The UFC was back in action, back in Los Angeles, and back on PPV on Saturday night — but before the main card action hit, Jose Torres vs. Alex Perez capped off the early prelim action.
The UFC was back on PPV on Saturday night in Los Angeles, looking to follow up on an action-packed UFC on FOX 30 card from last week in Calgary. UFC 227 boasted a pair of title fights in the lowest weight classes on the men’s side, both of which were rematches. Demetrious Johnson took on Henry Cejudo in the evening’s co-main event, while T.J. Dillashaw faced former teammate and rival Cody Garbrandt in an instant rematch of their fight late last year.
Whether or not the matches would look any different than their earlier counterparts remained to be seen.
Earlier on in the evening, however, a trio of fights got the card started off on UFC Fight Pass. In the featured online preliminary bout, Jose Torres took on Alex Perez. ‘Shorty’ had found a way to pick up an improbable win against ‘The Monkey God’ Jarred Brooks back in June. In a relatively quick turnaround, Torres was hoping to make it two in a row at UFC 227 on Saturday.
Also on the early portion of the card, strawweights Danielle Taylor and Zhang Weili, the latter of whom was making her UFC debut. As well, Marlon Vera was set to face Wuliji Buren.
Check back come fight time for a recap and full results from the early action at UFC 227!
Marlon Vera vs. Wuliji Buren
Vera attacked the lead leg of Wuliji Buren early, but it was Buren throwing more volume early, returning fire with numerous kicks of his own, with several landing to the body. Vera answered back with a push kick, moments after a slip off a high kick attempt. A fairly evenly contested round early, as the action progressed, Buren would drive Vera into the cage, and take his opponent down along the fence towards the end of the frame.
Again in the second round, after a bit of standup action to start, Buren put Marlon Vera on his back. He worked from within Vera’s closed guard, but it wasn’t long before ref Frank Trigg determined there wasn’t enough action for his liking. A standup followed. and Vera looked to get his striking going while Buren again initiated a clinch. Towards the end of the round, Vera was able to secure the back of a standing Wuliji Buren, who would go to a knee but eat a number of elbows and punches. They were warring by the cage as the clock wore down when Vera launched a left hand to the liver the dropped Buren. Buren instantly covered up as Vera added in just a couple of hammer fists. That was it — Buren was done, with the ref waving it off.
Marlon Vera def. Wuliji Buren by TKO, Round 2, 4:53
Danielle Taylor vs. Weili Zhang
Weili Zhang opened up the action in this strawweight battle with a crisp inside leg kick. Danielle Taylor was being forced back as Zhang opted for an in-and-out approach. A couple more inside leg kicks from the Chinese fighter found their mark. However, going to the ground, Taylor would attack with a heel hook that had Zhang in a tight spot. She’d escape, and back on the feet Zhang Weili continued to pressure. Taylor was circling out of harm’s way, but caught a kick near the end of the round that led to a brisk exchange during which Weili was tagged!
The second saw China’s Zhang turn up the heat, stalking Taylor who continued circling constantly. Taylor would counter with right hands, but was under fire early. Zhang stumbled near the midway mark, but Danielle Taylor was unable to take advantage. Taylor’s power remained a threat in the second round, but with Zhang continually pressing forward, she’d need to take control in the fight, or find a finish, to come out on top.
NASTY shots from Zhang at #UFC227 pic.twitter.com/Jfhnomq2SX
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) August 4, 2018
Round three saw Zhang once again pressing forward early. She’d return to the inside leg kick once, twice. Taylor was only partially successful in defending those, occasionally switching stances to keep her lead leg protected. Zhang popped Taylor with a counter left about two minutes into the frame, a punch which caught Taylor’s attention. A combination by Zhang punctuated with an outside leg kick followed; while her hands didn’t hit their mark the kick did. Another combination followed. Taylor’s left eye was looking a little worse for the wear, and she was caught with a kick to the mid-section.
Weili Zhang def. Danielle Taylor by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Jose Torres vs. Alex Perez
Torres and Perez immediately got going in the featured UFC Fight Pass prelim at UFC 227, going right to work trading. Perez seemed to be getting the better of the exchanges, forcing Torres to cover up/back up consistently. Perez with picking his spots, going to the body and the head, mixing in some standing elbows and working his jab. Torres was soon bloodied, and it was only two minutes into the fight. With two minutes to go Perez launched another onslaught, hooks, uppercuts, knees, forcing Torres back to the fence where he was covering up. Another barrage followed, with Perez simply teeing off until Torres dropped!
Alex Perez def. Jose Torres by knockout, Round 1, 3:36
UFC 227 Fight Pass Preliminary Results:
Alex Perez def. Jose Torres by knockout, Round 1, 3:36
Weili Zhang def. Danielle Taylor by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Marlon Vera def. Wuliji Buren by TKO, Round 2, 4:53
