UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman · Oct 18, 2019 · Catchweight (188.5 lb) · Completed
Prev Fight UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman Next Fight
Age 35
Height 6' 0"
Reach 74.0"
Weight 205 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 36
Height 5' 6"
Reach 70.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Darren Stewart
3.05 SLpM
45.0% Str. Acc.
3.29 SApM
48.0% Str. Def.
1.75 TD Avg
45.0% TD Acc.
67.0% TD Def.
0.1 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Deron Winn
4.55 SLpM
44.0% Str. Acc.
6.21 SApM
46.0% Str. Def.
4.28 TD Avg
52.0% TD Acc.
40.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Darren Stewart - Fight History
LOSS vs Dustin Jacoby
TKO (punches) R1 3:04 · UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze · Aug 28, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Dustin Jacoby 0 37 of 61 60% 38 of 63 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:23
Darren Stewart 0 18 of 33 54% 22 of 37 2 of 2 100% 0 0 0:43
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Dustin Jacoby 0 37 of 61 60% 38 of 63 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:23
Darren Stewart 0 18 of 33 54% 22 of 37 2 of 2 100% 0 0 0:43
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Dustin Jacoby 37 of 61 60% 33 of 53 3 of 6 1 of 2 30 of 52 6 of 8 1 of 1
Darren Stewart 18 of 33 54% 11 of 26 4 of 4 3 of 3 13 of 28 5 of 5 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Dustin Jacoby 37 of 61 60% 33 of 53 3 of 6 1 of 2 30 of 52 6 of 8 1 of 1
Darren Stewart 18 of 33 54% 11 of 26 4 of 4 3 of 3 13 of 28 5 of 5 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 25, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Dustin Jacoby

Angelo picks Jacoby, citing his Muay Thai striking adapted to MMA, size advantage, and Stewart's chin issues. He notes Stewart is moving up in weight and has lost two in a row. He has an inside the distance bet on Jacoby and likes the less less on monkey knife fight.

Angelo has an inside the distance bet on Jacoby; he likes the less less on monkey knife fight.
"i absolutely love dustin jacoby in general i love him in this fight he is in my draftking lineup and i have an inside the distance bet on him"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 25, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Dustin Jacoby

Cody leans toward Jacoby but is not confident. He notes Jacoby's poor cardio and unimpressive UFC performances, but thinks his striking should be enough against Stewart, who is a natural middleweight. Cody considers Stewart's wrestling a threat but believes Jacoby's size and striking will allow him to pull away. He says the smart move is a pass but he'll probably end up taking Jacoby in parlays.

"the smart move is probably a pass but what we'll end up doing is probably end up ending taking jeff and jacoby and keeping him on the the later end of the parlays"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Aug 25, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Dustin Jacoby

Jacob picks Jacoby, emphasizing his ability to dictate pressure and steal rounds with fight IQ. He notes Stewart took an easy way out in his last fight and that Jacoby's takedowns are better. He expects Jacoby to win, possibly by decision.

"i actually like jacoby in this matchup as well"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 27, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Dustin Jacoby

Lock picks Jacoby by KO at +300, citing the size and striking skill advantage. He thinks Stewart will struggle to close distance and Jacoby's leg kicks and boxing will be effective. Lock likes the under 2.5 rounds at +150 as well, expecting a striking match that ends early. He notes Stewart has power but is hittable and has been knocked out before.

under 2.5 rounds +150, Jacoby by KO +300
"i do like jacoby here i think he's the rightful favorite i do think the line is a little bit wide uh jacoby via ko plus 300 not too bad of a line in my opinion"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Aug 25, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Dustin Jacoby

Paul leans toward Jacoby but is hesitant. He notes Jacoby's cardio issues and Stewart's wrestling, but thinks Jacoby's kickboxing should give him an edge. Paul says he'll watch the weigh-ins and might add Jacoby to parlays. He is not fully confident and considers passing.

"i think this is another one of these spots that i'd rather pass or you know end up with justin jacoby on some later stuff"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 22, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Dustin Jacoby

The Guru picks Dustin Jacoby, noting his size and reach advantage over Darren Stewart, who is a small middleweight moving up. He expects Jacoby's takedown defense and striking to be too much, predicting a TKO in the second round via leg kicks and body work. The Guru believes Stewart's only path is grappling, but Jacoby's improved defense will nullify that.

Jacoby by TKO in round 2
"i'll say dustin jacoby tko in the second round chops darren stewart's legs up chops up the body as well and then starts going to work with the hands in the second round"
LOSS vs Eryk Anders
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–27, 29–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 263: Adesanya vs. Vettori 2 · Jun 12, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Eryk Anders 0 44 of 74 59% 112 of 148 0 of 4 0% 0 1 8:19
Darren Stewart 0 33 of 58 56% 63 of 93 2 of 4 50% 0 0 2:15
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Eryk Anders 0 5 of 11 45% 26 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:11
Darren Stewart 0 9 of 14 64% 23 of 30 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:52
2 Eryk Anders 0 12 of 23 52% 33 of 47 0 of 4 0% 0 0 3:03
Darren Stewart 0 19 of 31 61% 30 of 43 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:17
3 Eryk Anders 0 27 of 40 67% 53 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 1 4:05
Darren Stewart 0 5 of 13 38% 10 of 20 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:06
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Eryk Anders 44 of 74 59% 36 of 61 7 of 11 1 of 2 9 of 28 17 of 22 18 of 24
Darren Stewart 33 of 58 56% 8 of 28 7 of 8 18 of 22 22 of 44 11 of 13 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Eryk Anders 5 of 11 45% 2 of 6 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 4 3 of 5 2 of 2
Darren Stewart 9 of 14 64% 0 of 2 4 of 4 5 of 8 5 of 10 4 of 4 0 of 0
2 Eryk Anders 12 of 23 52% 8 of 18 4 of 5 0 of 0 7 of 17 5 of 6 0 of 0
Darren Stewart 19 of 31 61% 7 of 18 3 of 4 9 of 9 12 of 22 7 of 9 0 of 0
3 Eryk Anders 27 of 40 67% 26 of 37 0 of 1 1 of 2 2 of 7 9 of 11 16 of 22
Darren Stewart 5 of 13 38% 1 of 8 0 of 0 4 of 5 5 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 1
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jun 8, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Big Brady picks Eryk Anders despite expressing distrust in his fight IQ and inconsistency. He notes Anders hurt Stewart in their first fight and has a wrestling advantage. However, he is wary of the weight move to 205 and the close line, calling it a potential trap. He expects a decision win.

Anders by decision
"i'll take anders but i don't feel great about it so give me eric anders i'm going to take him to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 9, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Cody is confident in Anders, citing his improved performance at Fight Ready MMA and the fact that he was dominating Stewart before the illegal knee. He thinks Anders will replicate that performance and possibly get a finish. He notes Stewart's poor conditioning in the first fight.

"i got to go with ya boy"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Daniel Levi picks Eryk Anders by decision, noting that Anders knocked Stewart down in the first fight before the no-contest. He thinks Anders is the bigger man and has the mental edge. He praises Anders' training at Fight Ready and expects him to be more physical. He warns that every fight is different but believes Anders will get the win.

by decision
"i'm gonna go with eric anders by decision this time"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2021 (fight day)
Eryk Anders

Anders is the bigger fighter and will have a strength advantage, especially at 205 lbs. He had success in the first fight with clinch work and dirty boxing, and that game plan should work again. Stewart is not used to fighting at this weight. Anders likely wins a decision by controlling the clinch and avoiding big shots.

Anders by decision
"I'll go with Eric Anders here again I think clinch work being the stronger guy... should allow Eric Anders to go out there and pull off a decision victory."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 9, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Paul is confident in Anders and has already bet him at -141. He notes that Anders was dominating Stewart before the illegal knee and expects a similar outcome. He thinks the line is a trap but is willing to take it.

"i just laid it uh cool bet minus 141"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2021 (8 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

The MMA Guru picks Eryk Anders, switching from his original pick of Stewart after Anders proved him wrong in the first fight. He notes Anders' size and reach advantage at light heavyweight, and that Stewart was knocked out (even if ruled NC) just three months ago. He predicts a first-round TKO without illegal knees.

TKO in the first round
"i'm gonna go with eric anders here i was proven wrong and i'm switching my pick"
LOSS vs Eryk Anders
No Contest (illegal knee) R1 4:37 · UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad · Mar 13, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Eryk Anders 1 43 of 63 68% 58 of 79 3 of 7 42% 0 0 2:35
Darren Stewart 0 15 of 42 35% 21 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Eryk Anders 1 43 of 63 68% 58 of 79 3 of 7 42% 0 0 2:35
Darren Stewart 0 15 of 42 35% 21 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Eryk Anders 43 of 63 68% 38 of 57 3 of 3 2 of 3 17 of 32 11 of 14 15 of 17
Darren Stewart 15 of 42 35% 7 of 32 2 of 2 6 of 8 11 of 38 4 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Eryk Anders 43 of 63 68% 38 of 57 3 of 3 2 of 3 17 of 32 11 of 14 15 of 17
Darren Stewart 15 of 42 35% 7 of 32 2 of 2 6 of 8 11 of 38 4 of 4 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Darren Stewart

Big Brady picks Darren Stewart, expressing distrust in Eryk Anders due to inconsistent performances and poor game plans. He notes Stewart has been more active and has better striking volume. He expects a boring fight going to decision, with Stewart winning by doing more on the feet. He is not confident enough to bet at -175 but sees Stewart as the likely winner.

"I'm going to take Darren Stewart to win based off of just doing more on the feet."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Mar 12, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Eryk Anders

Daniel Levi picks Eryk Anders as a dog, believing the fight is a 50/50 and Anders has paths to victory via takedowns and clinch work. He notes Anders' move to Fight Ready camp could improve his output, but he wants to see it first. He criticizes Darren Stewart's inconsistency and tendency to underperform, and thinks Stewart's price is too high. He expects a close decision where Anders edges it.

"50 50 fight i'm taking stuart but at this line i think his dog are passing and i'll actually go with eric your boy anders to kind of edge out a very close decision"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 2, 2021 (11 days before fight)
Darren Stewart

Lock favors Stewart, noting his hands and striking have been looking good, and his cardio is solid. He criticizes Anders for relying on athleticism rather than technique, and thinks Anders has been 'found out.' Lock believes Stewart should win, but thinks -185 is a bit wide, so he might stay off betting it. He mentions Anders' recent loss to Christos Giagos and Stewart's competitive fights with Kevin Holland and others.

"i definitely favor darren stewart there minus 185 i think is a little bit wide so maybe i'd stay off of that"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 7, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Darren Stewart

The Guru is confident in Darren Stewart, citing Eryk Anders' recent lackluster performances and questionable win over Vinicius Moreira. He notes Stewart's technical, compact style and ability to push pace in later rounds. He expects Anders to win the first round but Stewart to take over in the second and third, winning by 29-28 unanimous decision. He also mentions Anders' age and accumulated brain damage from his NFL career and wars.

"i'm gonna go if darren stewart getting it done he's technical he's compact he rarely leaves himself open he doesn't get emotional"
LOSS vs Kevin Holland
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley · Sep 19, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kevin Holland 0 74 of 129 57% 163 of 223 0 of 3 0% 0 0 3:35
Darren Stewart 0 57 of 110 51% 97 of 159 3 of 8 37% 0 0 4:09
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kevin Holland 0 33 of 56 58% 68 of 92 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:04
Darren Stewart 0 17 of 35 48% 35 of 53 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:20
2 Kevin Holland 0 31 of 57 54% 49 of 78 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:10
Darren Stewart 0 28 of 40 70% 30 of 43 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:18
3 Kevin Holland 0 10 of 16 62% 46 of 53 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:21
Darren Stewart 0 12 of 35 34% 32 of 63 2 of 4 50% 0 0 2:31
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kevin Holland 74 of 129 57% 54 of 101 9 of 13 11 of 15 62 of 112 11 of 15 1 of 2
Darren Stewart 57 of 110 51% 26 of 74 6 of 7 25 of 29 33 of 69 6 of 8 18 of 33
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kevin Holland 33 of 56 58% 26 of 45 4 of 5 3 of 6 28 of 50 5 of 6 0 of 0
Darren Stewart 17 of 35 48% 9 of 26 3 of 4 5 of 5 13 of 29 4 of 6 0 of 0
2 Kevin Holland 31 of 57 54% 19 of 41 5 of 8 7 of 8 26 of 49 4 of 6 1 of 2
Darren Stewart 28 of 40 70% 8 of 17 2 of 2 18 of 21 17 of 29 0 of 0 11 of 11
3 Kevin Holland 10 of 16 62% 9 of 15 0 of 0 1 of 1 8 of 13 2 of 3 0 of 0
Darren Stewart 12 of 35 34% 9 of 31 1 of 1 2 of 3 3 of 11 2 of 2 7 of 22
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Kevin Holland vs. Darren Stewart

Round 1
Opening the main card – the whole event is airing on ESPN+ – is a middleweight matchup pitting Stewart (12-5, 1 NC; 5-5, 1 NC UFC) against yet another fighter initially signed from the Contender Series in Holland (18-5, 5-2 UFC). The pairing between two men who prefer to get the finish will be presided over by referee Mark Smith, and the two men touch gloves to start off. Holland opens up with a leg kick and blocks an overhand right. Stewart goes to the same big right hand, and Holland charges him. In the clinch, a wild volley from both men comes in the form of several knees and elbows. Holland pushes Stewart to the fence, and he tells Stewart that he is strong. Holland gets kneed in the groin and is allowed time to recover, and he says it is an “Apex thing.” The action resumes as Holland kicks the leg, and they both clash leg kicks at the same time. Holland ducks a pair of looping hooks on the way out, and as he jabs he gets kicked in the leg. Stewart connects with a hard leg kick, and he tries to check it but does not get his guard up in time. Holland flings a head kick and Stewart eats it like a sandwich, and Stewart responds with a huge right hand that wobbles Holland. “Trailblazer” falls back to the canvas, possibly to lure his opponent in or he could be hurt, and he cracks Stewart with two huge punches that make the Brit have rubber legs. The two bite down on their gumshields and swing furious leather until they die up, and Holland stomps his toes as hard as he can. Both men start punching each other in the thigh as they turn one another about against the fence, and Holland works the body and checks Stewart in the face with his shoulder. Stewart absorbs several loud stomps on his toes and knees to the thigh, and Holland backs off to fire two punches but the Brit blocks them. Holland steps in with a side kick, and as Stewart steps out of the way, Holland hits him with a standing hammerfist. When Stewart throws a naked leg kick, Holland counters him with a left hand, and Stewart wears it well. The Brit crashes in for a takedown, and Holland defends it with a guillotine choke to stand Stewart up. Smith already calls both men to work, and Holland attempts to throw his man. They separate, and Holland kicks him in the head and points at him to laugh. The horn sounds, and the two men grin.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holland

Round 2
The second round begins with Holland cracking jokes and laughing, before he kicks the lead leg. Holland stomps forward to make Stewart react, and he kicks the knee hard. Stewart returns with one of his own, and Holland kicks high and gets his leg caught. The Brit picks up the leg and slams Holland down, before landing a strike on the ground before standing up. When Holland tries to hit him with an upkick, Stewart punches the sole of his foot. Both men trade leg kicks, with Holland trying to sweep the leg and kick out the knee. Smith decides he has had enough of that exchange and stands them up. Holland kicks the leg, and Stewart kicks straight to the kneecap in response. Holland chops at the leg again, and he avoids the counter while smacking Stewart with a hammerfist. They trade leg kicks, and Holland blasts Stewart with a one-two. Stewart spins about possibly hurt, but he fires back at him and shouts “Let’s go” repeatedly. Holland backs off and takes a few leg kicks along with a jab, before chaining together an unorthodox combination with a back fist and hammerfist included. Stewart lands a kick to the groin, and Smith does not see it so we do not take a pause. Holland shoots in low to duck an overhand right, and his neck is instantly in guillotine choke danger. Stewart grabs hold of the neck but bails on it to punch him in the side of the head. Holland stands up and wings a few punches, but Stewart defends them without concern. Stewart stomps the knee again, forcing Holland to shake his leg out. The Brit kicks it again, halting Holland in his tracks. Holland lands a side kick, and he avoids a jab to shoot in from a distance. He abandons the takedown to start swinging heavy leather on Stewart, landing shots until they clinch up. Stewart spins him around and lifts him in the air as the horn blares. Mid-air, Stewart decides to slam Holland down with gusto, and Smith breaks them up.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holland

Round 3
They clap hands to check in the third round, and as Stewart walks forward, Holland slings a few hooks that glance off the chin. Stewart winds up with a right hand and Holland is barely able to duck out of the way. Holland kicks the leg and gets it caught, so he punches Stewart in the face a few times until the Brit elevates the leg and slams Holland down. Holland works his way back up, but Stewart has his hands clasped and he puts Holland back to the ground. “Trailblazer” again fights his way up and sets up a kimura to sweep Stewart. Stewart holds the cage several times with his toes, and Smith and Holland both call him out on it. The two get back up against the cage, and they jockey for position while they deliver a few knees to the body. After landing a few punches to the thigh, they disengage. Holland stings him with a right hand, and Stewart is not concerned and walks forward. The American ducks down to take the fight to the ground, and “The Dentist” stuffs it and cracks Holland on the chops with an elbow. Holland stays committed to the takedown, but Stewart turns him around and scoops Holland up to slam him down. Stewart lands a few strikes from on top, and Holland rolls to his side to eat several punches and draw a warning to fight back from Smith. Holland boxes his ears and elbows him from his back, and Stewart postures up to rain down punches and elbows. Stewart starts trash talking Holland on top as he drops down punches, and yells at his opponent while punishing him from on top. Stewart continues to shout and strike until the final horn ends this unusual fight.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Stewart (29-28 Holland)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Stewart (29-28 Holland)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Stewart (29-28 Holland)

The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Darren Stewart via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Sep 17, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Kevin Holland

Big Brady picks Kevin Holland but is hesitant due to Holland's low fight IQ and tendency to mess around. He notes Holland has a seven-inch reach advantage and is the better striker, but his takedown game is inconsistent. He expects a close decision, though he acknowledges Stewart's poor takedown defense could be exploited.

"i gotta go with kevin hall in here i think he's the better fighter"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 18, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Kevin Holland

The host favors Kevin Holland's length, awkward style, and high-level jiu-jitsu, believing he will take Darren Stewart down and submit him. He notes Stewart's underwhelming performance against Maki Pitolo and the travel disadvantage from the UK. He predicts a third-round submission for Holland, and likes the under 2.5 rounds at +155.

Under 2.5 rounds +155; Kevin Holland wins by submission in round 3
"I am going to take kevin holland to win this fight i think he's going to do it probably second round or third round but i believe that the submission is the weight that he's gonna go."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 11, 2020 (8 days before fight)
Kevin Holland

The host picks Kevin Holland over Darren Stewart, citing Holland's range, versatility, and experience. He notes Stewart's stiffness and predictability, and predicts a submission win in the second or third round, possibly via guillotine or rear-naked choke after hurting Stewart on the feet.

submission in second or third round
"I'll go with kevin holland by submission in the second round or third round."
WIN vs Maki Pitolo
Submission (guillotine choke) R1 3:41 · UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Oleinik · Aug 08, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Darren Stewart 0 12 of 31 38% 14 of 33 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:17
Maki Pitolo 0 13 of 38 34% 14 of 39 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:19
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Darren Stewart 0 12 of 31 38% 14 of 33 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:17
Maki Pitolo 0 13 of 38 34% 14 of 39 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:19
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Darren Stewart 12 of 31 38% 7 of 22 4 of 8 1 of 1 12 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Maki Pitolo 13 of 38 34% 9 of 32 2 of 4 2 of 2 13 of 38 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Darren Stewart 12 of 31 38% 7 of 22 4 of 8 1 of 1 12 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Maki Pitolo 13 of 38 34% 9 of 32 2 of 4 2 of 2 13 of 38 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Aug 5, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Maki Pitolo

Big Brady picks Pitolo as an underdog, believing his volume striking and improved cardio at 185 will be key. He notes Stewart's power but thinks Pitolo can outwork him and possibly get a knockout, as Stewart has never been knocked out. He predicts a second-round knockout for Pitolo.

"i think patola's going to win by knockout uh give me round two knockout for maki patolo gonna be the first person to knock out darren stewart there"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Maki Pitolo

Daniel Levi picks Maki Pitolo to win, citing that Pitolo is a different fighter at 185 pounds compared to 170, where he had brutal weight cuts. He notes Pitolo's improved durability, volume striking, and wrestling, and believes he is the better fighter across the board. Levi acknowledges the risk of Stewart's knockout power but thinks Pitolo can avoid it and win a decision or finish.

"i'm going with mackie coconut bombs patolo to extend his win streak to two here in the 85 division"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Aug 4, 2020 (4 days before fight)
Darren Stewart

Stewart is the better striker with more power and technical kicking. Pitolo may try to grapple, but his takedowns are not as good as Stewart's previous opponents. Stewart's cardio is a question, but Pitolo has also gassed in the past. The fight likely ends inside the distance, but the line at -160 is a bit steep. Stewart by TKO in the second or third round.

fight doesn't go to decision -155
"I'm going to pick Darren Stewart to win this fight by second round tko"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 3, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Darren Stewart

The MMA Guru picks Darren Stewart because he is too big, strong, and dangerous in the clinch. He notes that Pitolo has dangerous body shots in the clinch, but Stewart has nasty elbows there. He expects Stewart to crack Pitolo with an elbow and win by unanimous decision, possibly a TKO.

"i feel as though darren stewart is going to get the job done too big too strong and too dangerous up close in the clinch"
WIN vs Deron Winn
Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman · Oct 18, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Darren Stewart 0 29 of 53 54% 66 of 98 6 of 15 40% 0 1 8:04
Deron Winn 0 57 of 119 47% 77 of 140 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:31
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Darren Stewart 0 12 of 12 100% 35 of 38 3 of 6 50% 0 0 4:15
Deron Winn 0 14 of 20 70% 31 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
2 Darren Stewart 0 7 of 16 43% 10 of 20 2 of 6 33% 0 0 2:15
Deron Winn 0 21 of 44 47% 23 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Darren Stewart 0 10 of 25 40% 21 of 40 1 of 3 33% 0 1 1:34
Deron Winn 0 22 of 55 40% 23 of 56 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:29
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Darren Stewart 29 of 53 54% 25 of 49 1 of 1 3 of 3 11 of 31 7 of 11 11 of 11
Deron Winn 57 of 119 47% 54 of 115 3 of 4 0 of 0 31 of 88 14 of 17 12 of 14
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Darren Stewart 12 of 12 100% 9 of 9 0 of 0 3 of 3 1 of 1 2 of 2 9 of 9
Deron Winn 14 of 20 70% 13 of 18 1 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 4 6 of 9 6 of 7
2 Darren Stewart 7 of 16 43% 6 of 15 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 7 5 of 8 1 of 1
Deron Winn 21 of 44 47% 19 of 42 2 of 2 0 of 0 13 of 36 8 of 8 0 of 0
3 Darren Stewart 10 of 25 40% 10 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0 9 of 23 0 of 1 1 of 1
Deron Winn 22 of 55 40% 22 of 55 0 of 0 0 of 0 16 of 48 0 of 0 6 of 7
WIN vs Bevon Lewis
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 238: Cejudo vs. Moraes · Jun 08, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Darren Stewart 0 31 of 84 36% 45 of 98 0 of 5 0% 0 0 3:42
Bevon Lewis 0 30 of 73 41% 40 of 84 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:39
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Darren Stewart 0 15 of 28 53% 24 of 37 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:37
Bevon Lewis 0 15 of 27 55% 18 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:56
2 Darren Stewart 0 11 of 39 28% 11 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Bevon Lewis 0 9 of 30 30% 9 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
3 Darren Stewart 0 5 of 17 29% 10 of 22 0 of 3 0% 0 0 2:01
Bevon Lewis 0 6 of 16 37% 13 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:40
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Darren Stewart 31 of 84 36% 13 of 49 12 of 23 6 of 12 15 of 62 16 of 22 0 of 0
Bevon Lewis 30 of 73 41% 11 of 52 5 of 6 14 of 15 18 of 55 12 of 18 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Darren Stewart 15 of 28 53% 3 of 12 10 of 13 2 of 3 4 of 14 11 of 14 0 of 0
Bevon Lewis 15 of 27 55% 7 of 18 1 of 2 7 of 7 6 of 13 9 of 14 0 of 0
2 Darren Stewart 11 of 39 28% 8 of 27 0 of 4 3 of 8 10 of 37 1 of 2 0 of 0
Bevon Lewis 9 of 30 30% 2 of 22 2 of 2 5 of 6 8 of 29 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Darren Stewart 5 of 17 29% 2 of 10 2 of 6 1 of 1 1 of 11 4 of 6 0 of 0
Bevon Lewis 6 of 16 37% 2 of 12 2 of 2 2 of 2 4 of 13 2 of 3 0 of 0
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters Finale · Nov 30, 2018
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Edmen Shahbazyan 0 34 of 71 47% 46 of 84 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:41
Darren Stewart 0 22 of 37 59% 27 of 43 8 of 21 38% 0 0 9:57
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Edmen Shahbazyan 0 11 of 28 39% 15 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Darren Stewart 0 11 of 17 64% 12 of 18 2 of 8 25% 0 0 3:23
2 Edmen Shahbazyan 0 2 of 7 28% 5 of 10 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Darren Stewart 0 10 of 15 66% 13 of 19 2 of 6 33% 0 0 4:09
3 Edmen Shahbazyan 0 21 of 36 58% 26 of 42 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:41
Darren Stewart 0 1 of 5 20% 2 of 6 4 of 7 57% 0 0 2:25
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Edmen Shahbazyan 34 of 71 47% 29 of 63 4 of 6 1 of 2 11 of 40 12 of 16 11 of 15
Darren Stewart 22 of 37 59% 12 of 25 6 of 8 4 of 4 10 of 21 11 of 15 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Edmen Shahbazyan 11 of 28 39% 8 of 24 3 of 3 0 of 1 3 of 20 8 of 8 0 of 0
Darren Stewart 11 of 17 64% 7 of 13 3 of 3 1 of 1 5 of 9 6 of 8 0 of 0
2 Edmen Shahbazyan 2 of 7 28% 1 of 4 0 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 6 0 of 1 0 of 0
Darren Stewart 10 of 15 66% 4 of 9 3 of 3 3 of 3 4 of 7 5 of 7 1 of 1
3 Edmen Shahbazyan 21 of 36 58% 20 of 35 1 of 1 0 of 0 6 of 14 4 of 7 11 of 15
Darren Stewart 1 of 5 20% 1 of 3 0 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Darren Stewart

Round 1
The resurgent Stewart prepares to take on the 21 year-old undefeated Shahbazyan. Mark Smith is the referee. They touch gloves to start and set up in matching orthodox boxing stances. Referee Smith warns Shahbazyan twice about his extended fingers within the first 30 seconds. Shahbazyan ducks under a punch, shoots through Stewart’s hips and gets a takedown. Stewart gets to his feet but Shahbazyan is tenacious, latching onto his back and wrapping Stewart’s waist. An extended sequence of jockeying for position against the fence ends with Stewart escaping, and they separate with 90 seconds left. Shahbazyan again collapses the distance and clinches with Stewart against the fence, appearing to want the takedown again. Stewart shucks him off and catches him with a punch coming in. Stewart appears rocked but throws back, then times Stewart and hauls him to the floor again, where he is working to pass against the fence when the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round 10-9 Shahbazyan
Jay Pettry scores the round 10-9 Shahbazyan
Jordan Colbert scores the round 10-9 Shahbazyan

Round 2
The middleweights open up by exchanging on the feet until about a minute in, when Shahbazyan drops levels for a deep single. Stewart defends against the fence and once again offers his back. Shahbazyan pivots to the front and grabs a guillotine, but can’t secure it. Halfway through the round, Shahbazyan has Stewart against the fence, throwing knees at his left leg. Stewart turns into Shahbazyan, prompting the younger fighter to try a double-leg, then turns his back again. With a minute and a half left, Shahbazyan gets Stewart to his knees and sinks a hook almost like a folkstyle wrestling ride. He sinks the hook fully, then a body triangle, while fishing for a choke. Stewart escapes to his feet and they finish the round as they spent it: with Shahbazyan on Stewart’s back against the cage.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round 10-9 Shahbazyan
Jay Pettry scores the round 10-9 Shahbazyan
Jordan Colbert scores the round 10-9 Shahbazyan

Round 3
In the third round, it takes only 50 seconds before Shahbazyan tries his first takedown. It looks like rinse-and-repeat of the first two rounds, but Stewart breaks, turns and smashes Shahbazyan with an elbow. Shahbazyan is visibly rocked and tries to grab hold of Stewart as Stewart tries to tee off, but Shahbazyan manages to recover his wits and halfway through the round they’re back to the fence. With two minutes left, Smith breaks them up and they reset. Shahbazyan looks either tired or rocked and Stewart drops him with a right. Stewart follows him down, throwing desperately, but can’t seem to land the kill shot. Shahbazyan is exhausted, but manages to get back to his feet, where he secures yet another takedown. They end the fight, fittingly, against the fence with Shahbazyan holding on to Stewart’s waist.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round 10-9 Stewart (29-28 Shahbazyan)
Jay Pettry scores the round 10-9 Stewart (29-28 Shahbazyan)
Jordan Colbert scores the round 10-9 Stewart (29-28 Shahbazyan)

The Official Result
Edmen Shahbazyan def. Darren Stewart via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Deron Winn - Fight History
LOSS vs Phil Hawes
TKO (elbows) R2 4:25 · UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Emmett · Jun 18, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Phil Hawes 1 118 of 175 67% 126 of 191 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:47
Deron Winn 0 32 of 111 28% 34 of 114 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Phil Hawes 1 55 of 87 63% 56 of 88 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Deron Winn 0 17 of 44 38% 17 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Phil Hawes 0 63 of 88 71% 70 of 103 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:43
Deron Winn 0 15 of 67 22% 17 of 70 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Phil Hawes 118 of 175 67% 99 of 152 17 of 21 2 of 2 89 of 138 14 of 18 15 of 19
Deron Winn 32 of 111 28% 24 of 101 4 of 6 4 of 4 29 of 100 3 of 11 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Phil Hawes 55 of 87 63% 43 of 71 10 of 14 2 of 2 49 of 77 3 of 6 3 of 4
Deron Winn 17 of 44 38% 13 of 40 1 of 1 3 of 3 15 of 41 2 of 3 0 of 0
2 Phil Hawes 63 of 88 71% 56 of 81 7 of 7 0 of 0 40 of 61 11 of 12 12 of 15
Deron Winn 15 of 67 22% 11 of 61 3 of 5 1 of 1 14 of 59 1 of 8 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jun 12, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Phil Hawes

Angelo picks Phil Hawes despite acknowledging Deron Winn's superior offensive wrestling stats (almost 5 takedowns per fight, 52% accuracy vs Hawes' 33%). He compares it to the Brendan Allen vs Jacob Malkoun fight, where the more talented fighter (Hawes) can lose if he doesn't initiate takedowns first. He notes Hawes is the better mixed martial artist but Winn has a clear path if he shoots first.

"i am gonna pick phil hawes here because he is the better mixed martial artist but there is a clear path for duron win"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 15, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Phil Hawes

Big Brady picks Phil Hawes to win by first-round knockout. He acknowledges Hawes has a questionable chin and cardio, but believes Hawes is much bigger with a six-inch height and 7.5-inch reach advantage, and has 100% takedown defense to stuff Winn's wrestling. He expects Hawes to knock out Winn early, likely in the first round.

first round knockout
"I think phil haas finishes the wrong win in that very first round so phil has first round knockout to kick off the banger of a card"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jun 15, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Phil Hawes

Cody picks Hawes but is cautious due to Hawes' chin and cardio. He thinks Hawes' striking and power are advantages, and Winn's weight cuts and cardio issues are problematic. He suggests waiting for weigh-ins to see Winn's condition.

"i think he's able to maybe get the job done down the stretch"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 16, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Phil Hawes

Daniel Levi picks Phil Hawes confidently, stating Hawes has everything except a chin: D1 wrestling, one-punch power, and physicality. He believes Deron Winn is too short (5'4") and will struggle to take Hawes down. Levi thinks Hawes wins everywhere unless he gets knocked out, which is possible given his suspect chin. He expects Hawes to dominate and win, possibly by knockout.

Hawes -270; expects domination; Winn's only chance is a puncher's chance
"phil haas don't get knocked out and you win this fight literally everywhere it goes"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 15, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Phil Hawes

Paul leans toward Hawes but is not confident. He notes both fighters are untrustworthy and the fight could be ugly. He thinks Hawes' reach and power are key, but Winn's wrestling could be a factor if he makes weight.

"i don't know i i would say both guys are not trustworthy"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Phil Hawes

The MMA Guru picks Phil Hawes despite worrying about his weak chin, as seen in the Chris Curtis fight. He believes Hawes is much bigger and stronger than Deron Winn, who is too small for middleweight. He predicts Hawes will neutralize Winn's wrestling and land a knockout via a knee to the face in the second round.

ko in second round
"i'm going to be going with phil hawes here i worry... i do worry about his chin... phil gets a ko with a knee to the face in the second round"
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal · Dec 19, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Deron Winn 0 20 of 38 52% 64 of 89 12 of 16 75% 0 0 9:29
Antônio Arroyo 0 45 of 62 72% 70 of 87 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:28
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Deron Winn 0 9 of 15 60% 9 of 15 4 of 6 66% 0 0 2:21
Antônio Arroyo 0 26 of 30 86% 33 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:28
2 Deron Winn 0 6 of 12 50% 30 of 39 4 of 6 66% 0 0 3:41
Antônio Arroyo 0 9 of 14 64% 14 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Deron Winn 0 5 of 11 45% 25 of 35 4 of 4 100% 0 0 3:27
Antônio Arroyo 0 10 of 18 55% 23 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Deron Winn 20 of 38 52% 10 of 26 5 of 7 5 of 5 18 of 35 2 of 2 0 of 1
Antônio Arroyo 45 of 62 72% 29 of 45 11 of 12 5 of 5 43 of 60 0 of 0 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Deron Winn 9 of 15 60% 4 of 10 2 of 2 3 of 3 9 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
Antônio Arroyo 26 of 30 86% 19 of 23 4 of 4 3 of 3 25 of 29 0 of 0 1 of 1
2 Deron Winn 6 of 12 50% 3 of 8 1 of 2 2 of 2 4 of 9 2 of 2 0 of 1
Antônio Arroyo 9 of 14 64% 5 of 9 3 of 4 1 of 1 9 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Deron Winn 5 of 11 45% 3 of 8 2 of 3 0 of 0 5 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Antônio Arroyo 10 of 18 55% 5 of 13 4 of 4 1 of 1 9 of 17 0 of 0 1 of 1
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Dec 16, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Antônio Arroyo

Big Brady picks Antônio Arroyo over Deron Winn, citing Arroyo's size advantage (9 inches taller, 3.5 inch reach) and the catchweight at 195 lbs favoring him. He notes Arroyo's solid jiu-jitsu and striking (leg kicks, body kicks), while Winn has been unimpressive in the UFC and may struggle with the size disadvantage. Brady predicts a first-round knockout.

first round knockout
"i'm gonna pick him to win by first round knockout"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Dec 16, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Antônio Arroyo

The host leans Arroyo due to his size and striking advantage, believing his leg kicks and range will be too much for the smaller Winn. He notes Winn's cardio issues and struggles against larger opponents. He predicts a decision win for Arroyo.

"the lean here is antonio hoyo"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Dec 13, 2020 (6 days before fight)
Deron Winn

The Guru picks Deron Winn but is undecided. He believes Arroyo has poor cardio and that Winn can outlast him in the first two rounds. He notes Winn's wrestling and that Arroyo hasn't shown finishing ability. He predicts a 29-28 decision for Winn, with Arroyo possibly winning the third round.

"i think the romwin gets it done... i'll say bye decision 29 28 i think arroyo win will win the third round but the romwin is going to have enough in his tank in the first two rounds to get …"
Submission (rear-naked choke) R3 2:13 · UFC 248: Adesanya vs. Romero · Mar 07, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Gerald Meerschaert 1 86 of 187 45% 86 of 188 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:21
Deron Winn 0 53 of 111 47% 53 of 111 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:11
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Gerald Meerschaert 0 24 of 63 38% 24 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Deron Winn 0 22 of 45 48% 22 of 45 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:11
2 Gerald Meerschaert 0 50 of 82 60% 50 of 82 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Deron Winn 0 17 of 43 39% 17 of 43 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Gerald Meerschaert 1 12 of 42 28% 12 of 42 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:21
Deron Winn 0 14 of 23 60% 14 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Gerald Meerschaert 86 of 187 45% 66 of 166 20 of 21 0 of 0 81 of 177 5 of 10 0 of 0
Deron Winn 53 of 111 47% 37 of 93 11 of 13 5 of 5 47 of 103 6 of 8 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Gerald Meerschaert 24 of 63 38% 21 of 60 3 of 3 0 of 0 24 of 62 0 of 1 0 of 0
Deron Winn 22 of 45 48% 17 of 40 4 of 4 1 of 1 18 of 41 4 of 4 0 of 0
2 Gerald Meerschaert 50 of 82 60% 37 of 68 13 of 14 0 of 0 50 of 82 0 of 0 0 of 0
Deron Winn 17 of 43 39% 10 of 34 4 of 6 3 of 3 16 of 42 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Gerald Meerschaert 12 of 42 28% 8 of 38 4 of 4 0 of 0 7 of 33 5 of 9 0 of 0
Deron Winn 14 of 23 60% 10 of 19 3 of 3 1 of 1 13 of 20 1 of 3 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
185: Gerald Meerschaert vs. Deron Winn

Round 1
Opening up the ESPN prelims -- they are also on ESPN+ and were slightly delayed due to the UNC-Duke basketball game -- is a middleweight affair as Roufusport product Meerschaert (30-12, 5-4 UFC) tries to hand Winn (6-1, 1-1 UFC) his second straight defeat after Winn started his career at 6-0. There is no nonsense to be found in the cage, as referee Keith Peterson will make sure of that. Winn tries to jab his way in and eats a body kick and then a left hand. Meerschaert throws a leg kick, but it lands loudly on the peninsula south of the Equator and we have an early pause in the action. After a break of around a minute, Winn is good to go, and starts the fight back up and eats a few punches on the way forward. Meerschaert goes low with a kick, and takes a huge left hand on the chin. “GM3” takes it like a champ and closes the distance, where Winn scoops him up and puts him down. Instead of diving in after him, Winn backs off to let him stand. When Meerschaert gets to his feet, Winn starts winging heavy punches, backing Meerschaert up against the fence. Meerschaert survives the assault and fires a solid body kick, before taking a leg kick from the shorter fighter. Meerschaert connects with a left right down the pipe, and tries to follow it with a looping right hand but Winn darts out of the way. Winn blows the hair back of his opponent with a surprising head kick, and then dings him to the midsection with a body kick. Winn is loading up on his punches, and connects on a few more including a fierce left hook. When Winn tries to crowd him, Meerschaert sneaks a knee up the middle that stops Winn from advancing for a moment. Winn regathers himself and stings Meerschaert with a few hefty punches, but “GM3” takes them without much concern. Meerschaert connects with a stiff one-two, and Winn stands straight up and counters with a left as if he had not been punched at all. Winn lands a right hand, and then catches Meerschaert with a left hand that has Meerschaert blinking and wiping his eye. There is some damage beneath that right eye of Meerschaert, but he is undeterred as he ends the round with a looping right hand.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Winn
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Winn
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Winn

Round 2
Meerschaert starts off with a jab, and then chains together a one-two before landing one more. Winn tries to kick low, but his best punch in the exchange is a stiff left. Meerschaert aims to the body with another kick, and steps back as if to avoid a counterpunch, but there is none to come. Meerschaert throws two hooks, and Winn digs to the body before throwing a right to the head. To try to keep Winn at bay, Meerschaert sticks out his jab, and Winn closes the distance with a looping left hook that barely misses. Winn is content to land the counter left and an occasional power jab, but digs to the body with a punch. Meerschaert is not outshined by that strike, as he lands a thudding body kick. Meerschaert has started to get his range, as he lands a series of left hands and right jabs. Winn goes after the lead leg with a kick, but Meerschaert sticks him with his lefts. Winn tries to take the fight down, but Meerschaert gets to his knee and then stands up as Winn fires a high kick at him. Meerschaert triples up the jab and follows it with a left hand, and Winn shrugs it off as he also absorbs a heavy body kick. Winn fires a successful low kick, but his two leaping hooks are well off the mark as Meerschaert is halfway across the cage by the time Winn gets to him. They land heavy jabs, and Meerschaert targets the body as if he were Stipe Miocic repeatedly aiming for Daniel Cormier’s midsection. He lands another, and Winn winces. The body is hurt for Winn, so Meerschaert targets it with a kick and then another two punches. Winn loads up on a huge right hand and lands it, but Meerschaert is undaunted as he kicks the body and then tries to bring up a knee. The round ends with one more thumping punch to the torso by Meerschaert.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert

Round 3
Meerschaert commences the last round with a jab, and Winn reaches with a body kick that barely lands with his toes. Meerschaert puts together a left hand, followed by one to the body. He targets the body once more, and the strike has seemed to land at will for him. Winn loads up with a massive right hand, and Meerschaert’s knees buckle for a moment as we see a cut on the left eye of Meerschaert. “GM3” circles out of danger and gets his left back from beneath him, but Winn is swinging for the fences with another massive right hand -- it is short. Meerschaert sticks him with a jab, and a subsequent left hook hurts Winn. The punches continue to mount for Meerschaert, and Winn stumbles across the cage. As Meerschaert pours it on, Winn falls over, so Meerschaert hunts for a guillotine choke. While Winn defends the choke, Meerschaert sees an opening and circles around to take Winn’s back.
In no time at all, Meerschaert seeks out a rear-naked choke. Winn defends it by trying to yank the arm away, but the choke that almost appears to be a neck crank is too tight. Winn can resist no further and taps, and thereby suffers the first stoppage loss of his career.
This is a huge win for "GM3," and he praises his opponent in his post-fight interview for "bringing out the best in me."

The Official Result
Gerald Meerschaert def. Deron Winn R3 2:13 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 5, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Deron Winn

Daniel picks Deron Winn to win a decision, citing his power, takedowns, and boxing. He notes that Winn needs to be careful of Meerschaert's submissions and body kicks, especially in later rounds. He believes Winn will come out hard, win the first round, and edge out a 29-28 decision if he doesn't get caught.

Daniel mentions that Winn missed weight for his last fight and wants to see if he makes weight this weekend. He picks Winn by decision 29-28.
"I'm gonna pick him for a decision win 29-28."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 5, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

Meerschaert has a massive size and reach advantage (77.5 vs 71 inches). Winn's wrestling is his only path, but Meerschaert has submissions from all positions. If Winn doesn't get a first-round KO, Meerschaert will submit him, likely in the third round. The host likes the plus money and plans a 1-unit bet.

Bet 1 unit at +125. Win by submission, third round.
"I like the plus 125 on him... I think he gets a submission I'm going to say third round."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2020 (9 days before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

The MMA Guru picks Gerald Meerschaert, citing his experience and size advantage over Deron Winn, who he believes is not big enough for middleweight and lacks KO power or wrestling dominance. He notes Meerschaert's recent close fights (loss to Kevin Holland, win over Trevin Giles) could have gone his way, and he expects Meerschaert to use knees up the middle to counter Winn's forward pressure and win by third-round TKO.

third round TKO
"I think Gerald mere shots got this one in the bag he's very experienced he's very talented as well and I like him he seems to be putting a finish somebody's young up-and-comers recently"
LOSS vs Darren Stewart
Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman · Oct 18, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Darren Stewart 0 29 of 53 54% 66 of 98 6 of 15 40% 0 1 8:04
Deron Winn 0 57 of 119 47% 77 of 140 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:31
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Darren Stewart 0 12 of 12 100% 35 of 38 3 of 6 50% 0 0 4:15
Deron Winn 0 14 of 20 70% 31 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
2 Darren Stewart 0 7 of 16 43% 10 of 20 2 of 6 33% 0 0 2:15
Deron Winn 0 21 of 44 47% 23 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Darren Stewart 0 10 of 25 40% 21 of 40 1 of 3 33% 0 1 1:34
Deron Winn 0 22 of 55 40% 23 of 56 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:29
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Darren Stewart 29 of 53 54% 25 of 49 1 of 1 3 of 3 11 of 31 7 of 11 11 of 11
Deron Winn 57 of 119 47% 54 of 115 3 of 4 0 of 0 31 of 88 14 of 17 12 of 14
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Darren Stewart 12 of 12 100% 9 of 9 0 of 0 3 of 3 1 of 1 2 of 2 9 of 9
Deron Winn 14 of 20 70% 13 of 18 1 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 4 6 of 9 6 of 7
2 Darren Stewart 7 of 16 43% 6 of 15 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 7 5 of 8 1 of 1
Deron Winn 21 of 44 47% 19 of 42 2 of 2 0 of 0 13 of 36 8 of 8 0 of 0
3 Darren Stewart 10 of 25 40% 10 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0 9 of 23 0 of 1 1 of 1
Deron Winn 22 of 55 40% 22 of 55 0 of 0 0 of 0 16 of 48 0 of 0 6 of 7
WIN vs Eric Spicely
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Korean Zombie · Jun 22, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Deron Winn 0 169 of 367 46% 171 of 369 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:18
Eric Spicely 0 108 of 224 48% 108 of 224 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Deron Winn 0 37 of 89 41% 38 of 90 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:02
Eric Spicely 0 25 of 61 40% 25 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
2 Deron Winn 0 77 of 160 48% 77 of 160 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:48
Eric Spicely 0 37 of 70 52% 37 of 70 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Deron Winn 0 55 of 118 46% 56 of 119 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:28
Eric Spicely 0 46 of 93 49% 46 of 93 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Deron Winn 169 of 367 46% 125 of 316 39 of 46 5 of 5 137 of 322 32 of 45 0 of 0
Eric Spicely 108 of 224 48% 90 of 206 17 of 17 1 of 1 74 of 186 34 of 38 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Deron Winn 37 of 89 41% 24 of 75 11 of 12 2 of 2 33 of 83 4 of 6 0 of 0
Eric Spicely 25 of 61 40% 20 of 56 5 of 5 0 of 0 16 of 52 9 of 9 0 of 0
2 Deron Winn 77 of 160 48% 56 of 134 21 of 26 0 of 0 59 of 137 18 of 23 0 of 0
Eric Spicely 37 of 70 52% 31 of 64 5 of 5 1 of 1 26 of 57 11 of 13 0 of 0
3 Deron Winn 55 of 118 46% 45 of 107 7 of 8 3 of 3 45 of 102 10 of 16 0 of 0
Eric Spicely 46 of 93 49% 39 of 86 7 of 7 0 of 0 32 of 77 14 of 16 0 of 0