The FS1 prelims for UFC Fight Night 88 featured four fights with mixed results. While the first two fights showed back and forth action and ended with the finish, the last two dragged on with very little excitement. Here are the results:
Jessica Eye def Sara McMann by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
The fight started with very little action as both fighters were hesitant to engage. The first significant moment took place a minute in when McMann shot for a takedown, resulting in a clinch against the cage. McMann landed several knees to the stomach of Eye while in the clinch. When both fighters separated, neither was willing to engage in striking exchanges, ending the round with little to no offence from either fighter.
The round started with ref John McCarthy telling both fighters that they needed to do more. Neither fighter followed the advice of McCarthy as neither was willing to exchange for the first half of the round. Finally McMann engaged by shooting for a takedown, dragging Eye to the ground. McMann spent the rest of the round on top of McMann.
More of the same occurred in the third round with McMann taking Eye down and controlling her. Midway through the round McMann was able to land some hard strikes while on Eye’s back. A very lackluster fight from Eye with no offence and all control by McMann.
Abel Trujillo def. Jordan Rinaldi by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Trujillo took the fight to the ground to open up the first round off of a nice leg trip. After spending a couple of minutes on top, Rinaldi was able to elevate Trujillo and force the stand up. While not throwing a whole lot of punches, Trujillo was able to land some strong strikes on Rinaldi It seemed as though the strategy for Trujillo was to counter Rinaldi’s punches instead of starting exchanges.
Trujillo repeated what he did in the first round by immediately scoring the takedown. Rinaldi countered the early takedown with a tight armbar that Trujillo was able to wrestle out of. When the fight got back to the feet, Rinaldi countered Trujillo’s wild strikes with a takedown. Rinaldi took Trujillo’s back and worked on a rear naked choke while maintaining his hooks. Rinaldi flattened Trujillo out and landed strikes until the round ended.
The third round started with both fighters battling for the takedown while throwing wild strikes between attempts. Rinaldi won that battle, eventually dragging Trujillo to the ground. Rinaldi tried to take the back of Trujillo but was unsuccessful as the fight moved back to the feet. This is when Trujillo started teeing off on a tired looking Rinaldi. Trujillo then completed a smooth double leg takedown, keeping Rinaldi on his back for most of the rest of the round.
Jake Collier def. Alberto Uda by TKO (spinning back kick) at 1:06 of Round 2
Uda started the fight by spamming the Thai collar clinch. This paid off as he was able to land a huge knee to the nose of Collier, sending him spinning towards the cage. It appeared that Collier’s nose was broken, but he was able to recover and land a spinning back fist. Collier grabbed a hold of Uda and spun him to the ground , ending up in Uda’s guard. Uda eventually reversed the position, ending the round on top of Collier.
Collier came out in the second round with a ton of force, hitting Uda early with a spinning back kick to the gut. This stunned Uda, and Collier was able to land a knee from the clinch and another spinning back kick to the body. This sent Uda to the mat, where the referee stepped in and stopped the fight.
Erik Koch def Shane Campbell by submission (rear naked choke) at 3:02 of Round 2
At the start of the fight, Koch caught Campbell early with a counter. Campbell threw kicks from the outside but was getting hit by counters from Koch. Campbell sneaks in a knee to the body in open space. Koch was having success on the feet against a dangerous striker, but took the fight to the ground later in the round. He finished the round on Campbell’s back.
Koch got hit with a hard elbow to start the second, but immediately shot for a takedown after seemingly being rocked. Koch worked for an arm triangle for a long time while on top. Campbell almost escaped, but Koch countered Campbell and took his back. Erik Koch eventually snuck the arm under the chin and tapped out Campbell.