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UFC returned to live programming with UFC 249, which thankfully ended up being a successful effort. The promotion followed it up with a mid-week offering which was headlined by Anthony Smith and Glover Teixeira.
The third Fight Night in eight days - UFC on ESPN 8 - was a special event as it was built around Walt Harris' first fight since the tragic death of his daughter Aniah Blanchard. 'The Big Ticket' faced heavyweight veteran Alistair Overeem in the main event of the show.
UFC on ESPN 8 emanated from the Jacksonville arena and it had many other fights worth looking forward to. Claudia Gadelha took on Angela Hill in a Strawweight clash in the co-main event.
Veteran UFC fighter Edson Barboza moved down to the Featherweight division for the first time in his 10-year UFC career to face the explosive Dan Ige.
Eryk Anders and Krzysztof Jotko squared off against each other in a Middleweight clash while Song Yadong and Marlon Vera's Featherweight showdown rounded up the UFC on ESPN 8 main card.
Here are the results and highlights of UFC on ESPN 8:
UFC on ESPN 8 Results - Prelims
Miguel Baeza def. Matt Brown via KO (punch) (0:18, Round 2)
Kevin Holland def. Anthony Hernandez via TKO (knees and punches) (0:39, Round 1)
Giga Chikadze def. Irwin Rivera via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Nate Landwehr def. Darren Elkins via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Cortney Casey def. Mara Romero Borella via submission (armbar) (3:36, Round 1)
Rodrigo Nascimento def. Don’Tale Mayes via submission (rear-naked choke) (2:05, Round 2)
UFC on ESPN 8 Results - Main Card
#1. Song Yadong vs. Marlon Vera (Featherweight)
Round 1: Vera began the fight with the low kicks and Yadong responded with a two-piece combo. Song landed another 1-2 before going for a kick at the same time as Marlon.
Vera attempted the oblique kick but was stopped by a counter right. They clinched before Song broke away with a left followed by a knee. Vera continued to land the low kicks while Yadong reacted with a body shot combination. Song landed a right, tied up with Vera, and pushed him up against the fence. Song connected with an uppercut but ate an elbow and a few knees to end the round.
10-9 Song
Round 2: Song kicked off the second round with the kicks. Vera went for the body but ate a right cross. He followed up with more kicks. They clinched before returning to trade in the center. Song landed a 1-2-3 combo as he unleashed the heat on Vera.
Vera didn't drop back as he pushed forward and got tagged by a left hook. The combos and hard hooks landed for Song, who was the better fight on the feet in the second round.
10-9 Song
Round 3: Vera executed a trip early in the round and got Song down the ground. He took half guard, the full guard before posturing up to land the left-hand strikes. Soon used the fence to get up and was on his feet while eating a shot to the body on the break. Song steadied the ship and landed a left hook, followed by the rights.
Vera tried to rally in the dying stages of the fight but Song may have done enough to win the fight, which looked like a pretty close affair to judge.
Result: Song Yadong def. Marlon Vera via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
#2. Eryk Anders vs. Krzysztof Jotko (Middleweight)
Round 1: They moved around for a bit and tried to get their range in place before Anders engaged in a clinch and pushed Jotko against the fence. Jotko moved out and pressed forward with a few combos. His lateral movement was on point as he connected with a few lefts.
Anders changed levels and tried to wrestle Jotko down to the mat.
Jotko defended the takedown well and traded fire on the break. Anders was relentless as he went for a strike and shot for the takedown. Jotko defended it well yet again and settled for the clinch. There were a few heavy shots exchanged on the break.
Jotko landed two low kicks, one to the inside and the other to the outside. Jotko cut the angle, came right at the back and forced a takedown. They scrambled and got up to their feet. Anders followed Jotko and landed a flurry of shots. Jotko countered with a big shot as both men threw leather as the round came to a close.
10-9 Anders
Round 2: Anders shot in and tried to spin on the break as the round kicked off. Joto fired off a 1-2 and ate a body kick in the exchange.
Anders caught a kick and forced Jotko towards the fence. Jotko connected with a knee, following by a spinning elbow. The hard lefts landed for Jotko before Anders changed levels and sent him towards the fence again.
Jotko's lefts hit the spot as he scuffed Anders' takedown attempts. The round ended with Anders connecting with a few knees.
10-9 Jotko
Round 3: Jotko landed a 1-2 that grazed the back of Anders' head. Eryk completely took Jotko's back for a few seconds but he lost grip.
They clinched against the fence for a while before getting back to the centre. Jotko went for the straight left but his strikes looked laboured. Jotko threw a couple of shots and moved to avoid the counter.
Jotko continued to land a few power lefts as the final round progressed. Jotko cut the distance and attempted another takedown to no avail.
Jotko connected a few more lefts before landing a high kick. Anders resorted to some more clinch work on the fence with 30 seconds to go. Jotko trash-talked in the clinch.
Jotko cracked Anders with a few heavy shots to end the fight.
Result: Jotko def, Eryk Anders via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Jotko had a lot of success in the striking department and his win extends his streak to three victories on the trot.
#3. Dan Ige vs. Edson Barboza (Featherweight)
Round 1: Ige didn't waste time as he went for the big shots right off the gate. He got aggressive and got into Barboza's face.
Barboza, however, dropped Ige with a huge elbow over the top followed by a right. Dan survived and welcomed Barboza into his guard on the mat. He briefly attempted an armbar before settling for full guard.
Barboza baited the armbar before seeing the opening, exploiting it and delivering a string of nasty hammer fists in the ground and pound. Both men got up and circled the centre. Ige dug in for a nice straight right to the body. Barboza's switch kicks weren't being used as he relied on his hands. Ige put in a lot into his attempted shots but Barboza's head movement was smooth.
Edson looked for the knee and his kicks began to come to the fore. Ige waited for his opportunity before making inroads into the pocket for a right. Edson, however, began to control the Octagon as he cut the angles.
10-9 Barboza
Round 2: Ige came in hot swinging hands and he cracked Barboza with two hard shots. Ige kept up the pressure as he cut the distance and clinched.
Edson ripped Ige with a hard knee to the body before the break. They both exchanged solid lefts and continued to circle the Octagon. Two big shots got through Barboza's guard and that may have hurt him. Ige had the advantage in the striking department as he edged it on the scorecards.
They were both a little busted with a minute to go in the round. Barboza caught Ige with a grazing knee shot to the liver. Dan was hurt and Barboza piled on the pressure by taking the fight to the crowd. He finished off the round in dominant fashion with the brutal hammer fists. It was a very close second round.
10-9 Barboza
Round 3: Barboza's straight kicks connected to the body. Ige threw heat, though, as he put on a lot of power behind the swinging shots. Barboza played it safe by maintaining range and kicking from the outside.
Barboza landed a good knee in the clinch. Ige shot for the single leg but Barboza fought it off. Ige then landed a clean right shot that got Barboza's respect.
Ige landed a few body kicks before pushing Barboza' against the fence. Ige scored an important takedown with one minute on the clock and he landed two big shots on the ground.
Barboza defended well from his back with a very good guard. Ige applied the pressure but Barboza played it sage until the end of the round.
Result: Dan Ige def. Edson Barboza via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
That was a close fight and we mean really close! it could have gone either way but the judges felt that Ige did enough to take the SD. What do you think? Was it a fair call?
#4. Claudia Gadelha vs. Angela Hill (Women's Strawweight)
Round 1: Gadelha targetted the legs early on while Hill cut the distance. Gadelha landed a right cross on the break as she looked for an opening.
Hill kept Gadelha guessing with her movements. Gadelha's hands looked good as the shots had the pop. She landed a 1-2 as Hill looked to land the short hooks.
They clinched and Gadelha got the double under hooks. Claudia had the visible strength advantage as she attempted to yank Hill down to the mat.
Gadelha completed the takedown, took side control and tried to isolate Hill's right side. The hammer fists landed. Hill scrambled back to her feet as the round ended.
10-9 Gadelha
Round 2: Gadelha landed a good 3-piece as Hill tried to throw the lead hooks. Hill opened up a cut under Gadelha's eye.
Hill dropped Gadelha with a beautiful straight right. Hill, however, didn't follow up for the finish as her camp told her to allow Gadelha back to her feet.
She obliged and the referee ordered Claudia to get up. The straight right landed flush on Gadelha's jaw. Hill landed another clean right but Gadelha reacted with a 3-4 combo. They clinched and Hill landed a knee. Hill reversed positions and landed another knee with Gadelha against the fence. Hill picked up pace as she connected with a right followed by a left hook.
Angela got in a 1-2 and continued to land with the legs. Gadelha connected with the low kick but Hill came back with a right. That was a huge round for Hill.
10-9 Hill
Round 3: Hill was the one connecting during the exchanges. The jabs landed and so did the counter hooks.
Both ladies were throwing and eating heavy shots. Hill's output was much more than her opponent and that was the biggest takeaway from the final round.
Gadelha looked to keep up with Hill's volume. They clinched with 40 seconds to go and Gadelha landed a big shot on the break. Both women finished strong with a fiery exchange in the phone booth.
Result: Claudia Gadelha def. Angela Hill via split decision 28-29, 29-28. 29-28
That was a controversial decision, to say the least, as Hill arguably had the bigger moments throughout the fight. What do you think about this SD?
#5. Alistair Overeem vs. Walt Harris (Heavyweight)
Round 1: Harris cut the cage off as Overeem was pushed back. Harris stalked Overeem in southpaw. Alistair connected with a spinning kick.
Harris, however, dropped Overeem with a hard 2-3. Harris was all over Alistair with the ground and pound. The referee gave Overeem a lot of time to recuperate and believe it or not, Overeem survived! His chin survived hellish punishment!
Back up, Harris landed the straight kick to the body. Harris got a little overzealous and Overeem got Harris down and took his back. Overeem worked on Harris from the back as he landed the punches to the side of the head.
Overeem pinged Harris against the fence and he kept hitting him with lefts from the side. Harris got up on his feet at the end but Overeem cracked him with his signature knees.
That was an incredible comeback from Overeem.
10-9 Overeem
Round 2: Harris went for the jab but Overeem cut the distance. Harris fired off the front kick. The pace of the fight had slowed down as both men remained patient. Harris looked to get his breath back.
Overeem stunned Harris with a head kick out of nowhere. Harris was wobbly on his feet. Overeem followed it with a big right and Harris was down. The Reem jumped in for the finish as Harris covered up.
Overeem unleashed a barrage of punches after he flattened out Harris.
Dan Miragliotta gave Harris an ample amount of time to recover but he took one punch too many and the fight was rightfully stopped. Overeem embraced Harris immediately after the stoppage.
Result: Alistair Overeem def. Walt Harris via TKO (3:00 Round 2)
The Reem's still got it! His chin held up earlier on and he showed his diverse skill set to hand Walt Harris a crushing loss.
