The UFC returns to Tampa, Florida for the first time in three years for UFC Fight Night 161. In the main event, two top strawweight contenders battle it out for a potential shot at the belt. Coming off a flyweight title loss to Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 231 nearly ten months ago, Joanna Jedrzejczyk drops back down to strawweight. She looks to start the road back to winning back the title, but first, she meets Michelle Waterson. Waterson enters the contest on a three fight win streak. She has picked up consecutive wins over Cortney Casey, Felice Herrig, and former title challenger, Karolina Kowalkiewicz. She looks to pick up the biggest win of her career if she can defeat the former champion, Jedrzejczyk.
In the co-main event, UFC veteran, Cub Swanson looks to snap a losing streak over the highly talented Kron Gracie. Swanson enters the fight on a four fight losing streak, suffering losses to Brian Ortega, Frankie Edgar, Renato Moicano, and Shane Burgos. Already the longest losing streak of his career, he looks to keep it at four if he can get a win over Gracie. Gracie currently holds an undefeated record at 5-0. After spending most of his career with Rizin, Gracie made his UFC debut earlier this year. His debut came at UFC on ESPN 1 when he faced Alex Caceres. He defeated Caceres two minutes into the fight as he finished him by rear naked choke.
UFC Fight Night 161 Results
Kicking off the main card will be in the middleweight division as Eryk Anders faces Gerald Meerschaert. The former Alabama linebacker is coming off a knockout win in his last outing as he defeated Vinicius Moreira. Meerschaert is also coming off a recent finish as he defeated Trevin Giles by submission in his last outing. Following that bout will be a lightweight match-up as Matt Frevola takes on TUF alum, Luis Pena. Frevola is coming off a unanimous decision win over Jalin Turner in his last outing. Pena has won his last two straight with his most recent win coming by TKO against Matt Wiman.
Next up is a women’s strawweight fight between Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas. Dern enters with an undefeated record of 7-0 as Ribas looks to win her third straight. Finally, before the co-main event will be a welterweight bout as Niko Price takes on James Vick. Both fighters are coming off losses as Price recently lost to Geoff Neal while Vick has lost his last three with his most recent coming to Dan Hooker.
Follow along with MMASucka as we provide you with the results throughout UFC Fight Night 161.
MAIN CARD (ESPN+ – 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT)
Joanna Jedrzejczyk def. Michelle Waterson via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
Cub Swanson def. Kron Gracie via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Niko Price def. James Vick via Knockout (Strikes) at 1:44 of Round One
Amanda Ribas def. Mackenzie Dern via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Matt Frevola def. Luis Pena via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Eryk Anders def. Gerald Meerschaert via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+ – 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT)
Ryan Spann def. Devin Clark via Submission (Guillotine) at 2:01 of Round Two
Mike Davis def. Thomas Gifford via Knockout (Punches) at 4:45 of Round Three
Alex Morono def. Max Griffin via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-27)
Deiveson Figueiredo def. Tim Elliott via Submission (Guillotine) at 3:08 of Round One
Marlon Vera def. Andre Ewell via TKO (Strikes) at 3:17 of Round Three
Miguel Baeza def. Hector Aldana via TKO (Strikes) at 2:32 of Round Two
Marvin Vettori def. Andrew Sanchez via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
JJ Aldrich def. Lauren Mueller via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
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