UFC on ESPN 5 Prelims: Antonina Shevchenko Weathers Cut, Chokes Out Lucie Pudilova

That was TIGHT

First career submission for @AntoninaPantera #UFCNewark pic.twitter.com/Ict2h7C82T

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 3, 2019

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Antonina Shevchenko answered adversity with a smile.

The Tiger Muay Thai standout and older sister of current Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight titleholder Valentina Shevchenko put Lucie Pudilova to sleep with a rear-naked choke in the second round of their featured UFC on ESPN 5 prelim on Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Shevchenko (8-1, 2-1 UFC) closed out the Czech 1:20 into Round 2.

Pudilova (8-5, 2-4 UFC) did not go out without putting up a considerable fight. She opened a diagonal cut near Shevchenko’s right eye with a pair of devastating elbow strikes from the clinch late in the first round, executed a takedown and applied her ground-and-pound. Momentum shifted again in the second, where Shevchenko countered an attempted takedown, scrambled to the back and bit down on the choke, continuing to squeeze until her opponent lost consciousness.

Fouls Fuel Nzechukwu Decision

Fortis MMA’s Kennedy Nzechukwu rebounded from his first professional defeat with a unanimous decision over Darko Stosic in their three-round light heavyweight feature. All three cageside judges scored it for Nzechukwu (7-1, 1-1 UFC): 29-26, 28-27 and 28-27. Stosic (13-3, 1-2 UFC) was docked two points for low blows.

Nzechukwu withstood a ferocious assault on his lead leg from the kick-centric Serbian. He started to move forward in the second round, connected with a series of front kicks to the body, implemented his jab and brought some thunder with his straight left. Facing the likelihood of a disqualification if another one of his kicks drifted south of the border, Stosic turned to takedowns in the third round. However, Nzechukwu did not allow him to consolidate them with ground-and-pound or positional control.

Stosic has followed a nine-fight winning streak with back-to-back losses.

Related » UFC Newark Round-by-Round Scoring

Gall Downs Reeling Touahri

Stellar clinch work, strong takedown defense and improved standup carried Mickey Gall to a unanimous decision over Salim Touahri in a three-round welterweight battle. A short-notice substitution for Zelim Imadaev, Gall (6-2, 5-2 UFC) swept the scorecards with 29-28 marks from all three judges.

The American Top Team-trained Touahri (10-4, 0-3 UFC) connected with a number of left hooks but too often operated behind a single-strike approach. Gall was the busier man, routinely closed the distance and piled up points at close range with elbow strikes, short punches and positional advances.

Touahri now finds himself on a three-fight losing streak.

Schnell Triangle Subdues Espinosa

American Top Team’s Matt Schnell submitted Jordan Espinosa with a triangle choke in the first round of their flyweight scrap. Espinosa (14-6, 1-1 UFC) met his end 1:23 into Round 1, his five-fight winning streak having run its course. It was his first submission defeat since December 2013.

Schnell (14-4, 4-2 UFC) denied an ill-conceived takedown from the Dana White’s Contender Series alum, fished for a guillotine choke and then transitioned to the triangle. Espinosa did what he could to free himself, but his situation moved from dire to hopeless in a matter of seconds.

The 29-year-old Schnell has won four fights in a row, the last two by triangle choke.

Murphy Knee Stops Borella

Former Invicta Fighting Championships titleholder Lauren Murphy put away Mara Romero Borella with a knee strike and follow-up elbows in the third round of their women’s flyweight confrontation. Murphy (11-4, 3-4 UFC) slammed the door 1:46 into Round 3.

Borella (12-6, 2-2 UFC) zeroed in on the lead leg with kicks and paired them with crisp jabs to the face, but the pressure with which she was met took its toll. Murphy marched forward with no regard for her own well-being and waited for her opportunity. She clipped Borella with a right uppercut in the third round, stuffed an attempted takedown and blasted the American Top Team rep with a knee on the break. Murphy gave chase when the dazed Italian fell backward and mopped up the rest with a volley of elbows.

The finish was Murphy’s first in more than three years.

Silva Choke Submits Williams

Claudio Henrique da Silva submitted promotional newcomer Cole Williams with a rear-naked choke in the first round of their welterweight pairing. A short-notice replacement for Ramazan Emeev, Williams (11-2, 0-1 UFC) conceded defeat 2:35 into Round 1.

Silva (14-1, 5-0 UFC) set the pace with leg kicks and surgical straight lefts, executed a trip takedown and advanced to the back. From there, the Brazilian softened Williams with punches and hammerfists, cinched the choke and forced the tapout.

One of MMA’s best-kept secrets, Silva has rattled off 14 consecutive victories.

Unbeaten Granger Outpoints Goldy

Former Cage Fury Fighting Championships titleholder Miranda Granger kept her perfect professional record intact with a unanimous decision over Hannah Goldy in a three-round women’s flyweight tilt. All three cageside judges scored it the same: 30-27 for Granger (5-0, 1-0 UFC).

Goldy (2-1, 0-1 UFC) struggled to navigate three-inch height and seven-inch reach disadvantages, though she managed to connect with a few side kicks to the face and the occasional counter. Granger was the more active participant, controlled the center of the cage and staggered the Dana White’s Contender Series alum with a sweeping left hook in the second round. She also dictated a majority of the exchanges in the clinch, where she utilized knees to the body and head, shoulder strikes and slashing elbows on the break.