'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The UFC last night had one of the most lacklustre cards in recent memory, as the main event involved two waning veterans battling it out in a rematch, while the undercard was made up of relatively unknown fighters looking to make a name for themselves within the increasingly crowded UFC roster. While the novelty of having a card in fight-starved Poland didn’t really translate onto the TV audience, it wasn’t too bad to see the legend, Mirko “CroCop’ Filipovic come back and remind us how scary of a guy he is!The undercard fights were nothing to write home about, except for a record-equalling KO victory by welterweight Leon Edwards, who knocked out Seth Baczynski in just 8 seconds. showing some scary power in his left hand. The results for the entire preliminary card is below:PRELIMINARY CARD on UFC Fight Pass Seth Baczynski vs. Leon Edwards*Edwards def. Baczynski via KO (punches) Rd. 1 (0:08)Bartosz Fabiski vs. Garreth McLellanFabiski def. McLellan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Sérgio Moraes vs. Mickael LeboutMoraes def. Lebout via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Damian Stasiak vs. Yaotzin MezaMeza def. Stasiak via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)Daniel Omielaczuk vs. Anthony HamiltonHamilton def. Omielanczuk via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)Izabela Badurek vs. Aleksandra AlbuAlbu def. Badurek via submission (guillotine choke) Rd. 2 (3:34)Marcin Bandel vs. Steven RayRay def. Bandel via TKO (punches) Rd. 2 (1:35)Taylor Lapilus vs. Rocky LeeLapilus def. Lee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)We take a look at the main-card fights in detail below:
#1 Joanne Calderwood vs Maryna Moroz
Joanna Calderwood who has been touted as the next challenger for the UFC strawweight women’s tile, had her undefeated momentum snapped in a very decisive manner by fellow undefeated fighter, Maryna Moroz. Moroz looked sharp with her stand-up and at one point had Calderwood hurt before she, in a flash, took her down and secured an armbar. Maryna left little doubt in the mind of the ones watching as to who the better fighter was last night and she made her intentions clear by calling out the champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk in her post-fight interview.
Winner: Maryna Moroz via submission
#2 Pawel Pawlak vs. Sheldon Westcott
Local fighter Pawel Pawlak collided with TUF alumni Sheldon Wescott, who tried to get Pawlak on to the ground the moment the fight begun. In what seemed to be the theme of the fight, Westcott tried his best to drag Pawlak to the ground, but he kept defending it well and managed to sneak in a few shots of his own. In the second round, Pawlak dropped Sheldon with a knee, but was unable to finish him. Westcott tried to get out of trouble by hugging Pawel all through out the fight, garnering boos from the crowd.
When the result was announced, it was to nobody’s surprise that Pawel Pawlak managed to win a unanimous decision
Winner: Pawel Pawlak by decision
#3 Jimi Manuwa vs. Jan Bachowicz
It was the time for homegrown hero Jan Blachowicz to step in to the cage against a formidable Jimmy Manuwa who is ranked no.9 in the Light Heavyweight rankings. It was set to be an exciting bout between 2 stand-up fighters, however it didn’t turn out to be exactly that way.
While the action didn’t take long to begin and Manuwa came in with his haymakers early, very soon it was a case of clinching up against the cage with both the fighters and while Manuwa was more aggressive of the two, Jan was able to land a few stiff jabs and kicks throughout the fight. But in the end, it wasn’t enough as Jimmy Manuwa was able to eke out a win on all the judges’ scorecards. The win was more impressive as later, it was revealed that Manuwa fought with a torn MCL & a torn ACL!
Winner: Jimmy Manuwa via unanimous decision
#4 Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Mirko Filipovi
In the main-event, it was a rematch of a bout that still tops the list of any highlight reel finishes list that MMA fans come out with. As expected, it looked like Gonzaga would be able to coast to a decisive victory after he was able to take Crocop down at will and inflict some nasty ground-and-pound, opening up a cut above the Croatian’s eye.
However, by the time the second round rolled by, the Brazilian looked to be tired and the Pride veteran and one of the best strikers in the history of the game, found an opening to unleash a vicious elbow(a new addition to his game) that rocked ‘Napao’. Very soon, he got the brazilian to the ground and finished him off. While it is unsure where he goes from here, it was great to see ‘CroCop’ get a win in front of a favourable crowd.
Winner: Mirko Filipovic by TKO
