Welcome to Fightful.com's live coverage & discussion for tonight's UFC Fight Night Stockholm: Gustafsson vs. Smith
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Fight Card
Prelims (ESPN2 - 10 am ET)
Joel Alvarez defeated Danilo Belluardo via 2nd Round TKO (2:21)
Devin Clark defeated Darko Stosic via Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3)
Bea Malecki defeated Eduarda Santana via 2nd Round Submission (Rear-Naked Choke - 1:59)
Frank Camacho defeated Nick Hein via 2nd Round TKO (4:56)
Leonardo Santos defeated Stevie Ray via 1st Round KO (Right Hand - 2:17)
Lina Lansberg defeated Tonya Evinger via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-26 x2)
Sergey Khandozhko defeated Rostem Akman via Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3)
Main Card (ESPN+ - 1 pm ET)
Daniel Teymur defeated Sung-Bin Jo via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)
Christos Giagos defeated Damir Hadzovic via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-27 x2)
Makwan Amirkhani defeated Chris Fishgold via 2nd Round Submission (Anaconda Choke - 4:25)
Aleksandar Rakic defeated Jimi Manuwa via 1st Round KO (Head Kick - 0:42)
Anthony Smith defeated Alexander Gustafsson via 4th Round Submission (Rear-Naked Choke - 2:38)
Joel Alvarez (15-2) vs. Danilo Belluardo (12-3)
Round One
Alvarez is kicking with ferocity early, using his range to push Belluardo back rather comfortably. However, after two minutes Belluardo then changed levels, scoring a textbook takedown and landing in half guard. Alvarez soon regained full guard though, thinking submission as Belluardo finally got to work with strikes. He was landing to body and head, unleashing some sharp elbows as Alvarez struggled for control. Submission attempts were a constant too, with Alvarez eventually half-catching a triangle choke as the round came to a close. Nonetheless, Belluardo's round.
Round Two
Back on the feet and Alvarez is continuing to push his foe back, flurrying with strikes and eating an elbow for his troubles. Belluardo does briefly look overwhelmed though, backing up to the fence but then responding with a timely takedown. After spending some time on his back, Alvarez reversed position with the 'Dagestani handcuff' and suddenly unleashed a flurry of ground and pound that left the referee with no choice but to stop the fight.
Winner: Joel Alvarez via 2nd Round TKO (2:22)
Devin Clark (9-3) vs. Darko Stosic (13-1)
Round One
Both men are poised to explode here, with Stosic landing a heavy right hand early only to be swiftly dropped by a jab. That allowed Clark to take control, grappling Stosic to the mat and looking to take advantage only for his foe's grip to stall things. Both men then returned to their feet, clinching against the face before returning to range. Stosic landed a hard right hand almost immediately, rocking Clark as the clinch continued. With his foe against the fence, Stosic then looked to flurry, unleashing some strikes but running into a spinning back fist. Stosic soon regained that position regardless, battering Clark against the fence and sprawling a takedown. As they separated though, Clark looked to slow the pace, with a tired looking Stosic suddenly seeming slow as his foe evaded. Wild, wild round.
Round Two
That trend continued at the start of Round Two, with a less active Stosic standing still as Clark cautiously looked for an opening. They then returned to the clinch, with Clark being backed against the fence before their separation. Clark immediately landed some low kicks which only brought taunting out of Stosic. Back to the clinch from there, as Stosic elevated Clark for a slam and after some pretty blatant fence grabbing, dropped him on his back. Ground and pound soon followed but nothing too telling as the round ended with him on top.
Round Three
Clark took the initiative here early, taking Stosic down only for him to immediately stand up. Stosic was now in control, dicating things in the clinch until they again reset. Clark's takedown was then stalled, with Stosic keeping things upright and controlling the wrestling exchanges himself. However, his fatigue was obvious, allowing Clark to rally with a salvo of strikes as he only covered up. Outside of the odd power punch, Stosic wasn't offering much offense here but Clark couldn't really put a dent in him. Even still, Stosic was sprawling takedowns. With 30 seconds left, he then exploded one last time but Clark responded with a combination of his own. They battle to the buzzer and this fight almost certainly hinges on Round One.
Winner: Devin Clark via Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3)
Bea Malecki (2-0) vs. Eduarda Santana (3-0)
Round One
An immediate strike exchange got this underway, trading blows with success on both sides. Overall though, it did seem as though Santana's jab was giving her the advantage. She then scored a takedown too, constantly dragging Malecki to the mat until the fence finally allowed her to stand up. Santana remained in control though, clinching Malecki against the fence before a separation returned them to range. Slightly more fatigued exchanges followed, trading blows until the buzzer.
Round Two
Santana continued to get the better of things early, tagging Malecki as she came in and then thinking takedown. Malecki sprawled though and somehow came out on top, falling into mount and then taking the back. That left her thinking Rear-Naked Choke and after a scramble, Malecki applied the hold for the submission win.
Winner: Bea Malecki via 2nd Round Submission (Rear-Naked Choke - 1:59)
Nick Hein (14-4, 1NC) vs. Frank Camacho (21-7)
Round One
Feeling out process here early as Camacho edged forward, having some success until Hein pushed him back with strikes and scored a trip takedown. Camacho stood immediately back up though, returning to the aggressor role on the feet. Kicks were his main route to success, really targeting the body as Hein began to fire back. Camacho's eye had began to swell but his offense continued to flow, pushing Hein back and landing combinations. Hein's low kicks were finding a home though, landing some punches along the way as well. Nonetheless, Camacho was the more active fighter and his work was quality too, really pushing an impressive pace in the opener.
Round Two
Things continued as they were in the 2nd stanza, with Camacho's work seemingly wearing Hein down as he continued to up the output. Hein was responding though, landing his left hand but generally being outworked. With his foe's movement slowed, Camacho then began to thrive in the clinch, going to head and body on the inside. A beautiful uppercut followed, seemingly rocking Hein as Camacho flurried more and more. Fatigued and hurt, Hein began to freeze up, being battered to the body and wobbled by a heavy right hand too. Hein somehow stayed upright but Camacho continued to pour it on, eventually forcing a stoppage just moments before the round's close.
Winner: Frank Camacho via 2nd Round TKO (4:56)
Leonardo Santos (16-3-1) vs. Stevie Ray (22-8)
Round One
Santos is immediately the aggressor here, landing body kicks as Ray backed up. Nonetheless, the Scotsman began to look for his own offense, edging forward with some combinations but then walking into a violent right hand that flattened him in an instant. Brutal knockout win for the Brazilian.
Winner: Leonardo Santos via 1st Round KO
Tonya Evinger (19-7, 1NC) vs. Lina Lansberg (8-4)
Round One
Evinger immediately pushed forward here, taking control of the clinch and maneuvering Lansberg against the fence. Before long, Lansberg responded with some strikes, briefly creating space only for Evinger to recapture the clinch. With her back to the fence, Lansberg was throwing some strikes up close, landing sharp knees and elbows to create a big cut over Evinger's eye. Building momentum, Lansberg then reversed position and scored a takedown of her own, unleashing an incredible flurry of ground and pound in the round's closing minute.
Round Two
That aggression spilled over into round two, with Lansberg landing a couple heavy strikes until Evinger regained control and scored a takedown. In the scramble, Evinger then took her foe's back, thinking choke but eventually losing position as Lansberg came out on top. She immediately took advantage too, battering Evinger with ground and pound while maintaining top position as well. Evinger soon slowed the pace though, attempting a Kimura and halting the ground and pound as a result.
Round Three
Lansberg was the one initiating the clinch this time, pushing Evinger back to the fence and unleashing a salvo of knees to the stomach. They were eventually separated but that only helped Lansberg, allowing a flurry of sharp standing strikes as she then followed an overwhelmed Evinger to the mat. An onslaught followed, absolutely battering Evinger as she held on until the buzzer. Clear victory for the home fighter.
Winner: Lina Lansberg via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-26 x2)
Sergey Khandozhko (25-5-1) vs. Rostem Akman (5-0)
Round One
After a brief feeling out process, Akman charged forward, eating some strikes but looking to wrestle. Khandozhko avoided though, regaining distance and landing some solid strikes while backing up. That included a spinning back kick to the body, making Akman pay as he looked to step inside. Nonetheless, Akman continued to push forward, having some success as both men traded punches. Akman's pressure was seemingly paying dividends, effecting Khandozhko's range and landing heavy shots of his own. After wobbling his foe, Akman looked to seize but Khandozhko recomposed himself at the round's close.
Round Two
Taking center cage, Khandozhko was looking to be the aggressor here early, taking the initiative until a right hand pushed him back. Khandozhko responded though, landing a sharp counter while again moving back. Akman's power punches continued to find a home regardless, tagging Khandozhko but eating some shots upon entry as well. Calf kicks were Khandozhko's main route to success here but he then landed in an exchange too, suddenly dropping Akman with a sharp left hook. Khandozhko seized, gaining top position only to be reversed as both men stood back up. A scramble followed, with Akman winding up on top at the round's close.
Round Three
Though he'd been dropped in the previous round, Akman's aggression hadn't slowed, pushing forward and attempting a takedown as well. Khandozhko sprawled though, landing a hard left hook with his back to the fence and seemingly wobbling Akman. That didn't prevent Akman from continuing to trade though, with both men having success until the home fighter briefly dragged things to the mat. Khandozhko stood back up but Akman took his foe down again, forcing yet another scramble that resulted in a short-lived takedown from the Russian. With 20 seconds left, they separated, brawling to the buzzer as Khandozhko rocked his foe one final time.
Winner: Sergey Khandozhko via Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3)
Main Card
Daniel Teymur (6-3) vs. Sung-Bin Jo (9-0)
Round One
'Kid Dynamite' took center cage, edging Jo back and rocking him with a vicious left hook. Teymur was all over his foe here, chasing after him before settling in a clinch against the fence. They soon separated though, with Jo landed a nice knee only to be taken down moments later. Some ground and pound followed but Jo swiftly regained control, snatching an armbar and forcing a smart escape from Teymur. A triangle choke attempt came next but Teymur avoided and landed two heavy right hands. Jo then reversed though, standing back up and firing with a crisp knee. Back on the feet, both men landed heavy shots, with Teymur's pressure appearing to overwhelm Jo against the fence.
Round Two
With Teymur more seemingly more static, Jo went to work with kicks, avoiding his foe's punches as the action began to slow. Jo's success was increasing though, landing a heavy knee on the break but eating some low kicks for his trouble. Though the far bigger fighter, Jo wasn't able to do much at range, mostly thriving for the brief moments that they exchanged inside. Teymur was now frustrated, daring Jo to stand and trade and eating a jumping knee in response.
Round Three
Quiet opening minute here in the 3rd, with the crowd booing as Jo steadily backed Teymur to the fence. A wild scramble followed, leaving both men back at range. Teymur went to work from there, increasing his output and scoring yet another takedown. He landed in guard, throwing a handful of strikes and avoiding a kneebar as he stood back up. A massive right hand followed, seemingly hurting Jo against the fence but failing to follow-up. Instead, Jo regained center cage, landing some decent right hands but failing to impact proceedings enough.
Winner: David Teymur via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)
Damir Hadzovic (13-4) vs. Christos Giagos (16-7)
Round One
Giagos strikes first here, landing a heavy kick to the body as well as a couple right hands too. Hadzovic continued to push forward nonetheless, struggling to score offense though and being emphatically taken down instead. Hadzovic powered upright, pushing Giagos back but being taken down again. Giagos was active on top too, not producing anything spectacular but working away in his foe's guard regardless. Hadzovic stood back up at the round's close either way, trading strikes to the buzzer.
Round Two
Giagos continued to build momentum here early, landing brutal punches on the feet as Hadzovic somehow remained upright. That soon changed anyway, with Giagos scoring a takedown moments later. Hadzovic stood up in response but was then taken down again, this time having his back taken. He stood up once more anyway, eventually creating space only to walk into more strikes for his trouble. Somehow, Hadzovic was still not floored though, shuffling forward as both men slowed down. Hadzovic finished the round with a takedown of his own.
Round Three
The pace is rather slow here in the final round but after a minute, Giagos timed a takedown attempt and returned things to the mat. Hadzovic soon scrambled, stalking his foe only to be taken down again. Hadzovic refused to stay grounded though, constantly fighting upright and with two minutes left, winding up on top. For the most part though, his offense was ineffective, taking the round but failing to change the fight's likely result.
Winner: Christos Giagos via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-27 x2)
Makwan Amirkhani (14-3) vs. Chris Fishgold (18-2-1)
Round One
Amirkhani came out of the blocks with a flying knee but Fishgold was prepared, settling things down at range. An eye-poke soon halted things, causing a break in the action as Fishgold took a moment to recover. At the restart, Fishgold got right to work though, landing strikes immediately and scoring some terrific inside low kicks. A right hand followed, with Amirkhani struggling to find his range as Fishgold pushed forward. That was soon his undoing though, walking into a beautiful takedown and winding up in guard. In response, Fishgold went after an array of submissions, briefly thinking Reverse Triangle until Amirkhani fought free. With just seconds remainding, Amirkhani snatched a choke but the buzzer saved Fishgold.
Round Two
A left hook landed for Fishgold early, continuing the flurry of low kicks and then scoring with a heavy right hand too. Fishgold was getting the better of these striking exchanges, pushing the pace and usually landing the better shots. That momentum didn't last long though, with Fishgold eating a kick to the groin and collapsing in agony. Nonetheless, he was soon ready to continue, pushing forward once more. He was taking down for his troubles but latched onto a guillotine before losing position. Amirkhani then seized, locking up the Anaconda Choke and after an immense struggle, forcing the tap.
Winner: Makwan Amirkhani via 2nd Round Submission (Anaconda Choke - 4:25)
Jimi Manuwa (17-5) vs. Aleksandar Rakic (11-1)
Round One
Both men landed low kicks early, then missing with heavy punches as in the midst of an exchange, Rakic flattened Manuwa with a BRUTAL HEAD KICK! This one is over.
Winner: Aleksandar Rakic via 1st Round KO (Head Kick - 0:42)
Alexander Gustafsson (18-5) vs. Anthony Smith (31-14)
Round One
Smith took center cage immediately, edging forward as Gustafsson circled. He soon uncorked a right hand but Gustafsson moved with it, still looking to find his range. Smith wasn't waiting as long, getting to work with strikes at distance and landing a nice left hand on the inside. 'Lionheart' was landing with much of what he was throwing here early, finding his range far quicker than Gustafsson. Nonetheless, the home fighter's jab soon began to steadily become a factor. Gustafsson's left leg is bleeding quite a bit as both men traded low kicks. A left hook ends the round well for Gustafsson.
Round Two
Gustafsson is on the front foot here early, narrowly avoiding a few wild hooks and then going back to his movement. Smith was suddenly looking desperate with his strikes, missing badly as frustration began to build. The low kicks continued to land on both sides, with Gustafsson then sliding in a nice body punch as well. Smith was closing distance well regardless, cornering his foe and firing a heavy head kick too. A right hand came next, with Smith closing distance efficiently, forcing Gustafsson to briefly step forward.
Smith jumped on Gustafsson again, landing a nice uppercut and continuing to find a home for his punches. That included a violent right hand over the top but Gustafsson didn't yet appear hurt in the slightest. With his foe momentarily froze, Smith unleashed a left hook to the body but Gustafsson responded, flurrying on the front foot.
Round Three
Coming forward now, Gustafsson walked into some shots but landed a few himself, upping the output here early. Returning to the back-foot, Gustafsson landed a sharp right hand counter but then ate a flurry in response. The kicks continued to fly on both sides as Gustafsson's punches began to become more of a factor. His jab had found a home, setting up the right hand while Smith focused on the low kicks. Gustafsson fired back via body kick, hurting Smith and then wrestling him to the mat and securing side control. The round finished there, a big one for 'The Mauler.'
Round Four
Smith's output was back up here in the 4th, pushing forward with strikes yet again. The low kicks were finding a home for Gustafsson though but Smith then barreled forward, winding up in control of his foe's back. Smith immediately looked to apply the hooks and after almost slipping off, flattened his foe out. He then unleashed a salvo of strikes, hurting Gustafsson and finally, closing the show via Rear-Naked Choke.
Winner: Anthony Smith via 4th Round Submission (Rear-Naked Choke - 2:38)
Post-fight, Gustafsson left his gloves in the cage and said that "the show is over guys."
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