Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) hosts an exciting UFC Fight Night 81 mixed martial arts (MMA) event inside TD Garden in Boston, Mass., tonight (Sun., Jan. 17, 2016), featuring a Bantamweight title collision pitting champion T.J. Dillashaw against bitter rival Dominick Cruz.
The pair of talented strikers went blow-for-blow in the public eye for the better part of the last three months and will finally put the gloves on to see whose bark matches their bite.
In the co-main event, Lightweight elites battle it out for a chance to move into serious title shot discussions when former champion Anthony Pettis takes on Philadelphia slugger Eddie Alvarez. Elsewhere on the FOX Sports 1-televised main card is an action-packed Heavyweight tilt between Top-15 contenders Travis Browne and Matt Mitrione.
However, before we can get to the evening’s main courses, fans will be treated to a set of nine “Prelims” exchanges, beginning at 6 p.m. ET on the Fight Pass digital streaming service, until the final four are broadcast on FOX Sports 1 starting at 8 p.m. ET. The four-fight main card will start promptly at 10 p.m. ET.
Below are the results recaps for the five Fight Pass “Prelims” bouts:
Paul Felder vs. Daron Cruickshank
****
Charles Rosa vs. Augusto Mendes
****
Illir Latifi vs. Sean O’Connell
****
Rob Font vs. Joey Gomez
****
Francimar Barroso vs. Elvis Mutapcic
Nova Uniao’s Barroso kicked off the evening looking to turn back Mutapcic in the latter’s Octagon debut.
Barroso out in a hurry, lands a good right. Mutapcic opens with front and high kicks. Barroso switches to southpaw, lands a body kick.Another sound body kick. “Bodao” goes back to southpaw. So far, “The King” staying patient, while the Brazilian throws power. Nice takedown from Barroso. Elbows coming from the bottom for Mutapcic. The Iowa native proving he’s no slouch on the ground. Barroso, though, having come from the Nova Uniao camp is likely a notch or two above him. Mutapcic doing a solid job of not letting him posture up. Pretty good wrist control. One minute left and it’s been roughly 90 seconds of top position time. Mutapcic looks to explode, but Barroso stays low. Barroso stands up and as we conclude round one. 10-9 Barroso
Big overhand right from Barroso, almost gets counter by a combo.Very hard kick landed by the 35-year-old Barroso. He would do best not to overcommit, or wing his shots. Commentator Mike Goldberg reminds viewers that strikes are even just over five minutes in. Barroso goes for the single, Mutapcic there to defend. Barroso goes for the big right hand again. Mutapcic should pressure and put a combo together instead of letting Barroso pick him apart. Nice left hand from Barroso knocks out Mutapcic’s mouthpiece. Solid leg kick from Barroso. Barroso gets tagged by Mutapcic. A level change and takedown attempt is denied by the 29-year-old Mutapcic. Some blood exiting the right eye of the Bosnian. Barroso clips him with a right. Deep shot from Barroso but nothing there. 10-9 Barroso
For more UFC Fight Night 81 news and notes, including up-to-the-minute live results and play-by-play, click here and here.