Who were the winners at Fight Night Long Island? Click below to get the results for all the fights at NYCB Live, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island on Saturday, Jul 22, 2017.
Weidman vs Gastelum | Bermudez vs Elkins | Cummins vs Villante | Rivera vs Almeida | Good vs Zaleski dos Santos | Natal vs Anders | LaFlare vs Oliveira | Grabowski vs Sherman | Bochniak vs Kennedy | Kelleher vs Vera | Johnson vs Albini | Burgos vs Pepey | Perez vs Wade
Fight Night Long Island: Weidman vs Gastelum main card
Main event: Chris Weidman def. Kelvin Gastelum
Chris Weidman gets the fight where he wants in Round 1, earning a couple takedowns, but Kelvin Gastelum takes all the momentum after knocking Weidman down with a big left at the end of the round. Weidman comes out and gets another few takedowns in Round 2 and holds control in top position for nearly all of the round. Gastelum tries to initiate a battle on the feet but Weidman gets him to the ground again and submits Gastelum with an arm triangle.
THEY SAID IT:
Chris Weidman: “ Indescribable feeling. I had to bite my lips. I didn’t want my words to do the talking through this time that I was going through this adversity. I just had to shut my mouth and wait for the moment to show my potential and tonight was finally the night. You know what’s funny? I had a picture, a fake picture, it was a New York Islanders picture with this huge crowd and it said ‘Islanders welcome Chris Weidman’ on the jumbotron. It was obviously fake, but I had that picture hanging up in my room since I was a little kid and tonight I think my name might have been up there a couple times for real. It was pretty cool.”
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Co-main: Darren Elkins def. Dennis Bermudez
Darren Elkins earned takedowns and held control through rounds one and two and it was enough to earn a split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) over Dennis Bermudez. Elkins matches his longest UFC win streak with five consecutive wins.
Patrick Cummins def. Gian Villante
Gian Villante damaged Patrick Cummins early in the opening round, but like much of the rest of the fight, Cummins kept coming. The two 205ers slugged it out for all three rounds and ultimately Cummins earned the split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
Jimmie Rivera def. Thomas Almeida
Jimmie Rivera continues his ascent up the bantamweight rankings after defeating Thomas Almeida (29-28, 30-26, 30-27). Rivera used his quickness to step into the taller Almeida and has won 20 consecutive fights.
THEY SAID IT:
Jimmie Rivera: “ I’m from Jersey, I work in New York City and to make history right now in Long Island – I love New York, I love New Jersey – thank you for your support. This is one for the home team. I want to give it up to Almeida, he’s a very tough opponent. He came in here, he stood with me, I gave him my bombs and he stuck it out. I came in here, I’m 5-0 right now, if Cody (Garbrandt) is still hurt, I’ll fight TJ (Dillashaw) for the interim belt and if (Dominick) Cruz is done sitting on the bench then let’s fight in November, MSG baby.”
Fight Night Long Island FOX prelims
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos def. Lyman Good
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos and Lyman Good put on a show for the fans in Long Island, exchanging back-and-forth on the feet for all three rounds. Zaleski dos Santos sealed the win with a dominant third round and got the split decision (30-27, 28-28, 30-27). Zaleski dos Santos has now won three in a row in the UFC.
THEY SAID IT:
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos: “Heart. When you’re out of gas, that’s what makes the difference, heart. I had to create various different strategies. The first one didn’t work, the second one didn’t work, the third one worked.”
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Eryk Anders def. Rafael Natal
UFC newcomer Eryk Anders proved why he was the favorite over veteran Rafael Natal. Anders had Natal stumbling after landing a couple blows and eventually sent Natal to the mat with back-to-back lefts midway through the first round.
THEY SAID IT:
Eryk Anders: “Absolutely not. There was no hesitation to take this fight, even with having fought less than a month ago. Like I said earlier, I live in the gym. I’m teaching, training, coaching; if I’m not getting physical reps, I’m getting mental reps. I’m getting better in every aspect of the game. I’m really happy to be here and I’m looking forward to taking over the division. He’s a really durable guy and he’s shown that in the past. Sometimes patience is a virtue, so if it doesn’t work the first time, we’ll come back to it later on and eventually get the finish. Who’s the champ in the division? Give me Bisping.”
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Alex Oliveira def. Ryan LaFlare
Alex Oliveira handed Ryan LaFlare his first UFC finish in Long Island. Oliveira landed a right hook in Round 2 and is now undefeated in his last five fights.
THEY SAID IT:
Alex Oliveira: “I knew that Ryan’s standup was okay, but his biggest asset is his wrestling and I stayed calm in the first round and I warmed up in the second and was able to execute my game plan. I’m strong at 170 and I’m here to stay in the welterweight division. Wherever the UFC puts me will be good, I just want to fight the best in the division.”
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Chase Sherman def. Damian Grabowski
Chase Sherman came out slinging and nearly finished Damian Grabowski at multiple times in the fight en route to a unanimous decision win (30-27, 30-26, 30-27). Cherman stuffed all of Grabowski's takedowns and has now won two consecutive fights in the UFC.
THEY SAID IT:
Chase Sherman: “I’m really getting into the groove, getting into my comfort zone, believing in myself a little bit more – I finally feel like I belong here. I really think that self-belief is a strong tool. Working with Mike Winklejohn is also a big factor in my comfort. I come from Mississippi and go out to Jackson Wink’s and work with those guys and that really builds the confidence in me. It builds confidence in my cardio because the gym is at elevation and working with some of the best fighters in the world. I’ve had Alan (Belcher) in my corner since the beginning; he’s a veteran of the game and he’s forgotten more stuff than others even know, it’s always good to have him there. I think we’re just getting off on the right foot. My first two fights were tough, now I’m looking to get a three-fight win streak going and then I’ll take a look at the top-15 and see where I’m at.”
Fight Night Long Island FIGHT PASS prelims
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Jeremy Kennedy def. Kyle Bochniak
Jeremy Kennedy sealed a unanimous decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) with a dominant third round. Kennedy landed elbows from top position on Kyle Bochniak as the final seconds ticked off in Round 3.
Marlon Vera def. Brian Kelleher
Marlon Vera continued his win streak in Long Island. Vera submitted Brian Kelleher with an armbar in Round 1. It was Kelleher's first UFC loss as Vera improves to 10-3-1.
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Junior Albini def. Tim Johnson
Junior Albini's UFC debut didn't last long, as he KO'd Tim Johnson in Round 1. Albini becomes the first fight to finish Johnson during his UFC tenure.
Shane Burgos def. Godofredo Pepey
Shane Burgos put on a clinic, outstriking Godofredey Pepey 159-44. Burgos remains undefeated in the UFC and 10-0 overall.
Chris Wade def. Frankie Perez
Frankie Perez landed 44 significant strikes to Chris Wade's 18, but Wade remained in control for much of the fight en route to a decision victory (29-28, 29-28, 30-27). Wade improves to 12-3 after the victory.
