The UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City featured a series of compelling preliminary matchups on Saturday, setting the stage for the main event between Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman. These preliminary bouts showcased a mix of rising prospects and newcomers aiming to make an impact before the main card commenced.
The preliminary card began at 5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT and was streamed live on Paramount+ in the United States. Several fighters secured notable victories, demonstrating their skills and positioning themselves for future opportunities within the promotion.
Key Prelim Victories
In a dominant performance, Felipe Franco secured his first UFC victory by defeating Levi Rodrigues Jr. via TKO (strikes) at 1:40 of Round 2. Franco, returning to the light heavyweight division, showcased his grappling and ground-and-pound. After an initial exchange in the first round, Franco successfully took Rodrigues Jr. to the canvas and worked to mount. In the second round, a right hand allowed Franco to again take his opponent down, leading to heavy ground-and-pound that secured the finish. This effort marked Franco as a prospect to watch in the 205-pound weight class, especially after his short-notice debut at heavyweight in March where he pushed Mario Pinto to a decision.
Ezra Elliott, in his UFC debut, defeated Damien Anderson by unanimous decision with scores of 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28. Elliott utilized his grappling and physicality throughout the three rounds. Despite missing weight on Friday morning, the MMA Lab representative managed to neutralize Anderson’s offense and gradually build his own. In the third round, Elliott again took Anderson to the ground and maintained control, preventing any significant comeback attempts. This was a strong debut for Elliott, who took the fight on Tuesday morning. He now holds an 8-0 career record and has established a record for the most takedowns in a featherweight fight within the UFC.
Alden Coria registered his third consecutive UFC victory by defeating Stewart Nicoll via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28). Coria, who was the biggest betting favorite on the card, demonstrated superior striking in the opening round and effectively scrambled to his feet whenever Nicoll attempted to grapple. Although Nicoll initiated some grappling exchanges, Coria consistently escaped and countered, landing more significant strikes throughout the fight. All three judges scored the bout in favor of Coria, extending his winning streak to four and his overall unbeaten streak to seven. His performance suggests there may be another level he can reach within the division.
Newcomers Make Their Mark
RJ Harris made a successful UFC debut, defeating Alvin Hines by TKO (strikes) at 1:40 of Round 1. Known as “The Hammer,” Harris displayed patience, waiting for openings to land powerful shots. A right hand backed up Hines, and as Hines advanced to re-engage, Harris delivered an uppercut that took Hines off his feet, initiating the finishing sequence. This impressive showing allowed the heavyweight newcomer to maintain his undefeated record and add to his finishing rate. Harris, who is 16 months into his professional career, now has a first-round UFC finish to his name.
Dione Barbosa quickly made an impression in her UFC bout, defeating newcomer Anna Melisano by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:04 of Round 1. Barbosa, known as “The Witch,” closed the distance almost immediately, taking Melisano to the canvas. She then attacked with various submissions, moving through dominant positions. Despite Melisano’s defense, Barbosa was relentless, ultimately securing the tap in the final minute of the first round. The preliminary card results set the stage for the main card, which also streamed live on Paramount+, featuring the highly anticipated middleweight showdown between Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman.
The main event, featuring former UFC champions, was a high-stakes middleweight clash. Dricus du Plessis aimed to reestablish himself at the top of the division after losing his title, while former welterweight king Kamaru Usman continued his move to 185 pounds. The co-main event included veteran contender Jared Cannonier against rising prospect Christian Leroy Duncan, alongside other fighters like Chase Hooper and Fatima Kline, rounding out a deep card.
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Source: ufc.com
