UFC Fight Night 113 results from last night: Paul Felder vs Stevie Ray fight recap

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight sluggers Paul Felder and Stevie Ray went to war yesterday (July 16, 2017) at UFC Fight Night 113 at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.

Eight fights deep into his UFC career, Felder had proven himself a fun fighter with the potential to land big knockouts. In order to move forward and become a contender, however, Felder needed to come up big here. Meanwhile, Ray had found more consistent success, winning five of six bouts inside the Octagon. This was another test for the prospect, who looked to continue his climb up the the Lightweight ladder.

Instead, Felder scored another brutal knockout.

Ray opened the bout with the expected strategy — lateral movements, kicks, and counters — but he soon surprised by attacking with takedowns. Felder defended them well enough, but Ray was able to drive him into the fence and work from the clinch.

The two jostled around in the clinch and landed small strikes for some time, but Felder suddenly landed a hard knee that sent Ray crumbling to the mat. Ray was out of it for a minute and seemed to recover, but a series of hard, loud elbows from “The Irish Dragon” sent Ray into dream land.

It was violent.

This was precisely what Felder needed. On the feet, he looked composed and dangerous. When his opponent switched things up by seeking close range exchanges, Felder was more than happy to meet him in the clinch and melt him. Felder spent a good deal of time with his back on the fence, but it became clear that he was simply waiting for his moment. Alongside the knee that dropped Ray, Felder also found a home for a perfectly placed elbow to the cheekbone.

Speaking of, Felder has established himself as one of the sport’s premiere elbow fighters. His clinch elbows were sharp and cutting, but his elbows that ended the bout were anything but. Instead, they were brutal and heavy, slamming his opponent’s head into the mat and ending him.

Felder is ready for another top 15 challenge.

As for Ray, it was really a questionable approach. Felder excels in close-range; he lands brutally hard elbows and knees where other fighters find few opportunities. Rather than maintain his distance — which was working and is more proven against Felder — he ran right into the lion’s den.

And into the eventual knockout.

This is a hard setback for Ray. He was closing in on a spot in the rankings, but a loss to Felder in such devastating fashion pushes him back quite a bit. Now, “Braveheart” will have to win at least two or three fights before attempting to break into the rankings.

For complete UFC Fight Night 113 “Nelson vs Ponzinibbio” results and play-by-play, click HERE!