UFC On FOX 20 Preliminary Results: Eddie Wineland TKO’s Frankie Saenz

It’s once again fight day here at LowKickMMA, and the talent on display tonight (Saturday, July 23rd, 2016) will come in the form of UFC on FOX 20. Headlining the card are Holly Holm and Valentina Shevchenko, but there’s a whole bunch of great fights also taking place on the preliminary section of the card.

Frankie Saenz vs. Eddie Wineland in a bantamweight bout closed the UFC on FOX 20 preliminary card. In round 1, Wineland tagged him with a right hand and Saenz dropped. Saenz scrambled to his feet and recovered. Saenz took him down and got his back. Saenz couldn’t do much from this position as he ran out of time. In round 2, Wineland got kicked in the nuts to begin the round. Saenz with a lot of movement and was landing some big shots. Wineland couldn’t get the range down and had a hard time find his strikes. Saenz kicked him in the nuts again, but Wineland said he was alright. Wineland dropped him with a combo, but Saenz got right back to his feet. In round 3, Saenz worked for a single leg takedown early but couldn’t get it. Wineland dropped him with a right hand and swarmed him with strikes to win the fight.

Darren Elkins and Godofredo Pepey met in a featherweight bout at UFC on FOX 20. A dominate win by Elkins. In round 1, Pepey stunned him then took him down and landed some big shots. Elkins went for a leglock but let it go and got on top in half guard. Elkins was bleeding from his head but continued to fire away with strikes. In round 2, Elkins missed a wheel kick and Pepsi lost his balance. Elkins got on top and Pepey went for a heel hook. Elkins scrambled and ate a big elbow. They grappled throughout the round. In round 3, Elkins took him down and got guard to begin the round. Elkins landed some good strikes while Pepey landed some solid elbows. Elkins stayed in full guard throughout the round and was just dominate. Elkins won the fight by decision.

Kamaru Usman and Alexander Yakovlev met in a welterweight bout at UFC on FOX 20. In round 1, Usman clinched and then took him down up against the fence. Yakovlev got a point taken away because he grabbed the fence. Usman clinched with him again up the fence and landed some knees. Usman took him down and got on half guard. Usman landed some hard elbows from the top. In round 2, Usman once again clinched with him and just was smothering Yakovlev. Usman landed some big elbows and body shots while on the ground. Yakovlev went for a leg leg but Usman got out of it. In round 3, Usman took him down and got mount. Usman rained down strikes and elbows from this position. Usman got his back but Yakovlev scrambled out and Usman kneed him in the gut. Yakovlev got to his feet but Usman stayed on him and just smothered him. Usman took him down and got full mount. Yakovlev was bleeding from his left temple. Usman earned the decision victory.

J.C. Cottrell vs. Michel Prazeres in a lightweight bout opened the UFC on FOX 20 preliminary bouts. An okay fight. In round 1, Cottrell came out and took him down. Cottrell got half guard, but Prazeres spun out. Prazeres grabbed his arm with his legs and went for a submission. Prazeres went for an armbar, but Cottrell got out. Cottrell went for a kimura but let it go. Cottrell got half guard on top. In round 2, Cottrell took him down within thirty seconds of the round. Prazeres scrambled to his feet. Prazeres took him down, but Cottrell got back to his feet. Prazeres with a single leg takedown but Cottrell popped right back up. Prazeres took him down again and got his back. Cottrell spun out, but Prazeres stayed on him and clinched with him up against the fence. Prazeres took him down and got full guard with two minutes to go. In round 3, Prazeres came out and took him down. Cottrell got back to his feet but Prazeres stayed on him and clinched with him up against the fence. Cottrell separated and they went back to striking. Prazeres was looking tired. Prazeres landed a big right hook and then clinched with him up against the fence. Prazeres took him down briefly but Cottrell got back to his feet. Prazeres won the fight by decision.

James Moontasri vs. Alex Oliveira in a welterweight bout finished off the UFC on FOX 20 Fight Pass preliminary card. A solid fight that saw Oliveira dominate with his clinch work and closing the distance. In round 1, Oliveira came out and clinched with him up against the fence. Oliveira went for a takedown but couldn’t get it and pressed him back up against the fence. Oliveira kneed him in the nuts and Moontasri went down. Moontasri was in some serious pain but recovered. Oliveira clinched with him up against the fence and landed some more knees to the body. Moontasri answered with some of his own. Oliveira continued to fire away while in the clinch. Oliveira with some uppercuts as well. Good clinch works by Oliveira. In round 2, Oliveira came out and clinched with him again. Oliveira was working him over with strikes. Moontasri landed a big elbow while in the clinch. Oliveira scored a takedown and got on top in half guard. Oliveira landed some body shots and elbows. Moontasri scrambled to his feet to end the round. In round 3, Moontasri clipped him then Oliveira tagged him, and they had a wild exchange. Oliveira took him down about a minute into the round. Oliveira got guard and worked him over with strikes. Moontasri was tired at this point, and Oliveira was having his way with him. Oliveira won the fight by decision.

Jim Alers and Jason Knight met in a featherweight bout at UFC on FOX 20. This was such a fun fight and might be fight of the night. In round 1, Knight came out aggressive and was landing some good combos. Alers was using some good leg kicks and disrupting Knight’s combos. Alers tagged him before Knight tripped him. Knight with some crisp punches and suffered a cut under his right eye. Alers clinched with him but Knight pushed him off. Alers got a double-leg takedown with 1:30 to go. Knight’s shorts were coming off and Knight scrambled to his feet. Knight got a brief takedown but Alers got back to his feet. They clinch to end the round. In round 2, Knight was talking trash in between rounds. Alers was working the body early and then went for a takedown but it was stuffed. Knight with a big shot to the body. Knight poured it on and Alers was back peddling. Alers is now bleeding from his right temple. Knight tagged him with a combo and Alers was hurt but recovered. Alers with a back kick and then was circling. Alers got a single leg takedown with about a minute to go. Knight got up and took him down and ended the round on top. In round 3, Alers came out and got the takedown to begin the round. Knight kicked him off and stood up but Alers shot in for another takedown but Knight stuffed it and they clinch up against the fence. Both guys slowed down in this round. Alers got a takedown with two minutes to go. Alers beat him down with strikes but Knight stood up. Alers with a big uppercut and then they swung for the fences to end the round. Knight earned the split decision victory.

Opening the UFC on FOX 20 Fight Pass prelims was Luis Henrique vs. Dmitry Smolyakov in a heavyweight bout. This one was a one-sided beatdown. In round 1, Smolyakov was trying to mix it up with strikes and kicks, but most of them were missing. Henrique caught him then blasted him up against the fence. Smolyakov cinched with him, and they exchanged up against the fence. Henrique was landing some good knees as well. Henrique took him down and got half guard with about a minute to go. Henrique landed some huge elbows from the top. In round 2, Henrique went for a takedown to begin the round but it was blocked. Moments later, Henrique got the takedown and got his back. Henrique just rained down strikes from this position and then locked in the rear-naked choke for the win.

Here are the results:

Preliminary Card (FOX Sports 6PM/3PM ETPT)

Eddie Wineland def. Frankie Saenz via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:54

Darren Elkins def. Godofredo Pepey by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 30-26)

Kamaru Usman def. Alexander Yakovlev via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-25)

Michel Prazeres def. J.C. Cottrell via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass 4PM/3PM ETPT)

Alex Oliveira def. James Moontasri via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-25)

Jason Knight def. Jim Alers by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Luis Henrique def. Dmitrii Smolyakov via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:58