Read on for UFC Austin main card results…
Houston’s Derrick Lewis had fans at Austin’s Frank Erwin Center roaring in the UFC Fight Night co-main event Sunday, as he scored a third-round knockout of Marcin Tybura in a clash of top-ten heavyweights.
A mix of a right hand and a takedown put Tybura on the deck in the first 30 seconds of the bout, but the Poland native stayed cool under pressure, and after getting to his feet, he took advantage of a Lewis slip and took the mount position on the fighters’ second trip to the mat. Lewis got upright and scored a knockdown of Tybura, but after taking some hard ground strikes, “Tybur” reversed position and got on top, nearly locking up a kimura just before the horn sounded.
Soak it in, @TheBeast_UFC. #UFCAustin pic.twitter.com/W4nRiV9ohG
— UFC (@ufc) February 19, 2018
Lewis’ right hands were still scoring in the second round, but Tybura fought back and got a takedown, immediately moving into side control. As Lewis tried to get up, Tybura took his back and then moved into mount, keeping the Texan grounded for the rest of the frame.
Early in round three, it looked like Tybura was going to sail to the victory on the scorecards, but in the midst of an exchange against the fence, Lewis struck and kept striking, with a right hand putting Tybura on the canvas. Tybura tried to get a takedown, but the punches kept coming, and referee Dan Miragliotta stepped in, halting the bout at 2:48 of the final round.
With the win, the No. 7-ranked Lewis moves to 19-5. The No. 9-ranked Tybura falls to 16-4.
VICK vs TRINALDO
In a meeting of lightweight contenders, No. 12-ranked James Vick won a three-round unanimous decision over No. 14-ranked Francisco Trinaldo.
Fort Worth’s Vick used his range well against the much shorter Trinaldo, but it was a knockdown from the Texan that allowed “Massaranduba” to get his hands on his foe. On the mat, Trinaldo nearly locked in a guillotine choke, but Vick fought his way free and, once standing, he resumed his control from the outside.
Brasilia’s Trinaldo got a takedown in the opening minute of round two. Vick got up and scored one of his own but the two rose quickly, Vick landing with a kick to the head that Trinaldo took well. For the remainder of the frame, it was Vick using his kicks and knees to keep Trinaldo at bay.
The third was more of the same, with Trinaldo aggressive, but without a plan to catch up to Vick, who kept to the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” game plan that earned him the victory by three scores of 29-28.
MILLENDER vs ALVES
California welterweight Curtis Millender arrived in the UFC with a lot of pre-fight expectations on his shoulders and he delivered on all of them, as he knocked out Brazilian veteran Thiago Alves in the second round.
The real deal.@CurtiousCurtis claims the W in his UFC debut. #UFCAustin pic.twitter.com/GiHCM5E6ey
— UFC (@ufc) February 19, 2018
Millender looked comfortable as he opened up his UFC career, while Alves seemed to have difficulty settling into a rhythm. With a little over two minutes left in the first round, Millender staggered Alves with a short left hand, and though the veteran recovered quickly, a minute later a right hand had the same effect. This time, Alves was hurt, and after another right hand sent the Brazilian to the canvas, Millender began to celebrate. The fight wasn’t over, though, and Alves got up and began firing back, even scoring a takedown just before the horn.
Alves tried to get back into the fight in round two, but he couldn’t get past Millender’s jab, and with less than a minute left in the stanza, Millender ended matters with a single knee to the head. The official time of referee Jacob Montalvo’s stoppage was 4:17 of the second round.
Fullerton’s Millender moves to 15-3 with the win. Alves falls to 27-12.
DAVIS vs PETERSON
Octagon newcomer Steven Peterson may have lost his debut to fellow Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series alum Brandon Davis, but the Texan’s fighting spirit can’t be questioned, as he kept pressing for three exciting rounds before dropping a unanimous decision.
Scores for Mississippi’s Davis, now 9-3, were 30-27, 30-26 and 29-28. Peterson falls to 16-7.
The two featherweights got into a fight immediately, but Davis’ movement and accurate strikes put him in the lead early and he never trailed again. That didn’t stop Peterson from moving forward and trying to turn things in his favor, and even though he was bloodied and got badly rocked by a third-round knee, he wouldn’t fade. Ultimately, it was Davis’ night, and his decision to step in on short notice for Humberto Bandenay paid off as he picked up his first Octagon victory.
NORTHCUTT vs GOUTI
Call it ten the hard way, as lightweight prospect Sage Northcutt held off a determined charge from France’s Thibault Gouti to win a three-round unanimous decision and earn his tenth victory as a pro.
Gouti (12-4) was the aggressor to start the bout, with Northcutt (10-2) responding by scoring a thudding takedown 30 seconds in. With three minutes left, Gouti got to his feet and rocked Northcutt with a right hand, and the Texan fell right into a guillotine choke attempt. Northcutt pulled free, and while he was pinned against the fence, he scored with several elbows and a knee before getting loose, making it to the end of the round with a cut over his right eye.
Gouti’s right hand jarred Northcutt again in the second minute of round two, and the Frenchman began to control matters on the mat and against the fence. After a restart from referee Kerry Hatley with a little less than a minute to go, Northcutt began to get busier with his striking, but he didn’t land anything of consequence.
Trying to get momentum back on his side, Northcutt fired off strikes early in round three, but soon it was Gouti grounding his opponent. Northcutt stayed busy while locked up and with a little over a minute remaining in the fight, Hatley restarted the action. Now it was Northcutt’s turn to look for a takedown, but Gouti defended well. Northcutt did land a couple good shots before the final horn, and while he didn’t finish, he did pick up the win via three scores of 29-28.
