Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is inching closer to its FOX Sports 1 return, as the upcoming UFC Fight Night 86 mixed martial arts (MMA) extravaganza takes over Zagreb Arena in Zagreb, Croatia, on Sun., April 10, 2016.
“Rothwell vs. Dos Santos” is exactly what it sounds like: a fight card headlined by Ben Rothwell vs. Junior Dos Santos. Their 265-pound main event could prove to be make or break for “Big” Ben’s desired title shot, as well as the fight that confirms — or refutes — talk surrounding the end of the “Cigano” era.
That’s not all.
In the titanic co-main event, Gabriel Gonzaga will try to keep his head attached when he trades blows with heavyweight bruiser Derrick Lewis. “Napao” holds a marked advantage in the grappling department, but it may not matter once the “Black Beast” starts dropping bombs.
Don’t blink.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Fight Night 86 fight card below, starting with the Fight Pass “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. ET, and then the remaining undercard balance on FOX Sports 1 at noon ET, before the main card start time at 2 p.m. ET, also on FOX Sports 1.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Rothwell vs. Dos Santos.”
Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC Fight Night 86 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC FIGHT NIGHT 86 QUICK RESULTS:
Ben Rothwell vs. Junior dos Santos — Dos Santos def. Rothwell by unanimous decision (50-45 x3)
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Derrick Lewis — Lewis def. Gonzaga by KO (punches) at 4:48 of Round One
Francis Ngannou vs. Curtis Blaydes — Ngannou def. Blaydes by TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at 5:00 of Round Two
Timothy Johnson vs. Marcin Tybura — Johnson def. Tybura by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Jan Blachowicz vs. Igor Pokrajac — Blachowicz def. Pokrajac by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Maryna Moroz vs. Cristina Stanciu — Moroz def. Stanciu by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Zak Cummings vs. Nicolas Dalby — Cummings def. Dalby by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Damir Hadzovic vs. Mairbek Taisumov — Taisumov def. Hadzovic by TKO (punches) at 3:44 of Round One
Ian Entwistle vs. Alejandro Perez — Perez def. Entwistle by TKO (punches) at 4:04 of Round One
Filip Pejic vs. Damian Stasiak — Stasiak def. Pejic by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:16 of Round One
Lucas Martins vs. Robert Whiteford — Martins def. Whiteford by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Cyril Asker vs. Jared Cannonier — Cannonier def. Asker by KO (punches and elbows) at 2:44 of Round One
Alessio Di Chirico vs. Bojan Velickovic — Velickovic def. Di Chirico by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
UFC FIGHT NIGHT 86 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
265 lbs.: Ben Rothwell vs. Junior dos Santos
Round 1: Rothwell advancing, hands out as always. Tossing out kicks. 1-2 from JDS. Good right to the body. One minute in. 2-3 from Junior. check hook from Junior, right hands from Rothwell against the fence. Rothwell with a body kick. Brief clinch attempt from Rothwell. Two minutes in. Junior to the body. JDS with a left hook coming in. Rothwell low kick. Overhand right and left hook by Rothwell near the cage. Counter right by Rothwell. Two minutes to go.
Rothwell to the body. Junior with a body jab and overhand right. Right hand and elbow from Big Ben. Rothwell right hand. One minute to go. Junior’s keeping up the body jab. More body jabs and a right behind it. Low kick from Rothwell as he absorbs body shots. 10-9 Dos Santos.
Round 2: Rothwell continues his forward march. Both throw right hands, Rothwell slips. Low kick lands for him. One minute in. Junior continues to ding the body with his jab and right hand. Body kick and left from Rothwell. Straight right by Dos Santos. Two minutes in. Rothwell low kick. Superman punch by the big man, Junior tries one himself. Overhand right lands for JDS. Rothwell low kick once again. Two minutes to go.
Junior with a body jab and straight right. Junior catches a finger in the eye. They resume soon after. Teep by Dos Santos. More body work. One minute to go. Rothwell rushes, eats a counter on the fence. Quick exchange in the center. The body shots are piling up for Dos Santos, who blasts Rothwell with an overhand right and knocks him over with a teep at the bell. Rothwell’s hurt as he walks back to his corner. 10-9 Dos Santos.
Round 3: Junior pops him with the right downstairs yet again. 3-2 from the Brazilian. Rothwell with some prodding low kicks, tries to go high. One minute in. Yet another right downstairs. Flurry lands for Rothwell. Left hook from Junior goes high. Low kick from Rothwell. Two minutes in. Junior still targeting the body with his jabs and right hnds. Right hook by Rothwell connects. Dos Santos continues to drill the body. Two minutes to go.
3-2 from Dos Santos. Lead right. He avoids a flurry. One minute to go. Low kick from Rothwell. Junior with a spinning back kick. 1-2 by dos Santos lands clean. Another spinning back kick. They trade in the center. 10-9 Dos Santos.
Round 4: Rothwell’s right eye is swollen and he’s taken a ton of punches to the body. Junior moving very well. Left hook from Junior, Rothwell answers in kind. They trade side kicks; Junior’s is harder. 1-2 from Junior as he takes a low kick. One minute in. Both land right hands. Another overhand right from Junior after a left hook. Two minutes in. Junior with a pair of jabs, followed by a left hook. Right hand by Dos Santos. Another one. Two minutes to go.
Rothwell lands a hard right hand and just misses with a head kick. Junior continues to bounce jabs off of his face. Big counter right. He avoids a rush. One minute to go. Right from Junior, low kick from Rothwell. 1-2 by Dos Santos. Rothwell cracks him with a combination. Low kicks from Rothwell at the bell and Junior doesn’t look like he enjoyed them. 10-9 Dos Santos.
Round 5: Rothwell still advancing. Junior cracking him with jabs. Rothwell to the body. Hard body shots from Junior. One minute in. Teep from the Brazilian. More jabs. Knee lands to the head as Rothwell ducks down. Two minutes in. 1-2 connects. Rothwell with a low kick. Dos Santos in total control. Two minutes to go.
Rothwell with a lunging left as he continues to eat punches. Left hook by Rothwell. One minute to go. Lead right by Dos Santos. Wheel kick attempt by the Brazilian. Dos Santos lands another left hook before the bell, eats a right right at it. 10-9 Dos Santos.
Final result: Dos Santos def. Rothwell by unanimous decision
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265 lbs.: Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Derrick Lewis
Round 1: Glancing head kick from Lewis and Gonzaga ties up, looking for the takedown. Over-under control for him. Gonzaga brings him down into side control. One minute in. Short elbows by the Brazilian. Lewis gives up his back and works to stand. Gonzaga maintains the rear waistlock. Two minutes in. Lewis turns to face him. Browne elbow from Lewis, then some heavy right hands as Gonzaga tries to change levels. Ref elects to separate them with two minutes to go.
Counter right from Gonzaga, who ties up. Gonzaga pressing him against the cage. One minute to go. Lewis lands a knee to the body. The ref splits them up. Lewis stalks forward, then melts him with a right hand against the cage. Damn.
Final result: Lewis def. Gonzaga by KO (punches)
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265 lbs.: Francis Ngannou vs. Curtis Blaydes
Round 1: Solid jab seems to stun Ngannou. Blaydes shoots, stuffed. Blaydes stays on it and grabs a bodylock on the fence. Ngannou reverses. One minute in. Knee to the body from Ngannou. Elbow on the exit from the Frenchman. Counter left from Ngannou. Two minutes in. Ngannou looking for the left hand. 1-2 hurts Blaydes. Low kick lands for the American. Another left hand drops Blaydes and he shoots in. Two minutes to go.
Ngannou pressing him against the cage, digging in with short punches. They trade knees to the thighs. They separate and Blaydes hits a blast double. Ngannou working to stand near the fence. One minute to go. Ngannou makes it back to his feet and they separate. 1-2-1 from Ngannou. 10-9 Ngannou.
Round 2: Jabs from Blaydes. Ngannou with a pair of right hands. Both men land right hands. Ngannou shrugs off another takedown. One minute in. Blaydes’ right eye does not look good. Blaydes still working the jab as Ngannou looks for uppercuts. Blaydes shoots and brings him down on the fence. Ngannou nearly manages to reverse it, but winds up on the bottom in side control. Ngannou uses an underhook to stand and grabs the rear waistlock. Two minutes in. They separate. 1-2 from Ngannou. Two minutes to go.
Blaydes still jabbing. 1-2 by Ngannou. Another right hand from the Frenchman. One minute to go. Low kick lands for him. Blaydes shoots, stuffed. 10-9 Ngannou.
The doctor takes a look at Blaydes’ eye and determines that he cannot continue.
Final result: Ngannou def. Blaydes by TKO (doctor’s stoppage)
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265 lbs.: Timothy Johnson vs. Marcin Tybura
Round 1: Body kick by Tybura. Both land right hands as they exchange. Tybura targeting the body. One minute in. 1-2 from Johnson, right hooks as they trade. Tybura lands a right hand. They clinch up and Johnson presses him against the fence. Two minutes in. Knees to the thigh. Two minutes to go.
Johson still grinding. The ref elects to separate them. Good right hand by Tybura. Johnson pops him with a straight left. One minute to go. Another right cross by Tybura. Most of these exchanges are fairly even. Johnson pressuring, winging punches. 10-9 Johnson.
Round 2: Johnson still advancing and tossing out punches. Straight lefts land for him. Nice flurry. Big counter right by Tybura, who clinches. Johnson carts him over to the cage. Double underhooks allow Tybura to reverse position. Two minutes in. Tybura driving for a takedown. Johnson shrugs off a single-leg and separates. Tybura’s bloodied up. Nice straight left by Johnson. Tybura lands a snap kick downstairs. Two minutes to go.
Johnson still advancing. 2-3 lands for him. One minute to go. Tybura with a straight right. Body kick lands. Johnson with a right hook. Right hands from Johnson and he opens up on the fence. 10-9 Johnson.
Round 3: Johnson may have injured his hand. Body kick from Tybura. Nice reactive takedown by Tybura, who immediately takes the back. One minute in. Tybura’s too high on the back and Johnson slips out the back door. Johnson stuffs the next shot and takes him to the fence. Two minutes in. Johnson stays on him until the referee separates them. Hard head kick by Tybura, who opens up with punches. Johnson trying to tie up, eats a hard elbow. Two minutes to go.
Johnson reverses position and puts him on the fence. Knee lands for the Pole. They separate. One minute to go. That elbow looks like it busted Johnson’s orbital. Tybura stalking forward. Right hand lands for him. Another. 10-9 Tybura.
Final result: Johnson def. Tybura by unanimous decision
-end-
205 lbs.: Jan Blachowicz vs. Igor Pokrajac
Round 1: Pokrajac coming out very aggressively. Blachowicz looks to counter, then hits a takedown into guard. Short punches form the Pole. Half guard now. Solid punches. One minute in. Pokrajac regains full guard. More ground-and-pound for Blachowicz, who retakes half guard. Two minutes in. Blachowicz looks for the back, only for Pokrajac to take guard. Pokrajac with some solid shots. Blachowicz turns for an armbar, abandons it. Upkicks from the Pole. Two minutes to go.
Pokrajac comes back down with hard punches. Half guard for him now. One minute to go. Blachowicz tries to lean into him, only to give up mount. Pokrajac briefly threatens a guillotine before the bell. 10-9 Pokrajac.
Round 2: Hard counters by Blachowicz early. Pokrajac wades through some punches and changes levels. Blachwicz blasts him with a left hook on the break. Pokrajac again ties up on the fence. Blachowicz reverses, lands a knee, and changes levels. Nothing there, but he lands some body shots inside. Nasty punches by Blachowicz. They trade huge punches. Left hook rocks Pokrajac and a shovel hook sends him staggering back to the fence. Blachowicz ripping away to the head and body as Pokrajac trades bombs with him. Two minutes in. Blachowicz hits a takedown. Blachowicz keeps laying into him as the Croat stands. Pokrajac cracks him with a right hand, only to get taken down again. Two minutes to go.
Blachowicz chilling out in guard. Short elbows by Blachowicz. He stands over Pokrajac, then comes back down in position to take the back. One minute to go. Pokrajac eats a head kick on the way up and the too ask for more. One minute to go. Lead right by the Croat. Pokrajac puts him on the fence and goes to work with dirt boxing. Hard knee from Blachowicz. They keep trading inside until the bell. 10-9 Blachowicz.
Round 3: Pokrajac stalking forward. Check hook from the Pole. Straight right lands, left hook from Pokrajac afterwards. Blachowicz with a check hook and he ties up. Level change on the fence. Blachowicz separates with some punches. 1-2 from Pokrajac as he rushes. Blachowicz hits a blast double into half guard. Two minutes in. Short punches from Blachowicz. Two minutes to go.
More ground-and-pound from Blachowicz. Pokrajac maintaining guard but not doing much else. One minute to go. Blachowicz keeping up a steady diet of punches and elbows. 10-9 Blachowicz.
Final result: Blachowicz def. Pokrajac by unanimous decision
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115 lbs.: Maryna Moroz vs. Cristina Stanciu
Round 1: Flying knee attempt from Stanciu, then a powerful punching blitz into the clinch. Knee from Stanciu. Another solid knee. One minute in. Moroz reverses position and Stanciu jumps guard for a guillotine. It looks like Moroz’s right carotid is free and Stanciu eventually loses it and goes for a leg. Hammerfists by Moroz. Two minutes in. Moroz standing over her. Moroz looking for a knee-cut pass, can’t get it. Moroz with some body shots from guard. Stanciu cracks her with a few upkicks and stands. Two minutes to go.
Stanciu tries a high kick. Left hook lands for Moroz. Stanciu looks a bit winded, eats another left hook. Moroz hits an outside trip and quickly takes side control. North-south with a minute to go. Moroz takes the back and locks up the body triangle. Punches from Moroz. Moroz tries to crank until the bell. 10-9 Moroz.
Round 2: Moroz looks much, much fresher. Body kick by Stanciu. Counter right lands for her as Moroz attacks. One minute in. Stanciu with another solid body kick. Moroz at range, prodding with the jab. Two minutes in. Head kick by Stanciu. Both women land hard right hands. Counter body kick by Stanciu. She fires another and jumps for a submission, transitioning to a kneebar. Two minutes to go.
Moroz slips out and takes the back. Stanciu currently trying to tie her up. One minute to go. Full mount for Maryna Moroz, hard elbows. Stanciu manages to bridge and then kick her off. Left hook from Moroz before the bell. 10-9 Moroz.
Round 3: combination by Moroz, slight wardrobe issue afterwards. Body kick by Stanciu. Teep forces Moroz back. One minute in. They trade on the fence. Low kick lands for Stanciu. Counter right connects, Moroz with a right of her own. Two minutes in. Hard counter right from Stanciu, who counters an inside trip to take top position. Moroz turns for an armbar. Stanciu stacking her. Two minutes to go.
Moroz adjusts, Stanciu defending well. Stanciu looking to counter with a reverse triangle. One minute to go. Moroz sneaks her head out and goes belly-down. Stantciu manages to defend until the bell. 10-9 Moroz.
Final result: Moroz def. Stanciu by unanimous decision
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170 lbs.: Zak Cummings vs. Nicolas Dalby
Round 1: Dalby throwing out kicks early. Cumming marching forward. Good body kick by Dalby. Cummings with an uppercut inside. One minute in. Hard counter left. Cummings pressuring him to the fence. Brutal uppercut and straight left knock Dalby down. Two minutes in. Cummings takes side control. Cummings hunting for a d’arce choke. He’s got it locked up, but Dalby manages to roll into top position and survive. Two minutes to go.
Dalby stands and they separate. Straight left by Dalby. Counter left by Cummings. Dalby staying busy with the kicks. Hook kick lands on the chin. Cumming cracks him with another left hand. One minute to go. Low kick by Cummings. They trade left hands on the fence. Good exchange in the center. 10-9 Cummings.
Round 2: Dalby continues to move and flick out kicks. Cummings looking to counter-punch. More kicks from Dalby. 1-2 from Cummings. One minute in. To the body now. Dalby potshotting at range. Two minutes in. Side kick from the Dane. Good body kick met by a 1-2. Cummings with a counter left inside. Two minutes to go.
Dalby catches a finger in the eye. Brief pause, then they resume. Hard straight left lands for Cummings. Dalby JUST misses with a head kick. Body kick lands. Cummings catches a body kick, can’t use it. One minute to go. Good side kick once again. Cummings catches a kick, lands a left, and cracks him with an uppercut at the bell. 10-9 Dalby.
Round 3: Cummings continues to press forward. Cummings catches a kick, can’t use it. Cummings shoots on the fence. Dalby defending well. He tries a trip and separates. One minute in. Head kick lands for Dalby, Cummings comes back with counters. Straight left from Cummings. Left uppercut by Cummings. Body shots as he avoids a head kick. Two minutes in. Cummings checks a kick and Dalby falls to his back. Cummings standing over him, comes down in guard. Butterfly hooks for Dalby. Two minutes to go.
Cummings passes to side control. Dalby manages to scramble up and he comes out swinging. One minute to go. Knees from Dalby in the clinch. Cummings takes him to the fence, eats a knee but hits another takedown into half guard. Dalby works with an underhook, but can’t stand before the bell. 10-9 Cummings.
Final result: Cummings def. Dalby by unanimous decision
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155 lbs.: Damir Hadzovic vs. Mairbek Taisumov
Round 1: Tentative start. Low kick by Taisumov. Another heavy low kick after they exchange. One minute in. Another leg kick, then a punching exchange. Taisumov tries to spin, eats a pair of counters. Two minutes in. 1-2 by the Chechen, then a lead right and low kick. Hard left hook, met by a 2-1 from Hadzovic. Two minutes to go.
Counter right from Taisumov, jab from Hadzovic. Lead right from the Bosnian, but Taisumov rocks him with a counter right. Taisumov on the attack, blasting Hadzovic with punches. A brutal right uppercut splits Hadzovic’s guard and he crumbles to the mat. Four straight knockouts for Taisumov.
Final result: Taisumov def. Hadzovic by TKO (punches)
-end-
135 lbs.: Ian Entwistle vs. Alejandro Perez
Round 1: Flying scissor attempt from Entwistle. Perez slips out and a crazy scramble ensues. Entwistle claims that Perez is greased, ref checks and says no. Overhand right from Entwistle. Takedown fails. One minute in. Perez cracks Entwistle as he lunges in and dives on him. Entwistle manages to lock up his guard and goes for a leg. Entwistle loses it, readjusts and tries again. Two minutes in. Entwistle relentless as always, loses the leg but takes top position. Entwitslt falls back for an ankle lock. Entwistle switches legs, alternating between inside and outside as Perez whacks him with punches. Two minutes to go.
Perez gets top position and slams home punches and elbows from 50/50. Perez posturing up and landing solid punches. Entwistle covering up under the attack and Perez gets the TKO.
Final result: Perez def. Entwistle by TKO (punches)
-end-
135 lbs.: Filip Pejic vs. Damian Stasiak
Round 1: Low kick from Stasiak and an immediate takedown into side control. North-south, opposite side control. Pejic makes it to his feet and presses Stasiak against the fence. One minute in. Stasiak reverses and hits an outside trip into half guard. Side control, now the back with a seatbelt grip. Big right hand from mount, then the back again. Stasiak flattens Pejic out and locks up the rear-naked choke, prompting the tap.
Final result: Stasiak def. Pejic by submission (rear-naked choke)
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145 lbs.: Lucas Martins vs. Robert Whiteford
Round 1: Right hook from Whiteford to start things off. Intercepting knee by Martins. Another right hand lands for Whiteford. One minute in. Martins looking to counter, has yet to land clean. Right by Martins connects. Two minutes in. Counter 1-2 from the Brazilian, low kick by Whiteford. Good exchange in the center. Two minutes to go.
Whiteford low kick. Once again. Hard counter right hurts Whiteford. Martins cracks him with a knee and Whiteford clinches up. One minute to go. Knees to the thighs from Whiteford. A few to the body as well. 10-9 Martins.
Round 2: Whiteford lands a right hook early. Martins plodding forward. Body kick lands for him. Right hook by Whiteford in return. One minute in. Whiteford to the body. Whiteford catches a body kick, can’t use it. Two minutes in. Whiteford with a low kick, foot sweep by Martins. Martins still looking to counter. Check hook lands for him. Two minutes to go.
Straight left by Whiteford. Martins with a counter right, stalking forward. 2-1 by Martins as he backs Whiteford to the fence. Whiteford can’t get the takedown. Big right from the Brazilian met by a right hook. One minute to go. Martins with another hard right hand. Whiteford takes Martins down near the fence and lands some decent punches as he stands. Knees to the thighs. 10-9 Martins.
Round 3: Low kicks from Whiteford. Another one briefly trips Martins up. Whiteford doing a number on Martins’ footing. One minute in. Both land hard right hands inside. Counter right by Martins. Two minutes in. Both men hesitant to lead. Two minutes to go.
Low kick from Martins. Another one. Whiteford shoots and takes Martins to the fence. Whiteford lands a few knees to the thigh before they separate. One minute to go. Another low kick from Martins. They try to swing at the fence. 10-9 Martins.
Final result:
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265 lbs.: Cyril Asker vs. Jared Cannonier
Round 1: Both men swinging hard from the get-go. Solid rights form Asker. Asker catches a kick and shoots, Cannonier sprawls. Asker puts him on the fence. Knee from Cannonier. One minute in. Knee to the head as they separate. Left hook lands and draws a smile from Asker. Counter hook by Cannonier, who’s showing solid movement. Body kicks. Two minutes in. Left hook by Asker. Overhand left by Cannonier. Body shot. MONSTER left hook flattens Asker. Cannonier hesitates to follow, then obliterates him with elbows.
Final result: Cannonier def. Asker by KO (punches and elbows)
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185 lbs.: Alessio Di Chirico vs. Bojan Velickovic
Round 1: Di Chirico opens with a right hand. Counter body blows off a Velickovic kick. Straight left by Bojan. One minute in. Both fighters falling short with their punches thus far. Low kick from Di Chirico. Velickovic answers. Two minutes in. Overhand right by Di Chirico. Straight left by Velickovic in return. Body kick and right hand land for Di Chirico. Low kick exchange. Two minutes to go.
More low kicks from both sides. Straight left lands for Velickovic. One minute to go. Velickovic targeting the inside low kick. Right hook on the break. Quick exchange at the bell. 10-9 Velickovic on the late work.
Round 2: Counter 2-3 lands for Di Chirico. Counters from Di Chirico briefly drop an off-balance Velickovic. One minute in. Di Chirico catches a kick, lands a counter. Left hook lands for Di Chirico. Right downstairs. Right upstairs. Two minutes in. Velickovic struggling to land so far. Straight right connects for Di Chirico, then to the body. Velickovic shoots in hard and takes Di Chirico down on the fence. Two minutes to go.
Di Chirico scrambles back up and Bojan goes to work with dirty boxing. Di Chirico gets underhooks and separates. One minute to go. Velickovic tries a wheel kick, eats a pair of left hooks for his trouble. Both land hooks. Di Chirico catches a kick and hits a takedown, only for Velickovic to immediately lock up a Kimura and sweep into top position. Velickovic cranks but can’t finish it before the bell. 10-9 Di Chirico.
Round 3: Both fighters start the round out of range, tossing out punches. Low kicks by Velickovic. Velickovic shoots in for a single-leg, nothing there. One minute in. Counter right lands for Di Chirico, straight left lands for Velickovic. Body kick. Velickovic lands a single-leg, Di Chirico immediately pops up and cracks him with a right hand. Two minutes in. Head kick from Velickovic, left hook by De Chirico. Di Chirico shrugs off another takedown. Two minutes to go.
Knees by Velickovic inside. Right hand by Di Chirico, left from Velickovic. Velickovic looks for another single-leg, eats some hard punches for his trouble. One minute to go. Right hook by Di Chirico. Di Chirico hits a double-leg and dives in with a right hand. Di Chirico cracks him in the scramble and they trade inside. Good fight. 10-9 Di Chirico.
Final result: Velickovic def. Di Chirico by unanimous decision
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