UFC Vegas 65 Results, Kennedy Nzechukwu shines in last minute spotlight

The UFC Apex hosts UFC Vegas 65. The twelve-fight card is headlined by a a top 15 ranked Heavyweights. In the main event former title challenger number 7 ranked Derrick Lewis  faces number 12 ranked Serghei Spivac. Lewis has the most wins by knockout in UFC history. Spivac comes in off consecutive wins by ground and pound.

Mid way through the prelims it was announced that illness had knocked Derrick Lewis out of the nights scheduled main event. The new main event a Light-Heavyweight bout between Ion Cutelaba & Kennedy Nzechukwu. Cutelaba is a ultra aggressive wrestler with big power. The Moldovan fighter has scored three of his last four wind in the first round. Nzechukwu is big puncher who carries it late in fights having scored his last three wins after the halfway point of the fight. 

Recap

Natalia Silva nullified Tereza Belda attempts to make the fight a ground battle. While Bleda had some early success it wasn’t sustainable as the Silva onslaught ramped up. Silva perfectly timing a spinning back kick to Bleda’s chin as she changed levels for a takedown. Stunned on the mat Silva swarmed and finished the fight with punches as Bleda attempted to stand. TUF 29 finalist Brady Hiestand got his first official UFC win as he forced Fernie Garcia into a grappling match showing his ability to dictate and control the action. Vanessa Demopoulos found her way past Maria Oliveira’s reach advantage to place the fight on the floor. Checking all the boxes in a complete performance, Demopoulos even scored a knockdown in the third from an overhand. The decision makes it three wins in a row for the “Lil Monster”.

TUF 29 winner Ricky Turcios edged out Kevin Natividad in a razor close contest. Both parties landed shots that would have finished less men. Natividad with seven takedowns dictating where the fight would take place. Turcios constantly moving, reversing, and searching for submissions. An on-target flying knee gave the advantage to Nativada but led to Turcios taking hid back and hunting the choke. The final prelim saw a tactical boxing match between Maryana Moroz & Jennifer Maia.  The Morozo forward pressure felt to be expected as the lateral movement of Maia had her a step ahead and the right hands delivered decisive damage.

The main card opened with a foul filled affair at flyweight that included eye pokes and low blows. Charles Johnson answered the Zhalgas Zhumagulov pressure utilizing his speed advantage with straight combinations down the middle. Johnson had to overcome the dreaded calf kicks with volume to earn a split decision. Jack Della Maddalena absolutely picked apart Danny Roberts. “JDM” put Roberts on the fence ripping off combination attacking the body and head. A second knockdown in the first round led to a finish on the floor. As Maddalena secures his third first round finish in the octagon.

Andre Fialho’s powerful boxing established a presence in the first round. Muslim Salikhov stole all the momentum in the second-round landing spectacular offense. Cleanly landing a spinning backfist, spinning wheel kick, and a superman punch. Salikhov kept the onslaught going in the third unleashing combination till the ref jumped in. The co-main event saw Chase Sherman come out on fire scorching Waldo Cortes-Acosta with leg kicks. Cortes-Acosta adjusted walking Sherman down unleashing vicious combinations for the next ten minutes to keep his unbeaten record intact. Ion Cutelaba looked to takeout Kennedy Nzechukwu early blitzing forward with power punches and attacking takedowns. Nzechukwu weathered the storm found Cutelaba’s chin with a knee and didn’t’ let his foe off the hook punching to the finish. 

UFC Vegas 65 Main Card On ESPN+ (4 p.m. ET):

  • Light-Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu (11-3) def. Ion Cutelaba (16-9-1) by TKO (strikes) 1:02 R2
  • Heavyweight: Waldo Cortes-Acosta (9-0) def. Chase Sherman (16-11) by (30-27, 29-28 x2) unanimous decision
  • Welterweight: Muslim Salikhov (19-3) def. Andre Fialho (16-6) by TKO (strikes) 3:01 R3 
  • Welterweight: Jack Della Maddalena (13-2) def. Danny Roberts (18-7) TKO (punches) 3:24 R1
  • Flyweight: Charles Johnson (12-3) def. Zhalgas Zhumagulov (14-8) by (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) split decision

UFC Vegas 65 Prelims Under Card On ESPN+ (1 p.m. ET):

  • Women’s Flyweight: Jennifer Maia (20-9-1) def. Maryna Moroz (11-4) by (30-27, 29-28 x2) unanimous decision
  • Bantamweight: Miles Johns (13-2) def. Vince Morales (11-7) by (30-27, 29-28 x2) unanimous decision
  • Bantamweight: Ricky Turcios (12-3) def. Kevin Natividad (9-4) by (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) split decision 
  • Women’s Strawweight: Vanessa Demopoulos (9-4) def. Maria Oliveira (13-6) by (29-28 x3) unanimous decision 
  • Bantamweight: Brady Hiestand (6-2) def. Fernie Garcia (10-3) by (29-28 x3) unanimous decision  
  • Women’s Flyweight:  Natalia Silva (14-5-1) def. Tereza Bleda (6-1) by TKO (spinning back kick & punches) 1:27 R3 

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