Before UFC Fight Night 27: "Condit vs. Kampmann 2" main card kicked off on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) tonight (Weds., Aug. 28, 2013) from Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., an entire six-bout "Prelims" under card was broadcast on Facebook and FS2, respectively.
When it comes to the "Prelims," shame on anyone who skips them and just watches the main card, especially after this early evening's action that featured four finishes and one back-and-forth "No Contest."
In the "Prelims" main event, Papi Abedi looked like he was going to secure the decision win, but Dylan Andrews scored a comeback worth talking about for quite some time. The two athletes engaged in a feeling out process for the first few minutes to the dismay of the crowd, who have been spoiled thus far with the previous fights.
Abedi was trying to setup a takedown as he had Andrews against the fence and landed an immense takedown with Andrews overhead before crashing to the ground. Abedi could not take advantage and Andrews secured a takedown of his own before the two clinched back up against the fence.
Abedi secured another takedown and tried his luck at a guillotine, but Andrews stormed through and tried to take advantage but Abedi's power proved too much for Andrews as the Swede got the best of the grappling display.
The second round was just as slow, as Abedi was utilizing his jab properly as both men were looking for big fight-ending shots. Abedi landed two solid shots to Andrews, which forced "The Villain" to go for a takedown that Abedi countered well. Abedi kept on transitioning from a guillotine to ground-and-pound, using elbows to keep Andrews on the bottom.
Andrews most significant strike in the round? A knee to the groin right before the buzzer that had Abedi grimacing, an errant blow that referee Herb Dean did not see.
Andrews definitely felt that he needed to do something big to win this fight, storming out with some flying knees, but Abedi once again pinned him up against the fence. Abedi, looking exhausted, started to take some big uppercuts from Andrews and was flattened, while Andrews continued to pour on the punches. Andrews got his second win in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and is currently on a six-fight win streak.
Brandon Thatch was making his promotional debut in the "Prelims" co-main event against Justin Edwards in the third Welterweight fight thus far and he looked exceptional, proving Octagon jitters do not trouble everyone with a technical knockout win.
Not to mention nine first-round wins in a row.
Thatch was violently coming forward and dropped Edwards early with a headkick. He constantly swarmed Edwards, dropping him two times afterward. Thatch looked like another blooming Welterweight as Edwards never looked like he troubled Thatch once; instead was trying to survive until he had no choice but to turtled up and avoid Thatch's powerful shots until the referee stepped in.
"Rukus" is now undefeated in his last ten bouts, while Edwards is 1-3 in his last four.
The night's lone Featherweight fight saw Darren Elkins get the win in his home state of Indiana, grinding out Hatsu Hioki. Elkins started off by standing with his Japanese counterpart in a tight boxing stance, but Hioki was steering clear from most of his strikes. As Elkins was starting to tag his opponent, Hioki staggered Elkins with a big right hand that sent "The Damage" back peddling.
Elkins recovered tough, and started to regain his composure, but Hioki was doing well by constantly finding Hioki's body. After a big combination by Elkins, Hioki had Elkins crouching down with a huge body shot and started to capitalize with Elkins on the floor. Elkins escaped a possible leg lock and worked hard for the single-leg takedown, but could not capitalize on his opponent.
Hioki was bloodied in the process, with a first-round that geared toward his favor.
Round two commenced with another big shot by Hioki, rocking Elkins, but "The Damage" was definitely eating shots so that he could deliver slick combinations of his own. Elkins got the first significant takedown of the fight midway through the round with a double-leg takedown and started to roll with the submission expert to get his back. Hioki ended up back in Elkins' guard and eventually stood up while Elkins troubled his opponent with knees while clinched up against the fence. Hioki though reversed the hometown favorite, and tried to sink in a choke and a triangle, but both submission attempts failed.
Elkins utilized his Indiana-based wrestling pedigree in the third round, but Hioki tried to counter off of his back. Hioki tried to lock up a triangle but the powerful Elkins was prepared for his offensive submission game, executing significant ground and pound on the former Shooto and Sengoku standout. No matter what Hioki tried to do, Elkins' wrestling was the difference in the third round and undoubtedly got him the win in his homecoming.
Elkins gets his sixth win in the 145-pound division (most in the division right now) while Hioki's future looks bleak after three consecutive losses.
James Head and Jason High were both looking to get back into the win column in the first "Prelims" fight on FS2 but it was the former Strikeforce and DREAM veteran who got his first UFC win. High went for a takedown early and was working out of half-guard in the opening minute of the first round and caught Head in a guillotine. Although Head tried to do everything in his power to escape by using his feet against the fence, High eventually secured the win with his opponent tapping out. High gets his ninth career win by submission and potentially saves his UFC career.
Newcomer Zak Cummings was making also his promotional debut against the Australian Benny Alloway and could not have had a better performance. After a few scrambles in the first round, Cummings was overpowering his opponent and stuck to trying to grind him out for the majority of the round. Cummings was pushing Alloway against the fence mercilessly and while the Australian was about to get back to his feet, Cummings trapped him in a beautiful D'Arce choke after he locked up his opponent in a headlock and postured up to get the win. Cummings is now riding a two-fight win streak and anticipates more challenges in his new home.
The night started off with an unfortunate ending in a lightweight fight that featured Abel Trujillo and Roger Bowling.
Both men shared an intense staredown yesterday at the weigh-ins and that made their fight that more exciting as they opened the Facebook broadcast of UFC Fight Night 27. Both Bowling and Trujillo connected early with heavy strikes and provided the fans with a highly entertaining first round as they showcased their granite chins before Bowling scored a huge takedown slam.
Trujillo eventually started to grind out Bowling until the former Strikeforce veteran Lightweight relentlessly fought through and caught his opponent in a guillotine that Trujillo ultimately survived. The second round comprised the same story, but Bowling was connecting more accurately with his combinations, rocking Trujillo as he set up another takedown in the middle of the round.
Bowling was about to end the fight with a guillotine like he did in the first round, but Trujillo stormed through it and landed an illegal knee to a downed Bowling (right across his face) and followed up with a devastating right hand. The referee called a stop to the action and a doctor stepped in, deeming Bowling unable to continue because he showed signs of unawareness of where he was.
Here are the complete results from UFC Fight Night 27: "Prelims" card:
Papy Abedi vs. Dylan Andrews - Andrews wins by TKO (strikes), 1:32 of round three.
Justin Edwards vs. Brandon Thatch - Thatch wins by TKO (strikes) at 1:41 of round one.
Darren Elkins vs. Hatsu Hioki - Elkins wins by unanimous decision (29-28x3)
James Head vs. Jason High - High wins by submission (Guillotine choke) at 1:41 of round one.
Benny Alloway vs. Zak Cummings - Cummings wins by submission (D'Arce choke) at 4:19 of round one.
Abel Trujillo vs. Roger Bowling - Ruled a no contest (Unintentional foul) at 4:57 of round two.
That's it for the "Prelims" portion of UFC Fight Night 27 fight card.
Be sure to hit up MMAmania.com for up-to-the-minute results and blow-by-blow coverage for the rest of the night's UFC Fight Night 27 main card action by clicking here.