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411’s UFC 277 Report: Nunes Batters Pena, Regains Title

July 31, 2022 | Posted by Robert Winfree
UFC 277 Image Credit: UFC

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Champ Julianna Peña (134.5 lbs.) vs. #1 Amanda Nunes (135 lbs.) – for women’s bantamweight title
#1 Brandon Moreno (124.5 lbs.) vs. #2 Kai Kara-France (124.5 lbs.) – for interim flyweight title
#5 Derrick Lewis (264.5 lbs.) vs. #11 Sergei Pavlovich (254.5 lbs.)
#4 Alexandre Pantoja (125.5 lbs.) vs. #6 Alex Perez (125.5 lbs.)
#4 Magomed Ankalaev (206 lbs.) vs. #5 Anthony Smith (206 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ABC/ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)
Alex Morono (171 lbs.) vs. Matthew Semelsberger (171 lbs.)
Rafael Alves (155.5 lbs.) vs. Drew Dober (155.5 lbs.)
Hamdy Abdelwahab (264.5 lbs.) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (255 lbs.)
Rafa Garcia (155 lbs.) vs. Drakkar Klose (155.5 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
Adam Fugitt (171 lbs.) vs. Michael Morales (170.5 lbs.)
Joselyne Edwards (137.5 lbs.)* vs. Ji Yeon Kim (135 lbs.)
Nicolae Negumereanu (205 lbs.) vs. Ihor Potieria (204 lbs.)
Orion Cosce (172.5 lbs.)* vs. Blood Diamond (169.5 lbs.)

Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC 277, I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host for the event. Tonight we’ve got a rematch of one of the bigger upsets in MMA history, newly crowned women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Pena battles former champion Amanda Nunes. Pena shockingly upset Nunes for the title in December of last year and now tries to go 2-0 over arguably the best women’s fighter of all time, while Nunes is looking to reclaim her title. The co-main event is something of an odd duck as we’ve got an interim flyweight title fight when former champion Brandon Moreno takes on surging Kai Kara-France. These two fought in December of 2019 with Moreno winning a unanimous decision and now they’re battling for an interim title and, more practically, a shot at the real champion Deiveson Figueiredo. There are a few other relevant fights on the main card, heavyweights Derrick Lewis and Sergei Pavlovich meet as they fight for position in the division, and top light heavyweight contenders Magomed Ankalaev and Anthony Smith will be trying to stake their claims to a title shot in their bout. The rest of the card is pretty thin, but Alex Morono vs. Matthew Semelsberger and Drew Dober vs. Rafael Alves both stand out as potential sleeper fights. As for the rest of it, let’s hope the bouts over deliver relative to expectations.

UFC 277 comes to the world from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, USA. We’ve got Jon Anik, Joe Rogan, and Daniel Cormier on commentary. As for the rules, Texas uses the older set so there’s no instant replay, the scoring criteria is a bit worse, and anything other than the soles of your feet on the mat means you’re a downed fighter. We’re also in the bigger 30 foot Octagon rather than the 25 footer that’s in the Apex facility.

Orion Cosce suffered his first professional defeat in his UFC debut just about a year ago, now he’s back in action and looking for that all important first UFC win. Cosce also missed weight here, meaning a win is even more important to try and smooth over that issue. Mike “Blood Diamond” Mathetha also had his first MMA setback in his UFC debut, he’s hoping to avoid his first losing streak and get back on the winning side of things. Cosce is your -200 favorite to +170 for Mathetha.

Welterweight Bout: Orion Cosce (7-1, 172.5 lbs.) vs. Blood Diamond (3-1, 169.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Mathetha has five inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going, Cosce is fighting southpaw. Mathetha lands a leg kick, and the “woo’s” begin. More leg kicks from Mathetha then a bit of a combination. Cosce lands an inside leg kick. Some stance switching from Cosce now as they circle. Bit of a left from Cosce then he shoots a double leg into the fence. Cosce lands a few knees then looks to level change but Mathetha is defending well in the clinch. Some knees go back and forth as they fight for position. Mathetha blocks a headlock throw but they remain clinched. Judo toss from Cosce and he lands in side control. A few short blows from Cosce land as he looks to find a better angle on the mat. Mathetha rolls to his knees and stands as Cosce gets around to his back. German suplex from Cosce but Mathetha is able to scramble back up though they’re still clinched. They break and Mathetha misses a head kick. Both men miss punches then Mathetha lands a head kick as the last relevant blow of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Cosce

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves again. Leg kick from Mathetha. Both men are probing with kicks now, then they swing wild and clinch up then hit the fence. Cosce lands a few shoulder shrugs while they fight for position. Both men land knees then Cosce lands an elbow. Cosce looks for a level change, Mathetha is defending and fishing for a double wrist lock to prevent the hands getting connected. They break and Mathetha lands a body kick. Cosce lands a left hook. Some punches go back and forth then Mathetha lands a body kick. Left from Cosce, and he avoids a high kick counter. Mathetha lands an elbow. Left form Mathetha then a knee and he lands a spinning back fist that wobbles Cosce. Mathetha looks to pressure but Cosce ties him up with a clinch on the fence. They break after a bit then Mathetha lands a front kick. Another clinch, Cosce goes for a double leg as Mathetha lands elbows while defending. Elbow from Mathetha then he slips on a knee, Cosce lands a couple of punches on the ground to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Mathetha, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Another touch of gloves. Cosce shows some high kicks, but neither man is looking especially sharp now. Mathetha lands a calf kick. Cosce lands a left to the body, Mathetha counters with a front kick. Mathetha lands a knee but Cosce is able to force him to the fence and clinch up. Cosce lands knees to the leg then hits a lateral drop into side control. Mathetha grabs half guard and works up to his feet with Cosce on his back. Mat return from Cosce then he gets the back with both hooks in and flattens Mathetha out. Cosce starts fishing for the choke while Mathetha hand fights. Mathetha is about to spin into Cosce but Cosce transitions to full mount and attacks an arm triangle choke. Cosce loses the grip on his choke and instead moves towards side control. Mathetha gets half guard but he’s struggling to find openings to move. Cosce lands a few elbows and passes to north-south. Now Cosce moves to the back again, gets his hooks in and starts looking for the choke. Cosce lands some strikes as Mathetha turns onto his back and Cosce has half guard on top. They’ll end the round with Cosce on top working ground and pound.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Cosce, 29-28 Cosce overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Orion Cosce via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

I don’t think Mathetha was done any favors by coming into the UFC with just three fights under his belt. Mic time for Cosce after the win, he talks about having to out grind Mathetha in the third despite both of them being tired and he apologizes for missing weight to everyone and promises it wont happen again. Asked about that weight miss he says he’s been cutting weight the same way since he was 19 and now needs to adjust the method he uses as he gets older, and says he deserved every boo he got at the weigh ins.

Nick Negumereanu is on a three fight winning streak and has gone 3-1 in the UFC, if he’s able to get a fourth consecutive win here it could signify a step up in class for his next few fights. Ihor Potieria is on a rather absurd 17 fight winning streak coming into his UFC debut, now he’s looking to extend that streak and make a good first impression to the UFC fans. The odds are with Negumereanu at -125 to a +105 comeback on Potieria.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Nicolae Negumereanu (12-1, 205 lbs.) vs. Ihor Potieria (20-2, 204 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Potieria is three inches taller while Negumereanu has three inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Potieria. Both men probe with the hands as they circle. Negumereanu lands a right hand. Potieria lands an inside leg kick. Both men miss power hand punches, then Negumereanu lands a right hand and forces a clinch that hits the fence. They fight for position on the fence, Negumereanu lands some right hands while keeping Potieria on the fence. Outside trip from Negumereanu, he gets Potieria down and lands lefts as Potieria tries to wall walk. Eventually Negumereanu flattens Potieria out and gets on top in half guard. Potieria lands an elbow from his back. Negumereanu lands a few hammer fists as Potieria hip escapes to full guard. Negumereanu passes to the ride position and lands punches as Potieria wall walks back into the clinch. Another takedown from Negumereanu and he lands punches while standing over Potieria. Potieria gets back to his feet and they reset. Both men miss punches. Negumereanu lands a right hand. Potieria lands a front kick then an inside leg kick. Bit of a right from Negumereanu closes the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Negumereanu

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves for the round. Both men fire power hand punches. Front kicks go back and forth then they trade rights. Jab from Potieria lands, he’s starting to find a bit of his range now. Stiff left from Potieria. Negumereanu lands a body shot then a left hook. A right from Negumereanu stuns Potieria. Both men land punches in close, then Negumereanu lands a right hand and clinches up. Elbow from Negumereanu as he’s got Potieria on the fence. Negumereanu lands an uppercut. Spinning attack from Negumereanu as they break. Potieria looks a little gassed as he walks forward. Both men avoid punches. Potieria misses a horribly telegraphed spinning attack. Negumereanu lands a right hand then a knee as they clinch, more knees from Negumereanu and he pushes Potieria to the fence. Now Negumereanu looks to unload with punches and knees, Potieria tries to throw back but he’s getting overwhelmed and the ref steps in to wave things off.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Nicolae Negumereanu via TKO, punches and knees, at 3:33 of Round 2

Mic time for Negumereanu and his translator, he says this is the best he’s done yet and wants a post fight bonus. He talks us through the finish and notes he’s been training at the UFC Performance Institute and credits that for a lot of his current form. To close he gives glory to God then thanks his coaches and sponsors.

Here’s a look at the finish. Negumereanu does a good job of recognizing the perils his opponent is in, and while he does wind up head hunting a bit too much he does a good job of mixing up his offense in terms of shot selection and adding in knees.

Joselyne Edwards has gone 2-2 in the UFC and missed weight for this fight, she’s coming off of a win though and needs another one here to smooth over the weight gaff and hopefully start to build some momentum. Ji Yeon Kim has gone just 3-5 in the UFC and is on a three fight losing streak, that’s somewhat buoyed by her last two fights winning Fight of the Night honors but she needs a win pretty badly here to justify her spot on the roster. Edwards is a slight -130 favorite to +110 on Kim.

Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Joselyne Edwards (11-4, 137.5 lbs.) vs. Ji Yeon Kim (9-5-2, 135 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Edwards is an inch taller while Kim has two inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Kim lands an inside leg kick. Edwards lands a body kick. More long range kicks from Edwards. Kim lands a right hand then avoids a wheel kick. Some jabs from Kim land. One two from Kim, then Edwards lands a left hook in response. Edwards lands a calf kick. Kim avoids some front kicks while they circle. A right hand from Kim lands. Bit of a body kick from Edwards but both women are falling short with most of their strikes. Kim lands an inside leg kick. Both women avoid some punches. Edwards misses more kicks. Bit of a body kick from Edwards. Kim lands a left hook. Both women miss punches in close, then they start trading in the pocket briefly. Kim lands a left as Edwards forces a clinch. Some knees go back and forth as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Edwards

ROUND TWO: Edwards gets back to pressing forward. Kim lands a couple of jabs. Edwards misses a couple of kicks. Inside leg kick from Kim then a right hand. Kim lands a right, then they get close and trade strikes for a bit. One two from Kim lands. Edwards keeps working front kicks to try and keep distance. Left from Kim lands. Edwards seems to be slowing a bit, I’m not sure if it’s cardio or strategic but she’s definitely lowered her volume. Kim avoids a few kicks then lands an inside leg kick. Left from Kim lands, then Edwards lands a front kick. A few jabs from Kim are starting to land. Body kick from Edwards lands. Hard right from Kim connects but Edwards recovers quickly. Kim lands an inside leg kick then a few jabs. Edwards keeps trying to keep distance with kicks. Kim lands a body kick and they clinch. A few knees are traded and the round ends as Kim reverses a takedown attempt to land on top in side control.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Kim, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the final round. Edwards resumes showing kicks to maintain a longer range. Kim lands a right hand. Another glancing right from Kim. Kim lands a left hook, she’s starting to find the target. Edwards lands a left hook of her own, but they clash on kicks and Edwards limps for a few seconds. Kim lands a couple of jabs. Leg kick from Kim, Edwards tries a takedown and they hit the fence. They fight for position and Edwards hits a hip toss to land on top in side control. Now Edwards goes after an armbar as Kim looks to scramble up, but Kim gets free without much danger and lands a left hand as Edwards stands then they clinch again. Some knees from Kim in the clinch, Edwards returns them. They trade left hooks as they break the clinch. Edwards avoids a few jabs. Leg kick from Edwards. Kim avoids a spinning kick. They trade punches in close. A left hook frm Kim lands, then they brawl for the final few seconds of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Edwards, 29-28 Edwards overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Joselyne Edwards via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

I don’t get that 30-27 for Edwards, she pretty clearly dropped the second round from where I sit. No interview for Edwards.

Adam Fugitt brings a four fight winning streak into his UFC debut, now he looks to extend that streak and secure his critical first UFC win. Michael Morales is undefeated including a successful UFC debut back in January, now he’s trying to build his UFC winning streak and begin making the transition from prospect towards contender. The odds are heavily with Morales at -600 while the +2450 payout on Fugitt is a tempting value bet.

Welterweight Bout: Adam Fugitt (8-2, 171 lbs.) vs. Michael Morales (13-0, 170.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Fugitt is an inch taller while Morales has two inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Fugitt, and he lands a body kick. Morales lands a jab. They clash on kicks, both men are mostly range finding right now. Fugitt lands a body kick. Morales blocks a few body kicks then lands a right hand. Both men block rights. Fugitt lands a right hand. Bit of a right from Morales as he circles. Morales lands a right hand. They clinch up and Fugitt hits an inside trip to land on top in full guard. Fugitt punches and passes towards half guard. Actually that’s not quite half guard, Morales still has the relevant knee in play. Fugitt lands a few short blows while looking to pass, but Morales is keeping him from getting around the guard. Fugitt tries to pass and Morales off balances him then they reset on the feet. They trade power hand punches, Fugitt seems to be more settled into the fight now. Fugitt lands another left hand, Morales tries to fire back but can’t land cleanly. Morales lands a couple of rights. They trade power hand punches again. Morales lands a jab to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Morales

ROUND TWO: Both men start pawing with the jab to begin the round. Bit of a front kick from Fugitt. Morales lands a right hand. Another right from Morales. Bit of a left from Fugitt then a front kick and they clinch up. Morales has the back in the clinch but Fugitt spins free almost immediately. Some jabs from Morales land. Fugitt lands a front kick then a right hand. Solid right hook from Fugitt lands. Morales lands a couple of jabs but Fugitt counters to the body. Fugitt lands a right hand, Morales lands a knee to the body but he might be slowing a bit. Fugitt lands a calf kick then they trade rights. Another exchange of rights then Morales avoids a head kick. Fugitt lands a right hook. Morales lands a jab. Another jab from Morales connects. Fugitt lands a calf kick then a knee during a brief clinch. Another body kick from Fugitt lands, Morales doesn’t like the body work. Solid left from Fugitt lands. They trade power hand punches. Morales lands a left hook and follows up with a couple of rights. Fugitt lands a left hand. Bit of a left hand from Fugitt and they clinch, then trade punches and break. Bit of a left from Fugitt. Morales lands a right hand. A right from Morales connects to end the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Morales, 20-18 Morales overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the last round. Fugitt is pressing forward, they trade punches then he tries a takedown but Morales defends. Bit of a left from Fugitt. More forward pressure from Fugitt, and Morales cracks him with a right hand before they clinch up. Fugitt moves to the back but can’t hold it then lands a left but Morales drops him with a right hand and looks to unload. More offense from Morales, he drops Fugitt with a right hook and the ref steps in to wave it off.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Michael Morales via TKO, punches, at 1:09 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Morales for his work this evening. Mic time for Morales and his translator after the win, he loves to have hard fights and wants to fight the best, then gives love to Ecuador and his team.

Here’s the finish, Morales lands a very well placed right hand to kick things off. You can see him step back and drop the right hand behind the ear as Fugitt is bent over and then he never lets Fugitt recover. Morales has some serious upside given what he’s shown.

Drakkar Klose has gone 4-1 in his last five fights, only dropping a bout to Beneil Dariush and now he’s looking to build another UFC winning streak. Rafa Garcia has gone 2-2 in the UFC but he’s on a two fight winning streak and could get the biggest win of his career if he takes out the ranked Klose tonight. The odds are with Klose at -200 to a +170 payout on Garcia.

Lightweight Bout: Rafa Garcia (14-2, 155 lbs.) vs. Drakkar Klose (12-2-1, 155.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Klose is two inches taller but the reach is identical. They touch gloves to get us going, Klose is fighting southpaw. A bit of stance switching coming from Klose now as they feint and circle. Garcia blocks a body kick then lands a bit of a right hand. Klose lands a right and forces a clinch, Garcia spins free very quickly. Bit of a leg kick from Klose. They trade punches then clinch and Klose lands a knee before Garcia gets free. Garcia lands a calf kick. Body kick from Klose then he clinches again. They break without incident. Calf kick from Klose. Garcia lands a left hook. Another left hook from Garcia lands, Klose is feeling those already. Calf kick from Garcia. Garcia blocks a double leg and they trade body shots along the fence before Garcia lands an elbow on the break. Klose avoids a punch and ties up again, he slips to the back standing then is able to trip Garcia down. Garcia walks up quickly but Klose is still on his back in the clinch. Klose kicks out the legs of Garcia and lands some punches as he moves to the ride position. Some more lefts from Klose, Garcia tries to roll for a leg but Klose defends and lands more punches as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Klose but could go either way

ROUND TWO: Klose opens with a wheel kick that’s partially successful, then he clinches up. Garcia avoids an inside trip but Klose lands some knees to the body before they break. Bit of a body kick from Klose. Garcia lands a body kick. Klose lands a calf kick, Garcia returns it. Garcia hits a double leg and gets on top in full guard. Klose lands elbows from his back. Garcia moves to half guard. A few punches from Garcia land but he’s focused on setting up another pass. The ref decides he’s seen enough and stands them up, that was very quick. They tie up and Klose lands a knee before Garcia gets free. Bit of a leg kick from Klose then Garcia grabs a front headlock and tries to snap Klose down. Some knees from Garcia then they break. Bit of an uppercut from Garcia, Klose responds with a combination of punches. More punches from Klose and Garcia ties up to stem the onslaught. Garcia is able to trip Klose and down and lands punches from the ride position as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Garcia, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the final round. Klose is pressing forward and feinting. Solid knee from Klose lands then a jab to follow up. Garcia tries a takedown, Klose is able to defend. Klose lands a calf kick then Garcia hits a takedown into full guard. Klose is able to wall walk quickly then lands a combination of punches as Garcia looks to reset. More pressure from Klose, Garcia might be fading. Garcia lands an uppercut. Klose lands a front kick then a right hand. They tie up and trade body shots for a while before breaking. Garcia lands a jab. Klose lands a right hand in close then an uppercut as they break. Garcia lands a right but he’s visibly tired. Klose lands a calf kick. Clubbing right from Klose lands. Bit of a right from Klose in close quarters. Side kick to the leg from Klose. Klose lands a body kick then they tie up and trade body shots, Klose peppers in some knees as well before they break. Garcia defends a double leg but can’t capitalize on the defense. Klose lands a jab. They tie up and Klose lands knees as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Klose, 29-28 Klose overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Drakkar Klose via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Fun little fight there. Klose gets an interview, he puts over Garcia and then says he wants to fight Tony Ferguson. Gutsy call out. He wasn’t sure about the decision because of the takedowns but he felt seecure in his pressure and how quickly he got up when he was taken down.

Don’Tale Mayes has gone 2-2 in the UFC but he’s on a two fight winning streak and could start to establish himself as a rising prospect at heavyweight with a win here. Hamdy Abdelwahab took this fight on short notice but he’s undefeated and could get the biggest win of his career tonight. Despite the short notice call up Abdelwahab is your -190 favorite while that +160 comeback on Mayes has to be tempting to gamblers out there.

Heavyweight Bout: Hamdy Abdelwahab (3-0, 264.5 lbs.) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (9-4, 255 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Mayes is four inches taller with a whopping 9 nine inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Mayes with some leg kicks and jabs, mostly range finding. Some stance switching from Mayes now as well. Abdelwahab lands a calf kick. Mayes lands a left hook. Both men miss punches. Bit of a left hook from Mayes lands. Abdelwahab lands a right hand. Body kick from Mayes. They clash on lefts. A right from Abdelwahab off balances Mayes, he jumps on top of him and looks to unload. Mayes tries to wall walk but Abdelwahab supelxes him back down and lands more punches. Again Mayes looks to wall walk, Abdelwahab is working from the ride position and keeping Mayes a little off balance on the fence. Some knees to the leg from Abdelwahab. Things are stalling out in this position now, Abdelwahab isn’t doing much offensively and Mayes isn’t trying to escape. The ref agrees and breaks them up. Mayes misses a flying knee. Clubbing right from Mayes lands, then he eats a left hook and they swing punches in close to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Abdelwahab

ROUND TWO: Abdelwahab lands a leg kick then a left hand, Mayes is backing up already. Mayes lands a right hand. Mayes lands a body kick then a left hand and Abdelwahab is hurt. A right from Mayes then a follow up knee, Mayes is looking to finish as Abdelwahab is just standing on the fence. Abdelwahab’s left eye is a mess already but he fires back and gets Mayes to back off. Mayes lands a body kick. Pretty solid left from Mayes. Some jabs from Mayes, Abdelwahab is able to open his left eye now but it’s still not great. Abdelwahab is very flat on his feet now, and Mayes is starting to pick him apart. Mayes lands a body kick, Abdelwahab returns it but it went low so we’ve got a time out. Replay shows the shin definitely contacted the cup but it wasn’t bad and Mayes wants to continue very quickly. Mayes lands a left hand as they restart. Abdelwahab lands a left hook. Mayes lands another body kick then misses a high kick. Mayes tries a takedown, not a good one either, and Abdelwahab is able to smother him and get on top in half guard. Very poor decision from Mayes there. A few short elbows from Abdelwahab close out the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Mayes, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Abdelwahab’s left eye is bruised and swelling on the cheek but it’s not a fight stopper. They touch gloves for the final round. Mayes lands a body kick. Abdelwahab forces a clinch and slips to the back on the fence then he trips Mayes down with ease. Impressive wrestling sequence from Abdelwahab there. Abdelwahab is on top in half guard as Mayes tries to set up a wall walk. Mayes eats punches as he wall walks, then Abdelwahab trips him back down with ease. Again Abdelwahab is in half guard and lands short blows. Things are stalling out again, Mayes scoots to the fence and looks to wall walk again. Abdelwahab lands a few punches as he’s sitting on the right leg of Mayes. Some short uppercuts from Abdelwahab land as Mayes is sitting against the fence. Things stall out again and now the ref stands them up. I’m more OK with that one than the one in the prior fight. Mayes misses a flying knee then lands a front kick to the body. Mayes needs to go for broke, he lands a left hand. Clubbing right from Mayes and Abdelwahab fires back with a left. They trade in close then Mayes lands an uppercut and a right hook as the clock runs out.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Abdelwahab, 29-28 Abdelwahab overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Hamdy Abdelwahab via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

Not sure I get the 29-28 for Mayes, that just doesn’t make much sense to me. Mic time for Abdelwahab he’s happy to have won and puts over his coaches and he wont leave this cage until he’s champion. He thanks everyone then plays with the crowd to close.

Drew Dober just broke a two fight losing streak when he bested Terrance McKinney back in March, now he looks for his first winning streak since 2020 as he build back towards facing ranked opposition. Rafael Alves has gone 1-1 in the UFC and he’s coming off of a win, a win here would get him his first UFC winning streak and could indicate a readiness to move up in competition sooner rather than later. Dober is the favorite at -170 against a +145 payout on Alves.

Lightweight Bout: Rafael Alves (20-10, 155.5 lbs.) vs. Drew Dober (24-11 1 NC, 155.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Dober has two inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get things going, Dober is fighting southpaw. Alves lands a front kick. Dober avoids a capoeira kick. Head kick from Dober lands. Dober lands an inside leg kick. Bit of a right from Alves. They punch into a clinch and Alves then gets a trip takedown into half guard. Alves looks to pass, but Dober is able to hip escape into full guard. Short elbow from Alves. Some body shots from Alves but things are stalling out a bit. A few punches from Alves land then he stands over Dober and lands a couple of leg kicks before Dober regains his feet. Dober lands a left hand. Both men land power hand punches then Alves lands a right hook. Forward pressure from Dober and he lands a couple of lefts as he’s got Alves against the fence. Dober avoids a punch and lands a left hand. Alves avoids some punches as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Alves

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves to get the round going. Dober lands a left hand, he’s pressuring forward immediately and looking to wear out Alves. Body shot from Dober then a body kick and a left hand. Both men slip punches then Dober lands a left to the body. Bit of a combination from Dober and he’s keeping Alves on the fence. Body kick from Dober. Bit of a right hook from Dober. A few body shots from Dober, Alves responds with a body kick. Alves circles off of the fence and lands a front kick. Dober gets back on the front foot and misses a wheel kick. Alves lands a right hand. Dober lands a combination. Alves avoids a left hand but falls short with his counter right. Dober lands a couple of punches then Alves lands a knee. Alves lands a body kick. Dober with more body shots along the fence. They trade lefts then Dober lands an inside leg kick. Another body shot from Dober. Alves lands a right hand, and complains of an eye poke so we get a time out. Replay confirms the thumb of Dober hit the eye, he was punching and the fist was closed but the thumb definitely grazed through the eye. The doctor comes in to check on things, Alves is able to continue so we’re back to fighting after 1:30. Alves tries a head kick that’s blocked. Dober fires a head kick that’s also blocked. They trade lefts and both men wind up a little off balance. Alves avoids some punches along the fence then Dober lands a body kick. A left from Dober lands and he avoids a takedown attempt then lands a shot in the guard of Alves as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Dober, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: They hug to start the final round. Dober starts pushing forward right away and lands a left to the body. Alves lands a leg kick. They trade power hand punches then Alves tries a single leg and Dober defends. Dober jabs the body, Alves counters with a body kick. Body shots from Dober as he’s backing Alves into the fence again. Dober lands a left hand. Alves lands an inside leg kick. Another left to the body from Dober, this one folds Alves up and we’re done here.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Drew Dober via TKO, body shot, at 1:30 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Dober for his work this evening. Dober gets an interview after that one, he loves these kinds of fights and puts over Alves. He jokes that he’s got a chin, a jaw, and a left hand then says Terrance “Bud” Crawford was in the crowd giving him advice and he knew if Crawford told him to use the left to the body he better listen.

Here’s the finish. This is a well timed body shot, and very well placed. Dober has also been tenderizing the body all fight and it pays off here in a big way.

Alex Morono has been with the UFC since 2016 and is currently on a three fight winning streak, if he can get to four in a row here he should be facing ranked fighters on his next trip to the cage. Matthew Semelsberger has gone 4-1 in the UFC and is on a two fight winning streak, now he looks to take out a UFC veteran and prove he’s well and truly found his footing in the promotion. The odds close but are with Semelsberger at -165 against a +140 for Morono.

Welterweight Bout: Alex Morono (21-7 1 NC, 171 lbs.) vs. Matthew Semelsberger (10-3, 171 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Semelsberger is two inches taller with three inches of reach advantage. Both men probe with the jab as the fight gets going. Morono avoids a right hand. Semelsberger lands a leg kick. A bit of stance switching from Semelsberger and he lands a left hand then a leg kick. Bit of a left from Morono. Semelsberger lands a leg kick, Morono counters with a right hand. Morono lands a right hand. Another right from Morono lands. Bit of a spinning back kick from Morono. Semelsberger lands a stiff jab but Morono counters with a left hook. Calf kick from Semelsberger then Morono misses a wheel kick. Both men land lefts in close. Semelsberger lands a one two. Morono lands a right to the body. Semelsberger lands a leg kick. We get a time out as Morono takes a finger to the eye, but he recovers quickly and we’re back to fighting. Semelsberger lands a right hand. Morono misses an uppercut in close and they clinch up. Knees go back and forth then Morono lands a short elbow before they break. They trade rights. Both men land rights again, Semelsberger’s left eye is swelling visibly. Both men miss rights as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Morono

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves for the second round. Semelsberger is pressing the action again, he lands a leg kick. Morono lands a one two. Semelsberger lands a jab. Morono lands a right hand. Bit of a left from Semelsberger. They trade rights. A few jabs from Semelsberger land. Bit of a left hook from Morono. Morono is moving well, sticking and moving while Semelsberger is missing a lot of his offense. One two from Morono. Spinning back fist then a right hand from Morono. Another one two from Morono lands. Semelsberger lands an uppercut then an inside leg kick. A series of jabs from Morono land. Semelsberger avoids a wheel kick. Some jabs from Morono land, that eye of Semelsberger is continuing to swell. Semelsberger lands a one two. Bit of a right from Morono. Uppercut and a left hook from Morono land. Morono avoids a blitz attack and they tie up. Semelsberger gets Morono on the fence and they start fighting for position. Semelsberger smothers a trip attempt and gets on top in full guard. Morono throws up an armbar and Semelsberger lands hammer fists and punches. Elbows from Semelsberger land, then punches as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Morono, 20-18 Morono overall

ROUND THREE: The doctor comes in to check on Semelsberger’s left eye, they’re gonna let him fight but I’d be fine with them stopping it given who swollen it is. They get after it right away, Semelsberger lands a jumping knee that drops Morono and he gets on top. Morono scrambles but Semelsberger forces him back to the mat in full guard. Morono goes for a rubber guard, Semelsberger postures through it but Morono scrambles up and into the clinch. Jumping knee from Semelsberger in the clinch lands. Some punches from Semelsberger but Morono is punching that damaged eye in the clinch. They break as Semelsberger misses a spinning elbow. Semelsberger keeps coming forward, he lands a body kick. Bit of a right from Morono. Some jabs from Morono land. Morono lands a left hook. Semelsberger falls short on some punches, then Morono lands a counter right. Leg kick from Semelsberger. They trade lefts. Bit of a right from Semelsberger. Semelsberger lands an uppercut but he’s fading a bit. They trade punches in close. Morono lands another right hand. Semelsberger’s left eye is a mess. They clinch up and hit the fence. Morono uses a front headlock then lands a knee before they break. Semelsberger lands a body kick and they clinch up, Morono lands a knee as the clock expires.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Semelsberger, 29-28 Morono overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Alex Morono via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

No interview for Morono due to time constraints, but a good fight to close the prelims on. Now we head to PPV for the main card.

Magomed Ankalaev has gone 8-1 in the UFC and is on an eight fight winning streak, a simple win here wouldn’t guarantee him a title shot but a spectacular win would got a long way to securing his first crack at UFC gold. Anthony Smith is on a three fight winning streak and if he’s able to stop the momentum of Ankalaev it might not warrant a title shot but could easily earn him a title eliminator bout for his next fight. Ankalaev is the biggest favorite on the entire card at -600 to the +450 underdog Smith.

Light Heavyweight Bout: #4 Magomed Ankalaev (17-1, 206 lbs.) vs. #5 Anthony Smith (36-16, 206 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Smith has an inch of height and reach over Ankalaev. Southpaw for Ankalaev as they start. Both men paw with the lead hand as they circle. Ankalaev lands a leg kick. Smith has a head kick blocked. Ankalaev lands a calf kick. Another leg kick from Ankalaev then he checks the attempted return. Minor technical glitch on my end, but I pick back up as Ankalaev lands a head kick. Smith tries to push forward but Ankalaev counters with a few punches then a calf kick. Smith lands a right hand. Both men miss punches then Ankalaev pushes Smith over and lands some leg kicks while standing over him before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ankalaev based on what I saw

ROUND TWO: Smith complained about his left ankle between rounds, given some of the kicks Ankalaev checked I’m not surprised. Smith comes out and quickly forces a clinch on the fence. Ankalaev lands some punches while defending and Smith tries to pull guard. More punches from Ankalaev as Smith looks to fully pull guard but Ankalaev is staying on his knees postured up and not getting pulled over. More punches from Ankalaev, both to the body and head, as Smith tries to get a sweep going on his half guard. The defense and counter punching from Ankalaev is on point as Smith pulls butterfly guard. Ankalaev lands punches to the head as he stands over Smith, he unloads and Smith rolls to the turtle position. More blows from Ankalaev as he’s in the ride position and Smith can’t do enough to address the position and the ref waves it off.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Magomed Ankalaev via TKO, punches, at 3:09 of Round 2

Smith complains of some kind of broken or injured leg, he clearly couldn’t do much at the end there and I hope the injury isn’t too serious. Mic time for Ankalaev and his translator after the win, he calls the fight important and he’s thankful to his team for their support. He didn’t realize that Smith had a bad leg but that’s the fight game. to close he asks how many more fights he has to win before he gets a title shot.

Alexandre Pantoja is on a two fight winning streak and has a solid overall UFC record of 8-3 and while a win here isn’t likely to net him a title shot given the general state of the division, it would definitely put him firmly in the title picture. Alex Perez has been out of action since his failed bid for the flyweight title back in 2020, now he’s looking knock off the ring rust and put himself back in the title picture with a win. The odds are with Pantoja at -190 while a Perez win would payout at +160.

Flyweight Bout: #4 Alexandre Pantoja (24-5, 125.5 lbs.) vs. #6 Alex Perez (24-6, 125.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Perez is an inch taller while Pantoja has two inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Pantoja starts swinging right away and Perez meets him, they both land punches in the pocket. Knees from Perez then Pantoja hits a takedown and jumps to the backpack position. Pantoja starts fishing for the choke as he moves to a body triangle with his legs. Pantoja goes for a neck crank, he’s being mean with these attacks. The crank gets tight for Pantoja and as he joins his hands to really yank on it Perez taps out.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Alexandre Pantoja via Submission, neck crank, at 1:31 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Pantoja for his work this evening. Mic time for Pantoja, he yells as he’s fired up and says he’s the next flyweight champion. He puts over his gym and says he’s ready for the title then notes he’s beaten both Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara-France in the past.

Derrick Lewis has gone 2-2 in his last four fights but he’s coming off of a nasty knockout loss in February, he’s trying to avoid his first losing streak since 2019 and maintain his spot near the top of the division. Sergei Pavlovich has gone 3-1 in the UFC and is on a three fight winning streak, if he can extend that to four here it’ll come along with the biggest win of his career. Despite the ranking disparity the odds lean towards Pavlovich at -150 to +130 for Lewis.

Heavyweight Bout: #5 Derrick Lewis (26-9 1 NC, 264.5 lbs.) vs. #11 Sergei Pavlovich (15-1, 254.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Pavlovich has a notable five inches of reach advantage. Pavlovich starts pushing forward, he lands a few rights that stagger Lewis. Lewis is hurt and Pavlovich keeps bombing on him, Lewis drops and the ref stops the fight. Lewis isn’t happy with the stoppage for what it’s worth.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Sergei Pavlovich via TKO, punches, at :55 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Pavlovich for his work this evening. The crowd hates that stoppage as much as Lewis did. Pavlovich gets an interview along with his translator, he was ready to punch Lewis as long as it took to make him drop and says his boxing was good. Asked about the stoppage he says he did his job and that’s all he can do.

Brandon Moreno is the former flyweight champion and he’s coming off of a loss that cost him that particular title, now he’s trying to claim the interim title and get a fourth fight with current champion Deiveson Figueiredo in the future. Kai Kara-France is on a three fight winning streak with two of those being first round stoppages, he’s trying to avenge his first UFC loss here as well as get his first taste of UFC gold. Moreno is a surprisingly heavy favorite at -205 while the +175 comeback on Kara-France is a very tempting value bet.

Interim Flyweight Title Bout: #1 Brandon Moreno (19-6-2, 124.5 lbs.) vs. #2 Kai Kara-France (24-9 1 NC, 124.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Moreno is three inches taller with an inch of reach advantage. Both men probe with the lead hand as they circle. Moreno misses a left hook. Inside leg kick from Kara-France. That kick apparently strayed low so we get a time out. Replay confirms the low blow, Moreno takes about 40 seconds then we’re back to fighting. Kara-France blocks a high kick. Moreno is starting to get his jab working at this point. Kara-France lands a leg kick. Another leg kick from Kara-France. Moreno lands a calf kick. Bit of a left hook from Moreno. Kara-France lands an inside leg kick, Moreno counters with a left hand. Solid right hand from Kara-France, Moreno tries a single leg in response and they hit the fence. Moreno slips to the back in the clinch but he can’t hold it and Kara-France gets free. Moreno misses a left hook. Bit of a leg kick from Kara-France. Kara-France lands another right hand. Moreno lands a right hand of his own then a body kick. They feint away the final seconds of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Moreno

ROUND TWO: Moreno keeps feinting and applying pressure. Bit of a knee from Moreno after he avoided a right hand. Kara-France is being pretty one dimensional with his offense thus far, it’s not very dynamic. Kara-France lands a calf kick. Inside leg kick from Moreno. Bit of a left from Kara-France. Moreno ducks under a kick and gets the back standing as they hit the fence. Kara-France blocks an elbow as they break then lands a calf kick. Moreno has a few punches blocked. Kara-France misses a right hand. Moreno lands a right hand. They trade lefts. Moreno lands a jab. Some more leg kicks, both inside and outside, from Kara-France. Moreno lands a leg kick then a left hook. Kara-France lands a leg kick then a couple of punches as Moreno regains his feet. Inside leg kick from Kara-France. Kara-France lands a leg kick. Those leg kicks are starting to add up a bit. Moreno lands a couple of body shots to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Moreno but a close one, 20-18 Moreno overall

ROUND THREE: Kara-France lands an inside leg kick, Moreno responds with a jab. A leg kick from Kara-France sweeps Moreno and he gets on top in full guard. Moreno closes his guard right away. Kara-France pulls free and lands uppercuts as Moreno regains his feet, Moreno is bleeding under the right eye I think. Inside leg kick from Kara-France. Moreno lands a left hook. Bit of a left from Moreno after he ducked under a hook from Kara-France. Kara-France lands an uppercut. Solid right from Kara-France connects. Kara-France lands a calf kick, he’s starting to heat up at this point. They trade lefts but Kara-France landed better. Another leg kick from Kara-France. Kara-France lands a left hook then a leg kick. Moreno lands a leg kick. Jab from Moreno. Moreno lands a body kick. Kara-France lands a right hand, Moreno counters with a left hook. Kara-France lands another right hand. Moreno defends a double leg and lands a spinning back fist. Body kick from Moreno drops Kara-France and he jumps on top then unloads with punches to force the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – and NEW Interim UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno via TKO, body kick and punches, at 4:34 of Round 3

Mic time for Moreno after the win, he likes his work and talks about drilling that kick all camp. Asked about the future he wants another fight with Figueiredo, who is in the crowd and posing with his belt. Moreno wants that fourth fight with Figueiredo, Figueiredo has entered the cage for a face off, and Moreno wants to be an example to the world and says he doesn’t have anything against Figueiredo, he wants to fight but has no ill will towards him. They bring up a December date, Figueiredo seems amenable and puts over Moreno and calls out the crowd for booing when there’s two respectful warriors in here. Figueiredo wants the fight in Brazil, Moreno doesn’t care about the setting he just wants the fight.

Amanda Nunes is the current featherweight champion and former bantamweight champion, her name is littered across the UFC record books but she’s coming off of a loss that ended her 12 fight winning streak as well as cost her the bantamweight title. Now Nunes looks to regain that particular title and resume carving her name into history as the most accomplished female MMA fighter ever. Julianna Pena is the reigning bantamweight champion, she’s trying to prove he win over Nunes was no fluke while securing her first title defense and beginning to forge her own title legacy. The odds are with the former champion Nunes at -255 while the +215 payout on a Pena win has to tempt a few bettors out there.

Women’s Bantamweight Title Bout: (c) Julianna Peña (11-4, 134.5 lbs.) vs. #1 Amanda Nunes (21-5, 135 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Nunes is two inches taller while the reach is identical. Southpaw for Nunes, interesting look as she’s normally orthodox. A fair bit of stance switching from Nunes early. Some early kicks from Nunes, she’s just range finding mostly at the moment. Pena avoids a few punches. Nunes blocks a few punches then lands a kick to the knee. Both women land punches then Nunes lands a hard calf kick. Nunes lands an uppercut to counter a hook. A right from Nunes lands then a calf kick. Pena lands a right but eats a counter. Nunes lands a right hook. Pena misses a few strikes. A right from Nunes wobbles Pena for a second. Another right lands for Nunes. Nunes lands another right hook that wobbles Pena, then she follows up with an inside leg kick. Pena is a little befuddled at this, she doesn’t have much offense going. Bit of a one two from Pena. Nunes lands a body kick. A few jabs from Nunes land. Pena lands a jab. They clinch, then Pena misses a knee as they break. Pena lands a right hand, Nunes then cracks her with a left. Another left from Nunes staggers Pena as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Nunes

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves for the second round. Nunes misses a front kick, but she seems to favor southpaw. Pena falls short with a few punches. A right hook from Nunes floors Pena, she stands over the champion then makes her stand up. Pena is still hurt and Nunes is baiting her in. Nunes lands another right hook, she’s just abusing Pena at this point. Front kick from Nunes lands. Pena lands a combination. Nunes lands another right hook. Pena keeps trying to push forward. Front kicks go back and forth, then Nunes lands another hook. Combination from Nunes lands, then a left hand drops Pena again. Again Nunes makes Pena stand up. Pena misses a high kick. Body kick from Nunes then they both miss punches. Another right wobbles Pena. Pena’s chin deserves a ton of credit here, she’s eating some serious bombs. They clinch up and end the round there.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Nunes, would be 10-8 under the new criteria, 20-18 Nunes overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves again. Pena is trying to shadow box and get her rhythm back. Inside leg kick then a spinning elbow from Nunes. Pena forces a clinch, and Nunes gets her on the cage. Nunes pulls free and lands a right hand. Front kick from Nunes. Bit of a right from Nunes. Nunes lands a left. Pena fires a combination, she wants to enduce a brawl but Nunes wont indulge her. They trade rights and clinch, then Nunes trips Pena down and lands on top in leg drag. Pena gets full guard and closes it up, Nunes then elbows her. More short elbows from Nunes. Pena tries to work her guard high, Nunes doesn’t seem perturbed and lands punches. A few more punches and elbows from Nunes land, one of those elbows opens up Pena on the hair line. Another elbow from Nunes. Pena tries an omoplata but there’s no submission threat and Nunes pulls free then moves to half guard. More elbows from Nunes land to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Nunes, 30-27 Nunes overall

ROUND FOUR: They touch gloves again. Nunes hits a quick single leg into full guard. Pena closes her guard and Nunes turns them away from the fence. Another omoplata attempt from Pena, Nunes pulls free and clobbers her with punches before Pena controls the posture again. Pena tries the attack again, again Nunes spins free and lands punches. Armbar from Pena, this one’s pretty tight but Nunes scoots her arm free and winds up in side control. Nunes lands some short punches as Pena shrimps to full guard but now they’re pressed into the fence. Elbows from Nunes land. More elbows from Nunes, then Pena scrambles up but she’s a bloody mess. A right hand from Nunes lands then she takes Pena down again. Pena tries her high guard again, Nunes lands short elbows and avoids the high guard. Nunes stands over Pena now, and the ref restarts them on the feet. They trade rights. Uppercut from Nunes, Pena lands a right of her own but Nunes takes her down into half guard. Another few elbows from Nunes land to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Nunes, 40-36 Nunes overall

ROUND FIVE: Pena has several visible cuts on her forehead, and they hug to start the last round. Nunes lands a calf kick. Pena lands a punch but Nunes gets a double leg into full guard. Nunes lands a few short blows. Pena tries another omoplata, again Nunes defends and they scramble until Nunes grabs an anaconda choke, she doesn’t roll for it and they fight up and separate. They clinch, and Nunes trips Pena down into side control. Elbows from Nunes land. Pena is trying to belly down and scramble but Nunes moves into half guard for more control. Now Pena fishes for a double wrist lock, Nunes passes towards side control again then gets the back with one hook in and transitions back to top position in half guard. Nunes lands a few punches as Pena shrimps to butterfly guard. Another elbow from Nunes and Pena closes her guard. Nunes lands another elbow. More elbows from Nunes then she stands over Pena and clobbers her with a left hand and moves to side control. Nunes is after a mounted crucifix but Pena blocks it and moves to her knees, now Pena gets her back with both hooks in, goes for the choke but can’t get under the chin before Pena breaks her hooks and Nunes moves to top position again. Full guard now and Nunes lands more elbows then stands over Pena again. Pena gets up but wont be able to throw a blow before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Nunes, 50-45 Nunes overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – and NEW UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-44, 50-43)

No objection to 10-8’s for Nunes, the second round in particular should have gone that way with three knockdowns to the credit of Nunes. Mic time for the new champion, she says she always does better the second time around and is happy to be a double champ again. Asked about fighting southpaw she is grateful for her new gym and team and feels she’s evolved since starting with them. She puts over her coaches and thanks her family calling this the best day of her life. Asked about the future she wants to see her family in Brazil because she hasn’t seen them in three years, acknowledges she needs a bit of rest after this fight but she definitely wants to fight again. To close she references being born in ’88 the same as the jersey number for the Dallas Cowboys Michael Irving, then she solicits beer from the audience. I’m sure at least one fan will oblige her.

Well on that note, UFC 277 comes to a close. Thank you all for reading per usual, we’ll be unpacking all the fallout from this card on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast this week, plus looking ahead to next week’s card when Thiago Santos meets surging Jamahal Hill in light heavyweight action. I’ll be back to cover that event as well, and I hope you’ll be here too. Until then thank you again, stay safe out there, and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.

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