Kicking off the four-fight preliminary card, heavyweights Don’Tale Mayes and Roque Martinez looked for their first win in the UFC. Here’s how their fight went.
Bout 1: Don’Tale Mayes (7-4) vs. Roque Martinez (15-6-2) (Heavyweight)
Mayes was aggressive early in the fight, keeping Martinez to the perimeter of the cage in the opening minute of action. Mayes was the more active striker throughout the round, exploding with combinations. Mayes clinched with Martinez in the final minute of the round, scoring a takedown before the fight ran out of time.
A pause came in the second round as Mayes was extending his fingers out at Martinez, threatening an accidental eye poke. Mayes landed a good knee to the head of Martinez early in the fight. Like the round before, Mayes was putting together more strikes on the feet in the second round. Martinez shot for a takedown in the fourth minute, although Mayes was able to resist it by backing up to the cage. Mayes connected with a flying knee to the head after leaving the clinch. Mayes connected with a combo of kicks and punches to finish the round.
Martinez stopped a takedown attempt a minute into the final round. Martinez was able to get Mayes down to the ground with a guillotine choke attempt. Mayes was able to escape the choke and return to the feet in a clinch. Leaving the clinch, Martinez hurt Mayes with punches that were landing clean. Martinez put Mayes against the cage in a clinch, throwing hammerfist punches to the thigh from the position. They separated and returned to striking with a minute to go. Mayes landed two knees during a combination of strikes from both fighters. Needing judges to find a winner, Mayes was favoured on the scorecards (30-27, 30-27 & 29-28).
RESULT: Don’Tale Mayes def. Roque Martinez via Decision, Unanimous
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Mayes | 10 | 10 | 9 | 29 |
| Martinez | 9 | 9 | 10 | 28 |
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