The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma for the second half of a doubleheader of events tonight at UFC Fight Night 49: “Henderson vs dos Anjos.” The card featured a lightweight bout between “Smooth” Benson Henderson and Rafael dos Anjos.

Elsewhere, Mike “Quicksand” Pyle took on Jordan “Young Gun” Mein in the welterweight co-feature. Francis “Limitless” Carmont battled Thales Leites at middleweight and Max “Blessed” Holloway faced “Cassius” Clay Collard in a catchweight bout. MMARising.com has play-by-play for the main card.

 

Rafael dos Anjos vs “Smooth” Benson Henderson

Round 1:
Henderson landed a one-two early in the fight and dos Anjos answered with two left hooks. Both fighters mixed things up with punches to the body and head and Henderson followed with kicks. The fighters traded hard leg kicks and dos Anjos landed one-two combos and a flying switch knee that forced Henderson to drop down for a takedown. Dos Anjos stuffed it and he landed a huge left hand that dropped Henderson and finished the fight.

Winner: Rafael dos Anjos by KO (Punch) at 2:31 of round one. He improves to 22-7-0.

 

Jordan “Young Gun” Mein vs Mike “Quicksand” Pyle

Round 1:
Mein shrugged off early takedown attempts and he countered a leg kick with a right hand. Mein faked a shot and landed a left-right-left combo that sent Pyle careening to the canvas. Mein dove in with more punches and the fight was waved off.

Winner: Jordan Mein by TKO (Punches) at 1:12 of round one. He improves to 29-9-0.

 

Thales Leites vs Francis “Limitless” Carmont

Round 1:
The fight began with an exchange of right hands and the fighters clinched briefly against the cage. Carmont kicked at Leites’s lead leg and Leites replied with a one-two. Carmont attempted a takedown and Leites stuffed it. Carmont landed more leg kicks and Leites answered back with an overhand right. Both men landed punches late in the uneventful round. 10-9 Carmont.

Round 2:
Leites landed a big right hook early in round two that set off an exchange of punches against the cage. He cracked Carmont with a right-left combo and Carmont fell face-first to the canvas, forcing referee John McCarthy to stop the fight.

Winner: Thales Leites by KO (Punches) at 0:20 of round two. He improves to 24-4-0.

 

Max “Blessed” Holloway vs “Cassius” Clay Collard

Round 1:
Holloway landed a knee and a head kick early in the fight and he followed with more kicks and one-twos. Collard caught a kick and fired off a series of punches, but Holloway ducked under them and circled away. He tripped Collard briefly and the fight returned to the feet. Collard landed a nice combination and ate a right hook in return.

Holloway began to slow down and Holloway took advantage by landing knees and hooks. He followed with a spinning back kick and a big flurry near the cage. Holloway began to tee off with punches, but Collard stayed on his feet. A spinning back kick and a three-punch combo landed for Holloway and he threw more spinning back kicks before the bell. 10-9 Holloway.

Round 2:
Holloway scored with a left hook and a knee to the body in round two. He countered kicks from Collard with right hands and shrugged off a clinch attempt. Holloway landed a big right hand and a flying knee, but he could not faze Collard, who shot in for a takedown. Holloway defended and he jumped on Collard’s back. The fight briefly hit the ground, but the fighters stood seconds later and Holloway landed right hands. Holloway stuffed a takedown and took Collard’s back again. He transitioned to a triangle choke late in the round and Collard countered with elbows. 10-9 Holloway.

Round 3:
Collard was very aggressive with kicks and punches in the final round and the fighters clinched against the cage. Holloway broke free and he sprawled out of a takedown from an exhausted Collard. Holloway landed a knee to the body and postured up in Collard’s half-guard. He took Collard’s back and flattened him out, then landed punches with both hands. Collard rolled over and Holloway unloaded with more punches and elbows. Collard gave up his back once more and Holloway landed punches until the fight was stopped.

Winner: Max Holloway by TKO (Punches) at 3:47 of round three. He improves to 10-3-0.

 

James “The Texecutioner” Vick vs Valmir “Bidu” Lázaro

Round 1:
Leg kicks and wild punches were exchanged early in the fight. Neither fighter displayed much of any offence and they continued to trade wild and sloppy strikes. Vick missed with a flying knee and both men threw looping rights. Vick slipped while throwing a head kick, but he stunned Lázaro with punches after returning to his feet. Lázaro took him down and Vick swept into mount. The fight returned to the feet and Vick landed a head kick. Lázaro secured a brief takedown and both men landed one-twos. 10-9 Vick.

Round 2:
Hard kicks to the legs and body were exchanged in the second round and both men landed hooks to the liver. Lázaro landed two nice leg kicks and a combination. He cut Vick near the left eye with punches, but Vick rocked him with a right cross. Lázaro staggered on his feet and Vick landed more punches that forced him to backpedal. The fatigued fighters traded jabs and sloppy punches in the final minute. Lázaro took Vick down shortly before the bell. 10-9 Vick.

Round 3:
Vick opened round three with another vicious right hand, but Lázaro stayed on his feet and clinched against the cage. Vick broke free and he continued to score with right hands. He dropped Lázaro with a head kick, but Lázaro recovered and time was called after he was kicked in the groin. Action resumed with a flying knee from Vick and the fighters traded punches. Vick fell after attempting a flying knee before the end of the fight. 10-9 Vick.

Winner: James Vick by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 6-0-0.

 

Chas “The Scrapper” Skelly vs Tom “Stoneface” Niinimäki

Round 1:
Skelly secured an early takedown and immediately transitioned to back control as Niinimäki stood up. Niinimäki eventually shook him off and pulled guard with a guillotine choke, but Skelly escaped and moved to mount. He took Niinimäki’s back once again and locked on a rear-naked choke. Niinimäki could not escape and tapped out.

Winner: Chas Skelly by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:35 of round one. He improves to 12-1-0.

 

Undercard Fights:

– Neil Magny defeated Alex “The Dominican Nightmare” Garcia by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 12-3-0 with the win.

– Beneil Dariush defeated Tony Martin by Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) at 3:38 of round two. He improves to 8-1-0 with the win.

– Matt “The Crowbar” Hobar defeated Aaron “The Model” Phillips by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 9-2-0 with the win.

– Ben “Killa B” Saunders defeated Chris “Stump” Heatherly by Submission (Omoplata) at 2:18 of round one. He improves to 17-6-2 with the win.

– Wilson Reis defeated Joby Sanchez by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 18-5-0 with the win.