UFC Fight Night 86 results: Lucas Martins takes split decision from Robert Whiteford

Lucas Martins

ZAGREB, Croatia – Lucas Martins didn’t exactly overwhelm Robert Whiteford over the course of three very careful rounds, but he did outpoint him by the slimmest of margins in the end.

Martins (16-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) took the win on the scorecards over a game Whiteford (12-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC), eventually notching the split-decision victory by scores of 29-28, 28-29, 30-27.

The featherweight bout was part of today’s UFC Fight Night 86 preliminary card at Zagreb Arena in Zagreb, Croatia. It streamed on UFC Fight Pass prior to additional prelims and a main card on FOX Sports 1.

Whiteford had reason to be disappointed in the decision, as he spent the majority of the fight as the aggressor. From the first round on, he was the one darting in to start most striking exchanges, with Martins looking to sit back and counter.

Those counters were successful for Martins at times. A hook in the first frame sent Whiteford staggering backward, and changed his strategy from one heavy on striking to one that sought out the takedown. It had also had the effect of slowing Whiteford’s forward progress some, as he became less eager to charge in against Martins after being stung with a few sharp counters early on.

Still, it was Whiteford who brought the fight to Martins for much of the latter two rounds, and though he managed to get the Brazilian down, Whiteford couldn’t seem to keep him there for long. Meanwhile, even as Whiteford looked to get the fight to the floor, Martins continued peppering him with short, quick strikes, which eventually won over two of the three judges.

For Martins, the win snaps a two-fight losing streak, giving him his first UFC victory since June 2014. Whiteford has now lost two straight.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 86 results include:

• Lucas Martins def. Robert Whiteford via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
• Jared Cannonier def. Cyril Asker via knockout (punch, elbows) – Round 1, 2:40
• Bojan Velickovic def. Alessio Di Chirico via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

For more on UFC Fight Night 86, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

(MMAjunkie’s John Morgan contributed to this report on site in Zagreb.)