UFC Fight Night 35 results, photos: Ramsey Nijem outstrikes Justin Edwards for decision

DULUTH, Ga. – In a battle of “The Ultimate Fighter 13? contestants, Ramsey Nijem proved to be the superior fighter over Justin Edwards, surviving brief trouble and cruising to a decision win.

The taller Nijem looked to strike early, pumping a jab and moving away. Nijem used a leg kick, as well, but Edwards was there to counter with heavy leather each time. The two continued to trade as the round wore on, with Nijem precise with his strikes and Edwards looking to land a homerun blow. A late scramble saw both fighters looking to attack the legs with submissions, but the bell sounded before either could lock it in.

The two both pushed forward to open the second, and Edwards quickly latched the neck and dropped to his back to lock in a guillotine choke. Nijem sat back to escape, which actually allowed Edwards to cinch in the hold tighter. After a few tense moments, Nijem finally popped his head free, and they returned to the feet.

As Edwards looked to take the fight back to the floor, Nijem blasted him with a knee to the face. Edwards was stunned from the blow, and Nijem attacked with a flurry of shots on the feet before bringing him to the floor and moving quickly to the back. Nijem worked desperately for the choke, but Edwards turned and rolled and kept his neck free until the bell.

To his credit, Edwards continued to press in the final frame. However, Nijem was able to capitalize with an early takedown while also remaining the more accurate striker on the feet. Edwards’ left eye showed the damage, as blood flowed down his face following an elbow on the canvas. Edwards would again attack the leg in the final seconds, but a calf slicer came up short, and Nijem’s accuracy on the feet proved the difference in the fight, as he was awarded a unanimous decision with scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28.

“I felt very fast and loose out there tonight,” Nijem said after the win. “I think I broke my hand early in the fight, but I tried not to let it change my approach. He sunk a tight guillotine in there at one point, but he was going to have to kill me for it to work. This was a very emotional fight for me.”

With the win, Nijem (8-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) snaps a two-fight losing streak. Edwards (8-4 MMA, 2-4 UFC), who was making his lightweight debut, has now dropped consecutive fights for the first time in his professional career.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 35 results include:

• Ramsey Nijem def. Justin Edwards via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Elias Silverio def. Isaac Vallie-Flagg via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
• Trevor Smith def. Brian Houston via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Louis Smolka def. Alptekin Ozkilic via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Vinc Pichel def. Garett Whiteley via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Beneil Dariush def. Charlie Brenneman via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:45

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 35, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

Matt Erickson contributed to this report on-site in Duluth.