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UFC Fight Night 138 was the last event to take place before the UFC 230 pay-per-view. The fight night was victim to change, like many other fight cards this year. This time, however, the change was not due to the fact that there was an injury to either of the fighters in the leadup to the fight, but their actions instead.
The co-main event is the fight in question, with Zubaira Tukhugov's involvement in the post-main event brawl, where he exchanged blows with Conor McGregor, seeing him removed from the fight card for UFC Fight Night 138.
As a result, Artem was left without an opponent for his fight, until Michael Johnson stepped up to fill the position. Johnson would go on to miss the weight by one pound, but Lobov accepted the fight anyway, and even volunteering to return the 20% of the purse of Johnson's that he was set to be handed after the fight.
The main event saw Volkan Oezdemir take on Anthony Smith, a competition that was very well matched between the two fighters. With Oezdemir's mystic having faded somewhat after his loss to Daniel Cormier, he looked to continue on and gain momentum from the fight.
In this article, we will go into the detailed results for the main event and an overview of the Early Preliminary and Preliminary Fight Results.
For detailed Early Preliminary and Preliminary Fight Results, click here.
Without any further ado, let's get into it.
Early Preliminary Card:
- Te'Jovan Edwards vs. Don Madge: Don Madge defeated Te'Jovan Edwards via TKO (Round 2, 14 Seconds)
- Arjan Bhullar vs. Marcelo Golm: Arjan Bhullar defeated Marcelo Golm via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
- Stevie Ray vs. Jessin Ayari: Stevie Ray defeated Jessin Ayari via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Preliminary Card:
- Nordine Taleb vs. Sean Strickland: Result: Sean Strickland defeated Nordine Taleb via TKO (2nd Round, 3 Minutes and 10 Seconds)
- Thibault Gouti vs. Nasrat Haqparast: Result: Nasrat Haqparast defeated Thibaut Gouti (29-27, 29-28, 29-26)
- Calvin Kattar vs. Chris Fishgold: Result: Calvin Kattar defeated Chris Fishgold via Knockout (Round 1, 4 Minutes and 11 Seconds)
- Sarah Moras vs. Talita Bernardo: Talita Bernardo defeated Sarah Moras via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Main Card:
#1. Alex Garcia vs. Court McGee:
Round 1: The first round was dominated largely by Garcia. Both fighters tested each other, as preparation for the next round.
Round 2: The second round was all about Court. He knocked down Garcia with huge shots and then grounded him and tired him out for the rest of the fight. McGee landed blow after blow, forcing Garcia to expend energy while Court maintained complete control of him on the ground.
Round 3: McGee spent the entirety of the third round in control yet again. He ground Garcia and maintained his control over him for the rest of the fight. He ended the fight going for a choke hold, but the time was over. The fight obviously went to Court McGee in what was one of the most one-sided bouts of the night so far.
Result: Court McGee defeated Alex Garcia via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-28)
#2. Ed Herman vs. Gian Villante:
Round 1: Ed Herman came flying out in the first round. He looked and tried and tested Villante with some shots, but it was Villante who landed the critical blows. Herman came back with a counter punch, stopping Villante from taking any advantage. Herman came back strong again with a big body shot and knee. Both fighters exchanged blows and managed to last out the round.
Round 2: Villante's right eye was hurt almost immediately into the second round. He looked the weaker of the two, as he landed shots, but at the same time almost forgetting that he too, was getting hurt. Villante stopped and returned each shot by Herman with a shot of his own.
Round 3: Villante's nose did not look right in the third round, but neither did Hermans. Both had taken serious blows, and it was showing. The final round had both of them trade blows, with Herman backing off again and again. The fight ended on a good note for both fighters.
Result: Gian Villante defeated Ed Herman via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
#3. Andre Soukhamthath vs. Jonathan Martinez:
Round 1: Andre Soukhamthath came out shooting blows. He found himself sitting pretty after the 1st Round. Soukhamthath knocked Martinez down twice, and kept hitting him with heavy shots one after the other, making it impossible for Martinez to come in and get any offence in at all. It was a total show for Soukamthath in the first round.
Round 2: The second round was about Soukamthath again. He came into the fight, with the offence forcing Martinez against the cage. He hit Martinez with knees. The shots saw Martinez do well as the referee broke them up. Martinez got the advantage on the restart and dropped him.
He stayed on top of Soukamthath and that was all he took to waste Soukamthath's energy on the ground. The two got up, and it was Martinez coming in with a knee. The round ended with Soukamthath getting back some offence.
Round 3: Martinez came off well into the third round, pushing Soukamthath against the fence. Soukamthath came back with the flying knee. Martinez got advantage again and pressed him against the fence, stomping on Soukamthath's feet. Martinez kept throwing knees, but Soukamthath got the takedown. Martinez got right back up, and Soukamthath looked very tired.
Soukamthath got another takedown, and tried to stay on top of him. Soukamthath went for the back of Martinez and went for the hook. The fight was over and both fighters had big moments.
Result: Andre Soukhamthath defeated Jonathan Martinez via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-28)
#4. Misha Cirkunov vs. Patrick Cummins:
Round 1: Misha Cirkunov took his fight against Patrick Cummins really seriously. The fight was between the veteran experience of Cummins, against the rejuvenated Cirkunov. He looked amazing throughout the fight, and was able to land blow after blow on his opponent.
He was grounded at one time, but got back and up, and reversed the momentum enough to get on top of Cummins and end him. He locked in the Arm Triangle and he had his hand yanking at the hand of Cummins, until he was not left a choice except to tap.
He displayed a lot of respect for Cummins, revealing that he was not expecting to get on top of him in the beginning. He showed his BJJ black belt ability in the way he was able to clinch in the submission and win.
Result: Misha Cirkunov defeated Patrick Cummins via Submission (Arm Triangle, 1st Round, 2 Minutes and 43 Seconds)
#5. Artem Lobov vs. Michael Johnson:
Round 1: Michael Johnson started the first round well, hitting Lobov with some haymakers, shaking him in his boots. The two fighters were remarkable, as Lobov showed how capable he was with some big shots as well. He was hit with a couple of big shots, but it looked more like they were testing each other.
Round 2: The second round saw Johnson come out strong again, and apparently hit Lobov in such a way, that Artem was left shaken. However, Artem was proved to be pretending as he did not fall and came back strong, despite this happening twice.
Lobov showed his intensity, hitting Johnson with a couple of big shots, backing him up with his hands down, not bothering to even try and guard.
Round 3: The third round saw Johnson dominate. Despite being cut in the previous rounds he showed how good he was by coming out and being spry on his feet, backing Lobov up during the fight.
The round ended with Johnson taking down Lobov in the final seconds.
Result: Michael Johnson defeated Artem Lobov via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
#6. Volkan Oezdemir vs. Anthony Smith:
Round 1: Oezdemir started with a low-kick, but Anthony Smith came back with a takedown attempt. The two exchanged blows, but Oezdemir launched a huge number of lefts and rights at Anthony Smith. Oezdemir came swinging and it was only Smith avoiding that saved him. Smith looked extremely hurt but he was trying not to show it.
Oezdemir came swinging again, with knees and high kicks. Both men tried to take the other down, but it did not look like either would be able to win.
Round 2: Anthony Smith came into the 2nd round with a plan, and he came in with a big rush at Oezdemir. Not only did he get Oezdemir with that one, he hit him with a couple of sharp blows cutting him open.
Oezdemir came back strong and looked to gain control of him. He went for the ground and pound and later a backmount, but Smith did a good job at defending it. Somehow Oezdemir got a hook in from one side, but not the other.
Round 3: Oezdemir looked good again in the third round. Smith blocked a lowkick. Oezdemir hit a brilliant right hand, and Smith returned the favour. Smith a big leg sweep, and dropped Oezdemir. Another big shot to Oezdemir's jaw saw the fighter backing up. Smith got a big takedown and went to his back. He hooked in both arms,and Oezdemir found himself almost ready to give up. The Rear Naked Choke was completely locked in.
Oezdemir somehow managed to break it a bit, but Smith got it back in and that's it. Oezdemir tapped. Smith wins.
Result: Anthony Smith defeated Volkan Oezdemir via submission (Rear Naked Choke, 3rd Round, 4 minutes 26 seconds)
