UFC on FOX 21 results and highlights: Alvey TKOs Casey, Laprise quickly stops Gouti

The UFC on FOX 21 preliminary card is in the books. It was a mixed bag of action from the opening prelim up until the feature FOX bout between Sam Alvey and Kevin Casey. The highlights included a pair of 1st round knockouts in quick succession, courtesy of Felipe Silva and Chad Laprise. Here's how the fights played out.

Sam Alvey (28-8, 1 NC) vs. Kevin Casey (9-5-1, 2 NC) via TKO (strikes) at 4:56 of round 2 - Middleweights

Just about nothing notable happened for a big chunk of the 1st round. Casey wanted to take Alvey down but couldn't get him down. Kevin threw a few more strikes than Alvey but didn't land anything with conviction. As the round closed, with Casey unable to take Alvey down in the clinch, Alvey's knees to the body and to the head, combined with some sharp elbows, had Casey's attention.

Alvey finally let his hands go about 2 minutes into the 2nd round. He dropped Casey with a big left hand and pounced on him in search of the knockout. Instead of going into the BJJ black belt's guard, Alvey implored Casey to get back to his feet. Another combination backed Casey up, then Kevin forced a brief tie-up almost out of desperation. Another knockdown with the left for Alvey and Casey once again was in deep trouble. This time Alvey attacked with ground-and-pound. More big punches by Smilin' Sam to force the stoppage after Casey had turtled up. Two wins in 45 days for Sam Alvey.

Observe a wild Sam Alvey in its natural habitat (knocking people into next week). https://t.co/XlxnbnVlk9

— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) August 27, 2016

Kyle Bochniak (7-1) def. Enrique Barzola (11-3-1) via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28) - Featherweights

Both men were active with their strikes in the first few minutes but didn't land anything particularly damaging. Bochniak scored with a few good leg kicks, while Barzola connected on several well-timed counterpunches. Bochniak was able to get a takedown with just over a minute to go in the 1st round. He tried to move into mount but the Peruvian scrambled to his feet.

Barzola tagged Bochniak with a big uppercut that had Bochniak retreating. Enrique had a takedown stuffed by the Bostonian. The TUF Latin America 2 winner looked to be the stronger, more agile fighter in the cage. Bochniak's success was still through his outside leg kicks. Kyle fired off a combination that ended with a nice left to Barzola's head. Enrique just missed with a big flying knee before the 30 second mark of the 2nd round. Barzola finished the round with two takedowns, with Bochniak scrambling his way out both times.

Bochniak needed to up the tempo in the 3rd, and so he momentarily did. A jab and a right cross tagged Barzola, who also had to deal with Bochniak's leg kicks. Barzola's distance striking was still superior, and he had the higher output. Multiple times Bochniak had his kicks caught and then countered with a punch. Not a particularly action-packed fight but not exactly a thriller. Bochniak getting the split decision in his favor was ... generous, to say the least.

Alessio Di Chirico (10-1) def. Garreth McLellan (13-5) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) - Middleweights

Round 1 was fairly even. Di Chirico started off brightly with his counterstriking, but McLellan was able to tag Alessio with a hard uppercut 2 minutes in and slowly turned the tide in his favor, perhaps nicking the round on the scorecards.

McLellan caught a kick in the 2nd round and scored a takedown to put the Italian on his back. Di Chirico swept his way back to his feet and badly hurt McLellan with big elbows that dropped McLellan and cut up his face. Di Chirico couldn't get the finish and McLellan got back to his feet. McLellan was fading and Di Chirico got a takedown of his own. Garreth used butterfly hooks to get back to his feet. A spinning elbow seemed to stun McLellan. Blood pouring out from near the South African's right ear. Di Chirico seemingly had the most blatant fence grab ever to stop a takedown, one that could've benefited McLellan greatly, but replays showed he never grabbed over the top of the fence.

McLellan was aggressive to start the 3rd and even dropped down for a guillotine, but that worked to his disadvantage. Di Chirico went into full mount and took the back, only to slip out. They went back to their feet and Alessio jarred McLellan with a big left, but he lumbered forward and whiffed on a spinning elbow. McLellan worked hard to get a takedown but was so incredibly exhausted and struggled to complete any of them. He did get one with 35 seconds left, but Alessio elbowed Garreth repeatedly in the body. McLellan didn't mount any significant offense in the closing stages. Di Chirico was able to get the nod on two of the three scorecards.

Felipe Silva (8-0) def. Shane Campbell (12-6) via TKO (punches) at 1:13 of round 1 - Lightweights

This fight didn't last very long. Felipe Silva's UFC debut was an impressive one. He was aggressive early throwing knees in the clinch and an elbow. Campbell was hurt with a big left to the body, then a left hook upstairs. Silva dropped Campbell and then finished the fight with more lefts on the ground. Silva remains unbeaten, much to the disappointment of the Canadian fans, who saw Shane Campbell crumple.

Felipe Silva + @UFC debut = 1st round KO. Very nice. #UFCVancouver https://t.co/ySkN1sqbXE

— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) August 27, 2016

Chad Laprise (12-2) def. Thibault Gouti (11-3) via TKO (punches) at 1:36 of round 1 - Lightweights

The opening minute didn't have much in the way of exciting action, with both men throwing some feeler strikes. Gouti came forward and got drilled with a 1-2 combination. Laprise decked him fiercely and had him in major trouble. A slew of left hands with Gouti trying to retreat dropped the Frenchman again, and a couple of additional ground strikes ended the fight. Laprise said in the post-fight interview that he'll go up to 170 (having missed weight for this fight). Gouti is now 0-3 in the UFC.

OHHH!!!! @ChadLaprise drops Gouti!!!! #UFCVancouver https://t.co/0NLpsLkgSB

— #UFCVancouver (@ufc) August 27, 2016

Jeremy Kennedy (9-0) def. Alex Ricci (10-4) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)  - Lightweights

Muay Thai striker Alex Ricci came into this lightweight bout on short notice against "JBC" (Junior Bacon Cheeseburger) Kennedy, a native of British Columbia. Ricci landed some quality knees in the clinch but Kennedy was the aggressor and tagged Ricci early in the 1st round. Kennedy finished the 1st with a takedown, but there wasn't much to separate the two anywhere else. It was a clear 2nd round for Kennedy, who landed the majority of the big strikes at punching range and had Ricci worn out through his forward pressure and persistence with going for (mostly failed) takedowns. It was more of the same in round 3 with Kennedy giving Ricci no space to work his striking. Kennedy completed multiple takedowns, controlled the pace of the fight, and while Kennedy wasn't overwhelmingly dominant, Ricci had just about no offense. The hometown guy remains unbeaten in his MMA career.