UFC Fight Night: The UFC visited Orlando’s Amway Center on Saturday for the first time in more than four years, bringing a solid card highlighted by welterweight contenders Stephen Thompson and Kevin Holland. Orlando is the home of the NBA’s Magic and The Magic Kingdom. The fight card featured 14 bouts ending in submissions, knockouts, or unanimous decisions. Six knockouts were on the main card, while two came in the prelims matches. Follow UFC updates with InsideSport.In
UFC Fight Night: Main event: Stephen Thompson def. Kevin Holland via TKO
The main event of UFC Orlando tonight turned out to be an exhilarating back-and-forth battle. The first round included huge shots from both fighters, and the intense pace carried over into round two. However, in rounds three and four, “Wonderboy” completely flipped the script in his favor and started hitting “Trailblazer” with every weapon at his disposal. The fight was stopped by Holland’s corned before the fifth and final round could start, having almost made it to the last horn at the end of round four.
Matheus Nicolau defeats Matt Schnell via second-round KO
Brazil’s Nicolau and Schnell moved with lightning speed, with Schnell pushing forward early and Nicolau on the outside. Nicolau remained active and, more importantly, out of range, so there was little activity in the first two minutes. Schnell attempted to close off the cage as Nicolau sped up, unleashed a single blow, and quickly made it gone.
In the second round, Schnell was knocked out within a minute, but this time, Nicolau emerged victorious in guard. Instead of staying still, he decided to move back and let Schnell pick himself up. Another powerful strike from Nicolau brought the crowd back into the battle. After Matheus Nicolau struck his opponent with another flush punch, they exploded one last time. Nicolau launched a barrage of blows while Schnell was face down and covering up until the referee entered!
UFC Fight Night: Main Card: Sergei Pavlovich def. Tai Tuivasa via first-round KO
Tai Tuivasa was defeated by Sergei Pavlovich in UFC Orlando in just 54 seconds, making a powerful statement. The heavy-handed Russian was going for the kill immediately, cracking Tuivasa with a hard shot that jarred the intriguing Australian brawler from the start. As he continued to hammer Tuivasa with blows, Pavlovich just piled on the punishment, still scared of the force Tuivasa may muster in return.
Eventually, Pavlovich landed a jab to Tuivasa’s already-bloody face, sending him to the floor for the second time during the fight, and then landed a few more punches to seal the victory. For Pavlovich in the UFC, it marked his fifth consecutive victory and fifth knockout in a row.
SERGEI FINISHED TAI IN LESS THAN A MINUTE 😱 #UFCORLANDO pic.twitter.com/4khO7XXMhh
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 4, 2022
UFC Fight Night: Main Card: Roman Dolidze def. Jack Hermansson via TKO
When he stopped Jack Hermansson by second-round TKO (punches) by employing the calf slicer to pin “Joker” to the ground earlier tonight, Roman Dolidze invented a new sort of finish. Hermansson was able to contain Dolidze in the opening round with the help of his movement and erratic blows. During the process, “Joker” scored a few takedowns, but Dolidze made several submission threats.
CALF SLICER TKO???? WHAT AN INSANE FINISH BY DOLIDZE #UFCOrlando pic.twitter.com/IXRQcd3I5Z
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) December 4, 2022
Hermansson regained complete control in the second, but Dolidze quickly switched to a calf slicer. Hermansson attempted to escape, but Dolidze could pin “Joker” to the ground with the calf slicer and then land a flurry of blows to the head, forcing the referee to intervene.
Main Card: Eryk Anders smashes Kyle Daukaus for second-round TKO
In a middleweight match, Eryk Anders (15-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC) took on Kyle Daukaus. Anders put on a one-sided performance, quickly putting Daukaus (11-4 MMA, 2-4 UFC) on the canvas early on. Daukaus reacted strongly each time a precise, forceful left-hand strike connected with its target, and he repeatedly invited Anders to the ground.
After another solid left hand rocked Daukaus in the second round, Anders, who did not want to play on the mat, raced in and started raining down hammer fists until the referee stopped the fight.
Ya Boi is back in the win column!!@ErykAnders with the BIG second round finish over Kyle Daukaus 👊 pic.twitter.com/sVSLjnaEDj
— UFC (@ufc) December 4, 2022
UFC Fight Night: Main Card: Phil Rowe defeats Niko Price via third-round TKO
At UFC Fight Night, Orlando, Philip Rowe defeated Niko Price with a shocking TKO victory. Rowe overcame Price’s persistent pressure and returned to find a statement victory. Price (15-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) turned up the heat to create one of the wildest back-and-forth rounds of the year, even though Rowe (10-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC) was probably ahead on the scorecards going into the final round in the main card welterweight fight at UFC on ESPN 42.
With only five minutes remaining in the bout, Rowe took advantage of some successful submission attempts in the first two rounds and well-chosen shots to take the lead. With his back to the wall, Price exploded in the third round, putting Rowe in jeopardy as he sought a finish. Rowe, who had gotten himself back up, would eventually finish Price instead as he combined precise punches. Rowe soon had the upper hand after upsetting Price and depleting his reserves to secure the standing TKO knockout.
The Fresh Prince Philip Rowe makes it three in a row!
[ @PhillyFreshMMA | #UFCOrlando ] pic.twitter.com/1FiEu8M03I
— UFC (@ufc) December 4, 2022
Prelims: Francis Marshall floored Marcelo Rojo
A 23-year-old featherweight prospect from Dana White’s Contender Series named Francis Marshall (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) made quite an impression in his official UFC debut when he ruthlessly KO Marcelo Rojo (16-9 MMA, 0-3 UFC) in the second round of their battle.
Marshall applied pressure on Rojo until, in the second round, he uncorked and unleashed a crisp right hand that knocked out his opponent. It was evident from the start that Marshall had the advantage in power. When Rojo hit the ground, he was practically out, but Marshall continued to pound and got a few more for good measure.
Welcome to the UFC, Francis Marshall#UFCOrlando
pic.twitter.com/7xZiXIjcPB— MMA mania (@mmamania) December 4, 2022
Prelims: Yazmin Jauregui blows up Istela Nunes
Yazmin Jauregui (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), who had been surprised and floored by Istela Nunes (6-4 MMA, 0-3 UFC) early in the first round, changed the momentum and started scoring her blows, becoming the second strawweight in UFC history to score multiple knockdowns.
By the conclusion of the second round, the damage had already started to mount significantly. When Jauregui began to land a barrage of ground and pound, referee Keith Peterson intervened and declared the fight over for a TKO.
Yazmin Jauregui stays undefeated!!
She moves to 10-0 with the 2nd round finish of Istela Nunes 👊 #UFCOrlando pic.twitter.com/WDWy4XJmNf
— UFC (@ufc) December 4, 2022
UFC Fight Night: main card
Stephen Thompson def. Kevin Holland via TKO
Rafael dos Anjos def. Bryan Barberena via sub
Matheus Nicolau def. Matt Schnell via second-round KO
Sergei Pavlovich def. Tai Tuivasa via first-round KO
Roman Dolidze def. Jack Hermansson via second-round TKO
Eryk Anders def. Kyle Daukaus via second-round TKO
Phil Rowe def. Niko Price via third-round TKO
UFC Fight Night: Prelims
Angela Hill def. Emily Ducote, via unanimous decision
Clay Guida def. Scott Holtzman via split decision
Michael Johnson def. Marc Diakiese via unanimous decision
Jonathan Pearce def. Darren Elkins, via unanimous decision
Natan Levy def. Genaro Valdez via unanimous decision
Francis Marshall def. Marcelo Rojo via second-round KO (1:14) Yazmin Jauregui def. Istela Nunes via second-round TKO (4:06)
