The UFC’s first ever show in Saskatoon has proven to be a hit with the fans, who have been treated to some good action on both the preliminary and the main card. It started with a women’s strawweight thriller and continued on with Patrick Cote and Josh Burkman engaging in a FOTN. Here are the results of the first four main card fights on Fox Sports 1:
Valerie Letourneau (8-3) def. Maryna Moroz (6-1) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) – Women’s Strawweights
Both women were content to exchange strikes in the early going. A big right hand dropped Moroz but didn’t put her out. Letourneau pounced to side control and tried to go for a crucifix position, but Moroz tried to set up an armbar and at least had her legs around Letourneau’s face. Still, Letourneau took the round with the big right on the counter-attack. The 2nd round was another close one but with no knockdown. Moroz appeared to hurt Letourneau with her hands, but the Canadian impressed with her timing and heavy right hands over the top. Moroz chose to pull guard in the 3rd round, an ill-advised decision as Letourneau rode out the bulk of the round in top position while Maryna only had a minor triangle threat.
Olivier Aubin-Mercier (7-1) def. Tony Sims (12-3) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) – Lightweights
Aubin-Mercier stuck to Sims just about like glue throughout the fight. In the opening round he took Sims down and instantly got back control. The Canadian prospect then went for another rear-naked choke win but Sims had effective defense and hand-fighting to prevent the arm from going underneath the chin. OAM continued to smother Sims in round 2 but not threaten with anything close to a finish. Sims stuffed a 3rd round takedown and landed several big shots to OAM’s head. OAM was never in serious jeopardy of losing the fight, and after fending off Sims’ guillotine choke try, he rode out the round on top position to pick up another win. OAM landed 3 significant strikes, and that’s not a misprint. Sims didn’t land a significant strike until round 3.
Francisco Trinaldo (18-4) def. Chad Laprise (10-1) via TKO (punches) at 2:43 of round 1 – Lightweights
Laprise suffered an upset loss at the hands of the soon-to-be 37-year-old Francisco Trinaldo. The southpaw dropped Laprise with a short left hand and had him hurt severely. Laprise actually pulled guard and it was a fatal mistake. Trinaldo had flattened Laprise out and battered him with several punches until Herb Dean stepped in to stop it. Chad Laprise suffers his first lost of his career, while Trinaldo has won 4 straight.
Patrick Cote (22-9) def. Josh Burkman (27-12, 1 NC) via TKO (punches) at 1:26 of round 3 – Welterweights
The two veterans of the sport let the heavy leather fly early and often, although Cote was more willing to go for takedowns. Burkman hurt Cote with lovely combination punching, which forced Cote to shoot for a takedown. A massive right hand wobbled Burkman but Cote never upped the aggression to go for the finish. Cote had the advantage in round 2, only stymied by a great takedown by Burkman, who came out guns blazing in round 3. He hurt the Canadian and kept pouring on the shots but didn’t get Cote to go down. The back-and-forth continued until a massive right hand dropped Burkman and several ground strikes gave Cote his first UFC stoppage win since 2008. Burkman suffers his 1st ever strikes stoppage defeat.
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