UFC Fight Night 40 play-by-play and live results

CINCINNATI – MMAjunkie is on scene and reporting live from today’s UFC Fight Night 40 event.

The card, which features a welterweight main event between Ohio native Matt Brown and Erick Silva, takes place at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati. The main card airs on FOX Sports 1, while prelims air on FOX Sports 2 and stream on UFC Fight Pass.

Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT) for the preliminary card and 10 p.m. ET for the main card.

To discuss the show, be sure to check out our UFC Fight Night 40 discussion thread. You can also get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site reporter Matt Erickson (@MMAjunkieMatt) on Twitter.

Enjoy the fights, everyone.

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ANTHONY LAPSLEY (22-7 MMA, 0-2 UFC) VS. ALBERT TUMENOV (13-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC)

Round 1 – Good ovation for Lapsley as he’s introduced – he’s from Indianapolis just a couple hours away. He finds himself in the center to open things up. Thirty seconds in, he shoots for a single-leg takedown, but can’t get it done and we stay on the feet. Tumenov catches a kick to the body and drops Lapsley with a left hook. But the American is back to his feet quickly. A high kick from the calm and composed Tumenov is just off the mark, and now he starts to walk Lapsley down a little bit. Two minutes in, Lapsley shoots and gets a brief takedown, but Tumenov is right back up, and Lapsley is spending some time backing away from the powerful Russian. Tumenov lands a right, then another. Lapsley eats a left hook, then ducks away from another. Tumenov is masterfully keeping Lapsley backing up and controlling everywhere the fight goes. And then suddenly, Tumenov lands a short left hook that is right on the button. Lapsley hits the canvas and he’s out. Referee Keith Peterson is in there to make sure Lapsley doesn’t have to eat anything extra. Tumenov looked for the left hand the whole fight and finally landed it flush to get the knockout finish.

Result: Albert Tumenov def. Anthony Lapsley via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 3:56
Recap: Albert Tumenov flattens Anthony Lapsley
Photos: Albert Tumenov vs. Anthony Lapsley
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass
Referee: Keith Peterson

JUSTIN SALAS (12-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC) VS. BEN WALL (7-2-1 MMA, 0-2 UFC)

Round 1 – Wall looks for a high kick, but is off the mark, and Salas gets inside and goes after a takedown, but no dice. He’ll stay persistent on it, though, and ties the Aussie up on the fence before things break. Salas again wants a takedown, and he grinds Wall down to the canvas. Salas works some knees to the body and is hopeful for a guillotine choke as Wall fights off his hands. Once more, Salas wants the fight on the ground. Wall defends, but then partially eats a kick to the head, and an uppercut moments later. Salas rocks Wall with a right hand, and then puts him on the canvas with a left down teh middle. It takes him four shots on the ground to wrap things up as referee Gary Copeland steps in to stop it. Wall is out of it enough that he’s trying to take Copeland down with a single leg.

Result: Justin Salas def. Ben Wall via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:41
Recap: Justin Salas drops Ben Wall in first round
Photos: Justin Salas vs. Ben Wall photos
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass
Referee: Gary Copeland

MANNY GAMBURYAN (13-9 MMA, 4-7 UFC) VS. NIK LENTZ (25-6-2 MMA, 9-3-1 UFC)

Round 1 – Jerry Krzys will oversee the action. The lads touch ‘em up and get started. Lentz is on the outside and fires a right hand early. Then another with a left behind it. A knee to the body is there. Gamburyan throws a big right hook, and Lentz ducks under and gets double underhooks with Gamburyan on the fence. He lands two good knees, then drags him to the canvas. He keeps the pressure on, and Gamburyan isn’t able to do much under Lentz’s pressure. Lentz lands some good knees, but then lands a right hand too low and Krzys stops things and gives Gamburyan five minutes. Great recognition by Krzys, right on top of things to see that punch to the babymaker. Gamburyan doesn’t take the full five minutes and comes out swinging. He lands a couple punches, but Lentz goes right back to keeping the pressure on him on the fence. Gamburyan lands a knee to the body, though, and then a few hammerfists. He’s going to look for a kimura, but then has to let go of it. It’s a 10-9 round for Lentz on the MMAjunkie scorecard.

Round 2 – Gamburyan pushes forward early – then gets booed by the crowd when he asks for the ref to cut a loose piece of tape from his glove. Gamburyan lands some great punches and wobbles Lentz. Then some knees. Gamburyan clearly is in this thing, and after Lentz looks for a takedown, it’s Gamburyan who lands it and he goes to work on top. He looks for short punches, but Lentz escapes back to his feet. Lentz ties him up and then lands two solid knees. Gamburyan tries to answer with punches, but he gets planted on the mat and Lentz has more than half the round to work on him. He’ll shift around to the front. He throws some knees to the chest that are perilously close to the face. After a slightly rough start to the round, Lentz is back in control. Gamburyan’s right eye is swollen as Lentz keeps grinding him to the end of the round. It’s another 10-9 round for him heading to the last.

Round 3 – Gamburyan’s right eye looks just awful thanks to one of those Lentz knees in the second. Lentz lands a few punches and is putting pressure on right away. Gamburyan fires away defensively, but Lentz drags him down again. Gamburyan will look for a kimura, and he may have it. Lentz tries to roll out of it, but Gamburyan rolls with him and keeps latched on. But the cage isn’t helping him, and Lentz gets out. Gamburyan sweeps, though, and is now on top with 2:45 to go. Gamburyan lands an elbow. But oddly, Krzys stops the two and sends them back to their feet. Looked like Gamburyan was trying to do some work, but now he’ll have to do it standing. Right hand lands for Gamburyan, though, and then to the body. He goes for a takedown, but Lentz reverses pretty easily and ties things back up looking to take the back. Down the stretch, Gamburyan lands a bunch of short elbows. But it’s obviously way too little, too late. Closest round of them all, but MMAjunkie will score it 10-9 for Lentz and he should have a 30-27 decision going his way.

Result: Nik Lentz def. Manny Gamburyan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Recap: Nik Lentz downs Manny Gamburyan, claims No. 3 rank
Photos: Nik Lentz vs. Manny Gamburyan photos
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: Lentz No. 13
Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass
Referee: Jerry Krzys
Judging: Sal D’Amato, Chris Lee, Cardo Urso (all three 30-27)

JOHNNY EDUARDO (27-9 MMA, 2-1 UFC) VS. EDDIE WINELAND (21-10-1 MMA, 3-4 UFC)

Round 1 – Herb Dean will see his first action of the night as the third man in the cage. Good ovation for Wineland fighting just one state over from his Indiana home. Lots of fast feints early. Eduardo lands a low leg kick early, but Wineland pressures him to the outside. Wineland defends a takedown attempt and continues to bounce in the middle. He counters a leg kick with a right hand. Eduardo lands an inside leg kick this time, then gets nipped by a Wineland combo. Another inside kick briefly buckles Wineland’s legs, but he stays upright. Midway through, nothing big has landed for Wineland yet. He lands a good leg kick, though, on the back of a jab. But Eduardo backs the American up with a right. The two tie up with 90 seconds left, but the clinch doesn’t last long. Wineland just misses an uppercut, but he’ll keep trying to pepepr that jab out there. Wineland lands a right. But Wineland eats a big right hand. He’s wobbled. He drops his hands. And Eduardo moves in. He lands another big one, and Wineland goes down. One more from Eduardo on the canvas doesn’t matter. That’s it – Wineland is finished. Massive upset for the Brazilian after a layoff of nearly two years.

Result: Johnny Eduardo def. Eddie Wineland via knockout – Round 1, 4:37
Recap: Johnny Eduardo upsets, TKOs Eddie Wineland
Photos: Johnny Eduardo vs. Eddie Wineland photos
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: Wineland No. 4
Broadcast: FOX Sports 2
Referee: Herb Dean

YAN CABRAL (11-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) VS. ZAK CUMMINGS (17-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC)

Round 1 – Cummings pops off a few jabs, and Cabral lands a solid punch. But it’s a counter from Cummings that stuns Cabral and sends the fight to the canvas. But Cabral ties him up with a triangle with relative ease. He’ll drop in some elbows while Cummings tries to defend. Cabral works to tighten up the choke, but Cummings defends and works his way out of it. The fight moves back to the feet, and Cabral keeps Cummings tied up. Cabral scoops him up and drops him on his backside along a post. Cabral passes and gets to mount with Cummings’ back on the fence. Cummings recovers to half-guard, though, and he’ll try to survive the round. He’ll do so, eating a few elbows. It’s a 10-9 round for Cabral on the MMAjunkie scorecard.

Round 2 – Cummings puts Cabral onto his back after catching a kick. The Brazilian beckons Cummings to come play on the ground, but Cummings will kick the legs till ref Keith Peterson brings them back to the feet. Cummings lands a head kick, then a combo backs Cabral up. A right hand for Cabral pops Cummings’ head back, but he just smiles through it. A spinning back fist is off the mark for Cabral, but he brings things back to the canvas and goes right to his back into guard hoping for the triangle again. They’ll go back to the feet with two minutes left, and Cummings lands a kick to the body, then eats a counter punch from Cabral. Cabral shoots in hoping to go to the canvas, but Cummings sprawls out of it. Cummings lands a right, then a kick up high, then another right. A two-punch combo is good for Cummings, and he’ll get takedown with a few seconds left to put the cap on a 10-9 round for him.

Round 3 – Cummings looks to keep the pressure on early in the third, and he gets a few things done. But a Cabral spinning elbow a minute in is good, and he lands another one 30 seconds later. But Cabral brings it to the canvas, again looking for the triangle. Cummings spins out, though, and he actually spins around to full mount with more than half the round to go. Cummings takes his back and has a solid body triangle locked up. He’ll look for a rear-naked choke, but lets off. Cabral looks exhausted with two minutes left, and if Cummings can keep this position, he’s headed for an upset win. But with 75 seconds left, Cabral powers out and looks for a kimura. He tries to switch things around to an armbar, and Cummings gets out of imminent danger. He’ll land some ground-and-pound on Cabral with 20 seconds left, and that should seal things up for him. MMAjunkie gives Cummings the third, 10-9, and the fight, as well, 29-28.

Result: Zak Cummings def. Yan Cabral via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Recap: Zak Cummings outlasts Yan Cabral, scores upset
Photos: Zak Cummings vs. Yan Cabral photos
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: FOX Sports 2
Referee: Keith Peterson
Judging: Chris Lee, Cardo Urso, Daryl Wise

KYOJI HORIGUCHI (13-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) VS. DARRELL MONTAGUE (13-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC)

Round 1 – Gary Copeland sees some more work, overseeing the flyweights. Horiguchi will bounce outside and he misses a left hand. Montague throws a high kick that misses. Montague tries to kick inside, but Horiguchi follows it with a right hand. Horiguchi misses a left hand, and Montague drops down and plants him on the canvas. Horiguchi tries to sit his way into a kimura, but Montague defends it pretty easily. He can’t keep Horiguchi on the ground, though, and we go back to the feet. Horiguchi tries a right hand that hits the fence. Montague lands, but Horiguchi hits a counter punch. Horiguchi lands with a left-right-left combo, and brings a low kick behind it. The crowd gets a little restless as the two look for an opening. MMAjunkie scores the first 10-9 for Horiguchi.

Round 2 – Good kick for Horiguchi, but Montague ties him up and looks for a choke. Horiguchi gets out initially, but Montague gets a guillotine latched on. He has to break it, though, as Horiguchi looks for a single. A minute in, they break and go back to the middle. Left lands for Montague, but it’s a counter right from Horiguchi that cracks a little better. He comes behind it with a kick to the body. Then he gets Montague against the cage and starts unleashing a combo. It forces Montague into a desperate takedown attempt but Horiguchi senses the end is near and he starts landing punches in bunches on the ground. Copeland looks closely, but won’t stop it. Horiguchi gives up on the strikes and instead may look for a choke. When Montague gets back to the mat, he goes right back thanks to a suplex. But Montague survives all that offense and has a minute to turn things around by landing a left, then a teep. But a body kick from Horiguchi has Montague badly hurt and nearly going to his knees. Seconds later, Horiguchi starts to pour it on. He’s surviving, miraculously. He gets to the bell, and Montague is stumbling and nearly falls to the canvas trying to get to his corner. He’s badly hurt, but it looks like he’ll get to see the third. It’s a 10-9 for Horiguchi, who nearly got the finish twice in the frame.

Round 3 – Montague cant’ wait to get out there for the third, which seems crazy. Horiguchi may be slowing down a little bit, but is still quite fast and is able to get Montague to the ground 90 seconds in. He lands some big ground-and-pound and bounces Montague’s head off the canvas a couple times. Montague tries to counter with upkicks, but Horiguchi is easily in control. Montague gets back to his feet with about two minutes left and still stands in there, despite all the punishment he appears to have taken. Good counter from Montague is on target, but he’ll need more than one at a time if he wants to have a shot at this thing. As the round winds down, Montague lands a right hand that pops Horiguchi’s head back, and Montague can’t come behind it with enough. The two trade a few punches late, but it’ll go to the judges. MMAjunkie has the third for Horiguchi, 10-9, and he should take the fight 30-27.

Result: Kyoji Horiguchi def. Darrell Montague via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Recap: Kyoji Horiguchi impresses in win over Darrell Montague
Photos: Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Darrell Montague photos
Division: Flyweight
Rankings: Montague No. 10
Broadcast: FOX Sports 2
Referee: Gary Copeland
Judging: Sal D’Amato (30-27), Chris Lee (29-28 with R1 for Montague), Rick Winter (30-27)

ED HERMAN (22-10 MMA, 9-6 UFC) VS. RAFAEL NATAL (17-6-1 MMA, 5-4-1 UFC)

Round 1 – Natal kicks to the outside as Herman patiently tries to walk him down. Herman lands an inside leg kick of his own, then eats one to the body. A very heavy kick from Natal seems to hurt Herman’s left leg, and he then kicks his legs out from under him and Natal will go to work on top from Herman’s guard. “Sapo” tries to work him over with some ground-and-pound, but Herman finally uses the cage to get back to his feet with 90 seconds left. The two will stay clinched up, but Herman lands a beautiful takedown of his own. Now it’s Natal on his back working from his guard, and Herman lands a few good short punches and elbows – and Herman cuts Natal open. That turns it into a close round, but MMAjunkie will give it just barely to Natal, 10-9.

Round 2 – Herman lands a left right out of the gate, but Natal backs out and lands a leg kick. He catches a kick and lands a pair of straight rights that have Natal spinning away from more damage. Natal thinks about dropping down, but the takedown’s not there – and Herman lands a left hand. About two minutes in, “Sapo” takes Herman down. Krzys warns the two to stay busy. Herman’s defending well, but with two minutes left, Krzys wants them back up. Natal immediately tries to take it back to the canvas, but this time Herman defends. Good kick to the body from Herman forces Natal to again try to counter things to the ground. But again, Herman defends. It’s another close round, but this one MMAjunkie gives a close 10-9 to Herman. Once again, could go either way, though.

Round 3 – Left hand from Natal is good, but shortly thereafter Herman defends another takedown. Herman continues to look for the big bomb, and Natal is cut above his nose. The two trade hooks, and Herman catches a kick and lands a right hand on the fence. But Herman eats a low knee and gets a break. He doesn’t even seem to want it, though, and on the way back out he lands a flurry. With three minutes left, Natal looks at the clock, and he’s got blood pouring down toward his eyes. Front kick to the face lands for Natal, but Herman slaps his chin to show he can walk through it. Then he lands a head kick of his own. Herman just ducks under a spinning back fist, but after it Natal ties him up. He can’t get much done there, and after the break he again tries to land a spinning attack that Herman ducks under. With 30 seconds left, the two again will try to get one last advantage. Herman’s going to get a 10-9 round on the Junkie card, and should have a close fight, 29-28.

Result: Ed Herman def. Rafael Natal via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Recap: Ed Herman grinds out Rafael Natal
Photos: Ed Herman vs. Rafael Natal photos
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: FOX Sports 2
Referee: Jerry Krzys
Judging: Cardo Urso (30-27), Rick Winter (29-28 with R2-3 for Herman), Daryl Wise (29-28 with R2-3 for Herman)

CHRIS CARIASO (17-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC) VS. LOUIS SMOLKA (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC)

Round 1 – Smolka kicks and tries to back Cariaso up. The two tie up and fight for position along the fence. The crowd gets a little restless, perhaps expecting to see more action. But Cariaso does a solid job early staying mostly out of Smolka’s height and reach advantage, or at least not letting him take full advantage. With a minute left, Smolka bullies Cariaso to the fence and lands some punches to the body. Cariaso looks for a guilltine and briefly has Smolka in some trouble. But the Hawaiian fights out. He’ll get a 10-9 first round on the MMAjunkie card.

Round 2 – Cariaso does well right away in the second and starts to land a flurry. On the ground, he goes after a choke. Then he tries to take Smolka’s back, but he loses position and Smolka is free and on his feet with Cariaso on his back. Smolka works through another Cariaso submission attempt moments later. Back on the feet, they stalemate on the fence, and Herb Dean warns them to get busy. So Cariaso drags it back to the canvas and puts Smolka on his back. They return to the feet, and Cariaso lands a flurry, then really pops Smolka’s head back with a right to the chin. But Smolka stays in there and tries a Superman punch. Cariaso wants a guillotine choke, but it’s Smolka who lands a takedown. Cariaso gets a tight choke on late in the round, and Smolka has to be saved by the bell. It’s a 10-9 round for Cariaso on the Junkie card.

Round 3 – Smolka works some kicks early, but Cariaso kicks right back and fires off a few punches, too. Despite the size difference, Cariaso continues to work his offense against Smolka. Smolka gets the fight to the canvas and tries to go to work on top while Cariaso tries to work his way back up. Smolka lands some big punches from up top and jumps to full mount. But Cariaso is back to his feet midway through the round. The fight briefly goes back to the floor, but it’s back up just as quickly and the two trade kicks and punches. A Cariaso kick takes Smolka off his feet. But he’s back at it and is throwing flurries as the clock ticks down. Cariaso manages a takedown late, but a choke attempt won’t be able to be finished in time. MMAjunkie will give the last round to Cariaso, 10-9, though it’s close. He should have the fight, 29-28.

Result: Chris Cariaso def. Louis Smolka via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Recap: Chris Cariaso edges Louis Smolka for third straight
Photos: Chris Cariaso vs. Louis Smolka photos
Division: Flyweight
Rankings: Cariaso No. 14
Broadcast: FOX Sports 1
Referee: Herb Dean
Judging:

SOA PALELEI (21-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC) VS. RUAN POTTS (8-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)

Round 1 – UFC debut for South Africa’s Ruan Potts. But he finds himself in a bad spot early as Palelei ducks under a punch and takes Potts right to the canvas. Potts, though, gets a choke on, and it’s good. Palelei appears to grab the shorts to help escape, and then tries to go to work on top. Potts tries for a triangle choke on his back, but he can’t keep it and Palelei stays on top in side control. He then quickly jumps to mount – and then knocks him unconscious from mount. Potts goes stiff. A left hook from the ground does the trick, and two more short shots after that make sure it’s done.

Result: Soa Palelei def. Ruan Potts via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:20
Recap: Soa Palelei crushes Ruan Potts in first
Photos: Soa Palelei vs. Ruan Potts photos
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: FOX Sports 1
Referee: Keith Peterson

NEIL MAGNY (10-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) VS. TIM MEANS (20-6-1 MMA, 2-3 UFC)

Round 1 – Means will start in the center, and Magny circles outside. He’ll see if he can use his reach advantage early. Means tries to come inside with an elbow, but Magny stays back and tries to jab. But he eats a leg kick as Means tries to keep him from getting too far afield. Means kicks to the body, and tries to keep Magny under pressure. Midway through, the two tie up. Both fighters avoid trip takedowns to stay upright. Magny catches a leg kick and lands a straight right. He can’t complete the takedown right away, but stays after it and gets it. Means is back up pretty quickly, though. Magny jabs to the body, then eats a punch. But he fires back a combination, even though Means is staying in there. A spinning fist lands for Means. But moments later, Magny drops Means with a left. Means rolls backward and up to his feet and doesn’t give Magny much of a chance to pour it on. Magny lands a couple punches at the horn. It’s a 10-9 first round for Magny on the MMAjunkie scorecard.

Round 2 – Magny circles outside and avoids a few left hands. Magny continues to duck just away from most of Means’ offense, but Means lands an elbow that gets Magny’s attention. Each fighter just misses with right hands. The crowd gets a little restless midway through. But Means catches a kick and drags the fight to the floor. Magny keeps a hand down and eats some knees that are close to the head. He looks at the ref as if to ask if it’s a foul, but he won’t get any help there. He survives and gets back to his feet. Means just misses with a left hand, but Magny gets in on him and lands a takedown. Means gets back up, but Magny sticks on him. Means breaks off with 10 seconds left and lands a right. It’s a close second round, but MMAjunkie will score it for Means 10-9 despite the Magny takedown.

Round 3 – Quick fan reaction in the third with an apparent lack of action right away. But Means hurts Magny along the fence. He doesn’t go all-in for the finish, though, and Magny survives. Means gets a choke attempt, but can’t hold it. Magny powers back to his feet and with three minutes left will really need to step it up a level in a close fight. He lands some knees, but Means slaps his head. Magny lands another takedown, though, and has side control. When Means gets back up, Magny tries to take his back. Means fights Magny’s hands with two minutes left. Another takedown for Magny comes with 100 seconds left, and he takes the back. He gets a choke on. Then he gets to full mount. He alternates and has the back again. He locks up the body triangle and starts to reign down some punches. Now he’ll look for the choke again. He punches to the body. Means will roll to his back, and Magny is in half-guard – not doing much, but trying to land some short elbows. Means will get back to his feet and land a takedown at the horn. But MMAjunkie will give the third to Magny, 10-9, and he should have the fight 29-28.

Result: Neil Magny def. Tim Means via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Recap: Neil Magny gets judges’ nod over Tim Means
Photos: Neil Magny def. Tim Means photos
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: FOX Sports 1
Referee: Jerry Krzys
Judging: Chris Lee (30-27), Cardo Urso (29-28 with R1, R3 for Magny), Daryl Wise (29-28 with R1, R3 for Magny)

DARON CRUICKSHANK (15-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC) VS. ERIK KOCH (14-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC)

Round 1 - Cruickshank strikes first with a right. He then just misses with a big back kick. They trade some shots, and Cruickshank gets through a nice counter. Koch looks for low kicks. Cruickshank answers with a kick to the body. Lots of shot missing, but it’s not for a lack of effort as both look for power shots. Koch goes back to the low kick. Cruickshank drops Koch with a big head kick. Koch eats dozens of elbows as the ref simply looks on at the dazed fighter. Koch is obviously done, and the beatdown continues for a few more seconds before a merciful stoppage.

Result: Daron Cruickshank def. Erik Koch via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 3:21
Recap: Daron Cruickshank devastates Erik Koch
Photos: Daron Cruickshank vs. Erik Koch photos
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: FOX Sports 1
Referee: Gary Copeland

LORENZ LARKIN (14-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC) VS. CONSTANTINOS PHILIPPOU (13-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC)

Round 1 – Philippou lands a nice left early, and then hits a good knee. Philippou keeps the pressure on early, and the two trade cracking leg kicks. Philippou follows it with a left, though, and pushes Larkin up against the fence. Philippou looks for head stomps before Larkin breaks off. But Larkin lands an uppercut and puts together a nice combination. But Philippou walks through it. Outside leg kick is good for Larkin and a Superman punch after it. Each just misses, but then they flurry with Larkin getting several punches off. Philippou gets a big punch through, though, and the two tie up. Philippou lands some leg kicks, but just like that – Philippou lands a right hand, then a left hook to hurt him, and a right hand finishes the job as Keith Peterson gets  in to save Larkin.

Result: Constantinos Philippou def. Lorenz Larkin via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:47
Recap: Philippou wins firefight with Larkin
Photos: Constantinos Philippou vs. Lorenz Larkin
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: Philippou No. 13
Broadcast: FOX Sports 1
Referee: Keith Peterson

MATT BROWN (18-11 MMA, 11-5 UFC) VS. ERICK SILVA (16-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC)

Round 1 – Herb Dean will be the third man in the cage for our welterweight main event. Huge pop from the fans for Brown, who fights in his home state of Ohio. Brown comes forward right away and kicks high and lands. he tries to flurry, but Silva scoops him up and takes him down. Brown reverses, though, and is briefly on top. But back on the feet, Silva lands a body shot and Brown crumples. He’s in trouble. Silva rains down punches as Brown covers up while Dean looks in. He survives, but Silva takes his back and gets a body triangle on. He’ll look for the rear-naked choke. Silva tries to get his arm underthe chin, and he’s close. But Brown again survives. Silva looks for Brown’s left arm and may go after an armbar. He bails out, though. Halfway through, Brown has a long time still to survive. But he does! He gets out and gets to his feet, and the crowd goes nuts. He lands a knee, then an elbow, and then he backs Silva to the fence and he piles it on. Silva is backing up. HE’s wobbled. The crowd goes nuts. Brown is drilling him with elbows. He’s stalking him down. Then trade three head kicks. Now a trip takedown from Brown. And he lands an uppercut. Now a knee on his way back up and another knee. He slams him to the ground. He kicks him in the stomach. Now Silva is back up. The entire building is on its collective feet. Brown lands again. Silva eats some big shots. Brown lands a takedown in the final 10 seconds. An absolutely amazing round of fighting. Absolutely amazing. MMAjunkie gives the round to Brown, 10-9.

Round 2 – Brown can’t wait to get back at it here in Round 2. Brown leads with a right. Silva’s hurt again. They trade back and forth once again. Another body kick from Silva lands. Now a straight right from Brown. and more punches. More knees from Brown. But Silva answers back. Silva loops a right. But Brown keeps pouring it on. How much more can he stand? More punches and elbows. But Silva stays standing. Brown keeps firing. Lefts and rights. Body and head. Another body kick from Silva. But here comes Brown again. And then Silva lands another body shot and Brown covers up. But Brown takes him down. HE traps an arm and gets to side control. Brown tries to go to work with ground-and-pound. Elbows and punches. Silva covers up. Now Brown flips over and looks for an inverted triangle. Now he looks for a kimura and then tries to take the back. Now he’s got a D’Arce choke and lands a knee before jumping into mount. He starts firing away with 90 seconds to go. Elbows and punches as Silva covers up. Dean is on his knees looking right in and giving Silva a chance. Silva gets out, but Brown from his back gets a triangle and has an armbar on with it. Silva slips out with 40 seconds left. Both fighters look exhausted, but Brown may have a little more left in him. He gets another 10-9 round on the Junkie card in what is turning out to be an absolutely classic war.

Round 3 – Brown again right to the center. The building still is on its feet. Brown again starts to pile on with knees up along the fence. Brown’s stalking him. The fight again drags to the floor, and Brown will go to work in Silva’s guard. Elbows come down for him as the pace understandably slows. He gets a right hand through. A few more elbows, and one of them cuts Silva open. Silva wants a triangle, but Brown postures up and gets out of there. He keeps dropping the punches as Dean warns him to fight back. But Silva rolls over and this one is done. Brown survived the really rough first round and put together one of the great ones to get the TKO victory. The crowd goes completely bananas.

Result: Matt Brown def. Erick Silva via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 2:11
Recap:
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Division: Welterweight
Rankings: Brown No. 9
Broadcast: FOX Sports 1
Referee: Herb Dean