UFC 222 results: Cody Stamann takes split from takedown-happy Bryan Caraway

Cody Stamann stuffed all but one of Bryan Caraway’s 20 takedown attempts, and it helped him to a split-decision win.

Stamann (17-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) took a pair of 29-28 scores from the judges; Caraway (21-8 MMA, 6-3 UFC) had a dissenting 29-28 score of his own in what was his first fight in nearly two years.

The bantamweight bout was part of the preliminary card of today’s UFC 222 event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It streamed on UFC Fight Pass ahead of additional prelims on FS1 and a main card on pay-per-view.

Caraway tried to get inside for a takedown early, but Stamann stuffed it. On Caraway’s second attempt, Stamann stayed mostly upright, then dealt with Caraway pressing him to the fence. Stamann broke off 90 seconds into the round and circled outside with his hands down, looking calm and confident. Caraway stayed after a takedown, but Stamann wouldn’t drop.

Caraway pumped his left jab out, then finally got a takedown in his fifth try with about two minutes left. He went to work from half-guard, then passed to side control. He stepped over and trapped Stamann’s right arm and went for a reverse triangle. Stamann survived the round, but it was a good look for Caraway in the final two minutes.

Stamann looked a little more urgent to open the second and got a few punches through. Caraway kept working his left jab, but a minute in was backed up by a Stamann combo. Caraway shot after that, but Stamann stuffed it. The two started talking to each other mid-fight, and Caraway threw a mean right uppercut before again shooting for a takedown that wasn’t there. Caraway kept after the takedowns, but Stamann continued to defend them. With a minute left, Stamann put together some punches, but nothing to put Caraway in trouble.

Stamann worked leg kicks in the third as counters to Caraway’s jabs. Stamann landed to the body, then up top when Caraway tried to get a combination off. Caraway shot for a takedown with three minutes left, but Stamann stayed on his feet yet again. A minute later, Caraway again missed a takedown, but he kept working his jab, then tried a few uppercuts. But Stamann landed his own jabs, and stayed with the leg kicks. With 90 seconds, he stuffed another takedown, but ate a few Caraway punches. Stamann fired off some punches, then again stopped Caraway’s takedown with a minute left.

They swung for the fences down the stretch, and Caraway had a guillotine attempt at the horn when Stamann shot for his own takedown late. Stamann was saved by the bell, and he got the split call, to boot.

Stamann won for the 10th straight time and hasn’t lost in three and a half years. Caraway had a two-fight winning streak snapped.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 222 results include:

• Cody Stamann def. Bryan Caraway via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Jordan Johnson def. Adam Milstead via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)

For complete coverage of UFC 222, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

(MMAjunkie’s John Morgan and Ken Hathaway contributed to this report on site in Las Vegas.)