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UFC Fight Night is is back once again from the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas. The headliner is a bout at light middleweight between two top-10 competitors in Anthony Smith and Aleksandar Rakic.
The co-main event is two ranked welterweights in #13 Robbie Lawler and #14 Neil Magny. Also on the main card is #14 in the flyweight division Ji Yeon Kim against #14 in the strawweight division Alexa Grasso.
The main card fight between Ion Cutelaba and Magomed Ankalaev has been cancelled earlier this afternoon due to a positive Covid-19 test. This was a rematch of a controversial finish in February
We’ll be tracking all the results tonight. Below you’ll find the winner, how they secured a victory, and adding gifs and video of exciting moments or stoppages where we can. Follow along throughout the evening:
#5 Anthony Smith vs. #9 Aleksandar Rakic: Light Heavyweight
Winner: Alexsandar Rakic
Winning Method: Alexsandar Rakic wins by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27).
It was never close, and Rakic dominated from pillar to post. He led 40-7 on significant strikes, and in a three-round main event he had ground control for 12:14. Look for the rankings for the fighters to flip, as the bettors had anticipated the would with the -278 favorite winning.
#13 Robbie Lawler vs. #14 Neil Magny: Welterweight
Winner: Neil Magny
Winning Method: Neil Magny wins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
The Haitian Sensation now has 17 wins, two behind Georges St. Pierre at welterweight. He led 63-15 on significant strikes, and executed the bout’s only four takedowns. It was never in doubt, and might see Magny crack the Top 10.
#14 Ji Yeon-Kim vs. #14 (straw) Alexa Grasso: Women’s flyweight
Winner: Alexa Grasso
Winning Method: Alexa Grasson wins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
The new weight class fits Grasso well, who looked fine at 125 lbs. and gets the win. Ahead on significant strikes 81-45, and on takedowns 1-0. The Mexican moves to 12-3, and 4-3 in the UFC.
Ricardo Lamas vs. Bill Algeo: Featherweight
Winner: Ricardo Lamas
Winning Method: Ricardo Lamas wins by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27).
A terrific performance for the +240 underdog and replacement fighter Algeo, but Lamas just did too much in the third round, which was clearly the 10-8 one on the cards. On significant strikes it was 83-72 Lamas, and on takedowns it was 5-1 in his favor as well.
It’ll take a big battle in the last three fights to beat that for Fight of The Night honors. It’s the 11th career featherweight win for Lamas.
Maki Pitolo vs. Impa Kasanganay: Middleweight
Winner: Impa Kasanganay
Winning Method: Impa Kasanganay wins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
The quick turnaround from Dana White’s Contender Series didn’t affect Kasanganay, who led in significant strikes 62-42, and just seemed a hair-trigger quicker than his opponent. The right result for sure, and a bright future for Kasanganay it appears.
Alessio Di Chirico vs. Zak Cummings: Middleweight
Winner: Zak Cummings
Winning Method: Zak Cummings wins by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27).
Cummings was just seconds away from making it five straight finishes. A kind of slow fight finished in a hurry.
AT THE HORN @ZakCummings STUNS Di Chirico to close the fight.
— UFC (@ufc) August 30, 2020
We're live on @ESPN & #ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/2MJVaWxDkh
Alex Caceres vs. Austin Springer: Featherweight
Winner: Alex Caceres
Winning Method: Alex Caceres wins by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:38 of the first round.
Austin Springer took one shot. It was a bad idea, as that was all it took for “Bruce Leeroy” to win his third straight, all in 2020. The -225 favorite gets home early.
Alex Caceres’ first round RNC
— Blue Corner Fighting (@blue_fighting) August 29, 2020
pic.twitter.com/sDmxeBqBwE
Sean Brady vs. Christian Aguilera: Welterweight
Winner: Sean Brady
Winning Method: Sean Brady wins by submission (guillotine choke) at 1:47 of the second round.
Brady remains undefeated thanks to a one-arm guillotine, and moves to 13-0 as a -400 favorite. This guy looks like he’s going to be a problem at 170 lbs.
Undefeated @seanbradymma just put him to sleep #UFCVegas8 pic.twitter.com/kYo0YwMKGo
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 29, 2020
Polyana Viana vs. Emily Whitmire: Women’s Strawweight
Winner: Polyana Viana
Winning Method: Polyana Viana wins by submission (armbar) at 1:53 of the first round.
Just some flawless execution by Viana, and that was a needed win for the fighter that had lost three in a row. The +110 underdog comes through, and “The Iron Lady” will need to keep it going to move into the rankings.
WASTING NO TIME!!!@Polyana_VianaDF comes out with the first round sub WOW!! #UFCVegas8 pic.twitter.com/EvxmMhEhv1
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) August 29, 2020
Mallory Martin vs. Hannah Cifers: Women’s Strawweight
Winner: Mallory Martin
Winning Method: Mallory Martin wins by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:33 of the second round.
Considering Martin was almost out cold in the first round and barely hung on to get back to her corner, her bounce-back was very impressive and keeps her undefeated in the octagon. She was in real trouble and referee Chris Tognoni almost called it, but the second round hse dominated and won. We’ve also likely seen the last of Hannah Cifers in the UFC for now.
SHOCKWAVE @HannahCifersMMA trying to end it early.
— UFC (@ufc) August 29, 2020
Watch now on @ESPN & #ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/NZllYJC9cV
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