(Image via Facebook/UFCAustralia)
Dylan Andrews was the lone victor out of the three Australian based fighters that participated on the UFC Fight Night 27 card earlier today (Australian time). Both TUF Smashes contestants, Ben Alloway and TUF Smashes champion Robert Whittaker went down.
The event took place Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, USA and was headlined by the hotly anticipated rematch between Carlos Condit and Martin Kampmann.
Robert Whittaker took on a fellow The Ultimate Fighter winner in the ever dangerous Court McGee on the main card portion of the card. McGee straight away put the pressure on Whittaker as the Australian countered with solid shots. Whittaker defended the takedown attempts from McGee and turned the fight into a stand-up war.
Early in the second round, McGee had Whittaker on wobbly legs as he pressured Whittaker against the cage but the 22 year-old recovered and ended the round positively, landing short elbows that cut open McGee.
The elbows from Whittaker continued in the third round, but as the round went on, McGee’s pace came to the the forefront as he kept coming forward landing combination. Whittaker stayed game countering with big shots which included a solid left hook in the last part of the fight. Two judges scored the fight 30-27 to either fighter, with the decisive decision 29-28 going to Court McGee for the split points decision.
Whittaker’s record drops to 11-3 (UFC 2-1), while McGee moves up the welterweight ladder to take his record to 16-3 (UFC 5-2). The main event was televised in Australia on Fox Sports 2 and Fuel TV.
On the televised preliminary portion of the card, Dylan Andrews overcame an early shoulder injury to score a come-from-behind win over Papy Abedi.
Both started cautiously as Andrews attempted to find his mark with a jab, while Abedi landed kicks to the body before securing a takedown. Andrews was able to quickly reverse and as Abedi scrambled to his feet, Andrews attempted to secure a head-arm choke but a takedown from Abedi put him on his back. Abedi was clearly the more active striker in the first round.
The strikes continued in the second round with Andrews struggling to find a groove and having to nurse his injured left shoulder. Abedi landed big shots on his feet before taking the fight to the ground where he landed some ground-and-pound to finish the round.
Andrews needed the stoppage in the third round and the opportunity came as the Gold Coast based fighter stunned Abedi with short uppercuts. Abedi immediately attempted to shoot in for takedown but was met by a big right that sent him to the canvas. Andrews followed landing more shots before the referee called the fight. The end came 1:32 into the third round.
Post-fight Andrews revealed that he had separated his shoulder in the first round and was struggling to find his groove. The win is Andrews’ sixth in a row as he takes his professional record to 17-4, 1 no-contest (UFC 2-0). Abedi maybe on his way out of the UFC as he drops to 9-3 (UFC 1-3).
On the facebook preliminaries, Andrews’ team mate Ben Alloway wasn’t able to get the win as he was submitted by Zak Cummings in the first-round of their welterweight bout.
The two battled away against the cage early before the American was able to bring the fight to the ground. There Cummings looked to take the back before choosing to secure the headlock position where he was able to adjust and secure the D’Arce choke, 4:19 into the fight, forcing Alloway to tap.
It was Alloway’s second straight loss in the UFC and the former TUF Smashes contestant will be eagerly awaiting news if he will keep his position on the UFC roster. Alloway drops to 12-5 (UFC 1-2), while in his welterweight debut Cummings moves to 16-3 (UFc 1-0).
The event was headlined by a rematch between Carlos Condit and Martin Kampmann who first fought back in 2009 where the Danish fighter Kampmann edged out the split points decision. Since that fight though Condit has reached the top of the welterweight division with his only two losses coming to the top two in the division. He made a statement as he stopped Martin Kampmann early in the fourth round forcing the stoppage with punches and knees.
Main Card (Televised on Fox Sports 2 & Fuel TV):
- Carlos Condit def Martin Kampmann via TKO (Punches & Knees), Rd 4, 0:54
- Rafael dos Anjos def Donald Cerrone via Decision (Unanimous)
- Kelvin Gastelum via Brian Melancon via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 1, 2:26
- Court McGee def Robert Whittaker via Decision (Split)
- Takeya Mizugaki def Erik Perez via Decision (Split)
- Brad Tavares def Bubba McDaniel via Decision (Unanimous)
Preliminaries (Televised on Fuel TV):
- Dylan Andrews def Papy Abedi via KO (Punches), Rd 3, 1:32
- Brandon Thatch def Justin Edwards via TKO (Knees & Punches), Rd 1, 1:23
- Darren Elkins def Hatsu Hioki via Decision (Unanimous)
- Jason High def James Head via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Rd 1, 1:41
Preliminaries (Facebook):
- Zak Cummings def Ben Alloway via Submission (D’Arce Choke), Rd 1, 4:19
- Roger Bowling NO CONTEST Abel Trujillo (Knee to Head), Rd 2, 4:57
