UFC Singapore prelims results & video: Fiziev, Lookboonmee impress

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Check out the results and highlights from the UFC Singapore prelims, including Rafael Fiziev putting hands on Alex White in a dominant decision.

The UFC Singapore preliminary matches have just wrapped up with Randa Markos and Ashley Yoder scrapping it out to a decision. Each fighter had their moments on the feet as well as on the ground throughout. When the dust settled it was Markos who walked away with nod to get herself back into the win column. Before that, Rafael Fiziev earned his first UFC win with a dominant decision win over Alex White. He set the tone early, throwing punches in bunches, and refused to concede the takedown throughout. Fiziev might be someone to keep an eye on as he settles in to his MMA career.

To keep his flawless record in tact, Movsar Evloev picked up a gritty decision over a scrappy Enrique Barzola. The striking of Evloev looked sharp and his transitions into his takedowns were seamless, even if Barzola was quick to spring back up each time. Now sitting at an unblemished 12-0, the future is looking bright for Evloev. Also on the undercard, the UFC’s #14 ranked heavyweight, Sergey Pavlovich, showed off tremendous punching power as well as a stellar killer instinct when he dismantled the #13 ranked Maurice Greene in the first round. After dropping his promotional debut to Alistair Overeem, Pavlovich has now won back to back bouts.

The promotion’s first ever Thai born native, Loma Lookboonmee, made her UFC debut by outclassing Aleksandra Albu on the feet for three rounds. Tiger Muay Thai’s Lookboonmee owned the clinch, landing elbows and knees, as well as hitting trips. The result was a questionable split decision, as two of the judges saw it 30-27 for Loma, while one judge mysteriously scored the fight 29-28 for Albu.

See complete results below

Prelims:

Randa Markos def. Ashley Yoder by split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29): Strawweight

Markos was quick to clinch up and force her foe against the fence. Yoder hit a hip toss to take top position, but Markos then worked for an inverted triangle. The sub attempt was fended off and Yoder was able to land some strikes from the top. Markos had a brief anaconda attempt, but Yoder was quick to escape.

Markos landed some clean strikes to open the second stanza, prompting Yoder to clinch up. Markos returned to open space and continued to score with a bunch of punches. Yoder went on to take top position, and started dropping quality elbows. Markos reversed the situation and was able to land her own ground strikes before the bell.

The strawweights went toe to toe to open the final round, with Markos throwing with a bit more power. The fight went back to the floor with Yoder taking the back in a scramble. Markos was able to work her way into half guard, and then ultimately back to her feet. The fighters slugged it out for the remaining moments of the fight, with Markos landing the more significant blows.

Rafael Fiziev def. Alex White by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28): Lightweight

Fiziev came out pressuring White and landing crisp combos. He wobbled with with a flurry of heavy hooks. White got caught in a front head lock position and ate several clean knees to the skull. Alex was able to clinch up and stall a bit, but it wasn’t long before Fiziev landed some more knees to the noggin.

Fiziev got right back to work in the second act. He was tagging his opposition with heavy punches, prompting White to try and secure a takedown. Fiziev remained vertical and started to attack the body. White really struggled to get anything going on his end.

It was Fiziev who realized a takedown to start the third round, but he backed out before anything happened. Back on the feet, Fiziev cracked off with several stinging leg kicks that went unchecked. White just couldn’t get the fight to the floor or mount much meaningful offense of his own.

Movsar Evloev def. Enrique Barzola by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2): Featherweight

Evloev popped off with a stiff jab to open the bout. He had Barzola out of sorts early, and the second he started to open up, Evloev sacred a takedown. Barzola scrambled back to his feet where he ate a stinging right hand. Evloev was looking sharp, but Barzola bit down and started to fire back, opening up a cut under the eye of his opponent.

Evloev scored a short lived takedown to begin the second act. Back on the feet, Evloev continued to be the sharper striker, landing the better shots and seeming to disrupt the rhythm of Barzola. The takedown continued to be there for Evloev, even if Barzola didn’t take long to get back up. Barzola did his best work when he was able to make it ugly, and he even hit a slamming takedown near the end of the round.

Barzola was able to stuff the takedown attempts of Evloev in the final round. He then started to land some quality strikes. The bout was paused after an inadvertent cup shot to Evloev, but quickly restarted. Barzola continued to stop the takedown and land his punches at a descent clip.

Sergey Pavlovich def. Maurice Greene by TKO at 2:11 of round 1: Heavyweight

Pavlovich was landing with his right hand early while Greene was looking to attack the legs. Pavlovich hurt his foe with a jab and had Greene backpedalling to the fence. He went full tilt and started going in for the kill, overwhelming Greene. After falling to the ground, Greene briefly attempted a single leg takedown, but the onslaught kept coming. The referee saw enough of Greene flailing and waived off the fight.

Loma Lookboonmee def. Aleksandra Albu by split decision (30-27 x2,28-29): Strawweight

The fighters got to work right away. Albu was throwing hard punches and Lookboonmee was landing some mean elbows on the inside. Albu grabbed the shirt of Loma and didn’t let go until the referee stepped in with a warning. Loma landed some peeps to the face and then found success in the clinch with some brutal knees to the body. Lookboonmee continued to thrive in the clinch in the second round. Her knees and elbows were quite damaging and effective. She hit several trips, but opted to avoid the ground. Albu did land some quality strikes here and there, but the technical edge belonged to Loma.

Albu kept coming forward in the third round, but Loma was beating her to the punch and tying up in the clinch. The elbows continued to sneak through and the trips were still there. The leg kicks of Lookboonmee started to welt up the leg of Albu. With about 30 seconds remaining into match, Albu hit a scissor sweep to take top position, but made nothing of it before the bell.

Raphael Pessoa def. Jeff Hughes by unanimous decision (30-27 x3): Heavyweight

The big men started to feel each other out to start the fight. Pessoa started to throw some hard strikes, but didn’t really connect on a lot of them. Hughes was content to sit back and play defense, but suffered a bit of swelling around his right eye from a left hand.

Pessoa came out for the second act landing stinging kicks to the inside and outside leg. Hughes started to throw back, but then Pessoa briefly dropped him with a right hand. Hughes looked to get the fight to the floor, and was finally able to off a botched head kick that he threw. Nothing came of the ground position before time ran out. Both big men whiffed on spinning attacks to kick off the final frame. Hughes started to land a bit more, attacking the leg and finding single strikes with his hands. Th output from Pessoa slowed down a bit, which allowed his opponent to get in some licks.