Brendan Allen needed almost every minute of his five-round main event to put Christian Leroy Duncan away, but when the opportunity finally arrived, he made absolutely sure of it.
A fifth-round rear-naked choke capped an entertaining UFC Fight Night at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, where nine of the twelve fights ended inside the distance. There were two spectacular head-kick knockouts, a controversial judges’ decision and a veteran calling time on his career.
Allen’s victory was the headline, but there was plenty more worth talking about.
ALLEN DRAGS DUNCAN INTO DEEP WATER
Christian Leroy Duncan arrived in Las Vegas riding five consecutive victories and looking increasingly comfortable among the middleweight elite. He left with plenty of credit, but also a painful lesson about fighting someone as experienced and relentless as Brendan Allen.
For long stretches, Duncan looked excellent. His movement, striking variety and ability to attack from distance made life difficult for Allen, particularly early in the contest.
The Brit was sharp with his kicks and punches, repeatedly forcing Allen to work his way inside. When the fight stayed at range, Duncan often looked the more dangerous man.
Unfortunately for him, Allen had no intention of keeping it there.
The American began finding success with his wrestling in the second round, dragging Duncan into the sort of exhausting grappling exchanges that become increasingly difficult to escape as a fight progresses.
Duncan continued to compete impressively, particularly in the fourth round, when his striking reminded everyone that he was still very much in the contest.
There was also controversy in the second, when referee Marc Goddard deducted a point from Duncan following an eye poke. The penalty threatened to become significant in a competitive fight, although Allen eventually ensured the judges would have no say.
In the fifth, Allen secured another takedown, worked his way onto Duncan’s back and locked up the rear-naked choke. Duncan was forced to tap at 2:46.
It was a hugely satisfying performance from Allen, who showed exactly why experience over five rounds can be such an advantage.
Duncan’s striking is already dangerous enough to trouble high-level opposition, but Allen exposed a weakness he will need to address if he wants to continue climbing the rankings. Defending the occasional takedown is one thing. Dealing with persistent wrestling pressure for 25 minutes is another.
Allen has now won four straight and will understandably be looking towards the top of the division.
HERBERT SHOWS THERE’S LIFE IN THE OLD DOG YET
At 38, Jai Herbert continues to make life difficult for younger lightweights who arrive expecting to overpower him.
Matheus Camilo was the favourite heading into their co-main event, bringing an impressive wrestling game and plenty of athleticism. He certainly had his moments, including hurting Herbert late in the opening round.
But Herbert refused to be bullied.
The Wolverhampton fighter used his significant height and reach advantages effectively, making Camilo work to close the distance. More impressively, when Camilo did manage to get the fight to the mat, Herbert demonstrated that his own grappling was more than capable of keeping him competitive.
A reversal in the second round allowed Herbert to establish control, and he continued working effectively through the final five minutes.
The judges returned three identical 29-28 scorecards in his favour.
It was a disciplined, intelligent performance from a fighter who knows how to manage difficult situations. Herbert survived Camilo’s best moments, took advantage when opportunities presented themselves and finished the stronger of the two.
The Onchain Edge had backed Herbert by decision despite The Model favouring Camilo at 65.8%, making this one of the weekend’s most satisfying calls.
GODINEZ WINS, BUT SOUZA CAN FEEL HARD DONE BY
Loopy Godinez collected another UFC victory with a unanimous decision over Ketlen Souza, although the result was anything but convincing.
Souza looked dangerous throughout the opening two rounds, landing some of the cleaner and more damaging strikes while making it difficult for Godinez to establish her wrestling.
Godinez finally enjoyed sustained success on the ground in the third, securing a takedown and controlling much of the round.
Whether that was enough to earn her the fight is another question.
All three judges scored the contest 29-28 for Godinez, a decision that attracted considerable criticism. Souza had a strong argument for winning the opening two rounds, and several media scorecards favoured the Brazilian.
Godinez deserves credit for finding a way to finish strongly, but Souza can consider herself unfortunate not to leave Las Vegas with the victory.
A rematch wouldn’t be the worst idea.
WALKER OVERWHELMS MEERSCHAERT
Gerald Meerschaert has made a career out of punishing opponents who underestimate his submission game. Unfortunately, Julius Walker gave him very little opportunity to demonstrate it.
The younger, more athletic Walker imposed his wrestling almost immediately, taking Meerschaert down and delivering heavy ground-and-pound.
Meerschaert survived the opening round, but the punishment continued in the second. Walker eventually forced the referee to intervene at 3:35, recording an impressive TKO victory.
It was a dominant showing from Walker, who had entered the fight following two stoppage defeats of his own.
For Meerschaert, the result marked the end of an extraordinary career. The 38-year-old announced his retirement afterwards, bringing down the curtain on a UFC run that included eleven middleweight submission victories.
Whatever the disappointing ending, Meerschaert leaves behind an outstanding legacy as one of the division’s most dangerous submission specialists.
PRADO RETURNS TO WINNING WAYS
Francisco Prado desperately needed a victory after four consecutive defeats, and he delivered one in emphatic fashion against Ismael Bonfim.
The build-up had already been overshadowed by Bonfim’s extraordinary weight miss. The Brazilian tipped the scales at 163.5 pounds, a staggering 7.5 pounds over the lightweight non-title limit.
Prado, returning to 155 pounds himself, made weight without issue and entered the Octagon determined to end his losing streak.
He pressured Bonfim, forced hard exchanges and eventually overwhelmed him with strikes late in the first round, earning the TKO at 4:23.
For Prado, it was a much-needed reminder of the finishing ability that made him an exciting prospect in the first place.
For Bonfim, it was another miserable evening. Four consecutive stoppage defeats, combined with such a substantial weight miss, leave serious questions about what comes next.
FILI AND TANZILOVI DELIVER THE HIGHLIGHTS
If you enjoy a perfectly timed head-kick knockout, Saturday’s card provided two excellent examples.
Andre Fili produced one of the night’s finest finishes against Kai Kamaka III, landing a devastating head kick just 22 seconds into the second round.
It was the sort of knockout that needs very little explanation. One clean shot, and the fight was over.
Otari Tanzilovi followed with another spectacular head-kick finish against Malcolm Wellmaker, adding his name to the evening’s highlight reel.
Elsewhere, Niko Price stopped Leon Shahbazyan in the opening round, Alice Pereira overwhelmed Daria Zhelezniakova before the second round could begin, and Brendson Ribeiro submitted Felipe Franco with a first-round guillotine.
The opening fight between Ernesta Kareckaite and Melissa Gatto ended in a majority draw following a point deduction, preventing what would otherwise have been eleven outright winners across the card.
Nine finishes from twelve fights. Not a bad night’s entertainment.
FIVE FROM FIVE IN FIGHT LAB
It was also an excellent weekend for The Onchain Edge.
All five featured Fight Lab predictions landed the correct winner, with four also getting the winning method right.
Allen’s submission was the only method miss, having been backed to win by decision, although the prospect of a late submission had been highlighted in the preview.
The biggest successes were Allen and Herbert, both selected against The Model’s preferred winners. Walker, Prado and Godinez completed the clean sweep, although the controversy surrounding Godinez’s decision deserves acknowledging.
Across the full eleven-fight card, the final selections recorded eight correct winners, compared with five for The Model.
Plenty to be pleased about heading into the next event.
EDGE GAMES: FRED BOUNCES BACK, ARNI011 SETS THE PACE
After a rough opening week in Season Zero, Fred bounced back in style to take the Allen vs Duncan event victory.
Eight correct winners and four perfect picks earned him 32 points, enough to finish ahead of Lman on 26 and Arni011 on 25. TJC wasn’t far behind with 23 points, having correctly selected seven winners, while Shark Attack completed the top five on 20.
The Model endured a tougher evening, finishing tied for sixth with 17 points.
But while Fred claimed the weekend’s bragging rights, Arni011 has taken the early lead in the Season Zero standings.
After two events, Arni011 sits top with 72 points, an impressive 18 correct winners and 11 perfect picks. That’s four points clear of The Model in second on 68, with Fred recovering to third on 60.
MTomps and Lman are tied on 59 points, with TJC just one point further back.
Only two events into the season and the competition is already taking shape. Arni011 has set a formidable early standard, but there’s plenty of time for the chasing pack to respond.
Pick the card. Back your read. Climb the board.
