UFC Boise live blog: Sage Northcutt vs. Zak Ottow

This is the UFC Boise live blog for Sage Northcutt vs. Zak Ottow, a welterweight bout at Saturday’s UFC event at the CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho.

Northcutt, a popular prospect who has won two straight fights but is still looking for his first UFC win at 170 pounds, meets Ottow, who is coming off a first-round TKO win of Mike Pyle, in the co-main event.

Check out the UFC Boise live blog below.

Round 1: Jason Herzog is the referee for this bout. Right away, Ottow lunges in and gets a takedown off of landed strike, he’s working from half guard. Northcutt gets Ottow into full guard, but Ottow is scoring with punches to the body and an elbow. He takes an up-kick, but stays on top and dives back down to grapple. From half guard, Ottow briefly gets full mount. Northcutt staying slippery and Ottow is back in half. They scramble and Ottow takes control of Northcutt’s head and briefly has a guillotine attempt, that’s broken up. Ottow staying heavy in Northcutt’s guard. Northcutt throws up an armbar attempt, but Ottow remains calm and escapes before moving back into Northcutt’s guard. He stands up and fires punches from top position. Ottow gets half guard again and passes into side control. Ottow into full mount. Northcutt bucks his way out of it and just powers back up into a standing position. He fires off a few punches and then closes the distance with Ottow, going for a standing guillotine. They go down to the mat and Northcutt steps over into mount, releasing the guillotine to land some ground and pound. Could have stolen it there.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Ottow.

Round 2: Ottow shoots in and the takedown is there. They’re positioned by the fence and Northcutt is working to get his legs out from underneath Ottow. Short punches scoring for Ottow, though he’s focused on control more than damage. Northcutt walking up the fence, he lands a knee to the body and a 1-2 combo as they separate. Ottow dives in for a single leg immediately, Northcutt defending. Ottow walks him over to the fence. Northcutt reverses position and he has Ottow against the fence now. He’s landing punches and knees to the body. He opens up and starts unloading with punches, a straight left rocks Ottow. He tries to get a hold of Northcutt’s leg, but takes a few hard hammer fists and he is out!

Official result: Sage Northcutt def. Zak Ottow via TKO (hammer fists) at 3:13 of Round 2