Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is bringing mixed martial arts (MMA) fans free fisticuffs a week from Saturday night (Jan. 30, 2016) by way of UFC on FOX 18: “Johnson vs. Bader,” taking place inside Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
That’s where Ryan Bader will try his damnedest to get a crack at the 205-pound crown, which can only be accomplished by defeating the division’s most terrifying striker: light heavyweight smashing machine Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, who has title aspirations of his own.
In the UFC on FOX 18 co-main event, longtime heavyweight slugger Josh Barnett will attempt to prove himself worthy at the expense of well-traveled “Big” man, Ben Rothwell. The winner will undoubtedly find themselves atop a very short list of 265-pound title contenders.
All that and so much more.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC on FOX 18 fight card below, starting with the Fight Pass “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. ET, and then the remaining under card balance on FOX Sports 1 at 5 p.m. ET, before the FOX main card start time at 8 p.m. ET.
Many of our readers check-in before, during and after the televised fisticuffs to share their thoughts on all the exciting action. Therefore, feel free to leave a comment (or 18) before you split and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it always turns out to be a great discussion.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps and post-fight analysis after “Johnson vs. Bader.”
Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC on FOX 18 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC ON FOX 18 QUICK RESULTS:
Anthony Johnson vs. Ryan Bader
Josh Barnett vs. Ben Rothwell
Iuri Alcantara vs. Jimmie Rivera — Rivera def. Alcantara by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Sage Northcutt vs. Bryan Barberena — Barberena def. Northcutt by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:06 of Round Two
Jake Ellenberger vs. Tarec Saffiedine — Saffiedine def. Ellenberger by by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Diego Ferreira — Ferreira def. Aubin-Mercier by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
Kevin Casey vs. Rafael Natal — Natal def. Casey by TKO (punches) at 3:37 of Round Three
Dustin Ortiz vs. Wilson Reis — Reis def. Ortiz by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
George Sullivan vs. Alexander Yakovlev — Yakovlev def. Sullivan by TKO (punches) at 3:59 of Round One
Alex Caceres vs. Masio Fullen — Caceres def. Fullen by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Damon Jackson vs. Levan Makashvili — Majority draw (29-27, 28-28 x2)
Tony Martin vs. Felipe Olivieri — Martin def. Olivieri by technical submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:02 of Round Three
Randy Brown vs. Matt Dwyer — Brown def. Dwyer by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
UFC ON FOX 18 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
205 lbs.: Anthony Johnson vs. Ryan Bader
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Round 4:
Round 5:
Final result:
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265 lbs.: Josh Barnett vs. Ben Rothwell
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Final result:
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135 lbs.: Iuri Alcantara vs. Jimmie Rivera
Round 1: Knee and straight left from Alcantara. Body kick connects. Spinning back fist attempt form Rivera. Quick exchange, no clean connections. Good shots. One minute in. 2-3 connects for Rivera, then again as he eats a knee. Counter left just misses for Alcantara. Flurry by Rivera, then a right on the break. Two minutes in.
Rivera moving forward, both men rather tentative. Straight left by Alcantara. Right hands from Rivera on the cage, Alcantara circles off. One minute to go. Body shot and left hook. Body kick lands for Alcantara soon after. Alcantara with an accidental eye poke, Rivera elects to continue right away. Rivera shoots and plants Alcantara, who’s jawing when the stand up. 10-9 Rivera.
Round 2: Alcantara flicking out the front kick to the body he’s fond of. Rivera still on the advance. Nice knee by Alcantara, who then gets cracked with a pair of left hooks. One minute in. 2-3 by Rivera. Side kicks by Rivera. Two minutes in. Right hand by Rivera, who eats a counter left. Rivera ties up on the fence and knees the legs. Two minutes to go.
They return to the center of the cage. Rivera eats a body kick and tries to shoot, prompting a nice punching exchange. One minute to go. Hard straight left drops Rivera briefly. He shoots again and slams Alcantara down. Alcantara looks for the switch and Rivera looks to take the back. Close round. 10-9 Rivera.
Round 3: Solid punching exchanges in the early going. Leg kick from Alcantara. Body shot by Rivera, then a left hook upstairs. One minute in. Rivera catches a body kick and briefly trips Alcantara down. Marajo pops back up. Two minutes in. Alcantara counter left met by a left hook. Rivera digs another pair of rights downstairs. Good body kick by Alcantara. Two minutes to go.
Another good punching exchange. One minute to go. Another straight left drips Rivera and Rivera shoots, only to fall into a Kimura. Rivera rolls free. Rivera shoots for a single-leg, taking Alcantara to the fence. Rivera flurries at the bell. Great fight. 10-9 Rivera.
Final result:
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170 lbs.: Sage Northcutt vs. Bryan Barberena
Round 1: Straight right from Northcutt. Northcutt blitzes, walking through a counter right to do so, and they clinch. Shoulder strikes by Barberena. Northcutt separates. One minute in. Hook kick attempt form Sage. Hard 1-2 drops Barberena but he manages to scramble up and clinch. Northcutt pummels under and shoots, then takes the back. Barberena stands, Northcutt attached. Two minutes in. Barberena turns into him and Northcutt presses him against the fence. Hard right hand by Sage on the break. Two minutes to go
Backfist connects for him as Barberena stands. Big rights hit Barberena, he sends one back and Sage shoots. Barberena defending on the fence. They separate, Barberena bleeding. One minute to go. Northcutt shoots again, denied. Barberena takes him down against the fence. One minute to go. Northcutt kicks him off and stands. Hard counter right hook by Barberena. Again. Good exchange in the last few seconds. 10-9 Northcutt.
Round 2: Northcutt tries a cartwheel kick and Barbarena takes top position. Northcutt eats a couple of shots as he tries to make space. Short punches and elbows from Barberena. One minute in. Northcutt still trying to make space, but Barberena’s strong on top. Half guard for Barberena. Elbows by Barberena. He’s maintaining half guard well. Northcutt’s cut over his right eyebrow. Barberena looking for an arm-triangle and, despite being in an odd position, draws the tap.
Final result: Barberena def. Northcutt by submission (arm-triangle choke)
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170 lbs.: Jake Ellenberger vs. Tarec Saffiedine
Round 1: Saffiedine head kick blocked. They clinch and Tarec looks for knees wile Ellenberger slams home short punches. Ellenberger clinches against the cage, eats knees and they separate. One minute in. Left hook by Ellenberger. Saffiedine still tossing up kicks. Straight left lands for The Sponge. Two minutes in. Overhand right connects for Ellenberger. Body shot and left hook. The kicks continue, most blocked. Two minutes to go.
Big right hand by Ellenberger rocks Saffiedine. Tarec jacks him with a knee as he shoots. They separate and Tarec seems recovered. Brazilian kick falls short for Saffiedine. One minute to go. Left hook by Tarec met by a right hand. 10-9 Ellenberger.
Round 2: Solid right hook by Saffiedine, then the first leg kick of the fight. The Sponge looking a little more aggressive. Brief clinch. He’s doing a good job of avoiding Ellenberger’s punches this round. One minute in. Body kick by Saffiedine. Stiff punches. Tarec’s jab working. Two minutes in. Left hook lands for Ellenberger, then a couple as Saffiedine circles off. Low kicks by Saffiedine. Both whiff in the center. Two minutes to go.
Saffiedine changes levels, tries a foot sweep. 1-1-2 by Saffiedine, knee goes low. Saffiedine continues to fight well off the back foot. One minute to go. Sneaky left hand connects. Front kick attempt by Tarec. Ellenberger shoots and briefly keeps Saffiedine down. The Sponge separates before the bell. 10-9 Saffiedine.
Round 3: Tentative start to the round. High kick from Saffiedine blocked. Ellenberger bullies him to the fence. One minute in. Saffiedine separates. Straight right connects. Low kicks by Saffiedine. Ellenberger with a right downstairs. Two minutes in. Another low kick hits home. Saffiedine still throwing that high kick, lands a counter right when Ellenberger tries to pursue. Matador moment as Saffiedine sidesteps. Another pair of leg kicks. Two minutes to go.
Ellenberger shoots, stuffed. Body knees by Saffiedine, body punches from Ellenberger as they clinch. One minute to go. Ellenberger tries to shoot again and Tarec takes his back. He can’t get it under the chin. Ellenberger manages to spin to his feet. He shoots again before the bell, then swings hard inside. 10-9 Saffiedine.
Final result: Saffiedine def. Ellenberger by unanimous decision
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155 lbs.: Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Diego Ferreira
Round 1: OAM sticks out the jab. Counter right from Ferreira. Left hook connects. OAM lands a hard pair of body kicks, the latter of which is caught and dropped. One minute in. Ferreira whiffs on a spinning backfist, eats an uppercut. Hard right hand by the Brazilian. Another body kick by OAM. Ferreira body kick, Aubin-Mercier leg kicks. They trade punches and Ferreira blasts him with a spinning back fist. They tie up, then split. Two minutes in. OAM catches a kick and they clinch. Nothing there. Body kick again fro Aubin-Mercier. Two minutes to go.
Body kick countered by a Ferreira left hook. Head kick glances off, left hand does not for Aubin-Mercier. Clinch. They trade shots inside until Aubin-Mercier takes him to the fence. One minute to go. Ferreira just misses with a head kick, lands a straight left and clinches. They separate. Body kick again by OAM, then a right hook as they trade. 10-9 Ferrera.
Round 2: Ferreira winning the early exchanges. Straight left by the Canadian. Left hand lands for OAM, but the head kick that preceded it gets caught. They engage on the fence and Ferreira avoids a takedown. One minute in. Straight left lands for Aubin-Mercier. 1-2 connects. Diego clips him with a head kick. Aubin-Mercier shoots. Two minutes in. Aubin-Mercier takes him down and lands an uppercut as he rises. Two minutes in. Combination by Ferreira. Good exchange in the center. Lead uppercut by Aubin-Mercier. Ferreira’s winning most of these trades. Takedown attempt from the Brazilian thwarted. Two minutes to go.
Head kick attempt by Aubin-Mercier. Body kick caught. Both land right hands inside. Straight left by Aubin-Mercier. Uppercut rattles Ferreira. One minute to go. Ferreira backs him off with some swings. They trade body blows. Closer round, but 10-9 Ferreira.
Round 3: Ferreira staying on the advance, tries a trip. OAM lands a body kick, then goes high. 2-3 from Aubin-Mercier, then another lead uppercut. Again, then a right hook behind it. Aubin-Mercier hits a takedown, can’t keep him there after being threatened with an omoplata. One minute in. They separate. Another uppercut and outside trip by Aubin-Mercier. Ferreira rolls through and lands on top in half guard. Beautiful transition to the back from Ferreira Two minutes in. Ferreira looking for the choke. Ferreira landing shots. Aubin-Mercier manages to return to half guard. Two minutes to go.
Aubin-Mercier tries to stand and, in the process, gives up his back again. Body triangle for Ferreira. One minute to go. Ferreira still working for the choke; Aubin-Mercier’s defending well but not doing anything to improve position. Ferreira punches until the bell. 10-9 Ferreira.
Final result: Ferreira def. Aubin-Mercier by unanimous decision
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185 lbs.: Kevin Casey vs. Rafael Natal
Round 1: Casey stalking forward, walks into a left hook. Head kick goes high. One minute in. Straight left lands for Casey and Natal shoots. Casey sprawls, gets taken to the fence. Casey reverses and looks for a single-leg. Nothing doing. Two minutes in. Natal tries to spin out, can’t do so but lands some short punches. Knee to the body and uppercut by Casey. Natal exits with a right hand. Natal catches a finger, doesn’t want a break. Two minutes to go.
Natal shoots and completes a takedown into guard. Casey gets his hips under him and stands. Natal shoots, Casey counters and takes top position. One minute in. Natal works his way up, eats a left before separating. Natal tries to shoot again, stuffed. Hard shots by Casey, but Natal drops him right at the horn. 10-9 Casey.
Round 2: Natal throws a low kick that hits groin. Casey takes some time to recover. Straight right by Natal, right hook by Casey. Another right hand drops Casey, but he pops up. Natal shoots and takes Casey down into guard. One minute in. Short punches from the Brazilian on the fence. He passes to half guard. Casey regains butterfly guard. Two minutes in. He kicks Natal off and stands, Natal attached. Casey turns to face Natal. Natal lands a good knee to the body. Solid shots on the break. Two minutes to go.
Body kick by Natal, then another. Natal hits another takedown as Casey leaps in. One minute to go. Natal pounding away with good hammerfists. Casey briefly threatens before the round’s end. 10-9 Natal.
Round 3: Casey looks gassed at this point. Low kick by Natal, then a series of punches. Casey tries to rush. Whiffs on an uppercut. One minute in. Both whiff on wide punches. Body shot by Casey and Natal takes him down again. Two minutes in. Half guard now for Natal. Full mount. Two minutes to go.
Natal briefly threatens an arm-triangle. Nasty shots by Natal and Casey’s just covering up. Ground-and-pound stoppage for Rafael Natal.
Final result: Natal def. Casey by TKO (punches)
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125 lbs.: Dustin Ortiz vs. Wilson Reis
Round 1: Both men take the center, tossing out low kicks. Both land right hands. Quick, in-and-out strikes in the early going. Solid right by Ortiz. Body shot from Ortiz, left hand up top by Reis. One minute in. Both throw rights. Ortiz steps in to the clinch,, exits with an elbow. High kick from Ortiz. Reis on the front foot. Ortiz changes levels and they clinch. Both land rights as they separate. Two minutes in. Evenly-matched thus far. Both throw kicks. Reis to the body. Again, Ortiz goes upstairs with the right. Reis shuts down a shot and shoots himself. Reis looking to move toward the back, hiats a trip. Ortiz escapes out the backdoor but eats a right. Two minutes to go.
Body kick from Ortiz. Uppercut lands for Reis, then a straight left. He’s starting to get the better of things on the feet. One minute to go. Reis shoots, stuffed, continues to drive. Reis pressing him against the fence. Ortiz exits with a body kick. Ortiz shoots, Reis stuffs it and grabs the rear waistlock. Reis completes a double-leg at the bell. 10-9 Reis.
Round 2: Reis connects with a pair of left hands early. Body shots by Ortiz, Reis answers and Ortiz shoots. Reis sprawls on it again and they return to their feet. Superman punch by Ortiz met by a right hook. Lefts by Ortiz. Reis shoots in. One minute in. Ortiz lands some elbows, gives up the rear waistlock. Body kick from Ortiz as they separate. Counter left by Reis after eating a right, Ortiz lands a body kick. Great pace. Two minutes in. Good punching exchange in the center. Ortiz catches a kick, gets taken to the fence. Reis drives for a bit before separating. Ortiz shoots again, gets reversed. Two minutes to go.
Ortiz looks for the switch but gets taken down anyway. They separate and return to the center. 1-2 by Reis. Blast double by Reis and he immediately takes the back, putting in both hooks. One minute to go. Reis looking for the choke, switches to an armbar at the ten-second mark. Ortiz stacks and defends until the bell. 10-9 Reis.
Round 3: Ortiz fires a high kick. Both land as they trade punches. Reis shoots as Ortiz starts to get comfortable and again takes his back. Outside trip brings Ortiz down. One minute in. Great positional control by Ries. Ortiz scrambles up and separates. Ortiz looking a little slow as they engage standing. Ortiz lands a left and Reis takes him to the fence. Two minutes in. Reis again trips Ortiz to the mat. Ortiz gets back up, gets his legs pulled out from under him. Two minutes to go.
Ortiz manages to sit through and get his first takedown of the fight, although Reis scrambles up. Reis re-enters the clinch and looks to shoot in again. He brings Ortiz down and hops into mount. Back mount now.One minute to go. Reis drills him with some left hands. Ortiz makes it to his feet, goes back to a knee, stands back up once more. Reis stays attached to him until the bell. 10-9 Reis.
Final result: Reis def. Ortiz by unanimous decision
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170 lbs.: George Sullivan vs. Alexander Yakovlev
Round 1: Sullivan tossing out leg kicks early. Yakovlev starts kicking back after about forty seconds. Yakovlev catches a body kick and takes Sullivan down. One minute in. Sullivan garbs the front headlock and scoots his way to his feet on the fence. They trade knees to the body before separating. Yakovlev changes levels and takes Sullivan down into side control. Working for mount, gets it and takes the back. Sullivan working his way up, Yakovlev still has the rear waistlock. Sullivan manages to turn into him and separate. Two minutes to go.
Body kick from Sullivan. Yakovlev leg kick grazes the cup, body kick lands. More leg kick exchanges. 2-1 by Yakovlev lands and flattens Sullivan. A few follow-up punches and this one is over.
Final result: Yakovlev def. Sullivan by TKO (punches)
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145 lbs.: Alex Caceres vs. Masio Fullen
Round 1: Caceres tosses out some kicks to start things off. Body kick lands for Fullen. Caceres answers. Low kick from Caceres answered by a right hand. Fullen low kick. Nice counter right lands for Fullen, Caceres comes back with a jumping switch kick. Fullen tries the same, then lands a left hook. Front kick to the body by Caceres. Two minutes in. High kick just misses. 1-2 lands. Low kick checked. Fullen tries a spinning back kick, lands a looping right. Caceres side kick, Fullen head kick ust misses. Two minutes to go.
Fullen to the body, Caceres up top with the right. Spinning kick lands for Caceres and a straight left knocks Fulen back. They tie up, Caceres on the outside. Double underhooks for Caceres, who hits a trip. One minute to go. Fullen works his way back up, eats a knee on the break. Caceres hits a side kick before the bell. 10-9 Caceres/
Round 2: Fullen a little more aggressive at the start. Body kick lands for him. Caceres looking for body kicks of his own. Spinning back kick attempt by Masio, right hand connects afterwards. One minute in. Low kick from Caceres. He tries to spin and Fullen grabs the rear waistlock briefly. Straight left by Caceres hits home, leg kick lands in return. Caceres backs him off, looks to open up with combinations. Two minutes in. Low kick, glancing high kick from Caceres. Fullen lands a counter right off of a low kick, then a straight right. Two minutes to go.
Body kick and knee by Caceres. Flying knee. Caceres steps into the clinch against the cage. Knee to the body amid some to the legs. They separate. One minute to go. Left hook by Fullen, then a jumping body kick. Caceres with a straight left and high kick before clinching. High knee just misses. Fullen tries a head kick before the bell. 10-9 Caceres.
Round 3: Body kick from Caceres. Fullen falls short with a long right. Straight left does land for Caceres. Fullen side kick. They’re fairly tit-for-tat in the center, but Caceres’ volume and defense are winning the fight thus far. One minute in. High kick attempt, Fullen counters with a two-piece. Spinning low kick by Caceres. He’s putting together some combinations, while Fullen looks for counters. Two minutes in. Caceres continues his advance. Low kick lands for him, shot fails. Two minutes to go.
Body kick from Caceres. Side kick just misses. It’s hard to tell who’s landing in the punching exchange. Caceres lands a body knee and clean head kick. One minute to go. 1-2s from Caceres, stiff jab knocks him back. Check hook by Fullen. Hard combination trips Fullen up and Caceres clinches. Solid shots by Caceres. Fullen circles out and Caceres continues the attack until the bell. 10-9 Caceres.
Final result: Caceres def. Fullen by unanimous decision
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145 lbs.: Damon Jackson vs. Levan Makashvili
Round 1: Jackson pressuring in the early going, sticking out his jab. He slips on a high kick. Low kicks, jabs, lots coming from Jackson in the first minute. They tie up on the fence, Jackson on the outside. Knees to the body from the American. Makashvili reverses, Jackson returns the favor. Two minutes in. Short knees being exchanged. Referee separates them with two minutes to go.
Knee by Jackson, combination by Makashvili. Solid punches from the suddenly-active Georgian. Jackson shoots in under one of them, Makashvili defends on the fence. One minute to go. They shuffle along the fence as Jackson digs in. Jackson still landing short knees to the thigh. Jackson goes low and Makashvili sprawls. They stay there until the bell. 10-9 Jackson.
Round 2: Jackson staying aggressive, trips Makashvili up. Blocked body kick. Makashvili offering some counters but not many. High kick attempts from the Georgian. One minute in, glancing hook lands. Jackson shoots in through a counter right. Makashvili defends and they separate. They clinch, dirty boxing from Makashvili. Two minutes in. Another clinch from Jackson. Yet more knees to the thigh. Two minutes to go.
The ref separates them. Short combo by Makashvili. He catches a kick and lands some right hands. Jackson shoots and presses him against the fence again. One minute to go. Jackson tries to separate with an elbow and Makashvili reverses. Jackson reverses again. Crap fight. 10-9 Jackson.
Round 3: Jackson keeps up the offense. Head kick just misses. They tie up and Makashvili drives to the opposite fence. Jackson reverses. One minute in The ref separates them. Body kick by Makashvil. Makashvili shoots, lands in a guillotine. Makashvili survives, Jackson uses it to scramble up. Two minutes in . Makashvili tosses out some kicks before they tie up. Jackson takes him to the fence, Makashvili reverses. Two minutes to go.
Makashvili drives through and completes a takedown. Jackson with his back against the cage, working to stand. Jackson looking for the switch, no dice. He works his way up, eats an illegal knee. Doesn’t look too bad and they soon resume. One minute to go. Right hand lands for Jackson, who then runs into an eye poke. The ref elects to take a point. Jackson launches a high kick after the restart. Both men active in the final minute. Jackson looks fora front headlock, Makashvili shoots in. 9-9.
Final result: Majority draw
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155 lbs.: Tony Martin vs. Felipe Olivieri
Round 1: Olivieri tosses out low kicks, Martin tries to answer. Big low kick by Olivieri knocks Martin over; the American scrambles back up, eats another leg kick. One minute in. Another low kick and Martin shoots in on the fence. Martin lifts him way up, but Olivieri pops right back up after hitting the ground. Martin stays on him and drags him to the mat, where Olivieri takes butterfly guard. Quick scoot from the Brazilian to the fence, back on his feet. Two minutes in. Martin continues to drive, tries another lift. The referee breaks them up with two minutes to go.
Olivieri moves in and buckles Martin with another leg kick, prompting yet another shot. Browne elbows by the Brazilian. Olivieri turns him around, eats a right hand. One minute to go. Martin stays attached. Olivieri whips out another leg kick on the break. Spinning elbow attempt by Martin, who eats a right and in the clinch. They tie up at the bell. 10-9 Olivieri.
Round 2: Martin stalking forward, eats another good low kick. Glancing overhand by the Brazilian. Three straight low kicks land. One minute in. Martin lands a low kick himself. Olivieri staying busy whacking the leg while Martin looks to punch. Good 1-2 by Martin. Another low kick by Olivieri. Two minutes in. No takedowns yet from Martin, who eats a leg kick to the opposite leg this time. Martin pops him with a cross, then another. Two minutes to go.
Olivieri lands a glancing head kick, eats a right cross. Martin again cracks him with the right, then another as he takes a low kick. More right hands by Martin; Olivieri’s wearing them over his left eye. Lead right by the Brazilian, who’s been working behind a jab that Martin counters twice in a row. One minute to go. Good combination by Martin and Oliveiri’s wobbly. The Brazilian lands a big overhand right and ties up, taking Martin to the fence. 10-9 Martin.
Round 3: Martin sticking out the jab and left hook early. Check hook, Olivieri answers with a low kick. More low kicks and a jab behind them. Short combination by Martin around the guard. One minute in. 1-2 by Olivieri. Martin lands a short left hook, eats one and a leg kick. Martin shoots in and gets Olivieri against the cage. Outside trip by Martin. Two minutes in. Martin steps into half guard against the fence. Olivieri gives up his back and Martin slips in a hook. Martin locks up the rear-naked choke as they scramble and chokes Olivieri unconscious.
Final result: Martin def. Olivieri by technical submission (rear-naked choke)
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170 lbs.: Randy Brown vs. Matt Dwyer
Round 1: Low kick from Dwyer to start. Another one, countered by a left hook. High kick attempt from Dwyer. One minute in. Oblique kicks by Brown. Right hand from Dwyer, left hook from Brown. More leg kicks by the Canadian. Two minutes in. Overhand right lands for Dwyer, Brown takes it well. Dwyer just misses with a long right. Both toss out kicks. Two minutes to go.
Dwyer’s leaving himself open, though Brown has yet to capitalize. Counter right by Dwyer. Brown pressures him to the fence, looks for high kicks. One minute to go. Brown showing a little more aggression in the final minute, tries a hook kick. Dwyer low kick. Brown pursues until the bell. 10-9 Dwyer.
Round 2: Dwyer pressuring in the opening seconds of the round. Low kicks land for him. Brown looks for counters, avoids an overhand right. Dwyer clinches and they jockey for position. Brown reverses, as does Dwyer. One minute in. The referee elects to separate them. Brown looks for a high kick, backs Dwyer off with a right hand. Straight right lands for Dwyer. Two minutes in. Low kicks connect. Brown pops him with a right and they clinch. They trade knes and Brown takes Dwyer to the fence. Lovely throw by Brown, who snags a D’arce on the way up. Two minutes to go.
Dwyer looking to drive into him and Brown releases it. Back to clinching against the cage. Dwyer changing levels, looking for a takedown. One minute to go. Dwyer lifts him and puts Brown on his set. Browne elbows from Brown as he stands. Close round. 10-9 Brown.
Round 3: Jabs and now right hands from Brown. Dwyer shoots in in return and Brown looks for the D’arce, only to give up his back. Brown turns into him and shoots. Now Brown looking for the back, both hooks in standing. One minute in. Dwyer removes an arm and turns to face him, separating. Body kick by Dwyer. Brown shoots and they jockey for position. Two minutes in. Brown lands a knee to the groin and they pause. Brown leaving his hands open. Two minutes to go.
Knees by Brown and Dwyer slings punches at him. Brown shoots, Dwyer hits a throw, and Brown winds up on top. Brown locks up the D’arce once again, not really committing to it. Dwyer shooting in, threatens a Kimura. He continues driving. Brown winds up on top briefly. They trade leather at the bell. 10-9 Brown in a close fight.
Final result: Brown def. Dwyer by unanimous decision
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