Stay up to date with what’s happening this evening at UFC Vegas 64, which is going down from the oh-so-familiar APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The top of the billing will see a clash of top-10 strawweights when the #3 ranked, Marina Rodriguez, meets the #7 ranked, Amanda Lemos. Top-15 welterweights will grace the co-main event slot with the #13 rated, Neil Magny, throws down with the #14 rated, Daniel Rodriguez.
The main card is slated for 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT, and the preliminary bouts begin at 4:00pm ET/1:00pm PT — all of which can be streamed on ESPN+.
Main card:
Amanda Lemos def. Marina Rodriguez by TKO at :54 of round 3: Strawweight
There was a huge feeling out process to kick this one off. Lemos took the center of the Octagon, while Rodriguez hung out on the outside. Both fighters appeared cautious, respecting one another and not opening up with many strikes as they made their reads. AT the end of the round, Lemos attempted a takedown, but it was Rodriguez who came up with top position.
The second round is where Lemos started to connect with her counters. Lemos then caught Rodriguez out of position and scored a takedown with brief back control. Lemos racked up some control time as she kept Rodriguez planted on her back until the end of the round.
The third frame saw Lemos connect with a sinister overhand right to left hook that stunned Rodriguez. As Marina backpedalled, Lemos went after her with a frenzied flurry of haymakers. The punches kept landing and the referee had no choice but to step in and award the standing TKO to Lemos. WOWSERS!
Neil Magny def. Daniel Rodriguez by submission (D’arce) at 3:33 of round 3: Welterweight
Punches were flying right away in this one. The fighters were taking turns flurrying on one another and pushing the other man backwards. The big difference here was Magny’s willingness to clinch up. That’s where he was able to score a couple takedowns. Rodriguez did make his way back to his feet, and connected with a clean flurry just before the bell.
Rodriguez pressed forward in the second round, and was finding a home for his massive left hand. He was also popping his jab in the face of Magny, which kept Neil on the back foot. The bulk of the offense that was delivered in this round came from Daniel, while Magny spent a bunch of time on the defensive.
The final round opened up with Rodriguez landing a huge left hand that prompted Magny to take a poor shot. After botching the takedown, Magny pulled guard and Rodriguez got on top, but Daniel elected to stand up and fight on the feet. Magny quickly clinched up and hit a takedown. Neil made his way to the back, but ended up too high and Rodriguez escaped out of the back door. Magny quickly snapped him back down, and went right to a D’arce choke. Rodriguez was dead to rights and opted to respectfully tap out.
Josh Parisian vs. Chase Sherman: Heavyweight
Shayilan Nuerdanbieke def. Darrick Minner by TKO at 1:07 of round 1: Featherweight
Minner appeared to hurt himself throwing a kick within the first minute of the fight. Nuerdanbieke responded with a jumping switch knee that sent Minner to the canvas. From there, Nuerdanbieke unleashed some constant ground and pound until the referee pulled him off.
Tagir Ulanbekov def. Nate Maness by submission (Guillotine) at 2:11 of round 1: Flyweight
Ulanbekov found success with an early takedown here. He controlled Maness from the full guard, and as Nate went to stand up, Tagir locked up a high elbow guillotine. Maness was surviving, so Ulanbekov made a couple of adjustments and was able to finish the standing guillotine.
Grant Dawson def. Mark Madsen by submission (RNC) at 2:05 of round 3: Lightweight
Madsen rocked Dawson right out of the gate with a jousting straight right hand, which lead to a grappling exchange. From they, the fighters scrambled until Dawson found himself on the back of Madsen. From there, Dawson maintained the position, and for an RNC over and over until the round ended.
Dawson went back to his grappling in the second stanza. He kept chasing down a single leg, relentlessly pursuing the takedown until he got it. Again, Dawson was able to dominate Mark on the ground, and although he didn’t dish out much damage, he kept him pinned on the mat until the bell.
Dawson went after Madsen in the third round with an aggressive leg kick attack. Madsen was dropped on a couple of occasions, before Dawson finally took top position. From there, Dawson found the neck and locked up a rear-naked choke to get the finish.
Prelims:
Miranda Maverick def. Shanna Young by unanimous decision (30-26 x3): (W) Flyweight
Maverick opened the bout with a huge overhand left, and then started to press forward and push the pace. Young was popping her jab out there, keeping Maverick on the outside. Maverick eventually got close enough to hit a takedown, and then started to methodically impose her will. A couple of ground strikes scored for Miranda before time expired.
It took just over a minute for Maverick to snag a takedown in the second round. Young took a gamble and exposed her back, but was able to stand back to her feet. Despite the effort of Young, Maverick took her right back down to the ground and controlled her until the bell.
It took less than a minute for Maverick to realize a takedown in the third frame. As Miranda controlled Young, she stayed busy and dropped plenty of punches to completely dominate her adversary. Young did not return to her feet until the match was over.
Mario Bautista def. Benito Lopez by submission (Triangle armbar) at 4:54 of round 1: Bantamweight
Bautista was mixing up his punches and leg kicks to start this one. He was backing up Lopez to the cage, and proceeded to rip some body shots. Already in control, Bautista snagged a takedown and began to lock down Lopez. From the full mount, Bautista threatened with a straight armbar, and then started to chain his sub with a triangle. After rolling to his back, Bautista was able to lock in an armbar to get the tap. What a clean victory!
Polyana Viana def. Jinh Yu Frey by TKO at :47 of round 1: Strawweight
This one didn’t last very long. Frey started to press forward to get things going, but she ran right into a tidal wave of punches in bunches. About six strikes landed clean as day right in a row as Frey was backing up, which caused a dazed Jinh Yu to drop down. Viana instantly pounced with two academic hammerfists that Frey had no clue were coming her way. Luckily the referee stepped in and stopped it before anymore unblocked blows were delivered. WOW!
Johnny Munoz Jr. def. Liudvik Sholinian by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28): Bantamweight
The bantamweights seemed content to stand and trade to get this one going. Sholinian took the center of the Octagon, but not was Munoz who got ahead early on the strike count. As Sholinian would move forward while doing a lot of missing, Munoz would intercept him with stiff counters that landed.
Munoz opened the second round by coming forward looking to land big punches. Sholinian went to his grappling, pressing Munoz against the cage in hopes of a takedown. The takedown defense of Munoz was stellar, and he was able to remain on his feet and get back to open space.
It was Munoz who was hunting for the takedown in the third round, and after eating a few elbows going for a double leg, he was able tout Sholinian on the ground. Sholinian did a great job of quickly working back to his feet, and then showed some real urgency knowing that he needs a finish to win. Munoz got on his bike to address the aggression of Sholinian, and then picked up a late takedown to solidify his win.
Jake Hadley def. Carlos Candelario by submission (Triangle) at 2:39 of round 2: Flyweight
The fighters got right to work here, exchanging jab-driven combos back and forth in the pocket. Candelario was pressuring forward early, but as the round went on, Hadley began to push back. It was pretty close round, but Hadley seemed to pull it out.
The second stanza witnessed Hadley push the pace right away, touching up Candelario with an assortment of punches to the head and body. Candelario changed levels and hit a takedown, but he landed right in a triangle. Hadley delivered several elbows before he finally made the proper adjustments to sink the choke and get the tap.
Tamires Vidal def. Ramona Pascual by TKO at 3:06 of round 1: (W) Bantamweight
The match opened up with clinch as Vidal pressed Pascual against the fence. Once they broke apart, Vidal started to let her strikes go from range, utilizing her kicks. On the inside, Vidal was going to her knees. Then, as Vidal closed the distance, she there a jumping switch knee to the body that dropped Pascual. Ramona tried to stand up, but was met with a barrage of punches that the referee took as the sign to stop the fight.
