Brendan Allen vs. Tom Breese

Round 1
A pair of submission-minded fighters will square off now at middleweight, when Allen (13-3, 1-0 UFC) looks to go “All In” against the returning Breese (11-1, 4-1 UFC). Our Octagon ranger is referee Bill Bookwalter, and the commission is keeping refs busy with back-to-back assignments. This fight starts furiously, as they swing with reckless abandon at one another. Breese goes to the body, and Allen clinches up to hit a trip. Breese defends it well, and nearly lifts up a knee to take him down, so Allen stomps his feet. The two jockey for position against the cage and trade knees, and both fight off trip attempts as Breese goes for one and falls to his back. Allen is in a precarious position, and spins out of danger from back control to take half guard. Allen decides not to land many punches, and instead goes after a kimura on the far side while he pops over to side control. He torques the kimura more, and Breese puts his arm behind his back so he escapes the submission, but in the process eats several heavy punches on the chin. Allen goes after the same arm with another kimura, and then bails on it when he slams down elbows. As he works over Breese with these elbows, the Brit smiles and laughs at him while on his back. Allen, comfortable in side control while landing some powerful strikes, fights off a sweep attempt by walking over the cage. Breese circles around and guns for an armbar, but falls to his back and ends in north-south position briefly. Breese throws his legs up to go after a triangle, but his right leg his trapped beneath his opponent so Allen walks past it and cracks him with some nasty elbows.
The punches and elbows rain down from Allen, and Bookwalter is calling for Breese to get out of it. Allen pours it on, and Bookwalter has no choice but to stop the fight.
This is a massive win for “All In,” as he becomes the first fighter to finish the durable Breese.

The Official Result
Brendan Allen def. Tom Breese R1 4:47 via TKO (Elbows and Punches)

Sean Strickland vs. Tom Breese

Round 1
There’s an early feeling-out process as righty Strickland steps forward on southpaw Breese, with the Englishman firing off harder strikes in the first 90 seconds. Breese’s punches don’t look to be landing flush, but already he’s put a few hard kicks on Strickland’s lead leg. Strickland looks to jab his way forward but keeps pulling up short and having his high kicks deflected. A leaping left hand from Breese gets the attention of Strickland, but the American is soon back on the march, walking after his opponent. The striking stalemate continues down the stretch, with both men landing leg kicks and little else in the way of significant strikes.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Breese
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Breese
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-10

Round 2
Strickland continues to press forward at the start of round two, though his aggression is still yielding little in the way of clean offense. Breese isn’t exactly lighting up his opponent, but he’s doing the better work from his back foot through the first 90 seconds. Strickland tries to jab his way forward and gets dinged by a counter left hook. Now a straight left scores down the center for Breese, who’s starting to pick up the pace a little as Strickland’s forward movement drops off. Right on cue, Strickland starts stepping forward again and puts a pair of kicks on Breese’s right thigh. Down to the last minute of the round, Breese finds the mark on Strickland’s gut with a nice left hand. Strickland tries to get busy before the end of the round but walks away shaking his head, hands on his hips.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Breese
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Strickland
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Breese

Round 3
It’s more of the same as the final round begins: Strickland steppping forward, reaching out with long punches for Breese, who slides out of the way and looks to counter off his back foot. Breese begins really connecting when he takes a moment to step inside on Strickland, but that momentum is slowed by a Strickland clinch and the threat of a takedown. The welterweights separate and then tie up again, nearly hitting the ground in a whizzer but instead winding up in a brief clinch on the fence, Strickland on the outside. They step back to the middle of the cage with three minutes left to fight, then spend the better part of a minute circling one another. Strickland snaps off a couple successful jabs, follows them with a right hook. Breese responds with a body kick and a left-handed Superman punch, which hits but doesn’t seem to hurt Strickland. With 60 seconds left, Breese changes levels for a quick takedown, but Strickland is back up immediately and resists the follow-up slam attempt from Breese. The Englishman shoots for another takedown in the waning seconds of the fight, only to be stuffed to his back and socked with a couple punches from Strickland before the final horn.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Strickland (29-28 Breese)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Strickland (29-28 Strickland)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Strickland (29-29 Draw)

The Official Result
Sean Strickland def. Tom Breese via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) R3 5:00