Following an entertaining preliminary card slate that featured a little bit of everything, the main card played out in a similar fashion on Saturday night at the Meta APEX.
Main Event: Kevin Vallejos defeats Josh Emmett by TKO, Round 1, 3:33
Kevin Vallejos continued his electric run up the featherweight rankings, blowing through Josh Emmett in his first main event assignment to close out Saturday’s fight card.
The 24-year-old was on-point from the outset, picking his spots and landing clean before dropping Emmett later in the round and never allowing him to recover. While the veteran tried to protect himself and work back to his feet, Vallejos stayed on him, piling up the punishment before felling Emmett once more and earning the stoppage.
Kevin Vallejos Stops Josh Emmett In The First | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos
Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there`s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world`s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!
Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there`s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world`s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!
This video is not available in your country
There was a problem while loading content. Please try again.
Kevin Vallejos Stops Josh Emmett In The First | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos
One of the breakout stars of last year, Vallejos kicked off his sophomore campaign in the Octagon in impressive fashion, showing that he’s already a contender in the 145-pound weight class. That’s four wins in exactly one year for Vallejos, who moved to 18-1 overall with the victory, further establishing himself as one of the biggest rising stars in the sport.
Gillian Robertson defeated Amanda Lemos by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Gillian Robertson and Amanda engaged in a 15-minute clash of Top 10 strawweights looking to make their case for title contention in the co-main event of the evening.
The Brazilian got the better of things in the first five minutes, keeping the fight standing and picking at Robertson in space. But in the second and third, “The Savage” was able to wrestle Lemos to the canvas and control things there for long stretches, landing sporadic shots while showcasing her ability to float through the scrambles and switches on the deck.
When the scorecards were gathered and totalled, it was Robertson that came out on top, pushing her winning streak to five. She’s been lobbying for a championship opportunity all week, and while it may not come to pass next, the Ultimater Fighter alum is undoubtedly getting closer.
Jose Miguel Delgado defeats Andre Fili by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Featherweights Jose Miguel Delgado and Andre Fili paired off for a wildly entertaining scrap on Saturday night, spending 15 minutes trading blows.
Jose Miguel Delgado Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos
Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there`s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world`s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!
Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there`s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world`s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!
This video is not available in your country
There was a problem while loading content. Please try again.
Jose Miguel Delgado Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos
Fili got the better of things in the opening stanza, taking Delgado off his feet with a clean counter right and generally landing the better shots. But the UFC sophomore adjusted well in the second, upping his pressure and output to draw level before they battled right to the horn in the third.
The judges were called upon to render a verdict, and two of the three officials saw it in favor of Delgado, who registered the biggest win of his career. The MMA Lab product is now 3-1 in the UFC and on the doorstep of the rankings in the talent rich 145-pound weight class.
Marwan Rahiki defeatd Harry Hardwick by TKO (injury) at 5:00 of Round 2
Marwan Rahiki and Harry Hardwick engaged in an absolute brawl midway through Saturday’s main card with both men getting rocked at different points before the fight was halted after the second round with Hardwick unable to continue.
Marwan Rahiki Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos
Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there`s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world`s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!
Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there`s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world`s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!
This video is not available in your country
There was a problem while loading content. Please try again.
Marwan Rahiki Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos
Over the first 10 minutes, Rahiki and Hardwick landed between 70 and 80 significant strikes each, throwing everything imaginable at one another. Each got stung, each got staggered, and neither one wanted to back down, but when Hardwick returned to his corner following the second, he bowed out after suffering a broken jaw.
This was a gnarly battle and a good debut win for Rahiki, who moved to 8-0 while maintaining his 100 percent finishing rate while winning his promotional debut. The 23-year-old is an intriguing all-action prospect to watch as he continues to develop, while Hardwick deserves full mark for his toughness and willingness to put his health first.
Ion Cutelaba defeated Oumar Sy by submission (mounted guillotine choke) at 4:24 of Round 1
Ion Cutelaba leaned on his experience to control Oumar Sy for much of the first round before diving on a guillotine choke and collecting the finish.
Ion Cutelaba Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos
Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there`s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world`s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!
Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there`s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world`s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!
This video is not available in your country
There was a problem while loading content. Please try again.
Ion Cutelaba Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos
“The Hulk” used his superior grappling ability and know-how to put Sy on the canvas and keep him there, chipping away with short shots from top position and showing little concern for the Frenchman’s efforts from the bottom. When Sy tried to wrestle up late in the round, Cutelaba quickly clamped onto the guillotine, floating into mount and collecting the tap.
This was an outstanding veteran showing from the Moldovan, who earned the 20th win of his career in the process. Cutelaba has now won three of his last four, and lobbied for the chance to make a quick turnaround, which is always a possibility in the light heavyweight division.
Charles Johnson (30-27, 29-28) defeats Bruno Silva (29-28) by split decision
Top 15 flyweights Charles Johnson and Bruno Silva opened the main card with a spirited battle that went the distance.
Charles Johnson Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos
Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there`s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world`s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!
Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there`s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world`s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!
This video is not available in your country
There was a problem while loading content. Please try again.
Charles Johnson Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos
Johnson was tentative to start, with Silva landing with great efficiency to seemingly get the better of things in the opening round. The second was more competitive, with Johnson throwing more, but still allowing the Brazilian to dictate the terms of engagement. After Silva controlled much of the third, Johnson ramped things up down the stretch to make things interesting.
The judges were called upon to determine the victor and when the cards were collected and totalled, it was Johnson that came out on the happy side of the split decision verdict. Johnson called for a matchup against someone ahead of him in the rankings, and his ever-ready outlook could definitely make that happen later this year.
