Tim Elliott vs. Jordan Espinosa

Round 1
Two exciting flyweights cap off the early preliminary card, prefaced by a battle for the ages between outstanding walkout music choices, when former title challenger Elliott (16-11-1, 5-9 UFC) takes on Espinosa (15-8, 1 NC; 2-3 UFC). Trying to keep up with what should be a fast-paced affair is referee Mark Smith, who bears witness to no glove touch before the madness begins. Elliott blocks a head kick that zooms at him, and he dodges a second one as well. Elliott charges in and gets shoved over, but he recovers himself to press in for a takedown. Espinosa stands him up and gets pressed into the fence, and Elliott embraces the grind as he threatens with trips but cannot set anything up. They separate, and Elliott chops at the calf and kicks the chest, but he blocks a head kick that comes right back. Espinosa scores a big left hand that prompts a takedown attempt from the former title challenger. Elliott cannot secure one, and gets off a shoulder strike and a knee to the thigh, but Espinosa pushes away and separates. Espinosa swings and misses with a big right hand, and when he fires off a head kick, Elliott barely dodges it and bullrushes Espinosa to the ground. Elliott gets a hook in for back control as Espinosa on one knee in a tough position trapped against the fence. Elliott sneaks his way to take full back control, and the only thing stopping him is the cage behind Espinosa. Elliott softens his foe up with several punches to aim for a choke attempt, and Elliott flirts with the choke while pounding on “The Gamer.” Espinosa rolls to his back and Elliott sucks his opponent’s legs out, so Espinosa latches on to a kimura to pursue a sweep. Elliott keeps Espinosa trapped on his back and ties up his own hammerlock, but Espinosa breaks the grip to end the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Elliott
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Elliott
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Elliott

Round 2
Elliott crashes forward to begin the round, throwing a left hand before diving down into a takedown attempt. Espinosa thwarts it, backs off, throws a head kick, and gets shoved to his back. Espinosa scrambles wildly and kicks off, pulling himself back to his feet using the fence. Espinosa tries to get off a one-two, and Elliott easily drags him back to the ground. Using a half guard, Espinosa keeps a tight leg scissor on Elliott’s leg to keep him there. The former challenger breaks through to sit up and start hacking down with elbows. Espinosa scrambles but gets put flat on his back, and Elliott grinds out his adversary while landing sporadic strikes. A frustrated Espinosa scoots to the fence and to one knee, but Elliott is on him and has one hook in to take the back. Elliott uses his forearm to squeeze Espinosa’s face, and Espinosa leans over and falls into a rear-naked choke attempt. Elliott cannot get his hands locked, as Espinosa breaks the grip, but Espinosa is trapped in defense-only mode. Elliott smothers his foe and starts dropping down punches, and Espinosa rolls to his knees as he continues to take punches to the side of the head. Espinosa tries to use two-on-one wrist control to sweep Elliott, but Elliott easily pulls his arm free and hops on top to elbow Espinosa in the face repeatedly. Elliott starts talking trash from his dominant position, threatening and using big words that get by the censors to intimidate him, possibly using the words "woman beater" as he shouts at Espinosa. The round ends with Elliott grinding his forearm on Espinosa’s neck.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Elliott
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Elliott
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Elliott

Round 3
Smith warns Elliott on his language between rounds, and Elliott is amped up and ready to go wild. When the round begins, Elliott advances recklessly and nearly winds up taking a flying knee on the chin. Elliott defends against it and hits a takedown with ease, where he takes a half guard position as Espinosa is already stuck flat on his back. Espinosa rolls to his side and gets punched in the side repeatedly, so Elliott returns to mount and throws strikes from on top. Espinosa tries to give him a few back, leading Elliott to elbow him several times. Espinosa defends off his back with a few elbows, and he slashes the top of Elliott’s head open and starts an immediate flow of blood. Elliott bleeds directly and intentionally into Espinosa’s eyes, blinding his foe and grinding his head into Espinosa’s. Espinosa pulls for an armbar and Elliott stands up to free himself, and he may be slippery because of the massive blood flow. Elliott climbs back on top, where he sits in side control and sets up an arm-triangle choke. The former title challenger continues to rack up control time as Espinosa is practically completely defenseless, as Elliott aims for another arm-triangle choke. Espinosa links his toes in the cage to push off, and Smith stops him from doing this. Elliott smashes his man repeatedly with elbows and punches at the 10-second clapper, trying to finish the fight in a fury. Elliott even attempts an axe kick to the body – stomps to the body are banned in some jurisdictions – as the two go wild in the final seconds. The fight ends with no reconciliation between the two, and we have gone the distance for the first time this evening.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Elliott (30-26 Elliott)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Elliott (30-27 Elliott)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Elliott (30-26 Elliott)

The Official Result
Tim Elliott def. Jordan Espinosa via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-25)

Jordan Espinosa vs. Alex Perez

Round 1
Switching to the flyweight division, a pair of top-15 fighters in the division lock horns as Espinosa (14-6, 1 NC; 1-1 UFC) faces off against Perez (22-5, 4-1 UFC). Our Octagon steward is referee Dan Miragliotta, who will be keeping a watchful eye on the action. A touch of gloves leads to a fast leg kick for Perez, and Espinosa throws back but Perez lands another. On the break, Espinosa accidentally lands an eye poke, and the action pauses for a brief moment before Perez blinks it out and they continue. A leg kick from Espinosa lands, and Perez rushes forward to take the fight down. Perez does exactly that, grounding Espinosa and holding him down in half guard. Instead of strikes, Perez searches for an arm-triangle choke, but seeing he cannot secure it, he throws a few punches to the body and elbows to the thigh.
The Team Oyama fighter goes after the arm-triangle again, and Espinosa defends it by keeping his arm tight to his head. Perez stays in the same place, atop his man in half guard while pushing heavier on top, and Espinosa goes to sleep.
The commentary team had just explained that Perez was in the wrong position, but Miragliotta notices the fighter is unconscious and calls a stop to the fight. Perez may be welcomed into the ranks of the top-10 of the division with this quick win, and he uses the post-fight opportunity to call out Askar Askarov.

The Official Result
Alex Perez def. Jordan Espinosa R1 2:33 via Technical Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)

Jordan Espinosa vs. Matt Schnell

Round 1
A pair of ranked men's flyweights take the Octagon now, with Espinosa (14-5, 1 NC; 1-0 UFC) facing Schnell (13-4, 0-0 UFC). Our referee is Gasper Oliver. The two leap forward and Espinosa lands hard on Schnell's face. Schnell fires back immediately, landing a low kick that sends Espinosa spinning. Schnell counters a body kick from Espinosa with a right hand of his own. Espinosa shoots for a takedown and lands it, but ends up into a guillotine attempt from Schnell.
Espinosa escapes, but falls into a triangle setup. The choke is incredibly tight, and Espinosa has no choice but to tap out.
This is a huge win for Schnell, who has now recorded back-to-back triangle choke victories and pushes his win streak to four. With the win, both fighters with the nickname "Danger" have won today, as Granger prevailed earlier.

The Official Result
Matt Schnell def. Jordan Espinosa R1 1:23 via Submission (Triangle Choke)