Jussier Da Silva Decisions Sergio Pettis in UFC 229 Prelims Headliner

Formiga gets the back early in the 3rd round!#UFC229 pic.twitter.com/qffGHpfRfM

— UFC (@ufc) October 7, 2018

It may not have been a pretty fight, but Brazilian flyweight contender Jussier da Silva toppled Sergio Pettis (17-4) via unanimous decision in the UFC 229 prelims headliner.

The fight was more of a tactical affair, as Pettis tried to land strikes from a distance. However, Fomriga (22-5) scored timely takedowns to nullify much of that the Milwaukee fighter tried. Formiga sealed Pettis’ fate in third when he took his back against the cage and remained there for roughly four minutes. In the end, Formiga was awarded the nod via tallies of 30-26 and 29-28 (twice).

Related » UFC 229 Round-by-Round Scoring

Luque Mauls Turner

Brazil’s Vicente Luque starched Jalin Turner, knocking him out cold in the first round. Turner (7-4), who normally fights at lightweight, stepped up to 170 pounds and fought well early.

The lanky Turner landed several jabs and hooks on the feet, but an ill-fated spinning elbow missed, allowing “The Silent Assassin” to counter with a right hook. Turner fell onto his back and Luque (14-6-1) swiftly rained down a tidal wave of punches until Turner was out cold. The end came officially at 3:52 of the first.

Ladd Destroys Evinger

Young prospect Aspen Ladd looked like a seasoned veteran as she tore apart longtime vet Tonya Evinger on Saturday.

Evinger started out well as she dug hooks to the body and getting to the clinch. But when the former Invicta Fighting Championships champ slipped, Ladd seized her back and never looked back. Ladd (7-0) threatened with a rear-naked choke and then pounded away at Evinger (19-7) with punches and hammerfists until referee Chris Tognoni had no choice but to intervene. Evinger bowed out at 3:26 of the first.

Holtzman Dispatches of Alves

Scott Holtzman entered his lightweight bout with Brazil’s Alan Patrick Silva Alves as a sizable underdog, but he didn’t let that bother him.

The Tennessee fighter landed several hard punches and kicks upstairs throughout the fight but Patrick hung tough until the third. After being dropped by a right hook to the jaw, Patrick (15-2) was all but doomed. Holtzman eventually moved to full mount and knocked his foe out with four unanswered push-off elbows to the head. The came officially at 3:42 of the third, allowing “Hot Sauce” to soar to 12-2 with the sensational knockout.

Kunitskaya Dominates Lansberg

Yana Kunitskaya was successful in her bantamweight debut as she controlled and dominated Lina Lansberg for three rounds. The Russian contender used better striking and a powerful clinch game to nullify virtually everything the Swede tried.

In the end, “Foxy” improved to 11-4 by winning a lopsided unanimous decision via tallies of 30-27 across the board. “Elbow Queen” fell to 8-4 with the loss.

Lentz Puts Away Maynard

Nik Lentz dominated old veteran Gray Maynard on Saturday before knocking him out in the second, essentially putting The Bully’s career on the ropes.

Lentz hurt Maynard multiple times in the first with punches to the head and nearly knocked him out, but had to wait until the second to do so. After a heated exchange of punches, Lentz (31-9-2) fired a right kick to the head, knocking the Las Vegan senseless. As soon as Maynard (13-7) hit the deck, “The Carny” swarmed him with punches until referee Dan Miragliotta had no choice but to intervene. The end came officially at 1:19 of the stanza.

Martin Finishes LaFlare

After a relatively even first two rounds, Floridian Tony Martin ended things emphatically in the third against Ryan LaFlare (14-3). Martin had been landing a steady stream punches to the head and kicks to the legs to the body, but he turned out the New Yorker’s lights with a perfectly-timed right head kick.

Once Martin’s shin connected, LaFlare crumbled in a heap. Martin (14-4) pounced and landed some follow-up punches, but the damage was already done and LaFlare was officially out cold exactly a minute into the frame.