UFC 216 Prelims: Cody Stamman Upends Prized Prospect Tom Duquesnoy in Split Decision
Cody
Stamann did not buy into the hype.
The Michigan Top Team representative leaned on takedowns, ground-and-pound and surprisingly effective standup in posting a split decision over former two-division British Association of Mixed Martial Arts titleholder Tom Duquesnoy in the featured UFC 216 prelim on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Judges Marcos Rosales and Rick Winter scored it 30-27 and 29-28 for Stamman, while Chris Lee cast a dissenting 29-28 nod for Duquesnoy.
Duquesnoy (14-2, 1-1 UFC) seized control early -- he connected with
body kicks, straight lefts and a few of his patented standing
elbows in close quarters -- but failed to maintain his advantages.
Stamann (15-1, 2-0 UFC) executed multiple takedowns in the second
round, applied his ground-and-pound and turned the tide in his
favor. Duquesnoy’s output dipped to alarming levels in the third
round, his confidence likely shaken by the success Stamann enjoyed
on the mat. As a result, the gifted Frenchman wound up getting
outstruck across the final five minutes.
Stamann, 27, now finds himself on a nine-fight winning streak.
Jackson-Wink MMA rep Lando Vannata and former King of the Cage champion Bobby Green fought to a draw in a memorable three-round undercard tilt at 155 pounds. Scores were 29-28 for Vannata, 29-28 for Green and 28-28. Neither man appeared disappointed with the result.
Vannata (9-2-1, 1-2-1 UFC) nearly finished it in the first round, where he floored his adversary with a slashing right hand and pounced with ground-and-pound. However, an illegal knee strike -- Vannata’s thigh careened off Green’s head -- cost Vannata a point and afforded Green time to recover. The second and third rounds gave rise to a wild back-and-forth firefight in which both lightweights were in trouble on multiple occasions. Vannata’s face was a mess by the time it was over, as Green (23-8-1, 4-3-1 UFC) exacted his toll with stiff jabs, crisp left hooks and clubbing right hands.
Nova Uniao export Poliana Botelho mada a triumphant organizational debut, as she took a unanimous decision from Pearl Gonzalez in a preliminary women’s strawweight encounter. All three cageside judges struck 30-27 scorecards in favor of Botelho (6-1, 1-0 UFC).
Gonzalez (6-3, 0-2 UFC) pressed a persistent clinch game that went absolutely nowhere. Botelho braced herself along the fence, worked for underhooks and mixed lateral elbows to the side of the head with thudding knees to the body. The Brazilian connected with a spinning back kick to the body late in the third round, flurried with punches and executed a takedown in the waning seconds, putting the finishing touches on the victory.
Botelho, 28, has won four fights in a row.
Effective combination punching and occasional leg kicks carried American Top Team’s Matt Schnell to a unanimous decision over “The Ultimate Fighter Latin America” semifinalist Marco Beltran in a three-round undercard encounter at 125 pounds. Schnell (10-4, 1-2 UFC) swept the scorecards with 30-27, 29-28 and 30-27 marks from the judges.
Beltran (8-6, 3-3 UFC) fought well in spurts -- especially late -- but could not match the Louisianan’s striking prowess. Schnell’s jab was increasingly effective and put significant swelling on his counterpart’s right eye. Beltran made his move in the third round, where he upped his aggression and moved forward with punches and kicks. However, it was not enough to undo the work Schnell put in over the first 10 minutes.
The 31-year-old Beltran has suffered three straight defeats.
MMA Lab and Arizona Combat Sports standout John Moraga wiped out former World Series of Fighting champion Magomed Bibulatov with punches in the first round of their preliminary flyweight affair. Bibulatov (14-1, 1-1 UFC) succumbed to blows 98 seconds into Round 1.
Moraga (18-6, 7-5 UFC) appeared calm and composed, as if somehow he knew the situation would break his way. The 33-year-old wobbled Bibulatov with a sharp right hand and then sent him crashing to the canvas with a clean left hook. After one standing-to-ground punch from Moraga, referee Jason Herzog was on the scene to prevent further damage.
Moraga has rattled off back-to-back wins following consecutive losses to Joseph Benavidez, Matheus Nicolau Pereira and Sergio Pettis.
“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 11 graduate Brad Tavares recorded his third win in as many appearances, as he captured a clear-cut unanimous decision from Nova Uniao mainstay Thales Leites in a three-round undercard battle at 185 pounds. All three cageside judges scored it for Tavares (16-4, 11-4 UFC): 30-27, 30-26 and 30-26.
Leities (27-8, 12-7 UFC) fought the Hawaiian’s fight, and it did not go well for him. Tavares fed him a head-snapping jab, assaulted him with power punches in combination and shredded his base with kicks to the lower lead leg. By the time the third round arrived, Leites had suffered severe damage to his right eye and could barely stand. Tavares stuffed a late takedown attempt and battered the Brazilian with ground-and-pound to seal the deal in the closing seconds.
The 35-year-old Leites has lost four of his past six bouts.
The Michigan Top Team representative leaned on takedowns, ground-and-pound and surprisingly effective standup in posting a split decision over former two-division British Association of Mixed Martial Arts titleholder Tom Duquesnoy in the featured UFC 216 prelim on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Judges Marcos Rosales and Rick Winter scored it 30-27 and 29-28 for Stamman, while Chris Lee cast a dissenting 29-28 nod for Duquesnoy.
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Stamann, 27, now finds himself on a nine-fight winning streak.
Related » UFC 216 Round-by-Round Scoring
Vannata-Green Ends in Draw
Jackson-Wink MMA rep Lando Vannata and former King of the Cage champion Bobby Green fought to a draw in a memorable three-round undercard tilt at 155 pounds. Scores were 29-28 for Vannata, 29-28 for Green and 28-28. Neither man appeared disappointed with the result.
Vannata (9-2-1, 1-2-1 UFC) nearly finished it in the first round, where he floored his adversary with a slashing right hand and pounced with ground-and-pound. However, an illegal knee strike -- Vannata’s thigh careened off Green’s head -- cost Vannata a point and afforded Green time to recover. The second and third rounds gave rise to a wild back-and-forth firefight in which both lightweights were in trouble on multiple occasions. Vannata’s face was a mess by the time it was over, as Green (23-8-1, 4-3-1 UFC) exacted his toll with stiff jabs, crisp left hooks and clubbing right hands.
Debuting Botelho Outlasts Gonzalez
Nova Uniao export Poliana Botelho mada a triumphant organizational debut, as she took a unanimous decision from Pearl Gonzalez in a preliminary women’s strawweight encounter. All three cageside judges struck 30-27 scorecards in favor of Botelho (6-1, 1-0 UFC).
Gonzalez (6-3, 0-2 UFC) pressed a persistent clinch game that went absolutely nowhere. Botelho braced herself along the fence, worked for underhooks and mixed lateral elbows to the side of the head with thudding knees to the body. The Brazilian connected with a spinning back kick to the body late in the third round, flurried with punches and executed a takedown in the waning seconds, putting the finishing touches on the victory.
Botelho, 28, has won four fights in a row.
Schnell Outpoints Reeling Beltran
Effective combination punching and occasional leg kicks carried American Top Team’s Matt Schnell to a unanimous decision over “The Ultimate Fighter Latin America” semifinalist Marco Beltran in a three-round undercard encounter at 125 pounds. Schnell (10-4, 1-2 UFC) swept the scorecards with 30-27, 29-28 and 30-27 marks from the judges.
Beltran (8-6, 3-3 UFC) fought well in spurts -- especially late -- but could not match the Louisianan’s striking prowess. Schnell’s jab was increasingly effective and put significant swelling on his counterpart’s right eye. Beltran made his move in the third round, where he upped his aggression and moved forward with punches and kicks. However, it was not enough to undo the work Schnell put in over the first 10 minutes.
The 31-year-old Beltran has suffered three straight defeats.
Moraga Upsets Unbeaten Bibulatov
MMA Lab and Arizona Combat Sports standout John Moraga wiped out former World Series of Fighting champion Magomed Bibulatov with punches in the first round of their preliminary flyweight affair. Bibulatov (14-1, 1-1 UFC) succumbed to blows 98 seconds into Round 1.
Moraga (18-6, 7-5 UFC) appeared calm and composed, as if somehow he knew the situation would break his way. The 33-year-old wobbled Bibulatov with a sharp right hand and then sent him crashing to the canvas with a clean left hook. After one standing-to-ground punch from Moraga, referee Jason Herzog was on the scene to prevent further damage.
Moraga has rattled off back-to-back wins following consecutive losses to Joseph Benavidez, Matheus Nicolau Pereira and Sergio Pettis.
Surging Tavares Downs Leites
“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 11 graduate Brad Tavares recorded his third win in as many appearances, as he captured a clear-cut unanimous decision from Nova Uniao mainstay Thales Leites in a three-round undercard battle at 185 pounds. All three cageside judges scored it for Tavares (16-4, 11-4 UFC): 30-27, 30-26 and 30-26.
Leities (27-8, 12-7 UFC) fought the Hawaiian’s fight, and it did not go well for him. Tavares fed him a head-snapping jab, assaulted him with power punches in combination and shredded his base with kicks to the lower lead leg. By the time the third round arrived, Leites had suffered severe damage to his right eye and could barely stand. Tavares stuffed a late takedown attempt and battered the Brazilian with ground-and-pound to seal the deal in the closing seconds.
The 35-year-old Leites has lost four of his past six bouts.
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