MMA

UFC Vegas 32 Main Card Highlights: TJ Dillashaw Returns With Narrow Decision Victory

An action-packed UFC Vegas 32 card delivered in spades, including a fight of the year contender, and the return of a former champion. Check out all the highlights from the card after the jump.

TJ Dillashaw def. Cory Sandhagen via Split-Decision (48-47, 48-47, 47-48)

TJ Dillashaw is back after his two-year suspension, and he looked very good, despite suffering a knee injury, and a brutal cut to his eye. In a good back and forth bout Dillashaw got the narrow edge, largely through his grappling and clinch work, which carried the majority of the fight. Not to say Sandhagen looked poor, but he did make some poor decisions and failed to capitalize on TJ’s seemingly compromised knee. A good fight that sets up Dillashaw for the winner of Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan in an attempt to reclaim his old title

Raulian Paiva def. Kyler Phillips via Majority Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)

In an incredible barn-burner, Kyler Phillips and Raulian Paiva went to absolute war. Phillips came out in the first and absolutely poured it on Paiva and nearly got the stoppage before Paiva was saved by the bell. However, Paiva came back in the second and took it to Philips who was tired from trying to get the finish in the first. The third round was more tactical and finally, the pace seemed to be affecting these two, but it was an incredible fight. While the scores could’ve gone either way, Paiva got the decision, but the real winner was the fans.

Darren Elkins def. Darrick Minner via TKO (Ground and Pound) (Rd. 2 3:48)

Darren Elkins remains an absolutely unkillable zombie. He survived numerous very dangerous-looking submission attempts from Darrick Minner including a d’arce choke, and an armbar, only to reverse the position and absolutely hammer a very exhausted Minner til the stoppage came. Elkins is really an amazing fighter, dude is a sponge who just absorbs his opponent’s offense until they’re too tired, and then he wins. No one else is like him in the sport.

Maycee Barber def. Miranda Maverick via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

In a highly controversial decision, Maycee Barber emerged with the split decision over Miranda Maverick. Maverick clearly won the first round, as Barber came out very slow, and seemed to have done enough in the second to earn the decision, even though Barber did clearly win the third round. Post-fight Barber gave an extended shoutout to a Q-Anon affiliated group made famous with their affiliate with Drake Wuertz, so despite getting the win, Barber probably didn’t make many fans.

Adrian Yanez def. Randy Costa via TKO (2:11, R2)

In a thrilling comeback, Adrian Yanez weathered an incredible storm that Randy Costa sent his way in the first round, to score the exciting second-round stoppage. This fight was an absolute banger and the easy fight of the night.

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