UFC 218 starts with a four-fight slate on UFC Fight Pass, culminating with a strawweight battle.
UFC 218’s featured Fight Pass prelim is a potential loser goes home match between Angela Magana and Amanda Cooper. Magana is 0-2 in the Octagon and Cooper is 1-2, but was finished quickly in both of the losses.
Dominick Reyes will look to establish himself as a top-tier light heavyweight prospect. Reyes is coming off a quick and impressive first-round knockout of Joachim Christensen in his promotional debut. He’ll be facing Jeremy Kimball, who evened up his UFC record at 1-1 with a first-round TKO of Josh Stansbury.
Sabah Homasi takes on Abdul Razak Alhassan. Homasi made his short notice promotional debut last year and was dominated by veteran striker Tim Means, and has not fought since. Alhassan won his UFC debut in less than a minute, then dropped a decision to veteran Omari Akhmedov.
But it all starts with heavyweights Justin Willis and Allen Crowder. Willis failed to cut weight on short notice against Marcin Tybura, but received a second chance, defeating short notice opponent James Mulheron by decision. Crowder earned his shot at UFC 218 through the Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series, where he won via third-round submission. He has finished eight of his nine career victories.
Amanda Cooper avoided a jab and checked a leg kick early on. Magana landed a knee to the head from the clinch, but not heavily. Magana committed to leg kicks, but Cooper caught her with a left and went for clinch takedown against the cage. Magana stopped the effort with a blatant cage grab, but Cooper got the takedown on her second try.
Magana stood up quickly then went for a takedown of her own, but ended up on bottom with Cooper in mount. Cooper landed some ground and pound, but Magana worked her way to half guard. There was a slight wardrobe malfunction that paused the action for a moment, but when the fight resumed, Cooper went right back to work taking the back of Magana.
Cooper couldn’t secure the rear-naked, but landed plenty of ground-and-pound to close the round.
Cooper swung early in the second round and got a quick takedown. This time, Cooper was working from guard. Cooper moved to half guard, and proceeded to land more heavy blows. Cooper worked her way to side control and had plenty of time to go for a stoppage.
Magana exposed her back, and Cooper went for a rear-naked choke that was deep before Magana popped out. Still on the back, Cooper continued to land ground and pound with both hooks in. Another choke attempt came up short, so Cooper went back to blasting her opponent with punches.
From back, to side control, to the back again, Cooper’s ground-and-pound was constant. Magana was simply covering up and not responding to the cues of Keith Peterson, so he stopped the contest late in round two. Cooper was brought to tears with the victory, winning in front of her hometown of Detroit.
Amanda Cooper def. Angela Magana by TKO (Ground-And-Pound) in Round 2 (4:34)
3. Sabah Homasi vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan
Sabah Homasi started aggressively, with a leg kick and a combination ending with a right hook. Homasi landed another right that slowed Abdul Razak Alhassan. Alhassan was caught with another right, but answered ferociously with a blitz and a solid left that hurt Homasi.
Alhassan continued to rush forward and clinched with Homasi against the cage. Nothing developed and Homasi clinched as soon as they separated. Homasi established a Muay Thai clinch and landed knees to the body followed by a pair of rights that rocked Alhassan. Homasi fell into Alhassan’s guard and landed several heavy elbows.
Alhassan spun out of the tough position and shot for a takedown against the cage. Alhassan was unable to get the takedown but once they separated they threw vicious bombs at each other with no regard for defense. Both fighters landed heavy blows, and a glancing left hand dropped Homasi and he grabbed a single leg takedown, but Herb Dean stopped the contest. It was quite clearly an early stoppage, but nonetheless, Alhassan gets his eighth first-round knockout in as many victories.
Abdul Razak Alhassan def. Sabah Homasi by TKO (Punch) in Round 1 (4:21)
2. Dominick Reyes vs. Jeremy Kimball
Dominick Reyes caught Jeremy Kimball early with a head kick, then missed on his next effort. Kimball cracked Reyes with a combination while rushing forward, then was trapped in a standing guillotine attempt. Kimball threw Reyes to the ground, escaping the choke in the process.
Kimball landed a few ground and pound shots as Reyes was standing up, then Reyes countered with a takedown. Kimball recovered by getting into guard. Kimball attempted to stand-up but turned his back in the process, and Reyes took full advantage.
Reyes established a body triangle and blasted his opponent with a great number of elbows. Reyes then snuck his arm under the chin and got the tap due to rear-naked choke. Reyes is now 2-0 in the Octagon with a pair of first-round finishes.
Dominick Reyes def. Jeremy Kimball by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in Round 1 (3:39)
1. Justin Wills vs. Allen Crowder
Allen Crowder started the striking with a leg kick, then got caught with a left hand. Crowder had a kick caught, then Justin Willis landed a string of left hands with Crowder’s leg tucked under his arm. Willis forced a clinch and got the Muay Thai grip, and began throwing knees that hit the chin of Crowder.
After some short left hands land for Willis, Crowder broke free. Crowder could not establish his leg kicks, as Willis continued to catch the low kicks of Crowder. The fight made its way to the cage and Willis cracked his opponent with a left hand. Willis backed off, but when Crowder re-engaged he was rocked by another left hook and stumbled backward to the cage.
Willis pursued the finish and walloped Crowder with yet another left and that was it. Crowder crumpled to the ground and the fight was stopped.
Justin Willis def. Allen Crowder by KO (Punch) in Round 1 (2:33)
