UFC Fight Night took place at the Spectrum Center in North Carolina. We recap the main card below.
Alex Morono vs. Tim Means
Round 1
Referee Wayne Spinola starts the action in the first bout of the main card in Carolina.
A left hand by Means connects well, and Morono gives a right hand in return. Means gets two under-hooks as he seeks a takedown, but Morono breaks free.
Means is waiting for Morono to strike and then counter at every opportunity. A left high kick lands on the head of Morono. Then, a flying knee from Means leads to both men swinging for the final few seconds of the round.
Round 2
Morono has more success staying in the pocket. Color commentator Daniel Cormier indicates Morono has taken the advice of his corner. Means lands a takedown, but his opponent gets back to his feet.
Morono secures a guillotine and gains full guard as he takes Means to the ground, and after a brief resistance, Means taps. Morono wins via submission in round two to make it five wins in his last six fights.
Carlos Ulberg vs. Ihor Potieria
Round 1
Ulberg looks to make it four wins in a row against Potieria. Between them, they have a combined 78 per cent finish rate.
Potieria shoots straight for the takedown. Ulberg manages to get back up, and they exchange a few blows. Potieria attempts another takedown but fails, and Ulberg lands a couple of punches to Potieria’s head, and he falls to the canvas.
Ulberg continues the onslaught by raining down hammer fists. Referee Keith Peterson waves the fight off. Carlos Ulberg wins via TKO in round one, making it four straight wins and taking his MMA record to 9-1
Ian Garry vs. Daniel Rodriguez
Rodriguez will be the toughest test in Ian Garry’s UFC career. Twelve years his junior, Garry is unbeaten and is looking to make it five out of five in the UFC. ‘D-Rod’ has wins against Mike Perry, Kevin Lee, and Li Jingliang.
Round 1
Ian Garry lands a nasty jab, but D-Rod responds right away. They continue to feel each other out for the first half of the round.Head kick from Garry wraps around the neck and knocks Rodriguez to the ground! ‘Machado’ rains down blow after blow, and the fight is waved off. Ian Garry wins via TKO in round one.
Ian Garry calls out Neil Magny, saying he will knock him out and enter the top ten in the welterweight division.
Co-Main Event | Anthony Smith vs Johnny Walker
The number five-ranked Anthony Smith returns after an ankle injury and looks to get back on the road toward a light-heavyweight title shot. Johnny Walker stands in his way and is coming off a first-round knockout victory over Paul Craig.
Round 1
Johnny Walker throws multiple outside leg kicks, which affect Anthony Smith. A low blow (kick) by Walker lands on the groin, and we head to a time-out.
Smith walks straight into a right hand which drops him. He survives the onslaught and lands a takedown – perfect timing. The BJJ black belt sees the round out on the ground, enabling him to recover.
Round 2
Big right hand from Smith, which Walker eats. Low kicks from Walker continue to go unchecked.
Quite a labored second round, Smith lands a couple of right hands and eats a few more kicks. The fighters have a conversation in the octagon with Smith saying something along the lines of ”You’re attacking my family.” Daniel Cormier says ”you can’t have a therapy session, boys!”
Round 3
Anthony Smith struggles with the range due to the size difference between the pair. The crowd grows agitated due to the low output, and Smith lands a right hand. Another break in the action, Smith again on the receiving end of an unintentional foul, this time an eye-poke.
We resume, and Smith lands a big right hand again – by far the most successful shot for ‘Lionheart’ in this fight. Walkers lands a flurry of strikes which send his opponent to the floor. Smith is injured – the leg kicks have taken a toll, and he doesn’t want to get up. Walker retreats, forcing ‘Lionheart’ to get back to his feet.
Smith switches stances and grimaces before a leg kick lands from Walker. A flying knee from Walker almost ends the fight but the final buzzer sounds.
Johnny Walker wins via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2).
Hopefully, Johnny Walker can leave the arena on his own terms and fully clothed this time around:
Main Event | Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs Jailton Almeida
It’s time for the main event at UFC Charlotte. Almeida is ranked number twelve and is on the verge of breaking out in the UFC; A fourteenth straight victory will ensure that. Rozenstruik has the most UFC knockouts since 2019 with seven and defeated Chris Daukaus in his last outing.
Round 1
Almeida, the number twelve ranked heavyweight, shoots and lands a second takedown attempt after thirty seconds; this time, he is successful.
Almeida takes his back and secures a chokehold. Rozenstruik taps out, and the Contender Series alum takes the victory. Almeida wins via submission in round one. Almeida is now a serious contender in the heavyweight division.
Prelim results
Matt Brown def Court McGee via KO in round one
Karl Williams def. Chase Sherman via decision
Douglas Silva de Andrade def. Cody Stamann via decision
Mandy Bohm def. Ji Yeon Kim via split decision
Bryan Battle def. Gabe Green via KO in round one
Tainara Lisboa def. Jessica-Rose Clark via submission in round three
Main Card results
Alex Morono def. Tim Means via submission in round two
Carlos Ulberg def. Ihor Potieria via KO in round one
Ian Garry def. Daniel Rodriguez via TKO in round one
Johnny Walker def. Anthony Smith via unanimous decision
Jailton Almeida def. Jairzinho Rozenstruik via submission in round one
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