The UFC heavyweight championship is on the line on August 15 when Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier complete their trilogy in the main event of UFC 252.
In 2018, light heavyweight champion Cormier shocked the world when he stopped Miocic to become a two-division titlist. But Miocic evened the score with „DC“ in emphatic fashion a year later, setting the stage for what promises to be an epic showdown to determine the greatest heavyweight of all-time. Plus, former heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos battles feared knockout artist Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and „Sugar“ Sean O’Malley looks to keep his finishing streak intact against Marlon Vera.
EARLY PRELIMS, 7PM/4PM ETPT
Kai Kamaka (29-28 x 3) def. Tony Kelley by Unanimous Decision
Featherweight newcomers Kai Kamaka III and Tony Kelley proved that they belonged in the big show, as they delivered an action-packed three-rounder won by Kamaka via unanimous decision.
Scores were 29-28 across the board for Hawaii’s Kamaka, now 8-2. Kelley falls to 6-2.
Both fighters came out fast to begin the fight, but while Kelley landed some good shots early, once Kamaka found his rhythm, his left hooks to the head and body began taking their toll on the Louisianan, who was taken down a couple times in the closing stages of the round as well.
The pace didn’t dip in round two, and while Kamaka may have edged Kelley in terms of significant strikes landed, Kelley threw in enough aggressive flurries to make it close and perhaps steal the frame.
Told that he needed to get after it in the final frame, Kelley did just that, only to get stuck on his back on the canvas after pulling guard in an attempt to sink in a guillotine choke. With three minutes left, Kelley was able to get back to his feet and the exchanges commenced, neither fighter willing to back down. A low knee by Kelley brought a momentary stop to the bout with 90 seconds left, and when it resumed, there was a brief respite before the 145-pounders got back to trading blows and capping off a great start to the UFC 252 card.
Chris Daukaus def. Parker Porter by TKO at 4:28, Round 1
In a meeting of heavyweight debutants, Philadelphia police officer Chris Daukaus entered the UFC win column for the first time, stopping Parker Porter in a single round.
Daukaus and Porter were measured in their approach early in the fight as they looked for their opportunity to strike. And when they did throw, the shots certainly had an effect, but it was Daukaus who drew first blood when he knocked Porter down with under 90 seconds to go in the opening round. Porter got back to his feet, but his legs were still wobbly and Daukaus took advantage, landing a right hand-knee combination before a final right hand brought in referee Herb Dean to stop the fight at 4:28 of round one.
With the win, Daukaus moves to 9-3. Connecticut’s Porter falls to 10-6.
PRELIMS, 8PM/5PM ETPT
Ashley Yoder vs Livinha Souza
Bout coming up on ESPN, ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes
TJ Brown vs Danny Chavez
Bout coming up on ESPN, ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes
Felice Herrig vs Virna Jandiroba
Bout coming up on ESPN, ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes
Jim Miller vs Vinc Pichel
Bout coming up on ESPN, ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes
MAIN CARD, 10PM/7PM ETPT
John Dodson vs Merab Dvalishvili
Herbert Burns vs Daniel Pineda
Junior Dos Santos vs Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Sean O’Malley vs Marlon Vera
Stipe Miocic vs Daniel Cormier
