It’s all over! Michelle Waterson submits Paige VanZant in the first round!
Gall wins by second round submission
They said it:
Mickey Gall: “They’re all rear naked chokes. I do Gracie Jiu Jitsu. First thing is, I think I’m going to drop down to 155. I think I’m a little young for 170, I think if I go down there I’m the champion in a couple years. I’d like to welcome back Dan Hardy. He says he wants to come back for a marquee fight and I think I’m a marquee fighter. He’s a legend, I’m a big fan and I’d love to fight him.”
Sage Northcutt: “I thought it would be a fun fight and interesting for the fans so I decided to go up in weight to take the fight and try to put on a show for everybody. The plan is to go back down to 155-pounds, so I’m looking forward to that. I have no opponents in mind, it’s who the UFC says.”
The Sacramento crowd goes wild! Hometown hero Urijah Faber wins by unanimous decision in his Octagon swansong (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
They said it:
Urijah Faber: “It was awesome. Brad is a very tough guy, I almost got him out of there in the first but he fought so tough. I was trying not to watch all the buildup in the back, it was getting me emotional. So, I just turned my back to it and focused on the fight. It was a very difficult fight, I’m still feeling the brunt of that. I have a lot of respect for Brad and he’s such a great guy. I know win, lose or draw this is a big fight for him and nothing but respect to him. I’ve got all sorts of stuff going on. I’m going to just enjoy this moment and the victory and I’ll wake up tomorrow and figure things out. That’s it.”
Brad Pickett : “There was a lot of distraction. I always try to stay focused, but it was also a distraction on me with people asking me when I’m going to hang the gloves up as well. The distractions were around, but at the end of the day you have to go in there, be a professional and get the job done. I was happy to fight Urijah Faber in my career and I’m happy that I gave him a good fight for his farewell. My last outing was terrible, so at least I was involved in a fight. I would like to get on the London card, back in my hometown, and see how I go from there. I think it’s close for me as well, so I’d like my swan song back in London.”
More from Fight Night Sacramento: Full results | Waterson gets big win over PVZ | Faber caps career with hometown win | Craig, Hirota, Covington among Sacramento winners | Wineland blasts way to win; Sandoval, Aliev claim decision victories
Backstage interviews: Alan Jouban
Octagon interviews: Mickey Gall, Urijah Faber | Eddie Wineland
UFC FIGHT PASS members: Replay the first three fights on demand now
The fight goes the distance, with Jouban winning the fight by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
They said it:
Alan Jouban: “I’m a fan friendly fighter, but I knew his only chance was to sit in the pocket and give him the big opportunities. Instead of getting fight of the night, flawless victory was the goal. If the fans loved it or booed I was going to make sure I got hit the least amount I’ve ever gotten hit and make sure he got hit the most he’s ever gotten hit and I executed. I’m demanding to be in the top-15. I am the most deserving welterweight in the division who is not ranked. I want to be in the top-15, I deserve to be in the top-15 and once I’m there I’ll fight anyone in the division. If you want a name I’ll take the winner of Sage and Mickey Gall.”
Mike Perry: “I just didn’t it right. That’s all. I’ll learn and grow from this. I’m coming back for sure. I’m going to come back with a vengeance. That was a good lesson. Good job by him.”
Craig wins by submission in the second round in his UFC debut and remains undefeated in his professional career
Paul Craig: “Myself and my coaches have been working my uppercut. It felt really good in there, it’s always my go to move, but I thought ‘You know what? I’m going to take him to the ground.’ I went for the triangle and then transitioned to the armbar, so I’m pretty happy with that victory – especially against a Brazilian. I want to be on any European card. Maybe London against another Brazilian legend. How about Shogun Rua or Little Nog?”
This one went the distance, but it wasn’t even close. Hirota won by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Mizuto Hirota: “Cole Miller was really strong. My emotion is that I am surprised at his strength and I feel like I could have done better. If I am given the opportunity, I would love to fight Teruto Ishihara again. I don’t think I have a choice in my next opponent, I will be ready when the UFC calls me again.”
Cole Miller: “I think that after four months away from my son I’m going to go spend Christmas with him and be a normal human being for a while. His strength caught me off guard. I could see from his previous fights that he had punching power, but that’s different than real strength. That’s the only thing that surprised me. I wasn’t impressed with his power on the feet whereas I thought he did, I didn’t feel it with the punches, but he was impressively strong.”
Covington wins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). Colby Covington’s 12 takedowns landed today are tied for 2nd-most ever landed in a UFC welterweight fight, mirroring Johny Hendricks’ efforts at UFC 158. Overall, his 12 takedowns are also tied for 5th-most ever landed in a UFC fight.
Colby Covington: “The next step is to keep getting better. Keep improving. I’m not just a wrestler, I’m going to start knocking people out with my hands, I’ve just been using my wrestling as a safety net, get a couple checks in the bank so I can feel secure in life and then I’m going to start knocking dudes out. I’ll be in exciting fights. My future is going to be bright, you can count on that. I will hold that world title belt before my career is done – you’ve only seen a glimpse of my true potential. Hopefully a big fight is next, that’s what I want. Dong Hyun Kim would be a great fight. Get that dude and let’s do it.”
Bryan Barberena: “It’s hard to say, the submission at the end of the third round didn’t feel that tight but I was going for it pretty good. He won the fight, you don’t get any more time. Maybe we can do it again sometime.”
After three rounds, the judges’ scorecards give the victory to Morono (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Alex Morono: “It feels great to be 2-0 in the UFC and it’ll be 3-0 soon enough. That wasn’t my best performance, James is a really technical striker and I tried to be entertaining, but it’s something for me to improve on moving forward. My first fight was on short notice and I felt really good about that performance. There are definitely benefits to a short notice fight because you don’t have anything to lose, but a full camp is certainly preferred. I’d really like to fight on that Houston card next, I think it’s full, but I’m ready and willing to go. I’d like to fight Omari Akhmedov next, I feel that’d be an awesome style matchup.”
Hometown fighter Emmett wins by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Scott Holtzman: “He outscored me. He landed takedowns and shots when it mattered. I tried to comeback, I tried to rally. It was in his hometown and he had plenty of people behind him, but I feel like I fought tough. I’m not disappointed, I just lost some wrestling. That’s what I need to work on.”
What a brawl! Smith won by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28), but UFC debutant Aldana had to survive early scares and then battled back – holding her own and not scared to letting her hands go and trading shots with Smith. Definite Fight of the Night contender. Smith and Aldana combined for 277 significant strikes landed, the 3rd-most ever in a Women’s Bantamweight fight.
Leslie Smith: “I’m just there to fight. That’s the goal, that’s the whole reason I’m there. Aren’t all fights exciting? I just like to go in there and go for it, look for the opening and if I see it I go for it – if I don’t see it I go for it – I’m just trying to make it as technical as possible, but in my heart I’m a brawler. I dropped her in that first round and I got super excited. I was hitting her really hard, I thought, but she just popped right back up. I knew that I couldn’t let her groove coming forward. I knew she was tough and she came out just as tough as I thought she would be.”
Irene Aldana: “It was a very exciting fight. We know her background in the UFC and in Invicta – she has a really great record. She got me with my guard down. I got into the cage really nervous. Sometimes my head was in it and sometimes it wasn’t. I feel happy that I put on a great fight. I think it was an exciting fight and a great matchup. I’m going to keep improving and come back stronger. People recognize that I am always going to give my best, give my heart, that I’m never going to give up or tap out. I hope people like my fight and that it was entertaining.”
Eddie Wineland wasted no time! He landed a spectacular right that dazed Mizugaki, then finished him with another right to win by TKO in the first round. Wineland ties Urijah Faber and Renan Barao for most finishes in UFC/WEC bantamweight history with seven, while the victory is also his 10th in UFC/WEC bantamweight history, two behind leader Dominick Cruz.
Eddie Wineland: “I’m feeling amazing, about how you feel after knocking someone out. It’s wonderful, I’m just glad to be back in the win column and on a streak. My game plan was to punch him in the face and watch him fall down and if he didn’t fall down I was just going to continue to punch him for 15 minutes. My last fight I questioned myself the entire training camp and I told myself not to question myself anymore. I have two little boys at home and I fight because I love to fight, first, but second I fight to show my boys that you’re going to get knocked down, you’re going to lose some battles, you’re not always going to be on top. Get up and continue moving forward. Do what you love, push the pace and keep moving forward. I just want to keep fighting. I want to fight three times next year, I’m better when I’m active. When I have long layoffs that’s when you can find me laying on the couch eating pizza and Reese’s.”
The fight went the distance, but it was pretty easy to see who won: Sacramento-resident Hector Sandoval claims his first UFC win by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Hector Sandoval: “It’s an amazing feeling to get my first win in my hometown. I feel good, I’m really excited to get the W. I really did focus on wrestling because I knew he was going to try to take me down. Whatever the UFC wants, I’m ready to go. I just want to fight and stay consistent.”
The opening bout of the card goes the distance, with Sultan Aliev winning in his return to the Octagon after over a year layoff by split decision (30-27, 30-27, 28-29)
Sultan Aliev: “I feel good to get my UFC win, I am very happy. Of course, it was a big factor (that I haven’t fought in a while). After the last loss I was afraid to make a mistake, especially after such a long layoff, but it ended up well. It doesn’t matter who I fight next, I’ll match up well with whoever is next.”
Bojan Velickovic: “I want to fight in Denver! Yes, I’m healthy, I feel great, I don’t have any injuries. I can’t say that I’m not happy with my performance, I did everything that I could. Sultan showed a good strategy and kept me down. I think I was doing much more with setting up my submissions than him. He was just kind of laying down and hitting me with shots that didn’t hurt me much, so I feel good and ready to go. I will really appreciate if the UFC can put me on the Denver card. I won my title in RFA in January in Denver and that’s how I got signed for my UFC fight, I would like to start next year with a fight and win in Denver, my hometown.”
