UFC Vegas 101 ‘Dern vs. Ribas 2’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Nurullo Aliev (155.5) vs. Joe Solecki (155)

Round 1

The UFC is back in your life, which means the glorious Sherdog play-by-play is in full swing again. Around 42 events from this promotion in 2025 will be covered in this fashion, plus the major offerings of the PFL and other big shows dropping this year. The first of all of them comes in the world-famous Octagon, although the cage is plopped down in the UFC Apex instead of in front of thousands of adoring fans. Those few in the building—before the major renovations begin—will be given their money’s worth in terms of actual bouts, with 14 on the docket, although only two combatants of the 28 are ranked, while around half are coming off losses. Combat commences in the overstuffed lightweight category, as unbeaten Tajikistan native Aliev (9-0, 1-0 UFC) tries to emerge from the pack against relative divisional veteran Solecki (13-5, 5-3 UFC). The two will receive oversight from referee Kerry Hatley for the first match of the evening, and with a touch of gloves, it’s on with the show. Late replacement Solecki looks to find his range early, circling his fist around to either prepare for a parry or paw out a jab. He gets off first, with a one-two down the pipe. Aliev’s looping right hand response misses the mark, and they reset. Aliev crashes forward, bashing his head into the side of Solecki’s as they clash, and he uses the momentum to bowl Solecki over with a double-leg takedown to put him on his back. Solecki keeps his guard fairly open in hopes of scooting to the fence to wall-walk, and Aliev sucks his hips out on the first try to get up. Solecki wraps up a guillotine choke off his back, and he transitions to throw his legs up in hopes of locking down a triangle choke. Solecki adjusts his legs to further tighten the leg grip around Aliev’s neck, and he hooks his toes in the fence to get better leverage, only for Hatley to slap them out of it. Aliev is able to break out of the submission without concern, and his approach is more of the methodical ground-and-pound variety rather than looking for his own sub or something more dramatic. Solecki’s guard prevents Aliev from passing to either side, but Aliev jams Solecki’s neck up against the wall to put him at a tough angle. Aliev draws a slight bit of blood around Solecki’s nose from a few short left hands, and this prompts him to load up on some heavier ground strikes to get Solecki’s attention. Solecki tries for another triangle choke to slow things down, and the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Aliev
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Aliev
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Aliev

Round 2

The fighters tap gloves together, and Solecki awkwardly looks to work his way in but does not throw any strike as he moves in. Aliev walks through this unorthodox footwork to score two punches, and Solecki whiffs on the counter. Solecki steps in the pocket to put a one-two on the chin, and he leans back as a big right hand from the Tajikistan native goes past him. Aliev pursues a takedown, and he lifts Solecki up in the air and fails to keep his grip, falling to his back as Solecki lands on top of him. As the scramble ensues, Solecki attempts a triangle choke to lock Aliev down, and Aliev slides around it and shifts through an armbar setup to lump Solecki up with some heavy punches. Aliev leans on Solecki from behind, getting off power right hands as Solecki tries to escape. Solecki gets himself to a single knee as he leans on the wall, but this allows Aliev to jackhammer his thigh with a number of high-amplitude knees. Solecki explodes to his feet, and Aliev times a perfect right hook that sends Solecki crashing to the mat. Solecki shakes out the cobwebs and wraps up his guard, without a submission in mind and rather hoping to just get some time to recover. Aliev does not mind, as he prefers this smothering position to land strikes when the moment is right. It is position over submission or offense for the Tajik fighter, and although the pace slows to a crawl, he is firmly in the driver’s seat. Aliev works the body to open up strikes to the head, and Solecki rides out the rest of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Aliev
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Aliev
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Aliev

Round 3

One final fist bump kicks off the last round, and Solecki moves straight to the center of the cage, likely knowing he is down on the scorecards. Aliev swarms forward but misses with his swings, and when he measures his right hand, he connects on the temple. Solecki wears it well and fires back, sitting on a few left hooks when Aliev advances. Both fighters trade hands, and Aliev hits cleaner to more targets like the solar plexus. Aliev loops two right hands over the top, and Solecki can only muster up a leg kick in response. Solecki bites down on his mouthpiece to sling three left hands, and Aliev sneaks a right hand around his arms to clip him. Solecki blinks it out but gets cracked once more, as his legs buckle but do not give way beneath him. Aliev loads up on two punches, and he backs off to take a deep breath before hurling two more. “The Tajik Eagle” rarely misses when initiating offense, getting off at least one power strike each time he surges forward. Solecki pitches another low kick, but it is the kind of blow that with two minutes left in the fight, is not registered. A power left hand from Aliev stands his opponent up, and he follows with three more before backing off to take a low kick. Solecki tries to time a left hook when Aliev bears down on him, but Aliev beats him to the punch. When Aliev sells out with two big punches, Solecki times a perfect double to take the Tajikistan native off his feet. Solecki moves directly into full mount and starts raining down strikes, but Aliev’s control of Solecki’s neck keeps him largely safe. Solecki slams him out of the grip to pound away, and when he lowers himself down for a potential arm-triangle choke, the fight comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Solecki (29-28 Aliev)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Solecki (29-28 Aliev)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Solecki (29-28 Aliev)

The Official Result

Nurullo Aliev def. Joe Solecki via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Victoria Dudakova (116) vs. Fatima Kline (116)

Round 1

Moving right along to the women’s strawweight side of things, two women coming off losses will try to right the ship. The highly touted Kline (6-1, 0-1 UFC) ended up dropping her promotional debut last July, while Russia’s Dudakova (8-1, 2-1 UFC) came up short in August to put a halt to her unbeaten record. The former will be moving back down to 115 pounds for this one, and she will be joined in the cage by referee Chris Tognoni. A clap of hands of gloves gets things going, and the two women quickly measure one another with jabs. Kline follows one with a thumping low kick, skirting away before getting countered. Dudakova shoots for a naked double, pushing Kline to the wall but unable to go anywhere else. The Russian transitions to a single-leg takedown, and Kline stops this attempt and a subsequent trip. Kline breaks off with a knee to the body and two sharp elbows, but this does not keep Dudakova away for long. Dudakova crashes forward again in pursuit of a takedown, and Kline does hit the ground but it is so she can search for an unorthodox leglock off her back. The two continue to scramble, and Kline is the one who turns the corner to place Dudakova on the ground. Dudakova wraps up an armbar, using the submission to force Kline to defend so she can gain dominant position. When Kline fights her way out of it, Dudakova circles around to take her back while the two are seated. Kline attempts to turn as Dudakova’s nose starts to bleed, and she powers her way around to set the Russian down. Kline opens up with elbows that quickly force Dudakova to kick off her hips, and Kline hammers her with a few standing-to-ground strikes before lowering herself back to the guard. As Kline looks to pass guard, Dudakova gets hold of a two-on-one wrist lock. This kimura attempt ultimately works against Dudakova, who inadvertently allows Kline to fully mount her. Kline postures up to connect with a few heavy strikes before lowering herself flat to disallow Dudakova from bucking her off. Kline slashes with an elbow, grinding her forehead against the Russian’s face when not attacking so as to make her life miserable. Kline gets off a few more strikes before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kline
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kline
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kline

Round 2

As soon as the round begins, Dudakova shoots for a single, and she manages to wrangle Kline to a knee while up against the wall. Kline works her way around to get upright, and the scramble that follows allows Kline to circle around and toss Dudakova to the floor. When Kline is about to establish top position, Dudakova sweeps her, and Kline is quick to reverse her back. Kline advances into full mount, and Dudakova tries to pull on the fence with her fingers to improve her position. Dudakova kicks off the fence, but this puts her in a worse place as she is unable to get up. Dudakova hooks her leg around the shoulder, somehow pushing off enough to get Kline to spin around. As Kline turns, Dudakova stands and pursues a body lock takedown. Kline hits a trip to dump her foe on her face, and she lands in half guard dropping down left hands. Kline opens up with punches as Dudakova uses a knee shield on the belly off her back. “The Archangel” slashes Dudakova’s forehead open with a vicious elbow, and blood sprays from the open wound. The body language is quick to deteriorate for the underdog, as the sight and smell of blood changed things significantly. Kline lords over her foe, drumming her out with a long line of elbows. As the elbows continue to batter Dudakova, Tognoni has no choice but to step in, with Dudakova shelled up and no longer intelligently defending herself. It is a statement for Kline, who makes good on the huge betting line in her favor while recording her first UFC win by stopping a woman that had never before been finished.

The Official Result

Fatima Kline def. Victoria Dudakova R2 4:27 via TKO (Elbows)

Magomed Gadzhiyasulov (205) vs. Bruno Lopes (205.5)

Round 1

Light heavyweight, a division in need of contenders, gets a pair of promising heavy hitters for this preliminary contest. The knockout did not come for Dagestan native Gadzhiyasulov (9-0, 1-0 UFC) in his first UFC outing, but he is at least coming into this bout with a win at his back. Lopes (13-1, 0-0 UFC) is looking to get on the map after a pair of stoppages last year, and a dramatic victory could put the winner only five or six wins away from a title shot. When the two start their paths towards contendership, referee Mark Smith will handle the proceedings. Fists are bumped before they are traded, and it is Gadzhiyasulov who assumes control of the middle of the cage and asserts his position with two thudding leg kicks. Lopes does not appreciate the second, and he ducks in to throw a right hand that misses the mark. Gadzhiyasulov intercepts him with another chopping kick, and Bruno tosses a much lighter one back on the inside. As Gadzhiyasulov sits down on one more low kick, Lopes winds up on a counter right hand that buzzes past his man. Gadzhiyasulov dodges another right hand to connect hard on Lopes, and he chains a punch into a kick as Lopes’ movement is already struggling. Lopes shoots for a takedown, absorbs a flush low kick on the way in, and shoves the Russian against the wall. Lopes stalls his opponent out in the clinch, not allowing Gadzhiyasulov to work on his lead leg much more when up close and personal. Gadzhiyasulov sneaks in a few knees on the inside, and Lopes tries for a trip but does not sell out as he would have landed on his back. Lopes tries a short elbow up close, and it bumps into the side of his foe’s head. Lopes lands one more on the break, backs away and rushes forward in pursuit of a double. Gadzhiyasulov’s leg kick finds its target before Lopes reaches him, and Lopes jams him against the fencing again. The grind slows to a crawl as neither man score much, and Lopes hooking the legs does not lead to a takedown. Lopes goes all in for a double, scooping Gadzhiyasulov up and dumping him to the floor, and Gadzhiyasulov scramble to stand up at the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gadzhiyasulov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Gadzhiyasulov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gadzhiyasulov

Round 2

A tap of gloves kicks off Round 2, and Lopes is the initial aggressor and pushes the pace. Gadzhiyasulov looks for a few high-risk strikes that do not land flush, like a spinning wheel kick from up close, and he uses his punches and kicks to give him a bit of space. Lopes cramps his style, pressing him to the fence and clinching. Lopes spins with a sudden back elbow from the tie-up, and Gadzhiyasulov shakes it off and pushes off, only for Lopes to meander towards him and smack him with an elbow. Lopes ducks a looping right hand to go after a double, and although he does not score it, he succeeds in glomming onto his adversary. The Brazilian gathers a full head of steam, and he uses a body lock to hurl Gadzhiyasulov to the ground, where he lands on top and drops down a pair of elbows. Gadzhiyasulov kicks off the abdomen to force his way back to his feet, and Lopes is a dog with a bone trying to get the fight back down. Lopes cannot keep Gadzhiyasulov against the cage wall for long, as Gadzhiyasulov strikes his way free and connects a few times. Lopes is quick to re-embrace the grind, and he holds the fence to keep Gadzhiyasulov stuck in the position. Gadzhiyasulov circles out of the posture and kicks Lopes in the ribs, and when he goes low with a kick, Lopes nails him with a step-in knee. Gadzhiyasulov suddenly changes his tempo in pursuit of his own takedown, and Lopes welcomes this as he turns his man about and pins him to the wall. Gadzhiyasulov escapes briefly, looping strikes at his opponent, but the strikes are labored as he is starting to fade. Lopes crashes forward and presses the Dagestan native to the fence. Lopes spins with an elbow again, and he gets popped with a right-hand counter on the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lopes
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Lopes
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Lopes

Round 3

The light heavies touch ‘em up, and Gadzhiyasulov is the initial aggressor with looping distance kicks. Gadzhiyasulov kicks high and low, and his attack to the knee appears to give Lopes pause, with Lopes needing to shake his limb out. Lopes wants the takedown after this, and he tries for it and fails. Gadzhiyasulov breaks the grip around his waist, backs off and slaps Lopes in the face with the instep of his foot. Feeling himself, he spins at the Brazilian with an elbow, and Lopes licks his lips and wraps him up in a suffocating clinch. Gadzhiyasulov turns himself away to return to kickboxing range, and he jacks Lopes in the jaw with a solid shovel uppercut. Lopes tries to pay him back with a spin kick, and he takes advantage of a backpedaling Gadzhiyasulov by tackling him to the ground. Gadzhiyasulov springs right back to his feet, and Lopes wraps his hands around the back of his opponent. Lopes stays tightly pressed to Gadzhiyasulov, and he hunts for a double and lifts Gadzhiyasulov to dump him down. Gadzhiyasulov stands again without issue, and he breaks away with 90 seconds to spare. Lopes trips his opponent up and almost nails him with a legal soccer kick, and he uses his physicality to toss Gadzhiyasulov around and take away his dangerous offense. “Brunao” sneaks a knee up and around when up tight, and he lowers himself to his knees for a punctuating takedown. Gadzhiyasulov fights it off with an elbow to the side of the head, and he still gets taken down on a subsequent attempt. The two 205ers hear the final bell, and they drop to the floor in exhaustion.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lopes (29-28 Lopes)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Lopes (29-28 Lopes)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Lopes (29-28 Lopes)

The Official Result

Bruno Lopes def. Magomed Gadzhiyasulov via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Nicolle Caliari (125.5) vs. Ernesta Kareckaite (126)

Round 1

Two women with significantly different styles will clash as the prelims roll on at the 125-pound range. Despite losing her first UFC outing, Kareckaite (5-1-1, 0-1 UFC) comes in as a fairly heavy betting favorite against Brazilian finisher Caliari (8-2, 0-0 UFC) in the latter’s first stint in the Octagon. The Lithuanian will have 15 minutes or less to prove that a bet on her is worthwhile, and Caliari knows just one mistake is all she needs to get the job done. Referee Kerry Hatley draws the charge for this matchup, one that opens up as the ladies clap hands. Kareckaite immediately try to take advantage of her significant reach advantage, pawing out jabs and getting met with an early leg kick. Kareckaite comes up just short with a one-two, and Caliari pushes her away and gets off a low kick. Kareckaite strikes her way into a clinch, and Caliari pulls away and gets caught with a few punches from the Lithuanian. Caliari fires back, and she connects with a few punches and chains them into a takedown attempt. Kareckaite stands upright and turns her around, but Caliari is singularly focused on the grappling. Caliari sneaks in a few uppercuts before deciding to separate, and she ducks a right hand to tag the longer woman with quick strikes. Kareckaite reaches her with a long right hand, and she strings several more together in rapid succession as Caliari’s eyes go wide. The Brazilian looks to slow things down with a takedown attempt, and Kareckaite bucks her way out of it and pops Caliari with a right hand. Caliari is ready to bang when the attempt fails, as she uses her fast hands to set up tackling takedown efforts. Caliari drags Kareckaite’s leg far away to force her to do a split, and she briefly grounds the Lithuanian as a result. Kareckaite pops right back up, and Caliari is tightly wrapped around her as they clinch. The two trade knees and hand-fight until they break apart. Caliari lands first, Kareckaite counters, and the former gives her something back to think about. Kareckaite rifles off long, straight punches, and a head kick is blocked but the front kick that follows is not. Kareckaite drills Caliari with a slew of punches until the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Caliari
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Caliari
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Caliari

Round 2

The ladies tap their hands together before getting going, and Kareckaite picks up where she leads off with long strikes. She does not keep a solid defense, as Caliari meets her with blistering elbows and short but effective shots in response. Caliari ducks a right hand to snap Kareckaite’s head back with a right hand, and this forces Kareckaite to clinch with her to blink out the surprisingly heavy blow. Caliari backs her foe off with her hands, and she gets smacked with a left hand and shoots in for her own takedown. Kareckaite stifles it, circles around in hopes of taking the back and settles for Caliari to roll to her back. The Brazilian clings to Kareckaite, attempting to control Kareckaite’s arms and get hold of a submission. Kareckaite escapes before a leglock materializes, and when she stands right in front of Caliari, the two trade leather. Kareckaite goes to the body to break things up, and Caliari follows suit and rips two left hands to the liver. Kareckaite takes the punches and hurls a few back, but Caliari’s appear more effective when they exchange. The Brazilian goes over the top with a kick, and her left hand continues to score on Kareckaite’s midsection. Kareckaite counters a leg kick with a right hand, and both women suffer damage to their noses as they connect one after the other. Caliari fails on a trip takedown, and she sells out for an uppercut and gets countered hard. Kareckaite strings four punches together before Caliari can pay her back, but Caliari is more than willing to trade violently. They take turns punching one another in the face, defense at a premium, and two hooks from Caliari get Kareckaite’s attention before the round ends with a failed takedown.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kareckaite
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kareckaite
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kareckaite

Round 3

After a speedy glove touch, the flyweights resume throwing hands. Caliari walks through the long, rangy punches to scoop up uppercuts. Caliari mixes up a handful of headshots with a couple to the body, and they go tit-for-tat as they appear to be enjoying the striking affair. Kareckaite puts her fist on the chin again and again, and she lets Caliari clinch with her so she can pound her with a knee. Caliari hammers her opponent with a left to the body, and Kareckaite is right there in front of her clubbing her with a right hand. Kareckaite stops a takedown attempt, partially thanks to a few fence grabs, and Caliari hooks a leg around hers to try to wrench her down. Caliari again strips the leg away like before, but Kareckaite gathers herself before having to deal with a split. The Lithuanian, breaking away from the clinch, does not stay away from Caliari for long. Caliari puts a few one-twos on the jaw and dives after a takedown, but the latter does not get there. Caliari keeps working the body, and a number of right hands have drawn some swelling on Kareckaite’s left eyebrow. Caliari fakes a takedown to deliver a knee to the body, and she times Kareckaite lifting her left up to tackle her to the canvas. Caliari is active when on top, but most of her strikes are blocked or deflected. Kareckaite slugs it out from her back, and the two beat on one another right until the match’s conclusion.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Caliari (29-28 Caliari)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Caliari (29-28 Caliari)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Caliari (29-28 Caliari)

The Official Result

Ernesta Kareckaite def. Nicolle Caliari via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Preston Parsons (171) vs. Jacobe Smith (170.5)

Round 1

Continuing a theme going on today of an established UFC fighter against a vaunted newcomer with a spotless record, Parsons (11-5, 2-3 UFC) is the next of the former planning on holding the line. He battles Oklahoma State-trained All-American Smith (9-0, 0-0 UFC), who has done nothing but win since turning pro in 2021. Referee Mike Beltran is prepped and ready should this welterweight match go 15 minutes or 15 seconds, and he stands by as the fighters clap hands. Smith takes to the center of the cage, and both have the same first though of kicking. This results in a leg clash, and Smith is quick to recoil his limb and toss it up high. Parsons hopes to retaliate, and the two slug it out for a moment before Smith wraps his arms around Parsons. “Pressure” escapes, and Smith is all over him ready to throw bombs. As Parsons loads up on power, Smith is the quicker and more destructive of the two. Smith connects with a right hand and blasts Parsons with a left, putting Parsons down on the ground for the count. Beltran recognizes that Parsons’ eyes roll back in his head as Smith is beating on him with hammerfists, and he shoves Smith off of the defeated fighter. Smith goes flying, backwards somersaults to his feet and rushes over to the commentary booth to introduce himself. Showing he is a student of the game, Smith tells champ Belal Muhammad, “knock knock,” while also invoking Dan Ige for his “50K” nickname to suggest he is deserving of a bonus. At this stage of the event, he’s got an extra $50,000 on lock.

The Official Result

Jacobe Smith def. Preston Parsons R1 1:13 via KO (Punches)

Thiago Moises (155.5) vs. Trey Ogden (155.5)

Round 1

Keeping things pushing as the prelims roll on, former ranked lightweight Moises (18-8, 7-6 UFC) finds himself in the precarious position of a loss away from a .500 record in the promotion. A win over Ogden (18-6, 1 NC; 3-2, 1 NC UFC) would do wonders for his status with the UFC, but Ogden also needs a victory as well so he does not reach that even win/loss tally. It might not be high on the rankings, but the personal stakes are massive for the two, and referee Chris Tognoni recognizes that. There is a fleeting tap of the gloves to get going, and Moises tosses out a trio of kicks to hunt for his range. Moises comes up short on a big right hand, but his calf kick is super effective. Ogden absorbs two more and he no-sells them, but his leg is already welted and red. Ogden tries to give one back, and Moises shrugs it off and hurls a huge right hand along with a power leg kick. Ogden prods out jabs to not let Moises freely pick his front leg apart, and he kiais to further disrupt his opponent. Moises does not appear flustered, calm as a cucumber, and his speed is surprising even Ogden. They give leg kicks back to one another, and Ogden snaps out his jab further. Ogden kicks first, Moises kicks second, and Ogden tries to be first and last but is out of range. Ogden connects with a loud body kick, and he tags the Brazilian with a left hand. Moises draws a brief limp out of “Shamurai” from his calf kicks, and Ogden grits his teeth and wipes his hands on his shorts. Ogden stays right in front of Moises, jabbing and low kicking him, and Moises’ leg kicks will not miss when he commits to them. Ogden slaps the inside thigh with several kicks of his own, and the swelling and redness on Moises’ front leg is also growing fast. Ogden shakes his head after checking a kick, and he loops a left hand around the guard. When Moises gets off a sharp front kick, Ogden knocks him back with a stern jab. Ogden stays busy as he goes to the head and body, and he walks Moises down and kicks from both legs. The round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ogden
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ogden
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ogden

Round 2

Ogden puts the pressure on Moises right out of the gate, with hands in his face and a shin to the body. Moises settles down and hammers his foe’s front leg with several kicks, and Ogden wobbles after taking one flush. Moises continues to chip away, and Ogden further welts up his thigh with quick kicks. The jabs from Ogden redden Moises’ nose, and Ogden makes sure that his volume is consistent and enough to make Moises have to think about them. Moises loads up on power, but Ogden sways and dodges the worst of them. Moises sits down on a particularly nasty calf kick, setting Ogden down as the Marathon MMA coach grimaces. Moises leaps down into the guard, where he assaults Ogden with a few reintroductory elbows. Moises remains in the closed guard, landing ground-and-pound and not letting Ogden set anything up. Ogden twists, turns, bucks and pulls on the fence, but Moises top pressure is smothering him and not letting him go anywhere. Moises drops down two more elbows until Ogden explodes to his seat, and Moises pulls him back flat. Moises blasts his opponent with punches and elbows, and Ogden takes them on the chin and is otherwise stuck. Moises beats on him with ground strikes, bloodying Ogden’s mouth up before the bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Moises
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Moises
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Moises

Round 3

Ogden comes out of his corner a man possessed, committing to several left hands right out of the gate. A powerful punch from the American stumbles Moises, who bounces off the fence and misses on a counter. Ogden hand-fights, takes a heavy calf kick, and shoots in for a takedown. Moises gets to his knees, and he gives up his back. The Brazilian spins him around and deposits him on his back, with four minutes to work in a similar position to the previous round. Moises revs up his engines with ground-and-pound again, stifling any escape attempt while pummeling Ogden with short but dangerous strikes. Ogden rolls for a possible submission, but Moises shuts it down and elbows him to split open a cut on his right eyebrow. Moises continues methodically battering Ogden, staying more than busy to stave off any referee intervention, and Ogden is stuck. All of the various methods to escape employed by Ogden, a savvy grappler in his own right, do not go anywhere, as Moises is a 155-pound weight on his chest hitting him hard. Blood splatters across the canvas as Moises keeps striking, maintaining this position until the final horn.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Moises (29-28 Moises)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Moises (29-28 Moises)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Moises (29-28 Moises)

The Official Result

Thiago Moises def. Trey Ogden via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Ihor Potieria (188: Missed Weight) vs. Marco Tulio (185.5)

Round 1

With the recent memory of a spinning back kick knockout to earn him a spot on the UFC roster, Tulio (12-1, 0-0 UFC) surges into what would have been a middleweight affair with plenty of momentum on his side. The same cannot be said for the struggling Potieria (20-7, 2-5 UFC), who has not only dropped four of five but missed weight ahead of what may be a pink-slip matchup. This bout now taking place at 188 pounds will be covered by referee Mark Smith, who is prepped and ready to jump in at a moment’s notice. Potieria offers an apologetic glove touch to get going, and it is accepted. The center of the cage goes to Potieria, who springs away from a low kick early. Tulio unleashes a one-two, and when that comes up short, his leg kick does not. Potieria absorbs a right hand to counter with a hook over the top, and it marks Tulio’s eye up fast. Potieria goes after a second power left hook, and Tulio’s footwork keeps him safe. Tulio chains a punch into a kick, and the two lean towards one another and clack their heads together. Smith calls time to warn them, and they are quick to resume after the warning with two punches from Tulio. Potieria ducks down, and he eats a particularly stern right hand. Tulio lines up another right as he backs away, and he steps in and blasts Potieria in the groin with a knee, drawing a sound that echoes in the arena. Potieria collapses to the mat and does not make a sound, as Smith pauses the fight and tells Potieria he will have five minutes to recover. Smith warns Tulio, and Potieria blows his nose while on one knee. After 90 seconds, Potieria climbs to his feet using the fence, and he tells Smith he does not need the doctor. Three minutes elapse before Potieria is good to go, and they start up again. Tulio is quick to strike again when resuming, with a head kick and standing back fist surprising the Ukrainian. Tulio cracks “The Duelist” with a right hand, and he puts Potieria down with a follow-up right. Potieria’s nose busted open with blood leaking fast. Potieria tries to get hold of an armbar off his back, and Tulio punches and elbows through it. Potieria turns to his knees, and Tulio clubs him with a devastating undercut beneath his armpit that shuts his lights out. Smith witnesses that Potieria has been deprived of his consciousness and waved the fight off, and a bloody, beaten Potieria comes to and coughs his mouthpiece out. This is a statement introduction for Tulio, whose performance is slightly marred for the earlier foul but sealed the deal with his fists.

The Official Result

Marco Tulio def. Ihor Potieria R1 3:04 via TKO (Punches)

Felipe Bunes (126) vs. Jose Johnson (128.5: Missed Weight)

Round 1

One more catchweight contest plays out as the prelims wrap up, this time with six-footer Johnson (16-9, 1-2 UFC) unable to reach the flyweight cap by a fair margin. He surrenders 20% of his purse to Bunes (13-7, 0-1 UFC), who is hoping to slug his way into hearts and minds in what is already a late run for the 35-year-old. Referee Kerry Hatley is on call for this 129-pound pairing, one that kicks off as the fighters touch ‘em up. Johnson says hello with a low kick and then one to the chest, and he reaches the Brazilian with a fierce right hand to follow. Bunes tries to take the fight down, and Johnson hurls him to the side and winces as if he suffered an eye poke during the exchange. There is no pause, and instead Bunes swings for the fences to get in close to attempt another takedown. Johnson laughs it off and blasts him with an uppercut, and when Bunes tries again, Johnson rolls him all the way over. Bunes hits his back and attacks an armbar, and Johnson wriggles his arm free without concern. Bunes ties Johnson up until rolling for another armbar, and this time it is deep as he turns Johnson to his back. Johnson keeps twisting, flipping himself all the way over, but Bunes has it tight as a drum. There is no way out for Johnson, who is forced to tap out, and Bunes releases the grip immediately. Bunes climbs to his feet, and he performs a flawless Kamehameha from “Dragon Ball” fame at full volume.

The Official Result

Felipe Bunes def. Jose Johnson R1 2:04 via Submission (Armbar)

Uros Medic (171) vs. Punahele Soriano (171)

Round 1

Six bouts constitute the main card of this Fight Night in the Apex, and the first of those six comes at 170 pounds. Former middleweight brawler Soriano (10-4, 4-4 UFC) has picked up a few new tricks in the form of wrestling, but he will have his hands full with former Anchorage BJJ student Medic (10-2, 4-2 UFC). Fists are sure to fly, and they are bumped first under the watchful eye of referee Mike Beltran. Medic leads the dance with a short left hand, and Soriano gives him one back to think about almost immediately. Soriano kicks the front leg, and Medic blasts him back to the liver. “Story Time” steels himself and charges like a bull, and a right hand sends Medic flying. With Medic crumpled in a heap on his side, Soriano jackhammers him with additional punches until Medic goes out and Beltran has seen enough. Soriano rushes away to celebrate, where he drops to his hands and rattles off over a dozen pushups.

The Official Result

Punahele Soriano def. Uros Medic R1 0:31 via KO (Punches)

Austin Bashi (145.5) vs. Christian Rodriguez (145)

Round 1

In three of his last four outings, Rodriguez (11-2, 4-2 UFC) has donned his prospect-killer hat while staving off an undefeated opponent. This comes to a head once more for “CeeRod,” as this time he battles Michigan-based up-and-comer Bashi (13-0, 0-0 UFC) in hopes of spoiling one more flawless record. Whether he succeeds or fails, referee Chris Tognoni will be on top of things from start to finish. There is a sporting glove touch to commence the featherweight scrap, and Rodriguez nails the newcomer with a right hand and a flying knee. Bashi takes them on the chin and attempts a takedown, only to be easily stuffed by the underdog. Bashi pushes Rodriguez up against the fence and goes all-in for a takedown, as Rodriguez sets him down in 50-50 position. Rodriguez snatches hold of a power guillotine choke, turning Bashi to the side and wrenching him to the floor. Bashi, still in submission danger, works his way up to his feet, and he wriggles out of the choke and backs Rodriguez off with strikes. Rodriguez feints with loud stomps, drawing reactions out of the newcomer every time. A head kick from Rodriguez gets up quick, and he changes levels to ground Bashi. Rodriguez waits to line up a legal knee when Bashi stands, planting one on the torso and retreating. Bashi follows him, considers a takedown and elects to leap on Rodriguez’ back standing up. Rodriguez controls Bashi’s right arm with both hands, looking to shake Bashi off of him. When he does not fall off, Bashi resets and hooks a triangle around Rodriguez’ hips. Rodriguez fights the leg grip and does not let Bashi get a choke in, and he forces Bashi to release him. Rodriguez pushes back to get enough space to strike, and he follows a strafing Bashi and flusters him with a stomp on the mat before spurring into action. Bashi clings to “CeeRod” where he elevates and dumps Rodriguez to the ground. Rodriguez sweeps him with relative ease, but he does not establish top control as he wishes to engage on the feet. Bashi ties him up with the clinch and pushes him to the wire, but it is Rodriguez who takes advantage of the close proximity with a spinning back elbow. Bashi tags him back with a right hand before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez

Round 2

A calm Rodriguez meanders out of his corner to commence the round, and he skillfully tags Bashi from afar without letting the relative neophyte score much back. Bashi dives in deep for a single and succeeds in putting Rodriguez on his seat, only for Rodriguez to get back up before one second elapses. Bashi goes for a double and scoops Rodriguez off the ground to put him down, and this time, he lowers himself into top position. Rodriguez elbows his man off his back while scrambling, and this allows Bashi to take his back and wrap his legs around the waist again. Rodriguez grips the ankle to turn Bashi about, and he uses elbows to further break the leg grip. Rodriguez peels his foe off of him and knees him in the belly, and he takes an elbow on the break. Rodriguez peppers out a jab and evades a swinging right hand, preparing himself for a takedown that inevitably comes. An irritated Rodriguez falls to his back, and Bashi quickly advances to three-quarter mount so he can hop to the side instead of full mount. Bashi works the body with knees all while maintaining heavy chest pressure, and Rodriguez still turns him around and thwarts a submission setup. Rodriguez pushes Bashi over and nearly sneaks into mount, and he pushes off the back of the neck to stand. Bashi tries to follow him with a spinning back elbow, and he is met with a knee on the jaw. Rodriguez cracks the newcomer with an uppercut and a right hand, and Bashi takes a breath and shoots. Rodriguez sprawls to keep himself upright, turning the corner to put Bashi on his knees. Bashi reasserts going for his takedown attempt, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Bashi
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Bashi
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bashi

Round 3

In three of his last four outings, Rodriguez (11-2, 4-2 UFC) has donned his prospect-killer hat while staving off an undefeated opponent. This comes to a head once more for “CeeRod,” as this time he battles Michigan-based up-and-comer Bashi (13-0, 0-0 UFC) in hopes of spoiling one more flawless record. Whether he succeeds or fails, referee Chris Tognoni will be on top of things from start to finish. There is a sporting glove touch to commence the featherweight scrap, and Rodriguez nails the newcomer with a right hand and a flying knee. Bashi takes them on the chin and attempts a takedown, only to be easily stuffed by the underdog. Bashi pushes Rodriguez up against the fence and goes all-in for a takedown, as Rodriguez sets him down in 50-50 position. Rodriguez snatches hold of a power guillotine choke, turning Bashi to the side and wrenching him to the floor. Bashi, still in submission danger, works his way up to his feet, and he wriggles out of the choke and backs Rodriguez off with strikes. Rodriguez feints with loud stomps, drawing reactions out of the newcomer every time. A head kick from Rodriguez gets up quick, and he changes levels to ground Bashi. Rodriguez waits to line up a legal knee when Bashi stands, planting one on the torso and retreating. Bashi follows him, considers a takedown and elects to leap on Rodriguez’ back standing up. Rodriguez controls Bashi’s right arm with both hands, looking to shake Bashi off of him. When he does not fall off, Bashi resets and hooks a triangle around Rodriguez’ hips. Rodriguez fights the leg grip and does not let Bashi get a choke in, and he forces Bashi to release him. Rodriguez pushes back to get enough space to strike, and he follows a strafing Bashi and flusters him with a stomp on the mat before spurring into action. Bashi clings to “CeeRod” where he elevates and dumps Rodriguez to the ground. Rodriguez sweeps him with relative ease, but he does not establish top control as he wishes to engage on the feet. Bashi ties him up with the clinch and pushes him to the wire, but it is Rodriguez who takes advantage of the close proximity with a spinning back elbow. Bashi tags him back with a right hand before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (29-28 Rodriguez)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (29-28 Rodriguez)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (29-28 Rodriguez)

The Official Result

Christian Rodriguez def. Austin Bashi via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Chris Curtis (185.5) vs. Roman Kopylov (185.5)

Round 1

Fresh off a close five-rounder against rival Brendan Allen, Curtis (31-11, 1 NC; 5-3, 1 NC UFC) takes a step down in competition against Russian striker Kopylov (13-3, 5-3 UFC). While Kopylov has not been ranked, he is as dangerous as any, with knockouts accounting for four of his five triumphs in the Octagon. Keeping a lid on the middleweights will be referee Mark Smith, who clocks the fighters in as they opt for a glove touch. Curtis fights behind a jab, while Kopylov unleashes the first of likely many body kicks. Curtis crowds him with his hands, hoping to take some of those kicks away, but Kopylov chambers and fires off another. Kopylov kicks low and jabs high, and he circles when Curtis backs him up. Kopylov kicks low and is met with a body kick, and Curtis paws out three jabs in rapid succession. Kopylov scores a one-two, and jabs fly from both sides. Curtis kicks the body and gets his bell rung with a right hand, and the snapping jab that follows from Kopylov further stings him. Curtis shakes it off but absorbs another power jab, and he wipes his hands off to reset. Curtis prods out his own effective jab, doubling and tripling up on when he chooses. Curtis keeps his guard up after throwing, but Kopylov still manages to split it with a flurry. Kopylov pounds the front leg with a kick, and he fires off a one-two down the pipe. Curtis walks through it and hand-fights to get his way in. Kopylov flicks out numerous jabs, and Curtis gets tired of dealing with them and crashing forward with an uppercut. Curtis scores a right hand, and Kopylov grabs a leg and lets it go to score a body shot. Kopylov goes for another takedown, and bails on it before Curtis can properly defend. Kopylov kicks the body and dings “The Action Man” with a counter, but Curtis’ left hand lands flush as well. Curtis snaps the head back with an uppercut, reddening the Russian’s nose and forcing him to backpedal. Curtis walks him down behind a series of jabs, and he is ready to block the high kick he expects is coming. Curtis partially deflects a leg kick and puts out a left hand to counter another, and he mixes up jabs and kicks to keep Kopylov guessing. Kopylov strings together four punches that all bounce off the raised guard, and he takes a deep breath and loses his mouthpiece. Before Curtis can reach him, the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Curtis
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Curtis
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kopylov

Round 2

The fighters touch gloves before getting right back to it, with volume striking on both sides. Curtis digs a few to the body when not jabbing up high, and he zips a right hand over the top after eating a left hook from the Russian. Curtis slams another right to the midsection, and he keeps walking Kopylov down and scoring cleanly. A clean left hand from Curtis shreds open a cut on Kopylov’s right eyebrow, and blood pours from it as soon as it opens. Curtis is in his groove, jabbing and setting up strikes after the jabs. The damage mounts fast from Curtis, who has also bloodied up Kopylov’s nose. Curtis does not take his foot off the gas, proving with jab after jab. Kopylov swings back with a looping right hand, but it ricochets down to Curtis’ cup. This is fortuitous for Kopylov, but Curtis takes just a few seconds to recover after Smith calls time. Curtis stays in Kopylov’s face, walking through body kicks and jabs so he can score his own strikes. Curtis dips and tags Kopylov with a right hand, and after an exchange, Kopylov reaches out with a right hand and pokes Curtis square in the eye. Curtis turns away and asks for a towel to wipe his eye out, trying to hurry so he does not let Kopylov have time to catch his breath. Smith warns the Russian for his second foul, and they touch gloves. Curtis puts his jab in Kopylov’s face time and again, ignoring a calf kick so he can pepper Kopylov with right hands. Kopylov winds up and cracks Curtis with a left hand that stuns “The Action Man,” and Curtis momentarily has to stop and recover. He is quick back to his all-volume approach, and he puts a knuckle in Kopylov’s eye to make him blink it out. Curtis flashes his jabs, and his guard is high and effective but Kopylov keeps throwing back valiantly. Curtis turns and rolls with most of the worst of them, and he puts three punches on the chin. Kopylov returns fire with a few jabs and a body kick, and he connects hard with a left hand that would have felled lesser fighters. The second stanza comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Curtis
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Curtis
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Curtis

Round 3

There is a double glove touch to commence the final frame, and unsurprisingly the middleweights want to hit one another in the face furiously and frequently. Kopylov keeps his range with a body kick, and he finds home with an uppercut as Curtis is chasing him. Curtis’ guard is up, but Kopylov is still connecting on him at least in part. Curtis doubles his jab up, and Kopylov puts more mustard behind his strikes. Curtis brings up an uppercut, and Kopylov steels himself and winds up with a left hand that staggers “The Action Man.” Kopylov blasts the body and works the lead leg, and Curtis shakes his head but may be fading. Curtis jabs his way into range, and he kicks Kopylov in the ribs and uppercuts him as well. Kopylov pins a one-two on the chin, and blood sprays from his mouth, nose and cut when he takes strikes. Kopylov is warned for outstretched fingers, and he gives Curtis the business with another uppercut to the body. When Curtis advances, Kopylov times a double to plant the veteran on his back. Curtis scrambles like a madman to get to his knees and wall-walk upright, and Kopylov wrenches him back down. Curtis recovers again, takes a partial head kick and lays into Kopylov. The Russian lets his fists fly, knocking Curtis’ head around, and somehow Curtis is not only still in the fight but firing back with a vengeance. Kopylov backs off, fatigue setting in hard, and he takes a deep breath and shoots for a takedown. Kopylov sells out for the single, and Curtis defends with the guillotine choke and pushes off with seconds to spare. Putting everything behind their final blows, they swing it out for one bit flurry. Kopylov looses a head kick at the tail end of the match and walks away, stumbling Curtis and putting him down to the ground. Smith looks closely at Curtis and decides to wave the fight off with about a second to go, and Curtis is incensed at the stoppage as Kopylov walked off and was not laying into him with finalizing blows. It is a bitter pill to swallow for “The Action Man,” who firmly believes Smith should not have intervened and that it should have gone to the scorecards, where he had a chance at winning. The complaints are not heard, as the referee is the sole arbiter of the bout and the fight is over. Kopylov has just earned the biggest win of his career, doing it over an iron-chinned competitor that had only been knocked out once.

The Official Result

Roman Kopylov def. Chris Curtis R3 4:59 via TKO (Head Kick)

Abdul Razak Alhassan (185.5) vs. Cesar Almeida (185.5)

Round 1

From one brawl to another we go, as flamethrowing Brazilian Almeida (6-1, 2-1 UFC) looks to build momentum after rebounding from his first career defeat. He meets fellow haymaker aficionado Alhassan (12-6, 1 NC; 6-6, 1 NC UFC) in what could be a wild one for as long as it lasts. Hoping to avoid any errant blows will be referee Mike Beltran, but he has a chin and can take one or two without batting an eye. The 185ers touch ‘em up, and Almeida is the initial aggressor as he stalks the former welterweight down. Almeida strikes first in about 25 seconds, landing a low kick and having a high kick glide off the guard. Alhassan surges forward hurling a right hand, and he springs after it with two more hooks. Alhassan shoots for a double, and he bails on it when the two reach the wall. Almeida gets out of the tie-up and kicks the front leg twice. Alhassan wings a right hand that hooks behind the ear, and he pitches a second as Almeida does not bat an eye and instead counters with kicks. Almeida calmly walks him down behind low kicks, and he splits the guard with a right hand and pounds a knee off his foe’s arms. Alhassan sneaks in a power right hand, and Almeida responds with a body kick. The middleweights boot the body, and when Almeida tries for a second, Alhassan is on him with an overhand right. Alhassan kicks from both legs for shooting for a takedown, and they result in a clinch again. Alhassan lifts Almeida up with a knee to the sternum, and the Brazilian gives him one back to think about. Almeida turns him to the side and hammers the front leg with a kick. Alhassan chambers and looses a bomb of a right hand, dropping Almeida and hurting him badly. Almeida on autopilot looks for a takedown, but Alhassan pushes him over and starts battering him with ground strikes. Still calm as a cucumber, Almeida climbs to a knee, gets bombed with a right hand and muscles his way to his feet. Alhassan wants to get the job done once and for all, and he bombards the Brazilian with huge punches. Almeida bounces off the fence, still in the fight and willing to trade, and he connects with a picture-perfect left hand that ices Alhassan. As if he were frozen in rigor mortis, Alhassan collapses lifelessly to his back, arms locked by his side and the back of his head clattering scarily off the canvas. Alhassan is all the way gone, eyes stuck open as they stare into the abyss. The abyss stares back, with the expression on Alhassan’s face reminiscent of Rashad Evans’ obliteration at the hands of Lyoto Machida. The Ghanaian fighter is out for quite some time, and thankfully, he recovers and is lifted on the stool. Medical officials tend to Alhassan, who manages to come to but is still in a bad, bad way. Meanwhile, “Knockout of the Year” has an early contender one show in thanks to the devastating power of Almeida.

The Official Result

Cesar Almeida def. Abdul Razak Alhassan R1 4:16 via KO (Punch)

Carlston Harris (170) vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio (171)

Round 1

In the co-headlining spot, two action welterweights throw down with aspirations of making one last run in a division unkind to the elderly. At the age of 38, Ponzinibbio (29-8, 11-7 UFC) knows his back is against the wall, and four losses in his last five fights do not help his case. Harris (19-6, 4-2 UFC), at 37, is not in as dire of a roster situation, but his chin was checked by Kalinn Williams last year in a gnarly way. The exciting combatants will collide as referee Kerry Hatley watches on, aware that this one could end with one concussive blow. There is a glove touch first, and Ponzinibbio stalks down the taller man early on. Harris tries to use his range to jab out and keep Ponzinibbio away, and he kicks at the front leg as well. Ponzinibbio jabs him back, brushing past a left hook to rifle off a one-two on the chin. Ponzinibbio goes to the body with another one-two, and Harris hops back and forth while kicking the plant leg again. Ponzinibbio connects at the end of a right hand, and Harris counters well enough to make Ponzinibbio reset. Harris jabs to the head and midsection, and his right hook brushes the waist. When Ponzinibbio sells out for a hook, Harris shoots even lower for a takedown, but the effort is for naught as he is completely shut down. Ponzinibbio further backs him away with a one-two and a low kick, and he blocks the head kick that zips at his melon. Harris gets off a short left hook to the ribs, and he aims another to the same spot. Ponzinibbio sways and moves, evading the worst of the strikes and lobbing big right hands back at the lankier man. They clash legs together when kicking, and Ponzinibbio scores and takes fire as they trade leather. A one-two from Ponzinibbio leads to a takedown effort from “Mocambique,” but Harris still cannot get him down. Instead, it is the power left from Harris that gets Ponzinibbio’s attention, staggering the fighter from Argentina after a blitz. Harris lobs a big right hand that puts Ponzinibbio to the ground, and he somehow opens a cut on the back of Ponzinibbio’s head wrapping the strike around him. Harris drills Ponzinibbio with a one-two that sets him down, and Ponzinibbio scrambles and gets to his feet. A kick from Harris nearly puts Ponzinibbio down again, and he gets up and clutches the back of his head as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Harris
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Harris
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Harris

Round 2

The welterweights touch ‘em up, with Ponzinibbio appearing to have his feet beneath him again. Harris does not blitz him, instead jabbing to the body and measuring with his clubbing left hook head of winding it up. Ponzinibbio works the front leg twice to turn Harris about, and he sways away from a hook aimed his direction. Ponzinibbio walks through a low kick to put two punches on Harris’ chin, and Harris tanks them and responds in kind. Ponzinibbio blazes out with a one-two, and the right side of Harris’ face is bloodied up and swelling from absorbing strikes. Harris ducks a big left hand, and a jab draws blood from his mouth. The Argentinian doubles up on a jab and follows with a right that gets Harris’ attention, and Harris shoots for a takedown that is stopped in its tracks. Harris digs an uppercut to the body when Ponzinibbio bends over, and Ponzinibbio clubs him back with an overhand right. Splitting the guard with a right hand, Ponzinibbio gets through, but Harris knocks him back and then drops him with a jab. Ponzinibbio bounces up to his feet as if he had springs in his shorts, and he gets right in Harris’ face to keep throwing hands. Harris uses his longer range to chew up Ponzinibbio from his own preferred distance, and a leg kick from Harris disrupts Ponzinibbio’s movement briefly. Because of this, Ponzinibbio winds up and misses with a right hand, and he is in the wrong spot when Harris catches him with a right hook over the top. Harris digs to lefts to the liver to follow, and Ponzinibbio goes to the sternum with a left hand. They trade hooks at the same time, and their chins hold up even though they are taking massive damage at this point. Harris kicks, his foot is caught, and he still loops a left hand at his man. Ponzinibbio swings back with a vengeance, and Harris’ jab keeps him honest. Ponzinibbio comes up short with a one-two, and the horn sounds at matching lands.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Harris
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ponzinibbio
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Harris

Round 3

To the surprise of some, the fighters have reached the third round, and they high-five to celebrate their handiwork. Harris commences the round with a tackling takedown effort, and Ponzinibbio pitches him out of the way like a farmer tossing sacks of grain around. Harris rolls to his back and welcomes Ponzinibbio into the guard, and he forces a scramble that allows him to fight to his feet. They resets in kickboxing range, with Ponzinibbio loading up on right hands as he chases after Harris. Harris lets loose with a right hand that buzzes past his target, and both men land cleanly with power. Harris jabs the body and absorbs a one-two to the chest, and he slips when advancing but does not lose his footing. Harris doubles up on body shots with his left hook, and he kicks the same spot. Ponzinibbio scores with a big left and a heavy right, rocking Harris badly. Harris wobbles back, absorbing another fierce right hand on the jaw, and he is somehow on his feet despite getting blasted. Ponzinibbio unloads everything he has, setting Harris down, and Harris tries to engage his grappling as a safety valve. Ponzinibbio wants nothing to do with it and backs off to let Harris up, and he connects with looping lethal strikes. Harris gets rocked from one side of the cage to the other, but he is still in the fight and swings back with reckless abandon. Ponzinibbio sets him down to a knee with a clubbing power shot, and Hatley rushes forward but pulls back before stopping the fight. Harris stands back up and lets his hands go, and during an exchange, Hatley inexplicably gets between them to stop the fight and save Harris from further punishment. Harris is understandably upset because even though he took massive damage and was on baby deer legs, he was engaging and striking his opponent. Like the odd stoppage in the Curtis fight, the protests from the losing fighter fall on deaf ears. Ponzinibbio leaps out of the cage to high-five the commentary booth, and Harris quickly regains his cool and is all smiles after an uproarious battle.

The Official Result

Santiago Ponzinibbio def. Carlston Harris R3 3:13 via TKO (Punches)

Mackenzie Dern (116) vs. Amanda Ribas (116)

Round 1

Some five-plus years ago, grapplers Dern (14-5, 9-5 UFC) and Ribas (13-5, 7-4 UFC) competed in the Octagon, and Ribas handed Dern her first loss. Neither woman has reached the top of the mountain all these years later, and this time, they will have five rounds to determine who is superior. A title shot may not loom for the triumphant woman, but they will not be far from it as strawweight queen Weili Zhang has beaten most other comers. The final assignment of the evening goes to referee Mark Smith, who brings them together to issue instructions and have them touch gloves. Even though they have been intense towards one another this week, they do show a modicum of respect by bumping their fists first. It’s on with the show. Dern lands the first blow in the form of a low kick, and she fades back to land another as Ribas walks after her. Dern goes high with a kick that is blocked, and Ribas fires off a calf kick to think about. Dern scores another low kick and puts a one-two on the chin, and Ribas walks through it to strike her back with a similar combination. Ribas spins with a back kick that slams into the ribs, and she parries a pair of punches hurled at her face. Dern keeps busy with low kicks, and Ribas responds in kind. Ribas surges forward, landing once at after four punches. A swinging punch from the Brazilian is interrupted, and Dern’s overhand right brushes past the chin. Ribas catches Dern coming in with a sharp jab, and she hooks her lead right hand around the guard. Dern shoots for a single, bouncing Ribas off the wall to take her to the floor. Ribas closes her guard and wraps Dern up to not allow the submission specialist get her hands on her. Ribas elbows from her back, shutting Dern down in the process. Dern drops down a series of hammerfists to the side of the dome to try to seal the round, as she has not done much with the position while time racks up. The horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dern
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Dern
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dern

Round 2

Ribas checks multiple kicks to start off the round, and she lets her foot fly. Dern shoots for a takedown, and Ribas throws her to her back. Dern’s guard is immediately active, as she sets up an armbar and has carved up Ribas’ right eye with elbows from the bottom. Ribas does not fall for any traps or setups, but she is stuck on top without many ways to go from there. Smith asks for more activity, and Dern uses a butterfly guard to frame off. This allows Ribas to drop down strikes from her free left arm, and she repositions to connect with elbows to the body. Ribas stays tightly compressed to Dern’s chest, preventing Dern from finding an opening for something. Ribas peppers her opponent with punches until Dern suddenly throws her leg up in search of an omoplata shoulder lock. Ribas rolls with it smoothly, and the two are tied in a 50-50 position until Ribas turns back on top. Dern locks her up from behind with both shoulders hooked, and she uses the opportunity to turn Ribas over and flip her to her back until time expires.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ribas
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ribas
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ribas

Round 3

The grapplers meet in the middle and trade kicks to the body. Dern goes high and skims the side of the dome, and Ribas drives her back with a right hand and a low kick. The Brazilian paws away a front kick and checks a leg kick, and she snipes Dern with an accurate right hand. Ribas kicks her way into punching range, rattling off a few punches to prompt Dern into a takedown effort. Dern fails on the first shot, pushing Ribas to the wall, and Ribas attempts to counter with a hip throw. The two spam short knees until Ribas hits the trip she was looking for, and she dumps Dern on her back. Ribas stays crouched over Dern instead of fully in her guard, and she slices down with elbows. When Dern sets up an armbar, Ribas lowers herself flat to break it up. Dern hacks with elbows while on her back, and she lifts her legs up and locks in an armbar. Ribas maintains heavy pressure to not give Dern any extension on the submission, and Dern tries to turn her hips to crank the limb. Ribas smacks the body with knees, and she grinds her elbow on Dern’s face. Dern uses the submission to roll Ribas over with a minute left in the round, where she sits on top of Ribas in full mount. Ribas clings to her like Saran wrap to disallow Dern from finding anything, and Dern still hunts for an armbar when not raining down hammerfists. Dern falls to her back and she hooks the limb with her arms to hyperextend it, and Ribas is in dire trouble. Ribas knows her goose is cooked and that there is no way out, knowing a submission magician this outstanding will very quickly take it home with her if she does not surrender. Ribas taps out with seconds left in the round, and Dern calls for her daughter to be brought to the cage. The two are all smiles as Dern lifts her in the air, celebrating her hard-fought victory without taking a lot of damage. It is now one win apiece for the two grappling savants, and a third meeting somewhere down the line is virtually guaranteed. For now, Dern is triumphant, and she does not have a name on her tongue but would prefer to face someone ahead of her in the rankings. When she competes again next, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.

The Official Result

Mackenzie Dern def. Amanda Ribas R3 4:56 via Submission (Armbar)