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The latest Fight Night offering from the UFC was live from the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. A huge heavyweight scrap between the legendary Junior dos Santos and Curtis Blaydes headlined the event.
An intriguing Welterweight contest between former UFC champion Rafael dos Anjos and Michael Chiesa was the co-main event of the evening. A host of other exciting fights featured on the prelims and main card which managed to make this show, which went under the radar, an entertaining watch.
Here are the UFC results and highlights of the show:
UFC Fight Night 166 Results- Prelims
Bevon Lewis def. Dequan Townsend via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Arnold Allen def. Nik Lentz via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Justine Kish def. Lucie Pudilova via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Montel Jackson def. Felipe Colares via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-25)
Sara McMann def. Lina Lansberg via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-25)
Brett Johns def. Tony Gravely via submission (rear naked choke) (2:53, Round 3)
Herbert Burns def. Nate Landwehr via KO (knee) (2:43, Round 1)
UFC Fight Night 166 Results- Main Card
#1. Jamahal Hill vs. Darko Stosic (Light Heavyweight)
Scouted from Dana White's Contender series, Jamahal Hill was making his UFC debut and came into this fight with a spotless record. Darko Stosic, his opponent, was entering the Octagon for the fourth time, with his last two fights ending in losses.
Round 1: Glove touch and we got underway. Stosic kept his guard high and pushed forward. He tried to cut the distance but Hill moved out and cracked Stosic with a few strikes on the break.
Hill kept landing while moving backwards. The left-hand strikes landed from Hill, who was in southpaw. Stosic connected with a three-piece combo. He followed it with a five-piece that landed. Stosic looked explosive whenever he committed to engaging. He connected with a clean short left hook. Hill attacked the body with a kick. Stosic went to the body and then to the face. He got in the clinch and tripped Hill to the mat. He couldn't keep him down for long as Hill sprang back up. Hill landed an uppercut, left hook, straight right combo. Stosic rushed in for a big left but Hill tagged him with a right. That was a very entertaining round.
Round 2: Hill amped up the volume as he attempted straight left and rights. Stosic's guard absorbed a majority of the strikes and he tried to get back with the counter punches.
Hill, however, had found a new gear in the second round as he mixed up the strikes. A left hurt Stosic, who was pegged back by the impact. Hill kept up the press with a barrage of strikes.
Hill used his legs to good effect as the round progressed after he connected with knees and threw in the leg kicks.
The right-hand jabs, and the follow-up lefts. Hill was putting on a striking clinic. Stosic landed a takedown in the final stages of the round.
Round 3: Hill started with the kicks to the body. He connected with a one-two down the middle. Stosic went low with the leg kicks.
Stosic changed levels and got Hill down to the mat. He hurt Hill with some huge shots. Hill scrambled and popped up to his feet. They broke up and Hill went in for a jumping knee.
He followed it with a kick to the thigh and a high kick. The right jab and a left hook followed. Hill's pace went down a notch as Stosic landed another takedown. He couldn't keep him down for long as Hill came up to his feet. They clinched for a few seconds before getting back to the centre.
The inside leg kicks from Hill looked snappy. Stosic landed another takedown a takedown with 50 seconds to go in the fight. The fight ended with Hill making his way back to his feet.
Result: Jamahal Hill def. Darko Stosic via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
'Sweet Dreams' showed what he's all about in his promotional debut as he dispatched off a tricky opponent in Stosic with a clinical striking display.
Hill is now 7-0 and will be a prospect to keep tabs on in the exciting Light Heavyweight division.
#2. Hannah Cifers vs. Angela Hill (Women's Strawweight)
Two talented Strawweight contenders Angela Hill and hometown favourite Hannah Cifers looked to get a big win in the second fight on the main card this was a clash to look forward to Dana White himself endorsed it in the pre-fight build.
Round 1: Cifers got the ball rolling with an outside leg kick. Hill was the one who pressed forward looking for an opening. Cifers got in a few leg kicks. Hill answered with the front kick to the body.
Hill attempted a few combinations and strikes but Cifers' head movement was fluid thus far. The jabs were out from Hill. She got into the pocket to engage but both of them missed their strikes. This fight was on the verge of getting explosive as Hill wasn't maintaining her range and fearlessly got into the pocket.
They clinched and Hill pushed Cifers towards the cage and landed a few knees to the gut. The jab-leg kick combo from Hill was followed by a clinch against the cage. Cifers landed a right on the break that sent Hill back. Angela looked to land extensive combos that ended with kicks. They clinched again as the round ended. That was a very close round to score.
Round 2: Cifers' corner called for 3 and 4-piece combos. There was plenty of movement from both women as the round began. The fans loudly chanted for Hannah as she tried to create an opening. She was close to Hill and looked to engage in a close-range dirty boxing fight.
Hill got Cifers down to the mat at the 3-minute mark and she settled for side control. She slowly transitioned to half guard before mounting over Cifers. Hill then pushed Cifers' head back and landed massive shots. Elbows and punches rained down as a dominant Hill looked to end the fight. Hannah tried to lock up but Hill was relentless as she punished her opponent with deadly elbows. The ground and pound were just too much for Cifers to handle as the referee stepped in and stopped the fight.
Result: Angela Hill def. Hannah Cifers via TKO (elbows and punches) (4:26, Round 2)
Angela 'Overkill' Hill was at her best here and notched up her second consecutive victory.
#3. Alex Perez vs. Jordan Espinosa (Flyweight)
This was Alex Perez' Octagon return since his last fight in November 2018. His opponent, Jordan Espinosa was coming off a first-round loss to Matt Schnell and needed a win to stay relevant in the competitive Flyweight division.
Round 1: Lots of movement from both men as they circled the Octagon looking for an opening.
Perez got the fight to the mat and began working for an Arm Triangle. He maintained the shoulder pressure and the referee rushed in to stop the fight as Espinosa was on the verge of passing out. That was a blood choke finish and a very brutal one indeed.
Result: Alex Perez def. Jordan Espinosa via submission (arm-triangle choke) (2:33, Round 1)
This was Perez' first fight since November 2018 and he didn't miss a beat with a no-nonsense performance.
He took it down to the mat, created an opening for the arm triangle and used his right shoulder to finish off Espinosa. The #11 ranked fighter is now 5-1 in the Octagon and if he manages to stay fit, we may have ourselves a legit title contender by the end of 2020.
#4. Rafael dos Anjos vs. Michael Chiesa (Welterweight)
Rafael dos Anjos had lost three of his last four fights, with his last defeat coming against Leon Edwards in July last year.
Michael Chiesa's move to Welterweight has reignited a new flame in 'Maverick' as he is on a 2-fight winning streak and is looking to accomplish his championship dreams in the 170-pound division.
Round 1: RDA stayed in line with Chiesa and pushed him back in Southpaw position. Chiesa moved around as RDA went for a big shot to the body. Chiesa slipped away and got hold of Anjos' back in the standing position. He was patient and took RDA down while getting the both the under hooks from the back. Chiesa laid flat on his back and slowly worked towards a rear-naked choke. He had RDA in a body triangle. Chiesa got one arm in but RDA turned over and released the pressure. Chiesa was on top now in half guard.
RDA landed a couple of elbows from his back. RDA got up on his feet and this time, took Chiesa's back in the standing position. He, however, lost his control and Chiesa regained RDA's back near the fence as the round came to a close.
Round 2: RDA landed a low leg kick that may have hurt Chiesa in the early stages. Chiesa attempted to close the distance and get another takedown. RDA stuffed it with ease.
Michael got in again but lost balance this time around. Back on their feet, RDA peppered Chiesa's left leg with big kicks. They clinched against the cage and exchanged knees as well as dominant positions. The fight went down again for a few seconds before both men circled the cage on their feet. RDA went for a cross but Chiesa moved his head out of the way.
Chiesa changed levels and dumped Anjos on his buttocks. RDA worked his way to be on one knee before getting his footing. Chiesa worked hard to keep RDA down in the final moments of the round.
Round 3: Both the Welterweights exchanged strikes before Chiesa predictably closed the distance and clinched. Chiesa got the fight to the mat and settled for half guard. He looked for a Kimura. RDA tried to sweep and worked for an unlikely kneebar. Chiesa got his legs out and continued focussing on the Kimura. He gradually pushed RDA's left arm back as the fans got excited about a potential finish. RDA released his arm from the pressure and undid all of Chiesa's efforts.
The final 2 minutes of the fight saw Chiesa in RDA's guard. The strikes connected from the top. RDA escaped after a brief period of ground and pound. However, Chiesa was just too good on the ground as he pinned RDA down in half guard. He kept him grounded until the end of the fight.
Result: Michael Chiesa def. Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Chiesa did what he does best and outwrestled the legendary RDA. He wasn't messing around after the fight either as he called out Colby Covington for a showdown in July.
#5. Curtis Blaydes vs. Junior dos Santos (Heavyweight)
The heavyweight main event was an important fight for both fighters as a win would take either one of the fighters closer to a title shot. Who prevailed in the end? Let's find out
Round 1: JDS started with a low stance as he looked to avoid getting taken down by Blaydes. Curtis attempted two takedowns but Santos stuffed them both.
It was a relatively cautious start from both men as one looked for the killer counter punch and the other was scouting for a takedown. They clinched before the fight was stopped for a while after Santos got hit in his groin.
JDS' movements made it difficult for Blaydes to take the fight to the mat. JDS went for a wild lead uppercut right at the end. That was an insane swing but JDS missed by a whisker.
Round 2: Blaydes connected with a right and JDS felt that. The Brazilian veteran went for a high kick but it hit the guard. Blaydes teased a slight level change, grazed JDS with a left jab and then landed a perfect right. That landed on the jaw. JDS was rocked and Blaydes went in for the finish. He caught JDS with a knee and followed it up with punches as Santos covered up until the referee put a stop to the fight.
Result: Curtis Blaydes def. Junior dos Santos via TKO (1:06, Round 1)
Razor just keeps getting better with each passing fight and a win against the legendary JDS has gotten him one step closer to the title shot.
