UFC Tampa went down tonight (Sat. October 12, 2019) from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The world’s leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion compiled an excellent card for fight fans to enjoy.
It was headlined by a meeting between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Michelle Waterson in a women’s strawweight bout. The co-headliner saw Cub Swanson vs. Kron Gracie in a featherweight showdown.
Rounding out the six bout main card was Niko Price vs. James Vick in a welterweight bout, Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas in a women’s strawweight bout, Matt Frevola vs. Luis Pena in a lightweight bout, and Eryk Anders vs. Gerald Meerschaert in a middleweight bout.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Michelle Waterson
Both fighters were mixing things up from striking to takedown attempts to clinching. Throughout the fight, Jedrzejczyk was up on the scorecards as she was getting the better of Waterson in the striking game as well as stuffing takedown attempts. In the third round, Jedrzejczyk dragged her down to the ground and went for a d’arce choke but couldn’t get it. Waterson would later get her back and teased the rear-naked choke but couldn’t get it locked in. Jedrzejczyk had a really swollen right foot that could easily be broken. Jedrzejczyk continued to excel in the striking game that helped her score the decision win.
Cub Swanson vs. Kron Gracie
These two had a feeling out process in the first round. As the end of the round came closer, Gracie started to turn things up and was popping Swanson with some good shots. That didn’t stop from Swanson from catching him with some counter strikes. Gracie pulled guard but this was a bad call in round two as Swanson was landing some major league body shots. This fight slowly turned into a rock em sock em showdown. It went the distance with Swanson getting the win.
Niko Price vs. James Vick
Price landed a hard right hand that rocked Vick and they went to the ground after Price landed some more strikes. Price pulled guard and landed a nasty upkick to KO Vick right there on the spot.
Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas
Halfway through the first round, Dern gets a takedown but Ribas gets up instantly. Ribas threw a combo then scored a judo throw into a takedown. Dern was looking to counter strike, which is exactly what happened as Ribas was bringing the heat. These two ladies put on a heck of a fight. It was a striking affair going forward. The judges gave the win to Ribas by decision.
Matt Frevola vs. Luis Pena
Pena was extremely aggressive in the early going of the first round that allowed Frevola to score a few takedowns. Near the end of the round, Pena swarmed him with strikes that had him back peddling. Pena popped with a flying knee strike to the face in the second round that stunned Frevola, who decided to go for a takedown. Pena went for a kimura but Frevola got out of it. Frevola dropped him with a head kick but Pena was able to get back up. It was a chaotic round three as well. The judges gave the win to Frevola by split decision.
Eryk Anders vs. Gerald Meerschaert
Anders stunned him a few times in the first round and nearly finished it towards the end of the round as he had put him on the mat where he swarmed him with shots before the sound of the bell. Meerschaert came alive in the second round as he was more aggressive and was actually outstriking Anders. He stunned Anders at the end of the round with a body kick. It was a closer fight in the third round. The judges gave the win to Anders by split decision.
It was certain to have a great night of fights. Check out MMA News’ UFC Tampa results below:
Quick UFC Tampa Results
Main Card (ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)
Women’s strawweight bout: Joanna Jedrzejczyk def. Michelle Waterson via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
Featherweight bout: Cub Swanson def. Kron Gracie by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Welterweight bout: Niko Price def. James Vick by knockout (upkick) at 1:44 of Round 1
Women’s strawweight bout: Amanda Ribas def. Mackenzie Dern via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Lightweight bout: Matt Frevola def. Luis Pena by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Middleweight bout: Eryk Anders def. Gerald Meerschaert by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Preliminary Card (ESPN+, 5:00 p.m. ET)
Light heavyweight bout: Ryan Spann def. Devin Clark by submission (guillotine choke) at 2:01 of Round 2
Lightweight bout: Mike Davis def. Thomas Gifford by knockout (punch) at 4:45 of Round 1
Flyweight bout: Alex Morono def. Max Griffin by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-27)
Welterweight bout: Deiveson Figueiredo def. Tim Elliott by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:08 of Round 1
Bantamweight bout: Marlon Vera def. Andre Ewell by TKO (strikes) at 3:17 of Round 3
Welterweight: Miguel Baeza def. Hector Aldana by TKO (leg kick, punches) at 2:32 of Round 2
Middleweight bout: Marvin Vettori def. Andrew Sanchez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
JJ Aldrich def. Lauren Mueller by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
