Eryk Anders defeated Gerald Meerschaert via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Ya Boi adds another win in his quest to re-build himself!
After suffering three straight losses and a rough start early this year, Erik Anders is right back on the track with two back to back wins. In the opening fight of the main event, Erik faced submission specialist Gerald Meerschaert who himself was coming off a win with a submission win over Trevin Giles. Not wanting to deal with Gerald’s ground game, Erik kept most of the fight on the feet with his crisp punches and kicks. Gerald responded with his own combinations but at times fell short and ended up eating Erik’s strikes. As the rounds progressed, Eriks’s aggression spiked up and again dropped Gerald to the canvas. His punches keep landing and early in the second round wobbles Gerald with a left but gives enough time for him to recover. In the third, its do or die for Gerald who opened the round strong with his punches throwing all he had in his arsenal. Gerald’s combination opened up a cut under Erik’s left eye, but unfazed he retaliates with strong left hand. After swinging some heavy leather in the final round, both the middle weights appear to be exhausted but with one final wind, Eriks goes for a jumping knee but gets caught with a stiff left from Gerald. The fight was a close one to score, but the judges give an edge to Eriks.
Hard fought, but Ya Boi pulls it out!@ErykAnders earns the split decision win at #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/YtAuYB0VWI
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2019
Matt Frevola defeated Luis Pena via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
When Matt fought and won in DWTN Contender Series (Season 1) back in 2017, he wouldn’t of thought it would be an uphill battle right away. After suffering a KO loss in just 60 secs of the first round, Matt then lost a majority draw after a closely fought war against Lando Vannata. But the Serra-Longo team standout is known for his strong will and quickly rebounded with a win early this year. He displayed the same fighting spirit against Luis Pena as he grilled him right from the start with several leg kicks. “The Steamrolla” landed two huge hooks that just missed Pena, but he compensated them with another set of leg kicks. In the second round, Pena takes up the charge and rushed from his corner clipping Matt. Pena took Matt to the ground and as he caught him flush and quickly went for a kimura. A back and forth action ensued as both the light weights tried to deploy their game plan on one another on the stand up and the ground. But after a very close fight, the judges scored it in the favour of Matt Frevola.
Agree?#UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/kZDZmQ9hZo
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2019
Amanda Ribas defeated Mackenzie Dern via Unanimous Decision
Amanda Ribas derailed the Mackenzie Hype Train!
Mackenzie Dern might have gotten all the attention leading up to her fight since staying away more than a year from competing due to pregnancy and child birth, but it was Ribas who got all the praise during the fight and left the octagon on a high note. Ribas with her long reach and constant movement controlled the action right from the start. Her stiff jabs and over hand rights caused Dern the most problems and when she attempted to take the fight to the ground, Ribas effortlessly stuffed them.
Dern who was undefeated in her MMA career showed signs of ring rust and for the most part was uncomfortable in getting hit as he head snapped back each time a punch landed. Whenever Ribas landed punches, Dern just turned her head away in vain. Ribas continued to push the pace for three rounds landing stiff jabs and when she got the opportunity took Dern down with her Judo throws. All in all it was a display of high striking skills from the Brazilian who landed several significant strikes when compared to Dern’s 15 in the entire fight. With the biggest win of her career, Ribas is now 2-0 in the UFC, while Dern suffered her first MMA loss.
Who ya got? #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/VBBC0cf8IL
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2019
Ribas rocks Dern, then takes her down here in round 1! #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/b7HyvayaBw
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2019
Amanda Ribas landing at will tonight #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/eip3Qg4Uzz
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2019
30×27 x3!@AmandaRibasUFC gets the UD win over Dern at #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/14msNZMHl7
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2019
Niko Price defeated James Vick via KO in Round 1
The Hybrid welcomes James Vick to the welterweight division with an unexpected KO!
After suffering three straight losses in the light weight division, James Vick decided to move up to welterweight. But the move did not go well with him as Niko Price knocked him out from the ground using an up kick that landed flush on Vick’s chin. After getting repeatedly hit by Price and suffering a bleeding nose Vick is taken down but ends up in the top position. Out of nowhere, Price threw a monstrous up kick that sent Vick collapsing on his knees at 1:44 into the opening frame. With this win, Price has rebounded after losing to Geoff Neal in July 2019. For Vick, his UFC career now looks in jeopardy as he suffered four straight losses.
UPKICK KNOCKOUT!!#UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/yGCqmq42CW
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/FTBeard11/status/1183200042397523968
Cub Swanson defeated Kron Gracie via Unanimous Decision
Cub Swanson settles the grudge by defeating a Gracie!
The last two years were no doubt the most difficult for the UFC veteran Cub Swanson, but when presented with an opportunity what many called a stepping stone for Kron Gracie, Swanson just flipped the tables. Following four straight losses from 2017 to 2019, Swanson’s back was against the cage and was desperately in need of a big win. He made a huge statement and delivered what was expected against a big name.
Cub relied on his vast fighting experience as he mixed punches, body shots and leg kicks to keep the undefeated Kron Gracie from implementing his ground game. For the entire fight, Swanson got the better of the exchanges and also avoided getting taken down by the BJJ black belt. Kron tried to stand and trade with Swanson, but was easily side stepped with every move and got beat up. This was a much needed win for Swanson who can now happily add a Gracie name in his long list of career victories at a time when he was considered to be just a stepping stone.
Listen to these body shots 😩#UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/NUSt231KKd
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2019
What a fight!#UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/l6wGcFkvfb
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2019
Killer Cub back in the win column! #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/KP4Oubv1Z6
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2019
Joanna Jedrzejczyk defeated Michelle Waterson via Unanimous Decision
Joanna Jedrzejczyk is back and hungry for the strawweight gold.
The main event saw two elite strikers of the straw weight division collide to secure a guaranteed spot for a title contention next year. Waterson with her three fight win streak stepped in as the underdog, while the former champion Joanna who lost to Valentina last year came back to her division as the heavy favorite. Waterson tried her level best to topple Joanna, but the former champion’s size and power was just too much for her. Waterson’s striking fell short as she was unable to land any major strikes and when trying to take Joanna to the ground was denied with a strong wrestling defense. Even in the clinch, Waterson felt the strength and control Joanna possessed. The more time and space Waterson gave, the more comfortable Joanna got in her timing and delivery. As the rounds progrssed, Joanna landed more combinations in rapid fire succession as Waterson was left dazed. It might not have been a powerful performance from Joanna, but she did enough damage to neutralize Waterson in every aspect of the fight game. This win may get Joanna the much awaited title shot at the reigning champion Weili.
Front kick lands flush for Joanna! #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/OT1JKCnaVU
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2019
Waterson gets the back and has the former champ in trouble! #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/HR4znu3G5p
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2019
"Even if the person is losing the fight, they're not a loser. They're a winner."@JoannaMMA post-fight speech ❤️ #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/kHR07Fn3bE
— UFC (@ufc) October 13, 2019