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This UFC Pay-Per-View was an amazing card and capped off with a memorable Main Card and Main Event. There was nonstop action and two Performance Bonuses in the Main Card. Without further ado, let's dive into this Main Card.
To start the Main Card, we had a veteran Randy Brown face off against Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. The opening round was a great stand-up encounter for both men. Both were looking good but Brown was constantly landing jabs and long punches to keep Dos Santos at bay. After a somewhat early resume after an eye poke, Brown displayed his aggression and finished the round with a flying knee that rocked Dos Santos. The second round was more exchanges and scrambles with both men looking equal and snubbing each other's strengths. This round had two deep chokes that could have ended the fight, but both men kept their wills strong, and their jaws stronger. The final round had some great standing exchanges, but what stood out was a knee that cut open on top of Dos Santos's ear. Brown dominated the rest of the fight and won the fight via Unanimous Decision.
The next fight was a rematch between Alex Morono and Niko Price. These two had fought early in their careers and were put together as a late replacement. Both men started with very good boxing and pressure with even better grappling scrambles. Price was looking very good throughout the entire fight and kept the fight in his favor. In the second round, there were more scrambles and exchanges with Price coming out on top and winning most of the exchanges and scrambles. This gave Price the edge going into the final round where he easily shut down the very tired Morono and won the fight via Unanimous decision.
The fight before the Co-Main Event was between Kevin Holland and Michal Oleksiejczuk. Kevin Holland looking to bounce back after his loss to Michael Page at UFC 299 and bumped up a weight class because "why not." The fight started with Oleksiejczuk knocking down Holland with a jab that he pounced on. Holland isolated the arm and worked in an armbar that, at the very least, dislocated the arm if not breaking it. Holland was very happy to walk away with an extra 50K with a Performance of the Night Bonus.
The Co-Main Event was between now-former Middleweight Champ, Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa. The first round had some early leg kicks from Costa but great job checking from Strickland. Strickland was setting the pace that Costa was having trouble handling. In the second round, Strickland was working the legs and going to all levels. Strickland was winning a lot of exchanges and throwing a lot of strikes to keep Costa at bay. In the third round, Strickland kept the pressure coming and was throwing more strikes to keep the Brazilian on the back foot the entire round. Take a wild guess at how the next round went. The fifth round, they both stepped on the gas pedal throwing more strikes and landing more, but it ultimately went to the scorecards. Two judges had it 49/46 and 50/45 to Strickland and somehow, one judge 49/46 to Costa. This was a very good win for Strickland, and he deserves his title shot next.
The Main Event was another great fight between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier. This was Makhachev's first title defense against someone not named Alexander Volkanovski. Both men opened the fight with blitzes to try get an early stoppage, Makhachev countered and took the fight to the ground and kept back control for the rest of the round, but got a cut on his left eye. In the second round, Poirier was defending takedowns very well and landing good strikes on the feet, but Islam landed a takedown at the end of the round. In the fourth there was even more takedown defense from Poirier and great strikes from both guys through the entire round. They both were told to leave it all out there in the fifth. Great combinations were being thrown until Makhachev got a single leg and took the fight to the ground, sunk in a Darce choke, and got the tap. Makhachev's streak goes to 14 and he retains the belt. The Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses went to this fight.
Thank you for reading. Let us know what you thought about the card and fights. Check the rest of the website for merch, news, and updates always. See you guys on the punchline and have a great day.
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