UFC on FOX 27 results: Drew Dober tops Frank Camacho in slugfest with an odd scorecard

In a “Fight of the Night” candidate, Drew Dober topped Frank Camacho – even if his 30-27 scorecard from one judge will be criticized.

Dober (19-8 MMA, 5-4 UFC) took a unanimous decision from Camacho (21-6 MMA, 1-2 UFC) with a pair of 29-28s and a 30-27. Even though Camacho was perfect with his takedown game with six, one judge said he lost all three rounds.

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

Dober tried to get inside for a right hand, but Camacho slipped under it and landed a right. They tied up 45 seconds in and traded position along the fance. But at the minute mark, Camacho landed a trip takedown and dropped Dober to the canvas. Camacho went to work in side control, but couldn’t get off any offense before Dober got back to his feet.

When Dober tried to work his way inside, Camacho slipped nicely and landed right hand uppercuts, then tried to work to the body. Dober stung Camacho with a left, then worked a kick inside. With two minutes left in the round, they clinched up and Camacho wanted the trip again, but it wasn’t there. With 90 seconds left, though, it was, and Camacho tried to trap Dober’s arm from half-guard. Dober tried for an armbar, but Camacho slipped it and kept throwing punches and elbows to get to the second.

Thirty seconds into the second, it was a familiar scene when Camacho again wound up on top on the canvas. But Dober was up 30 seconds later. But back on the feet, the tide turned. Dober landed plenty of punches with Camacho’s back against the fence, and it looked like Camacho was out of gas. Dober continued to land with Camacho’s hands frequently down. Dober kicked high, then followed up with bunches of punches. Dober put his energy advantage to good use throughout the rest of the round. Camacho fired back, but it was Dober with the frequency and accuracy – and gas tank – throughout the frame.

Dober drove for a takedown in the third after the two traded for the first 15 seconds, but it wasn’t there. A minute in, he tried again, but it was Camacho who turend things around and landed the takedown and got on top in half-guard. He tried to pass to mount, but cound’t and let Dober back to his feet with three minutes left.

Midway through, they continued to trade punches and knees and kicks, but continued to stand in the pocket. Camacho went with a pair of body kicks in the final minute, then stuffed another takedown attempt before landing another kick to the body. They slugged it out late in a close fight, then celebrated what they had to have figured was going to be a $50,000 “Fight of the Night” candidate.

After the fight, Dober heard the boos and told cage emcee Jon Anik he was unsure if he had done enough to get the win.

Dober won for the second straight time and has wins in four of his past five fights. Camacho heads back to the loss column following a November win over Damien Brown. He has setbacks in two of his past three fights.

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

• 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.)