Welcome to Fightful.com's live coverage of UFC Fight Night Sioux Falls. Tonight's show features several title contenders, including Michael McDonald, John Lineker and Tony Ferguson. We'll have quick results of the prelim card, followed by full, round-by-round coverage of the main card at 9 PM.
You can check out Showdown Joe Ferraro's event preview at this link, and join us following the show for a Fightful Podcast at this link to talk UFC, NXT, TNA and more!
The full card can be seen below
MAIN CARD (FS1, 9 p.m. ET)
John Lineker (#8) defeated Michael McDonald (#5) via TKO (punches), Round 1.
Tony Ferguson (#3) defeated Landon Vannata via submission (D'arce choke) Round 2, 2:22
Tim Boetsch defeated Josh Samman via TKO (strikes) Round 2, 3:49
Daniel Omielanczuk defeated Aleksei Oleinik via majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Keita Nakamura defeated Kyle Noke via submission (rear naked choke), Round 2, 4:59
Luis Smolka (#12) defeated Ben Nguyen via TKO (elbows) Round 2, 4:08
PRELIMINARY CARD (FS1, 7 p.m. ET)
Katlyn Chookagian defeated Lauren Murphy (#13) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Sam Alvey defeated Eric Spicely via submission (guillotine), Round 1, 2:43
Cortney Casey defeated Cristina Stanciu via TKO (elbows), Round 1, 2:36
Scott Holtzman defeated Cody Pfister via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
EARLY PRELIMS (UFC Fight Pass, 6 p.m. ET)
Rani Yahya defeated Matt Lopez via submission (arm-triangle) Round 3, 4:19
Alex Nicholson defeated Devin Clark via KO (punches), Round 1, 4:57
MAIN CARD
Ben Nguyen vs. Luis Smolka (#12)
Round 1: Nguyen goes right at Smolka with a punch and a head kick before dragging him to the ground. Nguyen applies a crossface, then moves to mount, and ends up in guard until he uses an omolata sweep (!) to escape. Smolka starts landing ground and pound and applies a d'arce, then repositions to apply it again before letting go. Smolka destroys Nguyen to finish an awesome round 1.
Fightful scores round one 10-9 for Smolka
Round 2: Smolka lands a hight kick and drags Nguyen down. He goes for a guillotine choke, then a leglock, but Nguyen survives. Nguyen is briefly up, but eats a whole lot of punishment. Smolka is beating the brakes off of Ben. Another two guillotine attempts and a triangle attempt both fail, as does a rear naked choke. Finally elbows from the top stop it as Nguyen's corner throws in the towel.
Official Result: Luis Smolka (#12) defeated Ben Nguyen via TKO (elbows) Round 2, 4:08
I'm not sure what it says that Smolka wasn't able to finish off the fight during one of his 7 or 8 submission attempts, but he was incredibly active in that department. Smolka threatened finishes at every turn.
Keita Nakamura vs. Kyle Noke
Round 1: Noke stuns Nakamura with a couple of jabs, but gets a little too sloppy. Noke lands to the body, but it doesn't deter Nakamura from scoring a combo of his own. Nakamura lands with a hook, followed by a head kick. Nakamura unleashes another nice combo, but gets taken down by Noke, who immediately lets him up. Noke returns fire after Nakamura connects. Noke goes to the body with a front kick. The two slug it out to end the round.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 Kyle Noke
Round 2: Noke avoids a takedown out of the gate, and welcomes Nakamura to his feet with a punch. Noke keeps circling towards Nakamura's hook with his hand down and Nakamura makes him pay for it. Nakamura gets a body kick and goes after Noke, who circles out and lands a punch. Noke takes down Nakamura, then goes to a waistlock to throw knees at Nakamura's backside. Nakamura stalks Noke out and gets a body kick, then drops Noke with a knee. Nakamura moves to mount and unloads punches. Nakamura applies a rear naked choke and submits Noke with one second left!
Official Result: Keita Nakamura defeated Kyle Noke via submission (rear naked choke), Round 2, 4:59
Nakamura looked outstanding. Kyle Noke's corner could be heard screaming at him to survive the final ten seconds of the round.
Aleksei Oleinik (243.5) vs. Daniel Omielanczuk (248)
Round 1: Both men throw down until Oleink takes DO down. Oleinik spends the entire round controlling DO on the ground, occasionally landing a strike.
Fightful scores Round 1 for Oleinik, 10-9
Round 2: DO clubs Oleinik and knocks him down, then follows with ground and pound. Oleinik turns the tides and applies his signature head and arm hold, but DO gets out of it and throws some nice punches and elbows. They get back to the feet and DO slugs Oleinik, but gets taken down. Oleinek tries a triangle to close the round.
Fightful scores round 2 for Omielanczuk, 10-9
Round 3: Oleinik goes in for a takedown, but eats punches and DO ends up on top. After about 90 seconds the ref stands the fighters up, allowing Oleinik to punch DO righ tin the grill and attack him against the cage. The fight goes to the ground, and gets stood up again. Oleinik slugs him again, and gets taken down.
Fightful scores this round 10-9 for Omielanczuk, giving him a 29-28 win
Official Result: Daniel Omielanczuk defeated Aleksei Oleinik via majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)
That was a really, really, really bad fight.
Tim Boetsch vs. Josh Samman
Round 1: Samman comes out aggressive and ends up on his back. Samman eats some knees while trying to throw on a body lock. After an aggressive and unsuccessul round on the feet, Samman lands a head kick and a couple of punches, but Boetsch strikes back.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Tim Boetsch
Round 2: Samman opens round two with a few kicks, but quickly ends up on his back again. Boetsch works him against the cage and hammers down punches for a full minute before the fight is finally stopped.
Official Result: Tim Boetsch defeated Josh Samman via TKO (strikes) Round 2, 3:49
Josh Samman didn't look right from bell to bell. Boetsch had his back up against the wall and came through again.
Tony Ferguson (#3) vs. Landon Vannata
Round 1: Vannatta starts off landing several big quick strikes and is light on his feet, making Ferguson miss. An unintentional groin shot lands and the action is paused. Ferguson has timed Vannata with several strikes, but gets blasted with several big punches! Ferguson with a back fist and a body kick. They're throwing down! Vannata has his hands down and gets punched repeatedly, then tries a takedown. Vannata catches a kick and drills Ferguson! Vannata follows with punches, gets a takedown, follows to the ground and has to escape an armbar. Round of the year.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Vannata
Round 2: Ferguson opens with a sick jab. Ferguson is landing with volume and regularity, but Vannatta scores a head kick. Ferguson starts obliterating Vannatta with kicks and punches, but Vannatta doesn't sell it at all. Ferguson applies a D'arce choke for the win
Official Result: Tony Ferguson (#3) defeated Landon Vannata via submission (D'arce choke) Round 2, 2:22
That may very well have had round of the year and fight of the year. Landon Vannata is something special to watch. Ferguson calls out Eddie Alvarez after the fight. Vannata was no selling a real life ass kicking, and won a round against the #3 lightweight in the UFC.
John Lineker (#8) (136) vs. Michael McDonald (#5) (135)
Round 1: Lineker opens with a leg kick and drills McDonald and drops him twice. McDonald is fighting back! He lands some big punches of his own! They're slugging it out and McDonald goes down! He's done! Wow!
Official Result: John Lineker (#8) defeated Michael McDonald (#5) via TKO (punches), Round 1.
That was bananas. This could have been the most exciting card of the last week, and almost nobody knew about it. Lineker is a contender at 135 pounds.
