UFC Fight Night 63: Mendes vs Lamas

Main CARD (SONY SIX/HD. / Fox Sports 1)

Mendes def. Lamas by TKO (punches) at 2:45 of Round 1

Two of the best Featherweight fighters on the planet, Chad Mendes and Ricardo Lamas, looked to get back in the No. 1 contender race and it just took 2.5 Minutes for Mendes to make a statement. It looked like lamas came with a game plan to keep Mendes at bay with his kicks & the plan even looked like working until Mendes exploded with a huge right hand that dropped Lamas along the cage and hurt him bad. Mendes didn't let Lamas recover, swarming with a barrage of pin-point strikes that had Lamas falling all over the cage trying to avoid the punishment. Lamas somehow got back to his feet, but he was clearly hurt & in survival mode and Mendes sent him right back down with another clean shot. Lamas turtled up and Mendes landed few more devastating strikes as he was on his knees along the cage basically stopping himself and asking the ref to stop the fight & the ref finally obliged.

Iaquinta def. Masvidal by SD (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)

The co-main event was a close & exciting fight and at the end Al Iaquinta won a split decision over Jorge Masvidal, and then ripped into the crowd for booing him after the controversial scorecards were deliberated. Iaquinta, who has won four straight, nearly got finished in the first round, and was on a survival mode as Masvidal dropped him. Masvidal showed great hands & his amazing Take down defense. The second round was very close as Iaquinta tried to push forward & attack masvidal’s legs but Masvidal still looked in control while Iaquinta likely won the third with the same plan as Masvidal tried to coast a little bit. Masvidal had every right to be unhappy about the decision. He opened up a nasty cut under Iaquinta's right eye in the first and looked very good & in control of the fight throughout.

Chiesa def. Clarke by UD (29-26x2, 29-28)

TUF winner Michael Chiesa defeated Mitch Clarke via unanimous decision by, dominating the first and second rounds on the feet as well as on the ground. Chiesa always seems to be improving and he showed off some more of his arsenal. Chiesa was struggling to maintain the top position as clarke was getting back up on feet easily but soon chiesa took control and threatened to end the fight with a RNC on multiple occasion in the first two rounds. Clarke, who showed off a good chin and excellent submission defense, was super game and came back to win the third round. But it was too little, too late.

Pena def. Dudieve by TKO (strikes) at 3:59 of Round 1

After being out for more than a year with a gruesome knee injury, Julianna Pena made her much anticipated return & got a TKO win over Milana Dudieva at 3:59 of the very first round. it was a tough start for pena as Dudieva looked in control early but few minutes later Pena made the adjustment effortlessly slipped to mount and gradually pounded Dudieva out until the ref stopped the fight. In a women's bantamweight division in need of stars, Pena could be a top tier fighter. The 25-year-old TUF 18 winner is a proven finisher and she should get a top opponent next.

Guida def. Peralta by UD (30-27 x3)

Clay Guida executed his game plan perfectly in a unanimous decision win over Robbie Peralta. Guida, grinded Peralta out but taking the fight continuously to the ground with takedowns after takedowns. Guida controlled most of the fight despite peralta got some good shots here and there. He also threatened peralta with some submission attempts as well. The always popular Guida seems to still be going strong at the age of 33 and proved he is still a top tier fighter.

Poirier def. Ferreira by KO (punches) at 3:45 of Round 1

Dustin Poirier came back to lightweight division with a bang as he knocked out Diego Ferreira at 3:45 of the first round. Poirier's boxing looked very sharp & he put Ferreira out with his pin point accuracy and proved why he was on one of the best featherweights in the world. Still just 26 years old, we could expect some exciting fights ahead of him at lightweight.