up with some heavy ground-and-pound. Hughes bails on the position and stands up, and a fatigued Amorim stands and backs away. Hughes pushes out a front kick and a few punches, and she has Amorim on the ropes and totally spent. Amorim leans forward for a takedown, but has no energy to secure it, so Hughes pushes her to her seat and pounds on her. Hughes pushes off and stands, and Amorim wings a big right hand and follows with a front kick. Amorim gets caught with a few punches, drops down for a takedown, and the match comes to a close. Depending on the scoring of Round 1, a draw could theoretically be in play.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hughes (29-28 Hughes)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Hughes (29-28 Hughes)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Hughes (29-28 Hughes)

The Official Result

Sam Hughes def. Jaqueline Amorim via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Steve Garcia (145.5) vs. Nuerdanbieke Shayilan (146)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Nuerdanbieke (-200), Garcia (+170)

Round 1

Moving right along, this next fight takes place in the featherweight category. Fresh off some sort of controversy from his last match with Darrick Minner – you can look it up – Shayilan (39-10, 3-1 UFC) wants to move on from that messiness and keep his win streak going. In his 50th professional MMA bout at the tender age of 28, Shayilan battles Garcia (13-5, 2-2 UFC), who has been on the giving and receiving ends of rough knockouts as of late. Before the fists fly, referee Larry Folsom clocks them in, and the fighters do not elect to touch gloves first. Garcia goes after a front kick, but Shayilan is well out of the way. Shayilan intercepts a kick to land a solid one-two, and Garcia pushes off with a front kick that slams into the cup. Folsom sees this and pauses the action immediately. After a little under a minute, Shayilan clears his pain and discomfort and is good to go. They crash together with big punches, and Shayilan backs off to coil back his big right hand. Garcia rushes in, and Shayilan unloads it, blasting Garcia in the face and sending him crumpling to the mat. Shayilan looks to finish the job with a barrage of punches, but Garcia ties him up and holds on to clear his wits. Shayilan postures up to nail Garcia with an elbow, and Garcia scoots his way back to the fencing. Garcia wall-walks to stand back up, and Shayilan drags him back to a knee in short order. Shayilan sneaks around to take the back of “Mean Machine,” and Garcia slides back into the clinch and pushes the Chinese fighter to the wire. Shayilan throws him to the mat and slashes down with an elbow, and he lowers himself into the guard. Garcia hangs on from on bottom to quell the bludgeoning, and Shayilan methodically opens up every so often to connect with a solid shot. Garcia works his way back up and bursts to his feet, and he has busted Shayilan open with his own strikes. Garcia rushes out, pushing the pace on “Wolverine” and unloading with a few punches. Garcia belts Shayilan in the face, stunning him and forcing Shayilan to shoot for a desperation takedown. Garcia, from his back, kicks a downed Shayilan in the face illegally, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Shayilan
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Shayilan
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Shayilan

Round 2

Garcia is amped up to start off the second round, rushing after the Chinese competitor and throwing bombs. Shayilan ducks down, and Garcia times a perfect kick that smashes Shayilan in the face and relocates his nose. Sensing that his opponent is in big, big trouble, Garcia unleashes a high kick, a right hand and a left that knock Shayilan back to the wall. Garcia digs a stabbing, toe-first kick to the liver, and he punches the exact same spot, and “Wolverine” crumples to the mat. Any subsequent ground-and-pound is purely academic, and “Mean Machine” hammers the nail with a couple follow-up punches. This is a mighty comeback for Garcia, who got cracked at the beginning of the fight and recovered to come on strong and pull off the solid stoppage.

The Official Result

Steve Garcia def. Nuerdanbieke Shayilan R2 0:36 via KO (Body Kick and Punches)

Ignacio Bahamondes (159.5) vs. Trey Ogden (159.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Bahamondes (-345), Ogden (+285)

Round 1

Due to bout cancelations, matchup switcheroos and a bunch of other oddities, this fight set in the cage now is taking place at a pre-planned 160 pounds. After over a year off, Bahamondes (13-4, 2-1 UFC) wants to shake off any rust and handle Ogden (16-5, 1-1 UFC). The style matchup is intriguing, with all but one of Bahamondes’ career stoppages by knockout, while Ogden has never once performed a stoppage due to strikes. Referee Andrew Glenn is on call for this catchweight contest, and it opens up with no touch of gloves. Bahamondes starts with a low leg kick, and Ogden hops forward to stomp his foe’s knee. Ogden pursues an inside leg kick, and Bahamondes counters with a pair of punches. The Chilean fighter paws at him with at front kick and a jab, looking to establish his superior reach advantage. Ogden attacks his lead leg, and Bahamondes responds in kind. Bahamondes chips at the lead calf, allowing himself to be opened up to catch a left to the chin. Bahamondes rips a body kick, and he changes stances to line up a low kick. The pace is slow and very tit-for-tat, but Bahamondes appears to be landing with heavier leg kicks than his opponent. One in particular makes Ogden turn his leg into it, and he swats away a long jab and counters with a left. The stance switching from “La Jaula” frustrates his opponent and disrupts much of his offense, while setting up leg kicks from either leg. Ogden takes several more kicks to the inside and outside of his lead wheel, and he rolls with the brunt of a one-two. Ogden leans back but cannot block a right hand, and Bahamondes blasts him in the midsection with a kick. Ogden points to his elbow to say that he blocked it, and he gets stung with a left to follow. Ogden backs up into the fence and is nearly turned around from a leg kick, and Bahamondes chops at it indiscriminately. Bahamondes settles down to fire off another kick to the ribcage, and he darts back when Ogden punches him in the side. Ogden’s offense is limited to single blows, and Bahamondes is potshotting him from afar. They clash legs when kicking at one another, and Bahamondes spins with a back kick to the breadbasket. The round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Bahamondes
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bahamondes
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Bahamondes

Round 2

The second frame opens as the two meet directly in the center of the cage, and Bahamondes leads off with several punches and whiffs with a wheel kick. Bahamondes steps through to light up the body with a kick, and Ogden slides to the side to fire off a trio of punches and an open-handed slap. They trade low kicks, and Bahamondes lines up a solid kick to the body. Bahamondes connects with a clean one-two, beating Ogden to the punch in most of their exchanges. Ogden goes up high with a kick, and “La Jaula” blocks it with ease. Bahamondes outjabs his foe, and Ogden shoots in from a healthy distance and is stuffed. Bahamondes retreats and lines up a low kick and a long left hand, and Ogden loads up on a left hand to respond. Ogden attempts to check a leg kick, and Bahamondes digs a few punches to the body. Bahamondes reaches his man and gets out before getting countered, and he protects himself from a high kick. The jabs and straight punches to the body continue to come from Bahamondes, who leaps into a flying knee and bounces off his target. Ogden blocks a body kick as the crowd showers the two cautious strikers with boos. These seem to excite “Samurai Ghost” momentarily, who chases Bahamondes down and connects with a combination. Ogden swipes out with a left hand, and Bahamondes chops his leg down on the inside again. The action once again wanes, and the crowd is not slow to voice its disapproval. Bahamondes scores another body kick that Ogden motions did not connect, but it did slide under his elbow first. The two fighters trade jabs, and take turns with exchanges. Bahamondes kicks, Ogden responds, and Bahamondes continues. Bahamondes lands a pair of leg kicks on the inside, fires one off to the head, and the tepid round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Bahamondes
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bahamondes
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Bahamondes

Round 3

The final frame opens with Bahamondes taking the middle of the Octagon and spamming kicks to all targets. Ogden paws out a left hand, and it is a single strike answered by several from Bahamondes. Bahamondes hammers the body with a kick, and this time Ogden is not motioning anything, as that appeared to sting. Bahamondes reaches with a straight left hand, and does so a second time before working the lead leg with a hard kick. Bahamondes chains into a pair of body kick, where he switches stance to dig his shin on the underside of Ogden’s knee. The Chilean fighter constantly peppers Ogden with kicks, rarely aiming at the same spot twice in a row. A leg kick from his right leg is followed by one from his left to the head, and then his right foot pushes out with a front kick. Bahamondes continues his lumberjack routine of chopping down the tree that is Ogden, and he slaps Ogden in the face with his instep. Ogden is left guessing or flailing at the wind, with left hooks that are nearly a foot short of the mark or low kicks that have little on them. The audience starts lighting up their phones and waving around the lights, all while raining down a wall of boos. The pace does not change for the fighters, as Bahamondes is comfortable with his calm yet active approach. Ogden dings Bahamondes with a left, but it is one-and-done before Bahamondes scores three times from a distance. Bahamondes jabs the body and spins with a kick to the midsection, and he hops back when Ogden aims a right hand down towards the breadbasket. Bahamondes swings a check right hook when Ogden advances, but it does not slow “Samurai Ghost” from throwing a solid right. Bahamondes misses the mark with a spinning wheel kick, but a second spin in the form of a back kick lands on the ribs and pushes Ogden into the wall. Bahamondes spins with a back fist, a wheel kick and then fires an axe kick, and Ogden stands in front of him until the horn blares to end this lackluster match.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Bahamondes (30-27 Bahamondes)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bahamondes (30-27 Bahamondes)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Bahamondes (30-27 Bahamondes)

The Official Result

Ignacio Bahamondes def. Trey Ogden via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Cynthia Calvillo (116) vs. Lupita Godinez (115.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Godinez (-275), Calvillo (+230)

Round 1

The ESPN preliminary portion of the card opens up with a strawweight tilt as ex-flyweight Calvillo (9-5-1, 6-5-1 UFC) returns to 115 pounds to take on Godinez (8-3, 3-3 UFC). The former might be on the chopping block with another defeat, while a loss for the latter would drop her UFC record below .500. With plenty at stake here, referee Larry Folsom is alert and prepared for the action. The fired-up ladies meet in the middle of the cage with an intense staredown, with no glove touch in sight when they begin. Calvillo opens up with a number of jabs, and she stays on her back foot with a few front kicks to the face. Godinez walks towards her and loads up on a pair of hooks, and she knocks Calvillo back with a left hand. Calvillo strafes laterally while Godinez bears down on her, and she wings a few big right hands that are blocked. Calvillo stays light on her feet on the outside, lunging and reaching. Godinez connects with another pair of solid shots, and she scores a leg kick to follow. Calvillo replies with a single leg kick, and she blocks a quick kick whizzing at her face. Calvillo paws out with a number of jabs that largely collide with the guard and bounce off, as Godinez defends herself effectively and blocks a few high kicks. Calvillo sticks her with a jab, and Godinez blasts her with a right hand. This causes Calvillo to shoot for a takedown, and she uses her momentum to tackle Godinez over without looking to trip up a leg. Calvillo moves to half guard from the opposite side when trying to pass, and Godinez employs butterfly hooks to try to lift Calvillo off of her. Godinez successfully pushes Calvillo off of her, and she moves to her knee and climbs back up without taking more than a single strike. Godinez bears down on her with a looping punch and a kick, and the close round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Godinez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Godinez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Godinez

Round 2

Calvillo rushes out of her corner and spins with a wheel kick to start things off dramatically, and Godinez springs back and dodges it. Godinez wades forward, just out of range from Calvillo’s jabs, but she engages and eats a few shots. Godinez responds with a clean one-two, and Calvillo comes up short on a series of punches and kicks to follow. Godinez initiates the offense and gets caught with a single right hand, and she shrugs off a side kick. Calvillo shoots for a takedown, and Godinez drops to her knee and forces Calvillo to do the same. Neither woman has the advantage, so they abandon it. Godinez lands a single overhand right, and her labored punches are not landing as flush, as fast. Calvillo remains jittery on the outer edge of the cage, jabbing and throwing side kicks. Godinez winds up with a few haymakers, and she gets smacked with two punches when escaping the pocket. Godinez sticks Calvillo with a left hand and a front kick to the body, and Calvillo whips a high kick at her that glances off the shoulder. Godinez dings her foe with a right hand, and she maintains a high guard that deflects several jabs from Calvillo. Godinez hops forward with a left hook, and Calvillo replies in kind. Godinez puts a right hand on the jaw, and Calvillo flicks out several inaccurate jabs and straight punches to answer. Calvillo eats a left hook on the nose and a front kick on the way out, and she reddens Godinez’ nose with a short combination of her own. Godinez stings her opponent with a left hand, and the less-than-stellar round wraps up.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Godinez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Godinez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Godinez

Round 3

Calvillo blocks a front kick to start off the last round, and she takes the center of the cage and opens with high volume. Most of her punches miss or are blocked, while Godinez is more accurate and throwing far harder. Godinez gets off a solid right hand to the body, and Calvillo flicks out a number of additional jabs at Godinez’ red nose. Godinez rolls through a few punches to swing up a head kick, and Calvillo takes it and throws back with a vengeance. Calvillo puts some mustard behind her punches, and Godinez snipes her with an overhand right. Calvillo splits the guard with a few jabs and a front kick, and her jab has much more sting on it than before. Godinez knocks her back with a left hand, but she also walks face-first into a number of those jabs. Godinez wings a right hand, and on the recoil, she bops Calvillo in the chops with a back fist. Calvillo leans on her jab, kiaiing every time she throws it, and she changes levels in pursuit of a takedown. Godinez stops it and gets off a front kick and a right hand, and she stifles Calvillo a few times with straight left hands. Godinez takes a head kick on the chin and reaches her with a left, and Calvillo’s jab continues to find its home on the bloody nose of “Loopy.” They throw down in the pocket, with Calvillo getting the better of the exchange, and they stick one another with flush jabs. Godinez advances, with heavy pressure and power punches in her arsenal compared to Calvillo’s effective jab. A superwoman punch from Calvillo careens off the raised guard, and Godinez steps in with a one-two. Godinez digs a kick to the body, and Calvillo looks to take things down. Godinez reverse the position, takes the back and slings Calvillo to the mat. Calvillo jumps back up and breaks out of the grip, and time expires in the close match.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Godinez (30-27 Godinez)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Godinez (30-27 Godinez)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Godinez (30-27 Godinez)

The Official Result

Lupita Godinez def. Cynthia Calvillo via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

Gerald Meerschaert (185.5) vs. Joseph Pyfer (185.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pyfer (-190), Meerschaert (+160)

Round 1

Middleweights with high finish rates collide in this next encounter, as durable veteran Meerschaert (35-15, 10-7 UFC) eclipses 50 pro fights when he faces young upstart Pyfer (10-2, 1-0 UFC). While the judges and scorekeeper may not be needed for this one, referee Marc Goddard almost certainly will be required. The action fighters do not bump fists before engaging, as Pyfer wants to fight. Meerschaert stays on the outside with a slapping low kick, and he hand-fights as the two are in alternating stances. Meerschaert kicks the body and nearly stumbles after his kick is blocked. Pyfer wings a head kick that buzzes past the hairline, as the crowd oohs. Meerschaert has a head kick guarded, and he chops at the lead leg. Pyfer reaches him with a single right hand, and Meerschaert backs him up with a few lumbering punches. Meerschaert uses another sweeping calf kick to decent effect, and he fakes a right hook to draw a reaction. Pyfer aims a right hand that stuns Meerschaert, and he does not follow it up as “GM3” blinks it out. Pyfer grabs one of his foe’s hand to open up a punch to the body, and Meerschaert catches him with a body kick. Pyfer drills Meerschaert with a ferocious left hook and a follow-up right hand, and Meerschaert is in trouble as he falls to the mat. Meerschaert shells up, and Pyfer looks to Goddard to see if he should keep striking. He drops down a few punches, and Meerschaert appears to be done as he just lays on his back taking punches. "GM3" turns to his knees, but is otherwise taking punishment. Goddard allows Meerschaert every possible bit of time to recover, but the goose of the Kill Cliff FC trainee is cooked as he rolls back to his side. “Bodybagz” zips up his win with a couple standing-to-ground left hands, and Goddard has seen enough and waves the fight off. This is a big win for Pyfer, who never allows Meerschaert’s grappling to come into play as he secures the first-round knockout victory.

The Official Result

Joseph Pyfer def. Gerald Meerschaert R1 3:15 via TKO (Punches)

Chase Sherman (249.5) vs. Karl Williams (241)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Williams (-475), Sherman (+380)

Round 1

The fight was canceled on Saturday afternoon, due to a medical issue for Sherman. News of its removal from UFC 287 was announced on the broadcast before the prelims began.

Luana Pinheiro (115.5) vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez (116)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pinheiro (-165), Waterson (+140)

Round 1

The opportunity for a torch-passing moment is on the table in this final women’s match of the evening. Former Invicta atomweight queen Waterson-Gomez (18-10, 6-6 UFC) aims to keep her promotional record above .500, and she will have to go through Nova Uniao product Pinheiro (10-1, 2-0 UFC) to keep it that way. About eight years separate the two ladies, with Waterson-Gomez recently turning 37 in a division historically unkind to elder stateswomen. Referee Larry Folsom draws the assignment for this strawweight scrap, and there is no sporting touch of gloves from the two competitors to start off. Waterson-Gomez strikes first with an oblique kick to the knee, and she reaches with an inside leg kick to follow. The two throw range-finding strikes that do not comes close to landing, and Pinheiro walks through a leg kick to score a right hand. Waterson-Gomez winds up to connect with an outside low kick, and she targets the lead wheel a few more times when Pinheiro darts at her and misses. Pinheiro nails her foe with a low kick that is much heavier than Waterson-Gomez’, and she sprints at her throwing hands. Waterson-Gomez times a spinning back elbow to shake up the Brazilian, and she aims a high kick at Pinheiro’s face. Pinheiro settles down and digs another low kick, and she swings a few hooks at the New Mexico native’s face. Pinheiro throws hammers at her opponent, and a low kick that follows makes a thud on impact. Waterson-Gomez chips away with leg kicks and dodges the looping right hands that fly at her. Pinheiro goes after another heavy low kick, and Waterson-Gomez picks up her leg so that she can connect with a front kick. Pinheiro loads up on another solid right hand, and Waterson-Gomez answers with a front kick that would make King Leonidas proud. Pinheiro falls to her back, and she springs back up and into action, as Waterson-Gomez kicks her in the body. Waterson-Gomez keeps a side stance, kicking a few times to the lead leg of her opponent, and this fires Pinheiro up. The Brazilian unloads with a vicious salvo of punches, rocking Waterson-Gomez and knocking her back to the cage wall. The round ends before she can go for the finish.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Waterson-Gomez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Waterson-Gomez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Waterson-Gomez

Round 2

Waterson-Gomez leads off the round with energy, as she spams kicks and belts the Brazilian with a right hand. Pinheiro walks into a front kick, and Waterson-Gomez is quick enough to fire off several more kicks. Pinheiro slams her shin on Waterson-Gomez’ calf, and Waterson-Gomez takes a very bad step from the damaging blow. Waterson-Gomez changes stances and reaches out with an axe kick, and Pinheiro settles for kicking the other leg. Waterson-Gomez’ left leg is in a bad way, taking some of the sting out of her kicks, but she still stays active with push kicks and the occasional hook. Pinheiro coils her right hand back, and she busts Waterson-Gomez in the chops and hurts her badly. Waterson-Gomez sprints away to escape, and Pinheiro follow her and winds up in the clinch position. Waterson-Gomez takes several knees to the thigh, and she dodges two booming hooks as she circles out of the clinch position. Pinheiro batters the calf with another kick, and Waterson-Gomez keeps a stiff upper lip but is struggling to put weight on it. Waterson-Gomez tries to switch stances and kick, and Pinheiro catches the kick and slugs her in the face with a few right hands like Anderson Silva on James Irvin. Pinheiro sets it down and shoots for a takedown, and Waterson-Gomez stops her in her tracks and elbows her flush. Waterson-Gomez sticks her opponent with a few jabs that snap the head back, and Pinheiro winds up with vicious power punches that blow the hair back. Pinheiro chops the inside calf and intercepts a body kick with a left hand, and she stops Waterson-Gomez from shooting by popping her with another left. Waterson-Gomez springs forward with a few side kicks, and she whiffs on a head kick. The round ends with two power punches landing from the Brazilian.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pinheiro
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Pinheiro
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pinheiro

Round 3

The last round opens up with simultaneous leg kicks from the ladies, and Waterson-Gomez gets back into a rhythm of side kicks to the body and head. Pinheiro dodges them and has an axe kick roll off her shoulder, and she rushes forward with a left hand. Waterson-Gomez changes levels to wind up clasping her hands around the waist of the younger woman, and she knees the thigh a few times when she cannot ground Pinheiro. Pinheiro reverses the position to sling Waterson-Gomez down to the ground, and Waterson-Gomez jumps back up and gets kneed to the breadbasket a few times. The short strikes from Pinheiro in the clinch bust open Waterson-Gomez’ nose, and she smashes Waterson-Gomez in the face on the break with a left hand. Waterson-Gomez reaches out with a front kick to the nose, and Pinheiro answers with a spinning back fist. Waterson-Gomez kicks low and then pursues another axe kick, and Pinheiro is out of the way in time for both. Two front kicks and a spinning wheel kick from “The Karate Hottie” miss the mark, and Pinheiro remains composed and digs a serious kick on the calf. They trade body kicks, and Waterson-Gomez’ strikes cannot find their home repeatedly. Pinheiro dodges another spin kick, and she walks into a spinning elbow. Waterson-Gomez intercepts a level change with a front kick, and her activity keeps Pinheiro at bay even if she does not reach her with much. Pinheiro sinks a body kick on the ribs, and Waterson-Gomez turns to her side to land a pair of side kicks in rapid succession. Waterson-Gomez ducks a leaping left hand to shoot in for a takedown, and she puts the Brazilian on the mat for a second. Pinheiro jumps back up and takes a few elbows, and Waterson-Gomez holds her on the fence until time expires.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Waterson-Gomez (29-28 Waterson-Gomez)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Waterson-Gomez (29-28 Waterson-Gomez)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Waterson-Gomez (29-28 Waterson-Gomez)

The Official Result

Luana Pinheiro def. Michelle Waterson-Gomez via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Kelvin Gastelum (185) vs. Chris Curtis (186)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Gastelum (-125), Curtis (+105)

Round 1

Fresh off a destruction of Joaquin Buckley to show the end is not nigh for the fighter known as “The Action Man,” Curtis (30-9, 4-1 UFC) collides with the returning Gastelum (17-8, 1 NC; 11-8, 1 NC UFC) in a significant middleweight matchup. While the majority of Curtis’ pro wins have come by knockout, Gastelum has never before been stopped with strikes despite facing some of the best hitters two divisions have to offer. Gastelum recently saw his pro record elevate to 17 wins when a missing victory from 2009 was unearthed by the diligent Fight Finder staff. This potentially exciting pairing will draw oversight from referee Marc Goddard, and it begins with an uber-aggressive Gastelum. Gastelum does not strike, instead just backing Curtis up and tossing out a leg kick. Curtis slides his leg back and lands one on the inside. Gastelum advances to throw a few short punches, and Curtis again scores a thudding low kick. Gastelum sticks out his jab a few times, and he jumps to change stances and starts showboating. Curtis does not bite, and instead slowly walks forward and belts Gastelum in the face with a left hand. Gastelum turns away, and Curtis points at his hand. Gastelum lands a clean one-two, and Curtis backs off from a second. The punches from the TUF winner have opened up a cut on the forehead of Curtis, and he digs a few punches to the body to boot. Gastelum scores a pair of low kicks and a left hand, and Curtis grins at him and continues to plod forward. Curtis winds up with a powerful leg kick, and Gastelum walks into a jab and dips to the side to escape any further blows. Gastelum chains a leg kick into a piston-like jab, and he evades anything responsive. Curtis sneaks in a straight left hand, and an uppercut digs to the body. Gastelum strikes again with the low kick and plants a one-two on the chin, and Curtis rolls with it and second such combination. They both meet in the middle to throw hands, and Gastelum works the lead leg again. Gastelum is sharper than he has been in some time, and he slings a left hand and ducks back from a few jabs. Gastelum plants his shin on the lower leg of his opponent, and a quick combo of punches follows suit. Curtis uses effective head movement and footwork to dodge most of them, and he intercepts an advancing Gastelum with a left hand. The fun round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gastelum
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gastelum
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gastelum

Round 2

The middleweights meet in the middle, and Gastelum is still very light on his feet and eager to work effective leg kicks early. Curtis darts back from a looping left hand and a head kick, and he times a leg kick to bust Gastelum in the chops. A series of punches knock Gastelum’s head around, but he does not flinch and instead wings a left hand around the guard. They both start to put more power in their punches, as a brawl slowly materializes. Curtis digs the body and slips a few punches, as Gastelum is no longer moving quite as fleetly. Curtis rips the body with a few punches, and Gastelum’s forward movement leads to an inadvertent headbutt. Curtis falls to his knees from the clash of heads, and Gastelum jumps on top and starts pounding on the back and side of his head. Curtis outlasts the attack and throws Gastelum off the back, and he jumps back up and pours it on. Gastelum backs up as Curtis assaults the body, and Gastelum returns to his rhythm of bobbing and jabbing. Curtis walks him down and throws heat, checking a kick but not blocking the two punches that loop around his guard. Curtis opens up with a few hooks to the chin, and he chains another right to the ribcage. Gastelum catches him with a short salvo back, but Curtis is the pressure fighter. Gastelum swings for the bleachers with a left and a right, and he shoots for a takedown but is met with a right to the body and left to the head. Gastelum snaps the head back with a few jabs, and a one-two stings Curtis. “The Action Man” strikes out with a body shot, and he leans when Gastelum loads up on a left hand. Curtis cracks him with an uppercut, and the two trade leather to the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gastelum
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gastelum
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gastelum

Round 3

The final round is on, and the two 185-pound brawlers are prepped and ready for action. Curtis meets a takedown entry from Gastelum with a knee to the body, and he pops out a double jab and a right hand over the top. Gastelum replies with a few jabs and a low kick, and Curtis is quick to slap his shin off Gastelum’s chest. Curtis guards from a three-punch combo, and he walks back instead of cornering Gastelum against the wall. Curtis scores a leg kick, and a left hand dislodges either a tooth or a large wad of saliva from Gastelum’s mouth. They trade punches, and Curtis looks to capitalize on an exchange with a big left. Gastelum dodges it and throws, and the sheer momentum leads to a brief tie-up. Curtis pushes him away and strings a few jabs together, and he ends with an elbow. Curtis walks through a few head shots and kicks the body, and he rolls with a left hand and busts Gastelum in the body and head with two quick rights. They blast one another with their fists again and again, and a right hand from “The Action Man” appears to stun Gastelum briefly. Gastelum throws caution to the wind, and he is met with solid body work from Curtis. Gastelum pushes him against the wall briefly, but Curtis shoves him back and digs a right to the body and a knee to the same spot. Curtis continues his right hand to the midsection targeting, and Gastelum drops down for a single that is easily stopped. Gastelum backs off, and he steps in with an elbow. Curtis winds up with all he has, and the punches make him go off-balance. Curtis hammers the midsection and rips an elbow over the top, and these two are throwing everything they have into their strikes. Gastelum gets cracked again, and he shoots for a takedown and is knocked back. Gastelum winds up with a ferocious left hand, and Curtis does the same and gest belted. One final knee to the body from Curtis punctuates the thriller, and the second round may be the difference maker for who gets their hand raised. Either way, this was one heck of a way to lead into the main card.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Curtis (29-28 Gastelum)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Curtis (29-28 Gastelum)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Curtis (29-28 Gastelum)

The Official Result

Kelvin Gastelum def. Chris Curtis via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Christian Rodriguez (137)* vs. Raul Rosas Jr. (135)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Rosas (-225), Rodriguez (+190)

Round 1

Of the 26 competitors on the lineup, just one missed weight: Rodriguez (8-1, 1-1 UFC), who clocked in a pound heavy for his bantamweight meeting with surging youngster Rosas (7-0, 1-0 UFC). Rosas will be looking for his second UFC win before his 19th birthday, while the relatively elderly Rodriguez at 25 is also hunting for win no. 2 in the promotion. Grappling should be on display for this catchweight affair, one that will be joined in the cage by referee Keith Peterson. Nonsense has left the building, while former President Donald Trump is sitting next to Dana White. The fighters have no interest in touching gloves, and instead want to get right down to business. Rosas sprints at his opponent for a takedown, and Rodriguez easily stops it and gets pushed to the wall. A second try from Rosas trips Rodriguez to the floor for a moment, and he even lifts Rodriguez up in the air, but “CeeRod” keeps himself upright and knees the body. Rosas drops down for a single, and Rodriguez defends it by punching and elbowing Rosas in the face. “El Nino Problema” whips Rodriguez down to the mat, and he moves straight into half guard and shifts to side control. Rosas snatches up a guillotine choke, and Rodriguez times this perfectly to flip over him and gain dominant position. Rosas explodes back to his feet before falling victim to a potential submission, and he pushes Rodriguez up to the wire. Rosas clasps his hands around the waist, and Rodriguez remains upright and has his mouthpiece knocked out by a jump knee from his opponent. Rosas yanks Rodriguez down to the floor, and Rodriguez stands up. Rosas jumps on his back and hooks his legs around the waist for a body triangle, and he hunts for a rear-naked choke. The forearm is not under the neck and is more of a face crank, but Rodriguez grits it out and fights the hands to stop the choke from succeeding. Rosas resets it and secures the arm on the jaw, and he squeezes with all his might. Rodriguez lowers himself to the floor, and he protects himself by hand-fighting again. Rosas secures the body triangle again, crushing down below the ribs, and Rodriguez attempts to turn over. Rosas looks to switch for an armbar setup, but he bails on it to hang on until the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rosas
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rosas
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rosas

Round 2

The two fighters meet in the middle, and Rosas instantly starts the round by shooting for a single. Rodriguez bowls him over and pushes the youngster to the mat. Briefly taking side control, Rodriguez cannot keep him down and stands up. He greets Rosas with a knee and an elbow, and Rosas holds on and drops down for a failed single. Rodriguez pushes him off and steps back from a spinning back kick, and he attacks another takedown and manages to take Rodriguez’ back standing. The 18-year-old, who appears to be fading slightly, pulls Rodriguez down to the floor momentarily. Rodriguez climbs back up with the wall behind him, and he looks to grab Rosas’ leg from behind his own. Rosas falls to his back, and he throws his legs up for a potential inverted triangle setup. Rodriguez shrugs it off and moves to north-south position, and he shifts over to half guard and drops down an elbow. Rosas rolls and scrambles wildly, but Rodriguez follows him every step of the way and winds up in side control, elbowing the body. Rosas attempts to push off the wall with his feet, and he rolls to his knees and gives up his back. Rodriguez bullies Rosas down to the floor, and he locks up the body triangle and gains possession of the back. Rosas turns over, and Rodriguez slugs him in the side of the head a few times while maintaining the body lock. Rodriguez sets up a rear-naked choke, and he softens “El Nino Problema” up with his right hand. Rodriguez maintains his leg grip tight as a drum, and he rides out the round on the back.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez

Round 3

The final round kicks off, and this time, Rosas does not frantically shoot for takedown. Rodriguez catches him with a right hand, and he times a leaping Rosas with another overhand right. The punches of Rodriguez slightly dislodge the youngster’s mouthpiece, and he bears down on him and slugs him a few more times. Rosas charges for a takedown, and he releases the grip when it fails. Rodriguez stops it and stands up, and he meanders towards his opponent and staves off another entry. Rosas leaps forward with a left hand, and Rodriguez whiffs on a counter. The 18-year-old ends up giving up his back when shooting in for a takedown, and Rodriguez pummels him until throwing Rosas down to the ground and claiming the mount position. The calm Rodriguez flattens his prey out briefly, and he pounds on him with unblocked punches. Rodriguez postures up and slowly, methodically beats on Rosas, who latches onto his left arm with all his might. Rodriguez elbows behind the ear, and he wraps up the body lock and takes the back. Rodriguez plants his elbow on Rosas’ dome, and he considers a choke but elects to keep punching Rosas. Rodriguez threatens with rear-naked choke setups from both arms, and he looks to shift over to mount but instead fastens his grip for a face crank. Rosas twists and turns, but Rodriguez is wise to every move and smacks him around. With 20 seconds to spare, Rodriguez releases his leg grip and stands back up. Rodriguez eats a left hand and nails Rosas with a few left hands of his own. The fight comes to a close, and the undefeated record of the 18-year-old is about to go up in smoke.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Rodriguez (29-27 Rodriguez)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Rodriguez (29-27 Rodriguez)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (29-28 Rodriguez)

The Official Result

Christian Rodriguez def. Raul Rosas Jr. via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Kevin Holland (170.5) vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio (171)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Holland (-245), Ponzinibbio (+205)

Round 1

Since making his promotional debut in August 2018, “Trailblazer” Holland (23-9, 1 NC; 10-6, 1 NC UFC) has competed in the Octagon a whopping 17 times to date. His 18th outing will come in a striker’s delight against Argentine slugger Ponzinibbio (29-6, 11-5 UFC), and bonus money may be up for grabs here. Referee Dan Miragliotta is charged up for this welterweight clash, and he will be watching out to make sure he does not take an errant strike. Ready to have fun, the two bump fists, and Holland backs off to find his range. Holland, with eight inches to his advantage on his hands, uses his similarly lanky legs to push off. Ponzinibbio sits down on a chopping leg kick to slow the movement of Holland down, to which Holland responds with a left hook and a jab. Ponzinibbio attacks the lead leg again, and Holland fires off a jab and a body kick. Ponzinibbio checks a kick, and he attacks the right leg a few times after Holland switches stances. Holland swats out with a left, and he counters when Ponzinibbio crashes the pocket. A Holland jab makes Ponzinibbio slip when the latter throws out a low kick, and he climbs back up without concern. Holland chops at the front leg of the Argentine fighter, and it gets checked. Holland whips a kick up high that careens off the guard, and he blocks a body kick. Holland stays active with punches and kicks, and he shoulder rolls and retreats when Ponzinibbio gives chase. They clash legs at the same time, and Holland opens up with three calf kicks. Holland springs into action with a darting jab, and changes his stances instead of following up and getting countered. Ponzinibbio winds up with a few haymaker right hands, and when he misses, Holland starts talking to him. Ponzinibbio just misses with a right hook, and Holland able to narrowly evade them and block a counter left. Four punches allow Ponzinibbio to partially get through the guard, and Holland lifts his leg up after getting kicked. Holland throws kicks from body legs, and Ponzinibbio catches it and looks to slug it out. Holland releases a backfist that knocks Ponzinibbio clean off his feet, and he drops down a few punches to a downed Ponzinibbio until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holland

Round 2

The welterweight clap hands to get the second round started, and Holland leads the dance and walks into a few leg kicks. “Trailblazer” sets up his jab, using his reach to back Ponzinibbio off. Holland sneaks in a low kick and blocks a high kick, and he just misses a huge left hand. Ponzinibbio steps in with an elbow, and he escapes before a counter finds him. Holland targets the knee wit ha stomp kick, and pushes off with the ball of his foot to the chest. Ponzinibbio misses the dome by a matter of inches with a huge left hand, and Holland kicks at him from both legs. Holland dips back to fire a left hand, and Ponzinibbio chew up his foe’s leg with kicks. The Texan walks his opponent down and absorbs a big right hand and a sweeping kick, and he swats out with a few lefts. Holland grins after dodging a huge left hand, and he takes a leg kick flush. Holland gets checked when kicking the calf, and Ponzinibbio catches another kick but is not back fisted this time. Ponzinibbio strings a few punches together, only for Holland to roll with them. Holland’s jab works well, and he keeps Ponzinibbio at bay but cannot stop the calf kicks. Holland stalks his opponent down, striking with front kicks and a right hand. Holland gets Ponzinibbio’s attention with a few right hands in a series, and Ponzinibbio clinches up with him to get his bearings. Holland allows this to knee his man in the jaw, and he pushes off to gain some space. Ponzinibbio swings with all his might with three looping punches, and Holland dodges all of them. Holland meets Ponzinibbio coming in with an elbow, and he makes Ponzinibbio hit nothing but air and looks to his imaginary watch to taunt his inaccurate opponent. The round ends after this motion.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holland

Round 3

Before the third round opens, Holland talks to someone outside of the cage. When it does, Holland reaches out to clap hands, and Ponzinibbio obliges him. Holland strikes first with a kick, and he chops at the lead calf and is answered with two back. “Trainblazer” flicks out a few jabs, and he blocks a winging left hook but does not defend against a brutal kick that destabilizes his balance. Holland loads up on a few right hands and kicks the thigh, and he jumps into punches while struggling to put weight on his left leg. Holland switches stances, and Ponzinibbio greets him with a high kick on that side. A kick from Holland appears to get Ponzinibbio’s attention, who slips, and Holland motions to make sure his opponent is ok. Ponzinibbio is good to go, and he winds up with a powerful kick to the calf. Holland grits it out and spins with a wheel kick, and Ponzinibbio plants his feet and throws bombs. Holland walks into a vicious kick that almost buckles his knees, and he tosses out a front kick to keep Ponzinibbio honest. “Argentina Dagger” fires a kick to the other lead leg, and he checks the ones that come back his way. Holland gets clubbed with a left, and he side kicks the body. Holland catches a low kick and rings the bell with a right hand, and Ponzinibbio hops back and is in trouble. Holland races after him, and he unloads a left hook that would knock down a heavyweight. Ponzinibbio falls down to the ground, face-first, and Holland belts him with one single follow-up blow before Miragliotta jumps in to wave off the faceplanting knockout. Knowing his work is done, Holland jumps out of the cage and rushes over to White and Trump, where he tells them that he has a broken right hand. He climbs back in the cage, and tells Ponzinibbio that kicking him hurt his own feet. In his post-fight interview, Holland says that if Jorge Masvidal does not retire after tonight, he would like to challenge for the “BMF” title.

The Official Result

Kevin Holland def. Santiago Ponzinibbio R3 3:16 via KO (Punch)

Rob Font (135) vs. Adrian Yanez (135.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Yanez (-180), Font (+155)

Round 1

Another fantastic striker vs. striker battle will play out much to the delight of the Miami fans, as bantamweight bangers Font (19-6, 9-5 UFC) and Yanez (16-3, 5-0 UFC) get ready to duke it out. High volume, plenty of power and durability for days – neither man has ever been knocked out – mean that this one could be a lot of fun. The third man in the Octagon is no nonsense referee Keith Peterson, and he stands back as the two speedsters touch ‘em up and prepare to fire. Font immediately loops a right hand around the guard to catch Yanez unaware, and he celebrates his work and lines up another. Yanez answers with a sharp jab, and he chains a right hand into it. Font starts to activate his jab, and they both connect with heavy right hands. Yanez clips Font with a right hand on the chin, and he gets caught in a response. Font walks forward with a standing elbow, and Yanez sticks him and moves. Yanez flicks out a speedy jab that even Font cannot see, so Font settles down and jabs him back. Font stings Yanez with a jab, and he steps forward with a knee on the chin. Yanez takes it flush and absorbs a second one to follow. Yanez’ right hands have drawn some swelling around Font’s left eye, but he does not waver as he stands in the pocket and trades. They get off alternating jabs, and Font lands two uppercuts in an exchange. Yanez’ knees wobble, and Font backs him off with a right hand down the pipe. Yanez is in trouble, and Font gives chase and beans him with a slick right hand. Yanez’ nose is busted up, and Font rushes after him and continues with jackhammering punches. Yanez falls back, not totally with his wits about him, and Font unloads with an unorthodox right hook from downtown that looked partially like an uppercut. Yanez flies back to the ground, and Font leaps on top to batter him with hammerfists. Peterson watches on carefully, and as Font is not slowing down and Yanez improving his position, he waves the fight off. What a fight for as long as it lasted, and what a reminder that Font is still very much a bantamweight contender. When Yanez recovers, he tries to protest the stoppage, but Peterson covered it well.

The Official Result

Rob Font def. Adrian Yanez R1 2:57 via TKO (Punches)

Gilbert Burns (170) vs. Jorge Masvidal (171)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Burns (-490), Masvidal (+390)

Round 1

The loudest pop of the evening almost certainly goes to Miami’s own Masvidal (35-16, 12-9 UFC), who walks out to this tough stylistic matchup as a heavy underdog on a losing streak. In his face for a maximum of three rounds will be “Durinho” Burns (21-5, 14-5 UFC), who can present problems on the feet and ground, depending on where his mood takes him. Action is virtually a guarantee here, and the watchful eye of referee Marc Goddard looks on. With ample respect, the gloves get touched when Goddard brings them together. There is no flying knee try from Masvidal, for those expecting him to come out firing this. Burns walks forward, but Masvidal takes the center of the cage. The two are hesitant to engage with little more than jabs, other than a single low kick from “Gamebred.” Burns throws one back, and they proceed to go tit-for-tat with these slapping strikes. Chants for “305” and “Let’s Go Jorge” rain down, but it does not spur the local fighter into action. Burns whiffs on a left hook, and neither man seems willing to commit to anything of note. Burns reaches out with a few jabs that miss the mark, but a right hand splits the guard and draws a smile from his opponent. Burns darts in with a straight right, and Masvidal slides out of the way and resets. Masvidal blitzes suddenly with three punches and a leg kick, and the crowd goes wild. Masvidal sinks another kick home on the lead calf, and Burns replies with a leg kick and one to the ribs. Masvidal sticks his tongue out, and Burns attacks with a pair of looping, blocked punches. Burns ducks a big punch and nearly takes the fight down, but Masvidal moves out of the way before he gets tripped. The Brazilian lands a single kick to the body, and he switches stances a few times and catches Masvidal with a right hand. Masvidal connects with another leg kick, and Burns chops down low. Masvidal surges into action, throwing a few heavy punches, but a left hand from Burns keeps him honest. Burns loops a right hand around the guard, and Masvidal shakes it off and pins three punches on the guard. Burns cracks him with a serious right hand, and Masvidal waves him on. Burns slings a right hand, changes levels and throws Masvidal to the ground. Burns postures up, flailing punches, and Masvidal goes crazy throwing offense from his back. The round ends, and the two high five.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Burns
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Burns
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Burns

Round 2

The second round opens up with Burns pushing forth a jab, and he slams his fist onto Masvidal’s jaw and knocks him off his feet. Masvidal jumps back to his feet, but Burns meets him with a double. When Masvidal defends with a guillotine, Burns simply lifts him off the ground like a sack of flour and slams him down to the ground. Burns lands in the guard and Masvidal is quickly warned for punches to the back of the head. Burns maintains heavy top pressure while getting off occasional strikes, but Goddard asks him to do more. Masvidal hangs on in hopes of forcing a standup, and Burns is unable to get off much offense from above. Goddard again tells Burns to work, and Masvidal clings to him to shut it down. Burns slashes down with a single elbow, and Masvidal works his way to put his head and neck against the wire. Burns partially stands up to step over, but Masvidal wall-walks at the same time and somersaults to break the grip. This backfires, as Burns takes his back and hangs onto it while Masvidal stands. Burns slams “Gamebred” on his face in a subsequent takedown, and Masvidal leans up against the wall and even threatens the BJJ world champion with a guillotine choke. Burns completely ignores it, and Masvidal manages to fight back to his feet. Burns presses him tightly in the clinch, and Masvidal spins him around and knees him a few times. Burns turns him back around, and he gets pushed back to split them up with 30 seconds to spare. Masvidal wings an inaccurate right hand, and he plants his shin on the body. Burns runs at him with his hands flying, and they both clash together with right hands. Burns acknowledges it, and the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Burns
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Burns
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Burns

Round 3

The fighters touch ‘em up to open the final frame, and Burns puts his foot upside the head. Masvidal shrugs it off and chops the calf with a single strike. The crowd puts its support behind the local competitor, and Burns punches him square in the face with his right hand. Masvidal blocks a lunging right hook but eats a pair of jabs. Masvidal gets off a strong low kick, and he comes up short on an uppercut. The leg kicks continue working for “Gamebred,” whose offense is otherwise generally muted. Masvidal suddenly spins with a back kick to the body, and Burns steps through it and snipes Masvidal with a left. Burns lands another, and Masvidal smiles at him. Burns lands a one-two on the chin, and Masvidal wobbles back to the fence and waves Burns on. A home run of a right hand skims off the chin, and Masvidal is still rocked but survives it. Masvidal gets some space and appears to have the cobwebs shaken out, as he puts a one-two on the Brazilian’s jaw. Burns lets his hands fly and smashes Masvidal in the face, and Masvidal again stumbles back to the fence. Burns jabs instead of falling into a Masvidal trap, so Masvidal kicks his foe’s lead leg and flashes out his own jab. Burns lands a left and a right, and “Gamebred” toughs it out and gets Burns’ respect with a few punches. The Brazilian changes levels in pursuit of a takedown, and Masvidal stands him up. Burns continues to go after it, and he trips Masvidal and throws him on his back, where he lands in side control. Burns slams Masvidal in the face with elbows, and he moves to half guard to keep Masvidal pinned to the mat. Burns considers an arm-triangle choke, but Masvidal uses two-on-one wrist control to stifle it. Masvidal is warned for grabbing inside the gloves, and Burns slides around to nearly take the back. Masvidal works to his knees, and the fight comes to a close. After the scores are read, Burns calls for a title shot. Masvidal, however, takes his gloves off and calls it a career after "20 long years."

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Burns (30-27 Burns)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Burns (30-27 Burns)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Burns (30-27 Burns)

The Official Result

Gilbert Burns def. Jorge Masvidal via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

UFC Middleweight Title Fight:
Alex Pereira (185) vs. Israel Adesanya (184.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Adesanya (-130), Pereira (+110)

Round 1

At long last, the main event is here. The middleweight championship will be on the line for two men that know one another intimately. This will be their second meeting in the cage, but fourth across combat sports, and Pereira (7-1, 4-0 UFC) is 3-0 thus far. The once-dominant champion Adesanya (23-2, 12-2 UFC) met his match last November, falling to a salvo of strikes in the fifth round in a fight he was winning. Needing no further introduction or hype, the two stand directly in front of one another as referee Dan Miragliotta gives the final instructions as the two do not break eye contact. The match begins with no glove touch, and Pereira lashes out first with a low kick. Adesanya responds with a few body kicks, and he kicks the calf as well. Pereira strikes the low leg again, and they trade kicks to this target and this target alone. The pace is slow and deliberate, with the middleweights well out of punching range. Pereira gets off a low kick, and Adesanya slaps him in the face with his foot. Pereira scores a few more leg kicks, and he does not flinch any time Adesanya manages to land on him. Pereira slides his foot up Adesanya’s shoulder with a head kick, but Adesanya dodges it well enough to not let it strike him in the face. Pereira jabs the body and kicks at the lead leg, and he dips back from a looping one-two. The former champ gets off a pair of body kicks, and Pereira continues his assault on the former champ’s calf. Adesanya whips another kick to the ribcage, and he slams a few kicks to the Brazilian’s inside leg. “The Last Stylebender” strikes the body with his shin, and Pereira kicks low and high – the second misses, and the crowd gasps. Adesanya looks to split the guard, but Pereira protects himself and scores a heavy calf kick. The action-free round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Adesanya
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Adesanya

Round 2

When the second round begins, Adesanya fires off several high kicks that Pereira blocks or dodges. Adesanya sits down on a calf kick, and Pereira nods at him. Pereira absorbs a head kick and nods, and he walks Adesanya down and starts slugging it out with him. The Brazilian wings huge punches, and Adesanya eats a few of them and backs off to bounce off the wall. Pereira corners him, but he lets him off the hook when Adesanya gets off a good shot. Adesanya begins to lead the dance again, with several kicks from his rear leg to the midsection and raised guard. Pereira attacks both calves with kicks as Adesanya switches stances, and “The Last Stylebender” reaches him with a few punches. One jab in response from Pereira knocks Adesanya back with much more emphasis behind it. Adesanya winds up with a right hook, and Pereira frowns and resets to keep pounding on Adesanya’s calf. They fire jabs at one another from a wide distance, and Adesanya slams his shin on Pereira’s inner thigh. Adesanya clips Pereira with a clean left hook, and Pereira walks through it and two follow-up punches to aim a right hand down Broadway. Adesanya strings a few punches to the body and one to the head, and he skirts back as a low kick comes at him. Pereira lands another low, and Adesanya counters him with an overhand right. They come together and throw hands, with Adesanya the one to break and escape as Pereira walks him down. The champion stuns Adesanya with a calf kick, and Adesanya is compromised. Adesanya falls back to the cage, barely able to stand up, and Pereira lays into him with a brutal series of body shots and a knee. Adesanya desperately fires off a right hand to back Pereira off, and Pereira reels but stands back up. Adesanya connects with one second right hand flush on the temple, and “Poatan” collapses to the ground like a ton of bricks. Before Miragliotta can reach them, Adesanya lands one more shot for good measure out of the playbook of Dan Henderson against Michael Bisping, and Pereira is completely unconscious, dreaming of his ancestors. Adesanya stands up and mocks Pereira’s bow-and-arrow move from before and motions to fire three arrows at the fallen Brazilian. Incredible! Adesanya has done it, exacting some modicum of revenge on the man to beat him three times before. The building erupts as Adesanya celebrates his triumph, and Pereira is out for a while and eventually comes to. “The Last Stylebender” claims the microphone and gives a motivational speech about the thrill of victory, imploring everyone to have this feeling at least once in their life. Whether Adesanya moves on to challenge new opponents vying for his throne or if they set up the rubber match for all the marbles, we will be certainly be here for it. We hope you are too.

The Official Result

Israel Adesanya def. Alex Pereira R2 4:21 via KO (Punches)