San Diego, CA. – Pechenga Arena played host to UFC on ESPN 41, a card stacked to the brim with highlight finishes and hard-fought decisions. Headliner Marlon “Chito” Vera knocked out opponent Dominick Cruz with a highlight reel finish. The co-main event featured a fight for the ages between lightweights David Onama and Nate Landwehr, and strawweights Yazmin Jaugeuri and Iasmin Lucindo made their debuts in a classic.
Bantamweight: No. 5 Marlon Vera Knocks Out No. 8 Dominick Cruz with a Head Kick
Cruz came out firing in round one as he threw combinations up high and to the legs of Vera. Cruz shot for a takedown and resets as Chito arose and threw a hard jab that floored Cruz. Cruz steadied and continued to pressure Vera as he blitzed forward and landed a double leg. Vera attempted a quick triangle to no avail, and the horn sounded soon after.
Cruz came out hot again in the second as he circled Vera and worked his jab. Vera pushed forwards and attempted a combo, followed it up with a kick. Cruz countered with a flurry of his own as he proceeded to swerve and sway. Marlon swerved and swayed out of Cruz’s strikes and moved forward. Dominick shot for a takedown that Vera blocked instantly but was met with a cross. Vera returned fire with a jab as the horn sounded.
The third opened, and Cruz again came out firing as he looked to land low kicks in succession to his jabs. Vera unleashed a jab and a short right that stunned Cruz, who sprawled and arose quickly. Cruz feinted a takedown and unleashed a flurry of shots but ate a jab on the way up. Both men looked to trade as Cruz circled to cut off Vera as he worked Vera’s body into a clinch; shortly after the bell sounded
Entering the fourth, Cruz kept up the pressure early as he picked his shots. Marlon launched a jab up high that sat Cruz down, but he got up quickly. Cruz circled against the cage and looked to land his combinations, but he circled into a left high kick that buckled him. Referee Herb Dean stepped in and stopped the fight.
Lightweight: Nate Landwehr Wins Majority Decision Over David Onama in FOTY Bid
To start the first both fighters traded in the middle as Onama pressured forward. Landwehr threw an ill-advised kick, and Onama threw a combination in response;Obama pressured forward again. Landwehr moved in on a jab attempt, and Onama tagged him with a counter and flattened him. Obama swarmed and attempted to take the back, but Landwehr turned over and took mount position. Obama kicked him off and returned to his feet as Nate clinched against the cage. Both fighters threw combinations, and Landwehr teed off before the horn sounded.
Nate came into the second unleashing low kicks and combinations early as he pressed Onama backward into the cage. Nate attempted a D’arce choke, but Onama slipped out and arose to his feet. Landwehr took it to the ground and looked for the mount position, but Onama slipped out again, and both fighters arose exhausted. Landwehr forced him down again and threw hammer fists until the bell sounded.
Both fighters came out swinging hard; Onama threw a hard combination early but was clinched against the cage by Landwehr. Landwehr threw hard knees to David’s midsection as both fighters continued to trade. Onama returned fire with a right cross, and Landwehr proceeded throwing knees. Both fighters struggled to stay up as they used everything they had until the very end. Onama threw everything he had in one last flurry as the final round came to a close.
Strawweight: Yazmin Jauregui Wins a Unanimous Decision Over Iasmin Lucindo
Both fighters traded early in the middle of the cage. Neither fighter wanted to back down, so both continued to throw combinations in the center. Lucindo pressed forward after she landed a hard hook, but Yazmin circled out of the onslaught. Jauregui looked to land kicks low as she evaded the shots of Lucindo as the first came to a close.
Kicking off the second, Lucindo continued to absorb damage as Jauregui landed a huge left hook. Lucindo clinched out of desperation, and Yazmin landed elbows on the way out. Both ladies countered each other’s blows at the center of the cage as Jauregui landed a spinning attack. Both fighters teed off at the end of the round as they threw everything they had until the bell sounded.
The final round began as Lucindo threw combinations early, and Jauregui returned the favor with a flurry of her own. Both fighters refused to back down as they traded blows back and forth as Lucindo utilized her counters. Jauregui looked to lead the dance, but Lucindo waited for her opening; both fighters threw everything they had to end the final round.
Light-Heavyweight: Azamat Murzakanov TKO’s Devin Clark After Working the Body
First started slowly, both men looked to find their range as Murzakanov landed a hard left hook. Murzakanov pressured as Clark circled the cage, and Azamat continued to pressure. Murzakanov landed another overhand left that nailed Clark, who returned fire with a head kick that wobbled Azamat. Murzakanov clinched and pressed Clark against the cage as he worked a takedown attempt; bell rang to close out the round.
Second started, and Clark threw the same head kick as before but didn’t connect. Azamat threw overhand left that stunned Clark, clinches him, and worked Clark’s body. Azamat pinned him against the cage as Clark worked the hand for wrist control. Clark escaped the position but was stunned soon after as Clark fell to the canvas, Azamat moved into mount position and landed body shot after body shot. Clark pushed him away and arose to his feet, worked Azamat against the cage, and clinched for the remainder of the round.
Azamat worked his jab early as he walked down Clark. Azamat landed a huge body shot to the ribs, and Clark fell to the canvas as Azamat reigned down shots, referee Frank Trigg stepped in to stop the onslaught.
Bantamweight: Priscila Cachoeira TKO’s Ariane Lipski with Early Ground-and-Pound
Both fighters felt each other out early and looked to find their range. Lipski looked to trade with Cachoeira, who obliged and landed a massive left. She followed it up with a right hook that sat Lipski down and threw a combination of hammer fists and elbows that forced referee Herb Dean to step in.
Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert Submits Bruno Silva
Silva came out and pushed forward early as he backed Meerschaert up near the cage. Meerschaert worked the jab as he tried to back away from Silva’s pressure. Both fighters felt each other out until Gerald landed a well-timed double leg; he moved into top position and worked it into a triangle position. Meerschaert looked to apply pressure as he threw down hammer fists and advanced to side control; bell sounded before anything occurred.
Silva again came out with pressure; he looked to land a combination and snuck in a few leg kicks. Bruno threw multiple aimless haymakers that Gerald easily evaded, but Silva continued to pressure forward. Gerald landed a kick and a jab high, Silva shrugged it off. Silva landed a flurry and chased Gerald down, but he evaded. Both fighters returned to the middle, and the round ended with an odd attack from Silva that caused him to slip.
The final round began, Gerald shot for a takedown, but Bruno shrugged him off. Bruno looked to apply more pressure and did when he landed a flurry of jabs, but Gerald sat him down with a counter-left. Bruno went for a leg and is met with a guillotine choke and is forced to tap.
