Cody “No Love” Garbrandt vs Trevin “5 Star” Jones
Round 1:
Garbrandt landed two strong body kicks in the opening minute and Jones eventually landed a kick to Garbrandt’s forearm. Garbrandt landed an overhand right and he began to showboat. Another overhand right landed for Garbrandt and he danced around after landing a body kick. Uneventful round. 10-9 Garbrandt.
Round 2:
Garbrandt ducked under a right hook and took Jones down into side control. Jones returned to his feet and he landed one leg kick. Garbrandt slammed him down to the mat again and freed his neck from a Jones guillotine choke. When Jones tried to get to his feet, Garbrandt took his back and he landed a knee to Jones’s face as Jones stood up. Jones dropped levels for a takedown and Garbrandt stuffed it. The round ended with an exchange of knees to the body in a clinch. 10-9 Garbrandt.
Round 3:
Very little of note happened in the first half of round three, as neither fighter landed anything of significance. The crowd booed and Garbrandt faked a flying knee. Jones finally landed a left hook and backed Garbrandt up with a lead right hand to the jaw. He scored with another left hook and Garbrandt clinched. Jones took him down into half-guard against the base of the cage and then stood over Garbrandt, who upkicked him in the face. Jones dropped back down with a left hand to his face before the bell. 10-9 Jones. Not a good fight.
Winner: Cody Garbrandt by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 13-5-0.
Dricus “Stillknocks” Du Plessis vs Derek Brunson
Round 1:
Brunson caught a kick and took Du Plessis down into half-guard early in the fight. He stayed there until Du Plessis battled back to his feet. Brunson tried to pull guard with a guillotine choke, but Du Plessis freed his neck immediately and began to land elbows from the top. Brunson spun into a heel hook, but he lost it and Du Plessis countered with a toe hold. Brunson spun free and took his back as Du Plessis tried to shake him off. Du Plessis stood and Brunson cracked him with two left hooks. He landed another one and Du Plessis fell to the ground. Brunson briefly held mount and then took Du Plessis’s back. Du Plessis turned over to avoid a rear-naked choke and the fighters stood just before the bell. 10-9 Brunson.
Round 2:
Brunson followed up on two body kicks by rushing at Du Plessis with punches, and both men landed uppercuts. Brunson landed another body kick, but Du Plessis answered with a left hook. He stunned Brunson with two more left hands and Brunson’s punches became wild. Du Plessis landed two left hooks and an overhand right, then stuffed a Brunson takedown attempt. Du Plessis landed a leg kick and then charged at Brunson with four punches that backed him up. Both men scored with hard left hooks and Du Plessis shot in for a takedown. Brunson defended, but Du Plessis hurt him with a right hook. He staggered Du Plessis with a right hook and followed with more punches until Brunson fell down. Du Plessis cut Brunson with an elbow and then bounced his head off of the canvas with two left hands. Brunson rolled over to his side and his corner threw in the towel just before the round would have ended.
Winner: Dricus Du Plessis by TKO (Corner Stoppage) at 4:59 of round two. He improves to 19-2-0.
Amanda Ribas vs Viviane Araujo
Round 1:
After an early exchange of punches from southpaw stances, Araujo jumped guard with a guillotine choke. Ribas freed her neck and passed to half-guard, where she punched Araujo’s body and prevented her from sweeping. Araujo got to her knees and Ribas threw short uppercuts to her face. The fighters stood and Araujo landed two lead left hooks. A hard right hook scored for Araujo and both women landed jabs. Araujo landed two left hands before the bell. Close round. 10-9 Araujo.
Round 2:
Ribas staggered Araujo with a counter jab early in round two and then dropped her with a right hook. She took top position in Araujo’s half-guard and elbowed her thigh while keeping Araujo pinned down. Ribas continued to land short strikes and she eventually passed to side control, which allowed her to posture up with hammerfists. Araujo gave up her back and Ribas sunk in one hook. She maintained the position until the bell. 10-8 Ribas.
Round 3:
Araujo landed a right hook and Ribas answered with a quick one-two. Both women landed jabs and Ribas threw a three-punch combo to the body. She landed a front kick and a straight right. Ribas finished a combination with a leg kick, then followed with a spinning back kick to the body. Ribas continued to use her jab to set up other strikes as Araujo struggled to land anything. Ribas took Araujo down and Araujo countered with an armbar from the bottom. Ribas kneed Araujo in the body and pulled her arm out, and she closed out the fight with punches from the top. 10-9 Ribas.
Winner: Amanda Ribas by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-27) after three rounds. She improves to 11-3-0.
Marc-André “Power Bar” Barriault vs Julian “The Cuban Missile Crisis” Marquez
Round 1:
Jabs were exchanged and Marquez landed a solid lead left hook. Barriault struggled to find his range and Marquez landed a body kick. He followed with two overhand rights and used his jab to set up a right hook and an uppercut. Marquez landed a one-two and a leg kick. In the final minute, Marquez landed two knees in close and an overhand right. Barriault scored with a right hook late in the round. 10-9 Marquez.
Round 2:
Marquez opened round two with a right hook and Barriault landed a body kick in response. He began to pressure Marquez with punches and cut Marquez below his right eye. A lead left hook scored for Barriault and he punched his way into a clinch against the cage. Both men landed elbows, but Barriault remained the aggressor as Marquez backed away and Barriault attacked with non-stop uppercuts and elbows as Marquez covered up against the cage. He cut Marquez on his left cheek and continued to blast him with elbows and uppercuts. Marquez survived, but Barriault hurt him with a knee and unloaded with left hands to the side of Marquez’s face until the fight was finally stopped.
Winner: Marc-André Barriault by TKO (Knee & Punches) at 4:12 of round two. He improves to 15-6-0, 1 NC.
Ian “The Future” Garry vs Kenan “The Assassin” Song
Round 1:
Garry landed a leg kick and a right hook while keeping Song on the defensive in the opening minute. He landed two more leg kicks and then a head kick that Song partially blocked. Another calf kick landed for Garry, but he did not follow up. Song landed a leg kick of his own and dropped Garry with a left hook. He swarmed on him with more punches on the ground as a dazed Garry got back to his feet against the cage. The fighters separated and the round came to an end. 10-9 Song.
Round 2:
Song blocked a head kick and landed a side kick to Garry’s body. Time was briefly called when Song was kicked in the groin, but action continued and the fighters exchanged body kicks. Garry landed two long jabs and a front kick to the body. He backed Song up to the cage and Song countered with a spinning back kick. Garry used his jab to set up a right hook to the body. Late in the round, Garry landed a knee to the body and a one-two. 10-9 Garry.
Round 3:
Song landed a lunging left hook one minute into the final round. Garry jabbed and attempted a head kick that was blocked. Garry landed more jabs and he kicked at Song’s lead leg and body. Garry threw a flying knee that missed, but he landed a right hand and a calf kick. With just over one minute remaining, Garry landed a combination to the body. He landed a big left hook and a knee to Song’s body, then swarmed on him against the cage with more punches. Song fell to the mat and Garry followed up with right hands and hammerfists until the fight was stopped.
Winner: Ian Garry by TKO (Punches) at 4:22 of round three. He improves to 11-0-0.
Cameron Saaiman vs Leomana “Manaboi” Martinez
Round 1:
Saaiman threw kicks to Martinez’s lead leg and body early in the fight and Martinez replied with a right hook. Both men landed punches and Saaiman stepped forward with a right-left combo. Martinez landed a leg kick and a long jab, and time was called when he was kicked in the groin. Action resumed after a minute and Saaiman landed two body kicks. Martinez charged forward with a one-two and time was called again when Martinez sustained a second groin kick. Saaiman was docked one point and the fight continued after 90 seconds. Saaiman missed with a spinning backfist and Martinez landed a left hook. Martinez caught a kick and landed another left hand, then prevented Saaiman from clinching. 9-9 due to the point deduction.
Round 2:
Saaiman landed two body kicks and a left hook to begin round two. He went high with three head kicks and missed with a spinning wheel kick. A left hook landed for Martinez, but Saaiman countered with one of his own. Martinez landed an uppercut and the fighters exchanged more punches. Saaiman stunned Martinez with a lead right hook and then dropped him with a second one. Martinez tried to set up an armbar from the bottom, but Saaiman stood up and then settled back into Martinez’s guard. He landed punches and avoided another armbar attempt. Saaiman scored with two elbows and a right hand from the top. 10-9 Saaiman.
Round 3:
The final round began with Saaiman landing two left hooks and a body kick. Both fighters connected with left hooks and Saaiman’s had more force behind it. He backed Martinez up and threw a head kick, but time was called when Saaiman poked Martinez in the eye. After a lengthy break, Saaiman was given a stern warning and the fight resumed. Martinez landed a left hook and a body kick. When Saaiman caught a kick, but Martinez cracked him with a right hook and Saaiman responded with a takedown. He cut Martinez over his left eye with two elbows and then followed with two more. Saaiman postured up with punches and hammerfists until Martinez got to his feet. 10-9 Saaiman.
Winner: Cameron Saaiman by Majority Decision (29-26, 28-27, 28-28) after three rounds. He improves to 8-0-0.
Tabatha “Baby Shark” Ricci vs Jessica Penne
Round 1:
Ricci was aggressive right away and she took Penne down after landing a leg kick. Penne got back to her feet and Ricci landed a calf kick. She followed with a front kick and tripped Penne again. Ricci stood over Penne and kicked at her legs. Penne got to her feet and Ricci held her against the fence. She took Penne down into full guard, then stood over her and kicked her legs again. She dropped down into Penne’s guard and threw short punches. Ricci stood up and kicked at Penne’s legs until Penne stood, and the round ended in a clinch. 10-9 Ricci.
Round 2:
Ricci cut Penne beside her left eye with a right hook to begin round two. Penne clinched, but Ricci whipped her down to the mat with a hip toss. Ricci stood and kicked at Penne’s legs. She dropped down and latched on to Penne’s right arm, then spun into an armbar. When Ricci pulled back on the arm, Penne was forced to submit.
Winner: Tabatha Ricci by Submission (Armbar) at 2:14 of round two. She improves to 8-1-0.
“Ferocious” Farid Basharat vs Da’Mon “Da Monster” Blackshear
Round 1:
Blackshear missed with a flying side kick attempt to begin the fight. Left hooks were exchanged and Blackshear tried to take Basharat down, but Basharat balanced on one leg. The fighters stood and Basharat landed a calf kick, then took Blackshear down. Basharat passed to side control, but Blackshear scrambled and got to his feet. Basharat threw a spinning backfist and Blackshear finished the round with a jumping switch kick to the body. 10-9 Basharat.
Round 2:
The second round began with an exchange of leg kicks and Blackshear briefly took Basharat down. Basharat stood and landed a right hook. He threw a spinning back kick to the body and blocked a Blackshear head kick. Blackshear took Basharat down into back control and he looked to secure an arm-triangle choke while trying to turn over into mount. Basharat defended and kicked Blackshear off, but not before Blackshear landed punches from the top. On the feet, Basharat shot in for a takedown and he got Blackshear down into side control. Blackshear regained full guard, but Basharat landed elbows from the top during the final 30 seconds. Back-and-forth round. 10-9 Blackshear by a slim margin.
Round 3:
Blackshear was aggressive with punches to begin the final round, but Basharat countered with a takedown into half-guard. He held Blackshear down against the base of the cage until Blackshear swept and stood up. Blackshear landed a lead left hook and a leg kick, but Basharat easily stuffed a takedown attempt and he tripped Blackshear into half-guard. Basharat postured up with punches and elbows from Blackshear’s full guard, but Blackshear trapped him in a tight triangle choke. He tried to add in an armbar and a kimura as well, but Basharat defended until the bell. Another close round. 10-9 Basharat, just barely.
Winner: Farid Basharat by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 10-0-0.
Loik “Jaguar Paw” Radzhabov vs Esteban “El Gringo” Ribovics
Round 1:
Radzhabov rocked Ribovics with a right hook to begin the fight and he took him down. Ribovics worked back to his feet and Radzhabov landed another right hook. He scored a takedown and Ribovics countered with a kimura attempt from the bottom. He used it to get back to his feet and landed two straight left hands from a southpaw stance. Radzhabov scored another takedown and moved from back control to an arm-triangle choke from the top. Ribovics scrambled up to his feet and Radzhabov landed a lead left hook. 10-9 Radzhabov.
Round 2:
Ribovics opened round two with a pair of lead left hooks that forced Radzhabov to clinch in search of a takedown. He took Ribovics down and tried to move to a mounted arm-teiangle choke. Ribovics exploded out from the bottom and stood up. Radzhabov landed a right hook and dumped Ribovics to the mat. Once more, Ribovics got to his feet and Radzhabov took him down again. Ribovic stood and he landed a combination to the mat. Two right hooks to the temple dropped Radzhabov and Ribovics tried to finish him with more punches on the ground. Radzhabov recovered and got to his feet before the bell. 10-9 Ribovics due to the late rally.
Round 3:
Radzhabov landed two right hooks and he wobbled Ribovics with a left. Ribovics recovered and he countered a right hook from Radzhbov with a leg kick. Radzhabov took Ribovics down, but Ribovics used a rolling kimura to take Radzhabov’s back. He transitioned to mount, but Radzhabov powered out from the bottom and promptly took Ribovics down into side control. He kneed Ribovics in the ribs and tried to take his back, but Ribovics shook him off. On the feet, Ribovics landed a big a left hook and he followed with a combination. Radzhabov shot in for a takedown and the fighters traded knees to the body in a late clinch. Close final round. 10-9 Radzhabov.
Winner: Loik Radzhabov by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 17-4-1.