Buddy Roberts vs. Sean Loeffler (Josh Hedges/UFC)
Four-fight prelim card from Omaha streams on Facebook
HeavyMMA is here to provide live coverage of tonight’s UFC on Fuel TV debut in Omaha, Neb. UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger takes place at the Omaha Civic Auditorium and features a main event welterweight contenders fight between hometown favorite Jake Ellenberger and former lightweight title challenger Diego Sanchez.
Action on the preliminary card includes a featherweight bout between “The Ultimate Fighter” winner Jonathon Brookins and Vagner Rocha, plus six UFC newcomers. So be sure to return here for coverage of all the preliminary card fights starting at 6:20 p.m. Eastern. The fights stream live in four places: the UFC’s Facebook fan page, Fuel TV’s Facebook fan page, UFC.com and Fuel.tv.
The four prelims lead into the six-fight main card, which airs live on the Fuel TV cable channel at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Tim Means vs. Bernardo Magalhaes
Means Twitter: @meanstim | Magalhaes Twitter: @BernardoTrekko
Round 1: We get started with lightweights for the UFC’s return to Omaha. Means has a big five-inch height advantage and a pretty significant reach advantage. Means throws an early leg kick, then they circle. Magalhaes throws a couple leg kicks, and Means counters with some jabs. Magalhaes shoots for a takedown. It’s not there, and Means lands a nice knee as Magalhaes pops back up. A knee from Means, then another that backs Magalhaes up. But Magalhaes throws a big right that gets Means’ attention. Another knee from Means lands flush and sends Magalhaes to the canvas. Means gets on top and works some quick ground-and-pound, then looks for a choke. But Magalhaes rolls out of it with a nice sweep. A few more knee attempts from Means close out the first frame. Means gets a pretty clear 10-9 on the HeavyMMA card.
Round 2: Some traded kicks and strikes early, and Magalhaes circles on the outside as Means looks to chase him down. Not much action, as both fighters throw stuff that misses. Again, Magalhaes shoots, and again Magalhaes defends. Magalhaes is bloodied up, likely from those first-round knees. A nice knee and a couple jabs from Means along the fence, but he backs out of a clinch opportunity. Good left from Means after a pair of Magalhaes right-hand misses. Magalhaes lands a nice body kick, but Means lands a shot to the body, and Magalhaes hits the turf again. Means pounces looking to finish, but Magalhaes will survive the round. It’s another 10-9 frame for Means.
Round 3: Magalhaes staying in there, despite a right foot that looks pretty jacked up. Means going with some good shots to the body again. And Magalhaes shoots, and Means sprawls nicely again. Another Magalhaes shot, and an easy stuff. Magalhaes attempts to stay down on the ground in guard, but Means wants him back up as the crowd boos. Another Magalhaes shot, as he looks for a single. Means lands some hammer fists, and hits the ground briefly. It’ll count as a takedown for Magalhaes, but it doesn’t much matter. Another body shot from Means sends Magalhaes down again. He lands some more shots on the canvas, then lets Magalhaes back up. Wide winging right from Magalhaes misses. A shot from Magalhaes again is stuffed, and Means lands big elbows on the ground. Magalhaes almost looks like he doesn’t want to even bother getting up. But after the second request from the ref, he does. It’s a dominant final round for Means, and he’ll get a 10-8 on the HeavyMMA card. He should get the fight 30-26 on our card.
Result: Tim Means def. Bernardo Magalhaes, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Anton Kuivanen vs. Justin Salas
Kuivanen Twitter: @AntonKuivanen | Salas Twitter: @justinsalasmma
Round 1: Technical difficulties reduce us to scoring this round 10-9 for Salas thanks to a late takedown.
Round 2: Technical difficulties reduce us to scoring this round 10-9 for Salas.
Round 3: Good takedown from Salas 30 seconds in, then he works on some ground and pound. But Kuivanen looks for a heel hook. It looks good, but Salas is able to slip it and he tries to work his striking from the top as Kuivanen fends off with the legs. But a giant left hand comes in from Salas. Kuivanen gets to his feet, and Salas ties him up looking for a guillotine. Big takedown from Salas. He’ll get another 10-9 round on the Heavy card and we have him winning the fight 30-27.
Result: Justin Salas def. Anton Kuivanen, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-27)
Buddy Roberts vs. Sean Loeffler
Roberts Twitter: @THEBUDDYROBERTS | Loeffler Twitter: @seanloeffler
UPDATE: An injury to Loeffler’s ankle during warmups has caused this fight to be scratched.
Jonathan Brookins vs. Vagner Rocha
Brookins Twitter: @J_Brookins | Rocha Twitter: @Vagner_Rocha
Round 1: Good shots from each to start. Rocha with some nice right hands. Good traded kicks from each. Good left from Rocha. Good body kick from Rocha. They clinch up briefly, but fire strikes on the break. Teep from Brookins is caught by Rocha. He looks to fall back ingo guard, but Brookins stays inside and lands some big right hands from his knees – and Rocha is out. Wow.
Result: Jonathan Brookins def. Vagner Rocha, knockout, 1:32 Round 1