The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to The O2 in Dublin, Ireland tonight for UFC Fight Night 46: “McGregor vs Brandao.” The entertaining event was headlined by a featherweight showdown between fast-rising Irish superstar “The Notorious” Conor McGregor and Diego “DB” Brandao.
Also on the card tonight, Iceland’s Gunnar “Gunni” Nelson clashed with Zak Cummings in the welterweight co-feature. Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall faced Brad “One Punch” Pickett in a flyweight fight and “Stormin'” Norman Parke battled Naoyuki Kotani. MMARising.com has play-by-play for the main card.
“The Notorious” Conor McGregor vs Diego “DB” Brandao
Round 1:
McGregor blocked two head kicks and threw spinning back kicks in return early in round one. Brandao rushed in with punches and he tried for a takedown. McGregor reversed on the way down and wound up on top. He stacked Brandao and tried to pass to side control as Brandao spun into a heel hook. McGregor escaped and he punched from top position. Brandao kicked him off and stood up, but McGregor cracked him with two left hands. A spinning wheel kick partially landed for McGregor and he swarmed on Brandao with punches. Brandao fell and McGregor landed unanswered punches until the fight was stopped.
Winner: Conor McGregor by TKO (Punches) at 4:05 of round one. He improves to 15-2-0.
Gunnar “Gunni” Nelson vs Zak Cummings
Round 1:
The fighters clinched and traded knees in the opening minute and Nelson broke free with a right hook. Nelson threw a body kick and he landed two hard right hands. Cummings worked for a takedown, but Nelson circled out and landed a grazing head kick. A jumping switch knee partially landed for Cummings and he connected with a trio of left hands shortly before the bell. 10-10.
Round 2:
Cummings landed some nice left hands over the top in an early clinch in round two. The fighters exchanged punches on the feet and Nelson snapped Cummings’s head back with a powerful right cross. He landed right hands and a body kick, but Cummings caught it. Nelson pulled his leg free and dragged Cummings down to the mat. He transitioned to back control and bloodied Cummings’s nose with hammerfists. Nelson locked on a rear-naked choke late in the round and Cummings was forced to submit.
Winner: Gunnar Nelson by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:48 of round two. He improves to 13-0-1.
Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall vs Brad “One Punch” Pickett
Round 1:
McCall opened the action with leg kicks and Pickett countered with hooks. Both men landed knees in a clinch and time was called after McCall was struck in the groin. Action resumed and Pickett defended against a takedown attempt. A left-right combo scored for McCall and he just missed with a haymaker right hand. He landed two lunging lefts and circled on the outside. McCall landed a one-two and he ducked under most of Pickett’s counters. Pickett backed McCall up with a two-punch combo late in the round, but McCall landed a hard flurry in return. 10-9 McCall.
Round 2:
McCall secured a brief takedown in the second round and he followed with another one into mount. Pickett escaped to his feet and landed a right hook, but McCall continued to get the better of the striking exchanges thanks to his quickness. He landed body kicks and time was called when Pickett was kicked in the groin. The fight continued and McCall attempted a standing guillotine choke. He landed a series of uppercuts, but Pickett snuck in a short counter hook. The fighters traded punches in the final 40 seconds. 10-9 McCall.
Round 3:
McCall landed body kicks and he dropped levels for a takedown in the final round. Pickett stayed on his feet and McCall landed more body kicks. McCall landed right uppercuts and left hooks, which were met by powerful right hooks from Pickett. McCall kicked at Pickett’s liver and he took him down soon after. McCall passed to mount and Pickett had to act quickly to regain half-guard. McCall landed forearms and elbow strikes and the fight ended with an exchange of punches at the bell. 10-9 McCall.
Winner: Ian McCall by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 13-4-1.
“Stormin'” Norman Parke vs Naoyuki Kotani
Round 1:
Parke fought off an early takedown attempt and clinched with Kotani against the cage. The fighters separated and Kotani landed a left hook and a leg kick. Parke stuffed another takedown and scored with a hard elbow over the top. He jumped in with a flying knee that narrowly missed. Kotani caught a body kick and tried for a takedown. Parke continued to throw kicks and Kotani landed a quick one-two. Parke countered with knees and sprawled out of a takedown. He took Kotani’s back and rained down elbows. 10-9 Parke.
Round 2:
Parke landed a nice overhand left in the second round and Kotani flopped to his back. Parke forced him to stand and the fighters clinched. Parke dumped Kotani to the mat and moved to side control. He landed a series of elbows and Kotani regained half-guard. More elbows scored for Parke and he escaped from a heel hook attempt. The fight returned to the feet and Parke took Kotani back down. He threw a barrage of punches and elbows until the fight was stopped.
Winner: Norman Parke by TKO (Punches & Elbows) at 3:41 of round two. He improves to 20-2-1.
Undercard Fights:
– Ilir “The Sledgehammer” Latifi defeated Chris Dempsey by KO (Punches) at 2:07 of round one. He improves to 9-3-0, 1 NC with the win.
– Neil “2Tap” Seery defeated Phil “Billy” Harris by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 14-10-0 with the win.
– Cathal “The Punisher” Pendred defeated Mike King by Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 3:33 of round two. He improves to 14-2-1 with the win.
– Trevor “Hot Sauce” Smith defeated Tor “The Hammer” Troéng by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 12-5-0 with the win.
– Nikita “Al Capone” Krylov defeated Cody “Donnybrook” Donovan by TKO (Punches) at 4:57 of round one. He improves to 17-4-0 with the win.
– Patrick “The Hooligan” Holohan defeated Joshua “The Gremlin” Sampo by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 3:06 of round one. He improves to 10-0-1 with the win.