Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. It may sound cliché, but Derrick
Lewis really does only need one. “The Black Beast” took a massive step forward in a bid for another
Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title shot, as he
knocked out Curtis
Blaydes in the second round of their
UFC Fight Night 185 headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in
Las Vegas. Lewis (25-7, 16-5 UFC) brought it to an emphatic and
frightening close 1:26 into Round 2.
Blaydes (14-3, 9-3 UFC) enjoyed some early success with a
penetrating jab and thudding leg kicks but struggled to safely
close the distance. He ducked into an uppercut in the second round,
froze where he stood and collapsed backward. Lewis trailed his
defenseless opponent to the canvas and slammed two right hands into
his exposed face before referee Herb Dean could
intervene.
Lewis, 36, now finds himself on a four-fight winning streak.
Kunitskaya Upends Favored Vieira
A strong second round and violent surge at the end of the third
propelled
American Top Team’s Yana
Kunitskaya to a unanimous decision over Ketlen
Vieira in the three-round women’s bantamweight co-main event.
All three cageside judges scored it the same: 29-28 for Kunitskaya
(14-5, 4-2 UFC).
Vieiera (11-2, 5-2 UFC)—who missed weight for the match—controlled
much of the first and third rounds with superior topside grappling.
However, she all but gave away the middle stanza, where she was far
too content to work from her back once Kunitskaya powered into top
position. Still, Vieira appeared to be ticketed for a decision as
time ticked away in Round 3, as she climbed to full mount, advanced
to the back and threatened with a rear-naked choke. Kunitskaya
sprang a late reversal, shifted to a position of dominance and cut
loose with elbows, one of which opened a significant gash near the
Nova Uniao rep’s right eyebrow. Those efforts seemed to do
enough to curry favor with the judges.
Kunitskaya has recorded four wins over her past five
appearances.
Energized Minner Outpoints Rosa
Glory MMA export Darrick
Minner won for the fourth time in five appearances, as he laid
claim to a unanimous decision over Charles
Rosa in a three-round featherweight showcase. Minner (26-11,
2-1 UFC) swept the scorecards with 30-26, 30-27 and 29-27 marks
from the judges.
Rosa (13-5, 4-5 UFC) was a step behind from start to finish. Minner
secured multiple takedowns, achieved full mount on more than one
occasion, threatened with arm-triangle chokes and leaned on
airtight submission defense against his opponent’s hyperactive
bottom game. He did his best work in the second round, where he
drove Rosa to the canvas with a series of right hands, floated from
the back to the mount and generally made life miserable for the
American Top Team-trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. Bleeding
and fatigued in Round 3, Rosa ran through one submission attempt
after another while he was pinned underneath the James
Krause disciple—he moved from the armbar to a triangle choke to
an omoplata and back again—but failed to find the finish he
needed.
The 34-year-old Rosa has alternated wins and losses in each of his
last nine outings.
Ascending Daukaus Buries Oleynik
Team Balance product Chris
Daukaus took out the venerable Alexey
Oleynik with punches in the first round of their featured
heavyweight attraction. Oleynik (59-15-1, 8-6 UFC) succumbed to an
avalanche of blows 1:55 into Round 1, as he lost for fourth time in
six fights.
Daukaus (11-3, 3-0 UFC) was well-prepared for one of MMA’s ultimate
one-trick ponies. He denied Oleynik’s bid for a takedown, trapped
the Russian submission savant on the feet and cut loose with
sweeping power punches. Daukaus dazed “The Boa Constrictor” with a
chopping right hand, backed him to the cage and followed up with punches
and knees until referee Herb Dean waved
it off.
The 31-year-old Daukaus has won four fights in a row.
Hawes Weathers Frenchman Imavov
Takedowns and top control spurred Sanford
MMA export Phil Hawes
to a majority decision over Nassourdine
Imavov in a three-round middleweight feature. Judge Junichiro
Kamijo scored it a 28-28 draw, while Michael Bell and Chris Lee
struck 29-28 scorecards for Hawes.
Imavov (9-3, 1-1 UFC) was ineffective through two rounds. Hawes
(10-2, 2-0 UFC) delivered multiple takedowns, piled up control time
and neutralized the Frenchman in their grappling exchanges. Imavov
altered the complexion of the match in Round 3, where he had the
Henri Hooft protégé on skates more than once with power punches and
close-quarters elbows and knee strikes. Though Hawes appeared to be
teetering on the brink, he withstood those brushes with adversity
by closing the distance and cutting off the
MMA Factory rep’s avenues to victory.
Hawes will ride a six-fight winning streak into his next
assignment.
Aspinall Choke Submits Arlovski
Team Kaobon prospect Tom
Aspinall dispatched Andrei
Arlovski with a rear-naked choke in the second round of their
heavyweight showcase. Arlovski (30-20, 19-14 UFC) conceded defeat
69 seconds into Round 2, as he suffered just the second submission
loss of his illustrious 52-fight career.
Aspinall (10-2, 3-0 UFC) had “The Pit Bull” reeling with a jarring
two-punch combination in the first round. The 27-year-old flurried
along the fence with punches to the head and body but failed to put
away Arlovski. Aspinall regrouped and engaged the Belarusian at
close range—a tactic that allowed him to replenish his cardio. He
surprised Arlovski with a well-executed blast double-leg takedown
at the start of Round 2, progressed toward the back and snuck his
left arm underneath the former champion’s chin. The choke was in place before Arlovski could
react, leaving him no choice but to tap.
The fast-rising Aspinall has rattled off six consecutive victories,
all of them finishes.
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UFC Fight Night 185 Prelims: Unbeaten O’Neill Buries Dobson
