UFC Adelaide results and highlights: Shogun TKO’s Pedro, Willis decisions Hunt

The UFC Adelaide co-main event just witnessed the promotion’s #13 ranked light heavyweight Shogun Rua war it out with the #14 ranked Tyson Pedro. After a crazy first round, Shogun settled in, and ultimately came up with a third round TKO after the leg of Pedro gave out on him.

Before that, the UFC’s #15 ranked heavyweight Justin Willis used his and superior footwork to secure the biggest win of his career. The now 8-1 fighter just picked up a unanimous decision over the #10 ranked Mark Hunt. Continuing to prove that he’s a problem at welterweight, Tony Martin choked Jake Matthews completely unconscious in the third round. This makes three-straight for Martin at 170 pounds, with the last two being sensational finishes.

Also on the main card, Sodiq Yusuff made good on his official UFC debut by achieving a standing TKO in the first round against Suman Mokhtarian. Some people might say it was a premature stoppage, others will not. Kicking off the main card, Jim Crute made the most of his UFC debut by sniffing out a third round Kimora submission over Paul Craig. The 22 year old Crute is now 9-0 in his young career.

Check out the complete results below.

Main card:

Shogun Rua def. Tyson Pedro by TKO at :43 of round 3: Light Heavyweight

Shogun stalked forward to open the bout, slipping his way into punching range. A crisp jab-cross from Pedro got the attention of Shogun, but Pedro backed off to avoid the counters. Shogun returned fire, and opened up a small cut over the eye of Pedro. Then, Pedro blasted Shogun with a flurry that sent him stumbling to the fence. Somehow, Shogun regrouped and started swinging back, and even got a takedown in the closing moments. What a round!

Shogun closed the distance in round two and got the fight to the ground. After a botched Kimora sweep, Shogun took side control and locked down the position. With about a minute left in the round, Pedro scrambled up to his feet, but got taken right back down. Shogun racked up all sorts of top control. Pedro collapsed to the canvas early in the third round, and it wasn’t from a strike. Shogun pounced on his downed foe, landing a series of ground strikes until the referee stepped in to stop the fight.

Justin Willis def. Mark Hunt by unanimous decision (29-28 x3): Heavyweight

Hunt landed a few leg kicks to open the fight, but opened up a cut on his own shin that was leaking. The cut did not deter the veteran from throwing more kicks as he continued to chop away at Willis. The round carried a slow tempo with Hunt being the aggressor. The second saw Hunt slowly stalking forward as Willis played his back foot. Willis landed a few jabs here and there, as Hunt was being the aggressor. It was quite the slow and sticky round. The jab of Willis began landing with more regularity in the final frame. Hunt continued to move forward, but was struggling to connect clean with anything. Willis had wild success moving back, using his footwork to stay just out of punching range of Hunt.

Tony Martin def. Jake Matthews by technical submission (Anaconda) at 1:19 of round 3: Welterweight

Martin took the center to kick off the bout, looking to measure his opponent with strikes. Matthews sat back, waiting on the counter and allowing Martin to dictate the tempo. Then, a brawl broke out! Both men traded in the pocket until Matthews dropped Martin and jumped a guillotine. Martin escaped, but got swept to finish the round on bottom.

Martin pressed forward in the second round as he did in the first round, backing up Matthews and pushing the action. The kicks of Martin tenderized the calf of Matthews, causing several welts. The bulk of the round was dictated by Martin, with Matthews eyeing the counter. Martin went right back to the calf kick to start the final frame, before backing up Matthews to the cage. Off of a poor takedown attempt, Martin locked up an Anaconda choke that choked Matthews unconscious. Whoa!

Sodiq Yusuff def. Suman Mokhtarian by TKO at 2:14 of round 1: Featherweight

Yusuff came out aggressive, winging overhands and uppercuts from the clinch. Yusuff continued to unleash his hands, sending Mokhtarian stumbling backwards to the fence. Yusuff did not let up, continuing to swing away, prompting the referee to step in and stop the fight, awarding Yusuff the standing TKO. An argument could be made that the bout was stopped a bit early.

Jim Crute def. Paul Craig by submission (Kimora) at 4:51 of round 3: Light Heavyweight

Craig opened the bout with a spinning hook kick, followed by a successful double leg takedown. Crute kept working to improve his position until he finally scored a sweep. Crute took full mount and cinched up an arm triangle, but Craig hung tough and escaped. Craig closed out the round on his back.

Craig tagged his foe a few times on the feet before blasting a takedown. Nothing significant was landed before Crute scrambled back to his feet. Back and forth they went, exchanging top position before Craig locked down control from inside the full guard. Well, at least for a bit before Crute reversed the position again to finish the round on top.

Craig tried to get another takedown to start the fight but ended up conceding the bottom position. Crute attacked a Kimora which led to him obtaining full mount. Crute worked hard for an arm triangle, but bailed on the hold in exchange for full mount. Crute was all over his foe, and went back to the Kimora and got the finish down the stretch!