Cory “Poppins” McKenna vs Cheyanne “The Warrior Princess” Vlismas

Round 1:
Vlismas circled on the outside as McKenna tried to close the distance with jabs. Vlismas countered with an overhand right and she landed a lead left hook as McKenna stepped forward. Vlismas landed two jabs and she prevented McKenna from clinching. McKenna landed a lead left hand, but Vlismas stunned her with a counter one-two. McKenna caught a kick and took Vlismas down into full guard. Vlismas tried to set up an armbar from the bottom and both women landed elbows in the final seconds. 10-9 Vlismas despite the takedown.

Round 2:
McKenna landed a leg kick and a right hook in the second round, but Vlismas answered with a nice overhand right. McKenna clinched and pinned Vlismas against the cage while kneeing her thigh. Vlismas fought off a takedown attempt and she landed three knees from a Thai clinch. McKenna kneed Vlismas’s body and threw short right hands while keeping her pressed up against the cage. Vlismas landed two more knees late in the round, but McKenna picked her up and slammed her down. 10-9 McKenna.

Round 3:
McKenna caught a kick and took Vlismas down, but Vlismas countered with a rear-naked choke attempt as the fighters hit the mat. McKenna escaped into side control and Vlismas got back to full guard. She landed an elbow from the bottom as McKenna threw short punches. Vlismas threw up her legs for a triangle choke and McKenna quickly escaped. Both women landed elbows and McKenna prevented Vlismas from setting up another triangle choke. Vlismas switched to an armbar attempt and McKenna punched her way free. Vlismas tried to use an omoplata to sweep, but McKenna countered with a kneebar attempt and then returned to Vlismas’s half-guard. Vlismas got back to full guard and the fight ended with both women throwing strikes. Competitive round. 10-9 McKenna.

Winner: Cory McKenna by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. She improves to 8-2-0.

 

Matthew “Semi The Jedi” Semelsberger vs Jake “The Celtic Kid” Matthews

Round 1:
The fighters circled and traded leg kicks during the opening minute. Semelsberger landed a body kick and he dropped Matthews with a big right hook. Semelsberger followed with punches on the ground and a knee as a wobbly Matthews got to his feet. Matthews recovered, but Semelsberger took him down and Matthews landed an elbow from the bottom. Semelsberger landed three elbows of his own and he tried unsuccessfully to pass Matthews’s guard. Semelsberger landed two punches from the top before the end of the round. 10-9 Semelsberger. Could easily be a 10-8.

Round 2:
After an uneventful opening minute, Semelsberger took Matthews down very briefly and he landed an elbow on the break. Matthews scored with a lead left hook that knocked Semelsberger off-balance. Semelsberger regained his footing and Matthews landed a stiff jab. He backed Semelsberger up with another left hook and then cracked him with an uppercut as Semelsberger stepped forward while throwing a one-two. Semelsberger landed a lead left hook and he floored Matthews with an overhand right. Matthews was hurt, but he got to his feet and Semelsberger landed a knee and a left hook. Matthews fired back with a combination before the bell. Close round. 10-9 Semelsberger due to the knockdown.

Round 3:
Semelsberger dropped Matthews with a right hook very early in round three and he looked to follow up with punches on the ground, but Matthews used a guillotine choke to sweep and he returned to his feet. Matthews stunned Semelsberger with a left hook on the break, but Semelsberger recovered quickly and he landed a calf kick. Matthews scored with a straight right hand and then flurried with punches to Semelsberger’s body. Matthews fought off a takedown attempt and landed a combination as Semelsberger covered up and circled away. Matthews swept out his leg and punched Semelsberger’s body from top position. 10-9 Matthews despite the early knockdown.

Winner: Matthew Semelsberger by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 11-4-0.

 

Said Nurmagomedov vs Saidyokub Kakhramonov

Round 1:
Kakhramonov charged at Nurmagomedov and threw a left hook that missed, which allowed Nurmagomedov to clinch. Kakhramonov reversed position against the cage and Nurmagomedov pulled guard with a tight guillotine choke. Kakhramonov managed to break Nurmagomedov’s grip and he escaped from a second guillotine as well. Kakhramonov passed to side control and almost got to mount. Nurmagomedov retained half-guard and then got to his feet with Kakhramonov holding his back. Nurmagomedov escaped from the clinch and he landed two kicks before Kakhramonov closed in and scored with a four-punch flurry of looping hooks. Kakhramonov looked for a guillotine choke of his own and he landed a knee to Nurmagomedov’s body as Nurmagomedov sat against the cage. Nurmagomedov stood and Kakhramonov landed another knee. He pushed Nurmagomedov down to the ground and landed two left uppercuts. 10-9 Kakhramonov.

Round 2:
Kakhramonov took Nurmagomedov’s back and overcame back elbow strikes from Nurmagomedov to take him down. Nurmagomedov got to his feet and Kakhramonov pushed him down face-first to the mat, which appeared to stun Nurmagomedov momentarily. Kakhramonov landed right hands to the side of his face until Nurmagomedov got to his feet. Kakhramonov dragged him down again and Nurmagomedov countered with a ninja choke. Kakhramonov could not escape and was forced to tap out.

Winner: Said Nurmagomedov by Submission (Ninja Choke) at 3:50 of round two. He improves to 17-2-0.

 

Rafa “Gifted” Garcia vs Maheshate Hayisaer

Round 1:
Hayisaer landed a step-in right hand and Garcia countered by clinching. Hayisaer broke free and he landed a front kick to Garcia’s face. Garcia attempted a double-leg takedown and Hayisaer stayed on his feet. He landed a high knee and a flying switch knee, but Garcia responded with a big left hook. Hayisaer threw front kicks and a knee from a distance. Garcia landed a hard right-left combo and then attacked the body with a left hook to Hayisaer’s liver. Garcia closed in with a four-punch combo to Hayisaer’s body and head. Garcia landed a calf kick and a counter left hook as Hayisaer jumped forward with a knee attempt. Late in the round, Garcia landed one more right-left combo. Close round. 10-9 Garcia due to the strong second half.

Round 2:
Hayisaer landed a flying switch knee early in the second round, but Garcia barely flinched and he held Hayisaer in a clinch. Hayisaer circled away and he landed an elbow and a front kick. The elbow cut the side of Garcia’s head and blood poured from it. He took Hayisaer down and Garcia’s blood covered Hayisaer as he got back to his feet. Garcia secured another takedown and he held Hayisaer in a front headlock. Hayisaer scrambled up to his feet and he landed an elbow before Garcia took him down from a waist lock. Garcia took partial back control and he landed left hands. Hayisaer rolled over to his back and Garcia blasted him with elbows from the top. Hayisaer rose to his feet against the cage and Garcia landed an elbow on the break. 10-9 Garcia.

Round 3:
Garcia landed a hard calf kick in the opening seconds of round three. He caught a knee from Hayisaer and dumped him to the mat. Garcia struck from the top with elbows as blood poured from the cut on his temple again. Hayisaer briefly got to his feet and Garcia took him down again. At the midway point in the round, Hayisaer stood and Garcia held him against the cage. The fighters separated and Hayisaer fought off a takedown attempt. Garcia landed a left hook and Hayisaer fired back with an uppercut. Garcia picked Hayisaer up and slammed him down with 30 seconds remaining. Hayisaer tried to stand and Garcia landed a series of right hands on the ground. 10-9 Garcia.

Winner: Rafa Garcia by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 14-3-0.

 

Rinat “Gladiator” Fakhretdinov vs Bryan “Pooh Bear” Battle

Round 1:
Fakhretdinov took Battle down in the opening minute and he landed short left hands while preventing Battle from getting to his feet against the cage. Fakhretdinov landed an elbow and Battle countered with a triangle choke and an omoplata. Fakhretdinov quickly escaped from both and he landed a hard elbow strike. Battle stood and Fakhretdinov landed two right uppercuts before slamming him down again. Fakhretdinov elbowed from the top throughout the final minute and he cut Battle above his left eye. Battle attacked with one more triangle choke in the final seconds. 10-9 Fakhretdinov.

Round 2:
Fakhretdinov used a lead left hook to set up a takedown in round two and he landed short elbows and punches while Battle tried to set up a kimura from the bottom. Fakhretdinov briefly passed to side control before returning to Battle’s guard. Battle eventually stood up with two minutes to go and he locked on a power guillotine choke. Fakhretdinov pushed him down to the mat and pulled his head out, then passed to side control. Battle got back to full guard and he attempted a triangle choke. The round ended with Fakhretdinov landing punches from the top. 10-9 Fakhretdinov.

Round 3:
Seconds into the final round, Fakhretdinov floored Battle with a right hook. He settled into Battle’s guard and landed right hands and elbows from the top. Battle stood up and he was immediately taken down again. Fakhretdinov landed short right hands and a powerful hammerfist strike from the top while pinning Battle down. Battle got to his feet with 20 seconds remaining and Fakhretdinov dumped him to the mat. 10-8 Fakhretdinov.

Winner: Minat Fakhretdinov by Unanimous Decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 20-1-0.

 

Manel “Starboy” Kape vs David “The Undertaker” Dvořák

Round 1:
The fighters were cautious early on and Dvořák landed a calf kick while circling from side to side. He kept his distance and landed another calf kick, then blocked a head kick from Kape. A lead right hook scored for Kape, who followed with a spinning back kick. Dvořák countered by taking him down and he punched from the top. Kape looked to set up a triangle choke and then attempted a kimura on Dvořák’s left arm. He rolled through into top position while maintaining his grip on the kimura and wrenched Dvořák’s arm behind his back. Dvořák was clearly in pain, but he made it to the bell. 10-9 Kape.

Round 2:
Kape landed a lead right uppercut and a left hook in the second round. Dvořák circled on the outside and he landed a right cross. A hard right-left combo scored for Kape and he countered a calf kick with three quick punches. Kape landed a knee and backed Dvořák up with a flurry of punches. He dropped Dvořák with a left hook and then followed with hammerfists on the ground. Dvořák recovered and got back to his feet, but Kape flurried with punches and he landed two hard left hooks to Dvořák’s liver. Kape landed a spinning back elbow, but he gave up his back in the process and Dvořák pulled him down to the mat. 10-9 Kape. Could be a 10-8.

Round 3:
Dvořák missed badly with a spinning back kick in the final round and Kape taunted him. He landed two leg kicks and a lead left hook as Dvořák stepped forward. Time was called when Kape was poked in the eye. The fight resumed and Dvořák landed a calf kick, which Kape countered with a combination. Kape stuffed a takedown and he rushed at Dvořák with a three-punch flurry that Dvořák backed up to evade. Kape landed a step-in elbow and a straight left hand. Dvořák clinched and Kape broke free with a knee to the body. 10-9 Kape.

Winner: Manel Kape by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 18-6-0.

 

Sergey Morozov vs Journey Newson

Round 1:
Newson went high with a head kick right away and he attempted a spinning wheel kick that missed. Morozov pressed forward with jabs and Newson landed a quick one-two. Morozov secured a body-lock takedown into back control and he landed knees to Newson’s thigh after Newson stood against the cage. Morozov landed a knee to Newson’s face and Newson used a hip toss attempt to shake him off. Morozov landed a leg kick and attempted a spinning back elbow late in the round, which Newson countered with a lunging left-right combo. Close round. 10-9 Morozov.

Round 2:
In the second round, Newson jabbed and landed a leg kick, but his combinations came up short and Morozov took him down. Newson stood and Morozov resumed kneeing him in the thigh and upper body. He dragged Newson down again and kneed his leg once more as Newson rose to his feet. The round ended with Morozov holding Newson’s back in a standing clinch. 10-9 Morozov.

Round 3:
Newson scored with a hard right hook in the final round and Morozov retreated to his left. He got Newson down soon after, however, and moved to North-South position. Morozov transitioned to back control, but lost the position and Newson stood up. Morozov took his back in a standing clinch and Newson turned into it. Newson escaped from the clinch in the final minute and he missed with a flying switch knee attempt. Morozov took Newson’s back once more and suplexed him to the mat. 10-9 Morozov.

Winner: Sergey Morozov by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 19-5-0.