For the second straight week, the Octagon resides inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas for another night of UFC action as UFC on ESPN 72 takes place.
The main event sees a five-round middleweight battle of top-ten 185-pounders as ninth-ranked Roman Dolidze takes on tenth-ranked Anthony Hernandez. Both men are looking to extend win streaks, as Dolidze enters riding a three-fight win streak, while Hernandez comes in having won his last seven fights.
In the co-main event, Steve Erceg battles late replacement Ode Osbourne in a bantamweight bout. Also on the main card is a battle of ranked strawweights as Iasmin Lucindo takes on Angela Hill; Andre Fili squares off with Christian Rodriguez in a featherweight tilt; and Eryk Anders meets Christian Leroy Duncan in a middleweight opener.
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Light Heavyweights- Cody Brundage (11-6-1 1 NC, 5-5-1 1 NC UFC) vs. Eric McConico (9-3-1, 0-1 UFC)
McConico hurts Brundage with a left hand early and they go to the mat. McConico lands from the top before they scramble up and Brundage is looking to take it down against the fence. McConico is defending landing to the body and they are separated by the referee. McConico lands and Brundage shoots for a takedown and completes it. They work up to their feet. McConico lands a knee. Brundage lands a body kick then a knee. Brundage with two right hands and they clinch. 10-9 McConico.
McConico ties it right up against the fence to start the second. McConico has Brundage pushed against the fence and Brundage lands some hammerfists to the thighs of McConico. Brundage lands an elbow as they break. They start trading big punches inside the pocket and Brundage hurts McConico. McConico backs up and Brundage lands a right hand and a knee before scoring a takedown. Brundage has body control as they stand. Brundage controlling against the fence as McConico lands some body shots. Brundage scores a takedown. They stand and Brundage lands a high kick. McConico with a body kick and then another and lands a high kick. 10-9 Brundage, 19-19.
McConico pressing forward and lands some high kicks. McConico lands a left hand. Brundage lands a right hand. McConico with a big left hand followed by a knee and they clinch up. McConico lands an elbow. McConico with a knee followed by an elbow. They are separated from the clinch by the referee. Brundage lands an uppercut. McConico with a high kick. McConico lands a flurry of punches, mixing to the head and body, then backs off and lands a body kick. Brundage lands a right hand. McConico with a left hand followed by a body kick. Brundage with a big right hand late. Close fight. 10-9 McConico, 29-28 McConico.
Fight Result- Eric McConico def. Cody Brundage by split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
Women’s Flyweights- Gabriella Fernandes (10-3, 2-2 UFC) vs. Julija Stoliarenko (11-8-1, 2-6 UFC)
Stoliarenko lands some leg kicks and then one that slams against the arm of Fernandes. Stoliarenko with another leg kick. Fernandes lands a left hand. Fernandes lands to the body. Fernandes lands a combination. They clinch up but quickly break. They trade body kicks. Fernandes lands a body kick. Fernandes hurts Stoliarenko with a body kick. They trade kicks and start trading punches. Fernandes lands some hard punches. Stoliarenko lands a body kick. Fernandes with a high kick. 10-9 Fernandes.
Stoliarenko looks for a takedown but Fernandes defends against the fence. They break and Fernandes lands a high kick. Fernandes with a body kick. Stoliarenko is bleeding from her left eye. Fernandes lands two heavy high kicks. Stoliarenko blocks with her arms but damage is still landing. Stoliarenko looks for a takedown, but Fernandes defends and they separate. Fernandes lands a body kick. Stoliarenko lands a right hand. Fernandes lands some more kicks. 10-9 Fernandes, 20-18 Fernandes.
Stoliarenko misses a right hand and Fernandes lands a jab. Fernandes lands a left hand. Stoliarenko misses a right hand. Stoliarenko throws a high kick and Fernandes blocks it. Fernandes lands a body kick and Stoliarenko looks for a takedown as she grabs the body and pushes it to the fence. Fernandes lands and they break. Fernandes lands a body kick. Stoliarenko lands a right hand. Stoliarenko lands a body kick. Fernandes lands a combo and a high kick. Stoliarenko with a body kick. Fernandes lands a solid left hand. Stoliarenko lands a combo. Fernandes lands a head kick. 10-9 Stoliarenko , 29-28 Fernandes.
Fight Result- Gabriella Fernandes def. Julija Stoliarenko by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Welterweights- Uros Medic (10-3, 4-3 UFC) vs. Gilbert Urbina (7-3, 1-2 UFC)
Urbina drops Medic with a right hand right away, but Urbina lets him up. Medic lands a body kick. Urbina lands a body kick and Medic lands a right hand. Medic lands a big left hand and Urbina goes down and is out as Medic lands a follow-up shot. What a finish from Medic!
Fight Result- Uros Medic def. Gilbert Urbina by knockout (punch) at 1:03 of Round 1
> Women’s Bantamweights- #14 Joselyne Edwards (15-6, 6-4 UFC) vs. Priscila Cachoeira (13-6, 5-6 UFC)
They trade leg kicks and Edwards lands a solid right hand. They trade leg kicks some more as Cachoeira is pressuring. Time out is called for an eye poke by Cachoeira. They get back going and both start teeing off. Edwards lands a big combo. Edwards lands a pair of big left hooks. Edwards drops Cachoeira with a right hand and then lands some follow-up shots to end it! What a finish by Edwards!
Fight Result- Joselyne Edwards def. Priscila Cachoeira by knockout (punch) at 2:24 of Round 1
Bantamweights- Elijah Smith (8-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Toshiomi Kazama (11-4, 1-2 UFC)
Kazama lands and gets a takedown. Smith switches to the top and starts landing big punches and elbows. Smith lands some shots from the top as Kazama attacks the leg. Smith lands some hammerfists as Kazama attacks. Smith with more punches from the top. Smith with more punches from the top as Kazama continues to attack the leg. Kazama looks for an armbar but Smith punches his way out of it. Smith picks Kazama up and slams him down to the mat and Kazama is out cold! What a finish from Smith!
Fight Result- Elijah Smith def. Toshiomi Kazama by knockout (slam) at 4:10 of Round 1
Light Heavyweights- Julius Walker (6-1, 0-1 UFC) vs. Rafael Cerqueira (11-2, 0-2 UFC)
Walker landing combos to start and Cerqueira lands a pair of right hands. Cerqueira with a leg kick followed by a right hand. Cerqueira lands and they clinch up. Walker with some knees against the fence. They separate. Cerqueira lands a left hand. Cerqueira with a spinning leg kick. Walker forces a clinch against the fence. Walker scores a takedown and has the back. Walker lands from the back. They briefly stand, and Walker drags it back down as Cerqueira looks for an arm. Walker gets an arm and is attacking for a kimura. He lets go and lands some punches. 10-9 Walker.
Walker lands a leg kick and Cerqueira goes to the mat. Walker gets inside the guard of Cerqueira and starts landing. Walker mixing punches to the body and head. Walker still controlling as Cerqueira is trying to scramble up. Walker gets the back as they’re on the feet, but Walker drags it back down. Walker with some knees to the body. They get up and separate and both land before Walker gets it back to the mat. Walker lands from the top. Walker looks for an arm but time runs out. 10-9 Walker, 20-18 Walker.
Cerqueira lands a right hand. Cerqueira is chasing Walker down and throwing. Walker shoots for a takedown but Cerqueira defends. Walker lands a right hand and Cerqueira goes down and Walker starts landing from the top. Walker lands but they get up. Cerqueira lands a right hand. Walker shoots for a takedown but Cerqueira sprawls and has the neck. He lets go and they stand. They trade and Walker gets a takedown. Walker controlling from the top and has the back before getting back on top. Walker with some left hands. Walker gets the back and is looking for a choke late. 10-9 Walker, 30-27 Walker.
Fight Result- Julius Walker def. Rafael Cerqueira by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
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Middleweights- Eryk Anders (17-8 1 NC, 9-8 1 NC UFC) vs. Christian Leroy Duncan (11-2, 4-2 UFC)
Duncan lands some kicks. Duncan working the jab and time out is called as he lands an eye poke. They get back to action and Duncan lands some kicks. They trade and Duncan lands a groin strike and time out is called again. They get back to action and Duncan lands a spin kick. Duncan lands a flying knee and a pair of right hands. Anders was hurt but he quickly recovers and gets a takedown. Anders controlling from the back. Duncan reverses. Anders lands a knee. They trade knees. Duncan lands an elbow and then a big knee. They separate and Duncan lands a pair of leg kicks and then stuns Anders with a spinning elbow. Duncan then lands some punches as Anders goes to the mat and it is all over! Duncan with a big first-round finish.
Fight Result- Christian Leroy Duncan def. Eryk Anders by TKO (punches) at 3:53 of Round 1
Bantamweights- Miles Johns (15-3 1 NC, 6-3 1 NC UFC) vs. Jean Matsumoto (16-1, 2-1 UFC)
Matsumoto with a body kick. Johns lands a right hand. Johns lands a leg kick. Johns with a right hand. Johns scores a big takedown. Matsumoto is attacking the neck from the bottom. Johns escapes and remains on top. They stand as Johns has Matsumoto against the fence, but they separate. Johns lands a left hand. Johns with a combo as Matsumoto lands a right hand. Johns lands the double jab. Johns with a left hook as Matsumoto lands a high kick. Matsumoto with a body kick. He lands a leg kick. Matsumoto tries a jumping knee, but Johns grabs him and gets a brief takedown. They tie up and Johns lands to the body on the break. They trade big punches. They trade late. 10-9 Johns.
Matsumoto lands a heavy calf kick. Johns with a solid right hand. Matsumoto lands another calf kick. Johns with two right hands. Johns with a quick combo. Matsumoto lands a solid counter combo. They tie up and Johns lands an elbow on the break. Matsumoto lands some kicks as Johns connects with some punches. Johns lands a right hand. Johns lands a right hand and Matsumoto lands a high kick. Matsumoto with a high kick and then a body kick as he lands some punches. Matsumoto tries a knee, but Johns grabs him and gets a takedown. Matsumoto grabs the neck and looks for a choke. They stand and Matsumoto lands. Johns with a left hook as Matsumoto lands a body kick. They trade. Johns with a combination. Close round. 10-9 Matsumoto, 19-19.
Matsumoto lands a big calf kick. Matsumoto with a right hand as Johns lands a jab. Johns with a combo and Matsumoto lands a leg kick. Matsumoto lands a body kick. They trade in close range and both connect with hard punches. They trade in close range. Matsumoto landing some bigger shots right now. Johns grabs the back and lands some knees. They get to their feet and separate. Matsumoto lands a right hand. They trade to end it. 10-9 Matsumoto, 29-28 Matsumoto.
Fight Result- Jean Matsumoto def. Miles Johns by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Featherweights- Andre Fili (24-12 1 NC, 12-11 1 NC UFC) vs. Christian Rodriguez (12-3, 5-3 UFC)
They trade in close range. Rodriguez with a big flurry against the fence. They break to the center. They trade inside the pocket. Rodriguez lands a leg kick. Fili rocks Rodriguez with a left hand but Rodriguez is able to recover. Fili lands a right hand. They trade punches. Fili lands a body kick and Rodriguez grabs the leg and gets a takedown and ends the round on top. 10-9 Fili.
They trade quick flurries. Rodriguez lands a leg kick. They trade combinations. Fili lands a calf kick. They trade inside the pocket before clinching up. They break and Fili lands some jabs. Fili lands a hard right hand, and Rodriguez counters with two big right hands. Fili with a high kick. Fili works the jab as both land right hands. Rodriguez lands a knee. Rodriguez with a right hand. They tie up and Rodriguez lands a knee. Close round. 10-9 Fili, 20-18 Fili.
They trade with both landing before Rodriguez pushes it to the fence. They separate and trade. Rodriguez lands a high kick. Fili lands some punches and scores a takedown. Fili lands from the top but Rodriguez is able to force it to the feet. Rodriguez lands a combo. Fili with a body kick and lands two jabs. Rodriguez lands a left hand. They trade inside the pocket as Rodriguez lands an elbow, and Fili changes levels and scores a takedown. Rodriguez with some elbows from the bottom. They get up and Fili has back control at the fence. Fili with a double jab and lands a body kick. They tie up but break. They trade late as Rodriguez lands a flurry. Close fight. 10-9 Fili, 30-27 Fili.
Fight Result- Andre Fili def. Christian Rodriguez by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Women’s Strawweights- #8 Iasmin Lucindo (17-6, 4-2 UFC) vs. #12 Angela Hill (18-14, 13-14 UFC)
Hill lands a left hook as Lucindo lands a leg kick. They tie up and go to the fence and Lucindo jumps on the back and drags it down for a moment. They stand and Lucindo still has back control. They trade with some dirty boxing as Lucindo lands clubbing right hands. Hill lands some knees and they separate. Hill looks for a takedown but Lucindo defends. They trade jabs. Lucindo lands a combo. Lucindo with another hard combo. Hill lands a left hook. Lucindo lands a flurry. Hill with a spinning elbow. Lucindo lands a flurry of punches. Hill with a leg kick. Hill looks for a takedown but Lucindo defends. They trade. Lucindo with a spin kick and spinning elbow. Lucindo scores a late takedown. 10-9 Lucindo.
Lucindo lands a body kick then a heavy flurry of punches. Hill lands a spin kick and tries a switch kick but Lucindo gets it down. Hill attacks the neck and looks for a choke and lands some knees before letting go. Lucindo lands a combination. Hill lands a right hand. Hill with another one. Lucindo with a left hook. They tie up and Lucindo lands a knee. Hill with a leg kick. They land inside the pocket. Lucindo lands a flurry. They trade and Lucindo grabs the back and drags it down. 10-9 Lucindo, 20-18 Lucindo.
They trade to start as Lucindo lands with heavy volume. Hill lands a right hand. Lucindo lands a combination. Lucindo with a pair of combinations. Lucindo landing more combos. Lucindo scores a takedown and is working from side control. Lucindo working from the top and keeping Hill pinned on the bottom. Lucindo continues to land from the top as she dominates Hill in the third. 10-9 Lucindo, 30-27 Lucindo.
Fight Result- Iasmin Lucindo def. Angela Hill by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Bantamweights- #10 FLY Steve Erceg (12-4, 3-3 UFC) vs. Ode Osbourne (13-8, 5-6 UFC)
Osbourne throwing kicks to start. Erceg lands a right hand. Osbourne lands a leg kick. Osbourne lands a hard right hand in an exchange. They both land and tie up for a moment. Osbourne rocks Erceg with a right hand and Erceg almost went out and Osbourne landed another punch and Erceg shoots for a takedown. Osbourne defends and is landing. Erceg attacks the leg and Osbourne is landing punches. Erceg still working for a takedown. Osbourne gets it down into the mount and takes the back of Erceg. They scramble up. Erceg gets it down and lands from the back and he attacks for a choke. Osbourne spins into the guard of Erceg. They get up and Osbourne lands a high kick. 10-9 Osbourne.
Osbourne lands a leg kick. Erceg lands a combo, and Osbourne lands a counter combo. Erceg shoots for a takedown and pushes it against the fence. Osbourne is able to defend and they end up breaking. Erceg lands a right hand. Osbourne with a leg kick. Erceg with a high kick. Osbourne lands a kick and Erceg counters with a right hand. Erceg looks for a takedown but Osbourne defends as they clinch. Erceg lands a body kick on the break. Erceg lands and looks for a takedown and lands a knee. Erceg lands a right hand. They trade. 10-9 Erceg, 19-19.
Erceg lands a right hand. Osbourne with a side kick. Osbourne lands a left hand. Erceg lands a right hand. They trade inside the pocket and Erceg lands better. Erceg scores a takedown. Erceg working from the half-guard. Erceg gets into the mount. Osbourne trying to scramble out and Erceg takes his back. Erceg lands a couple of punches. Erceg gets the body triangle locked on and is working for a choke. Osbourne escapes and they scramble up. Erceg gets a front headlock trip takedown and lands from the top. Erceg lands from the back and looks for a choke late, lets go and lands from the mount to end it. 10-9 Erceg, 29-28 Erceg.
Fight Result- Steve Erceg def. Ode Osbourne by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Middleweights- #9 Roman Dolidze (15-3, 9-3 UFC) vs. #10 Anthony Hernandez (14-2 1 NC, 8-2 UFC)
Hernandez with a leg kick. Dolidze with a high kick. They trade leg kicks. Dolidze with a hard calf kick. Hernandez connects with a right hand. Dolidze with a left hook. Hernandez lands a calf kick. Hernandez lands a right hand and they trade in close range. Dolidze clinches and pushes it to the fence. Dolidze lands some knees and Hernandez lands an elbow to force a break. Dolidze with a calf kick. Hernandez lands and looks for a takedown against the fence. Hernandez drags it down and has the back. They scramble up. Hernandez with a jab. Dolidze lands a leg kick. Hernandez lands and clinches. Dolidze lands a left hand. Hernandez lands a leg kick. Hernandez lands a right hand and scores a takedown. Hernandez lets him up. Dolidze lands a jab and body kick. 10-9 Hernandez.
Dolidze throwing kicks. They roll to the mat for a moment but get right up. Hernandez with a right hand. Dolidze lands a jab. They trade right hands and Dolidze lands a combo. Both land inside the pocket. Hernandez is urging the action on as both connect. Hernandez lands a solid right hand and drags Dolidze to the mat. Hernandez lands from the back. Hernandez stands and Dolidze is ordered up. Hernandez with a left hand. Hernandez connects and Dolidze is looking tired already. Hernandez lands a hard elbow. Hernandez with a leg kick. Dolidze lands a knee and Hernandez scores a takedown. Hernandez with some knees. Dolidze rolls for a leg but Hernandez escapes. Hernandez lands a jab. Hernandez lands a right hand. Dolidze with a left hand. Hernandez hurts Dolidze with a flurry and Dolidze was running away before Hernandez got him down. Hernandez looks for a guillotine choke. He lets go and takes the back and lands. Hernandez with a knee and big shots from the top to end the second. 10-9 Hernandez, 20-18 Hernandez.
Dolidze lands two jabs. Hernandez gets the back and gets it down. Hernandez gets to his feet and lets Dolidze up. Hernandez lands a right hand and grabs the back as Dolidze grabs the fence. Hernandez gets Dolidze down and Dolidze grabs the fence for a third time. Hernandez with some knees to the body. Hernandez with more knees as they briefly stand. Hernandez backs off and lets Dolidze get up. Hernandez lands and gets it down but stands it right back up. Hernandez lands a right hand and Dolidze slips to the mat. Hernandez gets side control from the back and lands some knees. They stand. Hernandez grabs the neck and gets it back down and lands some knees. He gets inside the guard of Dolidze. Hernandez with some shots from the top. 10-8 Hernandez, 30-26 Hernandez.
Hernandez lands a leg kick. He lands another hard leg kick. Hernandez lands a right hand and a knee before getting Dolidze to the mat. Hernandez lands some punches as he’s controlling the back. Hernandez landing more punches. They get to their feet. Hernandez lands an elbow and grabs the body and lands some knees. Hernandez then locks in a standing choke and Dolidze taps! What a performance from Hernandez!
Fight Result- Anthony Hernandez def. Roman Dolidze by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:45 of Round 4