ANTHONY HERNANDEZ BY SUBMISSION! @ILovebamf
with a huge performance to close the prelims
#UFC258 pic.twitter.com/aEoULOkWM6— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA)
February 14, 2021
Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC 258 live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. It was an outcome no one could have foreseen. Anthony
Hernandez submitted five-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world
champion and 2015 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World
Championships gold medalist Rodolfo
Vieira with a guillotine choke in the second round of their
featured UFC 258 prelim on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Viera (7-1, 2-1 UFC) bowed out 1:53 into Round 2. Odds of a
Hernandez submission victory were set at 30-to-1.
Vieira executed a takedown inside the first minute, progressed to
the back and threatened with submissions, first with a rear-naked
choke and later with an armbar. Hernandez (8-2, 2-2 UFC) managed to
escape, and it soon became clear that the Brazilian had emptied his
gas tank. From there, it was all one-way traffic. Hernandez blasted
away with power punches and appeared to have his adversary out on
his feet on more than one occasion. He connected with a head kick,
eventually cut Vieira above the left eye with a pair of standing
elbows, snatched the arm-in guillotine and prompted the
stoppage.
Overbearing Muhammad Handles Lima
Former
Titan Fighting Championships titleholder Belal
Muhammad broke down two-time “Ultimate Fighter” finalist
Dhiego
Lima with pace and attritive punishment, as he cruised to a
unanimous decision in a three-round welterweight encounter. All
three cageside judges scored it 30-27 for Muhammad (18-3, 9-3
UFC).
Lima (15-8, 4-6 UFC) buried a series of kicks into the Brazilian’s
upper and lower lead leg but could not keep his tormentor at bay.
Muhammad routinely trapped the
American Top Team rep on the fence and uncorked multi-punch
volleys to head and body. Lima slowed to a crawl in the third
round, where he more or less devolved into a sitting duck. Muhammad
punctuated his latest victory with a takedown, ultimately advancing
to the back before the horn sounded.
The 32-year-old Lima has won four fights in a row.
Viana Armbar Submits Martin
Former Jungle
Fight champion Polyana
Viana submitted
Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Mallory
Martin with an armbar in the first round of their women’s
strawweight encounter. Martin (7-4, 1-2 UFC) conceded defeat 3:18
into Round 1.
The 28-year-old Viana (12-4, 3-3 UFC) surrendered a quick takedown
but immediately went to work with short punches off her back. Soon
after, she cinched a triangle choke and battered the exposed Martin
with slashing elbows. The
Elevation Fight Team rep fought to free herself for several
tense moments, only to see the Brazilian transition to the fight-ending
armbar.
Viana has rattled off eight wins across her last eight
appearances.
Surging Gutierrez Outduels Ewell
Chris
Gutierrez rebounded from his Aug. 1 draw with Cody
Durden, as the former Sugar
Creek Showdown champion laid claim to a unanimous decision over
Andre
Ewell in a three-round catchweight clash at 140 pounds.
Gutierrez (16-4-2, 4-1-1 UFC) swept the scorecards with 30-26,
29-28 and 29-27 marks from the judges.
Ewell (17-7, 4-3 UFC) darted in and out with punches in a bid to
exploit an eight-inch reach advantage. However, his efforts grew
less and less effective as time ticked away. Gutierrez unleashed a
savage attack on his base, directing devastating kicks to the
inside and outside of both legs. His lateral movement compromised,
Ewell struggled to maintain a safe distance once the fight drifted
into its latter stages. Gutierrez continued to fire kicks to all
levels and swarmed with punches on occasions, doing more than
enough to warrant the decision.
The 29-year-old Gutierrez will enter his next assignment on a
five-fight unbeaten streak.
Green Ruins Rowe Debut
Brutal kicks to the lower lead leg and powerful combination
punching carried
Subfighter MMA export Gabriel
Green to a unanimous decision over Philip Rowe
in a three-round welterweight pairing. All three judges sided with
Green (10-3, 1-1 UFC): 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28.
Rowe (7-3, 1-0 UFC) enjoyed extended periods of success in the
grappling exchanges, as he achieved full mount on multiple
occasions. However, he could not overcome the damage to his lower
extremities. Green hobbled him with a leg kick in the third round
and floored him with another, leaving a lasting impression on the
scorecards.
The loss snapped Rowe’s seven-fight winning streak. 
