It’s the calm before the UFC 202 storm. The UFC is coming off an extremely busy month of July in which they held six events, and now the Octagon visits Salt Lake City before Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz face off for the second time.
What we got was what’s expected by one of these lower-tier cards — fun fights with plenty of highlights for the hardcore fans, or anyone flipping through, but ultimately not much happened other than Yair Rodriguez fighting like a videogame character once again.
—Yair Rodríguez vs. Alex Caceres This was one of the most ridiculous displays of offense ever offered to the MMA Gods. Yair Rodriguez threw so much spinning sh*t, he almost took the earth off its natural rotation and reversed time. I can’t stress enough: ridiculous. Like Rodriguez was playing himself in EA UFC and took off stamina loss. That said, Bruce Leeroy (Caceres) avoided damage while staying on his bicycle, but his avoiding damage kept him out of range and he simply couldn’t get anything going for his own offense. And so, Rodriguez would get tired. Kinda.
Nice combos from @BruceLeeroyGlow land!! What a crazy fight! #UFCSLC https://t.co/aVggySaGhK
— UFC (@ufc) August 7, 2016
Near the 15-minute mark, Caceres would start opening up combinations and get Rodriguez on his back, where Caceres would work him over. Did Rodriguez empty his gas tank? In round 4, it seemed like both were tired, but they would still button mash their way into the fifth where kept up the pace:
Caceres lands the left and then gets the takedown!! Huge moment in the fight! #UFCSLC https://t.co/I49ZnAUi7A
— #UFCSLC (@ufc) August 7, 2016
After 25 minutes, the judges would go to a split-decision, where Yair would (rightfully) win. I’m surprised it went to a split. It seemed like a pretty clear 3-2 for Rodriguez. Fun fight. Good matchmaking.
The final seconds tick away and these guys BROUGHT IT!! What a fight between @BruceLeeroyGlow & @PanteraUFC! #UFCSLC https://t.co/X34iEKYsuV
— #UFCSLC (@ufc) August 7, 2016
—Dennis Bermudez def.Rony Jason via unanimous decision.
What kind of voodoo-tom-foolery reversal was this from @RonyJasonMMA?! That was slick! #UFCSLC https://t.co/Jl9uLxJiUr
— UFC (@ufc) August 7, 2016
Body kick attempted by Bermudez but Jason connects and sends him to the canvas! Entertaining fight so far! #UFCSLC https://t.co/Fjk1a5dHXI
— #UFCSLC (@ufc) August 7, 2016
—Thales Leites def. Chris Camozzi via rear naked choke submission (round 3).
—Santiago Ponzinibbio def. Zak Cummings via unanimous decision.
Big head kick lands and then a couple nice shots from @SPonzinibbioMMA but Cummings takes them! #UFCSLC https://t.co/vyne5aaJCq
— #UFCSLC (@ufc) August 7, 2016
—Trevor Smith def. Joe Gigliotti via unanimous decision.
‘Hot Sauce’ @TrevorSmithMMA wastes no time in the second and jumps all over Gigliotti!! #UFCSLC https://t.co/vhKu4l03ZZ
— #UFCSLC (@ufc) August 7, 2016
—Maryna Moroz def. Danielle Taylor via split-decision.
HUUUUUUUUUGE right hand from @DynamiteTaylor1 but @Moroz_MMA eats it!! #UFCSLC https://t.co/uorbnADVGs
— #UFCSLC (@ufc) August 7, 2016
Prelims
—Court McGee def. Dominique Steele via unanimous decision.
Now @TheDomTSteele is tagging McGee! What a fun fight!! #UFCSLC https://t.co/yPSC2TJrWy
— #UFCSLC (@ufc) August 7, 2016
NO TIME WASTED!!! @Court_McGee has come out on FIRE in his home state! #UFCSLC https://t.co/g9hKxOsy3u
— #UFCSLC (@ufc) August 7, 2016
—Marcin Tybura def. Viktor Pešta via insane heavyweight headkick KO (round 2). Yes, a HW headkick KO. As nasty as it sounds. Here’s the replay.
—David Teymur def. Jason Novelli via KO (Round 2). This show is insane. After the fight, Teymur called out Sage Northcutt. Nice. Check out the moment of impact that turned Novelli into Stretch Armstrong here.
—Teruto Ishihara def. Horacio Gutiérrez via KO (round 1). This is as brilliant as they come. Check out Ishihara’s counter and say hello to Japan’s MMA savior.
Fight Pass Prelims
—Cub Swanson def. Tatsuya Kawajiri via unanimous decision. Fight of the Night. Fight of the year? Cub got the win, but Kawajiri put his back on the mat throughout the fight, and Cub nailed Crusher with an illegal knee that should’ve had a point taken away. I don’t like the decision, but the fight was entertaining.
WOW @CubSwanson reverses the takedown and lands in full mount!! He’s trying to sink in the #RNC!! #UFCSLC https://t.co/pwpBlHqeTB
— UFC (@ufc) August 6, 2016
HUGE right lands for @Crusher_MMA who then gets the takedown!! #UFCSLC on @UFCFightPass NOW https://t.co/84SGV8GjwU
— UFC (@ufc) August 6, 2016
勝てなかった。
たくさんの応援ありがとう。
期待に応えられなくてごめん。
負けたけど。。。
格闘技が好きだ。
lost. Thank you a lot of support. https://t.co/ECPRa7LOEL pic.twitter.com/EJ2o9HEMut— 川尻達也tatsuya kawajiri (@CRUSHER_MMA) August 7, 2016
—Justin Ledet def. Chase Sherman via unanimous decision.
That moment when you hit someone as hard as you can and they stick their tongue out at you …😱 👀 #UFCSLC pic.twitter.com/z7BAWVmNps
— UFC (@ufc) August 6, 2016
Jabs on Jabs on Jabs for @JustinLedetMMA but @ChaseShermanUFC is one TOUGH competitor! #UFCSLC https://t.co/UwnLVSiDeO
— UFC (@ufc) August 6, 2016