Cuban destroyer Yoel Romero will look to extend his undefeated UFC record later tonight (Sat., July 8, 2017) at UFC 213 live on pay-per-view (PPV) from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, when he takes on Australian striker Robert Whittaker in the main event for the interim UFC middleweight championship. In addition, heavyweight legends Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem will battle it out in the co-main event.
But, before the premier bouts get underway on PPV starting at 10 p.m. ET, UFC 213's “Prelims” action will go down on Fight Pass starting at 7 p.m. ET and FOX Sports 1 starting at 8 p.m. ET.
Find out what happened right here as the UFC 213 undercard recaps roll in real-time:
Travis Browne vs. Oleksiy Oliynyk
Former UFC heavyweight title contender Browne (18-7-1) aimed to end a three-fight losing streak when he took on submission specialist Oliynyk (52-10-1) in the preliminary headliner. As expected, Browne utilized whipping front kicks in the early going to keep “Boa Constrictor” at bay. Browne then defended well along the cage before landing hard knees and punches that badly hurt Oliynyk. However, Oliynyk stole momentum back when he landed a powerful right hand that dropped Browne along the cage. “Hapa” quickly got back to his feet, but ate countless body shots as Oliynyk controlled the rest of the first round. In the second frame, Browne landed a brutal knee to the body that knocked the wind out of Oliynyk. But Oliynyk stayed heavy on the inside with piercing punches to the body. After Browne took the Russian down, Oliynyk reversed positioning, took the Hawaiian’s back, and squeezed Browne’s neck and body until he felt the tap. Oliynyk walks away with the second-round submission win.
The submission artist that is Alexey Oleinik just took down the No. 9 heavyweight in Travis Browne with the choke! https://t.co/vnVqJYFD2M
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) July 9, 2017
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Chad Laprise vs. Brian Camozzi
In the second welterweight bout of the evening, former TUF winner Laprise (12-2) aimed to get back into the win column at 170 pounds when he met Camozzi (7-4). While Laprise came in as the biggest favorite on the entire card, Camozzi stood tall in the early going. Camozzi relied on his kicks to keep the mobile Canadian guessing, while Laprise tried to get inside and land counter strikes. Laprise was able to score some ground-and-pound after a transition to the mat before the end of the first. In Round 2, Camozzi kept launching leg kicks and body kicks, as Laprise circled away and picked his shots from distance. It was pretty even for the most part. Camozzi responded in turn almost every time Laprise landed offense. The final frame saw Laprise press the action a little more aggressively as he reached over Camozzi’s long limbs to land combinations. Laprise would find a home for a crippling body shot following by a knee that sent Camozzi to the canvas for good. The Canadian walked away with the third-round TKO win.
Who saw that finish coming from Chad Laprise? WHOA! #UFC213 https://t.co/WiTlzRbt8g
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) July 9, 2017
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Thiago Santos vs. Gerald Meerschaert
Streaking middleweight submission specialist Meerschaert (26-9) aimed to extend his UFC win streak to three when he met Brazilian knockout artist Santos (15-5). It was Meerschaert who struck early, landing a timely takedown after Santos swept him over with a nasty leg kick. Meerschaert kept the pressure going along the cage, but the Brazilian was able to land some powerful right hands that put the grappler in trouble. Santos landed an inadvertent eye poke that temporarily stopped the action. In the second round, Santos peppered Meerschaert with heavy shots after a transition to the ground. The Brazilian started to do some serious damage as Meerschaert rolled over and tried to protect himself. It didn’t help. Santos kept piling on the punches and earned the TKO stoppage.
The man wears a hammer on his chest for a reason! Thiago Santos secures a second-round win over Gerald Meerschaert! https://t.co/9JcOgp5JmA
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) July 9, 2017
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Jordan Mein vs. Belal Muhammad
In a super-enticing welterweight scrap, Canadian veteran Mein (29-12) looked to capture his first win since 2014 when he locked horns with willing brawler Muhammad (12-2), who was competing for the fifth time in the past 12 months. Both men traded blows early. Mein relied more on leg kicks and body kicks than anything, while Muhammad mixed up his strikes to get inside. Muhammad was able to grab clinch and cut Mein above his left eye with an elbow towards the end of the first. In Round 2, Muhammad was able to close the gap more quickly, pressing the Canadian up against the cage and scoring a temporary takedown. Muhammad would then start to find his groove on the feet, landing hooks, jabs, combinations, and counter lefts from distance. Mein’s defense seemed to dissipate as he allowed Muhammad back inside along the cage to land another takedown. The third and final frame saw a desperate Mein get pinned up against the chain link once again, as Muhammad changed levels, dropped low, and dragged the veteran back down to the canvas. Muhammad was able to get a hold of Mein’s back and pressure with nasty punches to the ribs, but the finish never manifested. Instead, Muhammad had to settle with the one-sided unanimous decision win in his most impressive UFC outing to date.
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Cody Stamann vs. Terrion Ware
The Fight Pass preliminary headliner saw Michigan native Stamann (15-1) make his UFC featherweight debut against fellow Octagon newcomer Ware (17-6). Stamann opened up with crisp knees inside before landing a huge takedown in the middle of the Octagon. Ware returned with some timely jabs and pressure along the cage, but couldn’t stop another takedown by Stamann. In Round 2, Ware started to land a little more often, finding a home for a looping right hand that buckled Stamann. He added in a few knees along the cage before Stamann blasted him with a counter left hook. Luckily for Stamann, he was able to land another slick takedown to end the round in top control. Stamann started to land even more offense in the final frame, which included left hooks and combinations before another successful takedown. That’s exactly where Stamann ended up as he landed heavy ground-and-pound before the finale horn. In the end, Stamann walked away with the unanimous decision win.
Front face kick! @CodyStamann #UFC213 pic.twitter.com/k3KACXi3bF
— UFC (@ufc) July 8, 2017
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Trevin Giles vs. James Bochnovic
In the opening bout of the evening, undefeated light heavyweight prospect Giles (10-0) made his UFC debut alongside fellow newcomer and worthy submission guru Bochnovic (8-2). There were heavy kick attacks by Bochnovic early until Giles landed a double-leg takedown and started to score crucial ground-and-pound. Bochnovic tried to time a submission attempt, but Giles postured up and landed powerful right hands. It was much of the same in Round 2, as Giles hurt Bochnovic with a body shot, gained control on the ground, and started to pick him apart. After Bochnovic turned over onto his stomach Giles blasted him with punishing left hooks to earn the knockout finish.
Welcome to the UFC Trevin Giles! What a debut!
— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) July 8, 2017
Featured Bout is up NEXT! pic.twitter.com/Crrfquvtpk
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