This is the UFC on FX 8 undercard live blog for the Belfort vs. Rockhold event at the Arena Jaragua in Brazil.
There will be nine fights on the undercard. Hacran Dias vs. Nik Lentz, Francisco Trinaldo vs. Mike Rio, Gleison Tibau vs. John Cholish, Paulo Thiago vs. Michel Prazeres, Yuri Alcantara vs. Iliarde Santos, Fabio Maldonado vs. Roger Hollett, John Lineker vs. Azamat Gashimov, Jussier Formiga vs. Chris Cariaso, and Lucas Martins vs. Jeremy Larsen will be featured on the prelims.
Check out the UFC on FX 8 undercard live blog below.
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Lucas Martins vs. Jeremy Larsen
Round 1: Here we go, folks. Mario Yamasaki our the referee for this opening lightweight bout. Martins picks his shots from the outside early. Larsen trips Martins then lands a big right hand. Martins recovers and responds with a standing elbow to the jaw. Larsen ducks under for a single, but can't get it. Larsen catches a leg kick and tosses Martins away. Martins swings for the fences. Larsen bulldozes in and floors Martins with a straight right. Martins snatches a heel hook from the bottom, then transitions to a calf slicer. Larsen wants no part of it and backs out. Larsen wades in, eats a knee and completes a double leg. Another double from Larsen, and the boos start to trickle in from the biased Brazilian crowd. Martins stands, finds his range with a few combinations, then slips to the mat. Larsen jumps on top, landing in full guard. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Larsen.
Round 2: Huge one-two lands for Martins. Larsen just eats it. Martins chips away with a leg kick. Larsen closes the distance and lands a few knees to the thigh, but is unable to complete a single. Larsen dives in again, this time for a double, but Martins fights it off. Martins snaps off a leg kick. Larsen staggers Martins with a straight right. Martins answers with an uppercut. A huge gash is ripped open below Larsen's right eye. Body kick for Martins, followed by a flurry. Larsen cracks Martins with a giant straight right. And another. Wow. Martins still standing. Another huge right hand from Larsen. Martins is on wobbly legs. Larsen just stole the round. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Larsen.
Round 3: Larsen storms across the cage winging looping punches. Martins eats a shot then crumbles Larsen with a dagger of a right hand. Wow. Larsen is out cold. This one is over.
Lucas Martins def. Jeremy Larsen via KO (punch) at 0:13 of round 3.
Jussier Formiga vs. Chris Cariaso
Round 1: Kevin Mulhall is our referee for this flyweight bout. Cariaso pumps his jab. Formiga misses a right hook then connects with a leg kick. Formiga changes levels for a double against the cage. He gets it. Cariaso scrambles to his feet, but Formiga plants him back on the mat, landing in side control. Cariaso regains his guard. Formiga patiently advances into half guard, then side control. Formiga plants his knee on Cariaso's stomach and looks to pass to mount. Cariaso fights it off, eventually regaining half guard. Formiga relentless with his advances, but Cariaso is doing a good job stifling any damage. Mulhall stands the fighters. Leg kick from Cariaso. Formiga returns the favor. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Formiga.
Round 2: Formiga immediately plants Cariaso on the mat, then advances to mount. Cariaso shrimps out and regains half guard, then back to full guard. Formiga slips into half guard. The crowd is getting restless. Cariaso locks up his guard and scoots his back against the cage. Formiga pries him away and retakes full mount. Formiga finally postures up and rains down a few punches. Cariaso escapes back into guard. Another quick stand-up from Mulhall. Have to question that one. Formiga clinches against the fence. Cariaso breaks away. Cariaso wades forward with straight punches, but nothing lands flush. Cariaso sprawls to defend a double. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Formiga.
Round 3: Cariaso the aggressor to start the final round. Formiga avoids any danger, then locks up and trips Cariaso to the floor. Cariaso stands and defends a double. Mulhall breaks up the action again. Why? Cariaso finds a home for a straight left on Formiga's chin. Formiga slips a combination then clinches against the fence. Formiga hunting for a single. Cariaso seizes a no-hooks d'arce choke. Oh wow. Formiga falls to the ground, rolls out, then retakes his feet. Cariaso plants Formiga on the mat and starts raining down blows. Huge elbows bloody the face of Formiga. Cariaso advances to side control. Massive shots from Cariaso. Formiga stands but eats a huge knee for his troubles. Valiant effort from Cariaso. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Cariaso.
Jussier Formiga def. Chris Cariaso via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
John Lineker vs. Azamat Gashimov
Round 1: Our referee for this flyweight fight is Mario Yamasaki. Wild overhand right misses for Lineker. Huge right hook topples Gashimov. Lineker starts pounding away. Gashimov climbs back to his feet and ties up. Gashimov seems to have regained his senses. Lineker reverses a single, winding up on top inside Gashimov's guard. Lineker wings a few hard shots into Gashimov's body as he uses the cage to stand up. Gashimov sweeps out Likeker's leg. Lineker wobbles Gashimov with a big left hand. Gashimov answers with a counter right. Lineker swarms on Gashimov, and Gashimov grabs the fence while trying to defend the takedown. Yamasaki takes away a point. That was quick. Lineker floors Gashimov again with a looping hook. Gashimov clamors up, but that was a rough round. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-8 Lineker.
Round 2: Wild spinning backfist misses for Gashimov. Lineker unloads a flurry, and another. Kick to the body lands for Lineker. Lineker follows up with a massive right hand to the body that drops Gashimov. Lineker swarms. Gashimov is turtled up, eating shot after shot. That's it, folks. What of a performance by John Lineker.
John Lineker def. Azamat Gashimov via TKO (strikes) at 1:07 of round 2.
Fabio Maldonado vs. Roger Hollett
Round 1: Leon Roberts is our referee for this light heavyweight bout. Hollett misses wildly with an overhand right. Hollett charges forward. Maldonado finds a home for his right hook. Spinning back kick absolutely obliterates Maldonado's groin. Man, that was painful to watch. After watching Maldonado writhe in pain on the mat for a few minutes, we're back. Hollett times a double and gets it, landing in half guard. Hollett can't get anything going, so Roberts stands it up. Hollett pressures Maldonado against the cage then drops down for a double. Maldonado defends. Roberts splits the fighters. Hollett immediately seizes a takedown, then passes into half guard. What a weird, kind of awful round. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Hollett.
Round 2: Hollett lands a few short shots against the fence. Standing knee to the jaw from Hollett. Maldonado swings wildly and misses. Maldonado clinches Hollett against the fence, then unloads a series of short punches. Hollett reverses, but eats a flurry of jabs. Maldonado going head-body, head-body. Hollett looks exhausted. Maldonado urges him to come forward. Hollett shoots for a high single. Maldonado fights it off. Hollett is cut wide open across his forehead. More body shots from Maldonado. MMA Fighting score it 10-9 Maldonado.
Round 3: Hollett immediately secures a single leg takedown. Maldonado scrambles to his feet, then clinches Hollett against the cage. Maldonado unloads a slew of body shots. Hollett fires back and Maldonado loves it. Maldonado back to work, going head-body against the fence. Hollett eats a series of jabs. Another jab. Hollett is fading hard. Maldonado relentless with his body shots. One-two to the head dazes Hollett. Hollett just looking to survive. Hollet ties up against the fence, much to the distaste of the Brazilian crowd. Roberts splits it up. Hollett wades back inside, but Maldonado hits an inside trip and lands on top. Maldonado rains down punches. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Maldonado, and the fight 29-28 Maldonado.
Fabio Maldonado def. Roger Hollet via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-27)
Yuri Alcantara vs. Iliarde Santos
Round 1: Our referee is Kevin Mulhall. Alcantara rips a right hand into Santos' jaw. Alcantara follows with a flying knee, but Santos closes the distance. Santos hunts for a double against the fence and can't get it. Alcantara unloads a huge flurry of rights and lefts. Somehow Santos avoids any major damage. Santos connects with a body kick, Alcantara responds with a one-two. High kick from Alcantara. Huge straight left topples Santos. Alcantara swarms. Eight unanswered shots later, this one is over.
Yuri Alcantara def. Iliarde Santos via TKO (strikes) at 2:31 of round 1.
Paulo Thiago vs. Michel Prazeres
Round 1: Referee Mario Yamasaki oversees this welterweight bout. Thiago blocks a high kick, and another. Prazeres catches a leg then hunts for a single against the cage. Thiago fights it off. Prazeres nearly trips Thiago to the canvas. Thiago reverses the position into mount, but only briefly. Prazeres still looking for a trip against the fence. Boos start to rain down and Yamasaki quickly separates the action. Prazeres is really working on that high kick. Thiago connects with a big combination, starting with a shot to the ribs. More boos. The Brazilian crowd isn't too pleased with this one. Thiago backs away from a looping left hook. Prazeres ducks under a right and clinches against the fence. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Prazeres.
Round 2: Another high kick from Prazeres is blocked. Thiago storms forward and drops from Prazeres with a short right hand. Thiago pounces, raining down shots from half guard. Thiago on top, looking to pass, but Prazeres escapes. Thiago trips Prazeres to the canvas but can't do anything with it. Prazeres stands, then returns the favor to Thiago. Thiago trying to climb to his feet, and he does. Thiago with double underhooks, briefly drags down Prazeres. We're back standing and Thiago eats a huge straight right. Prazeres changes levels for a double. Thiago sweeps into top position. Thiago working short elbows from half guard. Thiago traps an arm and unloads. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Thiago.
Round 3: Both fighters touch gloves. Thiago stalking forward, unloading looping hooks from range. Thiago ties up, and the boos rain down once more. Prazeres finds a home for a big combination, but Thiago just eats it. Prazeres drops down for a double. He can't get it. Yamasaki splits the action. Strong counter right connects for Thiago. Right hook from Thiago. Thiago clearly willing to push the pace. Prazeres defends a trip then pressures Thiago against the fence. Thiago finally trips Prazeres, landing in full mount. That might've just won him the fight. Thiago transitions to Prazeres' back and works short punches. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Thiago, and the fight 29-28 Thiago.
Paulo Thiago def. Michel Prazeres via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Gleison Tibau vs. John Cholish
Round 1: Leon Roberts is our referee for this lightweight bout. Cholish pumps his jab, Tibau returns the favor. Looping left misses for Tibau. Tibau follows with a hard shot to the body. Big exchange from both fighters. Tibau catches a kick and muscles Cholish to the mat. Cholish quickly works to his feet. Cholish eats a left hook, then blocks a high kick. Tibau catches another kick, but Cholish escapes unscathed. Tibau catches yet another kick and fires off a strong jab. Tibau briefly wrestles Cholish down, but can't do anything with it. We're back standing. Tibau stalks forward. Cholish defends a double leg against the fence. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Tibau.
Round 2: Tibau storms forward with a flying knee. Cholish connects with a short shot inside the pocket. Tibau fires back. Tibau muscles Cholish against the fence. Cholish backs out into the center of the cage. Slow pace here. Just as I say that, a huge straight left staggers Cholish. Cholish shoots for a desperation takedown. Tibau brushes it off, then seizes a guillotine during the ensuing scramble. It's in tight. That's it, folks.
Gleison Tibau def. John Cholish via submission (guillotine choke) at 2:34 of round 2.
Francisco Trinaldo vs. Mike Rio
Round 1: Referee Kevin Mulhall oversees this lightweight bout. Trinaldo furiously pumps his right hand to gauge distance. Rio half-heartedly shoots for a takedown. Trinaldo defends, but succumbs to a second attempt. Rio lands on top with a front headlock and Trinaldo's left leg tied up. Trinaldo escapes to his feet and pressures Rio against the fence. Trinaldo seizes a body lock then drags Rio to the mat. Trinaldo snakes in an arm triangle from half guard. Trinaldo cranks down. Oh wow, he actually got it.
Francisco Trinaldo def. Mike Rio via submission (arm triangle choke) at 3:08 of round 1.
Hacran Dias vs. Nik Lentz
Round 1: Mario Yamasaki is our referee for this final UFC on FX 8 prelim. Lentz charges forward with a one-two. Lentz closes the distance against the fence. Dias backs out and unloads a combination. Lentz shoots for a single but fails to secure it. Lentz connects with a flurry. Lentz grabs a leg and works for a single against the cage. Dias defends and reverses. Lentz tries again for the takedown, but still nothing gives. Lentz reverses a trip attempt and takes Dias' back. Dias hits a switch and latches onto Lentz. Lentz squirms out and muscles Dias into the cage, much to the displeasure of the Brazilian crowd. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Lentz.
Round 2: Lentz takes Dias' back early in a scramble. Lentz working short punches while trying to secure his second hook. Shot after shot is blasting through Dias' defense. Lentz transitions to top position, winding up in half guard. Dias works to his feet but Lentz seizes a front headlock. Lentz thoroughly stifling Dias' attack right now. Lentz moves to Dias' back then trips him, landing again in half guard. Lentz stands, eats a few upkicks, then jumps back into Dias' half guard. Lentz advances into mount. Lentz postures up and unleashes a salvo, but nothing lands clean. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Lentz.
Round 3: Dias comes out firing. Lentz ducks under a shot, then eats a huge right hand. And another. Dias gets the best of a wild exchange. Lentz briefly ties up. Dias still firing. Dias muscles Lentz against the fence, then slams Lentz to the mat. Lentz seizes a guillotine from the bottom. Dias slowly works out of it. Dias sinks in an arm triangle. Oh man, this one is deep. Lentz looks like he might tap. Nope, he somehow survives, but Dias advances to half guard. Lentz reclaims his guard, hunts for a kimura, then nearly blasts Dias with an illegal upkick. We're back standing and Dias is firing. Lentz locks up, hunting for a single against the fence. Dias eyes a switch as the horn sounds. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Dias.
Nik Lentz def. Hacran Dias via unanimous decision (28-27, 29-28, 29-28)