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The UFC Fight Night 138: Moncton card appeared to have been overlooked in the lead up to the event, with hardly any hype despite having a couple of killer fights on the card.
With days to go, however, the hype arrived, and the fight card received more attention from the UFC fans. The fight card itself was impressive, with the main event between Anthony Smith and Volkan Oezdemir.
The co-main event was another big fight, with Artem Lobov facing Michael Johnson. Also on the card was the fight between Cirkunov and Pattrick Cummins. However, if the main card was a strong one, the early preliminary and preliminary cards were no less.
With fighters like Stevie Ray featured, as well as Arhan Bhullar making his return to the Octagon to make his comeback from a loss, the card was packed. The main fight on the Preliminary Card, between Nordine Taleb and Sean Strickland, impressed a great deal as well.
Without any further ado, let's get into the results from UFC Fight Night 138: Moncton's Preliminary and Early Preliminary Fight Card.
Early Preliminary Card -
#1. Jessin Ayari vs. Stevie Ray:
Round 1: Jessin Ayari and Stevie Ray squared off in the first fight of the night, where they opened the show with a bang. In the first round, they tested each other, as they checked each other's weaknesses. Ayari got in a couple of big head shots on Ray, and tested his lead leg as well, with low kicks putting pressure on his opponent, Ray would also return the favour.
Round 2: In the 2nd round, Ayari tried to go in swinging, ignoring Ray's strikes, and got caught multiple times on the head for his troubles. Once bitten, twice shy seemed to be the message for Ayari, as he was more wary of Ray in the latter part of the fight.
Round 3: The final round of the fight saw Ayari dominate in a big way, with Ray missing every shot he tried. Ayari landed some huge killer blows. Ayari landed a number of kicks, but Ray had the most leg strikes. The two of them went the full fifteen minutes, with Ayari dominating the last round apparently, but actually, Ray landed a number of kicks and had a few big counter strikes. The last fifteen seconds saw Ayari encouraging a brawl, but they lasted the whole round.
Result: Stevie Ray defeated Jessin Ayari via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
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#2. Arjan Bhullar vs. Marcelo Golm:
Round 1: Arjan Bhullar looked to come into the fight hard and fast with a lot of offence in the first few seconds, but Marcelo Golm spotted Bhullar's weakness. He went for low kicks on Bhullar's lead leg, which the Indian Fighter puts a lot of weight on. Bhullar got a knee, but he was dropped immediately afterwards. Golm continued to target the leg, while Bhullar tried to hit a big Knockout punch. An uppercut from Bhullar saw Golm backed up. The two locked up in a clinch, with Bhullar kneeing Golm. The first round saw Bhullar end strong, but after taking a lot of damage.
Round 2: The second round saw Golm come in strong. A big shot to Bhullar, saw him forcing Bhullar against the cage. The two of them exchanged the shots while clinched up, until Bhullar could disengage.
Golm looked for and landed a number of big shots, and it was his domination until 2 minutes into the round. Bhullar landed jabs and jabs, which saw him gain back control. Bhullar pushed Golm against the cage and landed knees against knees. The pace had slowed down drastically in the second round as compared to the first. Golm's right foot looked really swollen, possibly a fracture.
Round 3: Golm's damage to his own leg, saw Bhullar take advantage and stomp on Golm's damaged foot. Bhullar took complete advantage of the damage and landed some monstrous blows, before picking him up and putting him down on the ground with a huge takedown. Bhullar was in his element. putting pressure on Golm with his elbows. Bhullar landed short elbows and pounds as well.
Bhullar put short shots on Golm, making it evident that the final round was all his. He went to half guard and landed elbows, but he made progress making sure to have movement on the ground. Golm got his back against the cage. Bhullar kept the pressure on and pounded away at Golm. They went the distance, but after the final round, it looked like it was Bhullar's fight, while Marcelo had an apparent broken foot.
Result: Arjan Bhullar defeated Marcelo Golm via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
#3. Don Madge vs. Te'Jovan Edwards:
Don Madge and Te'Jovan Edwards both made their debuts in the Octagon in this fight.
Round 1: The fight started like it was sudden death, as both threw crazy shots early on. It was Madge who threw the shot that landed Edwards on his back immediately. Madge was on top of him, but Edwards survived somehow and tried to wrestle his way out.
Suddenly Madge was up and that was almost it! He got a Cross Armbar on Edwards, but to his immense credit, Edwards did not tap. He swung around and got on his feet. Edwards got to his feet and hesitated to for the dive-in finish. He finally went in, but Madge was ready, and had an offensive guard from his back. Edwards got back on his feet, but Madge was content to be on his back. The referee broke them up, and with both of them on their feet, Madge landed quite a few big blows. Madge landed a body knee, and then pressed him against the cage.
Round 2: As soon as Don Madge came into the second round, it was over. What a debut by Madge. Amazing fight. He knocked out Te'Jovan Edwards seconds into the second round. He kicked Edwards through the guard via high kick and used another high kick to finish. In the post-fight interview, he asks for the nickname Happy Feet.
Result: Don Madge defeated Te'Jovan Edwards via TKO (Round 2, 14 Seconds)
Preliminary Card -
#1. Sarah Moras vs. Talita Bernardo:
Round 1: Talita Bernardo looked to get a big win early on, but found herself getting pushed back by Sarah Moras. Moras looked excellent on her feet and started to get a few jabs in. Bernardo came back with a body kick, but Moras returned with a punch combination. Bernardo went for a takedown but failed, and Moras came back with a hard shot. Bernardo came back with a big shot of her own, shaking Moras, forcing her to go for the clinch. Bernardo landed the takedown and went for shot after shot. Bernardo got on top of Moras, getting the better of the scramble. Moras landed a few shots of her own but locked in an attempted submission as the round came to an end.
Round 2: Moras came into the second round with a few big shots attempted. Moras went for headkicks. Bernardo landed a double jab, left hook. The second round ended well for Bernardo, as she was the dominant fighter at the end. She got in telling blows.
Round 3: Moras went for the takedown and landed it, early in the 3rnd round. Bernardo soon got on top again, with Moras' shoulders pinned. Moras got a few huge elbows in, but it was not enough for her. Bernardo did not let go control for a single moment, staying on top and controlling the fight. Moras kicked Bernardo off, and landed a big takedown, landing big shots.
She tried to go for a choke, but, instead, Bernardo came back despite getting hit with huge bad elbows. Moras came back and landed shot after shot, but Bernardo clinched to stay alive. The last few minutes of that round was all Moras.
Result: Talita Bernardo defeated Sarah Moras via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
#2. Calvin Kattar vs. Chris Fishgold:
Round 1: Chris Fishgold went straight for the win against Calvin Kattar. He looked strong, and he landed big shots early on. He got the takedown, but Kattar got in his feet and separated. Fishgold hit quite a few counter strikes, and took a few shots as well. Kattar landed a few accurate jabs, which saw Fishgold cut open. Kattar's calm approach helped him early on.
Fishgold kept going for a couple of big shots, but he kept missing. Fishgold landed a 1-2 and that was it. Kattar had landed a big counter strike. That was all for Fishgold. Kattar followed with a couple of big shots and put him down on the mat. He finished the fight via an extremely impressive knockout which saw the Octagon debut of Fishgold spoilt.
Result: Calvin Kattar defeated Chris Fishgold via Knockout (Round 1, 4 Minutes and 11 Seconds)
#3. Thibault Gouti vs. Nasrat Haqparast:
Round 1: Nasrat Haqparast proved to be an impressive fighter early on, as he landed a few combination punches. Unfortunately, there were a few inadvertent eye pokes, but Haqparast looked by far the better fighter early on. The power punches looked dangerous, while Gouti tried to drop him with low kicks. A huge blow from Haqparast saw Gouti dropped, but he got right back.
Haqparast tried to take advantage and continued to get in big punches. Gouti somehow managed to survive.
Round 2: The second round was a different fight than the first one had been. Gouti strung together a few submissions. Landing shot after shot, making it hard for Haqparast to hit anything, Gouti had better control.
Haqparast came back and landed a good rib shot, which saw Gouti hurt. The second round looked more like one for Gouti.
Round 3: The third round was for Haqparast once again. Haqparast landed blow after blow as Gouti could do little. The big shot from Haqparast saw Gouti shaken, he followed that soon with a body shot. The huge shot kept coming in as Gouti ran and fell, and then took a beating. He got up but he took more body kicks, and crumbled under Haqparast's shots.
Haqparast got on top of Gouti, and landed shot after shot grounding and pounding him. The fight could have been called early, as Gouti had turned his back and run. Haqparast kept the ground and pound up, with big shots on him. They got back to their feet, and saw Gouti try to come back with high kicks, but it was not to be. The fight ended and went to decision.
What was even more surprising was that Nasrat Haqparast broke his hand in the first round but went through and won the fight anyway.
Result: Nasrat Haqparast defeated Thibaut Gouti (29-27, 29-28, 29-26)
#4. Nordine Taleb vs. Sean Strickland:
Round 1: The Canadian representative on the card, Nordine Taleb looked to land a few blows early, but it was Strickland who returned the favour immediately. Strickland landed a couple of big low kicks.
Taleb had been hitting a couple of good shots, while Strickland threw more, but landed less. Taleb got the heavier shots and one really good leg kick.
Round 2: Strickland looked tired by the end of the 1st round, and came in more vulnerable in the 2nd round. Nordine Taleb showed he meant business, landing 17 of 20 lowkicks, He came swinging, but it was Strickland who landed a surprise blow which dropped him. Taleb got back up and dropped Strickland, before both fighters went swinging at each other. Taleb was hurt by elbow after elbow and dropped on the mat. Strickland went for the ground and pound, taking big shots, and that was it. It was over.
The referee stopped the fight, and it was done.
Result: Sean Strickland defeated Nordine Taleb via TKO (2nd Round, 3 Minutes and 10 Seconds)
