Women’s Strawweight: Gillian Robertson def. Michelle Waterson-Gomez by Unanimous Decision
Gillian Robertson dominated Michelle Waterson-Gomez over three rounds with superior grappling and ground control. In Round 1, Robertson secured a takedown and controlled from side control, landing heavy elbows and nearly finishing with an armbar. Round 2 saw Robertson again take Waterson-Gomez down, deliver ground-and-pound from the mount, and attempt another armbar. Despite Waterson-Gomez’s resilience, she remained on the defensive. In Round 3, Waterson-Gomez briefly took Robertson down but was quickly reversed and controlled for the remainder of the round. Robertson’s consistent pressure and effective grappling earned her a unanimous decision victory with 30-27, 30-27, and 30-26 scores.
Next for Gillian Robertson: Iasmin Lucindo
Reason: Iasmin Lucindo is on a three-fight winning streak, most recently defeating Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Matching Robertson with Lucindo pits two rising fighters against each other, aiming to break into the division’s top tier. This fight would be a good test for Robertson to see if she can handle a formidable opponent on a hot streak.
Next for Michelle Waterson-Gomez: Retirement
Reason: Michelle Waterson-Gomez announced her retirement following her loss to Robertson. After an illustrious career in the UFC, she hung up her gloves, leaving behind a legacy of memorable fights and contributions to the sport.
Heavyweight: Martin Buday def. Andrei Arlovski by Split Decision
Andrei Arlovski faced Martin Buday in a clinch-heavy fight that went the distance. In Round 1, Arlovski used leg kicks and movement while Buday sought to close the distance, often pressing Arlovski against the cage. The second round saw much of the same, with Arlovski reversing positions and landing striking combos while Buday attempted to work in the clinch. In the third round, both fighters exchanged jabs and clinched frequently, with Arlovski showing good control but causing little damage. Despite Arlovski’s efforts, Buday’s consistent pressure earned him a split decision victory with scores of 29-28, 28-29, and 30-27.
Next for Martin Buday: Hamdy Abdelwahab
Reason: Hamdy Abdelwahab is set to return after completing his 2-year USADA suspension. Buday needs a new challenge to continue climbing the heavyweight rankings, and Abdelwahab, who had shown potential before his suspension, would be an interesting and competitive matchup.
Next for Andrei Arlovski: Retirement
Reason: Dana White confirmed that this fight was the last for former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski. Arlovski has had a long and storied career in the UFC, and his retirement marks the end of an era for the heavyweight division.
Flyweight: Rei Tsuruya def. Carlos Hernandez by Unanimous Decision
Rei Tsuruya faced Carlos Hernandez in a dynamic three-round fight. In the first round, Tsuruya landed a clean right and secured an early takedown, but Hernandez scrambled well, leading to back-and-forth exchanges with Tsuruya ending on top. The second round featured relentless scrambles, with Tsuruya dominating, taking Hernandez’s back, and landing elbows from top control. The final round saw Tsuruya secure an early takedown, but it was reversed by Hernandez, who maintained control for much of the round. Despite Hernandez’s efforts, Tsuruya’s overall control and grappling earned him a unanimous decision victory with scores of 29-28 across the board.
Next for Rei Tsuruya: Felipe dos Santos
Reason: Felipe dos Santos is coming off a victory over Victor Altamirano at UFC Mexico City 2024. Both Tsuruya and dos Santos are rising prospects in the flyweight division, and a matchup between them would help determine who is ready to move closer to the top 15.
Next for Carlos Hernandez: Mitch Raposo
Reason: Mitch Raposo is coming off a loss to Andre Lima at UFC 302. Matching Hernandez with Raposo gives both fighters a chance to rebound from their recent setbacks and prove they belong in the competitive flyweight division.
Bantamweight: Vinicius Oliveira def. Ricky Simón by Unanimous Decision
Vinicius Oliveira faced Ricky Simón in a three-round bout. Oliveira controlled the center in the first round and landed effective leg kicks and jabs while Simón struggled to engage. The second round saw Simón attempt multiple takedowns, succeeding a few times, but Oliveira quickly got back up and continued to land leg kicks and combos. The third round was more energetic, with Simón landing solid punches and pressing forward, while Oliveira showed signs of fatigue but managed to stuff takedowns and even score one himself. Ultimately, Oliveira’s striking and defense earned him a unanimous decision victory with scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28.
Next for Vinicius Oliveira: Adrian Yanez
Reason: Adrian Yanez recently defeated Vinicius Salvador at UFC Vegas 92. Oliveira and Yanez are both known for their striking skills, and a fight between them would likely be an exciting stand-up battle, with the winner moving closer to the top 10 in the bantamweight division.
Next for Ricky Simón: Cameron Saaimaan
Reason: Cameron Saaimaan is coming off a loss to Payton Talbott at UFC Vegas 89. Matching Simón with Saaimaan allows both fighters to bounce back from their recent defeats and regain momentum in the bantamweight division.
