The UFC Moncton card is in progress and the preliminary portion just concluded with Sean Strickland realizing a second-round TKO of Nordine Taleb. Strickland now sits at 20-3 and has just completed the final fight of his UFC contract. What will be next for Strickland?
In an exciting affair, Nasrat Haqparast threw just about everything he had at Thibault Gouti, but Gouti refused to go away and continued to swing until the final bell. Haqparast walked away with the unanimous decision to move to 10-2 in his young career, but did admit to possibly breaking his hand in the fight.
Calvin Kattar showed off some veteran savvy as he weathered an early storm from UFC newcomerChris Fishgold to go on and achieve a TKO at just over four minutes of the first round. Kattar now sits with a polished record of 19-3 and requested a top-15 opponent for his next outing. In the UFC’s women’s bantamweight division, Talita Bernardo and Sarah Moras went the distance with a spirited effort from both athletes. When it was all said and done, it was Bernardo who walked away with the unanimous nod.
Closing out the Fight Pass Prelims, Don Madge scored a highlight reel head kick knockout of Te Edwards in the second round to make his UFC debut in style. Before that, Canada’s own Arjan Bhullar bounced back from his first career loss by dealing out a unanimous decision loss to Marcelo Golm. Opening up the event, Stevie Ray got himself back into the win column with a unanimous decision victory over Jessie Ayari.
FS1 prelims:
Sean Strickland def. Nordine Taleb by TKO at 3:10 of round 2: Welterweight
The bout opened up with Strickland taking to the center of the cage, where he pumped his jab, and Taleb playing the outside, utilizing leg kicks. Taleb did a sound job of using his footwork to stay just outside of Strickland’s punches, while still being close enough to counter himself. Strickland continued to move forward behind jab in the second frame, but Taleb continued to counter. Once Strickland put something behind that jab, he was able to hurt Taleb and follow up with some damaging blows. Taleb ultimately crumpled to the canvas, and an onslaught of ground strikes prompted the referee to call off the bout.
Nasrat Haqparast def. Thibault Gouti by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27, 29-27): Lightweight
Haqparast got his hands going with pretty combination to open up, but Gouti landed a couple of eye pokes which slowed up some momentum. Gouti was tagged multiple times, and even dropped at one point by the punches of Haqparast.
Haqparast continued to score with his hands in the second round, but like a terminator, Gouti kept coming forward. It was as if the strikes of Haqparast had little to no affect on Gouti, unless it was a bomb that landed flush. The contact lens of Gouti popped out at the end of the round, and he had to discard in the final exchange.
Haqparast finally wounded his foe with a body kick, and chased Gouti all around the Octagon trying to sniff out a finish. Gouti showed off incredible toughness, falling to his back and surviving the onslaught. Gouti even made it back to his feet where he continued to swing away until the final bell sounded.
Calvin Kattar def. Chris Fishgold by TKO at 4:11 of round 1: Featherweight
Fishgold came out hot, blasting a takedown and letting his hands go back on the feet. Kattar remained cool, calm, and collected and weathered the storm. The punches of Kattar began to hit their mark, causing all sorts of bleeding from the face of Fishgold. A jab to cross combo sent Fishgold folding to the floor, and a few followup ground strikes sealed the deal.
Talita Bernardo def. Sarah Moras by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2): (W) Bantamweight
Bernardo got her hands going early, causing redness around the nose of Moras. The punches kept coming, stinging Moras and forcing her to clinch up, but Bernardo was able to find a takedown. In the second round, Moras came out looking to land her overhand right, but the straight strikes of Bernardo were reaching their target much more quickly. With about two minutes remaining in the round, Bernardo realized another takedown to controlled from the top until the bell sounded.
Moras found top position in the opening moments of the final round, but was easily swept in a peculiar scramble. After a substantial amount of top control, Moras kicks off her opponent and picks up a takedown of her own. Bernardo worked her way into top position, but Moras exploded back to her feet once again, and even landed a few bombs before time ran out.
Fight Pass prelims:
Don Madge def. Te Edwards by KO at :14 of round 2: Lightweight
These madmen went right to work, trading heavy leather in the pocket right out of the gate. Madge clipped his foe, briefly sending Edwards to the canvas. Edwards recovered, and snagged himself a takedown, but Madge locked up a super-tight armbar. Edwards eventually escaped, to finish up the round on the feet. Madge showed up in the second stanza looking to kick. He blasted the body of Edwards before going upstairs and connecting flush with a head kick. Edwards slumped to the canvas and the referee was right on top of the action to prevent any further damage. Wow!
Arjan Bhullar def. Marcelo Golm by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 29-27): Heavyweight
Bhullar pressed forward behind his punches to start the bout, and Golm began to deploy a leg kick attack to deal with the pressure. The whole first round was basically the power punches of Bhullar vs. the leg kicks of Golm. Bhullar brought the aggression again to open up the second round, but Golm was ready for him with some thudding knees to the midsection. The lead calf of Bhullar was bruised up pretty badly from the kicks of Golm, but that didn’t seem to stop him any from grinding on Golm against the cage for the remainder of the round.
The right foot of Golm appeared to be rather swollen heading into the final round, and Bhullar quickly closed the distance to drop down some brutal foot stomps. Bhullar picked up Golm and dropped him down to the canvas, and then proceeded to hammer down strikes from the closed guard.
Stevie Ray def. Jessie Ayari by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2): Lightweight
The opening round saw Ayari take the center with Ray lurking on the outside. The round was rather sticky, high on leg kicks but low on significant strikes. Ray continued to pepper away with leg kicks into the second round, but Ayari kept coming forward with the pressure. Despite moving forward, it was Ray who appeared to be landing more of the strikes. The pressure of Ayari continued into the final frame, but Ray was still able to land off of the back foot. Ayari began having some success with his hands in the final minute of the round, busting up Ray around the nose and mouth.