The UFC returned to the AT&T Center in San Antonio, TX for UFC on ESPN 4. The card was headlined with a welterweight showdown between #4 Rafael Dos Anjos and #11 Leon Edwards, which could potentially lead to a shot at the champion, Kamaru Usman.
At Wednesday’s open workout, Edwards said he would be better than Dos Anjos in every aspect of the fight, and on Saturday night he proved that. Edwards opened the fight looking to wear down the former lightweight champion. “…I knew coming into the fight if I took the first two rounds, I’m gonna win the fight because he rarely comes back and wins after losing two rounds.”
Edwards never looked hurt, or even flustered, during the match. While separating out of a clinch, he landed an elbow that cut Dos Anjos above his right eye, which eventually became a target for Edwards’ punches.
Both fighters were noticeably more tired in the fifth round, but Dos Anjos seemed to have a little more pep in his step. Knowing he needed a finish, Dos Anjos kept with the forward pace, but couldn’t put anything together that hurt Edwards.
Edwards, now on an 8-fight winning streak, second most in the division behind Usman (10), wants either a title shot and rematch with Usman, or a fight with his foe, Jorge Masvidal. “I want one more fight before the end of the year, the little weasel Jorge Masdival, I’d love to get him, if not, give me the rematch against Kamaru Usman, he was the last guy to beat me…”
In the co-main event, #14 Walt Harris needed only 12 seconds to finish his former training partner, #9 Aleksei Oleinik. Harris said in a post-fight interview, while wearing a Davy Crockett hat, “It’s an ode to the great, late, Davy Crockett… He killed bears with his bare hands. The Russian symbol is a bear. So, my goal tonight was to kill a bear, pun intended.”
Harris feels he’s getting better at wrestling and jiu-jitsu, and would like to show his improved skills, but he also says he doesn’t get paid by the minute or hour, so he’s fine with the quick work.
With the win, which will most likely propel him into the top 10, Harris is looking toward top tier competition. “I have no injuries, I’m going right back to the drawing board on Monday. I have my eye on all of the top 10 heavyweights now, they know what’s up.”
In the featured fight of the night, former NFL Pro Bowler and Contender Series signee, Greg Hardy, needed only 45 seconds to stop Juan Adams.
This matchup caused quite an uproar around the fight community for a several reasons. Outside of the obvious, Hardy’s past, was the placement on the card of two Contender Series signees over former title contenders and established fighters. Another, was for allowing Hardy to compete in the UFC.
Saturday night proved without a doubt why Greg Hardy is in the UFC. While Juan Adams and Greg Hardy walked to the octagon, the media room cleared out to watch this fight, despite fighters who competed earlier coming back for interviews.
Adams was able to get a little blood flow from Hardy’s nose a few seconds into the fight, but the offense wasn’t enough to slow him down. With a failed takedown attempt from Adams, Hardy was able to pin down his opponent and land more than 30 unanswered punches to his head.
After the fight was stopped, Adams protested the ref’s decision, but it appeared to be the correct call. Following the fight, Hardy said he’s going to let the UFC and his agent decide who he’ll fight next, but suggested to other fighters to keep his name out of their mouths. “Juan was the people’s hero and you see what happened to their hero. Quit saying my name or I’m going to show up.”
Full Results:
Leon Edwards def Rafael dos Anjos via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 49-46 x2)
Walt Harris def Aleksei Oleinik via Knockout – :12 of Round 1
Greg Hardy def Juan Adams via TKO – :45 of Round 1
Dan Hooker def James Vick via Knockout – 2:33 of Round 1
Alexander Hernandez def Francisco Trinaldo via Unanimous Decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Andrei Arlovski def Ben Rothwell via Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3)
Alex Caceres def Steven Peterson via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Raquel Pennington def Irene Aldana via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)
Klidson Abreu def Sam Alvey via Unanimous Decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Jennifer Maia def Roxanne Modafferi via Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3)
Ray Borg def Gabriel Silva via Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3)
Mario Bautista def Jin Soo Son via Unanimous Decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Felipe Colares def Domingo Pilarte via Split Decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
Main card
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Leon Edwards
Aleksei Oleinik vs. Walt Harris
Greg Hardy vs. Juan Adams
James Vick vs. Dan Hooker
Alexander Hernandez vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Andrei Arlovski vs. Ben Rothwell
Preliminaries
Alex Caceres vs. Steven Peterson
Raquel Pennington vs. Irene Aldana
Sam Alvey vs. Klidson Abreu
Roxanne Modafferi vs. Jennifer Maia
Ray Borg vs. Gabriel Silva
Mario Bautista def. Jin Soo Son
Felipe Colares def. Domingo Pilarte