UFC Fight Night 117 Preliminary Results: Keita Nakamura Edges Out Alex Morono

It’s once again fight day here at LowKickMMA, and the talent on display tonight (Friday, September 22nd, 2017) will come from in the form of UFC Fight Night 117. Headlining the card are Yushin Okami and Ovince Saint Preux, but there’s a whole bunch of great fights also taking place on the preliminary section of the card.

Keita Nakamura vs. Alex Morono in a welterweight bout closes the preliminary card on FOX Sports 1. In round 1, Nakamura stunned him with a knee strike to the body then followed up with strikes. Morono held his own and landed a series of counter strikes. Morono was bleeding from his right temple. In round 2, the action slowed down. Both fighters were cautious with their strikes, and neither fighter was pressing the action. Morono landed a good combo while having him pressed against the cage. In round 3, Nakamura scored a takedown and Morono went for a guillotine choke. However, Nakamura was able to get out of it and got side control. Morono scrambled back to his feet, and they went back to striking. Morono went for a jumping guillotine choke, but Nakamura was able to get out of it. Morono sliced him open with an elbow shot that led to Nakamura bleeding from his left temple. Nakamura got to his feet, and they slugged it out to the end. The judges gave the win to Nakamura by split decision. 

Syuri Kondo vs. Chan-Mi Jeon is next in a female strawweight bout. In round 1, these two fighters came out and exchanged some big shots to the point where Jeon was running away from a wild exchange. Things calmed down as the round went on. Kondo was pressing forward. Jeon mixing up nice high kicks and punches. Kondo finding a home for her right hand. In round 2, Kondo landed a big one that wobbled Jeon. She’s pressing forward throwing everything but the kitchen sink. They had a wild exchange to end the round. In round 3, Kondo didn’t slow down, but Jeon was picking her shots well by counter striking. Jeon claimed that she was poked in the eye, but the referee let them fight. They threw down to end the fun fight. In the end, the judges gave the win to Kondo by split decision.

Shinsho Anzai vs. Luke Jumeau is next in a welterweight bout. In round 1, Jumeau pressing forward and landed a good knee strike to the body. Anzai shot in for a takedown midway through the round, but it was stuffed. Anzai stunned him with a left hand and followed up with strikes. Jumeau clinched and landed some knee strikes. They exchanged to the bell. In round 2, Jumeau was very aggressive to start the round, but Anzai threw a combo and Jumeau slipped. Jumeau was able to get back to his feet before too much damage was done. Anzai scored a double leg takedown and got half guard midway through the round. In round 3, Anzai was working for the takedown but couldn’t get it in the early going. They stayed in the clinch for a bit of time with both fighters getting in their shots. Midway through the round they finally separated. Anzai was pressing forward and landing big. Jumeau was able to drag him down to the ground early but Sazai got right back to his feet, and they clinched. The judges gave the win to Anza by unanimous decision.

Daichi Abe vs. Hyun Gyu Lim in a welterweight bout opens the FOX Sports 1 preliminary bouts. In round 1, they kept the fight on the feet for the majority of the round. Abe rocked him with a big right hand with about a minute to go in the round. Abe didn’t rush and allowed him to recovery. Abe was working him over with some nice jabs that were slowly causing swelling around both of his eyes. In round 2, Abe was poked in the eye in the early going. Action resumed. Abe was working his leg kicks well that slowed down Lim. At this point, Lim was just trying to faint in order to open up on his shots. Lim caught him with a good right hand with seconds to go in this round. Abe dropped him as the bell sounded. In round 3, Lim already was cracking Abe hard in the early going. Both fighters slowed down in this round and was a close but equal fight with them getting their moments. With seconds in the round, Abe was able to drop him with a right hand and swarmed him with strikes. Lim got up his feet but was bloody. Abe took him down with a single leg and landed in side control to end the fight. The judges gave the win to Abe by unanimous decision.

Here are the results:

PRELIMINARY CARD (FXX/8 p.m. ET)

Welterweight: Keita Nakamura def. Alex Morono via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Female Strawweight: Syuri Kondo def. Chan-mi Jeon via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 30-27)

Welterweight: Shinsho Anzai def. Luke Jumeau via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Welterweight: Daichi Abe def. Hyun Gyu Lim via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)