UFL 5: Phoenix vs. Vegas went down this past Friday, August 30, and marked the beginning of ‘The NBA of MMA’. A sold-out crowd inside Wild Horse Pass Casino, Arizona, watched on as Team Vegas headed by Frank Mir turned around an early deficit to claim an 8-6 victory for the city over Henry Cejudo and Team Phoenix. The new ‘Team vs. Team’ format provided lots of drama and forced the fighters to pursue quick finishes in order to chase the $50,000 prize.
Vince Morales (16-7) submitted Hunter Azure (11-4) with a rare modified Peruvian necktie during round three to claim the UFL bantamweight title in the main event. The Team Vegas participant gradually took control of the bout as it wore on before locking up the finish in what could be a ‘Submission of the Year’ candidate. He earned four points with the victory which saw Team Vegas overtake Team Phoenix to pick up the overall series win on the night.
In the lightweight co-headliner, Sheymon Moraes (16-6) bested TJ Brown (18-12) over three rounds to earn a unanimous decision in a thrilling contest. Both men pushed forward throughout the fight, constantly forcing action but it was always the Team Phoenix representative who was one step ahead. However, Brown’s stock did not drop after delivering such a competitive effort despite only taking the matchup on just days’ notice.
Sheymon Moraes defeats TJ Brown
Trent Miller (6-1) was the man who got the ball rolling for Team Vegas when he landed a highlight-reel knockout on Marcus Nash (1-1) in their middleweight bout. He threw a perfectly timed right hand during the first frame which sent Nash crashing to the canvas, putting four points on the board for his team. This result maintained Miller’s 100% first round finishing streak and demonstrated once again how dangerous he is in the opening minutes.
Elsewhere on the card, Ray Waters (5-0) remained unbeaten by defeating William Gibson (3-2) at welterweight and Jackson Santa Cruz (8-4) forced Anvar Boynazarov (5-4) to tap in their bantamweight bout. Kaleo Meheula (4-3) got the night off to an explosive start when he stopped Cris Mims (2-7) due to strikes in less than three minutes at lightweight.
Ray Waters remains undefeated
UFL 5 Results
Main Card
Main Event
Bantamweight Title
Phoenix vs. Vegas
Vince Morales (16-7) defeated Hunter Azure (11-4) by submission (modified Peruvian necktie) at 4:06 of round three to win the bantamweight title. Team Vegas win 8-6.
Co-Main Event
Phoenix vs. Vegas
Lightweight
Sheymon Moraes (16-6) defeated TJ Brown (18-12) by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28). Team Phoenix led 6-4.
Phoenix vs. Vegas
Middleweight
Trent Miller (6-1) defeated Marcus Nash (1-1) by knockout (punch) at 1:59 of round one. Team Phoenix led 5-4.
Phoenix vs. Vegas
Welterweight
Ray Waters (5-0) defeated William Gibson (3-2) by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). Team Phoenix led 5-0.
Phoenix vs. Vegas
Bantamweight
Jackson Santa Cruz (8-4) defeated Anvar Boynazarov (5-4) by submission (rear naked choke) at 2:17 of round one. Team Phoenix led 4-0.
Preliminary Card
Flyweight
Yevgeni Shinkarevsku (2-0) defeated Richard Mahan (2-1) by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Featherweight
Desmond Manabat (4-5) defeated Angel Atoigue (2-1) by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Lightweight
Kaleo Meheula (4-3) defeated Cris Mims (2-7) by TKO (punches) at 2:54 of round one
Kaleo Meheula stops Cris Mims in the first round
The next UFL event to take place will be Team Orange County coached by Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson against Team Florida led by Rashad Evans. A date and location will be announced over the coming weeks.
