UFC on Fuel TV 3 Prelims: Rafael dos Anjos Head Kick, Choke Finishes Kamal Shalorus

Rafael dos Anjos File Photo

Shalorus (7-3-2, 0-3 UFC) succumbed to the hold 40 seconds into round one.

Dos Anjos (16-6, 5-4 UFC) cracked the Iranian with a head kick, trailed him to the mat and cinched the choke for the finish. It was the quickest stoppage of the 27-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt’s career, surpassing his 59-second knockout on George Sotiropoulos at UFC 132 10 months ago.

Tavares Decisions Korean Top Team’s Yang

Yang (10-3, 1-3 UFC) appeared to land more blows of consequence and did excellent work in the second round, where he scored with a trip takedown and whipped kicks into the head and midsection of his opponent. However, Tavares finished the stronger of the two and made his move in round three. There, the Hawaiian scored with multiple takedowns, kept Yang on the defensive and won for the eighth time in nine professional appearances.

McKenzie Guillotine Dooms LeVesseur

LeVesseur (21-6, 0-1 UFC) -- a replacement for the injured Aaron Riley -- controlled much of the bout with superior wrestling and power punches, only to leave his neck exposed when the two hit the ground. McKenzie (13-2, 2-2 UFC) took the invitation and ran with it, securing the choke and, soon after, the tapout. The 24-year-old McKenzie has won 13 fights as a professional mixed martial artist, 11 of them via guillotine.

Grant Controls Prater, Earns Decision

Prater (30-11-1, 1-1 UFC) had no answer for the Canadian. Grant beat up the Brazilian in close quarters, scored takedowns with surprising ease and worked around his guard without issue. With that, the 28-year-old Grant posted back-to-back victories for the first time since April 2009.

Eduardo Denies Curran First UFC Win

The Brazilian set the table for success from the start, as he battered Curran’s lead leg with kicks. One blow after another found its mark, and by round two, Eduardo was enjoying the fruits of his labor. Unable to close the distance, a hobbled Curran (33-15-1, 0-3 UFC) was little more than a sitting duck. To his credit, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt rallied with a strong third round, but his good work over the final five minutes was not enough to free him from the clutches of another UFC defeat.

Rivera Outpoints Soto in Return

Rivera dropped Soto (6-2-1, 0-2 UFC) twice with right hands in the first round and again in the second with a head kick, bringing with him heavy artillery and the aggression to match. The Tachi Palace Fights veteran wobbled Soto in round three, as well, this time with a clean front kick and another right hand.