Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to its APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the UFC Vegas 85 mixed martial arts (MMA) event TONIGHT (Sat., Feb. 3, 2024), streaming LIVE on ESPN+. UFC Vegas 85 will be topped by the 185-pound showdown between middleweight bruisers Roman Dolidze vs. Nassourdine Imavov, a five-round showdown with a spot in the division Top 10 hanging in the balance. Before that headlining clash of styles gets underway, 155-pound Brazilian jiu-jitsu phenom, Renato Moicano, collides with power-punching lightweight wrecking ball, Drew Dober, in UFC Vegas 85’s co-main event.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 85 fight card below, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” undercard bouts at 4 p.m. ET, followed by the ESPN+ main card start time at 7 p.m. ET. Bet on all the UFC Vegas 85 action with our friends at DraftKings Sportsbook right here.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Dolidze vs. Imavov.” Without further delay, see below for the updated UFC Vegas 85 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action).
UFC VEGAS 85 QUICK RESULTS:
Roman Dolidze vs. Nassourdine Imavov — Imavov def. Dolidze by majority decision (49-44, 47-47, 48-46)
Renato Moicano vs. Drew Dober — Moicano def. Dober by unanimous decision (29-28 x3) — HIGHLIGHTS!
Randy Brown vs Muslim Salikhov — Brown def. Salikhov by TKO (punches) at 3:17 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Viviane Araujo vs. Natalia Silva — Silva def. Araujo by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Aliaskhab Khizriev vs. Makhmud Muradov — No Contest (eye poke) at 0:11 of Round One
Gilbert Urbina vs. Charles Radtke — Radtke def. Urbina by TKO (punches) at 4:47 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Molly McCann vs. Diana Belbita — McCann def. Belbita by submission (armbar) at 4:59 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Charles Johnson vs. Azat Maksum — Johnson def. Maksum by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Themba Gorimbo vs. Pete Rodriguez — Gorimbo def. Rodriguez by TKO (punches) at 0:32 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Blake Bilder vs. Jeong Yeong Lee — Lee def. Bilder by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Julija Stoliarenko vs. Luana Carolina — Carolina def. Stoliarenko by TKO (punches) at 4:52 of Round Three
Marquel Mederos vs. Landon Quinones — Mederos def. Quinones by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Thomas Petersen vs. Jamal Pogues — Pogues def. Petersen by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
UFC VEGAS 85 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
185 lbs.: Roman Dolidze vs. Nassourdine Imavov
Round 1: Trading kicks in the early going. Imavov stiff-arms his way out of a takedown attempt. Dolidze shoots again, eats a knee, hauls Imavov to the fence a minute in. Imavov framing with his forearm, sneaks in an elbow. Knee from Imavov as one of the two complains about holding the glove two minutes in. Imavov fires an elbow on the exit after a brief journey around the cage. Body kick lands for him. Low kicks land and he checks the return fire with two minutes to go.
Hard chopping rights from Imavov as they exchange. Long right cross. Another right cross and this time Dolidze’s hurt. Imavov tears into him with right hands and knees to floor him against the fence, then racks up a lengthy series of unanswered shots. He slips both hooks in and hammers away from back mount, then hunts an armbar at the bell. 10-8 Imavov.
Round 2: Corkscrew uppercut from Imavov, who checks a low kick in return. Dolidze looking for overhand rights but struggling to connect. One minute in. Imavov punches into the clinch and Dolidze takes him to the fence. Two minutes in. Dolidze grinding, but not doing much else. There’s a knee. Imavov reverses with double underhooks. They separate with two minutes to go.
Imavov looks for combinations, lands a snap kick. 1-2 prompts Dolidze to haul him to the fence. One minute to go. Dolidze’s passivity prompts the ref to break them up. Dolidze swinging wild, gets blasted with right hands for his trouble. 10-9 Imavov.
Round 3: Trading kicks to start, stiff jabs from Imavov. Dolidze ties up and it’s back to leaning on him against the fence. Imavov reverses, then lands a head kick from Dolidze’s blind spot and a knee to the body before separating a minute in. Jab exchange. Staring contest. Check hook and right cross land for Imavov as Dolidze wades in, then Dolidze puts him on the fence again. Dolidze seems horribly outclassed but Imavov won’t commit to enough offense to polish him off. Two minutes in. Monster right cross by Imavov and a snap kick behind it. Again. Dolidze puts him on the fence again. More wall-and-stall. Two minutes to go.
Dolidze isn’t even trying for takedowns or meaningful strikes, just leaning on Imavov. Imavov reverses and separates, then lands a pair of body kicks. Lead right to knee, then another chopping right as Dolidze swings ugly haymakers. Dolidze responds with more wall-and-stall with a minute to go. Ref separates them again. Head kick from Imavov. Dolidze tries a spinning back kick and Imavov just stares at him until the bell. 10-9 Imavov.
Round 4: Ugly overhand right from Dolidze, who eats some hard left hands for his trouble. Back to leaning on Imavov. Jockeying for position. This really is an atrocious fight. One minute in. Imavov grabs a body lock and Dolidze puts his hand on the mat, just begging for Imavov to kick him in the face. Imavov obliges, and after Dolidze falls to his knees, Imavov gets into a shouting match with Dolidze’s corner. Herb Dean physically pulls Imavov across the cage and threatens to disqualify him. Dolidze manages to recover and Imavov loses a point; somehow, we’re back to the fight. Dolidze swings some big shots, then takes Imavov to the fence again. Finally he changes levels, this time pulling guard. Pendulum sweep puts him on top in half guard. Imavov regains guard. Trying to scoot to the fence, makes it to his feet with two minutes to go.
Back to the wall and stall. Knee from Imavov. Two hard left hands on the way up, then clean right hands as Dolidze swings for the fences with a minute to go. They stare at each other for a bit, then Dolidze tries to spin a couple times. Imavov cracks him with a right hand and ties up. 9-9 with the point deduction.
Round 5: Imavov goes back to the snap kicks. Dolidze slips and Imavov stands over him, half-heartedly kicking at his legs before Herb Dean lets Dolidze stand. Sharp right cross and 1-2 by Imavov, Dolidze takes him to the fence again. One minute in. Imavov gets double unders and reverses, then separates. Dolidze tries to to spin and Imavov grabs the body lock, then kicks him legally in the head. Dolidze jumps on a kimura, then shoots in when Imavov tries to scramble free. Trying to fall back for a leg. Imavov limp-legs out and blasts him with a Browne elbow before getting pressed against the fence again. Dolidze again just standing there and holding Imavov. Ref breaks them up with two minutes to go.
Two-piece lands for Dolidze. Imavov cracks him with a right cross, then gets taken to the fence again. Imavov reverses, then lands an elbow and knee before exiting with a minute to go.
Strong sprawls from Imavov. Another right cross. Dolidze shoots under the next right hand and Imavov briefly threatens a d’arce before just punching him instead. Imavov stands over him and lets the ref call him up, then lands one more huge left hand before the bell. 10-9 Imavov.
Final result: Imavov def. Dolidze by majority decision
155 lbs.: Renato Moicano vs. Drew Dober
Round 1: Moicano pushing forward early, prompting an exchange. Stiff jab. Hard combo by Dober. Low kick lands for Moicano, who blocks the return head kick. Long left lands for Dober, then a hard counter left a minute in that makes Moicano shoot. Dober denies it, only for Moicano to shoot right back in and take him down into half guard. Tight top control from Moicano. Trying to work his way towards an arm triangle two minutes in. Arm punches landing for him as Dober tries to get space. Dober regains guard. Two minutes to go.
Dober tries to kick him off, can’t get space. Moicano postures to drop a right hand before coming down into half guard. Heavy shoulder pressure. One minute to go. Moicano trying to slip his knee through, Dober avoiding the mount thus far. Short punches from Moicano. 10-9 Moicano.
Round 2: Dober wades after hm with bit swings, but Moicano finds the body lock and takes him down. Right back to half guard. Dober regains guard and kicks him off, but gets taken to the fence. One minute in. Moicano muscles him back down into guard. Solid upkick from Dober. Heavy shoulder pressure from Moicano, who swats the body with noncommittal punches. Two minutes in. He looks for mount, can’t get it. Ref wants more action. Two minutes to go.
More of the same, Moicano doing just enough to not get stood up. Dober tries to kick him off and Moicano takes his back, but Dober spins into top position and stands. Body shot from Dober, then a sacrifice throw into guard. One minute to go. Moicano’s got a nasty cut near his eye that’s pouring blood. Ground-and-pound from Dober. Big diving left. 10-9 Dober for doing actual damage.
Round 3: Low kick from Dober to start and they trade punches in center cage. Dober swings big and denies a level change. Solid combo upstairs. 1-2 stings Moicano. Dober tries a head kick, denies another level change a minute in. Hard right hand by Dober, then another left behind it. Moicano shoots and Dober tries the same throw, but ends up on his back in guard. Back to half guard. Two minutes in. Dober regains full guard. Decent punches from Moicano. Big right hand. Back to half guard. Two minutes to go.
Full guard. Moicano landing punches. Dober tries to kick him off, still can’t. One minute to go. Moicano lands arm punches until the bell. 10-9 Moicano.
Final result: Moicano def. Dober by unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Randy Brown vs Muslim Salikhov
Round 1: Front kick from Brown to start. Salikhov sitting down on low kicks. Wheel kick falls short for him, low kick connects. Quick exchange in the center. Brown alternating between front kicks and linear kicks to the leg. Salikhov spins him around with a leg kick. One minute in. Salikhov falls short with an overhand right, eats some glancing jabs. Body shot and low kick. Jabs from Brown, avoids the left hook. Two minutes in. Body kick lands for him, Salikhov answers to the calf. They trade low kicks, then Salikhov takes a finger in the eye. Brown tries a head kick, eats a low kick. Two minutes to go.
Salikhov whiffs on a wheel kick, then a spinning back kick. Snap kick from Brown, then a 1-1-2 that turns the lights out. Brown initially hesitates to follow up, but Kerry Hatley lets him drop a coffin nail before stepping in,
Final result: Brown def. Salikhov by TKO (punches) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
125 lbs.: Viviane Araujo vs. Natalia Silva
Round 1: Araujo slowly advancing, avoiding Silva’s shots. Both women throwing heat, neither landing clean. Araujo ties up after avoiding a head kick a minute in. She muscles Silva to the mat, can’t keep her there. Controlling against the fence two minutes in. Araujo looking for the back. Knee to the thigh. Two minutes to go.
Silva not in any immediate danger but she can’t break Araujo’s grip. Knees to the thigh from Araujo. Silva tries a whizzer kick with a minute to go. Silva finally breaks free and comes out firing, cracking Araujo with a clean spinning back kick to the face. Araujo walks through some hard punches to shoot again. 10-9 Silva.
Round 2: Silva looking to fire the jab. Araujo blocks a head kick as she pushes forward. Glancing left hook from Silva. A front kick glances off of Araujo’s face and she tries to pressure, only to get dropped to her knees by a swatting left hook. Araujo shoots a minute in, then disengages and returns to distance. Lots of lateral movement from Silva. They trade kicks after a brief lull. Stiff jab by Silva two minutes in. Araujo looking very unwilling to get into range as Silva threatens with counters. More stiff jabs by Silva as she darts back and forth near the fence. Low kick by Araujo, eats another jab with two minutes to go.
Araujo punches her way into a level change. One minute to go. Araujo’s passive enough that the ref breaks them up and warns her. Silva misses a check hook at the bell. 10-9 Silva.
Round 3: Low kicks from Silva. Head kick falls short. Araujo’s moving forward but that’s about it. Two-piece by Silva to answer a low kick. Nice body shot lands for her a minute in. Quick jab. She seems perfectly happy to just circle and pick Araujo off whenever Araujo tries to tie up. There’s a decent punching exchange. Stiff jab by Araujo knocks Silva off-balance for a moment and she shoots once again. Two minutes in. They separate 40 seconds later without any damage either way. Two minutes to go.
Counter left lands for Araujo as she advances. High-low 1-2. Quick exchange near the fence. Silva to the body. One minute to go. Another exchange with Silva’s back on the fence. Silva firing the jab, looks for a head kick behind it. 1-2 falls short, wheel kick lands. Hard counter right by Silva and Araujo shoots, taking her down at the bell. 10-9 Silva.
Final result: Silva def. Araujo by unanimous decision
185 lbs.: Aliaskhab Khizriev vs. Makhmud Muradov
Round 1: Muradov takes an eye poke inside of 10 seconds and looks to be in serious pain. It’s over.
Final result: No Contest (eye poke)
170 lbs.: Gilbert Urbina vs. Charles Radtke
Round 1: Low kick from Urbina to start. Radtke fires a counter two-piece. Radtke stalking forward, Urbina circling. Both largely sticking with kicks as they hit the 60 second mark. Lots of lateral movement by Urbina, who absorbs a sharp left hook. Nice jabs from Radtke as Urbina tries to chew up his lead leg. Urbina times Radtke’s leg kick and hauls him to the fence, but can’t keep him there two minutes in. Radtke continuing to pressure. Two minutes to go.
Very little action as Urbina keeps his distance and Radtke stays patient. Counter left by Radtke rattles Urbina. Inside low kick lands to the junk, leading to a pause. Radtke goes right back to the inside low kick when they resume. One minute in. They trade, left hook lands for Radtke. Urbina tries to lean in for an uppercut and Radtke melts him with a left hook. Urbina somehow gets his wits back and grapples his way back to his feet. Radtke continuing to pressure, and once Urbina’s back hits the fence, a series of monster hooks put him down and out.
Final result: Radtke def. Urbina by TKO (punches) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
115 lbs.: Molly McCann vs. Diana Belbita
Round 1: Solid right cross from McCann to start things off, then some sharp left hooks. 2-3, then another left hook. Low kick exchange. Lead uppercut to lead elbow. One minute in. Belbita looks for a body shot as she pushes forward, gets cracked by a lead right. Low-high 2-3 by McCann. She’s outworking Belbita so far, sneaking shots through Belbita’s high guard. Two minutes in. Belbita lands a body shot and immediately gets taken down for it. McCann lets her up. Spinning back kick attempt. Belbita goes to the body, eats an elbow, looks for clinch knees. McCann grabs double underhooks and puts her on the fence, cracking her with a spinning elbow on the exit. Two minutes to go.
Hard combination from McCann, attacking the body and looking for elbows upstairs. Spinning elbow attempt blocked. Solid jab by Belbita, then another clean hook downstairs. Good knee, body shot. McCann stings her with a high knee and punches, whiffs on the elbow, the muscles her to the mat and moves right to mount with a minute to go. She drops some brutal elbows, then spins for an armbar that has Belbita yelling in pain as she taps.
Final result: McCann def. Belbita by submission (armbar) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
125 lbs.: Charles Johnson vs. Azat Maksum
Round 1: Check hopk from Maksum to start. Johnson changes levels, denied, tries a flurry. Maksum responds by flooring him with a nasty right hand and snatching a d’arce as Johnson tries to scramble. One minute to go. Johnson defends well, ultimately surviving and returning to his feet. Two minutes in. Check hook rattles Johnson and Maksum follows with a high knee, then a straight left as Johnson circles off. Another straight left and knee behind it. Counter jab lands for Johnson. Maksum catches him on one leg with a jab and sprawls, holding the front headlock with two minutes to go.
Johnson wriggles free and circles out. Body shot from Maksum and Johnson shoots. Body shot by Johnson on the exit. Maksum changes levels, can’t get the single-leg, eats a knee on the way out. One minute to go. Low kick to left hook. Front kick. Maksum shoots in respone, finishes the single-leg at the bell. 10-9 Maksum.
Round 2: Low kicks from Johnson to start. Maksum backs him up with a combo, all blocked. Maksum tries another combo, eats a low kick. One minute in. Johnson pushes forward with combos, lands to the body in the center. Low kick by Maksum as he pushes forward. Johnson pops him with a straight left and takes him down, quickly moving to the back. Maksum peels off a hook and turns into top position two minutes in, avoiding a triangle in the process and grabbing the rear waist lock. Granby roll from Johnson and he returns to his feet. Trading low kicks. Two minutes to go.
Johnson tries a step-in knee, slips throwing a head kick. Knee from Maksum on the exit. Johnson circling and firing jabs. Maksum pops him with a pair of lefts in return. Maksum slips throwing a knee and eats a good combo with a minute to go. Maksum trying to walk him down, changes levels, denied. Overhand right. Johnson tries a long-range shot. 10-9 Johnson.
Round 3: Low kick from Maksum, who chases Johnson with right hands. Low kicks landing for Johnson as well. Body kick by Maksum. Johnson angles off with a hard right hand a minute in. Maksum looks for a single-leg, hauls him to the fence. Nice inside reap gets Johnson down and Maksum keeps the body lock on the way up. Maksum exits with a knee. Two minutes in. Knee from Maksum, body kick from Johnson. Johnson’s landing good low kicks, follows with a 1-2. 1-2 from Maksum. More low kicks from Johnson, who rolls with a right cross. Two minutes to go.
Counter right by Johnson. Both throwing heat in the center. Johnson getting the better of it with accurate punches. Maksum catches a kick gets caught in a ninja choke, eats punches on the exit. One minute to go. Continuing to trade punches. Maksum trying to pressure. Clean 1-2. Johnson changes levels and takes him down in the final seconds, losing the choke but bombing away until the bell. 10-9 Johnson.
Final result: Johnson def. Maksum by unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Themba Gorimbo vs. Pete Rodriguez
Round 1: Rodriguez stuffs the first takedown, eats a right hand on the exit. Gorimbo changes levels again, but this time to throw a booming overhand right that folds Rodriguez on impact. Rodriguez wakes up when he hits the mat, but Gorimbo doesn’t give him a chance to recover, swarming with punches until the ref steps in.
Final result: Gorimbo def. Rodriguez by TKO (punches) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
145 lbs.: Blake Bilder vs. Jeong Yeong Lee
Round 1: Lee takes the center in a low stance. Inside low kick from Bilder as he circles. Outside answer from Lee. One minute in. Solid body shot lands for Lee. Another left hook downstairs, then a jab up top. Again to the body. Bilder shoots and hauls Lee to the fence two minutes in. Continuing to grind. Two minutes to go.
Elbows from Lee as he defends. One minute to go. Bilder just stalling against the fence, eats another hard elbow. Lee exits and lands a nasty knee, then lights Bilder up with punches. Bilder weathers it and gets back to range. Another body shot from Lee. 10-9 Lee.
Round 2: Bilder falls short with a left hook. Lee likewise falls short with a front kick. Lee really looking for the body shot. Low kick exchange. Bilder shoots again a minute in. Lee defending well but unable to separate. Two minutes in. Solid knee from Lee, who grabs a body lock and immediately trips Bilder into half guard. Elbows with two minutes to go.
Bilder gets to his seat at the base of the fence. Lee suddenly slams his foot on the gas, hammering Bilder with punches. Bilder manages to get to his knees and stand, then goes back to the wall-and-stall with a minute to go. They separate 30 seconds later. Jab from Lee. Low-high 3-2. 10-9 Lee.
Round 3: Early body shot from Lee. Head kick blocked. Stiff jab upstairs. 1-1-2. Bilder shoots a minute in and it’s back to the wall-and-stall. Lee tries to wrench him down with a whizzer kick, then presses him against the fence two minutes in. Bilder holding onto a tight front headlock, lands a couple solid knees downstairs. Bilder tries to switch to a crucifix neck crank but ends up on his back eating elbows. Two minutes to go.
Lee chilling on top in half guard. Bilder looks for deep half guard, gets shoved back down. One minute to go. Lee playing tight, picking his shots with elbows. He postures up and tries to bomb away in the final seconds. 10-9 Lee.
Final result: Lee def. Bilder by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Julija Stoliarenko vs. Luana Carolina
Round 1: Stoliarenko aggressive early, popping Carolina with a left hand before hauling her to the fence. Body lock for Stoliarenko, looking for the takedown. One minute in. They trade knees and Carolina reverses. Left from Carolina on the exit. Two minutes in. 1-2 from Carolina, head kick attempt. Counter left, low kick, counter left. Carolina continuing to potshot as she circles. Two minutes to go.
Stoliarenko ducks a spinning back fist and trips her to the ground at the base of the fence. Carolina quickly stands, Stoliarenko still attached. Carolina avoids an elbow on the exit. One minute to go. Stoliarenko catches a kick and looks for a takedown, but ends up on her back. Stoliarenko quickly wraps up her signature armbar, but can’t break Carolina’s grip. 10-9 Carolina.
Round 2: Carolina still controlling the striking, staying out of reach as Stoliarenko overextends. Stoliarenko whiffs on a spinning elbow, gets stung by a right hands a minute in. Hard counter knee by Carolina. Clean combo. Stoliarenko getting picked off every time she tries to throw. Two minutes in. Both land as they exchange. Stoliarenko isn’t committing to chasing the clinch anymore and Carolina’s doing target practice. There’s a nice left by Stoliarenko, who puts Carolina against the fence. Two minutes to go.
Stoliarenko holding the body lock, unable to take her down. Jockeying for position. Knees from Carolina, just misses an elbow. Stoliarenko pulls guard with a minute to go. Carolina postures up for a few shots before the bell. 10-9 Carolina.
Round 3: Stoliarenko catches a kick and puts her on the fence. One minute in. Carolina reverses and throws knees. Two minutes in. Stoliarenko jumps guard. Looking for a triangle and she might have it with two minutes to go.
Carolina stacking her, preventing Stoliarenko from getting a good angle. Stoliarenko adjusts, looks for the armbar, re-inserts the triangle. One minute to go. Carolina postures out of it, then blasts Stoliarenko with a right hand as she stands. Stoliarenko shoots and gets hurled to the mat, where Carolina pounds away from side control. Stoliarenko looking like she’s completely out of juice and in comes the ref as the punches pile up.
Final result: Carolina def. Stoliarenko by TKO (punches)
155 lbs.: Marquel Mederos vs. Landon Quinones
Round 1: Quinones stings Mederos with an early left hand and they get to trading. Flying knee falls short, as does a blitz. Low kick connects, nice exchange in the center. One minute in. Solid straight lefts by Quinones. They tie up and Quinones tries an outside trip before taking him to the fence. Another takedown gets him down but doesn’t keep him there. Mederos reverses against the fence two minutes in. Shoulder strike by Quinones on the exit. Good exchange. Both men landing well. Mederos ties up and puts him on the fence after opening a cut beside the eye. Two minutes to go.
Quinones reverses. Sacrifice throw, can’t establish, 1-2 from Mederos when they rise. Quinones tries a reverse elbow and eats a 1-2 for his trouble before getting clinched. Quinones reverses. Shoulder strike, knee with a minute to go. Mederos reverses and they separate before the bell. 10-9 Quinones.
Round 2: Hard combination from Mederos prompts Quinones to tie up. Mederos reverses. One minute in. Mederos continuing to grind against the fence. They separate two minutes in. Low kicks from Quinones. Mederos trips him up with a low kick, then lands a 1-2. Big exchange, both land well. Low kick from Mederos as he pushes forward. Quinones pops him with a straight left. Two minutes to go.
Mederos flashes a high knee, eats a counter left after backing Quinones to the fence. Good combo by Quinones, head kick just misses. Now it’s Quinones on the front foot, landing punches. Solid 1-2. Mederos low kick. One minute to go. 1-2 by Mederos. Mederos looks for a combo against the fence. Teep to 1-2, Quinones backs him off and they slug in teh center. Low-high goes Quinones. Mederos right hand against the fence. Hard combo. 10-9 Mederos.
Round 3: Early left hand from Quinones. Mederos fires low kicks, tries a combo, then changes levels to grab the body lock. One minute in. Continuing to hold the body lock. They trade on the exit. Quinones eats a low blow. Mederos goes back to pushing forward after the break. Good trades two minutes in. Quinones stumbles back, then comes back with combos of his own. Reactive level change by Mederos to put Quinones on the fence. Quinones reverses with two minutes to go.
Jockeying for position. Knee to the balls from Mederos prompts another pause and they resume with a minute to go. Mederos backs him up with kicks, lands a straight left. Knee from Quinones, both land well in teh center. Mederos to the body. Huge exchange, Quinones gets the better of it. Flying knee and Superman punch falls short. Gonna be some interesting scores. 10-9 Mederos?
Final result: Mederos def. Quinones by unanimous decision
265 lbs.: Thomas Petersen vs. Jamal Pogues
Round 1: Pogues firing kicks as Petersen parries the lead hand and slowly advances, ultimately putting Pogues on the fence. Knees to the thigh from Petersen. He tries to change levels, denied with a forearm frame. Pogues separates a minute in. Solid straight left by Petersen, Pogues lands a right cross and body kick in return. Clean 2-3. Two minutes in. Petersen shoots from too far out and Pogues rebuffs it. Petersen follows with a body shot and a decent combo, then absorbs a clean right hand as he continues to steadily advance. 1-2 from Pogues as he’s taken to the fence again. Again Pogues turns him aside. Two minutes to go.
Tight hook from Pogues, who eats an overhand as he circles off. Petersen still advancing. Knee by Pogues, straight right behind it. Petersen digs a pair of nice body shots before tying up with double underhooks. A knee strays low, pausing the action. They resume with a minute to go and get right to trading. Better shot from Petersen, who bulldogs him down from a single-leg. Pogues turns to his knees as Petersen swats him with short punches. Petersen racks up punches until the bell. 10-9 Pogues on the early work.
Round 2: Petersen barrels in behind a right hand, Pogues backs him off with a knee but gets tied up regardless. Quick separation. Low kick from Pogues, who clinches as Petersen steps in. Knees to the thigh from Petersen, grinding against the fence. One minute in. Pogues shoves him away. Body kick, right hook, pivot to get off the fence. Double left hook, then two clean jabs, but Petersen changes levels to try the same single-leg. Good balance from Pogues to stay up but Petersen walks through a combo to resume the grind two minutes in. Pogues denies another single-leg and separates. Combo from Petersen, big elbow from Pogues while forehead-to-forehead. Petersen goes low-high with left hands. Heavy straight lefts by Petersen with two minutes to go.
More body shots from Petersen. Pogues body kick. One minute to go. Pogues punches into the clinch, lands a good knee and elbow. Petersen forces him back with a flurry, then cracks him with an uppercut on the exit. Another body shot. Heavy right hook by Petersen at the bell. 10-9 Petersen.
Round 3: They trade kicks to start. Petersen continues to land the straight left to the body, Pogues the snap kick downstairs. One minute in. Body shot really doing work for Petersen. Straight left met by a 1-2 from Pogues. Mostly fencing with the lead hands and waiting to land straights. Solid cross by Pogues as he angles off. Low-high goes Petersen two minutes in. The body shot’s automatic but Pogues is eating it well. Nice takedown defense from Pogues. More body shots from Petersen. Pogues pops him with right crosses. Two minutes to go.
Pogues circles off the fence and lands a straight right. Petersen’s landed about two dozen of those straight lefts to the body. There’s one to the head. Pogues denies a level change but as Petersen reaches up, his thumb goes into Pogues’ eye and Pogues is in bad shape. He nonetheless manages to recover and they resume with a minute to go. Petersen comes on strong, landing a two-piece upstairs and a body shot. Good right hand but Pogues ties up to slow him down. Petersen lands another body shot, gets clinched, avoids an overhand right. One last right by Pogues. 10-9 Petersen.
Final result: Pogues def. Petersen by unanimous decision
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