Tag: UFC Utica

UFC Utica Bonuses: Moraes & Gillespie Bank $50k

Who took home the extra cash after UFC Utica last night?

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Last night’s (Fri. June 1, 2018) UFC Utica event presented some tremendous performances from several fighters on the card, but only a few could take home the $50k bonuses for their extraordinary efforts.

In the featured bout of the UFC Fight Pass Prelims, UFC newcomer Nathaniel Wood pulled off a D’arce choke victory over Johnny Eduardo. It was a magnificent comeback for Wood, who will take home an extra $50k for his Performance Of The Night.

Ben Saunders also scored a Performance Of The Night bonus after nailing Jake Ellenberger with a knee to the liver that forced the fight to be called off in the first round. Saunders’ paycheck will be $50k fatter as a result.

In the co-main event of the evening, UFC lightweight prospect Gregor Gillespie put on a dominant performance over Vinc Pichel. He wound up scoring an arm-triangle choke in the second round and will get a $50k Performance Of The Night bonus.

Our final Performance Of The Night bonus winner was main event victor Marlon Moraes, who scored a 30-second knockout win over Jimmie Rivera.

The win puts Moraes in the 135-pound title conversation as he awaits the winner of TJ Dillashaw vs. Cody Garbrandt II for the bantamweight title at UFC 227 in August.

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Highlights: Gregor Gillespie Stays Unbeaten With Flawless Submission

Watch Gregor Gillespie stay unbeaten with another dominant finish:

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Hyped lightweight prospect Gregor Gillespie was looking to secure five straight wins in the UFC when he met Vinc Pichel in the co-main event of last night’s (Fri., June 1, 2018) UFC Fight Night 131 from the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, New York.

He did so in one-sided fashion, using his dominant, smothering wrestling game to consistently ground Pichel and control him on the mat using seamless transitions from one advantageous position to another.

Gillespie was never in anything resembling danger, and his relentless takedown game coupled with a developing striking attack makes the 31-year-old one of the deeply talented lightweight division’s fastest-rising prospects. He wouldn’t call anyone out after the win, instead looking to take a few days off to go fishing, but a big step up in competition – and possibly a debut on the top 15 ranks – will likely await ‘The Gift’ next week.

For now, watch his fourth straight finish in the UFC right here:

The Gift that keeps on giving! Make that 12-0 for Gregor Gillespie. pic.twitter.com/BtgYYBbVgh

— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) June 2, 2018

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Highlights: Marlon Moraes Kicks Jimmie Rivera Into Oblivion

Watch Marlon Moraes destroy Jimmie Rivera in only 33 seconds:

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Top-ranked bantamweight contenders Marlon Moraes and Jimmie Rivera met for crucial positioning in the main event of last night’s (Fri., June 1, 2018) UFC Fight Night 131 from the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, New York.

Hailing from nearby New Jersey, Rivera brought the momentum of an incredible 20-fight win streak to the cage, but that didn’t matter against the streaking Moraes, who had his own momentum following a highlight reel knockout of Aljamain Sterling in his last fight.

The former World Series of Fighting (WSOF) champion made an incredibly strong case for the next 135-pound title fight following August’s TJ Dillashaw vs. Cody Garbrandt, knocking out Rivera with a shockingly quick, shockingly brutal head kick TKO in only 33 seconds.

Watch Moraes’ latest big knockout win right here:

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UFC Utica Highlights: Moraes Finishes Rivera With Head Kick (Video)

UFC Utica is in the books and it ended with a doozy. Marlon Moraes and Jimmie Rivera did battle inside the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, NY. The two took center stage in the main event. This was the first time either man headlined a UFC card. Going …

UFC Utica is in the books and it ended with a doozy. Marlon Moraes and Jimmie Rivera did battle inside the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, NY. The two took center stage in the main event. This was the first time either man headlined a UFC card. Going into the bout, many expected a five-round […]

The post UFC Utica Highlights: Moraes Finishes Rivera With Head Kick (Video) appeared first on MMA News.

Marlon Moraes Stuns Jimmie Rivera, Earns TKO In 33 Seconds

Marlon Moraes CRUSHES Jimmie Rivera in 33 seconds #UFCUtica:

The post Marlon Moraes Stuns Jimmie Rivera, Earns TKO In 33 Seconds appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Jimmie Rivera blinked and he was on the canvas with Marlon Moraes pounding his head.

The stage was set for the main event of UFC Utica. Moraes and Rivera did battle in a potential title eliminator. Rivera hadn’t lost since Nov. 2008 and that was via split decision. Moraes changed all of that and it only took him 33 seconds to do so.

A huge head kick from Moraes dropped Rivera early in the opening frame. Moraes followed it up with ground-and-pound for the victory. A shocking finish from Moraes. With the win, Moraes now improves his professional mixed martial arts record to 21-5-1. Rivera falls to 21-2.

Moraes made it clear that he’s after gold, and of course a $50,000 bonus. Bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw is set to defend his gold against Cody Garbrandt in a rematch at UFC 227 in August. After Moraes’ performance, it’s safe to say that few would complain if he receives a title opportunity.

Final Result: Marlon Moraes def. Jimmie Rivera via TKO (head kick & punches) – R1. 0:33

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Highlights: Ben Saunders Melts Jake Ellenberger With Monstrous Knee

Watch Ben Saunders’ vicious KO of Jake Ellenberger at UFC Utica:

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Welterweight veterans Ben Saunders and Jake Ellenberger both needed a win badly heading into their main card bout at tonight’s (Fri., June 1, 2018) UFC Fight Night 131 from the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, New York.

Saunders came into the fight off of two knockout losses, while Ellenberger had lost four out of his previous five fights.

In the end, it was “Killa B” who picked up a pivotal win over “The Juggernaut,” and he did so in fast, devastating fashion. LAnding a brutal knee right to Ellenberger’s liver, Saunders instantly forced the referee to rush in and stop the fight in the first round.

Watch the much-needed stoppage win for Saunders here:

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