New Zealand’s Daniel Hooker capped off a successful under card for local fighters with Kyle Noke and Bec Rawling also securing victories. Judo Olympian Daniel Kelly, however, sustained his first career loss to Sam Alvey.
The event took place at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in Adelaide, South Australia on Sunday and was available live on UFC Fight Pass.
The preliminary card action was finished with New Zealand featherweight Daniel Hooker scoring another impressive finish, this time knocking out the experienced Japanese fighter Hatsu Hioki in the second round.
Both Hooker and Hioki started cautiously before a nice counter from Hioki increased the pace, however an accidental eye-poke from Hooker momentarily halted the contest. When the bout restarted, it would be Hioki who went on the front foot attempting to find his way inside Hooker’s reach. With 90-seconds remaining in the round, Hioki changed levels and secured a takedown. Hioki showed his grappling credentials and moved straight into mount only for Hooker to utilise the cage to reverse and escape back to his feet. Hioki caught a leg-kick from Hooker to trip his opponent to the ground. Hooker worked back to his feet as the round ended.
A high kick from Hooker again allowed Hioki to get the fight to the ground where the Japanese fighter looked to pass to mount. Hooker though was able kick out and get back to his feet where he immediately went on the front foot. Hioki did a good job countering off the back foot as Hooker upped the tempo finding his mark with straight punches. Another head-kick from Hooker this time found it’s mark as Hioki was left stunned. The New Zealand fighter capitalised with punches for the stoppage.
The finish came 4:13 into the second-round as he used his reach effectively to move to 12-5 (UFC 1-2) over a dangerous opponent. Hioki drops to 27-9-2 and is now in danger of being dropped having lost five out of his last six bouts.
Noke scored his first win since September 2012 with a close split-points decision victory over former training partner Jonavin Webb.
Webb attempted an early takedown but it was successfully defended by the Dubbo born Noke. A side-kick from Noke was countered by a left from Webb. A jumping front kick from Noke hit his opponents chest. Webb started to find his mark, countering with precise shots as Noke came forward. Webb grabbed the single leg and pushed Noke against the cage where he secured the trip takedown. Webb immediately dropped back to attack the leg however Noke defended well and got back to his feet. Noke landed a strong leg kick and followed it with a jab. With six seconds remaining in the round, Webb secured another takedown. Noke positioned to get up however Webb transitioned and took the Aussie fighter’s back. Webb again rolled for a leg-lock before the round ended.
An early one-two from Webb dropped Noke and had the American based Australian scrambling for his opponent’s legs. Noke backed out as Webb followed him to the ground. Webb looked to transition to mount however this allowed Noke to reverse. Noke immediately went to work with strong ground-and-pound before allowing his opponent to get back to his feet. Noke looked to wrestle his opponent to the ground but was left defending an ankle lock submission that allowed Webb to get the top position. Noke kicked his way back to his feet and a sloppy right from Webb missed. Another jumping front kick landed for Noke but it was countered by a big looping punch from Webb as the round ended.
Noke starts the final round with a head kicked that was blocked by Webb. Noke followed it up with an inside low-kick. Noke with another leg kick, this time to the outside and he followed that up with a strong straight. A counter right landed again from Webb followed by a left. With under two minutes left Webb goes on the front foot, where he unloaded with punches but nothing landed significantly. Noke successfully defended the takedown attempt as another leg kick took out Webb’s feet from under him. Another front-kick in the final seconds missed from Noke.
The close fight went the way of Kyle Noke via split points decision. One judge gave it 30-27 to Webb, however the other two gave it to Noke 29-28. It was only Noke’s second outing since September 2007 as he moves to 21-7 (UFC 5-3). Webb drops his first fight to go 8-1.
Four-time Australian Judo Olympian Daniel Kelly suffered his first professional MMA defeat as his opponent Sam Alvey adding another first-round stoppage to his resume.
Kelly started the fight aggressive and looked to close the distance however a nice right early in the fight sent Kelly falling backwards. Alvey immediately looked to capitalise and landed another punch to sent Kelly rolling backwards. Kelly got back to his feet however follow-up shots dropped Kelly and the referee halted the contest.
The win came only 49-seconds into the fight with Alvey securing his third straight first-round stoppage to take his professional record to 26-6. Kelly drops to 9-1.
With bad blood between them heading into the fight, Bec Rawlings and Lisa Ellis finally met in the cage and it would be Rawlings who would come out victorious, submitting the experienced Ellis with a first-round rear-naked choke.
Rawlings showed an aggressive style, and went on the front foot where she unloaded with punches. Ellis dropped levels to take the fight down however got over aggressive as a failed armbar attempt allowed Rawlings to get the top position. Rawlings stayed aggressive on top and moved to side-control. Ellis worked back to her feet where both fighters exchanged knees in the clinch. Rawlings connected with a big knee that dropped Ellis. 26 year-old Rawlings was able to take the back and secure the rear-naked choke submission to get her first UFC victory.
The impressive win came 4:09 into the first round as Rawlings moves to 6-4 (UFC 1-1). The veteran Lisa Ellis drops to 15-10 (UFC 0-2).
Preliminary card results:
- Daniel Hooker def Hatsu Hioki via KO (Head-Kick & Punches), Rd 2, 4:13
- Kyle Noke def Jonavin Webb via Decision (Split)
- Sam Alvey def Daniel Kelly via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 0:49
- Bec Rawlings def Lisa Ellis via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 1, 4:09
- Bradley Scott def Dylan Andrews via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Rd 2, 4:54
- Alex Chambers def Kailin Curran via Submission (Armbar), Rd 3, 3:15
- Brendan O’Reilly def Vik Grujic via Decision (Unanimous)
- Ben Nguyen def Alptekin Ozkilic via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 4:59