Exciting fights and thrilling finishes were the order of business on the UFC Belfast prelim card. Check out who won and lost below, and see some highlight reel finishes too!
Jack Marshman def. Magnus Cedenblad TKO (punches), Round 2 (3:32).
A big left hook from Marshman came out of nowhere to fell Cedenblad in the first round, but the Swede responded with a takedown. Cedenblad spent the rest of the round in Marshman’s guard, winging punches which cut up the Welsh fighter. Marshman came out aggressively in the second round and drew Cedenblad into a brawl. Marshman landed the harder shots and eventually caught Cedenblad with a three-punch-combo that took Cedenblad’s legs out from under him (highlight below). Marshman followed Cedenblad to the ground and landed more punches before the bout was stopped.
Kyoji Horiguchi def. Ali Bagautinov by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Though it was a close fight, Horiguchi outpaced Bagautinov for the vast majority of the contest. Bagautinov was able to catch Horiguchi early, as well as take him down. But from that point on Horiguchi avoided everything Baugatuniov threw at him, and was able to stun the Dagestani with a flurry of punches in the second. In the third a desperate Bagautinov launched multiple takedowns at the Japanese fighter. Horiguchi fended off each one and made the Bagautinov pay with pointed elbows to the side of the head. Horiguchi scored his own takedown in the dying seconds to punctuate a comfortable decision victory.
Kevin Lee def. Magomed Mustafaev by technical submission (rear-naked-choke), Round 2 (4:31).
A fiery fight began with Mustafaev landing a hard body kick on Lee. The rest of the opening frame was back and forth with Mustafaev striking well on the feet and Lee scoring numerous takedowns. The Dagestani got up quickly from most of them, but Lee ended the round on Mustafaev’s back threatening with a rear-naked choke. Mustafaev landed more hard shots in the second round, but Lee again took him down at will. Lee threatened a kimura early and late on he locked in a body triangle and an eventual RNC that put Mustafaev to sleep. Lee then had strong words for the rest of the lightweight division, and a certain two-weight champion (see below).
Amanda Cooper def. Anna Elmose by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).
Elmose and Cooper went back and forth on the feet for most the fight, with Cooper landing sharp combos and Elmose throwing hard legkicks. In the first round Elmose caught Cooper coming in with a clean overhand right that cut Cooper and sent her to the ground. The resulting ground-and-pound likely won the round for the Dane. In the second round pair traded takedowns, but when Cooper was on top she did more damage and locked up an armbar just as the buzzer sounded. It was anyone’s fight in the third round, but it was Cooper who took the initiative. She peppered Elmose with strikes and secured a huge takedown in the last minute. Cooper finished the fight in full-mount, solidifying victory in the process.
Justin Ledet def. Mark Godbeer by submission (rear-naked-choke), Round 1 (2:16).
After some back and forth on the feet, Ledet surprised Godbeer with a takedown against the fence. Godbeer made it to his feet, but failed badly in a takedown attempt of his own. In the scramble that ensured Ledet was able to avoid a leg-lock and worm onto the Brit’s back. From there Ledet locked in a palm-to-palm rear naked choke that forced Godbeer to tap out (highlight below).
Zak Cummings def. Alexander Yakovlev by submission (arm-bar), Round 2 (4:02).
Cummings claimed the centre of the Octagon early and chased Yakovlev in the opening round. However, the American was unable to land much meaningful offense against the elusive Yakovlev. Though he was on the back-foot Yakovlev did score a couple of clean punches and low kicks. In the second Cummings scored a knockdown with a thunderous legkick and then continued to chase Yakovlev. This time Cummings landed decent strikes which forced Yakovlev into a takedown attempt. Cummings’ sprawled and out muscled Yakovlev in the scramble leading to side-control and the eventual finish via armbar (highlight below).
Marion Reneau def. Milana Dudieva by TKO (elbows), Round 3 (3:03).
Reneau controlled the pace of the entire contest, landing punches and leg kicks early. Dudieva offered good resistence in the first half of the bout, executing two takedowns and landing a few hard shots of her own. In the latter half of the second round Reneau started to beat up Dudieva in the clinch, landing hard elbows, punches, and especially knees to the body. Dudieva slowly came out for the third round, perhaps still feeling those knees to the body. From the clinch Reneau was able to drag Dudieva down to the ground with ease. In full mount Reneau did what she liked before a couple of stiff elbows forced the ref to step in.
Brett Johns def. Kwan Ho Kwak by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Johns outpointed Kwak on the back of ten takedowns and relentless clinch control. In the first two rounds the Welshman also out struck Kwak on the feet, landing hard combinations (and one jumping knee). Kwak did strike back in the third, possibly hurting Johns, but a swift takedown from Johns put a stop to that. In the end, after an entertaining and fast-paced scrap, it was an easy decision for the judges.
Abdul Razak Alhassan def. Charlie Ward by KO (punch), Round 1 (0:53).
Super prospect Alhassan remained undefeated, clubbing the local favourite Ward with crushing right hands. The Ghanaian landed early and often, dropping Ward a few times in the opening minute. With Ward in survival-mode Alhassan landed a final overhand right. The punch sent Ward sprawling face-first to the canvas and forced Mark Goddard to wave off the fight (highlight below).