There was no lack of excitement on the UFC Portland preliminary card, an event held this Saturday night (01), at the Moda Center (USA). With four Brazilians in action in the show's opening program, the country achieved three victories and only one setback. The highlight was Luis Henrique Frankenstein from Pernambuco, who in a great performance submitted the Danish player Joachim Christensen.
The other national victories were Elizeu Capoeira in front of Keita Nakamura and Ketlen Scallop against Kelly Faszholz. The only loss in the country on the preliminary card was Hacran Dias, who was beaten by André Fili in the judges' decision
Luis Henrique Frankenstein shines with beautiful finish
Frankenstein (right) won at UFC Portland with an armbar
With a show in the first round, a scare and a comeback in the second round, Luis Henrique Frankenstein scored his second victory in Ultimate against Joachim Christensen. The Brazilian showed all his versatility in the stand-up fight, managing to survive a knockdown applied by the Dane and ending the fight with a beautiful armbar.
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The Brazilian quickly took the initiative in the dispute. He took the center of the octagon and connected punches and kicks on his rival, who was still trying to find the best distance to attack. In the fight, Frankenstein showed his knockout power by connecting a bomb to Christensen's face, who fell to the ground. Luis Henrique avoided going to the ground and waited for the Dane to get up. Following the partial, the Pernambuco native continued to do better, while the European just avoided his rival's attacks.
In the second round, however, Christensen almost turned the tide. The Dane landed a knee strike on Frankenstein, who fell. The European went up and landed some blows to the face. But the Brazilian managed to reverse the position and quickly reached mount. In the final seconds of the partial, the Tupiniquim athlete went for an armbar and forced his opponent to give up the dispute.
“Joachim Christensen is one of the best guys I had the opportunity to fight, but I trained for this and thank God I came out with the victory. My first fight I won by submission, I'm very proud to show my jiu-jitsu”, said the Brazilian, who has 12 victories without 12 fights as a professional.
Hacran Dias is surprised by Andre Fili
The UFC Portland weekend will not be missed by Brazilian Hacran Dias. After failing to make weight in the lightweight division, the Nova União team athlete was surprised by the North American André Fili and lost in a unanimous decision by the judges. The setback was Hacran's second in a row in the UFC.
Hacran started the fight by taking initiative in the stand-up fight and waiting for the best moment to get the takedown. However, in a quick attack, Fili landed a nice punch and knocked Dias down. The North American went on the attack and landed several bombs on the Brazilian on the ground. The referee threatened to interrupt the dispute and declare a technical knockout, but the Brazilian athlete managed to defend himself and stay alive in the dispute.
After fighting in the clinch, Hacran managed to get the takedown, but when he tried to move to mount he gave way and Fili got up. In the final seconds, Andre landed some punches against the Brazilian.
In the second round, Fili, still confident from the good first round, continued to take the initiative. But Hacran took advantage of his rival's attack and got the takedown. However, once again, the Brazilian was unable to improve his positions and when he tried to reach the mount, he gave way and the North American got up. Andre continued to be superior in the stand-up fight and even successfully reversed a takedown attempt by Hacran. When the Brazilian tried to take down his rival, he turned his hips well and fell on top. Dias, right from below, tried an armbar, but to no avail.
In the third round, the North American managed the advantage gained in the previous rounds. He landed good blows on the Brazilian, who was visibly uncomfortable. With no chance in the stand-up fight, Hacran got close and took down Filli. But, again, he gave way, and the American got up.
Almost in desperation, Hacran managed to take down his rival once again and this time he tried to open up space with short blows to the opponent's face. In the final seconds, Fili swept Hacran and threw elbows from inside the Brazilian's guard until the bell sounded.
In the end, the three side judges scored Andre Fili's triumph in a unanimous decision (30×27, 30×27, 30×27).
Elizeu Capoeira beats Japanese in contested decision
Capoeira (left) beat L. Nakamura (right) at UFC Portland. Photo: Getty Images
There was no lack of controversy in the victory of Elizeu Capoeira about Keita Nakamura. The Brazilian suffered in the first two rounds with the Japanese's ground game, managed to recover in the last round, but without coming close to finishing or knocking out. Even so, the side judges saw the Paraná native's victory in a split manner (29×28, 28×29, 29×28). The result displeased the Japanese athlete and a large part of the local public.
Right from the first movements of the fight, the athletes' objectives were clear. The Japanese wanted the fight on the ground, while the Brazilian sought the fight on the feet. Nakamura soon got the takedown in the first few seconds, but Elizeu quickly got up. Despite this, the Japanese man returned to Capoeira and began his work on the ground. He quickly progressed to the back and was close to finishing. The Brazilian only managed to stay on his feet in the final seconds and connected with good blows, including a right cross that rocked the Japanese.
In the second round, Elizeu avoided the fight at close range to avoid being knocked down. Furthermore, he landed good shots while standing. However, when attempting a knee, Nakamura grabbed the Brazilian's leg and led to a takedown. He quickly went to his back, but Capoeira quickly avoided the position. In the final minute, Elizeu managed to get up and went on the attack. He connected with a right bomb that caught Nakamura's head.
In the last and decisive round, Capoeira opened the game and went after the Japanese. He started landing several crosses on Nakamura and avoided takedown attempts. When the Japanese managed the takedown, the Brazilian exploded, reversed position and grabbed his back. Elizeu tried to end the dispute with katagatame, but the Japanese defended himself. Capoeira tried a neck choke, but lost the position.
At the end of the dispute, Nakamura expected victory, but the judges signaled the triumph of Elizeu Capoeira to boos from the crowd at the Moda Center in Portland.
With the result, Capoeira reached his second consecutive victory in the UFC and the 16th in his career. Nakamura, who had a positive result when submitting Kyle Noke in July this year, suffered his eighth defeat as a professional
Ketlen struggles, but wins on debut
It was emotional, but the Brazilian Ketlen Scallop debuted with victory in the UFC. The man from Manaus fought a tough battle against Kelly Faszholz, but after three rounds she prevailed in a split decision from the judges (29×28, 28×29, 29×28).
The Brazilian started the fight better, landing good blows while standing and avoiding the North American's attacks. When Faszholz tried to grow in the contest with strong kicks, Ketlen got the takedown. She reached half guard and ended the partial by landing some blows from the top.
In the second round Ketlen quickly got the takedown and tried to maintain the fight as at the end of the previous round. However, Fazzholz stopped the Brazilian's game. Little active, he ended up seeing the central referee put the dispute back on track. The American took the initiative in the stand-up fight and landed two good punches, but, once again after trying a kick, the American was taken down. However, once again, unable to produce results on the ground, the referee returned the dispute to the center of the Octagon in the final seconds.
In the third half, Faszholz, at a disadvantage on the scoreboard, opened the game and went after Ketlen. The North American walked forward and connected several punches on the Brazilian who was just retreating. She arrived and rocked Ketlen with a combination of straight and cross.
In the final half, Kelly tried to apply a knee, but the manauara held her leg and managed the takedown. On top, Vieira managed to interrupt his rival's reaction. The Tupiniquim athlete caught her rival's back in the final seconds, but preferred not to go for the submission attempt and just fought back to win the decision.
UFC Portland preliminary card results
Light Heavyweight: Luis Henrique Frankenstein submitted Joachim Christensen with an armbar 4m43s into R2;
Feather weight:André Fili defeated Hacran Dias via unanimous decision by the judges (29×28, 29×28, 29×28)
Heavyweight: Shamil Abdurakhimov defeated Walt Harris in the judges' split decision (29z28, 28×29, 29×28)
Welterweight Weight: Elizeu Capoeira derrotou Keita Nakamura in the unanimous decision of the judges (29×28, 29×28, 29×28)
Middleweight: Nate Marquardt defeated Tamdan McCrory by knockout at 4:44 of R2
Light Heavyweight: Ion cutelaba defeated Jonathan Wilson via unanimous decision (30x27, 30x27, 30x27)
Heavyweight: Curtis blaydes defeated Cody East via technical knockout (elbows) at 2:02. from R2;
Bantamweight: Ketlen Scallop defeated Kelly Faszholz via split decision (29×28, 28×29, 29×28)
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