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411’s UFC Fight Night Report: Imavov Controversially Stops Cannonier

June 8, 2024 | Posted by Robert Winfree
UFC on ESPN 57 Image Credit: UFC

MAIN CARD (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)
#4 Jared Cannonier (185 lbs.) vs. #7 Nassourdine Imavov (185 lbs.)
Dustin Jacoby (204.5 lbs.) vs. #15 Dominick Reyes (205 lbs.)
Raul Rosas Jr. (136 lbs.) vs. Ricky Turcios (136 lbs.)
Brunno Ferreira (186 lbs.) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (184.5 lbs.)
Julian Marquez (185.5 lbs.) vs. Zach Reese (185 lbs.)
Miguel Baeza (171 lbs.) vs. Puna Soriano (171 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET)
Ludovit Klein (156 lbs.) vs. Thiago Moises (156 lbs.)
Carlos Prates (169.5 lbs.) vs. Charlie Radtke (171 lbs.)
Jesse Butler (136 lbs.) vs. Brad Katona (136 lbs.)
Montana De La Rosa (126 lbs.) vs. Andrea Lee (126 lbs.)
John Castaneda (136 lbs.) vs. Daniel Marcos (135.25 lbs.)
Denise Gomes (116 lbs.) vs. Eduarda Moura (116.5 lbs.)*
Taylor Lapilus (135.5 lbs.) vs. Cody Stamann (135.75 lbs.)
Rayanne Amanda (116 lbs.) vs. Puja Tomar (116 lbs.)

Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC on ESPN 57, I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host for the event. On the heels of UFC 302, one of the least inspiring PPVs the UFC has put out recently, we’re now back on ESPN and not in the warehouse. This card isn’t necessarily going to jump off the page at anyone, but there are a few fights worth noting and several that are clearly designed to just be fan friendly slugfests. The main event is a clash of top ten middleweights when Jared Cannonier battles Nassourdine Imavov, the winner probably doesn’t get the next title shot but they might wind up on deck for it and probably need only another win depending on how a few other fights shake out. Dominick Reyes is trying to salvage his career against Dustin Jacoby, Raul Rosas is trying to prove he’s still a prospect, slugger Julian Marquez takes on Zach Reese, and Miguel Baeza will be ending a long layoff. The prelims have some OK stuff, Ludovit Klein and Thiago Moises in particular stands out in that respect. As mentioned, this wont jump off the page at you but there’s definitely some potential for decent action tonight.

UFC on ESPN 57 comes to the world from the KFC Yum Center in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. This is the UFC’s first trip to Louisville since 2011 when Diego Sanchez got a bad decision win over Martin Kampmann in the main event. Brendan Fitzgerald, Paul Felder, and Laura Sanko will be calling the action. We’ll be in the 30 foot cage set up since we’re not at the UFC warehouse this week, and I’ll keep you up to date if there are any quirks for the relevant governing body.

Rayanne dos Santos dropped a split decision in her UFC debut late last year, now she’s back in action and hoping to get that first UFC win under her belt. Puja Tomar brings a four fight winning streak into her UFC debut and she’s hoping to make a good first impression on the audience. Dos Santos is a sizeable favorite at -325 to Tomar’s +260.

Strawweight Bout: Rayanne dos Santos (14-7, 116 lbs.) vs. Puja Tomar (8-4, 116 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Tomar is two inches taller while dos Santos has three inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Tomar, she shows some kicks early. Both women are willing to swing punches, and the “woo’s” begin after 30 seconds which is rarely a good sign. Tomar lands a body kick then a side kick. Right hand from dos Santos. Bit of a right from Tomar, then dos Santos lands a better one. They trade body kicks but Tomar is landing better, she’s starting to get those body attacks off reliably. Tomar lands a right hook. Dos Santos lands a left hook of her own. Dos Santos bulls in close and lands a flurry of punches. Tomar lands a body kick. Both women land punches in close. Glancing right from dos Santos, she’s starting to get Tomar to the fence now and that’s limiting Tomar’s movement and offense. A few side kicks from Tomar, then dos Santos falls short on a flying knee to close out the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Tomar

ROUND TWO: Side kick from Tomar to start the round but dos Santos is looking to keep up the pressure. Some kicks go back and forth. Bit of a right from dos Santos, her pressure is starting to get to Tomar just a bit. Dos Santos lands a left hook in close. Both women miss power hand punches. Right body kick from dos Santos then they trade punches. Body kicks are traded then dos Santos lands a right hand. Dos Santos grabs a single leg but Tomar is able to defend and get back to circling. They trade leg kicks for a bit. Dos Santos swings a few hard punches that don’t quite land. Body kick then a right hand from dos Santos. Dos Santos keeps pressing forward and they trade one last time to close the round.

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

ROUND THREE: They more or less resume doing what they’ve been doing, circling and kicking. Dos Santos lands a bit of a left hook. Tomar keeps showing the side kick but it’s not doing much apart from keeping distance. They trade some more kicks then dos Santos catches a kick and grabs a body lock that hits the fence. Dos Santos starts looking for some trips but nothing comes of this and they break. Right hand from dos Santos but they’re both just kind of swinging sloppy punches now. Tomar lands a side kick that pushes dos Santos to her butt but she bounces right back up. Head kick from Tomar then dos Santos lands a right hand. Dos Santos keeps working forward and lands a right hand. They both miss punches then dos Santos lands a right hand. Left hook from dos Santos. Tomar tries to claim she wants the brawl and they trade body kicks. Dos Santos counters a side kick with a right hand. Knee from dos Santos as she’s got a double collar tie, then another one before Tomar pushes free. Another right hand from dos Santos then a body kick. They get close and swing sloppy punches then clinch up. Dos Santos fires a few knees in the clinch as the round ends.

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

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

Calling some BS on that scoring, 30-27 for Tomar is pretty terrible but 29-28 for her is fine. Looks like we might be in for another bad night of judging if that’s an indicator. Tomar gets an interview, she thanks God and hopes the Second Coming is soon and I can at least agree with that. She’s proud to represent India and prove that Indian fighters are not losers.

Cody Stamann has gone just 2-4 in his last six fights and he’s coming off of a loss over a year ago, if he wants to become a relevant bantamweight he needs a win here pretty badly. Taylor Lapilus has gone 1-1 since returning to the UFC last year, most recently he lost back in January but he’s trying to rebound here and avoid his first ever losing streak. The odds like Lapilus here at -265 against +215 for Stamann.

Bantamweight Bout: Taylor Lapilus (19-4, 135.5 lbs.) vs. Cody Stamann (21-6-1, 135.75 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Stamann is half an inch taller but Lapilus has a big eight and a half inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Lapilus and both men look for reads early. Stamann lands a jab but then eats a counter left. Both men land a few punches, they’re mostly range finding still but the activity is pretty high overall. Stamann misses a right hand. Lapilus blocks a few punches then lands a knee in close. Stamann complains of an eye poke so we’ve got a time out. Replay shows there was more of a punch than a poke but either way Stamann only takes 26 seconds then we’re back to fighting. Body kick from Lapilus then Stamann gets to his back in a clinch and they hit the fence. Lapilus gets chest to chest and things stall out a bit. They trade knees then separate. Both men miss power hand punches. Inside leg kick from Lapilus. Hard body kick from Lapilus, Stamann forces a clinch off of that and they’re back on the fence. Some knees go back and forth then elbows before they brak. Lapilus lands a stepping knee. Stamann walks onto another knee before they clinch. More knees go back and forth then Lapilus pushes free. Knee to the head from Lapilus, he’s timing the entries from Stamann. Stamann avoids a couple of head kicks to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Lapilus

ROUND TWO: Lapilus blocks a couple of punches then avoids a high kick. Stamann is starting to switch his stance but he’s still mostly orthodox. Lapilus with a body kick. Left hand from Lapilus. Lapilus pokes out some jabs then lands a knee to the body as they tie up. They hit the fence and start trading some knees, they break and trade punches but Lapilus is getting the better of these. They trade inside leg kicks. Lapilus lands a jab. Stamann misses a right hand then eats an elbow in close. Body kick from Lapilus. Stamann looks for a takedown but settles for a clinch. They hit the fence and Lapilus puts Stamann on the fence then lands an elbow and gets free. Stamann complains of a low blow on a kick and we’ve got a time out. Replay shows the toes definitely got into the groin. We’re back to fighting after 40 seconds. Bit of a left from Lapilus, his range is just a problem that Stamann hasn’t figured out. One two from Lapilus. Stamann is trying but he’s falling short with his offense, then he tries a single leg but things hit the fence. They trade knees then separate. Solid left hand from Lapilus to close the round.

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

ROUND THREE: Stamann is back to moving forward but he’s still not connecting. Body kick from Stamann but Lapilus then lands a couple of punches. Left hand then a body kick from Lapilus. Stamann bulls forward and lands a punch but then eats a back elbow. Stamann forces a clinch and gets a body lock takedown into side control. I’m not sure what caused it but Stamann is bleeding from the nose or eye, can’t quite see the source. Stamann works for a mounted crucifix but Lapilus uses the cage to walk out the position and wall walks into a clinch. OK, that blood is coming from Stamann’s nose. Lapilus lands an elbow then spins free. Some jabs from Lapilus then a one two. Lapilus keeps long range punching, then slipping counters and landing his own follow up punches. Left hand from Lapilus. Combination from Lapilus but Stamann does avoid the uppercut at the end of it. Stamann tries a double leg but Lapilus defends then lands a body kick. Knee from Lapilus lands to the head. Stamann misses a couple of punches to close the round.

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

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Taylor Lapilus via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Solid overall performance from Lapilus, but no interview.

Eduarda Moura is undefeated including her UFC debut last year, she missed weight for that fight and missed on the scales again here meaning she’ll likely have to move up in weight next time out but a win would help smooth over some of that. Denise Gomes has gone 2-2 in the UFC but she’s coming off of a loss and is trying to avoid her first losing streak. Moura is your favorite at -205 while that +170 for Gomes might tempt some bettors out there.

Strawweight Bout: Denise Gomes (8-3, 116 lbs.) vs. Eduarda Moura (10-0, 116.5 lbs.)*

ROUND ONE: Moura is four inches taller with three inches of reach advantage, plus she missed weight. Southpaw for Gomes but she’s playing with stance switches. Moura pushes for a takedown, Gomes grabs a standing guillotine though. Gomes is really going for this choke standing but Moura pulls her head out and settles into the clinch. Moura with a high crotch lift then slips to the back standing. Moura drags things down, Gomes hits a switch and they fight back up into the clinch. They trade some knees while jockeying for position. Gomes tries a back trip but Moura lands on top and lands a knee as they fight up into another clinch. Moura lands another knee then they break. Double leg from Moura and she gets on top in full guard. Moura lands a few short punches. Gomes is trying to angle her hips but Moura is following them. They trade a few elbows. Gomes is eventually able to wrestle up and they reset on the feet. Moura tries a single leg, that stalls on the fence as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Gomes but a close one

ROUND TWO: Right hand from Moura lands. Gomes lands a right in close then Moura gets a clinch and slips to the back. Moura hits a mat return, jumps to the back with one hook in and starts looking for the choke. Both hooks in now for Moura. Gomes is trying to spin into Moura but Moura grabs at an armbar during that transition. Moura loses the arm and tries to tie up a leg, Gomes is able to stand free and forces the reset. Both women show stance switches now. Moura grabs a single leg and then switches to a clinch that hits the fence. Gomes looks for another switch but Moura slips to the back as Gomes tries to hold a headlock. They scramble back up and reset once again. Gomes easily avoids a single leg, Moura is fading. They tie up and hit the fence again. Gomes lands a knee. A few more knees from Gomes then Moura looks for a single leg against the fence. The round will end in that spot.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Moura but again close, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the final round. Both women miss some punches. Gomes lands a right to the body. Left hook from Moura. Bit of a right from Moura. Moura with a glancing right hand. Bit of a body kick from Gomes. Gomes avoids a wheel kick. Moura grabs a single leg, that hits the fence again though. Gomes is fishing for a ninja choke but Moura is able to slip around and get the back standing. Moura is looking to trip Gomes down, Gomes is able to get chest to chest though and they start clinch fighting. Gomes is able to avoid a trip and reset at distance. Moura tries another single leg, they hit the fence again and clinch. Gomes is able to get a front headlock and uses that to spin off the fence and reset. Gomes avoids a few punches, Moura hits a double leg though and gets on top in half guard. Moura moves towards the back but Gomes forces the wrestling to continue and regains her feet. Right hand from Gomes. Moura tries a single leg, but can’t finish it and they’ll end the round in the clinch.

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

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Denise Gomes via split decision (28-29, 30-27 x2)

Not gonna get up in arms over that one being split, no interview for Gomes.

John Castaneda has gone 4-2 in the UFC and is riding a two fight winning streak, he’s looking to extend that her and solidify himself as a rising prospect in the division. Daniel Marcos is undefeated including three UFC appearances, though his last outing resulted in a No Contest, he’s trying to remain undefeated here and begin the transition from prospect to contender. Close one here, -135 for Marcos to +115 on Castaneda.

Bantamweight Bout: John Castaneda (21-6, 136 lbs.) vs. Daniel Marcos (15-0 1 NC, 135.25 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Marcos is an inch taller while Castaneda has two inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Castaneda. Marcos comes out showing kicks, then lands a bit of a right hand. Castaneda is showing kicks of his own but Marcos has a better feel for the range right now. Bit of a right from Marcos then a knee behind it. Inside leg kick from Marcos. Solid right from Marcos staggers Castaneda, he’s got him on the fence and is looking to keep up the pressure. Marcos lands an inside leg kick. They trade rights but the pressure from Marcos is still working. Both men swing punches with mixed results in close. Marcos lands a chopping left in close. Castaneda avoids a front kick but that was too close for comfort. Castaneda tries some offense but he’s still falling just a little short with those. Marcos lands a body kick. Right hand from Marcos lands. Another right from Marcos gets Castaneda backing up, he looks to follow up and lands a couple of punches before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Marcos

ROUND TWO: Marcos gets back to pressure, Castaneda avoids a couple of punches then forces a clinch on the fence. Castaneda looks to change levels but Marcos is blocking those and they wind up separating. Castaneda lands a left hand but Marcos clubs him with a counter combination. Right hand then a knee from Marcos and they clinch up again. Castaneda is holding Marcos on the fence but Marcos slips free and resets. One two from Marcos then he pushes Castaneda into the fence in a clinch. Marcos slips to the back and lands some knees to the head and leg. They break without incident. Marcos lands a couple of punches then Castaneda shoots but Marcos defends then lands a knee before Castaneda grabs a clinch. Another knee from Marcos lands then he pulls free. One two from Marcos. Castaneda lands a left hand. Castaneda tries a double leg and this time he finishes it into half guard. Marcos wrestles to his knees then up and he lands punches in close then a knee to the head. Castaneda forces a clinch but Marcos gets free and they trade punches. Right hand from Marcos lands, Castaneda swings back but misses to close the round.

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

ROUND THREE: Bit of a left from Castaneda. Marcos lands an inside leg kick then a right hand. Front kick from Marcos. Castaneda fires a head kick, that’s blocked then Marcos with a front kick that Castaneda complains went low. Replay shows the kick was legal so we’re back to fighting right away. Marcos goes back to body kicks right away, he’s stabbing that front kick right above the belt line. Castaneda forces a clinch but Marcos lands a knee to the body. They separate without incident. They trade front kicks now. Marcos with a one two then a body kick. Castaneda lands a calf kick. Right hand from Marcos. Marcos lands a short right in close. Castaneda with a body kick. Marcos lands a body kick of his own. Castaneda keeps moving forward and looks for a combination. Marcos lands a right hand then another one that drops Castaneda. Castaneda bounces up but Marcos is landing more punches now, including an uppercut then he clinches. Marcos lands an uppercut then a body shot as they break. Glancing head kick from Castaneda seems to wobble Marcos, Marcos starts backing up now and they wind up trading one last time before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Marcos but Castaneda might have stolen it with that head kick at the end, 30-27 Marcos overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Daniel Marcos via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Fun enough little fight, but no finish so no interview on a card with 14 total fights.

Andrea Lee has had a rough go of it the last couple of years, she’s on a four fight losing streak though a couple of those were decisions that maybe should have gone her way and now she needs a win pretty badly to salvage her time in the UFC. Montana De La Rosa is on a three fight losing streak of her own and likewise needs to get back on the winning side of things to justify her spot on the roster. These two fought back in 2019 with Lee coming out on top, so it’s not terribly surprising to see Lee as the -155 favorite over +130 for De La Rosa.

Women’s Flyweight Bout: Montana De La Rosa (12-9-1, 126 lbs.) vs. Andrea Lee (13-9, 126 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: De La Rosa is an inch taller while Lee has an inch and a half of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Both women with some punches that don’t really land. Lee is able to get a few jabs home. Both women land lefts in close. Lee with some knees in close as they clinch, De La Rosa is able to hit a trip into full mount but Lee sweeps and gets on top in full guard. De La Rosa works for a triangle choke, she’s a little bit too stuffed into the fence to make it work yet. Lee lands a few punches and De La Rosa winds up bailing on the choke and stands in the clinch. Some knees to the leg from Lee then an elbow as they break. De La Rosa misses a high kick. Lee lands a body kick then catches De La Rosa with a back fist that drops her to a knee but De La Rosa grabs the back in close and looks for a choke. Lee is able to scramble around and wind up in the ride position. Some punches and hammer fists from Lee. De La Rosa bases up and looks to wrestle towards a single leg but Lee blocks that and lands a knee. They break and Lee lands a bit of a right hand. Another body kick from Lee then they trade punches. Lee avoids a spinning back fist, they clinch up and trade knees to the body before breaking. Bit of a spinning back kick from Lee then they both avoid punches to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Lee

ROUND TWO: De La Rosa is looking to jab as the round starts, while Lee is working slightly longer combinations. Bit of a counter left from De La Rosa. They split a few jabs then Lee avoids a takedown attempt. Lee lands another jab. De La Rosa with an uppercut off of a fake double leg. They both miss rights. Calf kick from Lee. De La Rosa with a bit of a right hand then Lee lands an inside leg kick. Up elbow from De La Rosa partially lands. Lee swings a right in close. They trade a few lefts. Right to the body from Lee in close, bit of an elbow from De La Rosa as well. They tie up and trade short punches then break apart. One two then a left hook from De La Rosa. Lee forces a clinch and lands uppercuts before they separate. Lee blocks a takedown and fires a head kick that’s blocked. They trade a few more jabs, De La Rosa’s nose looks to be bleeding now. De La Rosa with a jab to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 De La Rosa but a close one, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Both women get back to showing punches as the round begins. Lee lands a left hook then a leg kick. They both punch in close. Lee with a couple of body shots. De La Rosa misses a right hand then eats a jab. De La Rosa looks to be fading a little bit, though that bloody nose isn’t helping things for her. Both women trade in close. De La Rosa shoots and slips to the back then hits a mat return. Lee is able to base up and disrupt the position, De La Rosa winds up on top in guard then slips to the back again as Lee looks to wall walk. Both hooks in now for De La Rosa and she’s got Lee flattened out. A few punches from De La Rosa land as Lee gets to her knees. Lee bases up and rolls through into top position. De La Rosa looks for an armbar but Lee avoids that then kicks the body as De La Rosa stands. Lee with a few body shots. They keep circling then bouncing into each other with the same combinations over and over again. De La Rosa throws a head kick that’s blocked, then they clinch and she hits a body lock takedown into side control as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 De La Rosa, 29-28 De La Rosa overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Montana De La Rosa via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

Round two was close enough I guess, but again no interview.

Brad Katona has the dubious distinction of being the first fighter to win The Ultimate Fighter twice, his first UFC run ended with a two fight losing streak in 2019 then he returned last year to win another TUF tournament after which he promptly lost to Garrett Armfield in January. Katona could really use a win here, he’s unlikely to get cut with a loss but that’s not a gamble he should be taking right now. Jesse Butler had a five fight winning streak snapped in his UFC debut a little over a year ago when Jim Miller knocked him out in short order, he’s had a couple of fights fall through since then and is trying to get that all important first UFC win tonight as he moves all the way down to the bantamweight division. Katona is a fairly large favorite at -675 against a +490 payout on Butler.

Bantamweight Bout: Jesse Butler (12-5, 136 lbs.) vs. Brad Katona (13-3, 136 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Butler is four inches taller with a big eight and a half inches of reach advantage. Pressure from Katona right away. Butler with a front kick then a right hand. Katona catches a leg kick and lands a right hand then hits a takedown into Butler’s full guard. Butler starts working his guard, Katona lands a few punches while avoiding the guard work. Katona lands an elbow and moves to half guard. Butler gets his guard back but eats another elbow to do so. Katona passes to half guard again. Butler shrimps to full guard again but he’s not able to get much going off of his back. Katona with a few more short punches and elbows while keeping top position. More of the same from Katona, just smothering and keeping decent ground and pound going. Butler is able to wall walk into a clinch, and that’s where the round will end.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Katona

ROUND TWO: Butler lands a right hand then a body kick but Katona catches the kick and gets a takedown into full guard. Katona is able to block some butterfly guard play and lands a few body shots. Elbow from Katona and I think Butler is cut. Yeah he’s cut, not a fight ender, it’s between the eyes on the forehead, but it’s not going to help him with any of this. A few more short elbows from Katona land. Katona passes to half guard and lands some rights. Butler tries for a triangle choke but Katona postures through it and resumes working from top position. Katona with a few more strikes as Butler gets full guard back. A few more punches from Katona, Butler scrambles to his knees then wall walks but Katona is all over him in the clinch. Butler is holding a double wrist lock but bails on it and they just end the round in the clinch.

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

ROUND THREE: Butler lands a couple of punches to start the round. Katona with a right of his own. Butler lands a right hand. Both men land punches in close. Butler with a body kick. A few leg kicks go back and forth. Butler with a few jabs while circling. Katona with a right hand of his own. Butler lands another jab. Katona with a right hand then a left hook. Butler lands a right hand but Katona just eats it and fires back with punches of his own. Butler slips throwing a kick and Katona dives on top in full guard. Katona right away gets to work with elbows. Butler tries to use a knee shield but Katona pressures through it into almost leg drag. Knee to the body from Katona then some rights as he settles into half guard. Some more punches and elbows from Katona as the round ends.

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

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Brad Katona via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27 x2)

I can see round two being 10-8 if you’re a touch generous. No finish, so no interview.

Charles Radtke is on a six fight winning streak including two wins in the UFC, he’s trying to extend that streak here and prove he’s a viable prospect. Carlos Prates is riding an eight fight winning streak including a successful UFC debut from February, he’s likewise trying to secure legitimate prospect status along with his first UFC winning streak. The odds like Prates at -205 while +170 for Radtke has to tempt some bettors out there.

Welterweight Bout: Carlos Prates (18-6, 169.5 lbs.) vs. Charlie Radtke (9-3, 171 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Prates is four inches taller with a significant six inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Prates. Radtke moves forward a fair bit but not much is happening. Radtke tries a takedown against the fence, Prates defends and Radtke lands some short rights in the clinch. Elbow from Radtke as they break. Front kick from Prates. Prates with an inside leg kick. Another Prates front kick lands. Sharp counter right from Prates as he avoids an overhand left. Radtke has started playing with different stances, he tries a single leg but Prates defends. Bit of a left from Prates. Hard inside leg kick from Prates then a knee towards the chin. Radtke misses a left hook. We get a time out as Radtke complains of an eye poke. Radtke only takes 16 seconds then we’re back to fighting. Some jabs from Prates land now, he’s starting to up the tempo. Prates with an inside leg kick then a left hand. Radtke avoids a knee and lands a left hook. Prates with another inside leg kick. Sharp left hand from Prates then a knee to the body that folds Radtke up like a lawn chair and we’re done here.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Carlos Prates via TKO, knee to the body, at 4:47 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Prates for his work this evening. Prates does get an interview for turning in our first finish of the night, he plays with the crowd first then sends some love to Brazil in Portuguese. He asks to be on the upcoming Australia card since his daughter lives there now, reasonable.

There’s a couple of notable things here. First look at the hand fighting/wrist control from Prates, he takes the lead hand totally out of the equation for Radtke. Second Prates has landed that laser of a left hand a few times already, so when he feints it Radtke raises the right hand to block but that leaves the body wide open. Great read and attack from Prates.

Thiago Moises has gone 3-1 in his last four fights, only losing to Benoit Saint-Denis and most recently he stopped Mitch Ramirez with leg kicks. Moises is trying to build another winning streak and hold steady in the very competitive lightweight division. Ludovit Klein has gone 4-0-1 since returning to lightweight, Moises does represent a decent step up in class for him but a win could set him up against an even bigger name next. Close one here but the odds tilt towards Klein at -125 to +105 for Moises.

Lightweight Bout: Ludovit Klein (21-4-1, 156 lbs.) vs. Thiago Moises (18-7, 156 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Moises is two inches taller while Klein has two inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Klein. Both men engage in hand fighting, they’re just looking for reads. Moises misses a head kick. Front kick from Klein. Head kick from Klein bothers Moises for a moment but he recovers quickly. Klein jabs the body. Moises falls a little short on a few punches. Klein avoids a high kick then checks an inside leg kick. Moises ducks under a left hand and tries a double leg, Klein sprawls away though and they wind up clinched on the fence. Klein with some knees then he slips free. Front kick from Klein then they clash on body kicks. Moises avoids a high kick. Klein checks an inside leg kick. Bit of a left to the body from Klein. Both men avoid lefts. Klein lands an inside leg kick. Bit of a one two from Klein but it bothers Moises who staggers down, Klein is over him and lands punches but Moises wall walks into a clinch to survive that flurry. The round ends in the clinch with Klein firing some shoulder strikes.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Klein

ROUND TWO: Both men come back out feinting. Klein lands a jab. Inside leg kick from Klein. Front kick from Klein, Moises thinks it went low so we’ve got a time out. Moises only uses 13 seconds then we’re back to fighting. Inside leg kick from Moises. A few more inside leg kicks go back and forth then Klein avoids a single leg, the speed difference in favor of Klein is pretty noticeable. Klein with a one two. Bit of a high kick from Moises. Glancing left from Klein as he’s pushing forward. They trade inside leg kicks again. Moises lands a jab. One two then a high kick from Klein partially lands. Moises lands a right hand. Klein fights off a takedown and lands a knee to the body then a left hand. Inside leg kick from Klein. Moises ducks under a left hand and forces a clinch on the fence. Klein lands a knee then spins free. Bit of a left from Klein then a body kick. Takedown from Klein into the ride position with 36 seconds left, he lands a few punches then Moises rolls for a kneebar. Moises tries for that kneebar but Klein spins free and lands punches. Moises rolls to full guard and Klein lands a hammer fist as the round ends.

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

ROUND THREE: Moises looks to push forward and lands a body kick. Bit of a right hook from Klein. Klein with a front kick, that one definitely went low and we’ve got a time out. Moises takes a minute then we’re back to fighting. Moises tries a takedown, Klein defends then shoves him into the fence with a clinch. Some shoulder strikes from Klein then knees to the leg. They trade some knees then break. Klein lands a left hand. Inside leg kick from Klein then he sprawls away from a takedown. Klein with a front kick. They trade inside leg kicks. Moises tries a takedown, then switches to hip throw but Klein rolls through and they just come up clinched. Klein with some more shoulder strikes then a right hand as they break. Bit of a one two from Klein then a knee to the body that drops Moises, Klein gets on top and fires hammer fists but Moises closes half guard and stifles the offense. Some rights from Klein land, and Moises will come up wrestling for a single leg as the round ends.

SCORCARD: 10-9 Klein, 20-18 Klein overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Ludovit Klein via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

We’ve had 10 minutes of overrun on the prelims so no interview for Klein.

That’s it for prelims, main card up next.

Miguel Baeza was a fairly hot prospect in 2020 but is now on a three fight losing streak and hasn’t fought since April of 2022 due to injuries and other health issues, he’s back in action now though and hoping to regain a bit of the hype he used to have. Punahele Soriano has gone 1-4 in his last five fights and is on a two fight losing streak, he’s hoping to change his career fortunes by moving to welterweight tonight. Despite the layoff Baeza is the -205 favorite to +170 for Soriano.

Welterweight Bout: Miguel Baeza (10-3, 171 lbs.) vs. Puna Soriano (9-4, 171 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Baeza is three inches taller with two inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves, Soriano fighting southpaw. Side kick from Baeza. Soriano checks a body kick, that didn’t look pleasant. They clinch up and Baeza pushes things into the fence. Not much going on here as they jockey for position. Soriano gets Baeza on the cage now and looks for a double leg, he gets it as Baeza slipped trying for a guillotine. A few punches from Soriano land as he avoids an armbar. Soriano has Baeza stuffed into the fence and lands some punches again. Baeza looks to invert for a leg, they wind up in a leg entanglement. Inside heel hook attempt from Baeza but Soriano is punching him in the face the whole time. Baeza keeps looking for that inside heel hook, Soriano has a hand in on the legs sort of blocking control of the knee line. Now Baeza rolls through and looks for a kneebar, this one’s pretty gnarly but Soriano kicks free and lands rights from the ride position. More punches from Soriano as Baeza stands and they break. Soriano pushes forward and hits a double leg then lands more punches as Baeza stands and the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Soriano but could go either way

ROUND TWO: Baeza shows some kicks early then Soriano lands a left hand and hits a double leg against the fence. Soriano moves towards the back then lands punches as Baeza rolls for full guard. A few more punches from Soriano land. Baeza is trying to fish for an armbar but Soriano is avoiding those and landing hammer fists. Lefts from Soriano, Baeza tries another armbar but Soriano stacks him up and lands knees to the body. Baeza is still after that armbar but the fence is making this difficult at the moment and he bails on it. Soriano back to landing lefts to the head. Baeza gives up his back to avoid the punches, Soriano just lands punches from the ride now. Soriano with a modified cradle then from the back he lands knees to the thigh. More punches from Soriano, he’s riding well and landing punches. Baeza is working to wall walk, Soriano pulls his legs out from under him and lands body shots. Soriano with some more rights to the head now as he’s riding Baeza. Baeza does get up but Soriano immediately takes him back down, he’s doing a passable Khabib impression with this fence wrestling. Soriano with knees to the body now as he’s got Baeza sitting on the fence. An elbow from Soriano closes the round.

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

ROUND THREE: Soriano opens with a body kick, then he shoots a double leg and gets it against the fence. Immediate body shots from Soriano as he’s got Baeza sitting on the fence. Soriano moves to the ride position and lands punches, Baeza is just melting. Hammer fists now from Soriano, he just keeps going with them until Baeza rolls to his knees. Baeza tries to come up on a single leg, Soriano sprawls and lands body shots from the sprawl position. Soriano moves to the ride again and resumes working punches and hammer fists then pushes Baeza over onto his back. More Soriano punches, a mercy stoppage wouldn’t be out of line here. Soriano works from half guard now and lands a few more lefts. Baeza is able to shrimp to full guard but Soriano is based up hitting him to the body and keeping him stuffed against the cage. Soriano lands to the body again, he’s staying pretty busy on top. The round ends with Soriano still on top landing some body shots.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Soriano but a slightly generous one, 30-26 Soriano overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Punahele Soriano via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25 x2)

Two 10-8’s feels off, but I guess maybe the second could qualify? Mic time for Soriano, he feels great and is glad he can wrestle in this weight class now that he’s not the smaller guy every time. He jokes about jumping off of a bridge if he lost then says he’s going to drink a lot of bourbon.

Julian Marquez has gone 2-2 in his last four fights but he’s on a two fight losing streak and needs a win to have a little career security beyond generally being involved in fan friendly fights. He’s also been out of action for over a year, which rarely helps things. Zachary Reese suffered his first professional loss in his UFC debut, now he’s hoping his sophomore outing yields better results. Marquez is a slight -140 favorite to Reese’s +120.

Middleweight Bout: Julian Marquez (9-4, 185.5 lbs.) vs. Zach Reese (6-1, 185 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Reese is two inches taller with five inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Reese we’ve had a lot of open stance fights tonight. Left hand from Reese then a right uppercut drop Marquez, the ref jumps in pretty quickly but the way Marquez fell I think it’s justified.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Zach Reese via TKO, punches, at :20 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Reese for his work this evening. Mic time for Reese, he jokes about fighting like white trash but he is quite skilled and then plays with the crowd. He’s stoked to be the winner and can’t wait for the next one, this is the best feeling on Earth besides the birth of his children and then dedicates the win to his brother who died in a hit and run a few years ago.

Here’s the finish. They’ve been at kind of a premium ever since the new gloves were introduced so enjoy it, also fun fact this is the first T/KO via head strikes since the new gloves came around at UFC 302.

Brunno Ferreira has gone 2-1 in the UFC and scored a win back in January, he’s hoping to build his first UFC winning streak here and prove he’s a rising force in the division. Dustin Stoltzfus has gone 2-4 in the UFC but he is coming off of a win and could build his first UFC winning streak tonight. Ferreira is your -260 favorite against +210 on Stoltzfus.

Middleweight Bout: Brunno Ferreira (11-1, 186 lbs.) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (15-5, 184.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Stoltzfus is two inches taller with three inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Ferreira but he’s doing a lot of stance switching as he circles. Stoltzfus looks to feint his way into range, not much going one right now. Ferreira avoids a right hand then lands a side kick. Ferreira lands a right hand. Stoltzfus is starting to play with stance switches now too. They trade power hand punches, Stoltzfus then hits a takedown into full guard. Some elbows from the back by Ferreira. Stoltzfus moves to a ride position, he’s half working an assassin ride. Ferreira tries to get free but Stoltzfus moves to the back with both hooks in, Ferreira bases up and shakes him off but Stoltzfus looks for a kneebar now. Ferreira works to get his leg free and gets the knee past the groin and they fight up. Stoltzfus bull rushes into a clinch on the fence and they trade some punches before separating. They trade power hand punches. Knee from Stoltzfus, Ferreira just isn’t doing well off the back foot. Spinning back kick from Stoltzfus lands. Spinning elbow from Ferreira wobbles Stoltzfus, he goes after him with punches then a knee. Stoltzfus lands an elbow but Ferreira is all over him with punches, then another spinning elbow drops Stoltzfus and the ref waves this off.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Brunno Ferreira via TKO, spinning back elbow, at 4:51 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Ferreira for his work this evening. Mic time for Ferreira and the translator, he thanks the crowd in English then thanks God and his family for all of their support, then puts over his team. He talks us through the finish in Portuguese now to say he’s going to do this many more times and puts over his team again. Asked about the future he wants a bonus then says he’d like to fight Bo Nickal.

This is like something out of an Ong Bak movie, just elbow violence.

Raul Rosas Jr. has gone 2-1 in the UFC and he’s coming off of a win, he’s had a fair bit of hype build at times and now looks to build more of that along with finding his first UFC winning streak. Ricky Turcios has gone 2-1 in the UFC and he’s likewise coming off of a win and looking for his first UFC winning streak. The odds are with Rosas at -245 while a +200 payout on Turcios might be a tempting value bet.

Bantamweight Bout: Raul Rosas Jr. (8-1, 136 lbs.) vs. Ricky Turcios (12-3, 136 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height, Turcios has four inches of reach advantage while Rosas is 12 years younger. Turcios comes out kicking right away, Rosas is southpaw while Turcios is switching a lot. Body kick from Turcios but Rosas hits a takedown. Turcios works to wall walk while Rosas is just holding on. Rosas passes to side control, Turcios catches half guard back though. Turcios works to scramble and is able to get butterfly guard. Rosas lands a couple of punches then Turcios wall walks into a clinch. Knee from Turcios then Rosas tries a takedown but can’t quite finish it as Turcios looks for a switch, eventually Rosas does clear the arm and start holding on top. Turcios with some elbows then he wall walks and tries an ankle pick then gets on top against the fence. Some punches from Turcios, Rosas gives up the back and Turcios grabs a choke with a body triangle locked in. Turcios works to tighten the choke but Rosas is able to break the grip and spin to top position. They scramble around again and Rosas gets the back just as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Turcios

ROUND TWO: Turcios comes out punching and lands a left hand. Rosas with a knee then looks for a takedown against the fence and gets it. Turcios wall walks into a clinch, but Rosas pulls him down and gets the back with a body triangle. Rosas starts working for a choke but Turcios is hand fighting well thus far. Choke attempt from Rosas, Turcios fights for the hands but loses the grip and Rosas gets the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Raul Rosas Jr. via Submission, rear naked choke, at 2:22 of Round 2

Mic time for Rosas, he says a lot of nothing then dedicates the fight to his coach who passed away then he asks for a post fight bonus. He wants to buy his mom a house and would love 100 grand to do so. He puts over Turcios as a tough guy and says he’s worked hard on his conditioning so he can fight longer. Asked about the future he wants to fight in the Sphere in September.

Dominick Reyes had a pretty good run going for a while and fought for the light heavyweight title in 2020 and dropped a very contentious decision, but that seemed to herald a turning point for him as he’s now on a four fight losing streak and has been finished in the last three, each one coming faster and faster. Reyes has been out of action since November of 2022 when Ryan Spann knocked him out in 80 seconds, and he badly needs a win to try and save his career. Dustin Jacoby has gone 1-3 in his last four fights, one of those a split decision he probably should have won and most recently dropping a decision to Alonzo Menifield, Jacoby is trying for probably the biggest win of his career here. Jacoby is the -240 favorite while a Reyes win pays out at +195.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Dustin Jacoby (19-8-1, 204.5 lbs.) vs. #15 Dominick Reyes (12-4, 205 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Reyes has an inch of height and reach advantage. Southpaw for Reyes, and they touch gloves to get us going. Some feinting from Jacoby. Bit of a body kick from Reyes. Jacoby now doing some stance switching and lands a calf kick. Another leg kick from Jacoby. Bit of a body kick from Reyes, Jacoby then lands a calf kick. Right hand from Jacoby. Jacoby with a combination of punches but Reyes tags him with a left hook. Reyes looks to unload now and Jacoby slumps down to prompt the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Dominick Reyes via KO, punches, at 2:00 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Reyes for his work this evening. Mic time for Reyes, his first win since 2019, and he thanks God first then says the win feels so good. He feels amazing and puts over his team then talks us through the finish and puts over Jacoby’s toughness. A request for fried chicken follows then he wants to fight again before the end of the year.

Jared Cannonier has gone 4-1 in his last five fights, the only loss being a title fight with Israel Adesanya but he’s been out of action for just about a year despite being on a two fight winning streak. Cannonier needs a win to get back into the title picture. Nassourdine Imavov hasn’t lost at middleweight since 2021 and most recently bested Roman Dolidze back in February, he’s looking to build another winning streak here and possibly enter title contention if he can turn in an impressive win over Cannonier. We’ve got a close main event, Imavov at -125 against Cannonier’s +105.

Middleweight Bout: #4 Jared Cannonier (17-6, 185 lbs.) vs. #7 Nassourdine Imavov (13-4 1 NC, 185 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Imavov is four inches taller while Cannonier has two and a half inches of reach advantage, Cannonier is also 11 years older. Both men open orthodox. Cannonier fires a few punches early, he’s looking to keep a pretty high pace. Bit of a right from Imavov. Cannonier lands a calf kick. Some jabs from Imavov then a right hand. They punch into a clinch and Cannonier pushes things to the fence. Bit of a trip from Cannonier, he winds up in a ride position. Imavov back up and Cannonier lands an elbow as they break. Some jabs go back and forth. Bit of a calf kick from Cannonier. Sharp left hook from Imavov then they trade calf kicks. Knee from Imavov. Cannonier lands a left then misses the follow up right. Imavov catches a kick and lands a right that off balances Cannonier, Cannonier quickly gets up into a clinch after avoiding a front headlock. They fight for position along the fence, Cannonier has Imavov on the fence and is working to control him. Imavov fights off a level change but can’t get out of the clinch. The round will end in that position.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Cannonier but a close one

ROUND TWO: Inside leg kick from Cannonier to start the second. Pretty solid left from Imavov. Quick combination from Imavov. Cannonier lands a right hand then eats a knee. Cannonier pushes into a clinch on the fence. Short right from Imavov as they break the clinch. Calf kick from Imavov but Cannonier is working his jab now. Another clinch and again they hit the fence. Imavov lands a few elbows when Cannonier looks to change levels. They break briefly and trade then clinch and break. Imavov lands a couple of rights, Cannonier looks a little unsteady on his feet. One two from Imavov then a front kick. Combination from Imavov lands. Cannonier blocks a head kick and forces a clinch that hits the fence. Imavov spins Cannonier and lands an elbow, then a combination of punches to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Imavov, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Imavov looks to pick up where he left off, then Cannonier lands a right hand. Some jabs from Imavov now as they circle around. Cannonier jabs the body then eats a counter right. Imavov avoids a few punches then gets the back and rides Cannonier down. Cannonier bounces up with Imavov on his back. Imavov works for mat returns, Cannonier is able to stand then turn into the clinch. Some knees go back and forth in the clinch. Imavov breaks free and lands a right hand. Bit of a one two from Imavov. Cannonier lands a calf kick but Imavov has that timed and lands a counter. Right hand from Cannonier then they trade and clinch again. Imavov lands an elbow then they break. Body kick from Imavov. Cannonier lands an uppercut. Imavov with a one two. Short left hook from Imavov then a jab. Cannonier forces a clinch again. They break then Imavov lands a right hand and a head kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Imavov but a close one, 29-28 Imavov overall

ROUND FOUR: Cannonier comes out working his lead hand. Double jab from Imavov. Cannonier tries a spinning elbow, partially lands but Imavov gets his back in the clinch. Some short punches from Imavov land then they break apart. Jab from Imavov. Imavov lands a right hand that wobbles Cannonier, he looks to follow up and lands another right. Cannonier is in trouble, Imavov lands a knee then a couple of left hooks prompt the ref to step in. Might have been a touch early but that’s understandable even if you don’t necessarily agree.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Nassourdine Imavov via TKO, punches, at 1:34 of Round 4

Cannonier isn’t happy with the stoppage and neither are the fans. Mic time for Imavov and the translator, he was ready to keep going if the ref hadn’t gotten involved. He knew the fight would go this way, he could play the long game and he planned to keep accelerating the pace as the fight wore on. He talks us through the finish and mentions working a lot on countering the jab of Cannonier. Asked about the future he wants a rematch with Sean Strickland in Paris. To close he puts over Cannonier and says he’s not going to celebrate given the state of the world right now.

Well on that note UFC on ESPN 57 comes to a close, we’ll be breaking down all the fallout from this event tomorrow on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast. We’ll also be looking forward to next week with UFC on ESPN+ 100 and honestly one of the weaker cards the UFC has put out lately. But I’ll be back here covering that one and I hope you’ll be reading, be that live or after the fact. Until then I thank you again for reading, stay safe out there, and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.

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