UFC On FOX 18 Preliminary Results: Saffiedine Earns Decision Win Over Ellenberger

It was once again fight day here at LowKickMMA, and the talent on display tonight (Saturday, January 30th, 2015) will come in the form of UFC on FOX 18. Headlining the card are Ryan Bader and Anthony Johnson, but there’s a whole bunch of great fights also taking place on the preliminary section of the card.

Jake Ellenberger vs. Tarec Saffiedine closed the preliminary card on Fox Sports 1 in a welterweight bout. This was a fun stand up fight that saw both men have their moments and were really close as most of the exchanges saw them go punch for punch. Both men were coming off of injuries coming into this fight. In the end, the judges gave the unanimous decision win to Saffiedine.

Olivier Aubin-Mercier and Diego Ferreira met in a lightweight bout. A close fight early, but Ferreira stood out in the judge’s eyes throughout three rounds with his constant pressure and cage control. In the end, Ferreira won the fight by unanimous decision. Neither fighter had a standout performance.

Kevin Casey and Rafael Natal met in a middleweight bout. Natal dominated the fight with his takedowns that not only tired out Casey but made him desperate when he was striking, which allowed Natal to take him down. Natal nearly ended the fight in the first round when he tagged Casey with a right, and Casey went crashing down, but the bell sounded. In the third round, Natal got full mount and poured on the strikes to win the fight.

Dustin Ortiz and Wilson Reis met in a flyweight bout. The story of this fight was Reis’ takedowns. He used them throughout the fight that ultimately won him the fight. Ortiz tried to land some big shots while on the feet, but that let Reis take him down constantly. Reis was the stronger grappler in this fight. Reis almost finished the fight late in the third round by strikes, but could not. Reis picks up a unanimous decision victory.

George Sullivan and Alexander Yakovlev met in a welterweight bout. Yakovlev did what he wanted to do with Sullivan in this fight as he took him down early, transitioned from side control to mount to back mount. Sullivan would eventually get to his feet. This led to Yakovlev catching him with a straight left, and a big right hook then finished the fight on the ground.

Alex Caceres vs. Masio Fullen opened the Fox Sports 1 preliminary bouts in a bantamweight bout. Caceres controlled the majority of this fight with his constant presser and being able to switch up his kicks and strikes that kept Fullen guessing throughout it. Caceres picks up the unanimous decision victory. Caceres looked great in this fight after being on a multiple fight losing streak. 

Randy Brown vs. Matt Dwyer in a welterweight bout finished off the UFC Fight Pass preliminary card. This was a very close fight that saw a mixture of striking and grappling. Brown almost finished the fight in the third-round when he poked Dwyer in the eye (which wasn’t stopped) then swarmed him with strikes. Dwyer recovered, and this fight went the distance. Brown won the fight via unanimous decision.

Damon Jackson and Levan Makashvili met in a featherweight bout. This was a clinched fest fight. Jackson looked to take the fight to the ground throughout the fight, but while he gave a lot of effort in doing so, he stayed in the clinch most of this fight as Makashvili was stronger and had some good takedown defense. Things got weird in the third-round. Makashvili kneed him in Jackson in the head late in the round. Makashvili would then poke Jackson in the eye. Makashvili had a point taken away. This fight ended in a majority draw.

Opening the UFC Fight Pass prelims was Tony Martin vs. Felipe Olivieri Dwyer in a lightweight bout. Martin controlled the first-round with his takedowns but ate some big leg kicks from Olivieri. Martin dominated the second with his striking. In the third-round, Martin took him down, got Olivieri’s back, and choked him with a rear-naked choke.

Here are the prelim results:

Tarec Saffiedine def. Jake Ellenberger via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Carlos Diego Ferreira def. Olivier Aubin-Mercier via UD (30-27, 29-28×2)

Rafael Natal def. Kevin Casey via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 3:37

Wilson Reis def. Dustin Ortiz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Alexander Yakovlev def. George Sullivan via KO (right hook) at 3:59 of Round 1

Alex Caceres def. Masio Fullen via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Randy Brown def. Matt Dwyer via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Damon Jackson vs. Levan Makashvili declared majority draw (29-27 Jackson, 28-28, 28-28)

Tony Martin def. Felipe Olivieri via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:02