The featured bout on the prelims is a bantamweight battle between potential contender Raphael Assuncao and Vaughan Lee. The other fights look just as good as that one, so let's hope that the preliminaries are pretty entertaining.
Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments as the event progresses.
Antonio Braga Neto vs. Anthony Smith
Round 1 - The Brazilian crowd is already rocking. Braga Neto came forward quick with his hands and Smith responded with a knee to the body. Brago Neto landed a nice right hook. Neto landed a leg kick and got an ugly takedown. He quickly got Smith's back against the cage, but switched to half guard. Braga Neto locked up a kneebar and got the tap quickly. Great display of ground work there. Smith screamed in pain. Antonio Braga Neto defeated Anthony Smith by submission (kneebar), 1:52 of round 1
Caio Magalhaes vs. Karlos Vemola
Round 1 - Dan Mirgliotta is the referee. Magalhaes shot in immediately but got stuffed. Vemola looked for a takedown but got stuck in a guillotine. He escaped and slammed Magalhaes to the ground. He opened up with a ton of ground and pound but almost got caught in an armbar. He continued to be aggressive while Magalhaes hunted for subs from below. Vemola was really pummeling him, maintaining a very high pace. Magalhaes finally got up with about 90 seconds to go, and jumped for another guillotine. Nothing there though. Vemola looked for another takedown and got into another guillotine. He tried to slam his way out of it, and eventually pulled out. 10-9 Vemola.
Round 2 - Magalhaes opened with a big right. They jockeyed for position against the cage for a while until Magalhaes hit a bodylock takedown. Magalhaes passed to half, then side. Vemola rolled over and gave up his back. He looked to soften Vemola up with strikes while hunting for a choke. Vemola rolled and Magalhaes returned to side. Vemola popped up briefly, but Caio got it back down against the cage. He got to his back and sunk the choke. Nice submission win for Magalhaes. Caio Magalhaes defeated Karlos Vemola by submission (rear naked choke), 2:49 of round 2
Rodrigo Damm vs. Mizuto Hirota
Round 1 - Tepid start from both men. Damm landed a nice counter right. Nice jab from Hirota. Hirota clipped Damm with a big shot that had him backing up. Damm looked for a takedown but got stuffed. Hirota landed a big left but ate a counter that knocked him down. He popped up but Damm was on him immediately. Damm had a bodylock and got it briefly to the ground. Hirota got up though, and they grinded away against the cage for a while. They finally separated with two minutes to go and Hirota landed a left. Damm with a right that connected. Some kicks from Damm, and another big right. Hirota dug to the body. 10-9 Damm.
Round 2 - Damm opened with a kick while Hirota landed a couple of straight lefts. Damm was clearly looking for the counter and landed it. Damm with a nice combo. Hirota with a big leg kick that is returned by Damm. Hirota continued to land the left but ate counter rights nearly every time. Hirota with a left that backed his opponent against the cage. Damm scooped a single but couldn't get the takedown. Hirota's jab was finding a home more and more. Much closer round, I'm leaning 10-9 Hirota.
Round 3 - Damm continued to counter and landed a nice right. Hirota switched it up between the body and head and connected with a few shots. Both men shook off takedown attempts from the other. Damm landed the right hook once again. Hirota put together two nice combos and stuffed another shot. The pace slowed a bit but Damm was landing more and mixing in kicks. Hirota walked right into a takedown, and Damm landed a huge suplex. Easily the coolest part of the fight so far. They threw down over the final 40 seconds with Hirota pressing the action. Damm's round though, and he should take the fight 29-28.
Rodrigo Damm defeated Mizuto Hirota by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
