UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs Gastelum Prelims

Tony Gravely looks like he’s going to be a problem for his 135-pound peers, as he scored his second consecutive UFC win, halting Anthony Birchak in the second round of the opener.

Gravely knocked Birchak off balance with a right hand in the opening minute of the fight, and while Birchak’s subsequent takedown attempt came up short, Gravely’s hit the mark. A minute later, another right hand by Gravely produced a knockdown, but the Arizonan recovered quickly and took control on the mat, nearly finishing the fight with a guillotine choke. Moments later, the momentum swung again, Gravely delivering a series of thudding blows on the mat that almost brought in referee Mark Smith to end matters. Birchak survived, but Gravely remained in control until the end of the round.

In the second round, Gravely found his mark once again, this time with a left hook, and after another knockdown, Smith had seen enough, halting the fight at 1:31 of round two.

With the win, Gravely moves to 21-6. Birchak falls to 16-8.

Official result – Tony Gravely def. Anthony Birchak via TKO (strikes) at 1:31 of round two

Austin Hubbard vs Dakota Bush

Austin Hubbard used his grappling attack to spoil the UFC debut of short-notice replacement Dakota Bush, winning a three-round unanimous decision in lightweight action.

Scores were 29-28 across the board for Hubbard, now 13-5. Bush falls to 8-3.

Bush looked comfortable in his first trip to the Octagon as he attempted to establish his striking immediately. After a slow start, Hubbard got down to business with his own strikes, and he punctuated his offense with a takedown in the closing seconds of the round.

As Bush tired after a fast-paced first round, Hubbard took advantage with a takedown and, he kept his foe grounded for the rest of the frame. There was more of the same from “Thud” in the final round, and while Bush was game throughout as he looked to turn the fight around, it was Hubbard’s night.

Official result – Austin Hubbard def. Dakota Bush via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

In a middleweight clash, veteran Gerald Meerschaert returned to the win column in impressive fashion, as he submitted Poland’s Bartosz Fabinski in the first round.

After an early exchange of strikes, the two began grappling against the fence, and not surprisingly, Meerschaert, the Wisconsin submission king, found an opening for a guillotine choke and the fight went to the mat, where the fight was finished 2:00 into the bout.

With the win, Meerschaert moves to 32-14. Fabinski falls to 15-5.

Official result – Gerald Meerschaert def. Bartosz Fabinski via submission (guillotine choke) at 2:00 of the first round

In her first fight since April 2017, former strawweight title challenger Jessica Penne scored a three-round split decision win over UFC newcomer Loopy Godinez.

Scores were 29-28 twice and 28-29 for Penne, now 13-6. Godinez falls to 5-1.

Godinez got off to a good start in her Octagon debut, landing some hard strikes while throwing Penne to the mat multiple times. Penne did get some daylight with under two minutes left, though, as she took Godinez’ back and looked for a choke as they grappled against the fence.

Penne found the opportunity to lock up Godindez from the back again, but with the Mexico native not giving her the opening for a submission, it was a grueling sequence for the Californian. Once separated, Godinez continued to hold the edge striking while also showing off her strength with another throw to the mat. Penne’s control while grappling was keeping the fight close, though.

The third was a tough one to call, with Penne largely in charge during the grappling sequences, while at range, it was Godinez showing off an impressive attack, but when the judges’ scores were tallied, it was Penne emerging with the victory.

Official result –Jessica Penne def. Loopy Godinez via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

Heavyweight prospect Alexandr Romanov kept his perfect record intact with a three-round technical split decision over Juan Espino in a bout shortened by an accidental foul.

Scores were 29-28 twice and 28-29 for Romanov, now 14-0. Espino falls 11-2.

A minute into the fight, Romanov landed a thudding takedown, and though Espino didn’t stay grounded long, Romanov remained in control until an equally impactful slam by Espino evened the score, setting the tone for the back and forth frame.

Romanov got the fight to the mat early in round two, and this time he unleashed a series of hard ground strikes. Espino shook off the blows and got upright, but the two remained locked up against the fence.

Espino started the third strong, landing with a right hand before scoring a quick takedown, Romanov rose to his feet, but Espino kept the upper hand in the clinch until a low knee landed on Romanov and brought a halt to the action. After a visit from the Octagonside physician, Romanov was ruled unable to continue, sending the bout to the scorecards. The official time was 1:05 of round three.

Official result – Alexandr Romanov def. Juan Espino via technical split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

MORE UFC FIGHT NIGHT: Whittaker vs Gastelum: Official Scorecards | In-Depth: Whittaker vs Gastelum | Fight By Fight Preview | Bonus Résumé: Kelvin Gastelum | Top Finishes: Robert Whittaker 

In a competitive three rounder at 155 pounds, Luis Pena outlasted Alexander Munoz via split decision.

Scores were 29-28 twice and 28-29 for Pena, now 9-3. Munoz falls to 6-2.

Munoz opened up his scoring with a takedown a minute in, and while Pena got to his feet quickly, Munoz stayed locked on as he pressed his foe against the fence. Just before the midway point of the frame, Pena got loose and worked his strikes from a distance, but Munoz ultimately landed the hardest shots of the round.

The fast-paced action continued into round two, with Munoz landing more solid punches and leg kicks while tossing in another takedown. Pena ultimately settled in and scored well with his punches, keeping the back-and-forth flow going.

With the fight possibly up for grabs, both Pena and Munoz got after it in the third stanza, but Pena let his hands go and kept his work rate high, and that proved to be the difference in the bout.

Official result – Luis Pena def. Alexander Munoz via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

Flyweight prospect Tracy Cortez kept her unbeaten UFC slate intact with a three-round split decision victory over Justine Kish.
 
Scores were 30-27, 29-28 and 28-29 for Cortez, now 9-1. Kish falls to 7-4.
 
The first round was fought mainly on the mat, Kish having her moments before Cortez took control. Kish bounced back in the second round by keeping the fight standing, even though Cortez got in her shots, and in the third, both fighters had their moments as the round showed off a little bit of everything, yet despite Kish scoring a flash knockdown, two of the three judges scored the back and forth battle for Cortez.
 
Official result – Tracy Cortez def. Justin Kish via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)

Jacob Malkoun's grappling was on point for all three rounds in his middleweight bout against Abdul Razak Alhassan, allowing the Australian to leave the Octagon with a clear-cut unanimous decision win.

All three judges saw it 30-27 for Malkoun, now 5-1. Alhassan falls to 10-4.

Malkoun wasted no time taking Alhassan down, and the Ghana native got up just as fast, landing a hard elbow on his way to his feet. Malkoun kept looking for the takedown, and midway through the round he got it. And while Alhassan kept getting up, he kept getting returned to the mat. 

Malkoun put the fight on the canvas once again in the second, and he proceeded to attempt a number of submissions before Alhassan got to his feet with 90 seconds left. The knockout artist fired off bombs in an effort to turn things around, but Malkoun stayed out of trouble, sending the fight to a third round.

Nothing changed for Alhassan in the third round, as Malkoun continued to dominate en route to his first UFC victory.

Official result – Jacob Malkoun def. Abdul Razak Alhassan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

The heavyweight division’s ageless wonder, 42-year-old Andrei Arlovski, won another one in the UFC Fight Night co-main event, as he defeated Chase Sherman via unanimous decision.

Scores were 29-28 across the board for Arlovski, now 31-20, 2 NC. Sherman falls to 15-7.

The first round was a close one, with each fighter having his moments until Sherman rattled Arlovski with a right hand with a minute left. The Pit Bull weathered the storm, but it was enough to win Sherman the round.

Arlovski likely evened the score in a close second stanza thanks to a busy attack that included kicks that had Sherman unable to plant his leg by the end of the frame, and in the third, there were more close exchanges, with Arlovski slowly but surely pulling ahead and staying there.

Official result – Andrei Arlovski def. Chase Sherman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker was in prime form in his UFC Fight Night main event, as he held off a spirited effort from Kelvin Gastelum to win a shutout five-round unanimous decision.

All three judges saw it 50-45 for the No.1-ranked Whittaker, now 24-5. The No.8-ranked Gastelum, who replaced Paulo Costa, fell to 17-7, 1 NC.

Gastelum was the aggressor as the fight began, but Whittaker countered his foe’s rushes effectively, and when the former champ led, he landed a right head kick in the second minute that wobbled the Arizonan. Later in the round, Whittaker surprised Gastelum with a takedown and kept the fight grounded until the closing moments of the frame.

Whittaker got another takedown in round two, and when he wasn’t on the mat, he was looking as sharp as he ever has on the feet. Gastelum took all the shots in stride and kept moving forward, but he was showing the wear on his face as Whittaker extended his lead. 

Gastelum began to get closer with his shots in the third, briefly rattling Whittaker early in the frame, but the Aussie refused to slow down as he continued to tag the steel-chinned Gastelum, and this pattern continued throughout the fourth round.

Knowing that he was likely behind on the scorecards, Gastelum continued to take the fight to Whittaker in the fifth round, but a takedown by “The Reaper” with two minutes left sealed the deal, and while this version of Gastelum would give any middleweight fits, this version of Whittaker looked to have what it takes to regain the world title.

Official result – Robert Whittaker def. Kelvin Gastelum via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)