Yair “El Pantera” Rodriguez vs Daniel “The Hangman” Hooker
Round 1:
Hooker circled on the outside early on and avoided Rodriguez’s early strikes, but Rodriguez closed in and landed flashy kicks including a tornado kick. He just missed with a spinning wheel kick and worked for a guillotine choke after Hooker shot in for a takedown. Rodriguez reversed into mount, but Hooker scrambled and escaped out the back. He took Rodriguez’s back as the fight returned to the feet. The close round ended with Rodriguez throwing a rolling somersault kick. 10-9 Rodriguez.
Round 2:
Hooker caught a body kick in round two and Rodriguez immediately countered with a spinning back elbow. He dropped down in search of a flying scissor heel hook and used it to set up a scramble that led both fighters back to their feet. Rodriguez landed an arcing tornado kick and followed with a head kick. He kept Hooker at bay with side kicks to the lead leg and body. Rodriguez landed another head kick and he dumped Hooker to the mat on two occasions. Hooker countered a spinning back kick with a straight left hand. Rodriguez took him down before the bell. 10-9 Rodriguez.
Round 3:
Time was called early in the final round when Rodriguez was struck in the groin. The fight continued and Rodriguez attacked with a rolling heel hook. He transitioned to an armbar attempt and wound up on the bottom with a bloodied Hooker on top. Both men landed elbows on the ground and Rodriguez scored with a series of hammerfists from his back while tying up Hooker’s leg. Time was called to check on Hooker’s cuts on his eyebrows. The fight resumed and Rodriguez attempted another somersault kick before the final bell. 10-9 Rodriguez.
Winner: Yair Rodriguez by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 6-1-0.
Albert “Einstein” Tumenov vs Alan “Brahma” Jouban
Round 1:
Tumenov landed a head kick and a hard right hand early in the fight, and he remained aggressive throughout the opening minute. A three-punch flurry and two powerful right crosses backed Jouban up. Tumenov followed with an uppercut and blocked a head kick. Time was called after Tumenov was kicked in the groin. Action resumed and Tumenov countered a flurry from Jouban by landing a body kick. He backed Jouban up with a head kick and followed with a huge right hand. A final left hook dropped an unconscious Jouban face-first to the mat.
Winner: Albert Tumenov by KO (Head Kick & Punches) at 2:55 of round one. He improves to 16-2-0.
Adriano Martins vs Islam Makhachev
Round 1:
The fighters traded kicks and punches from a distance in the opening 90 seconds and Martins scored with a three-punch combo. Soon after, Makhachev pressed forward with a looping left hook that missed and Martins floored him with a counter right hand that sent him crashing to the canvas.
Winner: Adriano Martins by KO (Punch) at 1:46 of round one. He improves to 28-7-0.
“Thug” Rose Namajunas vs Angela “Overkill” Hill
Round 1:
Namajunas opened the fight with a combination over the top, but Hill countered with a knee and a right hand in the clinch. The fighters separated and Hill threw a head kick. Namajunas set up a quick takedown with a right hand and she moved from half-guard to Hill’s back. She locked on a rear-naked choke as Hill stood up. Hill tried to escape, but could not do so and tapped out in mid-air before collapsing on her face.
Winner: Rose Namajunas by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:47 of round one. She improves to 3-2-0.
Undercard Fights:
– “Super” Sage Northcutt defeated Francisco “Sitkayan” Trevino by TKO (Elbows & Punches) at 0:57 of round one. He improves to 6-0-0 with the win.
– Sergio “The Phenom” Pettis defeated Chris “Kamikaze” Cariaso by Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 13-2-0 with the win.
– Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis defeated Viktor Pesta by TKO (Punches) at 1:15 of round three. He improves to 13-4-0, 1 NC with the win.