The UFC was back in New York City on Saturday night, as UFC 230 boasted a heavyweight main event, and names like Lando Vannata and Shane Burgos in early action.
UFC 230 marked the promotion’s annual trip to New York, historically a stacked occasion. Yet unlike years past, the show lacked multiple title fights. It lacked some of the company’s biggest names. No Jones, no McGregor. No Lesnar, as had once been rumored (though how, with his suspension, was never explained). Not even Nate Diaz, who dropped off the card after Dustin Poirier was lost to injury.
Instead, a heavyweight showdown between Daniel Cormier, and overnight sensation Derrick Lewis. Overnight with the mainstream audience, at least. Dedicated MMA fans have followed Lewis, and his particular brand of humor, for years.
Opening up the UFC 230 card was a four-pack of fights on the promotion’s streaming service. The prelims on UFC Fight Pass included Lando Vannata, perhaps the best 1-3 fighter the UFC has ever seen. The feelgood story of Brian Kellehar continued, though after missing weight, the shine was off a little. Shane Burgos met Kurt Holobaugh, and heavyweight action kicked off the night as Marcos Rogério de Lima returned from a USADA suspension that saw him sit out due to tainted supplements sourced back to a Brazilian compounding pharmacy following a lengthy investigation.
Check back come fight time for full results and a recap of UFC 230’s early action!
Update: Brian Kelleher vs. Montel Jackson has been removed from the UFC 230 card after Kelleher reportedly suffered a bout of food poisoning. The UFC released a statement Saturday, saying “Due to illness, Brian Kelleher has been removed from his UFC 230 bout against Montel Jackson. The card, which airs live from Madison Square Garden in New York City, will proceed with 12 bouts beginning at 6:15pm ET.”
Adam Wieczorek vs. Marcos Rogério de Lima
Wieczorek stayed on the outside early, showing ample respect for the power of Marcoes Rogerio de Lima in the card’s opening bout. As the pair clinched, Wieczorek landed a takedown, working from half guard. As he tried to step over, however, de Lima powered up and immediately landed a takedown of his own. There, he was able to control the action for the bulk of the round, doing just enough to keep the ref from standing things up, and opening up a little with some ground and pound in the final seconds.
Round two opened with de Lima walking his opponent down, and Wieczorek circling out of the way. The Brazilian managed to land a couple of blows, then looked for a takedown. Wieczorek fought that attempted off, and de Lima again walked down his foe. de Lima found success both with overhands and leg kicks, and was looking for a knockout blow at times.
De Lima is swinging for the fences in round 2! #UFC230 pic.twitter.com/Qf0nBsNgEy
— UFC (@ufc) November 3, 2018
de Lima took Wieczorek to the ground early in round three, moving to side control off the landing. Wieczorek, however, moved to reverse, and escaped as de Lima was forced to give up position. However, a slip from Wieczorek saw de Lima back on top moments later. Working from inside Wieczorek’s guard, de Lima controlled the remainder of the fight, going the distance to clinch the victory.
Marcos Rogério de Lima def. Adam Wieczorek by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Shane Burgos vs. Kurt Holobaugh
Kurt Holobaugh opened the action at featherweight against Shane Burgos firing leg kicks, as Burgos checked the bulk of them. The pair remained standing in front of each other for the first minute, trading fire with the hands. It was Holobaugh who would draw first blood, knocking Burgos down with a left hand followed by a right. Just when it looked like Holobaugh had the upper hand, going in for the kill, Burgos threw up an arm-bar, locking it in tight. That forced the tap, and Burgos had the win!
Shane Burgos def. Kurt Holobaugh by submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 2:11
Matt Frevola vs. Lando Vannata
Matt Frevola showed plenty of movement early in this battle, while Lando Vannata methodically walked his opponent down. However, Frevola turned things up immediately, launching a head kick that was partially blocked, then adding leg kicks and a right hand as Vannata continued to move in. Vannata then dropped Frevola with a head kick of his own! Frevola came right back up, and Vannata moved in, only for the ref to pause the action due to Frevola losing his mouth guard. Bak underway, Frevola managed to catch Lando with a couple of rights in answer to Vannata’s leg kicks. Frevola later caught Vannata’s right arm with a spinning heel kick, then dropped Vannata with a punch! Vannata then changed levels for a takeown, only for Frevola to shake off the single leg attempt. Lando then missed with a spinning head kick, and ate a huge punch before Frevola landed a last minute guillotine attempt that Vannata slipped out of.
Vannata opened round two with a spinning back kick to the body, while Frevola opted for a leg kick. Vannata then connected with a bunch, followed by a push kick to the head. He’d drop Frevola moments later, but Frevola got back up. He’d eat more shots, then work for a takedown, buying some recovery time. Vannata would escape, and the bout was an absolute firefight at that point. Vannata would stalk his opponent throughout the second, landing again and again with a variety of strikes, but Frevola would somehow escape the round.
Matt Frevola opened the third firing a spinning kick, and showing he still had gas in the tank. Lando would later catch a kick and eat multiple hooks before he could take Frevola down. Frevola went hard with an inside leg kick. Vannata backed Frevola up against the cage, but Frevola battled back. Vannata went body-head. Frevola would later land a takedown, but Vannata scrambled back up immediately. Frevola whiffed on a head kick. Vannata did as well.
Matt Frevola vs. Lando Vannata ends in a majority draw (29-28, 28-28, 28-28)
UFC 230: Cormier vs. Lewis Fight Pass Preliminary Results:
Matt Frevola vs. Lando Vannata ends in a majority draw (29-28, 28-28, 28-28)
Shane Burgos def. Kurt Holobaugh by submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 2:11
Brian Kelleher vs. Montel Jackson – cancelled
Marcos Rogério de Lima def. Adam Wieczorek by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
