UFC Vegas 115 ‘Moicano vs. Duncan’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Renato Carneiro (156)
vs. Chris Duncan (156)Virna Jandiroba (116)
vs. Tabatha Ricci (115.5)Brendson
Ribeiro (205.5) vs. Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev (206)Ethyn
Ewing (135.5) vs. Rafael Estevam (136.5: Missed Weight)Tommy
McMillen (145.5) vs. Manolo Zecchini (145)Jose Mauro Delano
(144.5) vs. Robert Ruchala (146)Live NOW! Guilherme
Pat (250.5) vs. Thomas Petersen (251)Alessandro Costa
(125.5) vs. Stewart Nicoll (126)Lando
Vannata (156) vs. Darrius Flowers (156.5: Missed Weight)Hailey Cowan
(136) vs. Alice Pereira (136)Azamat Bekoev (186) vs.
Tresean Gore (185.5)Dione Barbosa (126) vs.
Melissa Gatto (125.5)Dakota Hope (155) vs. Kai
Kamaka III (155) Sherdog’s live
UFC Vegas 115 coverage will begin Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. The
event is also known as
UFC Fight Night 272.

Dakota Hope
(155) vs. Kai Kamaka
III (155)

BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT |
ODDS: Kamaka (-155); Hope (+130)

Round 1

We are here together on Saturday to bear witness to an Apex event
that has a couple ranked fighters and three bouts with a betting
favorite sporting odds above -600. A baker’s dozen series of tilts
will play out in the world-famous Octagon, and the action kicks off
at the lightweight division. Fresh off a crushing two-minute
knockout in Fury FC while the UFC was in town last month, Hope
(11-1, 0-0 UFC) gets the shot he called for that Friday night. He
takes the short-notice pairing against the returning Kamaka
(17-7-1, 1-2-1 UFC). The lightweights take center stage while
referee Keith Peterson watches on, and the two rush towards one
another with no nonsense and no glove touch.

Hope races out of his corner throwing caution to the wind, scoring
punches and mashing his way into a clinch. He nails Kamaka with an
elbow to break off, and measures himself to double up on a jab and
hurl a right hand over the top. Hope scores another hard punch and
starts driving knees to the liver. Kamaka bends over from the quick
strikes, opening up Hope to knee him in the face once or twice. The
Hawaiian remains in the clinch to get his bearings, and Hope knocks
him back with a right hand to separate. Kamaka fires back and nails
the front leg with a kick after tossing a few punches, and he finds
that at 75 seconds in, Hope takes his foot off the gas for a
moment. Kamaka delivers a front kick to the body after swaying back
to avoid the looping punches from the Texan, and he chews up the
front leg with a few kicks. Hope swings his way into a grappling
exchange, resulting in a clinch so that Hope can work the body with
knees and a clean left hand. Kamaka targets the body and front leg
when he gets a second at his preferred range, pecking and probing
when Hope decides not to explode at him. Hope gathers a head of
steam and crashes forward swinging his fists, landing one or two
before Kamaka shells up.

Kamaka decides it is time to throw back, and he starts swinging for
the bleachers. Hope fires back as their heads bash together and
knocks him off his feet, charging to hammer the downed Hawaiian and
hope to put him away. Kamaka tanks the strikes, absorbs a few to
the back of the head, and he wall-walks to stand back up. While
they remain tied up in the center of the cage, Hope keeps working
his foe over with knees to the midsection and an elbow on the
break. Kamaka chips at the lead leg and leans back from a counter
overhand right. Hope takes a heavy low kick and blitzes, and Kamaka
is ready for it and defends the worst of them before kneeing Hope
to break away. Hope successfully counters a low kick with right
upstairs, and he knees the stomach and pops Kamaka with his
shoulder when they are in close proximity. Hope shoulder strikes
his opponent in the jaw and is kicked away with a front kick. The
horn sounds.

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

Round 2

Hope starts out the round again attacking with everything he has,
swinging wildly and ringing Kamaka’s bell early. Kamaka grabs hold
of him to keep himself afloat, resulting in his absorption of a
stern shoulder to his jaw. Kamaka frees himself and starts to beat
on the front leg of his adversary, forcing Hope to change stances.
Hope offers a feeble front kick back from his other leg and keeps
his front leg high to prevent it being kicked back. Kamaka boxes on
the inside while Hope is still putting power on everything, and
this leaves Hope open to straight, quick strikes like a push kick
down the middle. Kamaka grabs hold of “Huracan” and holds him for
as long as he can, but Hope breaks free and swings recklessly.
Kamaka stays composed, works the lead leg again and dances away
from the following fire.

Kamaka’s low kick is starting to pay off, as Hope is slightly
compromised when he rushes in. Hope still has plenty of power, as
Kamaka gets cracked and looks around for a second before regaining
his composure in the clinch. When tied up, Hope knees the torso and
rips a pair of punches before Kamaka decides to find another
approach. Kamaka backs away and works his way forward with a huge
right hand, drawing out fire from Hope. Hope unleashes a fury of
punches and knees, and Kamaka is tough as can be and does not wilt
in the oncoming fire. Kamaka slashes out with an elbow when they
split up, and Hope strikes the body back. Kamaka’s leg kick scores
again, and his head movement keeps him out of danger when Hope
swings back. Kamaka lets a high kick go, and he intercepts Hope
with a knee to the body when Hope charges again. Hope scores twice,
and Kamaka is right there in the pocket to trade with him. There is
no fear of the power as the two duke it out to the bell.

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

Round 3

Hope says hello in the final frame with a body kick, and Kamaka
stands in the pocket to give him back more to think about. Kamaka
tees off on Hope’s front leg and abdomen with both shins, backing
Hope to the wall and ignoring a right hand to dig a left to the
body. Kamaka appears the fresher of the two, while Hope’s volume is
diminishing to a degree. Kamaka measures an advancing Hope with a
step-in knee, and he stays in place too long to get popped with a
few punches. Kamaka forces the Texan to back off courtesy of an
elbow on the bridge of the nose, and he stabs his toes to Hope’s
body to deter him from recklessly advancing. They come together and
clinch, with Kamaka getting the upper hand with an elbow that makes
Hope take a funny step back. Hope tries to brawl, and Kamaka sees
the telegraphed hurled hands coming and avoids the worst of it.

They crash together, and Hope lands an elbow while Kamaka gets off
a knee. Hope goes body-head-body, and he follows with a knee to the
liver. Kamaka stays right in his face and jacks him in the jaw,
forcing Hope to stumble with a low kick. Hope knees the body and
elbows up top, and Kamaka does not flinch. Kamaka goes to the body,
and he is knocked back from a counter right hand. Hope rifles off a
left to the body and dips back before the counters, and he crashes
the pocket once more attacking with everything he has. Kamaka rolls
with the punches and fires back with a vengeance, and the two bang
their heads together once more. No blood is drawn from what is at
least the third time the two bulls have conked heads, and they
proceed to keep dueling as if they were just getting started. Hope
takes a hard punch to the body and has to suck wind to recover, and
he uses his momentum to tackle Kamaka to the floor. Kamaka quickly
wall-walks without absorbing much, and he leans on the fencing
until the intense match concludes. It may all come down to the
scoring of the second round.

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

The Official Result

Kai Kamaka III def. Dakota Hope via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28,
29-28)

Dione
Barbosa (126) vs. Melissa
Gatto (125.5)

BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING
REPORT | ODDS: Barbosa (-145); Gatto (+125)

Round 1

The night presses on as a pair of women’s flyweights meet in hopes
of keeping or lifting their respective promotional record above
.500. Barbosa (8-4, 2-2 UFC) would like a victory to elevate it
over that midpoint mark, while bantamweight part-timer Gatto
(9-2-2, 3-2 UFC) is looking for success back in her natural weight
class. Referee Chris Tognoni draws the charge for this preliminary
contest, one that does not open with a glove touch.

The ladies measure one another in the early going, testing out
their jabs while not committing to much else. Gatto opens up a bit
more with her overhand right, and when she finally scores one, she
has to back off when a one-two pinpoints her nose. Gatto slings her
right hand down the pipe, faking a takedown shot and ultimately
walk into a spinning back kick counter. Barbosa gets her attention
with a left hand after the kick connects, and she is greeted with a
stern right hand. Barbosa shakes it off and offers a low kick
followed by two punches, and the two start trading hands in a brief
exchange with Barbosa landing at the beginning and ending. Gatto
works her way behind her right hand, and she shoots in for takedown
that is shut down before it can come close to materializing.

Barbosa bullies the taller woman to the wall, pressing her shoulder
tightly before kneeing her a couple times to the stomach. Barbosa
trips Gatto up to drag her to the floor, and Gatto springs back up
with the fencing behind her. Barbosa stomps Gatto’s toes, and Gatto
breaks off with a knee. Gatto takes a punch and times the spin she
sees coming to grab Barbosa from behind and wrangle her to the mat.
Gatto advances to an awkward position that places her in leglock
danger, but she is close to securing the mount position. Barbosa
hacks with elbows off her back, and she uses butterfly hooks to
stave Gatto from claiming a dominant posture. Gatto lowers herself
down maintain control, and Barbosa’s leg slides up an around to
snatch up an armbar. Gatto leans to her side to free the pressure
on her limb, and she drills Barbosa with a number of hammerfists as
the round ends.

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

Round 2

Gatto assumes control of the center of the cage to get going first,
pushing out her jab a few times before snatching up a Barbosa low
kick to trip her up and take her to the mat. Barbosa flips her all
the way over to wind up on top, and Gatto is stuck flat on her
back. Gatto keeps a high guard when Barbosa postures up, but
Barbosa does not fall into a trap and stands back up. Gatto turns
to her knees to stand back up, and Barbosa blasts her with an
illegal soccer kick to the neck and chin that knocks Gatto
completely out. Barbosa walks off celebrating, as if she thinks
that she has won the fight, while Gatto is splayed out lifelessly
in an eerie scene reminiscent of Maycee Barber getting knocked out
last week. As a medical professional or two rush in to tend to
Gatto, she comes to and has to be told what happened. The replay
official flips the light to signal that they are going to use
instant replay to review the footage, but it appeared that Gatto’s
knee was down right before she took the soccer kick that rendered
her unconscious. Tognoni discusses his options with the officiating
team, and he deducts one point from Barbosa for the foul.
Shockingly, the fight somehow continues, even though Gatto was
knocked unconscious from the strike. This is complete nonsense.
This fight should be over, period. What happened to fighter safety
being the primary concern of officials? Gatto, who apparently is
back with her wits again, runs forward at the restart to take the
fight down. Barbosa is grounded for a time before fighting her way
back up, and she turns the tables to take Gatto down.

Gatto works her way up after absorbing some hammerfists, and she
breaks out of the clinch to take a spinning back fist on the chin.
Gatto shakes it out and tackles Barbosa to the floor. Thankfully,
with Gatto on top, it means she is not currently absorbing much
brain trauma after being knocked out from the illegal soccer kick
that only resulted in a single point being deducted. Barbosa fights
off her back with a high guard in hopes of catching Gatto in
something, and she grips hold of a triangle armbar but is punched
out of it. The round somehow ends.

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

Round 3

Between rounds, it is explained that the officials and medical
staff determined Gatto was able to continue a fistfight despite
already getting knocked all the way out. What are rules anymore? It
does not take long for the ladies to go for grappling, and Barbosa
succeeds in taking Gatto to the mat. Gatto keeps her left leg
wrapped on the side in hopes of setting something up, and Barbosa
ignores it and starts elbowing her in the side. Gatto turns to her
side with a two-on-one wrist control of Barbosa, who counters her
by rolling all the way over to snatch up an armbar.

Gatto turns over to stack Barboza up, squeezing her elbow and
forearm on the throat while exerting as much pressure down as she
can to stifle the submission. Barbosa cannot hold the submission
much longer as she is getting squished, and Gatto breaks out of it
and busts her in the chops with a strong right hand. Barbosa sits
up and flips her opponent over to her back, and she starts hunting
for a leglock. Gatto sits up to stop it, and she tries to muscle
Barbosa over and use a kimura grip to reverse position. She
succeeds in turning Barbosa over and keeps control of the limb, and
she steps over the body with her rear leg to establish herself in
top control. As the ladies roll around on the mat looking for
positional advantages, Gatto snags hold of the left arm of her
opponent to hunt for her own armbar. Barbosa elbows Gatto on the
back of the calf, and this fight somehow makes it 15 minutes. This
is not a good day for the Nevada State Athletic Commission. A draw
may be in play, but that depends on the scoring of the first round.
Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa
(28-28)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa (28-28)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa (28-28)

The Official Result

Dione Barbosa def. Melissa Gatto via Majority Decision (28-28,
29-27, 29-27)

Azamat
Bekoev (186) vs. Tresean
Gore (185.5)

BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING
REPORT | ODDS: Bekoev (-550); Gore (+410)

Round 1

The sky was the limit for Russian finisher Bekoev (20-4, 2-1 UFC),
who celebrates a perfectly even distribution of knockouts to
submissions on his ledger. He ran into Yousri Belgaroui last
October and saw his eight-fight win streak crumble. He will try to
build one up again at the expense of the struggling TUF finalist
Gore (5-4, 2-4 UFC). The middleweights will be watched over by
referee Mike Beltran, who sees the two men touch gloves right after
he clocks them in.

Bekoev marches forward through a low kick to crowd Gore early,
driving him back with a pair of front kicks. Leg kicks are traded,
and Gore slings a right hand that buzzes the tower. Bekoev prods
out his front kick after absorbing a low kick, and he pops Gore in
the cheek with a solid left. Bekoev keeps jabbing with his toes
outstretched, and he takes a left hand on the forehead. Gore turns
his hips into a calf kick, and Bekoev’s lead leg is starting to
turn red and welt up. Bekoev returns fire when absorbing one, and
he flicks out his jab to the head and body. Gore digs a kick to the
body and goes to the calf again. Bekoev is content to hurl single
strikes, so he cannot capitalize on when he actually scores
cleanly. Gore is ready to counter his kicks, bopping him in the
schnoz with an overhand right.

Bekoev’s nose begins to turn red as the power slung his way finds
its home a few times, and he chambers and fires a kick to the liver
with an impact that echoes through the “packed” Apex. Gore takes it
well and throws back with a right hand, and he takes another kick
to the same spot. Gore spins with a back fist that bangs off the
top of the head and stings Bekoev, who shoots for a desperate
takedown. Bekoev stands back up and is pushed to the fencing, where
they trade short strikes on the inside. Bekoev’s knee bounces off
the cup, and Beltran does not call it as the two split up. Bekoev
dings Gore with a right hand and releases a left body kick again,
and he times a left hand while Gore is about to leave the ground
throwing something crazy. Bekoev bullies Gore to the wire and knees
him in the stomach, grinding him there until the round ends.

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

Round 2

Bekoev leads the dance with his front and body kicks, and he
receives a number of calf kicks in rapid succession. Gore beats
down the leg four or five times before Bekoev decides he does not
like this and throws his own back. The Russian shoots in for a
double-leg entry, and Gore stonewalls him and pushes him back. Both
men sling big right hands, and Bekoev’s knocks Gore off his feet.
Gore is still able to fight back as he slumps to his seat, and he
defends himself and tries to throw back with a vengeance. Gore
stands up and gets rocked again, and he proceeds to go nuts with
punches that hurt Bekoev. The Russian shoots for a double as Gore
is swinging on autopilot, and he completes it and takes some of the
sting out of Gore. Bekoev tries to grapple Gore from behind and
grab hold of a rear-naked choke, but Gore is able to stay in the
right position to free himself and let his hands fly. Bekoev works
the body with a few punches, and both men let go with short, heavy
elbows on the inside. Bekoev sees the success of his elbows and
adds to more, and Gore decides to do the same. Gore gets nailed
with a left hand, and he wobbles and hurls back. Bekoev ducks down
to get hold of a single-leg takedown, and he scores it.

Gore hits his back and takes a deep breath, and he posts off his
right arm to work his way back to his feet. Gore keeps the clinch
and maintains a body lock that he uses to trip up “Iron Azamat” and
hurl him to the canvas. Gore lowers himself down heavily while
bashing Bekoev with his free left elbow. Bekoev is able to meander
back to his feet, and he walks Gore back down and busts him in the
chops. Gore wings two huge right hands that further get Bekoev’s
attention, and he pushes Bekoev back and thwarts a takedown effort
from the Russian. Gore leans on Bekoev to force him to carry his
weight, and he methodically works Bekoev’s thigh and side with
knees and short punches. Gore lets go with three punches to the
body on the break, and he snaps the head back with a pair of
punches as the intense round ends.

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

Round 3

Gore says hello with a head kick and then one to the lead leg. He
opens up with a huge right hand that Bekoev eats like a sandwich,
and his low kicks are giving Bekoev serious problems. Bekoev
hobbles back, trying to switch stances to stay on his feet, but he
is in a bad way. Gore does not let him off the hook and kicks the
front leg a few times, and he uses the damage to open up a kick or
two upstairs. Bekoev lumbers forward into a calf kick, and his
punches have far less mustard on them. Gore catches a kick and rips
a punch to the body and one up to the head. Bekoev tries to crash
forward, and he leaps forward with an uppercut but gets thrown to
the mat from the American. Gore establishes himself on top while
Bekoev is on his seat searching for a guillotine choke. “Mr.
Vicious” easily pulls his neck out of it to reposition himself to
half guard, and Bekoev is spent and feebly trying to offer back any
light offense he can. Beltran warns Bekoev for striking the back of
the head.

Gore smothers from on top while still in half guard, and he slides
into full mount and immediately slashes down with an elbow. Gore
drives an elbow to the chin and lowers himself down to snag hold of
an arm-triangle choke.
Bekoev scrambles wildly to turn to his knees, and Gore turns around
to stop him from escaping and grabs hold of a guillotine choke.
Bekoev does not know the danger he is in, as Gore cranks on the
neck with all his might. In mere seconds, the Russian goes out, his
body going slack as he slumps to his stomach. Beltran
recognizes the submission has gotten the job done and intervenes,
and Gore has pulled it off and either notched the comeback or at
least secured a big finish. That marks the third win for Gore in
the UFC, with all three coming the same way.

The Official Result

Tresean Gore def. Azamat Bekoev R3 3:27 via Technical Submission
(Guillotine Choke)

Hailey
Cowan (136) vs. Alice
Pereira (136)

BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING
REPORT | ODDS: Pereira (-120); Cowan (+100)

Round 1

“Golden Girl” Pereira (6-1, 0-1 UFC), no relation to champ Alex
Pereira—that would be Aline Pereira, who is competing at the
Netflix MMA card next month—saw her spotless record go to pot when
Montserrat Rendon muscled her around last year. In hopes of picking
up her first UFC victory and not a lick of nonsense, she faces a
fellow bantamweight who also wants win no. 1 in the organization.
Texas native Cowan (7-4, 0-2 UFC) has been far from the bastion of
activity since signing with the league in 2022, having fought just
twice since then to unsuccessful results. Whether she turns things
around or not, referee Keith Peterson will be there for them every
step of the way. There is no plan to touch gloves as the ladies get
going.

When Cowan moves forward, Pereira intercepts her with a low kick
and gives chase with a few punches. Cowan kicks high and gets
countered, with Pereira light on her feet to set up a Superwoman
punch. Cowan’s face is already busted up 45 seconds in, and she
looks to her hands to see there is blood from her face on them.
Pereira steps in with a knee and dances away from any counter.
Cowan bull-rushes her to set up a clinch, and she thumps the
Brazilian with a right hand and a knee but no takedown in sight.
The American elects to back off, and Pereira belts her with another
leaping punch. A follow-up left hook from Pereira opens a cut on
the bridge of the Texan’s nose, and Cowan is not responding well as
the vicious Pereira lays into her. Cowan reels from the strikes and
tackles Pereira to the mat, but the long-limbed Pereira bounces off
her seat and fights back to her feet in seconds. Pereira lifts her
lead leg up to smack Cowan in the face, and she circles off before
she is reached.

Pereira puts fire behind her swings, drawing some swelling under
Cowan’s left eye. Cowan swings recklessly and misses the mark by a
wide margin. Cowan tries for a head kick of her own, and Pereira is
feet away from it and suddenly crashes back in to engage. Cowan
scores her own offense, but it is Pereira who has the power, speed
and accuracy advantage. Cowan leads with the crown of her head to
initiate a takedown, and she pushes the Brazilian to the fence and
knees her in the stomach a few times. Cowan drops down to go for a
double, and Pereira easily lifts her back up. Cowan stays tightly
pressed to her adversary, ignoring the right hands that smack her
on the ear and breaking off to throw her own punches. Pereira kicks
back and her foot bangs into the groin, and Cowan adjusts her
protective equipment and knees Pereira square in the face. Pereira
shrugs it off and jumps back at her opponent with a knee, and they
clash high kicks at the bell.

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

Round 2

Cowan strikes first with an inside low kick, and she slides away
from a response to let fly a head kick. Pereira bats it away and
flicks out a jab, and that jab is met by not one but two calf
kicks. Pereira punches her way in and gets clipped with a right,
and she lunges again with power. Cowan potshots her with reaching
kicks to the torso, and she puts the ball of her foot on the
Brazilian’s stomach. Cowan lets Pereira come in so she can rock the
younger woman with a right hand, and she shoots for a takedown and
scoops her high off the ground to slam her violently to the mat.
Pereira implements butterfly hooks while on her back, and she
pushes Cowan off of her with her legs. Cowan leaps back down and
starts taking elbows to the sides of the head. Pereira lifts her
left leg up set something up, with her right foot on Cowan’s hip,
but the Texan lowers herself back flat on top.

Pereira stays busy with her long legs to reassert position or hunt
for something, but Cowan is not falling for it. As the action slows
to a crawl, Pereira eventually manages to kick Cowan off of her.
Cowan stands above her and very nearly illegally kicks her in the
face.
Pereira stands and fires off a one-two, and she blasts Cowan in the
jaw with a knee that puts “All Hail” all the way out. There is no
controversy about this one, as Cowan hits the deck and is totally
unconscious before her head rattles off the cage floor. Pereira
looks to finish the job with a couple concussive hammerfists while
Peterson races in to stop the fight. What a knee! What a knockout!
That’s one way to get on the board for the 20-year-old Pereira. No
one had put Cowan away with strikes before that knee sent her off
to dreamland. Thankfully, Cowan comes to and is able to sit on her
stool, and Pereira goes over to embrace her before getting her hand
raised.

The Official Result

Alice Pereira def. Hailey Cowan R2 4:24 via KO (Knee)

Lando
Vannata (156) vs. Darrius
Flowers (156.5: Missed Weight)

BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING
REPORT | ODDS: Vannata (-230); Flowers (+190)

Round 1

After what seems like a lifetime away, “Groovy” Vannata (12-7-2,
4-7-2 UFC) gets back on the horse in hopes of picking up his first
win in the promotion since 2021. Standing in his way will be the
skidding Flowers (12-8-1, 0-3 UFC), who has the rare opportunity to
go 0-4 as a UFC fighter with a loss today. Ahead of the pairing,
Flowers added insult to injury by weighing in above the lightweight
cap, making his status as a member of the roster uncertain even if
he manages to pick up the win. The third man in the Octagon is
referee Herb Dean. There is a quick touch of gloves.

Vannata gets right on his bike, circling either direction while
Flowers moves to the center of the cage. Flowers tries to chase
Vannata down, but Vannata is moving constantly. Flowers gets in a
short right hand and a kick, and when he commits to more, Vannata
trips him up. A wild scramble results in both men standing up, with
Vannata snagging hold of a standing guillotine choke. When the
choke is not tight, Vannata gives it up and knees Flowers square in
the face. Flowers dances around and lets go with kicks, and Vannata
catches another and tries to trip him up but cannot. Flowers dings
Vannata with a right hand and follows with a knee to the chest
while he stuffs a takedown, keeping his guard high when Vannata
squares his hips to throw punches. Vannata rifles off a one-two
down the pipe, and Flowers responds with his own as Vannata level
changes for a single. “Beast Mode” tosses him aside and walks him
down to slug him in the chops, only to get met with an uppercut.
Vannata subsequently catches the kick and knocks Flowers to his
seat with a right hand, and he leaps on top. Flowers uses his legs
to set up a possible omoplata shoulder lock, and Vannata turns out
of it and establishes himself in the guard.

Vannata postures up every so often to drum down a punch or two, and
Flowers bides his time and swings back hard from his back. Flowers
sways to dodge most of what comes at him before exploding to his
feet, and Vannata quickly mat returns him and lands in half guard.
Vannata drives down an elbow, keeping his chest pressing down to
stop another reversal effort from “Beast Mode.” Vannata stacks
Flowers up and finds himself in sudden armbar danger, and he flips
Flowers all the way over to get out of it. Flowers uses this to get
back to his feet, and he tanks a body kick and wings two power
hooks. Flowers shoots down and lifts Vannata up, slamming him hard
on his back and knocking the wind out of him or possibly busted
some ribs. Vannata is compromised and cannot stand back up, and
Flowers drops down a barrage of hammerfists that only stops when
time expires.

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

Round 2

Vannata complains that his ribs were injured from the slam, but he
is able to answer the bell and fight into the second round. Vannata
keeps his distance early, pushing of with a kick. He strings out a
right hand into a leg kick, and he spins with a back kick that
bangs into the guard. Vannata tries to spin again to no avail, and
he takes a pair of punches on the jaw while his hands are down.
Vannata shoots for a double and Flowers grabs his shorts to stop
it, and he is warned for this.
Flowers gains a full head of steam and elevates Vannata again,
slamming him furiously to his back again. Vannata grimaces in pain
as soon as they hit the floor, and it does not take much more
ground-and-pound for Flowers to record his first UFC victory.
Vannata is saved by Dean, and Flowers walks off and motions dollar
bills or something similar to the downed Vannata.

The Official Result

Darrius Flowers def. Lando Vannata R2 0:52 via TKO (Slam and
Punches)

Alessandro
Costa (125.5) vs. Stewart
Nicoll (126)

BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING
REPORT | ODDS: Costa (-400); Nicoll (+300)

Round 1

It has not been sunshine and rainbows for these two flyweights
colliding, winner of just two of their five combined appearances in
the promotion thus far. Costa (14-5, 2-3 UFC) is the one who has
actually prevailed, while proud Aussie Nicoll (8-2, 0-2 UFC) is
aiming for his first UFC triumph. Standing guard over the
flyweights will be referee Chris Tognoni, who stands back as they
scurry towards one another to touch gloves.

Costa leads off pressuring forward, and this puts him in the path
of a sudden spin kick from the Aussie. Costa shrugs it off and
looses a pair of kicks, and he watches a spinning back kick soar
past his face. Nicoll goes to the well again with another spinning
kick, and it bangs into the guard. He tosses out a spinning back
fist, and nearly has his leg kicked out when he plants his feet
again. Costa jackhammers the front leg again, and it does not take
many for Nicoll to think about another way in. Both men keep low
bases as if to prepare against and preemptively defend a takedown,
thus resulting in a tit-for-tat kickboxing affair. Nicoll stands in
the pocket too long and gets battered back with a trio of fast
punches, and he shakes his head as if to motion that he was not
caught. Costa celebrates his handiwork by ripping a left to the
ribs, and he has his guard up to block the eventual spin.

Costa rattles punches off the guard and kicks the front leg, and he
nails the Aussie with a few punches. Nicoll has to take a quick
count of his teeth before re-engaging, where he is met with
sweeping calf kicks. Nicoll offers up his own leg kick on the
inside, and they trade their leg-based strikes back-and-forth.
Costa hammers the body again, and Nicoll crashes the pocket to grip
hold of a single. “Nono” says “no no” to the takedown effort and
drives Nicoll back, and he ducks a spinning back fist and catches
the Aussie. Nicoll grins after absorbing a strike or two, and he
plants his shin on Costa’s lead calf. Costa punches high and ducks
down to shoot, but he elects instead to drive a flying knee into
the chin. Nicoll gets hurt with a body shot, and he counters Costa
coming in with a fierce right hand and offers up a spinning back
fist but is taking shots on the way out. With Nicoll grinning like
a banshee, the round wraps.

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

Round 2

The flyweights touch gloves to start off the round, and Nicoll
reintroduces himself with a jabbing front kick. It partially grazes
the up, so he offers up an apology as there is no stoppage. Costa
steps in with a left and gets clubbed with a check left hook. Costa
surges forward with a pair of hooks, backing off to not get caught
on the way out. Costa thumps the leg with a kick and slaps at
Nicoll with an overhand right, and he is well aware when Nicoll
offers back a spinning back kick. Nicoll tries a leaping back fist
that does not do anything, and Costa shoots in for a double and is
a hair away from getting Nicoll down. Nicoll frames off but ends up
getting dropped on his head, with Costa taking his back. Nicoll
takes a few elbows to the back of the head as he looks to wriggle
Costa off his back standing, and Costa readjusts himself to not
slide off. Costa disengages the back take and the two return to the
center of the cage offering jabs.

Costa goes to the body with a kick, and Nicoll does the same.
Nicoll sneaks in two punches, and he follows them with two more and
a level change. Costa puts his back to the fence and uses his
leverage to turn Nicoll around and lean him on the cage. Costa
turns his foe around to knee him in the gut, and he ducks away when
Nicoll hurls punches at him. Costa loads up with power punches, and
he bangs heavy hooks off the sides of Nicoll’s dome. A takedown
falls apart, and Costa knees Nicoll square in the face. Nicoll
smiles back at him. Costa surprises Nicoll with a spinning back
elbow, and he follows it with a jump knee and may have hurt Nicoll.
The Brazilian strikes out with another flying knee, and instead of
continuing to throw hands and feet, he grapples. Costa looks for a
standing back take, but ends up getting wrenched off and has to
reset. Costa eventually telegraphs a shot, and Nicoll stands him
up.
Winding up with everything he has as seconds remain on the clock,
the Lobo Gym MMA fighter unleashes a ferocious left hook that
smashes square into Nicoll’s liver. Nicoll collapses to his knees,
totally defeated, and Costa only needs one single finalizing punch
that connects while Tognoni is already intervening. What a body
shot, and what a performance from “Nono” to put himself back to a
.500 UFC fighter. Bas Rutten is smiling somewhere after that broken
liver showcase.

The Official Result

Alessandro Costa def. Stewart Nicoll R2 4:56 via KO (Punch to the
Body)

Guilherme
Pat (250.5) vs. Thomas
Petersen (251)

BETTING
PREVIEW | SCOUTING
REPORT | ODDS: Pat (-110); Petersen (-110)

Round 1

The quintessential unranked heavyweight slobberknocker seemingly
thrust onto every Apex card is on tap, as undefeated slugger Pat
(6-0, 1-0 UFC) looks to further derail “The Train” Petersen (10-4,
2-3 UFC). Both weighing right about 251 pounds, their physiques
could not be further apart. Appearances aren’t everything, and
referee Mike Beltran will be on the clock in case something wild
happens. The big men do not touch ‘em up before engaging.

Pat slowly walks down the American who circles away on the outer
edge of the cage out of range. Petersen paws out with a slapping
calf kick and a right hand, the latter too far away. Pat offers up
a head kick that smacks into the side of the head and does not make
Petersen flinch. Petersen keeps strafing from side to side, and he
absorbs a flush body kick while circling to his left. Pat’s leg
kick lands with an audible thud, and Petersen suddenly springs into
action behind three punches, the first of which landing. Petersen
sells out for a body lock and trip takedown, but the long limbs of
Pat allow him to keep himself upright. Petersen exerts heavy chest
pressure while leaning on Pat, and Pat frames off with his elbow
but cannot get Petersen off of him.

Petersen rests his hand on top of the cage illegally, and he
continues squeezing Pat without throwing much. Pat wriggles himself
out thanks to an elbow, and they reset. Pat offers up a single low
kick, waiting several seconds before sticking out a jab. The volume
is quite low in this round, and Pat offers another one in the form
of a calf kick. Pat goes to the body again with his shin, and
Petersen gives him back a single low kick to think about. Pat jabs
and kicks the lead leg, resulting in Petersen charging him with a
couple of power punches. The result is a clinch, where Peterson
knees Pat in the thigh repeatedly. Petersen trips Pat up, and when
Pat stands, Petersen knees him in the face. The horn sounds to end
the tepid round.

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