“Maverick” Michael Chiesa vs Francisco “Massaranduba” Trinaldo

Round 1:
Trinaldo was the aggressor in the opening two minutes and he hurt Chiesa with a knee to the body. Chiesa circled away and recovered, then took Trinaldo down against the cage. He trapped Trinaldo’s right arm behind him and teed off with punches. Trinaldo got his arm free, but Chiesa mounted him in the process. He unloaded with hard punches and elbows from the top and many of them landed. Trinaldo could not buck him off before the bell. 10-8 Chiesa.

Round 2:
The second round began more slowly and the fans booed the lack of action. Trinaldo landed another knee to the body and he pulled guard with a guillotine choke. Chiesa pulled his head free and landed elbows from Trinaldo’s guard. Trinaldo swept and worked for a heel hook, but he lost the position and Chiesa wound up on top again. He landed short punches and elbows and briefly took Trinaldo’s back. Chiesa worked for a guillotine choke and he finished the round with more elbows. 10-9 Chiesa.

Round 3:
The fighters traded strikes in the opening minute of round three and time was called after Chiesa was kneed in the groin. Action resumed and both men landed looping hooks. Chiesa took Trinaldo down and resumed striking from the top with elbows. Trinaldo tried to tie him up, but Chiesa created space and postured up with more damaging strikes. Trinaldo spun into an armbar and Chiesa had to act quickly to defend. He escaped and struck from Trinaldo’s guard until the final bell. 10-9 Chiesa.

Winner: Michael Chiesa by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 11-1-0.

Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson vs Katsunori Kikuno

Round 1:
Kikuno ducked under Ferguson’s punches and landed a trio of one-two combos early in the fight. Ferguson recovered and landed a combination of his own. He followed with body kicks and wobbled Kikuno with two more hooks. Kikuno circled away and Ferguson rocked him with a lengthy flurry. Kikuno stayed on his feet, but he ate more right hands.

A big combination of punches forced Kikuno to run away and Ferguson jumped on his back. He pulled Kikuno to the mat and transitioned from an armbar to a Brabo choke. Kikuno defended and Ferguson released the choke. The fighters stood and Ferguson floored Kikuno with a massive right hook for the knockout victory.

Winner: Tony Ferguson by KO (Punch) at 4:06 of round one. He improves to 15-3-0.

Chris “Holds It Down” Holdsworth vs Chico “The King” Camus

Round 1:
The fight began with an exchange of punches and Camus landed right and left hooks. More big punches were exchanged and Holdsworth briefly dropped Camus with a counter left. Camus recovered and established his jab. Holdsworth landed knees to the body and clinched against the cage. He took Camus down into side control. Holdsworth passed to mount, but Camus scrambled back to half-guard. Holdsworth postured up and scored with punches and elbows before the end of the round. 10-9 Holdsworth.

Round 2:
Holdsworth initiated a striking exchange in round two and he clinched against the fence soon after. He took Camus down and moved back to mount. Holdsworth tried for an arm-triangle choke, but Camus scrambled up to his feet. Holdsworth dragged him down again and took his back. Camus rolled over and Holdsworth attempted another arm-triangle choke. He let it go and dropped punches and elbows. Holdsworth took Camus’s back once more and used punches to set up a rear-naked choke, but Camus defended until the bell. 10-9 Holdsworth, if not a 10-8.

Round 3:
Camus scored with winging punches in round three and Holdsworth countered with a takedown. He struck from the top and transitioned to back control. Camus could not get back to his feet and Holdsworth locked on a rear-naked choke. Camus escaped, but Holdsworth switched to an arm-triangle choke and returned to mount. Camus fought free and regained half-guard, but Holdsworth continued to score with punches in the final seconds. 10-9 Holdsworth.

Winner: Chris Holdsworth by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 6-0-0.

Mitch “Danger Zone” Clarke vs “Raging” Al Iaquinta

Round 1:
Iaquinta dropped Clarke with a body kick and a right cross in the opening minute. He moved to half-guard and looked to pass to mount. Iaquinta landed punches and a short elbow from the top. He postured up and landed more right hands. Clarke attempted a triangle choke and Iaquinta punched his way free. Clarke stood and Iaquinta used a front choke to pull him back down to the mat. 10-9 Iaquinta.

Round 2:
Iaquinta took Clarke back down in the second round, but Clarke countered with a Brabo choke from the bottom as Iaquinta worked from side control. Clarke rolled and tightened the choke, which quickly rendered Iaquinta unconscious.

Winner: Mitch Clarke by Technical Submission (Brabo Choke) at 0:57 of round two. He improves to 11-2-0.

Undercard Fights:

– Vinc “From Hell” Pichel defeated Anthony “The Assassin” Njokuani by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 9-1-0 with the win.

– Sam Sicilia defeated Aaron “The Model” Phillips by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 13-4-0 with the win.

– Jingliang “The Leech” Li defeated David “BullDawg” Michaud by Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 9-2-0 with the win.