UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Pereira Prelim Results

A general view of the Octagon prior to the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 14, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

See The Fight Results, Watch Post-Fight Interviews With The Prelim Winners And More From UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Pereira, Live From UFC APEX In Las Vegas, Nevada

By Thomas Gerbasi, on X @TGerbasi • Oct. 20, 2024

Flyweight Asu Almabayev and bantamweight Jean Matsumoto each made statements in their UFC Fight Night prelim bouts at the APEX in Las Vegas, getting the night off to a good start as fans saw a host of rising stars look to further their careers in the fight capital of the world.

Main Card Results | Official Scorecards

UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Pereira Results

Main Event: Anthony Hernandez defeats Michel Pereira via TKO (strikes) at 2:22 of the fifth round
Co-Main Event: Rob Font defeats Kyler Phillips via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Charles Johnson defeats Sumudaerji via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Cameron Smotherman defeats Jake Hadley via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27, 29-27)
Darren Elkins defeats Daniel Pineda via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Asu Almabayev defeats Matheus Nicolau via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Jean Matsumoto defeats Brad Katona via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Joselyne Edwards defeats Tamires Vidal via submission (rear naked choke) at 4:33 of the third round
Elise Reed defeats Jessica Penne via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Melissa Martinez defeats Alice Ardelean via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Austen Lane defeats Robelis Despaigne via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Austen Lane defeats Robelis Despaigne via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Austen Lane fought a disciplined three-rounder in the heavyweight opener, using his ground game to nullify the attack of Robelis Despaigne and pick up a unanimous decision win.

Scores were 29-28 across the board for Lane, now 13-5 with 1 NC. Despaigne falls to 5-2.

Main Card Results | Official Scorecards

Austen Lane Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Pereira

As the two traded kicks to open the fight, they fell to the mat, with Lane in control on top. Despaigne eventually worked his way to his feet, but Lane remained locked on as they battled against the fence. With a minute left, Lane scored a takedown and kept the fight grounded until the horn.

The action was sporadic in the first half of the second, where it remained standing. After a failed takedown attempt from Lane, Despaigne began throwing and landing more, but a Lane takedown in the final 30 seconds may have earned him the round.

Lane continued to work his grappling attack in the third, and despite some hard elbows from the Cuban, he was unable to get loose and turn things around.

Melissa Martinez defeats Alice Ardelean via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Back in action for the first time in two years, Melissa Martinez earned her first UFC win via unanimous decision over Alice Ardelean in a strawweight matchup.

Scores were for 30-27 across the board for Martinez, now 8-1. Ardelean falls to 9-7.

Melissa Martinez Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Pereira

Martinez’ stick and move strategy worked flawlessly in the opening frame, as Ardelean chased but was unable to catch up to the Mexico native, who tagged the Romanian with some hard lefts and kicks.

Ardelean got closer in the second, though Martinez’ kicking attack continued to serve her well. And in the third, Ardelean briefly got some work done against the fence, but paid for it, as she got cut over the eye. Once they broke, Martinez scored with a kick to the body that dropped Ardelean, but referee Keith Peterson called it low, and after a brief break, the fight continued to the final horn.

Elise Reed defeats Jessica Penne via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Strawweight up and comer Elise Reed scored the biggest win of her career a week after her wedding, outpointing Jessica Penne via unanimous decision.

All three judges saw it 29-28 for Reed, now 8-4. Penne falls to 14-9.

At range, Reed had success, but Penne was all-in on her grappling attack, so when she got a hold of her opponent, she held a sizable advantage, even though she didn’t score enough to avoid a restart from referee Chris Tognoni.

Main Card Results | Official Scorecards

Elise Reed Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Pereira

There was more of the same in the second, but this time, Reed’s grappling defense was better and her strikes had more heat on them, with a left hand to the head sending Penne reeling into the fence while plenty of jabs and kicks also landed, bloodying the former world title challenger’s face.

Reed dominated in the third, keeping Penne from using her grappling en route to a hard-fought decision win.

Joselyne Edwards defeats Tamires Vidal via submission (rear naked choke) at 4:33 of the third round

Panama’s Joselyne Edwards looked sharp throughout her bout with Tamires Vidal before submitting her Brazilian foe in the final round.

Joselyne Edwards Submits Vidal | UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Pereira

The pair traded thudding kicks to the leg in the early going before they locked up against the fence briefly. Upon breaking, the two called for each other to trade and they obliged, with Edwards getting the better of the exchanges before a slam to the mat just before the horn.

The majority of the next two rounds were fought on the mat, and there, Edwards dominated, ultimately sinking in a rear naked choke that forced the tap at 4:33 of the third frame.

Main Card Results | Official Scorecards

With the win, Edwards, who missed weight on Friday, coming in at 139 pounds for the bantamweight bout, moves to 14-6. Vidal falls to 7-4.

Jean Matsumoto defeats Brad Katona via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Bantamweights Jean Matsumoto and Brad Katona left it all in the Octagon in their three-rounder, with Matsumoto leaving with the unanimous decision win and his unbeaten record intact after the action-packed bout.

All three scores read 29-28 for Matsumoto, now 16-0. Katona falls to 16-4.

Katona got off to a fast start, but once Matsumoto got his opponent’s timing down, he started landing hard counter rights that got the Canadian’s attention. Just past the midway point, though, a left elbow by Katona jarred Matsumoto, and both fighters had earned the other’s respect.

Jean Matsumoto Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Pereira

The compelling back and forth action continued in the middle stanza, and with neither fighter able to force a takedown, they scrapped on the feet, and they were showing it on their faces.

After eating some hard shots to the head and body to start the third round, Katona had some success with his grappling, with only a fence grab from Matsumoto keeping him from getting a takedown. Once the two broke, it was more trading between the bantamweights, who showed remarkable cardio given the pace they were fighting at. They traded takedowns in the closing minute before sending the fight to the scorecards.

Asu Almabayev defeats Matheus Nicolau via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

In a clash of flyweight contenders, Kazakhstan’s Asu Almabayev may have punched his ticket to the Top 10 with a unanimous decision win over Matheus Nicolau.

Each of the judges saw it 29-28 for Almabayev.

After a tactical first round, both fighters got busier in the second, and with Almabayev seeking a takedown, Nicolau defended and nearly sunk in a choke. Once free, the pair got back to their feet and battled to the end of the stanza.

Main Card Results | Official Scorecards

Asu Almabayev Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Pereira

In the opening minute of the third, Almabayev dropped Nicolau and went in for the finish, but Nicolau weathered the storm and nearly secured his foe’s leg before Almabayev settled into the top position. Nicolau stayed busy, though, and almost scrambled his way free, but again, Almabayev took control from the top.

With the win, the #14-ranked Almabayev moves to 21-2. The #7-ranked Nicolau falls to 19-6-1.

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UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Pereira, live from UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 19, 2024. See the final Prelim & Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC FIGHT PASS!

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