UFC 195 undercard live blog: McDonald vs. Kanehara, more

This is the UFC 195 undercard blog for the UFC 195 event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev. on Saturday night.

There will be seven fights on the UFC 195 undercard. Michael McDonald vs. Masanori Kanehara, Kyle Noke vs. Alex Morono, Justine Kish vs. Nina Ansaroff, Drew Dober vs. Scott Holtzman, Dustin Poirier vs. Joe Duffy, Joe Soto vs. Michinori Tanaka, and Edgar Garcia vs. Sheldon Westcott will be featured.

Check out the UFC 195 undercard live blog below.

Edgar Garcia vs. Sheldon Westcott

Round 1: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to 2016! This is Shaun Al-Shatti, and we couldn't have asked for a better headliner to kick this year off right, eh? Lawler-Condit is straight fire. First things first though: UFC 195 prelims. A welterweight tilt opens up the Fight Pass portion of the card. Chris Tognoni is the third man in the cage. And we're off. Garcia cracks Westcott with a right hand down the pipe. And another to the body. Westcott changes levels then takes Garcia to the mat. Westcott looks to move into mount, but instead takes Garcia's back in the scramble. Westcott starts raining down heavy right hands and this one might be over. Unanswered shot after unanswered shot is landing here. They should stop this. And Tognoni finally steps in. The first fight of 2016 is in the books, and it's an absolute beating. 

UFC 195 official results: Sheldon Westcott def. Edgar Garcia via TKO (punches) at 3:12 of R1

Joe Soto vs. Michinori Tanaka

Round 1: What do we have here, our first Mario Yamasaki sighting of the year? Yep, he's the man in charge. They touch 'em up and we're off. Tanaka showing some interesting lateral movement early. Soto finally wades in and whiffs with a left. Soto dives in deep on a single leg but can't get the takedown. Tanaka connects on an outside leg kick. Nice counter right lands from Tanaka, and he uses the opening to take Soto to the floor. Tanaka begins working from Soto's open guard. Oh damn son, Soto ties Tanaka up in a gogoplata! No way. There's no way this happens. It's super tight. Wow, Tanaka slips out. That would've been ridiculous. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Soto.

Round 2: Tanaka turns up the heat early and cracks Soto with a head kick. Tanaka circles and paws out his jab. Tanaka goes head-body then tries for an inside trip, but can't get it. Tanaka catches Soto with a counter left. Soto eats another right. Soto lunges inside and Tanaka trips him to the canvas, landing inside Soto's open guard. Soto grasps for a guillotine. No dice, Tanaka slips out. Tanaka stands and attempts to jump into mount, but Soto hunts for a leglock and forces a scramble. Tanaka settles back inside Soto's guard. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Tanaka. (19-19 overall.)

Round 3: Soto walks him down and they start exchanging. Soto calls him on for action. Tanaka falls short on a level change and Soto cracks him with a one-two on the way up. Soto sticks his jab in Tanaka's face again. Soto is getting really animated with his in-cage talk right now. Nice head kick from Soto. Soto is fired up. Tanaka wades inside and takes Soto to the mat, but Soto again locks up a tight guillotine. Soto adjusts his hips. This one looks like it has a chance. Nope, Tanaka pops out and up. Soto finds a home for his left hand. And again. Soto coming on strong this round. Tanaka sloppily hunts for an inside trip and can't get it. Soto bangs in another left hand. Thirty seconds left. Soto doubles up with his jab, then lands a right hand over the top. Big takedown into mount for Soto! Soto takes Tanaka's back in a scramble and fishes for an RNC! Saved by the bell. Great final round for Joe Soto. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Soto. (29-28 Soto.)

UFC 195 official results: Michinori Tanaka def. Joe Soto via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Dustin Poirier vs. Joseph Duffy

Round 1: How good is this fight? These two were originally supposed to meet Oct. 24 in Dublin. That fell apart at the last second, now they meet to kick off 2016 in Las Vegas. Referee Chris Tognoni is back for this one. Poirier tosses out a leg kick then goes over the top with a right hand. Big exchange with Poirier getting the better of it! Duffy finds a home for an elbow on the way out. Poirier kicks to the ribs. Duffy is fighting with his hands down, eats an uppercut then catches Poirier with a right hand. Poirier is hurt! Duffy lays on the pressure but Poirier survives and recovers. Duffy rips another uppercut through Poirier's defense. Duffy cracks Poirier with a right hook. Poirier answers with a flurry! Poirier changes levels and dumps Duffy onto his butt against the fence. Huge elbow from Poirier! Duffy covers up and scrambles to his feet. Poirier keeps Duffy pinned against the fence. Poirier lands a trio of right hands off the break. Poirier gives him another one. Tremendous round. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Poirier.

Round 2: Duffy is staying long and pawing out his left hand. Poirier is already bleeding from his nose. Poirier works inside then drives Duffy to the fence. Poirier drops down for a low double leg and gets it, dumping Duffy to his rear against the fence. Poirier stuffs a stand-up attempt and settles into half guard. Poirier's nose is leaking blood everywhere. Hard elbow from the top for Poirier. Duffy reclaims his guard but eats another shot. Poirier is doing work with these elbows. This is some vicious stuff. Poirier ends the round battering Duffy with elbows from the top. MMA Fighting scores it 10-8 Poirier. (20-17 Poirier.)

Round 3: Oh man, Duffy's face is a mess. Poirier enters with a hard left hand, then blasts Duffy to his butt against the fence! Here we go again, going down the only road we've ever known. Duffy looks to stand, but Poirier reverses and maintains top control. Duffy fishes for a kneebar! No dice, and Poirier stays on top. Poirier is talking to Duffy here. Gotta love it. And for some reason Tognoni stands them up. That was a bad call. Duffy cracks Poirier with a two-punch combination, then gets blown off his feet by a big takedown. Poirier again working from inside Duffy's guard. Duffy hunts for a desperation triangle! My God, he might have it! Saved by the bell. Wow, what a great fight. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Poirier. (30-26 Poirier.)

UFC 195 official results: Dustin Poirier def. Joseph Duffy via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

Drew Dober vs. Scott Holtzman

Round 1: This is Mindenhall taking over for the FS1 portion. Herb Dean is the referee for this one. They touch them up. Dober, the southpaw. Solid straight left right off from Dober connects. Pushing on is Holtzman, and he lands one down the pipe. There's a nice exchange, in which Dober lands a left. They go to the fence, with Holtzman pressing in. Holtzman with a knee to the body, and now Dober turns inward and now has Holtzman on the fence. Dober looking for a trip here, but Holtzman is like a statue. They roll along back to the fence, and Holtzman — for just a moment — drags Dober to a knee. Elbow from Holtzman on the break. Double underhooks for Holtzman, who is using his strength right now to neutralize Dober. But right as I type that Dober scores a takedown off the fence. Wow. Holtzman scoots back to the fence, and is able to stand back up. Dober tries to take his head off with a left as they stand, but misses. Back to center. Dober with a high kick, it misses and Holtzman moves in for clinch. Now Dober once again takes Holtzman down, and same as last time, away from the cage. Just as last time too, Holtzman scoots to the fence and uses it as an aid to stand back up. This time Dober sticks on his back, like cargo. They break, and a pushkick from Holtzman lands. Right in the thorax. Left hook from Dober, and that lands too. Holtzman comes forth with a sally at the end of the round, as Dober misses a 360º backfist. MMA Fighting scores R1 for Dober, 10-9.

Round 2: Holtzman quickly to center, and right off the bat Dober shoots for a takedown — can't get it. They go to fence, Holtzman doing the pressing. Muay Thai specialist Dober's corner was asking him to use ground game between rounds. Interesting. Nice shot there from Dober, and that lands flush. He ducks in again and tries for a takedown, but Holtzman won't budge. Still, Dober is on him. As Holtzman swirls around to face Dober, he's greeted with a big elbow. They break. Dober has been winning the exchanges. A couple of right hands from Dober, and this time Holtzman takes Dober down. They are in the middle of the cage. Holtzman in Dober's guard. He postures up and lands a left hand. Dober able to free himself and stand for a brief moment, but Holtzman seizes him and drives him back down. Some blood now on Holtzman's brow, trickling over Dober's body. Looked like it might have been a sharp elbow from bottom that opened him up. Holtzman is trying to step over and improve his position, can't. Dober trying desperately to get up. So far Holtzman is keeping his legs tied. Dober able to scramble towards fence, and stands. Holtzman still on him, and he's got the underhooks again. Nice Holtzman elbow on the break there, which caught Dober across the nose. Holtzman torqueing Dober's body, and now he dumps Dober on the ground again. This time he follows up with a series of punches on the ground. Hammerfists now. Big round for Holtzman, who end the round with a big elbow. MMA Fighting scores R2 for Holtzman, 10-9 (19-19 overall)

Round 3: Holtzman to middle, and he sends a right hand home from there. Nice exchange there and a big right hand counter from Dober connects. Straight left from Dober, and now they stand in each other's wheelhouse. Dober, after the chin-check, takes Holtzman down to the ground. A good deal of body wrestling here. Holtzman able to get back up, and spinning shot to the body from Dober. Brief takedown from Dober, and now he dumps Holtzman down more suitably in the middle. Dober in Holtzman's half-guard, and he's got his right hand free to slam into Holtzman's temple. He's also working the body. Holtzman doing what he can to control Dober's wrists. Dober now widens his legs and ends up in Holtzman's full guard; from there he lands a couple of vicious elbows. Dober steps over and again into half-guard. Holtzman bleeding profusely, and he is able to nudge himself back to his feet. They break. Now Dean wants the doctor to look at Holtzman's pulp of a face. He seems satisfied that the cut isn't overly bad, and we continue. Holtzman moves forward, and he lands a head kick. Dober counters with a right hand, and then retreats around the cage on his heels. Straight left from Dober, and now he attempts a takedown. Can't get it, but he's got Holtzman on the fence. Now he does dump Holtzman for a second, but Holtzman right back up. Dober with Holtzman's back, and he takes Holtzman down. He still has his back as Holtzman gets to his knees. They get to the feet again as the round ends. Dober should have this. MMA Fighting scores R3 for Dober, 10-9 (29-28 overall for Dober).

UFC 195 official results: Drew Dober def. Scott Holtzman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Justine Kish vs. Nina Ansaroff

Round 1: Kish out quick, and they just start crushing each other. Ansaroff landed a few big shots, punished Kish's aggression early. This could be a little wild. Another exchange, and Ansaroff gets poked in the eye. Halt in the action while she gets tended to. Ansaroff taking a minute. Ansaroff was coming in with a big overhand right when Kish put up an open-handed defensive screen. Caught Ansaroff in the eye. Doc says Ansaroff is okay, and we resume. Big exchange, and again looked like Ansaroff got the better of it. Kish catches a kick and tries to push her off her moorings. They go to fence. Ansaroff very low trying to dump Kish; can't get the right purchase, and they break. Now in center, right hand from Kish. Furious action. Spinning elbow from Kish lands. She's showing almost no fear in coming in on Ansaroff; very aggressive. Push kick from Kish. Ansaroff's corner wants her to try to take Kish down. Body kick from Ansaroff lands, and that gives Kish a small amount of pause. Kish with a beautiful one-two, and now a spinning elbow. Ansaroff countering. Knee to the face from clinch from Kish, and Ansaroff with a big left hand. Kish catches a kick and dumps Ansaroff to the ground. She follows up with some volume punches, and they are back up. This pace has been frantic. Lots of exchanges. Kish is relentless. Nice body kick from Kish, and a right hand from Ansaroff lands. Kish clearly the aggressor, but Ansaroff has a good sense of timing on every bull rush. Round ends. Tough round to score. MMA Fighting scores R1 for Kish, 10-9.

Round 2: Ansaroff right to the center, and we'll see if the pace slows. Don't think it could keep up the way it was going. Ansaroff lands a right, and now the plum from Kish. She gets in a couple of shots, and they come together again, Kish pushing the action across the cage. Once again Kish comes in, and Ansaroff stands her ground, landing a solid right. They exchange kicks to the body. Kish telegraphing her approaches. Nice counter from Ansaroff, and now she might have stung Kish...looked like Kish was hurt for a moment there. Leg kicks from Ansaroff. Kish catches a front kick from Ansaroff, and again throws her of balance for a second .Big right hand from Ansaroff, and again Kish's head rocks back. She's got that timing down. Kish comes int with a couple of high kicks, and now Kish gets around Ansaroff's neck and takes her down. Side control, and Kish going to work. Ansaroff scrambles, but Kish keeps atop of her, and she's looking to fish out a neck...but now she ends up in Ansaroff's half-guard. Ansaroff has Kish's leg tied up, and after looking for a potential Kimura Kish bails on that and looks for the neck. Nothing doing as the round ends. Could be Ansaroff's round, but Kish might have done just enough. MMA Fighting scores R2 for Kish, 10-9 (20-18 for Kish)

Round 3: They go right at each other, and Ansaroff ties up Kish and swings her to the ground. Kish looking for the guillotine, but it's not there. Ansaroff with her head down, and she's now in Kish's guard. Trying to posture up for some space to land, but Kish doing a solid job of keeping her wrangled. Kish with both of Ansaroff's arms tied up in her chest, and now they scramble, and Kish rolls. Nice move there. They stand, and Kish with a knee to Ansaroff's body. Now Kish moves in on the fence and has a single-leg, but can't dump Ansaroff to the ground. They clinch, and each woman lands inside with uppercuts. Both are huffing air here, as the pace has been so frantic. Now Kish has Ansaroff on the ground, and from half-guard she is landing elbows. She establishes mount, and rains punches down. Now Ansaroff turns around, and Kish with her back. She's trying to get the rear-naked choke. She has a body lock on Ansaroff, and now — wow — Ansaroff reverses! Now she's on top, and in Kish's half-guard. Might be too little too late. The final horn sounds with Ansaroff on top. Kish seemed to edge out the rounds, but we'll see if that's what the judges think. MMA Fighting scores R3 for Kish, 10-9 (30-27 overall for Kish)

UFC 195 official results: Justin Kish def. Nina Ansaroff via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Kyle Noke vs. Alex Morono

Round 1: John McCarthy is the referee for this one. Trap fight for Noke? We'll see. Inside leg kick from Morono, and Noke returns fire with a kick of his own. Spinning kick — then spinning punch — from Morono both miss. Noke comes in and Morono plants and throws some hot leather at him. Noke kicking hard here. Spinning kick up high this time lands though not flush from Morono. Now Noke catches Morono with a right hand, and that hurt him a bit. Noke comes forward, but Morono seems okay. Another right hand and left hook from Noke land, and Morono smartens up and smashes into Noke to the cage. Foot stomps from Morono. They are still toiling there. Morono's forehead tucked into Noke's chin. They break finally. Morono going after the lead leg, but missing. Right hand from Noke lands, and that one had some mustard. A couple of kicks from Noke, a side kick and a push kick, land. And now Morono lands a right and surges forward! He was swinging for the fences there. Left hand from Noke. It looks like Morono is breathing hard a little bit here. But he has center, and he watches a high kick go by his chin. Noke varying up his striking here, and then so in the newcomer. Spinning kick again from Morono. Morono comes forward and Noke circles as the round ends. MMA Fighting scores R1 for Noke, 10-9.

Round 2: Morono the early aggressor early; a series of kicks. Nothing landing flush though, but his confidence seems to be soaring. Morono again comes forward with a couple of right hands, but can't get through clean. Noke changing levels a bit, and takes a right hand to the nose, which is bleeding a bit. Noke finding a home for his kicks, though. Noke's nose bleeding a lot now. Good couple of jabs from Noke, as Morono whizzes a missed overhand right by his head. Morono's accuracy not great here. Noke trying for a high kick, and the action picks up for a moment. They swing on the fences, and Noke took the brunt of the blows there. Noke now grabs Morono and pushes him to the fence, and grabs his back. Noke now elevated on Morono's back, and Morono shakes him off. That leaves Morono on top, and he goes to work on Noke's back. Morono looking for an armbar, and now Noke ends up on top — and Morono is looking for a heel hook. Hammerfists from Noke. Crazy fight going on in Vegas. Elbows from the bottom from Morono, but Noke is posturing up and getting off his own shots. Elbows from Noke to the ribcage of Morono. Noke is bloodied, but he's dominating the end portion of this round. Lot of G&P. Very busy is Noke, doling out the punishment as the round ends. MMA Fighting scores R2 for Noke, 10-9 (20-18 overall).

Round 3: They touch gloves. Inside leg kick from Noke. Noke thinks his nose is broken. The trade kicks, and Morono moves in with a right hand. His follow-ups haven't been the most accurate. A lot of missed strikes. Big overhand there from Morono, and he eats a counter left. Noke hopping in the center, and he comes forward with a very clean right hand that lands. Morono lands one himself, and Noke spins out of there. Morono doing well for a guy on such short notice; cardio holding up for the most part (though he is slowing a bit). Morono again with a big right, and Noke is keeping his distance. Very nice right hand from Morono that time got through at a sharp angle. Noke looks like he wants to minimize damage this round a bit, trying to stay elusive. Now he ducks down looking for a takedown, and then follows up with a damn nice body shot. Spinning elbow from Noke, too. He's not bringing it. Maybe he's just being more selective with his shots. Body shot from Noke lands again. Noke lands a takedown, and that could be bad news. Wait! Now Morono grabs Noke's arm, and he is trying for an armbar! He has it tight, and Noke is surviving...and he's out! That was almost a huge turn of the tables. Noke hammerfists as the round ends. MMA Fighting scores R3 for Morono, 10-9 (29-28 overall for Noke).

UFC 195 official results: Alex Morono def. Kyle Noke via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)

Michael McDonald vs. Masanori Kanehara

Round 1: McDonald returns after a long, long hiatus (two years). See how the 24-year old does here. Yamasaki is the referee. Big right hand from McDonald right off the bat, right as Kanehara tried for a low kick. Now he slams a right hand home on the heels of a left. Kanehara shoots for a takedown, and boom, he lands it on the fence. McDonald looking for a guillotine from the bottom, with the body lock. Kanehara signals he's okay. McDonald is holding it, and Kanehara is landing elbows into his side. Now McDonald gives the choke up, and Kanehara will try and work from his guard. Kanehara now in McDonald's half-guard, and he tries to step over into mount. They are tucked away on fence, can't do it. Now he does establish mount. McDonald grabs his neck again, and he holds that guillotine just to keep Kanehara at bay. Now Kanehara pops out, and a low full mount, and McDonald is slipping out, trying to recover his guard. McDonald now in full guard, yet Kanehara is pushing in. McDonald is keeping the Japanese fighter close, yet he postures up and lands a right hand. McDonald has his left hand trapped by Kanehara, who keeps hammering home his right. Round ends right there. Great round for Kanehara. MMA Fighting scores R1 for Kanehara, 10-9.

Round 2: They touch gloves again. Nice one-two from McDonald, and he lands a right hand right after — but Kanehara times out a takedown, and here we go again. McDonald on the fence, fishing for the guillotine from his back as Kanehara advances to side control. This isn't good for "Mayday." McDonald gives it up, and Kanehara momentarily into mount. Kanehara has McDonald's left hand trapped up top with his head, and now he's got a side choke in play — but wait, McDonald reverses! HE has Kanehara's back, and he sinks rear-naked choke! And it's all over — Kanehara taps! That was a crazy sequence in which McDonald turned the tables. Great comeback. Very opportunistic by McDonald, who may have had to overcome some cagerust en-route to that win.

UFC 195 official results: Michael McDonald def. Masanori Kanehara via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:09 of R2