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April 15, 2023 | Posted by Robert Winfree
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MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 8:30 p.m. ET)
#2 Max Holloway (146 lbs.) vs. #4 Arnold Allen (146 lbs.)
#14 Edson Barboza (146 lbs.) vs. Billy Quarantillo (146 lbs.)
#13 Dustin Jacoby (206 lbs.) vs. #15 Azamat Murzakanov (205 lbs.)
Tanner Boser (203 lbs.) vs. Ion Cutelaba (206 lbs.)
#13 Chris Gutierrez (136 lbs.) vs. #9 Pedro Munhoz (136 lbs.)
Rafa Garcia (155 lbs.) vs. Clay Guida (154.5 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. ET)
Bill Algeo (146 lbs.) vs. TJ Brown (146 lbs.)
#5 Matheus Nicolau (126 lbs.) vs. #4 Brandon Royval (126 lbs.)
Zak Cummings (206 lbs.) vs. Ed Herman (206 lbs.)
Gillian Robertson (116 lbs.) vs. Piera Rodriguez (116 lbs.)
Lando Vannata (156 lbs.) vs. Daniel Zellhuber (156 lbs.)
Bruna Brasil (116 lbs.) vs. Denise Gomes (115 lbs.)
Gaston Bolanos (136 lbs.) vs. Aaron Phillips (136 lbs.)
Joselyn Edwards (136.5 lbs.)* vs. Lucie Pudilova (136 lbs.)

Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC on ESPN 44, I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host for the evening. Tonight we’ve got a very good and relevant main event when former featherweight champion Max Holloway takes on the surging Arnold Allen. Holloway has looked just a touch slower in his last few fights, but given that he’s been with the UFC since 2012 when he showed up at 4-0 to fight Dustin Poirier on short notice it’s somewhat understandable. Allen has been looking every bit the future title contender recently but this provides a serious test to that ambition as Holloway has only lost against Alexander Volkanovski at featherweight for the last 10 years. The co-main event is pretty solid as well when veteran Edson Barboza battles rising Billy Quarantillo. Past thing things break down just a bit with a few light heavyweight fights and Clay Guida continuing to take up space, but a bantamweight clash between Pedro Munhoz and Chris Gutierrez has some serious implications for that particular division. Honestly the next best fight is buried on the prelims when Brandon Royval fights Matheus Nicolau, the winner there is likely the next flyweight title challenger but God forbid the UFC treat that division with an ounce of respect. But beyond that it’s a pretty solid card, though I’d be remiss not to mention Ed Herman simply because he now has the longest single UFC tenure in UFC history. Herman debuted for the UFC at the TUF 3 finale in June of 2006 and has never left, he actually got to the UFC before either Clay Guida or Jim Miller if you can believe it, and another fun fact is that Herman has a win over Glover Teixeira from 2005. Well that’s enough trivia, let’s hope the action delivers.

UFC on ESPN 44 comes to the world from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Brendan Fitzgerald, Daniel Cormier, and Michael Bisping will call the action with Heidi Androl on roving reporter duty.

Joselyn Edwards has gone 3-2 in the UFC and is on a two fight winning streak, unfortunately she missed weight for her last fight in addition to missing for this one and she likely needs a win to help smooth that over. Even with a win, back to back weight misses represents a problem that needs to be fixed. Lucie Pudilova returned to the UFC last year and got her first UFC win since 2018 by stopping Wu Yuanan, Pudilova is on an overall three fight winning streak and she’s looking to extend that here. Pudilova is your favorite at -140 to a +120 comeback on Edwards.

Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Joselyn Edwards (12-4, 136.5 lbs.) vs. Lucie Pudilova (14-7, 136 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Edwards has two and a half inches of reach advantage. They get right after it, Pudilova tries a takedown but can’t fully secure it as Edwards regains her feet. The “woo’s” are here, God helps us. Things settle down, Edwards is showing stance switches but not doing much. Pudilova lands a knee to the head. Double leg from Pudilova and she gets on top in half guard, that was well timed. Pudilova lands some short punches and elbows, Edwards is just kind of stuck here and isn’t doing much to escape. Edwards hip escapes to full guard but Pudilova just punches her along the way. Pudilova lands a few hammer fists. Edwards is trying to get her guard in play, she kicks Pudilova off but doesn’t get up so Pudilova goes back into her half guard. Pudilova is looking to pass, she gets towards full mount but is too quick on the attempt and Edwards is able to buck and get free. They clinch up again and hit the fence. Pudilova lands a few knees but they’ll mostly ride out the round in the clinch.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pudilova

ROUND TWO: Pudilova tries a single leg, Edwards defends and grabs a front headlock. They trade in close then break. Edwards starts working leg kicks as they move at distance. Pudilova avoids a spinning back fist. Body kick from Edwards. Pudilova tries a double leg, she finishes this one and moves into side control. A few short elbows from Pudilova land. Pudilova starts setting up an arm triangle attack but can’t really get it going so she just lands a few more elbows. Edwards tries to buck out of mount but this time Pudilova is able to transition to the back with both hooks in. Pudilova attacks the choke, can’t finish yet though as Edwards tries to attack the hooks. A few punches from Pudilova land then she moves back to full mount. A few more elbows from Pudilova close out the round.

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

ROUND THREE: Edwards fires a few rights that miss. Pudilova keeps pushing forward and lands a jab. Pudilova tries a double leg but that stalls out on the fence. A few knees from Pudilova to the body and leg. They fight for position along the fence then break as Pudilova misses a left hook. Pudilova shows the jab now as they move around. A few leg kicks go back and forth. Edwards keeps showing the leg kick but isn’t building much off of it. Left hook from Edwards lands and she avoids a poor double leg attempt. Bit of a right from Pudilova. Pudilova lands a right into a clinch, then they trade body kicks as they break. Edwards keeps working the jab but Pudilova gets close and lands a knee then slips to the back in the clinch. Takedown from Pudilova but Edwards bounces up, though they’re still clinched. They trade elbows and break. Edwards lands another leg kick. They punch into a clinch and that’s where the round will end.

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

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

Commentary absolutely buries the decision and I can’t say I disagree, that’s pretty freaking bad in terms of scorecards. No interview for Edwards. Clucky is definitely in KC tonight.

Aaron Phillips had a five fight winning streak broken when he returned to the UFC in 2020 and lost to Jack Shore, a series of injures and illnesses have kept Phillips out of action for nearly two years but he’s hoping to get back on the winning side of things here. Gaston Bolanos makes his UFC debut here on the back of a win a year ago and he’s trying to capitalize on the only chance he’ll get to make a first impression. Bolanos is your -190 favorite to +160 for Phillips.

Bantamweight Bout: Gaston Bolanos (6-3, 136 lbs.) vs. Aaron Phillips (12-4, 136 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Phillips has two inches of height and reach over Bolanos. Southpaw for Phillips, and they touch gloves. Phillips shows kicks early, both men are just trying to get a feel for things. Bit of a front kick from Phillips but Bolanos counters with a right hand. Bolanos catches a kick and lands another right hand. Phillips punches in close but can’t quite find a clinch. A lot of leg kicks from Bolanos as they circle. Phillips lands a leg kick. Inside then outside leg kicks from Bolanos. Stiff right from Bolanos stuns Phillips, then another one seems to really trouble him. The lack of head movement from Phillips is biting him now as Bolanos can find outside foot position and land that power hand down the pipe. Phillips lands an inside leg kick but Bolanos is countering him with punches pretty much every time. Bolanos lands a couple of body kicks. Inside leg kick from Bolanos. Phillips tries a jumping knee but it doesn’t quite connect. Calf kick from Bolanos lands, that’ll be the last relevant blow of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Bolanos

ROUND TWO: Bolanos gets back to work pretty quickly. Phillips tries a takedown, misses initially but he’s able to force a scramble and get on top in side control. Bolanos shrimps to half guard. Phillips attacks an arm triangle, Bolanos immediately appeals to the ref. Bolanos avoids the attack and gets full guard, then he pushes Phillips off and stands. Kicks from Bolanos, then Phillips lands a knee and a left hand. Bolanos is starting to really find his groove on the feet, he lands a right hand but Phillips ties up and takes him down into full mount. Phillips lands a few punches and tries to attack the arm triangle again. Bolanos gives up the back trying to regain his feet, and Phillips quickly grabs the body triangle and attacks the choke. Phillips is keeping up the choke attack, he’s got time to work here though so he’s not rushing it. A few punches from Phillips as he’s trying to open up choke attempts. Bolanos is able to break free and stands with less than a minute left in the round. Some leg kicks from Bolanos then he goes into the guard of Phillips. Some hammer fists from Bolanos then Phillips gets to his feet. Phillips lands a head kick but Bolanos just keeps coming forward and lands a combination in close to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Phillips but could have gone the other way, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Bolanos lands an inside leg kick. A lot of circling from Bolanos, he’s sniping as Phillips tries to get close to him. Phillips tries a takedown against the fence, he’s after a single leg but can’t quite finish it yet. Bolanos slips just a bit and Phillips jumps on his back but can’t keep it, he tries to grab a triangle choke as he slips but can’t find it and Bolanos starts landing punches from inside the guard of Phillips. A few more punches from Bolanos then he stands and passes to half guard with some punches. Bolanos stands free and they reset. Right hand from Bolanos then a spinning elbow, but Phillips lands a front kick to back him off. Phillips avoids a spinning elbow and takes Bolanos down then gets his back again with another body triangle. Some punches from Phillips as he tries to open up a choke attack. Arm triangle attack from Phillips, he switches towards a rear naked choke but Bolanos breaks the grip. They end the round with Phillips still on Bolanos’ back.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Bolanos but another one that could go either way, 29-28 Bolanos overall

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

I’m not mad about that, 30-27 is perfectly defensible and Bolanos looked pretty solid throughout. Again no interview as we’ve got plenty of fights so unless you get a finish I imagine you’re not getting mic time.

Bruna Brasil brings a seven fight winning streak into her UFC debut, she’s trying to make a good first impression on the UFC audience after a memorable win on the Contender Series. Denise Gomes had a six fight winning streak snapped in her UFC debut and now she’s looking for that all important first UFC win. The odds are with Brasil at -150 to +130 for Gomes.

Strawweight Bout: Bruna Brasil (8-2-1, 116 lbs.) vs. Denise Gomes (6-2, 115 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Brasil is four inches taller with two and a half inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to start the round. Brasil avoids a right hand then lands a calf kick. Gomes lands a right hand then a calf kick of her own. Gomes pushes into a clinch and they start fighting in the clinch. Brasil seems a little stuck here as Gomes is chipping away with punches and elbows. Brasil finally slips around to the back in the clinch but Gomes gets chest to chest again. Some more positional jockeying and they trade knees to the body. Gomes lands a knee to the head. More knees to the body are traded. They break and both miss strikes. Quickly they clinch up again and resume working knees. Brasil switches and spins free. Gomes lands a right hand. Brasil lands a leg kick. Inside leg kick from Gomes and she avoids a wheel kick. Brasil has started switching her stance now as they move. Gomes with a three punch combination then a few more before Brasil forces a clinch. Takedown from Gomes into full guard. Brasil tries to work her guard up high as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Gomes

ROUND TWO: Gomes shows the leg kick as we get back to fighting. Brasil lands a right hand and avoids some counters. Gomes lands a right hand and clinches up. Some knees are traded then Gomes lands an elbow. Takedown from Gomes but Brasil wall walks quickly. Elbow from Gomes. Brasil lands a knee then they break. Head kick from Brasil but Gomes eats it and takes her down then stands over her landing some leg kicks. Brasil fights to her feet and lands a left hook. A left to the body then a right hook from Gomes drops Brasil and Gomes gets on top and lands punches until the ref steps in.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Denise Gomes via TKO, punches, at 2:42 of Round 2

Mic time for Gomes and the translator, she’s happy to get her first UFC win and puts over her team for getting her ready. She knew her power and heart would carry her to victory.

Here’s the finish, it misses the knockdown but the follow up aggression from Gomes is on point. The drop occurred as they traded rights, but Gomes was braced to absorb it while Brasil had her head straight up in the air and got hit in a much worse spot.

Lando Vannata has been trading wins and losses for a few years while going 3-3 in his last six fights, he’s coming off of a loss though and is trying to avoid his first losing streak. Daniel Zelhuber suffered his first professional loss in his UFC debut last year, now he’s trying to bounce back and score that all important first UFC win while taking out a notable name like Vannata. The odds are close but lean towards Zellhuber at -130 while +110 for Vannata might be a good value bet.

Lightweight Bout: Lando Vannata (12-6-2, 156 lbs.) vs. Daniel Zellhuber (12-1, 156 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Zellhuber is four inches taller with a significant six inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going, Vannata will do a lot of stance switching as they move around. Vannata lands a calf kick. Hard right from Vannata then they trade punches in close. Another calf kick from Vannata. Zellhuber lands a calf kick of his own. Vannata lands another calf kick. Right then a left from Vannata and they clinch up on the fence. Zellhuber lands a few knees in close before they break. Vannata lands another calf kick. Body kick from Vannata. Zellhuber lands a couple of punches, Vannata is hurt and Zellhuber unloads with knees along the fence and Vannata crumbles. Vannata is hurt but he’s able to keep moving enough to avoid the stoppage. Zellhuber slows his offense, he doesn’t want to punch himself out as he lands some lefts from the ride. Vannata eats a right hand as he stands then he cracks Zellhuber with a left hand. Calf kick from Vannata. Zellhuber just circles away the last seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Zellhuber but a borderline one

ROUND TWO: Vannata is back to moving, and he looks mostly recovered. Left to the body from Vannata. Zellhuber blocks a kick and lands a couple of body shots. Some jabs from Zellhuber now, he’s starting to really make use of his frame. Vannata lands a right hand then a leg kick. Bit of a left hook, then a right behind it from Vannata. Zellhuber lands a jab. That jab from Zellhuber is troubling Vannata whenever he hangs out in range. Vannata lands another right hand. Body kick from Vannata then a right uppercut. Zellhuber misses a few counters after eating another uppercut. Knee from Vannata in close. Zellhuber lands a right hand. They trade lefts. Vannata lands another calf kick. Left hook from Vannata lands, but Zellhuber just eats it. Zellhuber with more jabs, he’s fighting long to try and keep Vannata at bay. Vannata catches a kick and sweeps him down, but he can’t get control and Zellhuber scrambles up. Another exchange of lefts. Vannata digs a left to the body. Zellhuber misses a left hook. They kind of feint away the final seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Vannata, 19-18 Zellhuber overall

ROUND THREE: Vannata gets right after things and lands a few punches. Zellhuber lands a left hook, both men are getting after the fight, and Zellhuber knees into a clinch. They trade punches as they break apart. Vannata lands another left to the body. Calf kick from Vannata. Zellhuber lands a right hand. Bit of a body kick from Vannata. Vannata lands a right hand. Zellhuber lands a leg kick. They trade rights. Bit of a left hook from Vannata but Zellhuber counters with a right hand. Head kick from Zellhuber seems to stun Vannata for a moment. Bit of a right from Vannata. Vannata lands a left hook. Both men land in close. Zellhuber avoids some punches then partially blocks a head kick. Vannata misses a cartwheel kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Zellhuber, 29-27 Zellhuber overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Daniel Zelhuber via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-27)

Not really sure about 30-27 as I thought Vannata had the second but it’s not really out of line. Also Daniel Cormier is still terrible at scoring and math as he thinks 30-27 means there was a 10-8 on that scorecard.

Gillian Robertson has gone 2-3 in her last five fights but scored a win in her last outing and now looks for her first winning streak since 2020. Piera Rodriguez is undefeated including two wins in the UFC and now she looks to begin the difficult transition from prospect to contender. Robertson is the -125 favorite in her strawweight debut to +105 on Rodriguez.

Strawweight Bout: Gillian Robertson (11-7, 116 lbs.) vs. Piera Rodriguez (9-0, 116 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Robertson is two inches taller while Rodriguez has half an inch of reach advantage. Some range finding from Robertson early. Rodriguez looks to work her jab. Left hook from Rodriguez lands. Robertson reaches for a takedown, Rodriguez defends with ease. Bit of a combination from Rodriguez. Robertson lands a jab. Bit of a left from Rodriguez, she’s working in combination while Robertson isn’t and that’s causing her problems on the feet. Rodriguez catches a kick and Robertson pulls guard. Robertson tries to set up an armbar attack but Rodriguez defends. Rodriguez stands but Robertson holds onto a single leg and sweeps the base leg to get on top. Robertson moves to half guard and starts looking to pass again but Rodriguez nearly gets full guard back so Robertson settles more into half guard. A few short elbows from Robertson as she looks to set up a pass to mount. Robertson passes to side control, then Rodriguez gets half guard back. A few elbows from Robertson close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Robertson

ROUND TWO: Rodriguez comes out jabbing but Robertson quickly grabs a single leg and spins her down into half guard. Rodriguez tries a kimura attack, but Robertson spins around and looks to counter with an armbar but winds up in north-south. Robertson is still working the armbar attack but bails to get to side control. Full mount for Robertson and she lands elbows while Rodriguez shrimps to half guard. Another pass to mount from Robertson and she lands a few more elbows. Rodriguez is cut around the right eyebrow. More punches from Robertson as Rodriguez is able to catch half guard. Robertson passes back to side control and grabs at a kimura but loses the grip. Rodriguez is struggling on her back here, and Robertson moves to mount again. Armbar from Robertson, she seems to tap and the ref stops things though Rodriguez complains about the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Gillian Robertson via Technical Submission, armbar, at 4:21 of Round 2

They’re claiming a verbal tap, not sure I buy that. Mic time for Robertson, who says she stopped cranking when the ref stepped in as that’s all she can do. She says strawweight feels good and wants a ranked opponent next. She talks us through the finish says she wanted to do some damage before getting the tap. Asked about the future she wants a quick fight and again wants a ranked opponent.

Here’s the finish. I’m fine with calling this a tap.

Zak Cummings has been with the UFC since 2013 and is 3-2 in his last five fights, but he’s coming off of a win and is trying to build another winning streak here. Ed Herman is actually the answer to a weird trivia question as he’s got the longest single UFC tenure ever as he debuted in the UFC way back in 2006 and never left. Herman had a three fight winning streak snapped in his last fight and missed all of 2022, but he’s trying to avoid another losing streak with a win here. Cummings is a decent -205 favorite against +175 on Herman.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Zak Cummings (24-7, 206 lbs.) vs. Ed Herman (26-15 1 NC, 206 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Herman is an inch and a half taller with two inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going, Cummings doing some stance switching. Bit of a body kick from Cummings. They trade punches but Cummings gets the better of things. A left from Cummings floors Herman, he gets on top but has to pull away from an armbar attack from Herman. Cummings makes Herman stand and gets back to stalking him. A left from Cummings lands, then another, Herman is just stock still on the feet, he doesn’t move. They clinch up and Herman falls over. Herman lands an illegal up kick and we get a time out. Replay shows the facial contact was a bit incidental but the upper part of the foot did hit the chin. They restart on the feet, I’m not sure about that ruling. Bit of a right from Herman. Cummings lands a calf kick. Front kick from Cummings then a left hand. Cummings lands another left hand. Left hand then a right hook from Cummings. Cummings is landing that left hand almost at will. Herman lands a right hand. They clash again and Cummings lands a left hand then a body kick. Body shot from Cummings. Herman lands a body shot, but Cummings returns it almost immediately. Cummings lands another left hand. Bit of a jab from Herman. One two from Cummings then Herman lands an uppercut as they break. A body kick from Cummings closes the round.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Cummings but a marginal one

ROUND TWO: Cummings lands a one two but Herman forces a clinch. They hit the fence and Cummings lands body shots while he’s got Herman on the cage. They break and Herman misses an uppercut. Bit of a left from Herman. Cummings off balances Herman with a left hand but Herman bounces up. The stance switching from Cummings is letting his left hand stay active from either stance. Hard left from Cummings, but he’s cut around the left eyebrow from a clash of heads. They clinch up and hit the fence, Cummings has Herman on the cage and they trade some knees. They break as Herman lands a glancing uppercut. Things are slowing down a bit but they’re still colliding. Herman lands a right hand. Front kick from Cummings then an inside leg kick. Cummings lands another left, Herman might be hurt. Calf kick from Cummings. A left hook from Cummings sits down Herman again, this one was hard and Cummings jumps on top of him in half guard. Short elbows from Cummings land but Herman shrimps to full guard. Herman is looking to tie up the arms again but Cummings lands punches before Herman lands another illegal up kick. Replay shows the up kick was illegal and the ref does take a point from Herman for the second up kick and they restart on the feet. Herman lands a right hand. Cummings lands a body kick. Left hand from Cummings staggers Herman, then another one to follow up. Cummings with a calf kick, then Herman lands a left hook but he’s fading badly as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-7 Cummings after the point deduction, 20-15 Cummings overall

ROUND THREE: They get back to slugging it out right away. A left from Cummings lands, then a calf kick and Herman’s leg might be toast. Cummings stands over Herman and lands a few leg kicks before making Herman stand. Stiff jab from Cummings. A hard left from Cummings stuns Herman again, then he follows up with a left to the body. Body kick from Cummings then a calf kick that sweeps Herman down. Herman’s left leg is not doing well. Cummings makes Herman stand again. They get close and start trading punches again. Cummings lands a jab that seems to bother the nose of Herman. Yeah that nose of Herman is probably broken given how quickly it’s bleeding. Cummings lands another calf kick then a left hook. Inside leg kick from Cummings then a left hand behind it. Cummings hurts Herman with a blitz attack. Cummings unloads as Herman puts his back to the fence, and Cummings finally gets him to drop again and that prompts the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Zak Cummings via TKO, punches, at 4:13 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Cummings for his work this evening. Mic time for Cummings who’s getting a ton of hometown love, he says he started MMA in Missouri and wasn’t sure if he was going to keep going after this but now with finishes in three different weight classes he can’t think of anything better. His daughter comes in to hug him and Cummings gets emotional, but his daughter wanted to see him fight at least once and now he’s done.

Ed Herman gets an interview as well, and at 42 after all these years in the UFC he’s done too. Herman puts over Cummings then thanks the UFC, fans, and everyone who’s had his back over his 17 year career. He tells his kids he’s OK and gets emotional as he leaves his gloves in the cage.

This is a really nice finish from Cummings, the body kick to draw down the guard and posture of Herman then he crushes him with a couple of one two combinations.

Brandon Royval has gone 4-2 in the UFC, only losing to Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja, and he’s currently on a two fight winning streak. If Royval wins here he might secure a rematch with either Moreno or Pantoja, but this time with the title on the line as those two are set to fight for Moreno’s flyweight belt later this year. Matheus Nicolau has gone 9-1 in the UFC and is on a six fight winning streak, Nicolau is also looking to stake a claim to a title shot with a win here. Nicolau is your -200 favorite while that +170 payout for Royval is a tempting little bet.

Flyweight Bout: #5 Matheus Nicolau (14-6, 126 lbs.) vs. #4 Brandon Royval (19-2-1, 126 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Royval is three inches taller with two of reach advantage. Royval opens southpaw. Both men probe with jabs and long range kicks. A lot of circling from Nicolau. Bit of a right then a left hook from Nicolau. Inside calf kick from Nicolau lands. Royval blocks a left hook, he’s pressuring but hasn’t landed much yet. A knee then a right hand from Royval stuns Nicolau, he jumps on top and pounds things out with elbows that prompts the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Brandon Royval via KO, punches and elbows, at 2:09 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Royval for his work this evening. Mic time for Royval, he warns people against betting against him going forward. He knows he’ll get a post fight bonus for this one, and says he wants the belt next.

Here’s the finish, Nicolau gets a little predictable with his entries and Royval intercepts him with a step through knee then clocks him with a lead hand blow to prevent recovery. The follow up elbows are just lovely brutal icing on the cake.

Bill Algeo has gone 3-3 in the UFC and he’s coming off of a closely contested split decision loss to Andre Fili, now he’s looking to get his UFC record above the .500 mark. TJ Brown has gone 3-3 in the UFC as well, but he’s coming off of a win and looks to build his second UFC winning streak tonight. Algeo is your -200 favorite against +170 on Brown.

Featherweight Bout: Bill Algeo (16-7, 146 lbs.) vs. TJ Brown (17-9, 146 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Algeo is three inches taller with an inch of reach over Brown. They touch gloves, Algeo fighting southpaw while Brown does some stance switching. OK, both men are switching stances. Brown lands a right hand. Hard left from Algeo and they trade punches in close. Both men land in close again then Brown lands a knee. Algeo lands another right. Brown lands a calf kick. A right from Algeo off balances Brown then Brown swings back in close but Algeo hits a double leg. Brown is working to wall walk and Algeo nearly takes the back as they scramble on the mat. Brown gets on top in side control and grabs at a kimura, but Algeo wall walks and they settle into a clinch. A left from Brown as they break but Algeo lands a knee and punches. They get close and just start unloading on each other before Algeo slips off the fence and resets. One two from Brown. Algeo is bleeding from the nose. Brown lands another right hand then avoids a hook kick. Algeo misses a wheel kick. Bit of a right from Brown then a left to the body. Algeo lands a calf kick. Brown lands a few jabs then a left uppercut. Brown lands another right hand. Algeo lands a leg kick then a right hand of his own. A right from Algeo lands, then a calf kick as the last real blow of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Brown but a close one

ROUND TWO: Algeo gets back to kicking, but Brown lands a right hand. Algeo lands a flurry then a knee, Brown tries a double leg and gets it against the fence and moves to the ride position. Brown with some knees as Algeo stands and then lands an elbow and punches before they break. Stiff jab from Brown but Algeo cracks him with a left elbow that drops him. Algeo jumps on top in a mounted crucifix and lands punches. Brown rolls and gives up the back, Algeo gets a choke in and Brown has to tap out.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Bill Algeo via Submission, rear naked choke, at 1:40 of Round 2

Fun brawl for as long as it lasted. Algeo gets an interview, he expected a wild fight then does a fake retirement before saying you’ll have to drag his body out of here. He talks us through the finish and knows that Brown hit him a lot, and jokingly says he’d never retire in a dump like Kansas City then runs down the people in attendance.

Sadly this misses the elbow that dropped Brown, but it’s still a nice submission from Algeo.

That’s it for preliminary action, on to the main card.

Clay Guida has been around the UFC since 2006 and has been trading wins and losses while going 2-2 in his last four fights, but he’s coming off of a win and could build his first winning streak since 2017 here. Rafa Garcia has gone 3-3 in the UFC, he’s coming off of a win but beating a well known name like Guida would be his biggest win to date. Garcia is a big -280 favorite against +235 on Guida.

Lightweight Bout: Rafa Garcia (14-3, 155 lbs.) vs. Clay Guida (38-22, 154.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height with identical reaches, but Garcia is 13 years younger. Both men come out showing the jab. Guida misses a few punches. Garcia lands a calf kick. Bit of a right from Guida. Garcia lands a couple of punches in close. They trade some calf kicks. Both men miss rights. Garcia lands a left hook. Another calf kick from Garcia, then a right hand behind it. Some jabs go back and forth. Rights are traded, Garcia seems heavier handed thus far. A couple of rights from Garcia land. Garcia’s jab is causing Guida problems as Guida doesn’t throw straight punches. Leg kick from Garcia. Bit of a right from Garcia lands. Solid right from Garcia. Guida lands a right to the body but he’s struggling to get anything going. Garcia lands a left hook. That lead hand from Garcia continues to trouble Guida. Another left hook from Garcia lands. Garcia lands a right hand. More jabs from Garcia land. Garcia keeps his jab landing as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Garcia

ROUND TWO: Garcia lands an uppercut pretty quickly. Guida is trying to force things but he’s just walking into a wood chipper. Garcia lands another uppercut then an elbow in close. Guida misses hooks. Uppercut from Garcia. Bit of a one two from Garcia. Guida lands a right hand. Single leg from Guida, Garcia defends with relative ease and lands an elbow. More jabs from Garcia, Guida’s face is getting busted up. Garcia lands a right hand, Guida’s left eye is bleeding and starting to swell. Right hand from Garcia then a couple of stiff jabs. Garcia keeps landing jabs, then a right hand follow up. A right from Garcia lands. Uppercut from Garcia, he knows how beaten up Guida is. Body shot from Garcia. Again that Garcia jab is landing at will. One two from Garcia. Another right from Garcia lands, he’s just using Guida for target practice at this point. Garcia lands a clubbing right to close the round.

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

ROUND THREE: Garcia lands a right hand to get the round going. A knee from Garcia then a right hand. Guida tries a takedown but Garcia is a brick wall. Both men land rights. Short uppercut from Garcia lands. Both men land again, the lack of firepower from Guida is also preventing his success. Garcia lands a left hook then a leg kick. Bit of a right from Garcia. Garcia with a glancing left hook. Guida eats a left hook in close, he’s throwing but he’s not landing as Garcia’s guard is still in place. Garcia blocks a single leg and lands a hard left to the body. Another body shot from Garcia. Solid right from Garcia lands. Uppercut then a left from Garcia. Bit of a front kick from Garcia. Garcia lands another right. More jabs from Garcia land, he’s got Guida starting to really back up now. Garcia lands punches then clinches up. A few punches from Garcia as they break, he’s looking for a finish but he’s not going to force it. Guida avoids a flying knee as the round ends.

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

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Rafa Garcia via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Mic time for Garcia he puts over Guida as someone he’s looked up to and brings up some of the times they’ve met in the past. He says the jab was key because he had to keep Guida at distance and that was key.

Guida gets an interview as well, he plays with the crowd then says that he just tricked everyone as he’s not retiring but wants to trade gloves with Garcia. He puts over Garcia and thanks him for the fight. To close he brings up his mother in the crowd and Cormier has to take the mic away from him as we run out of time for his rambling.

Pedro Munhoz has only got one win in his last six fights, this is somewhat mitigated by those losses coming to Aljamain Sterling, Frankie Edgar (a split decision I thought Munhoz won), Jose Aldo, and Dominick Cruz. Most recently Munhoz fought to a No Contest with Sean O’Malley when an eye poke rendered Munhoz unable to continue, he’s trying to get his first win since besting Jimmie Rivera in 2021 here. Chris Guierrez has only lost in the UFC to Raoni Barcelos back in 2018, most recently Gutierrez was seen knocking out Frankie Edgar in Edgar’s retirement bout and if he can get by a proven top talent like Munhoz it might put him in prime position to enter the title picture. Gutierrez is the favorite at -205 while the +175 for Munhoz might be another tempting little value bet.

Bantamweight Bout: #13 Chris Gutierrez (19-4-2, 136 lbs.) vs. #9 Pedro Munhoz (19-7 2 NC, 136 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Gutierrez is three inches taller with two inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Both men show calf kicks but neither lands quite yet. Gutierrez lands a calf kick then a front kick. Jab from Gutierrez. Munhoz misses a few kicks. Both men have started showing stance switches. Munhoz lands a left hand that drops Gutierrez, he gets on top in the full guard as Gutierrez works to clear the cobwebs. Gutierrez tries to work his guard but Munhoz prevents him from finding an angle with his hips. Munhoz lands a couple of elbows. Munhoz passes and looks for a toe hold from north-south but Gutierrez scrambles up and Munhoz gets his back standing. Things stall a bit, and Munhoz tries to roll for a leg lock but can’t find it and they reset at distance. Gutierrez with some leg kicks then jabs. Stiff jabs from Gutierrez now. Munhoz comes forward but walks into a left hand. A spinning back kick from Gutierrez ends the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Munhoz

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves again. Munhoz lands a leg kick. Gutierrez lands a calf kick. They’re trading leg kicks at the moment while Munhoz presses forward. Calf kick then a left hand from Gutierrez. Calf kicks again go back and forth. Gutierrez checks a leg kick. Jab from Gutierrez. A lot more jabs from Gutierrez as he circles. Things are still active but neither man has found a ton of success for a bit. Gutierrez is landing a little better but the round on the whole is quite close. Gutierrez lands a calf kick and he’s still keeping his jab going. Munhoz misses a wheel kick. Bit of a left from Gutierrez then they trade calf kicks. Gutierrez lands another calf kick then a jab. They feint away the final seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Gutierrez but a close one, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Both men get to kicking right away. Munhoz continues pressuring forward. Gutierrez lands an inside leg kick. Right hand from Munhoz lands. They trade kicks again. Gutierrez lands a front kick then a calf kick. Munhoz blocks some jabs then eats a left hook. Gutierrez avoids a punch and lands a calf kick. The defense of Gutierrez is really dialed in now, he’s slipping and looking to counter. Gutierrez lands a calf kick then a jab. A few lefts from Gutierrez, then Munhoz lands a leg kick. They trade calf kicks again. Bit of a right from Munhoz. Gutierrez lands a calf kick. Some jabs go back and forth. Gutierrez lands a left hook. The crowd is restless but there’s no reason for that, this has been an active fight. Some more lefts from Gutierrez land. Munhoz reaches for a single leg but doesn’t even come close to finding it. Gutierrez lands an elbow. Tornado kick from Gutierrez partially lands but he slips and Munhoz gets on top in full guard to end the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Gutierrez but another really close one, 29-28 Gutierrez overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Pedro Munhoz via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Surprised that he got all three universally but I’m not arguing against a scorecard for him. Mic time for Munhoz he puts over Gutierrez as a tough up and coming talent, but Munhoz has been in the top 15 for six years and he’s here to fight the best. He says pace and pressure is a big part of his game, then speaks Portuguese thanking his family back in Brazil.

Ion Cutelaba has gone 1-5-1 in his last seven fights and is on a three fight losing streak, he likely needs a win here if he wants to retain a spot on the UFC roster. Tanner Boser has been up and down in the UFC to this point, going 4-4 but that was all up at heavyweight. Now Boser is making his first appearance at light heavyweight and hoping to breathe some new life into his career in a division his frame is better suited to. Cutelaba is a slight -125 favorite to +105 for Boser.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Tanner Boser (20-9-1, 203 lbs.) vs. Ion Cutelaba (16-9-1 1 NC, 206 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Boser is an inch taller with half an inch of reach advantage. Boser shows the jab early. Right from Boser, but Cutelaba fires back with a combination. Boser keeps the jab out there as they circle around. Cutelaba lands a body kick. Right hand from Cutelaba. Boser lands a right hand. Jab from Boser and he avoids a takedown attempt. Cutelaba lands a right that sends Boser staggering back. Double leg from Cutelaba, he’s on top in half guard. Cutelaba unloads with rights as Boser tries to wall walk and it winds up being enough to get the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Ion Cutelaba via TKO, punches, at 2:05 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Cutelaba for his work this evening. Mic time for Cutelaba and his translator, he plays with the crowd just a bit then says he’s happy for the win. He talks us through the finish and calls himself brutal and says everything he throws is dangerous. This wasn’t just a regular fight for him, he was ready to die here tonight and says he’s back.

Here’s the finish. Cutelaba has a strong whizzer with his left hand to keep Boser in place, he leans his body into him as well to try and keep things under control and unloads with rights to the head of Boser.

Dustin Jacoby just suffered his first loss since 2015 when he dropped a close split decision in October of last year, now he’s trying to avoid another losing streak and resume moving up through the rankings. Azamat Murzakanov is undefeated including two wins in the UFC, now he’s taking a step up to fight a ranked opponent, but a win would not only propel him up the rankings it might signify he’s fully ready to move onto the upper end of the division. Jacoby is the -150 favorite to Murzakanov’s +130.

Light Heavyweight Bout: #13 Dustin Jacoby (18-6-1, 206 lbs.) vs. #15 Azamat Murzakanov (12-0, 205 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Jacoby is five inches taller with four and a half inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Murzakanov. Jacoby starts off circling. A lot of stance switching from Jacoby as they get a read on each other. Murzakanov lands a left hand. Another left from Murzakanov lands. Jacoby lands a bit of a calf kick. Jacoby lands a right hand. Murzakanov lands another left. Body shot from Murzakanov. Right hook from Murzakanov. They trade jabs but Jacoby gets dropped and has to bounce up. Murzakanov is pressuring forward, he lands jabs and is looking to get Jacoby out of there. Jacoby is bleeding from the bridge of the nose. Murzakanov lands a body shot before Jacoby gets off the fence. Some leg kicks go back and forth. Bit of a left from Murzakanov. Murzakanov lands a punch and then hits a single leg to get on top. Jacoby quickly scrambles back up and they reset. Murzakanov lands a hard left to the body. Jacoby lands a body kick. Short left from Murzakanov, Jacoby returns a one two to end the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Murzakanov

ROUND TWO: Jacoby opens with a body kick. Murzakanov lands a left to the body. Bit of a left from Murzakanov. Murzakanov lands another left, he’s choosing his offense intelligently thus far. Some jabs from Murzakanov. Left to the body from Murzakanov, then one to the head. Jacoby eats another left. Murzakanov punches in to clinch up and Jacoby puts him against the fence. Some knees from Jacoby but things are stalling out a bit here. A right hand from Jacoby lands as they break. Murzakanov is pressing forward again. Body shot from Murzakanov. They trade power hand punches. Bit of a right from Murzakanov. A left from Murzakanov floors Jacoby, Jacoby fights up but Murzakanov is all over him and keeps unloading lefts including one final elbow before the round ends.

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

ROUND THREE: Jacoby is looking to push the pace, Murzakanov is a little slower now and Jacoby wants to take advantage. Murzakanov lands a body kick. Right hook from Murzakanov lands. Jacoby lands a couple of lefts. They trade lefts. Murzakanov lands an inside leg kick. Double jab from Murzakanov. Jacoby lands a left hand. Murzakanov lands another couple of lefts but Jacoby is bracing and eating them. Jacoby with a stiff jab. A couple of rights from Jacoby land. Murzakanov misses a few lefts, he’s visibly slowing. Jacoby limp legs away from a single leg. Murzakanov forces a clinch and they hit the fence. Jacoby is able to pull free and fires a head kick. They trade punches in close. Jacoby tries a takedown, he gets it against the fence and lands some lefts. Murzakanov is able to wall walk but Jacoby looks to take him back down. Jacoby can’t finish the takedown and just settles for a clinch. Murzakanov spins free and they trade punches again as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Jacoby, 29-28 Murzakanov overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Azamat Murzakanov via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Murzakanov is a problem for the division, but he’s also got to work on his cardio. Mic time for the winner and the translator, he puts over Jacoby as a tough fighter but also thinks he broke his left arm at some point in the second round, and would love to fight someone in the top ten next. He again puts over Jacoby as a great striker but because of that he really wanted to beat him on the feet.

Edson Barboza has been with the UFC since 2010 but he’s just 2-5 in his last seven fights and is on a two fight losing streak, now Barboza needs a win to prove he’s still worth a spot in the top 15 and to try and stave off retirement talk. Billy Quarantillo has gone 5-2 in the UFC, he’s coming off of a win and is after one of this bigger wins while trying to crack the featherweight rankings. Quarantillo is your -170 favorite to +145 for Barboza.

Featherweight Bout: #14 Edson Barboza (22-11, 146 lbs.) vs. Billy Quarantillo (17-4, 146 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Barboza is an inch taller with a notable five inches of reach advantage. Quarantillo immediately pushes towards a clinch and forces things to the fence. Barboza slips free and lands a body kick. Quarantillo with a jab then a right to the body. Quarantillo is looking to push the pace and keep Barboza on the back foot. Barboza lands a calf kick. Quarantillo lands a calf kick of his own. A lot of forward pressure from Quarantillo. Some jabs from Quarantillo then Barboza lands a calf kick. Bit of a right from Quarantillo then he tries a takedown but that stalls out on the fence. Barboza is able to push free and lands a right hand. They trade rights. Some jabs go back and forth but Quarantillo just keeps coming forward and lands another right. Quarantillo lands a right hand and looks to change levels but Barboza ENDS him with a knee strike!

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Edson Barboza via KO, knee, at 2:37 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Barboza for his work this evening. Mic time for Barboza, he plays with the crowd. He talks us through the finish and says he trained this sequence in particular for all of camp and thanks his coaches. Asked about the future he would like to fight someone ahead of him in the rankings and says he’s in the best shape of his life and the next fight will be even better.

Here’s a look at the finish. Quarantillo’s pressure was working and he was landing blows, but his entry here was a little telegraphed and Barboza was clearly ready for it. The knee is incredibly well timed and Quarantillo goes down instantly.

Max Holloway is one of the best featherweights in MMA history, is a former champion in the weight class, and holds a number of records in the promotion, some of which are unlikely to be topped. But Holloway is coming off of a third loss to current champion Alexander Volkanovski and while Volkanovski is the only featherweight to best Holloway in a decade the years and miles may finally be catching up with Holloway. Holloway is looking for another win here to retain his position near the title and prove he’s still got plenty of gas left in the tank. Arnold Allen is on an overall 12 fight winning streak that includes being 10-0 in the UFC, Allen is looking for what would easily be his biggest win ever over the former champion Holloway and if he’s able to get the win he’s undeniably next in line for a title shot. The odds are close here but favor Holloway at -165 to +140 on Allen.

Featherweight Bout: #2 Max Holloway (23-7, 146 lbs.) vs. #4 Arnold Allen (19-1, 146 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Holloway is three inches taller while Allen has an inch of reach advantage. Both men open southpaw but Holloway will switch as he feels necessary. Bit of a calf kick from Allen. Holloway takes a low blow and we get a time out, just an inside leg kick that strayed high as Holloway was closing distance and we’re back to fighting after less than 20 seconds. Bit of a one two from Holloway. Holloway lands a one two. Both men block head kicks. Holloway has started switching up his stance but he seems to prefer closed stance. Hard one two from Allen as Holloway was coming in. Allen lands a leg kick. Holloway blocks a head kick. Some jabs go back and forth. Holloway lands a right to the body. Bit of a let from Allen. Holloway eats a body kick but lands a couple of punches. Holloway lands a left hand. Allen falls short on a combination. Holloway with a combination that’s partially successful. Right hand from Holloway, who is starting to cook. Holloway lands a body kick. Allen blocks a head kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Holloway

ROUND TWO: Allen gets to pressure but Holloway is comfortable circling and countering at the moment. Some lead leg kicks from Allen. Holloway jabs the body, but Allen counters with a left to the head. Both men land in close and the pace might be picking up. Front kick from Allen. Allen lands another left hand. Holloway lands a leg kick. Inside leg kick from Allen then a bit of a left. Holloway lands a calf kick. Holloway with a few jabs while circling. Somewhere recently Holloway surpassed 3,000 significant strikes landed in his UFC career, a milestone that will be very hard to catch. Allen lands a left hand. Holloway lands a jab. Allen misses a punch and eats a body shot. Holloway lands a right to the body. Allen lands a front kick. Body kick from Holloway. Allen lands a jab. Left from Allen lands in close. Bit of a right from Holloway after he threw a body kick. Holloway misses a wheel kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Allen but a close one, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the third round. Allen is moving forward again and looking to jab. Both men land jabs as they move. They split jabs a few times. Holloway lands a quick couple of punches. Allen lands a left hand. Glancing head kick from Holloway then a body shot. There’s a cut around the left eyebrow of Holloway, not bad and it’s on the inside by the nose but it’s bleeding. Allen misses a couple of lefts. Left hand from Allen lands. Holloway lands a right to the body. Allen avoids a high kick and lands a left hand. Some jabs from Allen are landing now. Holloway lands a body kick. A couple of punches from Holloway land. Bit of a body shot from Allen. Holloway avoids a few lefts. They trade power hand punches. Both men land in close. Holloway lands a few jabs then blocks a high kick. A couple of punches then a body kick from Holloway. Allen lands a body shot but Holloway has counters ready. Holloway lands a body kick then tries a spinning back fist that’s partially blocked to close the round.

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

ROUND FOUR: Allen gets on offense right away, he doesn’t want to give Holloway too much time to settle and snipe him. Left from Allen lands. Bit of a jab from Allen. Holloway lands a body kick. Allen lands a left to the body. Holloway with a double jab then a right hand. Allen with another body shot, but Holloway counters with two of his own. Holloway lands another right to the body. Bit of a head kick from Allen then a left hand behind it. Holloway hits the body again, he’s so smooth while moving. Allen off balances Holloway and fires a head kick but it’s blocked. Allen is cut around the inside of the left eyebrow and I believe his nose is bleeding as well. Bit of a head kick from Allen. Allen lands a left but eats a couple of counters. Holloway lands a body kick. Solid left from Allen connects. Holloway slips on a wheel kick and Allen lands a left. Both men land jabs. Allen lands another left hand. Bit of a high kick from Holloway. Allen lands a spinning back kick, then blocks a head kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Allen as I think he did better work but I’m not dying on that hill, 38-38 overall

ROUND FIVE: They touch gloves for the final round. Allen comes out and gets right after things, landing a couple of punches. Holloway lands a body kick but Allen is all over him and lands a couple of hard lefts. Allen figures he needs a finish and is going for it. Holloway lands a knee then a spinning elbow, Allen just eats it improbably. Allen misses a left hand. Bit of a right from Holloway. Allen keeps coming forward but he’s not landing as much now. Holloway lands a body kick but they tie up and Allen forces things to the fence. They break without incident. Allen lands a left but eats a body kick. Another left from Allen lands. Glancing head kick from Allen. A right hook from Allen stuns Holloway, Allen is really after him at this point looking to force the issue. Holloway lands a one two. Body kick from Holloway, then a jab and another body kick. Allen lands a left in close. Allen kicks out the legs from Holloway then fires a head kick that’s blocked. Holloway avoids an elbow and they clinch on the fence. Allen can’t find a takedown and they trade knees. They break and Allen goes right after Holloway, they trade wildly just as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Allen, 48-47 Allen overall but this probably went to Holloway

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Max Holloway via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46 x2)

No issues with that, I’m not sold at all on my fourth round scoring though I’m surprised two of the judges didn’t give Allen the second. Mic time for Holloway, who jokes around with Cormier at first then says he wanted to come out looking pretty but Allen hits like a truck and he objects to Allen jeopardizing his modeling career. He says the final seconds were just like the end of his fight with Lamas. He knew this fight would be like this and he welcomed going all the way with Allen here. Next he plays with the crowd and tells everyone to cheer for Allen when he talks, because Holloway is the man, then jokes that Cormier owes him some barbeque.

Allen gets an interview as well, he knew Holloway would be the best and puts him over but we’re too short on time to do much more than that I guess.

Well on that note UFC on ESPN 44 comes to a close. We’ll unpack all of the fallout from this event tomorrow on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast, plus look ahead to UFC on ESPN+ 80 when Sergei Pavlovich takes on Curtis Blaydes. I hope you’ll be back here for that event because I know I will. Until then thank you as always for reading, stay safe out there, and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.

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