#9-ranked middleweight Michael Bisping earned a narrow split-decision win over 10-ranked Thales Leites in the main event of UFC Fight Night72 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Backed by the UK crowd, Bisping barely piled up enough points with inside leg kicks and strikes, while keeping the fight off the ground and away from the strength of his Brazilian opponent.
Welcome back to The Crossfire.
Scotland’s Joanne Calderwood and Courtney Casey-Sanchez earned Fight-of-the-Night honours while Joseph Duffy and Stevie Ray earned performances-of-the-night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus.
MMA Crossfire Expert Kenai Andrews weighs in:
Courtesy UFC/Zuffa LLC.
UFC GLASGOW TSN 2 MAIN CARDÂ
STEVIE MURRAY VS LEONARDO MAFRAÂ
Stevie Ray of Scotland punches Leonardo Mafra of Brazil in their lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event inside the SSE Hydro on July 18, 2015 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: STEVIE RAY VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
WINNER: STEVIE RAY VIA TKO R1 2:30
Andrews: Before I could even get comfortable typing this, Ray lowered the boom on Mafra with a counter right hand. Excellent win and nice remarks afterwards too.
LEON EDWARDS VS PAWEL PAWLAKÂ
Leon Edwards of Jamaica kicks Pawel Pawlak of Poland in their welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event inside the SSE Hydro on July 18, 2015 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: LEON EDWARDS VIA TKO
WINNER: LEON EDWARDS VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Andrews: Edwards pressured Pawlak almost the whole fight and landed some key strikes. One of them was a headlock that should have finished Pawlak, but full marks to the Polish Power to keep in the fight. Great win for Rocky.
#9 JOANNE CALDERWOOD VS CORTNEY CASEY-SANCHEZ
Joanne Calderwood of Scotland punches Cortney Casey of the United States in their women’s strawweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event inside the SSE Hydro on July 18, 2015 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JOANNE CALDERWOOD VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
WINNER: JOANNE CALDERWOOD VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Andrews: An excellent fight between these two, with Casey-Sanchez showing she came to win. Calderwood had to dig deep and secure the last two rounds and in the process, showed her improvement on the ground. That allowed her Muay Thai to shine in the final round. Somebody buy both of these fighters a beer.
JOSEPH DUFFY VS Â IVAN JORGEÂ
Joe Duffy of Ireland punches Ivan Jorge of Brazil in their lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event inside the SSE Hydro on July 18, 2015 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JOSEPH DUFFY VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
WINNER:Â JOSEPH DUFFY VIA SUBMISSION R1 3:05
Andrews: After outstriking Jorge, the Brazilian tried to take things to the ground, but got caught in a Duffy triangle. Quick and impressive win for Duffy.
ROSS PEARSON VS EVAN DUNHAM
Evan Dunham of the United States attempts to secure a rear choke submission against Ross Pearson of England in their lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event inside the SSE Hydro on July 18, 2015 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ROSS PEARSON VIA TKO
WINNER: EVAN DUNHAM VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27,30-27, 29-28)
Andrews: Dunham controlled the bout using his grappling to neutralize the striking of Pearson. Excellent win.
MAIN EVENT
#9 Â MICHAEL BISPING VS #10 THALES LEITES
Michael Bisping of England punches Thales Leites in their middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event inside the SSE Hydro on July 18, 2015 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MICHAEL BISPING VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
WINNER: MICHAEL BISPING VIA SPLIT-DECISION (47-48, 49-46, 48-47)
Andrews: Close fight with the volume strikes of Bisping overcoming the power shots of Leites. A good performance by both fighters and Leites did show he has improved. But he fell short of getting the impressive victory.
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