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UFC stopped over at the O2 Arena in London for a stacked card that featured a Welterweight headliner between Darren Till and Jorge Masvidal.
The co-main event of the night was also from the 170 lbs division between Leon Edwards and Gunnar Nelson. The 11th UFC card in London had a host of homegrown British talents in action as the event was touted to be the biggest card to have taken place in the English capital.
There were a total of twelve fights on the entire card and it did indeed end up being an entertaining night for staunch fight fans.
UFC Fight Night 147 London Prelims Results:
Featherweight: Arnold Allen def. Jordan Rinaldi via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-28)
Lightweight: Marc Diakiese def. Joseph Duffy — Diakiese via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Light Heavyweight.: Saparbeg Safarov def. Nicolae Negumereanu via unanimous decision (29-26, 29-26, 29-27)
Featherweight.: Dan Ige def. Danny Henry via submission (rear naked choke) (1:17, Round One)
Women's Flyweight: Molly McCann def. Priscila Cachoeira via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Featherweight: Mike Grundy def. Nad Narimani via TKO (punches) at 4:42 of Round Two
#1. John Phillips (21-8-0-1) vs. Jack Marshman (22-8-0) (Middleweight)
One of the biggest fights in Welsh MMA history, Phillips and Marshman came into the fight with similar styles and records. Phillips had finished all of his 21 wins which included 19 knockouts while Marshman had 18 finishes amongst his 22 victories. Marshman was the odds-on favorite going into the fight.
Round 1: Both men began by measuring each other. Marshman analyzed Phillips, who was the aggressor in the early goings of the fight. Phillips connected with a low leg kick and clinched with Marshman.
Knees from the cinch by Phillips. Marshman broke up and got off the fence without taking any damage. Marshman shot for the single leg takedown but Phillips defended. Marshman with the level change but Phillips caught him. Phillips dropped Marshman with a right hook. Marshman went to the ground as Phillips walked away. An ode to Mark Hunt!
Marshman was still in it as he invited Phillips to step into his guard. Phillips gestured Marshman to get back up to his feet. The fans in the O2 Arena were buzzing!
Marshman himself tagged Phillips with a combination. Both men continued to string a few combinations together as the round came to a close. Phillips stared down Marshman as he walked away to his corner.
Round 2: Phillips looked for an opening as Marshman kept backing away. Marshman landed a body kick while Phillips connected with a left at the same time.
Marshman used his kicks to get some volume. Phillips kept looking for that big left, but Marshman was switched on and forced Phillips to miss.
They kept taunting each other as a finish looked certain by the way they were moving.
A few fakes and a body punch by Marshman. Phillips answered with some good body work of his own as he pushed Marshman back with shots to the body. Marshman had 17 total strikes to Phillips' 24 as the second round came to an end.
Round 3: The Welshmen hugged each other and the final round began. Phillips tried to pull Marshman into a brawl but Marshman stayed level-headed and continued to show some crisp boxing.
However, most of it was shadow boxing as Phillips showed good head movement. Phillips kept getting tagged as moved forward.
Marshman got those jabs in as Phillips unleashed a right hook that connected. Phillips' corner called for him to turn it on and he tried to pin Marshman back towards the cage.
Marshman got together a good combo but Phillips moved his head well. Phillips egged Marshman on to stand and bang in the final ten seconds. No one was dropped and the fight came to a close. They hugged each other again as we awaited the result. Close fight.
Result: Jack Marshman def. John Phillips via split decision (29-28, 29.28, 28.29)
Marshman notched up his third victory in the Octagon with a close split decision. It may not have been the most convincing of displays from The Welsh Hammer but he got the job done nonetheless.
#2. Claudio Silva (12-1) vs. Danny Roberts (16-3) (Welterweight)
Brtizillian Claudio Silva came a fighter who had been unbeaten for 11 years and had won all three of his fights inside the Octagon. Having spent a majority of his formative years in England, the Brazilian felt at home at the O2 Arena. Danny Roberts was on a two-fight win streak and had also finished most of his fights.
Round 1: Roberts ate a leg kick, to begin with. Silva closed the distance and shot for the single leg takedown. Roberts stuffed it but continued to get tagged with kicks.
Silva targeted the right thigh of Roberts with kicks. Silva finally took Roberts down with 3 minutes left on the clock. Roberts did a great job of denying the pass from half guard but let Silva through.
Silva showed some tremendous side control as he worked on Roberts' right arm. Roberts did well to avoid a submission but Silva was on top of his game.
He lured in Roberts to give his back by going into full mount. However, Roberts kept his cool. Silva then worked his way into a possible arm traingle and he even locked in Roberts' left arm.
Roberts survived yet again and rolled over into Silva's guard. Roberts landed some big shos from the top to end the round.
Round 2: Roberts connected with a shot right off the gate which wobbled Silva. The Brazilian changed levels and got in another takedown.
What followed was some top-notch scrambling on the mat. Silva resumed his job of looking for a submission. The referee briefly stopped the fight after he saw Roberts' toes inside the cage being used for leverage. Silva worked his way for another arm triangle choke, however, Roberts scrambled out of it in a similar fashion as the first round.
Silva kept throwing the submissions but Roberts hung in there.
Round 3: Roberts rocked Silva within seconds of the third round. Roberts pounced on the vulnerable Silva and landed big strikes from the top. He opened up a cut on top of Silva's eyes.
Elbows and punches rained down on the Brazilian but he showed his toughness. Silva kept at it and as expected, looked for an opening for a submission. He first tried to get a heel hook in but Roberts slithered out. Silva trapped Roberts in an armbar. He picked Silva up and slammed his head into the mat. Silva didn't let go of the hold though.
The referee stepped in and stopped the fight after he heard a verbal tap from Roberts who was deeply trapped into the armbar. He rolled over but it was too late as the referee had already made his decision.
Result: Claudio Silva vs. Danny Roberts via verbal submission (armbar) (2:37, Round 3)
That was an intense back-and-forth contest that sadly had a controversial finish. Roberts may have lost but he displayed elite levels of resiliency against a relentless Jui Jitsu practitioner.
As for Silva, his win-streak extended to an incredible 13 fights.
#3. Nathaniel Wood (15-3) vs. Jose Quinonez (8-2)(Bantamweight)
Quinonez was tied for the highest win streak in the 135 lbs division at 4 wins. In comparison, Wood was himself on a seven-fight win streak that began before his time in the UFC.
Round 1: Jose kicked Wood's leg and tripped and the fans were naturally ecstatic. Woods ducked under an overhead kick but Jose changed levels and shot for the single leg takedown.
It was a solid round for Wood as he got in some good combinations and almost locked in the D'Arc choke right at the end of the round.
Round 2: Wood succeeded with his fists at the beginning of the second round as he connected. They tied up near the cage.
Jose went for an over and under and then for a trip. Wood, though, was the one who tripped Jose and took him down. He showed some good movement and got the Mexican's back. He locked in a tight rear naked choke and forced a tap out of Jose.
Result: Nathaniel Wood def. Jose Quinonez via submission (Rear Naked Choke) (2:46, Round 2)
A clinical performance by The Prospect as he ended the 4-fight win streak of the Mexican.
#4. Dominick Reyes (10-0) vs. Volkan Oezdemir (15-3) (Light Heavyweight)
Dominick Reyes put his undefeated record on the line against the #6 ranked Light Heavyweight, Volkan 'No Time' Oezdemir.
Round 1: Reyes with the early movement as he connected with a few kicks. Volkan got in a few strikes but Reyes used his long frame to keep the distance.
A shot to Volkan's groin momentarily stopped the fight. Volkan kept up the pressure as the fight resumed. He rocked Reyes with a leg kick that swept him off his feet.
They clinched for a few seconds before breaking up. Volkan avoided a left from Reyes and executed a takedown. He couldn't keep Reyes down as both men stood up again and got back to the center of the Octagon.
Volkan got Reyes to back up and sent a few shots to the body. Reyes wasn't able to free his legs and it affected his rhythm. Volkan with a head kick to end the round.
Round 2: Volkan managed his distance really well against the taller Reyes. Volkan defended the high kicks well and kept up the pressure.
Reyes shot for the takedown but Volkan evaded. A good right hook from Reyes, which was followed by a combination from Volkan. Reyes' nose looked busted as he breathed from the mouth and found it difficult to land his strikes.
Volkan kept pulling away to the side, forcing Reyes to miss. Volkan shot for another takedown in the dying seconds of the round and connected with a few strikes in the clinch.
Round 3: Volkan went for a takedown but Reyes stuffed it. Volkan seemed to be following a game plan as he forced Reyes to use a lot of lateral movement. Reyes wasn't landing as much as he would have wanted to but grew into the round.
He mixed it up with some body shots and straight rights and lefts. Volkan, however, had 27 head strikes to Reyes' 14. Volkan showed his superior fight IQ as he saw off the round by avoiding any damage and chipping away with a few punches to Reyes' head. Reyes, though, got in a lot of volume in this round but would it be enough?
Result: Dominick Reyes def. Volkan Oezdemir via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
And the judges did it again! The fans booed as soon as the decision was announced by Bruce Buffer and it may have been warranted as Oezdemir looked like he had it in the bag. However, Reyes kept adding to the scorecard with some body shots which may have tipped the outcome in his favor right at the end.
#5. Gunnar Nelson (17-3-1) vs. Leon Edwards (16-3) (Welterweight)
The master of submissions, Gunnar Nelson took on #10 ranked Leon Edwards, who was on a six-fight win streak.
Round 1: A measured Nelson took Edwards down within a minute of the first round. Edwards briefly got back to his feet before going back down. Edwards stood up and flipped over to take Nelson down. Interesting!
Edwards tried to get in an RNC from the back but Nelson stayed patient. Edwards got one hook in and landed punches from the back. Edwards' camp instructed him to dominate the position and as a Viking chant broke out in the O2 Arena. Nelson got out of Edwards' grip and the round ended.
Round 2: Nelson looked calm despite Edwards having a big lead in terms of significant strikes. Nelson assessed his opponent and shot a few kicks. They clinched and Edwards tagged Nelson on the break.
Edwards got Nelson in a Thai Clinch and rocked him with a nasty elbow on the break. Edwards jumped in and unloaded some monstrous shots. Nelson seemed out at one point but he somehow survived until the end of the round despite having a broken orbital bone.
Round 3: Nelson attempted the takedown but Edwards stuffed it yet again. Another loose takedown attempt that Edwards defended with ease,
Nelson used the straight left to set up the takedown but it just wasn't working tonight. Nelson connected with a straight left and finally landed the takedown.
He mounted on Edwards and had a look at the clock. With 30 seconds to go, it proved to be little too late as Edwards cut the space and finished off the round.
Result: Leon Edwards def. Gunnar Nelson via split decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-29)
Leon' Rocky' Edwards put on a very mature performance to bring up his seventh straight victory. Nelson looked off the pace as he was surprisingly outgrappled by Edwards in a fight that firmly puts the winner in contention for a #1 contender's fight.
#6. Darren Till (17-1-1) vs. Jorge Masvidal (32-13) (Welterweight)
The Gorilla vs. Gamebred! Main Event time! Let's freaking go! It was absolutely electric in the O2 Arena!
Round 1: Masvidal came running in kicked Till straight in the groin! What the heck! Masvidal actually went for the oblique kick but misplaced it. The fight resumed and Till dropped Masvidal with a massive straight left to the chin. The fans erupted as Till went in for the kill. Gamebred hung in there and survived the onslaught.
Both men stood and traded shots. Masvidal kept retreating towards the cage and let a few shots through his guard. Till used his left hand to good effect but Masvidal too had his moments as he strung together a few combinations. Great start.
Round 2: Till poked Masvidal in the eyes as he tried to parry a punch. The fight continued. Masvidal took Till down but couldn't keep The Gorilla down. Masvidal pinned Till onto the cage but Till slipped away.
Masvidal was aggressive in this round as he used the feints and body kicks. He was landing more shots and kept Till's big left hand at bay. Then the shocker!
Gamebred did a sudden shift of stance and stunned Till with an overhand left hook that landed right in the kisser. Till was knocked out cold! Masvidal landed a few more strikes while Till tumbled to the mat. Absolutely stunning!
Result: Jorge Masvidal def. Darren Till via Knockout (3:05, Round 2)
No school like the old school! The 34-year-old veteran knocked out one of the top Welterweights in his own backyard. Take a bow, Jorge!
Dana White, give this man a title shot!
Before we end, we congratulate the latest inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame - the first and only British UFC Champion, Michael 'The Count' Bisping!
