The UFC returns to Minneapolis, Minnesota for the third time for UFC on ESPN 3. The main event features an important fight in the heavyweight division. Searching for another shot at the heavyweight title, Francis Ngannou will look to take out another former champion, Junior dos Santos. Ngannou’s current win streak sits at two straight entering this fight. He holds two consecutive KO/TKO victories in his last two bouts, defeating Curtis Blaydes and former UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez.
Dos Santos enters this fight on a three fight win streak. That win streak consists of wins over Derrick Lewis, Tai Tuivasa, and Blagoy Ivanov. His most recent outing was in the main event of UFC Fight Night 146 when he took on former title challenger, Derrick Lewis. He tired Lewis out and finished him in the second round to earn him a number one contender fight with Ngannou. A win could grant him another title shot against the winner of the upcoming heavyweight title fight, as Daniel Cormier takes on Stipe Miocic.
Minneapolis gets another title eliminator in the night’s co-main event, this time in the flyweight division. Former flyweight title challenger, Joseph Benavidez, currently holds a win over now-champion Henry Cejudo, before he won the title. Benavidez will look to earn another fight with Cejudo with a win over number one contender, Jussier Formiga. The pair have met once before, back in 2013 at UFC Fight Night 28. Benavidez took the win that night as he defeated Formiga in the first round by TKO. If Formiga can get a win back against Benavidez, it would earn him his first title shot in the UFC. Meanwhile, Benavidez will look to earn third shot at gold and make the score 2-0 over Formiga.
UFC on ESPN 3 Results
Kicking off the main card will be a fight in the light heavyweight division. An alum of Dana White’s Contender Series, Alonzo Menifield will make his second walk to the octagon as he takes on Scotland’s Paul Craig. Next up, two lightweights enter the octagon as Drew Dober looks to get a win over Marco Polo Reyes. Both men enter that fight having lost their most recent outing. It stays in the lightweight divison for the next bout as Roosevelt Roberts puts his undefeated record on the line against Vinc Pichel. Finally, before the co-main event will be a welterweight fight as former title challenger, Demian Maia returns to the cage. His opponent will be Anthony Rocco Martin, owner of four straight wins, including wins over Sergio Moraes and Jake Mattews.
Follow along with MMASucka as we provide you with the results throughout UFC on ESPN 3.
MAIN CARD (ESPN – 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT)
Francis Ngannou def. Junior dos Santos via TKO (Punches) at 1:11 of Round One
Joseph Benavidez def. Jussier Formiga via TKO (Punches) at 4:47 of Round Two
Demian Maia def. Anthony Rocco Martin via Majority Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)
Vinc Pichel def. Roosevelt Roberts via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Drew Dober def. Marco Polo Reyes via Knockout (Punches) at 1:07 of Round One
Alonzo Menifield def. Paul Craig via Knockout (Punches) at 3:19 of Round One
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN – 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT)
Ricardo Ramos def. Journey Newson via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Eryk Anders def. Vinicius Castro via Knockout (Punches) at 1:18 of Round One
Jared Gordon def. Dan Moret via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Dalcha Lungiambula def. Dequan Townsend via TKO (Strikes) at 0:42 of Round Three
Amanda Ribas def. Emily Whitmire via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:10 of Round Two
Maurice Greene def. Junior Albini via TKO (Punches) at 3:38 of Round One
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