UFC 214, the crown jewel of the UFC’s Summer 2017 (if you discount Mayweather-McGregor, which really isn’t their show), went down Saturday night in Anaheim. Opening up the night’s action on UFC Fight Pass was a lightweight showdown between the durable Josh Burkman, and Elevation Fight Team product Drew Dober.
Burkman entered the bout 1-5 (1NC) since his return to the UFC in 2015, and desperately needed a win in Anaheim. The gritty fighter had actually left his gloves in the cage after his last bout, a loss to Michel Prazeres in Brazil, but opted to put off retirement just a little longer.
Dober, meanwhile, would look to send him off into the sunset. He opened the action with some nasty leg kicks, while Burkman would try to answer back by changing levels and looking for a takedown, only to be denied. A clinch against the cage resulted in Dober eating some clock and maintaining control. Back in the middle, Burkman landed a kick to the body only to eat another kick from Dober. Moments later, however, Dober would finish Burkman’s night with a left hand from the pocket that snuck through Burkman’s defenses. Burkman hit the canvas, and the ref waved it off.
Drew Dober def. Josh Burkman by knockout, Round 1, 3:04
