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411’s UFC Fight Night Report: Sandhagen Stops Song

September 17, 2022 | Posted by Robert Winfree
UFC on ESPN+ 68 Image Credit: UFC

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
#4 Cory Sandhagen (135.5 lbs.) vs. #10 Song Yadong (135.5 lbs.)
Chidi Njokuani (185.5 lbs.) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (185.5 lbs.)
Bill Algeo (146 lbs.) vs. Andre Fili (145.5 lbs.)
Alen Amedovski (185.5 lbs.) vs. Joe Pyfer (185 lbs.)
Tanner Boser (229 lbs.) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (261 lbs.)
Marc-Andre Barriault (185 lbs.) vs. Anthony Hernandez (185.5 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)
Damon Jackson (145.5 lbs.) vs. Pat Sabatini (145.5 lbs.)
Louis Cosce (170.5 lbs.) vs. Trevin Giles (170 lbs.)
Denise Gomes (115 lbs.) vs. Loma Lookboonmee (115.5 lbs.)
Trey Ogden (156 lbs.) vs. Daniel Zellhuber (155 lbs.)
Mariya Agapova (125.5 lbs.) vs. Gillian Robertson (125 lbs.)
Javid Basharat (135.5 lbs.) vs. Tony Gravely (135.5 lbs.)
Nikolas Motta (155 lbs.) vs. Cameron VanCamp (155.5 lbs.)

Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC on ESPN+ 68, I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host for the evening. On the heels of the chaos from UFC 279 we’re back to a smaller scale show with only a couple of relevant fights, but a few more with potential further down. We did get a bit of residual chaos from last week though, a scheduled bantamweight fight between Sara McMann and Aspen Ladd fell apart when Ladd weighed in a 138 pounds and the fight wound up being canceled. Ladd has had weight issues in the past and will really need to figure her preparation out before her next one, assuming the UFC even wants to keep her around. But as for the fights tonight we do have a darn good main event when top bantamweights Cory Sandhagen and Song Yadong square off for position at the top of the division. Beyond that Chidi Njokuani and Gregor Rodrigues should have an entertaining if somewhat sloppy fight, Andre Fili is rapidly approaching a crossroads in his career when he battles Bill Algeo, and on the prelims Damon Jackson vs. Pat Sabatini has some serious potential. As for the rest, we’re hoping for good action but it’s not exactly scintillating on paper.

UFC on ESPN+ 68 comes to the world from the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. On commentary we’ve got Brendan Fitzgerald, Daniel Cormier, and Paul Felder. As for the rules we’re mostly under the newer set but you do only need one hand on the mat to be considered downed. We do have instant replay, a replay official outside of the cage, and the fight can be restarted after replay is used if that’s applicable to the situation.

Nikolas Motta had a three fight winning streak snapped in his UFC debut, now he’s trying to bounce back and get that all important first UFC win. Cameron VanCamp had a four fight winning streak broken in his UFC debut when he moved up on short notice to welterweight, now back at lightweight he’s hoping to avoid a losing streak and get his first UFC win. The odds are with Motta at -150 to a +130 comeback on VanCamp.

Lightweight Bout: Nikolas Motta (12-4, 155) vs. Cameron VanCamp (15-6-1 1 NC, 155.5)

ROUND ONE: VanCamp is five inches taller with three and a half inches of reach advantage. Some feinting to start, VanCamp lands a leg kick. Very sedate motion thus far. Some stance switching from VanCamp, but neither man is doing much. VanCamp keeps probing with kicks, Motta is trying to get a feel for the distance. Motta lands a left hook. VanCamp lands a jab. Both men land rights. Motta is getting closer with his punches and VanCamp’s defense isn’t adjusting. VanCamp lands a leg kick. Motta lands a right hand. Motta avoids a knee then lands a bit of a head kick. Left hook from Motta lands. Motta lands a calf kick. VanCamp lands a jab but eats a counter left from Motta. Motta moves VanCamp to the fence then lands a left hook that drops VanCamp, Motta gets on top and lands enough ground and pound to prompt the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Nikolas Motta via TKO, punches, at 3:49 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Motta for his work this evening. Mic time for Motta, he says he’s been on this journey for 10 years and talks about his history in the sport and puts over his current team. He says he’s been broke for 10 years and has been all around trying to make this happen and then asks for a post fight bonus. He talks us through the finish to close.

Pretty standard stuff from Motta here, he follows a jab with a right hand that’s mostly there to draw a reaction and distract from the follow up lunging left hook. VanCamp had been reacting badly from a defensive perspective and it finally caught up to him here.

Tony Gravely has gone 4-2 in the UFC and is on a two fight winning streak, he’s trying to extend that streak and start making his way through the stacked bantamweight division. Javid Basharat scored a win in his UFC debut back in March and now looks to remain undefeated while proving his a prospect of note. Basharat is the favorite at -170 against +145 for Gravely.

Bantamweight Bout: Javid Basharat (12-0, 135.5 lbs.) vs. Tony Gravely (23-7, 135.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Basharat is four inches taller but the reach is identical. Bit of a calf kick from Gravely. Gravely is pushing forward right away. Both men are working longer range weapons, Basharat is starting to show stance switches. Bit of a left hook from Gravely. Basharat lands a calf kick, Gravely returns it. Front kick from Basharat, but Gravely returns fire with a knee and Basharat is cut around the left eyebrow. They clinch up and hit the fence, Gravely gets a takedown then has the back as they stand. Apparently that cut was from a clash of heads. Some mat returns from Gravely, Basharat keeps bouncing up but Gravely is all over him. Another mat return from Gravely, Basharat wall walks again and eats a knee to the head then they break with an elbow from Basharat. We get a time out as the ref wants the cut checked. Replay doesn’t look like a bad clash, but they glanced and it was enough to cut open. The doctor checks and doesn’t mind the fight continuing so we’re back to action. Gravely gets back on offense, Basharat fires a side kick to back him off. Bad double leg from Gravely is defended. Gravely lands a calf kick. Basharat lands a front kick to the body. Left hook from Gravely lands. Basharat lands a front kick then a knee to the body and a right hand. Body kick from Basharat. Gravely lands an inside leg kick, he’s moving forward again to try and avoid the body work. Hard right from Gravely lands. Basharat tries a double leg, he finishes it against the fence but Gravely grabs a guillotine. There’s no body control form either man on the mat and they scramble back up and break. More pressure from Gravely, he lands another leg kick. Spinning back kick from Basharat lands. They stare away the final seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Gravely

ROUND TWO: Basharat comes out southpaw for this round. Gravely fires a few kicks then misses a single leg. More stance switching from Basharat now as he circles. Basharat lands a calf kick but Gravely hits a double leg, they scramble back up into the fence and Gravely hits a mat return. Again Basharat wall walks but Gravely is tying him up. Basharat is able to force his way free and lands a body kick. Gravely tries to tie up and Basharat trips him down and lands in half guard. Some short elbows from Basharat. Basharat is after an arm triangle but Gravely defends. Gravely fights to his knees, Basharat grabs a front headlock for control. Basharat tries an anaconda choke, Gravely defends and is able to wall walk. Elbow from Basharat as they break. Gravely with a glancing right hand. Basharat lands a jab and eats a counter calf kick. Another body shot from Basharat. Basharat lands a body kick, those are adding up in a hurry. Front kick to the face from Basharat then an elbow to follow up. Gravely misses a right hand. Basharat misses a wheel kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Basharat

ROUND THREE: Gravely starts working forward again. A left from Basharat off balances Gravely. Inside leg kick from Gravely, then another one. Basharat defends a double leg and lands a left to the body. Right hand from Basharat. Gravely lands a right of his own. Stiff left from Basharat as he’s darting around. Gravely misses a right hand. Both men fall short with punches in close. Now both men land punches. Front kick from Basharat, Gravely catches the leg though and tries a single leg but Basharat counters into a double leg, which Gravely sprawls away from and they reset. Basharat lands a body kick. Right hand from Gravely, he’s still coming forward if nothing else. Elbows from Basharat in close. Basharat lands a right hand and evades the counters. Gravely lands a right hand. A few more jabs from Basharat as he’s moving around. Both men land calf kicks while circling. They clinch up and Gravely lands an elbow as they break. Calf kick from Gravely. Bit of a left from Basharat. Both men miss rights but Basharat’s technique is still there and he’s getting the better of these exchanges generally. Basharat sprawls away from a single leg then limp legs free. Front kick from Basharat then a spinning back kick and an elbow. Gravely misses a combination. Bit of a right from Gravely, Basharat responds with a left hand and they trade in close as the clock runs down.

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

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Javid Basharat via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Gravely continues to have cardio issues. Mic time for Basharat, he puts over Gravely and talks about being a little annoyed by the cut and the accidental headbutts. He talks us through some highlights and knew he was a better wrestler in the MMA context. He feels he’s still heading towards the title, and notes Gravely was a tough style matchup and proved a point by winning.

Mariya Agapova has gone 2-2 in the UFC, she’s coming off of a loss though and is trying to avoid her first losing streak tonight. Gillian Robertson has been up and down while going 7-5 in the UFC, she’s just 1-3 in her last four fights though and is coming off of a loss. Robertson needs a win pretty badly here as another losing streak might be the indicator that she’s no longer a worthwhile member of the roster. This one is pretty close but the odds are with Robertson at -155 to +135 for Agapova.

Women’s Flyweight Bout: Mariya Agapova (10-3, 125.5 lbs.) vs. Gillian Robertson (10-7, 125 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Agapova is an inch taller with a notable five and a half inches of reach advantage. Both women show long range weapons, and Agapova shows stances switches. Robertson grabs a single leg, pulls half guard then rolls into top position, Agapova tries a guillotine on the way but loses it. Agapova scrambles up, then Robertson tries another single leg then switches to a double leg on the fence. Some elbows from Agapova land as Robertson sweeps her legs out. Now Agapova wall walks, Robertson pulls things to the mat again and in a scramble gets the ride position. Agapova bases up, and Robertson drags her back to her knees and moves to the back. Once again Agapova stands but Robertson is on her back in the clinch now. They break as Robertson can’t keep the clinch. Agapova misses a few kicks. Side kick from Agapova. Bit of a body kick from Robertson but she eats a counter left. Robertson tries a single leg, they stall out on the fence and Agapova lands a few elbows and hammer fists. Agapova keeps up the offense while defending, then Robertson takes her down and gets the back. Robertson grabs at an arm triangle but Agapova defends. The choke gets closer but wont finish before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Agapova, that arm triangle attempt avoided the 10-8

ROUND TWO: Robertson keeps stalking forward, Agapova is circling and working long range kicks. Single leg then a trip to follow up from Robertson and she lands on top in half guard. Robertson passes to full mount, then looks for the back as Agapova tries to scramble. Robertson grabs at the choke, she’s got her arms in position and uses that to spin Agapova down to the mat and really cranks on the choke. Agapova wont tap and Robertson puts her to sleep to end the fight.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Gillian Robertson via Technical Submission, rear naked choke, at 2:19 of Round 2

Mic time for Robertson after the win, she expected a tough fight but knew if she could persevere and push the pace she’d get the win. She knows she can beat anyone on the mat in the division, then puts over her new team.

I’m just going to point out the small detail that Robertson uses here in her grip, the choking arm/hand should be on top if you’re using the gable grip because it makes it harder to strip away. It’s a small detail, and Agapova isn’t even really hand fighting, but it makes a difference.

Trey Ogden lost a three fight winning streak when he dropped a split decision in his UFC debut, now he’s trying to move past that loss and get back on the winning side of things. Daniel Zelhuber is undefeated is undefeated coming into the UFC and now looks to make a good first impression while remaining perfect as a professional. Zelhuber is a rather notable favorite at -390 to a +320 payout on Ogden.

Lightweight Bout: Trey Ogden (15-5, 156 lbs.) vs. Daniel Zellhuber (12-0, 155 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Zellhuber is two inches taller with a notable five inches of reach advantage, he’s also 9 years younger. They touch gloves to get us going. Both men feint with some level changes. Ogden lands an inside leg kick. Bit of a front kick from Zellhuber. Not a lot going on thus far. Zellhuber avoids a double leg takedown. Some stance switching from Zellhuber as he circles now. Ogden tries to jab in closer but he’s struggling with the range involved. Body kick from Ogden. Bit of a left hook from Ogden. Another body kick from Ogden then some inside leg kicks. Zellhuber misses a couple of punches then lands a front kick. Bit of a head kick from Zellhuber. Ogden is keeping his lead hand active now, he’s getting that jab dialed in. More inside leg kicks from Ogden as they circle. Another left from Ogden lands. Zellhuber lands a calf kick. Both men land inside leg kicks then Ogden fires a high kick that’s mostly blocked. More inside leg kicks from Ogden land to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ogden

ROUND TWO: Zellhuber looks to kick as the round starts. Ogden keeps chipping away with the inside leg kicks. Zellhuber jabs the chest. Bit of a body kick from Ogden. Ogden lands a left hook. Zellhuber lands a leg kick. Another left hook from Ogden lands. We get a minor time out as Zellhuber took a slight eye poke, but they get back to fighting almost immediately. Both men keep working leg kicks. More lead hand work from Ogden and Zellhuber is struggling to find the target with his hands. Zellhuber lands a calf kick. Ogden tries a double leg, but Zellhuber defends. Some more jabs from Ogden as he circles. Bit of a body kick from Ogden. Ogden lands a left hook. Zellhuber lands a body kick. Front kick from Zellhuber lands. Ogden lands another left hook and avoids the counters. Zellhuber misses a head kick then eats a jab. Ogden lands a body kick. Zellhuber misses a left, then eats another body kick. Front kick from Zellhuber lands. Zellhuber lands a body kick. Ogden lands a jab then a left hook. Double leg from Ogden and he gets on top. Zellhuber wall walks, Ogden gets his back in the clinch though. Ogden trips Zellhuber down, Zellhuber is up and Ogden jumps to the backpack position which he holds for the final few seconds of the round.

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

ROUND THREE: Ogden gets back to jabbing as Zellhuber tries to push the pace now. A couple of body shots from Zellhuber land. Ogden lands a couple of leg kicks then fakes a double leg and lands a left hook. Ogden lands another left hook. Another jab from Ogden lands. Zellhuber misses a right hand. More jabs from Ogden. Zellhuber lands a left to the body. Stiff jab from Ogden, he’s got the timing on that dialed in. Ogden tries a double leg, Zellhuber defends but Ogden gets back to jabbing him up. Inside leg kick from Ogden then he avoids a counter. Ogden lands another left hook. Zellhuber misses a few punches. They trade lefts, then Ogden lands a leg kick and a body kick. Another body kick form Ogden then a left hook. Zellhuber blocks a double leg but can’t follow up. Ogden avoids a few punches. Inside leg kick from Ogden, then a jab. Zellhuber lands a jab of his own but he’s really not able to string together much offense yet. They trade jabs. More jabs from Ogden, he’s staying disciplined. Zellhuber blocks a high kick and misses his counter attempt. Ogden lands a left hook. Zellhuber misses an elbow, then avoids a takedown attempt. Ogden lands a jab. Zellhuber lands a couple of punches. Some jabs go back and forth, then Zellhuber misses a knee. Ogden lands a right hand to end the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ogden but the closest round of the fight, 30-27 Ogden overall

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

Mic time for Ogden after the win, he thought he’d get an early submission win but Zelhuber was ready and he got to out kick box him for three rounds. He puts over his lead hand work to close the abbreviated interview.

Denise Gomes brings a six fight winning streak into her UFC debut, she’s trying to extend that success here and make a good first impression on the UFC audience. Loma Lookboonme has gone 3-2 in the UFC but she’s coming off of a loss and is trying to avoid her first losing streak. The odds are with Lookboonme at -200 while a Gomes win would payout at +170.

Strawweight Bout: Denise Gomes (6-1, 115 lbs.) vs. Loma Lookboonmee (6-3, 115.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Gomes is an inch taller with an inch and a half of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get things going. Lookboonmee starts showing front kicks. They trade leg kicks, Lookboonmee definitely landed better. They trade rights in close, and an elbow from Lookboonmee has Gomes cut around the outside edge of the left eyebrow. Lookboonmee lands a front kick. Bit of a right from Lookboonmee. Gomes avoids a high kick. Body kick from Lookboonmee, Gomes catches it and gets a clinch but that stalls out on the fence. Gomes is looking for a takedown but can’t get it and Lookboonmee is able to push her over and get on top in full mount. Lookboonmee lands elbows and gets the back as Gomes defends. Lookboonmee flattens Gomes out for a moment, but Gomes is able to get to her knees and slide Lookboonmee off over the top and get on top. Gomes goes for an arm triangle choke, she’s stuck in half guard though and that’s helping Lookboonmee defend. Gomes is able to pass the half guard but loses the grip and grabs at an armbar. Lookboonmee defends the armbar then postures through a triangle attempt and unloads elbows to the head from full guard. More elbows from Lookboonmee close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Lookboonmee

ROUND TWO: Gomes misses a high kick to start the round. Front kick from Lookboonmee. Lookboonmee lands a body kick. Gomes misses a hook, eats a counter punch and then Lookboonmee hits a takedown into half guard. Gomes starts fishing for a kimura from the bottom, Lookboonmee passes to full mount and gets her arm free then lands some punches. Bit of an elbow from Lookboonmee then she stands free and they reset on the feet. Lookboonmee lands an inside leg kick. They clash and clinch, both women land elbows then they hit the fence. Gomes tries a single leg, Lookboonmee defends and lands a few short elbows. Lookboonmee is defending and they trade knees then elbows. More knees go back and forth in the clinch then Lookboonmee hits a trip takedown to land in half guard. Elbow from Lookboonmee lands. A few more punches from Lookboonmee land as she’s working higher on top. Gomes shrimps to full guard and Lookboonmee elbows the body. Armbar attempt from Gomes, Lookboonmee stands free and Gomes charges up and gets her back in the clinch. Foot sweep from Lookboonmee, Gomes bounces up and they end the round trading elbows in the clinch.

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

ROUND THREE: Gomes comes forward and starts swinging punches, Lookboonmee is happy to swing with her. Elbow from Gomes and she gets a clinch but Lookboonmee trips her down and lands on top. Gomes is after a leg lock, she’s got a heel hook attempt but now control over the knee line and Lookboonmee is able to get to her knees. Now Gomes jumps on the back and starts fishing for a choke. Gomes goes to a body triangle and resumes fishing for the choke. A lot of control from Gomes here but she’s not getting all the close to a choke. Gomes attacks an armbar from the back, Lookboonmee defends and gets on top in half guard landing punches. Lookboonmee to the ride and lands punches as Gomes stands. They’re still clinched and Lookboonmee lands a knee then trips Gomes down and lands elbows from half guard. Punches from Lookboonmee land as she’s got Gomes pressed against the fence on the mat. Elbows from Lookboonmee land. A few more elbows then a flurry of punches from Lookboonmee end the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Lookboonmee but could go the other way, 30-27 Lookboonmee overall

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

Gomes came on strong in the beginning of the third but overall that was a good performance from Lookboonmee. No interview for the winner this time.

Trevin Giles has gone 5-4 in the UFC but he’s on his second two fight losing streak of that time and was most recently defeated in his debut at welterweight, now Giles has his back nearly against the wall as he looks to avoid the dreaded three fight skid. Louis Cosce lost his unbeaten record in his UFC debut back in 2020, now he’s back in action for the first time in nearly two years and looking to score that all important first UFC win. Giles is your -210 favorite to a +180 comeback on Cosce.

Welterweight Bout: Louis Cosce (7-1, 170.5 lbs.) vs. Trevin Giles (14-4, 170 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Giles has three inches of height and reach over Cosce. They touch gloves to get us going. Some circling from Cosce as he shows off a bit of stance switching. Giles is stalking forward but not much is happening. Bit of a jab from Giles. Giles lands a calf kick but this is still a very sedate fight. They clash on a few kicks but still not much happens. Cosce misses a couple of kicks then Giles lands a calf kick as commentary verbalize a desire for alcohol. Giles avoids a couple of hooks. Giles lands a right hand. Bit of a jab from Giles. Giles has a head kick blocked as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Giles

ROUND TWO: Bit of a front kick from Giles to start the round. Cosce tries a left hook. Giles lands a calf kick. Both men miss punches. Commentary is now discussing wardrobe issues, which should tell you everything about this fight. Giles has a head kick blocked. Calf kick from Giles. Bit of a body kick from Giles. Cosce tries to push the issue but he can’t quite find the target. Giles lands a couple of calf kicks. Cosce misses a left hand, Giles gets his back in a clinch and they hit the fence. Some knees to the leg from Giles for the last 30 seconds or so.

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

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the final round. Cosce misses a few lead hand blows, then tries a double leg and he’s able to get Giles down into side control. There’s a Von Flue choke here if Cosce knows how to finish it, Giles releases the head though and saves himself from the potential choke. Cosce is holding top position but he’s not really advancing position. Now Cosce starts setting up an arm triangle choke, but Giles is aware of it. Commentary is now lamenting how bad Cormier is at third grade level trivia. Cosce moves to side control, but Giles slips out the back as they stand and gets the back in the clinch. Mat return from Giles, Cosce stands but eats a couple of knees along the way. They’ll end the round in the clinch with Giles trying a mat return.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Cosce I guess, 29-28 Giles overall

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

That fight sucked, no interview for Giles.

Damon Jackson has gone 4-1 since returning to the UFC and is on a three fight winning streak, now he’s trying to halt the momentum of Sabatini and prove he’s deserving of a step up in class for his next fight. Pat Sabatini is on a six fight winning streak including being 4-0 in the UFC, if he’s able to get past a durable veteran like Jackson it would signify he’s ready for a step up in class and would nearly complete the difficult transition from prospect to contender. The odds are with Sabatini at -205 while the +175 payout for Jackson might be a tempting value bet.

Featherweight Bout: Damon Jackson (21-4-1 1 NC, 145.5 lbs.) vs. Pat Sabatini (17-3, 145.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Jackson is three inches taller with one inch of reach advantage. A lot of early stance switching from Jackson as they circle. Sabatini is switching as well, he prefers orthodox but shows southpaw. Jackson lands a front kick to the head, Sabatini is hurt and Jackson lands punches as they tie up and hit the mat. Full mount for Jackson now, he gets the back and lands punches to the head. More punches from Jackson and the ref jumps in to stop the fight.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Damon Jackson via TKO (verbal submission), front kick and punches, at 1:09 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Jackson for his work this evening. Mic time for an emotional Jackson, his older brother passed away during fight week and he’s clearly processing a lot. Jackson says this still doesn’t feel real, but it means a lot to be able to compete and never considered pulling out of the fight. He just wants to spend time with his family next. He talks us through the finish and knew Sabatini was hurt but also knew he was tough and couldn’t let him off the hook once he hurt him.

Here’s the finish. You can kind of hear Sabatini give it up, or at least hear the ref acknowledge the tap before he waves it off. This was a darn good performance from Jackson.

The main card opens with a graphic in memory of UFC veteran Elias Theodorou who passed away earlier this week due to cancer.

Anthony Hernandez has been a bit up and down in the UFC but he’s currently on a two fight winning streak and if he can extend that to three in a row here it could prove he’s found his footing in the UFC and is ready to make a legitimate run. Marc-Andre Barriault has been very up and down while going 3-4 with 1 No Contest in the UFC, he is coming off of a win though and could draw his UFC record to the .500 mark with a win here. Hernandez is a solid -205 favorite against +175 on Barriault.

Middleweight Bout: Marc-Andre Barriault (14-5 1 NC, 185 lbs.) vs. Anthony Hernandez (9-2 1 NC, 185.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Barriault is an inch taller while Hernandez has an inch of reach advantage. Both men feint with the hands to start. Hernandez lands a couple of jabs then a one two against the fence. They clinch up and Barriault starts landing uppercuts in the clinch. Elbow from Hernandez as they break. Hernandez lands a jab then a one two. Bit of a right form Barriault. Both men are finding success with the jab, then Hernandez lands a right and tries a takedown against the fence. Hernandez finishes the takedown, and Barriault bounces up then jumps to the backpack but Hernandez is able to pull on his leg and force him around as they fall to the mat. Hernandez starts landing punches from the ride position as Barriault tries to wall walk. More punches from Hernandez but Barriault is able to wall walk and land an uppercut then break. Right from Barriault then Hernandez slips off the fence. Bit of a one two from Hernandez. Hernandez jabs into a clinch, then lands elbows and a knee before hitting a double leg. Barriault is trying for a guillotine but he’s not really close to getting it. Hernandez breaks the guillotine grip and lands some punches from top position. Barriault is able to wall walk but Hernandez lands elbows, then eats an elbow and responds by digging body shots before hitting a single leg into full guard. Hernandez lands a few blows from top position as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Hernandez

ROUND TWO: Something is definitely up with the ribs of Barriault. Hernandez comes out and both men start trading again. Barriault lands a right hand. Hernandez lands some elbows in close then hits a single leg into side control. Some short elbows from Hernandez but Barriault is able to shrimp to half guard. Hernandez lands more elbows and he looks to pass to 3/4 mount. Barriault scoots to the fence and looks to wall walk but Hernandez works from the ride position. Hernandez is just wearing Barriault down with wrestling and mixing in damaging blows. Barriault is able to wall walk and separate though. They trade rights then Hernandez hits an easy single leg into half guard. Hernandez is riding and landing punches. Barriault fights to his knees but Hernandez moves to the ride and lands a knee to the body. Heranndez grabs at the choke, only one hook in though and Barriault is able to fight the grip. Full mount now for Hernandez, Barriault scoots to the fence and tries to wall walk again. Hernandez lands some body shots in the clinch before they break. One two from Hernandez. Barriault lands a right hand. Stiff left from Hernandez then a right hand behind it to close the round.

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

ROUND THREE: Both men come out jabbing, then Hernandez lands a body kick. Hernandez gets a clinch and a mat return. Barriault moves to the fence and looks to wall walk but Hernandez keeps him down. Hernandez keeps the back as they stand, then hits a mat return that actually spiked Barriault a bit. Seriously, that looked gnarly. Barriault wall walks and misses a punch then Hernandez hits a single leg into side control. Arm triangle from Hernandez, he’s able to tighten it down and puts Barriault to sleep.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Anthony Hernandez via Technical Submission, arm triangle choke, at 1:53 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Hernandez for his work this evening. Mic time for Hernandez, he says he works hard every day and is willing to die in here then puts over his team. He talks us through some highlights and puts over his team again. He talks about always wanting a finish and he plans on continuing to get more money. Asked about the future, he jokes that he doesn’t watch the UFC he just shows up to fight and will fight whoever is put in front of him.

Here’s the spike, this wasn’t illegal because Barriault’s hands were free (I think). Hopefully there’s no injury to Barriault’s neck.

Tanner Boser has gone 4-3 in the UFC but he’s coming off of a win and is looking to build another winning streak while proving he’s still a viable heavyweight. Rodrigo Nascimento has gone 1-1 with 1 No Contest in the UFC, he’s coming off of that No Contest and is looking for his first win since 2020. The odds are with Boser at -190 to +160 for Nascimento.

Heavyweight Bout: Tanner Boser (20-8-1, 229 lbs.) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (8-1 1 NC, 261 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Nascimento has four and a half inches of reach advantage in addition to the 30 some odd pounds of weight. Both men come out swinging right hands. Boser is moving around well, he lands a leg kick. Left hook from Boser. Nascimento is working the jab as he stalks Boser to the fence. Double leg from Nascimento and he lands on top in half guard. Boser is able to shrimp to full guard. Some body shots from Nascimento but things are stalling out a bit. Boser is just holding on and controlling posture, if Nascimento can’t break this grip around his body the ref is going to stand them up. Nascimento lands a few punches but again there’s not much going on. They scoot to the fence, then scramble and Boser lands some punches as Nascimento gets up and they’re clinched. Nascimento lands a knee then they break. Boser lands a leg kick. Both men land jabs. Nascimento lands a windmill right hand. They tie up again and hit the fence. Boser lands some body shots in the clinch then a left hand as they break. Nascimento lands a left hand, he’s gone southpaw to throw a head kick which doesn’t land then returns to orthodox. Bit of a right hook from Boser then a front kick before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Nascimento

ROUND TWO: Both men come out throwing punches. Boser lands a leg kick but Nascimento is timing his counters now. Boser jabs the body. Both men miss rights. They split some jabs. Boser lands a left to the body. Nascimento checks a leg kick. Boser keeps circling and aiming body shots. A left hook from Boser wobbles Nascimento, he looks to unload and backs Nascimento towards the fence. Boser jabs the body then lands a leg kick. Nascimento seems to have mostly recovered now. Boser lands a right hand. Both men miss punches for a bit. Boser lands a leg kick. Nascimento is coming forward again, but Boser is starting to land punches as he does so. Nascimento lands a one two. Double leg from Nascimento, he’s able to get it against the fence then move to the back as Boser is trying to regain his feet. Choke attempt from Nascimento, Boser is able to turn out of it but he’s on bottom in half guard now. Boser blocks a few pass attempts to end the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Boser, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Nascimento comes out and lands a one two. Boser lands a left to the body. Bit of a left hook from Boser. Both men miss punches. Boser is looking to use his jab, Nascimento lands a bit of a combination. Double leg from Nascimento and he’s back on top in full guard. Nascimento passes to half guard. Bit of an elbow from Boser, then he tries to scramble but Nascimento pushes him back flat. Boser is actually doing more work from bottom but the positional disadvantage is still a problem for him. Nascimento lands a couple of elbows as Boser gets full guard back. They trade some strikes on the mat. The ref resets them on the feet, that’s fair. Boser lands a couple of rights then avoids a takedown attempt. They trade punches in close but Boser is unloading, he knows he needs a big finish. Body shots from Boser, and he flurries as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Boser but I’m not sure about that, 29-28 Boser overall

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

30-27 for Nascimento seems very wrong. Mic time for Nascimento, he and Cormier talk about how much they look alike in the face. Next he puts over Boser and then thanks his team for all of their work. He talks us through some highlights and to close he asks the UFC brass for tickets to the Canelo vs. GGG fight later tonight. Depending on how close to ringside he wants that could be more expensive than the usual UFC post fight bonus.

Joe Pyfer brings a two fight winning streak into his UFC debut and he’s looking to make a good first impression to the wider UFC audience. Alem Amedovski has gone 0-3 in the UFC and needs a win here in the worst way as a fourth loss should end his time with the promotion. Pyfer is the biggest favorite on the card at -540 to a +420 comeback on Amedovski.

Middleweight Bout: Alen Amedovski (8-3, 185.5 lbs.) vs. Joe Pyfer (9-2, 185 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Pyfer is four inches taller with an inch of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Some feinting from both men as they circle. Pyfer lands a left to the body. Amedovski keeps showing leg kicks but he’s not really landing anything yet. Some jabs from Pyfer as he’s backing Amedovski to the fence. Bit of a left form Pyfer. Uppercut then a right hand from Pyfer, then Amedovski responds with a right of his own. Amedovski lands a leg kick. Pyfer misses a right hand. Calf kick from Amedovski. Pretty uneventful round thus far. Pyfer lands a right in close, then they trade punches in the pocket. Hard right from Pyfer floors Amedovski, but the ref is a bit slow stopping things and Pyfer pounds in the coffin nail to force the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Joe Pyfer via TKO, punches, at 3:55 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Pyfer for his work this evening. Mic time for Pyfer, he believes in good people and calls himself fortunate to be here after all he’s been through as a kid. He talks us through the finish and puts over his team. Asked about the future he wants to fill out at middleweight a bit before coming back, then thanks Dana White for some generosity and requests a post fight bonus.

Pretty standard stuff here, the lead hand uppercut without a set up is kind of a “no-no” but like most rules there are exceptions, and Pyfer uses it to measure and draw a reaction out to open up the punching lane for his right hand.

Andre Fili has been with the UFC since 2013 but he’s not won since 2020 when he got a split decision win over Charles Jourdain, now he needs a win for a bit of job security because another loss might indicate that the UFC has gotten as much as they’re going to get out of him. Bill Algeo has gone 3-2 in the UFC and is on a two fight winning streak, he’s looking to take out a UFC veteran here and prove he’s ready for a step up in competition going forward. This one is close but the odds favor the veteran Fili at -125 to +105 on Algeo.

Featherweight Bout: Bill Algeo (16-6, 146 lbs.) vs. Andre Fili (21-9 1 NC, 145.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Algeo is an inch taller while Fili has an inch of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Both men look to feint and jab while they get a feel for things. Calf kick from Algeo then a front kick to the face. Another calf kick from Algeo lands. Fili lands a jab. Inside leg kick from Algeo, both men are doing a lot of stance switching. Bit of a right from Fili. Algeo lands another calf kick. Front kick from Algeo lands. Spinning back kick from Algeo is mostly blocked. Algeo lands a jab. Fili lands a right hand. Both men land punches then Algeo follows up with a body kick and a calf kick. Fili’s lack of combinations is allowing Algeo to out work him. Head kick from Fili lands and Algeo is a touch wobbled, Algeo grabs at a takedown but Fili uses a front headlock to defend then separate. They split jabs. Body kick from Algeo. Another head kick from Fili mostly lands and Algeo is cut around the hairline. Algeo slips throwing a head kick but regains his feet quickly. Fili lands a body kick. Fili has started putting more strikes together and he’s got a read on Algeo’s head movement which is allowing him to land head kicks. Algeo lands a hook kick. Jabs from Algeo then a right hand and Fili clinches up. They break without incident after a few moments. Algeo lands a calf kick. Bit of a jab from Fili. Algeo lands a body kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Fili

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves again. Both men land some jabs, then Algeo lands a calf kick. Algeo lands a jab. Another jab from Algeo. Body kick from Algeo. Fili misses a right hand, then both men miss punches in close. More jabs from Algeo as he circles. Fili misses a head kick. Stiff left hook from Algeo lands, and Fili grabs a clinch to stall the momentum. Algeo lands a couple of knees then they break. Fili is coming forward again, he eats a few jabs. They trade left hooks, then Fili lands a body kick. Another left hook from Algeo, he’s looking to follow up and lands a spinning back kick. Calf kick from Algeo. Fili misses a left hook. Wheel kick from Algeo lands and Fili might be a little stunned. Fili tries to get offensive, but he’s getting jabbed up trying to force action. Leg kick from Fili. Algeo avoids a right hand. Left from Fili lands. Algeo checks a leg kick. Double jab from Fili then Algeo lands a front kick to the body. Body kick from Fili. They trade jabs again, then both men miss power hand punches. Another front kick from Algeo lands, then he lands a flurry to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Algeo, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Fili lands a body kick to get the round going. Algeo lands a side kick then a head kick. Fili blocks a head kick. Algeo ducks under a head kick. They trade jabs again. Both men land power hand punches, then Algeo lands a body kick. Fili hits a double leg and gets on top in half guard. Algeo gives up the back trying to scramble up, Fili threatens an arm triangle choke and Algeo has to fully give up the back now to avoid it. Body triangle for Fili, then he grabs the choke and Algeo tries to fight the hands and eventually breaks the grip. Algeo lands punches from his back, Fili still has an arm around the neck but the other arm is tied up so there’s not really a choke here for him. Fili gives up on the body triangle, the puts it back on. Algeo is still landing punches with Fili on his back. The round ends with Fili still on the back of Algeo.

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

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

Decent little fight, not sure about Algeo getting a scorecard. Mic time for Fili, he doesn’t understand the split decision and hopes his jiujitsu coach isn’t too mad at him for not being able to finish that choke. He talks about how the fight itself is just 1% of what a fighter goes through and mentions his wife miscarrying what would have been their first child which clearly makes him emotional and he dedicates the win to his lost child.

Chidi Njokuani is on a four fight winning streak including two wins in the UFC, now he’s looking to being the transition from rising prospect to legitimate contender and a win here is critical to that end. Gregory Rodrigues has gone 3-1 in the UFC only dropping a somewhat controversial split decision to Armen Petrosyan. Rodrigues is coming off of a very entertaining when when he knocked out Julian Marquez and now looks to build another winning streak. The odds are close here but favor Njokuani at -130 to the +110 underdog Rodrigues.

Middleweight Bout: Chidi Njokuani (22-7 1 NC, 185.5 lbs.) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (12-4, 185.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Njokuani has a notable five inches of reach advantage despite these two being the same height. They touch gloves to get us going. Njokuani shows front kicks right away. Inside leg kick from Njokuani, Rodrigues lands a calf kick. Both men are measuring with kicks. Njokuani lands a knee as Rodrigues shoots in, but Rodrigues eats it and fires back with punches. Rodrigues lands a right hand then takes Njokuani down, Njokuani scrambles up right away into a clinch. That knee from Njokuani has cut Rodrigues and he’s leaking a lot of blood. Judo throw from Rodrigues, Njokuani scrambles up right away and they’re still clinched. Knees in the clinch from Njokuani then an elbow. More clinch work from Njokuani then they break. Rodrigues is a mess at the moment. Njokuani lands a front kick. Bit of a right from Rodrigues, Njokuani counters with a left hook. Njokuani goes southpaw, Rodrigues lands a front kick. A couple of rights from Rodrigues drop Njokuani, Njokuani fights up and they start unloading on each other in the clinch. Rodrigues drops Njokuani again, Njokuani fights up and they resume landing strikes in the clinch. Njokuani lands a knee as they break. Rodrigues keeps walking Njokuani down, they trade and clinch again. Rodrigues works body shots in the clinch. They trade some knees in the clinch. Rodrigues lands more knees then a right hook to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rodrigues but could go either way

ROUND TWO: That cut on Rodrigues is awful, it’s horizontal between the eyebrows. I’m not sure they’ll let this continue, it’s that bad a cut. The doctor checks on Rodrigues, he’ll let it continue but if it gets any worse he’s going to wave it off given that the cut is going two ways. Njokuani lands a jab then a front kick. Rodrigues lands a couple of body shots. Another right from Rodrigues lands. Njokuani grabs a clinch and lands knees to the body then one to the head before they break. Rodrigues lands a right to the body. They get close and Rodrigues keeps swinging punches, Njokuani is fading and Rodrigues hits a headlock throw to get on top. Njokuani tries to get half guard, and Rodrigues starts dropping elbows. Hammer fists and punches from Rodrigues, he’s unloading and Njokuani isn’t defending and the ref stops it.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Gregory Rodrigues via TKO, punches, at 1:27 of Round 2

Mic time for Rodrigues and the new hole in his head, he knows he’s born for this and says you have to kill him but alive or dead you’re coming with him. He gives glory to God. He knew he was cut because he could feel the blood, but he did feel Njokuani starting to fade then puts over Njokuani before thanking the UFC brass. Asked about the future he trusts the UFC matchmakers to do their job.

Fair warning on the next pic, it’s of the cut on Rodrigues so be warned.

And here’s the finish. Body work and pace eventually wilted Njokuani, but Robocop Rodrigues had to walk through some serious fire to get there.

Cory Sandhagen has torn path through most of the bantamweight division that has seen him get to the title level, but he’s got a loss to current champion Aljamain Sterling on his record as well as a loss to Petr Yan and a highly contentious split decision loss to TJ Dillashaw. Sandhagen is on a two fight losing streak right now and if he wants to remain in the title picture he must win this fight. Song Yadong is on a three fight winning streak and only has one loss during his time in the UFC, he’s hoping to get a bit win here and vault himself into the title picture. Sandhagen is a rather heavy favorite at -195 while that +165 on Song is a darn tempting value bet.

Bantamweight Bout: #4 Cory Sandhagen (14-4, 135.5 lbs.) vs. #10 Song Yadong (19-6-1 1 NC, 135.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Sandhagen has three inches of height and reach over Song. They touch gloves, Sandhagen will do a lot of stance switching while Song is normally an orthodox fighter. Sandhagen with some punches then tries a double leg that stalls on the fence. They start trading knees. They break and Song misses an elbow. Body kick from Sandhagen. Sandhagen is looking to keep the pace pretty high, and lands a right to the body. Song avoids a wheel kick and lands a front kick. Left hook from Song lands flush. Sandhagen tries another takedown, Song defends and they hit the fence. Elbow from Song as they break. Sandhagen lands a knee then a left to the body. Bit of a right from Sandhagen. Song blocks a single leg and tips Sandhagen over then gets on top. Sandhagen looks for a triangle choke, Song blocks that and Sandhagen fights up to his feet. Song has jumped on the back in the backpack, but Sandhagen is able to break the hook and Song settles for holding the back as they clinch. They get chest to chest and Sandhagen lands an elbow as they break. Bit of a knee from Sandhagen. Hard body kick from Sandhagen. Song starts stalking forward, he’s just following at the moment though. Sandhagen lands a left hand. A lot of volume from Sandhagen thus far. They split some jabs while circling. Song has a couple of punches blocked. Bit of a hook from Song, Sandhagen responds with a body shot then a body kick. Sandhagen lands a leg kick. Solid left from Sandhagen closes the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Song

ROUND TWO: Song gets back on pressure right away, Sandhagen is circling and showing the jab. Sandhagen misses a left. They trade some kicks. Lunging left hook from Song partially lands. Song lands a follow up left that wobbles Sandhagen. Sandhagen is still mobile, he misses a jumping knee. Pretty solid left from Sandhagen, then a left to the body. Double leg from Sandhagen, Song scrambles back up right away though. Sandhagen lands a left in close. Song avoids a double leg, but eats an elbow as they break. Song got cut from that elbow, it’s around the left eyebrow. Sandhagen blocks some punches and lands a jab. They clinch up and hit the fence, that cut is leaking visibly on Song. Sandhagen lands some knees to the body, and we get a good look at that cut on Song and it’s a pretty bad one. An elbow from Sandhagen lands as he breaks the clinch. Song lands a right hand. Body kick from Sandhagen. Another left from Sandhagen then an elbow. Song falls short with a few punches. Leg kick from Sandhagen. Song avoids a few punches. Sandhagen keeps circling, he lands an inside leg kick. Both men land lefts. Sandhagen lands a punch then they clinch on the fence. Sandhagen lands an elbow as they break, Song fires back with hooks as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Sandhagen, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: That cut is pretty bad, it goes under the eyebrow and the doctor checks it. Apparently he can continue but the doctor wants the ref to keep an eye on the cut. Sandhagen gets back to circling and lands a body kick. Another leg kick from Sandhagen. Song has a head kick blocked. Sandhagen lands a leg kick. Bit of a left from Sandhagen, and he blocks the counters. Song blocks a double leg attempt. A couple of lefts from Sandhagen land, then an elbow behind them. Song misses an uppercut, then Sandhagen lands a body kick. Bit of a right from Song and he avoids the counters. Knee from Sandhagen lands. Sandhagen avoids some punches. Leg kick from Sandhagen. Bit of an elbow from Sandhagen then a knee in close. Sandhagen gets another clinch on the fence. Some body shots from Sandhagen then they break and trade lefts. Sandhagen lands an uppercut. Song avoids a takedown attempt. Bit of a head kick from Sandhagen. Song lands a left hook. A lot of pressure from Song now, but he’s struggling to cut Sandhagen off. Sandhagen pokes with a few jabs then lands a leg kick. A few more jabs from Sandhagen land. Hard left to the body from Sandhagen then a jumping knee but Song just eats the offense as the round ends.

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

ROUND FOUR: That cut definitely got worse after the third, the doctor checks on him again and this time says if the cut goes any further towards the eye they’ll have to call it but Song does start the fourth. Song lands a body kick. Sandhagen lands a leg kick. Bit of a flurry from Song, Sandhagen responds with a body shot and leg kick. Another body kick from Sandhagen lands. Bit of a right form Song. Sandhagen lands a couple of lefts then a right. Body kick from Sandhagen, Song catches it and gets a takedown into full guard. Sandhagen lands some blows from his back, and that cut on Song is really opened up now. Sandhagen scrambles to his feet in the clinch. Song gets put on the fence and they trade some knees. Trip from Sandhagen, Song immediately scrambles up and free. Song lands a right hand. Jabs from Sandhagen, he’s aiming at the cut trying to force the issue. Bit of a left from Sandhagen. They trade lefts then Sandhagen lands a one two and a leg kick. Song missees a left hook. Stiff jab from Sandhagen, Song is falling short with a lot of his offense now. Sandhagen digs the body and lands a jab, then hits a double leg against the fence and mounts the legs. Song fights for half guard, and gets it but Sandhagen is landing short punches to the head. Elbows from Sandhagen now. Song fights to butterfly guard, Sandhagen stands over him and lands more punches as the round ends. I’m not sure they’ll let Song come out again.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Sandhagen, 39-37 Sandhagen overall

ROUND FIVE: The doctor checks the cut again, this time the cut has gotten bad enough and the doctor waves it off. Fully agreed from me, that eye is swelling up in addition to the cut so it’s totally fine to my eyes.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Cory Sandhagen via TKO, doctor stoppage due to cut, at 5:00 of Round 4

Mic time for Sandhagen after the win, he puts over Song and hates it ended due to a cut and feels they both wanted to see a fifth round but he did mean to cut Song up. He says the game plan was working, the wrestling did a lot to stop Song from planting and generating power, and he says he’s been focusing a bit more about winning minute to minute. Asked who he’d like next he wants either a title shot or Merab Dvalishvili or Marlon “Chito” Vera right around Christmas. I’m down for anything Sandhagen does, but him and Vera could be all kinds of violent fun.

Here’s the finish, not a great look at the cut but absolutely the right call.

OK, here’s a look at the cut. This wasn’t it before the stoppage, it was actually worse when the doc did wave it off.

Well on that note, UFC on ESPN+ 68 comes to a close. A fair amount of amateur surgery performed tonight, and the gorehound in me approves. We’ll be unpacking all the fallout from this event tomorrow on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast. There’s no UFC event next week but they will be back in action on October 1st with a pretty lackluster card, so I hope to see you all then. Until then I thank you for reading, encourage you to stay safe out there, and remind you to keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.

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