Dana White will have his hands full picking a knockout of the night winner tonight as 6 of the 8 preliminary fights end in some form of knock out.
The first fight on Facebook ended in stunning fashion as the Cuban Olympic silver medalist in free style wrestling, Yoel Romero, landed a flying knee to the chin of Clifford Starks. Romero wasted no time diving on top and pounded away on till the ref was able to get over and protect Starks. The middleweight Romero picked up his first UFC win just 92 seconds into round 1.
In the only other Facebook fight lightweights Roger Bowling made his UFC debut against Anthony Njokuani. Bowling was making his transition to the UFC ranks from Strikeforce and controlled the fight up to the 4:20 mark of round one when Njokuani was able to get up off the mat and stepped his game up to give the judges something to remember as he landed clean and often. However the judges wouldn’t be needed as the second round the two fighters stayed on their feet and as Bowling charged in Njokuani placed a perfect short left to the chin that knocked out Bowling and Njokuani being the veteran could tell the fight was over and just stood above rather than delivering more punishment as the referee raced over. Anthony Njokuani is now 3-3 in the UFC with this knockout victory at the 2:52 mark of round 2. To cap it off Njokuani busted out a big spinaroonie after it was over.
Team Alpha Male had an absolutely great showing from their fighters tonight as TJ Dillashaw started off the action when he took on Hugo Viana in the bantamweight ranks. Viana was able to drop Dillashaw 45 seconds into the fight with a right hand but the wrestler quickly turned it into his favor taking Viana to the ground. Dillashaw would go on to get his striking working as he was able to hurt and drop Viana a couple times in the 60 seconds leading up to the final right hand and ground and pound that would give the Alpha Males the first of three victories at 4:22 of round 1.
Next up for the team of fighters out of Sacramento, CA was the flyweight Joseph Benavidez who lost to the champion Demetrious Johnson in the fight to crown the first champion. It would take Benavidez nearly two full rounds of punishing Darren Uyenoyama to put him away but he was able to. In the second round Benavidez landed a left kick to the body that connected right under the ribs that you could just see hurt. Benavidez heard is coach say go to the body and a thudding left hand in the same spot dropped Uyneoyama. Benavidez dove on top and landed a couple more body shots and head shots as the ref rushed over. Benavidez would spend the longest time in the cage going to the 4:50 mark of round 2.
Chad Mendes would cap off the night for the Alpha Males as the number one contender at featherweight took on Darren Elkins who filled in for Clay Guida. It took “Money” Mendes 1:08 to land one overhand right to the temple and then dive on top to finish off Elkins for the TKO. After Mendes finished of Elkins he motioned at his waist for the belt. Mendes wants the rematch with the featherweight king Jose Aldo and their is no one left standing between the two. Having Duane “Bang” Ludwig as their new head coach has really been paying off.
The two former Ultimate Fighter competitors met as Ramsey Nijem and Myles Jury faced off at 155 pounds. The first round was dominated by grappling as neither man landed double digit strikes and they fought for position. In the second round though Nijem and his reckless striking would pay. Nijem charged forward winging punch after punch and Jury connected with an right to the face that shut off the lights for Nijem before he even hit the mat. Myles Jury with the win at 1:02 in round 2 is now 11-0 in his mixed martial arts career.
Jorge Masvidal is the latest transplant from Strikeforce to successfully step inside the octagon. He was at a distance disadvantage to the taller Tim Means and ate a few elbows when he was able to get in close but after the first round Masvidal was successful in take down after take down and that is where a majority of the last two rounds were spent. Means defended from really taking any punishment but he had spent too much time on his back and Masvidal took home the 29-28 decision from all three judges.
In the other bout to go the distance Georges St. Pierre’s teammate Francis Carmont was able to extend his winning streak to 11 fights by picking up the unanimous decision two rounds to one on all cards over Lorenz Larkin. Larkin looked to have this fight as he punished the legs of Carmont and defended 7 of the first 8 take down attempts. Larkin even pulled off a sweet looking spinning heel kick to the thigh of Carmont. When Carmont got the fight to the ground he was never there long and Larkin put up a fight from the bottom utilizing the rubber guard attempting submissions and almost locking in a kimura. Carmont was the aggressor in this fight with out a doubt; he was consistently moving forward and that had to be what stood out in the mind of the judges.
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