It took a couple of rounds, but No. 10 light heavyweight Anthony Smith (31-13-0) fended off the strikes of No. 2 Volkan Oezdemir (15-3-0) to secure a rear-naked choke and capture the win in the main event of UFC Fight Night 138 in Moncton yesterday evening.

Oezdemir rushed nothing, even when he landed some of the shots that would have pounced upon in earlier fights. He scored a lot of points off leg kicks in the first round that Smith noted afterwards in the post-fight interview that surprised him. In the second round, Oezdemir used the takedown to control Smith on the mat and it seemed he would walk away with the decision.

But Smith used a takedown to get the back and secure a rear-naked choke with 34 seconds to go in the third round.

With the win, his third consecutive, Smith is sure to volley up the rankings. He earned performance of the night, along with Don Madge. Thiabult Gouti and Nasrat Haqparast earned Fight of the Night. All of the fighters each earned a $50,000 USD bonus.

Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card.

In case you missed the prelims:

STEVIE RAY DEF. JESSIN AYARI VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

ARJAN BHULLAR DEF. MARCELO GOLM VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)

DON MADGE DEF. TE’JOVAN EDWARDS VIA KO (HEADKICK) R2 0:14

TALITA BERNARDO DEF. SARAH MORAS VIA UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

CALVIN KATTAR DEF. CHRIS FISHGOLD VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R1 4:11

NASRAT HAQPARAST DEF. THIBAULT GOUTI VIA UD (29-27, 29-28, 30-26)

SEAN STRICKLAND DEF. NORDINE TALEB VIA TKO (PUNCHES ) R2 3:10

MAIN CARD

ALEX GARCIA VS. COURT MCGEE 

 

WINNER: COURT MCGEE VIA UD (30-28, 29-28, 29-28)

ANDREWS PREDICTION: ALEX GARCIA VIA TKO

Andrews: McGee imposed his grinding style on Garcia to his credit.

GIAN VILLANTE VS. ED HERMAN

 

WINNER: GIAN VILLANTE VIA UD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

ANDREWS PREDICTION: GIAN VILLANTE VIA TKO

Andrews: Close bout and it’s why Ed Herman continues to get fights.

ANDRE SOUKHAMTHATH VS. JONATHAN MARTINEZ

 

WINNER: ANDRE SOUKHAMTATH VIA UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

ANDREWS PREDICTION: ANDRE SOUKHAMTHATH VIA UD

Andrews: Andre had to win this one and he did, convincingly. Good.

#11 MISHA CIRKUNOV VS. #14 PATRICK CUMMINS 

 

WINNER: MISHA CIRKUNOV VIA SUBMISSION

ANDREWS PREDICTION: MISHA CIRKUNOV VIA SUBMISSION

Andrews: Good win by Misha, overcoming the wrestling of Cummins and getting the tap as predicted.

MICHAEL JOHNSON VS. ARTEM LOBOV 

 

WINNER: MICHAEL JOHNSON VIA UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

ANDREWS PREDICTION: MICHAEL JOHNSON VIA SD

Andrews:

MAIN EVENT

#2 VOLKAN OEZDEMIR VS. #10 ANTHONY SMITH 

 

WINNER:ANTHONY SMITH VIA SUBMISSION (REAR NAKED CHOKE) R3 4:26

ANDREWS PREDICTION: VOLKAN OEZDEMIR VIA TKO

Andrews: Oezdemir was looking good early, but Smith took advantage of the takedown in the third round to secure it. Good performances by both fighters.

@kenaiandrews