Jeff Molina

Jeff Molina vs. Qileng Aori

Round 1
Up next at flyweight, two Octagon newcomers come to blows as Dana White’s Contender Series signee Molina (8-2, 0-0 UFC) greets Aori (18-7, 0-0 UFC) inside the cage. Overseeing this match is referee Josh Rutgers, and there is an offered but retracted touch of gloves to start things off. Aori comes out firing, with looping punches as Molina retreats. Aori swarms him with a couple hooks, and Molina counters with a left hand on the way in. The American keeps his distance on the outside, swatting away Aori’s reaching punches, but Aori dings him with an overhand right. Molina takes a body kick and comes up short with a right hand, and the two try for hooks that are blocked on either side. Molina chops down the lead leg as Aori stalks him down, and the Chinese fighter throws four punches that Molina ducks until Aori ducks down for a takedown attempt. Molina stuffs it and the fans are already booing the grappling exchange, so they start brawling wildly. Aori tags Molina with a right hand, and Molina lands back but takes the brunt of the exchange. Aori crashes in with an uppercut into a takedown attempt, and this time, he lifts Molina into the air to slam him down. In his foe’s guard, Aori lands a few punches and scrambles around to take Molina’s back when Molina rolls to his knees. Molina ignores this and stands back up, all while Aori is holding on to him from behind. Molina breaks the grip and Aori tags him with a knee that sends his mouthpiece flying. The two are tied up against the fence, with Molina attempting his own takedown as the two jockey for position. The action stalemates until they break, and Rutgers replaces the mouthpiece on the pause. Aori charges at him with a few wide punches, and “El Jefe” blocks the majority of them and comes back with a body kick. Molina tries to keep him at bay with right hands, and Aori ignores them, counters and bullies into the clinch. The horn sounds, and the two are chippy with one another.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Aori
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Aori
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Aori

Round 2
The two flyweights engage right out of the gate, meeting one another in the center of the cage and throwing down. Aori backs his foe off with a few overhand rights, and he causes Molina to stumble. The Chinese fighter swirls around to take his back, but like the previous round, Molina does not pay attention to this and instead gets back to his feet with ease. The two trade single strikes one after the other, with Molina looking to counter with left hands while Aori loads up on heavy shots. Molina scores a body kick and starts to flick out his jab, and he gets clocked with a right hand when reaching out. Molina takes a kick to the body, and he tries to catch and counter but he comes up short. Molina goes back to his jabs, disrupting the movement but still eating big right hands from Aori. Molina returns fire with a solid one-two, and “The Mongolian Murderer” walks through it to score a heavy right hand. Molina is comfortable from his range with jabs, but Aori is still able to close the distance on him and land shots. A left to the body and right to the head come for Aori, and Molina gathers himself and blasts Aori with a right hand. Aori falls to the ground and springs right back up, so Molina goes after him with a head kick and falls over. Molina hops back up as well, and Aori comes at him throwing leather. Molina jabs out to try to break up a rampaging Aori, but Aori is shrugging them off and rushing forward and leaping in the air with a flying knee. Aori stalks his man down and starts targeting the body, while Molina slaps him once. Aori pours on the pressure as Molina is retreating, and Aori times a right hand that splits the guard. A one-two from Molina comes shortly thereafter, and Aori does not register he has been punched as he lands strikes right back that make Molina nod at him. Molina shoots in low for a takedown, and he is easily rebuffed and stood back up. On the 10-second clapper, Aori blitzes forward with a wild flurry, and Molina catches him with a straight right hand and puts Aori on his backside. Molina dives down to try to finish the job, but there is no time left in the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Molina
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Molina
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Molina

Round 3
The round begins with Aori continuing where he left off, marching his man down, but Molina is on his bike clipping Aori with strikes. Aori loads up on power punches, and Molina catches him with a knee to pause him for a moment. Aori swings wildly with punches, and when he ducks down, he hits a takedown that puts Molina down for a second. The American is able to scramble back up without issue, and the two pick up where they left off. Aori tags him with a right hand, and a left that follows also gets Molina’s attention. Molina sits down on an uppercut, and his jab lands often while Aori is relentlessly pursuing his target. Molina scores a right hand, and a left hand stuns Aori momentarily. Molina chains together a barrage of strikes to make Aori shell up, and he backs off to let Aori reset. Molina flicks out his jab to frustrate Aori, who is practically throwing nothing but power shots. Molina has started to time them; landing jabs and knees up the middle while Aori loads up often. “El Jefe” works the body a few times while Aori is starting to slow, but Aori’s chin is not in question as he absorbs strike after strike. Molina might have finally hurt his opponent with a few strikes, and a knee up the middle catches Aori flush. Molina tattoos his man with crisp combinations, and Aori swings single shots. Molina tees of on him and the tide has thoroughly turned, with Aori’s nose busted up and Molina now the advancing man. Molina continues to land whenever he wants, and a right hand swells up the eye of Aori. Molina eats a body kick to land four punches, and his combinations begin to lengthen as Aori flails wildly. Molina is feeling himself, and he sticks and moves as Aori swings and hits the air. Aori eats a right hand and Molina pays him back with one of his own. Molina scores a standing elbow, and he continues to score repeatedly as Aori is fading fast. With seconds to spare, Aori bites down on his mouthpiece for one final, blistering salvo of punches. "The Mongolian Murderer" hurts Molina, and Molina wobbles back to the fence as Aori is unloading on him. Molina is in the danger zone from a few right hands, and he tries to clinch up and drag Aori down to ride out the rest of the round. The two fall to the ground, and this wild fight is now over.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Molina (29-28 Molina)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Molina (29-28 Molina)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Molina (29-27 Molina)

The Official Result
Jeff Molina def. Qileng Aori via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)