UFC Fight Night 120 results: ‘Poirier vs. Pettis’ live updates, fight recaps - 'Prelims'

The Octagon action returns later tonight (Sat., Nov. 11, 2017) at UFC Fight Night 120 live on FOX Sports 1 from inside the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Virginia, as rising lightweight contender Dustin Poirier takes on former divisional champion Anthony Pettis.

In addition to the main event, Matt Brown will make his final UFC appearance when he takes on promotional mainstay Diego Sanchez in a blistering welterweight matchup, former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski will try to ward off rising youngster Junior Albini, and lightweight veteran Joe Lauzon will look to get back into the win column when he takes on the always entertaining Clay Guida.

But, before the premier bouts get underway on FS1 starting at 10 p.m. ET, UFC Fight Night 120's “Prelims” action will also go down on Fight Pass starting at 6:30 p.m. ET and then on FS1 starting at 8 p.m. ET.

Find out what happened right here as the UFC Fight Night 120 undercard recaps roll in real-time:

John Dodson vs. Marlon Moraes

The FS1 preliminary headliner pitted former UFC flyweight title challenger Dodson (19-9) in an ultra-important bantamweight showdown with former World Series of Fighting (WSOF) champion Moraes (19-5-1), who dropped his Octagon debut to veteran Raphael Assuncao back at UFC 212. Moraes opened up with a hard kick to the body and a crisp counter left. Dodson returned with his own wrenching body shot. The much quicker Dodson kept leaping inside with combinations and ended up dropping Moraes midway through the first round. Moraes recovered nicely, but inadvertently destroyed “Magician” with titanic low blow. Dodson was in real pain and looked like he was going to throw up. When the action continued Moraes landed a huge right hand. In Round 2, Moraes caught Dodson hard with a left hand inside. He then nailed Dodson with a powerful right hand. Dodson would return favor with a few short shots during a scramble on the ground. Moraes attempted multiple leg locks throughout the round, but Dodson wiggled free and remained offensive. The final frame saw both men visibly, and deservedly, tired. Dodson still landed on the inside when he burst forward, but he allowed Moraes to get off his own shots. Moraes nearly sunk in a guillotine choke at the end of the round, but Dodson’s tap came right after the final bell. In the end, Moraes was able to earn the split-decision win.

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Tatiana Suarez vs. Viviane Pereira

In a matchup of undefeated women’s strawweight prospects, Pereira (13-1) aimed to capture her third-straight UFC victory when she met 26-year-old ground specialist Suarez (5-0). Suarez looked to close the gap early, but Pereira touched her up on the inside with quick punches up the middle. Pereira was able to threaten Suarez with a guillotine choke along the cage before Suarez took her down and scored some valuable top time. Suarez transitioned to Pereira’s back with relative ease and landed hard shots from behind. In Round 2, Suarez went back to her ground game pretty quickly and secured a takedown. Pereira defended nicely for a little bit, but Suarez started to square up and land power punches and elbows. Pereira attempted a few submissions along the way, but nothing that put Suarez in serious danger. The third round offered much of the same, as Suarez’s top game proved too powerful. Pereira had no other option but to curl up and protect her body from the damaging blows. Suarez ended up in full mount and buried her elbows into Pereira’s face before nearly locking up an arm bar at the end of the round. Suarez’s return to the cage was a dominant performance to say the least, and one that earned her the unanimous decision win.

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Sage Northcutt vs. Michel Quinones

In the first of three lightweight bouts on the card, rising youngster Northcutt (9-2) looked to rebound after a submission loss to Mickey Gall last December when he squared off with heavy-handed veteran Quinones (8-3). Good counter right hand for Northcutt in the early going. Quinones was the aggressor inside as “Super” plotted his shots. Northcutt came back with a hard body kick that pushed Quinones back into the cage. Northcutt landed a combination later into the frame that nearly took Quinones’ head off. In Round 2, Northcutt opened up with more lead side kicks to the body. The kid showed true patience around the outer edges and really started to pressure Quinones at every turn, landing combinations on the go and dodging any return damage. Northcutt landed a nice uppercut inside followed by a takedown before the end of the round. Northcutt launched a sick three-jab combination early into Round 3, as Quinones started to show signs of wear and tear. Quinones did try to bite down on his mouthpiece and rip shots inside, but Northcutt was too surgical with his offensive approach and avoided anything of significance. Northcutt even tried to land a cartwheel kick in the final seconds of the fight. In the end, “Super” looked sensational on his way to a unanimous decision nod.

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Angela Hill vs. Nina Ansaroff

The opening bout of the FS1 prelims saw talented women’s strawweight striker Hill (7-4) match up against veteran journeywoman Ansaroff (8-5). Hill found an early home for her hands, rocking Ansaroff during an inside exchange. Ansaroff came back with a nice combination after breaking free from a Hill clinch along the cage. The bigger Ansaroff was able to lean on her natural strength during most tie-ups, but Hill’s movement allowed her to find openings from various angles. In Round 2, Ansaroff pushed the pace and started to land brutal kicks to the body. She even bloodied Hill’s nose with a hard right hand. Hill responded with more leg kicks that further bruised Ansaroff’s lead knee. Both women came forward with their own combinations, but Ansaroff did the most damage with a hard kick to Hill’s lower leg. Hill stood strong with some timely counter power punches. The final frame saw Ansaroff land more power shots on the inside, as Hill looked much slower after eating that vicious leg kick the round before. Hill tried to open up with forward movement and counter shots, but Ansaroff kept putting her nose down and bulling through the shots. At the end of 15 entertaining minutes, it was Ansaroff who escaped with the unanimous decision.

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Court McGee vs. Sean Strickland

Headlining the Fight Pass portion of the preliminary card was a welterweight showdown between promotional workhorse McGee (18-7) and 26-year-old rising talent Strickland (19-2). McGee pressured early with leg kicks before going high and getting swept by Strickland. McGee was able to scramble and get back to his feet. Strickland started to tag McGee with crisp jabs, but McGee returned the favor with more leg kicks. Both fighters remained technical in their approach and selective in their power punches. In Round 2, McGee tied the action up along the cage to control the action, But Strickland got away and continued his assault from range. McGee stayed very busy with level changes and definitely pushed the pace, but his shots didn’t do much damage. Strickland was able to shake off McGee’s takedown attempts, but failed to throw much power into his punches, too. McGee was able to land a huge head kick early into Round 3. Strickland didn’t really seem to have a sense of urgency and it allowed McGee to maintain the pace of the fight and stay busy in most spots. That was until Strickland landed a timely takedown midway through the round scored valuable points with short ground-and-pound. After the dust settled, Strickland walked away with the unanimous decision.

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Jake Collier vs. Marcel Fortuna

In the only 205-pound matchup on the card, Brazilian submission expert Fortuna (9-3) made his third Octagon appearance of 2017 against well-rounded prospect Collier (11-4). Both men landed big shots early, with Collier landing a nasty left hook counter inside. Collier kept plodding forward and showing the Brazilian different looks, but Fortuna landed the more meaningful shots in the early going. Fortuna was able to catch Collier off guard and land a spinning back fist. Collier responded with a sharp left hand that stunned Fortuna. In Round 2, Fortuna was able to land a nice takedown and take Collier’s back. Collier responded by breaking free and pushing the action on the feet with jabs and a spinning back kick to the Brazilian’s body. Fortuna looked tired and desperate for a clinch, but Collier continued to pepper him with kicks and in-your-face pressure all over the cage. Luckily, Fortuna was able to get another takedown and this time move into full mount. Collier was able to buck Fortuna off of him and take back top control. The final round saw Collier open up with a nasty head kick. Fortuna went back to his ground game, but Collier was simply too strong to keep down. The Brazilian landed a nice combination on the feet that temporarily stunned Collier, but Fortuna didn’t follow it up with enough pressure to maintain momentum. In the end, it was Collier who did more damage with 108 significant strikes en route to the unanimous decision win.

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Darren Stewart vs. Karl Roberson

The opening bout of the evening saw rising middleweight prospect Roberson (6-0) make his Octagon debut opposite English knockout artist Stewart (7-2, 1 NC). Stewart came out of the gate with two spinning back fist attempts, while Roberson gauged distance and remained mobile. During an inside exchange, Roberson caught Stewart with huge uppercuts down the pipe and a crushing knee. Stewart pushed the action to the fence before working hard for a takedown. But it was Roberson who swept and ended up in top control. Roberson then transitioned, took Stewart’s back, and rained down selective shots. After working the arms, Roberson was able to lock in a tight rear-naked choke that forced Stewart to tap.

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MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Fight Night 120 fight card, starting with the UFC Fight Pass “Prelims” matches online at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by the FOX Sports 1 "Prelims" bouts at 8 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 10 p.m. ET, also on FOX Sports 1.