A pair of lightweight newcomers clashed as part of the UFC Vegas 117 preliminary card at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday, as Thomas Gantt and Artur Minev faced off.
Both men were undefeated; while Gantt had landed in the UFC via Dana White’s Contender Series, Ukraine’s Minev was making the jump straight to the big show.
The round opened with Gantt immediately shooting for a takedown. Minev defended the first attempt but got pushed back to the cage. Gantt kept the pressure high, securing a couple of brief takedowns that forced Minev to stay active and constantly defend. Minev didn’t make anything easy, refusing to just settle on bottom.
Minev eventually reversed position in the clinch, but he didn’t separate when he had the chance, which allowed Gantt to get back to control. Gantt kept chaining attempts, dragging Minev down to a knee at times and staying close to completing takedowns, but Minev’s defense held up well against all the trips and finishes Gantt was hunting.
In the clinch, Minev did manage to land a short combination, but Gantt landed a shot below the belt that briefly halted the action and forced a reset. Once they restarted, Gantt quickly timed another takedown entry, but Minev defended it and they closed out the round there.
In round two, Minev clearly expected the wrestling. Gantt closed distance fast again, clinching him and pushing him into the cage. He landed solid knees to the body before they separated. Right after the break, Gantt fired a jab and immediately changed levels for another shot—this time finally getting the takedown.
Minev looked like he might accept bottom position at first, but he worked back up to his feet. Gantt stayed glued to him, hitting two mat returns and steadily improving position. He eventually took Minev’s back, secured both hooks, and started landing heavy punches and elbows, forcing the referee to step in and stop the fight.
Official Result: Thomas Gantt def. Artur Minev via TKO (Ground n’ Pound), Round 2, 2:51
