Michael “Mayday” McDonald vs Masanori Kanehara

Round 1:
McDonald landed hard right hands in the opening minute and he pulled guard with a guillotine choke attempt. Kanehara remained calm and he eventually pulled his head free. He moved to mount and landed short elbows while McDonald continued to try for a guillotine. McDonald got back to full guard, but Kanehara pinned his arm behind his back and punches from the top. 10-9 Kanehara.

Round 2:
Kanehara opened the second round with a short right cross and he took McDonald down soon after. He pinned McDonald against the base of the cage and landed knees to the body. Kanehara passed to mount, then locked on a tight arm-triangle choke and pass to the side. McDonald appeared to be in all sorts of trouble, but he managed to spin out and immediately took Kanehara’s back. McDonald locked on a rear-naked choke and Kanehara was forced to submit.

Winner: Michael McDonald by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:09 of round two. He improves to 17-3-0.

Alex “The Great White” Morono vs Kyle “KO” Noke

Round 1:
Morono pressed forward aggressively with spinning attacks in round one and he landed a spinning back kick. Noke countered with a body kick and left and right hooks. Morono pinned him against the fence, but Noke broke free and landed another hard right hand. Morono rushed in with lunging punches and connected with two right hooks. More spinning back kicks were exchanged and Noke landed a front kick to the body. Close round. 10-9 Noke, barely.

Round 2:
Noke’s nose bled heavily as the second round began and Morono kicked to the body. He missed with looping punches and Noke circled to the side. Noke lost his balance while throwing a kick and Morono swarmed on him with punches. Noke recovered and hopped on Morono’s back, but Morono shook him off and took Noke’s back. Noke escaped into top position in mount, but Morono countered by spinning into a heel hook. Noke retook top position and landed elbows to the face and knees to the body. 10-9 Noke.

Round 3:
Power punches were exchanged early in the final round and Morono landed an overhand right. Noke kicked to the body and Morono missed with a spinning backfist. Noke wobbled Morono with a spinning back elbow, but Morono recovered quickly. Noke knocked him off-balance with a punch-kick combo and followed with a takedown. Morono threw elbows from the bottom and transitioned to a deep armbar. Noke held on and escaped, and the round ended with an exchange of elbows. 10-9 Morono due to the late rally.

Winner: Alex Morono by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 27-30) after three rounds. He improves to 12-3-0.

Justine Kish vs Nina “The Strina” Ansaroff

Round 1:
Huge punches were exchanged right away and Ansaroff snapped Kish’s head back with one-two combinations. Time was called after Ansaroff was thumbed in the eye. Action resumed and Ansaroff landed more hooks and a front kick. She looked for a takedown and flurried with punches after Kish broke free. Ansaroff briefly took Kish’s back on the feet, but Kish circled out.

Ansaroff landed power punches and body kicks, but Kish continued to press forward. Ansaroff held her in a standing arm-triangle choke against the cage, but Kish escaped and she knocked Ansaroff down with a leg kick. Ansaroff rose to her feet and backed Kish up with punches. The fighters traded right hands in the final 20 seconds. 10-9 Ansaroff.

Round 2:
Kish opened round two with knees to the body, but Ansaroff countered with punches over the top and pushed her away. She kicked at Kish’s lead leg and body. Kish responded with three chopping leg kicks, but Ansaroff rocked her with a head kick. Kish clinched and recovered, but Ansaroff kept the pressure on with leg kicks and right hands. Kish got her down and landed short punches from the top. Ansaroff scrambled up to her knees before time expired. 10-9 Ansaroff.

Round 3:
Ansaroff took Kish’s back and dragged her down to the mat in the final round. Kish rolled over and worked for an armbar as Ansaroff struck from the top in Kish’s guard. Ansaroff moved to half-guard, but Kish exploded out and returned to her feet. Ansaroff fought off a takedown attempt, but ate a big right hand. Kish got her down into half-guard and then took her back. Ansaroff spun free and wound up on top. 10-9 Kish.

Winner: Justine Kish by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. She improves to 5-0-0.

Drew Dober vs Scott “Hot Sauce” Holtzman

Round 1:
The fight began with an exchange of punches and Holtzman worked for a takedown near the cage. Dober defended and secured a takedown of his own. He briefly took Holtzman’s back as the fighters returned to their feet. Dober dragged Holtzman down again and took his back for a second time. Holtzman eventually scrambled free and he landed a front kick to the body. Dober answered with a right hook and a body kick. 10-9 Dober.

Round 2:
Dober landed a right hook that dropped Holtzman to a knee in round two, and he kept the pressure on with kick-punch combos. A bloodied Holtzman secured a much-needed takedown into half-guard. He landed short strikes from the top and prevented Dober from getting back to his feet. Dober finally stood and tried to trip Holtzman, but he wound up on the bottom. Holtzman punished him with punches and hammerfists in the final seconds. 10-9 Holtzman.

Round 3:
Both fighters landed punches and elbows early in round and Dober scored a takedown. He landed elbows from the top and Holtzman began to bleed heavily from the forehead. Holtzman eventually battled back to his feet and time was called to check on his cut. Action resumed and Holtzman threw a head kick. Dober took his back and dragged him down to the mat once more. 10-9 Dober.

Winner: Drew Dober by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 16-7-0, 1 NC.

Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier vs “Irish” Joseph Duffy

Round 1:
Quick punches and leg kicks were exchanged right away and Poirier backed Duffy up with a hard flurry. Duffy replied with another leg kick and a combination. He stunned Poirier with a right hand and followed with punches to the body. More punches scored for Duffy, but Poirier countered with uppercuts in close and a takedown. Duffy stood, but ate an elbow and a knee on the way up. Both fighters began to bleed from the nose and Duffy’s left eye swelled up. Good round. 10-9 Poirier.

Round 2:
Poirier shot in for a takedown and got it in round two. He tried to take Duffy’s back, but Duffy turned and kept him trapped in full guard. Poirier responded by landing hard punches and elbows from the top as Duffy looked to set up an armbar from his back. More elbows landed for Poirier in the final minute and multiple cuts were opened on Duffy’s forehead. 10-9 Poirier.

Round 3:
Poirier got Duffy back down in the final round and he pinned him against the base of the cage. Duffy scrambled and attacked with a heel hook attempt. Poirier spun free and wound up on top again. The fighters were stood up to a chorus of boos from the crowd and Duffy landed a combination. Poirier took him down, but Duffy locked on a tight triangle choke from his back just before the final bell. Close round. 10-9 Poirier.

Winner: Dustin Poirier by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 19-4-0.

Undercard Fights:

– Michinori Tanaka defeated Joe “One Bad Mofo” Soto by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 11-1-0 with the win.

– Sheldon Westcott defeated Edgar Garcia by TKO (Punches) at 3:12 of round one. He improves to 9-3-1 with the win.