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The UFC’s return to Japan was a successful one, despite the lack of starpower for its UFC Fight Night 117 card.
Not only did headliner Ovince Saint Preux put on a highly technical display of his deadly grappling skills, but the co-main event combatants put on a bloody war for the ages.
Elsewhere on the card, Gokhan Saki put the entire UFC Light-Heavyweight roster on notice by absolutely destroying Henrique da Silva. Besides, the card also featured a ton of action in most of its other matches as well.
So, without further ado, here are the results for UFC Fight Night: Saint Preux vs Okami—
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Main Card:
#1 Ovince Saint Preux vs Yushin Okami
As expected Ovince Saint Preux trucked through Yushin Okami in devastating fashion.
Although most experts predicted Ovince to finish Okami on the feet, the latter almost immediately tried to take the fight to the mat but ended up going to sleep at the hands of the American’s lethal Von Flue choke.
Result: Ovince Saint Preux def. Yushin Okami via Technical Submission (Von Flue Choke) (Round 1, 1:50)
#2 Jessica Andrade vs Claudia Gadelha
Jessica Andrade and Claudia Gadelha put on an instant classic, leaving it all inside the Octagon.
One ought to note that this win over Gadelha may have very well earned Andrade another shot at Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s UFC Strawweight Championship, and it wouldn’t be wrong to call this an upset victory for the smaller Andrade.
What’s shocking is that Andrade dominated Gadelha not only on the feet but also on the mat—the latter of which is considered to be Gadelha’s department of expertise.
Jessica Andrade def. Claudia Gadelha via Unanimous Decision (30-25, 30-26, 30-27)
#3 Dong Hyun Kim vs Takanori Gomi
It was sad to see a legend like Takanori Gomi get brutalized en route a violent TKO finish yet again.
Gomi’s legacy as an MMA legend is already secure and there’s no reason for him to keep taking hellacious beatdowns like he just did at the hands of younger fighters.
Kim dropped Gomi and followed him to the mat with a few more unanswered strikes, and that was all she wrote.
Result: Dong Hyun Kim def. Takanori Gomi via TKO (Punches) (Round 1, 1:30)
#4 Gokhan Saki vs Henrique da Silva
Gokhan Saki is a kickboxing legend, and should he keep up the terrifyingly violent pace he showed against Henrique da Silva, he could very well be on the way to cementing himself as an MMA great as well.
Saki caught Silva with a beautiful headkick and hook right off the bat, and then shucked off a few takedown attempts from the dazed Brazilian.
He then slept Silva in scary fashion with a huge left hook.
Result: Gokhan Saki def. Henrique de Silva via KO (Punch) (Round 1, 4:45)
#5 Teruto Ishihara vs Rolando Dy
Teruto Ishihara was fouled multiple times by Rolando Dy in an out-and-out ugly fight, which saw the referee deduct a point from Dy only after the latter’s third foul.
Ishihara started strong by dropping Dy with a huge left cross, only for Dy to spoil the entire fight with repeated shots to Ishihara’s groin.
Nevertheless, this just goes to show how much our rule-set and the referee’s ability to enforce the rules need to improve. Regardless, the right fighter got the judges’ nod in the end.
Result: Teruto Ishihara def. Rolando Dy via Unanimous Decision (28-27, 28-27, 29-27)
#6 Jussier Formiga vs Ulka Sasaki
Jussier Formiga outclassed Ulka Sasaki on the mat, taking him down and attaining mount with relative ease.
Formiga sealed the deal with a Rear Naked Choke Submission in the very first round.
Result: Jussier Formiga def. Ulka Sasaki via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) (Round 1, 4:30)
Preliminary Card (FXX)
#1 Keita Nakamura vs Alex Morono
Keita Nakamura was as crafty as ever in his latest outing, which saw him outpoint fellow veteran Alex Morono.
The fight wasn’t the most exciting one to watch but nonetheless taught us how well solid defensive fundamentals both on the feet and the ground, help you in MMA.
Nakamura showed great poise and timing in a close fight against an equally game Morono.
Result: Keita Nakamura def. Alex Morono via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
#2 Syuri Kondo vs Chan-Mi Jeon
Firstly, let’s give a huge round of applause to the ladies here. Syuri Kondo and Chan-Mi Jeon put on an excellent display of their overall MMA skills in this 3-round affair.
While Kondo clearly won the first couple of rounds, Jeon came on strong in the final frame, with crisp sequences on the feet.
Result: Syuri Kondo def. Chan-Mi Jeon via Split Decision (28-29, 30-27, 30-27)
#3 Shinsho Anzai vs Luke Jumeau
Shinsho Anzai may have well surprised a lot of his critics, me included, by returning as sharp and technical as he did, outworking and somewhat surprising Luke Jumeau.
Anzai did very well for a fighter coming off a relatively long layoff and won the vast majority of sequences; outpointing Jumeau for a shut-out on the judges’ scorecards.
Result: Shinsho Anzai def. Luke Jumeau via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
#4 Daichi Abe vs Hyun Gyu Lim
Hyun Gyu Lim seems to have excellent power in his hands, but seldom does he connect on his opponents, what with most of his strikes being windmill punches thrown at air.
However, on the 3-4 occasions that Lim connected on Abe, he rocked the latter. Nevertheless, the judges were impressed by Abe’s defence much more than they were by Lim’s aggressiveness; handing Abe the decision victory.
Result: Daichi Abe def. Hyun Gyu Lim via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
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