Welcome, fight fans, to our live coverage of UFC 163. We’ll be starting our coverage with the Facebook prelim fights.
Viscardi Andrade vs. Bristol Marunde
Round 1: It’s early but the Brazilian fans are already chanting “You’re going to die” in Portuguese at Marunde. Andrade is looking to counter early and is more active, neither fighter hitting much. Some big overhand rights from both men but nothing of note. Andrade lands a big right and Marunde goes down, who’s in trouble. Grabs a front headlock and Barunde gets up and out but another big right puts him down for good. Ref steps in at 1:30 or so of the first round but Barunde is protesting. On the replay Marunde was out, looking to tackle the ref.
Viscardi Andrade wins via TKO at 1:36 of the first round
Ednaldo Oliveria vs. Francimar Barroso
Round 1: Barroso comes out southpaw with a couple of high kicks that don’t miss, then back to an orthodox stance. Oliveria is looking to use his reach and throw something big but he’s clearly slower. He’s using the center of the Octagon well but not doing much; Barroso wants to shoot but he’s way too far outside to get any meaningful takedown attempt. Oliveira is throwing some big shots but not hitting; Barroso is countering well but not hitting much of note. He’s just being more active, pure and simple. Oliveira isn’t using a lot of setups; as soon as Barroso gets near he’s going for big shots. Barroso is staying far enough away to counter but he’s not throwing more than one or two strikes in a row. Kick from Barroso lands but gets caught but Oliveira doesn’t do much with it. Oliveira is trying to cut him off but Barroso is using his footwork to stay away really well. Round ends with Oliveira going for the takedown but unable to complete the clinch off the cage. Barroso 10-9
Round 2: Oliveira out more aggressive with his footwork but Barroso is countering him more. Oliveira isn’t throwing, or landing, all that much and Barroso is landing some nice counter work. Oliveira catches the kick and takes him down, lands some big ground and pound and Barroso rolls for an armbar. He lets him back up and we’re back to the clinch against the cage. Oliveira is looking to back out and Barroso shoots for a single but Oliveira is defending well. Barroso switches to a double and Oliveira backs off against the cage, back to some clinch work against the cage. Not a lot of action as Oliveira is looking for the takedown but can’t get it. Broken up by Leon Roberts and we’re back to the middle of the cage. Barroso is landing some nice rights and Oliveira uses his footwork to get away. Barroso is landing some nice combinations and Barroso gets the takedown, landing in an open full guard. Barroso is landing some nice ground and pound as Oliveira gets back to his feet with 20 seconds left. Nice spinning back elbow from Barroso as he exits the clinch. 10-9 Barroso, 20-18 Barroso. Exceptionally close round, though, so I could see this being 19-19 right now.
Round 3: Barroso gets an early takedown but can’t finish it, Oliveira back to his feet quickly as we’re back against the cage. Barroso is looking for a guillotine but it’s not on all that tight. Both guys are working underhooks against the cage as not much is happening. Oliveira nearly gets the takedown but Barroso with a nice whizzer, landing a knee on the way back up. Barroso uses the body lock to drag him down and he lands in side control. Barroso lands some punches as Oliveira is slowly working his way back up. He’s back up but eats a knee for his efforts. Oliveira gets out and locks in the thai plumb, landing some nice knees, as Barroso goes for a single. Both guys are tired right now and we get a break from Roberts. Oliveira is being more aggressive now but he doesn’t have a ton of energy to make it dangerous. Barroso is staying away and Oliveira with the body lock, nearly gets the takedown on the first try and the second lands him against the cage. Last moments of the fight are grinding against the cage. Barroso 10-9, 30-27
Official decision: Barroso wins via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Rani Yahya vs. Josh Clopton
Round 1: Clopton is looking to keep his distance and stay away from the ground; Yahya is more active early to try and get close. He wants this fight to the ground quickly and Clopton is staying at range, not rushing forward. Yahya with a deep single and Clopton is fighting it off well, Yahya pulls guard and grabs a leg. He’s looking for a heel hook and eats some fists for it. Clopton into 50/50 guard but Yahya has a hold of that leg. Yahya lets go but stands into top position, looking to pass against the cage. Clopton grabs half guard in lockdown and Yahya goes to ground and pound, Clopton looking for a standup.Yahya is looking to move to side control but Clopton is working that lockdown to keep him in half guard. He’s eating some big punishment to do so, as well. Yahya moves to mount and is trying to get Clopton on his back, now we’re back into half guard. Yahya really wants to grab back, moving into mount as Clopton is holding on for dear life right now. Posture up and he lands some big strikes, movies into side control but stuck in half guard as the round ends. Yahya 10-9
Round 2: Not much to start the round as Clopton is being more aggressive but Yahya with a deep single Clopton is fighting off well. All for naught as Yahya gets it one minute in and into side control. Yahya pins Clopton’s left behind him and lands some big strikes. Clopton gets it free and tries to use the cage to set up a scramble. Yahya moves into full mount and is landing some big strikes on Clopton. Clopton rolls into half guard but he’s eating some big punishment to do so. Back into full mount and Clopton is trying to get a standup but Yahya is too active for it. Clopton is trying to get his feet towards the cage as he is landing some big strikes. Yahya is trying to get him to show his back but Clopton isn’t biting. Round ends in half guard, Yahya grinding this one out. 10-9 Yahya. 20-18
Round 3: Yahya goes for a low single and Clopton defends, second one is deep and Clopton hits a switch. Yahya pulls guard and Clopton isn’t doing much. Yahya looks for a sweep and can’t finish but Clopton isn’t doing much; Yahya is attacking from the bottom, controlling what Clopton is doing. He needs to start attack wildly, definitely down two rounds, and he’s trying to grind. He pins Yahya against the cage but isn’t all that active. Clopton stands up and we’re back to our feet. Clopton lands a nice knee and grabs a body lock, Yahya against the cage. Yahya drops for a single and Clopton grabs a front head lock, Yahya pulls guard and Clopton is on top. Yahya wall walks up with a butterfly guard, Clopton stands up and we’re back standing again. Yahya is now staying away with 80 seconds left, landing a nice right and grabs a single leg with under a minute to go. Clopton looks to scramble out and Yahya swims to the takedown, likely securing the fight with 20 seconds left. Clopton in butterfly guard and Yahya content to just grind the rest of the fight. Yahya on top as the fight ends. 10-9 Clopton, 29-28 Yahya
Official decision: Yahya goes for a low single and Clopton defends, second one is deep and Clopton hits a switch. Yahya pulls guard and Clopton isn’t doing much. Yahya looks for a sweep and can’t finish but Clopton isn’t doing much; Yahya is attacking from the bottom, controlling what Clopton is doing. He needs to start attack wildly, definitely down two rounds, and he’s trying to grind. He pins Yahya against the cage but isn’t all that active. Clopton stands up and we’re back to our feet. Clopton lands a nice knee and grabs a body lock, Yahya against the cage. Yahya drops for a single and Clopton grabs a front head lock, Yahya pulls guard and Clopton is on top. Yahya wall walks up with a butterfly guard, Clopton stands up and we’re back standing again. Yahya is now staying away with 80 seconds left, landing a nice right and grabs a single leg with under a minute to go. Clopton looks to scramble out and Yahya swims to the takedown, likely securing the fight with 20 seconds left. Clopton in butterfly guard and Yahya content to just grind the rest of the fight. Yahya on top as the fight ends. 10-9 Clopton, 29-28 Yahya
Official decision: Yahya by unanimous decision (29-28 on all three scorecards)
