Career Averages - Lone'er Kavanagh
Career Averages - Felipe dos Santos
Lone'er Kavanagh
Felipe dos Santos
Lone'er Kavanagh - Fight History
AJ believes Lone'er Kavanagh will knock out Brandon Royval, calling it a statement performance. He likes Kavanagh KO at +240 and thinks it could happen early, with round one at +650. He dismisses Royval's chances, though notes a Royval KO is possible at +400.
AJ picks Lone'er Kavanagh, calling him his lock of the week. He believes Kavanagh gets an early KO, noting his KO on Contender Series was crazy. AJ acknowledges Royval's underdog potential but is confident in Kavanagh.
AJ picks Lone'er Kavanagh to win, praising his high-level Muay Thai, speed, and technical striking. He believes Kavanagh's educated pressure and combinations will outclass Royval, who is on a two-fight losing streak and coming off a knockout loss. He sees Kavanagh winning by decision or knockout, and notes Royval's best chance is a wild strike.
AJ mentions Royval's best days may be behind him and that Kavanagh could knock him out, but does not make a definitive pick. He suggests he'd rather believe in Kavanagh straight.
AJ picks Kavanagh to outclass Royval, emphasizing Kavanagh's technical striking, speed, and high fight IQ. He believes Kavanagh's clean combinations and body work will overwhelm Royval's chaotic style, and that Royval's recent KO loss raises durability concerns. AJ sees Kavanagh winning by decision or late stoppage.
AJ is confident in Lone'er Kavanagh, calling him a blue-chip prospect with technical striking and knockout power. He believes Kavanagh will knock out Brandon Royval, who may be past his prime after a bad loss. He notes Kavanagh's improved cardio and sees him as a showcase fighter.
Angelo picks Lone'er Kavanagh because he is a fast, clean, technical striker with good cardio, as shown in his five-round win over Brandon Moreno. He believes Kavanagh's speed and power will be too much for Royval, who can be wild and has been knocked out before. He notes that Royval has two hours of octagon time and is dangerous, but Kavanagh should win.
Angelo believes Kavanagh's speed and footwork will be the difference. He thinks Royval is less technical and will struggle to swarm Kavanagh. He notes Kavanagh's cardio concerns but points out he fought 25 minutes against Moreno. He expects Kavanagh to win.
Big Brady picks the fight to end by knockout, taking it at +195 for 1.25 units. He believes Kavanagh will have multiple opportunities to knock out Royval due to Royval's poor striking defense (43%), questionable chin from recent concussions, and willingness to eat shots. He notes Royval's chaotic style creates openings, and Kavanagh's speed and power should connect. He also mentions Royval's only loss by knockout and the possibility of Royval hurting Kavanagh, but leans heavily on Kavanagh's finishing ability.
Big Brady leans towards Kavanagh, citing Royval's recent injuries, concussion issues, and hittability. He thinks the fight will take place standing and Kavanagh's striking is fast and powerful. However, he is concerned about Kavanagh's fluke KO loss to Charles Johnson. He might look at Kavanagh by KO prop.
Big Brady picks Lone'er Kavanagh to win by second-round knockout. He praises Kavanagh's improvement and power, noting his impressive performance against Charles Johnson and Brandon Moreno. He criticizes Royval's poor striking defense and chin issues, believing Kavanagh will land multiple big shots. He thinks Royval's grappling won't be a factor.
Cody picks Kavanagh but is hesitant, citing Royval's inconsistency and durability concerns. He notes Kavanagh's power and youth, and the impressive win over Moreno at altitude. However, he acknowledges Royval's proven level and that Kavanagh has looked inconsistent.
Daniel Levi confidently picks Lone'er Kavanagh, citing Brandon Royval's recent concussion issues, beatdown by Josh Van, and knockout loss to Minnell Cap. He believes Kavanagh is catching Royval at the right time and has the skills to win by decision or knockout. Levi notes that Kavanagh's point-fighting style and Royval's tendency to engage could lead to a dominant performance.
Jacob picks Lone'er Kavanagh, noting that he was impressed by his win over Moreno and that he looked dialed in. He believes Kavanagh's power and speed could trouble Royval, who has been hurt before. He warns that Royval is a wild card and could surprise, but thinks Kavanagh should win if he doesn't try to make a statement and stays patient.
Lucrative James picks Lone'er Kavanagh via KO, praising his elite striking, movement, and counter-punching. He acknowledges Kavanagh's chin issues and potential cardio fade but believes Royval is too hittable and lacks the wrestling to force a grappling war. He warns that if Kavanagh wrestles, Royval's jiu-jitsu could be dangerous, but expects Kavanagh to finish on the feet.
The host believes Kavanagh is ready for this level of competition, as shown in his previous win over Brandon Moreno. He expects Kavanagh to use his speed, calf kicks, and power to touch up Royval and win by knockout.
The host picks Kavanagh by knockout, believing his speed and precision will find Royval's chin. He notes Royval's pace could be a problem and would prefer Kavanagh at a better price than -220, but likes the under 2.5 rounds or fight doesn't go to decision.
Paul picks Kavanagh by KO, believing his power and youth will be decisive. He notes Royval's recent knockout loss and durability questions. He is less interested in a decision win and prefers the KO prop at +240.
The MMA Guru picks Lone'er Kavanagh to win by KO in the first round. He believes Kavanagh's calf kicks and speed will be too much for Brandon Royval, who is coming off a KO loss. He notes that Royval throws with his chin up and is vulnerable to hooks over the top. He predicts Kavanagh will target the body and legs early, then land a hook upstairs.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Moreno | 0 | 79 of 168 | 47% | 134 of 229 | 0 of 8 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 7:20 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 97 of 205 | 47% | 136 of 245 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon Moreno | 0 | 19 of 40 | 47% | 19 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 18 of 45 | 40% | 18 of 45 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Brandon Moreno | 0 | 24 of 54 | 44% | 24 of 54 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 42 of 83 | 50% | 42 of 83 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Brandon Moreno | 0 | 16 of 40 | 40% | 31 of 56 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:21 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 17 of 44 | 38% | 20 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 4 | Brandon Moreno | 0 | 9 of 15 | 60% | 31 of 42 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:08 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 8 of 14 | 57% | 29 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 5 | Brandon Moreno | 0 | 11 of 19 | 57% | 29 of 37 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:51 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 12 of 19 | 63% | 27 of 35 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Moreno | 79 of 168 | 47% | 51 of 133 | 15 of 21 | 13 of 14 | 69 of 154 | 10 of 14 | 0 of 0 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 97 of 205 | 47% | 60 of 160 | 18 of 24 | 19 of 21 | 92 of 198 | 5 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon Moreno | 19 of 40 | 47% | 14 of 34 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 19 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 18 of 45 | 40% | 10 of 33 | 3 of 7 | 5 of 5 | 18 of 45 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Brandon Moreno | 24 of 54 | 44% | 13 of 40 | 6 of 9 | 5 of 5 | 23 of 53 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 42 of 83 | 50% | 30 of 70 | 5 of 6 | 7 of 7 | 39 of 78 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Brandon Moreno | 16 of 40 | 40% | 13 of 35 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 16 of 39 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 17 of 44 | 38% | 11 of 37 | 5 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 17 of 44 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Brandon Moreno | 9 of 15 | 60% | 5 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 5 of 8 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 8 of 14 | 57% | 4 of 8 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 4 | 7 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Brandon Moreno | 11 of 19 | 57% | 6 of 14 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 14 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 12 of 19 | 63% | 5 of 12 | 4 of 4 | 3 of 3 | 11 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Moreno (-230); Kavanagh (+190)
Round 1
Remember, fight fans, this was not the initially intended main event for UFC Mexico. Rather than Moreno (23-9-2, 11-6-2 UFC) taking on Asu Almabayev—acceptable under today’s standards for a main event—he draws Kavanagh (9-1, 2-1 UFC), who just lost his last fight by knockout. Taking the opportunity few else would or could, the Brit falls upward into a pivotal matchup and tries as hard as he can to not drop two in a row. The final official for the evening is referee Herb Dean, who issues final instructions and elicits a fist bump from the two. It’s on with the flyweight show.
Kavanagh moves to the middle of the cage, allowing Moreno to swat at him with range-finding jabs and a looping right hook. Kavanagh takes a funny step when getting kicked, and he gathers himself quickly. Moreno keeps peppering jabs, and he loads up on a left hook. Kavanagh dances back, and he aims a front kick to the chest. Moreno fakes a level change to go upstairs, and he swings wildly and reaches his target at the end of a left. Kavanagh clips Moreno coming in with a right hand that reddens up the former champ’s eye. Kavanagh chops at the front leg, and Moreno’s lead leg is welted and turning red quickly. Kavanagh splits the guard with a right hand down the pipe, and Moreno triples up on a jab that leads to an overhand right.
Kavanagh puts a front kick to the chest and works on the inside of his foe’s front leg, and he speedily raises up a high kick that slaps “The Assassin Baby” in the face. Moreno reaches out with a right that knocks Kavanagh’s hair back, and he rushes in to score a few more. Kavanagh backs him off with a short flurry, spins with a back kick and falls over when comboing it into a high kick. Moreno lets him stand back up because he is having fun striking, and he connects at the end of his punches. Kavanagh leans back but not far enough, so Moreno is able to contact him. Kavanagh’s right hook marks up Moreno’s left eye, who pays it no mind and kicks back at his adversary. Kavanagh pitter patters several punches off the guard, and Moreno’s counter is sharp and accurate. Kavanagh stings Moreno with a left, and Moreno looks around for a moment to gather his thoughts. The first round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh
Round 2
A clap of hands opens the round, one in which Kavanagh starts with a front kick aimed at the face. Moreno replies with a one-two down Broadway, and he has his leg entangled in a kick exchange and tumbles to the mat. Kavanagh does not want to go to the ground with him, so he measures his foe and readies his jab. Kavanagh keeps beating on the front leg, inspiring Moreno to kick him back on the same spot. Moreno goes down for a single, and Kavanagh pushes him away and rattles off punches that bound into the guard. Kavanagh pecks away as Moreno looks for an opening to attack, and he preemptively counters Moreno with a left that stuns the former champ for a second. Kavanagh stabs the body with a kick with his toes pointed straight out at the target, and he slides back from additional offense aimed his way. Moreno appears to be irritated by the kicks beating up his front leg, and he lumbers forward looping right hands at his foe.
Moreno thumps the front leg with a kick and follows Kavanagh around, who is jabbing him square in the nose repeatedly. Moreno loads up with a left hand and is wide open for the counter, and Kavanagh makes sure to make him pay with a monstrous combination that busts the former champion up repeatedly and makes him stumble courtesy of a flush head kick. Moreno backs off to shake out the cobwebs, so Kavanagh slaps kick after kick on the Mexican’s wounded limb. Kavanagh has also busted Moreno’s nose open in the process, with blood leaking out of both nostrils. The Brit checks a kick and fires off a straight one-two followed by a piercing teep kick. Moreno quadruples his jab, snapping the head back each time, and he cracks Kavanagh with a leaping left hand. Moreno follows with a heavy right, getting Kavanagh’s attention and slowing his attack for a time. The horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh
Round 3
Gloves are touched as the athletes reach Round 3, and Moreno flashes his jab several times and lashes out with his right. Kavanagh hammers his front leg, one that is badly welted at this point, and paws out with jabs. He hops away from the looping right hand of “The Assassin Baby” and jams the body with a front kick, keeping Moreno at bay for the time being. Moreno reaches out with a big right hand, and he follows with a left and then another to boot. Moreno turns it on with a flurry that Kavanagh largely evades, and Kavanagh replies with a few speedy punches up high. Kavanagh drives home a one-two on the jaw, and he is again reached with the right hand from the ex-champ. Moreno flicks out his jab a few times and paws away the ones aimed at him, and he puts a little more steam behind a left hand that misses but leads to a takedown shot.
The Mexican fighter considers a single, and he transitions to wrap his arms around his opponent’s waist so that he can hoist him to the floor. Kavanagh keeps his balance, so Moreno starts jackhammering him on the thigh in the same spot time and again. Moreno breaks off and partially lands a left on the break, and Kavanagh slips when pitching a front kick. Moreno scores a one-two and shells up to defend a high kick. Moreno connects with two punches and lets a bunch bang into his gloves, rushing his opponent but taking a hard kick on the way in. Moreno targets the body with the ball of his foot, and he swats out a left and leans back on the expected counter. Moreno pursues a single, backing Kavanagh to the wall but not grounding him. Moreno knees the thigh when leaning on his foe, spamming them until time runs out in the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Moreno
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Moreno
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Moreno
Round 4
Having reached the championship rounds, the two share a high-five. Moreno, who is well-schooled and conditioned for five rounds, pushes the pace right out of the gate. He punches his way into a takedown shot, grabbing hold of Kavanagh’s left leg for his single attempt. Kavanagh defends it with his back to the fence, but this leads to Moreno pressing him against the cage as if he were trying to squeeze him through the chain links like a Play-Do mold. Moreno puts some mustard into his repeated knees to the inner thigh, hitting one of two spots time and time again with Kavanagh unable to get out. The damage might not be significant, but he nullifies the unranked fighter in this position. Kavanagh starts to smack Moreno with short, ineffective right hands, and Moreno doggedly pursues the takedown. Dean asks for them to work, so Kavanagh tries to take things into his own hands and step out of it. Moreno follows all the while, exerting heavy pressure while constantly threatening with a trip or other level change.
Dean wants them to keep working, and once more it is up to Kavanagh to do something, so he does. Kavanagh escapes out the side, and he slams a kick on the calf. A second from the Brit makes Moreno limp, his poker face gone as he tries to put weight on his damaged limb. Moreno pushes out his jabs, and he swings recklessly with two punches as Kavanagh slips away. Kavanagh works the body with a kick, and he tries a low kick but has his leg caught when Moreno tries to take the fight down. Moreno settles for more cage squeezing, replete with knee strikes to the thigh. Dean calls multiple times for more activity, so Moreno frames off and jacks Kavanagh in the jaw with a left hand. Kavanagh spins with a wheel kick, bouncing it into the guard, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Moreno
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Moreno
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Moreno
Round 5
It could be all tied up in the final round, and the two hug it out before finishing their business. At best, Moreno is 2-2, but Kavanagh could easily be up three rounds to one. Kavanagh leads off with a low kick, and he evades the one-two aimed at his face but is in the crosshairs of the takedown attempt. Moreno leans as heavily as he can once he plants Kavanagh’s back on the fence, comfortably engaging in a wall-and-stall style that would not thrill most viewers. The knees to the thigh may be effective and are scoring, but the damage is less-than-stellar. Dean keeps telling Moreno he will break them up if he does not do more, and Moreno eats up all the time he can in this position. Dean splits them up, and Moreno is leaking and practically sprays blood out of his mouth when he exhales. Kavanagh smacks the front leg and then goes up high with his same leg, and Moreno stays right in front of him. Moreno ducks a punch and clashes heads with his foe, avoid a flying knee so he can engage in more clinchery.
Moreno is more than happy to work on the thigh with his knees and little else, until he changes his strategy to lace his legs between his foe’s to trip him up. The younger man keeps his balance and holds on, defending a standing back take by putting his back against the wall again. Kavanagh lashes out with an elbow to force a break, and he drills Moreno in the gut with a solid kick. Moreno gets off a pair of jabs and takes another front kick, and Kavanagh sits down on several punches while Moreno is in front of him. Moreno connects with a flush left hand and forces the tie-up, and Dean wastes no time asking for Moreno to fight more. Moreno brings up a knee to the chest this time, when otherwise pressuring Kavanagh with all his might. Kavanagh tries for a trip, but Moreno breaks off. Kavanagh swings one final spinning back kick to the body, and the grueling five-rounder finally comes to an end. Scores could be all over the map here, but more than anything, it proves that Kavanagh can hang among the top echelon of his division after all.
When the cards were read, the 49-46 card gave up who got the nod, because there would be no reasonable explanation for Moreno to win four rounds. The crowd is understandably silent, having watched their hometown hero lose a bloody upset to a foreign up-and-comer on relatively short notice. The victor is nothing but gracious, remembering his fallen father while thanking his team and family first. He suggests that life is made up of a few legendary moments, and that he just “beat a legend.” Kavanagh offers a respectful callout to anyone in the division, and commentator Michael Bisping is trying to hide the smile on his face from ear to ear. Next week, there is a belt* on the line at UFC 326, and we will be there for it. We hope you are too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh (48-47 Kavanagh)
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Moreno (48-47 Moreno)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh (48-47 Kavanagh)
The Official Result
Lone’er Kavanagh def. Brandon Moreno via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
Angelo hesitantly picks Brandon Moreno, acknowledging that Lone'er Kavanagh is fast and accurate and could give Moreno trouble early. He notes Moreno's five-round experience and toughness as key advantages, expecting him to outlast Kavanagh who may fade. He admits if it were a three-round fight with a full camp, he would pick Kavanagh.
Big Brady picks Brandon Moreno, citing his hometown advantage, experience as a former champion, and step down in competition. He notes Kavanagh looked good in the first round against Charles Johnson but faded and got knocked out. Brady believes Moreno's cardio, pressure, and minute-winning ability will lead to a decision win, possibly a late finish if Kavanagh slows down.
Cody points out Moreno's recent stylistic changes, lack of wrestling, and potential decline. He highlights Kavanagh's speed and power, and the danger of an early knockout. Despite these concerns, he picks Moreno due to the difficulty of betting against him, but strongly advises live betting or hedging.
Connor agrees with Zane that Moreno should win, but he is slightly less confident due to Moreno's recent inconsistent performances. He notes that Moreno sometimes makes weird mistakes and that Kavanagh is a dangerous counterpuncher with speed and accuracy. However, Connor ultimately believes Moreno's experience and ability to pressure will be too much for Kavanagh, especially given Kavanagh's stamina concerns.
Daniel picks Brandon Moreno to win, citing his well-rounded skills and fight IQ. He notes Moreno's takedown advantage against Royval's poor takedown defense, but acknowledges Royval's danger on the feet with unorthodox strikes. He expects Moreno to exploit takedown defense and control the fight on the ground, though he warns that Moreno has been dropped in recent fights.
The host is betting on Moreno despite his decline, because the circumstances heavily favor him. Moreno has experience fighting in Mexico City, excellent cardio, and has never been knocked out. Kavanagh is inexperienced (10 pro fights), a volume striker with no knockout power, and is fighting on short notice at high altitude. The host believes Kavanagh would need to finish Moreno or win a clear decision, both unlikely. He plans to parlay Moreno with Zellhuber.
James believes Kavanagh is one of the best flyweights despite his loss to Charles Johnson, citing his speed, footwork, and counter-striking. He questions Moreno's consistency and recent performance, noting Moreno's age and potential decline. James sees value in Kavanagh at +210 odds, predicting Moreno may not push the pace needed to exploit Kavanagh's cardio concerns.
The host picks Brandon Moreno inside the distance, expecting a round 4 or 5 finish. He notes Moreno's experience, cardio, and durability, and believes Kavanagh will fade in the later rounds due to altitude and short notice. He is surprised the line moved to -225 and considers it a great value. He predicts a late TKO or submission.
Paul acknowledges Moreno's experience and cardio advantage, especially at altitude. He notes Moreno's wrestling and submission game are superior, and expects Moreno to take over in later rounds. He is puzzled by the money coming in on Kavanagh and recommends Moreno as a parlay piece, but suggests live betting for better value.
The MMA Guru picks Brandon Moreno, noting that Lone'er Kavanagh has a cardio issue and gasses after about 7 minutes. He argues that Moreno is hard to finish early and that Kavanagh's only path to victory is a first-round TKO, which is unlikely at Mexico City altitude. He predicts a late-rounds TKO for Moreno, possibly in rounds 4 or 5.
Zane picks Moreno because Kavanagh is not ready for this level of competition, especially on short notice and at altitude. He notes that Kavanagh's gas tank was a problem against Charles Johnson, and Moreno's experience and ability to set a comfortable tempo will likely overwhelm him. Zane also mentions that Moreno has a reach advantage and is fighting at home, which should help him make better decisions.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Johnson | 1 | 44 of 81 | 54% | 52 of 89 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 0:32 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 59 of 120 | 49% | 60 of 121 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 1 | 0:59 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Johnson | 0 | 14 of 25 | 56% | 14 of 25 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 36 of 65 | 55% | 37 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Charles Johnson | 1 | 30 of 56 | 53% | 38 of 64 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:22 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 23 of 55 | 41% | 23 of 55 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 1 | 0:59 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Johnson | 44 of 81 | 54% | 18 of 49 | 6 of 10 | 20 of 22 | 37 of 71 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 4 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 59 of 120 | 49% | 32 of 83 | 21 of 26 | 6 of 11 | 53 of 111 | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Johnson | 14 of 25 | 56% | 3 of 11 | 2 of 4 | 9 of 10 | 14 of 24 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 36 of 65 | 55% | 17 of 37 | 14 of 18 | 5 of 10 | 34 of 63 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Charles Johnson | 30 of 56 | 53% | 15 of 38 | 4 of 6 | 11 of 12 | 23 of 47 | 4 of 5 | 3 of 4 |
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 23 of 55 | 41% | 15 of 46 | 7 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 19 of 48 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Blue-chip flyweight Kavanagh will look to keep his professional record spotless against Johnson, who saw a four-fight win streak snapped at UFC Vegas 103 in March. The third man in the Octagon will be Jim Perdios. Johnson is southpaw, Kavanagh orthodox to start things off, but Johnson is fluid, switching briefly to match his foe. Kavanagh catches him mid-switch with a leg kick that nearly takes him off his feet. Johnson throws up a half-speed body kick to the open side, and Kavanagh comes back with a much harder one that hurts the taller man. Kavanagh with a stiff leg kick. Johnson is reeling from the speed and power of Kavanagh’s kicks. Kavanagh lands two more hard body kicks, and Johnson clinches and drives him to the fence. They disengage a moment later and trade kicks in open space. Johnson takes the front foot, marching forward, and Kavanagh meets him with a pair of hooks to the head. Johnson shakes them off and keeps coming forward, but Kavanagh is picking him apart with kicks to the legs and body, interspersed with punches upstairs. The horn sounds.
10-9 Kavanagh.
Round 2
They touch gloves to open Round 2 and Johnson is immediately on the offensive, coming forward with long kicks up the middle. Kavanagh gives ground, circles out and then plants his feet, meeting Johnson with a one-two. Johnson changes levels and shoots into a front headlock. Johnson remains calm and passes to side control, where Kavanagh wisely bails on the choke and scrambles to his feet. Johnson shoots again, and once again Kavanagh snares his neck. This time the guillotine choke looks tight, and Kavanagh falls to guard. Johnson pulls his head out and goes to stand, only to have Kavanagh toss him back to the canvas. They scramble back up and return to striking near the center of the cage. Kavanagh slips after a kick but pops right back up. Two minutes left in the round, and Johnson absorbs a right cross. Johnson surges forward, but Kavanagh slips laterally and tags him with a punch. Johnson enters the pocket and lands a level elbow, probably his best single strike of the fight so far. Johnson drives Kavanagh to the fence and unloads with a flurry of hooks to the body. Johnson breaks away and when Kavanagh steps into range,
Johnson eats a short left hand, then retaliates with a massive right that completely wrecks the Englishman, who never brought his guard back up after landing his own punch.
Kavanagh goes down in a heap, the follow-up blows a mere formality as Perdios dives in for the stop. “InnerG” has derailed yet another red-hot flyweight prospect in the UFC. Fantastic comeback finish.
The Official Result
Charles Johnson def. Lone'er Kavanagh R2 4:35 via KO (Punches)
Angelo picks Lone'er Kavanagh but is hesitant, noting that Charles Johnson is a friend of the show and a good fighter. He praises Kavanagh's speed, power, and ability to transition to wrestling instantly. He thinks the odds are too wide and that Johnson is not a 2-to-1 underdog. He says he'll be rooting for Johnson but thinks Kavanagh probably gets it done due to speed and volume.
Big Brady picks Lone'er Kavanagh to win a close decision, noting that Kavanagh is a real prospect with power and takedown ability. He criticizes Charles Johnson for consistently losing first rounds and being takedown-prone. He believes Kavanagh will win rounds one and two, while Johnson may take round three, leading to a decision for Kavanagh.
Connor picks Kavanagh largely on vibes, citing Kavanagh's ability to understand what wins rounds and his good footwork. He notes that Kavanagh is an impactful kicker and can neutralize opponents, and that Johnson may lose track of the fight in a slow-paced bout. However, he acknowledges the matchup is close and could go either way.
The host notes that Kavanagh is usually at super chalky odds but here at -180, it's a great entry point. He thinks Johnson may not have the power to get Kavanagh's respect, and while Johnson may have an advantage in output and volume, Kavanagh should mix martial arts well with power strikes, speed, and takedowns to win on the scorecards.
The MMA Guru picks Charles Johnson to win by decision as an underdog (+170). He believes Johnson's experience and ability to survive and push the pace will be key. He notes that Kavanagh struggled in close fights against Jose Ochoa and Felipe dos Santos, and that Johnson is hard to outgrapple effectively. He expects Johnson to have a strong third round and win a close decision, though he acknowledges Kavanagh could land a knockout.
Zane picks Charles Johnson, reasoning that Kavanagh has fought raw prospects who make mistakes, while Johnson is a seasoned veteran who can capitalize on Kavanagh's tendency to give opponents chances. He notes that Johnson's craft and experience should be enough to edge out a close decision, though he admits it feels like a wrong pick.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 58 of 97 | 59% | 71 of 112 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 6:33 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 51 of 104 | 49% | 92 of 147 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:56 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 11 of 23 | 47% | 11 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:39 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 15 of 32 | 46% | 23 of 40 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:43 | |
| 2 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 29 of 51 | 56% | 42 of 66 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 3:36 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 25 of 36 | 69% | 45 of 58 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:13 | |
| 3 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 18 of 23 | 78% | 18 of 23 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 2:18 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 11 of 36 | 30% | 24 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 58 of 97 | 59% | 37 of 71 | 11 of 15 | 10 of 11 | 29 of 56 | 3 of 6 | 26 of 35 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 51 of 104 | 49% | 28 of 67 | 9 of 21 | 14 of 16 | 28 of 77 | 4 of 4 | 19 of 23 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 11 of 23 | 47% | 1 of 12 | 2 of 3 | 8 of 8 | 10 of 19 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 15 of 32 | 46% | 3 of 12 | 5 of 12 | 7 of 8 | 13 of 30 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 29 of 51 | 56% | 25 of 45 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 23 of 30 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 25 of 36 | 69% | 18 of 27 | 3 of 4 | 4 of 5 | 8 of 16 | 2 of 2 | 15 of 18 | |
| 3 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 18 of 23 | 78% | 11 of 14 | 6 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 5 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 11 of 36 | 30% | 7 of 28 | 1 of 5 | 3 of 3 | 7 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 5 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Kavanagh (-305), dos Santos (+245)
Round 1
Dan Movahedi will oversee this flyweight clash. Dos Santos chips way at the lead leg. Kavanagh just avoids a kick up high. Dos Santos clips Kavanagh and then clinches with his foe. Movahedi warns dos Santos twice to pull his fingers out of the cage. They separate and return to distance. They trade low kicks. Dos Santos with a body kick. An inside low kick lands for Kavanagh. They clinch in the center of the cage and dos Santos lands a knee. Dos Santos goes for a spinning elbow on the break, and they engage again. Kavanagh is busted open from the strike. They trade low kicks in the center of the cage. Dos Santos charges in and presses Kavanagh into the fence. Kavanagh is bleeding more profusely as they battle in the clinch. Neither man gains an advantage and they end the frame at range.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 dos Santos
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 dos Santos
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 dos Santos
Round 2
Dos Santos goes low with two leg kicks and then fires a head kick that just misses. Kavanagh buckles the Brazilian with a low kick. A jab lands for dos Santos before they clinch. The Brazilian lands a few knees in close. Kavanagh circles off and they have a wild exchange. Kavanagh lands some heavy shots near the fence, forcing dos Santos to shoot. Kavanagh ends up on top and he drops some hammerfists from above. dos Santos is active with his guard, but he’s eating more ground-and-pound for his efforts. Kavanagh maintains top position, but dos Santos is active with punches, hammerfists and elbows from his back. Kavanagh answers with an elbow from above. Kavanagh takes the back as dos Santos stands, and he slams the Brazilian to the mat. Kavanagh is in his opponent’s half guard with 1:30 to go. Kavanagh drops a heavy elbow. Dos Santos is throwing elbows from his back as well. Dos Santos throws a few hammerfists and Kavanagh responds with another punishing elbow from above. Both men are covered in blood now. Dos Santos scrambles up, but Kavanagh is able to escape a guillotine and assume top position. The Brit unleashes some more ground-and-pound before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh
Round 3
Kavanagh opens with a kick to the body. A solid low kick lands for the London native. More body kicks from Kavanagh, and then he catches dos Snatos with a head kick. Dos Santos pressures with punches but Kavanagh evades the majority of them. Kavanagh counters a head kick with a crisp right. Kavanagh explodes for a takedown and plants dos Santos on his back with a little less than three minutes to go in the fight. Dos Santos remains active with his guard, but he’s warned about throwing upkicks, as Kavanagh is grounded. Kavanagh drops an elbow after the warning. Dos Santos scrambles up, but Kavanagh drives him into the fence, lifts him and puts him right back down on the mat. The Brazilian scoots to a seated position against the fence. Dos Santos throws some downward elbows at Kavanagh’s spine, which draws another stern warning from Movahedi. Kavanagh lands a knee as dos Santos stands. Back at range now dos Santos is stalking. He just misses on a spinning back elbow. A spinning kick also misses the mark, and Kavanagh cracks the Brazilian a couple more times before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh (29-28 Kavanagh)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh (29-28 Kavanagh)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh (29-28 Kavanagh)
The Official Result
Lone’er Kavanagh def. Felipe dos Santos via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00
Angelo picks Lone'er Kavanagh, emphasizing his incredible speed and composure. He acknowledges that Kavanagh hasn't faced top competition and that Felipe's forward pressure will test him. He wants to see if Kavanagh can fight backwards and counter-strike. Ultimately, he trusts Kavanagh's speed and potential, though he admits we'll learn a lot about him in this fight.
Brady likes Kavanagh's clean striking and power, and notes dos Santos has poor takedown defense and striking defense. He thinks Kavanagh can mix in takedowns if needed. Despite dos Santos being tough, Brady predicts a decision win for Kavanagh.
Connor agrees with Zane, calling Kavanagh a natural genius for fighting. He notes Kavanagh is well-suited to deal with dos Santos, with more killer instinct than Malyk. Connor thinks Kavanagh's selective technique and flowy striking will be too much for dos Santos, who is brave but not as dynamic.
The host considers Kavanagh one of the hottest UK prospects and expects him to showcase his skills. Dos Santos might make it close early, but as Kavanagh's damage piles up, he will cause dos Santos to break, leading to a late finish or decision win.
The Guru picks Lone'er Kavanagh, believing he is crisper on the feet and has good grappling instincts. He notes that Kavanagh is compact and beats opponents to the punch, while dos Santos has been in many scraps and may be more damaged. He expects a TKO in the second or third round, as Kavanagh's pressure and body work will wear down dos Santos.
Zane is confident in Kavanagh, calling him a super prospect with fantastic eyes and lightning quick reactions. He notes Kavanagh is technical, flows from defense to offense, and uses spinning kicks well. Zane thinks dos Santos is a good test but not as refined as Charles Oliveira, and Kavanagh should find holes in his combinations.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 51 of 126 | 40% | 51 of 126 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jose Ochoa | 0 | 50 of 158 | 31% | 59 of 168 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:36 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 21 of 45 | 46% | 21 of 45 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jose Ochoa | 0 | 19 of 44 | 43% | 19 of 44 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 18 of 46 | 39% | 18 of 46 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jose Ochoa | 0 | 20 of 60 | 33% | 29 of 70 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:33 | |
| 3 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 12 of 35 | 34% | 12 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jose Ochoa | 0 | 11 of 54 | 20% | 11 of 54 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 51 of 126 | 40% | 24 of 74 | 12 of 28 | 15 of 24 | 50 of 124 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Jose Ochoa | 50 of 158 | 31% | 13 of 78 | 13 of 40 | 24 of 40 | 49 of 156 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 21 of 45 | 46% | 6 of 21 | 4 of 10 | 11 of 14 | 21 of 45 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Jose Ochoa | 19 of 44 | 43% | 3 of 19 | 2 of 6 | 14 of 19 | 19 of 44 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 18 of 46 | 39% | 9 of 28 | 7 of 11 | 2 of 7 | 17 of 45 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Jose Ochoa | 20 of 60 | 33% | 7 of 29 | 6 of 20 | 7 of 11 | 19 of 58 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 12 of 35 | 34% | 9 of 25 | 1 of 7 | 2 of 3 | 12 of 34 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Jose Ochoa | 11 of 54 | 20% | 3 of 30 | 5 of 14 | 3 of 10 | 11 of 54 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
A pair of unbeaten newcomers with seven wins apiece meet in hopes of keeping their spotless records intact. The prospects of Kavanagh (7-0, 0-0 UFC) are high, with many calling for him to get a call up to the big leagues after wiping out Davide Scarano with a spinning back kick in 2023. It took a bit longer than he expected, but he made it, and he meets Ochoa (7-0, 1 NC; 0-0 UFC). While the Brit has heard the final bell in the past, Ochoa has never even fought into the third round. Referee Mark Craig will have his hands full with these flyweights for as long as it goes. They share a sporting glove touch to get started, and Kavanagh strikes first with a low kick. Kavanagh parries the jabs Ochoa is setting up, ignoring a stomping kick to his knees so he can work his way in. Kavanagh has to hop back to block a head kick, and he presses forward with a push kick. Ochoa chops at the lead leg with a kick, and Kavanagh responds in kind. A head kick buzzes past Ochoa’s face in the blink of an eye, with the Peruvian looking at it with bemusement. Kavanagh chips at the front leg, and Ochoa does the same as they do not set up much else. Kavanagh nails the lead leg with a kick that makes Ochoa recoil it, and he dodges a counter right over the top when loosing a body kick. Kavanagh blocks a front kick and whiffs with a head kick, and he sees Ochoa come barreling towards him and blonks him on the head with a right hook. The Peruvian wears it well and lets fly a head kick that is blocked, with the two going tit-for-tat against one another. Ochoa connects with two leg kicks, and the crowd starts wooing as it is not entertained. Both fighters come up short on power strikes, with Kavanagh eventually reaching with a leg kick and then one to the ribs. Kavanagh closes in when Ochoa attempts a spinning back fist, and he chews up the inside and outside of Ochoa’s right leg with kicks. Ochoa goes wide with a haymaker, and Kavanagh slips the strikes and responds with a left hook that cuts Ochoa’s right eye. In a flurry of strikes, a Kavanagh kick does not find the right area and instead blasts Ochoa square in the family jewels. Ochoa walks off in pain, and Kavanagh knows what he did and apologizes. Craig calls time and tells Ochoa he has plenty of time to recover, and Ochoa is not having a good time right now. It takes over a minute for Ochoa to stand up, and he asks for a chance to wipe his bloodied eye that is cut on the lid. After 90 seconds, Ochoa is good to go, and they share a glove touch to restart. Kavanagh reintroduces himself with two more accurate leg kicks, and he allows Ochoa to kick him so he can plant a capoeira kick on his ribs. An Ochoa kick appears to go low, but Kavanagh waves it off and they trade front kicks. A clean Ochoa front kick drives Kavanagh back, and Kavanagh rushes at him swinging two hooks and a kick before the horn sounds. 10-9 Kavanagh.
Round 2
The fighters share a glove touch to get going in Round 2, with Kavanagh twirling about when not committing entirely to a leg kick. He instead aims one to the side, and he leans back when Ochoa’s feet fly past his face. Ochoa scores a Mortal Kombat-inspired sweep kick to the low leg, and Kavanagh no-sells it and responds with a head kick. Kavanagh chambers and fires a slapping leg kick, hoping to set up a high kick but Ochoa is wise to the latter. Ochoa keeps his hands dangerously low as he prods out with front kicks, and he sways back when Kavanagh kicks at him. Kavanagh scores a right hand, has a kick roll off his shoulder and prepares to fire off a counter. The right hand that comes from the Brit puts Ochoa on his seat, and Ochoa, grinning the whole time, climbs back to his feet. Ochoa attacks the front leg repeatedly, landing three or four until Kavanagh lets fly a booming body kick. Ochoa’s kicks keep his man at safe range until Kavanagh gets sick of waiting and lunges to blaze him with a right and then a huge left hook. Ochoa wants to engage, smiling all the while, and he absorbs a powerful left hand that makes him smile and bleed. Kavanagh’s poker face never changes as he unleashes kicks to the body and front leg, and Ochoa splits the distance and delivers a clean body shot. Ochoa chains and fires a few flashy strikes together that all miss, and he tries a capoeira kick that comes up short. Kavanagh stays composed and dings him with a left hook to draw more blood, and his leg kick keeps battering the front leg. Ochoa splits the guard with a front kick, and this makes Kavanagh bite down on his mouthpiece to engage. Ochoa appears to get the better of the exchange, hurting the former Cage Warriors fighter with a long series of punches. Ochoa changes the strikes to body shots, lowering Kavanagh to the floor until Kavanagh shoots desperately. The Peruvian jumps around to take the back, and he hunts for a rear-naked choke while on his foe’s back. Kavanagh leans against the fence to survive the submission, with the horn ending the round. 10-9 Ochoa.
Round 3
The fighters reach the final frame and clap hands, and it could be all tied up or Kavanagh could be ahead. No matter the score, the competitors get to business before long. Legs fly from both sides, with Ochoa picking and poking with kicks high and low, and his body kick draws a reaction out of his man. With Ochoa selling out for kicks, Kavanagh times a left hand that drops Ochoa. Kavanagh does not go wild for long, letting Ochoa have it but paying attention to when the jump knee inevitably comes at him. Ochoa gathers himself and beats on the body with kicks, and Kavanagh returns fire with two that leave mean looking welts on Ochoa’s waist. Kavanagh lunges with a left hook, and he nails the front leg with a kick. Ochoa digs a left to head and right to the body, and Kavanagh pays him back with a short but fierce combination. Ochoa tries to sweep the leg dramatically, and this time it is way short and the crowd boos him. The two crash together with offense, as Ochoa tries a head kick while too close. Kavanagh slips a huge punch to escape from harm, hand-fighting and letting loose with a head kick. Ochoa shrugs at him and belts him with a low kick. Ochoa chases Kavanagh down, walking into a jump knee as he spins with a back fist that bangs into the chest. Kavanagh strafes to the side, avoiding a hook kick and a head kick with active movement. Ochoa’s kicks miss again and again, resulting in Ochoa shrugging at him. Kavanagh wraps a head kick around the guard, and they both land with their fists. Ochoa steps in with a knee, and he gets countered with a left over the top and has a head kick graze his chin. Ochoa walks Kavanagh down without fear, kicking his way into a single-leg takedown attempt that fails. Kavanagh intercepts a kick to blast Ochoa in the face with a right hand, and he spins with a wheel kick that connects cleanly. The two fighters hug it out, and Kavanagh hits a back flip just because he can. 10-9 Kavanagh (29-28 Kavanagh).
The Official Result
Lone'er Kavanagh def. Jose Ochoa via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Lone'er Kavanagh, emphasizing his incredible speed and raw power. He believes Kavanagh's high-level training and speed will be the difference, as Ochoa will struggle to see shots coming. He notes both are finishers and suggests an under on round lines could be a play.
Big Brady picks Kavanagh to win by decision. He acknowledges the hype on Kavanagh from his contender series knockout but notes Jose Ochoa is dangerous with power. He believes Kavanagh has more ways to win with better tools on the feet and ground, and can mix in takedowns. He expects a back-and-forth war that goes the distance with Kavanagh getting his hand raised.
Cody picks Kavanagh confidently, calling him a top prospect with dynamic striking and grappling. He notes that Ochoa is a tough Peruvian brawler but lacks the technical skills to hang with Kavanagh. He expects Kavanagh to win by knockout, possibly early, and sees him as a top ticket play.
Daniel Vreeland praises both fighters as studs but gives the edge to Kavanagh due to being more seasoned and having fought higher-level competition. He notes that Ochoa is impressive and could be a top prospect soon, but Kavanagh's experience and maturity make him the pick. However, he mentions he would bet on Ochoa as an underdog due to the value.
Kavanagh has the hype but Ochoa has talent and potential. The line is too wide, but Kavanagh should land big shots and find a knockout. A small sprinkle on the underdog is suggested.
Paul agrees, noting Kavanagh's footwork and power are on another level. He acknowledges Ochoa's toughness but thinks Kavanagh's technique will be too much. He expects a dominant performance and is comfortable laying the chalk.
The MMA Guru is high on Lone'er Kavanagh, describing him as a savage with nasty combos and highlight-reel finishes. He notes Kavanagh has faced tougher competition, with his last three opponents having a combined record of 16-0. He believes Kavanagh's power at flyweight and good takedown defense will be key, and predicts a TKO win in round one or two. He thinks it would take a gritty veteran to beat Kavanagh.
Felipe dos Santos - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 58 of 97 | 59% | 71 of 112 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 6:33 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 51 of 104 | 49% | 92 of 147 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:56 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 11 of 23 | 47% | 11 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:39 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 15 of 32 | 46% | 23 of 40 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:43 | |
| 2 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 29 of 51 | 56% | 42 of 66 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 3:36 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 25 of 36 | 69% | 45 of 58 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:13 | |
| 3 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 0 | 18 of 23 | 78% | 18 of 23 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 2:18 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 11 of 36 | 30% | 24 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lone'er Kavanagh | 58 of 97 | 59% | 37 of 71 | 11 of 15 | 10 of 11 | 29 of 56 | 3 of 6 | 26 of 35 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 51 of 104 | 49% | 28 of 67 | 9 of 21 | 14 of 16 | 28 of 77 | 4 of 4 | 19 of 23 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 11 of 23 | 47% | 1 of 12 | 2 of 3 | 8 of 8 | 10 of 19 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 15 of 32 | 46% | 3 of 12 | 5 of 12 | 7 of 8 | 13 of 30 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 29 of 51 | 56% | 25 of 45 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 23 of 30 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 25 of 36 | 69% | 18 of 27 | 3 of 4 | 4 of 5 | 8 of 16 | 2 of 2 | 15 of 18 | |
| 3 | Lone'er Kavanagh | 18 of 23 | 78% | 11 of 14 | 6 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 5 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 11 of 36 | 30% | 7 of 28 | 1 of 5 | 3 of 3 | 7 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 5 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Kavanagh (-305), dos Santos (+245)
Round 1
Dan Movahedi will oversee this flyweight clash. Dos Santos chips way at the lead leg. Kavanagh just avoids a kick up high. Dos Santos clips Kavanagh and then clinches with his foe. Movahedi warns dos Santos twice to pull his fingers out of the cage. They separate and return to distance. They trade low kicks. Dos Santos with a body kick. An inside low kick lands for Kavanagh. They clinch in the center of the cage and dos Santos lands a knee. Dos Santos goes for a spinning elbow on the break, and they engage again. Kavanagh is busted open from the strike. They trade low kicks in the center of the cage. Dos Santos charges in and presses Kavanagh into the fence. Kavanagh is bleeding more profusely as they battle in the clinch. Neither man gains an advantage and they end the frame at range.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 dos Santos
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 dos Santos
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 dos Santos
Round 2
Dos Santos goes low with two leg kicks and then fires a head kick that just misses. Kavanagh buckles the Brazilian with a low kick. A jab lands for dos Santos before they clinch. The Brazilian lands a few knees in close. Kavanagh circles off and they have a wild exchange. Kavanagh lands some heavy shots near the fence, forcing dos Santos to shoot. Kavanagh ends up on top and he drops some hammerfists from above. dos Santos is active with his guard, but he’s eating more ground-and-pound for his efforts. Kavanagh maintains top position, but dos Santos is active with punches, hammerfists and elbows from his back. Kavanagh answers with an elbow from above. Kavanagh takes the back as dos Santos stands, and he slams the Brazilian to the mat. Kavanagh is in his opponent’s half guard with 1:30 to go. Kavanagh drops a heavy elbow. Dos Santos is throwing elbows from his back as well. Dos Santos throws a few hammerfists and Kavanagh responds with another punishing elbow from above. Both men are covered in blood now. Dos Santos scrambles up, but Kavanagh is able to escape a guillotine and assume top position. The Brit unleashes some more ground-and-pound before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh
Round 3
Kavanagh opens with a kick to the body. A solid low kick lands for the London native. More body kicks from Kavanagh, and then he catches dos Snatos with a head kick. Dos Santos pressures with punches but Kavanagh evades the majority of them. Kavanagh counters a head kick with a crisp right. Kavanagh explodes for a takedown and plants dos Santos on his back with a little less than three minutes to go in the fight. Dos Santos remains active with his guard, but he’s warned about throwing upkicks, as Kavanagh is grounded. Kavanagh drops an elbow after the warning. Dos Santos scrambles up, but Kavanagh drives him into the fence, lifts him and puts him right back down on the mat. The Brazilian scoots to a seated position against the fence. Dos Santos throws some downward elbows at Kavanagh’s spine, which draws another stern warning from Movahedi. Kavanagh lands a knee as dos Santos stands. Back at range now dos Santos is stalking. He just misses on a spinning back elbow. A spinning kick also misses the mark, and Kavanagh cracks the Brazilian a couple more times before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh (29-28 Kavanagh)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh (29-28 Kavanagh)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kavanagh (29-28 Kavanagh)
The Official Result
Lone’er Kavanagh def. Felipe dos Santos via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00
Angelo picks Lone'er Kavanagh, emphasizing his incredible speed and composure. He acknowledges that Kavanagh hasn't faced top competition and that Felipe's forward pressure will test him. He wants to see if Kavanagh can fight backwards and counter-strike. Ultimately, he trusts Kavanagh's speed and potential, though he admits we'll learn a lot about him in this fight.
Brady likes Kavanagh's clean striking and power, and notes dos Santos has poor takedown defense and striking defense. He thinks Kavanagh can mix in takedowns if needed. Despite dos Santos being tough, Brady predicts a decision win for Kavanagh.
Connor agrees with Zane, calling Kavanagh a natural genius for fighting. He notes Kavanagh is well-suited to deal with dos Santos, with more killer instinct than Malyk. Connor thinks Kavanagh's selective technique and flowy striking will be too much for dos Santos, who is brave but not as dynamic.
The host considers Kavanagh one of the hottest UK prospects and expects him to showcase his skills. Dos Santos might make it close early, but as Kavanagh's damage piles up, he will cause dos Santos to break, leading to a late finish or decision win.
The Guru picks Lone'er Kavanagh, believing he is crisper on the feet and has good grappling instincts. He notes that Kavanagh is compact and beats opponents to the punch, while dos Santos has been in many scraps and may be more damaged. He expects a TKO in the second or third round, as Kavanagh's pressure and body work will wear down dos Santos.
Zane is confident in Kavanagh, calling him a super prospect with fantastic eyes and lightning quick reactions. He notes Kavanagh is technical, flows from defense to offense, and uses spinning kicks well. Zane thinks dos Santos is a good test but not as refined as Charles Oliveira, and Kavanagh should find holes in his combinations.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| André Lima | 0 | 38 of 76 | 50% | 69 of 122 | 0 of 8 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:41 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 18 of 37 | 48% | 43 of 70 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 2 | 0 | 9:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | André Lima | 0 | 25 of 47 | 53% | 30 of 53 | 0 of 6 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:41 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 10 of 23 | 43% | 13 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:47 | |
| 2 | André Lima | 0 | 8 of 17 | 47% | 16 of 28 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 6 of 9 | 66% | 20 of 30 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:06 | |
| 3 | André Lima | 0 | 5 of 12 | 41% | 23 of 41 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 10 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 2 | 0 | 4:07 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| André Lima | 38 of 76 | 50% | 14 of 45 | 14 of 19 | 10 of 12 | 33 of 68 | 5 of 7 | 0 of 1 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 18 of 37 | 48% | 5 of 21 | 6 of 7 | 7 of 9 | 14 of 33 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | André Lima | 25 of 47 | 53% | 7 of 26 | 11 of 13 | 7 of 8 | 21 of 41 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 1 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 10 of 23 | 43% | 2 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 9 | 9 of 22 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | André Lima | 8 of 17 | 47% | 4 of 11 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 7 of 15 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 6 of 9 | 66% | 3 of 5 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | André Lima | 5 of 12 | 41% | 3 of 8 | 0 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Lima (-180), dos Santos (+150)
Round 1
Two promising young flyweights will try to take that next step to put their name in the large hat of contenders in the talent-rich division. Out of the vaunted Chute Boxe Diego Lima camp, dos Santos (8-1, 1 NC; 1-1 UFC) has his hair dyed in the customary blonde for the team and is ready for blood. Fellow countryman Lima (9-0, 2-0 UFC), who sports a neat hat walking to the cage, will be standing in his way putting his unbeaten record on the line. Referee Chris Tognoni will do his best to keep up with the two speedsters, and he clocks them in as they clap hands. Lima takes center stage and switches stances, and he hops back from a front kick aimed at his chest. Dos Santos aims kick to the side, and he lets fly three more kicks to varied targets before jumping in with a jab. Lima scores with a low kick but immediately has to deal with a counter body kick, and he dings his countryman with a left hand. Lima thumps a kick down low, and he scores an overhand right. As he backs off, he signals that he was poked in the eye. Tognoni sees it and calls time, telling Lima to take his time to recover and not hurry things. Tognoni tells dos Santos to be careful, and after 40 seconds, Lima is good to go. They resume where they left off, with Lima slowly advancing while working the front leg with a kick. Dos Santos darts in, misses, whiffs with a wheel kick and counters a right hand with his own right hook. Lima misses with a low kick, and he sees a front kick brush off his chest. Lima stalks his foe down and wings an elbow, and dos Santos ducks and ties him up while looking for a single. Lima leans back from a head kick, and he lines up a left hand while simultaneously dodging a spinning elbow. Lima’s flexibility is solid as he bends his back to dodge strikes, and he stomps out with a kick to the knee. Lima skirts away from the offense flying his way, seeing it coming while working his own weapons. A leg kick from Lima forces dos Santos to lift his limb up several times preemptively, and dos Santos spins with a back kick that bounces off the guard. As they scramble, dos Santos grabs hold of Lima from behind and trips him to the ground. Lima grabs the fence when standing up, and dos Santos is unable to mat return him due to the foul. Dos Santos leans and knees his opponent in the thigh, and he lifts Lima up a few times to chuck him to the floor. Lima slides out the back door after the second slam, where he twists around to claim top position and assume half guard. Dos Santos works to his feet, and Tognoni warns Lima to stop grabbing the cage. Dos Santos blasts Lima with a spinning elbow, and they both fall to the floor as time expires.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lima
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Lima
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 dos Santos
Round 2
The Brazilians are primed and ready to brawl, with dos Santos letting kicks go when not throwing hands, while Lima walks him down with punches in bunches. Dos Santos gets off a front kick and chains it into a flying knee, catching Lima cleanly and forcing Lima to tie him up. The two jockey for position against the fence, and dos Santos breaks free thanks to his knees. They both paw out right hands, and dos Santos goes over the top with a high kick. Dos Santos shoots for a takedown, and Lima overwhelms him and throws him down to the mat. Lima passes easily to full mount, and dos Santos is frantic to defend himself from anything that comes at him. Lima elects to remain tightly pressed down on his opponent and considers an arm-triangle choke. Dos Santos defends the first effort, and when Lima turns to get a better bite at the apple, dos Santos protects against that attempt as well. Lima drops down a few right hands on the ear, and he presses his hand on dos Santos’ face and draws a warning from Tognoni. Dos Santos scoots his way to the side of the cage, but Lima remains in mount, smothering him in the position. Dos Santos keeps bucking and pushes off the wall with his foot, and Lima keeps stuck to his opponent so nullifyingly that Tognoni asks for more activity. The horn sounds with Lima not doing any appreciable damage from this position after over three minutes of control.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lima
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Lima
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Lima
Round 3
Lima offers a glove touch that is accepted, and dos Santos backpedals quickly to find an angle of attack. Lima proceeds to walk him down, blocking quick strikes and using his legs to check kicks. As they engage, Lima complains about something, and Tognoni confusedly pauses the fight. Lima tries to use Tognoni’s sleeve to wipe something on it, and Tognoni has the interpreter find out what the nature of the stoppage was. It turns out Lima needed to blow his nose, and Tognoni tells him he cannot do that and restarts the fight. It takes a few seconds for dos Santos to level change in pursuit of a takedown, and like before, Lima ends as the one on top. Dos Santos turns to give up his back when Lima moves to mount, and Lima gladly accepts this position and wraps his legs around the waist with a body lock. Dos Santos is warned for grabbing the glove, and once more it is proved that Dundasso is the greatest base for MMA, above wrestling or any other martial art. Lima shrugs off the foul and latches onto a rear-naked choke, and his forearm slides beneath the chin. While the submission would normally elicit the tap from 95% of the roster, dos Santos fights the grip and frees his neck from danger. Lima adjusts his grip and sneaks it under the chin once more, and dos Santos’ face turns a brilliant shade of red but he does not give up. “Lipe Detona” manages to survive a nearly completed RNC a second time, and he hand-fights to prevent another choke from getting set up. Dos Santos is otherwise shut down, forced to occasionally punch behind his own head, and he irritates Lima enough with these strikes to make Lima lay flat on his back. Lima raises his arms to celebrate that he is about to win, and dos Santos’ remaining swings go wide. The fight comes to a conclusion.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lima (30-27 Lima)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Lima (30-27 Lima)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Lima (29-28 Lima)
The Official Result
Andre Lima def. Felipe dos Santos via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Felipe dos Santos because he is a dangerous, aggressive fighter who is good everywhere, and he believes André Lima is overhyped after beating a weak opponent and winning by a bite. He notes that Felipe is a plus 165 underdog and he placed a half-unit bet when the odds opened at even money. He does not plan to double down despite the better odds.
Big Brady picks Felipe dos Santos as the underdog to win by decision. He criticizes André Lima as a cheater and unimpressive, noting his close fights and split decision against Mitch Raposo. Brady believes dos Santos will make it a dogfight with volume advantage and sees a split decision. He also mentions a point deduction prop for Lima's cheating.
Cody picks dos Santos, arguing that Lima's cardio is suspect and he has missed weight multiple times. He notes dos Santos' performance against Manel Kape and his ability to get up from takedowns. He sees value at plus money and expects dos Santos to win.
Daniel likes Lima's striking and Jiu-Jitsu, and thinks he is the better fighter. He acknowledges concerns about Lima's cardio but isn't convinced they're valid. He notes that dos Santos leaves openings for body shots, calf kicks, and takedowns. He picks Lima to win, though he's not sure if it will be a finish.
Dos Santos is an aggressive striker with a dangerous BJJ game, training with Charles Oliveira. Lima is undefeated but has shown defensive grappling vulnerabilities and has slowed in fights. Dos Santos can mix takedowns and pressure, potentially exposing Lima's back for a submission. The underdog pick is supported by a submission prop at +1300.
Paul likes dos Santos at plus money, citing his striking volume and cardio advantage. He notes Lima's cardio issues and weight misses, while dos Santos has proven he can go three rounds and land significant strikes. He believes dos Santos can win by decision or late finish.
The MMA Guru picks Felipe dos Santos as an underdog, calling it a 50/50 fight. He notes dos Santos is gritty, young (23), and difficult to put away, as seen in his fight with Manel Kape. He worries about André Lima's split decision win over Mitch Raposo, who missed weight and stepped in on short notice. He believes if the fight gets scrappy, dos Santos will take over.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 40 of 74 | 54% | 52 of 97 | 9 of 11 | 81% | 0 | 0 | 5:02 |
| Victor Altamirano | 0 | 37 of 87 | 42% | 62 of 120 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:51 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 9 of 23 | 39% | 14 of 36 | 6 of 7 | 85% | 0 | 0 | 2:14 |
| Victor Altamirano | 0 | 6 of 21 | 28% | 14 of 31 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 13 of 22 | 59% | 17 of 28 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:23 |
| Victor Altamirano | 0 | 14 of 35 | 40% | 25 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 18 of 29 | 62% | 21 of 33 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:25 |
| Victor Altamirano | 0 | 17 of 31 | 54% | 23 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:51 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Felipe dos Santos | 40 of 74 | 54% | 7 of 33 | 23 of 31 | 10 of 10 | 29 of 62 | 10 of 10 | 1 of 2 |
| Victor Altamirano | 37 of 87 | 42% | 24 of 66 | 8 of 16 | 5 of 5 | 31 of 73 | 5 of 11 | 1 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Felipe dos Santos | 9 of 23 | 39% | 2 of 11 | 4 of 9 | 3 of 3 | 7 of 21 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Victor Altamirano | 6 of 21 | 28% | 3 of 16 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 18 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Felipe dos Santos | 13 of 22 | 59% | 1 of 10 | 7 of 7 | 5 of 5 | 7 of 16 | 5 of 5 | 1 of 1 |
| Victor Altamirano | 14 of 35 | 40% | 8 of 26 | 3 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 12 of 27 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 2 | |
| 3 | Felipe dos Santos | 18 of 29 | 62% | 4 of 12 | 12 of 15 | 2 of 2 | 15 of 25 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 1 |
| Victor Altamirano | 17 of 31 | 54% | 13 of 24 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 15 of 28 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Felipe dos Santos as the more dangerous fighter, citing his shootboxing style and aggression. He notes that both fighters are tough and coming off tough losses, but dos Santos' danger gives him the edge. He also mentions hoping for an over 1.5 rounds line.
Big Brady picks Felipe dos Santos to win by decision, but notes the line is too high at -275. He acknowledges dos Santos looked good in his debut against Manel Kape but has red flags in his film, including poor takedown defense and get-up game. He thinks Altamirano can wrestle a bit but doesn't have much control, so the fight will play out on the feet where dos Santos has volume and variety. He also mentions that dos Santos is a Shooto Box guy arriving late to Mexico City, which is a concern.
Cody picks dos Santos by submission at +600, having bet that prop. He notes dos Santos has a bunch of submission wins on the regional scene and Altamirano's takedown defense is suspect. He thinks dos Santos can exploit that and find a submission. He also mentions Altamirano has never been knocked out but has been submitted.
The host sees both fighters as similar but gives the edge to dos Santos due to his more aggressive approach. He expects dos Santos to utilize either a grapple-heavy or volume-heavy striking game with kicks and punches from distance to grind out a decision win.
Paul picks dos Santos on the moneyline, though he thinks the price is a bit much. He notes dos Santos looked great against Manel Kape on short notice and has a full camp now. Altamirano is hittable and not durable. He expects dos Santos to win, possibly by knockout, though he hasn't bet it yet.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manel Kape | 1 | 112 of 182 | 61% | 116 of 186 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:45 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 99 of 304 | 32% | 101 of 310 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manel Kape | 1 | 36 of 55 | 65% | 38 of 57 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:28 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 32 of 96 | 33% | 32 of 96 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:08 | |
| 2 | Manel Kape | 0 | 37 of 61 | 60% | 37 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 35 of 102 | 34% | 35 of 103 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Manel Kape | 0 | 39 of 66 | 59% | 41 of 68 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 0 | 32 of 106 | 30% | 34 of 111 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manel Kape | 112 of 182 | 61% | 77 of 137 | 24 of 30 | 11 of 15 | 92 of 149 | 6 of 9 | 14 of 24 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 99 of 304 | 32% | 53 of 215 | 28 of 60 | 18 of 29 | 94 of 292 | 4 of 8 | 1 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manel Kape | 36 of 55 | 65% | 18 of 35 | 13 of 15 | 5 of 5 | 28 of 43 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 10 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 32 of 96 | 33% | 13 of 65 | 13 of 20 | 6 of 11 | 31 of 92 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Manel Kape | 37 of 61 | 60% | 26 of 46 | 7 of 8 | 4 of 7 | 32 of 53 | 3 of 6 | 2 of 2 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 35 of 102 | 34% | 19 of 69 | 9 of 22 | 7 of 11 | 34 of 100 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Manel Kape | 39 of 66 | 59% | 33 of 56 | 4 of 7 | 2 of 3 | 32 of 53 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 12 |
| Felipe dos Santos | 32 of 106 | 30% | 21 of 81 | 6 of 18 | 5 of 7 | 29 of 100 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 4 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Kape (-410), dos Santos (+320)
Round 1
The UFC lost a terrific flyweight matchup of Kape (18-6, 3-2 UFC) vs. Kai Kara-France due to the latter’s concussion issue, and it tried to make the most of a bad situation by shuttling in a fighter who was going to make his mark on the Contender Series a few weeks ago. Instead of an audition, dos Santos (7-0, 1 NC; 0-0 UFC) is thrust right into a pay-per-view main card, with the lights blindingly shining. A win for the Brazilian would be one for the ages as he would immediately jump into the rankings, but the hard-charging Kape will not go easy on him. Referee Greg Kleynjans takes charge of the cage for this “featured fight of the night,” and Kape is happy to still be fighting tonight so he offers a glove touch that is accepted. The two fighters clash together with immediate kicks, and Kape throws back with higher volume. The Brazilian wings a left hand over the top, and Kape gets stung but fires back with a vengeance. Kape connects with a low kick, and he gets knocked back with a jab. “Starboy” launches a rocket of a right hand that separates dos Santos from his balance, and Kape jumps on top of him and starts dropping strikes down until dos Santos throws his legs up for a desperation submission. Kape backs off to let him up, and he drives his fists into dos Santos’ dome a few more times to rock the newcomer once again. Dos Santos swings wild, and Kape is more composed and snipes him with a left hand. Kape paws out his jab and clips dos Santos on the way in with a short left, and when he kicks, dos Santos catches it. Kape tumbles to the mat, and as they scramble, Kape moves on top of him and busts him in the chops with several heavy punches. Kape gets pushed off and the two get back to striking, and dos Santos surprises the big favorite with a right hand and a knee up the middle. Kape is surprised but ready to keep attacking, and he walks into a front kick. Dos Santos is met with a leg kick, and he powers forward throwing hard but missing by a small margin. The Brazilian follows a jab with a head kick, and the two clinch up and start trading knees. Kape breaks with a big left hand, and dos Santos rolls with it and walks forward to swing with a haymaker. Kape times a spinning back elbow right on the dome, and the younger dos Santos eats it like a sandwich and keeps powering forward. Kape has a foot grabbed when kicking, and dos Santos tries to throw him down but Kape grabs the fence to stay upright. Kape muscles his man down to the mat, only to back off and keep trading. The two men get off power punches, and Kape scores a body kick and an elbow. Kape walks him down and smashes him in the face with a right hand, and dos Santos gives him one right back. A furious trading of fists ends the exciting round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kape
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Kape
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Kape
Round 2
The flyweights do not race out of their corners this round, and instead dos Santos slowly wades forward reaching out with kicks. Kape slides out of the way of all of them, including a head kick that grazes his hair, and he returns fire with a low kick. When dos Santos commits to one in response, Kape drills him with a left hook. Dos Santos spams front kicks until charging forward with a right hook, and Kape takes the punches and counters, only to have his head snapped back with a right. Dos Santos kicks high as it bounces off the guard, and he spins with something but does not let it go. Instead, he settles down to fire off a right hand, and Kape trips him to the mat with a stern leg kick. Dos Santos climbs back up and connects with two low kicks, and he rushes forward and gets popped by a shovel uppercut of a right hand. Kape puts everything behind a right hand, and dos Santos slips it and counters, and Kape keeps his head movement active as well to make for an exciting near-miss exchange. Kape sits down on a right hand as dos Santos crashes the pocket, and the newcomer’s chin is impressive. Dos Santos gets off a jumping front kick, and both men smack one another in the face with right hooks. The two trade jabs, and Kape goes to the body and slips the long left that aims past his head. Kape counters a jab with three punches, and he staggers dos Santos with a left hook. The Brazilian wears it well once more, and he chains two punches together on the inside to drive dos Santos back. Kape digs his shin into dos Santos’ thigh, and he cracks dos Santos with a few punches. From up close, dos Santos spins with a kick, and it brushes into the cup but it is not called. Kape motions to his groin, and when it goes ignored, Kape surges into action and starts ripping into dos Santos with a flurry of ferocious fists. Dos Santos survives the assault and races forward, and Kape times an elbow right on the way in. Kape pierces the guard with a right hand, and he puts his hands behind his back. Dos Santos motions to him to hit him, and the two showboat and taunt at one another until the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kape
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Kape
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Kape
Round 3
Kape allows dos Santos to come at him so he can lean back and bat dos Santos in the jaw with a clubbing right hand. Dos Santos meanders forward, letting Kape kick him so he can try to front kick his way in. Kape does not allow him to close the distance, and instead tags the unbeaten fighter with a right hand. Dos Santos, not to be outdone, runs at him and reaches Kape with two punches. When Kape knocks him back, dos Santos replies, but Kape works the body as well. Dos Santos kicks the chest and swings hard, and he clips Kape and gets popped in return. The Brazilian lands a kick and gets tripped up, and when he gets back up, he connects with several punches that rock and cut Kape on the corner of his left eye. Despite the damage, Kape is excited when he gets blasted, and he chambers and fires a right hand that stuns dos Santos and knocks him down to a knee. Dos Santos races forward with a jump knee, and he pressures forward giving Kape everything he can handle with high volume and decent power. Kape moves enough to take the sting out of the shots, and puts himself in position for an effective counter. Kape times a huge right hand that snaps dos Santos’ chin to the side, but dos Santos is not shaken and he continues moving forward. Kape lets go with a flurry of hands, and dos Santos blinks it out and has entered “Terminator” mode. Despite taking shots, dos Santos will not back down, and even throws a spinning kick. Kape is composed and calm enough to time his counters, and he lets dos Santos charge at him and busts him in the chops. As dos Santos gets a bit too wild, Kape times a takedown and takes dos Santos off his feet. When on top, Kape rains down a final barrage of punches to conclude the fantastic scrap. Both men climb on top of the cage to motion to the crowd, and despite the all-out battle that Kape delivered, the crowd boos him heartily. What a fight.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kape (30-27 Kape)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Kape (30-27 Kape)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Kape (30-27 Kape)
The Official Result
Manel Kape def. Felipe dos Santos via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Manel Kape, saying it should be Kape all day. He notes that Kape can control range and pace with more technical striking. Felipe is dangerous but hittable and reckless. Kape should be safe to parlay. Angelo sees a clear path for Felipe but doesn't think he can walk through Kape's shots.
Big Brady confidently picks Manel Kape, citing his high-level competition and recent finishes. He notes dos Santos is a big step down and can be taken down. He thinks Kape will knock him out in the first round.
Cody picks Kape confidently, citing his explosive power, superior striking, and experience against top competition. He notes that dos Santos is a young, green replacement on short notice with limited tape, and that Kape should win either by early finish or smart game plan. Cody acknowledges flyweight volatility but believes Kape is the clear pick.
Daniel Levi is very confident in Manel Kape, having placed a bet on him at minus 340. He believes Kape should be a much heavier favorite, lining him at 83-88% to win. Levi notes that dos Santos stands straight up and walks forward, leaving openings to the body and head. He predicts a body shot knockout. He respects dos Santos's potential but thinks Kape is on the road to a title shot.
Lucrative James believes Manel Kape is the better striker and will likely knock out Felipe dos Santos in round one. He notes that dos Santos fights like a lunatic, walking forward with pressure, but that style won't work against Kape's level. James acknowledges Kape can be low volume and has shown quit under pressure, but he thinks dos Santos's aggression will force Kape to crack him. He also mentions Kape's takedown and submission potential as additional paths.
Kape has tremendous experience and is difficult to deal with in the striking realm. He crashes the pocket and lands big shots. Dos Santos is a UFC newcomer who was scheduled for the contender series; this is a massive step up. Kape should be motivated and finish emphatically, possibly earning a highlight reel finish.
Paul picks Kape, noting that dos Santos is too green and that Kape's takedown defense and striking should be enough. He mentions that Kape may even be able to wrestle to secure rounds. Paul's only concern is that Kape might not throw enough, making the fight close, but he believes Kape covers the price.
The MMA Guru picks Manel Kape over Felipe dos Santos, calling him 'the based one.' He notes that Kape has improved since his debut loss to Pantoja, with impressive finishes over Zhalgas Zhumagulov and David Dvorak. Dos Santos is 7-0 but has a split decision over a 5-2 regional opponent, which is not enough to pick him over Kape. He predicts Kape will have some trouble in round one but find a finish in round two or three.
Expert Picks (6)
Angelo picks Lone'er Kavanagh, emphasizing his incredible speed and composure. He acknowledges that Kavanagh hasn't faced top competition and that Felipe's forward pressure will test him. He wants to see if Kavanagh can fight backwards and counter-strike. Ultimately, he trusts Kavanagh's speed and potential, though he admits we'll learn a lot about him in this fight.
Brady likes Kavanagh's clean striking and power, and notes dos Santos has poor takedown defense and striking defense. He thinks Kavanagh can mix in takedowns if needed. Despite dos Santos being tough, Brady predicts a decision win for Kavanagh.
Connor agrees with Zane, calling Kavanagh a natural genius for fighting. He notes Kavanagh is well-suited to deal with dos Santos, with more killer instinct than Malyk. Connor thinks Kavanagh's selective technique and flowy striking will be too much for dos Santos, who is brave but not as dynamic.
The host considers Kavanagh one of the hottest UK prospects and expects him to showcase his skills. Dos Santos might make it close early, but as Kavanagh's damage piles up, he will cause dos Santos to break, leading to a late finish or decision win.
The Guru picks Lone'er Kavanagh, believing he is crisper on the feet and has good grappling instincts. He notes that Kavanagh is compact and beats opponents to the punch, while dos Santos has been in many scraps and may be more damaged. He expects a TKO in the second or third round, as Kavanagh's pressure and body work will wear down dos Santos.
Zane is confident in Kavanagh, calling him a super prospect with fantastic eyes and lightning quick reactions. He notes Kavanagh is technical, flows from defense to offense, and uses spinning kicks well. Zane thinks dos Santos is a good test but not as refined as Charles Oliveira, and Kavanagh should find holes in his combinations.
Comments (2)
Split decision bet if odds good
Split decision bet if odds good
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