The Ultimate Fighting Championship made its long-awaited return to Atlantic City, New Jersey on Saturday, April 21 for UFC Fight Night 128. The event — which aired live on FOX Sports 1 — was headlined by a lightweight contest between two of the division’s best in Kevin Lee and Edson Barboza. In the co-main event, former lightweight champion took on top 145-pound contender Cub Swanson in a featherweight bout.
Barboza entered the bout as the No. 4-ranked lightweight in the division, while Lee, who recently competed for the interim lightweight championship, was ranked No. 5. For the co-main event, both men were also ranked in the top five with Edgar at No. 3 and Swanson at No. 4.
The main card also features the likes of Chase Sherman, David Branch, Aljamain Sterling and Jim Miller.
It was the UFC’s first trip to Atlantic City since July 2014, and if you missed out on the action, we have you covered with everything you need to see.
Don’t waste another second! The full results and video highlights from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night can be seen below.
Kevin Lee def. Edson Barboza via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 5, 2:18
After the initial feeling out process, Lee was able to land a big takedown against the cage and peppered Barboza with some ground-and-pound and a few heavy hammerfists in what was a dominant opening round. Barboza was completely exhausted in the second round and once again found himself getting slammed to the mat by Lee, who was doing nonstop damage throughout the round. After two dominant rounds, the tables turned when Barboza landed a wild spinning head kick that had Lee on the ropes. Lee ultimately survived and took the fight to the ground to regain his composure.
OHHHHHHHHHHH Barboza throws a spinning head-kick and it LANDS but Lee survives!!! Wow!! #UFCAC pic.twitter.com/m7qE4z8vRf
— UFC (@ufc) April 22, 2018
Lee regained himself and continued his dominance with impressive ground-and-pound for the remainder of the fight before the doctors ultimately stepped in to stop the fight.
The GnP from @MotownPhenom is devastating! Man, Barboza is tough!!#UFCAC pic.twitter.com/Q4abm4B1NY
— UFC (@ufc) April 22, 2018
Frankie Edgar def. Cub Swanson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Edgar closes the distance and lands a nice shot on Swanson, but Cub stuffs the takedown! #UFCAC pic.twitter.com/HXM7OkFqCk
— UFC (@ufc) April 22, 2018
Swanson stops the take down, and lands two big shots on Edgar that cut him open! #UFCAC pic.twitter.com/OK6lU9gdx9
— UFC (@ufc) April 22, 2018
Edgar had the entire crowd behind him and had a shining moment in the opening round when he temporarily rocked Swanson and looked to swarm his opponent. Swanson was able to survive the early onslaught and looked to find more success in Round 2. The pace slowed in the final round, with Swanson working his jab and Edgar countering with leg kicks. The most common theme in the fight, however, was Swanson focusing on preventing an Edgar takedown which resulted in a lower output than usual for Cub who never really found his rhythm.
Justin Willis def. Chase Sherman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
HOW did @ChaseShermanUFC survive this?!?!#UFCAC pic.twitter.com/nyxFwU1EAH
— UFC (@ufc) April 22, 2018
Willis landed the more powerful punches throughout the fight, but Sherman was able to eat Willis’ best shots and attempted to sway the judges with a strong third round performance. However, Serman was unable to find a finish and ended up falling short on the judges’ scorecards.
David Branch def. Thiago “Marreta” Santos via KO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:30
Quick work for David Branch tonight pic.twitter.com/vDEuImMoc1
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) April 22, 2018
After a slow start to the fight, Branch energized the Atlantic City crowd with an emphatic victory over Thiago Marreta. Branch connected with a huge overhand right that dropped Santos before piling on some fight-ending ground-and-pound to his already unconscious opponent.
Aljamain Sterling def. Brett Johns via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Who said they were just grapplers?!@Funkmaster_UFC and @36Johns are throwing leather in round 2! #UFCAC pic.twitter.com/H3LI0j3wxU
— UFC (@ufc) April 22, 2018
Aljamain Sterling dominated Brett Johns to score an impressive unanimous decision win, bouncing back from a devastating knockout loss to Marlon Moraes at UFC Fight Night 123 in December 2017.
Dan Hooker def. Jim Miller via knockout (knee, punch) – Round 1, 3:00
Dan Hooker knee SMASH. That’s now 10 first-round finishes. pic.twitter.com/896j7c6zMd
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) April 22, 2018
Hooker scored a clean knockout victory over mixed martial arts veteran Jim Miller, a New Jersey native, with a perfectly timed knee that left the crowd at Boardwalk Hall silenced just minutes into the fight.
Ryan LaFlare def. Alex Garcia via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
LaFlare scored a nice bounce-back win after an impressive three round outing.
Ricky Simon def. Merab Dvalishvili via TKO – Round 3, 5:00
MERRRRRRABBBBB!!! * @MattSerraUFC voice * #UFCAC pic.twitter.com/KF7vw4DU6j
— UFC (@ufc) April 22, 2018
Somehow he didn’t tap
pic.twitter.com/tBk6I2db3u
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) April 22, 2018
The bout ended in controversial fashion, with Dvalishvili on his way to victory before being caught in a mounted guillotine as the final round was winding down. Dvalishvili never tapped, but the victory was ultimately given to Ricky Simon via TKO due to the referee’s decision.
Legendary MMA referee John McCarthy shared his thoughts on the ending, saying it should have been a submission win for Simon.
Siyar Bahadurzada def. Luan Chagas via KO (body kick, punch) – Round 2, 2:40
Siyar Bahadurzada with a crippling body shot KO. pic.twitter.com/3JzE9915Be
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) April 22, 2018
Bahadurzada scored an incredible victory, landing a brutal front kick to the body that caused Chagas to fold before taking a heavy uppercut right on the button that turned off his lights.
Corey Anderson def. Patrick Cummins via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
HUGE shots landed by @CoreyA_MMA and Cummins is opened up early! #UFCAC pic.twitter.com/Ij8EZ6NrUO
— UFC (@ufc) April 22, 2018
It was a rough outing for Cummins, who was dominated and completely overwhelmed from the opening bell.
Tony Martin def. Keita Nakamura via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Nice right hand from @TMartinMMA drops Nakamura in round 1! #UFCAC pic.twitter.com/UUsB9JgKqZ
— UFC (@ufc) April 21, 2018
Martin scored an early knockdown of Nakamura and never looked back, cruising to a decision victory on the judge’s scorecards.