UFC Fight Night 39 results: Jim Alers edges Alan Omer in action-packed bout

ABU DHABI – UFC newcomers Jim Alers and Alan Omer put on a good show after UFC Fight Night 39's bizarre first bout and fought at a fast pace for three rounds in the sweltering air of the Middle East.

Alers was ultimately able to squeak out the win by using his wrestling to nullify Omer’s striking threat.

The featherweight bout was part of today’s UFC Fight Night 39 preliminary card. It streamed on UFC Fight Pass from du Arena in Abu Dhabi.

The final scorecards were 29-28 twice in favor of Alers while one judge saw it 29-28 for Omer.

Alers praised Omer’s striking and conceded his need to take the fight to the mat. He also called out fellow Cage Warriors vet and current UFC featherweight Conor McGregor after the win.

The newcomers looked almost identical in their approach to the fight in the first round, taking turns charging in with punch combinations. Omer was the slightly busier fighter, which paid off late in the frame when he landed a lead uppercut that caught Alers on the jaw.

The same punch forced Alers into survival mode early in the second frame, but Omer’s subsequent swarm got him in trouble when he took a shot that put him on his back. Alers picked up a few points from top position but couldn’t hold Omer down.

Alers tried to use his wrestling in the final frame and again struggled to keep Omer on the mat. After a standup, Alers faded quick in the waning moments of the fight while Omer surged with punches and kicks. It wasn’t enough to win over two judges, though.

Alers (13-1 MMA, 1-0) earns his first UFC win and extends his current winning streak to eight. Omer (18-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) sees a four-fight winning streak snapped.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 39 results include:

For more on UFC Fight Night 39, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

(John Morgan contributed to this report from on site in Abu Dhabi.)