The UFC hosted yet another card from the APEX in Las Vegas, but it was chopped and changed a crazy amount in the 24 hours prior.
Calen Born didn’t weigh in for his fight with Dwight Grant, while Takashi Sato successfully weighed-in before being pulled from the fight against Daniel Rodriguez by the medical team. Grant and Rodriguez will now fight each other.
Marc Striegl pulled out of the opening fight following weight-cut related issues and was replaced by Trevin Jones on short notice to make the bout a catchweight 140lbs fight.
Ovince Saint-Preux tested positive for COVID-19 on the day of the fight and therefore his fight against Alonzo Menifield was cancelled. It will be rescheduled for some time in September, per the UFC.
PRELIMS
Trevin Jones def Timur Valiev via Knockout, Round 2 (1:59)
A fast paced opening round between these two with Valiev putting in plenty of body work to begin with. Valiev showing good movement and excellent kicking skills while he’s making Jones bite on all his feints. A beautiful teep kick down the middle sees Jones fold in pain and Valiev jumps on the attack with knees, elbows and body punches but Jones stays in the fight. Jones shoots for a takedown with seconds remaining and gets it to end the round on top and get into the second round. 10-9 Valiev.
With the encouragement of that takedown at the end of the first round, Jones comes out a bit looser and looks for another right off the bat but Valiev does well to stuff it against the cage. More kicks and feints from Valievas he lands three nasty leg kicks in a row. Valiev goes for another leg kick but Jones counters with a beautiful right hook that drops him! He jumps on top with the ground and pound and the referee stops the fight! Huge upset, huge win, huge knockout!
Matt Semelsberger def Carl Minus via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-28)
A fun, evenly matched first round in the books of this one as these two UFC debutants look to make a good first impression. Both men staying in boxing range and exchanging punches, with Semelsburger throwing heavier punches but Minus landing a bit more accurately. Minus is on the back foot more but both men are well in the fight and it could have gone either way. 10-9 Semelsberger for me, simply for the extra power in the shots.
A very similar start to the second round with Semelsberger still throwing extra power in the exchanges between the two. A big right hand in counter to a body kick by Semelsberger puts Minus on his ass. He rushes over for some ground and pound but Minus makes him miss before giving up his back. Semelsberger locks in a body triangle and attempts for a rear naked choke but Minus defends very well. He spins out and gets back to the feet as the round ends. 20-18 Semelsberger for me.
A much better third round from Minus as Semelsberger seemed to slow down a little. Minus lacking power but he’s putting some nice combinations together and landing almost at will. Semelsberger, visibly tired, shoots for the takedown and gets it but Minus defends well on the ground and gets back to his feet quickly. Final minute and both guys throw heavy punches in the pocket as the round comes to an end. 29-28 Semelsberger for me.
Jordan Wright def Ike Villaneuva via Knockout (Doctors stoppage), Round 1 (1:31)
Well that didn’t last long! Wright opens the fight with a spinning heel kick to the head of Villaneuva who hits the mat immediately. He jumps up and Wright gets him in a Thai clinch and lands huge knees to the face that busts the eye wide open. The referee stops the fight so the doctor can take a look and he calls the fight off immediately. What a win for the Beverly Hills Ninja.
Amanda Lemos def Mizuki Inoue via Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3)
A violent first round from Amanda Lemos showed that she is well within her rights to be in the octagon with Mizuki. Inoue used her usual pressing style to get Lemos against the cage and wear her out but Lemos was physically strong enough to withstand it and then throws huge bombs. After landing a big four-punch combo, she steps back and lands a big one-two down the middle that drops Mizuki but she manages to hold Lemos down while she’s on her back. She threatens with an armbar attempt but Lemos defends it and lets her up as the round ends. 10-9 Lemos.
More pressing from Mizuki at the start of the second as she pins Lemos against the cage in a clinch looking for the takedown. Both ladies throw big elbows before Mizuki eventually tries to drag Lemos down. Lemos too physically strong again though and powers out and eventually ends up on top of Mizuki looking to pass her guard. Lemos is starting to tire now but Mizuki still pouring forward with pressure as the round ends. 20-18 Lemos.
Mizuki pushes Lemos against the cage quickly and early in the final round but the Brazilian still too strong for her and is able to stuff all attempts. Mizuki trying to wear her down and shoots for the legs but Lemos defends well before breaking away from the clinch and landing a big elbow to Mizuki’s eye. Once again Mizuki pushes the clinch against the cage and Lemos is just cruising at this point. She lands a big knee to Mizuki who separates from the clinch and then she lands a big right hook. Mizuki still marching forward but this fight is done. 29-28 Lemos.
MAIN CARD
Daniel Rodriguez def Dwight Grant via Knockout, Round 1 (2:24)
What. A. Fight. Inside the first 30 seconds Rodriguez charges forward and Grant lands a big right hook on the way backwards that drops him! He pounces on the ground and pound and lands lots and lots of punches but Rodriguez is moving and trying to get to his feet while covering his head. As he gets back to the feet and Grant is visibly exhausted from trying to finish the fight, Rodriguez lands a left hand that drops Grant. He charges and walks Grant down landing heavy shots, before he connects with another big left hook that drops Grant again! Some more punches against the cage sees Grant drop a third time and the referee steps in and ends the fight. Crazy!
Shana Dobson def Mariya Agapova via Knockout, Round 2 (1:38)
Agapova is absolutely mental! She essentially sprints out as the round starts and throws bombs, showing several high kicks and big elbows but Dobson goes for a takedown to slow it down quickly. Agapova though starts throwing heavy elbows from the bottom and explodes back to her feet. She lands some ground and pound but Dobson gets back up and lands another takedown. Agapova is now looking more tired as Dobson takes her back but the Kazakhstani reverses the position and looks to attack with a rear naked choke. Good defence from Dobson though as the round comes to an end. 10-9 Agapova.
Second round and Dobson has come out aggressive and she’s lighting Agapova up on the feet. Agapova looks exhausted and shoots for a takedown early to seemingly get a bit of a rest. She gets into the guard and lands some nice punches but Dobson sweeps her from the bottom and ends up in full mount. She lands some big ground and pound and Agapova is barely responding through sheer exhaustion. More punches land and the referee finally ends it. What an upset!
Joe Solecki def Austin Hubbard via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 1 (3:51)
What a performance from Joe Solecki! Both fighters exchange some nice boxing in the centre before Solecki gets Hubbard against the cage. He goes for a single leg before transitioning to the back and slowly climbs up the back of Hubbard, locking in a standing body triangle. He starts landing a few punches and keeps the triangle locked in. After a short hand fight, Solecki sinks the arm under the chin and gets the tap without the fight ever hitting the ground. Brilliant from Solecki.
Mike Rodriguez def Marcin Prachnio via Knockout, Round 1 (2:17)
A feeler of a start for both as both fighters throw out some leg kicks and jabs to establish range. Rodriguez using his Muay-Thai background to land some nice knees to the body in the clinch which is causing Prachnio some issues. Another clinch and this time Rodriguez throws a big elbow to the head as Prachnio looks to defend the body and puts his lights out! Two big punches land as an exclamation point but Prachnio is out and the referee calls this one off. Impressive win for Mike Rodriguez.
Frankie Edgar def Pedro Munhoz via Split Decision (48-47 x2, 46-49)
A quick start for both fighters in this bout as Edgar uses his excellent footwork and speed advantage to land combinations and then get out of range. Munhoz throwing bombs and heavy leg kicks to try and prevent Edgar’s movement. Munhoz cutting the angles off for Edgar to move too much and lands a nice three punch combo of hooks to mark up Edgar’s face. Munhoz lands a big left hand as Edgar steps away after a small exchange as the round ends. 10-9 Edgar but could go either way.
Edgar comes out more aggressive in the second round and lands some nice right hands to open up a cut over the eye of Munhoz. Edgar mixing in the threat of the takedown as Munhoz continues to pressure forward and close the angles down. Edgar shoots for a takedown and gets it, but Munhoz uses his scrambling to shoot back up quickly. Edgar is landing a lot more regularly now that Munhoz is worrying about the takedowns, but he continues to pressure forward. Big left hook from Munhoz lands followed by a kick as the round ends. 20-18 Edgar.
Third round a bit tamer from both fighters but with a similar pattern, Munhoz charging forward and Edgar moving around and landing combinations. Munhoz landing lots of leg kicks and they’re starting to have an effect on Edgar who’s moving gingerly on it. More jabs from Munhoz as he uses his range well and prevent Edgar shooting for any takedowns. Fun third round where both were busy, I give it to Munhoz. 29-28 Edgar for me.
Edgar comes out and goes straight for a takedown in round 4 and gets it, but once again he’s unable to hold Munhoz down for any period of time. Munhoz lands more leg kicks and a big body kick as Edgar is moving considerably slower in this round. Edgar lands some nice jabs but both fighters are cancelling each other out at the moment. Edgar moves forward with a three punch combination but Munhoz eats them and then lands a big overhand right. Edgar throwing lots of combinations but not putting anything behind them really, so no chance of him stopping Munhoz in this fashion. Great round for both, but I think Munhoz takes it for landing the bigger shots. 38-38 for me.
Final round and Munhoz comes out with two body kicks and a head kick attempt. Munhoz then throws a leg kick and Edgar looks for the single leg but Munhoz defends brilliantly, then throws another leg kick for good measure. Edgar steps forward into the pocket and throws a big combination that Munhoz matches, and both fighters land big shots to the head. Edgar lands a big right hook and then follows it up with a spinning back fist, but Munhoz not being put off coming forward in the slightest. Both guys exchange a bit left hook each as we enter the final 90 seconds. Edgar lands a great straight right hand to the chin, Munhoz continues to pressure forward. Final 10 seconds and Munhoz throws a big right hook and leg kick as the buzzer goes. 48-47 Munhoz for me.
Tap Ins & Tap Outs 