Career Averages - Kelvin Gastelum
Career Averages - Jacare Souza
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Kelvin Gastelum - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 9 of 20 | 45% | 12 of 23 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:16 |
| Vicente Luque | 1 | 12 of 28 | 42% | 16 of 34 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 1:04 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 9 of 20 | 45% | 12 of 23 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:16 |
| Vicente Luque | 1 | 12 of 28 | 42% | 16 of 34 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 1:04 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Gastelum | 9 of 20 | 45% | 4 of 14 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
| Vicente Luque | 12 of 28 | 42% | 6 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 8 | 8 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 7 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelvin Gastelum | 9 of 20 | 45% | 4 of 14 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
| Vicente Luque | 12 of 28 | 42% | 6 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 8 | 8 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 7 |
Angelo picks Kelvin Gastelum despite his unreliability, citing his skills, granite chin, and wrestling advantage. He believes Vicente Luque has never been the same since the brain bleed and is fighting up a weight class. He acknowledges Gastelum's poor work ethic but thinks he should win, calling the odds appropriate.
Big Brady believes Vicente Luque is past his prime after a brain injury and has shown fear of getting hit, pulling guard and covering up in recent fights. He thinks Gastelum will land big shots and TKO Luque, predicting a second-round knockout. He calls it his hot take of the week.
Cody also picks Gastelum, citing Luque's loss of speed and durability. He thinks Gastelum's left hand and toughness will be too much for the fading Luque.
Connor picks Gastelum because Luque is moving up to middleweight and has lost speed, while Gastelum's game is built for the division. He notes that Gastelum's durability and power in the pocket will be too much for a slower Luque, and that Luque's style doesn't translate well to middleweight. He acknowledges both are past their prime but trusts Gastelum's natural advantages.
Daniel Vreeland picks Kelvin Gastelum, citing Luque's decline after a brain bleed and brutal knockouts. He believes Gastelum's durability and power will be too much for Luque, who may not have the confidence or chin to engage in a war. He also notes that the fight is at middleweight, which benefits Gastelum.
Daniel thinks Luque's chin and confidence are gone after taking too much damage, while Gastelum is still durable. He predicts Gastelum will knock out Luque.
James picks Gastelum confidently, believing Luque is more shot and that Gastelum's durability and boxing will prevail. He predicts a knockout, noting Luque's recent struggles.
Gastelum's power and durability should be too much for Luque, who has been declining and getting finished. Luque's wars have caught up to him, and he struggles with pressure. Gastelum's boxing and knockout power can put Luque away. However, Gastelum's weight cut is a concern; if he makes weight, he should win by knockout. The line is steep but justified.
Paul picks Gastelum, trusting his chin and durability. He thinks Luque has slowed down and taken too much damage, while Gastelum can still take a punch and outwork him.
The MMA Guru picks Kelvin Gastelum over Vicente Luque. He believes Luque's best days are behind him and that Gastelum is hard to finish, with good submission defense against Luque's D'Arce choke. He thinks Gastelum's springy step, one-two down the pipe, and low kick will cause visible damage, predicting a 29-28 decision win.
Zane picks Gastelum, agreeing that Luque at middleweight doesn't track. He notes that Gastelum's game is a middleweight game and that Luque has lost speed and reaction time. He expects Gastelum to win by being the more natural middleweight and having the power advantage in the pocket.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Gastelum | 1 | 57 of 117 | 48% | 58 of 118 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:23 |
| Dustin Stoltzfus | 0 | 64 of 146 | 43% | 69 of 151 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 1 | 2:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 14 of 25 | 56% | 15 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Dustin Stoltzfus | 0 | 24 of 49 | 48% | 25 of 50 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:47 | |
| 2 | Kelvin Gastelum | 1 | 23 of 43 | 53% | 23 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Dustin Stoltzfus | 0 | 20 of 45 | 44% | 24 of 49 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 1:13 | |
| 3 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 20 of 49 | 40% | 20 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:14 |
| Dustin Stoltzfus | 0 | 20 of 52 | 38% | 20 of 52 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Gastelum | 57 of 117 | 48% | 30 of 81 | 16 of 24 | 11 of 12 | 56 of 116 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Dustin Stoltzfus | 64 of 146 | 43% | 25 of 93 | 25 of 34 | 14 of 19 | 55 of 134 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 7 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelvin Gastelum | 14 of 25 | 56% | 4 of 14 | 6 of 7 | 4 of 4 | 14 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Dustin Stoltzfus | 24 of 49 | 48% | 3 of 23 | 13 of 17 | 8 of 9 | 20 of 44 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Kelvin Gastelum | 23 of 43 | 53% | 14 of 30 | 6 of 9 | 3 of 4 | 23 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Dustin Stoltzfus | 20 of 45 | 44% | 12 of 35 | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 15 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 7 | |
| 3 | Kelvin Gastelum | 20 of 49 | 40% | 12 of 37 | 4 of 8 | 4 of 4 | 19 of 48 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Dustin Stoltzfus | 20 of 52 | 38% | 10 of 35 | 8 of 12 | 2 of 5 | 20 of 52 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Kelvin Gastelum, calling him a great wrestler and striker with an unbelievable chin, but wasted talent due to poor work ethic. He says this is the easiest matchup Kelvin has had in five years, and he should win the striking exchanges and eat whatever comes back. He notes concern about Kelvin's takedown defense after the Sean Brady fight, but thinks he should be a better wrestler than Stoltzfus. He says the line should be wider but isn't because people can't trust Kelvin.
Big Brady picks Gastelum as the better striker who should keep the fight standing. He notes Stoltzfus is not on Gastelum's level and that a loss would be Gastelum's worst. He predicts a decision win but says he won't bet on it.
Connor picks Gastelum hesitantly, noting that Stoltzfus is glacially slow and has been knocked out multiple times. However, he warns that Gastelum could have a Punahele Soriano-like performance where he fails to impose himself and gets outworked. Connor believes Gastelum's athleticism and scrambling will be key, but he is not confident.
Despite Gastelum's inconsistency, the host sees this as a fight he should win. He expects Gastelum to showcase his takedown defense and pressure with power striking, leading to a knockout in the second or third round.
The MMA Guru picks Kelvin Gastelum, believing he has a clear advantage in technical ability and power. He notes Stoltzfus has been knocked out multiple times and lacks the tools to drop or ragdoll Gastelum. He predicts a TKO win in the middle of the fight, possibly late first or second round, as Gastelum pressures and finishes a tiring Stoltzfus.
Zane picks Gastelum hesitantly, acknowledging that Stoltzfus could replicate his win over Punahele Soriano by pressuring and outworking Gastelum. He notes that Gastelum is still athletic and durable but has shown a tendency to not consider bad positions. Zane believes Gastelum's scrambling ability and power will be enough, but he can easily see this fight looking like the Soriano fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 33 of 99 | 33% | 34 of 100 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
| Joe Pyfer | 2 | 57 of 114 | 50% | 58 of 115 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:31 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 8 of 20 | 40% | 8 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joe Pyfer | 2 | 21 of 39 | 53% | 22 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:16 | |
| 2 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 11 of 50 | 22% | 11 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joe Pyfer | 0 | 17 of 40 | 42% | 17 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 14 of 29 | 48% | 15 of 30 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
| Joe Pyfer | 0 | 19 of 35 | 54% | 19 of 35 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Gastelum | 33 of 99 | 33% | 13 of 69 | 11 of 17 | 9 of 13 | 32 of 98 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Joe Pyfer | 57 of 114 | 50% | 44 of 99 | 12 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 51 of 104 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 7 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelvin Gastelum | 8 of 20 | 40% | 3 of 14 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 8 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Joe Pyfer | 21 of 39 | 53% | 16 of 33 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 31 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 7 | |
| 2 | Kelvin Gastelum | 11 of 50 | 22% | 2 of 34 | 6 of 10 | 3 of 6 | 11 of 50 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Joe Pyfer | 17 of 40 | 42% | 12 of 35 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Kelvin Gastelum | 14 of 29 | 48% | 8 of 21 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 13 of 28 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Joe Pyfer | 19 of 35 | 54% | 16 of 31 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 33 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Joe Pyfer because Kelvin Gastelum is unreliable with poor work ethic and weight issues. He notes Kelvin has a granite chin and power, but Joe is a powerful striker with slick BJJ. He warns Joe not to get frustrated if the knockout doesn't come quickly. He thinks the 4-to-1 odds are fair but not a cakewalk.
Big Brady likes Joe Pyfer more now that the fight is at sea level instead of Mexico City. He believes Pyfer can win by any method: knockout, submission, or decision. He notes Pyfer's size, power, and black belt in jiu-jitsu, and that Gastelum has been submitted before. He thinks a decision is most likely due to Gastelum's durability, but sees Pyfer as the better fighter overall.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Pyfer. He emphasizes that Gastelum's best wins are against smaller or older opponents, and Pyfer's size and power pose a serious threat. Connor notes that Gastelum's defensive flaws and reliance on his chin make him vulnerable, especially at middleweight where he is not as big.
Gastelum can deal with Pyfer's power and then get to his own striking game, blitzing the pocket and landing big shots, possibly mixing in takedowns. His durability, cardio, and strength of schedule will allow him to get the victory over the younger Pyfer.
The MMA Guru picks Joe Pyfer by submission in the first round. He notes Pyfer's muscle advantage and underrated grappling, citing his training with Sean Brady and his submission wins. He believes Pyfer will land big shots early, then take Gastelum down and submit him with an arm triangle. He mentions Gastelum's granite chin but thinks Pyfer can finish him.
Zane picks Joe Pyfer, noting that Gastelum is inconsistent and relies on his chin, which may be fading. He points out that Pyfer is bigger, hits harder, and has a cleaner striking game. Zane references the Hermanson fight where Pyfer won the first two rounds before fading, and believes in a three-round fight Pyfer's early power will carry him.
James picks Kelvin Gastelum as a significant underdog, arguing that Joe Pyfer has not proven himself against top competition and that his wins are over faded or lower-level fighters. He notes Gastelum has fought much better opposition, has better cardio, and has been training at elevation in Mexico for a month, including in the mountains. James believes Pyfer's gas tank is suspect and that Gastelum can survive early danger and win in later rounds. He sees value at plus 260 odds.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 112 of 238 | 47% | 123 of 250 | 4 of 4 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:47 |
| Daniel Rodriguez | 0 | 127 of 265 | 47% | 132 of 273 | 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 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 44 of 93 | 47% | 45 of 94 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Daniel Rodriguez | 0 | 46 of 91 | 50% | 46 of 92 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 37 of 86 | 43% | 39 of 88 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:25 |
| Daniel Rodriguez | 0 | 53 of 113 | 46% | 53 of 113 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 31 of 59 | 52% | 39 of 68 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:17 |
| Daniel Rodriguez | 0 | 28 of 61 | 45% | 33 of 68 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Gastelum | 112 of 238 | 47% | 77 of 193 | 14 of 20 | 21 of 25 | 105 of 226 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 12 |
| Daniel Rodriguez | 127 of 265 | 47% | 82 of 214 | 36 of 41 | 9 of 10 | 127 of 265 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelvin Gastelum | 44 of 93 | 47% | 27 of 70 | 6 of 10 | 11 of 13 | 44 of 93 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Daniel Rodriguez | 46 of 91 | 50% | 25 of 67 | 15 of 17 | 6 of 7 | 46 of 91 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Kelvin Gastelum | 37 of 86 | 43% | 27 of 72 | 4 of 6 | 6 of 8 | 37 of 86 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Daniel Rodriguez | 53 of 113 | 46% | 38 of 97 | 13 of 14 | 2 of 2 | 53 of 113 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Kelvin Gastelum | 31 of 59 | 52% | 23 of 51 | 4 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 24 of 47 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 12 |
| Daniel Rodriguez | 28 of 61 | 45% | 19 of 50 | 8 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 28 of 61 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Gastelum (-250), Rodriguez (+205)
Round 1
What was scheduled to be a welterweight feature now takes place at 185 pounds, thanks to the reliably unreliable Gastelum reminding us all why the UFC forced him up a weight class in the first place. Rich Mitchell is the third man in the cage. They set up in orthodox stance and immediately get to work boxing. Gastelum comes forward, with Rodriguez throwing his jab and giving ground. Neither man lands solidly in the frenetic opening moments, but Gastelum gets his hands on Rodriguez and shoves him to the cage, with a possible clash of noggins taking place along the way. Rodriguez breaks the clinch quickly and they return to the middle of the cage. Gastelum bounces into range with overhands and right crosses that come up just short of Rodriguez’s chin, while “D-Rod” returns fire with his own jab. Rodriguez goes southpaw, and a moment later Gastelum clocks him with an overhand left, his best shot of the round so far. Half the round is gone, and Rodriguez is still working to keep Gastelum on the end of his punches. Gastelum crashes the pocket and tags Rodriguez with a left-right combo before Rodriguez can slip out the side. Rodriguez spins Gastelum’s head with a left hook-right cross combination, but Gastelum shakes it off and keeps moving forward. Gastelum reaches out and hits the body. Gastelum backs Rodriguez into the fence and nails him with several more punches right before the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Gastelum
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Gastelum
Round 2
Gastelum surges forward again, throwing punches in pairs, and just barely slips a murderous counter from Rodriguez. They exchange combinations in the center of the cage, some of which glance, but plenty connect for both men. Rodriguez stops Gastelum’s forward movement with a jab to the body. Gastelum walks Rodriguez into the fence, but “D-Rod” circles away before he can do any work there. Gastelum changes levels and plows Rodriguez to the canvas with ease. Gastelum sets up shop at the base of the fence from top position, but Rodriguez stands quickly and they separate. Both men are in southpaw stance now, boxing at close range. Rodriguez catches Gastelum cleanly with a three-piece, but Gastelum shakes it off and returns fire. Gastelum lands a calf kick that makes Rodriguez stumble. Rodriguez tags Gastelum with a long righty jab, and Gastelum punishes him with another low kick. Rodriguez catches Gastelum with a clean one-two at the 10-second clapper. Gastelum secures a takedown right at the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Round 3
Gastelum once again comes out as if shot from a cannon, throwing his jab and one-two. Rodriguez is ready for them, but Gastelum’s first calf kick of the round stumbles him. Rodriguez seems to have no answer for those kicks, limited only by Gastelum’s sparing use of them. Gastelum changes levels for a possible takedown, but gives up on it almost immediately. They’re back to boxing at middle-to-close range, both men getting their licks in. Gastelum breaks things up by shooting for a double-leg near the fence, hoisting and depositing Rodriguez on the canvas. Gastelum moves quickly to side control and starts grinding his elbow into Rodriguez’s face, keeping his weight squarely on Rodriguez’s chest. “D-Rod” regains one-quarter guard, slipping one butterfly hook in between them. He gets half guard, and Gastelum stands out of his guard, raining down a couple of punches before letting Rodriguez return to his feet. Gastelum promptly drops for another takedown, which he gets with ease. He is on top, throwing short strikes from top position, when the final horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Gastelum (29-28 Gastelum)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Gastelum (29-28 Rodriguez)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Gastelum (29-28 Gastelum)
The Official Result
Kelvin Gastelum def. Daniel Rodriguez via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo picks Kelvin but is hesitant, calling him a waste of talent. He acknowledges Kelvin's raw talent, chin, and wrestling, but notes he is undedicated and has missed weight. He points to Kelvin's last fight where he was outwrestled by Sean Brady despite being a D1 wrestler. He thinks Kelvin should win but cannot trust him, especially at -260. He will not bet on Kelvin.
Big Brady picks Kelvin Gastelum confidently, believing Daniel Rodriguez is on the decline due to fight miles and prison fights. He notes Gastelum's wrestling as a potential path and expects a decision win. Despite the steep -250 line, Brady thinks it makes sense if Rodriguez is truly fading.
Cody picks Gastelum, emphasizing his southpaw advantage and ability to mix in takedowns. He notes Rodriguez's volume striking but believes Gastelum's power and pressure will be decisive, especially given Rodriguez's recent layoff and age. He expects a decision win.
Daniel Vreeland picks Daniel Rodriguez as a confident underdog. He notes Gastelum's tendency to be in close fights and his lack of discipline (weight issues, love for tacos). He believes Rodriguez has the size, reach, and volume to push a pace and win a decision. He also mentions Gastelum's wrestling advantage but doubts he will use it.
Jacob picks Kelvin but is not confident, calling the -250/-260 odds crazy. He thinks Kelvin should be around -125 to -130. He notes Kelvin's last fight showed he forgot how to wrestle, and he might just stand and trade with Rodriguez, which could be competitive. He might have some action on Rodriguez as a dog. He believes Kelvin is the pick but not a betting favorite at those odds.
JP hesitantly picks Rodriguez by decision, citing his reach advantage and ability to keep Gastelum stalled. He worries about Gastelum's speed but lacks trust in Gastelum's recent performances. Brevan disagrees, picking Gastelum by decision, citing Gastelum's wrestling advantage and ability to score takedowns in later rounds. Brevan finds the fight dangerous from a betting perspective but leans Gastelum. JP is less confident and may avoid betting.
Paul picks Gastelum but with hesitation, hoping he uses his wrestling. He notes that if it becomes a striking match, it could be close. Paul points to Gastelum's low output and Rodriguez's volume as potential issues, but believes Gastelum's overall skills should prevail.
The MMA Guru picks Kelvin Gastelum over Daniel Rodriguez, citing Gastelum's superior boxing and underrated ground game. He notes that Rodriguez's striking looked lousy against Neil Magny and that his wins are over lower-level opponents. He believes Gastelum can mix in grappling and that Rodriguez's age (37) and layoff are factors. He expresses frustration that Gastelum is a favorite, as he wanted an underdog pick, but still goes with Gastelum by decision or submission.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean Brady | 0 | 14 of 24 | 58% | 97 of 130 | 5 of 5 | 100% | 3 | 0 | 9:06 |
| Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 18 of 32 | 56% | 21 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:19 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean Brady | 0 | 5 of 10 | 50% | 38 of 53 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:22 |
| Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 13 of 21 | 61% | 16 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:19 | |
| 2 | Sean Brady | 0 | 8 of 11 | 72% | 51 of 66 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:31 |
| Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Sean Brady | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 8 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 3 | 0 | 1:13 |
| Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean Brady | 14 of 24 | 58% | 8 of 16 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 6 | 7 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 8 |
| Kelvin Gastelum | 18 of 32 | 56% | 7 of 19 | 7 of 8 | 4 of 5 | 13 of 23 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean Brady | 5 of 10 | 50% | 3 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Kelvin Gastelum | 13 of 21 | 61% | 6 of 14 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 12 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 4 | |
| 2 | Sean Brady | 8 of 11 | 72% | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 7 |
| Kelvin Gastelum | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Sean Brady | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Kelvin Gastelum | 3 of 5 | 60% | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Brady (-130), Gastelum (+110)
Round 1
Welterweights get the call, as Brady (15-1, 5-1 UFC) looks to rebound from his first career loss in a three-round showdown with Gastelum at 170 pounds. Gastelum (18-8, 12-8 UFC) has lost five of his past seven bouts and remains one of the most enigmatic fighters on the roster.
For more on the Kings MMA rep, see “5 Defining Moments: Kelvin Gastelum” in Features
. Montalvo draws the officiating assignment. Gastelum immediately moves to the center of the cage. Brady clinches, works punches and knees to the body and eats a short elbow. He pushes Gastelum to the fence and completes his first takedown. The Daniel Gracie disciple floats to the back, threads his hooks and goes to work on the next. Brady bites down with a body triangle just 90 seconds into the bout. Gastelum scrambles free, takes top position and feeds his opponent punches. Back on the feet, they return to the center of the Octagon. Gastelum sneaks in a right hand. Brady connects with two left hooks and then powers into top position, moving to the back. Gastelum inches toward the fence, but Brady is relentless. Gastelum gets back to his feet, only to get returned to the mat. Brady works his ground-and-pound from behind, then moves to the back in the waning seconds.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Round 2
Gastelum steps forward in his southpaw stance, fires a few inside leg kicks and fails to manage distance properly. Brady ducks in for another takedown and sets up in half guard. Starting to look like an awful stylistic matchup for Gastelum. Brady climbs to full mount, then back to half guard. He mounts again. Gastelum surrenders his back to create a scramble but finds no escape. Brady shifts back to mount. Probably only a matter of time before Gastelum breaks. Brady hammers away with elbows, floats to the back and shows no regard for his counterpart’s ground game. Fans grow restless, but Brady is running circles around Gastelum here. Brady works from a kneeling mount, with a seated Gastelum underneath him. With 30 seconds left, this has turned into an absolute rout. Brady drags him back to the canvas as the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Round 3
Brady works from the center of the cage. Gastelum sneaks in a straight left, but Brady closes the distance yet again and completes another takedown. Fans boo. Brady sets up in half guard, then floats to mount and frames an arm-triangle. Gastelum escapes.
Brady now isolates the right arm and threatens a kimura. He cranks on the shoulder and forces the tap. This one was never competitive
.
The Official Result
Sean Brady def. Kelvin Gastelum—Submission (Kimura) 1:43 R3
Big Brady picks Sean Brady to get back on track, believing his wrestling and control will be the difference. He thinks Brady can take down and control Gastelum for at least two rounds, winning a decision. He acknowledges Gastelum has the edge on the feet but thinks Brady can hold his own. He calls it a close fight and wouldn't bet on either side.
Cody picks Brady, citing his superior jiu-jitsu and wrestling. He notes Gastelum's poor takedown defense and offensive wrestling (0 for 11 in last two fights). He thinks Brady can take Gastelum down and control him on the ground. He also questions Gastelum's speed at welterweight and his ability to handle Brady's grappling.
Lucrative James leans towards Kelvin Gastelum after rewatching tape. He notes that Sean Brady has shown poor striking defense and cardio issues in fights against Belal Muhammad and Michael Chiesa. Gastelum is a good boxer and could hurt Brady. However, he remains cautious about Gastelum's weight cut and how he will look at 170.
Gastelum is moving back to welterweight, where he has looked best, and has shown improved conditioning and training at Fight Ready. He has slick boxing, power, and underrated grappling. Brady is a strong wrestler with a BJJ black belt, but he struggled against Belal Muhammad's range and volume. Gastelum's speed and power on the feet, plus his ability to scramble, should give him the edge. A decision win is predicted, with a potential late finish.
Paul is willing to side with Gastelum at welterweight, citing his striking advantage and improved physique. He will wait for weigh-ins to ensure Gastelum makes weight and looks healthy. He thinks Gastelum has a massive striking advantage and that this is a good spot to jump back on the Gastelum train.
The MMA Guru picks Kelvin Gastelum, criticizing Sean Brady's performance against Belal Muhammad where he shut down after being clipped. He believes Gastelum's boxing, durability, and finishing ability are superior on the feet. He predicts Gastelum wins by TKO in the second or third round.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 70 of 201 | 34% | 80 of 216 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Chris Curtis | 0 | 83 of 188 | 44% | 88 of 195 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:21 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 13 of 48 | 27% | 13 of 48 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Chris Curtis | 0 | 30 of 64 | 46% | 30 of 64 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 20 of 65 | 30% | 26 of 74 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Chris Curtis | 0 | 23 of 56 | 41% | 27 of 62 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:55 | |
| 3 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 37 of 88 | 42% | 41 of 94 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Chris Curtis | 0 | 30 of 68 | 44% | 31 of 69 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:26 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Gastelum | 70 of 201 | 34% | 44 of 164 | 21 of 30 | 5 of 7 | 63 of 193 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Curtis | 83 of 188 | 44% | 63 of 161 | 5 of 8 | 15 of 19 | 76 of 172 | 3 of 6 | 4 of 10 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelvin Gastelum | 13 of 48 | 27% | 8 of 40 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 6 | 13 of 48 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Curtis | 30 of 64 | 46% | 20 of 51 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 13 | 30 of 64 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Kelvin Gastelum | 20 of 65 | 30% | 11 of 51 | 9 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 18 of 62 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Curtis | 23 of 56 | 41% | 20 of 51 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 3 | 19 of 44 | 0 of 2 | 4 of 10 | |
| 3 | Kelvin Gastelum | 37 of 88 | 42% | 25 of 73 | 11 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 32 of 83 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Curtis | 30 of 68 | 44% | 23 of 59 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 27 of 64 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Chris Curtis and has a moneyline bet on him. He notes that Kelvin Gastelum is a waste of talent with poor work ethic, while Chris Curtis is a clean boxer with solid takedown defense and power. He believes Curtis will win the striking exchanges and defend takedowns. He is confident because Gastelum hasn't shown his best day in years.
Big Brady picks Chris Curtis as the underdog, expecting a close decision. He notes both fighters are durable and have power, but he trusts Curtis's momentum over Gastelum's recent skid. He predicts a split decision and mentions the line has flipped to Gastelum as favorite, making Curtis the dog. He is not confident due to potential judging issues.
Cody agrees with Paul on Curtis. He highlights Curtis' takedown defense and notes that Gastelum's wrestling hasn't been effective recently. Cody likes Curtis by decision at +240 as his favorite bet on the card. He points out that Curtis doesn't have much jiu-jitsu, so a submission is unlikely, but a decision is probable. Cody also mentions Gastelum's staph infection and dental issues as potential factors.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Chris Curtis. He emphasizes that Curtis is a better counter puncher and that Gastelum is too hittable. Connor also mentions that Curtis has a better chance of landing clean shots that judges will notice, even if they don't hurt Gastelum.
Jacob is locked and loaded on Chris Curtis, calling him a lock. He emphasizes that everyone who engages with Curtis gets knocked out because of his ability to read rhythm and find counter shots. He notes that Gastelum leaves himself open with low hands and gets dropped often. He believes Curtis can knock him out or win a decision.
Gastelum has been on a tough skid but is only 31 and now training with Fight Ready, known for great game plans. He has underrated wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu, and his durability should hold up against Curtis's power. Curtis is experienced but was out-gamed by Jack Hermansson's range. I think Gastelum's diversity and Fight Ready's plan lead to a decision win, though ring rust is a concern.
Paul picks Curtis, citing his superior volume, cardio, and reach advantage. He notes Curtis has excellent takedown defense and has fought bigger middleweights. Paul criticizes Gastelum's recent low output and believes Curtis will outwork him. He expects a 15-minute standup fight and likes Curtis by decision at plus money. Paul also mentions Curtis' experience sparring with Sean Strickland and his ability to find openings.
The MMA Guru picks Chris Curtis to finish Kelvin Gastelum in round three via body shot. He expects a war where both land big shots, but Curtis will dig to the body consistently, wearing Gastelum down. He notes Gastelum's poor shape and good chin, predicting that body shots will be the key. He describes a sequence where Gastelum slows down and Curtis finishes him against the cage.
Zane picks Chris Curtis because he believes Curtis will land the better, more memorable shots. He notes that Curtis is an accurate and powerful counter puncher, while Gastelum remains hittable with his chin up. Zane also points out that Curtis has been getting decisions lately and that Gastelum's prime started early and he has taken a lot of damage.
Jacare Souza - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| André Muniz | 0 | 11 of 19 | 57% | 15 of 23 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:53 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 7 of 12 | 58% | 19 of 26 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 | 0 | 1:10 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | André Muniz | 0 | 11 of 19 | 57% | 15 of 23 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:53 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 7 of 12 | 58% | 19 of 26 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 | 0 | 1:10 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| André Muniz | 11 of 19 | 57% | 5 of 13 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 6 |
| Jacare Souza | 7 of 12 | 58% | 3 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 6 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 | André Muniz | 11 of 19 | 57% | 5 of 13 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 6 |
| Jacare Souza | 7 of 12 | 58% | 3 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Souza has fought much better competition and is levels above Muniz. Muniz has poor takedown defense and has been knocked out in all four losses. Souza is a BJJ black belt who won't get submitted, and he has power. I think Souza takes Muniz down and finishes him by knockout, as Muniz's chin is suspect.
Cody picks Souza, arguing that Muniz's takedown defense is poor and Souza can take him down. He notes that Muniz's striking is not good enough to knock out Souza, and Souza has the advantage in both striking and grappling. Cody believes Souza will win by controlling the fight on the ground.
Daniel Levi picks André Muniz, citing Jacare's age (41) and recent decline, especially the Kevin Holland loss. He notes that Muniz is a credentialed jiu-jitsu player and younger (31), and believes Muniz can attack off his back and outgrapple the older Jacare. Levi thinks Jacare's durability and ability to break opponents have diminished, and expects Muniz to win by decision or submission.
The host picks Jacare Souza, giving him the jiu-jitsu advantage and noting his heavy strikes should get the fight to the ground. He acknowledges Souza is 41 and has a questionable chin after the Holland KO, but thinks he still has enough to grind out Muniz. He predicts a decision win and says he is not going to the betting window on this one.
Paul picks Souza, believing he still has one good fight left. He notes that Souza's grappling is elite and Muniz's striking is poor. Paul thinks Souza can dictate where the fight takes place and has the advantage on the ground. He acknowledges Souza's recent KO loss but points out that prior to that, Souza was competitive with top guys.
The MMA Guru picks André Muniz to win by submission in the first round. He believes Jacare is too old and has declined significantly, as evidenced by Kevin Holland making his grappling look good. He thinks Muniz's athleticism on the ground will be too much for the slower Jacare, and predicts Muniz will catch Jacare on the feet or in a scramble and secure an armbar.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 15 of 18 | 83% | 21 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:27 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 15 of 18 | 83% | 21 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:27 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 15 of 18 | 83% | 14 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 14 |
| Jacare Souza | 2 of 2 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 15 of 18 | 83% | 14 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 14 |
| Jacare Souza | 2 of 2 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
In a potential middleweight passing of the torch match – see also the previous bout – Holland (20-5, 7-2 UFC) will look to earn his fifth UFC win of the year against “Jacare” Souza (26-8, 1 NC; 9-5, 1 NC UFC). Thirteen years separate these two contenders, and referee Mark Smith will keep charge of the cage in this one. They touch gloves, and Holland lets loose a huge overhand right and a leg kick. Souza grabs his leg and hits a takedown, where Holland pulls his leg up to trap Souza and elbow him in the head like Anderson Silva did to Travis Lutter. Souza turns to try to get out of this position, and Holland powers back to his feet. Souza grips hold of a double, and then a single as Holland elbows his way out of danger. Holland latches on to a guillotine choke, and Souza pulls his head out and drops his opponent down. Holland starts talking trash while on his back, and Souza laughs and punches him in the face. Holland from his back nails Souza in the face with a huge right hand, and Souza falls to his back and gets blasted with another big right hand. “Jacare” leans backward as he is incredibly hurt while on his knees, and Holland springs up and drills Souza in the face with three lethal punches to completely shut Souza’s lights out. A few moments later, Souza manages to slump to his stool, and he nearly passes out again from the massive damage he received. Incredible! Holland has now won five fights this year, and done so in just seven impressive months. In his post-fight interview, Holland calls out Khamzat Chimaev to come up to greet him at 185 pounds next week.
The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Ronaldo Souza R1 1:45 via KO (Punches)
Big Brady picks Jacare Souza to win by submission. He is concerned about Holland's poor takedown defense and submission history, and believes if Souza gets the fight to the mat, it's over. He notes Souza's superior competition and Holland's negative fight IQ. He passes on betting due to line movement but leans Souza.
Daniel is torn, acknowledging Holland's youth, reach, and hunger, but worried about his takedown defense and submission vulnerability. He notes Jacare's age and potential decline, but respects his jiu-jitsu. He picks Holland as a contrarian play since the line flipped, but calls it a very unconfident pick.
Souza is a high-level jiu-jitsu player who should be able to take Holland down and submit him. Holland has shown poor takedown defense and was submitted by Brendan Allen. Souza is older but still competitive, and his grappling is a huge threat. The line should be flipped; Souza is the better fighter here.
The MMA Guru picks Jacare Souza as an underdog, despite liking Kevin Holland. He believes Souza's chin, experience, and full camp will be key. He expects Holland to have a good first round but Souza to wear on him and get a submission win in the third round. He criticizes Holland's rapid fight schedule and lack of improvement.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan Błachowicz | 0 | 71 of 170 | 41% | 105 of 205 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 20 of 48 | 41% | 56 of 88 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 8:25 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan Błachowicz | 0 | 8 of 16 | 50% | 17 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 7 of 14 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:30 | |
| 2 | Jan Błachowicz | 0 | 15 of 38 | 39% | 21 of 44 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 9 of 15 | 60% | 16 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:28 | |
| 3 | Jan Błachowicz | 0 | 16 of 44 | 36% | 22 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 7 of 14 | 50% | 14 of 21 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:26 | |
| 4 | Jan Błachowicz | 0 | 17 of 34 | 50% | 23 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 1 of 9 | 11% | 15 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:22 | |
| 5 | Jan Błachowicz | 0 | 15 of 38 | 39% | 22 of 45 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 4 of 8 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:39 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan Błachowicz | 71 of 170 | 41% | 38 of 121 | 13 of 20 | 20 of 29 | 59 of 154 | 12 of 16 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacare Souza | 20 of 48 | 41% | 8 of 28 | 3 of 10 | 9 of 10 | 18 of 45 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan Błachowicz | 8 of 16 | 50% | 2 of 9 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 4 of 12 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacare Souza | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 of 2 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jan Błachowicz | 15 of 38 | 39% | 8 of 29 | 2 of 4 | 5 of 5 | 15 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacare Souza | 9 of 15 | 60% | 3 of 7 | 2 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 8 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jan Błachowicz | 16 of 44 | 36% | 7 of 30 | 4 of 7 | 5 of 7 | 13 of 40 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacare Souza | 7 of 14 | 50% | 4 of 10 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 3 | 7 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Jan Błachowicz | 17 of 34 | 50% | 10 of 24 | 4 of 5 | 3 of 5 | 14 of 30 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacare Souza | 1 of 9 | 11% | 0 of 5 | 0 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Jan Błachowicz | 15 of 38 | 39% | 11 of 29 | 0 of 1 | 4 of 8 | 13 of 34 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacare Souza | 1 of 5 | 20% | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
We have reached our main event of the evening, as Blachowicz (24-8, 7-5 UFC) looks to spoil the light heavyweight debut of Souza (26-7, 1 NC; 9-4 UFC) like he did to Luke Rockhold in his last bout. With Brazilian fighters 3-3-1 throughout the night against foreign opponents, this one is for all the proverbial marbles. The headlining bout is under the watchful eye of referee Kevin MacDonald, and with two sportsmanlike shakes of the hands and glove touch to boot, we are underway! Souza starts out feinting and ducking down, but Blachowicz is the one who strikes first with a low leg kick. As he goes after another, Souza shoots in for an early takedown, and Blachowicz stuffs it and stands up with his back against the cage. Souza looks for a trip when they are clinched, but the Pole keeps his balance and defends from persistent attacks. Souza lands a couple foot stops, and a short body shot as he leans heavy on his man. Blachowicz pushes off and they get back to the center of the cage, where "Jacare" throws a long punch to the body and a leg kick as he circles around in herky-jerky fashion. Another low kick finds its home from Blachowicz, but he is largely throwing single strikes as to not overcommit and risk getting planted on his back. A quick head kick comes up from Blachowicz, but the Brazilian is able to block it in time. Souza leaps forward with a right hand to close the distance, and is clipped with an uppercut coming in but gets back to grinding Blachowicz against the cage wall. Blachowicz slams in a solid knee to the midsection, and even briefly tries to hit a trip, before bailing on it and throwing an upward elbow. Blachowicz punches to the thigh and then brings up a short knee, and Souza cannot get him down as the time expires.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Souza
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Souza
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Souza
Round 2
A touch of gloves clock in the second round, and Blachowicz starts out with a kick to his opponent's knee. He then lands a body kick, and as Souza rushes in, he tries to counter with an uppercut but the Brazilian backs off in time. A low kick from Blachowicz is followed by a few jabs, and they both clank solid right hands off each other’s' jaws and disengage. "Jacare" slaps Blachowicz with a heavy leg kick, so the Pole returns fire as the crowd grows increasingly restless. Souza comes at him from a great distance with a double leg takedown attempt, and Blachowicz sees it from a mile away and stuffs it, but he is stuck with his back against the cage wall like much of the opening frame. Souza changes levels to go after a takedown, and Blachowicz is wise to it and pulls him back up, and brings up a knee for good measure. If Mike Goldberg were calling this fight, he would have almost undoubtedly let his "embrace the grind" catchphrase fly by now. Blachowicz separates and takes the center of the Octagon, and Souza is quick to follow. They trade single body kicks, and Souza slowly walks his opponent down but Blachowicz throws a few jabs to back him off. A sweeping low kick comes from Souza, and this time Blachowicz retires with a right to the body and left to the head that makes "Jacare" dart away briefly. The low kick lands again from Souza, and he follows it with a crisp right hand that makes Blachowicz nearly bounce off the fence, but he comes back and throws a spinning wheel kick that is several feet away from his target. This slow round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Souza
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Souza
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Souza
Round 3
This round, like the first two, starts with a glove touch and then a leg kick from Blachowicz. "Jacare" returns fire with one that is much heavier, and Blachowicz tries to respond with one but the power difference in these kicks is substantial. Souza just misses with a right hand, and Blachowicz doubles up with a jab before charging in with a series of punches that only partially land. Souza counters with a right over the top, and barely misses with another right as he pushes in for the clinch. Souza leans heavy, and throws a few mild body shots while Blachowicz responds with some short knees. The Pole breaks free and then turns into a leg kick, and as he throws another, Souza checks it. The Brazilian throws one back and Blachowicz lifts his leg up. A jab comes from Blachowicz, and then a low kick, followed by a jab, and while they land, they are hardly showing an effect. Souza presses forward and wings a right hand, while changing levels to hit a double leg takedown. Souza nearly sweeps the leg but Blachowicz recovers underhooks and reverses the position, lands a shot and breaks free. The two stand in front of one another for a good 30 seconds, until Souza explodes with a right hand that lands, leading to a quick reply from Blachowicz that ends the round. Each of these three so far have been very uneventful and difficult to score.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Blachowicz
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Souza
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Souza
Round 4
A half-hearted head kick comes from Souza to begin the round, and the pace has waned to a crawl. Blachowicz scores a few jabs, and "Jacare" looks to come back but it is nothing doing. As he lands a few more, Souza tries to fire back with heavy shots, and Blachowicz backs off. As Souza rushes in to engage the clinch, Blachowicz catches him on the way in with a few sharp punches, but the Brazilian ignores them to hang on to his opponent. The crowd groans, and lights start to appear in the darkness and begin waving back and forth, voicing and displaying their disapproval for this drag of a fight. Blachowicz separates with a left hand, and then snaps out a jab, but does not do more. A low kick nearly makes Blachowicz trip over, and then he throws one back that causes Souza to stumble. Another few kicks from Blachowicz land, and Souza has started to limp while Blachowicz grins at him. Blachowicz comes up high with a head kick and Souza blocks it, before throwing a low kick that the Brazilian attempts to check it. An inside kick comes up high and Souza complains about a groin shot, but Blachowicz cries foul and the referee says it was not a low blow. Blachowicz comes at him with a body kick and is walking Souza down, and the fourth period ends while we can see the visible damage and swelling of Blachowicz' left foot -- it is transforming into a "balewn."
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Blachowicz
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Blachowicz
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Blachowicz
Round 5
The men touch gloves for one final time, and Blachowicz throws a jab and a low kick as he switches stances. Another kick from Blachowicz's back leg scores, and as Souza rushes in to land a takedown, like many times before, Blachowicz stuffs it and stands up him with his back pressed firmly against the fence. Souza tries to quickly change levels and hit a takedown and Blachowicz staves it off with a slew of punches. From a distance, "Jacare" races forward and goes after a double, but he cannot land it and we go back to the position from before. MacDonald finally separates the two, as he likely should have in the earlier rounds, halfway into Round 5. A head kick from Blachowicz comes up but it is short, and a low kick is also shy of the mark. Souza swings hard into a leg kick but misses, and Blachowicz tags him with a left hand. Souza storms in low for a takedown and gets blasted with an uppercut that makes him slip around like he is on ice skates. Whether a knockdown or a severe slip, Souza ate that on the chin and then took a few more punches along the way. "Jacare" regains his composure but has completely stopped throwing anything from any of his eight limbs. Blachowicz picks at him with a few leg kicks and jabs, misses with one last head kick, and this fight is mercifully over. Both men raise their arms in the air to celebrate their victory, but neither should be happy with that 25-minute display.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Blachowicz (48-47 Blachowicz)
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Blachowicz (48-47 Souza)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Blachowicz (48-47 Souza)
The Official Result
Jan Blachowicz def. Ronaldo Souza via Split Decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47)
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Hermansson | 0 | 90 of 175 | 51% | 120 of 205 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:29 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 148 of 372 | 39% | 256 of 496 | 3 of 10 | 30% | 1 | 0 | 6:51 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack Hermansson | 0 | 7 of 17 | 41% | 26 of 36 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:29 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 26 of 44 | 59% | 29 of 47 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1:32 | |
| 2 | Jack Hermansson | 0 | 8 of 12 | 66% | 10 of 14 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 9 of 25 | 36% | 107 of 139 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:59 | |
| 3 | Jack Hermansson | 0 | 30 of 50 | 60% | 30 of 50 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 28 of 81 | 34% | 28 of 81 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:05 | |
| 4 | Jack Hermansson | 0 | 19 of 40 | 47% | 22 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 50 of 123 | 40% | 50 of 123 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:32 | |
| 5 | Jack Hermansson | 0 | 26 of 56 | 46% | 32 of 62 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 35 of 99 | 35% | 42 of 106 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 0:43 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Hermansson | 90 of 175 | 51% | 65 of 141 | 24 of 33 | 1 of 1 | 74 of 154 | 15 of 20 | 1 of 1 |
| Jacare Souza | 148 of 372 | 39% | 96 of 313 | 32 of 36 | 20 of 23 | 120 of 339 | 24 of 29 | 4 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack Hermansson | 7 of 17 | 41% | 5 of 14 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 15 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacare Souza | 26 of 44 | 59% | 9 of 25 | 10 of 10 | 7 of 9 | 18 of 36 | 8 of 8 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jack Hermansson | 8 of 12 | 66% | 7 of 10 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Jacare Souza | 9 of 25 | 36% | 6 of 20 | 0 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 5 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 | |
| 3 | Jack Hermansson | 30 of 50 | 60% | 21 of 37 | 9 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 27 of 47 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacare Souza | 28 of 81 | 34% | 14 of 67 | 5 of 5 | 9 of 9 | 26 of 78 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Jack Hermansson | 19 of 40 | 47% | 16 of 37 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 33 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacare Souza | 50 of 123 | 40% | 41 of 112 | 9 of 10 | 0 of 1 | 44 of 113 | 6 of 10 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Jack Hermansson | 26 of 56 | 46% | 16 of 43 | 10 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 20 of 48 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacare Souza | 35 of 99 | 35% | 26 of 89 | 8 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 27 of 91 | 8 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 68 of 193 | 35% | 76 of 201 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:43 |
| Chris Weidman | 1 | 74 of 132 | 56% | 100 of 158 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacare Souza | 0 | 23 of 68 | 33% | 23 of 68 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Chris Weidman | 0 | 14 of 30 | 46% | 15 of 31 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Jacare Souza | 0 | 26 of 64 | 40% | 34 of 72 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:43 |
| Chris Weidman | 0 | 31 of 59 | 52% | 50 of 78 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Jacare Souza | 0 | 19 of 61 | 31% | 19 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Chris Weidman | 1 | 29 of 43 | 67% | 35 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacare Souza | 68 of 193 | 35% | 52 of 171 | 14 of 20 | 2 of 2 | 61 of 182 | 7 of 11 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Weidman | 74 of 132 | 56% | 42 of 89 | 24 of 31 | 8 of 12 | 57 of 109 | 15 of 21 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacare Souza | 23 of 68 | 33% | 21 of 65 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 21 of 66 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Weidman | 14 of 30 | 46% | 5 of 16 | 5 of 7 | 4 of 7 | 11 of 27 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jacare Souza | 26 of 64 | 40% | 16 of 50 | 8 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 23 of 58 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Weidman | 31 of 59 | 52% | 19 of 43 | 10 of 13 | 2 of 3 | 21 of 46 | 9 of 12 | 1 of 1 | |
| 3 | Jacare Souza | 19 of 61 | 31% | 15 of 56 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 58 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Weidman | 29 of 43 | 67% | 18 of 30 | 9 of 11 | 2 of 2 | 25 of 36 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 64 of 115 | 55% | 78 of 129 | 1 of 9 | 11% | 1 | 1 | 3:28 |
| Jacare Souza | 1 | 53 of 145 | 36% | 57 of 149 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:35 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 21 of 22 | 95% | 32 of 33 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 1 | 1 | 2:57 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 7 of 7 | 100% | 9 of 9 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:17 | |
| 2 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 24 of 56 | 42% | 24 of 56 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Jacare Souza | 1 | 24 of 73 | 32% | 24 of 73 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:13 | |
| 3 | Kelvin Gastelum | 0 | 19 of 37 | 51% | 22 of 40 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:30 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 22 of 65 | 33% | 24 of 67 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Gastelum | 64 of 115 | 55% | 42 of 84 | 21 of 30 | 1 of 1 | 42 of 90 | 8 of 11 | 14 of 14 |
| Jacare Souza | 53 of 145 | 36% | 44 of 133 | 7 of 10 | 2 of 2 | 41 of 125 | 9 of 10 | 3 of 10 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelvin Gastelum | 21 of 22 | 95% | 14 of 14 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 7 of 7 | 14 of 14 |
| Jacare Souza | 7 of 7 | 100% | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Kelvin Gastelum | 24 of 56 | 42% | 15 of 40 | 9 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 24 of 54 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacare Souza | 24 of 73 | 32% | 20 of 67 | 3 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 21 of 63 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 10 | |
| 3 | Kelvin Gastelum | 19 of 37 | 51% | 13 of 30 | 5 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 18 of 35 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacare Souza | 22 of 65 | 33% | 21 of 63 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 20 of 62 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacare Souza | 1 | 9 of 21 | 42% | 9 of 21 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Derek Brunson | 0 | 8 of 34 | 23% | 8 of 34 | 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 | Jacare Souza | 1 | 9 of 21 | 42% | 9 of 21 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Derek Brunson | 0 | 8 of 34 | 23% | 8 of 34 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacare Souza | 9 of 21 | 42% | 7 of 10 | 2 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 |
| Derek Brunson | 8 of 34 | 23% | 5 of 28 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 8 of 34 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacare Souza | 9 of 21 | 42% | 7 of 10 | 2 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 |
| Derek Brunson | 8 of 34 | 23% | 5 of 28 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 8 of 34 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Whittaker | 0 | 9 of 36 | 25% | 13 of 40 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:48 |
| Jacare Souza | 1 | 55 of 110 | 50% | 57 of 112 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:25 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert Whittaker | 0 | 5 of 24 | 20% | 8 of 27 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:48 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 18 of 39 | 46% | 19 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 | |
| 2 | Robert Whittaker | 0 | 4 of 12 | 33% | 5 of 13 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jacare Souza | 1 | 37 of 71 | 52% | 38 of 72 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:21 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Whittaker | 9 of 36 | 25% | 6 of 31 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 32 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacare Souza | 55 of 110 | 50% | 47 of 97 | 7 of 12 | 1 of 1 | 40 of 85 | 1 of 4 | 14 of 21 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert Whittaker | 5 of 24 | 20% | 4 of 21 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 20 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacare Souza | 18 of 39 | 46% | 15 of 34 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 38 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Robert Whittaker | 4 of 12 | 33% | 2 of 10 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacare Souza | 37 of 71 | 52% | 32 of 63 | 4 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 23 of 47 | 0 of 3 | 14 of 21 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Whittaker tests the range with some long left hands and denies the first attempt by "Jacare" to tie up near the fence. Ninety seconds in, Souza gets the clinch and pins Whittaker to the fence, hits the Australian with a few knees inside and then takes him down. Whittaker tries to roll into top position but Souza keeps hold of an ankle and maintains control on the ground. Whittaker gets back to his feet, gets taken down again and has to escape quickly as Souza tries to take the back. The middleweights are back to striking in the center of the cage with two minutes on the clock. A big left from Whittaker knocks an off-balance Jacare to the ground, but the Brazilian is back on his feet without absorbing damage. Whittaker is starting to find the range with his hands now, clipping Souza with another right hand, now an uppercut. Souza takes back some ground with a pair of blasting overhand rights of his own as they hit the final minute of round one. Whittaker counters a wild punch from Souza with a speedy left-handed counter, then backs up the BJJ black belt with a straight left at the horn.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Whittaker
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Whittaker
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Whittaker
Round 2
A massive right hand from Whittaker floors "Jacare" in the first 30 seconds of the round. Whittaker tries to pounce and pound out his wounded opponent, but Souza ties him up in guard and limits the space for striking. Whittaker backs off, stands and wants Souza to do the same. Now it's Souza circling around the edge of the cage, circling directly into a right high kick from Whittaker. The tables have turned as Whittaker stalks from the center, picking his shots as Souza tries to clear the cobwebs. Souza remains on unsteady feet through the middle of the round, and Whittaker does not let up on the pressure. Another right high kick to the face puts "Jacare" on wobbly legs; Whittaker hustles him to the floor and begins punching away, though Souza is avoiding many of the strikes by using his legs to push the standing Whittaker away. Souza rolls to his knees, and referee Mario Yamasaki picks a strange time to step in for the stoppage. Souza, who was clearly hurt from the head kick and ate several punches on the ground, appeared to be moving toward a better position. Nonetheless, the ref's decision stands, and Robert Whittaker has pulled off the upset.
The Official Result
Robert Whittaker def. Ronaldo Souza via TKO (Head Kick and Punches) R2 3:28
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