Welcome fight fans to our continuing coverage of UFC 163. Welcome to our coverage of UFC 163’s preliminary fights to be shown on FX.
Ian McCall vs. Iliarde Santos
Round 1: Both guys come out striking tentatively, McCall landing some big leg kicks early. McCall is landing some nice combinations early, using his movement to light up Santos early. McCall looks significantly better than in his last appearance against Joseph Benavidez. Nice combination followed by a big left hook; McCall is working the body and McCall is tagging him up high when he drops his hands. Santos with the takedown, pulls guard and McCall in half guard. Santos tries to scramble up and McCall is lighting him up. Santos scrambles up and McCall lets him up, we’re back standing. Santos misses a big left and McCall’s pace is faster than normal. McCall’s movement is really crisp so far; Santos is whiffing whenever he tries to counter. McCall lands another nice combination as Santos wants this to become a brawl and McCall is sticking to his gameplan. 10-9 McCall
Round 2: McCall comes out with great footwork again, landing some nice leg kicks and circling out from a counter. McCall misses a superman punch and Santos can’t make him pay for it; he’s angling out and Santos is missing wildly. He really wants this to become a brawl and McCall is using movement to baffle him. He’s landing and Santos can’t counter effectively. Takedown from McCall doesn’t connect and he lands a nice double kick from the left. Santos is baffled as McCall is out before he can counter. This is the world class fighter we thought McCall was when he joined the UFC in 2011. McCall lands below the belt line but Santos shrugs it off. Santos taunts McCall and he’s starting to brawl with him, Santos trying to goad him into doing something stupid. McCall back to his gameplan and a takedown attempt from McCall winds up with Santos connecting on a trip and the takedown. McCall back to his feet quickly, against the cage,and footworks away from the cage. McCall 10-9, 20-18
Round 3: McCall back to using his movement as santos is pressing the action some more. Santos is more active but he isn’t hitting anything substantial right now. He is hitting more than he has in the first two rounds though; takedown from Santos doesn’t go anywhere. He’s looking for something BIG and McCall is doing just enough to not get hit. Double and he gets back control, Santos looking for a switch and McCall defends well. Santos scrambles out and we’re back standing. McCall is more active but he’s getting hit more; Santos isn’t landing big shots but McCall is taking more punishment than he did in the first two. Santos with a deep double but McCall sprawls his way out. Spinning back fist misses as McCall is content stick and move right now. Santos goes for a takedown but eats a knee on the way up. More sticking and moving from McCall as the fight ends. 10-9 McCall, 30-27 McCall
Official decision: Ian McCall wins via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
Sergio Moraes vs. Neil Magny
Round 1: Not a lot to start the round up as Magny is looking to pump the jab early. Moraes is coming in but is eating a jab every time he comes in. Nice flurry from Magny but nothing hits, Moraes grabs the clinch and gets the takedown. Magny does not want to be underneath a BJJ world champion and he immediately grabs a hold, looking to force a stand up. Moraes is in side control and he mounts Magnym grabs a triangle and locks it in, landing some brutal elbows. He taps at 3:12 of the first round.
Sergio Moraes wins via submission due to a triangle choke at 3:12 of the first round.
Amanda Nunes vs. Sheila Gaff
Round 1: Both women come out firing and Nunes goes for the takedown, grabs back mount but can’t hold it. Back standing and it’s against the cage, Nunes dragging her down with a deep single. Into side control, landing some short elbows as she she looks to mount. Takes mount, postures up and Gaff powers out of it by just standing up, Nunes tosses her back down and lands in guard. Nunes uncorks some elbows and it’s stopped.
Amanda Nunes wins via TKO (elbows) at 2:08 of the first round.
Vinny Magalhães vs. Anthony Perosh
Round 1: Big right from Perosh and Magalhaes goes down. Perosh starts teeing off and it’s over. Magalhaes is out at :09 of the first round.
