UFC Orlando prelims results, highlights: Angela Hill dominates, Guida wins

Check out the live results and highlights for the UFC Orlando: Stephen Thompson vs. Kevin Holland preliminary card.

Stay up to date with what’s happening today with the UFC Orlando: Stephen Thompson vs. Kevin Holland preliminary card, which is going down from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.

The card’s featured prelim promises to be action packed when “The Hybrid” Niko Price, meets “The Fresh Prince” Philip Rowe. The 15-5-2 Price has only seen the scorecards in four of his 22 fights, and the 9-3 Rowe has only gone the distance twice in twelve total fights. With both men sharing that kill or be killed attitude, this should be quite the fun one.

Before that, we’ve got ranked strawweights going at it when the UFC’s #13 ranked, Emily Ducote, tangles with the #12 ranked, Angela Hill. After capturing the Invicta FC title in 2001 and defending it once, Ducote moved over to the UFC to snag a win over a veteran in Jessica Penne. As for Hill, her record isn’t the prettiest on paper, but she brings the ruckus every time out, and is darn hard to kill. Win or lose, this match should tell us a lot about Ducote.

The UFC Orlando: Stephen Thompson vs. Kevin Holland preliminary card is slated for 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT, and can be streamed on ESPN+.

Prelims:

Angela Hill def. Emily Ducote by unanimous decision (30-27 x3): Strawweight

Hill took the center of the Octagon right away, and proceeded to pick away with her jab and leg kicks. Ducote was being reserved, allowing Hill to get out in front early on in the match. Hill really ran away with this round. Ducote was never in serious trouble, but she had zero moments that round.

Hill continued to be exceptionally sharp in the second round, delivering a variety of volume. Ducote pretty much looked like a deer in headlights out there. Hill was on fire! Even when the fight drifted into the clinch, it was Hill who was scoring with several solid knees to the body. It was another great round for Hill.

Ducote had some early success with her hands in the final round. She was still getting backed up, but she was doing a better job of planting her feet and committing to her strikes. Hill kept pressing forward and regained control, and she continued to enter the clinch with piercing knees. She was also sneaking in some elbows from the clinch, truly styling on Ducote at every turn. What a shutout!

Clay Guida def. Scott Holtzman by split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29): Lightweight

Holtzman was pressuring right away, unloading a bunch of volume while Guida was mostly being defensive. Guida shot in a couple of times, but Holtzman had the takedown attempts well-scouted. Guida did land a nice punch just before the bell, but the strike count that round seemed to favor Holtzman.

Guida came out and blasted a short-lived takedown to begin the second round. Holtzman quickly stood back to his feet, and then out-worked Clay in the clinch to get free. Guida went back to the takedown, and eventually was able to scoop up Holtzman and slam him down. Holtzman worked hard to quickly get back up, and then got his boxing going again. Guida found a way to clinch up, and worked for a takedown until the bell.

Holtzman stuffed the first takedown attempt from Guida in the final round, and then started to connect with his right hand. Guida clinched up against the fence, working hard for the takedown, and was able to lift up Holtzman to get the TD. Holtzman was able to get back up without sustaining much of any damage, but Guida went right back to the takedown.

Michael Johnson def. Marc Diakiese by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2): Lightweight

Diakiese came out attacking the calf, and then tried to hit a takedown. Johnson was savvy to the attempt and sprawled hard to stay on his feet. Johnson pressured forward, forcing Diakiese to fight off of his back foot. Johnson continued pressure in the second round. He was backing up Diakiese to the fence, and was the one landing the better punches. Diakiese tried to get the fight tot he floor, but the takedown defense of Johnson was impeccable.

The pressure slowed down for Johnson in the final, while the output of Diakiese picked up a little bit. The takedown defense continued to hold up for Johnson, as Diakiese failed to get any takedowns in this fight. Johnson started to increase his output down the stretch, using his straight punches to hit his mark.

Jonathan Pearce def. Darren Elkins by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 30-26): Featherweight

Pearce opened the match with a nasty trio of front kicks to the face. Elkins responded with a takedown, but Pearce quickly scrambled back up to his feet. In open space, Pearce clipped an off-balanced Elkins with a flush punch, and then nearly connected with an explosive flying knee. Of course Elkins was bleeding from the face, but he was still throwing his hands. Pearce ended up snagging a takedown with about 30-seconds left in the round, and landed some big ground strikes before time expired.

Elkins got his boxing going to begin the second round. It wasn’t pretty, but he found a way to get some offense going. Elkins almost scrambled to the back, but Pearce used some nasty elbows to spin into top position. More elbows got through for Pearce, who finished up the round in dominant fashion.

Elkins found himself on the bottom after botching a takedown attempt. A massive cut started to leak from the forehead of Elkins, which prompted the referee to pause the fight so the doctor could check on Darren. Upon the restart, the referee failed to restart the match with Elkins on his back. Elkins had a chance to steal the win with a finish, but JSP was just too good tonight.

Natan Levy def. Genaro Valdez by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2): Lightweight

Levy came out launching kicks at Valdez, both to the head and the body. Valdez stood his ground and fired back, but eventually a right hand sat him down. Valdez stood back up and Levy started to attack the body with thudding kicks. Somehow, Valdez stayed in the fight, and then an accidental cup kick briefly paused the action. This was a great round for Levy.

The second stanza saw Valdez get himself back into the fight. He was starting to tag Levy cleanly, which actually prompted Natan to start wrestling. Levy earned himself a takedown, and although he wasn’t dropping any strikes, he did rack up some control time. Valdez pressed the action in the final round, but another cup check paused the cation again. Upon the restart, Valdez tried to be aggressive again, but ended up giving up a takedown. Levy then controlled Valdez up against the cage until the bell.

Francis Marshall def. Marcelo Rojo by KO at 1:14 of round 2: Featherweight

Rojo was commanding the cage early here, but Marshall came up with a big punch that staggered Marcelo. From there, Marshall snagged a takedown, even though Rojo got away with a couple of fence grabs. Marshall maintained top control for the rest of the round, but he did eat a few elbows for his troubles.

An accidental cup check from Rojo started the second stanza, which brought a brief pause to the match. Upon the restart, Rojo started to let his hands go, but all that did was give Marshall an opportunity to deliver a massive right hook that sat down Marcello. Marshall pounced with fight-ending ground and pound to finish the job. What a debut!

Yazmin Jauregui def. Istela Nunes by TKO at 4:06 of round 2: Strawweight

Nunes scored a flash knockdown early in the first round, which put her up on the scorecards right away. Jauregui recovered really quickly, and went right back to fighting as if nothing ever happened. She was able to hit a takedown, but Nunes sprung right back up to her feet. Towards the end of the round, Jauregui started to connect with her hands as Nunes tried to skirt away from her.

Jauregui came out on a mission in the second round. She chased down Nunes with fists of fury, with one of her heaters sending Nunes down to the canvas. Nunes quickly recovered from the knockdown and stood back up, but it wasn’t long before a right hand sent her right back down. This time, Jauregui took top position and started to rain down all sorts of punishment. Nunes did not improver her position and the referee was forced to step in and call it off.