Dos Anjos submits Lee in fourth, snaps two-fight skid
Marc RaimondiESPN
The times of Rafael dos Anjos’ reign atop the UFC’s light-weight division appear way back. Even his preliminary profitable streak after transferring as much as welterweight is way again within the rearview mirror.
However dos Anjos, the gritty veteran, continues to be right here, profitable vital fights within the UFC. “RDA” defeated Kevin Lee by arm triangle choke submission at Three:47 of the fourth spherical Saturday evening in the primary occasion of UFC Rochester. The victory retains dos Anjos related within the UFC’s welterweight contender rankings. The UFC drew an attendance of Eight,200 in its first journey to Rochester for a gate of $643,000.
“I’ve 40 skilled fights and 27 UFC appearances,” dos Anjos stated. “Kevin Lee’s a younger man developing [in the] division.”
Lee began off quick, placing the stress on dos Anjos and pushing him in opposition to the fence. Lee landed within the hanging early typically. By the top of the second spherical, although, dos Anjos had the momentum, and Lee regarded considerably sapped. Afterward, the Brazilian stated that technique was by design.
“I took my time and took his vitality,” dos Anjos stated. “I used my cage expertise. My final three fights, I went 25 minutes with the perfect guys. It gave me quite a lot of expertise for conditions like this.”
Within the second spherical, dos Anjos was capable of land combos within the stand-up — and a giant head kick — and stave off most of Lee’s takedowns. Lee almost took his again, however dos Anjos was capable of get out of bother. The second, like the opposite two rounds, was quite a lot of clinching in opposition to the cage, quite a lot of grappling. It was a grueling battle of attrition all through.
Rafael dos Anjos submitted Kevin Lee by arm triangle within the fourth spherical of their UFC Combat Night time most important occasion bout. Tom Szczerbowski/USA TODAY Sports activities
Dos Anjos started to make the struggle his within the third. Lee’s takedowns had been slower, and dos Anjos defended them, moving into high place not less than as soon as himself. Within the fourth, Lee tried to capitalize on a scramble and get in high place, however dos Anjos out-scrambled him and ended up in mount. Dos Anjos rapidly locked within the arm triangle, a popular approach for the California resident.
All three judges had dos Anjos profitable the second and third rounds, forward 29-28 going into the fourth.
Dos Anjos (29-11) snapped a two-fight dropping streak with the victory. He was coming off losses to present welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington in an interim title struggle. Dos Anjos, 34, began off at welterweight on a three-fight profitable streak previous to that dropping skid. This was his 10th profession submission victory.
Nonetheless ranked No. Three amongst UFC welterweight contenders, dos Anjos shouldn’t be ruling out one other run to the belt at 170 kilos. Dos Anjos was the UFC light-weight champion in 2015 and 2016.
“I do know I’ve what it takes to be a world champion,” dos Anjos stated. “I simply wish to be prepared for the best alternative. I will be able to reap the benefits of it.”
Lee (17-5) has now dropped two straight. This was his welterweight debut within the UFC, although he has not dedicated to staying within the division. Lee, 26, has dropped three of 4 general.
Ian Heinisch defeats Antonio Carlos Junior by unanimous resolution
Heinisch acquired utterly dominated within the first spherical, the matchup in opposition to Carlos Junior wanting like a horrible one stylistically. In reality, Heinisch, the gritty former wrestler who has overcome the chances in life, was simply biding his time.
Heinisch defeated Carlos Junior by unanimous resolution (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) within the co-main occasion of UFC Rochester on Saturday evening. Heinisch got here again to intestine out the ultimate two rounds to tug off the hard-fought victory.
Within the first spherical, Carlos Junior put Heinisch on his again and managed nearly each second of the 5 minutes. There was some injury and some submission makes an attempt, as nicely. Heinisch seemed to be in over his head in opposition to the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.
He was not. Heinisch got here again within the second, gained the hanging battle and acquired floor place after lazy Carlos Junior takedowns. Heinisch was capable of do injury on the bottom with punches and elbows. It was a lot of the identical within the third, a contemporary Heinisch out-scrambling a tiring Carlos Junior time after time.
Heinisch (13-1), who spent years in jail for drug trafficking, has remade his life in MMA. The Colorado resident has gained 5 straight, together with his previous two within the UFC. Heinisch, 30, trains at Manufacturing facility X in Colorado underneath coach Marc Montoya.
Carlos Junior (10-Three, 1 NC) had his five-fight profitable streak snapped Saturday evening. The previous BJJ world champion suffered his first resolution loss since 2014. Carlos Junior, 29, is a former The Final Fighter Brazil winner.
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Ian Heinisch connects with robust punches on Antonio Carlos Junior within the 2nd. For extra UFC motion, join ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Felicia Spencer defeats Megan Anderson by first-round submission
The UFC’s featherweight division has a brand new identify to observe.
Spencer upset Anderson with a rear-naked choke end at Three:24 of the primary spherical on the UFC Rochester most important card. Anderson is among the extra widespread fighters at ladies’s 145 within the UFC and Spencer was making her UFC debut. Each are former Invicta FC ladies’s featherweight champions.
Spencer took Anderson down and imposed her will, touchdown floor and pound, taking her again and ultimately completed with the choke. It was a dominant efficiency for “The Feenom.”
“Kinds make matchups,” Spencer stated. “I suppose I simply had her quantity right this moment.”
Spencer (7-Zero) had spent her complete MMA profession in Invicta till this level. That is the Montreal native’s third straight rear-naked choke end. Spencer, 28, requested for a title shot subsequent in opposition to champion Amanda Nunes, saying there’s not a lot else to do after beating Anderson in what’s a shallow division.
Anderson (9-Four) has now misplaced two of three with a win over Cat Zingano in between. The Australian was as soon as booked for a featherweight title struggle in opposition to then-champion Cris Cyborg however now has some work to do to get again to that standing. Anderson, 29, had not misplaced through end since 2015.
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Felicia Spencer wraps round Megan Anderson and delivers lethal head pictures of their featherweight match. For extra UFC motion, join ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Vicente Luque defeats Derrick Krantz by first-round TKO
Krantz began off pressuring Luque, throwing bombs, in search of a slam and trying to tug off the large upset. It was a valiant effort however to no avail.
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Luque blasted Krantz with a knee within the clinch, adopted it with a left hook after which completed on the bottom to cease his late-notice opponent by TKO at Three:52 of the primary spherical. Luque was imagined to struggle Neil Magny within the co-main occasion of this card, however Magny failed a USADA drug check and was compelled off the cardboard earlier this week.
Luque (16-6-1) has gained 5 in a row, all by end. The Brazilian, who trains in Florida, ties Charles Oliveira and Gregor Gillespie with the longest energetic end streak within the UFC. Luque, 27, is now tied for third amongst UFC welterweights in finishes (9) with Thiago Alves.
Krantz (24-11) earned a spot within the UFC from Dana White’s “Lookin’ for a Combat” present. The 31-year-old Texan got here in with a four-fight profitable streak.
Charles Oliveira defeats Nik Lentz by second-round TKO
Like many Oliveira fights, there have been some wacky moments. A phantom faucet. A potential unlawful upkick. Ultimately, although, none of that mattered. Oliveira flattened Lentz with a straight struggle hand and completed on the bottom with hammerfists to win by TKO at 2:11 of the second spherical. It was Oliveira’s first knockout in 24 UFC fights.
Oliveira almost completed a guillotine choke minutes earlier with Lentz showing to faucet as soon as, however then continued combating the submission. Seconds after that, Oliveira landed what regarded like an unlawful upkick, which he was warned about by referee Todd Anderson. Regardless of all of that, Oliveira regarded wonderful on this third struggle with Lentz, whom he has now overwhelmed twice (the opposite struggle as a no contest resulting from an Oliveira unlawful knee).
Oliveira (27-Eight, 1 NC) has gained 5 straight within the light-weight division and is performing in addition to he ever as in his 9 years with the UFC. The Brazilian has completed all of his opponents throughout this present profitable streak. “Do Bronx” is now tied for the longest energetic end streak within the UFC at 5 with Gregor Gillespie. Oliveira, 29, is tied for second amongst UFC finishes all time (14) with Vitor Belfort and Anderson Silva.
Lentz (30-10-2, 1 NC) was on a two-fight profitable streak coming in. The 34-year-old Florida resident had not been completed since his final struggle with Oliveira in 2015.
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Charles Oliveira handles Nik Lentz within the 2nd spherical of their light-weight battle. For extra UFC motion, join ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Davi Ramos defeats Austin Hubbard by unanimous resolution
Apart from a couple of making an attempt moments within the third spherical, this struggle belonged to Ramos from begin to end. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu standout managed the motion on the toes, and when he took Hubbard all the way down to the bottom, it was Ramos’ world. He almost completed within the first spherical with a choke and ultimately took the unanimous resolution (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Ramos (10-2) has now gained 4 in a row and 6 of seven. The 32-year-old appears prepared for a much bigger problem within the UFC’s light-weight division. Hubbard (10-Three), a 27-year-old UFC newcomer, had gained three straight coming in.
Afterward, Ramos referred to as out UFC light-weight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“The one struggle I wish to struggle now’s Khabib,” Ramos stated. “I’ve needed to struggle in opposition to him for a very long time. … I am coming. He is the one man I wish to struggle.”
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Davi Ramos connects with energy punches on Austin Hubbard within the third. For extra UFC motion, join ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Aspen Ladd defeats Sijara Eubanks by unanimous resolution
In a wild, back-and-forth battle, Ladd pulled out a unanimous resolution (30-26, 29-27, 29-28) win over Eubanks. The second spherical was an enormous one for Ladd, who gained it 10-Eight on two of the playing cards. Ladd, 24, was capable of dominate Eubanks, 34, on the bottom, which was shocking on condition that Eubanks is a high-level, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.
In the meantime, Eubanks almost completed with a flurry of punches, a takedown and floor and pound on the finish of the primary spherical. The ultimate spherical ended with each ladies swinging on one another till the bell. It was an thrilling bout from bell to bell and a giant win for Ladd, a high prospect.
Ladd (Eight-Zero) stays undefeated and has completed each single opponent other than Eubanks, whom she additionally beat by resolution in January 2017 underneath the Invicta FC banner. The California native, nonetheless simply 24 years previous, is now tied for third amongst energetic profitable streaks within the ladies’s bantamweight division (Three) with Irene Aldana and Germaine de Randamie.
Eubanks (Four-Three) had her two-fight profitable streak snapped. This was the Massachusetts native’s debut at 135 kilos within the UFC.
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Aspen Ladd and Sijara Eubanks commerce punches in closing seconds of their struggle with Ladd profitable by resolution. For extra UFC motion, join ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Desmond Inexperienced defeats Charles Jourdain by unanimous resolution
In entrance of a wild hometown crowd chanting his identify, Inexperienced pulled off a unanimous resolution (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) victory over the UFC newcomer. The Rochester native managed the struggle from the leap and clinched it within the third spherical with a number of massive takedowns. Within the first, Inexperienced was at his simplest, touchdown nicely on the toes and giving Jourdain suits together with his wrestling and grappling.
“Coming into this struggle, he studied him nicely,” Inexperienced stated afterward. “He was 9-1 with 9 finishes. His solely loss got here to a wrestler. I might be a idiot if I did not attempt to expose that, being I am a wrestler.”
Inexperienced (23-Eight) has gained two in a row and three of his previous 4, making a transfer within the UFC’s light-weight division. The 29-year-old “Predator” has gone to resolution in 9 of his previous 10 bouts. Jourdain (9-2) stepped in on quick discover in a weight class larger than he usually would struggle in. The 23-year-old Canadian had gained 4 straight coming in.
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Desmond Inexperienced connects with physique pictures on Charles Jourdain within the 1st. For extra UFC motion, join ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Michel Pereira defeats Danny Roberts by first-round knockout
Pereira got here into the UFC identified for a viral video during which he was doing backflips off the cage throughout a bout in South Korea. Because it seems, the Brazilian is actually rattling good at combating, too.
The thrilling Pereira knocked out Roberts at 1:47 of the primary spherical with a ridiculous leaping knee as Roberts got here in, adopted by a missile of a proper hand. Debuts do not get a lot better than that.
Pereira (23-9) has gained his previous three fights, all by knockout. The 25-year-old “Demolidor” has gained 10 instances by knockout general. Roberts (16-5), a 31-year-old Englishman, has dropped two straight.
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Michel Pereira handles Danny Roberts within the 1st spherical of their welterweight battle. For extra UFC motion, join ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Grant Dawson defeats Michael Trizano by second-round submission
In a battle of prospects, Dawson got here by means of in an thrilling scrap. The Nebraska native took Trizano down within the second, acquired mount, then took his again resulting in a rear-naked choke end at 2:27 of the spherical.
Dawson (13-1), a extremely considered featherweight up-and-comer, has gained his first two UFC bouts and is on a five-fight profitable streak general. Dawson, 25, took dwelling his 10th profession submission victory with the win. Trizano (Eight-1) was undefeated coming in, together with The Final Fighter 27 crown. The 27-year-old New Jersey native had his moments within the bout, opening up a reduce round Dawson’s proper eye with a stiff jab.
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Grant Dawson takes out Michael Trizano’s leg for a takedown within the 1st. For extra UFC motion, join ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Ed Herman defeats Patrick Cummins by first-round TKO
Cummins was driving ahead after apparently rocking Herman. However on the separation from a clinch, Herman landed a giant glancing knee to the facet of Cummins’ head that surprised the previous Penn State wrestler. Herman pounced, Cummins turtled and ground-and-pound ended it at Three:39 of the third spherical. It was Herman’s first knockout of any variety since 2011.
Herman (24-14, 1 NC), a 38-year-old Washington native, snapped a three-fight dropping skid with the win. Cummins (10-7), a 38-year-old California resident, has misplaced three straight.
Zak Cummings defeats Trevin Giles through third-round submission
Zak Cummings probably wanted a end heading into the third spherical. He acquired it.
The Texas native dropped Giles with a giant left hand after which jumped on a guillotine in a scramble. Giles tapped out and identical to that, Cummings had a comeback submission win at Four:01 of the third. Earlier within the struggle, Giles had opened up a nasty reduce over Cummings’ proper eye, which was essentially the most important injury till the top.
At 34 years previous, Cummings (23-6) has gained two in a row and 4 of his previous 5 within the UFC middleweight division. He has gained 5 instances complete through choke. Giles (11-1), a hard-hitting, 26-year-old prospect from Texas, had gained each of his UFC fights coming in through knockout.
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Zak Cummings battles again within the third spherical to win over Trevin Giles within the middleweight match. For extra UFC motion, join ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Julio Arce defeats Julian Erosa by third-round knockout
Arce landed a left head kick a number of instances all through the course of his struggle with Erosa. Most of them did not have a lot mustard on them. Till the ultimate one.
Arce knocked Erosa out chilly at 1:49 of the third spherical with a kind of slick left head kicks. Erosa was wading in, making an attempt to push the motion after probably dropping the primary two rounds. Arce (16-Three) made him pay, profitable his eighth struggle in 9 tries. The 29-year-old New York native was coming off a bloody, break up resolution loss to Sheymon Moraes at UFC 230 in November. Erosa (22-Eight), a 29-year-old Washington native, has misplaced three straight.
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Julio Arce takes care of Julian Erosa within the third spherical of their featherweight match. For extra UFC motion, join ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.