Cody Garbrandt earned a first round knockout victory over previously unbeaten Thomas Almeida at UFC Fight Night 88 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Garbrandt never gave Almeida much of a chance to get untracked. He punished Almeida methodically with calculated strikes. Almeida tried to be patient, but it just wasn’t his night.
Welcome back to The Crossfire.
Garbrandt, Jake Collier earned performances-of-the-night while Jeremy Stephens and Renan Barao earned Fight-of-the-Night honours. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus.
Courtesy UFC/Zuffa LLC.
TSN 5 MAIN CARD
JOSHUA BURKMAN VS PAUL FELDER
Paul Felder punches Joshua Burkman in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 29, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
WINNER: PAUL FELDER VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: PAUL FELDER VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Andrews: Burkman started off strong, but eventually the strikes of Felder took their toll, opening up Burkman in Round 3. Felder said afterwards he wants to get back in in September or November. Sounds like a man on a mission.
JORGE MASVIDAL VS LORENZ LARKIN
Lorenz Larkin punches Jorge Masvidal in their welterweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 29, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
WINNER: LORENZ LARKIN VIA SPLIT-DECISION (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: LORENZ LARKIN VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Andrews: Larkin inflicted more damage but Masvidal was right there. The third round was the difference. Great technical bout by both fighters.
CHRIS CAMOZZI VS VITOR MIRANDA
Chris Camozzi punches Vitor Miranda of Brazil in their middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 29, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
WINNER: CHRIS CAMOZZI VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: VITOR MIRANDA VIA TKO
Andrews: Miranda just couldn’t connect enough and Camozzi used grappling and strikes to take the starch out of him. Good win for Camozzi.
#10 TAREC SAFFIEDINE VS #11 RICK STORY
Rick Story punches Tarec Saffiedine of Belgium in their welterweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 29, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
WINNER: RICK STORY VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (29-28, 29-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: RICK STORY VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Andrews: Story just overwhelmed Saffiedine in the clinch and worked the body. He also kept Saffiedine from figuring out the distance to launch his kicks. Great execution from Story.
RENAN BARAO VS #9 JEREMY STEPHENS
Jeremy Stephens punches Renan Barao of Brazil in their featherweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 29, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
WINNER: JEREMY STEPHENS VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: RENAN BARO VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Andrews: Stephens took it to Barao for the first two rounds and then withstood the third round to take the fight. Barao was gassed in the third, but can take some solace from a good third round. Good fight.
MAIN EVENT
#7 THOMAS ALMEIDA VS CODY GARBRANDT
Cody Garbrandt punches Thomas Almeida of Brazil in their bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 29, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
WINNER: CODY GARBRANDT VIA TKO R1 2:53
ANDREWS PREDICTION: CODY GARBRANDT VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: Garbrandt never gave Almeida a chance to get going. He stunned him with right hands and then stumbled him to the ground where the ref was forced to call the bout. Excellent performance by No Love.
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