UFC Glendale looked stacked top to bottom, with the promotion’s 29th FOX card boasting a thrilling main event, and some interesting match-ups early on the UFC on FOX 29 prelims.
The UFC headed to Glendale, AZ on Saturday, hosting UFC on FOX 29 at the Gila River Arena. More commonly known as UFC Glendale, the card boasted a solid lineup from top to bottom. In the main event, fan favorite Justin Gaethje, in just the third fight of his UFC career, faced Dustin Poirier in a lightweight battle. The bout screamed Fight of the Night on paper, and with Gaethje in the mix, that was very, very possible.
The co-main event had plenty of potential as well. Carlos Condit, looking to bounce back from a recent loss to Neil Magny, was set to face Alex Oliveira. While it wasn’t the bloody war against Matt Brown that was originally promised (Brown fell off the card due to injury), Brazil’s Oliveira was a suitable replacement. A motivated Condit could turn the fight into a bloodbath, and fans were eagerly awaiting his return.
Also on the card, the return of Israel Adesanya, ‘The Last Stylebender’ — yet another creative striker on a card full of them.
Earlier in the evening, however, the UFC let loose a six-pack of fights on UFC Fight Pass. The Fight Pass preliminary bouts at UFC Glendale were almost as promising as the main card, with a number of exciting match-ups. Among them, the return of Yushin Okami. Okami rejoined the UFC last year, taking a short notice fight against Ovince St. Preux at light heavyweight. How would he look with a full camp? Could Shana Dobson make it two in a row in the UFC women’s flyweight division? And could Indian-Canadian Arjan Bhullar remain undefeated at heavyweight?
There were lots of questions to be answered in Glendale!
Check back come fight time for a recap and full results from the UFC Glendale Fight Pass Prelims! The card kicks off at 3:30 PM ET.
Luke Sanders vs. Patrick Williams
With girlfriend and WWE star Becky Lynch cage side, Luke Sanders squared off against Patrick Williams at bantamweight to open the UFC Glendale card. It was Sanders who drew first blood, as he connected with an overhand left that dropped Patrick Williams. Williams would survive, but Sanders continued to walk him down, looking to land that power punch again. At the midway point of round one, it was Williams going on the attack, tagging Sanders with a combo before tying him up along the cage. Yet it was Sanders who battled back, once again pushing forward, landing the overhand left, and opening up a cut on Williams before the end of the round.
Round two saw Sanders once again backing his opponent up against the fence. He once again was able to tag Williams, this time on the chin. It was a right hand that landed next for Williams, hurting his foe. Williams was bloodied, battered, and vulnerable; Sanders was head hunting, but he still seemed to have the edge. Then, towards the end of the round, it was Williams coming back with a huge right hand, and following it up with a last second takedown. That could have stolen the round for him.
The third saw a more competitive round, with Williams refusing to get trapped against the fence the way he did early in the fight. Sanders would knock his opponent down with yet another big left with about two minutes to go; Sanders went upstairs with a kick next. Williams was slow to recover from that left, and was on his heels again. They’d go the distance in the end, with all three judges awarding it to Sanders.
Luke Sanders def. Patrick Williams by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Matthew Lopez vs. Alejandro Pérez
Perez was successful with an outside kick early, tripping up Lopez. Lopez then went on the attack, changed levels, and scored the takedown. He quickly took the back in a slick transition and looked to secure a rear-naked choke. Perez fought it up, but Lopez had a body lock in. Despite that, Perez was able to reverse and make it back to his feet. There, Lopez looked to take the fight down again, but Perez was able to reverse and fight him off. Lopez would later score with a body kick then a right hand as Perez was backed up against the fence, leading to another takedown, and Lopez again taking the back. Again, however, Perez was able to stave off the choke.
Lopez struggled to get the fight back to the ground early in the second. Perez definitely had the advantage on the feet, but had to be wary of Lopez changing levels. That kept Perez at a distance when ever Lopez engaged; Perez, meanwhile, went to the body and threw combos when he was in range. Lopez had his best attempt, shooting a blast double with about two minutes left, but Perez was able to use a whizzer to stay on his feet. Perez then connected with a heavy knee to the head, then a second, and began unloading on Matthew Lopez! Perez let his fists continue to fly as Lopez covered up; another blow saw Lopez turn his back to escape. That was enough for the ref to wave it off!
Alejandro Pérez def. Matthew Lopez by TKO, Round 2, 3:42
Arjan Bhullar vs. Adam Wieczorek
Canada’s Arjan Bhullar was able to walk out with the turban (part of his Sikh faith) at UFC Glendale, having received permission from the promotion. At UFC Glendale, the undefeated heavyweight wrestler took on Poland’s Adam Wieczorek. It was Bhullar pressing forward early, backing the Polish fighter up against the cage and immediately connecting with a left. Bhullar changed levels and before you could blink, the fight was on the canvas. Wieczorek was active off his back, switching from an open to closed guard and scooting back to the fence. Bhullar was able to trap his opponent by the cage, however, and looked for an opening to land some short punches. Wieczorek looked for a submission, drawing his legs high up the back of Bhullar, but was unable to find any success. However, with the crowd restless, the ref stood the pair up. They’d finish the round on the feet, but it was the Canadian’s round.
In the second, Bhullar landed a right hand on his much taller opponent, hurting him. Wieczorek earned a reprieve when the ref paused the action to retrieve his mouth piece. However, Bhullar immediately took him down — only for Wieczorek to threaten to grab an arm. Then out of nowhere, Wieczorek locked in an omoplata! Bhullar was forced to quickly tap after dominating the bulk of the fight.
Adam Wieczorek def. Arjan Bhullar by submission (omoplata), Round 2, 1:59
Dhiego Lima vs. Yushin Okami
Okami proved to still have some explosive takedowns, as he quickly changed levels and shot in for a takedown on Dhiego Lima to open their welterweight bout at UFC Glendale. From there, Okami was able to impose his will, keeping his opponent on his back from the bulk of the round. He slowly but steadily passed guard and came close to mount; Lima managed to wedge a leg between them, but he was unable to escape or mount any sort of offense of his own. Okami landed a blistering right hand to end the round, and they headed to the second.
Lima would need to keep things standing in the second, and has Okami shot in, Lima was able to sprawl and stay on his feet. A second takedown, with a strong setup, followed; Lima worked a whizzer along the fence as Okami switched to a single. Lima then landed a number of elbows to Okami’s head, but that in turn let the Japanese fighter complete the takedown. Yushin Okami then transitioned to the back; Lima struggled to escape, and Okami wound up giving up the back but putting Lima on the mat again. In half guard, Okami looked for a choke, only to lose it. Lima made it back up, with Okami going right back to his wrestling.
Round three saw Lima start strong, but before long Okami went right back to the high crotch single leg takedown he’d found success with all fight long. Okami’s arms were like a seat belt, his chain wrestling impressive. The end result was that Dhiego Lima simply could not escape. They’d go the distance, with Okami taking the clearly one-sided win.
Yushin Okami def. Dhiego Lima by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Shana Dobson vs. Lauren Mueller
Shana ‘Danger’ Dobson welcomed Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series alum Lauren Mueller to the octagon at UFC on FOX 29. Dobson and Mueller exchanged early in their flyweight battle, with Dobson working her jab. Mueller answered with a right hand, but Dobson fired right back. Both girls were swinging heavy, and as the round progressed, Mueller’s counter game got going, and her punches found her home more and more. Dobson looked for a late takedown, but Mueller displayed some admirable defense in that regard.
Round two saw Dobson unleash a heavy right hand with a lot behind it, while continuing to work her jab. Mueller opted to clinch, tying her opponent up along the fence. Dobson reversed, only to have Mueller return the favor; they broke, and reset back in the center of the cage. A side kick to the midsection also found a home for Dobson; later in the round another one sent Mueller sailing backwards, though she remained on her feet. Mueller tagged her opponent with a hook in the final minute of the round and looked to kick up the pace, but they’d head to the third.
Round three saw Mueller really start to pressure, tagging Dobson, who began grabbing at an obviously injured nose. In turn, Dobson scored a takedown, buying some time to recover, but Mueller was able to power up, though Dobson refused to let go. Later in the round, Mueller was able to catch a leg kick, dumping Shana Dobson on her back. Mueller was able to control her opponent on the ground briefly, but with ninety seconds to go, they were back on their feet. A big body shot by Dobson hurt Mueller, and Dobson began going to the body more and more. Mueller caught a kick and dumped her, but Dobson came back and went to the body again and again. They’d battle right to the bell, with Mueller taking the close decision.
Lauren Mueller def. Shana Dobson by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Gilbert Burns vs. Dan Moret
After being forced out of a bout with Olivier Aubin-Mercier due to being too far off his target weight during fight week back at UFC Orlando in February, Gilbert Burns returned at UFC Glendale. Dan Moret stepped up to face the Brazilian, who was throwing hard early, and attacking the lead leg of his opponent. Burns was clearly loading up, and showing little respect for his short notice foe. Moret, however, put a combination together with about ninety seconds remaining, connecting with a number of strikes until Burns opted to take the fight to the ground.
In the second, Burns put an end to Moret’s night. He rocked Moret within the first minute with an uppercut, then went on the attack. Moret was forced to backpedal, backing into the fence. Burns unleashed a flurry of strikes, finishing the job with a second uppercut. Gilbert Burns walked off before the ref could even stop it, and Burns had a highlight reel finish.
Gilbert Burns def. Dan Moret by knockout, Round 2, 0:59
UFC on FOX 29 Fight Pass Preliminary Results:
Gilbert Burns def. Dan Moret by knockout, Round 2, 0:59
Lauren Mueller def. Shana Dobson by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Yushin Okami def. Dhiego Lima by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Adam Wieczorek def. Arjan Bhullar by submission (omoplata), Round 2, 1:59
Alejandro Pérez def. Matthew Lopez by TKO, Round 2, 3:42
Luke Sanders def. Patrick Williams by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
