John Phillips vs. Khamzat Chimaev

Round 1
Welsh fighters will try to go two for two tonight as “The Welsh Wrecking Machine” Phillips (22-9, 1 NC; 1-3 UFC) squares off with the unbeaten Chimaev (6-0, 0-0 UFC), for whom the latter was recently described as “Khabib Nurmagomedov 2.0” by manager Ali Abdelaziz. Can Chimaev maintain his 100 percent finish rate, or will the Welshman spoil his party? Like referee Herb Dean, we are about to find out in this preliminary headliner. Chimaev lets fly a head kick, and immediately chains that into shooting for a takedown. The newcomer hits it with ease, and opens up with sledgehammer left hands as Phillips tries to walk up the fence. Phillips sits up but as he does, he gets slashed open with some thudding left hands. Chimaev pulls Phillips’ legs out, and the Welshman rolls over. Chimaev instantly takes his back, and starts pounding him with right hands as he fishes for a choke on the bloodied fighter. Phillips complains that his opponent is grabbing his gloves, and after a brief bit of confusion, Chimaev picks up where he left off with punches to the side of the head as Phillips tries to get up desperately. Phillips continues to absorb these short punches in the face as blood continues to flow, and he rolls over to get out. Chimaev follows him and starts hacking at him with elbows. “The Welsh Wrecking Machine” is getting wrecked as Chimaev keeps raining down punches, and a big mouse has started to form above his right eyebrow. Chimaev keeps punching from a short distance, and Phillips attempts to stand up but sits down as his neck is nearly caught in a guillotine choke. Chimaev knees him in the side a few times, and a few punches soften Phillips up until Chimaev fishes for a rear-naked choke. The Welshman rolls again, but Chimaev is on him like a cheap suit and maintains a steady pace of ground-and-pound. Phillips goes back to his knees, and Chimaev ends the round by continuing to attack. The only question from that brutal round is whether it merited an incredibly rare 10-7 score from the judges.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Chimaev
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Chimaev
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-7 Chimaev

Round 2
In just over 10 seconds into the second, Chimaev hits a smooth takedown as Phillips is exasperated. Phillips crawls to his knee and gets up against the fence, but the Swedish resident gets right back to pounding on him like the last devastating round. Phillips rolls to his back to try to get to some sort of survival position, and he keeps rolling through to get to his knees.
At that second, Chimaev snatches up the neck in the form of brabo choke, and he latches on the choke and secures it tightly. “Borz” squeezes with all his might, and Phillips falls to his back and taps out to surrender.
What an overwhelming beating, and what a statement to put the still undefeated Chimaev on the map.

The Official Result
Khamzat Chimaev def. John Phillips R2 1:12 via Submission (Brabo Choke)

Kevin Holland vs. John Phillips

Round 1
The southpaw Phillips presses forward at the bell, kept at range by a few push kicks from his taller opponent. Holland gets backed up to the wall and has to bail out as Phillips fires heavy combinations. Phillips keeps pressing and walks into a body kick from Holland, and it looks like a bad one. Phillips backpedals immediately, doubled over and protecting his body. Somehow, despite taking several additional front kicks and punches, Phillips stays on his feet and in the fight. Halfway through a busy opening round, Phillips is on the advance again. Holland catches him in the Thai clinch and drives a pair of hard knees up the center, but again Phillips swings back and Holland circles away after taking a glancing punch. Holland comes over the top of Phillips’ next pair of hooks with a clean counter left. After landing another body kick, Holland hits Phillips with an accidental kick to the groin. Referee Peter Hickmott calls time, Phillips takes 30 or 40 seconds to recover, and the middleweights get back to action with 90 seconds remaining. Both men stand still in place in the center, waiting for the other to strike. Holland acts first, hitting Phillips with another kick to the body, now one to the lead leg. Phillips blocks a right high kick but eats a straight right hand behind it. Inside the 10-second clapper, Holland drives Phillips to the ground with a flying knee, then tries to pound him out and runs out of time.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round 10-8 Holland
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-8 Holland
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 Holland

Round 2
Holland lands a couple leg kicks before Phillips tags him with a hook and puts him on the mat in the center of the cage. Holland pops back to his feet and gives Phillips a touch of gloves and a nod of the head. Phillips rushes the American against the fence and swarms him with hooks; Holland puts up a high guard and makes a show of rolling as he blocks the punches, then circles away. Phillips keeps pressing and takes a stiff jab, now another hard shot to the body, and suddenly the Welshman looks to be slowing down. Halfway through the fight now, and Phillips continues to come forward, walking into front kicks and one-twos from the rangy Holland. Phillips leaps forward with a series of big right hands, one of which rattles the brain of Holland, who’s forced to circle away in a hurry. Phillips clinches Holland against the fence with 60 seconds remaining. Holland breaks free and looks up to the big screen to check on a newly opened cut over his right eye. Holland finishes the round strong, punishing Phillips with several hard body kicks and a left high kick that goes through Phillips’ glove.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round 10-9 Holland
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Holland
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Holland

Round 3
Holland hits an easy takedown in the opening seconds, changing levels as Phillips overcommits on a wind-up right hand. Phillips eats several punches before climbing back to his feet. As soon as they stand, Holland lifts and dumps Phillips back to the mat, then begins peppering the Welshman with punches while trying to take the back. Phillips is on his knees, leaning forward, Holland on his back with one hook in. Holland sits up to drill Phillips in the side of the head with an elbow, then pulls Phillips backward, still trying to establish back-mount. Holland still only has one hook in when he tries a rear-naked choke, allowing Phillips to twist out of it and drive forward. Holland takes him straight back to the ground, then steps over to full mount with two minutes left to fight. Phillips bucks and rolls, winding up on top in Holland’s half guard. Holland catches an arm as Phillips drops punches but can’t finish the armbar attempt. With 70 seconds remaining, Holland sits up and ankle-picks Phillips down at the base of the fence. This time, Holland explodes into the back-take and wraps his arm around Phillips’ neck for the RNC before Phillips can defend. Phillips resists for a few seconds, recognizes he’s stuck and taps out.

The Result
Kevin Holland def. John Phillips via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R3 4:05