The UFC returned to Pay-per-View Saturday night in Edmonton, Alberta with a card that suffered a number of big hits in the weeks leading up to the event. Heavyweight standouts Junior dos Santos, former champion, and Francis Ngannou had been set to be a big part of the UFC 215 card. However, a potential USADA violation by dos Santos scrapped the fight. Then, just forty-eight hours out, title contender/headliner Ray Borg was forced off the card due to illness, scrapping the main event and Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson’s shot at breaking the title defense record.
Ouch.
Ultimately, the obvious course of action was followed, with the co-main event of Amanda Nunes against Valentina Shevchenko for the women’s bantamweight title being bumped up to the headlining spot. The re-shuffling of the deck, however, meant only two fights would appear on the UFC 215 Fight Pass prelims. The first saw the outspoken lightweight Kajan Johnson, a strong proponent for fighter’s rights, taking on Brazil’s Adriano Martins. Despite coming into the bout on a two fight win streak, Johnson seemed buried here, but was at least performing in his home country after his last two fights took place in Asia.
Also on the card, Indo-Canadian heavyweight Arjan Singh Bhullar was making his UFC debut, and carrying the torch for two nations in the UFC heavyweight division. He put his undefeated record on the line against Brazilian heavyweight Luis Henrique.
Check back come fight time for a full recap and results from the UFC 215: Nunes vs. Shevchenko 2 Fight Pass preliminary bouts!
Kajan Johnson vs. Adriano Martins
Lightweights Kajan Johnson and Adriano Martins started off the UFC 215 card in Edmonton, Alberta Saturday night. Southpaw Martins circled early, with Johnson moving side to side, switching stances, not showing a lot of offense but throwing the odd kick. Martins continued to walk him down, cutting off the cage. This dance continued for the entire round, with little offense from either fighter until the final moments of the round, when a big, well-timed left by Martins dropped Kajan Johnson as he moved in for a knee. That led to a Martins guillotine attempt, that Johnson fought off as the round ended.
In round two, Martins was hip to Johnson’s refusal to engage, and held the center of the cage, waving the Canadian fighter on. Johnson, however, refused to take him up on the offer. Martins landed a solid leg kick in answer to one of Johnson’s own, but the round soon became a mirror of the first. Johnson would be caught with a punch off a high kick attempt of his own around the three minute mark, but continued to move side to side, escaping most of Martin’s attempts to turn the fight into, well, a fight. Later in the round, Martins would point to the center of the octagon, trying to urge Johnson to meet him in a war, but Johnson instead jogged out of harm’s way. He would connect with a crisp right as the seconds wore down, which may have been his best shot of the fight.
Into the third they went with Johnson opening with a leg kicks. However, moments into the round, Johnson threw a push kick with a right hand just behind it. The right connected just behind the ear of Adriano Martins, and Martins went straight to sleep!
Kajan Johnson def. Adriano Martins by KO, Round 3, 0:49
Luis Henrique vs. Arjan Singh Bhullar
The featured fight on the UFC Fight Pass preliminary card for UFC 215 featured the debut of Arjan Singh Bhullar in the UFC. The undefeated heavyweight was set to face off with Brazil’s Luis Henrique.
Bhullar held the center of the cage early, and flashed level changes to throw Henrique off his rhythm. Henrique took a big swing and missed early. Bhullar, meanwhile, landed a big right hand with a crack that echoed in the arena. Henrique sat back and allowed Bhullar to come to him, landing a couple of decent shots in the middle part of the round, including a solid counter uppercut. With a minute to go, Bhullar connected with another right and practically pushed Henrique to the canvas. He’d pop back up, but Bhullar was able to tie him up against the cage.
In round two, Henrique continued to play the counter game, which kept him out of harm’s way for the first two minutes or so of the round. However, Bhullar would connect with another big right hand, and drop Henrique. While he’d make it back up, Bhullar converted a clinch into a slam, dropping Henrique to the mat with a thunderous crash. He would then work from the Brazilian’s half guard til the round ended.
For the second straight fight the action went to a third round. With Bhullar likely up two rounds, it was Henrique who went on the offensive, pushing forward with jabs and leg kicks. Bhullar looked to have slowed a step, if just a little. However, he had enough energy left to make it to the end, and would take a unanimous decision on the scorecards.
Arjan Singh Bhullar def. Luis Henrique by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
UFC 215: Nunes vs. Shevchenko 2 Fight Pass Prelim Results:
Arjan Singh Bhullar def. Luis Henrique by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Kajan Johnson def. Adriano Martins by KO, Round 3, 0:49
For more UFC 215 results, check our UFC Events page throughout the night!
