Miesha “Cupcake” Tate vs Sara McMann

Round 1:
The fighters traded punches right away and both women connected with right hands. McMann dropped Tate with two right hooks, but Tate recovered enough to get back to full guard. McMann landed punches and elbows from the top and passed to side control. She threw short elbows and tried to trap Tate in a top-side crucifix. Tate countered with an inverted triangle choke attempt late in the round. 10-9 McMann, if not a 10-8.

Round 2:
McMann came up just short with a lunging flurry in round two. She kept the pressure on with a body kick and more punches. Tate clinched and McMann punished her with knees to the midsection. She backed Tate up with punches and mixed in front kicks to the body. McMann punched her way into a clinch and landed more knees. Tate connected with her best flurry of the fight and McMann shot in for a takedown. Tate countered with a guillotine choke and used it to take top position. She threw knees to the body and took mount at the bell. 10-9 Tate due to the late rally.

Round 3:
McMann threw Tate to the ground in round three, but Tate reversed position and wound up in McMann’s half-guard. She landed short punches and moved to side control soon after. Tate kept McMann pinned down and she scored with a series of punches and elbows. In the final 20 seconds, Tate locked on a kimura attempt, but McMann escaped before the bell. 10-9 Tate.

Winner: Miesha Tate by Majority Decision (29-27, 29-28, 28-28) after three rounds. She improves to 16-5-0.

Derek Brunson vs Ed “Short Fuse” Herman

Round 1:
Brunson staggered Herman with two left hands early in the fight and Herman fell backwards against the cage. He tried to get back to his feet, but Brunson unloaded with a series of unanswered punches on the ground and the fight was stopped.

Winner: Derek Brunson by TKO (Punches) at 0:36 of round one. He improves to 13-3-0.

John “Hands of Stone” Lineker vs Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall

Round 1:
McCall used his superior speed to jump in and out with quick kicks and punches early on. He countered a right hand from Lineker by taking him down. McCall punched to the head and body from the top in Lineker’s half-guard. More punches and elbows landed for McCall and he spun free from a Lineker heel hook attempt. McCall postured up with punches before the bell. 10-9 McCall.

Round 2:
Lineker opened round two with a combination and he locked on a tight guillotine choke after McCall took him down. McCall stayed calm and he eventually escaped. The fighters stood and traded body kicks. Lineker landed a right-left combo to the body and head. Time was called after the fighters clashed heads. Action resumed and Lineker landed more powerful hooks. He stuffed a takedown and pressed forward with lunging punches. Both men landed huge right hands and Lineker countered another takedown with a guillotine choke. 10-9 Lineker.

Round 3:
McCall kicked from a distance in round three and Lineker closed in with right and left hooks. A big kick to the body landed for McCall and Lineker countered with a right hand. He stuffed a takedown, but McCall landed another body kick. Lineker rocked McCall with a left hook and he followed with more punches, but McCall fired back and circled away. Another hard combination scored for Lineker and the round ended with both men throwing power punches. 10-9 Lineker.

Winner: John Lineker by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 25-7-0.

Rafael “Sapo” Natal vs Tom “Kong” Watson

Round 1:
The fighters exchanged leg kicks and right hands in the opening 90 seconds and Natal looked to establish his jab. Watson countered with kicks to the body and he attempted a series of front kicks. Natal backed him up with a flurry of punches and Watson landed a knee in close. More punches landed for Natal and he briefly took Watson down. Watson stood and Natal tripped him again. The process repeated itself once more before the bell. 10-9 Natal.

Round 2:
Natal cracked Watson with a right hook in the second round and he followed with a series of stiff jabs. He caught a body kick from Watson and took him down. Big punches landed for Natal as Watson worked back to his feet against the cage. Natal pressed forward with wild punches and got Watson down very briefly, but Watson stood back up and scored with punch-kick combos. Natal took his back on the feet and dragged Watson down. Watson stood and broke free from the clinch. Natal took him down once again. 10-9 Natal.

Round 3:
Natal landed a nice combination to begin round three and he just missed with two spinning backfists. Both men landed leg kicks and Watson stuffed a takedown. He kicked at Natal’s lead leg and followed with a lead left hook. Natal backed Watson up with a pair of one-two combos and he rocked him with a big right hand soon after. Watson stayed on his feet as Natal muscled him up against the cage. In the final 45 seconds, Natal took Watson down. Watson stood and Natal slammed him to the mat. 10-9 Natal.

Winner: Rafael Natal by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 19-6-1.

Undercard Fights:

– Ildemar “Marajo” Alcantara defeated Richardson “Rick Monstro” Moreira by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 21-7-0 with the win.

– Thiago “Marreta” Santos defeated Andy “Tank Mode” Enz by TKO (Kick To The Body & Punches) at 1:56 of round one. He improves to 10-3-0 with the win.