UFC 175 Prelims: Urijah Faber Choke Submits Alex Caceres in Third Round
Urijah
Faber does not lose non-title fights.
Faber submitted “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 quarterfinalist Alex Caceres with a third-round rear-naked choke at UFC 175 “Weidman vs. Machida” on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Caceres (10-6, 5-4 UFC) conceded defeat 69 seconds into round three.
“The California Kid” used a tried-and-true approach, pairing right
hands with takedowns and ground-and-pound. Caceres had his moments,
including an exquisite two-punch combination in the second round
that snapped back Faber’s head. However, he found himself on the
defensive far too often. Faber (31-7, 7-3 UFC) struck for a final
takedown early in the third round, transitioned immediately to
Caceres’ back and cinched the choke.
Kenny Robertson utilized repeated takedowns and heavy ground-and-pound in capturing a unanimous verdict over former Jungle Fight champion Ildemar Alcantara in a preliminary welterweight match. All three cageside judges scored it 30-26 for Robertson (14-3, 3-3 UFC), who replaced the injured Santiago Ponzinibbio and made the most of the opportunity.
Takedowns and stifling positional control spurred former Bitetti Combat champion Bruno Santos to a split decision over Chris Camozzi in an undercard tilt at 185 pounds. All three judges scored it 29-28, two of them siding with the once-beaten Santos (14-1, 1-1 UFC).
Camozzi (19-8, 4-4 UFC) controlled much of the standup but allowed the Brazilian powerhouse to close the distance too often, leading to takedowns and one-sided exchanges on the ground. “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 11 graduate’s frustrations grew over the final 10 minutes, and his inability to fend off takedowns and return to his feet proved costly. Santos remained true to his game plan, riding out the decision from inside the guard.
The 27-year-old Camozzi has now lost three in a row.
Team Sityodtong’s Rob Font knocked out “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8 semifinalist George Roop with a searing right hand in the first round of their undercard battle at 135 pounds. Font (11-1, 1-0 UFC) drew the curtain 2:19 into round one, extending his winning streak to 10 fights.
Roop (15-11-1, 5-7 UFC) lured the Octagon rookie into the clinch and pecked away with punches to the head and kicks to the legs. Font fired his right hand through the Arizonan’s guard a little less than mideway through round one and folded him where he stood. He then pounced for the finish, forcing referee Chris Tognoni to intervene on Roop’s behalf.
A crisp and composed standup game carried “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 7 alum Luke Zachrich to his 11th victory in 13 appearances, as he cruised to a unanimous decision over Brazilian newcomer Guilherme Vasconcelos in a preliminary middleweight scrap. All three cageside judges sided with Zachrich (14-3, 1-1 UFC): 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.
Outside the occasional body kick and a late third-round flurry, Vasconcelos (3-2, 0-1 UFC) was a non-factor. Zachrich stayed busy, utilizing both hands in punching to the head and body. The 32-year-old Defiance, Ohio, native kept Vasconcelos bottled up with a stiff jab, denied his takedown attempts and consistently punctuated his combinations with thudding kicks to the lead leg.
Reigning Resurrection Fighting Alliance champion Kevin Casey put away Bubba Bush with a savage volley of elbows from half guard in the first round of their undercard clash at 185 pounds. Bush (8-3, 0-1 UFC) met his end 61 seconds into round one, his Octagon debut spoiled in decisive fashion.
Casey (9-3, 1-1 UFC) floored the Legacy Fighting Championship titleholder with a searing left hook and settled in top position. From there, he let the elbows fly, increasing their intensity until Bush lay in a semi-conscious state beneath him. Casey, 33, has rattled off four consecutive victories, three of them finishes.
Faber submitted “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 quarterfinalist Alex Caceres with a third-round rear-naked choke at UFC 175 “Weidman vs. Machida” on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Caceres (10-6, 5-4 UFC) conceded defeat 69 seconds into round three.
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Relentless Robertson Overwhelms Alcantara
Kenny Robertson utilized repeated takedowns and heavy ground-and-pound in capturing a unanimous verdict over former Jungle Fight champion Ildemar Alcantara in a preliminary welterweight match. All three cageside judges scored it 30-26 for Robertson (14-3, 3-3 UFC), who replaced the injured Santiago Ponzinibbio and made the most of the opportunity.
Robertson moved into top position in all three rounds, wrecking the
Brazilian with elbows and punches. The 30-year-old Spring Bay,
Ill., native was at his best in round two, where he mounted
Alcantara (20-7, 3-2 UFC), slashed away with elbows and threatened
him with a deep keylock. Though “Marajo” dodged the finish, he had
no answer for Robertson on the ground, losing for just the second
time in his last 12 appearances.
Santos Top Game Stifles Camozzi
Takedowns and stifling positional control spurred former Bitetti Combat champion Bruno Santos to a split decision over Chris Camozzi in an undercard tilt at 185 pounds. All three judges scored it 29-28, two of them siding with the once-beaten Santos (14-1, 1-1 UFC).
Camozzi (19-8, 4-4 UFC) controlled much of the standup but allowed the Brazilian powerhouse to close the distance too often, leading to takedowns and one-sided exchanges on the ground. “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 11 graduate’s frustrations grew over the final 10 minutes, and his inability to fend off takedowns and return to his feet proved costly. Santos remained true to his game plan, riding out the decision from inside the guard.
The 27-year-old Camozzi has now lost three in a row.
Font Overhand KOs Roop
Team Sityodtong’s Rob Font knocked out “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8 semifinalist George Roop with a searing right hand in the first round of their undercard battle at 135 pounds. Font (11-1, 1-0 UFC) drew the curtain 2:19 into round one, extending his winning streak to 10 fights.
Roop (15-11-1, 5-7 UFC) lured the Octagon rookie into the clinch and pecked away with punches to the head and kicks to the legs. Font fired his right hand through the Arizonan’s guard a little less than mideway through round one and folded him where he stood. He then pounced for the finish, forcing referee Chris Tognoni to intervene on Roop’s behalf.
Zachrich Downs Newcomer Vasconcelos
A crisp and composed standup game carried “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 7 alum Luke Zachrich to his 11th victory in 13 appearances, as he cruised to a unanimous decision over Brazilian newcomer Guilherme Vasconcelos in a preliminary middleweight scrap. All three cageside judges sided with Zachrich (14-3, 1-1 UFC): 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.
Outside the occasional body kick and a late third-round flurry, Vasconcelos (3-2, 0-1 UFC) was a non-factor. Zachrich stayed busy, utilizing both hands in punching to the head and body. The 32-year-old Defiance, Ohio, native kept Vasconcelos bottled up with a stiff jab, denied his takedown attempts and consistently punctuated his combinations with thudding kicks to the lead leg.
Casey Burns Bush in 61 Seconds
Reigning Resurrection Fighting Alliance champion Kevin Casey put away Bubba Bush with a savage volley of elbows from half guard in the first round of their undercard clash at 185 pounds. Bush (8-3, 0-1 UFC) met his end 61 seconds into round one, his Octagon debut spoiled in decisive fashion.
Casey (9-3, 1-1 UFC) floored the Legacy Fighting Championship titleholder with a searing left hook and settled in top position. From there, he let the elbows fly, increasing their intensity until Bush lay in a semi-conscious state beneath him. Casey, 33, has rattled off four consecutive victories, three of them finishes.
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