The undercard for UFC 264 was excellent and featured a variety of exciting fights, and some fun finishes. Plus Michel Pereira hit a freaking moonsault in the cage, check out all the highlights after the jump.
Max Griffin def. Carlos Condit via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Max Griffin secured the highest-profile win of his career by out striking MMA legend Carlos Condit over three rounds. Griffin dominated the first with a high pace and a steady stream of leg kicks, but seemed to take the pedal off the gas in the 2nd which allowed Condit back into the fight. The third featured excellent back and forth action that saw Griffin get the nod. Very good scrap.
Closing the prelims with a welterweight banger --
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
-- @CarlosCondit vs @MaxPainGriffin heads to the Octagon NOW!
[ #UFC264 Prelims on @ESPN & @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/jeSkKfcbS7
Bringing the -------- in RD 1 --@MaxPainGriffin #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/6RBEaOMHs5
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
A breakout performance by @MaxPainGriffin --#UFC264 pic.twitter.com/RIZUPxoL91
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
Michel Pereira def. Niko Price via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
In a fight that was a predictable wild mess, Michel Pereira edged the decision over Niko Price. Pereira did his normal thing, attempting a variety of crazy wacky strike attempts, including even landing a standing moonsault. However all these max effort techniques left him gassed and Price came on strong in the 3rd round, and was pushing for a 10-8 round that would've left the fight a draw, but no judge saw it that way.
Fun goofy fight you should go out of your way to see in its entirety.
Grab your popcorn for this one --
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
---- @NikoHybridPrice goes head-to-head with ---- @UFCPereira
[ #UFC264 Prelims LIVE NOW on @ESPN & @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/V0MTkWPgTD
Don't blink --#UFC264 pic.twitter.com/RdtEc5UUCP
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
Michel Pereira did ANOTHER mid-fight backflip! -- #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/EPj6hEUYb7
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) July 11, 2021
Fireworks ------------------ --#UFC264 pic.twitter.com/M9OemDhwrT
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
------------------ makes it 3 in a row ---- @UFCPereira
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
[ #UFC264 Prelims LIVE NOW on @ESPN & @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/t207OzPQmC
Ilia Topuria def. Ryan Hall via Knockout (Punches) (Rd. 1 4:47)
It's very hard to understand what Ryan Hall's strategy. He spent almost the entirety of the fight rolling on the ground looking for the exact same very awkward leg lock attempt. None of those attempts even seemed even remotely close and eventually, Ilia Topuria caught Hall with his hands down, and after some short ground and pound Hall was out cold. A very strange outing.
Someone's win streak must go! --
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
---- @RyanHall5050 faces ---- @TopuriaIlia next. #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/HyS2uV3Bo3
HOW ABOUT THAT -- @TopuriaIlia #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/ZQvUa1nJpo
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
Make that 1️⃣1️⃣-0️⃣!
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
---- @TopuriaIlia remains UNDEFEATED! #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/VHli1SM674
Dricas du Plessis def. Trevin Giles via Knockout (Punches) (Rd. 2 1:41)
After a very fun scramble-heavy first round, South Africa Dricas du Plessis put Trevin Giles lights out with a straight right hand shortly into the second round. An absolutely beautiful knockout du Plessis scored exploding off the cage with a stunning shot. du Plessis now moves to 17-2 in his relatively short career, and every one of his 17 wins has come via stoppage. He's a name to watch in the talent starved middleweight division.
Prospects looking for their 4️⃣th-straight win.
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
---- @TrevinGiles vs ---- @DricusDuPlessis opens the @ESPN prelims NOW!
[ #UFC264 Prelims LIVE on @ESPN & @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/y4qKclNsRh
OH. MY. GOODNESS.
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
---- @DricusDuPlessis putting South Africa on the map! #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/kinqJld3o9
Make that -------- ---------------- --
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
---- @DricusDuPlessis with an incredible KO at #UFC264!
[ #UFC264 Prelims live NOW on @ESPN & @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/UNFENPJvqj
Jennifer Maia def. Jessica Eye via Unaniamous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
In a very close fight, Jennifer Maia edged the decision over Jessica Eye in a fight that featured a brutal cut caused by a headbutt which led to Eye bleeding buckets. The fight was competitive back and forth, and saw Eye moving forward almost the entire time. Close fight, but not all that exciting.
These boys are SWINGING in the last seconds --
— UFC (@ufc) July 10, 2021
[ #UFC264 Early Prelims on @ESPNPlus & @UFCFightPass ] pic.twitter.com/ClLqE1ehyJ
What. A. Battle. #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/PE0ExC5AHn
— UFC (@ufc) July 10, 2021
By UD --
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
---- @JenniMaiaUFC is back in the win column after going the distance at #UFC264! pic.twitter.com/08jx54SYZu
Brad Tavares def. Omari Akhmedov via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
Brad Tavares looked fantastic defeating a tough and game Omari Akhmedov. Tavares showed off his stupendous counter-wrestling denying many of Akhmedov's takedown attempts, and then using a variety of attacks and volume striking to edge the decision.
1️⃣8️⃣5️⃣ers keep the action moving!
— UFC (@ufc) July 10, 2021
-- @Omari_Akhmedov vs @BradTavares
[ #UFC264 Early Prelims on @ESPNPlus & @UFCFightPass ] pic.twitter.com/PXAet6PGSW
These boys are SWINGING in the last seconds --
— UFC (@ufc) July 10, 2021
[ #UFC264 Early Prelims on @ESPNPlus & @UFCFightPass ] pic.twitter.com/ClLqE1ehyJ
Zhalgas Zhumagulov def. Jerome Rivera via Submission (Guillotine Choke) (Rd. 1 2:02)
After starting the fight feeling each other out a bit, Zhalgas Zhumagulov caught Jerome Rivera in a standing modified front-choke and choked him out against the fence. A spectacular finish that got the card off to a very fun start.
Flyweights opening us up for #UFC264!
— UFC (@ufc) July 10, 2021
---- @ZhakoZhumagulov vs ---- @RenegadeRivera heads to the Octagon now!
[ We're LIVE on @ESPNPlus & @UFCFightPass ] pic.twitter.com/hgYUBrHaiD
How's that for a first win in the UFC --
— UFC (@ufc) July 10, 2021
---- @ZhakoZhumagulov gets a first RD tap! #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/ZvWSVfXiY6
That's how you open #UFC264!
— UFC (@ufc) July 10, 2021
Back in the win column in a big way for @ZhakoZhumagulov --
[ We're LIVE on @ESPNPlus & @UFCFightPass ] pic.twitter.com/WkoZHTN9F8
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