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Welcome to the PWInsiderXtra.com live coverage of the UFC Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale Preliminary Card, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Fight #1 - UFC Welterweight Division Fight: Li Jingliang (10-4-0) vs. Anton Zafir (7-2-0)
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Round One
The round begins with Zafir attacking Jingliang with leg kicks, Zafir follows that up by cracking Jingliang with a left. Jingliang starts trying to catch Zafir with counter rights, Zafir scores a takedown on Jingliang and he gets the open guard. Zafir quickly gains the half guard on Jingliang, Jingliang uses a guillotine choke attempt to sweep Zafir and get the fight standing again. Zafir scores another takedown and Jingliang gets right back up, Jingliang then scores a takedown on Zafir. Jingliang cracks Zafir with a few right and Zafir goes out cold.
Fight Result: Li Jingliang def. Anton Zafir by KO via punch (2:46, R1)
Fight #2 - UFC Lightweight Division Fight: Jake Matthews (11-1-0) vs. Kevin Lee (12-2-0)
Referee: Jason Herzog
Round One
The round begins with Matthews attacking Lee with leg kicks, Lee scores a takedown on Matthews and he gets the half guard. Lee locks Matthews in the crucifix position while landing some elbow strikes, Matthews eventually forces Lee back into the full guard. Matthews finds a way to stand up with Lee holding onto him, Lee holds Matthews against the cage wall as the two exchange a few knee strikes. The fighters separate and have a striking exchange, Lee scores another takedown on Matthews and he gets back control. Lee starts attacking Matthews with tons of ground and pound until the referee jumps in.
Fight Result: Kevin Lee def. Jake Matthews by TKO via strikes (4:06, R1)
Fight #3 - UFC Middleweight Division Fight: Anthony Smith (25-11-0) vs. Cezar Ferreira (10-5-0)
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Round One
The round begins with Smith attacking Ferreira with a left hook, the fighters start attacking each other with kicks. Ferreira then pops Smith with a straight left, Smith comes forward on Ferreira while throwing punches. Ferreira scores a takedown on Smith after eating a knee strike, the referee stands up the fighters for inactivity. The action resumes with Smith nailing Ferreira with leg kicks, Ferreira then cracks a kicking Smith with a counter left. Smith recovers and hits Ferreira with a two punch combination, Ferreira nails Smith with a right before scoring another takedown. Ferreira attacks Smith with some ground and pound as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Ferreira attempting a high side kick on Smith, Smith then cracks Ferreira with a kick to the midsection. Ferreira goes back to attacking Smith with leg kicks, Ferreira scores a takedown on Smith and he gets the half guard. Smith causes a scramble to get both fighters to their feet, Smith then rocks a swinging Ferreira with a counter right. Smith follows that up by nailing Ferreira with a left hook, Ferreira scores a takedown on Smith and he gets the full guard. Ferreira goes back to attacking Smith with ground and pound, the referee stands up the fighters for inactivity. The action resumes with Smith nailing Ferreira with a standing elbow strike, Smith rocks Ferreira with a series of standing elbow strikes and rights as the round ends.
Round Three
The round begins with Ferreira nailing Smith with some leg kicks, Ferreira also hits Smith with some kicks to the midsection. Ferreira scores a takedown on Smith and he gets the full guard, Ferreira attacks Smith with some ground and pound. The referee stands up the fighters for inactivity, the action resumes with Ferreira scoring a takedown on Smith. Smith catches Ferreira in the guillotine choke and Ferreira escapes after a long struggle to maintain top position, Ferreira goes back to attacking Smith with some ground and pound. Ferreira transitions to the half guard on Smith, Ferreira lands a few more strikes on Smith as the round ends.
Fight Result: Cezar Ferreira def. Anthony Smith by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Fight #4 - UFC Light Heavyweight Division Fight: Cory Hendricks (3-0-0) vs. Josh Stansbury (7-3-0)
Referee: Dan Miragliotta
Round One
The round begins with Hendricks attacking Stansbury with leg kicks, Hendricks also hits Stansbury with a few kicks to the midsection. Stansbury holds Hendricks against the cage wall as they exchange some knee strikes, Stansbury then cracks a swinging Hendricks with a counter right. Stansbury follows that up by nailing Hendricks with a left hook, Hendricks catches Stansbury with a variety of kicks. Stansbury then pops a swinging Hendricks with a counter left hook, Hendricks continues catching Stansbury with kicks to the midsection. Hendricks rocks Stansbury with a head kick followed by a left hook, Stansbury grabs a hold of Hendricks and he keeps him against the cage wall. Stansbury lands a few kicks as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Hendricks attacking Stansbury with a variety of kicks, Hendricks pops a swinging Stansbury with a two punch combination. Stansbury recovers and he catches Hendricks with a left hook, Stansbury starts keeping Hendricks at bay by throwing lots of jabs. Stansbury scores a takedown on Hendricks and he gets the half guard, Hendricks eventually forces Stansbury into his full guard. Stansbury attacks Hendricks with some ground and pound, the referee stands up the fighters for inactivity. The action resumes with Hendricks hitting Stansbury with a straight left, Hendricks goes back to attacking Stansbury with kicks as the round ends.
Round Three
The round begins with Hendricks going for the takedown and Stansbury gets top position, Stansbury attacks Hendricks with some ground and pound while in side control. Stansbury gains the half guard position while landing more strikes on Hendricks, Stansbury returns to side control on Hendricks. Stansbury catches Hendricks in the crucifix position for a little while, Stansbury cracks Hendricks with a few elbow strikes as the round ends.
Fight Result: Josh Stansbury def. Cory Hendricks by majority decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28)
Fight #5 - UFC Flyweight Division Fight: John Moraga (16-4-0) vs. Matheus Nicolau (11-2-1)
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Round One
The round begins with Moraga nailing Nicolau with some leg kicks, Nicolau starts hitting Moraga with some kicks as well. Nicolau then catches a swinging Moraga with a counter left hook, Moraga hits Nicolau with an uppercut. Nicolau cracks an incoming Moraga with a two punch combination, Nicolau starts hunting for counter strikes on Moraga. Nicolau hits a swinging Moraga with a counter left as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with both fighters attacking the other with leg kicks, Nicolau then pops a swinging Moraga with a counter right. Moraga recovers by landing a kick to the midsection of Nicolau, Moraga tries attacking Nicolau with striking combinations. Moraga catches Nicolau with a right to the midsection, Moraga starts winning the leg kick battle against Nicolau. The fighters exchange a few kicks the midsection, Nicolau responds by nailing Moraga with a striking combination as the round ends.
Round Three
The round begins with Nicolau attacking Moraga with some leg kicks, Nicolau also starts attacking Moraga with punching combinations. Nicolau charges at Moraga and he lands a left hook, Moraga tries attacking Nicolau with punching combinations as well. Nicolau attempts a spinning back fist on Moraga, Nicolau then pops Moraga with a three punch combination. Moraga tries nailing Nicolau with a few high kicks, Moraga then catches Nicolau with a two punch combination. Nicolau scores a takedown on Moraga and he gets the open guard, Nicolau attacks Moraga with some ground and pound. Moraga scrambles to his feet and Nicolau drags him back to the ground as the round ends.
Fight Result: Matheus Nicolau def. John Moraga by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Fight #6 - UFC Featherweight Division Fight: Fernando Bruno (16-3-0) vs. Gray Maynard (12-6-1-1NC)
Referee: Jason Herzog
Round One
The round begins with Bruuno charging at Maynard while throwing a plethora of punches, Maynard responds with combinations of his own. Bruno goes for the takedown and Maynard winds up in top position, Bruno wall walks to his feet and Maynard cracks him with a knee strike. Bruno eats another knee strike before nailing Maynard with another combination, Maynard rocks Bruno with a knee strike and four punch combination. Bruno hits an incoming Maynard with a left to the midsection, Maynard recovers and he hurts Bruno with a right hook to the midsection. Bruno scores a takedown on Maynard and he gets back control, Maynard wall walks to his feet to get the fight standing again as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Bruno hitting Maynard with a front kick to the midsection, Bruno rocks a swinging Maynard with a punching combination of his own. Maynard then pops an incoming Bruno with a counter left hook, Bruno scores a takedown on Maynard. Maynard sweeps Bruno and he gains top control, Maynard transitions to head control on Bruno. Maynard catches Bruno in a guillotine choke and Maynard releases it to gain back control, Bruno gets back to his feet with Maynard holding onto him. Bruno goes back to attacking Maynard with a punching combination, Maynard scores another takedown and Bruno pops right back up to his feet. Maynard scores yet another takedown on Bruno and he gets back control, Bruno gets back up and Maynard drags him back to the ground as the round ends.
Round Three
The round begins with Bruno catching Maynard with a right, Bruno tries attacking Maynard with a punching combination. Maynard scores a takedown on Bruno and he gets the half guard, Maynard attacks Bruno with some ground and pound. Bruno finds a way to stand up and Maynard drags him right back to the ground, Maynard attacks Bruno with a few knee strikes as Bruno stands up. Bruno catches Maynard in a guillotine choke and Maynard escapes, Brunno then holds Maynard against the cage wall. Bruno falls while throwing strikes and Maynard gets on top of him as the round ends.
Fight Result: Gray Maynard def. Fernando Bruno by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
