UFC on FOX 30 prelim results and video: Dustin Ortiz, Devin Powell kick their way to KO wins

The Fight Pass portion of the UFC on FOX 30 card just concluded with a high level kickboxing match disguised as an MMA match. Canada’s own John Makdessi went to war with Ross Pearson, with each man knucking until the final bell. The punching combos added up, bloodying Pearson to earn the unanimous decision. Top female flyweights graced the Fight Pass prelims when the #7 ranked Katlyn Chookagian and the #3 Alexis Davis traded on the feet for the bulk of fifteen minutes, with Chookagian content to play the matador as Davis brought the pressure. Chookagian walked away with the unanimous nod and moves herself into position for another top-tier matchup in her next outing.

The promotion’s #9 flyweight Dustin Ortiz picked up his second first-round finish in his last three outings when he dropped the #12 ranked Matheus Nicolau with a head kick, and then sealed the deal with ground strikes. Ortiz is headed to the top of the division as he now rides a three-fight winning wave. Nina Ansaroff overcame a slow start to pick up a unanimous decision over Randa Markos, and as a result she now enjoys a three-fight winning streak. Opening up the card, Devin Powell earned the first UFC win of his career with a pretty sweet sequence involving vicious body kicks to achieve the first round knockout of Alvaro Herrera.

Fight Pass prelims:

John Makdessi def. Ross Pearson by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-27): Lightweight

A real technical kickboxing bout broke out in this MMA fight. Each man was comfortable standing in front of the other, throwing calculated punching and kicking combos. Makdessi seemed to be getting the better of the exchanges, scoring regularly with his left hand.

The left hand continued to land for Makdessi in the second round, mostly the hook. Pearson started pumping his jab effectively, but struggled a bit to follow it up with something heavy to hurt Makdessi. Pearson started to connect a bit, but Makdessi was right there with that left hand to disrupt his opponents rhythm.

The tempo slowed down a bit in the final frame, and slowed down even more after an accidental cup shot from Makdessi. Pearson resumed the bout with aggression, and even closed the distance and started grinding on the Canadian, albeit briefly. Makdessi started landing his hands again, but so did Pearson. The jab of Makdessi started piercing Pearson, bloodying him up and disrupting his forward pressure. Pearson ate all sorts of punches but somehow continued to press forward. The punches continued to add up for Makdessi and the Calgary crowd roared in appreciation as the bout came to a close.

Highlights galore:

Katlyn Chookagian def. Alexis Davis by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2): (W) Flyweight

Chookagian came out with some pretty active footwork, circling around Davis and pumping a check hook. Davis moved forward, pressuring with her strikes, but she was the one wearing it at the end of the round. The pressure of Davis continued into the second stanza as she chased down Chookagian behind her strikes. Chookagian content to play the matador, landing several leg kicks and stiff straights, but like a terminator, Davis kept moving forward and throwing back.

Chookagian started to connect early in the final round, still attacking with punches and kicks. Davis hung tough and was right there to answer back with a mean counter to back off Chookagian and resume the forward pressure herself. Davis picked up a late takedown but found herself in an armbar attempt as time expired.

Foot, meet face:

Dustin Ortiz def. Matheus Nicolau by KO at 3:49 of round 1: Flyweight

A little bit of feeling out took place to open up this flyweight fight, with Nicolau seeming to get the better of the exchanges. Then, Ortiz struck! Ortiz blasted Nicolau with a head kick through the guard that dropped him. A fit of heavy ground strikes soon followed and the referee was forced to step in and stop the fight. What a showing!

How about Ortiz kicking through the guard of Nicolau?

Nina Ansaroff def. Randa Markos by unanimous decision (29-28 x3): Strawweight

Markos attacked the takedown early, and Ansaroff fended it off at first, but was ultimately taken down. Ansaroff gave up her back, and spent quite some time being controlled and ate a few ground strikes before finally getting back to her feet. Ansaroff was unable to do anything to steal the round before time ran out. Ansaroff attacked the calf of the lead leg of Markos to start the second round. After getting her leg lit up a few times, Markos finally landed a combo and shoved her opponent against the cage, but Ansaroff did a sound job of remaining in open space for the rest of the round.

The kickboxing continued into the final round, with each athlete descent shots. Markos was able to close the distance against the cage and work a takedown, but again Ansaroff remained vertical. Markos closed the distance behind her punches, bloodying the nose of Ansaroff, and again went in for a takedown, but was unable to get the fight to the ground. Ansaroff found top position off of a botched takedown from Markos to finish the round on top dropping blows.

Devin Powell def. Alvaro Herrera by KO at 1:52 of round 1: Lightweight

Powell attempted to get the fight to the ground but Herrera forced him to stand. Herrera landed a crisp body shot, but Powell being as tough as they come, gutted through the pain and started to return fire. Powell cracked with a mean liver kick that nearly buckled Herrera, and then followed up with another gut-busting liver kick that sent Herrera crashing to the floor in agony. Luckily, the referee was there to waive off the fight and prevent any unnecessary damage.

Wolf:

Look at this brutal body work: