UFC Fight Island 3 Recap and Predictions

Results

• Robert Whittaker defeated Darren Till via unanimous decision
• Mauricio Rua defeated Antonio Rogerio Nogueira via split decision
• Fabricio Werdum finished Alexander Gustafsson via submission
• Carla Esparza defeated Marina Rodriguez via split decision
• Paul Craig finished Gadzhimurad Antigulov via submission
• Alex Oliveira defeated Peter Sobotta via unanimous decision
• Khamzat Chimaev finished Rhys McKee via TKO

Khamzat Chimaev dominates Rhys McKee to get TKO win

Khamzat Chimaev is making history. Chimaev has won his second bout in 10 days. From the beginning Chimaev looked to dominate debuting Rhys McKee and he did so by taking him down and controlling him before getting the TKO finish. This extends Chimaev’s streak to a perfect 8-0 while ending McKee’s 3 win streak. What’s next?

• Khamzat Chimaev
  • A ranked opponent either at Welter or Middleweight

Alex Oliveira outstrikes Peter Sobotta to secure decision win

The “Cowboy” Oliveira looked a lot like The “Cowboy” Cerrone. Oliveira looked to showcase his striking against Sobotta and he did. Immediately Oliveira hunted for the body of Sobotta then finished off with head strikes. Using his superior striking Oliveira was able to cruise to an easy 30-27 x 3 Unanimous Decision win. This extends his winning streak to 2 and extends Sobotta’s losing streak to 2 as well. What’s Next?

• Alex Oliveira
  • Belal Muhammad

Paul Craig submits Gadzhimurad Antigulov

The Scotsman Paul Craig wasted no time as he submitted Gadzhimurad Antigulov within the first round with his signature triangle choke. It was actually Antigulov who initiated the ground scramble which led to his demise. This win extends Craig’s winning streak to 2 and extends Antigulov’s losing streak to 3. What’s next for the submitting Scotsman?

• Paul Craig
  • Ryan Spann

Carla Esparza showcases her wrestling with Decision win

Carla Esparza showcased her high-level wrestling this bout against the unbeaten Marina Rodriguez to hand Rodriguez her first loss. Esparza controlled Rodriguez for a majority of the fight on the ground only giving up control whenever she tried for a submission. This performance handed Esparza her 4th straight win and ended Rodriguez’s 12 fight streak, handing her the first loss of her career. What’s Next for the Cookie Monster?

• Carla Esparza
  • Wanted to get closer to the title. Top 5 ranked opponent

Fabricio Werdum welcomes Alexander Gustafsson to Heavyweight Division

Fabricio Werdum showed why he’s one of the best Jiu-Jitsu heavyweights to ever grace the sport of MMA. Werdum took up the task of welcoming Alexander Gustaffson to the heavyweight division and spoiled it by submitting the Swede halfway into the first round with an armbar. This win ends Werdum’s losing streak of 2 and extends Gustaffson’s losing streak to 3. What’s next?

• Fabricio Werdum
  • Augusto Sakai

Shogun Rua and Lil Nog end trilogy with exciting bout

This fight was a treat to veterans] fight fans like myself. The image of Shogun and Lil Nog brought back memories of watching Pride DVDs. As a trilogy, this fight gave us the ending we wanted. Both Shogun and Lil Nog fought back and forth showing the community that the old dogs still had some fight in them. However, the future tends to repeat the past and that was true in this case. Just like with their previous bouts we saw Rua go to a decision win with the judges scoring the bout 29-28 x 2 and 28-29 in favor of Shogun. What’s next for the Veterans?

• Shogun Rua
  • Retirement
• Lil Nog
  • Retirement

Robert Whittaker victorious after technical main event war

Although this main event bout between Darren Till and former Champ Robert Whittaker started slow, the bout was the mirror opposite. After Till scored a knockdown in the first with a fearsome elbow the pace only quickened. Both Whittaker and Till showed their technicality as strikers with Whittaker being the better of the two outstriking the Englishman Till in all 5 rounds. This technical performance led to a close unanimous decision win for Whittaker who won the scorecards with 48-47 across all of the judge’s scorecards. What’s next for the middleweights?

• Robert Whittaker
  • Jack Hermansson
• Darren Till
  • Jared Cannonier

Up Next!

The UFC is heading back to the UFC Apex Center with a middleweight main event between Derek Brunson and Edmen Shahbazyan. They are co-lined with women flyweights Joanne Calderwood and Jennifer Maia.

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