Main card results
- Louis Smolka def. Paddy Holohan via submission (rear naked choke) in Round 2 (4:09)
- Norman Parke def. Reza Madadi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Darren Till & Nicolas Dalby majority draw (29-28, 28-28, 28-28)
- Neil Seery def. Jon Delos Reyes via submission (guillotine) in Round 2 (4:12)
Prelim results
- Stevie Ray def. Mickael Lebout via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Aisling Daly def. Ericka Almeida via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-27, 29-28)
- Krzysztof Jotko def. Scott Askham via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Tom Breese def. Cathal Pendred via TKO (punches) in Round 1 (4:37)
- Darren Elkins def. Robert Whiteford via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Garreth McLellan def. Bubba Bush via TKO (punches) in Round 3 (4:58)
15 MONTHS ON from Conor McGregor’s electrifying first round TKO win over Diego Brandao in front of over 9,000 screaming fans, the UFC returned to Ireland tonight.
Sadly, injuries to Donegal native Joseph Duffy and Stipe Miocic mean the card was robbed of its original main and co-main events.
However, there was still plenty to be excited about with five Irish fighters – Cathal Pendred, Aisling Daly, Neil Seery, Norman Parke and Paddy Holohan — all in action.
The first of six bouts on the preliminary card got underway at 6.15pm, while the four-fight main card started around 9pm.
In the opening bout, middleweight Garreth McLellan earned victory over Bubba Bush with just two seconds remaining in the bout.
The South African was dominant throughout and picked up his first victory in the UFC as referee Piotr Michalak stepped in after a series of punches to Bush’s head.
“I can’t explain this feeling,” said McLellan afterwards. “I’ve worked so hard to be here and Poland was a little bit of a let down for me but to get that win in front of that crowd, it just feels amazing.
“Now I’ve just got to get back to work and get ready for the next one.”
Robert Whiteford received a warm welcome from the strong Scottish contingent who had made the trip. However, he was out-wrestled and lost by unanimous decision to American Darren Elkins.
Cathal Pendred was the first local fighter to step into the Octagon — facing Birmingham’s Tom Breese.
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The Dublin welterweight walked out to huge cheer from hometown fans but the SBG man was outclassed by Breese, and took a number of blows to his bloodied face early on.
And Breese, currently fighting out of Montreal’s Tristar Gym, silenced the crowd in the final moments of the round.
“This is still only my second fight in the UFC and all I’ve been focusing on is beating Pendred,” said Breese.
“Mentally I always prepare for the worst – I prepare to find myself in difficult situations. But I believe my training was more superior than his, and ultimately that’s why I won the fight.”
Having missed out last July due to her involvement in The Ultimate Fighter series, Ireland’s Aisling Daly made her debut at the venue in the only female bout of the night.
The 27-year-old began strongly against Brazilian Ericka Almeida and applied some solid pound and ground as The Fields of Athenry rang out around the 3Arena.
The second round saw Almeida fail with a number of attempts to apply a triangle and rear naked choke and Daly came out for the final round like a woman possessed to claim a win by unanimous decision.
“That was one of the best moments of my life,” explained an elated Daly.
These are the best fans in the world and that crowd was absolutely phenomenal. I could hear the crowd all singing along to my walkout song so that was really emotional.
“And to hear all that support during the fight, it was just the most amazing, memorable fight of my life. Thanks so Ericka for coming over and enjoying that with me.
“I’m open to anything next. Let’s do it. But whoever gets me next is going to be sorry.”
Local favourite Neil Seery opened the main card as he looked to bounce back from defeat to Louis Smolka against Jon Delos Reyes.
And the veteran fighter did just that — submitting his American opponent with a guillotine in the second round — before thanking fans for their support and wishing his daughter a happy 15th birthday!
“It’s unbelievable out there – the crowd, the energy,” said Seery. “I want to do it all over again. I knew he’d be dangerous but I knew I was hurting him.
“I didn’t even want to warm up, I just wanted to go out there and enjoy the atmosphere. I think I got the loudest cheer of the night.”
In the only draw of the evening and a real contender for Fight of the Night, Liverpool native Darren Till, these days based in Brazil, and Dane Nicolas Dalby went to war in a thrilling welterweight bout.
“I think a draw is fair,” said Dalby. “I knew he beat me in the first couple of rounds. But then I came back in the third.
“So I was happy with the draw. If you look at what he did in the first two rounds. I don’t think I did enough to beat him so a draw is a fair result.”
The penultimate fight saw Antrim’s Norman Parke end a run of two defeats by winning for the first time since last year’s event at this venue. All three judges scored his victory over Reza Madadi 30-27.
However, there was major disappointment for Irish fans in the main event as lightweight Paddy Holohan was beaten — tapping out to a rear naked choke from Louis Smolka in the second round.
“I never said I was the best or that I was born gifted, but when I do come out I give you everything,” said Holohan.
This week has been crazy. Hats off to Louis, he came here and beat me in my own back yard.”
“It was surreal,” added Smolka. “I know you guys might hate me right now but I love you. Let’s party later with some Jaegers and some whiskey.”
“Thanks for coming out and supporting me. You guys have amazing energy.”
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