Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is back in action this Wednesday night (July 16, 2014) with a FOX Sports 1-televised main card that features an important lightweight main event between top division contenders Donald Cerrone and Jim Miller.
The UFC Fight Night 45 action, which will take place inside Revel Resorts in Atlantic City, NJ, will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET with a one-match "Prelims" broadcast that will stream online via Fight Pass digital network before transitioning to FOX Sports 1 for the remainder of the under- and main-card matches.
In addition to the headliner, dynamic lightweight striker Edson Barboza tries to punch his way back into the win column against the hot-and-cold Evan Dunham, while Rick Story tries to erase the "Horror" of his last loss by taking out Leonardo Mafra.
All that and much, much more.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Fight Night 45 fight card BELOW, starting with the Fight Pass "Prelims" match online, which is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, right on through the FOX Sports 1 under card action at 7 p.m. ET and the the FOX Sports 1 main card at 9 p.m. ET.
Many of our readers check-in before, during and after the streaming warfare to share their thoughts on all the exciting action. Therefore, feel free to leave a comment (or 45) before you leave and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show -- it always turns out to be a great discussion.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps and post-fight analysis after "Cerrone vs. Miller."
See below for the upcoming UFC Fight Night 45 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC FIGHT NIGHT 45 QUICK RESULTS:
Donald Cerrone def. Jim Miller via KO (head kick) at 3:31
Edson Barboza def. Evan Dunham via TKO (kick and punches) at 3:06 of R1
Rick Story def. Leonardo Mafra via submission (arm triangle) at 2:12 of R2
Joe Proctor def. Justin Salas via TKO (punches) at 3:27 of R2
John Lineker def. Alptekin Ozkilic via TKO (punches) at 4:51 of R3
Lucas Martins def. Alex White via KO (punch) at 2:08 of R3
Gleison Tibau def. Pat Healy via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Leslie Smith def. Jessamyn Duke via TKO (punches) at 2:24 of R1
Aljamain Sterling def. Hugo Viana via TKO (punches) at 3:50 of R3
Yosdenis Cedeno def. Jerrod Sanders via TKO (Fighter Retirement) at 3:00 of R1
Claudia Gadelha def. Tina Lahdemaki via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27x2)
UFC FIGHT NIGHT 45 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Donald Cerrone vs. Jim Miller
Round 1: Cerrone loses the walkout battle as he struts in to Kid Rock. Miller had it won regardless, but that was icing on the cake. Donald in red, Jim in black and the ref is Tan. Cerrone with a 1-2 and a knee early. Left from Miller and a left to the body. Leg kick and another left from Jim. Knee from Cerrone as Miller came in. Miller gets him into the clinch up against the cage. Cerrone with a knee and Miller gets an elbow, but they break. Miller catches the kick and takes Cowboy down, but they're back to standing before anything happens. Cerrone with a right. Miller with one, too. Miller ducks and then punches. He ducks again, but into a knee this time. Cerrone's high kick is blocked. Looping left from Cerrone glances. Miller with a clinch and a body lock takedown. Cerrone whizzer's and is up standing. Counter right from Miller. Cerrone clinches Miller into the cage, looking for the takedown. Miller avoids a high knee and they break. Miller counters Donald coming in with a short right. Front kick from Cerrone.
10-9 Miller in a close round
Round 2: Straight left from Miller backs up Cerrone momentarily. 1-2-leg kick from Miller. Low blow from Cerrone and he followed up with a knee, but Miragliotta stepped in for a pause. Replays showed it appeared to be to the gut, not the groin, and the ref starts it back up because it was clean. Miller seems to have calmed down a bit, but Cerrone hits another front kick to the gut. Miller tried to set him up Scott Smith - Pete Sell style, but isn't successful. Miller is hurting, but powering through it. Gutting through, if you will. High kick from Cowboy. Miller with a left and a low kick. Miller's still hurt. Cerrone HOLY SHIT CERRONE NEARLY KICKED MILLER'S HEAD OFF! Miller kept covering up from the body kicks and then he faked a punch and SLAMMED his shin into Miller's temple. Miller was out on his feet and the followup GNP was probably not needed.
Final result: Donald Cerrone wins via KO (headkick) at 3:31 of round 2
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Edson Barboza vs. Evan Dunham
Round 1: Barboza in red, Dunham in blue, Peterson the man in black. Feeling out process a minute in. Left from Dunham and one from Barboza. Left into a single-leg for Dunham, but Edson fends it off. Dunham circling, looking for angles. They collide but part with no serious landing. Dunham eats an enormous body kick and he folds over. Barboza swarms and Dunham is down. Peterson stops it. Stann and Anik in the booth are being goobers, thinking that hit the liver, but that kick was to the front of the body, and most likely broke a rib or smashed into the diaphragm.
Final result: Edson Barboza wins via TKO (body kick and punches) at 3:06 of round 1
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Leonardo Mafra vs. Rick Story
Round 1: Story in red, Mafra in black, Miragliotta is the ref. Story takes center cage and he hits a left to the body as he opens up. Mafra with a combo that started with a kick and a few punches. Story with a big punch that he follows up into a takedown. Mafra on his butt up against the cage. Story with some crisp elbows. Mafra not controlling Story well at all. Three lefts in a row. Mafra fishing for an armbar, but Story stuffs it. He kicks Story back and stands, but Story follows him with a powerful takedown. This time they're in center cage and Story is in half guard. Mafra tries to buck, but Story follows it into mount. Mafra recovers half guard but is hit in the mouth with an elbow for his trouble. Mafra trying for deep half, but is overpowered by Story. Closed full guard. Story content to work the GNP from inside guard. He postures and now stands, but stands into an uppercut. Story powers into another double and backs Mafra into the cage. Mafra with a couple Browne-like elbows, but down he goes.
10-9 Story
Round 2: Mafra is bleeding from the mouth. Uppercut and body kick from Mafra, as he needs to get in as many strikes as he can before he gets planted. Story with a left into a takedown. Mafra fights it off briefly, but Story is pit bull-determined to get it and slams him down. Half guard. Story working on a kimura that Story bails on into mount. Mafra regains half. Arm triangle attempt from Story... and he gets it.
Final result: Rick Story wins via submission (arm triangle) at 2:12 of round 2
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Joe Proctor vs. Justin Salas
Round 1: Proctor in black, Salas in yellow, Oliver the ref. Chrissy Blair with the cardboard holding and boob-shaking duties. Proctor gets in a left. Slapping leg kicks from both men. Proctor with a nice right straight, but Salas gets in one of his own that makes Proctor blink. Salas gets in a knee, too, before Proctor recovers. A punch stumbles Salas, but he's OK. Proctor getting away from Salas' huge swings. Nice left from Proctor. Salas gets in an overhand right, but he's bleeding well from a cut over the right eye. Nice leg kick from Justin. Takedown attempt from Salas gets stuffed. Proctor with a leg kick. Proctor with a bloody nose to equal Salas. Another takedown gets stuffed. Proctor's also got a sweet little hematoma under his left temple that is disgusting.
10-9 Proctor
Round 2: Both men get in some rights to open. Salas lands a nice one that backs Proctor into the cage. Knee to the chest as well, but Proctor bites down on his mouthpiece and grits through it. Proctor is backpedaling on every flurry. Salas nearly gets the takedown here, but can't get it. Clinch until Proctor pushes off and lands a straight. Salas gets in a left, but whiffs on the right. There's a right hand square on that hematoma of Proctor. Body kick and a left that knocks Salas down. Proctor swarms and gets in some nice shots, but Salas recovers. Another sweet counter left from Proctor that stumbles Salas. Salas is trying to get a takedown, but eats a ton of unanswered punches and the ref stops it. Might've been a bit early, but it's over.
Final result: Joe Proctor wins via TKO (punches) at 3:27 of round 2
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John Lineker vs. Alptekin Ozkilic
Round 1: Ozkilic in white and black, and thank you, whoever invented copy/paste. Lineker in red. Keith Peterson will control the fighters. Feeling out process for a good 40 seconds here. Lineker answers a leg kick but eats a huge right hand that sent Ozkilic back. Ozkilic ducks under Lineker and is trying hard for the takedown. Ozkilic takes the back and drags John down. Lineker gets Ozkilic off his back, but Ozkilic stays on top for a while. Occasional punches, but Lineker is getting up to his feet... and he's up. Lineker gets in an uppercut. Ozkilic with a left. Lineker blocks a takedown attempt. Right hand from Lineker. Left from Ozkilic. Lineker switches levels, but Ozkilic bails. Left from Ozkilic. Right and a left from the Brazilian. Lineker gets a takedown with 20 seconds left in the round, but Ozkilic is up in two seconds. Left lands for Ozkilic.
10-9 Lineker in a close round.
Round 2: Ozkilic connects on a left hook. Lineker gets in one of his own that wobbles Ozkilic. Lineker with an uppercut that lands. Ozkilic lands a solid right and he seems recovered. Another one. Lineker with a nice level change, but Ozkilic will not be taken down easily and he's out. Lineker fakes the takedown and lands a lead left. He gets in a superman punch, too. Nice left to the body from Lineker. Outside leg kick lands on the Turk. Another body left from Lineker. Ozkilic misses a 1-2, but they trade in the pocket a couple seconds later. Ozkilic's chin has been impressive. Lineker has missed something like 90% of the uppercuts he's thrown, but I think they're trying to keep Ozkilic honest. Lineker lands a takedown, but Ozkilic is up instantly.
10-9 Lineker
Round 3: They both throw body and head here. Great stand and bang. Two rights from Ozkilic and Lineker urges on a firefight. They touch gloves. Lineker landing solid and rocks Ozkilic. Ozkilic gets out and lands a couple good punches. There's a takedown attempt from the Turkish man, but Lineker fights it off. Jabs from Lineker. Jabs from both men. Ozkilic comes forward. Lineker is hitting that body left nearly every time he throws it. Double jabs from Lineker land. Nice three-piece combo from Ozkilic, but he definitely missed the biscuit. Ozkilic is not going to win a firefight with Lineker, but he's sure as hell going to try. Nice jab. Big left from Lineker to the chin. Ozkilic tries a double, into a low single, and can't get it. Left hook connects for Lineker. Nice 1-2 from Ozkilic. Lineker just powers through it, Terminator style, and keeps throwing power punches. Well goddamn! Lineker gets in a couple lefts to the jaw as Ozkilic was backpedaling and couldn't absorb the blows. Ozkilic falls and Lineker pounces on him. He gets the finish with 13 seconds left!
Final result: John Lineker wins via TKO (punches) at 4:51 (slow timekeeper) of round 3
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Lucas Martins vs. Alex White
Round 1: White in red, Martins in white. I think he did it just to confuse us. The third in the cage is the cornrow'd Gasper Oliver. Martins starts on the aggressive, but gets a leg kick checked early. Right hook from White gets in. Another. They trade blows this time. Martins with a nice left hand and he's chasing White who's backpedaling. Switch kick from Martins. Rights from both and Martins thuds in a left to the jaw. White is covering distance quickly, but he's upright as he does so and Martins has capitalized twice on it. Martins gets a solid jab through. Lefts from both connect. Martins gets in a sweet standup elbow. Martins hits another solid left, but White's jaw holds up again. Side kick from White. Martins backs White up and flurries on White.
10-9 Martins
Round 2: They trade on the outside for a bit before Martins closes briefly and they sit in the pocket giving each other some leather. Big inside low kick from the Brazilian. Martins stalking White back. White punches back off the cage. A right lands. Left from Martins. White has tried a spinning backfist about seven or eight times and none have landed solid. Left hand gets in for White. Martins is slowing down a bit, but still gets in a jab. Left from Martins, but a right hand gets in for white. Spinning backfist left and a hook knocks Martins down, but he recovers and is back to pushing forward. Martins tries a takedown but it gets stonewalled. Both men are knocked off balance as White tries to explode off the cage. Right hand from Alex at the bell.
10-9 White
Round 3: Martins lands solid with a left. There's another and a right. White tried a jump knee, but got cracked midair enough to land him on his butt. Martins was far enough away to not try and capitalize. Right from Martins. Goodness gracious. White slipped directly into a right hand from Martins. Martins was basically unconscious on his feet. After the blow, he grabbed the other side of his face as if to prevent his brain from leaking out of his ear. White then just dell and Martins pounced on him with probably unnecessary hammerfists.
Final result: Lucas Martins wins via KO (punch) at 2:08 of round 3
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Pat Healy vs. Gleison Tibau
Round 1: On a personal note, I'm very grateful for the UFC's near glacial pace after that quick smashing of Duke by Smith. It gave me plenty of time to eat my take out bento box. We're greeted with Pat in the red, white and blue trunks and Tibau in black and red. Our ref is the inimitable "Tan" Dan Miragliotta. Slow pace, not terrible characteristic of Healy to start. Tibau landing the first significant blow of the fight with a left. There's another big punch from Gleison. Healy isn't using his reach advantage, as Tibau is getting inside when he needs to. Healy gets in a nice hook, but Tibau returns fire. Tibau with a HUGE takedown and slam. Healy's hips were way above Tibau's head. Half guard. Full guard. Open guard. Tibau with a couple of lefts and keeps Healy back on the mat as he tried to scoot away. Tibau stands over him with a minute left. A left, but Healy gets back up. Healy with a right to the body as Tibau backs away, content to take the points and a breather.
Easy 10-9 Tibau
Round 2: Big spinningbackfist to Healy's dome that he shrugs off. Tibau scoops up the leg of Healy and blasts through in a strong takedown. Half guard. Healy spends a good minute scooting towards the cage, which he uses to slowly cagewalk up, but not without eating a few lefts from the Brazilian. Healy comes forward and backs Tibau to the cage. He gets in a right to the body, but Tibau circles out before Healy can land anything else. Tibau is potshotting well here. Healy finally stuffs a takedown, but still eats a shot. Tibau circling well. Healy with a knee to the gut. Healy with an outside and an inside leg kick, and is now trying for the takedown. Tibau circles under and nearly takes Pat's back, before Healy can turn and get out. Healy turning up the volume with about 40 seconds left. He stuffs a clinch takedown attempt, too. Tibau spends the last 10 seconds of the round on his bike, avoiding punches.
10-9 Tibau, but closer.
Round 3: They're swinging, and Healy is pressuring. Tibau gets in one solid, but Healy with the punches in bunches. Both men stuff takedown attempts. Healy with an elbow in the clinch. Another. Tibau backing away, not potshotting as effectively. That said, Tibau lands a nice right and gets out, and then a left and bails the other way. They clinch with Gleison's back to the fence. Tibau eventually gets a break. Big left uppercut from Tibau. Clinch again. Knee from Healy. They break. Healy with a 1-2. Tibau reverses a clinch and breaks off. Gigantic scoop slam from Tibau, but it was a bit out of control and Healy is able to get up within ten seconds. Tibau is dogged on the takedown attempt here and this might seal the deal for Gleison. He gets it, and when Healy tries to wall walk up, Tibau unloads about 10 lefts. Healy fires back, but only with arm punches.
10-10
Final result: Gleison Tibau wins via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Braiterman here for the rest of the evening on up.
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Jessamyn Duke vs. Leslie Smith
Round 1: They come forward to the center. Smith with a jab, and Smith lands a combination early. Leg kick by Duke. Duke trying to establish her jab early. Smith goes low with a leg kick. Duke returns the favor. Duke eats a big right hand, followed by a kick to the body. Duke is already opened up. Duke goes to the body, but gets caught with a left hook. Two right hands land for Smith, and she's backing Duke up against the fence. Uppercut from Duke, but Smith responds with a shot of her own. Kick to the leg from Smith. Duke catches a kick from Smith, but can't find her range. Smith backs Duke up with some right hands, and nails her with a head kick. Smith hits Duke with a body shot after getting stormed, and she's clenching her gut. Smith drops her and it's over.
Final result: Leslie Smith def. Jessamyn Duke via TKO (punches) at 2:24 of R1
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Aljamain Sterling vs. Hugo Viana
Round 1: They touch em up. Sterling with a kick to the body, and stays away from Viana. Viana counters a body kick from Sterling with a big right hand, which drops Sterling. Sterling goes to the body with a kick. Sterling misses a flying knee and gets hit with a right hand. Viana misses a left hook. Front kick to the body lands for Viana. Viana misses a right hand, and Sterling lands the takedown. Viana trying to get up using the fence, but Sterling keeps him down. Sterling looking to take the back, but Viana staying upright. They're back on their feet and in the clinch up against the fence. Sterling sticking to Viana, landing knees in the clinch. Sterling breaks apart, and they're in the middle. Flying kick misses by Viana. Viana misses another head kick, and Sterling misses one, too. Sterling presses forward with an ax kick, and misses. Sterling nails Viana with a left head kick. Viana scores a kick to the body, but misses a right hand. Spinning kick misses from Sterling, and Viana mistimes a combination. Kick to the inside leg by Viana to close out the round.
Round 2: Sterling lands with a kick to the body. Viana misses a right. Viana lands a kick to Sterling's gut. Sterling ties him up against the fence. Viana trying to break free, using his elbows to create space. Viana shakes him off, and eats a knee to the body. Kick to the body from Sterling. Viana with a nice jab. Front kick misses from Sterling, and Viana gets a right hand in. Sterling powers with a takedown in the center of the Octagon. Sterling in guard. Viana gets back to his feet, and takes a kick to the body. Followed by another kick from Sterling. Viana lands a left hook. Sterling fakes with a right, and gets another takedown. Sterling takes Viana's back with his hooks in, and tries the rear naked choke. Sterling trying to soften him up. Sterling having trouble trying to get the arm under the chin, and he lets go to land big punches.
Round 3: Viana misses a left hook, and Sterling lands a single leg takedown. Sterling in half guard, trying to pass. Sterling moves to side control, but falls back into half guard. Sterling lands a couple of nice elbows, and then goes to the body with strikes. Sterling quick to attempt an armbar with a transition, but goes back into half guard once it doesn't work. Sterling looks like he's trying to set up a head and arm choke. Sterling has the arm locked up, but can't get his hips to the right side. Sterling still has the body lock, and starts pounding on Viana with punches. Viana is covering up, taking a lot of damage. Sterling lands a few hammerfists, and the stoppage could have came a few seconds earlier, to be honest.
Final result: Aljamain Sterling def. Hugo Viana via TKO (punches) at 3:50 of R3
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Yosdenis Cedeno vs. Jerrod Sanders
Round 1: They touch gloves. Both starting off pretty far apart from each other. Sanders goes in with a kick, then thinks twice. Leg kick from Cedeno. Cedeno catches Sanders' body kick, and floors Sanders with a massive right hand. Cedeno follows up with ferocious ground and pound, but Sanders is covering up somehow. Sanders squirms away, and lands a single leg while Cedeno is dying to strike. Sanders trying to flatten Cedeno, and the latter looks for a leg lock and uses it to sweep. Sanders is holding onto the Cuban's arm, and Cedeno puts him on his back. Cedeno now in Sanders' guard. Cedeno postures up and lands big ones to the body. Cedeno chasing Sanders across the cage while Sanders is still on the mat. Cedeno in half guard, trying to break free and punch. Body knees from Cedeno, followed by punches. Cedeno stays on top while working until the horn. Sanders can't even walk to his corner, because his left knee looks shot. The doctor won't let him continue after his inability to walk.
Final result: Yosdenis Cedeno def. Jerrod Sanders via TKO (Fighter Retirement) at 3:00 of R1
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Claudia Gadelha vs. Tina Lahdemaki
Round 1: The strawweights come forth for the first time ever, touching gloves. Gadelha lands early with a combination. Tina just misses. Nice cross from Gadelha. They trade in a flurry, with the Brazilian landing the better shots. Gadelha with a left hook, but she eats a right from Tina. Gadelha lands another left hook, followed by a body shot. Tina with a left hook. Gadelha ties her up and nails her foe with knees to the body, dragging Tina down. Big takedown by Gadelha. Ground and pound in the guard, and Tina traps the arm momentarily but loses it. Gadelha working in her opponent's guard, using her strikes well. Gadelha gets up, and avoids the upkicks to land a right hand to a floored Lahdemaki. Gadelha joins her on the mat, with the Brazilian in side control. Gadelha transitions to mount, looking to take the back. Big punches to Tina, who is covering up. Tina turns, and Gadelha is beneath her looking for the choke. Gadelha doesn't have her arm underneath the chin, but works a face crank. Tina is surviving another neck crank attempt. The round ends.
Round 2: Gadelha with teeth marks on her left forearm, which is shown in the corner between rounds. Tina eats a jab, followed by a left hook that stings her back. Tina lands a nice left, while taking another jab. Tina presses forward with a left hand. A little more activity for the Finnish fighter, but Gadelha controls her posture with the muay thai clinch against the fence and takes her down. Gadelha has her foe pressed against the fence, and takes her back. Tina tries to stand up, but Gadelha is stuck on her back. Punches and knee strikes from the Brazilian, and the referee separates them (which was a terrible break). Gadelha lands a right cross, followed by a combination that rocks her opponent back. Tina misses with a right hand. Spinning back fist lands for Gadelha. Tina lands a couple of right hands to break away from the clinch, and takes a big right hand once they separate. Gadelha tiring, and takes a big right hand. Tina gets nailed with a right, but she's opened up Gadelha on the bridge of her nose. Nice footwork from Tina, and she's opening up with her punches, looking a bit fresher. She closes the round with an overhead right.
Round 3: Gadelha opens up in southpaw, with a knee to the body. She misses a right hand, while both fighters misjudge their punches in a flurry. Tina defends a takedown, and keeps it in the center. Tina gets clocked by a right hand, and misses a front kick. Right hand misses from Tina, and as she goes low with a kick, she gets nailed by a right hand. Combination lands for Tina, who follows up with a left. Right hand for Tina, and Gadelha comes forward with a big right hand. Both women landing, with Tina looking fresher. Jab from Tina. Kick to the body from Gadelha. Nice combination from Tina. Gadelha lands with a right hand. Gadelha lands an inside trip takedown, right into guard. Gadelha with a big elbow, and passes guard into side control. Elbows from Gadelha, and the Brazilian finds herself in half guard. Gadelha on her feet, and Tina gets up quickly. Tina with a right hand and a kick to the body. Gadelha lands a couple of kicks to the body, followed by a double leg to close out the third round.
Final result: Claudia Gadelha def. Tina Lahdemaki via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27x2)
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