UFC Charlotte results: Déjà vu for Derek Brunson as Jacare Souza inflicts first round defeat to enter title picture
Brazilian claims his second victory over Brunson to move into the middleweight championship picture and has his eyes set on Luke Rockhold and Yoel Romero
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The second UFC show of 2018 took place in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday evening as Derek Brunson and Jacare Souza went head-to-head in the main event.
The two had previously met before back in 2012 when Souza won the fight in just 41 seconds after taking Brunson out on the feet with a devastating combination of hooks. Five and a half years down the line, the two crossed paths once again and this time, Brunson didn't fair that much better.
Both Brunson and Souzal looked like fighters who knew that a win would take them into the title picture at 185-pounds and the opening few seconds of the fight were very tentative as both men looked to establish their range.
Brunson managed to fend off an early Souza takedown attempt, but he was leaving his hands down when trading on the feet and just before the clock hit the four-minute mark, he was made to pay in the most devastating fashion possible.
Souza landed a huge right head kick that Brunson only just managed to partially block with his left hand. With Brunson clearly dazed, the Brazilian wasted little time following up with an uppercut, right hook and then multiple left hooks until the referee had seen enough.
Just like he did in 2012, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Souza had taken Brunson out standing on the feet. With three wins in his last four fights now, Souza is creeping his way back into the UFC middleweight title mix. No doubt he will have a keen eye on the upcoming showdown between Luke Rockhold and Yoel Romero at UFC 221 when the two go head-to-head for an interim title whilst unified champion Robert Whittaker recovers from injury.
Andre Fili edges close decision against Dennis Bermudez
In the co-main event, Dennis Bermudez took on Andre Fili in a featherweight bout featuring two men looking to make inroads on the top of the division.
In the first round, Bermudez looked the far superior fighter on the feet and from the outset he began to work well behind his jab and pick away at Fili who wasn't nearly as fast to settle.
Bermudez continued to work well behind his jabs and low kick, but in rounds one and two, Fili scored late takedowns and in the end would prove to be pivotal.
Bermudez accidentally hit Fili with a groin shot in an uneventful final five-minutes and it was then left to the judges to determine a winner. The judges sat cage side scored the bout 28-29, 30-27 and 29-28 in favour of Fili despite him being out struck 130-74.
The late takedowns in rounds one and two are likely what swayed the judges' minds, but most felt it wasn't the right decision. Unfortunately, that proved to be a common theme on the night with the likes of Justine Kish and Mara Romero Borella also on the end of poor decisions.
Elsewhere on the card, lightweight Bobby Green picked up his first win since 2014 when he defeated Erik Koch via unanimous decision. Green, a former top-10 lightweight, showed shades of his old self and on a number of occasions, he put together some nice combinations putting together both punches and kicks. Green ended up taking a unanimous decision with scores of 29-28 across the cards.
Bosnian Mirsad Bektic also got back to winning ways with a convincing first-round TKO of Godofredo Pepey. Bektic got the win with a fierce body shot right to the sternum and Pepey instantly hit the mat. It was an impressive performance from a man who was coming off the first loss of his career against Darren Elkins in March 2017.
Full UFC Charlotte Results
Ronaldo Souza def. Derek Brunson via knockout (head kick, punches) – Round 1, 3:50
Andre Fili def. Dennis Bermudez via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
Gregor Gillespie def. Jordan Rinaldi via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:46
Drew Dober def. Frank Camacho via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Bobby Green def. Erik Koch via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Mirsad Bektic def. Godofredo Pepey via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:47
Katlyn Chookagian def. Mara Romero Borella via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Randa Markos def. Juliana Lima via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Ji Yeon Kim def. Justine Kish via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Vinc Pichel def. Joaquim Silva via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Niko Price def. George Sullivan via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:21
Cory Sandhagen def. Austin Arnett via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 3:48
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