UFC 163 Prelims: Flyweight Ian McCall Lands First UFC Victory, Downs Iliarde Santos

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Ian McCall was not going to be denied again.

Leg kicks, crisp punching combinations and superior lateral movement carried the former Tachi Palace Fights flyweight champion to a unanimous decision over Iliarde Santos at UFC 163 “Aldo vs. Korean Zombie” on Saturday at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. All three cageside judges saw it for McCall (12-4-1, 1-2-1 UFC): 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.

Feints and footwork were also integral parts of the “Uncle Creepy” package, as McCall pecked and popped his Brazilian counterpart from the perimeter. Santos (27-8-1, 0-2 UFC) failed to close the distance consistently and became entangled in the game of a faster, more skilled foe. The victory was the world-ranked McCall’s first inside the Octagon.

Australia’s Perosh KOs Magalhaes in 14 Seconds

Anthony Perosh knocked out former M-1 Global champion Vinny Magalhaes with a gorgeous right cross and follow-up ground strikes in a brief undercard encounter at 205 pounds. Perosh (14-7, 4-4 UFC), who has quietly won four of his past five bouts, brought it to a decisive close 14 seconds into round one.

Magalhaes (10-7, 1-4 UFC) walked into the Australian’s right cross and was never the same. The Syndicate MMA representative retreated to the ground but found no refuge there. Perosh pounced and pounded away with right hands until referee Mario Yamasaki stepped in on Magalhaes’ behalf.

Nunes Elbows Dispatch Gaff

Invicta Fighting Championships veteran Amanda Nunes put away Sheila Gaff with first-round elbows from inside guard in a preliminary women’s bantamweight battle. Gaff (10-6-1, 0-2 UFC) succumbed to the blows 2:08 into round one.

Nunes (8-3, 1-0 UFC) scored with a pair of takedowns on her German counterpart. She mounted Gaff after the first and set up inside her loose guard after the second. From there, Nunes let the scorched-earth elbows fall, forcing Gaff to cover up and securing the stoppage.

Moraes Triangle Submits Magny

Three-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Sergio Moraes submitted “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 16 graduate Neil Magny with a first-round triangle choke in a preliminary welterweight clash. Magny (8-2, 1-1 UFC) conceded defeat 3:13 into round one, as he won for the third time in four outings.

After eating a few punches while standing, Moraes (8-2, 2-1 UFC) went to work. He trapped Magny in the clinch, put him on the ground with an inside trip and compromised his guard with ruthless ease. Moraes moved to full mount, the position from which he set the triangle. Magny rolled in an attempt to free himself, but the Brazilian only deepened the choke. The tapout soon followed.

Yahya Outgrapples, Outpoints Clopton

Constrictor Team’s Rani Yahya put two rounds in the bank, faded down the stretch and held on for a unanimous decision over Josh Clopton in a preliminary featherweight scrap. All three judges struck the same verdict: 29-28 for Yahya (19-7, 4-1 UFC).

A 2007 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships gold medalist, Yahya overwhelmed Clopton with his deft grappling. He grounded, mounted and attacked the 32-year-old Mississippi native with punches and submission attempts throughout the first 10 minutes. However, Yahya ran his gas tank dry, providing his American counterpart with a late opening.

Clopton (6-2-1, 0-2 UFC) made his move in the third round, where he scored with a takedown and unleashed punches and knees against the fence. Yahya survived, and Clopton’s inability to finish allowed the Brazilian to escape with a decision.

Leg Kicks Fuel Barroso in UFC Debut

Nova Uniao’s Francimar Barroso recorded his 13th win in 14 appearances, as he captured a unanimous verdict over Ednaldo Oliveira in an uneventful undercard matchup at 205 pounds. All three judges scored it for Barroso (16-3, 1-0 UFC): 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.

Leg kicks were Barroso’s weapon of choice, and he used them to great effect in all three rounds. The former Shooto Brazil champion mixed in punching combinations and takedowns in rounds two and three, denying Oliveira (13-2-1, 0-2 UFC) a chance at his first victory inside the Octagon. Barroso replaced the injured Robert Drysdale on short notice.

Andrade Chops Down Marunde

Viscardi Andrade made a strong first impression in his promotional debut, as he stopped Syndicate MMA’s Bristol Marunde on first-round punches in a preliminary welterweight encounter. Andrade (15-5, 1-0 UFC) brought it to a close 96 seconds into round one, posting his seventh consecutive victory.

Marunde (12-9, 0-2 UFC) was simply outgunned standing. Andrade floored him with a two-punch combination, clipped him behind the ear while he attempted to rise and finished the Fairbanks, Alaska, native with a volley of follow-up punches. Marunde has lost his last three fights.