In Sao Paulo, Brazil, a number of name UFC fighters — including main eventer Thiago Santos facing his third scheduled opponent for the card — met in for UFC Fight Night 137.
In the main, both light heavyweights came out with bad intentions, throwing heavy strikes and engaging in explosive grappling exchanges. In round two, Santos started landing cleaner and cleaner shots, offering Eryk Anders an (unfortunate) opportunity to show off his exceptional chin. Then in the third, it was Anders who started finding success, using his wrestling to push Santos back to the fence and avoid the blistering power of Santos — until a series of short elbows to the side of Anders’ head left him unable to stand and walk back to the corner at the end of the round.
PHONE BOOTH FIGHTING!!#UFCSP @TMarretaMMA @ErykAnders pic.twitter.com/jVciMISDcj
— UFC (@ufc) September 23, 2018
In the co-main event, Alex Oliveira took little time in dispatching of Carlo Pedersoli Jr., catching an errantly thrown kick and countering with a heavy left shot that sent Pedersoli Jr. crashing to the mat. A few more blows, and it was a first round stoppage in the books for the Brazilian ‘Cowboy’.
DON’T BLINK!
“Cowboy” Oliveira ends it IN SECONDS at #UFCSP!! pic.twitter.com/1J5ogtp4Qa
— UFC (@ufc) September 23, 2018
They always say that power is the last thing to leave a fighter and earlier in the night, a Brazilian legend in Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (better known as Lil’ Nog) found himself picking up the victory at 42-years old. Facing off with Sam Alvey, the pair had a tentative first round, only for Nogueira to land a strong left early into round two. Immediately, Alvey was forced backwards with Nogueira wildly charging and searching for the knockout — which he found.
LITTLE NOG DOES IT!!@MinotouroMMA still got it at 42!! #UFCSP pic.twitter.com/jZqsTSc6DP
— UFC (@ufc) September 23, 2018
But while the Brazilian with a storied past in Lil’ Nog did well, former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao continued a streak of poor fortune when, after showing solid grappling in the first round of his contest with Andre Ewell, eventually lost a split decision. The result, combined with Bareo’s missing weight by five pounds, shows how far the mighty has fallen. Prior to losing his world title to TJ Dillashaw in 2014, Barao was unbeaten in 32 contests. Since that defeat, he has gone 2-5.
FULL RESULTS:
Main Card (FOX Sports 1)
Thiago Santos vs. Eryk Anders
Alex Oliveira def. Carlo Pedersoli Jr. via KO (punches) in R1
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira def. Sam Alvey via KO (punches) in R2
Andre Ewell def. Renan Barao via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Marina Rodriguez, Randa Markos fight to majority draw (28-29, 28-28, 28-28)
Preliminary Card (FOX Sports 2)
Charles Oliveira def. Christos Giagos via submission (rear-naked choke) in R2
Francisco Trinaldo def. Evan Dunham via KO (knee to the body) in R2
Ryan Spann def. Luis Henrique via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Augusto Sakai def. Chase Sherman via TKO (strikes) in R3
Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Sergio Moraes def. Ben Saunders via submission (arm triangle choke) in R2
Mayra Bueno Silva def. Gillian Robertson via submission (armbar) in R1
Thales Leites def. Hector Lombard via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos def. Luigi Vendramini via KO (strikes) in R2
Livia Renata Souza def. Alex Chambers via submission (guillotine) in R1
