UFC Fight Night 199 ‘Lewis vs. Daukaus’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Jordan Leavitt (155.5) vs. Matt Sayles (155.5)

Round 1

We’re here! The final UFC fight card of the year is upon us, and a lucky number of fights (13) will make it to the finish line. Fights from the heaviest weight class to the lightest on the roster will treat fans across UFC Fight Night 199. We begin in the lightweight division, when Leavitt (8-1, 1-1 UFC) and the returning Sayles (8-3, 1-2 UFC) aim for their second wins inside the Octagon in this fun grappler vs. striker battle. Referee Chris Tognoni will preside over the first match of the evening, and the 155ers touch gloves to start the night. They start hand-fighting early on to find their range, and Leavitt kicks at his foe a few times right at the knee. Sayles fakes a knee-tap, and Leavitt goes up high with a front kick that skims Sayles’ face and shakes him up a little. “Robo” gathers himself in time to stop a clinch attempt that could have turned into a takedown from Leavitt, and he cocks back his right hand but does not let it go. Leavitt keeps his distance, skirting around on the outside of the cage, and he gets off a few kicks. Sayles jumps forward with a clubbing right hand, and whether because it hurt him or because he was setting a trap, Leavitt falls to his knees to pursue a takedown. Sayles stands him back up, only to wind up in a clinch where Leavitt pursues an inside trip. Leavitt drops to his knees, and Sayles flirts with a standing guillotine choke and presses his opponent to the wire with it. Leavitt pops his head out, hits the trip he was searching for, and puts Sayles on his back. “The Monkey King” climbs into half guard when Sayles hits the mat, and he starts to soften Sayles up with a few hammerfists and elbows. For good measure, he drops down a knee to the body, and Sayles fights his way to the wall so he can walk up. When he attempts to scramble, Leavitt scales him into mount, but he gets bucked off when Sayles gets his neck up against the fence. Sayles turns, and Leavitt wraps his arms around his opponent’s neck to set up an anaconda choke. Sayles twists and turns, all while Leavitt has the neck tied up, and they continue to roll through positions. As Sayles fights off the grip, Leavitt chains through to tie up a guillotine choke, but Sayles frees himself and gets back up for a moment. The Syndicate MMA fighter circles around to take Sayles’ back, but Sayles pushes off and smacks Leavitt a few times with looping punches right before the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Leavitt
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Leavitt
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Leavitt

Round 2

They touch gloves to start off the round again, and Sayles goes low right after with a punch to the body. Leavitt looks to kick him in the face in response, only for Sayles to duck out of the way and circle on the outside of the fence. Sayles paws out a few left hands and kicks the leg, and they start smiling as they land on one another. Leavitt tries to shoot in for a takedown in close range, but Sayles sprawls and gets back to his feet to throw hands at his opponent. Leavitt appears out of sorts when engaging in a striking battle, kicking instead of punching and flopping around a little. Sayles pushes them out of the way to lance him with an overhand right, and Leavitt grabs hold of him. Pulling guard, Leavitt hits the ground while tying up a guillotine choke, but it is not there. As Sayles wrenches himself free, they both hit the mat, and Leavitt slaps on an inverted triangle choke while Sayles is on his knees. Leavitt keeps tightly squeezed as he cinches up his legs, and Sayles is suddenly in big trouble as he is stuck in an awkward position with Leavitt holding on to him from the side as well. With no way out, Sayles taps on Leavitt’s backside with his fingers. In his post-fight interview, Leavitt claims it is a “Monkey King” specialty, as he pulled off a maneuver rarely seen inside the Octagon.

The Official Result

Jordan Leavitt def. Matt Sayles R2 2:05 via Submission (Inverted Triangle Choke)

Don'Tale Mayes (256.5) vs. Josh Parisian (262)

Round 1

Big men take the stage for the first of three outings scheduled in the heavyweight category, as once more the fighters aim for their second UFC win. Mayes (8-4, 1-2 UFC) and Parisian (14-4, 1-1 UFC), who both hold only one UFC victory apiece over Roque Martinez, will try to move up the ladder in this 518.5-pound tilt. Referee Herb Dean is on high alert for the early going, and the gloves get touched to commence the violence. Mayes takes the center of the cage and engages first with a sweeping leg kick, and Parisian darts out of the way and sticks out a left hand. Another quick jab comes from Parisian, who finds himself suddenly eating a push kick to the midsection. The stutter-step forward movement of Parisian leads to him getting nailed with an uppercut, and Mayes bull-rushes him and throws him to the mat. From his back, Parisian cracks Mayes with an upkick, and he nearly intercepts Mayes with another before Mayes tosses the leg aside, leaping on top to take side control. Parisian turns to his side in an effort to scoot himself to the wall and walk up the fence, and he succeeds while Mayes follows him with a few punches. Mayes stays tight to his opponent, and he grabs a body lock and tosses Parisian back down to the canvas. Mayes finds himself back in side control, where he grinds elbows down as Parisian frantically bucks. One such explosion for Parisian allows him to stand back up, and they stay in the clinch trading short strikes. Parisian lifts up a solid knee to the jaw, and Mayes shakes it off and spins around to throw Parisian to the mat. Mayes back in side control hooks on a crucifix with his legs, and he begins to pound on Parisian with punches and elbows. Mayes batters Parisian with additional elbows, before locking on with a two-on-one to Parisian’s wrist to set up a keylock. Parisian grits it out and kicks Mayes back to half guard, but he still has a very large man on top of him exerting his full weight on his chest. Parisian looks to slide on from the other side, but Mayes pushes him flat down chest-to-chest. Parisian manages to defend himself from strikes well enough, so Mayes rolls over for a kneebar. There is nothing to it before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Mayes
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Mayes
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Mayes

Round 2

Gloves are touched to lead off the round, and both men start getting wild by throwing spinning and flying strikes. Mayes marches forward and rips the body as he closes the distance, where he uses it to lift Parisian up and set him down gingerly to the mat. Parisian considers an inverted triangle from off his back as if he had just watched the previous matchup, but Mayes flips him over and pushes him at an odd angle on the corner between the floor and the fence. Parisian holds on to Mayes’ right arm perhaps in search of a kimura sweep, and Mayes rips it out and slams his left hand into Parisian’s face a few times. Parisian walks off the wall to roll around, where he walks up the fence and gets back to his feet. Parisian turns him about and attempts a double-leg takedown, and he turns it into an outside trip that does not succeed. On a third effort, Parisian yanks him down, but Mayes falls down on top of him in a takedown that severely backfired. Mayes finds himself in his opponent’s half guard, and he holds on before Dean warns him to do something. “Lord Kong” obliges with a few hammerfists and elbows, and Parisian is stuck on his side absorbing strikes on his temple and left ear. Parisian again pursues a two-on-one, this time on Mayes’ left arm, for a possible sweep. Mayes from above headbutts Parisian in the ribs, and Dean warns him sternly about this strike. Mayes is allowed to keep the position, and takes mount for a second until Parisian scrambles furiously. Mayes hold on to his man from behind, where he busts the Michigan native in the chops repeatedly until Parisian turns over to his back again. Mayes steps over to the side, before getting into north-south position. In a very bizarre set of strikes, Mayes slams his hip into Parisian’s face, which is apparently legal even though it looks somewhat problematic. The round ends after these hip thrusts that Elvis would be proud of.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mayes
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Mayes
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Mayes

Round 3

Parisian comes out of his corner ready to throw hands, and he stalks Mayes down and kicks him in the side. Mayes throws back with a left hand, and he gets off a front kick to the body. Mayes leaps in the air and nails Parisian with a knee, and Parisian is hurt badly. In a daze, Parisian spins and his back fist just glances off his intended target. Mayes takes him down, but Parisian pushes off after absorbing a few blows to make Mayes stand back up. Mayes welcomes him back up, and when Parisian stands, “Lord Kong” charges at him to pursue a takedown. The body lock throw from the side is effective, dragging Parisian to the floor where Parisian falls to his knees. As Parisian turns to his back to try to scramble, Mayes takes side control and thinks about going back to north-south. Instead, Mayes settles to tie up a crucifix, with Parisian actually sliding his own arm in a precarious place while Mayes winds up with short elbows. The elbow strikes pummel Parisian, who has no way up as he tries to chest-press Mayes off of him. Mayes continues to batter his opponent with elbow strikes, and as they keep adding up and Parisian’s face begins to bleed, Dean calls a stop to the fight and saves Parisian from further harm. With the stoppage, Mayes puts an end to a fight where the only question would have been how many 10-8 scorecards were awarded for his dominance.

The Official Result

Don’Tale Mayes def. Josh Parisian R3 3:26 via TKO (Elbows)

Macy Chiasson (148.5: Missed Weight) vs. Raquel Pennington (145)

Round 1

Although there will be major weight-related history later, in this fight booked at featherweight, it will be the heaviest women’s match in company history. A career bantamweight, Pennington (12-8, 9-5 UFC) allowed the fight to shift to 145 pounds as Chiasson (7-1, 5-1 UFC) stepped in on short notice and she still came in 2.5 pounds over the limit. Everyone is surprised by this development, including referee Jason Herzog, who watches on as the two do decide to touch gloves to seal the cage around them. The initial aggressor is Pennington, who comes in with a lunging left hand. She aims a few punches across the bow, and Chiasson swats them away and reaches out with a front kick to the face. Pennington darts in and out with a body shot, and Chiasson stands firm and blasts her in the face with a few crisp punches. Pennington blitzes forward, connecting with a short salvo and backing away before a counter can find its home. Pennington jumps forward again, but this time, Chiasson sees it coming and looks to counter her over the top. Chiasson just misses with a head kick and a hook kick, allowing Pennington to come towards her. Chiasson sits down on an uppercut as Pennington advances, and she backs away when Pennington plants the ball of her foot on her sternum. Chiasson scores a left hook when Pennington bears down on her, and Pennington lands flush with a right hand in her own combination. The two ladies begin to throw heavily, and then mix it up with low kicks. Pennington continues to work the body, and she jumps forward with a Superman punch that allows her to clinch up. Chiasson threatens with an inside trip with her back against the cage, and she muscles Pennington around as they jockey for position. Pennington drills Chiasson in the chest with a stern knee as Chiasson looks for a trip, and they continue to work while tied up. Chiasson swings hard at the break, and they both blast one another with looping hooks. They both need a moment to reset after landing flush, and Chiasson catches her with a left uppercut on the outside. When Pennington charges, Chiasson spins her around and pushes her into the wall. “Rocky” fires off a few short knees with her back mashed against the cage, only for Chiasson to trip her down to the mat. Chiasson sits up when Pennington attempts a leglock off her back, and she lands a few punches from above when she turns through the submission setup. Chiasson unloads with a long string of punches to the thigh, and she stays on top to the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Chiasson
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Chiasson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Chiasson

Round 2

The two fighters are amped up to start off trading again, so much so that Herzog has to back them off before he can clock in the round. When they begin to start fighting, the kicks fly from both women. Chiasson nails her with a body kick, and Pennington attacks with a ferocious barrage of punches high and low that appear to sting Chiasson for a moment. Like a bull, Pennington ducks her head down and rushes in, and they bump into one another. Pennington is all-aggression as Chiasson needs to catch her breath or gain some space, and she just stays upright when Chiasson tries to trip her down. Chiasson drops to a knee for a second, and gets back up to set up a Thai clinch. Chiasson clocks her opponent with a few knees to the chin, and Pennington fights off with a stream of uppercuts as they are putting everything behind their strikes. Chiasson sneaks in another sharp uppercut, and Pennington gives chase when Chiasson circles, but she hits nothing but air. Chiasson advances, and Pennington throws caution to the wind and swings furiously. Pennington returns to jabbing the body, and she steps away just in time when a foot careens towards her face. Chiasson circles out and lets loose on body kicks, only for Pennington to stalk her down and unload with short uppercuts before clinching. Chiasson goes after a takedown, but before she can lock it up, Pennington threatens with a quick front choke that surprises Chiasson. Pennington lifts Chiasson up off the ground by the neck before setting her down to the mat, and she crushes with her grip as she leans forward to suffocate Chiasson completely. It does not take more than a few seconds for Chiasson to surrender to this unorthodox 10-finger guillotine-type choke, and Pennington is now the first fighter to finish Chiasson as a professional. After the fight is over, Chiasson apologizes for missing weight, and any possible beef they may have had is squashed.

The Official Result

Raquel Pennington def. Macy Chiasson R2 3:07 via Submission (Guillotine Choke)

Andre Ewell (145) vs. Charles Jourdain (145.5)

Round 1

Up next is an all-action fight in the men’s featherweight division, when Jourdain (11-4-1, 2-3-1 UFC) and his 100% finish rate take on a man known as “Mr. Highlight” Ewell (17-8, 4-4 UFC). Referee Mark Smith has laced up his shoes to keep up with the potentially torrid pace of this one, and the fighters warmly touch gloves before getting after it. Ewell springs in and out of distance, flicking a jab out early. Jourdain counters with a leg kick, and Ewell stops in his tracks and looks frustrated before throwing one right back. The two trade single strikes back and forth, with Ewell going for power punches while Jourdain aims ripping leg kicks that irritate Ewell every time. Jourdain darts forward with a combination ending with a leg kick, and he steps back but still absorbs a leg kick that flies his way. They come together in a flurry, and Jourdain makes certain to end his combinations with slapping leg kicks. Ewell swats at him with a left hook, aiming punches that largely collide with the guard. Jourdain does not change things up, with punch salvos ending with low kicks. Jourdain just misses with a high kick, and he absorbs a flush body kick for his effort. Jourdain stings his opponent with a left hook, and Ewell is ready to put on a show as he swings back with bad intentions. Ewell keeps a wide stance as he switches back and forth between orthodox and southpaw, and he surprises Jourdain with a flying knee on the chin. Jourdain falls backwards but gathers himself, where he puts aggression on Ewell and kicks him in the face with the top of his foot. Ewell wears it well and throws back, but it is Jourdain putting his foot on the gas and giving chase. Ewell catches Jourdain coming in with a clean left hand, but Jourdain settles down and kicks Ewell in the body. Ewell stays busy from the outside, turning a combination to circle around behind Jourdain’s back. Jourdain turns off and comes back, only to need to duck a looping punch. “Air” gets some air with a flying knee, and Ewell pushes him over and takes top position with 30 seconds left in the round. Jourdain threatens with a guillotine choke to stand back up, and he delivers a heavy leg kick and a few thudding punches right before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ewell
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ewell
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ewell

Round 2

The featherweights meet in the middle and start trading, with Jourdain upping the volume and adding up with leg kicks. Ewell comes back at him with furious strikes, only to absorb a leg kick at the end of his combinations. Jourdain cracks Ewell with a left hand, one that stuns Ewell for a moment. The Canadian does not falter with his assault on the lead leg of his opponent, no matter the stance of Ewell. Ewell jabs out a few times, but Jourdain is there to pound his shin on Ewell’s knee and thigh. Suddenly, “Air” Jourdain goes up high with a kick, and once more it lands cleanly on the face. Jourdain starts to stalk Ewell down, cutting off the angles and shelling up when Ewell fires back at him. As they start to throw recklessly, Jourdain stumbles and has to reset. Ewell stands in the pocket and trades, not budging an inch when Jourdain comes at him, until Jourdain starts throwing kicks again. Ewell ducks out of the way of a high kick and a spinning back fist, and he sticks out a few jabs. Jourdain has a head kick get blocked, but he continues to walk “Mr. Highlight” down. When Jourdain works the liver with a left, Ewell bites down on his mouthpiece to swing right back at him. Jourdain pursues a takedown, and settles for a trip, only to get Ewell to drop to his knees. Ewell begins to start fading as Jourdain turns up the pace, continuing to work him at a safe distance. A few clean left hands land flush for Jourdain, who is not concerned about what comes back at him from Ewell. A punch to the body sets up two to the head, and Jourdain tears into him with an elbow, a few punches and a destructive knee that puts Ewell on wobbly legs. Ewell breaks free and stumbles across the cage, and Jourdain sprints after him and practically leaps into half guard to try to finish the job. Jourdain sits up and cracks Ewell with ground-and-pound, and he briefly considers a submission until posturing up to hurt Ewell with more hellacious blows. With seconds to spare, Jourdain slaps on an irregular choke, but time expires before he can secure anything.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Jourdain
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Jourdain
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Jourdain

Round 3

They touch gloves to start off the last round, and Jourdain is right there to kick the chest. Ewell backs away as Jourdain swarms towards him, and he lands a single leg kick but one that comes back at him is much heavier. Every strike Jourdain lands draws a reaction out of his opponent, and he mixes things up to the body while Ewell tries to regain his composure and catch his breath. They clash together, and when they separate, Ewell jabs at him. This allows Jourdain to wreck his leg with a few more low kicks, and Ewell settles on a clubbing right hand that makes Jourdain stagger back from the impact and not from the damage. Jourdain knows a finish could be around the corner with a well-timed combination, and he opens up with a few punches and a spinning back fist for good measure. Ewell suddenly counters him back with a front kick that glances off his chin, and Jourdain is hurt and has to shake off the cobwebs. Jourdain blocks a flying knee so that he can go back to his constant forward movement, and he batters Ewell’s lead leg and throws haymakers that are barely avoided. Ewell scores a slapping combination, and Jourdain loads up on a pair of right hooks that shake Ewell up. Jourdain zings a high kick that is barely blocked, and he pressures Ewell back to the wall to unload a combination on him. Ewell eats a leg kick and tries to respond with a kick of his own, but Jourdain rushes forward to knee him in the body a few times. The knees hurt Ewell, and he bends over and trips when Jourdain throws him back. “Air” Jourdain shouts gutturally as he wants to finish the fight, and he pours it on with a long combination that ends up with several brutal knees to the head and body. Smith implores Ewell to fight back, and Jourdain continues to tee off on Ewell with knees while he is bent over. A trio of clean knees land flush for the Canadian, who screams and throws with everything he has. Jourdain spins with a kick that connects right straight to the jaw of Ewell, and he is barely able to stay on his feet. Still, Ewell swings back at the 10-second clapper, as Jourdain tells him to keep fighting. They throw down right to the bitter end, with the final blow a push kick from Jourdain that sends Ewell flying as Jourdain embodies his inner King Leonidas. What a wild ending to a terrific battle!

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jourdain (29-27 Jourdain)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jourdain (29-27 Jourdain)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Jourdain (29-28 Jourdain)

The Official Result

Charles Jourdain def. Andre Ewell via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-27)

Sijara Eubanks (127.5: Missed Weight) vs. Melissa Gatto (125)

Round 1

Once more we have a catchweight fight, this time in the form of a failed flyweight battle as Eubanks (7-6, 5-4 UFC) missed weight again ahead of her bout with the unbeaten Brazilian Gatto (7-0-2, 1-0 UFC). Drawing the assignment for this contest is referee Chris Tognoni, and the action begins without a glove touch. Both ladies jab out at one another until Gatto finally commits to a strike with a leg kick. Eubanks bull-rushes forward to pursue a takedown, and when she looks to put the Brazilian on her back, Gatto spins her around and plants Eubanks on the mat. Not to be kept down for long, Eubanks keeps scrambling and turns the tables to flip Gatto over and ground her, where Eubanks sits comfortably in Gatto’s tight guard. Eubanks squeezes her unbeaten opponent into the fence in the corner, and Gatto looks to set up any kind of submission from her back, starting with an armbar as she flails her legs up high. Eubanks breaks up the sub try by elbowing Gatto in the face a few times, until Gatto reaches up with her legs with a high guard. Eubanks continues to break it up by elbowing Gatto repeatedly, until Gatto sets up an armbar in an instant. Eubanks may have gotten away with a fence grab as she pushes through the position, and she steps over to pass guard and half the armbar to shoulder lock setup. Eubanks climbs into half guard, keeping Gatto flat on the ground, but Gatto is always busy trying to lock down an arm for a kimura. Eubanks remains composed, and even though little offense is taking place, control time is adding up and “SarJ” remains safe from submission danger. Gatto fights for a two-on-one wrist lock to sweep Eubanks, but there is nothing to come from it. Gatto looks to take Eubanks’ back in a surprising scramble, only to get rebuffed for her try. Eubanks grinds out the rest of the ground with heavy ground-and-pound, keeping Gatto from throwing her legs up until the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Eubanks
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Eubanks
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Eubanks

Round 2

The ladies come to the center of the cage and briefly throw hands, but it does not take long for Eubanks to put on the pressure and punch her way into a takedown effort. Gatto hops along the outskirts of the cage to stay upright, and Eubanks may have grabbed the fence again to immobilize an escaping Gatto. “SarJ” goes after a trip, but Gatto outworks her and nearly counter-trips her. They both drop to their knees, and they spring back up. Gatto gets off a one-two, and then another until Eubanks has had enough of this and lifts Gatto off the ground to slam her to the mat. Gatto, keeping Eubanks in her half guard, pursues a kimura from her back. Eubanks wriggles the arm free, only for Gatto to sweep her as soon as Eubanks tries to pass guard. Gatto keeps heavy shoulder pressure from on top, all while landing short strikes from above. Gatto remains in half guard, keeping Eubanks stuck flat on her back, and her right hand is busy punching Eubanks. Gatto postures up momentarily to drop down a few elbows, and she uses her body weight effectively to keep Eubanks from having any way up. Gatto sneaks in one single left hand while Eubanks holds on to protect herself from any serious damage. Eubanks turns to a side, and as she does, Gatto threatens with a possible brabo choke as she keeps Eubanks’ face squished to the mat. Gatto elects to elbow Eubanks before bowling her over, and she backs off to stand up right before the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gatto
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Gatto
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gatto

Round 3

The two women meet in the middle, but they are cautious to engage and overcommit on strikes. Eubanks puts on the pressure and comes forward with looping punches, while Gatto is sharper with straight punches as she circles out. Eubanks scores an overhand right, and Gatto replies in kind. Gatto lets loose with a body kick, and seeing it succeed, she measures another. This one, a front kick that lands toe-first on the liver, stabs into the midsection and takes all of the wind out of Eubanks’ sails. There is a brief bit of confusion if the strike landed low, but it appears to have cleanly struck the body and hurt Eubanks badly. Gatto dives down to hammer the nail with hammerfists, but she does not need many until Smith stops the fight. A grappler by trade, both of the unbeaten Gatto’s UFC wins have now come by TKO, while she is the first to put Eubanks away in the latter’s career.

The Official Result

Melissa Gatto def. Sijara Eubanks R3 0:45 via TKO (Body Kick and Punches)

Harry Hunsucker (238.5) vs. Justin Tafa (267: Missed Weight)

Round 1

History has been made for this fight initially booked at 265 pounds: Tafa (4-3, 1-3 UFC) missed weight, hitting the scales at 267 pounds and becoming the first heavyweight in UFC history to miss weight. Against him, he will face the far lighter Hunsucker (7-4, 0-1 UFC), who has never gone the distance as a pro. Fists and feet will certainly fly soon, and referee Herb Dean is on top of things in the cage. Despite the missed weight, they touch gloves, and Hunsucker starts out with a leaping stomp to the knee. Tafa backs off, only to absorb another, as Hunsucker continues to target that leg. Tafa rushes forward and swings with everything he has, and they clash into one another like behemoths in the ocean as a right hand by Tafa rings off Hunsucker’s forehead. They crumble to the ground, and both manage to stand up only for Hunsucker to latch on to a standing kimura. Tafa fights it off by simply climbing down on top of Hunsucker, using his extra body weight to break up the grip. Hunsucker goes after it again, and this allows him to stand back up. From there, Hunsucker nails Tafa with an overhand right, and Tafa eats it like a steak only to suddenly walk into another. Tafa may be hurt, but he does not show it on his face. Hunsucker dives forward for a takedown effort, and Tafa shoves him aside into the wall like a matador to a bull. The Aussie suddenly slings his gargantuan leg up high, and even when Hunsucker blocks the head kick with both forearms, the impact still manages to separate him cleanly from his consciousness. “The Hurricane” crashes to the ground in a heap, and Dean does not need to see anything more from these big men tonight. What a rumble for as long as it lasts, with devastating blows landing from both in the first two minutes.

The Official Result

Justin Tafa def. Harry Hunsucker R1 1:53 via KO (Head Kick)

Raoni Barcelos (135.5) vs. Victor Henry (136)

Round 1

The fight was canceled on Saturday morning when Henry tested positive for COVID-19. The news was first reported by MMA Junkie.

Gerald Meerschaert (185.5) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (185.5)

Round 1

Grappler faces grappler in the preliminary headliner, as grizzled veteran Meerschaert (33-14, 8-6 UFC) comes in with more submission wins (25) than his opponent Stoltzfus (13-3, 0-2 UFC) has in total professional appearances (16). Keeping a close eye on the proceedings will be referee Mark Smith, who observes the middleweights come forward without any interest in touching gloves. Meerschaert lands first with an overhand right, and Stoltzfus greets him in the middle and throws back with bad intentions. “GM3” delivers a clean kick straight to the liver, and when Stoltzfus absorbs it, Meerschaert crashes forward to hit a double that sets Stoltzfus on his backside. Seated against the fence, Stoltzfus holds on Meerschaert’s neck with a guillotine choke, but Meerschaert is not remotely concerned as he pulls his opponent from away from the fence and steps over to try to claim guard. Stoltzfus clings to a shoulder lock from his back, and again, Meerschaert does not register this as he slowly works his way to secure full mount. Stoltzfus manages to get Meerschaert’s legs back to settle for half guard, and Meerschaert mounts him until he gets pulled back once more. Stoltzfus explodes back to his feet, where he searches for a single. Stoltzfus finds himself in a precarious position as Meerschaert grabs hold of a combined armbar and kneebar, but Stoltzfus is able to wriggle both limbs out so that he can take top position. Meerschaert scrambles when Stoltzfus starts to score with elbows, and he gets to his knees but Stoltzfus is ready for him. As soon as Stoltzfus puts Meerschaert on his back, Meerschaert reintroduces himself with a speedy armbar. Stoltzfus fights out of danger, where he gets into side control with Meerschaert on his side. Stoltzfus ends up in half guard delivering some ground-and-pound right to the bell, concluding the close first frame in top position.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert

Round 2

The middleweights start throwing hands right out of the gate, when Meerschaert sneaking in a right hand and ducking back from a looping punch coming his way. They swing for the fences, and Meerschaert throws himself off-balance in the exchange. Stoltzfus throws a leg kick, and it gets caught, but he does not manage to do anything with it before setting it down. They both miss with high-intensity kicks, although Meerschaert is able to close the distance and deliver a knee square to the solar plexus. As they tie up, Stoltzfus pursues a takedown, and he grounds Meerschaert and falls into a guillotine choke setup. Stoltzfus pops his head out without much concern, and he stacks Meerschaert up to prohibit him from setting up anything with his legs. Meerschaert pushes off with his feet on the thighs, but Stoltzfus is able to leap back down in time before “GM3” can stand. This time, Meerschaert closes his guard, and Stoltzfus keeps his weight pressed tightly on his foe. Every so often, Stoltzfus sits up to throw a strike, and he comes back down before Meerschaert can do anything off his back. Meerschaert looks for an armlock as Stoltzfus again stacks him up, but there is nothing doing while Stoltzfus clings to him in half guard. When Stoltzfus lands a few strikes from above, Meerschaert bursts back up and gets to his knees. Stoltzfus attacks with a brabo choke when Meerschaert is in this position, and he puts his leg above Meerschaert’s neck to set up a modified version of a Peruvian necktie. “GM3” defends against it, only for Stoltzfus to jump back down when Meerschaert is on his back to land some ground strikes. He ends the second round doing damage with ground-and-pound.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Stoltzfus
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Stoltzfus
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Stoltzfus

Round 3

Meerschaert blocks an immediate high kick when Stoltzfus attacks to begin the final round, and he lays into Stoltzfus with an overhand right. Stoltzfus turns him around and hits the double, and Meerschaert defends again with a guillotine choke that is suddenly tight. Stoltzfus turns and twists while the arm is beneath his chin, but he calmly, methodically slips his neck out of the choke. Meerschaert powers back up, and he blocks a punch to go for one of his own. The two tired men throw bombs, and Meerschaert lands and absorbs a strike coming back at him. Stoltzfus drives through with a double, putting Meerschaert on his back and landing in side control. Meerschaert once more scrambles, letting Stoltzfus slip out the back door so he can wind up on top. Stoltzfus stays on his knees as Meerschaert tries to take his back, until Stoltzfus suddenly turns to attack a leglock. “GM3” spins through it to free his ankle, and he aims to take Stoltzfus’ back and manages to get a hook in. From there, the Roufusport grappling coach instantly attacks the neck, sinking in a rear-naked choke as the arm slides beneath the chin. Stoltzfus tries to punch Meerschaert twice from behind his head to do something, anything. He promptly bails on punching, and taps out as he would be put to sleep seconds later. This is a big comeback for “GM3,” who has notched three submission wins in a row over three tough opponents.

The Official Result

Gerald Meerschaert def. Dustin Stoltzfus R3 2:58 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)

Darren Elkins (145.5) vs. Cub Swanson (145.5)

Round 1

A thriller of a featherweight clash between two fan-favorites will kick off the main card, as WEC staple Swanson (27-12, 12-8 UFC) takes on the impossibly durable Elkins (26-9, 16-8 UFC). The third man inside the cage is referee Herb Dean, and he knows these two fighters need no further introduction. They show ample respect by touching gloves, and Swanson comes out with a few swiping jabs. Swanson sits back ready to counter when Elkins swings back at him, with his hands low by his waist. Elkins lands at the end of a punch, and he gets off a looping right hand that bounces off the side of Swanson’s ear. Elkins tries to take advantage of this by throwing more, and Swanson stays composed with short jabs. Swanson sticks Elkins with a few strikes, and he tags Elkins with a sharp right hand that sends Elkins crashing forward to the ground. “The Damage” tries to turn this knockdown into a takedown in his favor, but the WEC vet is slick and sharp, bouncing out of the way without concern. Elkins tags Swanson and slips, and Swanson lays into him with a trio of punches that send Elkins careening to the ground again. Dean thinks about stepping in, but he sees Elkins diving face-first into a takedown try as Swanson lays into him with a right hand. “Killer Cub” lets Elkins up so that he can deliver a bit more punishment, and he spins with a wheel kick that scrambles Elkins’ circuits once and for all. Elkins falls face-first to the ground after a quick left hand from Swanson, and Dean acknowledges that “The Damage” has taken too much damage and calls a stop to the fight. What a performance for Swanson, turning the clock back to lay waste to an iron-chinned opponent in Elkins!

The Official Result

Cub Swanson def. Darren Elkins R1 2:12 via TKO (Spinning Wheel Kick)

Diego Ferreira (156)) vs. Mateusz Gamrot (155.5)

Round 1

A possible passing of the torch comes between longtime contender Ferreira (17-4, 8-4 UFC) and rising Polish star Gamrot (19-1, 1 NC; 2-1 UFC), in the first of several of these fights pitting a younger fighter against a foe in contention for several years. The lightweights will draw officiating from referee Jason Herzog, and they touch gloves with matching expressions of excitement ready to get things done. The first strike to land comes from Ferreira to the lead leg, and Gamrot comes right forward to throw hammers and catches Ferreira on the way in with a knee. They trade leg kicks, and Ferreira aims one to the calf before going up high. Gamrot notes the head kick coming at him and fires one back, but it gets blocked in time. Gamrot connects with a kick to the arms, and the two stay at safe kickboxing distance until Gamrot suddenly changes things up completely with a double from afar. Gamrot gets him down, but Ferreira manages to spring right back up and sling leg kick. The Polish fighter checks the kick, but he does not check a few that follow. Gamrot again darts forward for a takedown, and Ferreira looks to reverse him but winds up on his back. Ferreira does not let him keep him grounded for long, and speedily stands back up to his feet without absorbing any damage. Gamrot evades a leg kick and the two trade jabs, before swatting away a front kick aimed at his face. A pair of high kicks glance off one another’s chests, and Gamrot times a left hand counter that just grazes the chin. Gamrot goes up high with a kick, and Ferreira catches it to chase him down and land left hands with Gamrot’s leg in the air. He lets it go, and they both let their hands go with a ferocious exchange that tests both chins. Gamrot hits a sudden takedown again, and the Brazilian will not remain on his back for more than a few seconds before kicking off to pop back up. Back upright again, Ferreira scores a solid one-two, and he blocks a high kick just in time. They both start swinging for the fences, and they both land and celebrate their work to end a close round.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gamrot
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Gamrot
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gamrot

Round 2

It does not take more than a few seconds for the lightweights to engage again, with Gamrot stringing a few punches together before Ferreira throws a foot up at his face. Gamrot slips a punch to counter, but Ferreira is right there to deliver a crisp one-two. Gamrot retaliates with a right hand, and these two are evenly matched and going at it toe-to-toe. “Gamer” changes the game up briefly with a takedown effort, only for it to be thwarted. Ferreira clips Gamrot with a left hand, and Gamrot attacks with a takedown. A wild scramble ensues between the two, and Gamrot manages to get Ferreira on his back after they change position one after the other. Gamrot lets his foe stand back up, and he dodges when a combination comes at him. Ferreira doubles up on his combination with another few strikes, giving chase as Gamrot appears to be slowing. The Brazilian out of Texas kicks the body, and he gets off a one-two as Gamrot circles out with a swiping left hand. Gamrot jumps in for a single, and Ferreira is able to hop around and stay on his feet after taking a brief knee. Gamrot hits another quick takedown after slinging a few punches, and he manages to finally ground Ferreira down to one knee. From behind, Gamrot lands a knee to the side, and Ferreira grimaces and waves his hand to Herzog to signal he can no longer compete. Herzog does not immediately intervene, and Gamrot grabs hold of his man from the back to secure an unguarded rear-naked choke. As Herzog registers that Ferreira submitted to a strike or injury, he breaks up the choke so that Ferreira does not suffer any more harm. There is a brief amount of confusion as to the stoppage itself, but it appears that Ferreira submitted due to the knee strike to his ribs.

The Official Result

Mateusz Gamrot def. Diego Ferreira R2 3:26 via TKO (Submission to Knee to the Body)

Raphael Assuncao (136) vs. Ricky Simon (135.5)

Round 1

Bantamweights take the stage next in a battle with 10 years age difference between the fighters, as the elder statesman Assuncao (27-8, 11-5 UFC) will try to snap his losing skid and end the win streak of the magnificently mulleted Simon (18-3, 6-2 UFC). The 135ers are intense, and they do not touch gloves as referee Chris Tognoni watches on. Simon rushes out of his corner, and kicks Assuncao square in the groin. Ouch. Assuncao barely stays on his feet due to the foul, and he is in serious pain from the first strike of his night going to the peninsula south of the equator. Tognoni expertly tells Assuncao to not worry about coming back until he is 100% ready to continue, and this takes less than a minute. When they resume, Assuncao gets off a leg kick and a left hand, only to block a high kick that comes back at him. They trade hands, and Simon gets Assuncao’s attention as he backs him off and lands a high kick on the shoulder. Assuncao whiffs on a few jabs, and he leans back when a head kick soars past him. The American punches his way into a takedown attempt, and he drags Assuncao down to the mat with relative ease. Assuncao keeps his knees up so that Simon cannot pass his guard, but that does not slow Simon from trying. Simon sits up to land a single punch, and as he tries to fight to take Assuncao’s back, Assuncao stands up. Simon lifts his foe’s leg up to hit a single-leg takedown, but decides instead to scoop Assuncao up in the air and walk him across the cage to his own corner like a young Matt Hughes with a mullet. Simon slams him down, and he wrangles Assuncao to take top position and land a few short strikes. Assuncao looks to get back up to his feet, but Simon’s smothering top control leaves him with few options and nothing in the vein of a submission. The veteran still works his way back up to a knee, only for Simon to pull his leg out beneath him and put him flat on his back. Simon looks for a few heavy punches as the first round concludes.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Simon
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Simon
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Simon

Round 2

The Brazilian comes out with a heavy leg kick in an effort to slow the wrestler, and he uses his other leg to boot the body. Simon returns fire with a front kick up the middle, and they trade leg kicks at the same time as their shins clash together. Simon sits down on a big right hand, and he looks to capitalize on his successful strike by charging at Assuncao. The older fighter tosses him aside without effort, and he keeps his guard up high to block an oncoming Simon kick. Assuncao bears down on his man with a pair of looping hooks, but Simon ducks them and gives him one back over the top. Simon’s feints and fakes draw reactions out of Assuncao, and he keeps light on his feet with decent head movement. Assuncao whiffs on big hooks, and Simon sticks him with jab and clocks him with right hand on the side of the head. The Brazilian’s legs give out beneath him as he sits down on the ground, and Simon channels the power of his mullet and leaps forward with a right uppercut and a left hook that completely shut Assuncao’s lights out. Tognoni dives in to save an unconscious Assuncao, and Simon has successfully notched the biggest win of his career in devastating fashion.

The Official Result

Ricky Simon def. Raphael Assuncao R2 2:14 via KO (Punches)

Angela Hill (115.5) vs. Amanda Lemos (115)

Round 1

Moving right along, strawweights look to handle their business as surging contender Lemos (10-1-1, 4-1 UFC) will try to make it three stoppages in a row at the expense of the ever-popular Hill (13-10, 8-10 UFC), who has never been knocked out. Referee Jason Herzog will need to be on his A-game as these two speedsters compete around the cage, but they do touch gloves respectfully before firing things up. Lemos launches a loud low kick to commence the action, and she goes to the chest with a kick that follows. Lemos chops down Hill’s lead leg again, and Hill is stuck trying to find her range and work her way inside as Lemos circles. They both swing haymakers at one another, and Lemos drops Hill with a front kick right on the chin as if she were Anderson Silva and Hill were Vitor Belfort. Lemos attacks with hammerfists and punches to try to finish the job, and Hill gets her wits about her and locks Lemos down with a closed guard. Hill briefly thinks about going after leglock off her back, but Lemos shrugs it off. Hill kicks Lemos off with several upkicks, and barely manages to avoid striking the chin while Lemos is on her knees. Hill scrambles suddenly and pushes Lemos over, with the Brazilian latching on to a guillotine choke from her back. Hill slowly, calmly sneaks her neck out and takes top position briefly, only for Lemos to power out and get back up. Lemos looses an elbow, and Hill is right there to brawl it out with her. Both women land flush, and Lemos targets another front kick that Hill barely evades. “Amandinha” stings Hill, and Hill comes right back with an overhand right that gets Lemos’ attention. Lemos sits down on a counter, but Hill beats her to the punch with a huge right hand that staggers Lemos. Hill does not pursue the finish, instead letting Lemos try to find her footing as Lemos kicks her in the chest. Hill sits down on a punch and gets countered, leading Hill to try to take her down. Hill lifts a high kick up in close proximity, and the knee pounds on Lemos’ chin but does not appear to have any appreciable effect for landing. They throw down right in the pocket, and Hill goes up high with a kick that appears to strike Herzog. He shrugs it off so he can intervene and end the round when the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lemos
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Lemos
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Lemos

Round 2

The second round of this thriller begins as Hill opens with a sweeping leg kick and a front kick up the middle. Lemos avoids both so she can loose a head kick, and Hill gets her guard up. They stand right in front of one another and bang, with no concern for their chins as they land flush and often. After a tough exchange, they tie up, and Lemos appears to pursue a body lock takedown by tripping Hill down. She cannot secure the takedown, so the two strawweight instead jockey for position against the fence and trade knees up the middle. The action stalls out against the wire, and Hill tries to be the aggressor as she breaks with an elbow from over the top. Lemos backs away, and she still appears content to wait on a counter. Hill leads the dance as she punches her way into the clinch, and she works the body with knees while she pins Lemos to the wall. Lemos explodes out to try to toss Hill to the ground, but Hill gathers herself and turns Lemos back around. They break after landing a strike on each side, and Lemos pierces the guard with a stiff jab. The Brazilian gets off a front kick, a leg kick, and a quick jab. Hill plods forward throwing hooks, but they do not connect as Lemos remains elusive. Hill marches forward to trade, and Lemos welcomes it with a single counter right hand. Hill appears the far fresher fighter, with Lemos waiting and allowing Hill to grind her out against the wall. They get knees off while clinched up, and Lemos mixes them up with a few short uppercuts. Lemos again tries to power Hill down, but Hill stays upright and connects cleanly to shake Lemos up. Hill blitzes forward, and she grabs hold of Lemos and drives her emphatically into the wall to end the round.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hill
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Hill
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Hill

Round 3

The ladies elect to touch ‘em up to start off the last round, in a fight that could be tied up. Lemos cracks Hill in the face with a front kick, and Hill wears it well and absorbs a few more flush punches from the Brazilian. Hill swings and misses in response, and she takes a few more clean left hands right down the middle. Hill looks to stick her own jab out there until they come together from forward movement, and Lemos scores a leg kick and a right hand. As the kick lands, Hill knocks Lemos off of her feet to take her down. “Amandinha” scoots her way back to the wall, where she walks her way upright again. Lemos gets dragged down once more, only to reverse Hill and ground her. Lemos takes Hill’s back standing up, and she wraps her hands around Hill’s waist to leverage her back down to the mat. Hill does not succumb to the takedown, and breaks the grip to press Lemos into the wall. Hill lands an elbow when she breaks, and Lemos targets yet another front kick up the middle that partially lands. Lemos swings and misses, and Hill wings hooks at her that are similarly inaccurate. Lemos manages to get off a side kick, and she misses a right hand as Hill charges for a double-leg takedown. The takedown does not succeed as much as both women topple over, and they are right back to their feet and against the wire. They pound one another’s bodies with knees, and they separate as Lemos swipes at the body with her foot. Hill swings and misses with a kick to the dome, and she absorbs a right hand as she comes forward. Hill puts her foot on the gas and starts brawling, and Lemos welcomes it as they begin to slug it out. “Overkill” unleashes a vicious spinning back elbow from up close, sending Lemos down to the ground. The Brazilian pops right back up, and they trade heavy leather, kicks and knees right to the final bell. What a fight! Both women threw down from start to finish, and they put on a show!

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hill (29-28 Hill)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Hill (29-28 Hill)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Hill (29-28 Hill)

The Official Result

Amanda Lemos def. Angela Hill via Split Decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)

Belal Muhammad (170.5) vs. Stephen Thompson (170.5)

Round 1

In this pivotal co-main event, renowned karateka “Wonderboy” Thompson (16-5-1, 11-5-1 UFC) will try to keep his place in the top echelon of the welterweight division. Against him will be Muhammad (19-3, 1 NC; 10-3, 1 NC UFC), who will aim to find the secret of his power. Herb Dean will be the referee for this interesting stylistic clash, and the fighters are happy to touch gloves in a good show of sportsmanship. Thompson is quick to get to his signature style, staying out of range and backing off with kicks to the body and up high. Muhammad eats a hook kick in the face, and he shrugs it off so that he can shoot in for a double. “Wonderboy” stops it from succeeding and stings Muhammad with a left hand, and Muhammad is suddenly in trouble. Thompson spins with a kick that clatters off Muhammad’s dome, and he wears it well and blocks a few strikes that come at him. Thompson jumps forward with a strike, and Muhammad manages to power through and go for a takedown. Grabbing Thompson by his waist as they are both on their seats, they begin to slug it out from close range like a seated version of Frye vs. Takayama. After they continue to trade punches, Thompson walks his way back up using the fence, and he shucks off a standing guillotine try from Muhammad. Tight in the clinch, Thompson rips a few knees up high until Muhammad snags hold of a single to put Thompson down. “Wonderboy” manages to land on a knee so he is not flat down, and he grabs the fence to stand back up. Muhammad grapples him from behind, before turning things around to elevate Thompson and put him down. Muhammad lands on Thompson’s back, and he hunts for a rear-naked choke before flattening Thompson out with strikes. “Remember the Name” rains down punches from this advantageous position, pounding on the side of Thompson’s head while Thompson turtles up. Thompson protects himself from the brunt of the strikes that should not merit a stoppage, and he turns to his side as Muhammad continues to work him over from above. A few punches land to the back of the head, and Muhammad bludgeons Thompson relentlessly until the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad

Round 2

The welterweights touch gloves to start off the second round, and Thompson is the immediate aggressor with side kicks to the face. Thompson slings a high kick with his rear leg, and the kick is blocked but still knocks Muhammad back a step. “Wonderboy” springs in with a strike and dances out of the way, and he lands cleanly to ring Muhammad’s bell. Thompson tees off on Muhammad until Muhammad has had enough of the striking, and he closes in to latch on to Thompson and wrench him down to the mat. Thompson works his way back up, only for Muhammad to lift him up and hold his ankle to put Thompson back down flat on the canvas. The Chicago native gets into half guard, where he isolates Thompson’s right arm to set up a kimura. When that does not succeed, Muhammad begins to batter Thompson’s thigh with elbows. Thompson pulls his arm free, only for Muhammad to continue elbowing the same spot. Thompson edges his way to the wall, and he posts on his knee to stand up as Muhammad torques on his arm for a straight armlock or kimura. Thompson appears to pay it no mind, but he is still trapped on the floor with no way up as precious seconds tick off the clock. Muhammad abandons the grip so that he can turn around and get off ground-and-pound, introducing his elbow to Thompson’s face repeatedly. Thompson eats several of these shots but blocks others, and Muhammad hacks at him with elbows until the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad

Round 3

Muhammad instantly starts the round with a takedown try, and “Wonderboy” cannot stave him off with a few strikes as Muhammad advances relentlessly. Muhammad lifts Thompson’s leg all the way up in the air before putting Thompson down on the ground, and he ties Thompson’s legs up to keep him trapped. With his arm around Thompson’s back, he is able to smack Thompson in the face with short left hands. The former title challenger bursts back upright, and he fights off a subsequent takedown try with a choke attempt from above. Muhammad doggedly pursues another takedown, and he secures it in the center of the mat to put Thompson down at the midpoint of the final round. Muhammad claims half guard, and he calmly controls his opponent with light but effective ground-and-pound that keeps Dean away from standing them up. “Remember the Name” remembers that he can embrace the grind like the best of them, and he does exactly that, passing to side control and working Thompson over with elbows and hammerfists. Muhammad looks to pass to mount, but “Wonderboy” is able to at least keep that moral victory in his pocket as he is getting thoroughly outworked on the ground. Muhammad slashes Thompson with multiple elbows until the final horn ends this grueling match.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad (30-27 Muhammad)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad (30-27 Muhammad)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad (30-27 Muhammad)

The Official Result

Belal Muhammad def. Stephen Thompson via Unanimous Decision (30-25, 30-26, 30-26)

Derrick Lewis (265) vs. Chris Daukaus (235.5)

Round 1

When the dust settles after this heavyweight headliner, it is very possibly only one man will remain standing. Two-time title challenger Lewis (25-8, 1 NC; 16-6 UFC) will try to get back to his winning ways and aim to earn the UFC’s all-time knockout honor of 13 when he faces hard-nosed Philadelphia-based brawler Daukaus (12-3, 4-0 UFC). In slugfest that might not last long, referee Mark Smith has put on his proverbial hard hat and is ready for whatever comes. They touch gloves, and any extended fists will come out much faster next time. Taking the center of the cage is “The Black Beast,” and the two measure one another for the first 50 seconds until Daukaus leaps forward with a short flurry. Lewis pushes him away and gets warned for pointing his fingers out, and Daukaus responds with a heavy leg kick. Daukaus comes in with a right hook, and Lewis slips it and just misses with an uppercut. Lewis blocks a punch and comes out with a big right, and they both jab at one another with fingers outstretched. Lewis lands a heavy leg kick and looses a fast combination, but Daukaus does not appear worse for wear. Daukaus darts in and out to attack, getting off a right hand and moving away before Lewis can sit down on the power counter he so desperately seeks. Lewis comes up high with a kick that glances off Daukaus’ forearm, and Daukaus kicks at him low to decent effect. The leg kicks start to add up for Daukaus, and Lewis visibly appears frustrated from eating those kicks. “The Black Beast” successfully scores a jumping switch kick, and he might have Daukaus hurt. Lewis smells blood and unleashes a bombardment of blows that rocks Daukaus against the cage. Lewis trips him up as he continues to work Daukaus over, and he nails Daukaus in the chest with a knee to shake him up badly. Daukaus tries to swing back at him, but he is wobbled and cannot land cleanly as Lewis is putting it on him. Letting loose with a trio of thunderous uppercuts, Lewis knocks Daukaus back, off of his feet and out of his consciousness. Knowing his work here is done, Lewis walks off, as the proud owner of the most knockouts in UFC history. Lewis takes his groin cup out of his shorts, and he throws it into the crowd – a fan happily grabs the strange souvenir without gloves on. In victory, Lewis tells the promotion that he would love a title shot, so long as it does not have to be five rounds – he has no interest in preparing for five-round fights anymore. With that, we say goodbye to the UFC in 2021, and we go on break from this promotion for nearly a month until UFC on ESPN 32 comes back with Calvin Katter vs. Giga Chikadze on display on Jan. 15. We will certainly be here for it, and we hope that after you enjoy your holidays, you are here for it too.

The Official Result

Derrick Lewis def. Chris Daukaus R1 3:36 via KO (Punches)