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UFC's final event of the month took place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The main event saw Lightweight knockout artists Justin Gaethje and Edson Barboza go toe-to-toe in what promised to be a wild affair,
Elsewhere on the card, Karolina Kowalkiewicz took on Michelle Waterson in a pivotal 115 lbs clash. The main card consisted of a total of six fights while seven other bouts rounded up the prelims.
All in all, it was a solid card from top to bottom that managed to get the fans invested all throughout.
Here are the results and highlights of UFC on ESPN 2: Barboza vs. Gaethje:
UFC on ESPN 2 Results: Barboza vs. Gaethje Results - Prelims
* Marina Rodriguez def. Jessica Aguilar via unanimous decision (29-26, 29-27, 29-27)
* Desmond Green def. Ross Pearson via TKO (punches) (2:52, Round 1)
* Kevin Aguilar def. Enrique Barzola via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
* Kevin Holland def. Gerald Meerschaert via split decision (29-27, 28-29, 30-27)
* Casey Kenney def. Ray Borg via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
* Maryna Moroz def. Sabina Mazo via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
* Mark De La Rosa def. Alex Perez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
#1. Sodiq Yusuff (8-1) vs. Sheymon Moraes (11-2) (Featherweight)
Sodiq Yusuff was riding on a three-fight win streak heading into the opener, as he defeated Suman Mokhatarian in December 2018. Moraes too was on a 2-fight win streak as he was coming off a win against Julio Arce in November, 2018.
Yusuff targeted Moraes' leg in the early stages of the fight and found success with a few jabs and a body kick. They fought near the fence for a few minutes with both men connecting with respective knees. While Moraes got in some strikes, Yusuff edged the first round solely on the basis of more volume.
Moraes had the better second round as he came in hot with body kick which was replied with a 2-1 from Yusuff. Moraes had the biggest moment of the round as he connected with a solid left hook followed by an elbow. He pushed Yusuff into the fence and kept up the pressure with a few leg kicks and a right cross.
With two minutes to go in the second round, Moraes was climbing up the scorecard with head kicks and elbows. Yusuff realized that he had to cut the distance and pushed Moraes onto the cage to end the round. Moraes took the second round.
Both men measured each other in the final round and had tasted success in the clinch. The turning point in the fight came when Yusuff rocked Moraes with a power right shot that sent the Brazilian crashing to the mat. Yusuff assumed mount position and went for the finish. Moraes escaped and briefly got hold of Yusuff's back. They went the distance with Moraes looking for a last-ditch knockout with an attempted head kick.
Result: Sodiq Yusuff def. Sheymon Moraes via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)
The scorecards would have looked wholly different had Yusuff not floored Moraes in the third round. Goes to show how much of a difference it makes to end the fight on a high.
#2. Paul Craig (10-3) vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (6-0) (Lightweight)
The Scottish Paul Craig was focussed on bouncing back from his last loss against Jim Crute from December 2018 as he took on the undefeated Nigerian-born Kennedy Nzechukwu.
Craig is known for his submissions and those were exactly what he was looking for right from the onset of the fight. He nearly got in a tightly-gripped armbar, however, Nzechukwu powered his arm out and gestured Craig to get back up to his feet.
Nzechukwu showed some resiliency there despite seemingly having his elbow dislocated. Craig kept trying to take Nzechukwu down, but the African Savage kept getting back up, looking to attack and finish off the fight in a flash.
The second round's story was pretty predictable too as Craig kept shooting in for the single legs but Nzechukwu defended ably well. Craig couldn't replicate his first round's exploits as he kept eating shots while he level-changed and went for the takedowns.
Nzechukwu had more control in the second and landed the better strikes and kicks. However, Nzechukwu was warned for an eye poke which would come back to haunt him in the third round.
Nzechukwu poked Craig in the eye in the final round and a point was deducted for all his troubles. The fight resumed and Craig was as relentless as you'd expect him to be with his singles.
Craig got into full guard and began setting up the Triangle choke. A failed first attempt didn't dither Craig from going at it again. This time, with around 40 seconds left on the clock, he locked in the Triangle choke, rolled and forced Nzechukwu to tap.
Result: Paul Craig def. Kennedy Nzechukwu via Submission (Triangle Choke) (4:20, Round 3)
This was the Brazilian Jui Jitsu Brown Belt's tenth career submission victory. What makes it even sweeter is that it came against an undefeated fighter, Nzechukwu, who was handed his professional MMA loss as a result.
#3. Karolina Kowalkiewicz (12-3) vs. Michelle Waterson (16-6) (Women's Strawweight)
Former Straweight title contender Karolina Kowalkiewicz took on the highly popular Michelle Waterson in what was billed to be a very significant fight in the 115 lbs division.
The Karate Hottie had won both of her last fights while Kowalkiewicz came out on the losing end in her previous outing against Jessica Andrade.
The fight kicked off and Waterson was the aggressor for a majority of the contest as she came in with a knee and a right to the body. Kowalkiewicz answered with kicks of her own but Waterson was moving fluidly to keep a check on the proceedings. The first round was all about finding the range and the action went up a notch in the second round.
Waterson began strong with kicks and within two minutes, took Kowalkiewicz down with an head-and-arm throw. Waterson took side control and almost fell victim to an inverted triangle choke from Kowalkiewicz. Karate Hottie survived. Waterson controlled the fight well on the ground and even locked in the armbar. Kowalkiewicz somehow managed to stay in the fight until the end of the round.
Kowalkiewicz pushed forward in the third and final round but couldn't translate the pressure into anything substantial. Waterson got another takedown but Kowalkiewicz didn't stay down for long. Waterson got in an elbow. Nothing much happened as the fight came to a close with Waterson clearly having the upper hand.
Result: Michelle Waterson def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
With her third straight win, Waterson could be finally on course for her first title shot. She could ideally face the winner of Rose Namajunas and Jessica Andrade, but that's for Dana White to decide. She deserves the title fight though.
#4. Josh Emmett (13-2) vs. Michael Johnson (19-13) (Featherweight)
Emmett's last fight ended in a KO loss to Jeremy Stephens in February 2018 while Johnson was on a two-fight win streak, with his last victory coming against the GOAT Artem Lobov in October 2018.
The first round was a tepid affair as nothing much happened. Both the fighters were cautious and checked each other's range. Lots of feints and fakes but not much substance.
And it continued in the second round as well. Johnson got the better of exchanges as he connected with a right, an inside leg kick, a few left shots, and a body kick. Emmett shot for the takedown late in the round but Johnson stuffed it and avoided going to the mat.
Someone had to pull the trigger in the third round and it ended up being Emmett. Both Emmett and Johnson were connecting with air despite all the movement and the fans in the Wells Fargo Center weren't too pleased.
That was until Emmett stunned Johnson with a monstrous right hook! Johnson was knocked out cold, and that's all it took! That looked brutal!
Result: Josh Emmett def. Michael Johnson via KO (Right hook) (4:14, Round 3)
It was a picture perfect finish to a painstakingly boring fight, which puts Emmett back in the winner's column.
Check this out, it doesn't get any better than this...
#5. David Branch (22-5) vs. Jack Hermansson (18-4) (Middleweight)
The co-main event of the night saw the #11 ranked David Branch take on the unranked Jack Hermansson. Branch was coming off a loss against Jared Cannonier in his last fight at UFC 230. Hermansson was on a two-fight win streak, with his last fight ending in a submission win against Gerald Meerschaert in December 2018.
This one didn't even make it out of the first minute. Hermansson came in and took Branch down with a seamless foot sweep.
He locked in the Guillotine and Branch was left with no option but to tap out. That's all folks! That's all!
Result: Jack Hermansson def. David Branch via submission (Guillotine Choke) (0:49, Round 1)
Branch didn't know what hit him as he before he knew it, he was trapped deep into a tight Guillotine Choke. This was Hermansson's second consecutive Guillotine choke finish and the win should grant him a spot in the Middleweight rankings. An emphatic win.
#6. Justin Gaethje (19-2) vs. Edson Barboza (20-6) (Lightweight)
This was a tough one to call considering the explosiveness of both the Lightweights. Gaethje had finished off James Vick in his last fight while Barboza did the honors himself against Dan Hooker.
The main event of the evening would have either been a five-round war or a blink-and-you-miss highlight reel affair. It ended up being the latter.
The fight kicked off in predictable fashion as both fighters brawled. Barboza looked hurt as a result of the exchange as Gaethje punched him in the eye. Gaethje kept coming in like a zombie despite getting tagged. The throwdown continued until Gaethje rocked, and I repeat, ROCKED Barboza with a massive right hook.
Down went Barboza as the referee stepped in to call it a day. That's all she wrote.
Result: Justin Gaethje def. Edson Barboza via KO (Right hook) (2:30, Round 1)
Justin freaking Gaethje!
