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411’s UFC Fight Night Report: Barboza Bests Yusuff

October 14, 2023 | Posted by Robert Winfree
UFC on ESPN+ 88 Image Credit: UFC

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
#11 Sodiq Yusuff (145.5 lbs.) vs. #12 Edson Barboza (146 lbs.)
#11 Viviane Araujo (126 lbs.) vs. #9 Jennifer Maia (125 lbs.)
#13 Jonathan Martinez (136 lbs.) vs. #14 Adrian Yanez (135.5 lbs.)
Michel Pereira (186 lbs.) vs. Andre Petroski (186 lbs.)
Christian Rodriguez (140 lbs.)* vs. Cameron Saaiman (135.5 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)
TJ Brown (146 lbs.) vs. Darren Elkins (146 lbs.)
Tainara Lisboa (133.5 lbs.) vs. Ravena Oliveira (133 lbs.)
Brendon Marotte (155.5 lbs.) vs. Terrance McKinney (155.5 lbs.)
Irina Alekseeva (135 lbs.) vs. Melissa Dixon (135.5 lbs.)
Alateng Heili (136 lbs.) vs. #15 Chris Gutierrez (136 lbs.)
Emily Ducote (115.5 lbs.) vs. Ashley Yoder (115.5 lbs.)

Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC On ESPN+ 88, I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host for the evening. The UFC is still keeping the machinery turning tonight, but much like last week there are definitely a few things on paper that deserve some attention. The main event represents a step up for Sodiq Yusuff when he takes on battle tested contender Edson Barboza, Yusuff has been out of action for a little over a year but to date his only UFC loss is to Arnold Allen. Barboza got a win earlier this year and he’s trying to prove that despite being 37 and having been in the UFC for 13 years he’s still a force to be reckoned with. We’re also getting a darn good bantamweight tilt between Jonathan Martinez and Adrian Yanez, both men are always good for a fun fight and together are almost guaranteed fireworks. Elsewhere on the card Michel Pereira has been forced up to middleweight, Darren Elkins is still contracted by the UFC, Terrance McKinney is usually good for something watchable, and another bantamweight fight between Chris Gutierrez and Alateng Heili has potential.

UFC on ESPN+ 88 comes to the world from the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Brendan Fitzgerald, Michael Bisping, and Dominick Cruz will be calling the action. Since we’re in Nevada we’ll have instant replay and the ability to restart a fight if that’s applicable to the situation, plus remember the smaller 25 foot cage is set up in the Apex as well. Well let’s get to the action.

Ashley Yoder has gone 3-7 in the UFC, is on a two fight losing streak, and has been out of action for over two years. Yoder needs a win badly as another loss probably ends her time with the promotion. Emily Ducote has gone 1-2 in the UFC but is on a two fight losing streak and badly needs to get back on the winning side of things to get some job security. The odds are with Ducote at -375 to +295 on Yoder.

Strawweight Bout: Emily Ducote (12-8, 115.5 lbs.) vs. Ashley Yoder (8-8, 115.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Yoder is five inches taller with a significant six inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Yoder, and they touch gloves to get us going. Ducote lands an inside leg kick. Both women fall short with punches, then Ducote lands a right hand. Bit of a right from Ducote. Ducote lands another right then avoids a takedown attempt. Yoder lands a body kick. Ducote lands another right hand. Yoder with a body kick then a left hand. Ducote blocks a high kick then lands a right to the body. Another body shot from Ducote lands. Inside leg kick from Ducote. Yoder lands a left hand. Another left from Yoder but she ate an inside leg kick at the same time. They trade power hand punches. Ducote lands another inside leg kick. Yoder lands a head kick but Ducote just eats it and lands an inside leg kick then a right hand. Ducote hits a double leg into butterfly guard as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ducote but Yoder might have taken it with that head kick

ROUND TWO: Ducote gets back to working inside leg kicks as she tries to push forward. Yoder shows the jab now, not much on it yet. Ducote lands another inside leg kick. Right to the body from Ducote. Bit of a right from Ducote, Yoder is starting to push forward more regularly now though. Yoder lands a glancing left. Ducote avoids a double leg then lands an inside leg kick. Right to the body from Ducote, Yoder didn’t like that one. Ducote lands a right to the body, nearly got a trip takedown too after catching a kick. Another right from Ducote lands. Yoder lands a body kick, then eats a body shot and a right to the head. Inside leg kick from Ducote, then another right to the body followed by a left hook. Solid right from Ducote. Yoder walks into a left hand and misses her counters, she might be bleeding from that one. Ducote lands a left to the body, bit of a knee from Yoder though. They trade power hand punches again. They punch into a clinch and hit the fence. Some knees are traded then Ducote lands an elbow and a right hand as the round ends.

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

ROUND THREE: There’s a cut above Yoder’s left eyebrow, the doc checked it and we can continue but it should be a target for Ducote. They trade punches in close as the round starts. Bit of a head kick from Ducote then a right to the body. Inside leg kick from Ducote. Right to the body then one to the head from Ducote. Yoder lands a left hand. Ducote hits the body again. Bit of a left from Yoder. Ducote lands another inside leg kick, but Yoder lands a knee to the body in a brief clinch. Stepping knee from Yoder, she clinches up and lands knees to the body then an elbow as they break. Ducote hits the body again then lands a right to the head. Another right to the head from Ducote. Right to the body from Ducote then they trade power hand punches in close. Yoder lands a body kick then a knee as well. They clash on power hand punches again. Yoder lands a left hand. A couple of rights from Ducote land then she avoids a level change. Yoder is bleeding from the eyebrow now, and Ducote lands another right to the head then one to the body. That body work from Ducote is working, not only is it bothering Yoder it’s opening up the head and Ducote lands a combination of head shots. Both women miss punches in close, then Ducote hits the body. Ducote lands another right hand. Stiff lefts are traded. Yoder has a head kick blocked. Left hook from Ducote, then she avoids a kick and lands a leg kick. Yoder lands an elbow but eats a counter right. Right to the body then a left hook from Ducote. They get close and trade elbows as the round ends.

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

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

Yoder wound up cut pretty badly above both eyebrows by the end of that one. Mic time for Ducote, she gives love to her grandmother who’s in the crowd and is happy to get back on track with a win. She knew Yoder would be tough but also knew she’d cut her and kept aiming at those cuts to make them worse.

Yoder’s face at the end of the fight if you’re curious.

Chris Gutierrez just had an eight fight unbeaten streak broken by Pedro Munhoz to bring his overall UFC record to 7-2-1, now he’s trying to avoid his first UFC losing streak. Alateng Heili has gone 4-1-1 in the UFC but he’s on a two fight winning streak and a win here would be the best of his career to date. Gutierrez is the favorite at -265 to +215 on Alateng.

Bantamweight Bout: Alateng Heili (16-8-2, 136 lbs.) vs. #15 Chris Gutierrez (19-5-2, 136 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Gutierrez is four inches taller but only has half an inch of reach advantage. Both men feinting early as the round starts, Gutierrez is switching his stance a bit then lands a body kick from southpaw. Bit of a calf kick from Gutierrez then he avoids a head kick from Alatengheili. Gutierrez lands a calf kick. Jab from Gutierrez. Another partial calf kick from Gutierrez. Alatengheili with a bit of a left hook. Another calf kick from Gutierrez. Alatengheili tries to blitz but Guteirrez avoids him. Inside leg kick from Gutierrez. Glancing head kick from Gutierrez then he lands a calf kick. Alatengheili just can’t reliably get inside of kicking range and it’s stifling his offense. Solid leg kick from Gutierrez. Alatengheili avoids a spinning back fist. Some jabs from Gutierrez land. Spinning back kick from Gutierrez mostly lands. Alatengheili pushes forward and lands a bit of a right hand. They trade lefts. Leg kick then a jab from Gutierrez. One last leg kick from Gutierrez closes the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Gutierrez

ROUND TWO: Alatengheili starts pressing forward to start the round but Gutierrez is still moving well and chopping at him with kicks. Hard couple of leg kicks from Gutierrez. Alatengheili lands a left to the body. Gutierrez has a spinning back fist blocked then he avoids some counters. Alatengheili lands a left hook, then Gutierrez lands a leg kick. We get a time out as Alatengheili took a kick to the groin, just some range issue and Alatengheili is back after less than a minute. Gutierrez lands a body kick. Alatengheili falls short with a few punches, he’s trying to get his offense working but he’s still struggling to navigate the distance. Gutierrez lands a right hand. Stiff left from Gutierrez then a right hand behind it. Alatengheili checks a calf kick, that still can’t have felt good though as he’s got a really big hematoma on the outside of his left calf just below the knee. Short left hook from Gutierrez then a calf kick behind it. Gutierrez lands an inside leg kick. Body kick then a left hand from Gutierrez, his southpaw double attack is starting to land. A leg kick from Gutierrez closes the round.

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

ROUND THREE: Gutierrez keeps landing calf kicks as he circles, Alatengheili is still trying to find an answer to the footwork and range management. Body kick from Gutierrez. Inside leg kick from Gutierrez lands. Alatengheili bulls forward and lands a couple of punches. Gutierrez lands a calf kick. Alatengheili falls short on some punches, then walks into a left hand. Gutierrez lands another calf kick, then another. They tie up and Alatengheili slips to the back as they hit the fence. Mat return from Alatengheili, Gutierrez wall walks quickly into a clinch. Gutierrez with some knees in close then an elbow as they break. More calf kicks from Gutierrez land as he circles. Right hand from Gutierrez. One two then a leg kick from Gutierrez. Jab from Gutierrez then a combination in close. Gutierrez with an Imanari roll but can’t quite tie things up and Alatengheili escapes. Body kick then a left from Gutierrez, they both punch as they clinch up and the round ends after Alatengheili hits an inside trip to get on top.

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

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Chris Gutierrez via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Mic time for Gutierrez, he gives glory to God first then says he’s dealing with a lot of emotional stuff right now and hopes he can be fighting for the good things in life right now. Asked what he’d like next he objects to being on the prelims as he’s ranked, then says he’s focused on team mate Jonathan Martinez who’s fighting later today.

Irina Alekseeva won her UFC debut earlier this year and now looks to prove she’s a bright prospect in a division that definitely needs them. Melissa Dixon is undefeated coming into her UFC debut, and she’s hoping to make the most of this chance to make a first impression. Dixon is your -130 favorite to +110 for Alekseeva.

Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Irina Alekseeva (5-1, 135 lbs.) vs. Melissa Dixon (5-0, 135.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Alekseeva is an inch taller while Dixon has an inch of reach advantage. Dixon with a quick left hand. Alekseeva fires some inside and outside leg kicks. Alekseeva lands a left hook then a right hand behind it. Dixon lands a jab. Dixon catches a kick and lands a right hand. Another jab from Dixon, Alekseeva is a little too undisciplined thus far. They get close and trade punches. Bit of a left from Alekseeva. Dixon lands a right hand, then they trade in close. Both women land in close again, but Dixon’s technical advantage is really starting to show when they’re not just brawling. Jabs from Dixon land. Hard right from Alekseeva drops Dixon, she follows her down and gets on top in full guard. Short elbows from Alekseeva, Dixon wall walks and they clinch up. Alekseeva looks for a takedown against the fence, she hits it but is in danger of losing her back to Dixon. They’re in a tricky position here, and Dixon gets both hooks in and now has the back. Some punches from the back from Dixon close out the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Alekseeva

ROUND TWO: Alekseeva with some inside leg kicks to start the round. Dixon lands a one two. Alekseeva lands a right hand. Sharp right hand from Dixon lands. Dixon lands a right hand to counter a leg kick and they clinch up. Dixon rides Alekseeva down and gets on top in full mount. Alekseeva tries to scramble but Dixon gets the back with both hooks in. Some punches from Dixon, she’s just trying to open up a choke attempt. Body triangle now for Dixon, she winds up losing that and nearly loses the position but fights to keep the back. Dixon moves to mount and lands an elbow then gets the back again. The round ends with Dixon landing an elbow.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Dixon, might be a 10-8 argument in there, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Alekseeva keeps marching forward and trying to brawl, but she’s not quite landing reliably. Dixon is bleeding from the nose. They trade punches in close again. Alekseeva just bulls forward and throws a barrage of punches that are partially successful. Dixon lands a jab. Some body shots from Dixon now, Alekseeva is fatigued and that’s a good call. They tie up, Alekseeva then hits a headlock throw and gets on top but Dixon scrambles up then avoids a rolling kneebar and gets on top in side control. Dixon moves to full mount. Alekseeva is trying to buck and bridge free but can’t dislodge Dixon. Dixon moves to the back and lands a few punches. Alekseeva is still trying to roll but can’t get away from Dixon’s control. Dixon moves to full mount and lands an elbow. The round ends with Dixon still landing strikes from mount.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Dixon, again there might be a 10-8 argument in there but it fell just short for me, 29-28 Dixon overall

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

Mic time for Dixon, she feels she can do much better than she showed here and that it just took a little too long to really switch on. She asks for a bonus, again I have to bring up that this is a losing proposition more often than not these days.

Terrance McKinney has been a touch up and down in the UFC, but he broke a two fight losing streak back in August and now looks for his second ever UFC winning streak. Brendon Marotte took this fight on somewhat short notice but he’s bringing a three fight winning streak into his UFC debut and is hoping to score the biggest win of his career. McKinney is the biggest favorite on the card at -520 to Marotte’s +390.

Lightweight Bout: Brendon Marotte (8-1, 155.5 lbs.) vs. Terrance McKinney (14-6, 155.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: McKinney is an inch taller with three and a half inches of reach advantage. Immediate knee from McKinney floors Marotte, McKinney gets on top and keeps landing hammer fists until the ref steps in and halts things.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Terrance McKinney via TKO, knee and punches, at :20 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. McKinney for his work this evening. Mic time for McKinney, he still plans on killing people in here and then puts over some sponsors and people who’ve helped him get here.

This doesn’t include the knee that floored Marotte and basically ended things, but the ground and pound from McKinney is still nice to look at.

Tainara Lisboa is on a four fight winning streak including a successful UFC debut a few months back that impressed those of us who saw it, she’s trying to keep that momentum going here and assert herself as a prospect to watch going forward. Ravena Oliveira brings a seven fight winning streak into her UFC debut and she’s looking to make good on her only chance to leave a good first impression. The odds are with Lisboa at -310 to a +250 comeback on Oliveira.

Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Tainara Lisboa (6-2, 133.5 lbs.) vs. Ravena Oliveira (7-1-1, 133 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Lisboa has two inches of height and reach over Oliveira. Early right hand from Lisboa lands. Oliveira tries an inside leg kick but Lisboa counters with a couple of punches. Seems like Lisboa is timing Oliveira very quickly, she’s also pressuring forward. Oliveira misses a couple of punches. Lisboa with a few punches in close and they clinch up. Oliveira is keeping Lisboa on the fence but there’s not a ton of offense from either woman yet. Lisboa is able to keep upright but she’s not really fighting for inside position or under hooks, she’s kind of just letting Oliveira keep her here. Eventually Oliveira gets a takedown into half guard. Lisboa pretty quickly moves to butterfly guard then starts wall walking, she’s able to get up and this time spins Oliveira into the cage. Oliveira gets tripped down now and Lisboa is on top in guard. Lisboa lands a few punches while moving to the ride position, she’s landing lefts then moves towards the back. One hook in for Lisboa and she lands more short punches. The round will end in that position with Lisboa landing a few punches.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Lisboa

ROUND TWO: Lisboa pushes forward and hits a double leg pretty quickly to get on top in half guard. A few body blows from Lisboa as she’s working to both pass and set up an arm triangle attack. Lisboa moves to mount, she’s more on a hip than either the front or back but she’s able to land punches to the face from here. Oliveira is able to hip escape to half guard but she’s struggling off of her back. More short punches from Lisboa as she tries to set up another attack. Oliveira is able to shrimp to full guard but she’s struggling to start a wall walk. A few punches from Lisboa land but she’s not able to pass the full guard. Oliveira tries an armbar but Lisboa easily defends, Oliveira switches to a leg attack and they just scramble back up into a clinch with Lisboa on the back. Some knees to the leg from Lisboa and the round will end in the clinch.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Lisboa as Oliveira had nothing offensive here, 20-17 Lisboa overall

ROUND THREE: Oliveira comes out swinging and looking to brawl. They get close and trade, then Oliveira grabs a clinch. Lisboa lands a couple of knees then spins Oliveira into the fence. Eventually Oliveira is able to force a break. Bit of a left hook from Oliveira. Another left hook from Oliveira, Lisboa ties up and they hit the fence. They fight over a throw and then roll to the mat where Oliveira winds up on top in half guard. Oliveira moves towards side control, she gets there and lands a few hammer fists. Lisboa moves to her knees and Oliveira moves to the back. Lisboa hip escapes and gets half guard back, then collects full guard. Eventually Lisboa kicks Oliveira off and they reset on the feet. Double leg from Lisboa into full guard. They trade some punches on the ground, then fight up to their feet and trade a few punches to close the fight.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Oliveira, 29-27 Lisboa overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Tainara Lisboa via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Mic time for Lisboa and the translator, she talks about working on her ground game because everyone knows she’s a Thai fighter in general. She puts over Oliveira as a tough fighter but notes she was dealing with injuries in camp and looks forward to doing better next time.

Darren Elkins has been with the UFC since way back in 2010 but he’s 3-2 in his last five fights and he’s trying to avoid another losing streak here while he proves he’s still a worthwhile addition to the roster. TJ Brown has gone 3-4 in the UFC and is coming off of a loss back in April, he’s trying to avoid another UFC losing streak and bring his UFC record to the .500 mark. The odds are with Brown at -185 while the +155 on Elkins might be a decent little value bet.

Featherweight Bout: TJ Brown (17-10, 146 lbs.) vs. Darren Elkins (27-11, 146 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Elkins is an inch taller while Brown has an inch of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Both men probe with the jab early. Bit of a right from Elkins to counter a leg kick. A few jabs are traded then Brown lands a calf kick. Double leg from Elkins and he’s on top in full guard right away. Brown thinks about working his guard up high but Elkins lands an elbow then passes to half guard. Brown gets his guard back but he’s struggling to get Elkins off of him. Elkins passes again and lands some short strikes along the way. Brown tries to roll, Elkins keeps with him and pushes him back over to keep on top in half guard. Elkins works short punches, Brown scrambles up and hits his own takedown into half guard. Elkins kicks Brown off, then scrambles to his knees and they fight up into a clinch. Brown tries to get a takedown but Elkins slips to his back, gets it with a body triangle and grabs at a choke. Elkins is cranking that choke but he can’t quite get his grip together and Brown is able to hand fight and break the choke. Some punches from Elkins, he’s going body and head as he’s got a body triangle locked in. The round ends with Elkins still landing punches.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Elkins

ROUND TWO: Brown starts coming forward early. Both men miss punches. Knee from Brown lands. Elkins tries a takedown but Brown sprawls away from him. Calf kick from Brown. Bit of a right from Elkins but striking is not his strength. Elkins avoids an uppercut and tries a takedown, he’s able to finish it, Brown nearly gets his back and Elkins rolls free and gets on top in side control. Fun scramble sequence there. Brown fights up to his feet and gets his own takedown. Elkins rolls to his knees, Brown jumps on his back but slips free and Elkins gets on top in half guard. Rights from Elkins as he moves to the ride position. Brown tries to wall walk but Elkins strips his base away and gets on top in half guard. Guillotine attempt from Elkins, he can’t finish it and Brown is able to scramble free. They trade jabs then Elkins hits a double leg into full guard. Some short punches and elbows from Elkins, Brown might be fading at this point as this has been a grueling fight. Elkins moves to half guard, Brown finally scrambles up and gets the ride position but Elkins granby rolls to get on top in half guard. Brown pushes Elkins off of him and jumps for a guillotine in transition but Elkins blocks his guard and is technically on top as the round ends.

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

ROUND THREE: Brown lands a right hand to start the round. Elkins lands a right but eats a left hook. Elkins tries a single leg, can’t finish it and Brown jumps for a guillotine but Elkins gets his head out and is on top in full guard. Brown tries to roll to his knees, Elkins gets half guard as they scramble and looks to land some blows. Elkins to the ride position, then a mat return and he tries an arm triangle but Brown rolls to his knees to avoid that. Half guard for Elkins, Brown tries to sweep him but Elkins gets his back with a body triangle. Elkins grabs the choke and this time it’s tight and Brown has to tap out.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Darren Elkins via Submission, rear naked choke, at 2:23 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Elkins for his work this evening. Mic time for Elkins he feels great and knows people have said he’s done but the old dog still has some fight in him. His camps have become more dedicated to staying healthy and he feels young again then puts over his coaches. Asked what he’d like next he doesn’t like call outs but he’d like to fight again in March.

Here’s the finish. Elkins had the arm in position for the choke in the first but couldn’t get his hands together, this time he’s able to secure the gable grip and crank down the choke to force the tap.

Cameron Saaiman is undefeated including three wins in the UFC, he’s trying to further establish himself as a rising force in the stacked bantamweight division by notching another win here. Christian Rodriguez has gone 2-1 in the UFC and is on a two fight winning streak but the bigger story here is that he missed weight here by five pounds, his third time losing on the scale in his last five fights at bantamweight and that constitutes a pretty serious problem. Rodriguez really needs a win here to smooth over that issue and hopefully get a shot at staying with the promotion up a weight class. Rodriguez closed at -140 after the weight miss to +120 on Saaiman.

Bantamweight Bout: Christian Rodriguez (9-1, 140 lbs.)* vs. Cameron Saaiman (9-0, 135.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Saaiman is an inch taller while Rodriguez has four and a half inches of reach advantage, plus Rodriguez missed weight. Southpaw for Saaiman to start, I think he mostly fights there but will switch on occasion. Saaiman with some leg kicks early then they trade power hand punches. Side kick from Saaiman. Rodriguez with a knee then an elbow and they clinch up. Saaiman with an uppercut as they break the clinch. They tie up again and Saaiman lands a knee then lands a right hand as they break. Rodriguez misses a combination. Spinning back fist from Rodriguez partially lands, Saaiman tries to throw one as well but Rodriguez catches his back and takes him down. They fight over a front headlock position, Rodriguez tries an anaconda choke but can’t finish it and they scramble back up. Saaiman lands a body kick. Bit of a left hook from Saaiman. They trade rights in close. Saaiman misses a couple of spinning attacks. Rodriguez lands a counter right, he’s got a decent read on Saaiman’s left hand. Knee from Rodriguez in close. Bit of a kick from Saaiman then a left hand. They trade power hand punches again. Saaiman lands a body kick. There’s a cut around the left eyebrow of Rodriguez, not a bad one but there’s blood. They clinch, Saaiman avoids a double leg and forces a break. One two from Rodriguez then a body kick but Saaiman counters with a left hand. Saaiman misses a left and Rodriguez counters with a right hand. They clinch then Saaiman misses a kick as they break. Bit of a knee and left hand from Saaiman in close. Glancing left from Saaiman then he misses a couple of spinning attacks. Rodriguez blocks a takedown and they feint away the last couple of seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rodriguez but a close one

ROUND TWO: Saaiman back to probing with kicks. Leg kick from Saaiman. Left from Rodriguez in close but Saaiman stays in the pocket with him and lands a hook of his own. Rodriguez punches close and lands a knee. Saaiman tries a single leg, can’t catch it and Rodriguez tries another anaconda choke but Saaiman is able to spin free and get on top in half guard. Some body to head punches from Saaiman as Rodriguez gets his guard. Saaiman moves to the back for a moment, he gets both hooks in as Rodriguez is slowing in the scrambles. Rodriguez starts rolling and forces his way free, he gets the back of Saaiman and tries a body triangle of his own. Some punches from Rodriguez but Saaiman rolls free and gets the back again but slips off and they fight up into a clinch. Foot sweep from Rodriguez and he gets to the ride position. Saaiman blocks the second hook from going in as Rodriguez gets high on the back. Rodriguez settles into the ride and lands some lefts. Saaiman rolls for a leg, he can’t quite lock up the heel hook but he’s trying and Rodriguez has to spin with the pressure. Rodriguez winds up still on top in 50/50 guard, then they fight up and Rodriguez lands a left hand. Saaiman lands a left of his own and avoids a right from Rodriguez to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Saaiman but another close one, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Saaiman lands a kick to start the round. Rodriguez throws a head kick, partially blocked. Left hook lands for Rodriguez. They trade in close, Rodriguez lands a left to the body then a knee. Saaiman forces a clinch, but he can’t hold it and Rodriguez lands an elbow as they break. Strong jab from Rodriguez lands. Saaiman misses an uppercut and Rodriguez lands a right hand counter. They trade body kicks. Saaiman lands a left to the body then a body kick. Uppercut from Saaiman then a left hook in close, he’s starting to find the target now. Saaiman lands a left hand. One two from Saaiman, Rodriguez does land a right hand though. They clinch, trade knees then Saaiman lands a few punches as they break. Short uppercut from Saaiman in close. Left to the body from Saaiman then an inside leg kick. Knee from Rodriguez. Bit of a head kick from Rodriguez. Rodriguez lands a right hand, they tie up and Saaiman pushes Rodriguez over and they wind up tied up on the mat. Saaiman scrambles up but eats an elbow before they break. Some jabs from Rodriguez. Saaiman forces his way close and they trade punches. Rodriguez lands a left hook. A left from Saaiman lands then a spinning back fist. They trade in close to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Saaiman but a third close round, 29-28 Saaiman overall but this one could go any number of ways

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

Can’t complain, all of those rounds were close. Mic time for Rodriguez, he apologizes for missing weight again and is grateful for the win. He puts over his team and puts over some sponsors.

Michel Pereira is on a five fight winning streak but has had some weight struggles and missed weight by three pounds for his last fight and the bout wound up being scrapped. Pereira is trying his hand at middleweight now, and if he can keep this momentum going it might bode well for his future. Andre Petroski has gone 5-0 in the UFC but got a hotly contested split decision in his last fight and now tries to send Pereira back down to welterweight and continue his own ascent through the ranks. Pereira is the -200 favorite to Petroski’s +165.

Middleweight Bout: Michel Pereira (28-11 2 NC, 186 lbs.) vs. Andre Petroski (10-1, 186 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Pereira is an inch taller while the reach is identical. They touch gloves to get us going, Pereira will do a ton of stance switching. A lot of movement from both men, Petroski is fighting southpaw mostly here. Body kick from Pereira lands. Petroski is switching his stance a lot now too. Right from Pereira drops Petroski and he stands over him landing punches until the ref steps in and stops things.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Michel Pereira via TKO, punches, at 1:06 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Pereira for his work this evening. Mic time for Pereira and the translator, he’s happy with the win and feels great at middleweight and plans to stay here. To follow up on that he likes it then switches to English to say he wants another fight soon and reiterates how good he feels at middleweight. If the eye test matters he’s definitely not out sized in the weight class as he looked larger than Petroski.

Here’s the finish. Pereira has fast hands and clearly hits hard, he catches Petroski out of position and floors him then never lets him recover.

Jonathan Martinez has really found his footing on his current five fight winning streak against an increasing level of opposition, his last fight was a very good win over Said Nurmagomedov and if he can get a win over another rising contender tonight he should be taking on top 10 opponents next. Adrian Yanez just had a nine fight winning streak that included five wins in the UFC broken by Rob Font, Yanez is trying to rebound here and avoid his first ever losing streak while proving he’s still on the ascent in the division. This one closed at a -110 pick ’em.

Bantamweight Bout: #13 Jonathan Martinez (18-4, 136 lbs.) vs. #14 Adrian Yanez (16-4, 135.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Martinez is an inch taller but the reach is identical. They touch gloves to get us going, southpaw for Martinez while Yanez opens orthodox. Yanez circles early as both men paw with the lead hand. Body kick from Martinez, that man kicks very hard. Yanez misses a head kick then Martinez lands an inside leg kick. Bit of a right hand from Yanez. Another body kick from Martinez then he blocks a right hand from Yanez. Hard inside calf kick from Martinez, that had Yanez limping just a bit. Yanez lands a body shot in close but those kicks from Martinez are a problem. Martinez misses an inside leg kick. Hard inside leg kick from Martinez, Yanez is hopping around now. Yanez tries to bull forward with punches but Martinez kicks his leg again and that backs him off. Martinez stalks forward and misses an inside leg kick. Yanez has gone very light on his lead leg trying to let it recover. A couple of body shots from Yanez in close. Martinez drops Yanez with an inside leg kick, he stands over Yanez then makes him stand. A couple of more inside leg kicks from Martinez land. Yanez firs a right hand after taking another leg kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Martinez

ROUND TWO: Yanez pushes forward, Martinez tries an inside leg kick that goes to the groin but he doesn’t take much time. Martinez lands an inside leg kick. They tie up and hit the fence, Yanez misses a spinning elbow as they break. Martinez lands another inside leg kick, Yanez is circling again. Another couple of inside leg kicks from Martinez, Yanez drops and Martinez makes him stand. Yanez is just hopping on almost one leg now. Martinez lands a left hand, he’s just lining up another kick which connects. Martinez misses a kick but lands a left hand. Yanez is getting desperate and Martinez cracks him with a one two. Martinez backs Yanez up and just punishes him with inside leg kicks along the fence. Yanez misses a right hook and Martinez drops him with another inside leg kick and this time the ref steps in.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Jonathan Martinez via TKO, leg kicks, at 2:26 of Round 2

Martinez kicks like a mule. Mic time for Martinez after that impressive win, he sends love to Mexico and El Salvador then puts over Yanez as a great boxer so he had to take his legs away. He puts over his coaches and says he actually felt bad at the end there as he respects Yanez. He plays with the crowd for a bit and puts over his team and team mates then says he’d like to fight a top fighter. Bisping asks him for a specific name and Martinez says he knows it wont happen but he’d love to fight Merab Dvalishvili. Not a lot of guys calling him out.

Here’s the last kick. Yanez had just taken a ton of abuse before this, and to maybe make it worse look at the angle for the lower leg. Yanez tries to get his leg out of the way but Martinez catches him low on the calf and look at how Yanez’s leg moves with the force, there might be some knee damage after that one. Either way a great win for Martinez.

Jennifer Maia has gone 2-2 in her last four fights but she’s on a two fight winning streak and a third here would move her back towards the top of the division. Viviane Araujo has gone 1-3 in her last four fights and is on a two fight losing streak, she pretty badly needs a win here if she’s going to make a run towards the top of the division. The odds are with Maia at -155 while Araujo’s comeback sits at +130.

Women’s Flyweight Bout: #11 Viviane Araujo (11-5, 126 lbs.) vs. #9 Jennifer Maia (21-9-1, 125 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height but Araujo has four inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Both women probe with the jab as they circle, they’re just looking for reads. Jab from Maia lands. Araujo is generally pressing forward but not landing much yet. Front kick from Araujo. A fair bit of feinting, then Araujo lands a leg kick. Both women land rights then they trade in close. Another leg kick from Araujo. Araujo avoids a right hand and lands a left hook. Right from Maia then Araujo lands a left hook. Both women land punches in close, I think Araujo landed the more definitive strike there at the end. Leg kicks go back and forth. Right hand from Araujo lands, Maia just eats it but she’s getting hit. Maia tries a takedown, Araujo defends then Maia lands a couple of punches. Araujo tries a takedown along the fence, but she wont finish it before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Araujo

ROUND TWO: One two from Araujo to start the round. Araujo hits a takedown into side control. Maia scrambles to her feet but eats some elbows on the way. Araujo moves to the back and starts looking for a choke. Maia is able to break one of the hooks but she’s struggling to get Araujo off of her back. Araujo gets the hook back in and keeps fishing for the choke. Body triangle for Araujo now, Maia’s hand fighting is keeping her out of danger but she’s not able to get any offense going or even address the position. Araujo keeps fishing for the choke, she gets closer but it’s more of a neck crank and Maia defends. Araujo lands a few punches as the round ends.

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

ROUND THREE: Maia comes forward and lands a leg kick. They trade rights. Araujo lands a right hand after faking a takedown. Leg kick from Araujo. Right hand from Araujo. Maia lands a couple of punches in close. Araujo tries a takedown and they hit the fence. Things are stalling out on the fence, Maia is defending and lands a knee before breaking. Maia bulls forward with punches and then hits a double leg. Araujo looks to wall walk right away, she gets up but Maia with a mat return into the ride position. Again Araujo stands with Maia on her hip. Maia sinks to the ground then tries an armbar but Araujo pulls free and gets on top in side control. Maia quickly hip escapes to full guard, she tries another armbar but again Araujo defends. Araujo avoids a triangle attempt then lands punches from top position as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Maia, 29-28 Araujo overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Viviane Araujo via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Mic time for Araujo and the translator, she opens with English to express love to Vegas then is back to Portuguese to again put over the Apex, express gratitude, and put over her team. She says patience was the key to her success, and once she got the timing of Maia she could get takedowns and get the win.

Sodiq Yusuff is on a two fight winning streak as part of his overall 6-1 record in the UFC, but he’s been out of action for a bit over a year and tonight represents a pretty serious step up in class for him. A win for Yusuff would easily be the biggest of his career and might get him closer to the top of the division. Edson Barboza is coming up on his 13th anniversary in the UFC, he’s 3-2 in his last five fights and is coming off of a knockout win. Barboza is trying to get another winning streak going while proving he’s not over the hill just yet and still has a lot to offer the sport. Yusuff closed at -170 while a Barboza win pays out at +140.

Featherweight Bout: #11 Sodiq Yusuff (13-2, 145.5 lbs.) vs. #12 Edson Barboza (23-11, 146 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Barboza is two inches taller with four inches of reach advantage. Both men come forward jabbing. Barboza lands a left to the body, then tries a knee but Yusuff counters with a right hand. They trade rights in close, then Barboza lands a left body kick. Yusuff drops Barboza with a right hand, he keeps throwing along the fence but Barboza moves away from him and tries to reset. Yusuff keeps throwing rights at Barboza’s head. Bit of a knee from Barboza. Yusuff keeps trying to club Barboza down but Barboza is sticking around and still throwing with him. They clinch up and Yusuff lands a short elbow in close. Takedown from Yusuff into full guard and he lands an elbow. Barboza avoids a few elbows then inverts for a leg but can’t get control and Yusuff just gets back on top in half guard. Full guard now for Barboza as Yusuff scoots them towards the fence. Yusuff moves to half guard as Barboza is sitting on the fence. Barboza again tries to tie up a leg attack but can’t hold the heel hook at Yusuff stands over him. A few hammer fists from Yusuff as he returns to the guard of Barboza. The round ends with Yusuff still on top.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Yusuff

ROUND TWO: Barboza misses a leg kick to start the round. They both land in close. Left hook from Barboza lands. Body shot from Barboza then a spinning back kick. Yusuff bulls forward and lands punches as they clinch up and hit the fence, but he doesn’t seem to want that position and they break clean. Barboza lands a left to the body. Yusuff with some front kicks to the inside of the rear leg of Barboza, interesting technique. Barboza lands a couple of body shots in close before they clinch up. They hit the fence and trade some knees before breaking. Front kicks from Barboza now, trying to keep distance. More of those font kicks to the inside of Barboza’s right leg from Yusuff, he’s managing and poking with them. Barboza lands a left to the body. Bit of a spinning back kick from Barboza. A few jabs go back and forth then Barboza lands a right hand. Yusuff might be hurt, Barboza is pushing him back to the fence and hits the body a few times. They trade front kicks then Yusuff lands an inside leg kick. More body shots from Barboza. Again they trade front kicks then Barboza fires another as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Barboza, 19-18 Yusuff overall

ROUND THREE: Barboza’s right eye is swelling up, not fight ending right now but it’s there. Barboza pushes forward with body shots. Body kick from Barboza then a left to the body. Yusuff starts walking forward and they clinch up. They hit the fence then break without incident. Yusuff kicks Barboza in the groin so we’ve got a time out. Barboza only takes a few seconds then we’re back to fighting. Left to the body from Barboza, Yusuff lands a short uppercut. Yusuff with a leg kick then he checks a leg kick from Barboza, that didn’t look pleasant. Spinning back kick from Barboza lands. Barboza lands a right to the body then a left hook. Yusuff is backing up a lot now and Barboza is stalking forward. Barboza digs a left to the body, then another one. Body kick from Barboza, Yusuff is starting to react to those. Straight right from Barboza lands. They split jabs for a bit then Barboza hits the body again. Yusuff is working the jab more now as he circles away. Jabs from Barboza land then a wheel kick floors Yusuff, Barboza thinks about a d’arce choke then just lands punches from the back instead. Barboza with hammer fists and punches, Yusuff is trying to fight to his feet and gets up along the fence and the round ends with Barboza on Yusuff’s back.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Barboza, maybe 10-8 given that wheel kick, 28-28 overall

ROUND FOUR: Both men come out jabbing as the round starts. Spinning back kick from Barboza lands. More jabs are traded, Barboza is landing better now then lands a left body kick. Barboza keeps his jab working as he’s backing up Yusuff. Left to the body from Barboza then they clinch up and Barboza gets Yusuff on the fence. They break without incident and Barboza gets back to jabbing. Bit of a one two from Barboza then he avoids a takedown. Another couple of body shots from Barboza. Body kick from Barboza then they both miss punches. Barboza lands a few more jabs as he’s backing up Yusuff. Uppercut from Barboza. Yusuff lands a left hook but he’s falling behind numerically. Barboza with some jabs, Yusuff responds with jabs of his own. Right from Barboza. More jabs are traded then they clinch up. Knees go back and forth in the clinch then they break. More jabs go back and forth then Barboza lands a leg kick. Barboza hits the body again in close. More jabs from Barboza land. Barboza lands a left body kick. Bit of a left hook from Barboza then a body shot behind it. That’ll be the last relevant exchange of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Barboza but a closer one, 38-37 Barboza overall

ROUND FIVE: They touch gloves for the last round. Both men stick out the jab again as they circle. Bit of a right from Barboza. they tie up and Barboza lands punches and knees. Yusuff keeps the clinch but Barboza slips free. Barboza with jabs then a spinning back kick. Another body kick from Barboza then a couple of punches. Yusuff lands a left hook. They trade lefts. More jabs go back and forth then Barboza again lands a left body kick. Both men land punches in close then Barboza lands a left body kick. Left to the body from Barboza. Bit of a body shot from Barboza then they trade lefts. Another left to the body from Barboza. They tie up and Barboza with a knee then a takedown. Yusuff gives up his back but stands against the fence into a clinch. Some knees go back and forth in the clinch but Barboza is controlling this position. Outside trip from Barboza, he gets on the back standing and hits a mat return as the last action of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Barboza, 48-46 Barboza overall but we could easily have a draw

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Edson Barboza via unanimous decision(49-46, 48-46 x2)

That 49-46 has to be an error, no way that first round wasn’t a 10-8. Mic time for Barboza, he starts with English and acknowledges just how badly he was hurt in that first round and puts over his coaches for keeping him locked in. He puts over Yusuff’s toughness even after that wheel kick and knew Yusuff wouldn’t give up then hopes the fans enjoyed the fight. He says he knew the first couple of rounds would be tough but if he kept to the body and kept the pace decent Yusuff wouldn’t be able to fully keep up. To close he thanks his wife for everything she’s done for him.

Yusuff gets an interview as well, he’s disappointed and says this one hurts to lose. He thinks he let his coaches down but knows well enough what it is to be the nail so he’ll be back. He feels he could have been a little more judicious in the first and gotten Barboza out of there, but Barboza is an OG of the game. To close he thanks his family and sponsors.

Well on that note UFC on ESPN+ 88 comes to a close. Darn good fight to end the night on. Thank you all for reading, be that live or after the fact. We’ll be unpacking all of the fallout from this event on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast plus looking ahead to UFC 294. Speaking of UFC 294 I’ll be back here for that next week and I hope you will as well. Until next time thank you all again, stay safe out there, and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.

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