STATEMENT made. Curtis Blaydes thrust himself back into the heavyweight title picture in the UFC Raleigh main event, stopping former champion Junior dos Santos in Round 2. Michael Chiesa also took full advantage of his moment in the sun with as he utilised a perfect gameplan to topple Rafael dos Anjos via decision, with a bunch of claims staked further down an interesting fight card. We recap each fight, and analyse every fight-ending sequence and decision from the latest UFC Fight Night instalment.

FOTN: Brett Johns vs.Tony Gravely
POTN: Alex Perez, Herbert Burns

MAIN CARD:

HEAVYWEIGHT | Curtis Blaydes [3] def. Junior dos Santos [4] | TKO (Knees and punches) 1:06 Rd 2

Round by round:

Round 1 – 10-9 Blaydes

The broadcast team notice ‘JDS’ is deliberately keeping a hand low by his hip in anticipation of a Blaydes takedown, but of course, that leaves his whole left side open up top. Blaydes is the clearly busier fighter, hunting the Brazilian down and charging in for a couple of takedown attempts. But dos Santos answers well, stuffing both emphatically and winding up for that lead uppercut to no avail. Blaydes gets in deep with a third attempt but ends up in a clinch, where he also lands a groin strike to break up the action. Finished with an 0-4 on takedown attempts at the end of the round for Blaydes, but clearly the aggressor. ‘JDS’ hanging his hopes on the uppercut and thwarting the American’s game.

Round 2 – Stoppage

Can’t get the fight to the mat? No worries, Blaydes finishes it on the feet early in Round 2. Looking to push the pace again, he lands heavy up top over the lowered guard of JDS as he winds up that uppercut, and puts him away standing.

Fight-ending sequence: Blaydes changes levels to hint feint the takedown, but instead throws a beautiful 1-2 and beats JDS to the punch with a looping right while the Brazilian winds up that lead uppercut. He follows up with a barrage of knees and punches to leave the referee with no choice but to step in.

WELTERWEIGHT | Michael Chiesa def. Rafael dos Anjos [5] | Decision (Unanimous) 30-27, 29-28, 29-28

Round by round:

Round 1 – 10-9 Chiesa

Chiesa looks huge. The American is looking for a way in, clinching and slipping to the back of ‘RDA’. Chiesa drags the Brazilian down and gets both hooks in, eventually locking in a body triangle. Chiesa threatens the rear-naked choke, one of his favourite moves, but RDA is a great grappler and escapes to pull guard, eventually getting back up. The round ends with a beautiful level change and takedown for Chiesa.

Round 2 – 10-9 Chiesa (20-18)

Chiesa continues to go forward and lock up, adopting the Usman and Covington pressure and wrestling gameplans which worked to smother the former 155lbs champion. RDA lands a couple of nice shots and starts to chop the lead leg in typical fashion. Chiesa is still looking strong though, and keeps slipping to the back as the two clinch. Close round, an argument to be made either way.

Round 3 – 10-9 Chiesa (30-27)

RDA needs a finish from our view. Chiesa locks up straight away against the cage and takes RDA down. Chiesa isolates an arm on top and looks for a straight armlock, but RDA pulls the arm free – great defence. A stalemate ensues with RDA trying to lock up a leg, but Chiesa escapes to get into full guard. Chiesa stays busy on top with some ground-and-pound to see it out. Perfect gameplan from Chiesa, nullifying the dangerous Brazilian. And he calls out Colby Covington, bold.

We had it: 30-27 Chiesa – all three rounds to the victor, who did enough to nullify dos Anjos in each round and took up greater octagon control.

FLYWEIGHT | Alex Perez [12] def. Jordan Espinosa [11] | Submission (Arm triangle choke) 2:33 Rd 1

Alex Perez made an ideal return from injury, finishing the higher-ranked Jordan Espinosa in Round 1 to put himself up for top 10 status. Espinosa is so smooth on the feet, but Perez looked to quell his movement with a takedown and was successful, transitioning into the dominant position which would eventually allow him to put Espinosa out cold via submission. It was an unorthodox technique with the arm triangle choke coming from the ‘wrong side’, but Perez’s shoulder pressure allowed him to help stop the blood flow and put his opponent to sleep.

Fight-ending sequence: It was an unorthodox technique with the arm triangle choke coming from the ‘wrong side’, but Perez’s shoulder pressure allowed him to help stop the blood flow and put his opponent to sleep.

W. STRAWWEIGHT | Angela Hill def. Hannah Cifers | TKO (Elbows and punches) 4:26 Rd 2

Angela Hill again reminded us of her talents, silencing the Raleigh crowd by finishing their local fighter in brutal fashion. Hill looked the bigger and longer woman, hoping to keep the stand-up game at range while Cifers tried to initiate more of a dogfight in-close. A good pace was set in Round 1, and a nice sweep from Hill in Round 2 spelled the beginning of the end as she transitioned to mount and sealed the deal.

Fight-ending sequence: Upon reaching a very deep full mount, Hill dropped some heavy elbows and punches on Cifers, with the referee stepping in after having a long look at the action.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT | Jamahal Hill def. Darko Stosic | Decision (Unanimous) 29-27, 29-27, 29-27

Jamahal Hill improved to 7-0 in his young MMA career with an impressive win over dangerous Serbian powerhouse, Darko Stosic. It was all-action from the start, with Hill showing great energy while Stosic had the power moving in with flurries. Stosic’s left hand over the top looked a winner, and his path to victory if he could land it cleanly enough, but some superb wrestling in Round 3 had us wondering why he didn’t use his grappling sooner. Hill was terrific on the feet, constantly landing better combinations and slowing Stosic down with body shots.

We had it: 29-28 Hill – Stosic’s grappling easily gave him Round 3 honours, but Hill took out the first two just as dominantly. Big left hands from Stosic kept him from a 10-8 downer, despite being pieced up.

—

PRELIMINARY CARD:

MIDDLEWEIGHT | Bevon Lewis def. Dequan Townsend | Decision (Unanimous) 30-27, 30-27, 30-27

In 25 or less: Another Contender Series graduate on the rise earns a well deserved maiden promotional win. Slick on the feet and adjusted well when hampered late-on.

We had it: 30-27 Lewis – easy decision, Lewis takes all three Rounds. Dominant without having those near-fight-ending moments.

FEATHERWEIGHT | Arnold Allen def. Nik Lentz | Decision (Unanimous) 29-28, 29-28, 30-27

In 25 or less: Great win over a wily opponent. Much too slick up top, and now 7-0 in the UFC. Featherweight rankings beckon again for the Englishman.

We had it: 30-27 Allen – an argument could go the way of Lentz in either of the first two rounds, but Allen landed the better blows and nullified his opponent’s grappling plans.

W. FLYWEIGHT | Justine Kish def. Lucie Pudilova | Decision (Unanimous) 30-27, 30-27, 30-27

In 25 or less: Far from a barnburner, but Kish had the better moments in a fight bereft of them. Pudilova surprisingly unwilling to engage with Kish’s awkward style.

We had it: 30-27 Kish – A straightforward one, Pudilova simply didn’t do enough in any round and Kish had the bigger moments.

BANTAMWEIGHT | Montel Jackson def. Felipe Colares | Decision (Unanimous) 30-26, 30-26, 30-25

In 25 or less: Tied for the most takedowns in a bantamweight fight (11), and Jackson was just as impressive on the feet. A good prospect with finishing potential.

We had it: 30-26 Jackson – Second round a 10-8 to Jackson as he went close to finishing, easily won each round.

W. BANTAMWEIGHT | Sara McMann [10] def. Lina Lansberg [11] | Decision (Unanimous) 30-27, 30-26, 30-25

In 25 or less: A single takedown in each round was all it took for McMann. Over 12 minutes of top control overall, what a return. Ugly, but dominant.

We had it: 30-26 McMann – first two rounds were a landslide, possibly 10-8, and McMann clearly won all three with over four minutes of control in each.

BANTAMWEIGHT | Brett Johns def. Tony Gravely | Submission (Rear-naked choke) 2:53 Rd 3

In 25 or less: A great match-up. Gravely is a warrior, but Johns was too good for too long and took full advantage of a late opportunity. Great patience.

Fight-ending sequence: Johns wore Gravely down, dragging him to the mat and pouncing with heavy strikes. They acted as a distraction to the choke, with Johns sinking it in easily and getting the tap.

FEATHERWEIGHT | Herbert Burns def. Nate Landwehr | KO (Knee) 2:43 Rd 1

In 25 or less: Hardly a better way to debut for Burns who came in the superior grappler, but finished in style on the feet. Disappointing homecoming for Landwehr.

Fight-ending sequence: The American lands a couple of nice shots coming in, but Burns waits for his shot under fire against the cage and lands a perfectly placed knee to Landwehr’s chin. Awesome KO.