UFC Brooklyn Watch/Don't Watch: Sean Ross Sapp Of Fightful.com's Recs and Review

Chance Rencountre tap tap taparoos Kyle Stewart, R1

• We kick off the ESPN era with a good shot to Renountre's dickbag. 
• Rencountre holds Stewart's hand and pulls away to lock in the RNC for the win.
• I miss Phil Davis in the UFC, as boring as he could be. He's in Rencountre's corner. Also. No more.
• SRS' Rec: It's harmless and fast. Ask yourself if you want to watch a fight that could co-main a Bellator show you don't know about at all.

Related Article

Conor McGregor Content Removed From 'Hitman' Following Sexual Assault Verdict

 

Geoff Neal UD's Belal Muhammad

• If it seems to you like Belal Muhammad is in the mix and all of a sudden on prelims, it's because he's won four decisions in a row.  
• Neal meets success early on and busts up Muhammad. Muhammad turns things around in round two, but a late flurry from Neal threatens. 
• A clash of heads leads to Neal dropping Muhammad. That's how the fight goes until the scorecards are read.
• Neal halts that four fight winning streak.
• SRS' Rec: This was a fine fight. Fringe top 15 talent.

Dennis Bermudez retires after beating Te Edwards, UD

• Bermudez has four straight losses, but he could have very well won three of them. I'm glad Daniel Cormier pointed that out. 
• This is a typical Bermudez fight. Would not be shocked to see a back-and-forth third round, and it ends in a split loss for him.
• Edwards practically hands Bermudez the fight in the third round by falling over when Bermudez took him down.
• Bermudez wins and retired in the cage after a teary, heartfelt speech. This was really emotional.
• SRS' Rec: You can miss the fight, but watch the speech.

 

Corey Sandhagen empties the cupboard for a R1 submission win over Mario Bautista

• Sandhagen just keeps trying and trying. Reverse Triangle. Nope.
• Double Wristlock. Nope.
• Armbar. YEP. 
• SRS' Rec: Yes, this was a hoot. Very fun.

Alonzo Menifield CLUBS Vinicius Moreira, R1 KO

• Commentary couldn't even let us know Moreira was teary in his walk-in before he got put on his ass. 
• Not the greatest technique, but Menifield is 8-0 and made a great UFC debut. All his other fights are in LFA, RFA, Bellator and Dana White's Contender Series.
• Oh yeah, he stopped this fight easily.
• SRS' Rec: Yeah, he's a guy you're going to want to watch. I dunno how he'll do against top talent, but this was good. 

#10 Joanne Calderwood welcomes Ariane Lipski to the UFC, UD

• Lipski starts wrecking JoJo at range, and Calderwood wisely closes it. Calderwood drags down Lipski and works in side control off the cage.
• Calderwood moves in and out of half, side and mount. Working for RNC and arm triangle, but Lipski fights out of them. 
• Lipski met some more success in round two, but she was knackered. After JoJo wore her down, the fight was hers. 
• I never want Jojo Calderwood to lose because I always want JoJo post fight speeches. She calls out Jessica Eye, but said she'd fight again tonight. 
• I'd love to see a Calderwood vs. Carmouche fight, personally. 
• SRS' Rec: I'm almost never going to tell you to NOT watch a Joanne Calderwood fight.

#13 WW Donald Cerrone destroys #11 Alex Hernandez, R2 TKO

• Hernandez gets in and out really well with some early strikes, but Cerrone takes him down briefly. 
• Hernandez also seems to get the best of the clinch exchange. Cerrone is countering really well and busts open Hernandez. 
• Regardless of how well Cerrone is doing tonight, I really don't like the idea of him at lightweight. He's landing at range really well. Hernandez won't give in. 
• Donald Cerrone just fathered Alexander Hernandez with a head kick and follows up with a violent KO. 

SRS' Rec: UM, YEAH

#12 Glover Teixera sleepy held Karl Roberson, R1

• Roberson drops Teixeira, but pretty quickly gets swept and put in a series of Arm Triangles. He taps to the second one.
• I dunno how Glover keeps doing it. He got destroyed by those Browne elbows.
• Glover is 39. He's won two of three. He's probably not beating any top-5 guys, but Glover is a great person to have in the division.
• SRS' Rec: Yes, a great watch. Teixeira is a late replacement away from a title shot at any given time. 

Paige VanZant comes back to beat Rachel Ostovich, R2 Sub

• Rachel Ostovich dominates the early going. A power takedown, then an overhand right that leads to another power double. PVZ is able to prevent herself from being choked a couple of times. 
• Early in round 2, Ostovich is shaken off of PVZ's back and gets pounced on. Mounted back strikes and then a transition into a armbar. Ostovich taps.
• PVZ didn't have to let that go that early, but she did. A lot of respect for that. The ref didn't see it and Paige VanZant just let it go. She consoles Ostovich after the fight.
• PVZ had gone 1-3 in her last four fights, and needed to get back in the win column.
• SRS' Rec: This was a good fight and a great finish. 

 

#2 Joseph Benavidez UD's #8 Dustin Ortiz

• Ortiz meets some striking success early, but gets dropped with a huge left hand at the end of round 1.
• Round 2 sees some great transitions. Really good ground work and sweeps.
• Benavidez controls the majority of this fight. He takes the win, but this was a much more even fight than their 2014 bout.
• Benavidez wants a title shot. Ah boy. 
• SRS' Rec: It's a no from me, dawg.

#15 Gregor Gillespie ragdolls Yancy Medeiros, R2

• Read above, that's what happened. All round one.
• Towards the end of round two, Gillespie gets some great ground and pound for the late finish.
• Gillespie wants to fight two more times this year. He only got hit once, so he's well on his way.
• He's 6-0 in the UFC with five finishes.
• SRS' Rec: Pass.

Allen Crowder defeated Greg Hardy via DQ

• Hardy finds success early and presses forward but gets taken down.
• Impressive that Hardy didn't lose while crucifixed. Found it weird that anyone thought Greg Hardy would have a walk in the park against a guy with 20 pro/am fights.
• After a stuffed takedown, Greg Hardy throws an illegal knee. DQ. Of course.
• The crowd chants "asshole." Run this one back. Woof.
• SRS' Rec: Yep, for the spectacle.

 

UFC Flyweight Championship Superfight
Henry Cejudo (c) steamrolls TJ Dillashaw (BW c) in 34 seconds

• This is quick. Cejudo just beats the brakes off of him.
• Dillashaw is protesting, but it was the right call.
• Cejudo wants Dillashaw at 135, wants money and wants the Flyweights to stay alive.
• SRS' Rec: Oh Hell YEAH!