Rising UFC middleweight title contender Derek Brunson will look to continue his rapid knockout pace later tonight (Sat., Jan. 27, 2018) at UFC on FOX 27 live on big FOX from inside the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, when he takes on Brazilian legend Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in a crucial 185-pound main event.
In addition, featherweight contender Dennis Bermudez will try to right the ship against tested Hawaiian Andre Fili, while Gregor Gillespie looks to remain undefeated when he takes on fellow New York lightweight Jordan Rinaldi.
But, before the premier bouts get underway on FOX starting at 8:00 p.m. ET, UFC on FOX 27's “Prelims” action will go down on Fight Pass starting at 4:00 p.m. ET and FOX Sports 1 starting at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Find out what happened right here as the UFC on FOX 27 undercard recaps roll in real-time:
Bobby Green vs. Erik Koch
The FS1 “Prelims” headliner featured lightweight veteran Green (24-8-1) in a Fight of the Night candidate against former featherweight contender Koch (15-6). Good head movement from Green early, but Koch mixed it up with kicks to the legs and body. Koch then landed a quick jab as Green switched to Southpaw stance. Green stunned “New Breed” with a short punch along the cage. Koch landed a filthy right hook on the exit of an exchange. He then tripped Green and got busy from top position. The submission eluded Koch, but he was able to land some hard shots from Green’s back. Green responded with a flush left high kick. In Round 2, Green opened up with three unanswered knees in the clinch. Both lightweights exchanged hard body kicks. Green pressed forward and forced Koch to throw heavy shots over the top. Koch ended up landing a good counter shot that backed “King” up before finding a home for another body shot. Green kept busy with punches, knees, and pestering front kicks to the body. In Round 3, Green hurt Koch bad with a straight right hand and eventually another head kick. Every time the two clinched, Green would land offense on entry and exit, while Koch waited for spacing. “King” would eventually score a takedown late into the round, landing short elbows from side control. Koch reversed position, but Green grabbed a hold of a switch, pulled Koch’s leg, and got back into top control. At the end of three, Green’s consistency and overall offensive output earned him the unanimous decision win.
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Mirsad Bektic vs. Godofredo Pepey
Promising featherweight contender Bektic (12-1) was looking to shake off an unprecedented knockout loss to Darren Elkins last March when he locked horns with top-flight Brazilian finisher Pepey (13-6). Bektic landed a hard right hand early that stunned the Brazilian. Pepey returned with a spinning kick to the body before landing a hard uppercut inside. Bektic kept looking for the overhand right but it wasn’t there. Instead, Bektic found a home for a nasty body shot that crumbled the Brazilian and forced the early TKO stoppage.
"I TOLD YOU!"
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) January 28, 2018
Mirsad Bektic finishes Godofredo Pepey with a vicious liver shot! #UFCCharlotte https://t.co/ja0H9GJvSh
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Katlyn Chookagian vs. Mara Romero Borella
Rising Italian prospect Borella (12-5, 1 NC) hoped to improve her unbeaten streak to eight when she met women’s flyweight contender Chookagian (10-1). The longer Chookagian came out early with some high kicks, but Borella maintained the center of the cage. Chookagian kept her range, circled around the edges, and launched combinations with little resistance from Borella. Chookagian opened up a little more with kicks towards the end of the round. In Round 2, Borella maintained the center of the cage while Chookagian scored points with her jab. Borella was able to mix in some good counter shots and displayed better accuracy than the volume striking of Chookagian. The third round saw Borella get a little more active and rush forward with combinations. Unfortunately, Chookagian’s length stopped her from getting inside and doing much damage. Borella was able to land a quick takedown, but Chookagian nearly sunk in a triangle choke. This really wasn’t an easy fight to judge, but Chookagian did enough to earn the unanimous decision nod.
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Randa Markos vs. Juliana Lima
Women’s strawweight veteran Markos (8-5) aimed to improve her UFC record to 4-4 when she took on Brazilian journeywoman Lima (9-5). Markos pushed the action up against the cage early to take away Lima’s rangy striking. Lima reversed position and found a home for some short knees to the thigh. Not many strikes were landed. In Round 2, Markos landed some short punches inside before Lima ended up in top position after a transition to the canvas. Markos was able to secure her own takedown later in the round, gained full mount, and rained down heavy ground-and-pound. The third and final frame saw Markos pushed forward and land a great combination that forced Lima to retreat back into the cage. Once there, Markos was able to Judo throw the Brazilian and score short rabbit punches from top control. Lima was able to sneak out the bottom, but Markos managed to stay in control and pinned her against the cage. In the end, despite limited offense, Markos’ control was good enough to earn her the unanimous decision nod.
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Justine Kish vs. Ji Yeon Kim
In the first of three women’s matchups of the evening, the talented Kish (6-2) looked to rebound from her first professional loss in a flyweight tilt opposite South Korean Kim (7-1-2). Kim landed a hard right hand in the early going. Kish responded with a bunch of low kicks in hopes of Kim lowering her hands. Kish followed that up with a combination into a body kick, but Kim countered with a hard right hand. In Round 2, Kish opened up with some more leg kicks, as Kim waited in the pocket to counter with her hands. Kim didn’t move much at all, as Kish initiated most exchanges, changed levels, used angles, and mixed her strikes together. Kish landed a punch-kick combination that finally put the South Korean back on her toes. Kish followed that up with a body-head combination that left Kim stunned. The third frame saw Kish stay active with more attacks on Kim’s lead leg. Kim started to strike first, but Kish was there for the left hook counter. An inadvertent eye poke temporarily stopped the action. Kim really started to turn the pressure up, as she lowered her hands and swung leather at will. Kish kept the offense coming while Kim bounced around and looked for her window for a finish. Unfortunately, it never came. But with her last ditch effort and a few strong punches landed in the first 10 minutes of action, Kim was able to sneak away with the split-decision win.
HEATING UP! #UFCCharlotte pic.twitter.com/oJHTdxSJHf
— UFC (@ufc) January 27, 2018
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Vinc Pichel vs. Joaquim Silva
Sparking off the FS1 preliminary card was a lightweight scrap pitting resurgent finisher Pichel (11-1) against undefeated Brazilian Silva (10-1). Early pressure along the cage by Pichel. The two exchanged inside with Pichel landing two unanswered body shots. Silva kept moving and forced Pichel to extend his punches and fade his power. Silva then landed a hard leg kick to Pichel’s eye before finding a home for a body shot. In Round 2, Pichel tried to cut Silva off, stalking him down, landing a short elbow, and pinning the Brazilian up against the cage. Silva landed a hard right hand in the middle of the Octagon. Pichel came back with a combination followed by a knee to the body. The third and final frame saw Silva open up with a hard inside leg kick. Pichel kept circling and pawed with his jab. Pichel landed a crisp right hand counter during an inside exchange. He then caught a Silva kick and briefly took the Brazilian down. Silva returned favor with a power right along the cage. Silva started to load up his right hand as Pichel struggled to find his range in retreat. Pichel shot in for a late takedown but wasn’t able to score much. In the end, it was Pichel who did enough over the course of three rounds to walk away with the unanimous decision.
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Niko Price vs. George Sullivan
In the first of two welterweight bouts on the card, talented prospect Price (11-1, 1 NC) looked to bounce back after a submission loss to Vicente Luque when he took on veteran journeyman Sullivan (17-6). Price baited Sullivan early in order to land his right hand. Sullivan pushed the pace and tracked Price down, but Price was able to create distance with a few front kicks. Sullivan came back with a nasty three-punch combination. Price pinned the veteran up against the cage and scored a timely takedown. Sullivan looked tired from the grappling exchanges coming out in Round 2. Price found a home for his right hand and hurt Sullivan. Sullivan kept his composure and scored a takedown. Price threatened off his back with submission attempts, but Sullivan remained calm and landed heavy shots from top, one of which opened up a cut on Price. Price eventually slid out and took Sullivan’s back. Sullivan tried to defend, but Price fought for the rear-naked choke finish and got it.
Adding this directly to the highlight reel.@NikoHybridPrice #UFCCharlotte pic.twitter.com/qR0X4IiDzD
— UFC (@ufc) January 27, 2018
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Austin Arnett vs. Cory Sandhagen
The opening bout of the evening saw two UFC newcomers battle it out in a featherweight affair, as “Golden Boy” Arnett (15-4) took on Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) standout Sandhagen (8-1). Sandhagen was the aggressor in the early going, landing lead jabs and quick outside leg kicks. The newcomer followed his efforts up with blistering body shots and hard knees in the clinch, as Arnett struggled to find his own timing. Arnett was then swept by Sandhagen and ended up eating a barrage of elbows from top position. Arnett came back with a nice three-punch combo along the cage before Sandhagen returned favor with more punches to the body. In Round 2, Sandhagen landed hard leg kicks out of the gate that backed Arnett into the cage. Arnett initiated the clinch, but Sandhagen retaliated with a hard elbow over the top. Sandhagen kept active and continued to land at will from a variety of angles. Arnett was able to briefly threaten with a rear-naked choke but Sandhagen shook it off. Sandhagen reversed position and cut Arnett open with an elbow from the top. Sandhagen landed a beautiful spinning back elbow when the action returned to the feet. Sandhagen then hurt Arnett bad with a liver shot and blasted him with countless knees. Arnett eventually fell to the canvas and the referee jumped in for the second-round TKO stoppage.
Living up to the hype tonight!@Cors_Life shines in his UFC debut. #UFCCharlotte pic.twitter.com/r3PLOAYypd
— UFC (@ufc) January 27, 2018
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