BreakingDown UFC Fight Night: Cannonier VS Imavov

Written by: Danny Albers 

Women’s Strawweight Bout 

Rayanne Dos Santos (14-8) VS Puja Tomar (9-4) 

Result: Puja Tomar wins by split decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28) 

The first ever female fighter from India, Puja Tomar won her debut with the UFC after winning championship gold on Matrix Fight Night 10 and 12. Her boxing helped her over former Invicta FC champion dos Santos who’s now 0-2 with the UFC. I was kind of confused how dos Santos got the 30-27 ruling. She was 0-3 on takedowns, and lost in total strikes and significant strikes. Her legs got beat up by Tomar, and Tomar had 50 shots to the body. I thought this was a clear unanimous decision for Puja. 

Bantamweight Bout 

Cody Stamann (21-7-1) VS Taylor Lapilus (20-4) 

Result: Taylor Lapilus wins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) 

Cody Stamman confuses me. He looks like a UFC champion. He’s belt and has wrestling. Yet he just can’t beat the elevated competition. Taylor Lapilus lost to Farid Basharat his last time out. He didn’t show it in this fight. He controlled the entire fight. For some reason, Stamman entertained Taylor on the feet, and it was clearly a bad idea. Lapilus outstruck the UFC veteran 101-64. 

Women’s Strawweight Bout 

Eduarda Moura (10-1) VS Denise Gomes (9-3) 

Result: Denise Gomes wins by split decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) 

We clearly see what the judges valued more, and that’s striking. Moura came into the fight with takedowns in mind to protect her unbeaten record, there is only one small problem, she forgot to throw punches. Gomes outstruck Eduarda Moura 137-27. She took a beating when the fight was on the feet. Moura did get 5 takedowns and controlled the fight for 6:36, but when you take that much damage over 3-rounds, it’s hard to make a case. However, I don’t think anyone deserved a 30-27. 

Bantamweight Bout 

John Castaneda (21-7) VS Daniel Marcos (16-0) 

Result: Daniel Marcos wins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) 

John Castaneda was on a 2 fight win streak and had a big shot to elevate himself by beating an undefeated Peruvian prospect in Daniel Marcos. Marcos was coming off a no contest with Aoriqileng, and was trying to get his first win since beating Davey Grant by split decision. Marcos barely escaped with the win that night against Grant. Daniel Marcos had a much better showing against Castenada. Marcos clearly wanted to stay on the feet where he had the advantage. He outstruck Castaneda 101-68, and never attempted a takedown. Marcos is a raw prospect, and he still has a long way to go before he can beat a top 15 in the bantamweight division. 

Women’s Flyweight Bout 

Andrea Lee (13-10) VS Montana De La Rosa (13-9-1) 

Result: Montana De La Rosa wins by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) 

As close a fight as you can find on the UFC roster. Monta pulled this win out with her takedowns. She was 3 for 6 on takedowns, but didn’t have an advantage on control time. Andrea won on the feet. I thought this was a draw, I couldn;t really decipher a true winner from this one. 

Bantamweight Bout 

Brad Katona (16-3) VS Jesse Butler (12-6) 

Result: Brad Katona wins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) 

Dominant win for Brad Katona who’s now 3-1 with the UFC. Katona outstruck Butler 148-32. Butler was a good get-right fight for Katon. Butler hasn’t done anything, and was hired by the organization to get squashed by Jim Miller. Two tough fights for Jesse Butler. It will be interesting to see if these give him another chance. 

Welterweight Bout 

Charles Radtke (9-4) VS Carlos Prates (19-6) 

Result: Carlos Prates wins by 1st round TKO (knee) 

I really like both Radtke and Prates. I think they’re both talented strikes. Radtke just lost his 3-fight winning streak, unfortunately getting caught with a nasty knee. Prates is on a 9-fight win streak and 3-0 in the UFC. At only 30 years old, he’s already won 14 fights by knockout. If he keeps finishing his opponents, we’ll see him fighting a top 15 opponent by early 2025. Only thing I’d watch out for, Radtke was outstriking Prates, but didn’t have as much power as the Brazilian. Also, being submitted 3 times is going to get targeted when you move into the top 15 and face more well rounded fighters. 

Lightweight Bout 

Thiago Moises (18-8) VS Ludovit Klein (22-4-1) 

Result: Ludovit Klein wins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) 

Klein picked up the biggest win of his MMA career. A 6-fight unbeaten streak since being submitted by Nate Lanwehr in 2021, Klein has won 3 in a row. He dominated a UFC veteran that has been in the octagon with some of the best the organization has to offer. His takedown defense was the difference. Moises wanted this fight to go to the ground where he can use his submission specialty to try and win the fight. But being 0-8 on takedowns, Moises was stuck to strike with Klein. While on the feet, Klein would outstrike Moises 86-25. 

Welterweight Bout 

Miguel Baeza (10-4) VS Punahele Soriano (10-4) 

Result: Punahele Soriano wins by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-27) 

This was one of the most dominating performances that I’ve seen in the octagon in a long time. Soriano destroyed Baeza in every category. It looked like Baeza wasn’t prepared or just forgot he had a fight. Sorian won the total strikes 331-22, he won significant strikes 144-7. He had 5 takedowns and controlled the fight for 10 minutes. Baeza did attempt 3 submissions, but that's the only positive he can hang his hat on. Baeza has now lost 4 fights in a row, and after this performance, it’s clear he isn’t on the same level as the fighters in the UFC. 

Middleweight Bout 

Julian Marquez (9-5) VS Zachary Reese (7-1) 

Result: Zachary Reese wins by 1st round TKO/KO (punches) 

Zachary Reese only needed 1 shot to end this fight with Julian Marquez who might be done in the UFC after his 3rd straight knockout loss. This was an impressive showing for Reese who lost his first pro-fight his last time out against Cody Brundage by knockout. This fight ended so quickly, there’s nothing to really unpack here. Good win for Reese. 

Middleweight Bout 

Bruno Ferreira (12-1) VS Dustin Stoltzfus (15-6) 

Result: Bruno Ferreira wins by 1st round TKO (spinning back elbow) 

Bruno Ferreira looked like a light heavyweight out there with Dustin Stoltzfus. To Stoltzfus credit, he got some good shots off on Ferreira in this fight. Bruno was a little reckless in this fight. Stoltzfus got a takedown but couldn’t keep Bruno down. Towards the end of the round, Bruno just unleashed a vicious combo. The spinning back elbow was crazy, and easily the highlight of the night. This was a great stoppage as Dustin was out on his feet. 

Bantamweight Bout 

Raul Rosas Jr. (9-1) VS Ricky Turicos (13-4) 

Result: Raul Rosas Jr. wins by 2nd round submission (rear naked choke) 

Raul had no plans of standing with Ricky. He walked through strikes to land 4 takedowns and control 5 minutes in only 7:22 of fighting. He’s only 19, and he looks impressive. But he needs to refine his striking. If somebody has takedown defense, Rosas is fucked. 

Light Heavyweight Bout 

Dominick Reyes (13-4) VS Dustin Jacoby (19-9-1) 

Result: Dominick Reyes wins by 1st round TKO (punches) 

Boy did Dominick Reyes need to win this fight. He hadn’t won a fight since 2019. COVID wasn’t a thing when Dominick Reyes won a UFC fight. He’d lost 4 straight fights, 2 of them being title fights. He looked so much bigger than Dustin Jacoby. I like Jacoby, I think he’s better than how he’s fought recently. He might be in the wrong weight class. As for Reyes, he’s the 15th ranked light heavyweight. Unfortunately for Reyes, a fighter who’s struggled with being knocked out, the two fighters in front of him are Alonzo Menifield and Azamat Murzakanov, two knockout artists. It’s a feel good moment for Reyes, but there are no easy fights in front of him. 

Middleweight Bout 

Jared Cannonier (17-7) VS Nassourdine Imavov (14-4) 

Result: Nassourdine Imavov wins by 4th round TKO (punches) 

This was an awful stoppage as Cannonier was still defending himself and looking to counter. Imavov picked up the pressure, but it’s obvious that Cannonier still had control of his senses. In trouble but not done. And it’s a shame, because if they had gone to a 5th round, both men still had work to do to win this match. I give Imavov a lot of credit for looking sharper than he did in his Sean Strickland fight. He’s clearly made improvement. But he’s not ready for a title shot. Strickland holds a win over him, and I think if Imavov fought Adesanya or Dricus Du Plesis he’d get beat pretty badly. Solid win for the Frenchman, but I’d try to follow up with either a rematch with Strickland or another tune up fight with someone not in the top 3. Marvin Vettori and Brendan Allen are both solid matchups I’d like to see.