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The UFC returned to Japan and the Saitama Super Arena Saturday night with UFC On Fuel TV 8: Stann vs. Silva. Before the main card, the preliminary fights aired online through the UFC's Facebook page. The prelims featured a Middleweight bout between Brad Tavares and Riki Rukuda, both looking to extend their winning streaks and head toward the top of the division.
The Middleweights opened up the feature bout of the prelims with a close first round. Fukuda got on top early but Tavares returned to his feet. Brad turned it around on the feet as the round ended and really took control in the second. Throughout the remaining 10 minutes two round he repeatedly caught Fukuda coming in. To further hinder Fukuda he seemed to be favoring his left hand which was injured in the first. Brad Tavares won by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27).
Bryan Caraway vs. Takeya Mizugaki
The first round went back and forth. Early in the fight, Mizugaki did a solid job landing on Caraway with head and body punches while successfully defending the takedown. Then he gave up a late takedown and allowed Caraway to take his back. The second round saw Caraway almost finish with a mounted guillotine and ended with him dominating from back control. He gave up the third round after getting knocked down by a big left hook from Mizugaki and never got it back together. Takeya Mizugaki pulled off the split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29).
Cristiano Marcello vs. Kazuki Tokudome
Early in the first round Marcello landed a big right hand that had Tokudome shook. Kazuki recovered. Cristiano fell to his back after a few exchanges on his feet and Tokudome won the first from the top. He continued in the second with and early takedown. He rode out the next three minutes in guard, before the ref stood them up. Marcello charged across the Octagon for a TD of his own, but Tokudome quickly got back up. Another early takedown for Tokudome to start the 3rd. Marcello got backed to his feet and tried to pour it on, but gave up a final takedown with a minute left. Kazuki Tokudome takes the unanimous decision (30-27x3).
Alex Caceres vs. Kyung Ho Kang
Kang easily took the first round of the second prelim fight. Repeatedly in the first frame, Cacares gave up the takedown by allowing Kang to get inside and clinch up. From there Kang held top position aside from one sweep by Alex that was quickly reversed. Second round was mostly more of the same, though the Cacares had more success and did some damage from top position. The third round was the best round from Cacares. He capitalized on a fall from Kang early and did damage from the top. Through the round he was able to gain top position multiple times. In the end, the judges awarded the split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29) to Alex Caceres.
Marcelo Guimaraes vs. Hyun Gyu Lim
The opening bout the Facebook prelims started off slow. Lim worked a solid sprawl and brawl style throughout the first round while Guimaraes struggled to secure the takedown. Lim lead that round but it was close as Marcelo did finally get him down with 30 seconds left. The second looked to follow suit. Guimaraes got Lim down halfway through the round but couldn't maintain control. When he came in for the clinch again, Lim blasted him with a knee for the KO victory (2nd Rnd, 4:00)
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