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UFC on ESPN 5 got a lot of flack for being an underwhelming card in the build-up to the event. However, the relatively 'unknown' fighters did put on an entertaining show.
Colby Covington and Robbie Lawler headlined the show in a fight that had major title implications. There were a host of noteworthy moments across the card that featured some wild fights and finishes.
Here are the results and highlights of the show:
UFC on ESPN 5 Results: Prelims
Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Darko Stosic via unanimous decision (29-26, 28-27, 28-27)
Mickey Gall def. Saleem Touahri via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Antonina Shevchenko def. Lucie Pudilova via by technical submission (Rear Naked choke) (Round 2, 1:20)
Matt Schnell def. Jordan Espinosa via submission (triangle choke) (Round 1: 1:23)
Lauren Murphy def. Mara Romero Borella via KO (knee and elbows) (Round 3, 1:46)
Claudio Silva def. Cole Williams via Submission (rear-naked choke) (Round 1, 2:35)
Miranda Granger def. Hannah Goldy via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
UFC on ESPN 5 Results: Main Card
#1 Scott Holtzman vs. Dong Hyung Ma (Lightweight)
Dong Hyung Ma won three of his last four fights and had good momentum going into this fight. However, he missed weight by over three pounds and that spoilt the fight week mood for the Judo Black Belt. Holtzman last fought in February and lost to Nik Lentz. It's interesting to note that the former XFC Lightweight Champion has never been finished in his career.
Round 1: Holtzman began in southpaw while Ma was in orthodox position. Holtzman tried to get his range going with a few kick attempts. Hyung Ma kept pushing forward while Holtzman looked to be the counter striker.
Two good rights from Holtzman. He followed it up with another big right-hand strike right down the middle that rocked Dong Hyung Ma. Holtzman tried to finish off the fight by dropping bombs on a laid-out Hyung Ma. However, Hyung Ma survived and Holtzman got on top of him.
Holtzman got in position for a Von Flue Choke but he couldn't get his arms under Hyung Ma's shoulder. Hyung Ma's left eye was swollen as a result of the big shot he took. He somehow managed to not concede the fight as Holtzman muscled his way to top position. Dong Hyung Ma attempted a guillotine. Both men got back up to their feet. Holtzman almost connected with another big right. Ma answered with a solid uppercut. The round ended with both men in the clinch.
10-9 Holtzman
Round 2: Leg kick from Holtzman. Good counter right from Hyung Ma. Holtzman was getting in the better combinations as he followed up high shots by going low to the body.
Hyung Ma, though, showed great durability. He ate shots and kept pressing forward like a zombie. He swept Holtzman to score a takedown. Holtzman got back to his feet within seconds and Hyung Ma wrapped his arms around the back. Some dirty boxing from Holtzman in the clinch.
Holtzman connected with a beautiful combination. Straight right, jab, uppercut. Hyung Ma absorbed them all and knocked Holtzman down with a powerful right shot. These two were going at it. A proper slugfest with both men letting their hands loose.
Holtzman landed a takedown after the insane throwdown with 30 seconds to go on the clock which was a smart choice as he was in danger of being knocked out. Hyung Ma took some heavy shots on his back as the round came to a close. Incredible fight this far.
The fight was stopped between the rounds as Dong Hyung Ma's left eye was completely shut. The doctors made a wise call here as Ma had no clue what was coming from the left side.
Result: Scott Holtzman def. Dong Hyung Ma via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) (Round 2, 5:00)
#2 Gerald Meerschaert vs. Trevin Giles (Middleweight)
UFC's Gerald Meerschaert is a well-known ground-game specialist with an outrageous record of 20 submission wins. However, he's had a problem of keeping up the pace across the fight. Trevin Giles wouldn't want to let this MMA fight get to the mat and would look to add to his 10 career finishes.
Round 1: Meerschaert began with a kick to the body. He went up high but Giles moved out of the way. Giles landed a good shot that popped the fans. Meerschaert ate a knee and let Giles take him down to the ground. This is where Meerschaert wanted the fight to be,
Meerschaert also effortlessly swept Giles and locked in the Arm Triangle Choke. Giles shifted his body weight at the right time and released the pressure. Meerschaert was on top now and he wore Giles down with strikes to the face. Meerschaert showed patience as worked on Giles from the top.
Giles postured up and swept Meerschaert to get into top position. He got Meerschaert's back and targeted his head with punches. Side control from Giles. Meerschaert tried to get into a single leg. Giles attempted an anaconda submission. Giles ended the round with a few punches from the top.
Round 2: Meerschaert shot for the takedown from the get-go. Giles defended it well but Meerschaert didn't retreat. It was a stalemate as both men tried to outmuscle each other. Giles avoided getting into a tricky position and settled for side control.
He mounted Meerschaert, who flipped over to give his back. Meerschaert flipped it around again and got into Giles' closed guard. Meerschaert's corner called for an elbow over the top and he obliged. He looked to throw punches in a grappling exchange and was fairly successful in his attempts.
Meerschaert landed two solid punches using his left hand in closed guard. Meerschaert should have passed guard and done something different but he settled for what he had and saw out the round.
Round 3: Meerschaert shot for the takedown but Giles stuffed it. Meerschaert stayed down and invited Giles into his guard. Giles hesitated and Meerschaert got up and took him down.
He locked in the Guillotine but Giles tried to resist. Giles shot for the single leg but it only helped Meerschaert get a firmer grip. It was a scary stoppage as Herb Dean didn't see Giles tapping. Thankfully, Meerschaert released the choke before it got too late.
Result: Gerald Meerschaert def. Trevin Giles via Submission (Guillotine) (Round 3, 1:49)
#3 Joaquim Silva vs. Nasrat Haqparast (Lightweight)
Former Ultimate Fighter competitor Joaquim Silva had tasted victory in four of his last five fights. Kelvin Gastelum doppelganger Nasrat Haqparast was riding high on two back-to-back wins, with his last outing earning him a performance of the night bonus.
Round 1: Silva came in hot with a high kick. He tried to keep Haqparast at bay with front kicks and jabs. Both men circled and scouted each other's movements. Silva was the more active of the two as he tried to string together a few combinations.
Nice high kick from Haqparast. He followed it up with a swift counter left hook. Both men exchanged kicks to the body. A shuffle and a leg kick from Silva. Solid left hand over the top from Haqparast. Nasrat waited for his chance and made it count with a strong punch.
Silva and Haqparast showed off great fundamental striking with perfect balance and movement. A right hand followed by a leg kick from Silva. Haqparast went for another head kick as the round came to a close.
Round 2: It was a game of chess as both fighters displayed high levels of striking. There were many fakes and feints until Haqparast unleashed a perfectly-timed left-hand bomb straight to the jaw of Silva. Lights out. Haqparast jumped in and applied the finishing touches before the referee stepped in. A big win for the Tristar student with Firas Zahabi and Georges St.-Pierre in his corner. That would have felt special.
Result: Nasrat Haqparast def. Joaquim Silva via KO (Round 2, 0:36)
#4 Jim Miller vs. Clay Guida (Lightweight)
The battle of the veterans. A fight ten years in the making. Co-main event. Guaranteed fireworks!
Round 1: Solid inside leg kick from Miller. Miller connected with a left hand but he got stunned by a massive counter right hand from Guida. Miller returned the favor and answered with a big left hook that wobbled Guida. Miller grabbed onto Guida's head and put him in a Guillotine choke.
There was no way out of that for the UFC Hall of Famer. The referee had to stop Miller after Guida passed out in the choke. Classic Guida right there.
Result: Jim Miller vs. Clay Guida via technical submission (Guillotine) (Round 1, 0:56)
That was Miller's 20th win in the UFC and the Lightweight veteran said that he's the healthiest he has been in years and intends on continuing his rich vein of form.
#5 Colby Covington vs. Robbie Lawler (Welterweight)
We don't need to tell you much here. Main event time! Covington coming out to Kurt Angle's theme song just made the whole setup even better.
Round 1: It was a wild start as Covington tried to get hold of Lawler but the Ruthless One swung his hands to fend him off. Loud 'Robbie' chants in the arena.
Covington shot for the takedown but Lawler stuffed it with ease. Covington got hold of Lawler's left leg and scored a takedown. However, Lawler got back up to his feet. Covington got his back. Lawler checked him with an elbow. Covington didn't let go of Lawler's back and got in the underhooks for a Rear Naked Choke. Lawler adjusted his head and avoided getting choked out.
Covington was forcing Lawler to wear himself out, which would have made him vulnerable to an opening. Lawler took his chance and sprung back to his feet.
It was electric as the chants for Lawler were loud. LOUD! Covington taunted Lawler before taking him down before the end of the round.
10-8 Covington
Round 2: Leg kicks from Covington. Another successful takedown attempt from Covington. Covington had Lawler up towards the cage. Convington kept Lawler guessing as he never stayed still. From the upper-body clinch to the knees, Colby kept up the pressure.
And another takedown. Convington was dictating the fight according to his style. He connected with a few left-hand shots and an uppercut before taking Lawler down again. Back up again and Covington kept the jabs coming in. He mixed it up with uppercuts and right-hand hooks.
Jab, jab, body kick - Convington was putting on a clinic and dominated the stand-up affair until the end of the round.
10-8 Covington
Round 3: Covington continued to fire in the quick shots and he wasted no time in landing the 9th takedown of the fight. Lawler started pushing forward and began connecting with jabs. Covington too exchanged shots.
He shot for another takedown. Lawler stuffed it. Covington's pace was relentless as he just couldn't stay idle, constantly using his hands to strike from different angles. He threw in the occasional leg kicks as well.
Lawler connected with a big shot that made Covington stand up and take notice. Covington continued to throw volume. One minute to go, Convington had Lawler pushed back up against the cage while putting on a clinical display of dirty boxing.
10-8 Covington
Round 4: Covington didn't take his foot off the pedal. The jabs kept hitting the mark. Covington had 300 total strikes with 15 takedown attempts at this stage in the fight. Colossal.
Covington showed no signs of slowing down. Punches, knees, leg kicks and the surprise takedown attempt - Covington was walking the talk in all the right ways.
It was four minutes of Lawler not being able to keep up with Covington. The final minute saw Covington clinch with Lawler up against the cage. Lawler tried to get in a few punches but seemed puzzled by the all-out intensity of Covington.
10-9 Covington
Round 5: Lawler had absorbed 150 strikes to the head heading into the fifth round. Lawler needed one big shot but Covington made it tough as he always had his left hand up in defence.
Lawler upped the ante with a few combinations to the body but it was a little too late. Lawler wasn't in the mood to give up just yet as he connected with two big right-hand strikes that momentarily pushed Covington back.
Covington kept his distance in the final minute. He went for an outrageous spinning kick to end the fight.
10-9 Covington
Result: Colby Covington def. Robbie Lawler via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-45, 50-45)
500+ strikes, 20 takedown attempts, jabs, punches, elbows, knees and leg kicks. Most importantly, all of them done at a breakneck pace. Colby Covington put on an all-round performance against one of the greatest Welterweights of all time. A resounding statement as he is set to face Kumaru Usman next for the Welterweight strap. Convington can maybe tone down his comments as his post-fight jab at Lawler was uncalled for.
