No. 12 welterweight Leon Edwards (18-3-0) used crisp striking to outstrike former UFC lightweight champion and No. 4 welterweight Rafael dos Anjos (29-12-0) in the main event of UFC on ESPN 4 Saturday night in San Antonio.
Both fighters had their moments early on until Edwards opened up a big cut over dos Anjos’ right eye in the second round. The cut seemed to affect the vision of dos Anjos, while Edwards tightened up his striking and used distance to keep dos Anjos at a safe distance from takedowns.
The judges scored it 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46.
With the win, Edwards, currently ranked No. 12 is almost certain to leapfrog into the top 5.
Your @ToyoTires FOTN!@Bautista_MMA vs Son. #UFCSanAntonio pic.twitter.com/Smdu0k8Tja
— UFC (@ufc) July 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1152800164240691205
Mario Bautista and Jin Soo Son secured Fight of the Night, while Dan Hooker and Walt Harris earned performances of the night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card.
In case you missed the prelims:
FELIPE COLARES DEF. DOMINGO PILARTE VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
MARIO BAUTISTA DEF. JIN SOO SON VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
RAY BORG DEF. GABRIEL SILVA VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
JENNIFER MAIA DEF. ROXANNE MODAFERRI VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
KLIDSON ABREU DEF. SAM ALVEY VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
RAQUEL PENNINGTON DEF. IRENE ALDANA VIA SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
ALEX CACERES DEF. STEVEN PETERSON VIA UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
MAIN CARD
ANDREI ARLOVSKI VS. BEN ROTHWELL
HWs swingin' for the fences ⚾️ #UFCSanAntonio pic.twitter.com/B3u4YRgUc6
— UFC (@ufc) July 21, 2019
WINNER: ANDREI ARLOVSKI VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ANDREI ARLOVSKI VIA UD
Andrews: It’s time for Rothwell to stop the comeback. He didn’t show much against Andrei and it will only get worse from here.
ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ VS. FRANCISCO TRINALDO
The classic spinning back… knee⁉️@MassarandubaMMA #UFCSanAntonio pic.twitter.com/8Mmjk7DpnB
— UFC (@ufc) July 21, 2019
WINNER: ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ VIA UD
Andrews: Close fight, but I was more impressed with the performance of Trinaldo. He did enough to win, just didn’t get the call.
JAMES VICK VS. DAN HOOKER
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1152769230296641536
WINNER: DAN HOOKER VIA TKO (STRIKES) R1 2:33
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JAMES VICK VIA TKO
Andrews: Wow! The chin of Vick is now officially glass. It let him down again tonight. Excellent left hook and win for Hooker.
GREG HARDY VS. JUAN ADAMS
https://twitter.com/Nikohybridprice/status/1152779837846593536
WINNER: GREG HARDY VIA TKO (STRIKES) R1 0:33
ANDREWS PREDICTION: GREG HARDY VIA TKO
Andrews: Any questions?
ALEKSEI OLEINIK VS. WALT HARRIS
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1152779557574889472
WINNER: WALT HARRIS VIA TKO (STRIKES) R1 0:12
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ALEKSEI OLEINIK VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: Wow! Another flying knee catches a grappler. Excellent win for Harris.
MAIN EVENT
#4 RAFAEL DOS ANJOS VS. #12 LEON EDWARDS
A smooth counter 🔁@Leon_EdwardsMMA turns RDA's knee to the takedown! #UFCSanAntonio pic.twitter.com/n5SNC9Rrat
— UFC (@ufc) July 21, 2019
WINNER: LEON EDWARDS VIA UD (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: RAFAEL DOS ANJOS VIA UD
Andrews: Even the experience of RDA was overcome by the tactics and striking of Edwards. Even if his eye wasn’t cut, RDA still would have struggled against this Edwards. Good win, Rocky.
