UFC 180 Fox Sports 1 Prelims: Rodriguez, Perez, Eye and Benitez claim victories

Yair Rodriguez def. Leonardo Morales via unanimous decision

Yair Rodriguez closed out the Fox Sports 1 prelims with a clear cut unanimous decision victory over Leonardo Morales to claim the TUF: Latin America Featherweight title.

Rodriguez took the first two rounds, threatening Morales with multiple submissions, including a sequence where he repeatedly tried to slickly transition between an armbar and a triangle choke in hopes of finishing the fight early.

Morales held tight, and was able to take the final round in a textbook case of too little too late.

Rodriguez improved his MMA record to 4-1, while the loss, the first blemish of Morales' career, drops his record to 4-1.

Alejandro Perez def. Jose Quinonez via unanimous decision

Alejandro Perez, aided by a fight-altering headbutt, captured the TUF: Latin America Bantamweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over Jose Quinonez.

The two men exchanged heavy leather in a spirited, and often sloppy, 15-minute affair before Quinonez landed an intentional headbutt in the third round, and was deducted two points by referee “Big” John McCarthy.

Quinonez, likely knowing he needed a finish after losing two points, threatened Perez with a few hand-and-arm triangle chokes, but couldn't escape half-guard, and ultimately wasn't able to seal the deal.

Jessica Eye def. Leslie Smith via TKO (doctor stoppage)

A gruesome ear injury prematurely stopped a one-sided fight between Jessica Eye and Leslie Smith.

Eye, using superior stand up and blazing speed, punished Smith, outclassing her on the feet with solid combinations and stinging leg and body kicks.

At one point in the first round, Eye busted opened Smith’s cauliflower ear, causing a river of blood to stream down her ear and cheek.

Doctors allowed Smith to proceed to the second frame, but stopped it after further punishment threatened to rip part of her ear (not so) clean off.

Gabriel Benitez def. Humberto Brown via submission (guillotine choke)

Gabriel Benitez kicked off the UFC 180 Fox Sports 1 prelims in style, rendering Humberto Brown unconscious with an unconventional standing guillotine choke.

Benitez, a member of Team Velasquez on TUF: Latin America, controlled the entire scrap with a combination of superior striking and grappling, coming close to finishing the fight multiple times in the opening frame.

On an unrelated note, Brown may have had a bit of an accident before falling victim to Benitez's fight-ending choke.