The UFC Apex is busy these days with a new season of Dana White’s Contender Series underway and events taking place there every Tuesday, plus we’ve got another Fight Night set to take place at the UFC home base in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
One-time middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier looks to bounce back from a controversial loss from earlier this year when he takes on rising Brazilian 185-pound contender Caio Borralho in the main event.
Strawweights Angela Hill and Tabatha Ricci get the co-main assignment, Neil Magny looks to hand touted welterweight Michael Morales his first pro loss, plus middleweight finishers Edmen Shahbazyan and Gerald Meerschaert kick off the main card.
The four finalists from The Ultimate Fighter: Team Grasso vs. Team Shevchenko are back at the Apex, where their quarterfinal and semifinal matchups took place, following an exciting season of TUF. Ryan Loder and Robert Valentin compete in the TUF 32 middleweight final plus Kaan Ofli and Mairon Santos battle in the TUF 32 featherweight finale also on the main card.
Below is the bout order and official results for UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho.
MAIN CARD
— Jared Cannonier vs. Caio Borralho
— Angela Hill vs. Tabatha Ricci
— Ryan Loder vs. Robert Valentin (TUF 32 middleweight final)
— Kaan Ofli vs. Mairon Santos (TUF 32 featherweight final)
Michael Morales def. Neil Magny via TKO at 4:39 of Round 1
Morales has a bright future ahead as the Venezuelan swarmed Magny with strike after strike before getting him on his stomach and feeding him some nasty ground and pound for the TKO. The 25-year-old remains perfect with a 17-0 record in pro MMA.
Gerald Meerschaert def. Edmen Shahbazyan via submission at 4:12 of Round 2
It looked all but over for Gerald Meerschaert after a nasty punch to the gut and a flurry of punches, but he turned the tide in a big way to lock in the arm triangle and force the tap in the second round. With that win, Meerschaert earned the most finishes in UFC middleweight history.
PRELIMINARY CARD
Francis Marshall def. Dennis Buzukja via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
Marshall thought the win would come sooner after a massive right hand but was unable to capitalize on it, with the bout eventually heading to the scoring table for a tight split decision victory.
Zachary Reese def. José Medina via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Reese came out swinging, landing heavy blow after blow right out of the gate but was unable to finish off Medina. However, that dominant work gave him more than enough love from the judges for a unanimous decision.
Viacheslav Borshchev def. James Llontop via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
Despite a long stoppage due to an eye poke and an ensuing strike from Llontop, Borshchev earned the favour of the judges with a gritty performance in the split decision win.
Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Josiane Nunes via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
Despite an impressive third round for Nunes, Cavalcanti built up her five-fight win streak after a dominant first two rounds, complete with just enough striking to take her over the top for a split decision win.
Wang Cong def. Victoria Leonardo via KO at 1:02 in Round 1
Wang Cong remained undefeated in pro MMA after finding her spot with a wicked straight right jab to knock out Victoria Leonardo early on in Round 1.