Cezar Ferreira put Karl Roberson to sleep pic.twitter.com/wIsvv4SSsd
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) May 13, 2018
Karl Roberson woke up looking at the lights, likely with little recollection of how he got there.
The previously unbeaten Roberson was choked unconscious by a first-round arm-triangle choke from “The Ultimate Fighter Brazil” winner Cezar Ferreira in the featured UFC 224 prelim on Saturday at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro. Ferreira (13-6, 9-4 UFC) closed the deal 4:45 into Round 1 and continued his ascent in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s middleweight division.
Roberson (6-1, 1-1 UFC) fought to stay upright but nevertheless conceded two takedowns. Ferreira transitioned to mount with roughly a minute remaining in the first round, applied his ground-and-pound and shifted his attention to the choke. Roberson went limp in a matter of seconds.
Crafty Oleynik Throttles Albini
American Top Team’s Alexey Oleynik submitted Junior Albini with his patented Ezekiel choke in the first round of their preliminary heavyweight showdown. Oleynik (56-11-1, 5-2 UFC) drew the curtain 1:45 into Round 1, as he won for the 14th time in 16 appearances.
Albini (14-4, 1-2 UFC) opened multiple cuts on the Russian grappler’s face in their standup exchanges but failed to keep a safe distance. Oleynik clinched in the center of the cage, framed the choke while still standing, dragged the Brazilian to the mat and then tightened the screws while in bottom position. Panic quickly set in on Albini, followed by resignation and a meek tapout.
The 27-year-old Albini has suffered back-to-back defeats.
Ramos Choke Submits Hein
Four-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Davi Ramos submitted Nick Hein with a rear-naked choke in the first round of their undercard affair at 155 pounds. Hein (14-3, 4-2 UFC) bowed out 4:15 into Round 1, his three-fight winning streak at an end.
Ramos (8-2, 2-1 UFC) softened the German judoka with a stiff body kick, a few punching volleys and a partially blocked head kick before shooting a double-leg takedown. He advanced to Hein’s back under threat of kimura, secured his position with a body triangle and snaked his arms in place. A crushing squeeze followed, leaving Hein no choice but to tap.
The 31-year-old Ramos has won four of his past five bouts — a run that includes three submissions.
Spectacular Dos Santos Kick Melts Strickland
Former Jungle Fight champion Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos cut down Sean Strickland with a sensational spinning wheel kick and follow-up punches in the first round of their preliminary welterweight scrap. Dos Santos (19-5, 5-1 UFC) brought it to a close 3:12 into Round 1.
Neither man did much prior to the fight-ending sequence. Dos Santos planted the well-disguised kick behind the American’s ear, trailed him to the canvas and unleashed on his compromised counterpart. Strickland (19-3, 6-3 UFC) did what he could to survive but ultimately succumbed to a barrage of punches and hammerfists, as the 27-year-old Millennia MMA rep was finished for the first time in his 22-fight career.
Dos Santos, 31, has rattled off five consecutive victories.
UFC Fight Pass Prelims: Alves Bludgeons Aliev, Forces Corner Stoppage
“The Ultimate Fighter Brazil” Season 3 winner Warlley Alves (12-2, 6-2 UFC) was awarded a technical knockout in between the second and third rounds of his welterweight pairing with Sultan Aliev (14-3, 1-2 UFC); ex-Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder Jack Hermansson (17-4, 4-2 UFC) authored a remarkable comeback, as he put away Thales Leites (27-9, 12-8 UFC) with punches 2:10 into the third round of their middleweight tilt; former M-1 Global champion Ramazan Emeev (17-3, 2-0 UFC) pushed his winning streak to five fights with a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Alberto Mina (13-1, 3-1 UFC) in a three-round welterweight clash, drawing 30-27 marks from all three judges; and onetime Legacy Fighting Alliance titleholder Markus Perez (10-1, 1-1 UFC) evened his record inside the Octagon, as he submitted James Bochnovic (8-3, 0-2 UFC) with a rear-naked choke 4:28 into the first round of their middleweight encounter.