UFC Fight Night Minneapolis Results: Francis Ngannou vs. JDS Headlines, Plus Formiga vs. Benavidez II
Welcome to Fightful.com’s live coverage & discussion for UFC Fight Night Minneapolis. We’ll be bringing you full, fight by fight coverage of every bout on the card. You can also send in your feedback on our Disqus boards below!
Main Card (9pm EST., ESPN)
#2 Francis Ngannou def. #3 Junior Dos Santos by TKO via strikes (1:11, R1)
#2 Joseph Benavidez def. #1 Jussier Formiga by TKO via strikes (4:47, R2)
#12 Demian Maia def. Anthony Rocco Martin by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Vinc Pichel def. Roosevelt Roberts by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Drew Dober def. Marco Polo Reyes by KO via strikes (1:07, R1)
Alonzo Menifeld def. Paul Craig by KO via strikes (3:19, R1)
Preliminary Card (6pm EST., ESPN)
Ricardo Ramos def. Journey Newson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Eryk Anders def. Vinicius Moreira by KO via strikes (1:18, R1)
Jared Gordon def. Dan Moret by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Dalcha Lungiambula def. Dequan Townsend by TKO via strikes (0:42, R3)
Amanda Ribas def. Emily Whitmire by submission via rear naked choke (2:10, R2)
Maurice Greene def. Junior Albini by TKO via strikes (3:38, R1)
Maurice Greene vs. Junior Albini
Round One: The round begins with Albini and Greene exchanging some leg kicks, Greene stuns a swinging Albini with a counter right hook. Albini comes forward and he swings away against Greene, Albini stuns Albini with a left hook to the midsection. Albini continues attacking the midsection of Greene with strikes, Greene hits Albini with a few kicks to the midsection. Greene rocks Albini with a right before dropping him with the next blow, Greene gets side control on a downed Albini. Albini scrambles to his feet and Greene attacks him with a combination, Albini fires back and he nails Greene with a combination. Greene drops Albini with a three punch combination followed by an overhand right and he pounces on him with more strikes until the referee jumps in.
Official Result: Maurice Greene def. Junior Albini by TKO via strikes (3:38, R1)
Emily Whitmire vs. Amanda Ribas
Round One: The round begins with Whitmire attacking Ribas with a high kick, Ribas comes forward and she hits Whitmire with a punching combination. Ribas scores a takedown and Whitmire gets right back up, Ribas drags Whitmire back to the ground and gets back control as Whitmire stands up. Ribas peppers Whitmire with strikes while staying on her back, Whitmire falls to the ground and Ribas stays in back control. Whitmire spins at the right time to get top position against Ribas, Whitmire attacks Ribas with some ground and pound. Whitmire keeps top position as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Ribas
Round Two: The round begins with Whitmire taking a few swings at Ribas, Ribas backs Whitmire into the cage wall while landing a three punch combination. The fighters clinch and exchange a few strikes, Ribas drags Whitmire to the ground and she gets back control. Ribas attacks Whitmire with ground and pound while briefly gaining full mount, Ribas regains back control and she locks in a rear naked choke to force a tap out.
Official Result: Amanda Ribas def. Emily Whitmire by submission via rear naked choke (2:10, R2)
Dalcha Lungiambula vs. Dequan Townsend
Round One: The round begins with Townsend popping Lungiambula with some jabs, Townsend also starts attacking Lungiambula with leg kicks. Lungiambula charges at Townsend while swinging wildly at him, Lungiambula backs up Townsend with a two punch combination. Lungiambula grabs Townsend and he gets him up against the cage wall, Lungiambula goes for the takedown and Townsend gets right back up. The fighters clinch and exchange some knee strikes, Lungiambula scores a takedown on Townsend and he gets the half guard. Townsend gets up and Lungiambula slams him right back to the ground, Lungiambula attacks Townsend with some ground and pound until the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Lungiambula
Round Two: The round begins with Townsend attacking Lungiambula with an overhand right, Lungiambula scores a takedown on Townsend and he gets the half guard. Lungiambula starts attacking Townsend with some ground and pound, Townsend gets back up and Lungiambula drags him back to the ground. Lungiambula goes back to attacking Townsend with ground and pound, Townsend eventually gets Lungiambula into his full guard. Lungiambula attacks Townsend with more ground and pound, the referee stands up the fighters for inactivity. The action resumes the fighters having a striking exchange until the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Lungiambula (Overall Score: 20-18 for Lungiambula)
Round Three: The round begins with Lungiambula attacking Townsend with some leg kicks, Lungiambula drops Townsend with a punching combination and he pounces on him with a plethora of strikes until the referee jumps in.
Official Result: Dalcha Lungiambula def. Dequan Townsend by TKO via strikes (0:42, R3)
Jared Gordon vs. Dan Moret
Round One: The round begins with Moret attacking Gordon with a three punch combination, Gordon nails a kicking Moret with a counter right. Gordon follows that up by nailing Moret with a two punch combination, Gordon comes forward and he nails Moret with more rights. Gordon follows up by nailing Moret with a three punch combination, Gordon scores a takedown on Moret and he gets the half guard. Gordon starts attacking Moret with some ground and pound, Moret scrambles to his feet and Gordon keeps him against the cage wall. Moret grabs Gordon and he attacks him with multiple knee strikes, Moret then hits Gordon with a two punch combination. Moret scores a takedown on Gordon and Gordon gets back up, the fighters clinch and battle for position before separating. The fighters swing away at each other as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Gordon
Round Two: The round begins with Moret nailing Gordon with a kick to the midsection, Gordon then cracks Moret with a short left. Gordon scores a takedown on Moret and Moret gets right back up, Moret scores a takedown on Gordon and he gets the full mount. Moret transitions to back control against Gordon, Gordon spins at the right time to get top position on Moret. Gordon attacks Moret with some ground and pound, Gordon escapes an arm bar attempt to attack Moret with more strikes. Gordon keeps landing strikes on Moret as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Gordon (Overall Score: 20-18 for Gordon)
Round Three: The round begins with Gordon slipping on a kick attempt, Moret goes for a guillotine choke and Gordon escapes while landing a few strikes. Gordon attacks Moret with some ground and pound, Moret scrambles and eventually gets to his feet while eating a few strikes. Gordon drags Moret back to the ground while gaining back control, Moret shakes Gordon off of him before getting back to his feet. Gordon goes for a takedown on Moret somehow gets back control, Gordon spins at the right time to get top position against Moret. Gordon lands some ground and pound as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Gordon (Final Score: 30-27 for Gordon)
Official Result: Jared Gordon def. Dan Moret by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Eryk Anders vs. Vinicius Moreira
Round One: The round begins with Moreira attacking Anders with some leg kicks, Anders nails an incoming Moreira with a short left. Moreira goes for a takedown and Anders gets full mount on the ground, Moreira scrambles and both fighters get to their feet. Anders avoids a Moreira takedown before dropping him with a combination, Anders pounces on a downed Moreira until he goes out cold.
Official Result: Eryk Anders def. Vinicius Moreira by KO via strikes (1:18, R1)
Ricardo Ramos vs. Journey Newson
Round One: The round begins with Ramos attacking Newson with a few kicks, Ramos starts hitting Newson with some leg kicks. Newson nails a swinging Ramos with a counter left hook, Ramos backs up Newson by landing a few front kicks. Newson goes for a spinning head kick and Ramos blocks it, Newson starts nailing Ramos with some leg kicks of his own. Newson cracks a charging Ramos with a looping left, Newson goes for a takedown and Ramos winds up getting full mount before getting back control, Newson scrambles at the right time to get up and Ramos drags him back to the ground. The fighters scramble to their feet and Ramos attempts a knee strike, Ramos cracks a swinging Newson with a spinning elbow strike as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Ramos
Round Two: The round begins with the fighters exchanging some kicks, Newson cracks Ramos with a two punch combination. Newson and Ramos start exchanging more leg kicks, Ramos then cracks Newson with a straight right. Ramos follows up by attacking Newson with a jumping knee strike, Newson then cracks Ramos with another right. Ramos comes forward and he attacks Newson with multiple rights, the fighters exchange some more kicks to the midsection. Newson goes for a spinning head kick as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Newson (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)
Round Three: The round begins with Newson attacking Ramos with a variety of kicks, Ramos looks for the counter strikes against a swinging Newson. Ramos scores a takedown on Newson and he gets caught in a guillotine choke, Ramos escapes the choke to keep top position on Newson. Newson scrambles to his feet and Ramos drags him back to the ground, Newson scrambles to his feet and Ramos attacks him with a high kick. Ramos barely connects with a roundhouse kick to the head of Newson, Ramos rocks Newson with a spinning back fist and a punching combination. Ramos then cracks Newson with a straight right, Newson hurts Ramos by landing some more leg kick as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Ramos (Final Score: 29-28 for Ramos)
Official Result: Ricardo Ramos def. Journey Newson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Alonzo Menifeld vs. Paul Craig
Round One: The round begins with Menifeld attacking Craig with some combinations, Menifeld grabs Craig and gets him against the cage wall. The fighters exchange strikes while in the clinch, the fighters separate and Menifeld stuffs a Craig takedown attempt. Craig goes for a few high kicks against Menifeld, Menifeld starts attacking Craig with some leg kicks. Craig grabs Menifeld and gets him up against the cage wall, the fighters separate and Craig goes for a roundhouse kick. Craig slips on a spinning kick attempt and Menifeld levels him with strikes until he goes out cold.
Official Result: Alonzo Menifeld def. Paul Craig by KO via strikes (3:19, R1)
Drew Dober vs. Marco Polo Reyes
Round One: The round begins with Dober attacking Reyes with a power left, Dober drops Reyes with a huge combination. Reyes gets back up and Dober attacks him with a body kick, Dober drops Reyes with a trio of lefts and the referee jumps in.
Official Result: Drew Dober def. Marco Polo Reyes by KO via strikes (1:07, R1)
Roosevelt Roberts vs. Vinc Pichel
Round One: The round begins with the fighters exchanging some leg kicks, Roberts starts nailing Pichel with some rights. Roberts nails Pichel with a three punch combo followed by a knee strike, Pichel gets Roberts against the cage wall while landing knee strikes. The fighters separate and Roberts cracks Pichel with a flying knee strike, Pichel grabs Roberts and gets him back against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Pichel attacks Roberts with more leg kicks, Roberts nails Pichel with a combination before eating a counter right. Roberts scores a takedown on Pichel and he gets back control, Pichel gets up and he separates from Roberts before eating a combination as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Roberts
Round Two: The round begins with Pichel attacking Roberts with some leg kicks, Roberts starts attacking Pichel with some combinations. Pichel grabs Roberts and gets him against the cage wall before scoring a takedown, Roberts scrambles to his feet and he gets Pichel against the cage wall. The fighters separate and swing away at each other, Roberts grabs Pichel and briefly gets him back up against the cage wall. Roberts backs up Pichel before throwing a four punch combination, Roberts then cracks Pichel with a jump knee strike. Roberts scores a takedown on Pichel and he gets back control, Pichel scrambles and he gets top position against Roberts. Pichel lands a few strikes as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Roberts (Overall Score: 20-18 for Roberts)
Round Three: The round begins with Pichel attacking Roberts with an overhand right, Roberts cracks a swinging Pichel with a counter strike combination. Pichel scores a takedown on Roberts and he gets the half guard, Pichel advances to back control on Roberts. Pichel attacks a scrambling Roberts with ground and pound, Roberts scrambles to his feet and Pichel catches him in a standing guillotine choke. Pichel charges at Roberts while swinging away at him, Pichel scores another takedown on Roberts and he gets back control. Pichel transitions to the full mount against Roberts, Pichel attacks Roberts with ground and pound before regaining back control. Roberts scrambles to his feet as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Pichel (Final Score: 29-28 for Roberts)
Official Result: Vinc Pichel def. Roosevelt Roberts by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
#12 Demian Maia vs. Anthony Rocco Martin
Round One: The round begins with Martin taking a few swings against Maia, Martin pops a swinging Maia with a counter right. Maia grabs Martin and he gets him against the cage wall, Maia scores a takedown on Martin and he gets him in the seated position. Maia attacks Martin with some ground and pound, Martin scrambles to his feet and he gets Maia against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Martin goes for a flying knee strike as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Maia
Round Two: The round begins with Martin attacking Maia with a few kicks, Martin then cracks Maia with a high kick. Maia goes for a takedown and Martin gets right back up, Maia drags Martin back to the ground and he gets him in the seated position. Maia attacks Martin with some ground and pound, the referee stands up the fighters for inactivity. The action resumes with Martin dragging Maia to the ground and the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Maia (Overall Score: 20-18 for Maia)
Round Three: The round begins with Martin taking a few swings at Maia, Martin goes for a head kick and Maia blocks it. Martin follows Maia around the Octagon while swinging away at him, Maia starts hunting for takedowns against Martin. Martin stuns a backing Maia with a right hook followed by some uppercuts, Maia goes for the takedown and Martin winds up getting top control as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Martin (Final Score: 29-28 for Maia)
Official Result: #12 Demian Maia def. Anthony Rocco Martin by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
#1 Jussier Formiga vs. #2 Joseph Benavidez
Round One: The round begins with Benavidez taking a few swings at Formiga, Benavidez nails Formiga with a few kicks to the midsection. Formiga nails an incoming Benavidez with a two punch combination, Benavidez charges at Formiga while landing a combination. Benavidez gets Formiga against the cage wall after a brief striking exchange, the fighters separate and Formiga jumps on the back of Benavidez while getting him to the ground. Benavidez scrambles to his feet and Formiga controls his head, the fighters separate and the round comes to an end.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Benavidez
Round Two: The round begins with Formiga nailing an incoming Benavidez with a counter left hook, Benavidez comes forward and he swings away against Formiga. Formiga scores a takedown and Benavidez scrambles to get top position, Benavidez gains the half guard against Formiga. Formiga scrambles to his feet to get the fight standing again, Benavidez attacks Formiga with a kick to the midsection. Benavidez continues attacking Formiga with combinations. Formiga cracks a swinging Benavidez with a counter left hook, Benavidez attacks Formiga with a head kick. Benavidez rocks Formiga with a massive combination, Benavidez quickly drops Formiga and the referee jumps in a short time later.
Official Result: #2 Joseph Benavidez def. #1 Jussier Formiga by TKO via strikes (4:47, R2)
#2 Francis Ngannou vs. #3 Junior Dos Santos
Round One: The round begins with Ngannou attacking Dos Santos with some leg kicks, Dos Santos briefly drops Ngannou with a leg kick. Ngannou recovers and nails Dos Santos with a right cross, Ngannou drops Dos Santos with a few rights and pounces on him with more strikes until the referee jumps in.
Official Result: #2 Francis Ngannou def. #3 Junior Dos Santos by TKO via strikes (1:11, R1)
