UFC Jacksonville results & video: Kelleher, Sherman get stoppage wins

Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Check out the results and highlights from the UFC Jacksonville prelims, including Brian Kelleher putting Hunter Azure to sleep with strikes.

The UFC Jacksonville prelims just wrapped up with the promotion’s #15 ranked women’s bantamweight, Sijara Eubanks, pick up a dominant decision over Sarah Moras. Eubanks found success with her boxing combos, as well as landing some descent ground strikes along the way. The win snaps a two-fight losing skid for Eubanks, who moves to 5-4 in her career. Before that, Gabriel Benitez and Omar Morales went toe to toe for 15-minutes, with neither man willing to back down. It was a highly competitive bout throughout, making it a tough one to score live. When the smoke cleared, it was Morales who took home the decision win. Morales remains undefeated and this record improves to a spotless 10-0.

Also on the UFC Jacksonville prelims, Brian Kelleher knocked Hunter Azure completely unconscious in the second round. Azure was dropped with a sharp left hand before being sent to sleep with sinister ground strikes. Kelleher picked up his second straight finish by putting a blemish on Azure’s once perfect record. Making his return to the UFC promotion, Chase Sherman opened up the card with a second round TKO of promotional newcomer, Ike Villanueva. Sherman mixed up his striking attacks, blasting all legal parts of his opponent’s body with various weapons. Chase has now won four fights in a row.

**See complete results below

Prelims:

Sijara Eubanks def. Sarah Moras by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 30-26): (W) Bantamweight

Moras looked to pressure to start the fight, but Eubanks was waiting with punching combos to back her off. Eubanks was throwing with bad intentions, and seemed to be the much harder puncher out there. Moras tried to striker her way back into the fight, but just couldn’t seem to faze Eubanks.

Moras tried to make the second round more of a dog fight. She had to eat some punches, but she kept in Eubanks’ face, clinching and staying busy. A botched takedown led to Eubanks taking top position, where she was able to land some quality ground strikes before the bell.

Eubanks continued to find success with her hands in the final round, and Moras began to wear it on her face. Moras got shoved up against the cage and Eubanks was able to rack up some control time. After landing some more punches, Eubanks scored a takedown, but found herself fighting off an armbar. Eubanks escaped and rode out the rest of the round on top.

Omar Morales def. Gabriel Benitez by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2): Lightweight

Benitez pressed forward early behind his kicks, but Morales remained defensively sound and started returning head kicks. The fighters began going back and forth with combinations. One guy would attack and then it was the other man’s turn. Benitez was the one who landed a bit cleaner, but it was a close round.

The combo for combo pace spilled over into the second round. Just when it looked like neither man was going to be able to take over, Morales began to press the action, landing a hard knee and some flush punches. Benitez was able to absorb what was coming at him, but he was being pushed backwards and much more defensive than before.

The shin of Benitez started to leak from a nasty gash going into the final frame, although it didn’t seem to impede his movement at all. The even back and forth resumed, with b pushing forward at first and then Morales having his turn at leading the dance. Neither man would back down, with hard shots being scored on both sides. What a fight!

Brian Kelleher def. Hunter Azure by KO at 3:40 of round 2: Bantamweight

Azure was rather active with his strikes early in the opening round. He was mixing in boxing flurries with hard leg kicks, and he was throwing with heat. Kelleher tried to get the fight to the mat, but Azure was having none of it. Kelleher struggled to mount much offense of his own, mostly because Azure was constantly on the attack.

Azure started the second round winging more combinations at his foe. Kelleher hung tough and weathered the storm and began to return fire. He started to find a groove, and just as Azure was throwing a left, Kelleher clipped him with a wicked counter left of his own that dropped him. Kelleher put his hands up in celebration before dropping down hellacious ground strikes that put Azure completely out. Yikes!

Chase Sherman def. Ike Villanueva by TKO at :49 of round 2: Heavyweight

Sherman came out taking the center and leading the dance. Villanueva stayed calm on the outside, calmly searching for his openings. The fighters stood right in front of one another, trading combinations. Villanueva was focused more on head hunting with his hands, while Sherman was mixing up levels with kicks and knees. The second round saw Sherman come out hot. He backed up his opponent with strikes, and kept on the pressure. He then landed a brutal series of punches and elbows that hurt and ultimately dropped Villanueva. That was all she wrote.