UFC 234 Preliminary Card Results: Devonte Smith Finishes Dong Hyun Ma

UFC 234 preliminary card results are underway as the Las Vegas-based promotion holds this latest event on television for fight fans around the world to watch the show.

It’s once again fight day here at LowKickMMA, and the talent on display tonight (Saturday, February 9, 2019) will come from in the form of UFC 234. Headlining the card are Israel Adesanya and Anderson Silva, but there’s a whole bunch of great fights also taking place on the preliminary section of the card.

Devonte Smith vs. Dong Hyun Ma in a lightweight bout closes the preliminary card on ESPN. In round 1, Ma lands a low kick, eats a 1-2, gets rocked. Smith chases him down with a combo and slumps Ma, followup hammerfists have him out cold.

Shane Young vs. Austin Arnett is next in a featherweight bout. In round 1, another right upstairs and one to the body from Young. Arnett getting clipped up at a steady pace now. Good left hand from Arnett. His first really solid shot of the night. Young steps in and lands a hard right hand. Combo from Young and he grabs the clinch, but Arnett fights him off. Good jab from Arnett out of southpaw. Yong works the body to keep pressure on, but Arnett has found some space from his left hand, and lands  a counter hook. In round 2, Young opens round 2 with low kicks and right back to pressuring Arnett. ARnett flashing the jab and switching stances. Good body kick from Young. ood left from Arnett. Young doubles up on the jab and looks for the right hand then goes back to the low kick. Arnett switches to southpaw and Young drops to the body, then fakes low to throw high. In round 3, triple jab from Arnett. Switches to southpaw and lands a hard right as he catches a kick. Young just bulling forward, looking to set up his right hand. Young with a couple dirty boxing uppercuts and swarms Arnett with a hard combo of power hooks. Arnett with a couple hard counter lefts as he circles out. Young with a knockdown at the end of round three. The judges gave the win to Young.
 

Kai Kara-France vs. Raulian Paiva is next in a flyweight bout. In round 1, Paiva rushes forward and dives on a single leg as Kara-France backs to the cage. Kara-France breaks his grip and moves back to open space. Paiva with a right hand, but he’s not getting that much offense going for the pressure he’s creating. Paiva rushes Kara-France again but can’t get the takedown. Kara-France tries a combo. In round 2, Kara-France scrambles up and lands a hook. Kara-France throws a right and shoots in but immediately gets reversed and pushed to the cage as Paiva lands knees. Nice upkick from Kara-France as he scrambles up. Kind of a missed opportunity for Paiva. Kara-France lands a huge hook that rocks Paiva. Paiva returns a hard left hook to stop Kara-France’s advance. In round 3, hard hook from Kara-France but countered by three shots from Paiva. Paiva eats another hard one and lands a couple in return. Kara-France lands a right hand, tries a low kick, Paiva catches it and throws his own right into Kara-France’s cup. Nice combo in the pocket from Paiva has Kara france stung. Kara France returns fire and Paiva keeps walking him down. Good couple left hooks from Kara-France. The judges gave the win to Kai Kara-France by split decision.

Teruto Ishihara vs. Kyung Ho Kang in a bantamweight bout opens the ESPN preliminary bouts. After a wild brawl that saw both men throw strong and reckless strikes, Kyung Ho with the takedown, and right into a back take. Kyung How with the choke in and got the rear-naked choke victory.

Jalin Turner vs. Callan Potter is next in a lightweight bout.finishes off the Fight Pass preliminary card. A hard right from Turner has Potter hurt bad. Body kick follows. Turner chases Potter to the mat with strikes to knock him all the way out.

Opening the UFC Fight Pass prelims is Wuliji Buren vs. Jonathan Martinez in a bantamweight bout. In round 1, Martinez opens with a headkick, both men looking to open the fight with kicks from outside, but Martinez looks faster there. Buren jumping on a headlock as he tries to pass, but lets Martinez scramble up. Martinez keeps on Buren’s hips to get his own double leg as Buren jumps on the guillotine. Martinez passes to side control, with Buren focusing too hard on the choke. In position for a Von Flue choke, but loses it to stay in side control and take the back in the scramble. In round 2, Buren shoots a double and Martinez jumps on the guillotine to give up an easy takedown as Buren cuts quickly to half guard. Martinez hits the sweep and now he’s on top in Buren’s guard. Buren with a butterfly sweep of his own to end up on top himself. Buren getting stuck against the cage. In round 3, Buren straight into mount off that takedown and jumps on an armbar. Deep sub, but Martinez wriggles through it to take Buren’s back and land some hard shots. Martinez working hard to flatten Buren out and hunt for the rear-naked choke. Settles for cutting to mount in the scramble instead, but ends right back on Buren’s back as Buren tries to stand. Martinez now on top in Buren’s guard, looking to posture and drop some hard shots as the round ends. The judges gave the win to Martinez.

Here are the results:

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)

Lightweight bout: Devonte Smith def Dong Hyun Ma via TKO (punches) at 3:53 of round 1

Featherweight bout: Shane Young def. Austin Arnett by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Flyweight bout: Kai Kara-France def. Raulian Paiva by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Bantamweight bout: Kyung Ho Kang def. Teruto Ishihara by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:59 of Round 1

PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 7  p.m. ET)

Lightweight bout: Jalin Turner def. Callan Potter via KO (strikes) at :53 of R1

Bantamweight bout: Jonathan Martinez def. Wuliji Buren via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)