After nearly a month away due to Mayweather-McGregor (aptly come to be known as “The Money Fight”), the UFC returned Saturday with UFC Fight Night 115. With a main event of heavyweights Stefan Struve and Alexander Volkov colliding, UFC Rotterdam had little in name value outside the headliner, but had a chance to be a card that exceeded expectations, as long as you approached the lineup cautiously.
Due to a late injury, the original co-main event of Germaine de Randamie vs. Marion Renau was replaced by Siyar Bahadurzada against Rob Wilkinson. Reneau, meanwhile, was given promotional newcomer Talita Oliveira.
On the preliminary card, undefeated Darren Till faced Serbian Bojan Veličković in the night’s featured fight, while former Bellator standout Des Green looked to continue his UFC success against Rustam Khabilov.
Check back come event time (the card gets underway at 11:45AM EST) for a recap and full results from the preliminary portion of UFC Rotterdam, airing live on UFC Fight Pass from Rotterdam, Netherlands at the Ahoy Rotterdam arena.
Thibault Gouti vs. Andrew Holbrook
TUF 22’s Thibault Gouti faced Andrew Hoolbrook in a lightweight battle to open the UFC Rotterdam card Saturday. Gouti immediately had to be wary of Holbrook’s takedowns, and was able to fight off a number of attempts early. Gouti answered back with kicks, as well as his jab and a right hand. He wasn’t able to put many combinations together early, however, and ate several shots of his own. Holbrook, though, focused more on finding a takedown, with little success. The key moment came as Gouti landed a head kick that was blocked by Holbrook, but that landed hard enough to drop the American. Gouti followed up with a number of strikes as Holbrook scrambled, and soon enough the ref came in to wave things off. The win was Gouti’s first in the promotion.
Thibault Gouti def. Andrew Holbrook by TKO, Round 1, 4:28
Bojan Mihajlović vs. Abdul-Kerim Edilov
Controversial Chechen Abdul-Kerim Edilov made his UFC debut next; the light heavyweight has ties to Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov. Edilov immediately brought the business to Mihajlović, who looked outclassed early and was losing both the striking and grappling battles. A number of knees and strikes hit flush early for the Chechen, opening up Mihajlović in the process. With over three minutes to go Edilov took his opponent down and soon began working from within his closed guard, landing punches to both body and head. A bloodied Mihajlović held on but could not escape, and gave up his back towards the end of the round and ate a number of punches before the bell sounded.
In round two, knees were followed up with a takedown by Edilov, and once again Mihajlović employed a closed guard but seemed unable to get off his back. He was soon eating heavy ground and pound, and barely defending himself. That led to the ref coming in for the save.
Abdul-Kerim Edilov def. Bojan Mihajlović by TKO, Round 2, 2:32
Mike Santiago vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov
In featherweight action, Zabit Magomedsharipov wasted no time, attacking early with kicks including a spinning back kick, and looked cool as a cucumber in the process. Mike Santiago would look to slow the pace, tying Magomedsharipov up against the fence briefly. Back in the middle, a low kick by Santiago was answered by another spinning back kick by Magomedsharipov that sailed over Santiago’s head. Against the cage, Magomedsharipov connected with strikes, threw another spinning kick then just missed a cage kick a la Anthony Pettis! While the “Showtime” kick missed, the Russian was easily winning the striking battle in round one.
Round two saw the creativity of Magomedsharipov continue, and when the fight went down, he was able to take the back of Santiago. Zabit Magomedsharipov won the grappling exchanges as well, and as the round wore down, he was able to control, stay heavy on Santiago’s back, and lock in the rear-naked choke for the win. All those crazy kicks, and he wins via submission. Crazy, fun fight!
Zabit Magomedsharipov def. Mike Santiago by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 4:22
Francimar Barroso vs. Aleksandar Rakić
Brazil’s Barroso took a methodical approach early, looking to land a big overhand right. Rakic stayed more active and light on his feet, pressing forward. He did taste some of that power, and survived unscathed. Later in the round, with a little over two minutes left, Rakic looked to loosen up a little and fire off some combos, followed by a solid leg kick that left Barroso bruised. A big uppercut by Rakic followed. Round one looked to belong to Rakic come the end.
Round two saw Rakic open with a big overhand right, followed by some leg kicks that were certainly doing damage to Barroso’s lead leg. Barroso began looking for a takedown with about two minutes left in the round, after the stand-up battle was a one-sided affair in favor of Rakic. He’d land the takedown, and work from Rakic’s guard. He quickly moved to half guard, but was unable to stay there long. Still, he maintained top control, and Rakic took his time before finally wall walking back up. That set off a flurry of strikes by Rakic, who was connecting frequently and starting to turn the affair into a brawl. Barroso was getting lit up, but survived and was able to land a second takedown just before the bell sounded to end the round.
In the third, the duo appeared to have slowed, with Barosso coping with a hurting lead leg form Rakic’s kicks. Rakic proved to be patient in this round, slowly stalking his foe. This pace would continue through most of the round, with Barosso at one point throwing out an invitation to throw down, but nothing came of it. A low blow by Barosso halted the action in the final minute, but nothing much would change when the fight continued. In the end it went to the judges, will all three seeing the fight for Rakic.
Aleksandar Rakić def. Francimar Barroso by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Rustam Khabilov vs. Desmond Green
Des Green, a former Bellator and Titan FC standout, made his sophomore appearance following a split decision win in his debut at UFC 210. It was wrestler vs. wrestler against Rustam Khabilov, with Green the more active fighter early, charging in with strikes. Khabilov caught him in a suplex, however, but Green immediately recovered. At the halfway mark, Khabilov was able to take the back, and looked to secure a takedown. Green did not make things easy, and after going down briefly was right back to the feet. In the final minute a headkick attempt by Khabilov was partially blocked, while Green shot for a takedown with seconds to go, but could not compete it. Khabilov demonstrated an ability to overpower Green in round one, however, and his control likely earned him the round.
A couple of wild strikes from both men opened round two. At the three minute mark Green was able to land a straight left off a takedown attempt, and put some real pressure on Khabilov for the first time in the fight. The Russian would recover, however, but Green was able to stuff a takedown attempt, and keep things standing. With the two wrestlers mostly canceling each other out, it was mostly a standup battle in round two, with the pair trading kicks and punches. Ultimately a closer round, but likely still in favor of Khabilov.
Green started the third likely needing a finish. He’d eat a Khabilov body kick within the opening minute. The Russian would try to work the body, but a punch went low. Green waved the ref off, however, not wanting to lose momentum. Green stuffed a takedown attempt, and answered with strikes. in the second half of the round the pair got a little more active, trading. Green briefly gave up his back, but did not allow Khabilov to take advantage. With more strikes traded, Khabilov was opened up but still firmly ahead on the scorecards.
Rustam Khabilov def. Des Green by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Michel Prazeres vs. Mads Burnell
Prazeres vs. Burnell did not take long to go the the ground, with Prazeres going to work from the top. He’d move to side control, then back into Burnell’s half guard. There was constant movement, but little in the way of attacks early as the pair struggled for position. With just over a minute left Burnell made it back to the feet, but Prazeres quickly took him back down. Barely a strike to be found in round one, as this was turning into a grappling match.
Round two opened with some kicks and a little more action on the feet. Prazeres would tie up his opponent a minute in, as Burnell had a slight edge on the feet. Knowing that, Prazeres continued to look for a takedown, and found it in short order. Not good for Burnell, who had been finding some limited success standing up. From that point out, the action became a carbon copy of round one, only Prazeres managed to work his way to full mount. Burnell would survive, however, and we’d go to a third round.
Burnell would need to stay on his feet in the third if he was to have any hope of securing a victory. However, it was not to be, as Prazeres got him down, and moved into a north-south choke. A slow build culminated in a great finish, as Burnell was forced to tap!
Michel Prazeres def. Mads Burnell by submission (north-south choke), Round 3, 1:26
Mairbek Taisumov vs. Felipe Silva
Lightweights Taisumov and Silva started out a feeling out process early, but it didn’t take long for Taisumov to catch Silva rushing in. A counter right hand stopped Silva in his tracks, dropping him, with the ref instantly stopping the fight. A crushing knockout for Taisumov, who said afterwards that he wants a top ten opponent.
Mairbek Taisumov def. Felipe Silva by knockout, Round 1, 1:24
Darren Till vs. Bojan Veličković
Till pressed the action early in the featured fight of the UFC Rotterdam preliminary card, and it paid off just under three minutes in, when Till landed a rough standing elbow. He would follow that up with a number of blows to the stunned Veličković, who was dropped. The elbow opened up a nasty cut on Veličković, but still he played to the crowd. Veličković would try a half-hearted takedown later in the round, but it was Till in round one thanks to that elbow.
Between rounds, Veličković’s corner asked if he was a boxer or an MMA fighter, then requested a takedown. Till threw a leg kick early in round two that was almost caught by Veličković. Veličković then ate a shot; following that it was Till who caught a kick by Veličković and took him down. Till would control from the top for a good chunk of the second round. Back on the feet, Veličković would work in leg kicks that were starting to take a toll on Till.
Till would catch a kick early in round three and threaten to dump Veličković, but Veličković would escape. He then fanned with a high kick. Serbian Steel had bloodied Till by this point, but Till was continuing to move forward on the attack. Till then drops Bojan with a heavy punch, and follows up with a number of strikes from above on his floored opponent. However, he backs off, waving his arms to play to the crowd, evoking a round of applause. Perhaps not the best course of action in a live fight, but it certainly got attention.
Darren Till def. Bojan Veličković by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
UFC Fight Night 115 (UFC Rotterdam) Preliminary Card Results:
Darren Till def. Bojan Veličković by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Mairbek Taisumov def. Felipe Silva by knockout, Round 1, 1:24
Michel Prazeres def. Mads Burnell by submission (north-south choke), Round 3, 1:26
Rustam Khabilov def. Des Green by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Aleksandar Rakić def. Francimar Barroso by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Zabit Magomedsharipov def. Mike Santiago by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 4:22
Abdul-Kerim Edilov def. Bojan Mihajlović by TKO, Round 2, 2:32
Thibault Gouti def. Andrew Holbrook by TKO, Round 1, 4:28
