Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images
Check out the results and highlights from the UFC 241 Fight Pass prelims, including Hannah Cifers winning a unanimous decision over Jodie Esquibel.
UFC 241 has successfully launched from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and the Fight Pass portion of the preliminary card is over. Hannah Cifers and Jodie Esquibel just fought to a rather underwhelming decision. Cifers pulled out the decision win, and moves to 2-1 under the UFC banner.
Before that, Kyung Ho Kang and Brandon Davis went back and forth for three full rounds. Each man had their moments, but it was Kang who walked away with the split decision. Don’t look now, but Kang has won four of his last five UFC bouts. Opening up the event, the 22-year-old Sabina Mazo earned her first promotional win with a complete 15-minute domination of Shana Dobson. She was so dominant, that the now 7-1 fighter earned herself two scores of 30-24 and one judgement of 30-25.
**See complete results below
Fight Pass prelims:
Hannah Cifers def. Jodie Esquibel by unanimous decision (30-28, 30-27 x2): (W) Strawweight
A bit of measuring and calculating was going on to begin this bout. Solo strikes would slip through here and there. Cifers picked up the pace in the final minute of the round, landing some volume before the bell. Cifers found success striking from range in round-two. She dished out some damaging leg kicks before Esquibel blasted through with a takedown. After a ref standup, went right back to the takedown but found herself fighting off a sub attempt.
The final round got off to a super slow start. Cifers stayed out at range, causing Esquibel to miss a lot of her strikes. Around the mid-point of the round, Esquibel landed a takedown in the center of the Octagon. Back on the feet, Esquibel started to turn up a bit, but the fight ended without many wow moments.
Kyung Ho Kang def. Brandon Davis by split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29): Bantamweight
Davis found early success with his calf kicks in the opening round. He even briefly dropped Kang with one of those chopping kick. Kang responded with a stiff jab, popping his foe with it over and over. He ended up rocking Davis with a right hand before pouncing and initiating a scramble. Davis finished up the round on his back. Kang came out looking to grapple in the second round. The bantamweights spent some time jockeying for position before breaking free into open space. A hard punch knocked out Davis’ mouthpiece, but Davis responded by ramping up his volume. A bit of time went by before the referee gave the gum shield back to Davis.
Davis went back to his kicks and volume to start the final round, but slipped and gifted Kang top position. From the top of side control, the referee decided to stand up the fight. Kang went right back to the takedown and landed right back in side control. Davis worked his way back to his feet and started to open up. Kang wisely went back to the takedown, but didn’t do much with it. Davis was the one who was landing the strikes from his back.
Right hand caught him#UFC241 pic.twitter.com/z1CeVdWs6R
— UFC (@ufc) August 17, 2019
Sabina Mazo def. Shana Dobson by unanimous decision (30-24, 30-25 x2): (W) Flyweight
Mazo came out attacking the body right away with body kicks. She hurt her opponent and backed Dobson up to the fence where she unleashed some more damage. Dobson gave up the takedown and began eating some rather mean ground strikes. Back on the feet, Mazo continued to own her opposition by dishing out more punishment in the clinch before scoring another takedown.
Mazo got back to work in the second round, punishing Dobson in the clinch against the fence. Several damaging knees to the body kept piercing the midsection of Dobson. A takedown presented itself and Mazo forced her foe to work to get back up. The final round saw more of the same. Mazo found success with her body kicks before entering back into the clinch. She opted to go high with the knees, cracking Dobson right in the face over and over. Mazo scored another takedown and pounded away from the top until the bell sounded.
Mazo lands a nice liver kick early and Dobson is hurt! #UFC241 pic.twitter.com/XofiirlnHn
— UFC (@ufc) August 17, 2019