UFC Fight Night Vegas 98 results: Royval x Taira

Clayton Carpenter x Lucas Rocha

Bet: Rocha wins
Result: Carpenter wins by FINALIZATION

On the feet, the fight was even, but as soon as Carpenter took to the ground, he had it easy. In the first round, he landed a beautiful elbow on the ground and opened a cut on the Brazilian’s eyebrow. In the second, the situation was much the same as in the first: it started with an even exchange, but the American went for a takedown and soon after landed a rear naked choke.

Dan Argueta vs. Cody Haddon

Bet: Argueta wins
Result: Haddon wins by UNANIMOUS DECISION

It’s sad to see Argueta fighting only with wrestling. The guy can’t get the takedown and in the clinch, with his T-Rex arms, he’s terrible. Haddon, on his feet, was boxing very well and even made Argueta dizzy at times. In the second round, the fight went to the ground and in the exchange of positions, the two came out very tired. Even so, in all three rounds Haddon’s superiority was visible, especially when they were standing.

Cory Mckenna x Julia Polastri

Bet: Polastri wins
Result: Polastri wins by UNANIMOUS DECISION

A crazy judge saw victory for McKenna, but it’s absurd. The only thing the Welshwoman had going for her was the speed of her punches, and even then only in the first round. From the second round onwards, she came in looking like she was crying. In the clinch, Polastri was battering McKenna’s body with knees. The Brazilian showed more strength and power in her punches. For me, it was an easy 30-27 for Julia Polastri.

Junior Tafa vs Sean Sharaf

Bet: Tafa wins
Result: Tafa wins by NOCAUTE

An ugly fight! After three minutes of exchanges, they were both dead. And at the end of the first round, Sharaf managed to take Tafa down EXTREMELY EASILY, who almost stayed there with Sharaf’s ground and pound. He survived because the referee allowed it. In the second round, both were extremely tired, but fortunately Tafa used his last bit of energy to land good blows to the American’s face, who couldn’t take it and was knocked out standing. A horror show that only the Heavyweight division can provide.

Jonathan Pearce x Pat Sabatini

Bet: Pearce wins
Result: Sabatini wins by FINALIZATION

Pat Sabatini came in to win and convince. Pearce didn’t even fight, it was just his body there. Sabatini went for the clinch as soon as the fight started. Pearce only managed to survive a few minutes. Sabatini landed a standing rear naked choke and then Pearce tapped. Still in the first round…

Niko Price x Themba Gorimbo

Bet: Gorimbo win
Result: Gorimbo win by UNANIMOUS DECISION

The fight was boring, but the Zimbabwean athlete completely dominated. On the feet, Gorimbo was battering away and when he took to the ground it was complete domination. The annoying thing was that Themba Gorimbo could have ended the fight at several points if he got his timing right, but he wanted to fight safely.

CJ Vergara x Ramazan Temirov

Bet: Temirov wins
Result: Temirov wins by NOCAUTE

Temirov has come to be a nightmare in the category. An aggressive style, looking for the knockout in every second. CJ Vergara had no defense for the power of his opponent’s blows. He even tried to run away! It’s a good thing the cage was closed… Temirov got his knockout in the first round. Watch this guy!

Daniel Rodríguez vs Alex Morono

Bet: No guesses, two dead men fighting!
Result: Rodríguez wins by split decision

No matter who won this fight, the loser would be the spectator. Horrible fight! Rodríguez is slow and Morono is average in all areas. Alex still won the first round because he was much faster. In the second, Rodríguez woke up and discovered he was in the middle of a fight! Then Daniel had more volume and faster punches. In the third, Morono was tired and Rodríguez lined up his boxing, throwing almost three times as many punches. And to close the coffin, he landed a takedown at the end.

Josh Fremd x Abdul Razak Alhassan

Bet: Alhassan wins
Result: The fight didn’t happen because Fremd missed the weight by A LOT.

Grant Dawson vs Rafa Garcia

Bet: Dawson wins
Result: Dawson wins by NOCAUTE

Dawson was there to teach! In round 1, he took down and controlled practically the whole time. In the second, he took him down with less than thirty seconds left and then applied heavy ground and pound. The referee had to stop the fight. Beautiful win for Dawson!

Chidi Njokuani vs Jared Gooden

Bet: Gooden wins
Result: Njokuani wins by UNANIMOUS DECISION

Despite clear instructions from his corners NOT to go for the clinch with his opponent, Gooden did so in the opening two rounds and suffered the consequences. Chidi landed heavy blows during the clinch, mainly to Gooden’s body. In the second round, Njokuani went wild with his muay thai. In the third round, Gooden even managed to get a takedown, but that was it. Soon afterwards, he was taken down by STRIKE Njokuani… Gooden even tried for a finish, but came up empty. In the end, a clear victory for Chidi Njokuani.

Brad Tavares vs Jun Yong Park

Bet: Park wins
Result: Park wins by split decision

Very even fight! Tavares had the stronger first round, getting a knockdown early on. But during the fight, he had a bad habit of moving backwards, spending a lot of time with his back to the cage. The Korean was always moving forward. Park managed to get takedowns in the second and third rounds, which for me was the round he won most clearly. In the last round, they were both very tired, and even so, it started with a frank exchange. But Park got a good takedown and controlled the rest of the round.

Brandon Royval x Tatsuro Taira

Bet: Taira wins
Result: Royval wins by split decision

It was voted fight of the night and I totally agree! It was almost a chess match. On the feet, Royval started well and only got better as time went on, but in the rounds he won clearly, the second and third, Tatsuro Taira went down and had a lot of time to dominate, as well as a few submission attempts. But fatigue got to the Japanese athlete first.

After the second round, he was taking too many blows to the face without showing any defense, which ended up complicating his life before the judges. In the fifth round, Royval managed to get a takedown, almost finished and finished very well. Taira suffered the first defeat of his career, but at the age of 24, it will only serve to help him mature. And Royval is lining up again to challenge for the belt soon.