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411’s UFC Fight Night Report: Vera KO’s Cruz

August 14, 2022 | Posted by Robert Winfree
UFC on ESPN 41 Image Credit: UFC

MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
#8 Dominick Cruz (135 lbs.) vs. #5 Marlon Vera (135.5 lbs.)
Nate Landwehr (145.5 lbs.) vs. David Onama (145 lbs.)
Yazmin Jauregui (114.5 lbs.) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (116 lbs.)
Devin Clark (205 lbs.) vs. Azamat Murzakanov (204 lbs.)
Priscila Cachoeira (135 lbs.) vs. Ariane Lipski (135.5 lbs.)
Gerald Meerschaert (185 lbs.) vs. Bruno Silva (186 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)
Loopy Godinez (119 lbs.) vs. #13 Angela Hill (119.5 lbs.) – 120-pound catchweight fight
Lukasz Brzeski (236.5 lbs.) vs. Martin Buday (266 lbs.)
#12 Cynthia Calvillo (125.5 lbs.) vs. #9 Nina Nunes (125.5 lbs.)
Gabriel Benitez (155 lbs.) vs. Charlie Ontiveros (155 lbs.)
Tyson Nam (126 lbs.) vs. Ode Osbourne (125 lbs.)
Josh Quinlan (175 lbs.) vs. Jason Witt (179.5 lbs.) – 180-pound catchweight fight
Da’Mon Blackshear (134 lbs.) vs. Youssef Zalal (135.5 lbs.)

Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC on ESPN 41, I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be calling the action for all of you good people just as I see it. Tonight the UFC is in San Diego for the first time since way back in 2015 when Frank Mir vs. Todd Duffee was a headlining fight. The main event for tonight is considerably better on paper when former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz looks to continue his climb back towards the title when he takes on surging contender Marlon “Chito” Vera. Bantamweight pretty much always delivers and this is a great fight on paper that could prove pivotal for both fighters. Beyond that the pickings are pretty slim, Azamat Murzakanov looks to remain unbeaten and prove himself a notable talent at light heavyweight, Gerald Meerschaert vs. Bruno Silva has some entertainment potential, and on the prelims I’ve got my eye on Tyson Nam vs. Ode Osbourne. After that, we’re hoping for an event better in practice than on paper.

UFC on ESPN 41 comes to the world from the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California, USA. We’ve got Brendan Fitzgerald, Michael Bisping, and Daniel Cormier on commentary. As for the rules, I’m pretty sure we’re under the newer set so you need both hands on the mat to be considered downed and we’ve got the better scoring criteria. I’m not sure about instant replay, if I had to guess we’ve got it but it can only be used on a fight ending sequence. Should the broadcast update us on any of this (doubtful) I’ll update this section. We are also in the usual 30 foot cage setup.

Youssef Zalal has gone 3-3 in the UFC but he’s currently on a three fight losing streak and has been out of action for a little over a year, now he’s trying to halt that skid and get his UFC record above the .500 mark with a move down to bantamweight. Da’Mon Blackshear brings a four fight winning streak into his UFC debut, he’s looking to continue that success and capitalize on the only chance he’ll get to make a first impression to UFC fans. The odds lean towards Zalal at -135 to a +115 comeback on Blackshear.

Bantamweight Bout: Da’Mon Blackshear (12-4, 134 lbs.) vs. Youssef Zalal (10-5, 135.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two have identical heights and reaches. They touch gloves to get things going. Zalal shows kicks early, both men show a bit of stance switching. The “woos” have begun already as Blackshear lands a leg kick. Some leg kicks go back and forth as they circle and range find. Zalal feints forward and hits a double leg takedown, Blackshear tries to fight off of his seat but Zalal pushes him flat into half guard. Blackshear quickly hip escapes to butterfly guard and lands a few elbows from his back. Zalal scoots them to the fence, Blackshear tries a triangle choke but he’s not really close to getting it. A few punches from Zalal land as he looks to pass. Blackshear tries to tie up a leg, he rolls for a kneebar but winds up switching to a calf slicer then an inside heel hook. There’s not a lot of knee control from Blackshear so there’s not much submission threat but he uses the motion to get on top in the ride position. Blackshear takes the back with both hooks in but we’re on short time now. Punches from Blackshear but nothing too impactful before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Blackshear but could go either way

ROUND TWO: Zalal comes out with some lead hand work, then lands a leg kick. Bit of a right from Blackshear, who’s the one coming forward now. Blackshear lands a punch and tries a double leg that hits the fence, but he doesn’t give up on the attempt and he’s able to get the takedown. Zalal looks to wall walk, and Blackshear jumps to his back and tries the choke but one hook is missing and Zalal is able to spin into him and get on top. Now Zalal gets the back and grabs at the choke, he switches to a body triangle and goes with a neck crank. Blackshear is able to pick at the body triangle and spin to get on top and lands a punch then moves to side control. Zalal moves to his knees, Blackshear gets a crucifix then tries a bulldog choke but they fight up against the fence. Blackshear looks like he’s fading as Zalal lands a few knees from the clinch. Single leg attempt from Blackshear, he’s able to slip to the back then jumps to the backpack position. Blackshear is looking for the choke, he’s able to get both hands involved but he’s not quite finishing it properly and Zalal will be able to hang on until the round ends.

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

ROUND THREE: Both men come out jabbing for the final round. Some kicks go back and forth. Blackshear with a bit of a combination. Zalal lands a few jabs. A couple of leg kicks from Blackshear land. More jabs from Zalal. They both avoid punches. Slight high kick from Zalal. Zalal lands a left to the body, he’s pressing forward and looking to flurry. A few punches from Zalal then a knee to the body. Blackshear lands a right hand. Single leg from Blackshear, Zalal is able to defend but eats a kick as they break. Zalal keeps pressing forward with punches, he’s showing a lot of knees but hasn’t landed them yet. Elbow from Zalal in close, then Blackshear lands a right hand. Blackshear lands a body kick, Zalal then lands a body kick of his own and a left to the body. Another body shot from Zalal then Blackshear lands a left hook. A body kick from Zalal drops Blackshear, then he gets on top in full guard but there’s not much time left. Zalal lands some elbows and passes to side control then unloads hammer fists. Blackshear is able to hip escape to half guard but Zalal is still on him with strikes. We’re down to 10 seconds and Blackshear is able to survive until the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Zalal, 29-28 Blackshear overall but will come down to the first

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Majority Draw (29-28 Blackshear, 28-28 x2)

I don’t hate 10-8’s for Zalal in the third, I can live with that.

Jason Witt has traded wins and losses while going 2-3 in the UFC, he’s hoping that trend will continue long enough to avoid his first ever losing streak. Josh Quinlan is undefeated coming into his UFC debut but he’s been out of action for over a year since his No Contest on the Contender Series, now he’s trying to remain undefeated and get that all important first UFC win under his belt. The odds are with Quinlan at -285 to a tempting +240 comeback for Witt.

Catchweight Bout: Josh Quinlan (5-0 1 NC, 175 lbs.) vs. Jason Witt (19-8, 179.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Quinlan has two inches of height and reach over Witt. Both men feint and circle to get us going. Quinlan lands a right hand. Witt avoids a couple of strikes. Calf kick from Quinlan. Witt hits a double leg into full guard then looks to pass as Quinlan tries to wall walk. Quinlan regains his feet with Witt on his back, but Quinlan is able to break the grip then spin free rather quickly. Witt tries a poorly set up left kick and Quinlan ENDS him with a left hook, then actually halts his own follow up.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Josh Quinlan via KO, punch, at 2:09 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Quinlan for his work this evening. Mic time for Quinlan after that brutality, he says this has been a long time coming before giving glory to God. He talks us through the finish, noting his coaches had a read on that left hook to counter what Witt does, then says he respects his opponent and wants to show his character which is why he held off on the follow up blows.

Here’s the finish. Witt drops both of his hands when doing his step through left body kick and Quinlan reads it from a mile away and crushes him with a left hook.

Ode’ Osbourne has gone 3-2 in the UFC and is on a two fight winning streak, if he can get to three in a row here it could earn him a shot at some ranked opposition next. Tyson Nam has gone 2-3 since coming to the UFC in 2019, he’s coming off of a loss and is trying to avoid another losing streak. Osbourne is a solid -360 favorite against +295 on Nam.

Flyweight Bout: Tyson Nam (20-12-1, 126 lbs.) vs. Ode Osbourne (11-4 1 NC, 125 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Osbourne is half an inch taller with a notable five inches of reach advantage, he’s also eight years younger. They touch gloves to get us going, Osbourne is fighting southpaw. Osbourne lands a few front kicks, he’s going after the body right away. Left then a right hook from Osbourne. They trade punches, but Osbourne is working with a higher output thus far. Osbourne lands another body kick. Both men miss power hand punches. Osbourne lands a body kick, bit of a right hand counter from Nam. Left from Osbourne, then Nam counters with a right. Osbourne lands another left then a knee to the body. Nam avoids a jumping knee and clobbers Osbourne with a right hand that drops him, a few follow ups from Nam are more than enough to prompt the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Tyson Nam via KO, punches, at 2:59 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Nam for his work this evening. Mic time for Nam after that, he’s getting emotional and mentions being out for 19 months and working to get back here before playing with the crowd. He talks us through the finish then says he wants to be back in action in a couple of months but will save his call out for later on Instagram.

Here’s the finish. Nam has a read on the jumping knee from Osbourne, and jumping leaves you very vulnerable on the landing because your trajectory is established and we’re all beholden to physics which leads to Nam having a counter locked and loaded as soon as Nam touches down.

Gabriel Benitez has been with the UFC since 2014 but he’s just 1-4 in his last five fights and is on a two fight losing streak, if he wants to maintain a bit of job security he needs a win here rather badly. Charlie Ontiveros has gone 0-2 in the UFC and been out of action for almost a year, he needs to get that first UFC win under his belt because a third consecutive loss could send him out of the promotion. The odds are heavily with Benitez at -325 to a +270 comeback on Ontiveros.

Lightweight Bout: Gabriel Benitez (22-10, 155 lbs.) vs. Charlie Ontiveros (11-8, 155 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Ontiveros is a whopping six inches taller with three inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves, both men fighting southpaw. Benitez opens with a calf kick. Ax kick from Ontiveros partially lands, then Benitez forces a clinch on the fence. Elbow from Benitez then they break. Some stance switching from Ontiveros now. Calf kick from Benitez. Ontiveros lands a body kick. They trade jabs then another ax kick from Ontiveros and a follow up body kick. Bit of a left from Benitez. Benitez lands a calf kick then a punch. High kick from Ontiveros is partially blocked, then Benitez lands a left hand and forces a clinch. Some short elbows and knees from Benitez, he’s cut Ontiveros around the inside of the left eyebrow but one of the knees appeared to go low so we’ve got a time out. Replay shows the knee definitely hit the groin, and that cut is under the left eye not on the brow, and they restart after about 30 seconds. Benitez wobbles Ontiveros with a left hand then slams him down with a double leg and gets on top in half guard. Now Benitez moves to full mount and unloads with elbows and punches, Ontiveros is fading and the ref steps in.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Gabriel Benitez via TKO, punches and elbows, at 3:35 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Benitez for his work this evening. Benitez gets an interview, he puts over Ontiveros but feels really good at lightweight and especially thinks his chin is better in this weight class. He talks us through the finish and jokes about being a wrestler now. To close he gives love to his home of Tijuana in Spanish.

Not a ton to go over here, but Benitez is good about moving his position while he’s got Ontiveros still hurt and he’s very diligent about keeping up the offensive output to keep Ontiveros from ever regaining his bearings.

Cynthia Calvillo had some serious momentum in 2017, and a bit again in 2019 that saw her start fighting towards the top of the division. Unfortunately for Calvillo she’s struggled lately and is on a three fight losing streak, now she needs a win if she wants to remain a ranked contender. Nina Nunes finds herself on a two fight losing streak and the veteran fighter needs a win to defend her ranking. The odds are with Calvillo at -190 to the +160 underdog Nunes.

Women’s Flyweight Bout: #12 Cynthia Calvillo (9-4-1, 125.5 lbs.) vs. Nina Nunes (10-7, 125.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Nunes is one inch taller but the reach is identical. They touch gloves to get things going. Nunes is showing the lead hand and a few front kicks as they circle. Calf kick from Nunes. Another calf kick from Nunes. Calvillo starts showing a few stance switches as they circle. Nunes lands another calf kick. Calvillo catches a leg kick and gets a takedown but Nunes bounces up immediately and they reset. Those calf kicks from Nunes are starting to add up on Calvillo already. Calvillo lands a calf kick, Nunes returns it. Nunes misses a front kick then lands a calf kick. Calvillo misses a bunch of punches. Nunes land a body kick, Calvillo tries to clinch but Nunes separates. Bit of a jab from Nunes. Nunes misses a spinning back kick. Bit of a calf kick from Nunes. Calvillo lands a jab. They feint away the final seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Nunes

ROUND TWO: Calvillo keeps circling as they start this round. Bit of an uppercut from Nunes then a calf kick. Nunes avoids a spinning kick. Left hook from Nunes then a calf kick. A lot of shadow boxing is going on here from both women. Body kick from Nunes. Both women miss rights, then Calvillo hits a takedown into full guard. Nunes starts working her guard up high, she nearly kicks Calvillo off but Calvillo gets back on top. Calvillo stands, eats an up kick then Nunes stands and they reset. Nunes lands a calf kick then a left hook. Calvillo backs away for a bit, Nunes lands a body kick as the last meaningful blow of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Calvillo, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the final round. Nunes lands a front kick. Calf kick from Nunes. Calvillo avoids a few kicks. Jab from Nunes. Another calf kick from Nunes. Nunes lands another calf kick that drops Calvillo for a second. Nunes lands a right to the body then a left hook. Calvillo misses a spinning back fist. Bit of a takedown from Calvillo then Nunes wall walks right away and they’re in the clinch. Nunes is able to spin free and they reset at distance. Bit of a left from Nunes. Nunes lands another calf kick. Body kick from Nunes then a calf kick that locks up Calvillo for a second. Calvillo lands a bit of a right hand. Nunes lands a right hand then a left high kick. Another right from Nunes. Bit of an uppercut from Nunes then a calf kick and they both swing and miss as time runs down.

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

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

No idea why that was split, 30-27 for Nunes is more understandable than 29-28 for Calvillo. Mic time for Nunes, she leaves her gloves in the cage and says she’s retiring now and wants to focus on coaching. She feels good at this weight class but wants to focus on growing her family as she wants another kid.

Martin Buday is on a nine fight winning streak including a win in his UFC debut four months back, now he’s trying to maintain that momentum and start proving himself a heavyweight prospect of note. Lukasz Brzeski fought to a No Contest on his Contender Series fight about a year ago, now he’s in the UFC and looking to keep his seven fight unbeaten streak going while securing that all important first UFC win. Buday is the -295 favorite against +245 on Brzeski.

Heavyweight Bout: Lukasz Brzeski (8-1-1 1 NC, 236.5 lbs.) vs. Martin Buday (10-1, 266 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Brzeski has an inch of reach advantage while Buday is 30 or so pounds heavier. They touch gloves to get us going, then Brzeski lands a calf kick. Some jabs from Brzeski and a calf kick but Buday counters with a right hand. Bit of a left from Buday. Brzeski lands a couple of body shots. Both men land punches as Buday forces a clinch but Brzeski slips away quickly. Brzeski keeps landing body to head punches. Calf kick from Brzeski. Buday keeps walking forward looking to engage. Stiff jab from Brzeski. They split jabs. Brzeski lands another calf kick. Clubbing right from Brzeski staggers Buday then he looks to follow up along the fence. Brzeski lands a couple of jabs, the hand speed difference is becoming more visible. Buday is bleeding from the nose from all these jabs he’s been eating. Buday lands a right hand. Brzeski with some rights to avoid a clinch then fires a combination. Leg kick from Buday. Brzeski fires a combination but Buday’s defense is coming up to block a lot of it. Bit of a right from Buday. Calf kick from Buday. Brzeski lands a jab as the last real blow of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Brzeski

ROUND TWO: Brzeski lands a jab, but Buday counters with a calf kick. Bit of a calf kick from Brzeski. Brzeski lands another calf kick. Buday is falling just a bit short with most of his punches and Brzeski is finding angles then countering. Calf kick from Buday. Brzeski lands a body to head combination. A lot of volume striking from Brzeski, but he doesn’t have a ton of pop on his offense though the volume and movement is keeping Buday out of sorts. Brzeski lands a left hook. Buday with a blitz that’s mostly successful. Brzeski lands a right hand. Buday lands a calf kick. Body jabs from Brzeski. Buday lands a right hand, he’s trying to force a brawl but Brzeski wont engage on those terms. Brzeski lands a leg kick then they trade rights. Both men block rights as the final exchange.

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

ROUND THREE: Buday comes out leg kicking. Brzeski lands a right to the body. Buday lands a hard leg kick. A bit of a combination from Brzeski. Brzeski lands a left hook then a front kick. A couple of body shots from Brzeski land. Buday lands a left hook, he’s got Brzeski backing up now and cut under the left eye. Bit of a right from Buday. Brzeski misses a few punches then eats a calf kick. Both men miss rights. Brzeski misses a right hand. Leg kick from Buday. Left jab from Buday then a calf kick. Both men miss a lot of punches as they try to brawl at the end.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Buday, 29-28 Brzeski overall

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

I don’t agree with that one, but I guess the second round could have been close? The fight sucked so I’m not up in arms or anything. Mic time for Buday, he felt he did enough to win and is grateful for the tough fight.

Angela Hill has gone just 1-5 in her last six fights, granted a few of those were close split decisions that could have gone her way, but she’s on a three fight losing streak and badly needs a win here to defend her ranking and remain a relevant fighter in the division. Lupita Godinez has gone 3-2 in the UFC but she’s on a two fight winning streak and a win over a known quantity like Hill would be her highest profile win to date. Godinez is a fairly heavy favorite at -330 while the +275 payout on Hill might tempt a few bettors out there.

Catchweight Bout: Loopy Godinez (8-2, 119 lbs.) vs. #13 Angela Hill (13-12, 119.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Hill is an inch taller with three and a half inches of reach advantage, Hill is also nine years older. No touch of gloves. Hill feints a bit while circling. Godinez lands a right hand in close. Hard right from Godinez staggers Hill for a second. Godinez lands another right and they clinch up then break. Hill lands a jab and she’s starting to switch her stance a bit now as she moves. Godinez lands punches in close. Uppercut from Godinez, Hill responds with a right hand. Both women miss lefts then Godinez lands a right hand. Godinez lands a right hand. Hill lands a right in close. They trade rights. Rights go back and forth. Hill fires off a body kick then a knee to the body. Bit of a right from Godinez. Hill tries a takedown, they wind up clinched and Godinez breaks free. Godinez blocks a high kick. Calf kick from Hill then a knee to the body as they clinch. Knees go back and forth in the clinch then Hill lands an elbow as they break. Godinez lands a right as the last blow of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Godinez

ROUND TWO: Hill’s working the jab as the round starts, Godinez is bleeding from the nose. Godinez hits a takedown, but Hill is able to use a guillotine threat to sweep and they scramble back up. Both women land rights. Godinez lands a left in close, Hill counters with a right. Hill tries a clinch, Godinez slips free. They trade rights then Godinez lands a left uppercut. Both women land in close. Hill is feinting a lot and Godinez is biting on a lot of them, it’s letting Hill read and counter without too much difficulty. Both women land lefts in close. Bit of a right from Godinez. A right from Godinez in close lands. They trade in close again. Body shots from Hill. They trade rights again. Godinez lands another right. They tie up and trade punches then settle into a clinch. Hill gets a takedown into the ride position and she lands hammer fists from the back as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Hill, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Hill gets back to jabbing and moving. Bit of a right from Godinez. Hill with a body to head combination of punches. Godinez lands a jab. A right from Godinez then a left hook, but Hill lands an uppercut. They split jabs for a bit, the pace has definitely fallen off. Godinez lands a right hand. Jab from Godinez. Hill is bleeding around the nose now, she’s definitely tired out a little bit. Godinez lands a right hand then grabs a front headlock and they break apart with another exchange of punches. Left hand from Godinez lands. Hill avoids a few punches but her counters have fallen off. Godinez avoids a takedown and lands a right hand. Another jab from Godinez. They trade lefts again. Godinez lands a left hand, Hill hits a knee then eats a counter right. Both women land rights then Godinez unloads briefly along the fence. Some feints from Hill then Godinez lands a right hand to close the round.

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

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Angela Hill via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

No issues there, the third could easily go to Hill. Mic time for Hill, she jokes about the judges not being good at their job then says getting hurt in the first freed her to fight well down the stretch. She plays with the crowd to close.

Well that’s it for preliminary action, on to ESPN for the main card.

Gerald Meerschaert has gone 3-3 in his last six fights and lost a three fight winning streak in his last fight, now he’s trying to get back on the winning side of things and start moving towards ranked opponents again. Bruno Silva just had a seven fight winning streak when he dropped a decision to Alex Pereira which brought his UFC record to 3-1. Silva is trying to avoid his first losing streak since 2012 and start moving back up the crowded middleweight ranks. The odds are with Silva at -280 while a Meerschaert win would payout at +235.

Middleweight Bout: Gerald Meerschaert (34-15, 185 lbs.) vs. Bruno Silva (22-7, 186 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Meerschaert is an inch taller with three and a half inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves, Meerschaert is fighting southpaw. Meerschaert lands an inside leg kick. Silva is the one pressing forward and he lands a body kick. Meerschaert with a body kick of his own. Another body kick from Silva then he lands a left hand. Silva is starting to show some stance switches, he lands a leg kick after missing a left hand. Meerschaert avoids a left hand. Silva lands a left hand. Meerschaert lands a body kick. Bit of a right from Silva. Silva lands a left hand. Meerschaert avoids a punch and hits a double leg to get on top in full guard. Some short blows from both men on the mat as they fight for position. Some ground and pound from Meerschaert now as he’s postured up and he moves to half guard which is where the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Meerschaert

ROUND TWO: Silva gets back to moving forward right away, and lands a left hand. Meerschaert lands a front kick, but Silva responds with a left hook and they clinch but Meerschaert pulls free right away. Body kick from Meerschaert and he avoids the counter punches. Silva lands a right hand. Meerschaert avoids some punches then lands a body kick. Silva misses a left hand. Jab from Silva but he misses the follow up power hand punch. Silva avoids a takedown attempt. They both miss power hand punches. Meerschaert lands a head kick. Silva avoids a takedown attempt then Meerschaert lands a body kick and then he leans away from a head kick. Bit of an uppercut from Silva. Meerschaert lands an inside leg kick. Both men miss kicks. Bit of a jab from Silva then Meerschaert avoids a left hand as the round ends.

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

ROUND THREE: Silva misses a few kicks. Meerschaert fires a few long range strikes then tries a double leg but Silva defends. They trade body kicks then Silva lands a couple of jabs. Silva lands a left hand then they trade in close and clinch up. Meerschaert quickly pushes free, Silva isn’t doing much to retain the clinch when he gets there. A left from Meerschaert drops Silva, he then grabs a guillotine on the mat and Silva has to tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Gerald Meerschaert via Submission, guillotine choke, at 1:39 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Meerschaert for his work this evening. Mic time for Meerschaert, he puts over Silva and knew the first couple of rounds were slow but he had to fight perfectly against Silva and then took his chance when he saw it. He talks us through the finish then says if Andrew Petroski still wants some he can come get some.

Here’s the finish. Meerschaert first clubs Silva with a left hand as they exit the pocket, then when he sees Silva is still conscious enough to fight back on the mat he grabs the neck with a high elbow guillotine choke and forces the tap. Meerschaert is a bit under appreciated, he’s unlikely to make a run at the top but he’s no easy out.

Ariane Lipski has gone 3-4 in the UFC but she’s coming off of a win and looks to start another winning streak while getting her UFC record back to the .500 mark. Priscila Cachoeira has gone 3-1 in her last four fights and is trying to build another winning streak here that could see her earn a shot at ranked opposition. Lipski is your -200 favorite to +170 for Cachoeira.

Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Priscila Cachoeira (11-4, 135 lbs.) vs. Ariane Lipski (14-7, 135.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Cachoeira is an inch taller while Lipski has two inches of reach advantage. Lipski shows kicks as she circles early. Both women miss some strikes. They both miss rights. Bit of a leg kick from Lipski then they trade left hooks and both unload in close but it’s Cachoeira who drops Lipski and she gets on top and fires enough strikes to get the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Priscila Cachoeira via TKO, punches, at 1:05 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mrs. Cachoeira for her work this evening. Cachoeira and her translator get an interview, she plays with the crowd before rambling a bit and putting over her coaches and asking for another fight soon.

Here’s the finish. Lipski tries to throw back in the pocket but never moves her head, which makes for an easy target for Cachoeira to land on.

Devin Clark has gone 3-2 in his last five fights and is coming off of a win, he’s trying to halt a potential rising force in the division while securing his third UFC winning streak. Azamat Murzakanov is undefeated including a successful UFC debut earlier this year when he scored a third round knockout, now he’s looking to continue that success and prove he’s a rising prospect in a division that seems perpetually in need of them. This one is close but the odds are with Murzakanov at -145 to a +125 comeback on Clark.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Devin Clark (13-6, 205 lbs.) vs. Azamat Murzakanov (11-0, 204 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Clark is two inches taller with three and a half inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves, Murzakanov is fighting southpaw. Bit of a leg kick from Clark. Murzakanov is backing Clark up but neither man is landing much. Murzakanov lands a left hand. Another left from Murzakanov lands. Clark lands a hook kick. Murzakanov lands a left hand. Pretty sedate pace at the moment but there’s a lot of danger coming from Murzakanov. Hard left from Murzakanov lands as Clark was throwing a kick. Clark lands a calf kick. Head kick from Clark staggers Murzakanov but he’s able to grab a clinch and recover there. Some knees from Murzakanov in the clinch as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Murzakanov but could go the other way

ROUND TWO: Clark lands a right hand had. Murzakanov is still pressuring forward, he lands a bit of a left. One two from Murzakanov hurts Clark, Murzakanov gets the back clinching and digs a hard body shot before Clark gets free and resets. Another body shot from Murzakanov lands. Murzakanov lands a left hand then an uppercut, he’s feeling confident now and Clark is melting just a bit. Clinch from Murzakanov and he he moves to the back while landing some knees to the leg. Clark tries to attack the grip with a double wrist lock but winds up just settling for a chest to chest clinch. They break without incident then Murzakanov lands another left, he pushes Clark over and gets on top in half guard. Body shots from Murzakanov then an elbow to the face. Murzakanov is digging body shots from top position and slipping in a few short elbows to the face. Clark kicks Murzakanov off then Murzakanov lands a knee to the body as Clark regains his feet. Clark misses a few kicks then Murzakanov backs him into the fence and lands another body shot. Murzakanov backs Clark to the fence and lands an uppercut before they clinch again. They’ll end the round after breaking out of the clinch.

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

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the last round. Stiff jab from Murzakanov lands. Clark lands a leg kick. Murzakanov lands a left to the body. A hard left to the body from Murzakanov crumbles Clark then he pounds him out from top position, though the ref took his sweet time stopping this one.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Azamat Murzakanov via TKO, body shot and punches, at 1:18 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Murzakanov for his work this evening. Mic time for Murzakanov and his translator, he says his goal was to win no matter what else happened. He talks us through the finish then puts over Clark’s toughness because Clark wasn’t reacting to any of the head shots so he had to go downstairs on him.

The benefits of multi-level offense is that as long as you have the presence of mind to look for them you’ll always have a target. Murzakanov had worked the body a fair bit all fight, and here Clark covers up high and Murzakanov crushes him with this left to the solar pelxus. Also I’ll say it again, pretty late stoppage here from the ref.

Yazmin Jauregui is undefeated coming into her UFC debut, she’s been out of action for about a year but is looking to score that all important first UFC win and make a good first impression on the wider UFC audience. Iasmin Lucindo brings a seven fight winning streak into her UFC debut, a streak she’s looking to extend here while making that all important first impression on the audience. Jauregui is the -195 favorite to a +165 payout on Lucindo.

Strawweight Bout: Yazmin Jauregui (8-0, 114.5 lbs.) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (13-4, 116 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Lucindo has two inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Jauregui shows some long range strikes, just range finding at the moment. They trade punches in close. Both women land lefts. Bit of a side kick from Jauregui. Calf kick from Jauregui, Lucindo fires back with a couple of punches. Body kick from Jauregui. Jauregui lands another calf kick. Lucindo tries to clinch but Jauregui gets free. Leg kick from Lucindo then they just trade hooks for a few seconds. Jauregui lands a calf kick. Lucindo lands a calf kick. Jauregui lands a calf kick then they trade punches. Another calf kick from Jauregui. Lucindo and Jauregui trade punches. Lucindo lands a right hand. Front kick from Lucindo. A left hook from Jauregui stuns Lucindo for a second. Jauregui lands another calf kick. Both women land punches in close. Lucindo avoids a right hand. Head kick from Jauregui lands. Both women avoid punches. Lucindo forces a clinch, and eats some elbows as they hit the fence. Some knees go back and forth then Lucindo lands a back kick as they break and the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Jauregui but a close one

ROUND TWO: We pick back up with action right away. A left hook from Jauregui stuns Lucindo again. Bit of a one two from Jauregui. Lucindo eats a leg kick and fires back with hooks. They trade lefts again, and now Lucindo is hurt and looking to clinch, they hit the fence and Jauregui lands an elbow. Jauregui gets Lucindo on the fence and lands some knees then they break. Some jabs from Jauregui, Lucindo is still swinging wide punches. Front kick from Jauregui. They trade punches in close, and I’ve got to give credit to Lucindo’s chin because she’s been hit clean more than once and never looked like she was going down. They trade leg kicks, then Lucindo lands a body kick. Lucindo misses a couple of punches. Jauregui lands a right hook in close. Left hook from Jauregui lands but Lucindo landed a front kick. Jauregui lands another left hook then avoids a clinch. Lucindo lands a right hand, but she’s cut around the right eye. Both women swing hooks in the pocket as the round ends.

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

ROUND THREE: They hug to start the final round. Bit of a body kick from Jauregui. Lucindo misses a combination of hooks. Hard one two from Jauregui. They trade calf kicks. Both women land in close. Jauregui misses a combination. Lucindo lands a spinning back kick. Both women land in close. One two from Jauregui connects. Front kick from Jauregui. Jauregui lands a left hook in close. Right hand from Jauregui, then another one. Lucindo lands a calf kick. Double jab from Jauregui, Lucindo counters with a right hand. A right form Lucindo, but Jauregui lands a left that wobbles Lucindo for a second. Lucindo lands a left to the body then a right hand, Jauregui lands a left hook in there as well. Jauregui lands a right hand, Lucindo fires back with a left. Calf kick from Jauregui. Bit of a wheel kick from Jauregui. Jauregui lands a one two. They both miss punches in close, then Jauregui lands one more one two to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Jauregui but a close one, 30-27 Jauregui overall

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

Jauregui and her translator get an interview, she expected a dog fight and puts over Lucindo before saying she learned that she needs to get better in this fight. She talks about getting hit in training and puts her team over for getting her ready for this fight. To close she gives love to Tijuana.

Nate Landwehr has traded wins and losses while going 2-2 in the UFC, he’s coming off of a win though and now looks to build his first UFC winning streak. David Onama has gone 2-1 in the UFC and is on a two fight winning streak, if he can get to three in a row here it would solidly put him into notable prospect territory. Onama is your -340 favorite against a +280 comeback for Landwehr.

Featherweight Bout: Nate Landwehr (15-4, 145.5 lbs.) vs. David Onama (10-1, 145 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Onama has two inches of height and reach over Landwehr. Both men come out feinting and circling. Stiff jab from Onama. Bit of a calf kick from Landwehr. Landwehr lands a jab. Calf kick from Landwehr. Both men land in close. Some stance switching from Onama, then he lands a body kick and a right hand. Both men land rights in close. Onama lands a jab. Again both men land in close but Onaman’s working a higher output and it’s paying off for him. Bit of a right from Onama. Landwehr slips on a kick, he scrambles back up quickly though. There’s swelling under the left eye of Landwehr. Landwehr with a combination. Onama lands a right hand then a left hook that drops Landwehr, Landwehr fights back to his feet but is dragged back down into leg drag position. Full mount now for Onama and he gets the back while landing punches but Landwehr spins into him and gets on top. Elbows from Landwehr on top then some body shots to follow up. Onama scrambles to his feet and eats a right hand along the way. Blitz attack from Onama and they wind up clinched trading knees and uppercuts. Landwehr with more uppercuts, Onama tries a takedown but Landwehr defends and they break. A lot of pressure from Landwehr now, he lands a couple of rights. They clinch up, trade some knees and then Landwehr lands a short elbow to close out the round.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Onama but Landwehr might have done enough to get that point back down the stretch

ROUND TWO: Both men come out showing the jab. Landwehr lands a calf kick. Short right from Landwehr connects, then a few follow up punches. Onama might be fatiguing now, he and Landwehr are trading pretty evenly. Hard right from Landwehr and they clinch, Onama getting things to the fence. Landwehr gets the back in the clinch and lands knees as they get chest to chest. Takedown from Landwehr, he lands blows from the ride position as Onama stands but Onama is getting abused in the clinch now. Anaconda choke from Landwehr, but Onama is able to spin out of it and Landwehr winds up on top in half guard. Short elbows from Landwehr, then he gets the back and lands more punches. Onama is able to shake Landwehr off but Landwehr fights up and keeps the pace high with strikes then a leg kick. Landwehr keeps coming forward and they trade hooks. The pressure is breaking Onama right now, Landwehr lands a combination then a knee to the body then gets the back standing. More strikes from Landwehr then he takes Onama down into a front headlock position. Another anaconda attempt from Landwehr, again Onama slips free but he can’t get up and Landwehr bludgeons him with punches then gets to full mount. Punches and elbows from Landwehr and Onama rolls to his knees. Landwehr grabs at a guillotine but loses it, they wrestle up to their feet and Landwehr keeps clobbering Onama with punches then takes Onama down again and unloads with punches. Again Onama rolls to his knees, Landwehr gets the ride position and fights for his hooks. Landwehr gets one hook in and flattens out Onama then starts landing punches. Onama rolls to his back and Landwehr gets on top in full mount again, and he spends the last few seconds landing punches before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Landwehr, 18-18 overall

ROUND THREE: I’m a little surprised they let Onama come out for this round. Landwehr comes forward at first then avoids a left hand. Bit of a right from Landwehr. They trade jabs. Both men land rights in close, then Landwehr lands a right hand and knees from a clinch. This is getting sloppy but Landwehr is unloading with knees from the clinch, Onama falls down and Landwehr makes him stand back up. Landwehr with a couple of rights then knees from the clinch. Onama drops to a knee against the fence, Landwehr again makes him stand then punches him in the face. Onama lands a hard right hand, now Landwehr is backing up. Landwehr avoids a few punches then starts unloading along the fence before landing knees from a front headlock. More knees from Landwehr then a few punches before Onama gets free. Both men miss punches. Uppercut from Landwehr. Onama lands a right hand. Landwehr forces a clinch on the fence then gets the back there and lands a knee then a head kick as they break. One two from Onama lands. Landwehr avoids a few punches then drops Onama with a knee and gets on top in side control with one minute left. Hammer fists from Landwehr but he’s pretty gassed too and stands to make Onama get up as well. Not sure about that decision making. Landwehr lands a calf kick. Both men land punches, Onama drops Landwehr but Landwehr fights up and they trade rights again as time runs out.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Landwehr but who knows, 28-27 Landwehr overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Nate Landwehr via majority decision (28-28, 29-27 x2)

So no 10-8 for Onama in the first, but mine was a touch generous. I honestly don’t even hate the draw card. Mic time for Landwehr, who says his momma didn’t raise no bitch. He showed up and calls himself the roughest and toughest, and he can fight pretty good too. He puts over Onama as a bad man, but Landwehr is the baddest man in the division and will fight Billy Quarantillo or Shane Burgos next. I’m down for either of those fights.

Marlon Vera is on a three fight winning streak that has seen him crack the top rankings at bantamweight, now he’s looking to add another former champion to his resume and make his case for a title shot with a fourth consecutive win tonight. Dominick Cruz is a former two time bantamweight champion and one of the best to ever fight in this weight class, he’s on a two fight winning streak right now and if he can get a third in a row against the surging Vera it could earn Cruz a shot at the very top of the division and move him one step closer to regaining the title. The odds are with the younger Vera at -215 while the +185 payout on Cruz is a very tempting value bet.

Bantamweight Bout: #8 Dominick Cruz (24-3, 135 lbs.) vs. #5 Marlon Vera (19-7-1, 135.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Ver has two and a half inches of reach advantage, Cruz is also eight years older. Cruz comes out with a kick and some punches. Both men do a lot of stance switching. Cruz with a blitz attack that connects. Vera misses some jabs. Inside leg kick from Cruz. Cruz lands a calf kick. Vera lands a front kick to the body, Cruz catches it and lands a takedown then a couple of leg kicks as Vera gets back up. Front kick from Cruz. Vera lands a left that drops Cruz for a second, but Cruz bounces back up. Cruz lands a calf kick then a combination of punches. Head kick from Cruz is blocked, then he lands a body shot. Vera avoids some punches. Bit of a blitz from Cruz. Calf kick from Cruz. Vera avoids a one two. Front kick from Vera. Cruz lands a combination then has a high kick blocked. Vera has stopped biting on the feints of Cruz, so Cruz blitzes him with punches again. Takedown from Cruz into full guard. Cruz lands a few short elbows. Ver tries a triangle attack, Cruz gets free and lands leg kicks to the downed Vera as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Cruz but a close one

ROUND TWO: Vera has a high kick blocked. Bit of a body shot from Cruz. Cruz lands a left hand then a calf kick. Vera misses a right hook. Inside leg kick from Cruz then a right hand to follow up. Cruz lands another calf kick. Bit of a right from Vera. Body kick from Cruz. Vera falls short on punches then lands a front kick. Bit of a blitz from Cruz. Body shot from Cruz then a left hand. Cruz lands a right hand and avoids the counter. Vera avoids a one two. Cruz with a calf kick but Vera avoids the follow up punches. Another inside leg kick from Cruz. Vera misses a couple of punches. Both men miss punches then Cruz lands a body shot. Left from Cruz lands then a right hand to follow up, Vera lands a right of his own on the counter. Glancing left from Cruz. Cruz lands a right hand. Bit of a right from Cruz lands. Vera avoids a takedown but Cruz lands a right hand after he did. They trade lefts then Cruz blocks a head kick to close the round.

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

ROUND THREE: Cruz resumes moving and feinting, then lands an inside leg kick. Hard calf kick from Cruz then he lands a few follow up punches but Vera fires back and gets Cruz to back off. Vera misses a hook kick. Bit of a one two from Cruz. Cruz lands an inside leg kick. Vera lands a leg kick of his own but he’s been pretty muted offensively. Vera lands a right that wobbles Cruz, but Cruz fires back with four punches then lands an inside leg kick. Uppercut from Cruz lands. Cruz lands a calf kick. Vera is picking up the pace on his offense, he avoids a takedown and they trade punches then Cruz lands a calf kick. Cruz avoids a Superman punch. Vera avoids a combination of punches. Cruz lands a one two, Vera lands a jab. Bit of a left from Cruz. Vera blocks some punches but he’s backing up now. Cruz lands a couple of lefts then tries a takedown against the fence which Vera defends. Vera lands elbows in the clinch then they break. Cruz lands a body kick, they trade jabs, then Vera misses a high kick as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Vera, 29-28 Cruz overall

ROUND FOUR: Cruz opens the round with a front kick. Bit of a left from Cruz. Vera sprawls away from a double leg, then Cruz lands a right hand and off balances Vera. Calf kick from Cruz. Cruz lands a body shot then a right hand. Vera lands a jab that off balances Cruz, more a timing and balance thing than damage. Cruz jabs the body. One two from Cruz. Vera lands a head kick that Cruz dips into and we’re done.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Marlon Vera via KO, head kick, at 2:17 of Round 4

Cruz’s nose is visibly broken from that head kick. Mic time for Vera, he plays with the crowd and puts over Cruz before giving love to Ecuador in Spanish. He talks us through the finish, noting it was hard to fight Cruz but his coach told him to throw a bomb after a combination and he’d find the target. Asked about the future he wants to be the world champion but he can’t control the matchmaking he’ll just keep kicking ass until he gets the belt.

Well on that note UFC on ESPN 41 comes to a close. Thank you all for reading, I always appreciate it. We’ll be unpacking all the fallout from this card on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast tomorrow, plus looking ahead to next week and UFC 278 when Kamaru Usman tries to defend his welterweight title against Leon Edwards. I’ll be back here for that event and I hope you will as well. Until then thank you again for reading, stay safe out there, and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.

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