The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to Jornalista Felipe Drumond Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil tonight for UFC Fight Night 28: “Teixeira vs Bader.” The card was headlined by a light heavyweight bout between veteran top contender Glover Teixeira and Ryan “Darth” Bader.

Also on the card, Yushin “Thunder” Okami tried for his fourth straight win when he faced jiu-jitsu ace Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza in a middleweight bout. Joseph Benavidez took on Jussier “Formiga” da Silva in flyweight action. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the UFC Fight Night 28 main card.

 

Glover Teixeira vs Ryan “Darth” Bader

Round 1:
Power punches were exchanged right away and Bader pulled guard with a guillotine choke. Teixeira escaped and stood, then took down Bader. The fight returned to the feet and Teixeira tried for a guillotine in the clinch. Bader backed away and threw a head kick. A left hook dropped Teixeira briefly and Bader landed a combination on the feet. While still hurt, Teixeira floored Bader with a right-left combo and he landed more punches to the head of a turtling Bader to finish the fight.

Winner: Glover Teixeira by TKO (Punches) at 2:55 of round one. He improves to 22-2-0.

 

Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza vs Yushin “Thunder” Okami

Round 1:
Souza landed two solid body kicks in the early goings and followed with a right hook that appeared to stun Okami. Souza unloaded with left hands as Okami covered up against the cage. Okami weathered the storm and circled away. An overhand right landed for Souza and a second one dropped Okami like a rock. Souza continued to strike from the top until the fight was waved off.

Winner: Ronaldo Souza by TKO (Punches) at 2:47 of round one. He improves to 19-3-0, 1 NC.

 

Joseph Benavidez vs Jussier “Formiga” da Silva

Round 1:
Benavidez landed a lead right hook early in the fight and da Silva answered with a combination. Quick punches were exchanged in close and da Silva landed a knee. He followed with two left hooks and blocked a body kick. Benavidez connected with a step-in left hand and pressed forward with a combination and another body kick. Benavidez mixed up his strikes with more body kicks and quick flurries. He rocked da Silva with a one-two and dropped him with a knee to the body. Benavidez teed off with punches on the ground until the bout was stopped.

Winner: Joseph Benavidez by TKO (Knee To The Body & Punches) at 3:07 of round one. He improves to 19-3-0.

 

Piotr “Pletwal” Hallmann vs Francisco “Massaranduba” Trinaldo

Round 1:
Both fighters scored with punching combinations in the opening 90 seconds, but Hallmann was the aggressor and he pressed the action. Trinaldo hurt him with a counter kick to the body and dropped him to the mat with a second liver kick. Hallmann got back to his feet, but ate more kicks to the body. Hallmann landed a knee and Trinaldo continued to target the liver with kicks. Hallmann landed jabs and a combination, but Trinaldo remained aggressive with punches and body kicks. He took Hallmann down against the fence in the final 40 seconds. 10-9 Trinaldo.

Round 2:
Trinaldo defended against a takedown in round two and reversed position, but Hallmann returned to his feet. He shot in for another takedown and Trinaldo sprawled. Trinaldo spun into a toe hold attempt and the fighters stood. Hallmann threw a series of elbows to the side of Trinaldo’s head. Trinaldo fell to his back after a failed takedown and Hallmann took advantage by punching from the top. Hallmann landed elbows and moved to half-guard. He locked on a far-side kimura and wrenched Trinaldo’s arm behind his back for the tapout win.

Winner: Piotr Hallmann by Submission (Kimura) at 3:50 of round two. He improves to 14-1-0.

 

Rafael “Sapo” Natal vs Tor “The Hammer” Troéng

Round 1:
Natal dropped Troéng with a right forearm behind the ear early in the fight. Troéng recovered on the mat and Natal worked from the top in half-guard. Troéng exploded out and wound up on top, but Natal immediately swept back into Troéng’s half-guard. Troéng nearly powered out again and the fighters traded guillotine choke attempts. Natal held side control until Troéng swept into his guard. Troéng stood and dropped a hard left hand. A scramble ensued on the mat and Troéng finished the round on top. 10-9 Natal.

Round 2:
Natal badly rocked Troéng with a huge right hand in round two and Troéng stumbled backwards. He fell to the mat and Natal unloaded with punches and elbows. Troéng survived and escaped a guillotine choke. He wound up on top in side control and took Natal’s back as the fight returned to the feet. Natal tripped Troéng and struck from his guard.

Natal landed more short elbows and hammerfists until Troéng fought back to his feet. Natal pinned him against the fence and Troéng tried to counter a takedown with a kimura. Both men landed strikes in the clinch and Troéng reversed position. He looked for a takedown of his own, but time expired. 10-9 Natal.

Round 3:
Troéng secured a clinch in the opening minute of round three, but Natal countered with a tight guillotine choke and Troéng fell to the mat. Natal wound up in mount, but Troéng swept and punched to the body in an attempt to escape the choke. He postured up with punches and Natal reversed back into top position. Natal hunted for another guillotine choke and took Troéng’s back. In the final seconds, Natal postured up and scored with a hard flurry of punches. 10-9 Natal.

Winner: Rafael Natal by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 17-4-1.

 

Ali “Puncher” Bagautinov vs Marcos Vinicius “Vina” Borges Pancini

Round 1:
After a cautious start, Bagautinov punched his way into a clinch and held Pancini against the cage. Bagautinov tripped Pancini and hurt him with big punches. Pancini scrambled on the ground and Bagautinov pulled guard with a guillotine choke. Another scramble ensued and Pancini wound up on Bagautinov’s back. He landed punches and tried to set up a rear-naked choke. Bagautinov escaped into top position and Pancini stood and took him down. Very close round. 10-9 Bagautinov, despite Pancini’s rally.

Round 2:
Pancini landed an early leg kick in round two and avoided a counter combination from Bagautinov. A one-two scored for Bagautinov, and he just missed with a head kick. Bagautinov took Pancini down, but Pancini used a butterfly sweep to get back to his feet. He landed knees until Bagautinov took him down again. Pancini worked for submissions and landed elbows from his back.

Bagautinov stood and Pancini followed. Bagautinov landed a quick flurry and countered a jab with a right cross. Pancini landed a right hand of his own and followed with a leg kick. Bagautinov snuck in a one-two and came up just short with a lunging left. Bagautinov shot in and secured a takedown just before the bell. 10-9 Bagautinov.

Round 3:
Bagautinov countered a body kick from Pancini with a three-punch combo in the final round. Both fighters were cautious as they exchanged single kicks and Bagautinov clinched in search of a takedown. Neither man could mount any offence in the clinch and referee Mario Yamasaki separated them. Bagautinov floored Pancini with a two-punch combo. He rained down four more right hands that left Pancini unconscious on the mat.

Winner: Ali Bagautinov by KO (Punches) at 3:28 of round three. He improves to 11-2-0.

 

Undercard Fights:

Edimilson “Kevin” Souza defeated Felipe “Sertanejo” Arantes by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 14-3-0 with the win.

Lucas “Mineiro” Martins defeated Ramiro “Junior” Hernandez by Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:10 of round one. He improves to 14-1-0 with the win.

Elias “Xuxu” Silverio defeated Joao “The Brazilian Samurai” Zeferino by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 9-0-0 with the win.

Ivan “Batman” Jorge defeated Keith “The Polish Connection” Wisniewski by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 25-3-0 with the win.

Sean “Black Magic” Spencer defeated Yuri Villefort by Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 10-2-0 with the win.