Wineland finishes off Saenz to end UFC on FOX 20 prelims
Eddie Wineland def. Frankie Saenz via 3rd-round TKO
Eddie Wineland is starting to look like his former self.
Wineland, once a perennial bantamweight contender, broke a two-fight skid with a TKO win over Frankie Saenz. The 135-pounders kept the fight standing, with Saenz outstriking Wineland throughout. The former WEC champ had Saenz hurt momentarily in the first round, but didn't move in for the finish. After landing a perfectly placed right hand to the jaw in the third, though, he flashed the killer instinct that made his name, finishing Saenz with punches after he got back to his feet.
The win keeps Wineland relevant within the division, while Saenz fell to 11-4.
Darren Elkins def. Godofredo Pepey via unanimous decision
Godofredo Pepey's Performance of the Night streak ended at three.
His opponent, Darren Elkins, earned the decision in their featherweight fight doing what he does best: takedown, ground-and-pound, end round, repeat. Pepey was his usual reckless self, throwing wild strikes, attempting submissions, and striking from his back with enough success to keep it close through two rounds, but it was Elkins who dictated where the fight took place. An illegal knee to a downed Elkins cost Pepey a point in the first round, and any momentum thereafter was stifled in the third when the Brazilian ran out of gas.
Elkins extended his win streak to three, while Pepey fell to 4-4 in the UFC.
Kamaru Usman def. Alexander Yakovlev via unanimous decision
When in doubt, rely on your wrestling.
That was Kamaru Usman's mantra in his unanimous decision victory over sambo expert Alexander Yakovlev. Usman kept Yakovlev on his back for nearly their entire welterweight bout. The Russian's attempts to keep the fight standing were futile against the bigger and stronger Usman.
The loss snapped Yakovlev's two-fight win streak, while "The Nigerian Nightmare"s UFC record improved to 3-0.
Michel Prazeres def. J.C. Cottrell via unanimous decision
J.C. Cottrell got a lesson in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in his UFC lightweight debut.
Michel Prazeres took Cottrell down repeatedly and effortlessly, looking for a submission for the first two rounds and nearly locking in an omoplata in the opening frame. "The Tractor" kept the fight standing for the final five minutes, and the exchanges were just as lopsided. Cottrell had taken the fight on just 11 days notice, filling in for the injured Tony Martin.
The decision marked Prazeres' 20th career victory, and snapped Cottrell's six-fight win streak.