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UFC Vegas 37 Highlights: Anthony Smith Quickly Dispatches Ryan Spann

MMA UFC
Ewan Ross Sep 18, 2021 8:54PM

UFC Vegas 37 really failed to deliver, and instead offered up many uncompetitive one-sided fights, and a lack of drama involved in most of the card. It was a card with some decent highlights though, so check out all the of them after the jump.

Anthony Smith def. Ryan Spann via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) (Rd. 1 3:47)

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In a night full of uncompetitive matches, Anthony Smith put a quick stop to the main event by choking out Ryan Spann. Smith scored a couple of knockdowns and almost scored a highlight reel arm-bar finish before settling for the more standard rear-naked choke finish. Post-fight the trash talk between Smith and Spann looked like it was going to continue and boil over, before security broke them up. In the post-fight interview, Smith declared his desire to fight Aleksandar Rakic, to which Rakic has apparently agreed.

Ion Cutelaba def. Devin Clark via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 29-26, 29-27)

Devin Clark showed incredible toughness to reach the final bell in a bout that Ion Cutelaba absolutely dominated. The first round was one of the clearest 10-8 rounds you'll ever see, with Clark being saved by the bell at the end of the round. Then in each of the next two rounds, Cutelaba got to full mount, and dealt brutal punishment from top position, but couldn't get the finish. Questionable judging, but the right guy certainly got the nod.

Ariane Lipski def. Mandy Böhm via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

In yet another bout that was completely uncompetitive, Ariane Lipski demolished UFC rookie Mandy Böhm via wide unanimous decision. Lipski scored a knockdown in each of the three rounds, and her mixed approach of targeting the body and head was extremely effective. Böhm looks like a decent prospect, but she wasn't ready for Lipski in the slightest.

Arman Tsaryukan def. Christos Giagos via TKO (Punches) (Rd. 1 2:09)

In a highly uncompetitive match, Arman Tsaryukan ran over Christos Giagos in a little over two minutes. Tsaryukan caught Giagos with a stiff hook that sat him down, and after some short follow up strikes, Tsaryukan got the TKO. Post-fight, Tsaryukan called out Dan Hooker for a future bout, which would be an excellent action kickboxing affair.

Nate Maness def. Tony Gravely via TKO (Punches) (Rd. 2 2:10)

In a wild back and forth fight, Nate Maness came back from being saved by the bell in the first round to score a thrilling knockout victory in the second over Tony Graveley. Gravely nearly got the finish right at the bell of the first round, as he dropped Maness, and could've gotten the win had the bell not sounded. In the second round Maness came back and caught Gravely with a devastating right hook.

Joaquin Buckley def. Antônio Arroyo via TKO (Punches) (Rd. 3 2:26)

Highlight machine, Joaquin Buckley continued to wrack up shocking stoppage wins with a comeback knockout over Antônio Arroyo. Despite struggling with Arroyo's range over the first two rounds, Buckley caught Arroyo behind the ear, and after some short follow up the fight was over.

Tafon Nchukwi def. Mike Rodriguez via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Moving up to light heavyweight led to an excellent performance from Tafon Nchukwi in defeating Mike Rodriguez. Nchukwi threw nothing but heat Rodriguez' way, and despite giving up a massive reach advantage, Rodriguez had nothing for him, and Nchukwi coasted to a relatively routine decision.

Raquel Pennington def. Pannie Kianzad via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

In a fight that saw alot of fairly dull cage clinching, Raquel Pennington emerged victorious over Pannie Kianzad. The first two rounds were likely split between the two fighters, but Pennington came out strong in the 3rd, and put a stamp on the fight to secure the decision victory. Not the most thrilling outing, but a good showing for Pennington in her return to the octagon after battling with Covid-19.

Rong Zhu def. Brandon Jenkins via TKO (Ground and Pound) (Rd. 3 4:35)

In a very impressive display, the UFC's youngest fighter, Rong Zhu, secured his first UFC victory. Zhu rocked Brandon Jenkins numerous times on the feet, and held long stretches of control on the ground punctuated with stiff ground and pound. Zhu finally got the stoppage late in the 3rd round, which was more a mercy stoppage than anything else. Zhu did miss weight for this fight, so he won't get full credit for his excellent performance.

Montell Jackson def. JP Bays via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

In a fairly one-sided fight, Montell Jackson utilized a massive striking advantage to ride out a safe decision victory over JP Bays. Jackson knocked Bays down four times in the fight, and while Bays attempted numerous submissions, none of them got especially close to getting the finish.

Erin Blanchfield def. Sarah Alpar via Unanimous Decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26)

In one of the most one-sided fights of the year, Erin Blanchfield completely dominated Sarah Alpar. Blanchfield did whatever she wanted on the feet, but even more importantly, took Alpar down at will, and just crushed her from top position. Blanchfield looks like a highly intriguing prospect in the flyweight division, and I'm not sure Alpar is UFC calibre. Total domination.

Carlston Harris def. Impa Kasanganay via TKO (Ground and Pound) (Rd. 1 2:38)

Carlston Harris quickly dispatched Impa Kasanganay after knocking him down and following up with some vicious ground and pound. During the ground and pound sequence Harris did crush Kasanganay with a heavy forearm to the back of Kasanganay's head, but was not intentional, and happened very quickly in the sequence.

Gustavo Lopez vs. Heili Alateng ended in a Unanimous Draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28)

After two fairly close rounds, that slightly favorred Heili Alateng, Gustavo Lopez came out strong in the third round, and definitively won the final stanza. Alateng was rightfully penalized a point for repeated cage grabs in the third round, which resulted in the draw result.

Hannah Goldy def. Emily Whitmire via Submission (Armbar) (Rd. 1 4:17)

Despite giving up an early takedown to Emily Whitmire, Hannah Goldy survived on the ground, and eventually threw up an armbar from her back, and got the finish.

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