FB TW IG YT VK TH
Search
MORE FROM OUR CHANNELS

Wrestlezone
FB TW IG YT VK TH

UFC Fight Night 102 Prelims: Justine Kish, Randy Brown, Gerald Meerschaert Victorious in New York

Justine Kish overcame a difficult weight cut and a game opponent to continue her climb on the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s strawweight ladder, as she claimed a unanimous decision over Ashley Yoder in the featured UFC Fight Night 102 ‘Lewis vs. Abdurakhimov’ (online betting) prelim on Friday at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York.

Kish (6-0, 2-0 UFC) was awarded 29-28 scores by all three judges.

Advertisement
Yoder (5-2, 0-1 UFC) held her own against the Resurrection Fighting Alliance and Ring of Combat veteran. She won the majority of scrambles on the ground, advancing to full mount in the second and third rounds. However, it was not enough to overshadow Kish’s superiority in the standup. The Los Angeles-based Russian kickboxer attacked Yoder’s legs with kicks, scored with two- and three-punch combinations, connected with a pair of spinning backfists in Round 3 and did enough to earn favor on the scorecards.

Brown Knee Stops Camozzi


Former Ring of Combat champion Randy Brown disposed of Octagon newcomer Brian Camozzi with a second-round knee strike and follow-up punches in an undercard match at 170 pounds. Brown (9-1, 3-1 UFC) brought it to a close 1:25 into Round 2.

Brown buzzed the Factory X standout with a multi-strike volley in the first round, extricated himself from an attempted armbar and opened a cut on the bridge of the Colorado-based welterweight’s nose with a standing-to-ground right hand. Early in the middle stanza, he caught Camozzi (7-3, 0-1 UFC) in a front headlock along the fence, sent a knee crashing into his temple and pounced with punches for the finish.

The defeat halted Camozzi’s run of five straight wins.

Meerschaert Choke Submits Gigliotti


Roufusport mainstay Gerald Meerschaert submitted Strong Style Fight Team rep Joe Gigliotti with a first-round anaconda choke in a preliminary middleweight duel. Gigliotti (7-2, 0-2 UFC) conceded defeat 4:12 into Round 1.

A short-notice fill-in for the injured Oluwale Bamgbose, Meerschaert (25-8, 1-0 UFC) stuck his counterpart with left hands and lured him into a ground battle. The 28-year-old advanced to the back after executing a judo throw and caught the choke in a scramble. Tangled in a web spun by Meerschaert’s long arms, Gigliotti had no choice but to tap.

Meerschaert now owns a five-fight winning streak.

Surging Sanchez Handles Smith


Crisp power punches and airtight takedown defense spurred “The Ultimate Fighter 23” winner Andrew Sanchez to a unanimous decision over Trevor Smith in a three-round undercard tilt at 185 pounds. Sanchez (9-2, 2-0 UFC) swept the scorecards with identical 30-27 nods from the judges.

Smith (14-7, 4-4 UFC) whiffed on all of his takedown attempts and found himself trapped on the feet with superior striker. Sanchez lit up the Strikeforce veteran, utilizing uppercuts with both hands and a steady diet of kicks to the body and head. By the time the third-round arrived, Smith was suffering from severe damage to his left eye and lacked the wherewithal to author the finish he needed.

Sanchez, 28, has rattled off four consecutive victories.

Undefeated Burgos Topples Silva

Team Tiger Schulmann prospect Shane Burgos stayed unbeaten, as he outstruck onetime Jungle Fight champion Tiago dos Santos e Silva to a unanimous verdict in a preliminary featherweight clash. A replacement for Zubaira Tukhugov, Burgos (8-0, 1-0 UFC) earned 30-26, 29-28 and 29-27 scores from the judges.

Silva (20-6-2, 2-2 UFC) enjoyed some early success but lost his way in the second round. There, Burgos floored him twice with left hooks. He swarmed with hammerfists, elbows and forearm strikes after the second knockdown and carried the momentum into Round 3. A firefight developed over the final five minutes, as Burgos gleefully exchanged punches with the Team Nogueira export before securing a last-minute takedown to put the finishing touches on the victory.

Diakiese Overcomes Cut, Subdues Perez


Former British Association of Mixed Martial Arts champion Marc Diakiese kept his perfect professional record intact with a hard-fought and well-earned unanimous decision against Frankie Perez in a three-round undercard clash at 155 pounds. All three cageside judges scored it 29-28 for Diakiese (11-0, 2-0 UFC).

Perez (10-3, 1-2 UFC) failed to capitalize on a shift in momentum in the second round, where he took down the British prospect and opened a significant cut near his left eye. Diakiese, who had controlled the first five minutes with takedowns and top control, was shaken but undeterred. The 23-year-old Englishman converted an ill-conceived leg kick from Perez into a takedown a little less than 90 seconds into Round 3 and chewed up the remaining time in top position and the clinch.

Janes Downs Berish, Extends Streak


Ryan Janes made a successful Octagon debut, as he took a unanimous verdict over former Ring of Combat champion Keith Berish in a preliminary middleweight encounter. Janes (9-1, 1-0 UFC) swept the scorecards with matching 29-28 marks from the judges.

Janes operated behind a probing jab, overhand rights and thudding leg kicks. He also integrated occasional body kicks and sweeping left hooks upstairs. In his first appearance since July 6, 2014, Berish (5-1, 0-1 UFC) spent the majority of his time fighting off his back foot. He countered effectively on occasion but never managed to stop the Janes’ forward progress. Berish executed a pair of takedowns in the third but failed to consolidate them with damage or control.

Janes has won eight fights in a row.

Lima Outshines Replacement Aldrich


Juliana Lima won for the third time in four appearances, as she captured a unanimous decision from fellow Invicta Fighting Championships alum J.J. Aldrich in a three-round undercard affair at 115 pounds. All three cageside judges scored it the same: 30-27 for Lima (9-3, 3-2 UFC).

A short-notice fill-in for the injured Tatiana Suarez, Aldrich (4-2, 0-1 UFC) had issues maintaining a safe distance from the Brazilian grappler. Lima fired off kicks to the lead leg and body, initiated clinches and struck for takedowns in all three rounds. She largely bottled up Aldrich in close quarters and grew stronger as the fight deepened. With two rounds on the bank, Lima picked up her pace in Round 3 and pieced together her punches in punishing combinations.

The loss snapped a three-fight winning streak for Aldrich.
Related Articles

Subscribe to our Newsletter

* indicates required
Latest News

POLL

Will Conor McGregor fight in 2024?

FIGHT FINDER


FIGHTER OF THE WEEK

Ben Tynan

TOP TRENDING FIGHTERS


+ FIND MORE