UFC on Fox 31 Prelims: Joaquim Silva Scores Dramatic Standing KO on Jared Gordon
Joaquim "Netto BJJ" Silva pic.twitter.com/WsukfwDy7z
— Streetfight Bancho (@streetfitebanch) December 16, 2018
Joaquim Silva simply refused to blink.
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Gordon (14-3, 2-2 UFC) buckled the Brazilian with an overhand right inside the first five minutes and had him reeling at various points. The Roufusport export maintained his advantage until late in the second round, where Silva wheeled to the back and trapped him in a reverse kneebar. The bell saved Gordon from the submission, but it resulted in significant damage and made him a stationary target. Midway through Round 3, Silva wobbled him with a sweeping right hand, pushed him to the fence and hammered away with both hands until Gordon was out on his feet.
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Ottow Edges Debuting Grant
Zak Ottow rode a late takedown-fueled surge to a contentious split decision over the American Kickboxing Academy’s Dwight Grant in a preliminary welterweight match. All three cageside judges struck 29-28 scorecards: Chris Lee and Rick Winter for Ottow, Brian Puccillo for Grant.
Neither man distinguished himself in what was a largely forgettable encounter. Grant (8-2, 0-1 UFC) countered effectively and appeared to get the best of the striking exchanges, but he lacked the output necessary to give his adversary pause. Ottow (17-6, 4-3 UFC) sprang into action early in the third round, where he delivered a takedown and forced Grant into a defensive posture that may have cost him the decision.
The setback snapped Grant’s seven-fight winning streak.
Klose Outduels Green to Decision
The MMA Lab’s Drakkar Klose leaned on his commitment to low leg kicks and relentless forward pressure, as he walked away with a unanimous decision over former King of the Cage champion Bobby Green in a three-round undercard affair at 155 pounds. All three judges scored it 29-28 for Klose (10-1-1, 4-1 UFC).
Green (24-9-1, 5-4-1 UFC) was accurate and measured throughout the 15-minute fight, piling up points with chopping right hands and stiff jabs. He did his best work in the second round, where he executed a body-lock takedown, hammered away with ground-and-pound -- his assault included shoulder strikes -- and eventually achieved full mount. However, his inability to finish cost him.
Klose fought with a renewed purpose in Round 3, continued to target the leg with kicks and moved forward, answering Green’s combinations with some of his own. It was enough to earn favor from the judges.
Hermansson Guillotine Dismisses Meerschaert
Former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder Jack Hermansson submitted Gerald Meerschaert with a guillotine choke in the first round of their undercard confrontation at 185 pounds. Meerschaert (28-10, 4-2 UFC) conceded defeat 4:25 into Round 1.
Hermansson (18-4, 5-2 UFC) executed a takedown inside the first 20 seconds, advanced to full mount and transitioned to the back before flattening out the Roufusport mainstay and assaulting him with ground-and-pound. Meerschaert escaped to his feet on multiple occasions, only to wind up in the same disadvantageous positions in which he found himself earlier. Eventually, Hermansson caught the arm-in guillotine during a scramble, bit down on the choke and prompted the tap.
It was Hermansson’s first submission victory since August 2015.
Cummings Sinks Underdog Smith
Combination punching, stinging leg kicks and a superior gas tank carried Factory X rep Zak Cummings to a unanimous decision over Trevor Smith in a preliminary middleweight encounter. Cummings (22-6, 7-3 UFC) swept the scorecards with 29-28 marks from all three cageside judges.
Smith (15-9, 5-6 UFC) was competent in all phases and remained competitive throughout, his handiwork evident by his counterpart’s nearly swollen-shut left eye. However, Cummings attacked the inside and outside of his lead leg with kicks, won the majority of scrambles on the ground and dropped the Arizona Combat Sports standout with an overhand left behind the ear in the third round.
Cummings, 34, has posted three wins across his last four outings.
Ige Outlasts Rofusport’s Griffin
Dan Ige won for the eighth time in nine appearances, as he took a unanimous decision from former King of the Cage champion Jordan Griffin in a three-round undercard scrap at 145 pounds. All three cageside judges scored it the same: 29-28 for Ige (10-2, 2-1 UFC).
Griffin (17-6, 0-1 UFC) had his moments but too often conceded position through takedowns and scrambles. Ige mounted the Roufusport rep on multiple occasions, fought through fatigue and withstood a considerable burst of ground-and-pound in the second round. Griffin scrambled into top position late in the third and fired a volley of standing-to-ground punches into the Hawaiian, but the finish he needed never materialized.
The loss snapped Griffin’s four-fight winning streak.
Rodriguez Knee Folds Milstead
Lauzon MMA standout Mike Rodriguez cut down Adam Milstead with a devastating knee strike to the body and follow-up punches in the first round of their undercard clash at 205 pounds. Milstead (8-3, 1-2 UFC) bowed out 2:59 into Round 1, as he suffered his second straight defeat.
Rodriguez (10-3, 1-1 UFC) sat down the King of the Cage veteran with a penetrating left hand during one of their early exchanges, softened him with ground-and-pound and fired away with multi-punch combinations once they returned to their feet. He later folded Milstead with a knee to the liver, trailed him to the mat and drew the curtain with punches.
The 30-year-old Rodriguez has won five of his last six bouts.
Unbeaten Adams Batters De La Rocha
Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series alum Juan Adams put away Chris de la Rocha with punches in the third round of their preliminary heavyweight pairing. De la Rocha (5-3, 1-3 UFC) succumbed to blows 58 seconds into Round 3.
Adams (5-0, 1-0 UFC) did the majority of his damage on the ground, as he took down the Forge Combat Academy representative before assaulting him with elbows, punches and hammerfists. De la Rocha had little left in the tank by the time the third round started. The monstrous 6-foot-5, 265-pound Adams cut loose with a knee to the body, backed the 39-year-old to the fence and unleashed his powerful hands until referee Joe Fipp had seen enough.
The 26-year-old Adams has finished all five of his opponents as a pro.
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