UFC on ESPN 36 Prelims: Viviane Araujo's Wrestling Wears Down Andrea Lee

Dominating her way to the decision! 👏@ViviAraujoMMA started with some adversity before getting the dub! #UFCVegas54 pic.twitter.com/iJ7wJvve7f

— UFC (@ufc) May 15, 2022

Viviane Araujo took a major step toward contention in the flyweight division at UFC on ESPN 36, garnering a unanimous decision triumph over Andrea Lee at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Araujo received scorecards of 29-28, 29-27 and 29-27 to win for the third time in her last four promotional outings.

Lee (13-6, 5-4 UFC) threatened to finish the bout early, as she dropped Araujo (11-3, 5-2 UFC) with a counter left hook and then rocked the Brazilian with a head kick when she returned to her feet. Araujo regained her senses in relatively short order, however, and gradually imposed her will the rest of the way. Working behind a stiff jab, Araujo bloodied her opponent’s nose and successfully transitioned to land multiple takedowns as the fight progressed.

Araujo was at her best in Round 2, when she sprawled on a takedown from Lee, transitioned to back control and spent the majority of the period landing ground-and-pound from a dominant position. As a result of her inability to remain upright for any significant period of time, Lee was unable to replicate her success from Round 1.

Johnson Starches Patrick

“The Ultimate Fighter 12” finalist Michael Johnson earned his first victory in more than three years, knocking out Chute Boxe Diego Lima representative Alan Patrick in a lightweight clash. Johnson, who turns 36 in June, brought the show to a close 3:22 into Round 1 to snap a four-bout skid. Patrick is winless in his last four Octagon appearances.

Johnson (20-17, 12-13 UFC) flashed his power when he made Patrick stumble with a left in the opening frame, but the Brazilian answered by wobbling “The Menace” with a left hook shortly thereafter. Johnson’s advantage in hand speed became more and more evident in Round 2, however, as he repeatedly countered an onrushing Patrick (15-4, 5-4, 1 NC UFC) with multi-punch combinations. The last of those sealed the deal, when Johnson punctuated a four-piece offering with a left hook to the chin that floored Patrick. The Sanford MMA product then punctuated his triumph with a pair of follow-up hammerfists that bounced his opponent’s head off the mat and removed him from consciousness.

Related » UFC on ESPN 36 Round-by-Round Scoring

Jandiroba Grappling Stymies Hill

Takedowns and an active submission game carried Virna Jandiroba to a three-round verdict over Angela Hill in a clash of former Invicta FC title holders. “Carcara” secured a trio of 30-27 scorecards from the cageside judges to send Hill to her fifth loss in six outings.

Moments of success were fleeting for Hill, and any time she seemed to find a rhythm with her striking, Jandiroba (18-3, 4-3 UFC) brought it to a screeching halt with a takedown. The Brazilian grounded her adversary in each stanza and threatened with a multitude of submissions, including a kneebar that drew a grimace from Hill (13-12, 8-12 UFC) in Round 1. Hill’s defense on the canvas held up, but that alone wasn’t enough to score the necessary points need for victory.

Prospect Taira Remains Undefeated

Japanese prospect Tatsuro Taira rolled to a clear-cut unanimous decision triumph over two-time Dana White’s Contender Series competitor Carlos Candelario in a matchup of flyweight newcomers. All three cageside judges saw the fight in favor of the former Shooto champion: 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27.

Taira (11-0, 1-0 UFC) really began to take control in Round 2, when he put Candelario (8-2, 0-1 UFC) on his seat with a sharp straight right and then jumped on his opponent’s back with a body triangle in place. Taira put an emphatic stamp on the fight in the final frame, as he took Candelario’s back in a scramble, moved to mount and unloaded a barrage of punches and elbows in the waning seconds. Candelario hung tough throughout, landing a couple of takedowns of his own and briefly threatening with a guillotine choke early in Round 3, but he was on the defensive for the majority of the bout.

Petroski Chokes Maximov Unconscious

Andre Petroski remained unbeaten in the Octagon, as he submitted Nick Diaz Academy representative Nick Maximov with an anaconda choke in a middleweight contest. The Glendora, N.J., native rendered his foe unconscious 76 seconds into Round 1.

After a brief feeling-out period on the feet, Maximov (8-1, 2-1 UFC) dove for a single leg, but Petroski secured a front headlock during an ensuing scramble. From there, he adjusted his grip to the fight-ending maneuver and rolled, and Maximov was out in a matter of seconds. Petroski (8-1, 3-0 UFC) has finished all eight of his professional triumphs inside the distance.