Author: Dan Hiergesell

Veteran fighter Renato Moicano scored his first Octagon win in over a year earlier today (Sat., June 26, 2021) at UFC Vegas 30 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, when the Brazilian stopped Jai Herbert via second-round submission (rear-naked choke).

Moicano looked to be the more polished fighter early on as the former featherweight contender moved inside for a few takedowns and suffocating grappling. He also wasn’t afraid to mix things up on the feet, but Herbert tagged him a few times. Moicano went back to the well in the second with another takedown, subsequent ground-and-pound, and the eventual submission finish once Herbert presented his back.

Check out the video highlights above courtesy of UFC/ESPN.

Moicano is now 2-1 in the UFC’s lightweight division and looked to be on another level than Herbert today in Las Vegas. It will be interesting to see if Moicano can turn this victory into a prolonged win streak at 155 pounds moving forward. He certainly has the skills to do so.

For complete UFC Vegas 30 results and coverage click here.

Kennedy Nzechukwu pushed his current win streak to three earlier today (Sat., June 26, 2021) at UFC Vegas 30 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, when he stopped talented grappler Danilo Marques via third-round TKO (punches).

Nzechukwu found it difficult to keep Marques off of him early into this fight. Marques was able to take Nzechukwu’s back a few times along the cage but Nzechukwu defended nicely and kept his cool. Marques was exhausted entering the third round and Nzechukwu took full advantage. He launched heavy combinations in bunches that connected on Marques and forced the referee to step in for the stoppage.

Check out the video highlights above courtesy of UFC/ESPN.

Nzechukwu, 29, is now 3-1 inside of the Octagon, losing only to Paul Craig via submission in his UFC debut back in Mar. 2019. The talented light heavyweight fighter continues to improve and show new wrinkles to his game, which bodes well for his chances to reach the top 15 by year’s end.

For complete UFC Vegas 30 results and coverage click here.

Undefeated welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov finished another Octagon veteran earlier today (Sat., June 26, 2021) at UFC Vegas 30 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, when he stopped Michel Prazeres via rear-naked choke in the second round. It is the first time Prazeres has been finished in his entire pro career.

Rakhmonov had a massive reach advantage and used it early to keep Prazeres at bay and pick him apart with his lead jab. The welterweight prospect was also able to outduel the Brazilian whenever the action hit the mat or the cage. In Round 2, Rakhmonov’s pressure started to pay off as Prazeres tired and couldn’t defend much of anything. Rakhmonov was able to gain top control and then transitioned to the back for the finish.

Check out the video highlights above courtesy of UFC/ESPN.

This finish by Rakhmonov once again proves that the young fighter is already a legit contender at 170 pounds. Pair this stoppage over Prazeres with his debut finish over Alex Oliveira and Rakhmonov should already be ranked in the stacked welterweight division. Not to mention he kept his 100-percent finish rate in tact with this win.

For complete UFC Vegas 30 results and coverage click here.

Jeremiah Wells made the most out of his short-notice Octagon debut earlier today (Sat., June 26, 2021) at UFC Vegas 30 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, when the welterweight prospect stopped veteran Warlley Alves via second-round knockout (punches).

Wells was filling in on short notice but still decided to go all-in from the opening bell. He was able to connect on a few good shots and put Alves against the fence a few times in the first frame. In Round 2, Wells caught Alves with a beautiful right hand that sent the Brazilian crashing to the canvas. As Alves was trying to return to his feet Wells leveled him with a barrage of punches and the eventual finish.

Check out the video highlights above courtesy of UFC/ESPN.

What a debut for Wells. The 34-year-old fighter has tried to fight his way into UFC in the past but it simply didn’t work out. Luckily, Wells was able to step in on short notice this time around and capture the biggest win of his MMA career.

For complete UFC Vegas 30 results and coverage click here.

Light heavyweight contender Marcin Prachnio added another finish to his record earlier today (Sat., June 26, 2021) at UFC Vegas 30 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, when he stopped battle-tested veteran Ike Villanueva via second-round TKO (body kick).

This was not an easy win for Prachnio by any stretch of the imagination. Villanueva landed a brutal upper cut in the early going that stunned Prachnio and left him with a badly bruised left eye. Prachnio kept busy, though, landing leg kicks in bunches and combinations from range on a slowed Villanueva. In the second, Prachnio switched stances and launched a perfectly-timed body kick that caught Villanueva right in the liver. Villanueva fell to the canvas like a sack of potatoes and the finish followed.

Check out the video highlights above courtesy of UFC/ESPN.

After losing his first three trips to the Octagon Prachnio has now won his last two UFC appearances. This was his first finish as a member of the roster, but Prachnio was ending fights like this way before he ever came to the UFC. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come and the Polish fighter can finally settle in at light heavyweight.

For complete UFC Vegas 30 results and coverage click here.

Julia Avila returned to the win column earlier today (Sat., June 26, 2021) at UFC Vegas 30 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, when the women’s bantamweight fighter finished veteran Julija Stoliarenko via third-round submission (rear-naked choke).

Avila came out guns blazing like usual and rushed in for flurries of offense. Stoliarenko was game to exchange and landed some good punches of her own, but she started to get busted up pretty quickly. Avila would stay in control heading into the third and final frame when Stoliarenko tried to take the action to the ground. “Raging Panda” would end up in back control which is where she worked for the submission finish.

Check out the video highlights above courtesy of UFC/ESPN.

This is a major win for Avila who was coming off a decision loss to Sijara Eubanks back in Sept. 2020. The hard-nosed contender seems ready to make her push towards the top 10 as she digs her heels in as a full-time fighter.

For complete UFC Vegas 30 results and coverage click here.