UFC Boise kicked off with a trio of promising fights on the promotion’s streaming service Fight Pass, topped by Liz Carmouche taking on Jennifer Maia.
The UFC was back in action Saturday on a weekend brimming with mixed martial arts. The world’s leading MMA promotion ventured out to Boise, Idaho for the first time, bringing with it a relatively stacked card for a Fight Night event. UFC Boise, technically UFC Fight Night 133, boasted Junior Dos Santos vs. Blagoy Ivanov in the main event, plus names like Cat Zingano, Sage Northcutt, and Chad Mendes on the main card alone.
In fact, counting Liz Carmouch, who appeared on the UFC Fight Pass Preliminary portion of UFC Boise, there were four former champs or title challengers on the card. Which made UFC Fight Night 133 must-see TV for UFC and MMA fans.
Aside from Carmouche, welcoming former Invicta FC flyweight champion Jennifer Maia to the fold, the early prelims featured Jessica Aguilar vs. Jodie Esquibel, and Mark De La Rosa vs. Elias Garcia. For ‘Jag,’ who had lost both fights in the promotion dating back to 2015, a win was crucial. Aguilar had been considered by many to be the best strawweight in the world for a time, but those days (where she served as champ in WSOF) were long past.
Check back come fight time (6:30 PM EST) for full results and a recap of the early action at UFC Boise!
Jessica Aguilar vs. Jodie Esquibel
Kicking off the Fight Pass prelims of UFC Boise, Jessica Aguilar looked to put pressure on Jodie Esquibel early. Esquibel was more than willing to throw counters as ‘Jag’ looked to tag her down, and sure enough, Esquibel was putting up a good fight early. Aguilar took a warning for pulling her opponent’s hair, and while she was able to get Esquibel to her knees, Jodie soon popped back up. ‘Jag’ pulled her back down, but again couldn’t keep her there, and Esquibel reversed position once back on her feet. The pair traded knees, with ref Herb Dean encouraging them to work before they finally broke and reset. A nice knee to the head off the end of a clinch followed moments later; she’d land another combo, then a solid right hand towards the end of the frame.
Round two saw both women active on the feet early, but once again, it was Aguilar who was more effective. Esquibel was throwing, but not connecting clean. ‘Jag’ seemed land a knee here and there when clinching as well, and Esquibel was spending too much time or her heels as the round progressed. Aguilar would jump into a right hand with about ninety seconds remaining in the second, but the blow did not seem to phase her. They’d finish the round in a clinch after Esquibel changed levels thinking takedown.
The third saw Esquibel facing a motivated Aguilar, who seemed to have picked up the pace. Esquibel spent much of her time on the outside, looking to pick her spots and move in. Aguilar worked to cut off the cage, clinch, and land hands and knees. Esquibel, meanwhile, was more often than not throwing single strikes. Or at the very least, only connecting with single strikes, if at all. Esquibel was finally able to push her opponent into the fence to buy some control time, but it wouldn’t last. Another knee at the end of a combination connected for ‘Jag,’ moments later she landed on the chin of Esquibel with a right. They’d turn it up in the final minute, and it’d go to the scorecards.
Jessica Aguilar def. Jodie Esquibel by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
First UFC win for @JagATT at #UFCBoise pic.twitter.com/S5XXuGH8IN
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) July 14, 2018
Mark De La Rosa vs. Elias Garcia
Both men came out swinging early in this flyweight battle. After the opening salvo, however, the settled in, though Garcia briefly flashed a cartwheel kick attempt. De La Rosa caught a body kick, which resulted in Garcia trying a jump knee, then jumping/climbing up his opponent’s body for a standing triangle attempt. De La Rosa answered by spinning Garcia around several times and throwing him off.
Round and round they go!@DeLaRosa_Mark vs. Elias Garcia at #UFCBoise pic.twitter.com/xqwXObdYSu
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) July 14, 2018
They’d eventually go to the ground with De La Rosa on top, working from guard. Garcia locked in an arm-bar, only for De La Rosa to hoist him up and spin him off again.
Round two saw the pair settle down a little in terms of flashy striking, but they were more then happy to exchange. De La Rosa seemed to have the edge in the grappling department, and around the two minute mark, he took the back after Garcia went to one knee. With both hooks in, he got the arm under the chin and forced the tap!
Mark De La Rosa def. Elias Garcia by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 2:00
Liz Carmouche vs. Jennifer Maia
Liz Carmouche, the first woman to set foot in the UFC octagon, came out throwing leather early in the UFC Boise Fight Pass featured prelim. Carouche clamped on a body lock, looking for a takedown, and while Maia stayed up, a second attempt at the takedown saw Carmouche in side control. She’d drop elbows to the side of the head, but they’d make it back up, with Maia driving Carmouche into the cage. This led to a prolonged grappling exchange on the feet, with Maia mixing in some knees, and Carmouche peppering Maia with short bunches. WIth little happening the ref separated the pair, restarting the action. Carmouche got creative with her kicks in the final minute, dropping to a knee to throw a leg kick, then going to the body and coming over top of it with a punch.
Round two saw Carmouche playing a counter-striking game while Maia looked for a way in. She was constantly moving, but it wasn’t until two minutes or so had passed in the round that she fired off an effective combo. Maia the initiated a clinch by the cage, using double underhooks to secure a body lock. Yet with no takedown in sight the ref finally split the pair up. Maia launched a big overhand right when the action restarted, but Carmouch was nowhere to be found. Carmouch then utilized an outside trip to take Maia down with just over thirty seconds left in the second. She stepped into mount, connecting with some elbows and grabbing an arm, but the bell sounded.
Between rounds, Jennifer Maia’s corner informed her she was likely down two rounds. She’d need a finish, but instead it was Liz Carmouche getting her to the ground again. Maia nearly gave up her back, and Carmouche was able to control and smother her on the ground. Maia would make it back up with about forty-five seconds remaining, flashing kicks, but Carmouche avoided her attacks and cruised to a decision.
Liz Carmouche def. Jennifer Maia by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
UFC Boise Fight Pass Preliminary Results:
Liz Carmouche def. Jennifer Maia by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Mark De La Rosa def. Elias Garcia by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 2:00
Jessica Aguilar def. Jodie Esquibel by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
