Alex Garcia

Alex Garcia vs. Muslim Salikhov

Round 1
Salikhov opens with an outside low kick, then is forced to sprawl as Garcia shoots hard on a double-leg. Salikhov keeps his balance at first -- with the aid of a cage grab, which draws a warning from referee John Sharp -- but Garcia's tenacity eventually yields a takedown. Garcia is heavy on top, leaning right to left across Salikhov's body in half guard. Garcia has an arm-triangle choke locked up, but he's on the wrong side and can't get to mount in order to pass over to the right. When Garcia tries to mount, Salikhov elevates him and scrambles back to his feet with just over half the round remaining. Salikhov plants a spinning kick in Garcia's midsection, pops the Tristar Gym representative with a jab and then catches him with a thigh kick. Garcia shoots a high double-leg but only winds up holding Salikhov against the fence. Salikhov spins to the outside and then escapes, though not before absorbing a knee from "The Dominican Nightmare." Garcia perfectly times a shot, diving under a big right hand to plow Salikhov back to the ground. Garcia gets in a few good right hands as he roughs up Salikhov near the fence in the closing seconds.

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

Round 2
After a slow opening minute, Salikhov sidesteps a takedown attempt and catches Garcia with a partially blocked hook kick. Both welterweights are looking for a homerun shot with right hands over the top, but both are pulling up short as they strike from a few feeet away. Garcia tries another double, gets stuffed at first, but once he locks his hands behind Salikhov's legs, he's able to dump the "King of Kung Fu" to the canvas. Garcia passes to side control on Salikhov's left, now steps over to take the back and sinks in one hook. Garcia slaps on a rear-naked choke and rolls Salikhov toward the fence. Salikhov's eyes are wide as he tries to peel away Garcia's arms. The choke doesn't look to be under the chin, but Garcia's squeeze on Salikhov's jaw is enough to coax a tap.

The Official Result
Alex Garcia def. Muslim Salikhov via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R2 3:22

Alex Garcia vs. Sean Strickland

Round 1
The longer Strickland snaps off a front kick but misses and nearly succumbs to Garcia’s first takedown attempt. Instead, “Tarzan” stifles the shot and turns the tables by standing up Garcia and muscling him against the fence. Strickland pops Garcia with a couple short left hands as they tangle on the fence, then shoves the Dominican to the floor. Garcia throws a few upkicks before one lands on Strickland’s chin, and now the American opts to come down to the ground. Strickland lands a good right hand but misses with four or five punches behind it as Garcia tries to kick him away. Strickland maintains top position at the midway point of the round, landing a couple elbows which leave Garcia bleeding from the mouth. A pair of hard right hands seem to put Garcia in a daze, but just as referee Bill Bookwalter appears poised to step in, he clips the standing Strickland with another upkick and sweeps him underneath. Now it’s Garcia on top with 90 seconds left in the round, Strickland keeping him tight in closed guard. Garcia can’t do much with the position; in fact, it’s Strickland landing the better punches off his back down the stretch. Garcia manages to close the round with a hard left on the ground, then stands up to drop a straight right hand before the horn.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Strickland
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Strickland
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Strickland

Round 2
Garcia charges forward on Strickland with a pair of heavy punches, clipping with a good right hand over the top. Strickland looks to be the fresher fighter early on in the second stanza, though Garcia still has plenty of pop behind his punches as he slugs “Tarzan” with another big overhand. Garcia starts to use his jab but then goes back to loading up on single strikes, trying to take off Strickland’s head with murderous overhand lefts. Strickland stays tall and measured, using his length to jab on the shorter man, land leg kicks and slide out of range when Garcia telegraphs one of his power punches. Garcia explodes into a double-leg takedown and plants Strickland in the center of the cage with 60 seconds on the clock. Again, it’s Strickland staying busy on the bottom while Garcia struggles to mount offense on top.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Strickland
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Strickland
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Strickland

Round 3
Strickland opens the final frame with more jabs and inside leg kicks. Garcia gets hold of a kick and uses the leg to run Strickland back to the ground with four minutes left to fight. Strickland is only on his back for 30 seconds before Garcia stands and gives the American enough space to escape. Jabs continue to land on Garcia’s bloodied nose, and the fight looks to be slipping away from him now. Garcia is offering up less and less offense as the seconds tick down, allowing Strickland to stick and move around him. Garcia tries another takedown with two minuts on the clock, but Strickland underhooks his arms and denies the shot. Strickland sprawls on another shot, jumps up and hurts Garcia with a hard jab. Garcia is staggering around the edge of the cage, trying to dodge the offense of Strickland, who can sense the finish coming. Strickland finally catches up to his opponent and nails Garcia with a right hand on the chin, finishing the fight inside the final minute.

The Official Result
Sean Strickland def. Alex Garcia via TKO (Punches) R3 4:25