UFC on FOX 27 results: Andre Fili takes split call from Dennis Bermudez

Andre Fili found a good way to negate Dennis Bermudez’s takedown game: He just took Bermudez down, instead.

Fili (18-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC) outworked Bermudez (16-8 MMA, 9-6 MMA) for a split decision, and used takedowns to seemingly win the points battle – and stuffed all but one of Bermudez’s attempts to get him to the ground. Fili won with a pair of 29-28 scores despite a dissenting 30-27 in Bermudez’s favor.

The featherweight bout was the co-main event of today’s UFC on FOX 27 card at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. It aired on FOX following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Bermudez shot early, but Fili used the fence to push off and get back to the middle. He circled outside, then traded leg kicks with Bermudez. Just ahead of two minutes into the round, Bermudez went after a takedown, but Fili stayed on his feet with his back against the fence. Fili broke off with two minutes left thanks to a nice combination, then started pumping his left jab out.

Fili shot in for a takedown with 90 seconds left, but let Bermudez back up. Bermudez then drilled a leg kick, then got inside for some dirty boxing. When they split apart, Bermudez again worked the low leg kicks – but Fili again drove in for a takedown just before the end of the round.

Bermudez shot immediately for a takedown in the second, but it was telegraphed and Fili shrugged it off with ease. Bermudez again worked leg kicks, but a minute in found himself once again taken down by Fili. Bermudez was up immediately, but couldn’t get his own takedown in part thanks to Fili’s height advantage.

Bermudez continued to drill Fili’s lead leg, then tried a combination off his jab. When Fili wanted a takedown with two minutes left, it finally was stuffed. Fili landed a right, then moved in for a takedown – but again was stuffed. But with a minute left, Fili put him on the canvas again.

The two traded punches to open the third, and Bermudez may have believed he needed a finish to get the win. Fili landed solid rights, but still struggled when Bermudez kicked his lead leg. Fili landed a high kick, then went after another takedown but had it stuffed. Bermudez landed a knee too low, and Fili took 90 seconds or so to recover.

The restart came with half the round to go, and Bermudez tried to get after it. Fili often wasn’t on the end of his punches, though. With a minute left, Bermudez landed with a right, then finally got his first takedown with 15 seconds left.

“Biggest win of my career – not the prettiest,” Fili said. “All I’ve thought about the last six weeks was this fight, and I don’t care at all anymore.”

Fili won for the second straight time for his first winning streak in the UFC after alternating wins and losses his first nine fights in the promotion. Bermudez lost for the third straight time and has dropped five of his past seven fights.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on FOX 27 results include:

• Andre Fili def. Dennis Bermudez via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
• Gregor Gillespie def. Jordan Rinaldi via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:46
• Drew Dober def. Frank Camacho via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Bobby Green def. Erik Koch via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Mirsad Bektic def. Godofredo Pepey via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:47
• Katlyn Chookagian def. Mara Romero Borella via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Randa Markos def. Juliana Lima via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Ji Yeon Kim def. Justine Kish via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
• Vinc Pichel def. Joaquim Silva via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Niko Price def. George Sullivan via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:21
• Cory Sandhagen def. Austin Arnett via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 3:48

For complete coverage of UFC on FOX 27, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

(MMAjunkie’s Ken Hathaway contributed to this report on site in Charlotte.)