Check out the results of the four Fight Pass preliminary card bouts at UFC 212: Aldo vs. Holloway in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The UFC 212 preliminary card is all wrapped up, following the four bouts on Fox Sports 1. Brian Kelleher made the most of his late call-up with a massive win over Iuri Alcantara, Matthew Lopez savagely hammered Johnny Eduardo’s face, Antonio Carlos Junior choked out Eric Spicely to add to his win streak, and Raphael Assuncao spoiled the debut of former WSOF bantamweight champion Marlon Moraes. Here’s how they played out.
Raphael Assuncao def. Marlon Moraes by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) – Bantamweights
Moraes was active with his vaunted leg kicks to start the fight. Assuncao got countered by a Moraes right hand. Just about midway through round 1, Moraes got hit in the groin inadvertently, but he was good to continue in a matter of seconds. Assuncao did well to counter a leg kick with a straight right through the guard of Moraes. The first takedown attempt came from Assuncao, but Moraes was able to defend it successfully. Moraes tried for a spectacular roundhouse kick KO but it whizzed by Assuncao’s face. Assuncao missed with a flying knee but didn’t miss with a huge right hand that had Moraes stunned just seconds before the round drew to a close. It might have been enough to win him the round.
There wasn’t too much noteworthy action to report during round 2. Moraes clocked Assuncao with a right hand and was going to the body, but Assuncao was picking his shots well. Raphael landed a nice body kick and avoided the countering right. Moraes was cut on the bridge of his nose, presumably from Assuncao jabs. Marlon continued to go to the body with both punches and kicks, but the action was hardly scintillating.
Assuncao started round 3 brightly with a big right hand that had Moraes stunned once again. It was just about a flash knockdown but Moraes was back up and throwing again. Moraes tossed out the jab and touched up Assuncao with that punch. He was turning up the (admittedly slow) pace with leg kicks and body kicks, and he was the aggressor. Moraes tried for a takedown and Assuncao was able to stop it at the last moment. He connected on a wheel kick, if only partially, and Moraes finished the fight the stronger of the two men. Despite all of that, it wasn’t good enough for Moraes to get the win, as his UFC debut ends in defeat. Assuncao has won two straight since his loss to T.J. Dillashaw.
Antonio Carlos Junior def. Eric Spicely by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:49 of round 2 – Middleweights
It was Spicely who got the early double-leg takedown, but he hate several elbows off of his back. The Brazilian was looking for a submission and he managed to position himself for a heel hook, but Spicely was able to get 50-50 guard. The grappling was a relative stalemate until they stood up with about a minute left in round 1. Carlos Junior got the takedown and immediately sought back control. He got it and went for a rear-naked choke, but didn’t have enough time to complete it.
In round 2, Carlos Junior used a Spicely takedown to wind up on top and in half-guard. This time it was Spicely going for a leg, but Carlos Junior wasn’t haviny any of that. He took Spicely’s back again and got in some punches before securing one hook, then transitioning to Spicely’s full guard. Carlos Junior’s superior grappling abilities were on display, as he took the American’s back once again, had the body triangle, and then made Spicely tap to the rear-naked choke. Carlos Junior has won three straight, while Spicely is denied another upset win, as he drops to 2-2 in the UFC.
SHOE FACE SUBMISSION! @caradesapatojr gets the win versus @ericspicely in the second round! #UFC212 https://t.co/QHBfSq55Gc
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) June 4, 2017
Matthew Lopez def. Johnny Eduardo by TKO (strikes) at 2:57 of round 1- Bantamweights
Nova Uniao’s Eduardo showed off his striking prowess against Lopez, who definitely cracked the Muay Thai specialists multiple times during exchanges. Lopez got the takedown and landed strikes on Eduardo’s unguarded head, as he searched (but ultimately bailed on) the heel hook. More ground-and-pound from Lopez hurt Eduardo, and for reasons only Mario Yamasaki will understand, Yamasaki was extremely late in stopping the fight. It was a vicious display of ground striking from Lopez, who is 2-1 in the UFC and looking like one to watch at 135. Eduardo has now lost two of his last three, both by stoppage.
Huge finish by @matthewlopez135 with the hard shots versus @JohnnyEduardoN in the first round! #UFC212 https://t.co/tKG7FrKAci
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) June 4, 2017
Brian Kelleher def. Iuri Alcantara by submission (guillotine choke) at 1:48 of round 1 – Bantamweights
Alcantara threw with bad intentions straight away against the late-notice replacement. The Brazilian got the takedown early but Kelleher immediately went to the guillotine choke and Alcantara tapped. It was an extremely quick tap by Alcantara, and the crowd was stunned into silence. New York’s Kelleher pulls off a big win in his UFC debut, while Alcantara gets stopped for the first time in fifteen career UFC outings.
WOW! An exceptional guillotine by Brian Kelleher earns a quick tap on Iuri Alcantara. #UFC212 https://t.co/A9lSF6Xa0k
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) June 4, 2017