UFC on ESPN 15 Results: Edgar upsets Munhoz
UFC on ESPN 15 saw Frankie Edgar flash glimpses of bygone championship form while upsetting durable bantamweight contender Mark Munhoz.
Written off coming in to Saturday night’s event, the Toms River, New Jersey native bounced around the Octagon while peppering his younger assignment with enough combinations and takedowns to keep devil-may-care assaults honest. After a statistically even first round, Edgar owned the second frame while outlanding no. 5 ranked Munhoz 25-21 and mixing in power double legs for good measure. The ten championship minutes saw ‘Young Punisher’ do more lower body damage, though Edgar defied smart money by successfully absorbing each strike and returning enough fire to gain a career-extending split decision verdict. Overall, Munhoz won the significant strikes 166-135, landing at a 47 percent clip -although “The Answer” added more telling shots and used veteran guile to impress the judges when needed most.
Ten years after ruling the 155 pound ranks, 38-year-old Frankie Edgar appeared re-born at bantamweight with another downed top-five opponent as proof. Closing in on the end of his hall of fame mma trek, Edgar should receive one more major fight to determine if Indian Summer title aspirations await 'The Answer.' Edgar looked gritty Saturday to erase fresh memories of devastating TKO setbacks vs Chan Sun Jung and Brian Ortega. Meanwhile, 'Young Punisher' Munhoz has dropped consecutive bids opposite world class operators following three impressive wins. This unexpected outcome shakes the immediate 135 lb championship picture. Again, facing do-or-die odds, Frankie Edgar showed stout courage to remain viable atop another UFC weight class.
Winner: Frankie Edgar by Unanimous Decision
Transitioning from nostalgia provided by one of the all-time greats, sober reality erased this weekend's billed co-main as Ovince Saint Preux returned last minute positive COVID-19 results. That unfortunate news bumped light heavyweight strikers Mike 'Slo' Rodriguez and Marcin Prachino into the event's penultimate slot.
Continuing the main card early stoppage theme, Rodriguez used a tight Muay Thai clench to soften his opponent with body knees before delivering concussive elbows and fight-ending ground strikes at 2:16 of round one. The decisive knockout kept alive 'Slo Mike's' 100 percent stoppage rate in wins while sending Prachino to a third-straight knockout loss.It's perfectly conceivable, following his near two year cage fighting absence, the Scandinavian has fought his final MMA bout.
On the other side, Mike Rodriguez continues thrilling fans with highlight blitzes, and will be rewarded for his spectator-friendly style. Overall, the lanky 31-year-old stands 6-2 in his last eight paid bouts: the latest where -220 favorite odds for Rodriguez were justified.
Winner: Mike Rodriguez by TKO
Fight three saw Zuffa unbeaten Joe Solecki defy near pick em' odds to beautifully put away UFC vet Austin Hubbard. Using a clear early game plan, 26-year-old Solecki upped his lightweight prospect status by jumping 'Thud's' back before locking in a wicked standing body triangle and night-ending rear naked at 3:50 of round one.
Overall, Solecki outstruck his bewildered foe 36-9 to author his seventh paid tap -and fifth via rear naked choke.
The rising 155 lb grappling ace showed his recent drubbing of Matt Wiman was no joke. It is likely too soon to match Solecki with top-15 opposition, though another win vs. legit Octagon fare will make such a pairing inevitable. Outside Khabib Nurmagomedov, few UFC rookies have burst onto the grand stage with ground savvy to match Solecki.
Conversely, 'Thud' Hubbard fell to 2-2 after upsetting speciously undefeated Max Roshkopf. It's clear the former LFA champ has grappling holes which must be addressed before advancing past entry-level Zuffa status.
Winner: Joe Solecki by Submission
Fight four provided a massive odds upset as rugged flyweight gatekeeper Shana Dobson gained elusive signature victory vs. touted Mariya Agapova. Dobson powered through each opening round submission attempt while battling -1400 favorite Agripova on even ground terms. Although, the second round brought a defining Dobson sweep before the loser of three straight ended her skid by forcefully pounding her 23-year-old Invicta and UFC proven charge into middle-frame oblivion at 1:39.
Now, the obvious question is if Dobson can keep her momentum after silencing Agapova's.
At any rate, 'Danger's' UFC on ESPN 15 highlight will be remembered among 2020's big wager-line shockers.
Winner: Shana Dobson by TKO
In a last-minute event turn, the night's opener saw Daniel Green remain UFC perfect after upending noted TKO artist Dwight 'The Body Snatcher' Grant. All it took was one well placed Green overhand to escape near defeat vs. his opponent's looping, buzzing punches.
The brief, ecstatic exchange featured Grant clipping and dropping Green, almost provoking stoppage, before D-Rod rose to capitalize on a punched-out 'Body Snatcher.' The end came at 2:26 of round one to highlight a show chok full of early enders.
Rodriguez stands 3-0 vs. Octagon fare as Grant falls to 2-2 in the promotion. The ready brawling Rodriguez has now won two fights during the COVID era and will no doubt gain another quality matchup as reward.
Winner: Daniel Rodriguez by TKO
In summary, UFC on ESPN provided a little of everything: thrilling finishes, underdog upsets and retro performance from an experienced former champion. And it is Frankie Edgar who's star shown brightest at the event. After being discarded by featherweight elite, few envisioned the fighter with the most logged Octagon minutes stalling time to defy hard-hitter Pedro Munhoz. But that is exactly what Edgar did. Never one to fold, the gutsiest battler of the past ten years gave another memorable odds-defying show to perhaps fashion one final title run. The other four main card fights gave varied explosive finishes from every angle. An all action card, UFC on ESPN 15 proved gratifying.
Odds courtesy of BestFightOdds.com
UFC on ESPN 15 prelims results include:
-Amanda Lemos Decision win vs. Mizuki Inoue
-Jordan Wright TKO win vs. Isaac Villanueva
-Matthew Semelsberger TKO win vs. Carlton Thomas
-Trevin Jones TKO win vs. Timur Valiev
