After UFC started their 2020 with pay-per-view UFC 246, they had their first “Fight Night” event of the year. Headlining UFC on ESPN+ 24 from the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, ranked heavyweights Curtis Blaydes and Junior dos Santos faced off.
Quick Results – Click a fight to skip to its part:
Preliminary Card
Bout 1: Herbert Burns def. Nate Landwehr via KO, Knee (RD 1, 2:43)
Bout 2: Brett Johns def. Tony Gravely via Submission, Rear Naked Choke (RD 3, 2:53)
Bout 3: Sara McMann def. Lina Lansberg via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 4: Montel Jackson def. Felipe Colares via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 5: Justine Kish def. Lucie Pudilova via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 6: Arnold Allen def. Nik Lentz via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 7: Bevon Lewis def. Dequan Townsend via Decision, Unanimous
Main Card
Bout 8: Jamahal Hill def. Darko Stosic via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 9: Angela Hill def. Hannah Cifers via TKO, Strikes (RD 2, 4:26)
Bout 10: Alex Perez def. Jordan Espinosa via Submission, Arm Triangle Choke (RD 1, 2:33)
Bout 11: Michael Chiesa def. Rafael dos Anjos via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 12: Curtis Blaydes def. Junior dos Santos via TKO, Punches (RD 2, 1:06)
Full Coverage
Bout 1: Nate Landwehr (13-2) vs. Herbert Burns (9-2) (Featherweight)
The first preliminary bout of the evening was between featherweights Nate Landwehr and Herbert Burns, who were both debuting. The crowd was quite alive for the first bout of the evening. Burns slipped and fell after throwing a kick in the first minute. Burns got a takedown in the first 30 seconds, trying for a darce choke. Landwehr stayed in the choke, getting up after a minute and a half of being on the ground. Landwehr escaped while in the clinch and then landed a shoulder strike. Landwehr charged forward with punches, but Burns grabbed him and landed a knee to the head which knocked him out. Showing that a fight can end in a flash, Herbert Burns had a strong UFC debut.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Landwehr | ||||
| Burns |
Bout 2: Tony Gravely (19-5) vs. Brett Johns (15-2) (Bantamweight)
The debuting Tony Gravely met Brett Johns in the next fight. Johns stuffed a takedown early on. Still standing, Johns tried for a guillotine choke. Gravely got a takedown, escaping the choke in the process. They stood up in a clinch, with Johns getting a judo throw to put Johns back down. They got up again, with Johns getting a double leg takedown this time. While very energy consuming, Johns was being dominant. Gravely stood up, but had Johns on his back threatening a rear naked choke. Letting go of the choke, Jones landed some punches and elbows while still on Gravely’s back. Gravely went to the ground and back to his feet, although didn’t get Johns off his back. In the final minute of the round, Johns put in a deep rear naked choke, although lost grip of it. Johns kept on Gravely’s back until the round ended.
They went into a clinch at the start of the second round, where Gravely landed lots of strikes. Johns tried for a takedown, although Gravely kept it on the feet. Gravely landed a slam takedown, although Johns stood back up. Gravely got another takedown, hopping on Johns’ back this time. They got back up, where Johns got a trip takedown and got on Gravely’s back. They got up again, but Johns got another trip takedown. Johns got on Gravely’s back again, although was thrown off. Gravely got a takedown with just over a minute left in the round. Johns got a double leg takedown, although they stood up in the clinch again.
Johns caught a leg kick to the body to start the final round, putting Gravely against the cage. Gravely got a judo throw from the clinch, trying for a guillotine choke on the ground. They stood back up, where Johns got a takedown on the back of Gravely. He started to work for the rear naked choke. He let go of trying for the choke, throwing lots of punches. The referee warned ending it, asking Johns to show him something. Johns put the rear naked choke back in, getting Gravely to tap out. After three dominant rounds, Brett Johns got another win. Johns showed lots of respect to Gravely and his team after the fight.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Gravely | 8 | 9 | ||
| Johns | 10 | 10 |
Bout 3: Lina Lansberg (10-4) (#11) vs. Sara McMann (11-5) (#10) (Bantamweight)
The next fight saw ranked bantamweights Lina Lansberg and Sara McMann compete. McMann got a single leg takedown in the first minute of the fight. She landed punches to the body from half guard. She tried for a darce choke and a kimura while in top position. McMann was dominant for the entire round.
McMann got a trip takedown in the first minute of the second round. Just like the round before, McMann was in complete control on the ground.
They went into a clinch at the start of the final round, where McMann got a trip takedown again. McMann threw some hammerfist strikes, getting on Lansberg’s back. Lansberg threw punches from bottom position, with one knocking McMann’s mouthpiece out. McMann kept on Lansberg’s back until the fight ended. With landslide scorecards, Sara McMann walked away with the victory (30-27, 30-26 & 30-25).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Lansberg | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 |
| McMann | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
Bout 4: Felipe Colares (9-1) vs. Montel Jackson (8-1) (Bantamweight)
Staying in the 135 pound weight class for another fight, the show then presented Felipe Colares and Montel Jackson. In the first minute of the fight, Jackson showcased some fast striking. He caught a kick from Colares, getting a clinch from it. Jackson got a takedown in the second minute of the fight, although Colares got up seconds later. They went back down moments later. They kept going on and off the ground, with Jackson being the one getting the takedowns. With Colares up against the cage, Jackson started to land numerous punches. Colares endured the hard punches, staying on the feet. He had another flurry of punches as the round ended.
At the start of the second round, Jackson landed a left cross that dropped Colares. When they got back up, Colares tried for a guillotine. Jackson dumped him to the ground, but still had the choke around his head. They got up in a clinch, where Jackson landed a trip takedown. They kept getting up in the clinch, with Jackson bringing it back down. When they got on once, Colares got on Jackson’s back. He got Colares off of his back and let punches go, similar to the end of the first round. Jackson got another takedown before the round ended. Colares tried for a guillotine as the clock ran out.
Jackson came in with a two-punch combo at the start of the round, which Colares countered with a spinning elbow. Jackson went back to the clinch. When they separated, Jackson scored punches that made Colares wobble around. Colares put Jackson against the cage. Jackson turned the tables on him, landing a takedown. They went to the ground again, Colares got on Jackson’s back for a moment before they got up again. Jackson landed another two-punch combo which hurt Colares. It was clear that Colares was very hard to put away. Jackson got another takedown. They went against the cage again. He got another takedown, although Colares slipped in a guillotine on the way down. Jackson looked like he was in trouble, although he endured it until the round ended. While both fighters proved their toughness and skill in the fight, there was no doubt that Montel Jackson would win on all of the scorecards (30-26, 30-26 & 30-25)
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Colares | 8 | 9 | 9 | 26 |
| Jackson | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
Bout 5: Lucie Pudilova (8-5) vs. Justine Kish (6-2) (Flyweight)
In the first flyweight bout of the evening, Lucie Pudilova and Justine Kish battled. Pudilova had the height advantage in the fight. The fight started with close striking. While Kish had landed more in the first round, it was a very close five minutes.
Kish grabbed a single leg at the start of the second round, going into a clinch after. Both of them landed knees to the body in the clinch. Kish was constantly charging forward throughout the round. Pudilova landed a few good punches as the round ended.
Pudilova was landing her jab well early in the final round. The crowd started to boo as the fight was heading into its final minute. In a clinch, Kish got a trip takedown in the final 30 seconds of the fight. Pudilova landed elbows from the bottom position. When consulting the judges, all three were in agreement that Justine Kish had won (30-27, 30-27 & 30-27)
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Pudilova | 9 | 9 | 10 | 28 |
| Kish | 10 | 10 | 9 | 29 |
Bout 6: Nik Lentz (30-10-2) vs. Arnold Allen (15-1) (Featherweight)
In the most experienced matchup of the preliminary card, Nik Lentz fought Arnold Allen. Both fighters were eating shots in an early stand-up battle. Lentz’s face was starting to redden from the strikes. Lentz came in with a clinch, fighting to get Allen to the ground. They stayed in stand-up. Lentz shot in for another takedown but had it stopped. Allen was landing the better punches in stand-up, despite being the fighter who was backing up more often.
Allen kept popping Lentz with his jab in the second round. Lentz got shook by a left hook in the second minute, although he didn’t fall down. They went into a clinch for a few seconds. Lentz entered shot for a takedown in the final minute, landing a knee to the head in the clinch. Lentz started to bleed as the round ended.
Allen continued to have successful striking in the third round. Allen landed a left hook which made Lentz step back a little. The fight went the distance, with Lentz wearing more damage on his face. When going to the judges, Arnold Allen improved his stock with a unanimous decision win (29-28, 29-28 & 30-27).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Lentz | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 |
| Allen | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
Bout 7: Dequan Townsend (21-9) vs. Bevon Lewis (6-2) (Middleweight)
The final preliminary fight was the more experienced Dequan Townsend facing Bevon Lewis. Lewis caught a kick in the first minute, allowing him to throw punches before going into a clinch. Townsend was moving very slow on the feet, not doing much to evade punches that Lewis threw. Halfway through the round, Townsend landed a bod punch and then went into a clinch where he landed knees to the body. One of the knees dropped Lewis, although he got up right after. Lewis landed a counter-right hook in the final minute which connected.
After connected with a couple of punches, Lewis went into a clinch to start the second round. In the second minute, Lewis scored a three-punch combination before clinching up again. They stayed on the feet for the whole round.
The fighters went into a clinch to start the final round, after Townsend landed a leg kick. Lewis was more controlling in the clinch. They separated with three minutes left in the fight. Lewis tried for another takedown. They were both moving slowly now, clearly tired. The fight ended in a clinch. After the fight ended, it was clear that Lewis had injured his left leg. Just like how the fight before ended, the crowd sounded displeased. Bevon Lewis got a landslide victory when going to the scorecards (30-27, 30-27 & 30-27).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Townsend | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 |
| Lewis | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
Bout 8: Darko Stosic (13-3) vs. Jamahal Hill (6-0) (Light Heavyweight)
Undefeated fighter Jamahal Hill made his UFC debut to start the main card, facing Darko Stosic. Hill had earned his contract through the Dana White’s Contender Series. Hill had a notable four inch height advantage over Stosic. Stosic shot for a takedown at the start of the fight, but was thrown to his back by Hill, before getting back up. Hill’s were explosive right off the bat. Stosic came landed two good hooks in the second minute. He came forward with two more punches and then clinched up, although they separated moments later. Stosic got a trip takedown with two minutes left in the round. They got up shortly after, where Stosic connected with a strong left hook. Stosic’s left hook scored again in the final minute. It seemed like that was the best shot he had.
In the first minute of the second round, Stosic countered a body punch with that powerful left hook. Hill had Stostic backpedalling in the second minute, landing knees to the body and some punches. Hill threw two-punch combinations that Stosic was partly defending. It was a very one-sided round. Stosic got a takedown in the final moments of the round.
They hugged at the start of the final round. Stosic shouted something to Hill. It was another round where Hill was throwing his hard jabs. Stosic got a takedown in the second minute, doing some ground and pound before Hill got back to his feet. Stosic tried for a trip takedown although Hill was able to stay up, and bring the fight back to striking. He got another takedown in the third minute, but just like last time they got up quickly after. He got another takedown in the final minute. Hill’s only real issues in this fight was how he was easy to take down. Darko threw down Hill one more time as the fight ended. When going to decision, Jamahal Hill extended his undefeated record to seven, with a successful UFC debut (29-27, 29-27 & 29-27).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Stosic | 10 | 9 | 9 | 29 |
| Hill | 9 | 10 | 10 | 28 |
Bout 9: Angela Hill (10-7) vs. Hannah Cifers (10-3) (Strawweight)
In a strawweight clash, Angela Hill battled Hannah Cifers. The fight started with both fighters letting their hands go, although Hill was putting the better shots in. They went into the clinch with two minutes left in the round, both landing knees to the body before separating. Cifers initiated a clinch again a minute later, with Cifers landing some hooks as they split. Hill landed a spinning back fist as the round ended.
Hill continued to be the better striker in the second round. A minute into the fight, Hill got a trip takedown from a clinch, then took side control on the ground. Hill transitioned into full mount, where she started to throw elbows. Cifers started to bleed due to the strikes. Hill scored lots of shots, but Cifers kept squirming around and staying in the fight. She kept going until the final minute, where the referee stepped in to end the fight. Angela Hill gets the stoppage win, making it two in a row for her. The last time she was one a multi-fight winning streak was back in her Invicta days, so this may be a sign of her progression as a fighter.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Hill | 10 | |||
| Cifers | 9 |
Bout 10: Alex Perez (22-5) (#12) vs. Jordan Espinosa (14-6) (#11) (Flyweight)
Ranked flyweights Alex Perez and Jordan Espinosa battled next. Espinosa was taken down a minute into the fight after being backed up against the cage. From half guard, Perez kept with a head and arm choke until Espinosa went out could. After a short celebration, Perez showed lots of respect to Espinosa. With a fast and quick win, Alex Perez showed how quickly he could put an end to a fight.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Perez | ||||
| Espinosa |
Bout 11: Michael Chiesa (16-4) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (29-12) (#5) (Welterweight)
The co-main event saw Michael Chiesa fight highly ranked welterweight Rafael dos Anjos. Chiesa circled the outside of the octagon at the start. Chiesa charged forward for a punch, although got clipped by a right on the way in. Chiesa got attached to a leg of dos Anjos, eventually getting a takedown. Chiesa was on the back of dos Anjos on the ground. He eventually tried for a rear naked choke, although dos Anjos escaped quickly. Chiesa continued to be dominant on the ground. Dos Anjos was able to get up and bring the fight back to striking in the final minute of the round. Cheisa had a body lock on dos Anjos as the round ended.
In the first minute of the second round, Chiesa landed a knee to the body before going into a clinch. They didn’t go to the ground. Chiesa fell to the ground after getting hit by a strike. It didn’t look like a knockdown. Dos Anjos got a takedown halfway through the round, although they stood back up seconds later. Chiesa got a takedown before the round ended.
Chiesa started the final round with another takedown. Chiesa threatened an americana from top position. Dos Anjos found himself getting a heel hook, although Chiesa escaped and kept it in top position until the fight ended. With a unanimous decision win, Michael Chiesa should become a ranked welterweight (30-27, 29-28 & 29-28).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Chiesa | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
| Dos Anjos | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 |
Bout 12: Junior dos Santos (21-6) (#4) vs. Curtis Blaydes (12-2) (#3) (Heavyweight)
In the main event of the evening, number four ranked heavyweight and former champion Junior dos Santos fought number four ranked Curtis Blaydes. In the first minute, Blaydes shot for a single leg takedown, although dos Santos was able to stop it. Another attempt was denied in the next minute. Blaydes tried again in the third minute, this time staying in a clinch. A pause came after dos Santos was hit in the groin. When they resumed, they were back in stand-up. Blaydes failed yet again in the final minute to get the fight to the ground.
Dos Santos got clipped at the start of the second round from a right cross. Blaydes landed another right cross countering a leg kick. He had another takedown attempt blocked. Blaydes landed an overhand right which hurt dos Santos. Blaydes hit dos Santos with knees and punches against the cage before the referee stepped in and ended it. After failing to get the fight to the ground, Curtis Blaydes put an explosive end to the fight on the feet.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Total |
| Dos Santos | 9 | |||||
| Blaydes | 10 |
UFC’s next event is this weekend, with UFC 247 happening at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, USA. Headlining the card is Jon Jones attempting to defend his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship against Dominick Reyes. In the co-main, UFC Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko will fight Katlyn Chookagian.
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