Anthony
Smith sent a loud-and-clear message to Ryan Spann:
Gate closed.
“Lionheart” blocked Spann’s path to the
Ultimate Fighting Championship’s light heavyweight elite, as he
submitted the Fortis MMA export with a rear-naked choke in the
first round of their
UFC Fight Night 192 headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in
Las Vegas. Spann (19-7, 5-2 UFC) conceded defeat 3:47 into Round
1.
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.
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.
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UFC Fight Night 192 Prelims: Tafon Nchukwi Rebounds, Steamrolls
Mike Rodriguez in Las Vegas 
