It didn’t look like much on paper – especially after the main event between Derek Lewis vs Curtis Blades ended 24 hours after notice – but UFC Vegas 15 Make a fun night of fights with loads of finishes. The event also featured two fighters who might be future contenders in their squads.
The alternate main event between former title competitor Anthony Smith and Devin Clark was scheduled for five rounds, but it barely reached halfway through the first round.
Clark first came with the intention of ending Smith, due to a promise he made to his late mother-in-law. He threw the punches, but Smith read his lead, lowered it and got the removal. After an embarrassing struggle, Smith regains Clark’s back and resurrects the lower half of the hurricane. Clark was able to blast, and he overpowered Smith. From the back, Smith slapped a triangle choke two and a half minutes earlier. The “Lionheart” was compressed and it was over. Clark listens to avoid falling asleep.
In the main joint event, Miguel Baeza bet on his unbeaten run against Takashi Sato. Both the midweight players showed a lot of respect and restraint in the first moments. But Baeza was the first to find his group and wanted to participate. He shot a few nice shots at Sato, including a big knee to his face against the cage. Aggressive Sato came out in the second, but Baeza was able to evade his early attacks and tag him with a physical kick and Superman’s punch. Later in the tour, Baeza had a clearance against the fence, then quickly recovered Sato. After that, Baeza landed some hard ground and pound before choking his head and arm for the win. Baeza moved up to 10-0 with his first ever win and showed he could make some noise in the crowded 170-pound section.
The remaining evening-hole heavyweight match Josh Parisian versus Parker Porter. The older boys threw the skin inside the smaller cage. At first, Porter seemed to have improved his exchanges early on, but the Parisian took a step back and gave him a big lift. But Porter responded and damaged the Parisian in groups. Porter came out fresh in a second and used that energy to chop up the Parisian with leg kicks. With the Parisian gas tank empty, Porter was able to lower it, hold it, and direct big punches and hammers for most of the round. After his opponent was tired and desperate, Porter managed to spend the Parisian third walking his feet landing with clean leg kicks and punches en route to winning the unanimous decision.
Spike Carlyle and Senor Perfecto Bill Algeo “The Alpha Ginger” had a predictable crazy fight with loads of funky punches, throws and attempts. Carlisle screams at Algeo as well. In the second round, the long-limbed Algeo was able to gain control of the fighting on the ground, flattening Carlisle and approaching two bottlenecks. With Carlisle exhausted in third place, Algeo slipped slightly to secure the decision win.
In the bantamute weight movement, Norma Dumont collected the most impressive win of her young career, with a landslide victory over veteran octagonist Ashley Evans Smith. The Brazilian, who previously fought in featherweight (and lost weight for that weight), was able to outrun Evans Smith (who fought flyweight) and hit hard throughout the contest. If Dumont manages to shed 135 pounds (and keep making), then she can keep an eye on it at a bantamweight.
To open the main card, Jonathan Pearce and Kai Kamaka III went back on his feet before Pierce showed he had the best wrestling between the two. He placed his weight on the Kamaka on the ground, searching for surrenders and landings of large shots. Towards the end of the second pierce punctuated by light strikes. Kamaka did not defend them or provide any response, so the referee had to overturn it.
To finish off the introductory card, Anderson dos Santos and Martin Day had a fun clip that didn’t make it out of the first round. Dos Santos showed incredible aggression by hitting and wrestling with him. Both fighters exchanged major eliminations in the round, but when Dai dos Santos was shot down, he fell into the Brazilian guillotine choke, which proved tight enough to end the fight.
Impressed Gina Mazzani on the bottom card. She intimidated Rachel Ustovich with her wrestle and punished her by hitting her, and in the end she was able to stop with a front kick in a perfect body position.
One of the most memorable moments in the prelims was the weight of the Tibetan fly Somodergi that beat Malcolm Gordon in under a minute. Somoderji slammed the Canadian with a barrage of punches that left his opponent on the face.
To start things off from Luke Sanders and Nathan Maness met in a weight bout (140 lbs.). Curtain-workers let this tear up, as both men threw the hay makers from the start. In the second, Manes scored a knockout and then swooped in to gain a succumbing victory.
The main card
Light Heavyweight: Anthony Smith def. Devin Clark via Submission (Triangle), Round 1 (2:34).
Welterweight: Miguel Baeza defeated. Takashi Sato by Submission (Triangle Arm), Second Round (4:28).
Heavyweight: Parker Porter def. Josh Parisian by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-28).
Featherweight: Bill Algeo def. Spike Carlisle by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Bantam Weight: Norma Dumont Dave. Ashley Evans-Smith by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26).
Featherweight: Jonathan Pierce def. Kai Kamaka III via TKO (strikes), Round 2 (4:28).
Initial card
Pantamoy Weight: Anderson dos Santos defeated. Martin’s Day by Submission (The Guillotine), First Round (4:35).
Flyweight: Gina Mazane def. Rachel Ostovich via TKO (physical kick), Round 3 (4:10).
Fly weight: Sumudaerji def. Malcolm Gordon of KO (punch), Round 1 (0.44).
Catchweight (140 lbs.): Nathan Maness def. Luke Sanders via Submission (naked backstage throttle), Round Two (2:29).
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