UFC Fight Night 172: Overeem Weathers Storm to Stop Harris

MMA Fighting / SB Nation

Alistair Overeem was perhaps one punch away from going unconscious, the referee stopping the fight, or both. But with 65 professional fights under your belt, experience is bound to play a factor - and it did as he went on to stop Walt Harris a round later in the main event of UFC Fight Night 171.

Culminating a thrilling week with the third event of the UFC's return from the pandemic, action once again came thick and fast from an empty arena in Jacksonville, Florida. An inspiring show of strength from "The Big Ticket" was worthy of a standing ovation as he returned to action after the tragic passing of his stepdaughter Aniah Blanchard.

Undefeated records prosper in explosive prelims

There was a clear path to victory on the first fight of the night and Rodrigo Nascimento exploited it, submitting Don'tale Mayes to take his professional record to 8-0. He was sharp on the feet and controlled the American in close quarters, securing a choke in the second-round.

Image: MMA Junkie / USA TODAY Sports

Cortney Casey announced her arrival to the flyweight division by scoring her first finish in almost 4 years. Mara Romero Borella came out aggressive to secure an early takedown and control the fight, until Casey kicked the legs up and pulled off a slick armbar.

Image: FanSided

His UFC debut may not have gone to plan earlier this year, but Nate Landwehr made up for it - and gained a few fans in the process - as he got the better of the veteran Darren Elkins in a brutal encounter. Elkins' face was painted crimson red in the first-round but that wouldn't stop him going toe-to-toe with Landwehr, who even shouted "Dana!" mid fight to get the attention of the UFC president. He would have plenty more vocal time after winning by unanimous decision, taking his post-fight interview so say some much less audible things.

Great Fight!

Nate Landwehr (+102) gets the decision over Darren Elkins. #UFCJacksonville pic.twitter.com/MVR7ZWfkCW

— ODDS.com (@odds110) May 16, 2020

Image: Jasen Vinlove / USA TODAY Spors

Giga Chikadze chalked off his third-straight UFC victory outpointing the short-notice replacement Irwin Rivera in an action-packed bout. Rivera was surging in to close the distance and began to fade, but not without showing great heart, as he ate a series of kicks going high and low throughout the fight. Even when he was dropped in the final round with a knee, he popped right back up and kept on the pressure, ultimately losing out to a wide points decision in favour of the Georgian.

Image: MMA Junkie / USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Holland needed less than a minute to get the job done as he knocked the wind out of Anthony Hernandez's hopes, literally, for a first-round finish. An elbow when breaking the clinch followed by a crushing knee to the midsection sent Hernandez on the way down, with another knee for flavouring and some punches on his ground as it was waved off. Holland gave credit to DC's absence, which meant he couldn't get wrestling advice during the fight, for the early finish. "He left before I could get the cheat codes, that ain't right," he said in the post-fight interview. (Watch: UK | US)

Image: MMA Mania

Fans were in for an explosive end to the preliminary portion of the card, as Miguel Baeza stopped the veteran Matt Brown early in the second-round after a back-and-forth showdown. Low kicks from the outset were troubling "The Immortal", but he came within touching distance of tying the record for most UFC knockouts when he landed two big right hands against the fence that sent Baeza dropping to the canvas. He was able to shake the cobwebs off and get his mouthguard back on, before cracking Brown clean with a 1-2 that sent him down. He rode out the ground-and-pound to make it to the break, but a swift counter left hook early in the next round put Brown out and that was all she wrote. A spectacular way for Baeza to keep his unbeaten record intact. (Watch: Europe | US)

Miguel Baeza: remains undefeated in his MMA career (9-0), 7 of his 9 wins have come by KO/TKO.

Matt Brown: 3rd KO/TKO loss in last 5 bouts. pic.twitter.com/fvNEtfZfhK

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 17, 2020

Image: MMAFighting

These prelims...

D E L I V E R E D. 😱 #UFCFL pic.twitter.com/ELcxo8g1nF

— UFC (@ufc) May 17, 2020

Song edges Vera in firefight
Song Yadong def. Marlon Vera via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-0

Chinese star Song Yadong went toe-to-toe with Marlon Vera in a frantic bantamweight dogfight, edging the Ecuadorian on the judges scorecards

The fight was compelling from the outset, as Song remained sharp with leg-kicks staying on the outside. Vera definitely possessed the advantage within the clinch, landing some big elbows towards the end of the first.

Marlon Vera was withstanding lots of damage as his opponent threw everything into his shots, swinging the hooks and looking to crush him with the right hand. This time in the clinch it was Song who let off some big elbows, and were trading at the 10-minute mark.

In the final round it was all to play for, and the fighters picked up from where they left off. Vera went straight for a knee and managed to drag him down keeping control for a minute or so. Song was going for it in the exchanges, but Vera was posing danger by clinching over the top and firing knees through the middle. Song was still coming at him and Vera was backing off, but the latter managed to get another takedown at the end of the fight. It was extremely close, and all the judges had Song edging it by two rounds to one. A very debatable decision to say the least especially factoring in the late takedowns, but in defence of the officials, Song was landing throughout the fight.

What a war... Song Yadong was landing the harder shots, but I thought Vera did enough to win #UFCFL pic.twitter.com/pU3RNDBlO5

— McBeamers MMA (@mcbeamers) May 17, 2020

Image:  Jasen Vinlove / USA TODAY Sports 

Jotko jostles by Anders
Krzysztof Jotko def. Eryk Anders via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28. 29-28)

Krzysztof Jotko outpointed Eryk Anders in a tussle between two staples of the middleweight division. Anders was eager to clinch for most of the fight, backing his opponent up who managed to out-strike him when all was said and done. Anders takedown attempts were constantly thwarted as Jotko kept him at bay with swift counters. He was disappointed that he was unable to get the KO, but a wide decision win nonetheless.

Jotko Wins Middleweight UFC contest with Anders by Decision.
The Polish fighter was able to defend all five takedowns against Anders at UFC Fight Night 176 to extend his winning streak to 3️⃣

Eryk Anders ➖ 13 - 5 - 0
🆚
Krzysztof Jotko ➖ 22 - 4 - 0 ✔️ pic.twitter.com/Tgnss47gTC

— 𝘈𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘕𝘦𝘸𝘴 (@AlliNewsNigeria) May 17, 2020

Ige spoils Barboza's featherweight debut
Dan Ige def. Edson Barboza via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Edson Barboza's featherweight debut was spoiled by a ferocious Dan Ige who prevailed with a split decision after a hard-fought three rounds.

Well aware of the kicking prowess of the Brazilian, Ige pushed forward and closed the distance, backing up Barboza. He soon walked in to a big elbow though, which was followed up by a right hand over the top that sent him crashing to the canvas, forced to weather some ground-and-pound before he was let up. After being stifled by a left hook, Ige came back with a flying knee that certainly got Barboza's attention. The lightweight veteran was yet to showcase much of his kicks.

Edson Barboza Jr lands a stiff left hand to Dan Ige at #UFCFL pic.twitter.com/zvdXhRpz1x

— Joe Devlin (@_MMAFNL) May 17, 2020

That all changed in the second round, when the lead leg began to get chopped up. Ige continued to press forward and rip hard shots upstairs and to the body, and while Barboza was eating shots and bloodied at this point, he remained somewhat unfazed. A body kick connected flush on the liver by Barboza which had Ige in retreat, and his second takedown of the round was unsuccessful - this time he found himself on the bottom subjected to some lethal ground-and-pound as the Brazilian finished strong.

In the final round, the pace didn't stall and again came Ige with the fight well-balanced. Barboza was in his rhythm with the left leg whipping towards the body and legs of his opponent, but he was backed up and controlled well in the clinch. In what may have been the decisive moment of the fight, Ige shot for a takedown and landed a couple of big shots against the fence in the final moments of the fight.

Barboza was probably unfortunate to be met with such ferocity on his 145 lbs. debut, but it's a big name ticked off the list for Ige is in line for a big fight as he sits 15th in the rankings.

Image: MMA Mania

Gadelha climbs the Hill after a struggle
Claudia Gadelha def. Angela Hill via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

In a sensational co-main event, Claudia Gadelha overcame a second-round knockdown to top Angela Hill - but the latter certainly proved she belongs in the conversation at strawweight.

The former title challenger Gadelha made the better start, getting through the feinting and movement of Hill to score a late takedown after multiple attempts to clinch in the first.

Angela Hill landed a perfect right hand in the second round to turn things in her favour, letting Gadelha back up and fending off her takedowns, even switching it round to take control later on. It was delicately poised going into the final frame.

Image: USA TODAY Sports

Gadelha landed cleaner shots in the final round, while Hill did her bits as well but found herself buzzed towards the end of the round. Gadelha was feeling the pace but appeared to do enough - at least on the judges scorecards. It really could have gone either way. A terrific performance from both.

SOOOO CLOSE! 😬

🇧🇷 @ClaudiaGadelha_ gets the split decision at #UFCFL. pic.twitter.com/Md4yRcfizG

— UFC (@ufc) May 17, 2020

"Hey Carla Esparza, let's do it again!" - Claudia Gadelha with the rare callout from a fighter of someone they've already beat. #UFCFL

— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) May 17, 2020

Overeem sees off an early storm with veteran's touch
Alistair Overeem def. Walt Harris via TKO (punches), Round 2 (3:00)

Alistair Overeem was on the verge of being stopped in the first-round, but his experience would prove the factor as he came back to stop Walt Harris in the second round.

"The Big Ticket" opened the fight on the front foot, pressurising the veteran and backing him up. He countered a low kick with a flurry of hooks that stunned Overeem and he was in dire straits at that point, surviving the onslaught to the point where Harris slipped on a kick allowing Overeem to take control. He had his way on the ground with a flurry of strikes but Harris saw out the round.

Walt Harris walks out at #UFCFL with a shirt honoring the memory of his late step daughter Aniah Blanchard. pic.twitter.com/SIhd68PsPW

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 17, 2020

Image: UFC

Harris had emptied the gas tank and Overeem the veteran was beginning to stalk him. A big head kick followed by a left dropped Harris and from there the writing was on the wall, overcoming some strikes on the ground before Overeem got the full back mount and poured on more strikes for a stoppage. He instantly consoled Harris who put on a showing that commands nothing but respect.

Overeem was classy in his post-fight interview while Harris thanked the fans, staff and his team for getting him here. The strength it took to compete inside the Octagon on that night was extraordinary.

Amazed at the ability to take a fight, go through a camp, and also put yourself in a position to win despite going through all Walt Harris has...it’s hard enough doing all of that under ideal conditions. Honor to watch him honor the memory of his daughter tonight. #ufcfl

— Juan Adams mma (@chosenjuan285) May 17, 2020

1 week.
3 nights.
32 fights.
Countless incredible moments.
INFINITE appreciation @ufc fighters and staff.

A special week, a sense of normalcy returned to our lives. There's still a long journey ahead but we are getting there! Until next time fight fans, stay safe!! #UFCFL

— nisar (@nis4r) May 17, 2020