Burns, Quarantillo, Roberts (fighters with Florida ties) win at UFC Fight Night on ESPN
Florida was well represented on Saturday during UFC Fight Night on ESPN from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Gilbert Durinho Burns, “The Predator” Roosevelt Roberts and Billy Daniel Quarantillo, each with Florida ties, won respective fights on the main card.
Because of COVID-19, the show was closed to the public. It was broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Deportes and simulcast on ESPN+.
Burns, who trains at Sanford MMA in Deerfield Beach (formerly Hard Knocks 365 in Fort Lauderdale), won in the main event against former UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley.
Burns, 33, dominated each round, winning by unanimous decision in the five-round battle. He improved to 19-3. Woodley, 38, of American Top Team Evolution in St. Louis is 19-5-1.
Woodley is also competing on Season 2 of “The Titan Games,” hosted, produced and inspired by The Rock Dwayne Johnson on NBC.
Gilbert at the postfight news conference.
Afterward, UFC president Dana White said the win should elevate Burns into the top five of a very competitive and interesting welterweight division.
In a lightweight contest, “The Predator” Roosevelt Roberts, 26, who was born in Miami, defeated Brok Chata Tuska Weaver, who represents the MOWA Band of Choctaw Native Americans.
Roberts (10-1) won by submission in Round 2, using a rear-naked choke hold. He currently lives in Lathrop, California and trains at Adrenaline Martial Arts in San Bernardino. Weaver, 28, of Mobile is 15-5.
Roberts at the postfight virtual media Q&A.
In a Fight of the Night contender, Billy Quarantillo, who trains at Gracie Tampa South, won a close catchweight battle against The Alpha Ginger Spike Carlyle of San Diego.
Originally from Ransomville, New York, the 31-year-old Quanratillo improved to 14-2 with the unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). The 27-year-old Carlyle is 9-2.
Billy Q at the post-fight virtual media Q&A.
This marked the first UFC show in Las Vegas since the pandemic. Precautions, daily testing, rules and guidelines were the same, like in Jacksonville a few weeks ago for UFC’s successful return (three shows in eight days).
UFC Fight Night on ESPN results
Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas
MAIN CARD
Welterweight: Gilbert Burns (19-3) d. Tyron Woodley (19-5-1)
by Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Heavyweight: Augusto Sakai (15-1-1) d. Blagoy Ivanov (18-4, 1 NC)
by Split Decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
Catchweight: Billy Quarantillo (14-2) d. Spike Carlyle (9-2)
by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Lightweight: Roosevelt Roberts (10-1) d. Brok Weaver (15-5)
by Submission - R2 03:26 (rear-naked choke)
Strawweight: Mackenzie Dern (8-1) d. Hannah Cifers (10-5)
by Submission · R1 02:36 (kneebar)
PRELIMS
Flyweight: Katlyn Chookagian (14-3) d. Antonina Shevchenko (8-2)
by Unanimous Decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-25)
Welterweight: Daniel Rodriguez (12-1) d. Gabe Green (9-3)
by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Lt. Heavyweight: Jamahal Hill (8-0) vs. Klidson Farias de Abreu (15-5)
by KO/TKO · R1 01:51 (punches)
Flyweight: Brandon Royval (11-4) d. Tim Elliott (15-11-1)
by Submission · R2 03:18 (arm triangle)
Bantamweight: Casey Kenney (14-2-1) d. Louis Smolka (16-7)
by Submission · R1 03:03 (guillotine)
Featherweight: Chris Gutierrez (15-4, 1 NC) d. Vince Morales (9-5)
by KO/TKO · R2 04:27 (kicks)
https://www.foxsports.com/mma/story/gilbert-burns-routs-woodley-in-ufc-s-return-to-las-vegas-053020
UFC 250 (Nunes vs. Spencer) is next
UFC 250 is June 6 again from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main event features UFC women’s featherweight champ and baddest woman on the planet Amanda The Lioness Nunes (19-4) against Felicia FeeNom Spencer (8-1).
Originally from Pojuca, Bahia, Brazil, Nunes, 32, trains at American Top Team in (South Florida) Coconut Creek. Originally from Montreal, Spencer, 29, trains at the Jungle MMA in Orlando.
Early prelims: 6:30 p.m. ET | 3:30 p.m. ET
Prelims: 8 p.m. ET | 5 p.m. PT
PPV main card: 10 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. PT
Early prelims begin at 6:30 p.m. ET on UFC Fight Pass, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ in English and Spanish.
The prelims continue exclusively on ESPN and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET.
The pay-per-view main card starts at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
UFC Website: https://www.ufc.com/
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