UFC Auckland results & videos: Finish-heavy prelims

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Check out the results and highlights from the UFC Auckland prelims, including Zubaira Tukhugov stopping Kevin Aguilar with strikes in the first round.

The UFC Auckland preliminary card just concluded with Zubaira Tukhugov scoring a first-round TKO of Kevin Aguilar. The pace was a bit slow at first, until a bodacious left hook sat down Aguilar, starting the finishing sequence. Aguilar stood up just to get flurried on before falling to the canvas again. Tukhugov finished the fight with violent ground strikes to secure the win. Also on the undercard, Chinese fighter that was forced to move to Thailand because of the Coronavirus, Song Kenan, realized a brilliant first-round knockout of Callan Potter. Song used his power boxing to string together a series of strikes that hurt Potter, ultimately dropping him with a right hand. The now Tiger Muay Thai fighter has earned back-to-back wins.

The UFC’s #8 ranked flyweight, Kai Kara-France, used a bunch of volume to get the best of Tyson Nam on the scorecards. Nam was looking to land power punches, but the footwork of Kara-France kept him from getting blasted. Kara-France has now four of his five UFC outings. Opening up the event, Priscila Cachoeira picked up a sensational knockout of Shana Dobson in the first round. Cachoeira came to bang, and landed a superb uppercut that put out her opposition in a sporty 40-seconds. What a way to snap a three-fight losing skid and get her first UFC victory.

**See complete results below

Prelims:

Zubaira Tukhugov def. Kevin Aguilar by TKO at 3:21 of round 1: Featherweight

Aguilar took control of the center of the Octagon to start the match. Whenever Tukhugov would get close, he would uncork a flurry to back him off. A lot of measuring and calculating took place as the fighters tried to get their timing down. Then, Tukhugov landed a bomb of a left hook that dropped Aguilar. Tukhugov went into kill mode, throwing a beastly flurry and knocking down the American again. Tons of ground strikes rained down before the referee stepped in to stop the bout.

Jalin Turner def. Joshua Culibao by TKO at 3:01 of round 2: Lightweight

Turner marched forward behind his long strikes, forcing Culibao to skirt along the outside. Culibao shot in for a takedown but ended up on the bottom. Turner blasted some elbows before allowing his opponent to stand back up. On the feet, Turner blasted some mean knees to the body. Culibao shot in again but feel to his back, trying to escape a guillotine attempt. Turner worked hard for the sub, but Culibao navigated his way to an escape and back to his feet.

Culibao seemed to hurt himself by twisting his ankle early in the second round. Turner pounced with a flurry, before rolling with a guillotine to take top position. Culibao gave up his back and ate some hard ground strikes, but kept moving. Turner maintained control and was able to drop enough strikes to get the fight stopped.

Jake Matthews def. Emil Meek by unanimous decision (29-28 x3): Welterweight

It didn’t take much time for Matthews to achieve a takedown. Meek held on until he saw his moment to scramble back up. Matthews then landed a hellacious uppercut that lifted up Meek from the ground before dropping him. The fight resumed on the floor, with Matthews controlling from the top. Meek did land some nasty elbows from his back, but Matthews finished the round on top.

Meek came out pressing in the second act, but another uppercut from Matthews backed off that aggression. Matthews returned to the takedown, and when Meek looked to bridge, he took the back. Meek remained patient and exploded up to his feet. He landed a mean knee, and then Matthews hit a spinning elbow. Matthews snagged another takedown, but Meek diligently worked back up. Meek landed a set of body knees just before the bell, one of which knocked over Matthews.

Meek pressured to begin the final round, kicking the to the leg. Matthews seemed to be moving gingerly on his leg. Nonetheless, he shot in for a takedown, but Meek was able to sprawl and keep it standing. Meek kept pressuring, but in a calculated way. Matthews returned to the takedown attempt, but Meek was fighting them off with elbows.

Song Kenan def. Callan Potter by KO at 2:20 of round 1: Welterweight

Potter opened the bout with a big left hook, before clinching up. They broke apart and Potter went back to that left and then hit a takedown. Song quickly scrambled back to his feet and started to mount his own punches. From the clinch, Song scored a few Conor McGregor shoulder shrugs. Back in open space, Song started to tee off with huge punches. It was a well placed right hand that dropped Potter and sealed the deal.

Kai Kara-France def. Tyson Nam by unanimous decision (30-27 x3): Flyweight

There wasn’t much feeling out going on to start this one. Kara-France was throwing volume while Nam was launching the harder punches. The jab of Kara-France was jousting and prompted a few smiles out of Nam. The fight entered the clinch towards the end of the round, with Nam scoring the briefest of takedowns.

Nam looked to close the distance against the cage early in the second act, but ate an elbow to the face for his troubles. Kara-France shot in for a takedown, but Nam was able to fight it off and remain vertical. In open space, Kara-France went back to his volume attack, and he was landing. Nam continued to look for the big power punches, but was falling behind on the strike count.

Nam came out for the third pressuring forward and landing some of his power punches. Kara-France swung the momentum in his favor with by launching his volume and backing down his opponent. He began to pick apart Nam, who started to hunt for the takedown.

Angela Hill def. Loma Lookboonmee by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2): Strawweight

Hill pressed forward behind her cross, while Lookboonmee looked to attack the leg. Hill was finding a lot of success going first and connecting with her right hand. When the fight went to the clinch, Lookboonmee was able to land some strong knees to the midsection, but did give up a late takedown.

Hill closed the distance again in the second round, but Lookboonmee was able to free herself before a takedown could be realized. They clinched up again, but it was Lookboonmee who got the takedown this time. Hill threatened with an armbar, before transitioning to a reverse triangle. Lookboonmee escaped and Hill scrambled back to her feet. Hill pressed her foe against the fence, but after eating some body knees she disengaged.

The fighters exchanged on the feet to start the final frame. Hill stuck with her boxing and Lookboonmee stayed with her kicks. Lookboonmee started to let her hands go a bit more, and they were scoring. Hill dressed that by stuffing Lookboonmee against the cage again. There, they both exchanged venomous elbows, but they wore them quite well.

Priscila Cachoeira def. Shana Dobson by KO at :40 of round 1: (W) Flyweight

The fighters began the bout by slugging it out, with Cachoeira getting the better of the exchanges. Then KABOOM! Cachoeira lands a powerful uppercut that floored Dobson. Cachoeira went in for the ground and pound but the referee was already stepping in to stop the fight.