Hardy KO’s Adams in 45 seconds
UFC heavyweight Juan Adams spent greater than a yr calling out Greg Hardy — and it took Hardy lower than one minute to silence him.
Hardy (5-1) made fast work of Adams (5-2) at UFC Combat Night time on Saturday inside AT&T Heart in San Antonio. A former Division I collegiate wrestler, Adams tried to take Hardy down within the opening minute, however Hardy defended the preliminary shot and landed a string of hammerfists to the aspect of Adams’ head.
The heavyweight bout was waved off simply 45 seconds in, when it turned obvious Adams was not responding to the photographs. Hardy, 30, improved to 2-1 within the UFC. His solely loss got here by way of disqualification for an unlawful blow in opposition to Allen Crowder in January.
“I need to thank Juan Adams, it doesn’t matter what he mentioned about me,” Hardy mentioned. “He was a terrific opponent, however it’s at all times ‘The Prince of Conflict,’ child.
“All people desires to get me on the bottom. I would like everyone to know that calling out my title comes with penalties. And taking me down comes with penalties.”
Adams, 27, had repeatedly mentioned he didn’t suppose Hardy was UFC-caliber. He additionally claimed to “hate” the previous NFL defensive lineman, and began a hashtag on-line titled “#F—GregHardy.”
Hardy has been a controversial determine for the UFC, ever for the reason that promotion signed him to a developmental deal final yr. Off-field points together with convictions for home violence (later expunged from his report) and drug possession contributed to the tip of his NFL profession.
The previous Professional Bowler started coaching blended martial arts full-time in 2016, and the outcomes have been good to this point. All 5 of his skilled wins have come by way of first-round knockout. He trains out of American Prime Workforce in South Florida, one of many prime MMA camps on the earth.
Adams fell to 1-2 within the UFC.
Greg Hardy knocked out Juan Adams in simply 45 seconds on Saturday in San Antonio. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Photographs
Harris stuns Oleinik in fast KO
Heavyweight Walt Harris (13-7) recorded the quickest win of his UFC profession in a 12-second drubbing of Alexey Oleinik (57-13-1).
The knockout end got here courtesy of a flying knee, right into a left hand that landed on the button. Oleinik went down exhausting from the left hand and the bout was rapidly known as off. It was the third-fastest heavyweight knockout in UFC historical past.
“We labored on that for 15 weeks,” Harris mentioned. “We knew he preferred to dip his head and alter ranges. We simply needed to toss stuff up the center to make him hesitant. It landed, after which [the left hand] proper here’s a monster. I am telling you. It is totally different.”
Harris, of Homewood, Alabama, has now completed back-to-back opponents inside the primary spherical. He knocked out Sergey Spivak in 50 seconds in Might.
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Walt Harris says his TKO victory vs. Aleksei Oleinik feels “superb,” and the left-handed jab he landed is “simply totally different” than anybody else’s. For extra UFC, join right here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Hooker snaps streak of choices with spotlight KO
UFC Combat Night time started with a report 9 consecutive selections till light-weight Dan Hooker (18-Eight) put an finish to the streak in type with a first-round knockout of James Vick (13-Four).
Hooker, of New Zealand, floored Vick with an attractive left hook to the chin, after which completed him off with one completely positioned follow-up proper hand. Referee Kerry Hatley stopped the bout on the 2:33 mark. It was the 10th knockout win of Hooker’s profession, and it got here in opposition to considered one of Texas’ personal in Vick.
“Respect to James Vick,” Hooker mentioned. “I skilled the toughest I’ve ever skilled in my life for this combat, as a result of I do know you do not mess with Texas. I got here ready.”
It is an enormous rebound for Hooker, who took a memorable quantity of injury in his final combat in opposition to Edson Barboza in December. Vick, 32, now faces a crossroads of kinds at light-weight. He has dropped three in a row, together with two first-round knockouts.
Hernandez claims win at residence
San Antonio’s Alexander Hernandez (11-2) picked up a win in his hometown, though his unanimous choice win in opposition to Francisco Trinaldo (23-7) didn’t precisely gentle the world on fireplace.
In line with ESPN’s FightCenter, Hernandez landed simply 20 strikes in your entire bout. Trinaldo didn’t fare significantly better with 24. Hernandez regarded to make the most of the surface and preserve Trinaldo guessing, however he was hesitant to interact and maintained a really wholesome distance between himself and Trinaldo your entire combat. All three judges gave the combat to Hernandez: 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.
Trinaldo, 40, appeared content material to counter Hernandez with left palms any time he did come into vary. The Brazilian opened a reduce beneath Hernandez’s left eye with a spinning kick within the second spherical, however discovered offense exhausting to return by in any other case.
No matter the way it regarded, it is a good bounce-back for Hernandez. The 26-year-old suffered a second-round knockout loss to Donald Cerrone his final trip, in a high-profile spot in January.
Arlovski beats up Rothwell, however settles for choice
Heavyweight veteran Andrei Arlovski (28-18) dominated Ben Rothwell (36-12) over the course of three rounds, in a rematch of a bout that occurred 11 years in the past. All three judges scored it a shutout for Arlovski, 30-27.
Arlovski, 40, picked Rothwell aside with the jab and boxing combos. He bloodied Rothwell’s nostril within the opening spherical and continued to focus on the massive man’s face all through the 15-minute affair. In line with ESPN’s FightCenter, Arlovski landed 73 of 219 tried strikes, 172 of which focused the top.
The 37-year-old Rothwell is understood for his sturdiness, nevertheless. And regardless of the sustained beating he took, Rothwell practically pulled off a miracle within the closing minute, as he harm a drained Arlovski with a left hook to the chin. Arlovski managed to return to his jab after which clinch with Rothwell to get to the tip of the bout.
Arlovski picked up his first win in his previous 4 contests. Rothwell continues to seek for his first win since 2016. That is Arlovski’s 17th heavyweight win within the UFC. That is probably the most within the division’s historical past. He moved previous Frank Mir, who has 16.
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Andrei Arlovski and Ben Rothwell every land heavy hits within the third spherical. For extra UFC, join right here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Caceres overcomes hand harm, takes choice
In his 20th official UFC look, Alex Caceres (15-12) picked up a unanimous choice win in opposition to Steven Peterson (17-9), by way of judges’ scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28.
Caceres, 31, earned the win regardless of apparently breaking his left hand within the first spherical. He instructed his nook in regards to the harm previous to the third. Even with out his finest weapon, the veteran southpaw matched Peterson’s putting output on the toes. In line with ESPN’s FightCenter, Caceres landed 63 strikes. Peterson landed 66.
The judges will need to have felt Caceres’ strikes brought about extra injury, nevertheless. Caceres did open a reduce on Peterson’s brow within the first spherical, and he ceaselessly compelled Peterson to overlook with good head motion and footwork on the surface. Caceres, who trains out of Glendale, Arizona, has now alternated wins and losses in his previous six bouts.
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Steven Peterson wrestles Alex Caceres to the bottom and locks him in a physique triangle in an try to get a submission end. For extra UFC, join right here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Pennington slips previous Aldana in break up choice
Former title challenger Raquel Pennington (10-7) did simply sufficient to outpoint Irene Aldana (10-5) in a break up choice — her first victory since 2016.
Pennington, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, landed a tough proper hand within the second spherical — arguably the toughest strike of the combat — earlier than turning to her wrestling within the third body. Aldana went for a number of failed submissions within the closing minutes, which could have value her on the playing cards, as Pennington scored with hammerfists. Two judges awarded the combat to Pennington 29-28, whereas a 3rd noticed it 29-28 for Aldana.
The loss snaps a three-fight win streak for Aldana, who fights out of Guadalajara, Mexico. Pennington, who has fought solely thrice since 2017, picks up her first win since she defeated Miesha Tate in a high-profile bout at UFC 205 in New York.
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Within the closing moments of the second spherical, Raquel Pennington and Irene Aldana trade a flurry of blows up in opposition to the cage. For extra UFC, join right here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Abreu earns first UFC win
Brazil’s Klidson Abreu (15-Three) defeated veteran Sam Alvey (33-13) by way of unanimous choice in a sluggish standup combat that didn’t function many sustained moments of motion.
Alvey, 33, gave the impression to be surprised by the judges’ scores, which all learn in Abreu’s favor, 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28. ESPN additionally scored the bout 30-27 for Abreu. He closed the opening spherical with a number of exhausting punches, together with one which appeared to return after the bell. He landed a leaping knee within the second body and a few good leg kicks within the third. Alvey struggled to string collectively a lot in return.
Abreu signed with the UFC earlier this yr. He suffered a three-round choice loss to Magomed Ankalaev in February, in his promotional debut.
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Kidson Farias de Abreu unloads a flurry of punches to daze Sam Alvey on the finish of the primary spherical. For extra UFC, join right here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Maia cruises to choice in opposition to Modafferi
Budding flyweight contender Jennifer Maia (17-5-1) picked up a choice win in opposition to Roxanne Modafferi (23-16), by way of unanimous judges’ scores of 30-27.
This week supplied a bittersweet outcome for Maia, as she did not make weight for the 125-pound bout on Friday. Maia missed by three kilos and forfeited 30 % of her purse consequently. The reduce didn’t appear to impression her efficiency, nevertheless, as she stuffed all of Modafferi’s makes an attempt to get it to the ground and outstruck her on the toes.
A former Invicta FC champion, Maia, 30, is now 2-1 within the UFC. This additionally marked her second win in opposition to Modafferi. She defeated her by way of break up choice in 2016.
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Jennifer Maia lands a strong proper hand throughout the face of Roxanne Modafferi. For extra UFC, join right here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Borg scores first win in additional than two years
Former flyweight title challenger turned bantamweight Ray Borg (12-Four) earned his first victory since March 2017, as he edged out Brazilian Gabriel Silva (7-1) in a grueling grappling match.
All three judges scored the 135-pound bout 29-28 for Borg. It was a really significant win for Borg, who has managed three appearances within the final two years on account of quite a lot of points, together with his toddler son Anthony’s battles with a life-threatening mind situation.
“It has been an extended highway,” Borg mentioned. “My boy is someplace within the constructing. I am again, child.”
The efficiency was classic Borg, as he merely outworked Silva in a number of key positional scrambles. He took Silva down within the second and third rounds and hunted a rear-naked choke from the again place, though he was unable to safe a end. Nonetheless solely 25, Borg improves to 6-Four within the UFC.
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Ray Borg will get Gabriel Silva in opposition to the cage then raises Silva as much as carry him all the way down to the mat with a thunderous slam. For extra UFC, join right here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Bautista upsets Son in slugfest
Bantamweight Mario Bautista (7-1) halted the ahead development of Jin Soo Son (9-Four) and busted up the betting favourite with punches and elbows to assert a unanimous choice.
Judges scored the bout for Bautista 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28. The MMA Lab fighter ate an excellent variety of photographs himself within the 15-minute contest, however his standup brought about way more injury and he dominated the clinch exchanges with elbows to the top.
Bautista, 26, improves to 1-1 within the Octagon. He misplaced his UFC debut to the surging Cory Sandhagen in January.
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After exchanging a flurry of blows, Mario Bautista drops Jin Soo Son in Spherical 2 after connecting with a powerful proper hand. For extra UFC, join right here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Colares holds off late rally, hangs on for break up choice
Brazilian bantamweight Felipe Colares (9-1) staved off a late choke try en path to a slim break up choice over Domingo Pilarte (Eight-2). Two judges scored it for Colares 29-28, whereas a 3rd had it for Pilarte 29-28. The victory is Colares’ first within the UFC.
Colares managed the primary two rounds with takedowns and ground-and-pound. Pilarte got here again sturdy within the third body, and threatened to complete with a rear-naked choke. Colares grimaced within the closing seconds of the spherical as Pilarte utilized the choke, however in the end survived and took residence the win.
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Domingo Pilarte places strain on Felipe Colares up in opposition to the cage and catches him with a shot to the intestine and a strong elbow to the face. For extra UFC, join right here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.