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UFC on ESPN 32 Prelims: Jamie Pickett, Court McGee Pocket Unanimous Decisions in Las Vegas



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Jamie Pickett took another step toward steadying himself inside the Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight division, as he was awarded a unanimous verdict over Joseph Holmes in the featured UFC on ESPN 32 prelim on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. All three members of the assembled judiciary saw it 29-28 for Pickett (13-6, 2-2 UFC).

Holmes (7-2, 0-1 UFC), who entered his promotional debut on the strength of seven straight stoppage victories, enjoyed some early success behind a kick-heavy approach. However, he appeared to run out of steam and competitive drive in the latter half of the match. Pickett answered with basic punching combinations and a commitment to the clinch, as he refused to allow the Dana White’s Contender Series alum to operate much in open space.

The setback was Holmes’ first since March 22, 2019.

Related » UFC Fight Night 199 Round-by-Round Scoring


McGee Dominates Favored Brahimaj


“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 11 winner Court McGee put together a vintage performance, as he took a unanimous verdict from Ramiz Brahimaj in a three-round welterweight tilt. All three cageside judges scored it the same: 30-27 for McGee (21-11, 10-9 UFC), who has recorded consecutive victories for the first time since 2013.

Brahimaj (9-4, 1-2 UFC) was ineffective in all phases. McGee floored the Fortis MMA rep with an overhand right in the first round, then proceeded to systematically dismantle him at close range. He climbed to full mount in Round 3, threatened an arm-triangle choke and later progressed to the back to punctuate a near-flawless performance.

The 29-year-old Brahimaj has lost twice in his last three starts.

Cagy Kelleher Handles Croom


Former Ring of Combat champion Brian Kelleher won for the fifth time in seven appearances, as he laid claim to a unanimous decision over Kevin Croom in a three-round featherweight affair. Kelleher (24-12, 8-5 UFC) swept the scorecards with 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 marks from the judges.

A late replacement for Saidyokub Kakhramonov, Croom (21-14, 0-2 UFC) remained competitive—he hacked open a gnarly cut near his counterpart’s right eye with a standing elbow in the second round—but could not get over the hump. Kelleher sat him down with a right hook in the first round, then turned up the heat with his wrestling. He executed multiple takedowns across the final 10 minutes, bottled up Croom on the canvas and mixed positional advances with the threat of the submission, transitioning from one choke to the next in a bid to finish.

Winless since August 2020, Croom has now suffered back-to-back defeats.

Brown Outpoints Replacement Rosa


Takedowns, topside control and airtight submission defense carried Glory MMA export T.J. Brown to a unanimous decision over Charles Rosa in a three-round lightweight pairing. All three cageside judges struck 29-28 scorecards for Brown (16-8, 2-2 UFC), who has rattled off five wins across his past seven outings.

A short-notice substitution for Gabriel Benitez, Rosa (14-7, 5-7 UFC) struggled to get in gear. Brown walked through a series of painful kicks to the lower leg, secured takedowns in all three rounds, progressed to mount on multiple occasions and even made a few passes at an arm-triangle choke. Rosa withstood those efforts and seemed to find himself in the third round, but it was not enough to dig him out of a deficit.

Rosa, 35, has lost three of his last four fights.
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