UFC on Fox 30 Prelims: Jordan Mein, Hakeem Dawodu Earn Unanimous Decision Victories

Canada’s Jordan Mein made the fans happy on Saturday by outlasting rugged Alex Morono over three rounds to earn a unanimous decision in the featured UFC on Fox 30 preliminary contest with scores of 29-28, 29-28 and 29-28.

Morono forced Mein into a slugfest early on, but “Young Gun” eventually wised up and took his foe to the canvas. From there, Mein dominated Morono until the end, taking him down several times and avoiding the Houston fighter’s bombs. Morono locked in a mounted guillotine in the third, but “The Great White” couldn’t finish him off and wound up getting swept into side control late in the frame.

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Dawodu Bounces Back

Calgary native Hakeem Dawodu was never in any danger whatsoever in his fight with Austin Arnett, as he won a rather easy lopsided unanimous nod.

“Mean” Hakeem peppered the American with vicious right and left hooks to the body, with plenty of leg kicks sprinkled in for good measure. And when Dawodu wasn’t landing those shots, he picked “Golden Boy” apart with lead straight and counter hooks up top. ‘Twas a walk in the park for Dawodu, who won via tallies of 30-27 across the board.

Makhachev Taps Johnson

Highly-touted lightweight contender Islam Makhachev made it look easy against local fighter Kajan Johnson as he subbed him in the first.

After a few minutes of feeling each other out, the Russian secured a rather easy double-leg takedown. From there, Makhachev moved to mount and then latched on a textbook armbar. Once he shifted his positioning a bit, Makhachev ripped Johnson’s arm straight and forced him to tap. Johnson bowed out at the 4:43 mark.

Cutelaba Tees Off on Antigulov

One of the more beloved fighters at 205 pounds, Ion Cutelaba electrified MMA fans by taking out powerful grappler Gadzhimurad Antigulov in sensational fashion.

The Russian quickly took Cutelaba down twice in the first few minutes, but “The Hulk” fought his way back to his feet. Antigulov couldn’t take his opponent down again and when he couldn’t his fate was sealed. Cutelaba, a native of the Republic of Moldova, crushed Antigulov’s body with knees and when he began to fade, “The Hulk” was relentless from there, slamming punches and elbows off Antigulov’s head as he mixed in knees downstairs and up.

With Antigulov crumbling against the fence, referee Marc Goddard eventually jumped in and saved him. The end came officially at 4:25 of the opening frame.

Makdessi Denies Pearson

Lightweight contender John Makdessi delighted his hometown fans in the featured bout of the UFC Fight Pass prelims as he outslugged perennial tough-guy Ross Pearson for three rounds.

Pearson was aggressive from the start, winging power punches and kicks from all angles, but Makdessi never waived from his gameplan. As the fight wore on, though, “The Bull” began rifling counter left hooks and straight rights to the head, battering the Brit. Pearson never took a step back, even when Makdessi buckled his knees, but Makdessi’s clean, crisp punching sealed The Real Deal’s fate.

Makdessi won a unanimous decision by scores of 30-26, 29-27 and 29-28.

Chookagian Outduels Davis

In a pivotal flyweight contest, it was Katlyn Chookagian who prevailed over Alexis Davis over the course of three rounds.

The New Jersey native used superb movement and slick jabs to the head to keep her opponent at bay, but it wasn’t easy. Davis continually moved forward and tried to make it a brawl, but “Blonde Fighter” stuck to her game plan. In the end, Chookagian’s much crisper striking was the difference and she won a unanimous decision via tallies of 29-28 (twice) and 30-27.

Ortiz Makes Quick Work of Pereira

Dustin Ortiz entered his bout with Matheus Nicolau Pereira as a betting underdog, but he didn’t pay that any attention.

The Brazilian was playing it cool by landing sporadic low kicks and punches to the head, but Ortiz waited for the moment to strike. Ortiz slammed a head kick behind Nicolau’s left hand that dropped his opponent. The Tennessee fighter followed Nicolau to the ground and unloaded a barrage of punches from on top, knocking him senseless.

Referee Keith Peterson immediately intervened as soon as the Brazilian went limp, ending things officially at the 3:49 of the first.

Ansaroff Bests Markos

Nina Ansaroff came into enemy territory against Randa Markos and it looked grim early on.

Markos scored an early takedown in the first and dominated the Floridian for much of the stanza. However, Ansaroff made the necessary adjustments between rounds and not only picked her bright red-headed foe apart with calf kicks and jabs, she stuffed Markos’ last nine takedown attempts. The duel was close but in the end, all three cageside judges saw it the same; 29-28 for Ansaroff for the unanimous decision.

Powell Survives Early Threat

Devin Powell was rocked seconds into his battle with Alvaro Howell when the Mexican slammed a left hook onto his jaw.

After a failed takedown attempt, “Chango” dug a left hook to the American’s liver, sending him to the canvas. Herrera allowed his foe to stand back up, but his decision backfired. Powell unloaded a sinister left kick to the liver, which forced Herrera to grimace and back away. When he tried to cover up seconds later, it was too late as Powell crushed his body with another kick to the midsection, dropping him, prompting referee Marc Goddard to stop it. The end came officially at 1:52 of the opening frame.