UFC 174 results, photos: Valerie Letourneau takes split from Elizabeth Phillips

VANCOUVER – Octagon newcomers Valerie Letourneau (6-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and Elizabeth Phillips (4-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) slugged it out over three rounds, with Letourneau’s technique clashing against Phillip’s gritty toughness.

Fighting the majority of three rounds with a badly swollen left eye, Letourneau outstruck Phillips in later rounds to secure a split decision.

The women’s bantamweight bout was part of today’s UFC 174 event at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. It aired on FX following additional prelims on UFC Fight Pass and ahead of a main card on pay-per-view.

The final scores were 29-28, 28-29 and 29-28 in favor of Letourneau, whose bid to compete on “The Ultimate Fighter 18? was ended by vet Roxanne Modaferri.

This time around, the French-Canadian managed to hold off the grappling overtures of Phillips as she tired from the slugfest that was their opening round.

Letourneau also toughed out a punch early in the first that prompted instant swelling under her left eye. She grimaced between rounds when a UFC cutman pressed an enswell to her eye.

When Phillips couldn’t get the fight to the ground, she instead charged at Letourneau and swung for the fences. Early on, she was faster on the inside and scored frequently. But later, as her punches lost steam, Letourneau began to outscore her with smart combinations and a persistent right uppercut.

Letourneau, who trained with American Top Team following a stint with Tristar, now enjoys three straight wins and a successful pro UFC debut. Phillips, who works with “TUF 18? winner Julianna, sees a four-fight streak snapped.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 174 results include:

For complete coverage of UFC 174, stay stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

(John Morgan and Mike Bohn contributed to this report on-site in Vancouver.)