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There's nothing like some good old fights in the deep south of Hidalgo, Texas, as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweights Dustin Poirier and Michael Johnson meet head-on later tonight (Sat., Sept. 17, 2016) at UFC Fight Night 94 live from State Farm Arena. The rising 155-pound contenders will duke it out in one of the more undervalued, yet meaningful, bouts the lightweight division has to offer. Poirier vs. Johnson will unfold after Uriah Hall and Derek Brunson sling heavy leather at one another in a scintillating middleweight co-main event.
But before the premier bouts get underway on FOX Sports 1 starting at 10:00 p.m. ET, a portion of UFC Fight Night 94's preliminary action will also go down on FS1 starting at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Find out what happened right here as the UFC Fight Night 94 FS1 undercard recaps roll in real-time:
Gabriel Benitez vs. Sam Sicilia
In the final stanza of the FS1 "Prelims" card, former TUF standout Sicilia (15-7) looked to put his heavy hands to use against the talented Benitez (19-5), who needed to regain momentum in the featherweight division after being knocked out by Andre Fili last year. After opening up with a few swooping inside leg kicks, Benitez was forced to fend off a hungry Sicilia, who pressured inside and looked to brawl on arrival. But with 11 total leg kicks landed in Round 1, "Moggly" was able to occasionally keep Sicilia at bay. In Round 2, Benitez came out firing with a powerful right hand that sent Sicilia to the canvas. After peppering Sicilia with elbows to the side of the head, Benitez sunk in a high-elbow standing guillotine choke that put the TUF knockout specialist to sleep.
Sam Sicilia refuses to tap and goes to sleep courtesy of a NASTY Gabriel Benitez guillotine choke #UFCHidalgo https://t.co/kp2lJxxzU2
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) September 18, 2016
Down goes Sicilia! #UFCHidalgo https://t.co/S6MPorXnS8
— #UFCHidalgo (@ufc) September 18, 2016
Augusto Montano vs. Belal Muhammad
After suffering a loss to Alan Jouban in his hard-fought UFC debut, Muhammad (10-1) aimed to take out Mexican mixed martial arts (MMA) legend Montano (15-3) in front of a hostile Texas crowd. Muhammad commanded the early going before a low blow landed by "Dodger" temporarily paused the action. After collecting his marbles, Muhammad landed a powerful overhand right that sent Montano stumbling back into the cage, but the Mexican fighter returned with a few nasty inside leg kicks. Unfortunately for Muhammad, Montano's thumb found his eye after an exchange inside. Referee Herb Dean issued a warning to both sides. Montano offered much of the same in the second round as he finished every offensive combination with a slapping inside leg kick, but it was Muhammad who secured a takedown to gain top control and score valuable points. Muhammad continued his ground assault in Round 3 by taking Montano down again, securing back control and maintaining momentum. After Montano regained his footing, the two welterweights exchanged with heavy leather before Muhammad changed levels for another takedown. This time around, the pressure from Muhammad was too much. Montano gave in and ended up losing via third-round TKO.
Belal Muhammad pours it on late in the 3rd round and gets the TKO stoppage via ground and pound! #UFCHidalgo https://t.co/kyx8Eskysi
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) September 18, 2016
Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Leonardo Augusto Guimaraes
Submission specialist Carlos Jr. (6-2) attempted to get back into the UFC win column when he met Guimaraes (11-3) in a volatile middleweight scrap. After a fairly stale first round, which featured solid takedown defense by Guimaraes and an illegal knee landed by Carlos Jr. that resulted in a deducted point, Carlos Jr. began to open up on the ground. Guimaraes did as much as he could to defend, but the 26-year-old Brazilian was simply too technical, softening "Leleco" up and taking his time from back control. Knees to the hips and right hands to the temple peppered Guimaraes in succession. While Guimaraes threatened along the way with multiple guillotine chokes, Carlos Jr. had his way with the 34-year-old by implementing suffocating pressure and controlling the action along the cage with overwhelming grappling en route to earning a third-round rear naked choke finish.
With less than :30 seconds left in the fight Carlos Junior sinks in a rear naked choke and gets the tap #UFCHidalgo https://t.co/p4gjsIJwhw
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) September 18, 2016
Jose Quinonez vs. Joey Gomez
In the opening bout on the FS1 preliminary card, Gomez (6-2) looked to add to his Hall of Knockouts when he took on Mexican bantamweight Quinonez (5-2), who was coming off his first UFC victory. Quinonez took away the striking of "KO King" early and often by landing timely takedowns and slowing Gomez down. After landing a combination that seemed to hurt Gomez's hand, Quinonez struck Gomez to the ground to end the first frame and cap off a solid round. It was much of the same in Round 2 as Quinonez secured an early takedown and once again limited Gomez's offensive potential. But after landing a short powerful uppercut inside, Gomez hurt Quinonez and continued to attack before sending the Mexican to the canvas with a straight left hand. Gomez pressured for the remaining minutes, but seemed too tired to threaten with a finish. In Round 3, Quinonez landed a nasty knee that knocked Gomez onto his back. From there, the 26-year-old battered "KO King" with a heavy top game and splitting elbows before nearly sinking in a rear naked choke finish. It was a well-rounded performance that earned Quinonez the impressive unanimous decision win.
Quinonez lands a beautiful knee! #UFCHidalgo https://t.co/w2AqQjoFdm
— #UFCHidalgo (@ufc) September 18, 2016
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