PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX Spots 2, 8 p.m. ET)
Sirwan Kakai vs. Frankie Saenz
Round 1: Saenz with an opening round inside leg kick to start the fight. They have good exchanges in the pocket as Kakaki is landing a lot of clean shots. Saenz clinched, he landed a big knee, then tossed Kakai to the ground. Kakai made his way back to his feet quickly.
Round 2: There wasn’t too much to this round as neither fighter wanted to take it to the ground, but didn’t showcase much of their striking while keeping it on the feet. Late in the round, Kakai thought better and took Saenz down. It didn’t last long as Saenz made it to his feet moments later.
Round 3: Saenz landed a double leg takedown right out of the gate. He took Kakai down, he got the back of Kakai and went for a rear naked choke, but Kakai rolled to his feet. Saenz landed some elbows to the temple of Kakai and busted him open. Saenz just wore him down in the later stages of this round…
Result: Frankie Saenz def. Sirwan Kakai via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 30-27)
Willie Gates vs. Dustin Ortiz
Round 1: Ortiz goes right at Gates and works for a takedown. Moments later, Ortiz dragged Gates down to the ground. Ortiz outs Gates on his back. Moments later, Gates scrambled to his back. Gates uses his range well, but Ortiz takes him down with a double leg shortly after they start exchanging. Ortiz moves over into side control. Ortiz transitions into mount and worked over Gates with strikes.
Round 2: Ortiz opened the round by clinching with Gates. Ortiz was just so much more powerful than Gates in this fight up until this point. He just controlled all aspects of this fight. Ortiz worked him over with strikes. At 1:34, Ortiz landed a trip takedown into mount. Gates gave up his back, Ortiz took it and locked in the rear-naked choke. Gates got out, Ortiz lit him up with strikes to close the round.
Round 3: Ortiz continued his wrestling dominates as he took Gates down right away to begin the round. Gates had nothing to put Ortiz in danger in this fight. Ortiz landed a series of elbows to the face of Gates from the top.Ortiz blitzed him with strikes to end the fight.
Result: Dustin Ortiz def. Willie Gates via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 2:58
Chris Camozzi vs. Tom Watson
Round 1: Both men look to clinch early, Camozzi tagged Watson as they separated with a left hook. Watson shot in, but caught by Camozzi with a guillotine choke, but Watson got out. Tough. Watson is bleeding from his nose. Camozzi with a nice foot trip to Watson and got the back of Watson. Camozzi looked for a rear-naked choke
Round 2: While they were clinching, Watson caught Camozzi with a knee to the groin. One point was taken away from him. Back to the acton, Watson presses the action. Watson shot in on a takedown, but stuffed. Camozzi went for another guillotine choke, but Watson got out and to his feet. Towards the end of this round, Camozzi started to slow down. With sixteen seconds to go in the round, Watson landed his double leg takedown.
Round 3: Both men have kept up a fast paced fight, which has resulted in Camozzi bleeding from his right cheek on his face and both men slowing down. Camozzi with an easy takedown into guard. Watson made it to his feet, they trade to the finish.
Result: Chris Camozzi def. Tom Watson via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-26, 29-27)
Oluwale Bamgbose vs. Uriah Hall
Round 1: Bamgbose throwing a lot of wild strikes early on. Hall stays calm as usual. Bamgbose was tripped, Hall got into guard where he landed some right hands to finish the fight.
Result: Uriah Hall def. Oluwale Bamgbose via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:32
