Michel Prazeres vs. Ismail Naurdiev

Round 1
It’s now time for a welterweight bout between Michel Prazeres and Ismail Naurdiev. The official for this contest is Marc Goddard. They touch gloves. Naurdiev lands a low kick but Prazares catches it. He has Naurdiev against the fence now and is working to get this fight to the ground. Prazeres looks to get the body lock takedown but Naurdiev uses the whizzer to stuff it. Prazeres nearly lands a double leg but Naurdiev stuffs that too. They exchange low kicks. Prazeres rushes in for a double leg takedown but Naudiev is doing a good job defending. Prazeres is grinding Naurdiev against the fence but breaks away. Low kick by Naurdiev. Another one, and then a high kick. Naurdiev lands a straight right that rocks Prazeres but he ducks under for a double leg takedown in desperation. Prazeres works Naurdiev against the fence and gets the double leg takedown. He’s now on top in half guard but Naurdiev lands an incredible sweep and is now on top himself. Naurdiev is on top landing nasty elbows to the head of Prazeres. Naurdiev moves into full mount and then takes the back of Prazeres. He’s working for a rear-naked choke but Prazeres escapes and sweeps him. Prazeres is now pushing Naurdiev against the fence grinding him. Naurdiev is doing a good job of defending against the takedown here and the round is soon over.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev

Round 2
Round two begins. Low kick by Naurdiev and then a left high kick. Naurdiev goes for a low kick that Prazeres catches but he can’t get the takedown from it. Nice jab by Naurdiev and then a low kick. Another left high kick by Naurdiev. Prazeres swings and misses wildly on a left hook. Naurdiev keeps throwing those low kicks at Prazeres. Naurdiev misses a jumping front kick and Prazeres uses this as an opportunity to get inside and push him against the fence. Prazeres tries for the body lock takedown but Naurdiev sweeps him, but Prazeres gets back up. Prazeres continues to work hard and gets the double leg takedown. Prazeres is now on top working in half guard but Naurdiev once again sweeps him. Beautiful work on the ground here by Naurdiev, but the referee says he isn’t doing enough damage and stands the fight up. Naurdiev looks to land a flying knee but Prazeres ducks under and is pushing Naurdiev against the fence again. The referee breaks up the stalemate. Naudiev lands a counter straight right and then a low kick. He goes for another straight right but Prazeres drops down for a double leg. Naurdiev stuffs it and the round is over.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Prazeres
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Prazeres

Round 3
Round three begins and the fighters hug and give each other a high five. Prazeres lands a nasty right hook. Naurdiev with two body kicks and then two low kicks. Prazeres uses the kicks to get inside and he has Naurdiev against the fence now. The referee is warning the fighters to work. They don’t and he breaks it up. Prazeres with a wild left hook but Naurdiev moves away. Another low kick by Naurdiev, and another. Prazeres ducks under and goes for a single leg takedown and eventually gets it. Prazeres is on top in half guard in arguably the best position he’s had all fight long. Prazeres looks to get mount but Naurdiev sweeps him. He’s now working for a guillotine choke but uses it to stand up. Naurdiev lands a knee as Prazeres stands up and Prazeres is badly rocked. Prazeres with a desperation body lock takedown but he can’t get it and Naurdiev winds up on top. Naurdiev is pounding on Prazeres here and eventually turns him over. Naurdiev is on top of Prazeres dropping nasty elbows. Prazeres looks to be badly hurt. Naurdiev is raining down ground and pound from back control but Prazeres is able to turn over. Now Naurdiev is in half guard landing nasty elbows from the top. He continues to land hard elbows and punches until the round and fight are over.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev (30-27 Naurdiev)
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev (29-28 Naurdiev)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev (29-28 Naurdiev)

The Official Result
Ismail Naurdiev def. Michel Prazeres via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

Gilbert Burns vs. Michel Prazeres

Round 1
Prazeres catches a kick from Burns and pushes the off-balance “Durinho” to the ground in the center of the cage, landing a straight right hand in the process. Burns tries to lure Prazeres to the ground, can’t, and instead stands up to circle the outside. Prazeres gives chase and walks into a cracking hook from Burns, who can’t capitalize on the knockdown before “Tractor” powers back to his feet. Prazeres gets a kick on the cup but quickly recovers from the inadvertant foul, and the lightweights are back to work with three minutes remaining. Burns connects with a left hook, jumps into range and lands a knee to the body, then circles away before Prazeres can retaliate. Prazeres wraps up Burns at the waist and hits a quick trip takedown, but he can’t keep Burns on the floor.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Burns
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Burns
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Burns

Round 2
Burns’ outstretched hand sticks Prazeres with a finger in the left eye during the first exchange of the round. Prazeres doesn’t seem too badly affected by the foul, and the fight resumes within a minute. They fight for another 20 or 30 seconds before Burns once more kicks Prazeres on the cup. Burns apologizes for the foul when the fight gets back underway. “Durinho” slips to the ground and invites Prazeres to come down, but Prazeres wants nothing to do with the BJJ black belt’s guard. Burns dives for a takedown, gets stuffed and stands up right away to knee Prazeres in the face. The pace slows further in the middle of the round, with neither lightweight being particularly active in the striking department. Prazeres stuffs a late takedown attempt and steps forward to bounce an overhand right off Burns’ face. Burns counters the next punch with a nice hook, but he looks to be fading as he draws a deep breath and lets his hands drop to his waist.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Prazeres
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Prazeres
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Prazeres

Round 3
Prazeres backs up Burns to the fence and hurts him with a hard kick to the body. Prazeres stuffs him to the ground and tries to pound him out, but Burns slows the attack by controlling Prazeres’ wrists. Prazeres complains to referee Osiris Maia that Burns is grabbing inside his gloves. Seconds later, Prazeres yanks his hands free and slugs Burns’ face with a hard shot. Prazeres allows Burns to stand with about 3:30 remaining in the fight. Burns circles to his left around the edge of the cage, hands low but still jogging in place in front of his opponent. Burns whiffs on a spinning attack and gets popped with a pair of punches to the body. Down to the final two minutes now, and Prazeres is just stalking Burns around the cage. Burns occasionally bursts toward his opponent with a knee or punch, but Prazeres continues to land the more accurate stikes. Burns comes alive in the final 30 seconds, winging hard combinations at Prazeres, whose hands are now dropping low, too. Prazeres gets the final word, however, as he grabs a kick and runs Burns to the ground in the center of the cage.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Prazeres (29-28 Prazeres)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Prazeres (29-28 Prazeres)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Prazeres (29-28 Prazeres)

The Official Result
Michel Prazeres def. Gilbert Burns via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00