UFC São Paulo: Massaranduba submits and Edson Barboza knocks out on the preliminary card

massaranduba lands a sensational takedown on CJ Keith. Photo: Josh Hedges

With beautiful submissions, great knockouts and controversy, the preliminary card of UFC Sao Paulo raised the audience who arrived early at the Ibirapuera Gymnasium to watch the show. Francisco Massaranduba sent the crowd into a frenzy in the first fight of the night, submitting the American CJ Keith. Edson Barboza He put on a show and knocked out his compatriot lucas mineiro, while Miltinho Viera and Geoffrey Pepey They fought an even battle from beginning to end.

READ: With a spectacular kick, Vitor Belfort knocks out Bisping

In a great fight, Pepey Beats Miltinho
In the last fight of the preliminary card, Geoffrey Pepey and Miltinho Viera had a duel of specialists in ground fighting. In the first round, Pepey He started landing some punches in his striking, which forced Miltinho to look for a takedown and work on the ground. On top, the mountain bike athlete controlled the fight with blows to his opponent's waistline and face.

In the second half, Viera tried to repeat the dose, but, showing a lot of skill in the ground fight, Pepey managed to catch his rival's arm and, in order not to be finished, Miltinho was forced to give up his mount. On top, Godofredo reached his back, threw his hooks and worked with several punches to his opponent's head.

In the third and decisive round, the athletes had moments of alternating dominance of the dispute. Pepey he was better at striking, but he ended up falling underneath on two occasions and Miltinho had good moments on the ground. At the end of 15 minutes of a very competitive fight, better for Geoffrey Pepey which led to the dispute in a split decision by the judges (29×28, 28×29, 29×28).

Ronny Markes suffers, but wins American
With suffocation in the final moments, Ronny Markes managed to score his third consecutive victory in Ultimate. The Brazilian started the fight against Andrew Craig well, closing the distance, taking down his rival and working on top. On two occasions, Markes managed to reach his rival's goals, but did not have the chance to finish.

In the third round, after the Brazilian won the first two, a surprise almost happened. Andrew Craig landed a hard blow on Ronny who went to the ground. On top, the American worked with punches and elbows from half guard. In the final moments, Markes still managed to get up, but was almost surprised by a knee strike. At the end of 15 minutes of combat, Ronny Markes won the unanimous decision of the judges (29×28, 29×28, 29×28)

Lentz beats Diego Nunes and silences the crowd
Despite the support of the fans, Diego Nunes was unable to overcome the pragmatic but efficient game of takedowns. Nik lentz. Willing to avoid the Brazilian's striking, the North American always worked from close range, looking for the clinch and takedowns. On the ground, despite not being forceful, Lentz added points over time.

After losing the first two rounds, Diego's big moment came in the final seconds of the third round. After getting up from the fall, Nunes landed a knee and took the American to the ground. The Brazilian still tried to throw some punches, but Nik managed to assimilate the blows and win the fight with a unanimous decision from the judges (30×26, 30×28, 30×27)

Edson Barboza knocks out lucas mineiro
Owner of the knockout of the year in 2012, Edson Barboza showed that the defeat to Jamie Varner is already in the past. In the fight against the compatriot lucas mineiro, the fighter from Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, showed off his sharp Muay Thai.

After Lucas entered with boxing blows, Barboza responded with a counterattack and took Mineiro to the ground. Without wasting time, the Rio fighter threw a sequence of punches on the ground until the referee ended the dispute.

Yuri Marajó and Pedro Nobre are without result
The controversy was part of the duel between the Brazilians Yuri Marajó and Pedro Nobre. The fight started hot, with Yuri closing the distance, getting a takedown and almost ending the fight with a Kimura. But, showing a lot of courage, Pedrinho managed to spin and escape the submission. Behind his rival's back, Marajó began throwing a series of punches and elbows. However, as some blows hit the back of Nobre's head, the referee declared the fight a “No Contest” (no result). The result did not please the public, who booed the decision and wanted Yuri to win.

Ildemar Marajó finishes Caldeirão
Summoned at the last minute to replace Roger Hollet, Ildemar Marajó from Pará made his debut in Ultimate in style. In the fight against his compatriot Wagner Caldeirão, Ildemar had difficulties at the beginning of the dispute with Wagner's striking. However, in the second round, after falling on the bottom, Marajó managed to sweep and lock the foot. Caldeirão still defended himself, but the fighter from Pará went for the kneebar and forced his rival to give up.

massaranduba ends at the opening of the UFC Sao Paulo
In the first fight of the night, Francisco Massaranduba cheered up the fans present at the Ibirapuera Gymnasium. Facing CJ Keith, the Brazilian started the fight by applying powerful right blows and closing the distance to take down his rival. On the ground, the North American even managed to sweep and stay on top in the first round, but the Brazilian athlete managed to get up and the fight continued with striking.

In the second round, the show came massaranduba. The Brazilian applied a beautiful takedown, with a sacrifice technique, and already fell to the ground with his guard passed. From there, he applied the choke and forced Keith to give up the fight.

Main Card

Vitor belfort derrotou Michael Bisping by technical knockout in R2;

CB Dollaway defeated Daniel sarafian in the judges' split decision;

Gabriel Napao submitted Ben Rothwell with a guillotine choke in R2;

Khabib Nurmagomedov derrotou Thiago tavares by knockout in R1;

Preliminary Card

Geoffrey Pepey defeated Miltinho Vieira in a split decision by the judges;

Ronny Markes defeated Andrew Craig via unanimous decision;

Nik lentz defeated Diego Nunes by unanimous decision of the judges;

Edson Barboza derrotou lucas mineiro by technical knockout in R1;

Yuri Marajó vs. Pedro Nobre ended in “No Contest” (no result);

Ildemar Marajó submitted Wagner Caldeirão with a kneebar in R2;

Francisco Massaranduba finished CJ Keith with a kata-gatame in R2.