mma / Reports

411’s UFC Fight Night Report: Ankalaev bests Santos

March 12, 2022 | Posted by Robert Winfree
UFC on ESPN+ 61 Image Credit: UFC

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
#5 Thiago Santos (205.5 lbs.) vs. #6 Magomed Ankalaev (205 lbs.)
#10 Marlon Moraes (135 lbs.) vs. #14 Song Yadong (135.5 lbs.)
#15 Alex Caceres (145 lbs.) vs. #12 Sodiq Yusuff (145.5 lbs.)
Karl Roberson (203 lbs.) vs. Khalil Rountree (205 lbs.)
Drew Dober (155 lbs.) vs. Terrance McKinney (156 lbs.)
Alex Pereira (186 lbs.) vs. Bruno Silva (185.5 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)
A.J. Fletcher (170 lbs.) vs. Matthew Semelsberger (169 lbs.)
JJ Aldrich (125.5 lbs.) vs. Gillian Robertson (125.5 lbs.)
Javid Basharat (136 lbs.) vs. Trevin Jones (135 lbs.)
Damon Jackson (145.5 lbs.) vs. Kamuela Kirk (145 lbs.)
Miranda Maverick (125.5 lbs.) vs. Sabina Mazo (125.5 lbs.)
Cody Brundage (185.5 lbs.) vs. Dalcha Lungiambula (186 lbs.)
Guido Cannetti (136 lbs.) vs. Kris Moutinho (135 lbs.)
Azamat Murzakanov (205.5 lbs.) vs. Tafon Nchukwi (205.5 lbs.)


Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC on ESPN+ 61. I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host. On the heels of UFC 272 we’ve got a pretty solid Fight Night card, the main event is a very relevant light heavyweight fight when surging contender Magomed Ankalaev takes on former title challenger Thiago Santos. While it’s a touch unlikely the winner gets a title shot next it’s also not outside the realm of possibility, especially if it’s Ankalaev and he looks impressive doing so. The co-main event might be the last stand of Marlon Moraes as he tries to snap a three fight losing streak against fast rising heavy handed Song Yadong. Kicking off the main card will be a middleweight fight when Alex Pereira, most notable for having a knockout win over Israel Adesanya in kickboxing, takes on hard hitting Bruno Silva. The prelims don’t have much that jumps off the page at you, but there’s nothing objectively bad either. So let’s hope this one is even better in practice than on paper.

UFC on ESPN+ 61 comes to the world from the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Brendan Fitzgerald and Paul Felder are on the call for this one, the first two man booth they’ve had in a while. As for the rules Nevada has adopted most of the newer ones but retain the older rule about only need one hand on the mat to be considered downed. There is the use of instant replay and the fight can be restarted after it’s used if that’s applicable to the situation. Also keep in mind the Apex has the smaller 25 foot diameter cage.

Tafon Nchukwi has gone 2-1 in the UFC and is coming off of a win in his return to light heavyweight, now he’s hoping to remain unbeaten at 205 and start proving himself a notable prospect in the division. Azamat Murzakanov is undefeated coming into his UFC debut, he had three fights fall out last year when he would have debuted but now he’s hoping to get 2022 off to a good start and secure that all important first UFC win. Murzakanov is the favorite at -190 to +160 on Nchukwi.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Azamat Murzakanov (10-0, 205.5 lbs.) vs. Tafon Nchukwi (6-1, 205.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Nchukwi is two inches taller with a whopping five and a half inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going, Murzakanov fighting southpaw. Bit of an inside leg kick from Nchukwi. Murzakanov is backing Nchukwi up, and he’s starting to feint a bit. Nchukwi has been doing a bit of stance switching. Murzakanov lands a left hand. Some body jabs from Murzakanov then a clubbing left. Bit of a head kick from Murzakanov, Nchukwi lands a leg kick to counter. Bit of a knee from Nchukwi, he’s trying to time the dip from Murzakanov when Murzakanov throws the overhand left. Murzakanov lands a straight left then a bit of a right hook. Nchukwi is keeping his guard pretty high, Murzakanov could start going to the body more reliably. Murzakanov lands a left as he takes a body kick. Right hook from Murzakanov lands. Nchukwi avoids a left and lands a left of his own then they clinch up. Some knees from Nchukwi then they break. Murzakanov lands a left to the body. Nchukwi avoids a knee tap then lands a body kick and they clinch up. They break and Nchukwi misses an uppercut. Another clinch and Nchukwi lands a knee to the body. Murzakanov gets Nchukwi on the fence and they start fighting for position as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Nchukwi

ROUND TWO: Nchukwi starts off with a combination. Leg kick from Nchukwi and he blocks a counter punch. Murzakanov doesn’t seem to have a plan B, it’s swing the overhand left and pray. Murzakanov lands a left after catching a leg kick and Nchukwi is off balanced but he regains his feet very quickly. Nchukwi lands another leg kick. Bit of a right from Murzakanov but Nchukwi lands a body kick. They clinch and Nchukwi lands a few knees before they break. Murzakanov just doesn’t have much to offer at this point, Nchukwi is really starting to pick him apart. Nchukwi lands a right hand. Murzakanov tries a takedown but he doesn’t have the drive after contact and they wind up on the fence as Nchukwi defends. A few knees are traded then they break. Nchukwi keeps locking his right leg out when he moves forward, if Murzakanov notices that he could try to side kick the locked out knee. Bit of a right from Murzakanov but there’s not much pop on those punches. One two from Murzakanov mostly lands. Nchukwi lands a right to the body then had a head kick blocked. A hard body kick from Nchukwi lands. Murzakanov lands a one two to counter a leg kick. Nchukwi blocks a left hand. They just circle the last seconds away.

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

ROUND THREE: Nchukwi pushes forward early, they both land power hand punches then settle back into the rhythm of the previous round. Murzakanov lands a left hand and Nchukwi is backing up, he presses forward and lands a knee to the head that makes Nchukwi flop backwards which gets the ref to wave this off.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Azamat Murzakanov via TKO, punches and knee, at :44 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Murzakanov for his work this evening. Mic time for Murzakanov and his translator, he thanks Nchukwi for taking the fight and notes how tough the fight was but he was ready for anything.

Here’s the finish, look at that quick little switch from Murzakanov that allows his right knee to get full power on the jumping knee. Nice finish after dropping the first two rounds pretty cleanly.

Guido Cannetti has a rather dismal UFC record of 2-5 and he’s currently on a three fight losing streak, Cannetti needs a win pretty badly here just to get some form of job security. Kris Moutinho made his UFC debut in July of last year and was on the wrong end of a pretty serious beating from Sean O’Malley, now he’s hoping to have a better showing and earn his first UFC win. The odds lean towards Moutinho at -150 to a +130 comeback for Cannetti.

Bantamweight Bout: Guido Cannetti (8-6, 136 lbs.) vs. Kris Moutinho (9-5, 135 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Moutinho is 13 years younger and one inch taller but the reach is identical. They touch gloves to get us going, both men fighting southpaw. Cannetti lands a leg kick then a right hook. Moutinho is coming forward but Cannetti is happy to meet him. Another leg kick from Cannetti. Moutinho backs Cannetti up and has a combination blocked. More leg kicks from Cannetti land. Moutinho lands a left hand in close, then Cannetti lands a body kick and a left hand. Backfist from Cannetti, Moutinho lands a right hook. Cannetti lands a solid left hand, then knees to the body and a flurry of punches connect. Cannetti is after the finish, he unloads with more punches as Moutinho is against the fence and we get a standing TKO.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Guido Cannetti via TKO, punches, at 2:07 of Round 1

The First round Finish Club thanks Mr. Cannetti for his work this evening. Mic time for Cannetti and his translator, he thanks Argentina and his family and he feels like he’s finally getting the balance of training right. He feels very good after the win and thanks his coaches for their work.

Dalcha Lungiambula has gone 2-2 in the UFC but is coming off of a loss and now finds himself trying to avoid his first ever losing streak. Cody Brundage lost his UFC debut last year but now has his second crack at getting his first UFC win. Lungiambula is a slight -140 favorite to a +120 payout for Brundage.

Middleweight Bout: Cody Brundage (6-2, 185.5 lbs.) vs. Dalcha Lungiambula (11-3, 186 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Brundage is four inches taller but Lungiambula has four inches of reach advantage. Brundage misses a leg kick. Very sedate pace to start. Bit of a right from Brundage. Brundage avoids a right and lands a right then a knee as they break a clinch. Lungiambula misses a right hand, then Brundage tries a single leg and they hit the fence. Brundage picks the ankle and gets the takedown, Lungiambula is able to land some short rights then sprawls away from Brundage. They wrestle to the fence but Lungiambula sprawls away from the fence, he’s doing a good job of landing punches along the way. Brundage tries a single leg from his knees, Lungiambula lands more punches as they stand then looks to unload in the clinch. Uppercuts from Lungiambula, but Brundage is still defending as they clinch again. More rights from Lungiambula, then Brundage lands a spinning back fist and separates. Lungiambula pushes forward and lands knees then looks to unload with punches. Double leg from Lungiambula, but Brundage grabs a guillotine on the way down, locks up the full guard and Lungiambula has to tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Cody Brundage via Submission, guillotine choke, at 3:41 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Brundage for his work this evening. Mic time for Brundage, he’s happy to get the first UFC win under his belt and prove something to himself. He says he’s got a good guillotine and knew Lungiambula would fade as the round went on. Asked about the future he wants to stay active and would like to fight again in the summer.

Here’s a look at the finish. Brundage gets his right arm under the chin pretty quickly, then as Lungiambula goes for the double leg he hooks over the arm and is able to keep everything lined up. Also pay attention to how compressed things are, a key to finishing the arm in guillotine is to crunch in and compress rather than pull and extend.

Sabina Mazo has gone 3-3 in the UFC but is on a two fight losing streak that includes a loss in her return to flyweight, now she’s trying to get back on the winning side of things and prove she’s a valuable addition to the flyweight ranks. Miranda Maverick has gone 2-2 in the UFC and is on a two fight losing streak, while her loss to Maycee Barber was a bit dubious her last loss was pretty comprehensive. Maverick is trying to halt her current skid and get back on the winning side of things. The odds are firmly with Maverick at -380 while Mazo’s underdog status sits at +290.

Women’s Flyweight Bout: Miranda Maverick (9-4, 125.5 lbs.) vs. Sabina Mazo (9-3, 125.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Mazo is three and a half inches taller with four and a half inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Maverick. Both women probe with jabs and leg kicks. Maverick lands a couple of body shots. Mazo is trying to get her jab going. Bit of a left from Maverick. A couple of leg kicks land for Maverick. Mazo lands a jab. Double leg from Maverick and she gets Mazo down into full guard. Mazo starts working her guard up higher. Maverick lands some body to head punches but there’s not a whole lot on them. Mazo tries an armbar, she’s getting pretty close to extending the arm but Maverick is able to get her to break the attempt. Maverick stands over Mazo and lands a few punches but Mazo gets up and they start working in the clinch. Judo hip toss from Maverick and she lands in side control. Some short elbows from Maverick and she moves towards north-south. Mazo fights to her feet and they resume clinch fighting. Another takedown from Maverick, this time into half guard. Maverick lands some short elbows as Mazo gets full guard. Body to head punches from Maverick. They’ll end the round in that position.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Maverick

ROUND TWO: Maverick comes out kicking then misses a left hand. Mazo starts pressing forward, she takes a left hand but then avoids a takedown. Mazo lands a right hand. Clubbing left from Maverick then she tries to clinch but Mazo breaks away. Body kick from Maverick. Some leg kicks go back and forth. Maverick lands a body kick. Mazo lands a leg kick, she’s still stalking forward. Combination from Maverick lands, then she gets a takedown off of a kick. Maverick gets the back as Mazo tries to stand, she locks up the choke and forces the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Miranda Maverick via Submission, rear naked choke, at 2:15 of Round 2

Maverick gets an interview, she’s happy with the win and is proud to show off that she’s well rounded. She fights for herself and her family and is happy to carry that on her shoulders into the cage. She says she had a great camp then talks us through the finish to close.

Here’s the finish. It’s a nice choke from Maverick, she attacks the neck in transition and Mazo abandons the underhook she’s using to prevent the back take to try and address the arm around her neck. If you want to see how to attack the choke one handed this is a good example as well, Maverick is able to get a grip on Mazo’s shoulder and use that to keep the choking arm in place while her other hand comes into play.

Damon Jackson has gone 2-1 since returning to the UFC in 2020, only falling to rising contender Ilia Topuria and scoring an impressive win in his last fight. Jackson is trying to build his first ever UFC winning streak, a necessary step if he’s going to mount a serious attempt to climb the featherweight ranks. Kamuela Kirk is on a three fight winning streak that includes a win in his UFC debut when he bested Makwan Amirkhani, now he’s trying to extend that streak at the expense of a gritty veteran and prove he’s a rising force in the division. This one closed at a -110 pick ’em.

Featherweight Bout: Damon Jackson (19-4-1 1 NC, 145.5 lbs.) vs. Kamuela Kirk (11-4, 145 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Jackson is an inch taller while Kirk has four inches of reach advantage. Jackson pushes forward right away and lands a couple of rights. Kirk gets his defense up and circles, he’s just getting a read on Jackson. They trade body shots then Kirk lands a knee to the head. Leg kick from Jackson. Both men land rights. Kirk lands a left to the body. Jackson lands a couple of punches but takes a knee to the head in reply. Front kick from Jackson then a left hand. Kirk is starting to feel the fight more, he’s backing Jackson up then misses a wheel kick. Jab from Kirk lands. Kirk lands a left to the head. Jab from Kirk then he lands a solid calf kick. Jackson lands a body kick then an uppercut that wobbles Kirk. Both men land front kicks, Kirk seems recovered and lands a stiff right hand. Calf kick from Kirk then a knee to the body. Jackson lands a right that wobbles Kirk and he follows up with a knee. Jackson is pushing forward, he goes for a takedown but that stalls out on the fence. Quick little throw from Jackson then he moves to full mount right away. Jackson lands punches as Kirk hip escapes to half guard. Some lefts from Jackson, he moves towards an arm triangle but can’t pass to make it work. The round ends with Jackson landing a right hand from on top.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Jackson

ROUND TWO: Jackson immediately presses forward as the round starts and he gets a takedown from the clinch. Technically Jackson is in mount but he’s below the hips. Kirk hip escapes towards half guard. Jackson looks to land strikes, and Kirk is able to get full guard. Kirk is trying to wall walk, but Jackson pulls him away from the fence and moves to half guard while landing short blows to the head. Butterfly guard for Kirk now, but Jackson passes to half guard again. Some body shots from Jackson as Kirk gets full guard back. Jackson looks for an arm triangle from inside the guard, he’s got the position but not enough leverage to really for the tap. Jackson bails on the choke and lands some punches. Armbar attempt from Kirk but Jackson pulls free and moves to attack the arm triangle again. This time Jackson gets to the side with the choke and Kirk tries to fight him off but he can’t reguard and has to tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Damon Jackson via Submission, arm triangle choke, at 4:42 of Round 2

Mic time for Jackson, he knew he could get the win on the mat as he felt stronger than Kirk once they tied up. He puts over Kirk then notes he gets the arm triangle from full guard in the gi frequently but couldn’t quite get the angle completely right. Asked what he’d like next he wants to fight a top fifteen opponent next.

This is more or less a textbook arm triangle choke. Jackson does a good job with his feet to prevent Kirk from getting his guard back in play and as he keeps dropping lower with his shoulder the choke gets tighter and tighter.

Trevin Jones just had a four fight unbeaten streak ended when he was choked out by Saidyokub Kakhramonov, now he’s trying to bounce back and avoid his first UFC losing streak. Javid Basharat is undefeated and makes his debut on the back of a win on the Contender Series, now he’s trying to make the most of his only chance to make a first impression on the audience. The odds are with Basharat at -150 to a +130 comeback on Jones.

Bantamweight Bout: Javid Basharat (11-0, 136 lbs.) vs. Trevin Jones (13-7 1 NC, 135 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Basharat is two inches taller while Jones has an inch of reach advantage. Southpaw for Jones. Basharat is pushing forward right away, but both men are mostly probing with long range punches and kicks. Bit of a left from Jones, Basharat has gone southpaw now. Jones lands a couple of body shots, Basharat is switching back and forth frequently at this point. Basharat lands a spinning back kick to the body then a jab. Jones starts going forward and lands a three punch combination. Another left lands for Jones. Body kick from Basharat lands. Hard left from Jones lands, then an inside leg kick. Basharat is pressuring Jones again, he lands a right hand. Knee from Basharat lands and that hurt Jones, he looks for another one to follow up. Jones is hurt on the fence as Basharat lands a few more body shots then an uppercut. Basharat lands a right hand, then another one. Jones lands a left hand but he’s hurt to the body. Basharat lands a couple of body shots then has a head kick blocked. Another body shot from Basharat, he’s identified the target at least. Jones lands a left hand, he’s coming forward more as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Basharat

ROUND TWO: Basharat starts moving forward again, but Jones seems to have regained himself. Calf kick from Basharat. Jones lands a left hand. Another left from Jones. Basharat lands a right hand. Jones is the aggressor now and he lands a hard calf kick. Basharat lands a calf kick. Jones misses a right hook. Calf kick from Jones, both men are biting on the feints of each other at this point. Jones lands a left but Basharat responds with a front kick to the body and Jones starts backing up. Basharat lands a calf kick. Jones tries a double leg, he’s got no drive but he gets a clinch and lands a knee. Basharat lands an elbow as he gets out of the clinch. Body shot from Jones, Basharat responds with a one two. These two are a bit too much in tit for tat territory, content to cede pressure based on who landed last. Basharat keeps aiming kicks at the body. Jones blocks a high kick. Basharat lands a right hand then a knee. Jones counters a calf kick with a flurry of punches. Basharat misses a head kick to end the round.

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

ROUND THREE: Jones comes out and lands a right to the body. Inside leg kick from Jones. Basharat lands a stiff jab. Body shot from Basharat. Jones lands a right hook. Basharat lands a body shot, then a few punches to follow up. Another right from Basharat lands. Basharat digs the body again then has a head kick blocked. Jones misses a few punches. Bit of a left from Jones. Some jabs land for Basharat, he’s getting Jones to the fence regularly and he lands a knee then an elbow. Jones gets on his bike and circles, Basharat lands a wheel kick to the head and fires some punches but Jones clocks him with a counter left. Basharat lands a few punches in close but Jones is punching with him and Jones has the better firepower. Calf kick from Basharat lands. A few jabs from Basharat then he avoids a left hand. Jones misses another few punches. Basharat lands a one two then a spinning back kick to the body will close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Basharat but another fairly close round, 30-27 Basharat overall

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

Basharat gets some mic time, he puts over Trevin Jones and lets Jones give a shout out to a friend who recently passed away. Classy move by Basharat there. Basharat notes Jones was a tough opponent and he knew he had him hurt but didn’t want to get crazy and get caught. Felder then tells him that his brother won his fight in Spain earlier, nice little moment. To close he would like to fight Guido Cannetti since they fought on the same card and he could get that in before Ramadan.

JJ Aldrich has a fairly solid UFC record of 6-3 dating back to 2016, she’s currently on a two fight winning streak and if she can get that to three in a row she could easily earn a crack at some ranked opposition next. Gillian Robertson just snapped a two fight losing streak but she’s also 3-2 in her last five fights, now she’s trying to get another winning streak going and possibly earn her own shot at taking on ranked opponents. Robertson is your favorite at -120 while the +100 payout on Aldrich might be a tempting value bet.

Women’s Flyweight Bout: JJ Aldrich (10-4, 125.5 lbs.) vs. Gillian Robertson (10-6, 125.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Aldrich has four and a half inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Aldrich. Both women probe a bit to start the fight. Robertson lands a front kick. Some kicks to the knee from Robertson, she wants to keep distance as Aldrich looks to establish her jab. Aldrich lands a left hand to counter a side kick to the knee. Robertson lands a front kick to the body, then tries a badly telegraphed takedown which Aldrich defends easily. Bit of a right from Robertson, Aldrich responds with a left hand. Both women land punches in close. We get an eye poke to Aldrich so we’ve got a break. The ref warns both of them about their fingers being open as the doc checks on Aldrich. She’s able to continue and is happy to do so, we get back to fighting after 50 or so seconds. And both of them immediately resume pawing with open hands, great. Some jabs go back and forth then Aldrich lands a left. One two from Aldrich. Both women land rights, Aldrich trips up just a bit then blocks a high kick. Aldrich avoids a single leg and lands a jab. Robertson is picking up the pace with her kicks, and lands a calf kick. They trade then Aldrich tries a double leg as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Aldrich

ROUND TWO: Both women come out jabbing to start the round. Robertson lands a front kick. Aldrich lands a one two. Bit of a right from Robertson but she can’t follow up. Robertson with a knee then Aldrich lands a right hook. Some jabs from Aldrich land. Knee to the body from Robertson, she’s getting chewed up by the jab but her front kicks to the body are starting to do work. Aldrich lands a right hook. Single leg from Robertson, she can’t finish it but gets behind and drags Aldrich down then gets her hooks in. Aldrich spins into her with ease, Robertson kind of just gave her that. Robertson starts working from the full guard but Aldrich has her pressed into the fence. Some short punches from Aldrich, then Robertson kicks her off and they reset on the feet. Aldrich lands a jab, and avoids a takedown attempt. Another left from Aldrich lands. Aldrich lands a right hook. Robertson jabs the body. Bit of a right hook from Aldrich then she lands a body kick, Robertson catches the kick but wont be able to do anything with it before the round ends.

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

ROUND THREE: Aldrich keeps the jab working as the round begins. Robertson tries to punch in close but she can’t tie up with Aldrich. Aldrich lands a left hand. Jabs from Aldrich then Robertson lands a right hand. Aldrich circles away from a combination. Robertson lands an inside leg kick then they trade punches. They tie up then hit the fence. Bit of an elbow from Robertson. Some knees go back and forth while they fight for position then Aldrich slips free. Aldrich lands a one two. Another one two from Aldrich connects. Robertson lands a knee to the body. Bit of a body kick from Robertson. Aldrich lands a left hand then they trade rights. Robertson pulls guard, she starts fishing for an armbar but Aldrich pulls her arm out and lands hammer fists. Full guard for Robertson, and they trade elbows on the mat as the round ends.

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

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – JJ Aldrich via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

No interview for Aldrich.

Matthew Semelesberger has gone 3-1 in the UFC and is coming off of a 15 second knockout win last year, he’s trying to maintain that momentum here and begin building another winning streak. AJ Fletcher is undefeated with all but one of his wins coming via some form of finish, now he’s making his UFC debut and looking to keep his perfect record in tact. Semelsberger is your -195 favorite to +165 on Fletcher.

Welterweight Bout: A.J. Fletcher (9-0, 170 lbs.) vs. Matthew Semelsberger (9-3, 169 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Semelsberger is three inches taller and has a whopping eight inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves, then trade power hand punches. Fletcher lands a calf kick. Semelsberger avoids a takedown attempt then blocks a wheel kick. Fletcher avoids a punch and hits a double leg into half guard. Fletcher passes to half guard, nice pass on his part. Semelsberger bucks him up, and Fletcher dives on a guillotine then uses it to retain top control as he gets half guard on top. Bit of a right hand from Fletcher. Fletcher lands some short elbows as Semelsberger tries to set up a wall walk. Semelsberger gets full guard after he eats an elbow. Fletcher passes to half guard again. Semelsberger starts to wall walk, but Fletcher grabs a guillotine and uses it to get into full mount. Elbows from Fletcher as Semelsberger ties up his head and looks to control posture. Fletcher goes for an arm triangle, he can’t find it and instead lands a few elbows to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Fletcher but a marginal one

ROUND TWO: Semelsberger starts looking to push forward again. Fletcher has a spinning back fist blocked. Bit of a right from Fletcher. Semelsberger lands a body kick then a calf kick. Body kick from Fletcher. They split some jabs. Semelsberger lands a stiff jab. We get some timeout as Fletcher took an eye poke, he takes a little over 20 seconds then we’re back to fighting. Semelsberger keeps jabbing and looking to press forward. Fletcher lands a calf kick, he’s starting to switch his stance a bit now. Double leg from Fletcher, Semelsberger quickly wall walks this time and avoids getting his back taken. They separate after Fletcher tries a throw. Semelsberger lands a body kick. Both men land rights in close. Fletcher lands a lead hand uppercut then a right hand. Semelsberger lands a one two. Fletcher fakes a double leg then gets the back as Semelsberger tries to defend. Both hooks in for Fletcher but he gets too high and Semelsberger shakes him off then gets on top in full guard. Semelsberger lands a right hand. Both men land some strikes. Short elbow from Semelsberger. Body to head punches from Semelsberger. Semelsberger lands a short elbow, Fletcher is bleeding from the bridge of the nose and one around the right eyebrow. More elbows from Semelsberger close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Semelsberger, 19-18 Fletcher overall

ROUND THREE: Semelsberger keeps trying to press the action. Fletcher lands a left hook. Semelsberger lands a front kick to the face. Fletcher lands a left hook. They punch in close then break without incident. Semelsberger lands a right hand. Semelsberger lands a hook then a knee to the body but Fletcher hits a knee tap off of that and gets on top in half guard. Semelsberger fights back up quickly and we reset. Double jab then a right from Fletcher and a calf kick behind it. Double leg from Semelsberger and he lands in side control. Fletcher gets half guard and starts looking to stand. Full guard now for Fletcher. Semelsberger lands a few punches. Hard right from Semelsberger. Fletcher is trying to scoot himself to the fence. Semelsberger lands a few punches as he spins them away from the fence. Another right from Semelsberger. Fletcher tries to shrimp but Semelsberger lands a hard elbow. That elbow cut Fletcher, but he’s able to hit a sweep and they fight to their feet. A clubbing right from Fletcher, Semelsberger lands a knee and we get some brawling for the final couple of seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Semelsberger, 28-28 DRAW overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Matthew Semelsberger via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

No issues with that scoring. Mic time for Semelsberger, he puts over Fletcher and knew the fight was going to be a game one. He knew he had to stay calm after the first round, and notes he’s fought at light heavyweight so he’s rather comfortable and calm from the bottom because he used to be the smaller man.

Alex Pereira made his UFC debut with a fair bit of hype stemming from his very successful kickboxing career, he won that fight in the second round and now looks to extend his overall winning streak while trying to move up the crowded middleweight ranks. Bruno Silva has a seven fight winning streak going that includes three wins in the UFC, if he’s able to turn back Pereira here it would be one of the bigger wins of his career and could see him take aim at some more recognizable names next time out. The odds are with Pereira at -220 to +180 for Silva.

Middleweight Bout: Alex Pereira (4-1, 186 lbs.) vs. Bruno Silva (22-6, 185.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Pereira is four inches taller with five inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. The size difference is pretty stark once they’re next to each other. Pereira probes with kicks while Silva looks to back him up. Silva avoids a punch but he can’t find the clinch. Pereira avoids a few punches then lands a leg kick. Front kick to the body from Pereira. More long range strikes from Pereira then he avoids a blitz. Pereira lands a right hook but Silva fires back and gets him to back off. Silva lands a right hook, he’s gone southpaw now. They trade right hands, both men landed hard punches. Silva keeps pressuring Pereira back and they clinch up. Both men land knees to the body then they break. Bit of a left from Silva, Silva has started switching his stance pretty regularly. Silva lands a left then an inside leg kick. Pereira avoids a punch but Silva then hits a double leg against the fence. Silva looks to stop the wall walk of Pereira, but he can’t fully stuff that and has to settle for moving to ride a leg as Pereira gets to a knee. Pereira wall walks but eats a few knees along the way before they break. Both men have punches blocked in close. Some jabs are traded then Pereira lands a few hooks in close. Pereira blocks a body kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pereira

ROUND TWO: Bit of a side kick from Pereira to start the round. Both men swing punches in close. They trade body kicks. Pereira avoids a left hand. Silva avoids a hook and lands a left. Bit of a right from Pereira then he jabs the body. Silva looks to get closer, he lands a right but Pereira hits a hard left to the body. One two from Silva. Pereira lands a left hook then an overhand right. Calf kick from Silva. Silva lands a right to the body then blocks a hook. Silva ducks under a hook and gets a takedown, Pereira wall walks quickly and they start fighting in the clinch. Knees from Silva as he’s got Pereira on the fence. Pereira avoids a spinning attack and they trade knees. Silva lands an uppercut and they break. They clinch up, Pereira lands a knee to the body before Silva gets him on the cage. Pereira quickly spins free this time and lands a jab. A left hook from Pereira lands. Silva lands a jab. They trade rights in close. Silva avoids a hook and lands a couple of counters. Pereira avoids a few punches then takes a leg kick. Bit of a knee from Pereira but Silva fires back with punches and a leg kick. Silva lands a combination then slips, Pereira gets on top of him for the last couple of seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Silva, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the last round. Silva punches in close and tries a double leg but Pereira defends and they break. Pereira avoids a few punches. Silva lands a leg kick, those are adding up at this point. Silva forces a clinch and they hit the fence. Both men land knees in the clinch. Pereira lands some punches to the body and head while they fight for position. Silva starts looking for a takedown but he can’t quite find it. Pereira lands a knee then Silva lands a couple of punches as they break. Some long range punches from Pereira land, then he hits the body. A left hook from Pereira staggers Silva, he looks to get close and finish but Silva forces a clinch. Pereira lands knees to the body then an elbow. Silva is holding on for dear life. Pereira hits the body as they break, then lands a series of punches. Silva starts punching back then tries a double leg but Pereira sprawls away from him. Bit of a left from Silva then a leg kick. They tie up again and trade knees. Silva tries a body lock takedown but he can’t finish it, though he does get Pereira on the fence. Some lefts from Silva but he’s got no power on these. Silva slips around to the back then lands uppercuts and punches. Both men trade punches in close before Pereira lands an uppercut that stuns Silva. Another flurry from Pereira but Silva just wont fall over. Silva lands a solid left hand to close the round.

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

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Alex Pereira via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Pereira could have taken the second, no issues here. Mic time for Pereira and his translator, he says he’s been criticized for his grappling but got to show that he knows what he’s doing down there. He knows this is the highest level of MMA and knew he had to be ready for his opponent. Asked about the future he will fight whoever’s next as he’d like to get a fight with Adesanya for the belt.

Drew Dober has been a bit up and down in the UFC and he’s on a two fight losing streak, which is somewhat mitigated by his opponents in those fights being Islam Makhachev and Brad Riddell, and now needs to get back on the winning side of things. Terrance McKinney took this fight on about a week’s notice, but he’s on a five fight winning streak with the most recent two coming in the UFC and his last fight taking place just two weeks ago. McKinney is looking build the hype around himself, and if he can take out a durable veteran like Dober it will speak volumes about his ceiling. Dober is the -170 favorite to a +150 payout on McKinney.

Lightweight Bout: Drew Dober (23-11 1 NC, 155 lbs.) vs. Terrance McKinney (12-3, 156 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: McKinney is two inches taller and has three and a half inches of reach advantage. Both men fight southpaw. McKinney lands a knee then a right hook and Dober is down. Dober fights back up to his feet and looks to separate. McKinney lands another knee but Dober eats it and gets a clinch. Bit of a trip from McKinney and he gets on top, then Dober wall walks and they both trade punches in close. Dober lands a right hook. McKinney might have punched himself out just a bit. They trade lefts. McKinney avoids a spinning attack and hits a double leg into half guard. Dober looks for a get up, but winds up just getting full guard. Bit of an elbow from Dober. McKinney looks to posture up but eats another elbow. McKinney lands a few punches. Dober kicks McKinney off then McKinney lands a head kick but Dober just eats it. Dober avoids a few kicks. Bit of a right from Dober then they clinch up again. McKinney lands a knee to the body then they break. Dober lands a punch and a knee, now McKinney is down. Dober gets on top and unloads with punches while McKinney just covers up and the ref intervenes after McKinney stops trying to move.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Drew Dober via TKO, knee and punches, at 3:17 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Dober for his work this evening. Wild fight for as long as it lasted. Mic time for Dober, he puts over McKinney as a hard hitter and calls that one of the toughest first rounds of his career. He knew McKinney would fade as the fight went on and says they brought the heat to each other. Asked about what’s next he loves fan friendly fights and would love to fight Bobby Green.

Khalil Rountree Jr. broke a two fight losing streak in his last fight, now he’s looking for his first winning streak since 2018. Karl Roberson has gone 2-2 in his last four fights and is on a two fight losing streak, now he’s moving back to the light heavyweight division and hoping the change of scenery will revitalize his UFC run. The odds closed at a -140 on Roberson to a +120 comeback for Rountree.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Karl Roberson (9-4, 203 lbs.) vs. Khalil Rountree (9-5 1 NC, 205 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Rountree has two and a half inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves, both men fighting southpaw. Bit of a leg kick from Rountree. Roberson lands a hard calf kick and they trade punches. They trade lefts then Roberson lands a knee. They tie up, Roberson lands a knee and they break. Roberson lands a left hand. Rountree is stalking Roberson but both men have slowed the pace now. Roberson lands a calf kick. Rountree lands a leg kick. Another calf kick from Roberson and he blocks the counter left. Body kick from Roberson lands. Another calf kick from Roberson. Rountree misses a few right hooks. Bit of a calf kick from Roberson. Rountree takes a body kick and lands a left hand. Roberson avoids a punch and lands a calf kick. A jab from Roberson closes the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Roberson

ROUND TWO: Roberson blocks a right hook. Rountree lands a right hook that drops Roberson, Roberson fights back and grabs at a leg lock then takes a body kick on the ground. Roberson fights back up but Rountree clobbers him with another hook and Roberson falls to end the fight.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Kalil Rountree via TKO, punches, at :25 of Round 2

Mic time for Rountree, he says this months his his 12 year anniversary as a pro and he wants to tell his story before he’s a champion. He talks about being a 300 pound kid, riddled with depression, without a dream or a purpose, and he wants to be able to show everyone in that kind of spot that you can find those things. He talks us through the finish then says telling his story and finding ways to express himself has opened up his ability to be violent, and his violence stems from his desire to make a positive change in the world.

Here’s the finish. That kick to the body from Rountree as Roberson is on his seat is brutal.

Sodiq Yusuff just had a six fight winning streak snapped when he ran into the surging Arnold Allen, now he’s trying to bounce back and avoid his first ever losing streak. Alex Caceres is enjoying a bit of a career renaissance, he’s on a five fight winning streak and if he can get by the rising prospect in front of him tonight he could be poised to get a shot at ranked opponents in the near future. Yusuff is a surprisingly heavy favorite at -275 while the +220 payout on Caceres might tempt a few bettors out there.

Featherweight Bout: #15 Alex Caceres (19-12 1 NC, 145 lbs.) vs. #12 Sodiq Yusuff (11-2, 145.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Caceres is an inch taller with an inch and a half of reach advantage. Southpaw for Caceres. Caceres lands a right hook then they clash on kicks. Yusuff lands a bit of a right. They clinch up and Caceres gets a takedown then moves for the back but he can’t secure it and they break. Leg kick from Yusuff. Yusuff is pressing forward, he catches a body kick and gets Caceres down. Caceres looks to wall walk, he gets up but is still clinched. They break without incident. Caceres blocks a high kick. Straight left from Caceres, then another one. Yusuff misses hooks in close. Bit of a right from Yusuff and he forces a clinch. Yusuff slips to the back and starts looking for trips. Caceres is fighting to break the grip, he does so and then spins free. Yusuff lands a leg kick. Body shot from Yusuff then they clinch up and hit the fence with Yusuff on the back. They trade in the clinch, Caceres looks for the back but can’t find it and they ice the round in the clinch.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Caceres

ROUND TWO: Caceres is back to circling, he lands a side kick to the body. Bit of a right from Yusuff. Another right from Yusuff off balances Caceres then they trade punches. Yusuff lands an inside leg kick. Caceres lands an uppercut but takes a counter right. Body kick from Yusuff, he’s doing a better job of pressuring Caceres backwards. They trade rights. Inside leg kick from Yusuff, then they trade lefts. Caceres lands a left hand. Yusuff lands another inside leg kick. Caceres avoids a high kick. Yusuff keeps kicking the leg of Caceres every time Caceres tries to engage. More inside leg kicks from Yusuff, Caceres doesn’t like those. Caceres lands a left then misses an uppercut. Body shot from Caceres. Another leg kick from Yusuff. Caceres misses some punches. Another leg kick from Yusuff. Bit of a right from Yusuff. Yusuff catches a body kick and lands a right hand. Another inside leg kick from Yusuff, then another. Those leg kicks are adding up in a big way. They trade power hand punches to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Yusuff, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Caceres tries some lead leg kicks but he’s not finding much. Yusuff lands a right hand. Bit of a head kick from Yusuff then an inside leg kick. More leg kicks from Yusuff. Caceres lands a left hand. They trade power hand punches. Caceres lands a few punches, he’s coming forward now. Yusuff lands an inside leg kick then a body shot. Bit of a left from Yusuff. Caceres lands a spinning back kick to the body, Yusuff replies with an inside leg kick. More leg kicks from Yusuff then he avoids a left hand. Bit of a right from Yusuff. Yusuff punches close and avoids a takedown. Bit of a head kick from Yusuff. Yusuff lands a jab. A right from Yusuff staggers Caceres, then he tries a head kick that’s mostly blocked. Yusuff lands another couple of inside leg kicks, that lead leg of Caceres is mostly dead. Bit of an uppercut from Caceres. Yusuff lands another inside leg kick. They tie up, Yusuff lands a knee to the body as they hit the fence. Caceres is able to spin free and reset. Caceres lands a left. Inside leg kick from Yusuff. They tie up and Yusuff lands a knee to the head to end the round.

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

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

30-27 is a little odd to me, I thought Caceres should have had the first. Mic time for Yusuff, he’s happy he could get a full three rounds in after a pretty long layoff and notes he felt the rust. He expected to land kicks to the body and head, making Caceres block them with his arms but the stance was wrong so he audibled into the leg kicks. Asked what he wants next he’d like to fight Bryce Mitchell.

Marlon Moraes is a former bantamweight title challenger but the wheels seem to have fallen off for him lately, he’s just 1-4 in his last five fights and he’s been finished in all of those losses. Moraes badly needs a win to salvage his UFC run. Song Yadong has gone an impressive 7-1-1 in the UFC and is on a two fight winning streak, if he can get a win here it’ll easily be the biggest of his career and would put him pretty firmly in the upper echelon of bantamweight contenders. The odds are with Song at -305 to a +240 comeback on Moraes.

Bantamweight Bout: #10 Marlon Moraes (28-9-1, 135 lbs.) vs. #14 Song Yadong (18-5-1 1 NC, 135.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Song is two inches taller but the reach is identical, Song is also 9 years younger. They touch gloves to get us going then get right to trading punches. Song keeps flashing the jab. A right from Song staggers Moraes for a second. Song starts pressing forward but Moraes blocks a few punches. Moraes lands a left hook then he avoids a few punches. Jab from Moraes then he has a head kick blocked. Song lands a couple of body shots. Bit of a right from Moraes. Moraes lands a right hand. They trade jabs the Song lands a right uppercut that FLOORS Moraes and we’re done here.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Song Yadong via KO, punches, at 2:06 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Song for his work this evening. Mic time for Song and his wife/translator, he’s happy he won and puts over Moraes. He says he worked hard on his defense for this fight but saw an opening and had to take it. Asked who he’d like to fight next he says he wants to fight Dominick Cruz.

This is a really lovely finish from Song, he misses the overhand right but Moraes leaves his left arm extended on the jab and Song adjusts to throw an uppercut under it and puts Moraes out. Song is a serious problem for the bantamweight division.

Thiago Santos just broke a three fight losing streak when he was able to wrest a decision from Johnny Walker, now he’s trying to build his first winning streak since 2019 and start climbing towards another title shot. Magomed Ankalaev is on a seven fight winning streak that has seen him fight his way towards the top of the division, now he’s trying to secure the biggest win of his career and potentially put himself into the title picture. Ankalaev is the biggest favorite on the whole card at a whopping -650 while a Santos win would payout at +460.

Light Heavyweight Bout: #5 Thiago Santos (22-9, 205.5 lbs.) vs. #6 Magomed Ankalaev (16-1, 205 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Ankalaev is an inch taller while Santos has an inch of reach on him, Ankalaev is also 9 years younger. Southpaw for Ankalaev. They touch gloves to get us going. Both men do some feinting as they circle, neither is in a hurry as they’ve got five rounds to work. Ankalaev starts feinting with a bit more authority, then checks a leg kick. Ankalaev is backing Santos up to the fence and lands a right hook that wobbles Santos. Santos recovers quickly but he didn’t like that punch. Another right from Ankalaev lands as he blocks a body kick. Santos avoids a front kick. Ankalaev is fighting very patient, he avoids a few punches then lands a hard counter combination. Santos goes southpaw and lands a leg kick then returns to orthodox. Bit of a front kick from Ankalaev then a right hand. Santos is really stuck in first gear here, he tries to start bouncing to change the rhythm. They trade inside leg kicks. Ankalaev avoids a front kick then lands a body kick. They both miss kicks to end the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ankalaev

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves again. Ankalaev starts pressuring forward again, Santos looks to feint and get some kind of respect. Body kicks are traded. Bit of a body shot from Santos. Ankalaev blocks a kick and lands a right hook. Santos lands a couple of leg kicks. Ankalaev is still backing Santos up but he’s not fully confident in his offense yet. Santos is biting on all of Ankalaev’s feints. Ankalaev lands a body shot. They trade inside leg kicks then Ankalaev lands a left to the body. Another body shot from Ankalaev. Seems Ankalaev might have found a target he likes. They trade leg kicks again then Ankalaev lands a jab. Body kick from Ankalaev lands. A right hook from Ankalaev then a head kick. Santos misses a left. Ankalaev lands another body shot and avoids the counter punches. Stiff jab from Ankalaev. Both men land punches in close. Santos lands a left hook, that wobbles Ankalaev and he gets on top in half guard. Some short elbows from Santos land as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Santos, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves again. Ankalaev starts pushing forward and lands a left. Body kick from Ankalaev lands. Head kick from Ankalaev mostly lands. Bit of a right from Ankalaev. Santos lands a side kick to the knee. Bit of a left from Ankalaev. Ankalaev lands a leg kick, he’s got Santos pretty much on the fence again and lands a front kick to the body. Santos lands a leg kick. Ankalaev lands an inside leg kick. Both men miss lefts then Ankalaev lands a body kick. Bit of a left hook from Santos. A left from Ankalaev off balances Santos for a second. Ankalaev lands a jab. Body shot from Ankalaev. Ankalaev lands a front kick to the body then catches a kick and lands a left hand. They clash on kicks, that had to hurt. A right hook from Ankalaev lands then a body kick to follow up. Body kick from Santos then Ankalaev lands a left hand to close the round.

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

ROUND FOUR: That clash of kicks opened up a cut on Ankalaev’s right shin, not a fight ender but it doesn’t look pleasant. They touch gloves again. Ankalaev resumes pressuring forward, and lands a right hook then a body kick. Santos comes forward and swings hooks but he misses. Ankalaev angles off of the fence and lands a jab. Another body shot from Ankalaev then a right hand and he blocks the counters from Santos. Ankalaev lands another left hand, he seems like he’s finally found the timing he was looking for and is willing to open up. Another body shot from Ankalaev. Bit of a left from Ankalaev. Santos is visibly slowing, the body work has started to get to him I think. Ankalaev lands a left. Right hook from Ankalaev, then a left straight. Santos misses a right and eats a counter. Ankalaev avoids a wheel kick. Front kick to the body from Ankalaev, then a left to the body as well. Santos misses a left and eats a counter. Ankalaev lands a body shot, then partially blocks an uppercut. One two from Ankalaev, he’s started to really dissect Santos this round. Ankalaev punches into a clinch and they hit the fence. Some knees from Ankalaev to the thigh and body. Outside trip from Ankalaev and he lands on top in half guard. Ankalaev lands some body shots while working to posture up. A few elbows from Ankalaev land as the round ends.

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

ROUND FIVE: They touch gloves for the last round. Ankalaev side kicks the knee. Santos is trying to be a bit more aggressive, he eats a left hand then a body kick but lands a leg kick. Ankalaev avoids a right hand. Slowly but surely Ankalaev is coming forward again. A right from Ankalaev lands, and he avoids the Santos left that follows it. Bit of a left from Ankalaev. Ankalaev lands a right hook then a left to the body. Ankalaev forces a clinch and they hit the fence. Knees from Ankalaev, he’s going to the body pretty relentlessly. More knees from Ankalaev then he looks for a high crotch but can’t quite find the angle to finish it. Santos avoids an outside trip but eats more knees to the body and thigh. Ankalaev knees the head. The round comes to a close in the clinch.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ankalaev, 49-46 Ankalaev overall

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

48-47 is slightly Cluckified, not sure which round you could argue outside of the 2nd for Santos. Mic time for Ankalaev and his translator, he wanted to go the full five rounds and prove he could fight the distance and that he’s ready for the top of the division. He expected Santos to be more aggressive but he wasn’t so he had to fight like this. Asked about the lack of wrestling he says there were moments he could have tried more wrestling but he didn’t feel it was really right and he only took the chances he was more sure of. Asked who he’d like to fight next he would like to fight the winner of Teixeira and Prochazka but ultimately his next opponent is up to the UFC.

Well that might not have been the most crowd pleasing main event but overall we got a pretty darn good night of fights. I’ll unpack all of the results tomorrow on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast, plus look ahead to UFC on ESPN+ 62 when the UFC returns to London, England. That card will be starting much earlier than usual as it’s prime time in London so keep that in mind if you’re planning to watch live. I’ll be back next week bright and early to cover that one, and I hope you’ll be back here as well. Until next time I thank you for reading, stay safe out there, and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.

article topics :

UFC Fight Night, Robert Winfree