UFC 328 ‘Chimaev vs. Strickland’ play-by-play, results & round scoring -

Khamzat Chimaev
(185) vs. Sean Strickland (185)Joshua Van (125) vs.
Tatsuro Taira (125)Alexander
Volkov (257) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (264)Sean Brady (170) vs.
Joaquin Buckley (170)King Green
(155) vs. Jeremy Stephens (160: Missed Weight)Ateba Abega Gautier
(185) vs. Osman Diaz (186)Joel Alvarez (170) vs.
Yaroslav Amosov (170)Live NOW! Grant Dawson
(156) vs. Mateusz Rebecki (156)Jim Miller (155) vs. Jared
Gordon (156)Roman Kopylov (185) vs.
Marco Tulio (186)Pat Sabatini (145) vs.
William Gomis (145)Baisangur
Susurkaev (186) vs. Djorden Santos (186)Clayton Carpenter (126)
vs. Jose Ochoa (125) Sherdog’s live
UFC 328 coverage will begin Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.

Clayton
Carpenter (126) vs. Jose Ochoa
(125)

BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING
REPORT | ODDS: Ochoa (-180), Carpenter (+150)

Round 1

Fans and media alike have lamented UFC shows as of late, and for
good reason. This is not one of those cards. Based on the metrics
seen so far, UFC 328 tonight is slated to be a big one. A rousing
12 or 13 fights (we shall see) will drive excitement to a fever
pitch inside of the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. We
start things off with a fun one at flyweight between two athletes
with nearly identical records. Carpenter (8-2, 2-2 UFC) and Ochoa
(8-2, 1 NC; 1-2 UFC) will be aiming to make tonight their launch
point, and referee Giovanna Scano will join them in the Octagon to
get going. Without interest in touching gloves, the two race
towards one another, and away we go.

Ochoa is a man on a mission right out of the gate, as he walks the
American down and busts him in the chops with a heavy flurry. He
catches a high kick and slings Carpenter to the mat, and Carpenter
springs back up and backs off. Ochoa pressures him, leading with
his jab to set up power strikes. Ochoa rips a body shot and gets
Carpenter’s attention, and Carpenter responds with a surging
takedown attempt that crashes into a Peruvian wall. Carpenter bails
on the attempt and keeps his guard up to defend the expected attack
that comes at him, but he still gets tagged in the ribs a few
times. Carpenter hurls back big offense, but Ochoa is elusive and
does not just stand in the pocket to bang it out. Ochoa digs a left
to the liver, and he sets up a few more and doubles Carpenter over.
Carpenter tries to respond with a takedown, but he gets shut down
before it comes close. Ochoa parries a front kick as he continues
plodding forward, and he scores a low kick right before Carpenter
is about to check it.

Carpenter tries to slow down the Peruvian with low kicks, but
Ochoa’s volume, pace and power are all giving him fits early.
Ochoa’s offense results in a clinch between the two, where he is
met with a stern knee to the midsection. Carpenter lines up a few
more knees on the inside before separating, and they bang heads
into one another. Ochoa appears no worse for wear and keeps racing
forward, slugging his fists into Carpenter’s face and stomach.
Carpenter crumbles to the mat, and he hits his back and fishes for
a low-percentage leglock. Ochoa drops down several elbows including
a few 12-to-6 to the calf to break up the submission, and he turns
and nails Carpenter with heavy ground-and-pound that has completely
busted Carpenter’s nose open. Ochoa gets out of the danger, and
Carpenter jumps back to his feet. Carpenter plods forward
face-first into a jab, and he takes a front kick on the jaw as the
horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa

Round 2

Carpenter’s nose is a bit crooked coming out of his corner, but the
bleeding has largely been slowed for now. It takes no time at all
for Ochoa to bust it open again, as he drives forward with punches
and front kicks. The variety of offense from “Kalzifer” is shutting
down Carpenter, as are his body shots. Ochoa backs Carpenter to the
wall and unloads a steady stream of fists to the face and sides,
and Carpenter reels and tries to counter but is not able to land
nearly as solidly. Ochoa picks his targets effectively, railing the
sternum with several jabs and dancing away from counters. Ochoa
leaves a body kick out too long, and Carpenter sprints around
manages to circle around to take the back standing. Ochoa shimmies
him off, so Carpenter slides off and fishes for a leglock. Ochoa
wrenches his leg out, and the crowd roars. Ochoa walks Carpenter
down to land cleanly, and he gets stood up by one single overhand
right.

Ochoa slips and rips with his boxing, leaning back as Carpenter’s
swings find nothing but air. Ochoa probes out with his jab, and he
leaves himself open to get caught with a left hand upstairs.
Carpenter lets go with a low kick and has his head snapped back
with a power jab. The jabs from Ochoa have transformed Carpenter
into practically a different person, and he sets up a kick that
smacks the Arizona native square in the face. Carpenter shoots for
a takedown, and he gets nowhere close to even changing levels
before he is shut down. Ochoa mixes up head shots with those to the
body, constantly giving Carpenter a puzzle to solve. Carpenter
rushes out behind a few combinations, and Ochoa ducks one and beans
Carpenter with a spinning elbow. Carpenter is tough as the third
house from the “Three Little Pigs,” as no amount of heaving or
blowing or swinging will put him down. They trade it out to the
bell.

Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa

Round 3

Ochoa the aggressor rushes forward to attack, giving Carpenter
little room to breathe early. Carpenter stands his ground and hurls
fists back, keeping Ochoa from trampling him. Carpenter attacks the
body with his shin, and he takes two low kicks that force him to
change stances. Ochoa goes to the body and head, head and body,
body body head or head head body—it all differs. As Ochoa is
plodding forward with fast hands, Carpenter tackles him to the mat
and plants the Peruvian flat on his back. Blood splatters from
Carpenter’s nose as he frantically looks to advance position and
get off some strikes from above. Ochoa turns to his side to give
his back up, and he slides Carpenter off of him. Ochoa stands, and
Carpenter follows and takes a left hand square to the face.
Carpenter swings back and drops down in pursuit of a single-leg
takedown, and Ochoa hops to put his back to the fence to defend
it.

Ochoa stands Carpenter up and knees him in the solar plexus, and he
strikes the face a few more times with blood painted on the face of
the MMA Lab athlete. They trade low kicks, with Carpenter still in
the fight even if he might be quite down on the scorecards.
Carpenter tries to time a step-in knee, but Ochoa is away in time.
Ochoa prods and probes with his jab, and he is met with a pair of
head kicks. Ochoa keeps his guard low when not expecting the high
kicks, preparing to defend a possible level change as he keeps
lighting Carpenter up on the feet. Ochoa goes to the body, slips
back to dodge a counter, rips an uppercut and fires off a left to
the ribs. Carpenter tosses out a body kick, and Ochoa catches it
and returns fire with one of his own. Ochoa jabs the body several
more times, pushing a head kick and body kick aside so he can put
hands on the American. Carpenter advances with kicks, and he just
misses getting caught with a back elbow. Ochoa raises his hands,
and Carpenter attacks with seconds to spare. This nearly draws
Carpenter into a jump knee, but he dodges it right as the bell
sounds.

Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa (30-27
Ochoa)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa (30-27 Ochoa)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa (30-27 Ochoa)

The Official Result

Jose Ochoa def. Clayton Carpenter via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-27, 30-27)

Baisangur
Susurkaev (186) vs. Djorden
Santos (186)

BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING
REPORT | ODDS: Susurkaev (-625), Santos (+455)

Round 1

Multiple bouts tonight feature nearly prohibitive betting lines,
and this is one of them. Undefeated Chechen finisher Susurkaev
(11-0, 2-0 UFC) has most of the bettors on his side as he pushes a
line around -800, but he will not be the most highly favored
athlete from that perspective tonight. Odds don’t fight, and Santos
(11-2, 1-1 UFC) will instead as he tries to stage quite an upset.
The middleweights will receive oversight from referee Gasper
Oliver, and they acknowledge him and one another with a fist
bump.

It is a cautious hand-fighting strategy from the two that starts
things off, with Susurkaev eventually offering out a front kick to
the midsection about 20 seconds in. Susurkaev sinks a low kick on
his intended target before dodging a few kicks, and he just misses
a head kick and celebrates his own handiwork. Santos moves in, so
Susurkaev greets him with a one-two and a body kick. Santos catches
it and dodges a spinning elbow, pawing out a right hand to force
Susurkaev to wipe his nose. Santos swats out with a jab and a
shovel uppercut, chopping at the front leg as well when Susurkaev
shrugs at him. Susurkaev lines up two right hands over the top, and
the Brazilian wears them well and checks a low kick to hurl a right
hand up top. Susurkaev keeps chewing up the front leg, which is
lumped up and beaten already.

Susurkaev switches stances to lull Santos in, and he comes up
hitting nothing when he spins with a back kick. He settles down and
hammers the front leg with a slapping kick, lunging after it with a
right hand. Santos pays him back with a one-two, and he gets popped
when standing around too long with a long, straight right hand.
Susurkaev ducks a punch to shoot in on the hips, but Santos shuts
him down and forces him to stand again. The middleweights trade
blows one after the other, seeing the reaction from one before
swinging back. As Santos lands a solid right hand, Susurkaev slips
and looks at his footing. Santos jabs and power punches have marked
up Susurkaev’s face, with a shiner developing around the right eye
and a shallow cut on the bridge of his nose. Santos flicks out his
jab, dodges a high kick and motions at it. Susurkaev spins with
something else upstairs, and Santos evades that as well and
showboats a little more as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Susurkaev
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Susurkaev
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Susurkaev

Round 2

Fists are bumped, and Santos immediately follows it with his jab.
Santos found its home regularly towards the end of the first round,
and he is repeating the success and giving Susurkaev fits.
Susurkaev loads up with heavy power to get Santos to slow down, but
it is instead drawing a firefight out of the Brazilian. Susurkaev
slips a left hand around the guard, and Santos doubles up his jab
and puts a one-two after it. Susurkaev wades face-first into an
uppercut, and he sweeps the leg with a hard kick. Santos remains on
his feet and drills Susurkaev with an overhand right. Susurkaev
reels and fires one back. Santos partially checks a leg kick and
has hands to deal with shortly thereafter. Santos gets in the
pocket to trade, eating a right hand behind the hear and pushing
off with an uppercut. Santos strings several punches together,
catching his opponent at least once more twice in the midst of his
lengthy combos. Susurkaev punches and kicks him back, varying his
offense well to drive Santos back.

Susurkaev confidently presses forward, landing punches in bunches.
Santos is still very much in this one, throwing almost as often as
Susurkaev swings at him. Santos goes to the well a few times with
spins, never thumping Susurkaev with one but coming close. He
manages to grab hold of the Russian and bully him to the wall, and
when fans start booing, Susurkaev encourages them to get louder.
Santos decides against a level change and backs off, putting his
jab right back in Susurkaev’s face. Santos sways back to absorb a
right hand up top, and his blows bounce Susurkaev off the wall.
Susurkaev scores to get Santos’ attention, and Santos dings him
with an elbow. Susurkaev has a low kick checked and sets up an
elbow to stagger Santos. Susurkaev splits a cut open on the top of
Santos’ forehead, with blood leaking down his face right into his
eye. The horn sounds with hands and feet flying every which
way.

Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Susurkaev
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Susurkaev
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Susurkaev

Round 3

Santos strides out of his corner loaded for bear, and he puts hands
on Susurkaev almost immediately. Susurkaev spins twice, landing
both times with them, and he rips an elbow as Santos meanders
towards him. Susurkaev takes a left hand he goes not like, so he
has to take a moment to blink it out and chop down with a low kick.
Santos takes a right hand on the chin without batting an eye, and
Susurkaev follows it with two more, a low kick and a level change.
Santos leans himself on the fencing to stay afloat, with Susurkaev
grabbing him from behind. Santos posts off the floor to adjust his
position, and he breaks out of the clinch only to take a flush
uppercut on the chin. Susurkaev is too close to score a head kick,
and he takes a flush right hand and shrugs at Santos like a Diaz
brother. Santos throws valiantly, and Susurkaev starts talking to
him, telling him to bring it on. When Santos is about to engage,
Susurkaev shoots for a takedown.

Susurkaev pushes Santos to the wall, with Santos clinging to a high
standing guillotine. Susurkaev works the body with his free right
hand while appearing overall unconcerned about the choke effort.
Santos leans back, but he still does not have the leverage he is
seeking to make it tight. Santos knees the body once or twice
before Susurkaev redoubles his effort in to get hold of a single.
He lifts Santos in the air and slams him down to his other leg,
where he begins to smack Santos in the back of the head while
Santos is scrambling. Santos works his way to the fencing, but he
leaves his neck exposed so he can work back up. Susurkaev snatches
up this opportunity in a hurry, wrapping a rear-naked choke up and
securing it under the chin. Santos turns over, looking for any way
to take off the leverage, but this is not the best plan.
The choke around his throat is disablingly tight, as Santos’
resistance quickly fade as his arms go limp. Oliver sees this and
needs to slap Susurkaev on the sides a few times to release the
submission. It may have taken the unbeaten fighter 14-plus
minutes to get the stoppage, but he keeps his 0 and hands the
Brazilian his first finish defeat.

The Official Result

Baisangur Susurkaev def. Djorden Santos R3 4:12 via Technical
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)

Pat
Sabatini (145) vs. William
Gomis (145)

BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING
REPORT | ODDS: Sabatini (-205), Gomis (+170)

Round 1

An interesting stylistic clash will move the prelims along, with
grappling ace Sabatini (21-5, 8-2 UFC) ready and willing to burst
out after 10 previous walks to the cage. He will square off with
MMA Factory product Gomis (15-3, 5-1 UFC), with the two
featherweights under observation by referee Vincent Dudley. Fists
are bumped before they are traded.

The taller Gomis marches forward, watching Sabatini kicks fly past
him. Sabatini shoots in low for a single, forcing Gomis to the wall
and hurling him to the floor. Gomis climbs back up but is still in
the arms of his opponent. This strategy totally stifles the
Frenchman, with Sabatini controlling and not needing to take the
fight down to keep Gomis from landing anything. Johnny Cage, the
Pennsylvanian isn’t, as he would much rather wrestle than throw
hands, feet, elbows or his sunglasses.

Gomis turns to put his shoulder on the fence and try to escape, but
he is stuck without answers. Sabatini slugs him a few times in the
face with his free hand, otherwise controlling for long stretches
at a time. Little else happens while they do this. Sabatini goes
low for a single, briefly dragging Gomis to a knee. Gomis stands,
and Sabatini complains to Dudley that his glove is being grabbed.
Dudley clears Gomis from any foul, and while they are paying
attention to the referee, Sabatini slings Gomis to his seat. Gomis
tries for a few elbow strikes from a funny angle, and the slog of a
round wraps.

Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sabatini
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sabatini
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sabatini

Round 2

Gomis walks Sabatini down to start the round, but he does not
commit to anything as he knows a takedown attempt is coming.
Sabatini feints, fakes and works his way forward to back Gomis off,
and he shoots in on his hips. Gomis stands him up by putting his
back to the cage wall, with Sabatini leaning on him kneeing him
once or twice. Sabatini lifts Gomis’ left leg all the way in the
air to set him down on the canvas, but he can only keep Gomis down
for a second or two before he is back up. Sabatini lifts Gomis off
the ground completely to slam him on his face, and once more, Gomis
is speedy at rushing back to his feet. The grind is firmly embraced
by Sabatini, as he has controlled and neutralized the Frenchman
largely to this point.

Gomis times the right moment to escape, and he takes a right hand
on the beard as he resets. Gomis kicks Sabatini in the groin, and
Sabatini waves him off and keeps plodding forward. Sabatini loops a
right hand, a left, and a jumping switch kick behind it. Gomis
times a body kick when he is landing, and he just misses a head
kick to follow. Sabatini ducks a one-two to attack a takedown,
pushing Gomis to the fencing to defend it. He holds Gomis in place,
but does not ground him. With 15 seconds left in the round, Gomis
breaks out. They clash kicks at the same time, and both trade
fierce hands before the horn blares.

Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sabatini
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sabatini
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sabatini

Round 3

The athletes touch gloves, and Gomis wants to punch him in the face
directly thereafter. They clash leg kicks together, their shins
slamming together loudly. Gomis loads up on power, hoping for the
home run blow as he is likely down on the scorecards. Two takedown
shots from Sabatini fail, and Gomis stands him up with a flush
elbow on the cheek. Sabatini, swelling growing under his left eye
fast from that elbow, plods forward threatening and faking strikes
on his way in. He dives after a single, pushing Gomis to the fence
with three-plus minutes left on the clock. Fans do not appreciate
the ubiquitous grappler who is somehow able to get all over Gomis
and completely overwhelm him with his approach at once.

Gomis knees him in the stomach, and he gets dragged down to the
floor on his face. Sabatini briefly grinds Gomis face on a part of
the canvas with blood drops on it that make a pattern reminiscent
of a gruesome ladybug, and Gomis fights as best he can to stand
back up. Sabatini chains attempts to hit mat returns, and otherwise
rips precious seconds off the clock. Gomis gets space with seconds
left and starts throwing hands wildly like a spinning top. Sabatini
rocks him with a right hand, and the grueling contest ends. Gomis
raises his hand in hopes that he sneaks out two of three rounds to
get the unexpected nod. We’ll see what happens.

Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sabatini (30-27
Sabatini)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sabatini (30-27
Sabatini)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sabatini (30-27 Sabatini)

The Official Result

Pat Sabatini def. William Gomis via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-27, 29-28)

Roman
Kopylov (185) vs. Marco Tulio
(186)

BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING
REPORT | ODDS: Tulio (-198), Kopylov (+164)

Round 1

It is a battle between two finish-first middleweights to move
things along, with the loser dropping to a .500 record with the
organization. The victor between Kopylov (14-5, 6-5 UFC) and Tulio
(14-2, 2-1 UFC) will earn their first win in over a year. Referee
Gasper Oliver will be there every step of the way, including the
sporting glove touch he watches to open things up.

Both men flirt with out-of-range strikes to get in on one another,
and it is Tulio who lands first with a sweeping low kick. Kopylov
walks him down but is not ready to engage yet, so Tulio jams him up
with a body shot. Kopylov offers up his own calf kick, answered
immediately by the Brazilian. Kopylov parries an overhand right and
rips a kick to the ribs. Tulio jabs his way forward, following with
one to the stomach and just evading an overhand right. Tulio chews
up the front leg with kicks that form a welt on his foe’s front
leg. Tulio keeps working the calf, and he keeps his hands up when
Kopylov storms him with four punches that largely careen off his
gloves and arms.

Tulio snaps the head back with a long right hand, and he reaches
another to the body as Kopylov retreats. Kopylov comes up short
with a high kick, and he lunges out with a left hand but is met
with a stern right to the ribs. Tulio sneaks a head kick behind it,
and Kopylov tanks it and plods forward. Kopylov retaliates with a
body shot, but it is one-and-done as Tulio parries a high kick
after it. Kopylov drives a one-two down the pipe, one that might
have knocked out small fry he faced in the past but is not nearly
enough to get more than Tulio’s attention. Kopylov leaps with a
knee, and Tulio pushes him to the side and belts him with a few
punches before the conclusion of the round.

Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tulio
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tulio
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Tulio

Round 2

They touch gloves to get going again, flashing their jabs in
alternating stances. Kopylov drills Tulio with a check hook as
Tulio is about to come in, and the Brazilian wears it well and is
back to working the front leg before long. Kopylov lashes out with
a one-two, seemingly getting the time of the advancing Brazilian
and timing his explosions well. Tulio goes to the body and head,
and Kopylov is quick to counter. Kopylov drills a kick to the side
that lands with an audible thud, and hands are subsequently traded.
Tulio kicks out the lead leg as Kopylov is about to throw, and he
wings a head kick on the other side. Kopylov starts to leak from a
wound on his right cheek, but he pays it no mind as he wants to
throw hands. He slips on the way in, and dances away when Tulio
spins but does not let anything go after it.

Tulio rifles off a right hand down the pipe, and his left hand
opens up the cut on Kopylov’s face much more. There is another gash
on Kopylov’s eyebrow, and he transforms to a horror movie as blood
streams down his face. Tulio is able to take advantage of the
damage and snaps out a hard right hand, but he walks directly into
the inferno that is suddenly raging inside of Kopylov. Kopylov
unleashes a pair of fiery fists that knock Tulio off his feet.
Kopylov chases after the Brazilian, who is able to get back to his
feet, and swings his way into a clinch. Rather than doing more
damage or ending the fight, Kopylov just holds on until the
conclusion of the round.

Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kopylov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kopylov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kopylov

Round 3

The 185ers touch gloves to get going, and Kopylov goes hellbent for
leather as soon as Oliver says go. Blasting Tulio in the face with
a short but devastating combination, he hurts and knocks the
Brazilian down at the end of a vicious left hand early on. As he
plans on punishing Tulio further, Kopylov elects to take the fight
down. Completing a solid double-leg takedown, Kopylov grounds
Tulio, but he just holds him there again. Tulio slowly,
methodically works back to his feet without absorbing much more
offense, and he starts to stalk Kopylov again.

Tulio jabs at the wound on Kopylov’s face, planting a kick on his
ribs and eating a left hand over the top for his effort. Kopylov
stands firm when Tulio engages, forcing the Brazilian to backpedal
after a trio of punches come flying. Tulio jabs the stomach with
the ball of his foot outstretched, and his head kick comes up just
short. They trade hands, with Kopylov getting the better of the
exchanges. Tulio spins to let go with a back kick, and Kopylov
keeps him honest with a body kick and head kick. Tulio swings his
fists to turn into a back fist, and he slugs Kopylov in the face
with a big overhand right but cannot put him down as the buzzer
sounds.

Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kopylov (29-28
Kopylov)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kopylov (29-28
Kopylov)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kopylov (29-28 Kopylov)

The Official Result

Roman Kopylov def. Marco Tulio via Unanimous Decision (29-28,
29-28, 29-28)

Jim
Miller (155) vs. Jared
Gordon (156)

BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING
REPORT | ODDS: Gordon (-325), Miller (+260)

Round 1

It’s Jim Miller (38-19, 1 NC; 27-18, 1 NC UFC) fight day, the first
one of these this year. Coming up on 43 years of age, the New
Jersey native still has a ways to go to reach 50 UFC bouts. He can
get to 47 tonight once the cage doors close and referee Keith
Peterson says go, when he battles Gordon (21-8, 1 NC; 9-7, 1 NC
UFC). This lightweight clash kicks off with no nonsense and no fist
bump either.

Miller stalks Gordon down slowly and cautiously, keeping his gloves
up to defend a high kick. Miller leaps forward and catches Gordon
with a shovel uppercut. Gordon has to take a quick count of his
teeth and absorbs a knee from up close. Miller breaks off and takes
a body kick. Miller throws a low kick that bangs into Gordon’s cup,
and Gordon tries to take him down and abandons it to adjust his
groin. Peterson calls time and gives Gordon as much time as he
needs to recover. After 80 seconds, Gordon is good to go, and
Miller apologizes for the accidental foul. Gordon strikes first
with a high kick that harmlessly bangs into the guard, and Miller
crowds him behind a pair of hooks. Miller kicks the side again and
is driven back with a right hand.

Gordon jabs the body with the ball of his foot, and he catches a
Miller body kick to shoot for a takedown.
This reckless shot is just traveling down the road to perdition for
Gordon, as Miller snatches up a guillotine choke and cinches both
legs around the waist, gripping the submission with everything he
has. Miller rolls Gordon to the side, squeezing with his
self-describes “old man strength.” Miller arches his back and has
Gordon dead to rights. Gordon surrenders so he does not go out on
his shield, and the victorious Miller leaps atop the cage to let
loose a roar of victory. In less than four minutes, the OG
Miller has notched his 28th victory in the Octagon, extending his
own record. He has now finished 20 opponents as a UFC fighter, one
shy of organizational leader Charles Oliveira. In victory, Miller
gives it up to his son for beating cancer, declaring that anything
he does in combat pales in comparison to what his offspring went
through.

The Official Result

Jim Miller def. Jared Gordon R1 3:29 via Submission (Guillotine
Choke)

Grant
Dawson (156) vs. Mateusz
Rebecki (156)

BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING
REPORT | ODDS: Dawson (-170), Rebecki (+142)

Round 1

American Top Team training partners collide when Dawson (23-3-1,
11-2-1 UFC) and Rebecki (20-4, 4-3 UFC) come to blows over the next
15 minutes or fewer. Teams don’t fight for their fighters, and it
is only the competitors and referee Mike Beltran—and he knows
you’re alone in there. Aware of one another’s game, this could go
any number of ways—hopefully that way is exciting. The athletes
touch ‘em up.

Rebecki ambles his way forward, ducking and dipping his way
forward. Dawson introduces himself by booting the Polish fighter in
the face and cutting him open on his left eyebrow, on the very
first strike of the fight. Dawson goes to the body after, and he
brings up a knee when he sees Rebecki is about to take him down.
The scramble is wild between the two, as Rebecki is thwarted for
his efforts with Dawson circling around to take his back. Rebecki
grabs the fence heartily, resulting in multiple slaps from Beltran
for his foul. Rebecki stands up, with Dawson wrapped around his
waist from behind threatening chokes. Dawson has a body triangle
locked up, and Rebecki grabs the fencing again to try to improve
his position. Beltran shuts it down. Dawson wraps up a rear-naked
choke, and Rebecki lowers himself down to the floor and keeps his
chin tight to his chest.

Dawson uses his toes to illegally maintain his position on
Rebecki’s back by grabbing them in the fencing, and Rebecki is
leaned over trying to shimmy his training partner off of him.
Rebecki posts on both arms, and Dawson strips them away. Rebecki
hits a quick switch out of nowhere to turn about and put Dawson on
his seat against the wire. Dawson wall-walks to get upright before
long, and now it is Rebecki who has his arms around a waist.
Rebecki raps a few right hands on the side of the dome, and he
opens up with an uppercut and a right hand when they manage to
break. Dawson kicks him twice in the body, and his knee partially
finds its target on the chest. Rebecki boots Dawson’s leg out from
beneath him, and when Dawson scrambles to his feet, the round
ends.

Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dawson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dawson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dawson