Anthony Smith sent a loud-and-clear message to Ryan Spann: Gate closed.
Smith (36-16, 11-6 UFC) floored the former Legacy Fighting Alliance champion with a left hook, jumped into top position and threatened with an armbar before returning to an upright position. Once there, he staggered Spann with another left hook, folded him with a right cross and advanced to the back. Smith then secured his position, flattened out “Superman” and snaked his arms in place for the fight-ending choke.
@LionheartASmith is heated and wants his RESPECT! #UFCVegas37 pic.twitter.com/GHx9MsxIBV
— UFC (@ufc) September 19, 2021
Cutelaba Mauls Overmatched Clark
Ion Cutelaba recorded his first win since Sept. 28, 2019 and did so in overwhelming fashion, as he rolled to a unanimous decision over onetime Resurrection Fighting Alliance titleholder Devin Clark in the three-round light heavyweight co-main event. Cutelaba (16-6-1, 5-5-1 UFC) swept the scorecards with 30-26, 29-26 and 29-27 marks from the cageside judges.
Clark (12-6, 6-6 UFC) weathered a prolonged beating that could have been stopped on more than one occasion. Cutelaba decked the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, native with an overhand right in the first round and assaulted him with elbow-laced ground-and-pound. Clark’s situation only deteriorated in the middle stanza, where he conceded a takedown to the Moldovan sambo practitioner. Cutelaba climbed to full mount and once again cut loose with punches and elbows, his efforts resulting in significant damage to the American’s lower row of teeth. Clark escaped full mount in the third round, sprawled on an attempted takedown with roughly a minute to go in the match and let his hands go in a bid for a Hail Mary finish that went unrealized.
The 31-year-old Clark has suffered back-to-back losses for the first time in his 18-fight career.
Lipski Spoils Bohm Debut
Former KSW champion Ariane Lipski closed the book on a two-fight losing streak and re-established some solid footing at 125 pounds with a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Mandy Bohm in a three-round women’s flyweight feature. All three cageside judges scored it the same: 30-27 for Lipski (14-7, 3-4 UFC).
Bohm (7-1, 0-1 UFC) struggled to get in gear from the start. Lipski outhustled her on the ground in the first round, sat her down with a right hook in the second and saved her best work for the third. There, the Brazilian’s investment in body blows paid off. Lipski followed a leg kick with a crushing right hook to the head that dazed and dropped the German newcomer. She moved in for a potential finish with punches and hammerfists before settling for a lopsided decision.
The victory was Lipski’s first in more than a year.
Related » UFC Fight Night 192 Prelims: Pennington Slows, Outlasts Kianzad
Ascending Tsarukyan Routs Giagos
American Top Team prospect Arman Tsarukyan brought down former Resurrection Fighting Alliance champion Christos Giagos with punches in the first round of their lightweight showcase. Tsaurukyan (17-2, 4-1 UFC) sealed the deal 2:09 into Round 1.
Giagos (19-9, 5-5 UFC) managed to scramble into top position during their initial exchange but failed to bottle up fast-rising 24-year-old contender. Tsarukyan calmly returned to a standing position, moved into open space and let his talent do the rest. He countered a body kick from Giagos with a clean left hook that sent the Sanford MMA rep careening into the cage in a seated position. Tsarukyan followed with a savage barrage of ground-and-pound that left referee Herb Dean no choice but to intervene.
Tsarukyan has rattled off four straight wins.
Maness Stages Comeback, Stuns Gravely
Former TKO Major League MMA champion Nathan Maness put away Tony Gravely with punches in the second round of their bantamweight feature. Maness (14-1, 3-0 UFC) brought it to dramatic close 2:26 into Round 2, extending his run of consecutive victories to four.
Gravely (21-7, 2-2 UFC) delivered an early takedown, then nearly finished it at the end of the first round. He sat down Maness with a right hook and flurried with follow-up punches for a potential stoppage. Only the bell saved the Kentucky native. After flying on auto pilot for a few uncertain moments, Maness bounced back in the second. He targeted the body with a left hook, dropped Gravely with a right and jumped in with punches and hammerfists for a remarkable come-from-behind win.
The setback snapped Gravely’s modest two-fight winning streak.
Buckley Ambushes Reeling Arroyo
Joaquin Buckley wiped out Dana White’s Contender Series alum Antonio Arroyo with punches in the third round of their middleweight attraction. Buckley (13-4, 3-2 UFC) drew the curtain 2:26 into Round 1, winning for the third time in four outings.
Arroyo (9-5, 0-3 UFC) controlled the better part of two rounds with powerful kicks to the legs, body and head, along with a beautiful flying knee. However, he could not keep Buckley at bay forever. Arroyo sprawled out of a takedown in the third round and briefly advanced to the back before allowing the Finney’s Hit Squad product to escape. Buckley made the most of his second wind, as he leveled the Brazilian with a right uppercut, moved in for the kill and unleashed rapid-fire hammerfists until the job was done.
Winless since July 16, 2019, the 32-year-old Arroyo has lost three fights in a row.
Continue Reading » UFC Fight Night 192 Prelims: Tafon Nchukwi Rebounds, Steamrolls Mike Rodriguez in Las Vegas