UFC Fight Night 36 results, photos: Francisco Trinaldo takes split over Jesse Ronson

JARAGUA DO SUL, Brazil – Francisco Trinaldo did just enough to edge out Jesse Ronson on the scorecards, notching a split decision victory (28-29, 29-28, 30-27) after three workmanlike rounds in his home country.

The lightweight bout was part of the preliminary card of today’s UFC Fight Night 36 event at Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil. It streamed on UFC Fight Pass ahead of the main card on FOX Sports 1.

Neither fighter came particularly close to finishing the fight, but it was Trinaldo’s dangerous right hand and sharp uppercuts that made the most obvious statements, as he stung a game Ronson several times in the early going, only the Canadian still standing after each one.

Fortunately for Trinaldo, he had no trouble staying busy and even nabbing a takedown or two at the right time, and for his efforts he was rewarded with the win on two of the three judges’ scorecards.

“In my last fight I felt very tired, but this time I did my work right and I prepared better,” he said. “I didn’t feel the pressure, and I got the win. I think I won the first and third rounds, but I would have given the second round to him. He has very heavy hands.”

Trinaldo (14-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) bounces back from a submission loss in September with the victory, and has now won three of his last four. Ronson (13-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC) drops his second in a row in the UFC.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 36 results include:

• Francisco Trinaldo def. Jesse Ronson via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
• Yuri Alcantara def. Wilson Reis via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 30-27)
• Felipe Arantes def. Maximo Blanco via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
• Ildemar Alcantara def. Albert Tumenov via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
• Zubaira Tukhugov def. Douglas de Andrade via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 36, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

John Morgan contributed to this report on-site in Brazil.