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June 3, 2023 | Posted by Robert Winfree
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MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)
#3 Kai Kara-France (125.5 lbs.) vs. #7 Amir Albazi (126 lbs.)
#15 Alex Caceres (145 lbs.) vs. Daniel Pineda (145.5 lbs.)
Jesse Butler (154.5 lbs.) vs. Jim Miller (155.5 lbs.)
Victor Altamirano (124.5 lbs.) vs. #11 Tim Elliott (126 lbs.)
Karine Silva (125.5 lbs.) vs. Ketlen Souza (124.5 lbs.)
Abubakar Nurmagomedov (170 lbs.) vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (171 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
Johnny Munoz (136 lbs.) vs. Daniel Santos (135.5 lbs.)
Andrei Arlovski (245 lbs.) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (262.5 lbs.)
John Castaneda (136 lbs.) vs. Muin Gafurov (136 lbs.)
Jamie Mullarkey (156 lbs.) vs. Muhammad Naimov (155.5 lbs.)
Jinh Yu Frey (116 lbs.) vs. Elise Reed (115 lbs.)
Da’Mon Blackshear (136 lbs.) vs. Luan Lacerda (136 lbs.)
Maxim Grishin (205 lbs.) vs. Philipe Lins (205.5 lbs.)

Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC on ESPN 46, I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host for the evening. After a week off the UFC looks to kick off their summer season. Our main event tonight is the first flyweight main event since UFC 256 and the first meeting of Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno, now Kai Kara-France and Amir Albazi look to make the case for more flyweights at the top of a card. Albazi has been surging lately while Kara-France is coming off of a loss in an interim title fight and wants to retain his position in the title picture. Things get a little slim in terms of pickings after that, Jim Miller is going for UFC win number 25, Abubakar Nurmagomedov takes on veteran Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, and potentially hot prospect Karine Silva tries to improve upon her UFC debut win. On the prelims Andrei Arlovski is still kicking around, and Jamie Mullarkey takes on late replacement Muhammad Naimov. Mostly we’re hoping for better action in practice than on paper here.

UFC on ESPN 46 comes to the world from the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Because we’re at the Apex we’re in the smaller 25 foot diameter cage, and because we’re in Nevada we’ve got instant replay that can be used at any time and a fight can be restarted once it’s used. Brendan Fitzgerald, Michael Bisping, and Laura Sanko will be calling the action for us.

Philipe Lins moved back to light heavyweight last year and has gone 2-0 since making that move, last in action stopping Ovince Saint Preux in less than a minute he’s now trying to solidify his place in the division. Maxim Grishin has traded wins and losses while going 2-2 in the UFC, he’s coming off of a win though and now looks for his first UFC winning streak. Grishin closed as the favorite at -130 to +110 on Lins.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Maxim Grishin (32-9-2, 205) vs. Philipe Lins (16-5, 205.5)

ROUND ONE: Grishin is an inch taller while the reach is identical. They touch gloves to get us going. Lins starts swinging his left hand early, then lands a calf kick. Bit of a right from Lins, Grishin gets a clinch and they hit the fence. They break without incident. Lins lands a calf kick. Calf kick from Grishin. Lins misses some punches and they clinch again. Grishin with some foot stomps as he’s got Lins on the corner. Lins with a knee to the body. Some positional jockeying they they break. Both men miss punches in close. Another clinch and they hit the fence. Grishin misses an elbow as they break. Lins lands an uppercut then clinches. They break without incident. Grishin fires a head kick, that’s mostly blocked then he lands a calf kick. Bit of an elbow from Grishin, then a spinning elbow but Lins eats it and lands a couple of punches to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Lins

ROUND TWO: Lins lands a right hand to counter a leg kick. Grishin lands a right hand of his own. Lins misses a few punches, eats a punch then forces a clinch. Grishin lands some body shots as Lins drops for a double leg, he can’t finish it though. Lins tries to slip to the back, Grishin uses a kimura attack to force some movement and Lins is able to force him to a knee against the fence. Grishin wall walks then clobbers Lins with an elbow. That hurt Lins, let’s see if Grishin realizes it. They get close and trade punches. Body kick from Grishin then he avoids a punch and they clinch. Lins is able to move to the back in the clinch, then they break. Grishin lands a couple of punches, then they clinch again. Bit of a right from Lins as they break. Bit of a kick from Grishin. Grishin lands a body kick, Lins lands a right hand counter. Calf kick from Grishin. Lins with a body kick, Grishin lands a right uppercut then a left hook. A final calf kick from Grishin closes the round.

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

ROUND THREE: Grishin lands a right hand to start the round, then a calf kick. Lins lands a right hand. Grishin with an elbow in close before Lins grabs a clinch, then they start fighting on the fence again. Not much going on, then they break. Grishin avoids a combination and then shoves away from a clinch. Uppercut from Grishin in close, then Lins grabs another clinch. Some punches from Grishin as Lins keeps trying for takedowns but he can’t find anything. Elbow from Grishin and he avoids some counters then Lins clinches up again. Some knees go back and forth. Grishin spins free and lands a left hook. Another body kick from Grishin. Lins avoids a takedown and forces things to the fence. Grishin lands an elbow. They’ll just ride out the fight in the clinch.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Grishin but probably went to Lins, 29-28 Grishin overall

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

Not a great fight, and no interview for the winner.

Da’Mon Blackshear has gone 0-1-1 in the UFC, he’s trying to find that all important first UFC win here. Luan Lacerda had a 10 fight winning streak snapped in his UFC debut back in January, now he’s trying to avoid his first ever losing streak while getting his first UFC win. The odds are with Lacerda at -155 to Blackshear’s +135.

Bantamweight Bout: Da’Mon Blackshear (12-5-1, 136 lbs.) vs. Luan Lacerda (12-2, 136 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Blackshear is three inches taller with half an inch of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Constant front hand and leg probing from Blackshear. Lacerda lands a leg kick. Body kick from Lacerda. A left hook from Lacerda wobbles Blackshear but he falls into a clinch and gets things on the fence. Blackshear slips to the back in the clinch and lands a few knees to the leg while they fight for position. Lacerda tries to invert for a leg lock, he’s really after a kneebar now and Blackshear keeps trying to defend. A lot of adjustments from Lacerda, he’s nearly got the kneebar but Blackshear is able to kick free and they reset on the feet. Both men look a little slow after that exchange. Bit of a right from Lacerda. Blackshear works some front kicks to the body. Takedown from Blackshear but Lacerda fights up and free pretty quickly. They tie up and trade knees. Lacerda lands a right hand. They trade lefts. Blackshear lands a right hand. Straight left from Blackshear as he’s started to switch stances. Lacerda tries a takedown, he gets things down to the mat and Blackshear tries an armbar but that wont go anywhere before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Lacerda but a close one

ROUND TWO: Lacerda comes out swinging but he’s still pretty flat on his feet. Blackshear lands a body kick. A lot of movement from Blackshear, he’s trying to keep the pace relatively active. Lacerda lands a calf kick then a left to the body. Left hook from Blackshear. Both men land punches in close. Body shot from Lacerda in close, he’s started to walk down Blackshear at this point. A few jabs from Blackshear. Lacerda tries a takedown, they hit the fence and he pulls Blackshear down then goes for a leg lock as he loses position. Blackshear is able to sit on his own leg to try and prevent the attack. Lacerda keeps fighting to extend the leg, Blackshear lands a few punches while defending. Lacerda forces some movement but Blackshear is still defending thus far. Some hard punches from Blackshear now, Lacerda is fading under the attack and the ref steps in to halt the fight.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Da’Mon Blackshear via TKO, punches, at 3:54 of Round 2

Mic time for Blackshear, he’s pretty happy with the win but knows there’s still stuff to work on. He knew the leg locks were coming and he trained hard in bad positions and drilling. He talks us through the finish to close.

I love leg locks, they’re a ton of fun, but there are tradeoffs. Lacerda gets a bit too committed to this attack, can’t adjust to a different attack as Blackshear defends, and finds himself squashed up and punched in the face. If you’re going to go for leg locks you better be able to develop the positions quickly to mitigate the defensive liabilities.

Elise Reed has traded wins and losses while going 2-3 in the UFC, she’s coming off of a loss and is hoping that pattern holds long enough for her to avoid her first ever losing streak. Jinh Yu Frey has gone 2-4 in the UFC and is on her second losing streak of that run, she’s trying to halt that skid and prove she’s still a worthwhile addition to the roster. Reed is your favorite here at -135 while the +115 payout on Frey might tempt a few bettors out there.

Strawweight Bout: Jinh Yu Frey (11-8, 116 lbs.) vs. Elise Reed (6-3, 115 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Frey has two inches of reach advantage and is 8 years older. Southpaw for Frey. Reed comes out aggressively and looks to get after the fight. Frey forces a clinch and they hit the fence. Takedown from Frey and she lands on top in half guard. Some short elbows from Frey as Reed looks to control posture. Reed is able to hip escape to full guard. Frey lands an elbow. Reed looks for an omoplata, Frey defends and kicks her as she stands, legal kicks. There’s some swelling on the forehead of Reed. They trade power hand punches, and Frey has a mouse over her left eyebrow. Frey with a takedown, Reed fights up and eats a body kick. Frey lands a left hand. Reed starts pressing forward, she lands a right hand, then Frey lands a left hand. Both women land in close. Reed keeps coming forward, and they clinch again. Some knees are traded then Frey lands a left hook as they break. Another couple of lefts from Frey land to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Frey

ROUND TWO: Reed is back to working forward but she’s still struggling to find real offense. Frey lands an inside leg kick. Inside leg kick from Reed, then Frey lands a left hand. Body kick from Reed. Frey lands a right hook. Bit of a left from Reed. Reed lands a right hand then a side kick. They trade punches in close. Frey tries a takedown, they hit the fence and she spins Reed down into half guard. Reed works to shrimp to full guard, but she eats a few lefts from Frey. Frey passes to half guard again. Reed gets full guard again. Frey with some body shots then avoids an armbar attempt. Reed is able to kick Frey off and stand again. Right hand from Reed. Reed with a couple of punches into a clinch. That’s where the round will end.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Reed, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Both women come out leg kicking. Frey lands an inside leg kick. Bit of a right from Frey. Reed lands a body kick, Frey returns it and they clinch. Some knees from Reed then they break. Frey avoids a couple of punches and tries a double leg that stalls on the fence. Some knees from Frey. Reed is able to fight free and they trade punches. Reed lands a right hand. Front kick from Reed. Frey lands a one two. They clinch again and hit the fence. They break and Frey lands a left hand. Frey lands an inside leg kick. Reed avoids a head kick, then tries one of her own. Left hook from Reed in close. Reed is getting her jab working now. Frey lands a right hook. Left hand from Reed. They trade lefts. Frey forces a clinch, and Reed fights free but eats a left hook while doing so. A Reed front kick ends the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Reed, 29-28 Reed overall but it’ll come down to the second round

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Elise Reed via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

No interview for Reed.

Jamie Mullarkey has gone 4-3 in the UFC but he’s currently on a two fight winning streak and is trying for his first three fight streak which might earn him a shot at some higher ranked opposition. Muhammad Naimov is replacing Guram Kutateledze on pretty short notice, but he’s on a three fight winning streak and looks to continue that success in the UFC. It’s not surprising to see Mullarkey as the favorite, the biggest on the card actually at -435 to a +350 for Naimov.

Lightweight Bout: Jamie Mullarkey (16-5, 156 lbs.) vs. Muhammad Naimov (8-2, 155.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Mullarkey is three inches taller with four inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Mullarkey looks to jab. Naimov lands a calf kick. A bit of stance switching from Naimov as they move around. Mullarkey punches into a clinch then they break without incident. Body shot from Mullarkey. Mullarkey with a body kick. Naimov lands a body kick but eats a leg kick in response. Mullarkey keeps pushing forward, they clinch and he slips to the back on the fence. Some knees to the leg from Mullarkey before Naimov spins free. Mullarkey’s jab is starting to do work. Naimov lands a body kick and avoids a takedown. Mullarkey lands a right hand. Mullarkey avoids a double leg and clinches up on the fence. Some knees from Mullarkey as he’s looking to get things to the mat. Knee then an elbow from Mullarkey. They break then Mullarkey gets back on pressure. Right to the body from Mullarkey. Naimov lands a calf kick. Front kick from Naimov. Mullarkey gets a clinch, he can’t quite find the takedown and they hit the fence. Elbow from Mullarkey. Naimov lands an uppercut as they break. They clash on kicks. A couple of body shots from Mullarkey, those are going to add up soon if he keeps with them. They trade knees then break. Bit of an elbow from Mullarkey. They’ll circle away the final couple of seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Mullarkey

ROUND TWO: Naimov tries a kick, and that goes low so we’ve got a time out. We’re back to fighting after 27 seconds. Bit of a right from Mullarkey. Naimov lands a left hand. Mullarkey lands a leg kick. Both men miss in close, then Mullarkey lands a jab. A right from Mullarkey stumbles Naimov. Both men land in close. Body kick from Mullarkey then a jab. Naimov lands a spinning back kick to the body. Mullarkey clinches up and trips Naimov down against the fence. Naimov gives up the back but he’s able to wall walk with Mullarkey on his back. Mullarkey with some knees then a few rights before Naimov can get free. Naimov misses a wheel kick but lands a left hand. Mullarkey pushes forward, but stutters at the wrong moment and Naimov floors him with a right hook. Naimov gets on top and lands a few punches to prompt the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Muhammad Naimov via TKO, punches, at 2:59 of Round 2

Mic time for Naimov, he’s very emotional and opens with English and says he’s capable of beating any lightweight or featherweight. For three years he’s been sacrificing for this sport and today is the payoff for all of that. He warns the featherweight division that he’s coming for them. To close he speaks what I think is Tajik to all the people back home.

Here’s the finish. Mullarkey had been closing distance pretty well all night, but here he misjudges how far Naimov can retreat. Naimov slips back, Mullarkey gets a little stuck in open space out of position, and Naimov crushes him with a right hook.

John Castaneda has gone 2-2 in the UFC, he’s coming off of a loss though and is trying to avoid his first UFC losing streak. Muin Gafurov brings a two fight winning streak into his UFC debut and looks to capitalize on his only chance to make a first impression on the UFC audience. Castaneda closed as the favorite at -130 against +110 for Gafurov.

Bantamweight Bout: John Castaneda (19-6, 136 lbs.) vs. Muin Gafurov (18-4, 136 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Gafurov is an inch taller while Castaneda has three inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves, southpaw for Castaneda but he starts switching his stance a lot early. Gafurov looks to pressure forward. Some leg kicks go back and forth. Castaneda defends a takedown and shoves Gafurov away. Leg kick from Castaneda. Gafurov lands a body kick. Wheel kick from Gafurov partially lands. Castaneda lands a straight left. Gafurov catches a kick and forces things to the fence then fires punches before Castaneda slips free. A lot of aggression from Gafurov here. Bit of a left from Castaneda. Castaneda keeps probing with body and leg kicks. Some lefts from Castaneda land, southpaw is working for him as a stance. Gafurov forces a clinch, but can’t keep it. Head kick from Castaneda drops Gafurov, he jumps on top in half guard. Poor pass attempt from Castaneda, Gafurov forces a scramble and they wind up on the feet again. Both men with front kicks. Gafurov fights close with punches, then Castaneda lands a knee. Bit of a right from Castaneda, that’ll be the last real blow of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Castaneda

ROUND TWO: Both men come out swinging. Gafurov fires a body kick. Castaneda keeps avoiding the wide hooks of Gafurov but he’s not countering much. Castaneda lands a left hand. Gafurov misses a few more punches. Castaneda blocks a high kick. Calf kick from Gafurov. They clinch up and Castaneda hits a takedown. Castaneda gets the back as Gafurov makes a poor attempt at standing. Gafurov is able to hand fight and break the hooks then stand again. Gafurov is just swinging for the fences and wont stop. Castaneda lands a couple of lefts then a right that finally gets Gafurov to back off for a moment. We get a time out as there’s a clash of heads, Gafurov is darn near butting there. The ref takes a point, and after seeing the replay I agree, Gafurov was leading with his head. We’re back to fighting, and they touch gloves to get us going. Bit of a left from Castaneda. Both men are still swinging, Castaneda lands a head kick but Gafurov smothers it against the fence and hits a takedown, quick wall walk from Castaneda with Gafurov still on him. Granby roll from Castaneda, then he looks to scramble back up but Gafurov is holding a cradle to keep position. Castaneda wall walks and they break. Gafurov lands a body kick. A couple of hooks from Gafurov land but he misses two or three for every one he lands. Castaneda lands a couple of counter lefts. Double leg from Castaneda, Gafurov wall walks quickly and Castaneda moves to his back. They fight in the clinch to end a truly wild round.

SCORECARD: 9-9 DRAW after the point deduction, 19-18 Castaneda overall

ROUND THREE: Gafurov looks a little tired, and after that second round I can’t blame him. Castaneda lands a left hand, then eats a calf kick. Gafurov lands a leg kick but he’s still trying to recover his wind. Gafurov forces a clinch on the fence, he lands some rights and switches to a double leg but Castaneda hits a switch and lands a knee then a right hand. Castaneda seems to be coming on now that Gafurov is slowing. They clinch up and Castaneda gets Gafurov on the fence. Spinning elbow from Castaneda as they break. Castaneda avoids some punches then lands a left hand. Gafurov tries another double leg, Castaneda defends and gets him on the fence. Double leg from Castaneda and he’s on top in full guard. Castaneda has Gafurov stuffed against the fence and passes to half guard. Some short punches from Castaneda as Gafurov stands. Castaneda slips to the back but can’t keep it and finally hits another double leg into full guard. Full mount for Castaneda, slick pass, and he lands punches then goes for a choke as Gafurov gives up the back but there’s not enough time for him to finish it and the round ends with him going for the choke.

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

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – John Castaneda via unanimous decision (29-27 x3)

Wild little fight there, especially the second round. No interview though, but that’s the current Fight of the Night.

Andrei Arlovski just had a four fight winning streak snapped in October of last year, but he’s looking to continue his incredibly long career by avoiding what could be his first losing streak since 2019. Don’Tale Mayes hasn’t won a fight since 2021 and his UFC record stands at 2-3 with 1 No Contest, he’s coming off of a loss but could score the biggest win of his career if he can take out a legend like Arlovski. The odds are with Mayes at -135 while that +115 payout on Arlovski is an extremely tempting bet.

Heavyweight Bout: Andrei Arlovski (34-21 2 NC, 245 lbs.) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (9-5 1 NC, 262.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Mayes is three inches taller, has four inches of reach advantage, is 20 or so pounds heavier, and is a whopping 13 years younger. Mayes comes out probing with the lead hand. Arlovski avoids a few looping punches. Arlovski avoids a rush and lands a nice right hand that wobbles Mayes for a second. Decent right from Arlovski then he avoids a clinch. Mayes with a bit of a left hand. Arlovski avoids another rush, Mayes is struggling to find the target already. Right to the body from Arlovski. Mayes lands a left to the body. Arlovski misses a couple of rights. Mayes has gone mostly southpaw now but he’s still switching his stance a bit. Bit of a left from Arlovski. Mayes misses a few punches. Both men land jabs. Arlovski jabs the body. Again Arlovski lands to the body. Mayes misses a rush then lands a jumping front kick to the body. Bit of a spinning back fist from Arlovski. Mayes rushes in and gets tagged, they clinch up and trade in there before breaking. Right hand from Mayes lands to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Arlovski but Mayes might have stolen it at the end

ROUND TWO: Both men show front kicks to start the round. Mayes lands a leg kick. Some side kicks from Arlovski. We get a rush from Mayes, they clash and bang heads leading to a time out. Arlovski doesn’t need long to recover and the ref warn both of them about the heads when coming in. Calf kick from Arlovski. Both men have started switching their stance now. Some jabs go back and forth while they’re circling. Mayes lands a left hand. Bit of a right from Arlovski. Gazelle punch from Mayes lands, Arlovski just eats it. Arlovski lands a right hand. One two from Arlovski. Mayes lands a calf kick. A couple of rights from Arlovski land, he’s starting to land in longer combinations now. Mayes lands a right hand over the jab of Arlovski, drops him and then jumps on top and lands punches to get the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Don’Tale Mayes via TKO, punches, at 3:17 of Round 2

Mic time for Mayes, he knew he could turn things if he landed a clean shot and finally found it, and also knew he needed to keep a decent pace because Arlovski can cruise if you let him. He talks us through the finish and puts over his coaches.

Another example of why it is absolutely essential to bring the jab back to proper defensive position. Arlovski loops it low to bring it back and there’s nothing to block that Mayes right hand that crushes him.

Daniel Santos has gone 1-1 in the UFC but he’s coming off of a win and is hoping to build his first UFC winning streak here. Johnny Munoz has traded wins and losses while going 2-2 in the UFC, he’s coming off of a win as well and wants that first UFC winning streak. Santos is a pretty solid favorite at -230 against +195 on Munoz.

Bantamweight Bout: Johnny Munoz (12-2, 136 lbs.) vs. Daniel Santos (10-2, 135.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Munoz is two inches taller with four inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Santos, both men throw kicks but the one from Santos goes low and puts Munoz down and we’re on time right away. That was a bad one. Munoz comes back to fighting after a little over two minutes, and Santos got a hard warning. Both men come out swinging then clinch up and Munoz forces things to the fence. Santos tries a throw, they scramble back up and Munoz winds up pulling full guard with a body triangle. Armbar attack from Munoz, Santos defends then stands, eats an up kick and Munoz grabs a triangle choke. That’s pretty tight but Santos is able to pull free, Munoz never got a hook on the legs to keep him from moving, and Santos stands free then makes Munoz stand. Body kick from Santos. They split a few jabs then Munoz lands a knee to the chest. Spinning back kick from Santos. Munoz tries an inside leg kick, that one goes to the groin of Santos and we’ve got another time out. We’re back to fighting after 34 seconds, that wasn’t a bad kick. Front kick from Munoz. Santos comes forward, misses some punches and Munoz ducks them to grab a clinch. Knee from Santos to the body, Munoz spins him and returns it then they break. Munoz pulls guard again, again with the body triangle. Santos stands free and makes Munoz stand. Front kick from Munoz. Santos lands a body kick, Munoz tries to take him down and nearly gets the back before Santos lands a right hand and gets on top in the full guard. Again Munoz is working the body triangle, he’s controlling it then looking to grab some arm control before attacking. Short elbow from Santos then he stands free. Munoz stands just before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Santos but could have gone the other way

ROUND TWO: Santos gets back to pressure, he lands a body kick. Left hook from Santos then Munoz ties up in a clinch. Some knees from Munoz, then he pulls guard after an attempted hip toss from Santos. Santos lands some punches. Short elbow from Santos. Munoz can’t keep Santos tied up, and Santos stands then lands a few leg kicks before going back into the full guard. More punches from Santos, he’s really finding his ground and pound now. Santos with body and head punches now, Munoz is wilting. Santos stands free and the ref resets them on the feet. Bit of a right from Munoz but he fails on the follow up takedown attempt and Santos gets on top in half guard. Santos stands free and lands a leg kick before the ref makes Munoz stand. Body kicks are traded then Santos pushes Munoz over and gets back on top in full guard. Elbow from Santos will be the last blow of the round.

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

ROUND THREE: And we start the last round with an inside leg kick from Santos hitting the groin of Munoz and we’ve got another time out. The ref wants a bucket for Munoz, that’s not a good sign. After two and a half minutes of Munoz being down they’re ready to continue, and the ref takes a point from Santos. Munoz lands a right hand and tries a takedown but Munoz rag dolls him over and gets on top in full guard. A bit more active guard from Munoz now but Santos is still staying on top. Santos lands a few punches then stands free and lands leg kicks. Munoz lands a calf kick that off balances Santos and they’re back up. Both men miss kicks then clinch up. Munoz jumps for a guillotine choke, but he loses the grip as Santos drops to the mat. Munoz keeps trying to invert for a leg but he’s not getting the angle he wants. Elbow from Santos. A few more punches from Santos. Santos stands free and the ref resets them on the feet. Bit of a right from Munoz, then he off balances Santos and gets on top in full guard. Let’s see what Munoz can do with top position in the final minute of the fight. Santos kicks him off, lands an up kick and then winds up on top after a brief scramble. Santos stands free, Munoz stands then ties up and Santos misses a wheel kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 9-9 DRAW after the point deduction, 29-27 Santos overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Daniel Santos via unanimous decision (29-27 x3)

No interview as we actually overran the allotted air time with all those fouls.

Abubakar Nurmagomedov has gone 2-1 in the UFC and is on a two fight winning streak, he’s looking to extend that here with his biggest win to date while firmly establishing himself as a rising force in the division. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos has traded wins and losses while going 2-2 in his last four fights, but he’s coming off of a win and is looking for his first winning streak since 2019. This one is close, -120 for Nurmagomedov to the even +100 on dos Santos.

Welterweight Bout: Abubakar Nurmagomedov (17-3, 170 lbs.) vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (23-7, 171 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Nurmagomedov has an inch of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Bit of a right from Nurmagomedov, then another one and he punches into a clinch on the fence. Dos Santos is trying to fight him off in the clinch, he’s staying upright at the moment. Nurmagomedov lands some knees to the thigh. Dos Santos avoids a hip toss attempt and lands a knee to the body. Some body work goes back and forth, then knees as well. Nurmagomedov lands a right as dos Santos tried to escape then he gets the clinch back. Elbow from Nurmagomedov. Dos Santos fires a few punches but Nurmagomedov goes for a takedown again. Nurmagomedov has his hands together but dos Santos avoids the takedown but can’t get out of the clinch. The ref breaks them up, they’d stalled out and that’s fair from where I sit. Dos Santos starts switching his stance at range and firing kicks. Nurmagomedov doing a bit of stance switching as well, I’m not sure what he’s looking for when he switches though. Nurmagomedov blocks a right hand and ties up but he can’t keep ahold of dos Santos. Body kick from dos Santos. Dos Santos catches a kick but can’t do anything with it before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Nurmagomedov but a close one

ROUND TWO: Dos Santos comes out kicking again, he lands a hard inside leg kick. Bit of a body kick from dos Santos. Dos Santos lands a right uppercut but Nurmagomedov still gets the clinch. They fight to the fence but dos Santos is able to spin free pretty quickly. Nurmagomedov avoids a takedown and gets the back in the clinch, odd choice from dos Santos there. Dos Santos is able to break the grip of Nurmagomedov but can’t get free. Nurmagomedov lands a few knees to the leg. Dos Santos is able to spin into Nurmagomedov but can’t get away yet. Knee from dos Santos then they break. Bit of a right from dos Santos. Nurmagomedov punches in close but eats knees from dos Santos. They trade some jabs for a bit then Nurmagomedov forces a clinch on the fence. Foot sweep from Nurmagomedov and he gets on top in full guard, but only 12 seconds left in the round. The round will end there.

SCORECARD: 10-9 dos Santos, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Dos Santos comes out kicking again. Leg kick from dos Santos. Another leg kick from dos Santos. Nurmagomedov lands a couple of calf kicks of his own. Nurmagomedov avoids a rush and clinches up, then forces dos Santos to the fence. Dos Santos gets free but Nurmagomedov lands a side kick. They clinch up again, Nurmagomedov lands a couple of rights before they break. Right hand from dos Santos. Dos Santos lands a right hand. Nurmagomedov catches a kick but can’t find the clinch afterwards. Dos Santos sprawls away from Nurmagomedov, but Nurmagomedov spins to the back in the clinch. Quick escape from dos Santos there. Both men miss rights. Dos Santos lands a couple of hard knees in a brief clinch. Nurmagomedov lands a right hand of his own in close. Dos Santos sprawls from a double leg, he then lands a knee from a front headlock position. Nurmagomedov avoids an anaconda choke attempt and gets the back, dos Santos stands and Nurmagomedov is in the backpack position now. They wind up in the clinch as dos Santos is able to hand fight free. Nurmagomedov is after another takedown, he rides dos Santos to his knees and gets the back. Dos Santos spins free and they trade as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 dos Santos, 29-28 dos Santos overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

Not sure about the split there, but I’m not going to get up in arms over it either. Mic time for dos Santos and the translator, he puts over his camp for getting him ready for the wrestling that Nurmagomedov was going to bring. He acknowledges he got hit hard in the beginning, but knew he could recover and brought his own heavy strikes back. Asked about how his life has changed in the two years since his last fight he mentions his new daughter who’s due tomorrow and he hopes to be back home for the birth.

Karine Silva is on a six fight winning streak including a successful UFC debut about a year ago, she’s back in action here though and looking to further prove herself a rising prospect in the division. Ketlen Souza brings a five fight winning streak into her UFC debut, she’s got a tall order in front of her though but a win would be the biggest of her career. The odds are solidly with Silva at -200 against Souza’s +170.

Women’s Flyweight Bout: Karine Silva (15-4, 125.5 lbs.) vs. Ketlen Souza (13-3, 124.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Silva is two inches taller with four inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Silva shows some kicks as they get a feel for the fight. Silva punches into a clinch then kind of muscles Souza down with a clinch takedown into half guard. It looks like Silva is already going for a front choke of some variety, she bails on that after a bit though and lands an elbow. Souza lands a hammer fist then sits for an ankle lock, she adjusts the Achilles Lock and Souza taps and might be hurt.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Karine Silva via Submission, Achilles lock, at 1:45 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Ms. Silva for her work this evening. Replay showed the knee is what gave out, Silva got some lateral motion when going for the Achilles lock and something visibly popped Souza’s knee. Mic time for Silva, she’s happy that her hard work is paying off and says this was just another step in the direction of becoming a champion. Asked about the finish she talks about training the position a lot and felt the pop as Souza tapped and let go.

Here’s a look at the replay, it’s slowed down enough to clearly see the knee pop. Whenever you’re in this kind of position you’ve got to be mindful of your kneeline, Souza gets a little lax about that and even though we’re not dealing with a traditionally dangerous set up Silva is able to get lateral leverage on the knee joint, a little torque from there and something in that joint is going to give.

Tim Elliott has gone 3-1 in his last four fights, he’s coming off of a win and is trying to build another winning streak here while defending his top ranking. Victor Altamirano has gone 2-1 in the UFC but he’s on a two fight winning streak and might be able to crack the top fifteen rankings if he beats the ranked Elliott. Elliott is your -175 favorite to +150 on Altamirano.

Flyweight Bout: Victor Altamirano (12-2, 124.5 lbs.) vs. #11 Tim Elliott (18-12-1, 126 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Altamirano is an inch taller with a notable four inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Altamirano, he comes out hot and throwing kicks. Elliott gets a quick takedown into leg drag. Some hammer fists from Elliott as Altamirano fights to get to half guard. Altamirano shrimps to full guard, Elliott stands and they reset on the feet. Elliott catches a kick and gets a takedown then unloads with some hammer fists. Altamirano fires a few elbows from his back. More hammer fists from Elliott as he blocks a few armbar attempts. Elbow from Elliott. Altamirano is working his guard but Elliott is hip to it and keeps landing some strikes while blocking the attacks. Some more punches and hammer fists from Elliott. Altamirano tries an armbar, his best attempt this time but Elliott again defends and grabs an arm triangle from within the guard. That choke isn’t happening and Elliott uses a can opener to set up elbow strikes. Smore more elbows and punches form Elliott close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Elliott

ROUND TWO: Altamirano lands a leg kick then a couple of punches. They tie up, Elliott with a takedown then a scramble to top position in full guard. Some short elbows from Elliott then punches to follow up. Altamirano scrambles back up and eats knees then lands a head kick. Elliott ties up and pulls guard to buy himself time to recover. Elliott looks to roll and scramble, but Altamirano is keeping top position. Short elbow from Altamirano. Altamirano’s left ear is blowing up a little bit, and Elliott scrambles back up to his feet. Single leg from Altamirano, but Elliott threatens a guillotine and scrambles up and free. Clubbing left from Elliott lands. They get close, Elliott kind of pushes Altamirano over and gets on top in leg drag. Altamirano is able to hip escape to full guard. Elliott with some hammer fists, he’s staying busy if nothing else. They’ll end the round on the mat.

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

ROUND THREE: Elliott comes out hopping on one leg, just because he’s a weird guy. Altamirano lands a hard couple of punches then a knee to the body. Elliott avoids a wheel kick, then blocks a high kick and hits a takedown into full guard. Some short elbows from Elliott. Altamirano tries to tie up an armbar but Elliott reads it and defends then goes back to landing short blows. Elliott is looking to pass, Altamirano wall walks but eats a knee on the way up. Altamirano lands a couple of punches. Elliott lands a knee of his own. Bit of a left from Altamirano. Another couple of punches from Altamirano then a leg kick, but they tie up and Elliott is able to drive him to his back in full guard. Elliott keeps up the small little ground and pound strikes from on top as the round ends.

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

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

No issues with Altamirano getting the second. Mic time for Elliott, he says his weight cut was poor and his overall camp was very hard, this wasn’t his best and he hopes to show the best of himself going forward. He knows he got hit but never felt hurt, he was more hurt to the body after some stomach issues than to the head. He feels he had more to show than this and wants to do better the next time. To close he says he only feels comfortable in the cage and wants to get back in here as soon as possible.

Jim Miller is a legend of the sport and tonight could make a little history by becoming the first fighter in UFC history to hit 25 wins in the organization, and as his career is clearly winding down he’s mostly trying to make it to UFC 300. Jesse Butler took this fight during fight week replacing Jared Gordon, he’s on a five fight winning streak though and a win over Miller would be a heck of a way to start off his UFC run. The odds are with Miller at -245 to Butler’s +205.

Lightweight Bout: Jesse Butler (12-4, 154.5 lbs.) vs. Jim Miller (35-17 1 NC, 155.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Butler has two inches of height and reach advantage, Miller is also 8 years older. Southpaw for Miller. Butler misses a few punches. Miller lands a left against the fence, and that ENDS Butler.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Jim Miller via KO, punch, at :23 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Miller for his work this evening. Mic time for Miller after his fastest win ever, he puts over Butler for taking the fight on about two days notice which is tough and says when he’s on he’s dangerous for anyone. Asked about how much longer he’s going to be around, he’s still focused on UFC 300 and just wants to end like he started which is fighting as much as he can. Asked more specifically what he’d like to do, he jokes about needing to kimura someone in the UFC since he’s never done it. He says the young guys coming up scare him because he doesn’t know them, but he’s just here to have good fights and fight guys that he’s a fan of. He talks us through the finish and notes he likes a higher paced scrap because he tends to lose when fights are slower.

Here’s the finish to win number 25 for Miller. Butler doesn’t move his head when throwing the power hand, and against the open stance that’s a death sentence.

Alex Caceres has gone 6-1 in his last seven fights, only dropping a bout to Sodiq Yusuff and currently coming off of a win now looking for another winning streak. Daniel Pineda has gone 2-1 with 1 No Contest in the UFC, he’s coming off of a win though and is trying to score his first UFC winning streak at the expense of the veteran Caceres. Caceres closed as the favorite at -180 to +155 for Pineda.

Featherweight Bout: #15 Alex Caceres (20-13 1 NC, 145 lbs.) vs. Daniel Pineda (28-14 3 NC, 145.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Caceres is three inches taller with four and a half of reach advantage. Southpaw for Caceres. Pineda comes out with some inside leg kicks. They tie up, Caceres grabs at a choke and Pineda goes to his back to avoid it developing. Caceres on top in half guard, Pineda fights up and they reset. Inside leg kick from Pineda. Another clinch, Pineda tries a throw but Caceres is too long and winds up nearly getting the back then winding up on top again. Pretty quick triangle choke attempt from Pineda, but he can’t develop it and Caceres winds up back on top in full guard. A lot of attacks from Pineda off of his back, then he wall walks but eats a right hand on the way before they break. Pineda lands an inside leg kick. Caceres misses a left hand and Pineda uses a single leg to force things to the fence. A few elbows from Caceres land. Pineda can’t hit a judo throw and winds up on his back again. Elbow from Caceres. A few punches from Caceres land. Pineda attacks an armbar, that’s in but Caceres is able to roll his elbow safe and stands free. Inside leg kick from Pineda. Caceres lands a left to the body as he forces a clinch. There’s a cut on the bridge of Pineda’s nose, not bad but it’s there. Bit of an elbow from Caceres as he pulls out of the clinch. One two from Caceres hurts Pineda, Pineda lands a right hand and wrestles to a takedown. The round ends with Pineda on top.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Caceres but there’s an argument for Pineda

ROUND TWO: Pineda lands a couple of rights, Caceres lands an elbow but Pineda gets a takedown. Caceres wall walks but Pineda is on his back in the clinch. They trade knees in the clinch as Caceres gets chest to chest. Pineda lands a couple of rights in close. Caceres with a couple of punches then they break. One two from Caceres. Pineda misses a spinning back fist, then Caceres lands a punch. Takedown from Pineda, he gets on top in full guard. Caceres tries a triangle, but Pineda is able to stuff that and pass. Pineda looks to take the back, he gets a body triangle on the back but Caceres is looking to spin into him and get on top. Caceres is able to get on top and Pineda lands elbows as he’s still got the body triangle locked in. They’re in an awkward spot, Pineda is still nearly on the back. Pineda reaches for a kimura, he uses that to roll into full mount. Punches from Pineda now as he’s looking to ride Caceres. Pineda with some elbows and hammer fists, he’s looking to move between the back mount and full mount. More punches from Pineda but Caceres is able to roll and get his guard back. Hard elbow from Pineda, and that’ll be the last blow of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pineda, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the final round. Caceres lands a hard body kick, that hurt Pineda. They tie up and Caceres lands elbows then punches. Pineda swings back then lands an inside leg kick. Inside leg kick from Caceres. Pineda is bleeding around the left eye. Body shot from Caceres, but he misses an uppercut and Pineda ties up and trips him down. Caceres is able to wall walk and shove out of the clinch. A few lead hand punches from Caceres as he circles. Hard body shot from Caceres stuns Pineda. Pineda lands a right hand that wobbles Caceres. More pressure from Pineda, they trade jabs but Pineda can’t cut off the cage. Caceres with a body kick. Pineda lands a body kick of his own. Knee from Caceres hurts Pineda again, I’m not sure how he’s still upright after these body shots. Caceres with a one two. Pineda lands an inside leg kick. Pineda is coming forward again. Caceres lands a close head kick. Pineda lands a right hand. Leg kick from Pineda. Caceres lands a left hand and clinches, he spins to the back and Pineda looks to roll for a leg lock. Caceres is able to secure the body triangle though and avoids the leg danger. Pineda spins into Caceres and they scramble back up to the feet. Pineda is still swinging if nothing else. Caceres digs the body but Pineda is in zombie mode. A right from Pineda drops Caceres, he keeps throwing but Caceres is up and they trade to the final bell.

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

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Alex Caceres via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Pretty wild fight, those two went back and forth the whole time. Mic time for Caceres, he wanted to go to the body earlier but Pineda was tougher than he expected. He says he didn’t feel in trouble from the punches but definitely knew he got hit. Asked what he wants next he’d like to fight someone ranked above him, when pressed he’d like a rematch with Yair Rodriguez hopefully for the title.

Kai Kara-France just had a three fight winning streak snapped when he lost an interim title fight against Brandon Moreno, now he’s trying to avoid his first UFC losing streak and prove he’s still a worthy title challenger. Amir Albazi is on an overall five fight winning streak with four of those being in the UFC, now he’s taking a pretty big step up in class to battle Kara-France and could enter the title picture with a win. We’ve got a pick ’em main event folks, -110 for both men.

Flyweight Bout: #3 Kai Kara-France (24-10 1 NC, 125.5 lbs.) vs. #7 Amir Albazi (16-1, 126 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Albazi is an inch taller while Kara-France has an inch of reach advantage. Kara-France lands a right hand. A lot of circling from Kara-France. Bit of an inside leg kick from Kara-France. Albazi blocks a right hand. Albazi tries a takedown, but that just results in a clinch on the fence. Things are stalling out a bit, so Albazi lands a couple of punches before Kara-France slips free. Kara-France starts showing the double jab, then lands a calf kick. Another leg kick from Kara-France lands. Albazi lands a leg kick of his own. Kara-France jabs the body. Bit of a right from Kara-France, that might have rattled Albazi just a bit. Kara-France lands a leg kick. They trade jabs, then Kara-France with a series of jabs. Albazi misses an overhand right. Bit of a left hook from Kara-France. They clash on kicks then Kara-France lands a jab. Both men miss lefts, then a right from Kara-France closes the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Kara-France

ROUND TWO: Albazi works forward as the round starts. Kara-France goes back to sniping at the legs and then lands a left hook. Both men jab the body. Bit of a right from Kara-France. Stiff jab from Albazi. Kara-France lands a body kick. Solid calf kick from Kara-France. Kara-France lands a left hand then avoids a right from Albazi. Albazi tries a takedown against the fence, again things stall out pretty quickly. Albazi misses a couple of punches as they break. Kara-France lands a right hand then a leg kick. Albazi lands a body kick. Left hook from Albazi lands. Kara-France lands a stiff jab of his own. A right from Albazi in close catches Kara-France a little off balance. Bit of a left hook from Albazi, he seems to have dialed in that punch. Kara-France lands a right hand then a left hook. Uppercut from Albazi then he avoids the counters as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Albazi, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: A few leg kicks from Kara-France land. Albazi forces another clinch on the fence. Albazi slips to the back in the clinch and sweeps Kara-France down but Kara-France scrambles back up right away into the clinch. Another near throw from Albazi, Kara-France is threatening a switch though. Kara-France pulls himself to the fence but he winds up with Albazi on top in half guard. Albazi to the back, one hook in. Some punches from Albazi now as Kara-France looks to set up a wall walk. Albazi gets the second hook in then switches to a body triangle. Some choke attacks from Albazi but Kara-France is hand fighting so far. Albazi gets deep on a choke attack, that’s tight but the angle needs work and Kara-France is able to escape. Kara-France stands with Ablazi now in the backpack position. Kara-France slings Albazi off and gets on top in full guard. Some elbows from Kara-France land now, he’s looking to get back at Albazi. Kara-France keeps landing elbows and punches as the round ends.

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

ROUND FOUR: Kara-France feints his way forward then lands an inside leg kick and a body jab. Hard calf kick from Kara-France. Bit of a right from Kara-France. Albazi avoids a right hand. Bit of a head kick from Kara-France. Albazi might have slowed a bit. Kara-France keeps his jab working as he circles, then lands a right hand. Calf kick from Kara-France. Body kick from Kara-France, but Albazi lands a right hand at the same time. Stiff jab from Kara-France. Albazi tries a takedown, he moves to the back in the clinch and works to ride him down. Kara-France is fighting to stay upright and they separate. Bit of a one two from Kara-France. Some jabs from Kara-France but his offense doesn’t seem to be building, more like he’s trying the same things over and over. Kara-France lands a leg kick. Albazi lands a leg kick. Bit of a left from Kara-France. Glancing right from Albazi. Kara-France catches a kick and gets a takedown into half guard. Albazi works to scramble, and he’s back up and they’re clinched. Elbow from Kara-France as they break. A few jabs from Kara-France then an inside leg kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Kara-France, 38-38 overall

ROUND FIVE: Kara-France comes out swinging and lands a right hand. Another right from Kara-France, he’s looking to up the pace now. Kara-France lands another right hand. Hard right from Kara-France stuns Albazi for a second. Albazi avoids a right but can’t find a clinch. Takedown attempt from Albazi, he slips to the back and rides Kara-France down then gets on his hip as Kara-France stands. They’re up again and Albazi is trying to break Kara-France down. Bit of an elbow from Albazi as they break. Kara-France gets back to jabbing. Albazi avoids a knee and a punch. Kara-France lands a right hand. Kara-France with a right to the body. Inside leg kick from Kara-France. They both miss rights. Both men miss lefts. Body kick from Kara-France, then an inside leg kick. More jabs from Kara-France then a left hook. That lead hand from Kara-France is doing work in the last round. More pressure from Kara-France and his left hand lands. Bit of a right from Kara-France. They trade rights again. Albazi is coming on now but walks into a few jabs. Kara-France lands more jabs to keep the distance, then a right hand in close. Leg kick from Kara-France. Right from Kara-France, then jabs to follow. Both men swing as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Kara-France, 48-47 Kara-France overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Amir Albazi via split decision (47-48, 48-47 x2)

Well I don’t agree with that at all, not sure how you can find three rounds for him. Mic time for Albazi, he knows the fight was close and feels he showed his guts and what he brings to the table. He claims he could take the fight down whenever he wanted, all evidence to the contrary, and he promises he’ll get a finish next time. Asked who he’d like next he says there’s no name, only the title. He wants to fight in Abu Dhabi and fight for the belt there.

On that note UFC on ESPN 46 comes to a close. Next week will be UFC 289 and we’ll be previewing that plus reviewing this card on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast Sunday. I’ll be back here next week for UFC 289 and I hope you will as well. Until then thank you for reading, stay safe out there, and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.

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