Career Averages - Chris Gruetzemacher
Career Averages - Rafa García
Chris Gruetzemacher
Rafa García
Chris Gruetzemacher - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claudio Puelles | 0 | 43 of 68 | 63% | 72 of 103 | 1 of 8 | 12% | 1 | 0 | 6:20 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 38 of 55 | 69% | 96 of 123 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:49 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Claudio Puelles | 0 | 18 of 25 | 72% | 38 of 49 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:26 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 9 of 11 | 81% | 23 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Claudio Puelles | 0 | 17 of 30 | 56% | 21 of 35 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:14 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 12 of 23 | 52% | 37 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:46 | |
| 3 | Claudio Puelles | 0 | 8 of 13 | 61% | 13 of 19 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:40 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 17 of 21 | 80% | 36 of 48 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claudio Puelles | 43 of 68 | 63% | 31 of 48 | 11 of 18 | 1 of 2 | 19 of 32 | 5 of 11 | 19 of 25 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 38 of 55 | 69% | 15 of 28 | 16 of 20 | 7 of 7 | 22 of 33 | 10 of 14 | 6 of 8 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Claudio Puelles | 18 of 25 | 72% | 14 of 20 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 21 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 9 of 11 | 81% | 6 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 4 | |
| 2 | Claudio Puelles | 17 of 30 | 56% | 11 of 18 | 6 of 11 | 0 of 1 | 12 of 19 | 3 of 9 | 2 of 2 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 12 of 23 | 52% | 3 of 11 | 6 of 9 | 3 of 3 | 6 of 14 | 5 of 8 | 1 of 1 | |
| 3 | Claudio Puelles | 8 of 13 | 61% | 6 of 10 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 17 of 21 | 80% | 6 of 9 | 9 of 10 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 12 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 3 |
Angelo picks Puelles, citing his grappling and takedown volume. He notes Gruetzemacher has power and showed toughness against Garcia, but his wrestling defense is a hole. Angelo wishes Gruetzemacher were a bigger underdog to bet him, but goes with Puelles.
Big Brady picks Claudio Puelles to win by submission. He notes Puelles is 10 years younger, has a height and reach advantage, trains at a better camp (Sanford MMA), and is a BJJ black belt with excellent control. He criticizes Gruetzemacher's takedown defense (61%) and notes he has been submitted in losses. Brady also mentions Gruetzemacher is training in a garage, not at ATT as listed. He expects Puelles to take the fight down and submit him.
Cody picks Gruetzemacher, emphasizing his cardio and pressure. He thinks Puelles has looked awful in recent fights and that Gruetzemacher's experience and durability will win out. Cody believes Gruetzemacher will march forward and beat Puelles over three rounds.
Daniel Levi picks Chris Gruetzemacher to win, citing his toughness, durability, and ability to absorb punishment and keep coming forward. He notes that Gruetzemacher is economical and efficient, with good boxing and calf kicks. He questions whether Claudio Puelles is ready for a dog fight and thinks Gruetzemacher will put it on him down the stretch, possibly losing the first round but winning the last two.
Jacob picks Puelles, emphasizing he must get open-mat takedowns and not gas against the cage. He notes Gruetzemacher is hard to take down against the cage but Puelles can succeed with open-mat shots. Jacob thinks Puelles is the pick but needs to avoid striking exchanges.
I lean Puelles. He has a slight technical striking advantage and should be able to land takedowns. His grappling is solid and he can control the fight on the ground. However, Gruetzemacher is durable and tough to finish. I expect Puelles to grind out a decision, and the decision prop at plus 210 is appealing.
Paul picks Gruetzemacher, citing his cardio, pressure, and recent win over Ralphy Garcia. He thinks Puelles is a one-dimensional grappler who gasses out, and that Gruetzemacher's volume and durability will be too much. Paul notes that Gruetzemacher has fought tougher competition.
The MMA Guru picks Claudio Puelles to win by 29-28 unanimous decision. He believes Puelles will secure enough positional control and takedowns in the first two rounds, despite losing some stand-up exchanges. He notes Puelles' good hips and control on the mat, but expects Gruetzemacher to win the third round as Puelles tires. The fight will be decided by the early rounds.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 100 of 190 | 52% | 176 of 268 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Rafa García | 0 | 72 of 146 | 49% | 90 of 166 | 5 of 12 | 41% | 1 | 0 | 6:26 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 42 of 75 | 56% | 57 of 90 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Rafa García | 0 | 38 of 67 | 56% | 38 of 68 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:27 | |
| 2 | Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 32 of 63 | 50% | 46 of 77 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Rafa García | 0 | 20 of 43 | 46% | 25 of 49 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 1 | 0 | 1:53 | |
| 3 | Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 26 of 52 | 50% | 73 of 101 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Rafa García | 0 | 14 of 36 | 38% | 27 of 49 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 3:06 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 100 of 190 | 52% | 60 of 147 | 31 of 32 | 9 of 11 | 76 of 163 | 24 of 27 | 0 of 0 |
| Rafa García | 72 of 146 | 49% | 58 of 129 | 7 of 8 | 7 of 9 | 58 of 124 | 11 of 17 | 3 of 5 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gruetzemacher | 42 of 75 | 56% | 21 of 52 | 16 of 16 | 5 of 7 | 30 of 63 | 12 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
| Rafa García | 38 of 67 | 56% | 27 of 56 | 6 of 6 | 5 of 5 | 29 of 52 | 7 of 11 | 2 of 4 | |
| 2 | Chris Gruetzemacher | 32 of 63 | 50% | 20 of 51 | 8 of 8 | 4 of 4 | 25 of 54 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
| Rafa García | 20 of 43 | 46% | 18 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 16 of 37 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Chris Gruetzemacher | 26 of 52 | 50% | 19 of 44 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 21 of 46 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Rafa García | 14 of 36 | 38% | 13 of 33 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 13 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
The new preliminary headliner, a bout that was place on the main card earlier today, goes down at lightweight between gritty grinder “Gritz” Gruetzemacher (14-4, 2-3 UFC) and gumptious grappler “Gifted” Garcia (11-1, 0-1 UFC). Referee Chris Tognoni is disappointed that his name has a “G” and is not included in the above alliteration, and the two touch ‘em up to start the fight. Garcia starts off quick with a combination that catches Gruetzemacher unaware, with a left hand that whips his hair back. Gruetzemacher marches forward to throw several kicks, and Garcia rolls to land a right hand and gets swiped with a finger in the eye. The action does not stop, and instead Garcia slams his fist into Gruetzemacher’s chin. The blow is damaging, and Gruetzemacher stumbles back into the cage as Garcia sprints at him and wails on him. Gruetzemacher grits it out, stands up, defends from a bad position and breaks away. “Gifted” gives him several gifts with a lengthy barrage of blows, and Gruetzemacher fires back to open up a cut under Garcia’s left eye. Garcia flails with punches and kicks the calf of his opponent, and he stings Gruetzemacher with an uppercut that splits his guard. Garcia clubs Gruetzemacher with a right hand, and he drops down to hit an easy takedown and put “Gritz” on his back. Garcia postures up to hammer him with a heavy elbow, and Gruetzemacher bursts back to his feet. As the two get into a tight clinch and trade with bad intentions, a knee clacks off Garcia’s cup. Garcia waves it off to keep fighting, and another knee in the groin follows to force a pause in the action. When the fight resumes after about 45 seconds of break, both men are ready to trade again. They get close and lay into each other, landing thudding punches and knees in a close clinch. Both men knee the other’s body until Garcia drops down for a single. Gruetzemacher defends with an elbow on the side of the head, and although he breaks the grip, Garcia doubles down on it. They both stand up, and crack each other with elbows. The strikes come one after the other, and they are pouring it on, until Gruetzemacher targets the body to great effect. A few more body shots land for Gruetzemacher until the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Round 2
The pace is notably slower as the second round begins, with a more methodical effort as Garcia tries to catch his breath after a storm of the opening frame. Gruetzemacher wades forward, spams leg kicks and body shots, and Garcia is backing off against the cage. Gruetzemacher chases after him with a head kick, and his constant forward pressure is starting to tire Garcia to a noticeable degree. Gruetzemacher lands to the head and body at will, and Garcia changes things up after taking some damage to hit a takedown. Garcia gets him down for a moment, but not for long, as Gruetzemacher powers up and lands again to the torso. Garcia pushes his foe into the fence as his cardio appears to be betraying him, while Gruetzemacher stays steady and tries to get off the chain links. Garcia gets away with fence grabs as he pins Gruetzemacher to the wall, until “Gritz” bursts his way out and cracks Garcia with a right hand. Gruetzemacher walks through a leg kick and a punch so that he can pummel Garcia, whose strikes are still landing heavily but not affecting him like the previous round. Gruetzemacher scores a left hand to the liver with an audible thud, and he completely ignores an uppercut to wade forward and pressure Garcia with body shots. Garcia comes at him from over the top with a right hand, but Gruetzemacher ducks down and pounds his body with more strikes. Gruetzemacher sneaks an elbow above the guard, and he starts to target his strikes as Garcia shells up and backs away. Gruetzemacher lands on his foe’s gloves until he gets one past to the body, lining them up and scoring one after the other. The round ends when Garcia trips Gruetzemacher to the ground.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gruetzemacher
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Gruetzemacher
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gruetzemacher
Round 3
The lightweights touch hands to start off the last round, and Gruetzemacher gives chase quickly and lands a right hand while walking through a leg kick. Gruetzemacher is charged up, landing punches and mixing them up with knees and elbows as Garcia’s pace wanes dramatically. “Gritz” cracks Garcia with an uppercut, and he puts together several body shots to soften Garcia up. The Mexican fighter, on his heels and busted up from the strikes, shoots in low for a takedown. Garcia lands in side control, taking the wind out of Gruetzemacher’s sails as he traps him and squeezes down with his shoulder. Garcia stays in this position without doing anything, until Tognoni starts to warn him to do more. This forces Garcia to advance, only for Gruetzemacher to sit up against the wall covered in his foe’s blood. Gruetzemacher shows his energy reserves are still intact as he simply stands back up, and he walks Garcia down and rocks him with punches. Gruetzemacher sits down on an uppercut that hurts Garcia, and he paws out several left hands and shrugs off oncoming fire to work Garcia over. Gruetzemacher tees off on Garcia with uppercuts and short shots, and Garcia is fighting back with everything he has left. This quickly works against him when Gruetzemacher targets the body again, until Garcia drops down and hits a takedown to plop Gruetzemacher on his back. Gruetzemacher looks irritated that he was so easily grounded again, and precious seconds tick off the clock as control time adds up for the fighter out of Mexico. Gruetzemacher keeps a butterfly guard until Garcia tries to pass his guard, and Gruetzemacher sits up against the wire and takes a knee to the chest. Gruetzemacher stands up and lands a knee to the body, leading Garcia to desperately try to take him down again. The takedown fails, and Gruetzemacher whiffs on a punch as the grueling fight concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gruetzemacher (29-28 Gruetzemacher)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Gruetzemacher (29-28 Gruetzemacher)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gruetzemacher (29-28 Gruetzemacher)
The Official Result
Chris Gruetzemacher def. Rafa Garcia via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Big Brady is very confident in Rafa García, calling him one of the few confident picks on the card. He notes García's youth, athleticism, and superior grappling, expecting him to take down Gruetzemacher and secure a submission. He criticizes Gruetzemacher's poor takedown defense and recent poor performance against Alexander Hernandez. Brady predicts a second-round submission for García.
Cody is confident in Rafa García, noting his youth, physicality, and improvement. He points out that García performed well against a tough opponent on short notice and has a well-rounded game. Cody believes García can outstrike or outgrapple Gruetzemacher, who is on the decline with significant layoffs and injuries. He acknowledges the -310 price is high but thinks García should win.
Levi is confident in Rafa García, citing his Mexican warrior spirit, underrated wrestling, and training camp with Trevor Whitman in Denver alongside Justin Gaethje. He believes García pushes an even harder pace than Gruetzemacher and has better cardio. Levi notes that Gruetzemacher's path to victory relies on García gassing or getting hurt, but he thinks García's durability and pace will prevail. He also mentions García's age advantage (12 years younger) and his ability to learn from his first loss.
García has first-round KO power, but if he doesn't finish early, Gruetzemacher's grinding style could cause problems. Gruetzemacher is a poor man's Darren Elkins who pushes forward and breaks opponents. The under 2.5 rounds is the play because either García gets the early KO or Gruetzemacher grinds out a late finish. García by first-round KO is the prediction.
Paul also picks Rafa García, agreeing with Cody's assessment. He notes that García looked good in his debut despite the loss and that Gruetzemacher has not shown much in the UFC. Paul is confident that García's grappling and striking will be too much, but he does not like the -310 price for betting purposes. He would include García in parlays but not as a straight bet.
The MMA Guru picks Rafa García over Chris Gruetzemacher, stating that Gruetzemacher shouldn't be in the UFC. He notes that García took a fight on short notice against Nasrat Haqparast and still performed well in the first round. With a full camp, he expects García to beat up Gruetzemacher and win by TKO in the later rounds. He trusts García's chin despite the damage taken in his last fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Hernandez | 0 | 8 of 27 | 29% | 8 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 1 | 29 of 52 | 55% | 29 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Hernandez | 0 | 8 of 27 | 29% | 8 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 1 | 29 of 52 | 55% | 29 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Hernandez | 8 of 27 | 29% | 4 of 20 | 0 of 2 | 4 of 5 | 8 of 26 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 29 of 52 | 55% | 16 of 34 | 4 of 9 | 9 of 9 | 28 of 51 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Hernandez | 8 of 27 | 29% | 4 of 20 | 0 of 2 | 4 of 5 | 8 of 26 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 29 of 52 | 55% | 16 of 34 | 4 of 9 | 9 of 9 | 28 of 51 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Capping off the preliminary portion of the event – even though the entire card airs on ESPN+ from start to finish – is a lightweight battle when “Gritz” Gruetzemacher (14-3, 2-2 UFC) makes a return from a lengthy layoff to face Hernandez (11-3, 3-2 UFC). The referee in charge of this bout is Mark Smith, and the two 155ers don’t touch gloves to start the match, so Gruetzemacher kicks him on the leg a few times. Hernandez throws a kick back low, and then flings a head kick. The two men keep landing leg kicks one another at a distance, and Hernandez gets off a right hand at the end of a combination. Gruetzemacher walks through it and the two continues to ding each other with leg kicks. Hernandez clips Gruetzemacher with a one-two, and then another makes “Gritz” take a quick count of his teeth. Gruetzemacher marches forward as he pushes out a jab, and Hernandez nails him with a right hand. Gruetzemacher ducks down, and Hernandez boots him in the face with a kick, but the Arizona native wears it well. Hernandez hurts him with a left hand, and Gruetzemacher wobbles and falls across the fence. Hernandez pours it on sensing that Gruetzemacher might be hurt.
“Alexander the Great” chains together several punches that all land hard on the chin, and one final uppercut shuts the lights out and sends Gruetzemacher crashing to the canvas in a heap.
This was a spectacular display for Hernandez, who put on a show and recorded a big finish in less than two minutes, all while scoring the first knockout against the durable Gruetzemacher.
The Official Result
Alexander Hernandez def. Chris Gruetzemacher R1 1:46 via KO (Punches)
Big Brady sees Hernandez as the better striker and wrestler, expecting him to grind out a decision. He notes Gruetzemacher's takedown defense issues and two-year layoff. He thinks a submission is possible but predicts a clear decision win.
Hernandez is faster, more athletic, and has better grappling. Gruetzemacher is coming off a long layoff and ACL injury, and his only UFC win was against an aging Joe Lauzon. Hernandez should dominate and likely get a second-round stoppage.
The MMA Guru picks Alexander Hernandez to win by TKO in the first round, citing Hernandez's move to a new gym (Factory X Muay Thai) and his explosiveness. He notes that Gruetzemacher hasn't fought since 2018 and has lost to fighters Hernandez would beat easily. He suggests betting on Hernandez to win under 1.5 rounds.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 48 of 137 | 35% | 49 of 138 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joe Lauzon | 0 | 128 of 196 | 65% | 135 of 203 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:38 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 35 of 84 | 41% | 35 of 84 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joe Lauzon | 0 | 53 of 89 | 59% | 56 of 92 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:31 | |
| 2 | Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 13 of 53 | 24% | 14 of 54 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joe Lauzon | 0 | 75 of 107 | 70% | 79 of 111 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 48 of 137 | 35% | 40 of 125 | 7 of 10 | 1 of 2 | 35 of 113 | 11 of 22 | 2 of 2 |
| Joe Lauzon | 128 of 196 | 65% | 72 of 135 | 45 of 50 | 11 of 11 | 68 of 118 | 51 of 65 | 9 of 13 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gruetzemacher | 35 of 84 | 41% | 28 of 75 | 6 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 26 of 74 | 7 of 8 | 2 of 2 |
| Joe Lauzon | 53 of 89 | 59% | 25 of 58 | 19 of 22 | 9 of 9 | 29 of 59 | 15 of 17 | 9 of 13 | |
| 2 | Chris Gruetzemacher | 13 of 53 | 24% | 12 of 50 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 9 of 39 | 4 of 14 | 0 of 0 |
| Joe Lauzon | 75 of 107 | 70% | 47 of 77 | 26 of 28 | 2 of 2 | 39 of 59 | 36 of 48 | 0 of 0 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davi Ramos | 0 | 46 of 97 | 47% | 57 of 110 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:14 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 55 of 124 | 44% | 65 of 136 | 5 of 9 | 55% | 1 | 0 | 3:53 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davi Ramos | 0 | 16 of 33 | 48% | 25 of 44 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 20 of 53 | 37% | 26 of 61 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:19 | |
| 2 | Davi Ramos | 0 | 26 of 58 | 44% | 28 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 33 of 66 | 50% | 37 of 70 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 1:04 | |
| 3 | Davi Ramos | 0 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 2 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 0:30 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davi Ramos | 46 of 97 | 47% | 25 of 69 | 10 of 14 | 11 of 14 | 39 of 89 | 4 of 4 | 3 of 4 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 55 of 124 | 44% | 49 of 117 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 44 of 105 | 9 of 13 | 2 of 6 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davi Ramos | 16 of 33 | 48% | 9 of 24 | 2 of 3 | 5 of 6 | 14 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 20 of 53 | 37% | 16 of 49 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 16 of 43 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 6 | |
| 2 | Davi Ramos | 26 of 58 | 44% | 12 of 39 | 8 of 11 | 6 of 8 | 23 of 55 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 33 of 66 | 50% | 31 of 63 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 26 of 57 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Davi Ramos | 4 of 6 | 66% | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 2 of 5 | 40% | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chas Skelly | 0 | 21 of 52 | 40% | 29 of 60 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 | 0 | 4:39 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 28 of 43 | 65% | 65 of 83 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chas Skelly | 0 | 12 of 31 | 38% | 20 of 39 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:38 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 12 of 16 | 75% | 41 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Chas Skelly | 0 | 9 of 21 | 42% | 9 of 21 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 1:01 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 16 of 27 | 59% | 24 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chas Skelly | 21 of 52 | 40% | 20 of 50 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 40 | 4 of 8 | 2 of 4 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 28 of 43 | 65% | 15 of 29 | 5 of 6 | 8 of 8 | 15 of 29 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 12 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chas Skelly | 12 of 31 | 38% | 12 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 19 | 4 of 8 | 2 of 4 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 12 of 16 | 75% | 5 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 | 8 of 11 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 3 | |
| 2 | Chas Skelly | 9 of 21 | 42% | 8 of 19 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 16 of 27 | 59% | 10 of 20 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 3 | 7 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 9 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 103 of 182 | 56% | 135 of 217 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:30 |
| Abner Lloveras | 0 | 94 of 189 | 49% | 99 of 194 | 2 of 10 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 2:53 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 38 of 67 | 56% | 43 of 73 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
| Abner Lloveras | 0 | 37 of 73 | 50% | 39 of 75 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:14 | |
| 2 | Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 36 of 59 | 61% | 38 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Abner Lloveras | 0 | 38 of 75 | 50% | 38 of 75 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:21 | |
| 3 | Chris Gruetzemacher | 0 | 29 of 56 | 51% | 54 of 83 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Abner Lloveras | 0 | 19 of 41 | 46% | 22 of 44 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 1:18 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Gruetzemacher | 103 of 182 | 56% | 42 of 111 | 22 of 30 | 39 of 41 | 81 of 149 | 22 of 31 | 0 of 2 |
| Abner Lloveras | 94 of 189 | 49% | 55 of 143 | 33 of 40 | 6 of 6 | 76 of 162 | 18 of 27 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gruetzemacher | 38 of 67 | 56% | 15 of 42 | 11 of 12 | 12 of 13 | 30 of 55 | 8 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
| Abner Lloveras | 37 of 73 | 50% | 24 of 57 | 12 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 27 of 58 | 10 of 15 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Chris Gruetzemacher | 36 of 59 | 61% | 8 of 27 | 5 of 8 | 23 of 24 | 35 of 57 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Abner Lloveras | 38 of 75 | 50% | 20 of 54 | 15 of 18 | 3 of 3 | 35 of 70 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Chris Gruetzemacher | 29 of 56 | 51% | 19 of 42 | 6 of 10 | 4 of 4 | 16 of 37 | 13 of 17 | 0 of 2 |
| Abner Lloveras | 19 of 41 | 46% | 11 of 32 | 6 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 14 of 34 | 5 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
Rafa García - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafa García | 0 | 59 of 169 | 34% | 79 of 194 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 0 | 0 | 1:50 |
| Alexander Hernandez | 0 | 50 of 145 | 34% | 54 of 149 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rafa García | 0 | 10 of 40 | 25% | 15 of 45 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:28 |
| Alexander Hernandez | 0 | 8 of 27 | 29% | 8 of 27 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Rafa García | 0 | 20 of 66 | 30% | 20 of 66 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Alexander Hernandez | 0 | 18 of 38 | 47% | 18 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Rafa García | 0 | 29 of 63 | 46% | 44 of 83 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:12 |
| Alexander Hernandez | 0 | 24 of 80 | 30% | 28 of 84 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafa García | 59 of 169 | 34% | 52 of 161 | 1 of 2 | 6 of 6 | 57 of 165 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 1 |
| Alexander Hernandez | 50 of 145 | 34% | 40 of 126 | 9 of 14 | 1 of 5 | 50 of 145 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rafa García | 10 of 40 | 25% | 6 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 | 10 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Alexander Hernandez | 8 of 27 | 29% | 5 of 20 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 3 | 8 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Rafa García | 20 of 66 | 30% | 19 of 65 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 19 of 65 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Alexander Hernandez | 18 of 38 | 47% | 14 of 32 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 18 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Rafa García | 29 of 63 | 46% | 27 of 60 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 28 of 61 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Alexander Hernandez | 24 of 80 | 30% | 21 of 74 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 24 of 80 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Hernandez (-145); Garcia (+120)
Round 1
Going forward, the last six athletes tonight hoist UFC records above .500. Even with a defeat, any one of the losing parties will not fall to that threshold either. Garcia (18-4, 6-4 UFC) has seen some serious success as of late, winning four of five including a knockout of Jared Gordon in his last time out. Hernandez (18-8, 10-7 UFC) finally gets to fight again after a UFC 324 match against Michael Johnson was nixed due to extreme betting irregularities. Referee Kerry Hatley will stand vigilant while the lightweights engage in sanctioned fisticuffs, with the two athletes not bothering to bump fists first.
They engage in some early jabbery and pokery, with Garcia looking to follow his ones with right hands. He scores one to drive Hernandez back a few steps, reddening the Texan’s nose immediately. Garcia nails the front leg with a kick so hard that Hernandez has to recoil it behind his other leg, and he circles on the outer edge looking for a way in. Garcia plans a kick on the front leg again while Hernandez is about to engage, shutting that attack down. Hernandez steps in with a knee to the body, getting it off just before Garcia can hit him with his overhand right. Garcia bounces and works his way forward, staying away from Hernandez’ kicks as he jabs straight ahead. Garcia wings a short left hook that brushes the chin, putting “The Great Ape” on notice.
Hernandez shadowboxes on the outside edge, unable to get close, while Garcia can seemingly close the distance at will. Garcia plans a kick on the inside calf, and Hernandez gives him back a loud body kick to think about. Garcia plods forward using a tight, high guard, keeping Hernandez to largely single strikes. Garcia stings his opponent and sees an opening to drop down to his knees to get hold a double, and he tosses Hernandez down for a second. Hernandez climbs back up, and Garcia elevates him with a high-crotch lift and slams him down with gravitas. Hernandez appears no worse for wear as both men gets back to their feet without issue, but it is Garcia who continues to press the action. Hernandez comes up short on his winging punches, but a left hand brushes open a cut on Garcia’s left eye. Hernandez is shoved to his knees, and he eats a few shots before the round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Round 2
Picking up right where he left off, Garcia is the pressure fighter. He works his way in to drive a left hand down the middle, drawing a thin trickle of blood from his foe’s left nostril. Hernandez keeps his wits about him as Garcia plods towards him, but the volume from Garcia has diminished to a degree. Garcia walks his man down to put three fists on the face, and he chases but does not cut off “The Great Ape” as he stays right in front of him. Hernandez has to desperately scramble from side to side to get away, and the accuracy of Garcia is something to behold as Hernandez appears shocked when he gets caught repeatedly.
Hernandez tries to back Garcia off with a head kick, but Garcia blocks it and flashes a devilish grin. Garcia counters a front kick with a right hand down the pipe, snapping the head back and forcing Hernandez to circle rapidly to his right away from the power. The fists of Garcia have quickly transformed Hernandez’ visage into a bloody mess, while Garcia’s light wound on his eyebrow opens up again during a fierce but brief exchange. Garcia wades forward, stops, winds up and throws, and he tags Hernandez flush. He changes levels to break things up, and Hernandez keeps to his feet and backs off. Garcia jabs him up and starts talking to him as the round ends, with both men getting into the other’s face. Hatley has to separate them and usher them back to their respective corners.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Round 3
Garcia does not stay seated in his corner long enough to get his eye cut sealed, as he is amped up and ready to throw hands. He does exactly that when the third round kicks off, stepping right into the pocket to throw hammers. Hernandez has to inevitably retreat due to the pressure, so Garcia does not let him off the hook. Garcia throws everything and the kitchen sink, and Hernandez’ chin is granite but as it starts to fade, he starts to engage less and circle more. With Hernandez backpedaling, Garcia rushes after him and pursues a takedown.
Hernandez stands him up with his back to the fence, keeping his balance as blood leaks from his nose. Garcia elevates and dumps Hernandez down, and when Hernandez stands, Garcia belts him with a sharp combination. Hernandez throws back no matter the position, but Garcia is unafraid of the return offerings. Hernandez starts to pick things up, almost certainly down on the scorecards, and he manages to back Garcia up after landing cleanly a few times. The fighters duke it out one after the other, with big damage developing around Hernandez’ left eye. No one cares about damage or blood or anything, engaging in an absolutely rip-roaring slugfest for the remainder of the round. Damage was inflicted aplenty in their 15-minute engagement, and the fighters squash any inkling of a beef right after the final horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (30-27 Garcia)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez (29-28 Garcia)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez (29-28 Garcia)
The Official Result
Rafa Garcia def. Alexander Hernandez via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Angelo picks Alexander Hernandez as the better fighter, citing his explosiveness, speed, cardio, and power. He notes that Hernandez is on a four-fight win streak with back-to-back knockouts. He acknowledges that Rafa García is the better straight wrestler, but believes Hernandez scrambles well and has good cardio. He expresses concern that Hernandez needs to pull the trigger and not be outworked.
Big Brady picks Rafa García over Alexander Hernandez. He sees advantages for García in boxing volume, wrestling, durability, and cardio. He expects a close fight but believes García's pace and cardio will be key, predicting a split decision win.
The host thinks Garcia is the better fighter but had a poor last performance. He expects a stand-up fight where Garcia can pressure Hernandez and test his gas tank. He notes Hernandez slows down and Garcia is durable, having been finished only once. He will bet Garcia +3.5 because Garcia is very likely to win the third round, and the fight likely goes to decision.
James picks Alexander Hernandez, citing his athleticism and power advantage. He expects Hernandez to win the first two rounds and possibly fade in the third, but still outwork Garcia. He notes Garcia's toughness but believes Hernandez's level is higher.
Garcia is on a two-fight winning streak with good durability and volume striking. Hernandez has a four-fight winning streak but relies on power and wrestling, and he has a questionable gas tank. Garcia should be able to stuff takedowns, outwork Hernandez on the feet, and pull away in the later rounds to win a decision.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafa García | 1 | 91 of 162 | 56% | 107 of 179 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 2 | 1 | 2:01 |
| Jared Gordon | 0 | 65 of 186 | 34% | 80 of 201 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rafa García | 0 | 22 of 41 | 53% | 23 of 42 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 |
| Jared Gordon | 0 | 23 of 64 | 35% | 24 of 65 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Rafa García | 0 | 33 of 61 | 54% | 48 of 77 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 1 | 1:12 |
| Jared Gordon | 0 | 31 of 86 | 36% | 45 of 100 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:09 | |
| 3 | Rafa García | 1 | 36 of 60 | 60% | 36 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:25 |
| Jared Gordon | 0 | 11 of 36 | 30% | 11 of 36 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafa García | 91 of 162 | 56% | 74 of 144 | 7 of 7 | 10 of 11 | 70 of 137 | 10 of 11 | 11 of 14 |
| Jared Gordon | 65 of 186 | 34% | 55 of 171 | 8 of 13 | 2 of 2 | 65 of 186 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rafa García | 22 of 41 | 53% | 15 of 33 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 6 | 20 of 39 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Jared Gordon | 23 of 64 | 35% | 16 of 55 | 5 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 23 of 64 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Rafa García | 33 of 61 | 54% | 26 of 54 | 3 of 3 | 4 of 4 | 27 of 55 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Jared Gordon | 31 of 86 | 36% | 29 of 82 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 31 of 86 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Rafa García | 36 of 60 | 60% | 33 of 57 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 23 of 43 | 2 of 3 | 11 of 14 |
| Jared Gordon | 11 of 36 | 30% | 10 of 34 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Gordon (-240); Garcia (+200)
Round 1
Kerry Hatley is the referee. Garcia opens with a low kick. Gordon steps in and lands a left. Gordon crashes forward and they exchange. Garcia fires right back. They trade leg kicks but Garcia is more impactful. Gordon probes with a lead hook and a jab. He follows up with a 1-2. A straight right connects for Garcia. A hard leg kick lands for Garcia. A short right by Garcia buckles Gordon’s knees momentarily, but he’s still in the fight. Gordon lands a body kick and then a striaght right. Garcia catches a kick and tags his foe with a right. Gordon stumbles to the floor but pops right back up. Garcia is hunting for that right and finds the range on another one. A stiff jab backs Gordon up. Gordon sticks a jab of his own. A counter right by Gordon makes an impact. He strings some punches together to back Garcia up. As Gordon gains momentum, Garcia changes levels and gets a takedown. Gordon gets to the fence and stands. They stay in the clinch, and Garcia lands a left on the break. Gordon lands a left hook before the end of the period.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gordon
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Gordon
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Gordon
Round 2
Garcia makes Gordon stumble backward with a left at the outset. They’re trading and Gordon gets the better of it. Garcia jumps a guillotine and then rolls into mount. Gordon gets out of it and now must defend Garcia from his back. Gordon moves to the fence and works his way up. Garcia tries to drag Gordon down but it’s unsuccessful. They get back to boxing in the center of the cage. Plent of shots are landing. Gordon has Garcia covering up after landing a couple big rights. Garcia clinches and lands some uppercuts in close. Gordon jabs and then touches his foe with a right. Garcia with a stiff jab, but a counter left hook by Gordon has Garcia backing up. They’re trading in the pocket, but Gordon is landing combinations with more volume. However, Garcia cuts his opponent with an elbow. Gordon with a front kick down the middle. Garcia stumbles after eating a left hook. Garcia with a hard elbow in close quarters late and concludes the round with a takedown as time expires.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Round 3
Garcia opens with a 1-2. He follows with an inside leg kick. Gordon responds with a combination in the pocket. They clinch and Garcia lands a couple of slashing elbows. Gordon pumps his jab. A left hook from Garcia stops Gordon. A heavy 1-2 finds the mark for Garcia, who then rips the body. GArcia is upping the volume as Gordon seems to be slowing. A right by Gordon lands on the side of the head, but Garcia is still attacking. Garcia rips the body with a left. A clean short right to the chin sends Gordon tumbling to the floor. Garcia tees off with punches on his reeling opponent before locking in a modified rear-naked choke. It’s pretty tight, but
he gives up on the submission to pummel Gordon with elbows from top position. He batters a bloodied Gordon with several more elbows before Hatley intervenes.
It’s a violent finish and just Garcia’s second career win via KO or TKO.
The Official Result
Rafa Gacia def. Jared Gordon via TKO (Elbows) R3 2:27
Angelo picks Jared Gordon, calling him the better overall fighter and more well-rounded. He notes Gordon is a good wrestler with high volume striking, tough and busy. He says he has seen Rafa Garcia get decisions that weren't his, and Jared Gordon not get decisions that should have been his. He is surprised to see Gordon as a 3-to-1 favorite. He suggests Rafa Garcia plus 3.5 as a possible bet.
Big Brady picks Gordon due to his pace, volume, and recent power. He worries about corrupt judges but expects Gordon to win a decision. He notes Garcia is tough and has only been knocked out by Grant Dawson, so a finish is unlikely.
Connor picks Jared Gordon, emphasizing Gordon's technical boxing and ability to impose his game plan. He notes that García's loss to Chris Gruetzemacher shows he can be outworked, and Gordon is a more dangerous fighter than Gruetzemacher. Connor believes Gordon's pressure and sharper striking will overcome García's durability and lack of strategy.
Gordon is a big fan favorite and the host believes Garcia's lack of knockout threat allows Gordon to dictate the pace. He expects Gordon to stay on the gas, put Garcia against the cage, land takedowns, and win on the scorecards.
The MMA Guru picks Jared Gordon, calling him the most underrated lightweight on the roster. He argues Gordon's boxing is superior to Garcia's and that Garcia lacks power. He criticizes Garcia's wins as unimpressive and believes Gordon should be a bigger favorite. He predicts a dominant performance with a TKO in the late second round, possibly including a 10-8 round.
Zane picks Jared Gordon, citing Gordon's improved boxing form and power, which should allow him to land the bigger shots. He notes that García is durable but lacks power and a strategic approach, often floating through fights. Zane believes Gordon's consistent pressure and sharper striking will win a three-round war, as García's lack of imposition makes him vulnerable.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafa García | 0 | 64 of 120 | 53% | 76 of 136 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 2:15 |
| Vinc Pichel | 0 | 79 of 182 | 43% | 88 of 191 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rafa García | 0 | 12 of 24 | 50% | 19 of 33 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:06 |
| Vinc Pichel | 0 | 13 of 38 | 34% | 21 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Rafa García | 0 | 21 of 49 | 42% | 24 of 52 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 |
| Vinc Pichel | 0 | 32 of 70 | 45% | 32 of 70 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Rafa García | 0 | 31 of 47 | 65% | 33 of 51 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:46 |
| Vinc Pichel | 0 | 34 of 74 | 45% | 35 of 75 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafa García | 64 of 120 | 53% | 49 of 102 | 12 of 14 | 3 of 4 | 59 of 114 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 |
| Vinc Pichel | 79 of 182 | 43% | 32 of 116 | 27 of 43 | 20 of 23 | 74 of 174 | 4 of 7 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rafa García | 12 of 24 | 50% | 7 of 17 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 11 of 23 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Vinc Pichel | 13 of 38 | 34% | 7 of 30 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 5 | 12 of 36 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Rafa García | 21 of 49 | 42% | 16 of 44 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 21 of 49 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Vinc Pichel | 32 of 70 | 45% | 12 of 43 | 13 of 19 | 7 of 8 | 29 of 67 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Rafa García | 31 of 47 | 65% | 26 of 41 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 27 of 42 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 |
| Vinc Pichel | 34 of 74 | 45% | 13 of 43 | 12 of 21 | 9 of 10 | 33 of 71 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Garcia (-485), Pichel (+370)
Round 1
Twelve years separate the next two competitors, with the younger man a heavy betting favorite. Garcia (16-4, 4-4 UFC) gets a huge pop from the crowd as the first Mexican-born athlete to hit the stage today, while the leisurely paced Pichel (14-4, 7-4 UFC) is showered in boos. The lightweights with a fairly similar amount of combat experience touch gloves before referee Raul Porrata. Pichel keeps his distance early, parrying any incoming fire and letting the energy in favor of Garcia wash over them both. Garcia breaks the silence with a huge overhand right and rips a left to the liver. Pichel responds with a left hook that makes the Mexican fighter back off for a moment, and Garcia measures him with a thudding right hand that makes Pichel have to blink it out repeatedly. Garcia crowds him with a pair of hooks, and he swats away a head kick. Garcia crashes through a low kick to hurl punches, and Pichel keeps a wide berth and stabs out a front kick. Garcia comes up short with haymakers, allowing the elder Pichel to potshot him from a safe distance. When Pichel kicks low, Garcia wings a right hand over the top. Pichel fires back with a vengeance, and Garcia shrugs it off and stays close in front of him but not too close. Garcia scores a single low kick and is jabbed back, and he raises his guard in the nick of time to block an overhand right. Garcia swings wide to the body, forcing Pichel to ricochet off the wall, and he hammers the front leg with a kick. Pichel loads up with a body kick, and Garcia smiles at him and continues to crowd him. Garcia pushes a front kick out of the way to crowd the older fighter, pressing him against the wall while stomping on his toes. Garcia lifts Pichel’s legs up and is about to deposit him to the ground, but Pichel regains his balance. Perhaps in a poor bit of decisionmaking, Pichel spins for a back elbow while tightly pressed to his foe, and this allows Garcia to hit a clean double on him. Garcia rides out the round on top.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Round 2
The athletes get right back down to business, trading leather early and often. Pichel sneaks in a right hand and slips to the side, and he dips to fire off an uppercut and jogs away to reset. Pichel’s stance switches and awkward movement prevents Garcia from blitzing him on the regular, and he keeps his head on a swivel to not get caught with anything flush. Garcia nevertheless walks him down and blasts him in the face with a crisp right hand, and then chains two more fists behind it. Pichel flashes out his jab, pop pop bang, to keep Garcia from going at him. Pichel pushes off while trying to push his foe’s arm out of the way, and his thumb slides deep into Garcia’s eye socket. Pichel immediately apologizes before Porrata gets between them, and he gives Garcia all the time he needs to recover. Garcia takes it, accepts Pichel’s fervent apology and gets back to walking the aging fighter down. Pichel uses his knee to frame off, and he strings a few punches together behind it. Pichel tosses up a head kick that is blocked in time, and he probes out a right hand before getting his head snapped back with a one-two. Pichel tries to jump his way forward, and he pushes off Garcia’s face and slams his shin on Garcia’s calf. Garcia grimaces and wraps Pichel up in hopes of taking him down. Pichel leans against the wall to keep himself upright, and he postures off and breaks free, where he puts punches and kicks together in rapid succession. Pichel fakes to the body to open up a head shot, and Garcia can only swing big right hands back at him. A few of those get through, and Pichel beans him with a counter overhand right to make him think twice about entering the pocket with his hands low. Pichel comes up swinging with a huge uppercut, and he hand-fights to parry most of the blows aimed at him. Pichel jabs to the head and body, and he splits the guard with a front kick, toes extended towards the target. Garcia lumbers forward swinging heavy leather, and Pichel skirts to the slide and flicks out a few low kicks to end the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pichel
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pichel
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pichel
Round 3
Pichel is fired up to start up the last round, and he channels that energy with frenetic punches and kicks that stop Garcia from getting through to him. Pichel strings a few punches together up top, and Garcia clutches his eye as if he was poked. Pichel claims it was a closed fist that did the damage, and he unloads with flying fists until Garcia steels himself and comes back out swinging. Pichel counters the flailing strikes, but he is taking shots to the body and taking heavy breaths. Garcia continues to put everything behind every one of his swings, while Pichel is more than content to jab and prod. When Garcia looks to charge, Pichel pushes him back with jabs and front kicks, but Garcia decides to pour it on and tags Pichel a few times. Pichel rebounds off the fencing and uses his push kick to redden up Garcia’s midsection. Pichel probers out with straight punches until getting tagged, and he starts swinging back with arc on his punches when not mixing in his front kick. Pichel further keeps things interesting by shooting for a takedown, and Garcia just stands before him and smiles at him. A Pichel front kick bumps the cup, and Garcia wants to keep going so it goes uncalled. Pichel loads up on body kicks and walks through three left hands, kicking Garcia constantly while keeping his distance. The leg kicks to the thigh and calf keep landing for “From Hell,” until Garcia is sick of taking them and just lifts Pichel up and deposits him down to the mat like a sack of potatoes. Pichel scoots his way towards the wall in hopes of walking up it, while Garcia tries to smother him and threaten with an arm-triangle choke. Pichel turns to his knees and stands, and Garcia slugs him in the face with numerous unanswered right hands. Pichel frees himself with seconds to go, and he lets Garcia have it with all his remaining energy. Punches, kicks and knees fly every which way until the final horn blares, signaling an end to what turned into an entertaining scrap.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (29-28 Garcia)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (29-28 Garcia)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (29-28 Garcia)
The Official Result
Rafa Garcia def. Vinc Pichel via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Connor picks García, noting his high-output, new-school wrestle-boxing style will overwhelm the aging Pichel. He acknowledges Pichel's toughness and low kicks as potential wrinkles but believes García's pace and boxing will be too much. He is surprised by the wide odds, given García's loss to Chris Gruetzemacher.
Zane picks García, agreeing that his pace and pressure will be decisive. He notes Pichel's old-school style and lack of speed, comparing him to an aged Jan Błachowicz. Zane thinks García's boxing and wrestling defense are solid, and that Pichel's low kicks are a minor threat.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant Dawson | 0 | 44 of 90 | 48% | 80 of 144 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 5:09 |
| Rafa García | 0 | 5 of 12 | 41% | 29 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grant Dawson | 0 | 20 of 52 | 38% | 41 of 87 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 3:50 |
| Rafa García | 0 | 4 of 10 | 40% | 27 of 34 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Grant Dawson | 0 | 24 of 38 | 63% | 39 of 57 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:19 |
| Rafa García | 0 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant Dawson | 44 of 90 | 48% | 38 of 76 | 4 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 39 of 66 |
| Rafa García | 5 of 12 | 41% | 4 of 8 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grant Dawson | 20 of 52 | 38% | 16 of 42 | 3 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 18 of 35 |
| Rafa García | 4 of 10 | 40% | 3 of 6 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Grant Dawson | 24 of 38 | 63% | 22 of 34 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 21 of 31 |
| Rafa García | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Dawson (-395), Garcia (+310)
Round 1
Moving right along, lightweight contender Dawson (21-2-1, 9-1-1 UFC) needs this next opportunity to put together a win streak. To do so, he will need to get past Mexico’s Garcia (16-3, 4-3 UFC), who will not make it easy on him. Referee Chris Tognoni checks in as the cage commander for this 155-pound contest, and it kicks off with a glove touch. Garcia crouches several times early, expecting to have to defend against a level change. Dawson meets one of those with a front kick, and Garcia just barely dodges it. Garcia avoids another jabbing kick to throw out a one-two to the body. Dawson sticks him with a jab and uses another front kick, and he parries an overhand right. Dawson gets knocked off-balance with a right hand, and he gathers himself and spins with a wheel kick. Garcia walks forward slinging hands, and Dawson answers a solid right hand with a single-leg entry that plants “Gifted” on his knee. Dawson hits a mat return when Garcia powers his way back up, and this time he has Garcia flat on his back. Dawson opens with ground-and-pound and is answered some from Garcia, and Garcia’s hit the back of his foe’s head as Tognoni asks him not to land fouls. Dawson sits up to hammer Garcia with two big punches, an elbow and some other ground strikes to disguise his guard pass to half guard. Dawson stays busy with smothering top control and active offense, getting hard shots in when not attempting to advance position. Dawson gets pushed back for a moment, and he bowls Garcia back over with elbows. “KGD” shifts from one side to the other to pass the guard, and he pounds down with strikes. Garcia kicks him off to gain a bit of space, only for Dawson to swarm him with standing-to-ground punches. Garcia scrambles madly until the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dawson
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Dawson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dawson
Round 2
The fighters clap hands to get going, and Dawson is eager to kick things off by kicking four times with four different types of kicks. His spin kick finds its home, and he uses that to get in close, swing an overhand right and duck low to secure an easy takedown less than 30 seconds into the round. Dawson finds openings and attacks with hammerfists or elbows, and he takes a chunk out of Garcia’s forehead with a Friday the 13th-insired slashing elbow. Blood sprays from the Mexican’s head as he turns to his knees, and Dawson further beats on him with a barrage of punches.
Sitting proudly in mount, “KGD” unleashes a mighty barrage of punches and elbows, clubbing Garcia as Tognoni asks Garcia to fight back. Dawson knows the finish is around the corner, with Garcia bloodied and bruised, and he finishes the job with a final salvo of punches. Tognoni has no choice to step in
, and the American Top Team contender notches his first knockout in nearly three years. In victory, Dawson becomes the first fighter to ever stop the durable man from Mexican.
The Official Result
Grant Dawson def. Rafa Garcia R2 1:42 via TKO (Elbows and Punches)
Angelo picks Grant Dawson despite disliking his fighting style. He notes that Dawson's wrestling and control are reliable, and that Rafa García tends to gas. Angelo acknowledges Dawson's knockout loss to Bobby Green but believes Dawson will win by grinding out a decision. He calls Dawson a reliable bettor's fighter.
Big Brady picks Grant Dawson to win by third-round submission. He considers Dawson a top-15 lightweight with top-10 upside, and believes he is on another level compared to Garcia. He praises Dawson's wrestling and grappling, citing his submission of Jared Gordon and dominant win over Damir Ismagulov. He expects Dawson to get takedowns, wear on Garcia, and eventually find a submission in the second or third round. He thinks Garcia is solid but outmatched.
Connor agrees with Zane, emphasizing that Garcia's game is subtractive but not potent enough to stop Dawson's relentless wrestling. He notes that Garcia's wins over wrestlers like Clay Guida are not indicative because Guida is washed. Connor believes Dawson's suffocating style will eventually get the takedown and control the fight.
Daniel admits he dislikes Dawson's style and believes his striking is elementary, but he respects Dawson's grappling and top control. He notes that Rafa García has decent takedown defense but thinks Dawson will likely grind out a boring decision. Daniel hopes García stuffs takedowns and wins, but his head says Dawson's wrestling will be the difference.
Dawson does not care to entertain but gets wins. He will do what he did to Joe Solecki last time. Garcia may stop the first couple takedowns, but Dawson's great gas tank will wear on Garcia, allowing Dawson to win a classic Dawson decision.
The MMA Guru picks Grant Dawson, citing his phenomenal grappling and talent advantage over Rafa García, who he says has no finishing potential. He notes Dawson's suspect chin and poor stand-up but believes his grappling will easily outclass García. He also mentions Dawson's momentum coming off a win and training with Makhachev.
Zane picks Dawson because Garcia's anti-wrestling is based on defense and he isn't dangerous enough to keep Dawson off him. He notes that Garcia's best chance is to stuff takedowns early and tire Dawson, but Dawson often wins even after gassing. Zane thinks Garcia's lack of finishing ability means he can't overcome Dawson's pressure.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafa García | 0 | 63 of 252 | 25% | 63 of 252 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Clay Guida | 0 | 141 of 287 | 49% | 143 of 289 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:20 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rafa García | 0 | 23 of 92 | 25% | 23 of 92 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Clay Guida | 0 | 34 of 89 | 38% | 34 of 89 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Rafa García | 0 | 21 of 88 | 23% | 21 of 88 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Clay Guida | 0 | 65 of 110 | 59% | 65 of 110 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Rafa García | 0 | 19 of 72 | 26% | 19 of 72 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Clay Guida | 0 | 42 of 88 | 47% | 44 of 90 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:20 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafa García | 63 of 252 | 25% | 49 of 227 | 4 of 12 | 10 of 13 | 63 of 252 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Clay Guida | 141 of 287 | 49% | 130 of 269 | 5 of 12 | 6 of 6 | 138 of 284 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rafa García | 23 of 92 | 25% | 16 of 82 | 2 of 4 | 5 of 6 | 23 of 92 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Clay Guida | 34 of 89 | 38% | 29 of 81 | 1 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 34 of 89 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Rafa García | 21 of 88 | 23% | 17 of 80 | 1 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 21 of 88 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Clay Guida | 65 of 110 | 59% | 63 of 107 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 62 of 107 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Rafa García | 19 of 72 | 26% | 16 of 65 | 1 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 19 of 72 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Clay Guida | 42 of 88 | 47% | 38 of 81 | 2 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 42 of 88 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Garcia (-260), Guida (+220)
Round 1
The main card opens up with the lightweights, as eternally youthful 41-year-old Guida (38-22, 18-16 UFC) looks to go on his first win streak in six years. Standing in his way will be Combate Americas vet Garcia (14-3, 3-3 UFC), who also happens to be 13 years his junior. Whether this is a passing of the torch fight or proof that the now short-haired Guida very much still has it, they have 15 minutes to determine this while referee Dwayne Bess watches on. There is no plan for a bump of fists as the crowd goes crazy for Guida, and he starts off like he always does, with herky-jerky movement and plenty of energy. The two fighters meet right in the middle, throwing hands, and Guida gets the better of the exchange. Guida ducks a huge overhand right to stick him with a right, and he considers a takedown to mix things up. Garcia scores a right hand, and Guida slips and backs off to take a low kick. Guida returns fire with a leg kick, and Garcia quickly covers with a right over the top. Guida chains a low kick into punches, and Garcia backs him off with solid straight right hands. Guida circles along the outside, and he evades a one-two that soars at him. Guida lands a left and moves, and he swipes out with a left hand as Garcia reaches him with the right. Garcia rushes forward with a left to the ribs, and he misses the mark swinging a few hooks. Guida absorbs a flush leg kick at the end of a combination, and he gets tagged with a solid right to follow. They meet with jabs, and “Gifted” bestows Guida with a gift of a left hook. Guida bobs and moves in, and Garcia marks him up with five or six jabs in rapid succession. Guida’s nose is showing some damage from the punches, and Garcia clubs him with a right that lands on the jaw. Garcia counters with a sharp elbow, and Guida is eating shots every time he initiates his offense. Guida lands two punches coming in, and Garcia snaps out a jab at the end. Garcia’s jabs begin to sting Guida and make him smile, and the round ends after a pair of missed haymakers from both fighters.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Round 2
Guida races out of his corner to start off firing, and he sticks several jabs in then face of his opponent. Guida gets rocked with an uppercut, and he shakes it out and slaps down with a leg kick. Guida steps in with a knee, and he closes in on the clinch but does not change levels. A few punches from “The Carpenter” bounce off the guard, while a low kick does score. Garcia is timing uppercuts when Guida ducks or bobs, and chants for “Let’s go Guida” energize him slightly but do not change his strategy. Garcia nails his foe with a few right hands, and Guida catches him with a clean right in response before ducking into a single. Garcia stands him up and meets him with an elbow, and his jab is doing work. Guida shakes his head repeatedly when absorbing this blow again and again, but he cannot seem to get around it as his face bleeds out of multiple cuts. Guida checks a kick but gets tagged up top, and they trade punches with Garcia getting the better of them. Garcia knocks Guida’s mouthpiece out, and the veteran goes to retrieve it and continues to work towards Garcia. Guida does land a solid right, but Garcia is doing work with punches in bunches. Guida takes his foot off the gas to stop walking into so many jabs, and he adjusts his approach by not throwing as much to get countered. Guida punches his way into range, but Garcia reaches him with a few straight rights. Garcia rings Guida’s bell with a pair of straight shots, and Guida takes them on the chin and keeps coming forward. Garcia paws out with jabs to keep Guida at bay, and he allows Guida to throw with impunity as he tags him with right hands. A big right from Garcia ends the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Round 3
Like usual, Guida engages face-first in his approach. Garcia counters with a right over the top, and Guida counters with a head kick and takedown effort. Garcia shuts it down and gets popped with a few left hooks. “Gifted” intercepts Guida with an uppercut as Guida changes levels, and he lumbers forward throwing shots that Guida dodges. Guida connects with a left, a right and a low kick, and Garcia backpedals. Garcia loads up on an elbow that whizzes past Guida’s head, and he gets caught with a left as Guida is moving constantly. Garcia darts in with a left hook, and Guida ties him up and eats a few body shots before getting shoved back. Guida lands three punches up top as Garcia backs off with a right, and they trade punches while standing right in front of one another. Guida launches a head kick that gets blocked, and Garcia shells up and makes him pay with a few uppercuts. Garcia jabs to the body, and he swings and misses with a high kick in hopes of catching Guida barreling down on him. Guida gets his chin checked by a powerful right hook at the end of a string of punches, and the veteran shake it off and does not falter. Guida walks into a right hand as he tries to push the action, and he guard against a head kick. Garcia chains a few punches together, and he rocks Guida with a right hand as Guida staggers to the side. Garcia bloodies Guida up further as he drives jab after piston-like jab into the face, and Guida checks the sight of his blood and shoots for a takedown. Garcia escapes the grip and drills Guida with two more punches. Garcia leaps in the air with a knee, and Guida is out of the way but also out of time. The last round comes to an end, and the lightweights hug it out after 15 minutes of striking. When the dust settles, Guida takes his gloves off and holds them to earn an interview with Daniel Cormier. He does not hang them up, instead saying he will keep fighting, and asks to trade gloves with his opponent. This is the second fighter to do a retirement fake-out tonight.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (30-27 Garcia)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (30-27 Garcia)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (30-27 Garcia)
The Official Result
Rafa Garcia def. Clay Guida via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo picks Rafa García, expecting him to get takedowns and win striking exchanges. He notes García's grappling and power, but also his cardio issues. He is not betting on García at -190 because the odds are too high, especially against a relentless pressure fighter like Guida who could expose cardio issues.
Big Brady picks Rafa García to win by first-round submission. He highlights García's improved cardio and grappling since moving to Elevation Fight Team, and notes Guida's age (41) and history of being submitted (11 times). He expects García to take Guida down and submit him early.
Cody sees Garcia as a younger, better version of Guida with pressure wrestling and improving skills. He thinks Garcia's clinch strength and cardio will overwhelm the aging Guida. He acknowledges the line is steep but believes Garcia wins.
Connor also picks Garcia, agreeing that Guida's style is not threatening enough to stop Garcia's forward pressure. He notes that Guida is more evasive than aggressive at this stage, and Garcia's willingness to keep working even when takedowns fail will be key. Connor believes Garcia's youth and activity will overwhelm the 41-year-old Guida.
Garcia is younger and entering his prime, while Guida's recent wins are over older or retiring fighters. Garcia's boxing and forward pressure should outwork Guida, though Guida's cardio and grinding style could make it close. Garcia's ability to mix in takedowns and maintain pace should earn him a decision victory.
Paul is intrigued by Guida's plus money, noting Guida's takedown defense (only 2 takedowns allowed in 14 fights) and the possibility of a close decision. He thinks Garcia's takedown totals may be inflated and that Guida could grind out a win. He placed a small bet on Guida.
The MMA Guru picks Rafa García, citing his youth (28), well-rounded skills, and potential to finish the 41-year-old Guida. He believes García will corner Guida and put an end to his recent string of close decisions. He notes Guida's durability and movement but thinks García's prime and power will prevail.
Zane picks Garcia, noting that Guida's recent win over Scott Holtzman was unimpressive and that Garcia's relentless pressure and wrestling will be too much. He acknowledges that Garcia can struggle if his takedowns are stuffed, but believes Guida's lack of offensive pressure and age will allow Garcia to implement his game plan. Zane expects Garcia to push forward, land punches, and mix in takedowns.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafa García | 0 | 49 of 98 | 50% | 79 of 138 | 6 of 11 | 54% | 0 | 0 | 6:10 |
| Maheshate | 0 | 25 of 141 | 17% | 30 of 148 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rafa García | 0 | 16 of 29 | 55% | 16 of 31 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:29 |
| Maheshate | 0 | 11 of 62 | 17% | 11 of 63 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Rafa García | 0 | 13 of 36 | 36% | 27 of 54 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 2:26 |
| Maheshate | 0 | 8 of 52 | 15% | 8 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Rafa García | 0 | 20 of 33 | 60% | 36 of 53 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 3:15 |
| Maheshate | 0 | 6 of 27 | 22% | 11 of 33 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafa García | 49 of 98 | 50% | 29 of 70 | 11 of 17 | 9 of 11 | 28 of 64 | 11 of 13 | 10 of 21 |
| Maheshate | 25 of 141 | 17% | 16 of 110 | 8 of 29 | 1 of 2 | 23 of 138 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rafa García | 16 of 29 | 55% | 8 of 17 | 6 of 9 | 2 of 3 | 15 of 28 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Maheshate | 11 of 62 | 17% | 7 of 47 | 3 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 60 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Rafa García | 13 of 36 | 36% | 8 of 28 | 3 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 20 | 5 of 6 | 2 of 10 |
| Maheshate | 8 of 52 | 15% | 5 of 42 | 3 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 52 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Rafa García | 20 of 33 | 60% | 13 of 25 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 6 | 7 of 16 | 5 of 6 | 8 of 11 |
| Maheshate | 6 of 27 | 22% | 4 of 21 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 1 | 5 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Angelo picks Rafa García, noting that Maheshate gets taken down easily and Rafa has 18 takedowns in his last four fights. He likes Rafa's chin and offensive grappling to get the job done. He mentions the line has flipped from Maheshate being favorite to near even money, and he has already placed a moneyline bet on Rafa for premium members.
Big Brady picks Rafa García but is very hesitant due to lack of information on Maheshate. He notes García's path to victory is takedowns, but his top control is poor and he has cardio issues. Maheshate has a size advantage and may have improved takedown defense. Brady says it's a tough fight to call and he's staying away from betting, but leans García by decision.
Cody picks Garcia, noting his grinding style and cardio improvements. He thinks Garcia will take Maheshate down and grind him out. He notes Maheshate is a slow starter and Garcia has a good chin. He expects a decision win for Garcia.
Connor picks Garcia, noting he is the well-rounded fighter and should win if he wrestles. He thinks Garcia is tough and can out-wrestle Maheshate, whose defensive wrestling is questionable. He acknowledges Garcia can lose random fights but expects him to win.
Paul picks Maheshate as an underdog, noting his size and striking skills. He is concerned about Garcia's takedowns but thinks Maheshate can land a big shot. He sees value at plus money and is willing to take a shot. He makes it a Shoei bet with Cody.
The MMA Guru picks Rafa García over Hayisaer Maheshate, going against the majority. He notes García's close fight with Jai Herbert and his submission win over Genesis Ronson. He questions Maheshate's competition and KO rate, pointing out that Maheshate took a decision against a 10-15 opponent. He expects García to pressure with a good chin and mix in grappling, potentially getting a late submission or decision win. He also mentions that Maheshate lost to a grappler in M1.
Zane picks Maheshate as a random chance pick, partly to avoid being mocked by a Twitter account he thinks might be Maheshate. He admits Garcia should win but thinks Maheshate could knock him out early. He notes Maheshate has good timing and hand speed.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drakkar Klose | 0 | 61 of 115 | 53% | 111 of 175 | 2 of 10 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 2:05 |
| Rafa García | 0 | 34 of 57 | 59% | 83 of 111 | 3 of 11 | 27% | 0 | 0 | 2:54 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drakkar Klose | 0 | 19 of 30 | 63% | 33 of 53 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 | 0 | 1:49 |
| Rafa García | 0 | 13 of 22 | 59% | 21 of 30 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:06 | |
| 2 | Drakkar Klose | 0 | 14 of 29 | 48% | 35 of 51 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 |
| Rafa García | 0 | 5 of 12 | 41% | 33 of 45 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:11 | |
| 3 | Drakkar Klose | 0 | 28 of 56 | 50% | 43 of 71 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Rafa García | 0 | 16 of 23 | 69% | 29 of 36 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 0 | 0:37 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drakkar Klose | 61 of 115 | 53% | 24 of 75 | 27 of 29 | 10 of 11 | 32 of 83 | 24 of 25 | 5 of 7 |
| Rafa García | 34 of 57 | 59% | 23 of 45 | 8 of 8 | 3 of 4 | 23 of 44 | 11 of 13 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drakkar Klose | 19 of 30 | 63% | 7 of 17 | 9 of 10 | 3 of 3 | 9 of 18 | 7 of 8 | 3 of 4 |
| Rafa García | 13 of 22 | 59% | 9 of 18 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 17 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Drakkar Klose | 14 of 29 | 48% | 5 of 18 | 6 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 7 of 21 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 3 |
| Rafa García | 5 of 12 | 41% | 1 of 8 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Drakkar Klose | 28 of 56 | 50% | 12 of 40 | 12 of 12 | 4 of 4 | 16 of 44 | 12 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
| Rafa García | 16 of 23 | 69% | 13 of 19 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 10 of 16 | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Klose (-230), Garcia (+195)
Round 1
Opening up the ABC- and ESPN-aired prelims is what should be a fun lightweight matchup, even if Klose (12-2-1, 6-2 UFC) is now battling late replacement Garcia (13-2, 2-2 UFC). Both fighters prevailed on the same event in April, locking down second-round finishes of Brandon Jenkins and Jesse Ronson, respectively, so the “Matches to Make” choice appeared to be an easy one. They touch ‘em up with referee Jacob Rosales watching on, and Klose claims the center of the cage but is nowhere close to his opponent. Garcia stays on the outer edge of the cage as Klose feints with jabs, and the first strike is actually a stomping kick to the knee from Klose. Klose kicks on the inside and outside of the leg, and Garcia swarms him with an overhand right that bowls him over – not from it actually hitting him hard, but from Garcia’s body tackling him down. Klose gets back up and starts working the calf, until Garcia closes the distance and aims punches to the body. The American greets him with knees until they split up, and Klose fakes a body kick and rips one on the other side before tying Garcia up. Klose effectively uses the calf kick to decent effect, as Garcia powers through it to club Klose in the chops with a left. Klose staggers back and tries to give one back, but Garcia is smooth on the outside as he kicks the knee and nearly buckles it. Klose gives chases, and in an ensuing clinch, they throw short punches one after the other. Klose forces a separation, with his legs appearing to be fully back under him again, and he walks Garcia down and measures a jab. When “Gifted” bites on it, Klose changes levels. Klose is unable to get the first takedown try, but Garcia turns around and gives up his back. This allows Klose to trip him out and plant Garcia on his face for a moment. Garcia powers his way back up, and he grabs the fence to keep himself balanced as Klose attempts a mat return. Klose trips Garcia’s left leg out beneath him again to plant him down, and he starts slugging away on Garcia. “Gifted” checks his face to make sure he is not bleeding, and when he does, Klose sucks his leg out and makes it so Garcia cannot simply power his way back up as easily as before. Garcia rolls for a leglock, and Klose breaks it up before anything can come from it. When they both get to their knees, the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Klose
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Klose
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Klose
Round 2
Klose races out of his corner to start the next round, and he plants a wheel kick upside Garcia’s head before shooting for a takedown in the first 10 seconds. Garcia stuffs it but absorbs a few knees to the body when Klose bails on it, and Garcia powers his way out to the center of the Octagon. The lightweights feint and fake their way towards one another, with Klose employing his stomp kick and swinging his shin to the body. Garcia dips back and absorbs a glancing right hand, but he is no worse for wear. Klose lets go with a body kick, and Garcia cannot pin him down or trap him to land with impunity. Garcia begins to chop the legs down a few times, and Klose switches stance after absorbing the blows. Garcia winds up on a right hook, but Klose dips back and answers with a short left. Garcia, using his momentum in his favor, pushes through and knocks Klose off his feet with a double. “Gifted” gives Klose several gifts in the form of his fists, before stepping into half guard. The posture remains tight as Garcia does not want to give up any space or allow a sweep or any bucking movement, but this also results in a stalemate. The crowd is not a fan of this nullifying half guard for Garcia, and Klose moves his head around to dodge punches before Montalvo steps in to stand them up. Garcia shoots the second they get stood up, and Klose staves it off and connects with a solid left hand. As Garcia aims a right hand over the top, Klose ducks down for a possible takedown entry, and Garcia snatches this up to hunt for a standing guillotine choke. There is nothing to it, and Klose shucks it off and absorbs the end of a left hand. Garcia misses with a spinning back kick, and Klose is suddenly energized and he charges in with his head in the air to throw bombs. Garcia retreats, and he weathers the storm before scooping Klose’s legs out and planting him down to the ground. A few punches for the fighter out of Mexico land before the horn resounds in the arena.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Round 3
Klose is the initial aggressor to start off the final round, pushing the pace and sticking his hands out to back Garcia off. The Michigan native jabs and makes Garcia dip down right into a head kick, and Garcia tanks it without budging. Garcia hunts for a takedown, and he redoubles his effort with a double that takes Klose off his feet. Klose threatens with a guillotine choke off his back, but with the cage behind him, there is no leverage to secure anything, and Garcia is comfortable without concern. Klose explodes back to his feet, and he throws hands to again force Garcia to back from one side of the cage to another. Klose allows Garcia to come at him so that he can set up a clinch in his favor, where he slams knees and punches into Garcia’s body. Klose senses that Garcia is fatiguing, and he strides forward without a care in the world, targeting the midsection and preparing to stuff takedowns. Klose gets Garcia’s attention with a low kick, and he has a clubbing right slide off the shoulder into the chin. Garcia’s hands largely drop by his waist, waiting for Klose to close the distance, so that he can lift them and sling something heavy. He has a thudding left connect cleanly, but Klose totally ignores it so that he can do more work to the body. Klose ties his man up after a failed takedown entry so that he can batter the body with punches and the occasional knee. Klose changes this up with his own takedown try, and Garcia pushes him off and backpedals. Garcia shoots for a single, and Klose gets shoved back to the wall and knees the ribs a few times to conclude the fight. Both men raise their hands after 15 minutes of combat, and some will almost certainly attempt the joke that the Klose fight was a close fight.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Klose (29-28 Klose)
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Klose (29-28 Klose)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Klose (29-28 Klose)
The Official Result
Drakkar Klose def. Rafa Garcia via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Big Brady picks Drakkar Klose to win by decision. He notes Garcia is on short notice and has cardio concerns, while Klose has fought much better competition. He expects the first round to be competitive but Klose's striking volume and takedown defense will carry him in later rounds. He mentions Garcia has never been knocked out, so a decision is likely.
Cody picks Klose, noting his technical striking, forward pressure, and solid takedown defense. He thinks Garcia's wrestling won't be a factor because Klose will stop takedowns and win the striking exchanges. He mentions that Klose's cardio is solid and that Garcia is limited and loopy with his strikes. He also notes that Klose's significant strikes over 60.5 is a good prop on PrizePicks.
Daniel picks Klose to win another close decision, noting that most of his fights are 29-28. He thinks Klose finds a way to edge out rounds, whether by calf kicks or a late takedown. He acknowledges Garcia's toughness and Mexican warrior spirit, but thinks Garcia's cardio issues (from the Gritzmacher fight) could be a factor. However, he calls the -205 price too high for a fighter who usually wins close fights, so he passes on betting.
Preet picks Klose by decision, expecting him to push Garcia against the cage, use leg kicks, and control the fight. He notes Klose's efficient style and that Garcia's cardio fades, leading to Klose taking over in the second and third rounds. He passes on the moneyline due to Klose's tendency to fight close decisions.
Paul picks Klose, citing his technical striking and good wrestling. He notes that Klose's losses are to very good fighters and that he looked great in his last fight against Brandon Jenkins. He thinks Garcia's wrestling won't be enough and that Klose will win the striking exchanges. He also mentions that Klose's takedown defense is solid and that Garcia is limited.
The MMA Guru predicts Drakkar Klose wins by 30-27 unanimous decision. He sees Klose as more technical and smart, landing calf kicks and body shots at range. Rafa García is tough but too one-dimensional. Klose will edge each round, possibly earning a 10-8 in the third.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafa García | 0 | 35 of 80 | 43% | 73 of 126 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 1 | 0 | 4:37 |
| Jesse Ronson | 0 | 25 of 61 | 40% | 28 of 64 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rafa García | 0 | 26 of 64 | 40% | 32 of 73 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:35 |
| Jesse Ronson | 0 | 23 of 52 | 44% | 25 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Rafa García | 0 | 9 of 16 | 56% | 41 of 53 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 4:02 |
| Jesse Ronson | 0 | 2 of 9 | 22% | 3 of 10 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafa García | 35 of 80 | 43% | 31 of 76 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 26 of 70 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 9 |
| Jesse Ronson | 25 of 61 | 40% | 13 of 48 | 6 of 7 | 6 of 6 | 25 of 60 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rafa García | 26 of 64 | 40% | 23 of 61 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 25 of 63 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Jesse Ronson | 23 of 52 | 44% | 13 of 41 | 5 of 6 | 5 of 5 | 23 of 52 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Rafa García | 9 of 16 | 56% | 8 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 9 |
| Jesse Ronson | 2 of 9 | 22% | 0 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Lightweights take the stage as we move along the prelims, as Canada’s Ronson (21-10, 1 NC; 0-3, 1 NC UFC) will try to earn his first victory inside the Octagon in his fifth try. He will face “Gifted” Garcia (12-2, 1-2 UFC) out of Mexico in a battle of North American nations. Drawing the charge is referee Mark Smith, who hopes that what happened in the last fight takes place in this one. There is no glove touch, and instead the two fighters start trading in a hurry. Garcia lands with a solid right hand, and Ronson gets off an inside leg kick. As Ronson comes forward, Garcia acts as a matador and actually tosses Ronson down to the canvas. He does not pounce, allowing the Canadian to get back up, and they throw hands again. Garcia lines up his right hand, and Ronson is just able to get out of harm’s way each time. As Ronson advances, Garcia clubs him with this right, and Ronson shakes it off and tries to pay him back. The lightweight go tit-for-tat, with one landing, the other replying, and the first swinging back. Ronson jabs down the middle, and Garcia swings back at him with a more varied approach. A faked ankle pick from Garcia allows him to wing an overhand right, and Ronson rolls through it and comes right back. “The Body Snatcher” connects with a swiping kick to the body, and he tries to throw another only for the leg to get caught. Garcia swings him down to the ground, and Ronson scrambles right back up. When they are tied up, “Gifted” gives him man several gifts in the form of surprisingly powerful foot stomps, which lead to Ronson exploding out of the position. As Ronson recovers, Garcia shoots through his hips and plants him on the ground with a clean double. Ronson once more hops back up to his feet without being grounded for long, and when he stands, Garcia drills him in the face. Ronson does not stop moving forward, and Garcia lays into him and lands flush. Ronson powers straight ahead, landing with a few clean punches, and concluding the round with a low kick on the rear leg of his foe.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Round 2
The fighters march out of their corners, and they are quick to engage. Ronson marks Garcia up with a few punches, and Garcia comes forward to hit a takedown. The Canadian scrambles, and he works his way up to a knee. Before getting up, Garcia nails Ronson with an illegal knee, and Smith recognizes this instantly and lets out a heavy sigh as there is now nonsense in this fight too. Smith calls in the doctor to assess Ronson from the foul, and Ronson is a little wobbly but he informs the doctor that he is ready to continue. Smith properly deducts one point from Garcia for the foul, and he resumes the action. “Gifted” surges forward in pursuit of a takedown, and he drags Ronson right back down to the ground. Ronson scoots his way to the fence, and back up to a knee, but this time Garcia is not interested in landing knees as he wants to take his back instead. Garcia cannot lock up a choke, and as he pursues one, Ronson falls to his back to free up his neck. The Mexican fighter set up an arm-triangle choke from the guard, and he bails on it when he attempts to pass guard. Garcia hops over to half guard, where he starts hammering down with punches. Garcia grinds on top as his punches slow, keeping Ronson tightly pressed down to the ground. Ronson too holds on tight from below, in hopes of a standup or to at least stop Garcia from landing strikes. Garcia slowly works Ronson with several right hands, forcing Ronson to turn over. As Ronson tries to slide out the back door, Garcia grabs hold of his back and gets a hook in. Ronson turns to his knees and tries to buck Garcia off of him, but Garcia postures up and smacks Ronson upside the head.
The punches make Ronson adjust briefly, allowing “Gifted” Garcia the slightest of opportunities to slip his arm beneath the chin and lock up a rear-naked choke. It is all he needs, as he cinches the choke tight, and Ronson taps almost instantly as it is academic and he would be out seconds later.
That is one way to take the judges out of the equation, after Garcia lost a point a few minutes ago.
The Official Result
Rafa Garcia def. Jesse Ronson R2 4:50 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Angelo picks Rafa García confidently, calling it a clear pick. He notes that García has more power, better ground game, and is dangerous everywhere. He mentions that Jesse Ronson may be more technical but has chin issues, and García hits like a truck for the weight class. He is surprised García is only a slight favorite and plans to bet the moneyline at -120 before the line moves.
Big Brady slightly picks Jesse Ronson to win by close decision. He notes Ronson has better striking and cardio, while García has good wrestling but questionable cardio. He expects García to slow down as the fight goes on, allowing Ronson to take over late. He calls it a very close fight and says he won't bet on it.
Cody picks Ronson, citing his technical striking and experience. He notes Garcia's struggles at 155 and the weight jump to 170. He thinks Ronson's sharpness and durability will be key, and calls him a live underdog.
Daniel Levi has no clear pick, calling it a question of which version of Jesse Ronson shows up. If Ronson is the seasoned vet who has fought elite competition (Michel Prazeres, Kevin Lee) and is clean from his suspension, he picks Ronson. If Ronson is washed up, he picks Garcia. He notes Garcia is tough and gritty but has faced lower-level competition and was finished by Chris Gruetzemacher after gassing. Levi is uncertain and passes.
Paul leans towards Ronson after hearing Cody's analysis. He notes Ronson's technical striking and experience, and thinks Garcia may struggle moving up to 170. He plans to add Ronson to his card.
The MMA Guru picks Rafa García due to Jesse Ronson's inactivity and age (36). He notes García's activity and visible improvements, and believes Ronson has regressed during his time off. He expects García to win a 29-28 decision in a fun scrap.
Expert Picks (6)
Big Brady is very confident in Rafa García, calling him one of the few confident picks on the card. He notes García's youth, athleticism, and superior grappling, expecting him to take down Gruetzemacher and secure a submission. He criticizes Gruetzemacher's poor takedown defense and recent poor performance against Alexander Hernandez. Brady predicts a second-round submission for García.
Cody is confident in Rafa García, noting his youth, physicality, and improvement. He points out that García performed well against a tough opponent on short notice and has a well-rounded game. Cody believes García can outstrike or outgrapple Gruetzemacher, who is on the decline with significant layoffs and injuries. He acknowledges the -310 price is high but thinks García should win.
Levi is confident in Rafa García, citing his Mexican warrior spirit, underrated wrestling, and training camp with Trevor Whitman in Denver alongside Justin Gaethje. He believes García pushes an even harder pace than Gruetzemacher and has better cardio. Levi notes that Gruetzemacher's path to victory relies on García gassing or getting hurt, but he thinks García's durability and pace will prevail. He also mentions García's age advantage (12 years younger) and his ability to learn from his first loss.
García has first-round KO power, but if he doesn't finish early, Gruetzemacher's grinding style could cause problems. Gruetzemacher is a poor man's Darren Elkins who pushes forward and breaks opponents. The under 2.5 rounds is the play because either García gets the early KO or Gruetzemacher grinds out a late finish. García by first-round KO is the prediction.
Paul also picks Rafa García, agreeing with Cody's assessment. He notes that García looked good in his debut despite the loss and that Gruetzemacher has not shown much in the UFC. Paul is confident that García's grappling and striking will be too much, but he does not like the -310 price for betting purposes. He would include García in parlays but not as a straight bet.
The MMA Guru picks Rafa García over Chris Gruetzemacher, stating that Gruetzemacher shouldn't be in the UFC. He notes that García took a fight on short notice against Nasrat Haqparast and still performed well in the first round. With a full camp, he expects García to beat up Gruetzemacher and win by TKO in the later rounds. He trusts García's chin despite the damage taken in his last fight.
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