Who were the winners at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs Browne? Click below to get the results for all the fights at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Canada on Sunday, February 19, 2017.
Co-main: Johny Hendricks defeats Hector Lombard
Big Rigg wins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Big Rigg wins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
They said it:
Johny Hendricks: “I forgot what it’s like to win. I didn’t even get to experience everything I had because I was still concerned about whether or not I still had enough in the gas tank. At welterweight I couldn’t move like that in my last three fights, I just couldn’t. All of a sudden, there were thirty-seconds left and I started bouncing around and I was like ‘The only way he’s going to beat me is if he knocks me out.’ I found my weight class. I felt stronger than him, I felt faster than him and the sky is the limit at 185. Here’s the thing. That was a five week turn around for me. Give me two or three months to build up to 185 and put some real strength on and watch out 185. … I don’t know who’s next. It’s been a year since I felt a win and I’m going to feel it just for the night.”
Johny Hendricks: “I forgot what it’s like to win. I didn’t even get to experience everything I had because I was still concerned about whether or not I still had enough in the gas tank. At welterweight I couldn’t move like that in my last three fights, I just couldn’t. All of a sudden, there were thirty-seconds left and I started bouncing around and I was like ‘The only way he’s going to beat me is if he knocks me out.’ I found my weight class. I felt stronger than him, I felt faster than him and the sky is the limit at 185. Here’s the thing. That was a five week turn around for me. Give me two or three months to build up to 185 and put some real strength on and watch out 185. … I don’t know who’s next. It’s been a year since I felt a win and I’m going to feel it just for the night.”
Gavin Tucker defeats Sam Sicilia
Tucker goes the distance, but wins his UFC debut in convincing fashion over Sicilia (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) to remain undefeated in his professional career.
Tucker goes the distance, but wins his UFC debut in convincing fashion over Sicilia (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) to remain undefeated in his professional career.
They said it:
Gavin Tucker: “It was a dream come true, especially fighting here in Halifax. Halifax has adopted me as one of their own, I’m originally from Newfoundland, a very small town. I think half the island came here to support me. … Sam is super tough. I wanted to finish him. Of course, everyone wants a finish in their debut – or in every fight for that matter, but I felt that if I really went for it I may be risking this moment that I have right now. We played it safe. My team told me to manage the distance, that’s what we did and we got the win. I’ll be back in the gym tomorrow repping heel hooks and head kicks. As far as I know, I won. I didn’t wake up yet, so the dream’s not over. … I’d love to fight CM Punk – no I’m just kidding. I haven’t really thought about that. I think there are a lot of guys in the UFC that are jamming up the division. The featherweight division was really tough for me to get in to because there are a lot of guys fighting in it. I don’t want to be the guy to call out anyone, but I know there are a lot of featherweights I matchup well with.”
Gavin Tucker: “It was a dream come true, especially fighting here in Halifax. Halifax has adopted me as one of their own, I’m originally from Newfoundland, a very small town. I think half the island came here to support me. … Sam is super tough. I wanted to finish him. Of course, everyone wants a finish in their debut – or in every fight for that matter, but I felt that if I really went for it I may be risking this moment that I have right now. We played it safe. My team told me to manage the distance, that’s what we did and we got the win. I’ll be back in the gym tomorrow repping heel hooks and head kicks. As far as I know, I won. I didn’t wake up yet, so the dream’s not over. … I’d love to fight CM Punk – no I’m just kidding. I haven’t really thought about that. I think there are a lot of guys in the UFC that are jamming up the division. The featherweight division was really tough for me to get in to because there are a lot of guys fighting in it. I don’t want to be the guy to call out anyone, but I know there are a lot of featherweights I matchup well with.”
Elias Theodorou defeats Cezar Ferreira
The fight goes the distance, with Theodorou taking the victory by unanimous decision in convincing fashion (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
The fight goes the distance, with Theodorou taking the victory by unanimous decision in convincing fashion (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
They said it:
Elias Theodorou: “It feels great. Obviously, I’m Canadian but I’ve also fought three times here in Halifax. This is my second time fighting in Halifax with the UFC and I’m also the ECC middleweight champion – no big deal. I take pride in the ability to fight all over the world, but specifically Canada. … He started off his career as an Ultimate Fighter winner, he’s really tough and he jumped right in there. He took some losses, but he had momentum coming into the fight. He had three fights in a span where I only had one. I don’t really believe in ring rust, but I think it took into the second round for Stella to get her groove back, and yes, I’m talking about myself. … I really wanted to be the one welcome Rashad Evans into the middleweight division, but he’s fighting Dan Kelly who was another Ultimate Fighter contestant, and I would love to take the winner of that.”
Elias Theodorou: “It feels great. Obviously, I’m Canadian but I’ve also fought three times here in Halifax. This is my second time fighting in Halifax with the UFC and I’m also the ECC middleweight champion – no big deal. I take pride in the ability to fight all over the world, but specifically Canada. … He started off his career as an Ultimate Fighter winner, he’s really tough and he jumped right in there. He took some losses, but he had momentum coming into the fight. He had three fights in a span where I only had one. I don’t really believe in ring rust, but I think it took into the second round for Stella to get her groove back, and yes, I’m talking about myself. … I really wanted to be the one welcome Rashad Evans into the middleweight division, but he’s fighting Dan Kelly who was another Ultimate Fighter contestant, and I would love to take the winner of that.”
Sara McMann defeats Gina Mazany
McMann wins by submission in the first round. At 1:14, Sara McMann earns the second-fastest submission in UFC women’s bantamweight history behind only Ronda Rousey’s 14-second tapout of Cat Zingano.
McMann wins by submission in the first round. At 1:14, Sara McMann earns the second-fastest submission in UFC women’s bantamweight history behind only Ronda Rousey’s 14-second tapout of Cat Zingano.
They said it:
Sara McMann: “I’m really excited, I feel like I had the capability of beating Gina and I really feel that I have the capability of beating anyone they put in front of me. I’m doing so well with fighting; I feel like all things are clicking. My conditioning is great, my camps are great, everything is converging together for me to become the the complete martial artist that I’ve known I could be for years. … What’s next for me? The winner of (Valentina) Shevchenko and Amanda Nunes.”
Sara McMann: “I’m really excited, I feel like I had the capability of beating Gina and I really feel that I have the capability of beating anyone they put in front of me. I’m doing so well with fighting; I feel like all things are clicking. My conditioning is great, my camps are great, everything is converging together for me to become the the complete martial artist that I’ve known I could be for years. … What’s next for me? The winner of (Valentina) Shevchenko and Amanda Nunes.”
Paul Felder defeats Alessandro Ricci
Felder came out strong and finished it early, defeating Ricci by TKO with just seconds left in the opening round.
Felder came out strong and finished it early, defeating Ricci by TKO with just seconds left in the opening round.
They said it:
Paul Felder: “I really felt that he was trying to use his boxing. He wasn’t kicking me as much for the Muay Thai guy that he is. I knew he was out at Mayweather’s gym in Vegas working on his boxing, so we knew he was going to throw his jab. Everything we were working on was slipping him off and beating him to it with the elbow and he walked right into it. I got to land the Muay Thai strikes on the Muay Thai guy. … I’m happy with my performance. I could have let me hands go a little more; I’m sure my coaches will say that too. I still let him hit me more than I should have, but you know how I am, I don’t mind eating a couple shots just to kind of find my range and that’s exactly what happened. Once he started hitting me, I knew that was the game plan. I actually did a good job listening to his corner. They were saying that I was starting to overshoot and throw my punches sloppy and that’s when I started crisping up my shots, because of his corner. I thank his team as well.”
Paul Felder: “I really felt that he was trying to use his boxing. He wasn’t kicking me as much for the Muay Thai guy that he is. I knew he was out at Mayweather’s gym in Vegas working on his boxing, so we knew he was going to throw his jab. Everything we were working on was slipping him off and beating him to it with the elbow and he walked right into it. I got to land the Muay Thai strikes on the Muay Thai guy. … I’m happy with my performance. I could have let me hands go a little more; I’m sure my coaches will say that too. I still let him hit me more than I should have, but you know how I am, I don’t mind eating a couple shots just to kind of find my range and that’s exactly what happened. Once he started hitting me, I knew that was the game plan. I actually did a good job listening to his corner. They were saying that I was starting to overshoot and throw my punches sloppy and that’s when I started crisping up my shots, because of his corner. I thank his team as well.”
Santiago Ponzinibbio defeats Nordine Taleb
Ponzinibbio makes it four straight wins with a unanimous decision victory over Taleb (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Ponzinibbio makes it four straight wins with a unanimous decision victory over Taleb (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
BOOM!@SPonzinibbioMMA drops Taleb! #UFCHalifax pic.twitter.com/WJymNwtRCx
— #UFCHalifax (@ufc) February 20, 2017
They said it:
Santiago Ponzinibbio: “The welterweight division is for sure the most competitive. We are the most athletic in the sport. My striking is very good; my wrestling gets better every day and my grappling very dangerous. I am ready for a fight with someone in the top-10. I’m ready to be the next champion of this division. I know there’s no tomorrow and that I need more work, but I’m ready to be in the top-10 and for everyone in this division. I want a good striker, maybe Cowboy Cerrone or Matt Brown.”
Santiago Ponzinibbio: “The welterweight division is for sure the most competitive. We are the most athletic in the sport. My striking is very good; my wrestling gets better every day and my grappling very dangerous. I am ready for a fight with someone in the top-10. I’m ready to be the next champion of this division. I know there’s no tomorrow and that I need more work, but I’m ready to be in the top-10 and for everyone in this division. I want a good striker, maybe Cowboy Cerrone or Matt Brown.”
Randa Markos defeats Carla Esparza
Underdog Markos wins via split decision over the No. 3 ranked Esparza (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
Underdog Markos wins via split decision over the No. 3 ranked Esparza (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
They said it:
Randa Markos: “For me, this was really personal. After my last fight, the loss, I didn’t really get to show what I could do and this gave me the perfect opportunity going up against No. 3 Carla Esparza. Plus, she really pissed me off and I couldn’t forget about it. Just looking at her face reminded me of all the crap I went through. I knew it was now or never, so I just gave it everything I had. … I haven’t really sat down and thought about (where this win puts me in the division). All I was focused on was winning this fight. I really, really wanted this for myself. Maybe tonight I will sit down and think about it, but obviously the win puts me in a good spot.”
Randa Markos: “For me, this was really personal. After my last fight, the loss, I didn’t really get to show what I could do and this gave me the perfect opportunity going up against No. 3 Carla Esparza. Plus, she really pissed me off and I couldn’t forget about it. Just looking at her face reminded me of all the crap I went through. I knew it was now or never, so I just gave it everything I had. … I haven’t really sat down and thought about (where this win puts me in the division). All I was focused on was winning this fight. I really, really wanted this for myself. Maybe tonight I will sit down and think about it, but obviously the win puts me in a good spot.”
Aiemann Zahabi defeats Reginaldo Vieira
Zahabi wins his UFC debut via unanimous decision over Vieira (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Zahabi wins his UFC debut via unanimous decision over Vieira (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
They said it:
Aiemann Zahabi: “I’m really happy to grow up in Canada, and I’d love to be the guy to represent Canada for the UFC all over the world. I kind of expected my brother to be more nervous than me. When I was a kid, he used to take care of me; he used to carry me on his shoulders. My parents never went to a parent teacher meeting in my life, it was always my brother, Firas. He’s been looking over me for a long time. I’m sure he was nervous because he doesn’t want me to get hurt. I felt great in there and I’m really happy I could come out with the win.”
Aiemann Zahabi: “I’m really happy to grow up in Canada, and I’d love to be the guy to represent Canada for the UFC all over the world. I kind of expected my brother to be more nervous than me. When I was a kid, he used to take care of me; he used to carry me on his shoulders. My parents never went to a parent teacher meeting in my life, it was always my brother, Firas. He’s been looking over me for a long time. I’m sure he was nervous because he doesn’t want me to get hurt. I felt great in there and I’m really happy I could come out with the win.”
Thiago Santos defeats Jack Marshman
WOW! Santos scores the ninth knockout of his career with a highlight spinning heel kick that dropped Marshman and led to a few seconds of ground-and-pound before the referee put an end to the fight in the second round.
WOW! Santos scores the ninth knockout of his career with a highlight spinning heel kick that dropped Marshman and led to a few seconds of ground-and-pound before the referee put an end to the fight in the second round.
Textbook @TMarretaMMA#UFCHalifax pic.twitter.com/WgfQ5JRjyP
— #UFCHalifax (@ufc) February 20, 2017
They said it:
Thiago Santos: “In the first-round I saw that every time I would push him, he would come back with a straight hand which gave me the ability to judge the distance to dictate the spin kick. I thought to myself ‘In the second round, he’s going to do the exact same thing, and that’s when I’m going to throw my kick. … My last two fights, with Mousasi I was a late replacement a week or two weeks before the fight and I wasn’t ready; but when the UFC asks you to fight, you answer their call. My other fight (with Eric Spicely) I was going through personal issues with my family. When I train hard, have my coaches and the right strategy I don’t think there’s anyone in the world that can stop me. I’m here to stay and that’s the kind of performance that I want to show everybody. I’m not in a rush, I know what I want and I know how to get there. I just think I need to show more of my potential and like I said, I’m here to stay. … If I have to call someone out, it’s Derek Brunson. He said a few things about me that I didn’t like and we need to take care of that. The right place to do it is in the Octagon.”
Thiago Santos: “In the first-round I saw that every time I would push him, he would come back with a straight hand which gave me the ability to judge the distance to dictate the spin kick. I thought to myself ‘In the second round, he’s going to do the exact same thing, and that’s when I’m going to throw my kick. … My last two fights, with Mousasi I was a late replacement a week or two weeks before the fight and I wasn’t ready; but when the UFC asks you to fight, you answer their call. My other fight (with Eric Spicely) I was going through personal issues with my family. When I train hard, have my coaches and the right strategy I don’t think there’s anyone in the world that can stop me. I’m here to stay and that’s the kind of performance that I want to show everybody. I’m not in a rush, I know what I want and I know how to get there. I just think I need to show more of my potential and like I said, I’m here to stay. … If I have to call someone out, it’s Derek Brunson. He said a few things about me that I didn’t like and we need to take care of that. The right place to do it is in the Octagon.”
Gerald Meerschaert defeats Ryan Janes
Meerschaert defeats hometown hero Janes by first round armbar submission. Meerschaert improves his record to 2-0 in the UFC and picked up the 19th win of his professional career by submission.
Meerschaert defeats hometown hero Janes by first round armbar submission. Meerschaert improves his record to 2-0 in the UFC and picked up the 19th win of his professional career by submission.
They said it:
Gerald Meerschaert: “I want to put on an exciting fight. Generally exciting fights are on the feet and this is my 19th submission win, I’ve done the submission thing. I’m over it. I want to throw some hands, but Ryan is a tough opponent. He came out swinging, he wanted to get this thing started and he felt more comfortable on the ground. As you saw I’m comfortable everywhere and I got the job done. … There’s definitely an interest (in a trilogy fight with Sam Alvey), but it’s my second fight in the UFC. I just want to pay my dues, I have a lot of fights outside of the Octagon, but it’s a whole different animal in there. I think it would make sense to let me build up my highlight reel, get a few more wins and then when I’m a little bit closer to the top-10 and Sam has solidified himself in the top-10, then we can make that fight happen and make it a big money fight for everyone.”
Gerald Meerschaert: “I want to put on an exciting fight. Generally exciting fights are on the feet and this is my 19th submission win, I’ve done the submission thing. I’m over it. I want to throw some hands, but Ryan is a tough opponent. He came out swinging, he wanted to get this thing started and he felt more comfortable on the ground. As you saw I’m comfortable everywhere and I got the job done. … There’s definitely an interest (in a trilogy fight with Sam Alvey), but it’s my second fight in the UFC. I just want to pay my dues, I have a lot of fights outside of the Octagon, but it’s a whole different animal in there. I think it would make sense to let me build up my highlight reel, get a few more wins and then when I’m a little bit closer to the top-10 and Sam has solidified himself in the top-10, then we can make that fight happen and make it a big money fight for everyone.”
