UFC Halifax prelims results: Ponzinibbio wins again, Markos upsets Esparza

The UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Browne preliminary card is in the books, and it produced more finishes in five fights than the whole of last Saturday’s UFC 208. As a whole, the prelims produced plenty of action, including an outstanding finish by Thiago Santos. Here’s how the bouts played out.

Santiago Ponzinibbio def. Nordine Taleb via decision (29-28 x3) - Welterweights

Taleb started nicely with a big outside leg kick on Ponzinibbio. The Canadian was initiating virtually all of the offense in round 1, but nothing incredibly damaging was landing. Taleb’s kicks were certainly posing some problems for Ponzinibbio. Santiago connected on a body kick, and then had a kick caught, with Taleb driving him towards the fence momentarily. Taleb nevertheless continued his kicking onslaught, which Ponzinibbio struggled to adjust to.

Ponzinibbio got himself going with a body kick, but got away with an eyepoke extending his right hand. He worked on the jabs repeatedly and had Taleb bloodied. Ponzinibbio was getting the better of the striking in round 2, and with about two minutes left, a 1-2 combo put Taleb on his back. He had his wits about him to at least close his guard and avoid getting smothered with ground strikes by Santiago. Ponzinibbio finished the round on top and in half-guard.

Taleb was warned early in round 3 for putting his fingers straight out at Ponzinibbio’s face, which must’ve been frustrating given he was poked in the previous round. Ponzinibbio’s hands were on point against Taleb, and he continued to pepper Taleb with that jab and right hand. He also clocked Taleb with a short left hook. Taleb was able to hammer home several leg kicks and he was throwing and tagging Ponzinibbio with jabs. A bloodied Taleb ate even more jabs but cracked Ponzinibbio with a hard right. The two exchanged punches all the way to the final horn. Ponzinibbio has won four straight fights, while Taleb’s first bout since UFC 196 ends in defeat.

Randa Markos def. Carla Esparza by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) - Women’s Strawweights

Hardly anything of consequence happened for more than half of the opening round. Esparza then changed things up and took Markos down. Markos lost the ensuing scramble as she tried to get Esparza in a crucifix. Esparza was in side control but Markos worked on a reverse triangle choke. Markos scrambled again and put Esparza in a crucifix position and fired off several hard hammerfists to the head. Esparza scrambled to top position and landed ground-and-pound to end the round.

The former UFC strawweight champion let her hands go early in round 2, snapping off a quick combo of punches. Markos got tagged with a couple of more shots but countered effectively to back Esparza up. Esparza’s striking looked as sharp as it’s ever been, but Markos rallied with a flurry of punches and also stuffed an Esparza takedown. Esparza would complete a single-leg takedown and she wasted setting up an arm-triangle choke. Markos fended it off and made sure Esparza couldn’t free her right leg, and the round ended. Randa threw a series of illegal shots to the back of the head during those closing seconds, but no warning was issued. For what it’s worth, Markos was warned not to extend her fingers towards Esparza’s face.

Markos started round 3 aggressively and stopped Esparza’s early takedown while landing some good shots. The Canadian caught Esparza with a spinning backfist, and later on she popped Esparza with a stiff right hand. Markos was finding her timing and Esparza appeared to be fading. A wild sequence ensued as Markos continued to throw big punches and defend takedowns, but she got overly aggressive and found herself taken down. Esparza landed a knee to the head as Markos went back to her feet, but it was an unpunished illegal shot. A bloodied Markos pushed forward with punches, but Esparza completed a low single and wound up in side control to end a close bout. It’s an upset win for Markos, and a second loss in three fights for Esparza.

Aiemann Zahabi def. Reginaldo Vieira by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) - Bantamweights

Zahabi came out throwing kicks, while Vieira swung for the fences and didn’t connect even once. Zahabi scored with a left and a right hand, then a left high kick. He found his range midway through the opening round and had Vieira on the defensive. Vieira mustered up a right hand over the top and a leg kick in response. The Brazilian was chasing and missing, so he changed things up and took Zahabi down. Zahabi popped back to his feet a few moments later. The crowd oohed and aahed at a hard body kick landed by Zahabi. Vieira got in a sharp left uppercut and he finished the round strongly with some more strikes and a takedown.

Vieira was the aggressor in round 2, throwing fast combination punches, but he was unable to get a takedown. Zahabi wasn’t particularly active offensively, and was absorbing some leg kicks. Vieira’s takedowns weren’t being completed, as Zahabi defended the shots against the fence. Zahabi got in two good punches but ate more strikes in return. Vieira showed off a crisp jab and kept throwing leg kicks, but Zahabi finished the round with a massive knockdown. Zahabi floored Vieira with a vicious right hand on the end of a combination of strikes. He went for the finish but could not get it, as Vieira unsuccessfully tried a heel hook.

Both men connected with hard shots to start the final round of an otherwise very close fight. Zahabi was buzzed by a precise right hand. Vieira’s takedown attempts were poor and Zahabi stuffed them with ease. Zahabi got in a stiff jab but later ate a left hook. It looked as if Vieira would finally get a takedown as he picked Zahabi up, but Aiemann did well to avoid being put on his back. Zahabi poured on the pressure late in the fight as they traded punches, and Vieira closed out the battle with a front headlock after it appeared as if he was hurt by Zahabi’s punches. An entertaining win for Zahabi, who went the distance for the first time in his MMA career, and maintained his unbeaten record.

Thiago Santos def. Jack Marshman via TKO (head kick and punches) at 2:21 of round 2 - Middleweights

Santos tagged Marshman early with a hard left hand after the two exchanged heavy strikes. The Brazilian took the Welshman down and into his guard, landing heavy ground-and-pound in the process. Marshman got back to his feet but ate another hard shot along the way. Santos threw a beautiful spinning back kick to the body. A hard right hand by Marshman briefly dropped Santos and he was in major trouble. Marshman swung away with massive shots and Santos struggled to keep himself upright as the opening round ended.

Santos delivered a brutal body kick early in round 2, as he appeared to recover from the scare in round 1. Marshman drilled Santos with a big punch with his back against the cage. Santos threw and landed a spinning heel kick that dropped Marshman. Ground-and-pound ensued and referee Brad Jardine called off the bout. A great fight and an impressive finish by “Marreta.”

Gerald Meerschaert def. Ryan Janes via submission (armbar) at 1:34 of round 1 - Middleweights

Janes and Meerschaert traded hands early before Janes took Meerscheart down. The Canadian worked in Meerschaert’s guard, but in an instant Meerschaert slapped on an armbar and forced an immediate tap. Meerschaert is now 2-for-2 in the UFC, while Janes falls to 1-1 inside the Octagon.