Casey Kenney cemented himself as a legitimate threat, Tai Tuivasa bounced back, and Sam Alvey held on by the skin of his teeth at UFC 254.
The UFC 254 early prelims and preliminary cards turned in a solid show prior to the huge pay-per-view main card. Take a look below at all the highlights.
Tai Tuivasa def. Stefan Struve by KO via strikes (4:59, R1)
Tuivasa was in rare form at UFC 254. He kept Struve against the fence and pummelled him inside-and-outside the clinch. Tuivasa dropped "The Skyscraper" at the end of round one and finished things with one second left.
Get the shoeys ready --
— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2020
---- @BamBamTuivasa with the buzzer beater and he's ready to celebrate!
[ #UFC254 main card is NEXT: https://t.co/QRo69og6BH ] pic.twitter.com/JRnQE6ji7w
Casey Kenney def. Nathaniel Wood by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Kenney and Wood put on a Fight of the Night contender in three-rounds of fast action. Kenney was given the nod in a bout that should set him up for a ranked opponent.
These two are THROWING! --
— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2020
Chins are holding up well through 1️⃣.
[ #UFC254 #InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/rpswu14E3Z
Shavkat Rakhmonov def. Alex Oliveira by submission via guillotine choke (4:40, R1)
Rakhmonov made quick work of Oliveira. "Cowboy" hunted the takedown against the fence; however, his neck was ripe for the picking and Rakhmonov made him pay with the first-round guillotine finish.
UFC fight number 1️⃣9️⃣!
— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2020
And Oliveira keeps dancing to the Octagon.
[ #InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/gdwRIBUe1h
Remember his name --
— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2020
---- Shavkat Rakhmonov locks up the guillotine!
[ #UFC254 is live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/QRo69og6BH ] pic.twitter.com/KtsipubxUm
Sam Alvey fights Da Un Jung to a split draw (29-28, 28-29, 28-28)
Alvey's effective counterstriking in rounds one and two had him ahead on two judges' scorecards. In round three, Jung scored the most decisive round of the fight after rocking Alvey on two separate occasions with thudding elbows. The fight was ultimately ruled a draw.
They are swinging! --@SmilenSam hitting is mark through two!
— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2020
[ #InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/4zD8oxvxKE
This one ends via split draw!
— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2020
The #UFC254 prelims continue on ESPN2.
[ #InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/kszAzfvHvr
Miranda Maverick def. Liana Jojua by TKO via doctor stoppage (5:00, R1)
Maverick lit up Jojua with punches and kicks. Towards the end of the round, Maverick shredded her opponent's nose with a wicked step-in elbow. Jojua's corner could not stop the bleeding and the fight was waved off before the start of round two.
This elbow landed CLEAN! --
— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2020
Miranda Maverick takes it by TKO doctor's stoppage.
[ #UFC254 #InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/FbxVIAN3HK
Joel Alvarez def. Alexander Yakovlev by submission via armbar (3:00, R1)
Yakovlev fell into Alvarez's mousetrap and never saw the light of day. An early takedown attempt by Yakovlev nearly saw him get finished by a tight arm-in guillotine. Shortly after escaping, Yakovlev fell to an armbar — the fifth armbar loss of his professional career.
First round armbar!
— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2020
El Fenomeno showing off his solid ground game at #UFC254.
[ Main card at 2pm ET: https://t.co/QRo69oxI0h ] pic.twitter.com/GyXRQljURc
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