Thiago Santos beats on Kevin Holland in the third round in the middleweight bout during UFC 227

DC’s World MMA Geek Guide is your hub for coverage of every major professional mixed martial arts fight across the globe this weekend. With links to finishing clips, results, full event recaps, highlights plucked from streams worldwide, and pre-event interviews.

We’ll begin with the more mainstream/easily watchable stuff and then go deep into every relevant regional fight there is to report on. For viewing info and time/card updates check out @Grabaka_Hitman’s awesome combat sports calendar and follow @Jolassanda on Twitter.

World ranked top 150 men and top 100 women, former UFC fighters, and other notables in Bold. Will be updated with fight results and recaps as the shows go down. Male world rankings via Fightmatrix, but they don’t rank enough women so Tapology it is. All rankings are pre-event, records are updated post-fight.

Here’s a look at the major MMA events happening this weekend:

  • ONE Call to Greatness – Fri. Feb 22 at 7 AM ET – ONE App & B/R Live  –  RECAP & CLIPS!
  • LFA 61 – Fri. Feb 22 at 10 PM ET – AXS TV  –  RECAP & CLIPS!
  • Combate 31 – Fri. Feb 22 at 10 PM ET – DAZN  –  RECAP & CLIPS!
  • ROAD FC 52 – Sat. Feb 23 at 3 AM ET – DAZN
  • UFC on ESPN+ 3 – Sat. Feb 23 at 11 AM ET – ESPN2/ESPN+  –  RECAP & CLIPS!
  • Bellator 217 – Sat. Feb 23 at 4 PM ET – Skysports / DAZN & Paramount (9 PM ET Tape Delay)  –  RECAP & CLIPS!

Plus solid, free-to-watch pro MMA fights in the regionals:

  • Fight Club OC 56 – Thu. Feb 21 at 10 PM ET – Facebook – RECAP & CLIPS!
  • Future FC 2 – Fri. Feb 22 at 5 PM ET –  YouTube – RECAP & CLIPS!
  • ONE Hero Series – Mon. Feb 25 at 3 AM ET  – ONE App/YouTube  – RECAP & EVENT VIDEO!

ONE Championship: Call to Greatness

RECAP & CLIPS: Sexton & Saygid set Grand Prix semifinal #1 at ONE Call to Greatness

Date: Friday, Feb. 22
Time: 5 AM ET prelims, 7 AM ET Main Card
Location: Singapore
How to watch: ONE App & B/R Live & YouTube

?  Notable MMA Bouts:

170 Tourney Quarterfinal: Ariel Sexton (13-4, 5-2 ONE, #155 World)  Sub3-RNC  Amir Khan (11-5, 11-4 ONE, #200 World)

170 Tourney Quarterfinal: Saygid Arslanaliev (7-1, 6-1 ONE, #117 World)  TKO1-Punches  Ev Ting (16-6, 10-4 ONE, #137 World)

125: D.S. Amnuaysirichoke (10-4, 10-4 ONE, #249 World)  TKO2-Ground Knees  Jeremy Miado (8-4, 2-4 ONE, #228 World)

W125: Ayaka Miura (8-2, 1-0 ONE, #49 World)  Sub1-Scarfhold Armlock  Laura Balin (11-4, 0-2 ONE, #80 World)

145: Masakazu Imanari (38-18-2, 2-2 ONE, leglock legend, #373 World) Sub1-Heel Hook  Won Il Kwon (6-1, 1-1 ONE, #437 World)

135: Rudy Agustian (7-2, 3-0 ONE)  Sub1-RNC  Khon Sichan (3-4, 1-3 ONE)

Read More:

Post-Fight:  Anthony Njoukuani to appeal kickboxing loss

Kumite TV:  Ariel Sexton on the Lightweight Grand Prix

Kumite TV:  Mei Yamaguchi was ready for (cancelled) battle with Bo


Future FC 2

Future FC 2 RECAP & CLIPS: Brito & Ferreira earn LFA contracts at Future FC 2

Date: Friday, Feb. 22
Time: 5 PM ET
Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil
How to Watch: YouTube

145: Joanderson Brito (10-2-1, undefeated 10 straight, #122 World 145)  Sub2-Guillotine Estabili Amato (9-1, #533 World 155)

155: Anderson Ferreira (13-1, 13 win streak, #228 World 155)  TKO1-Right Cross+ Kleverson Sampaiao (5-5, short notice/missed weight by 13 pounds)

125: Elton Alves (10-1, #26 Brazil)  UD3  Alan Gabriel (8-2, #68 Brazil)

170: Gabriel de Souza (8-0, #364 World)  Sub1-RNC  Moacir Rocha (6-3-1)

155: Evandro Barbosa (9-3, #634 World)  UD3  Luiz de Lima (8-1, #530 World)

155: Alex Sandro (10-3, 0-1 ACB, #629 World)  KO1-Right Hand!  Joelson Nascimento (8-3, 7 win streak snapped, #464 World)

W125: Vanessa Melo (8-5, wins vs. M.McCann & D.Firmino, #85 World)  UD3  Nilde Trindade (3-1)


LFA 61

LFA 61 RECAPS & CLIPS:  Allen cruises to a defense, nobody gets finished for a change 

Date: Friday, Feb. 22
Time: 10 PM ET
Location: Lake Prior, Minnesota, USA
How to watch: AXS TV

? LFA Middleweight Championship

185: Brendan Allen (11-3, 10 finishes, 5-2 LFA champ, #158 World)  UD5  Moses Murrietta (8-2, 2-1 LFA, 1-1 M-1, #171 World)

? Notable fights

145: Nate Jennerman (13-4, 5-2 LFA, #100 World)  UD3  Ken Beverly (8-4, 0-1 LFA, 21 y/o Kentucky regional champ, #369 World)

125: Sid Bice (9-2, 3-1 LFA, #115 World)  UD3  Lloyd McKinney (13-6, 0-2 LFA, #125 World)

145: Jake Childers (6-0, 1-0 LFA)  UD3  Josh Marsh (5-2, 2-1 LFA, #310 World)

170: Brandon Jenkins (12-6, 3-2 LFA, #330 World) vs. Mike Plazola (16-10, 3-2 Victory FC)  CANCELLED, Plazola last second removal


Combate 31: Mexico vs USA

Combate 31 RECAP & CLIPS: Frausto returns home with a TKO, Avila & Sabori war

Date: Friday, Feb. 22
Time: 10 PM ET
Location: Fresno, California, USA
How to watch: DAZN / Univision/ Facebook prelims

? Notable fights

150: Anthony Avila (18-5, #252 World 155)  SD3  Pablo Sabori (9-6, #627 World 155)

W125: Zoila Frausto (14-5, 7-4 Bellator/Strikeforce/Invicta, 3 yrs inactive)  TKO1  Jaimee Nievara (7-5, 2-1 Bellator, 0-1 Contenders, #82 World)

165: Daniel Rodriguez (8-1, #173 World)  KO2-Knee  Ivan Castillo (17-12, 0-2 Bellator/ACB, late notice)


ROAD FC 52

ROAD finally crowns its $1 Million Lightweight Grand Prix champion – Barnaoui to face A. Sol Kwan for the belt.  Plus Michel Pereira steals the show.

Date: Saturday, Sat. 23
Time: 3 AM ET
Location: Seoul, South Korea
How to watch: DAZN

? ROAD $1 Million Grand Prix Final

155: Mansour Barnaoui (18-4, 3-3 KSW/M-1, #51 World)  KO3-Knee  Shamil Zavurov (34-6-1, 15-5-1 WFCA/M-1/FNG, #50 World)

? ROAD Bantamweight Championship

135: Min Woo Kim (9-2, #455 World)  Sub1-Triangle Choke  Jae Hoon Moon (11-13, #178 World, was ROAD FC champ)

? Notable fights

265: Michel Pereira (22-9, craziest ninja in MMA, #164 World 185)  TKO2-Knees  Dae Sung Kim (4-6)  –  Ridiculous Highlights

155: Bruno Miranda (12-3, #492 World)  TKO1-Punches   Young Gi Hong (5-5)

135: Ik Hwan Jang (7-2, #411 World)  UD3 Dae Young Jang (5-3)

Read More:  Michel Pereira puts on a legendary performance at Road FC 52


UFC on ESPN+ 3

UFC Prague RESULTS & CLIPS:  “Marreta” ignites fireworks atop a solid Euro UFC outing

Date: Saturday, Sat. 23
Time: 11 AM ET Prelims, 2 PM ET Main Card
Location: Prague, Czech Republic

?  Main Card on ESPN+

205: Thiago Santos (21-6, 13-5 UFC, #7 World)  TKO3-Left Hook+  Jan Blachowicz (23-8, 6-5 UFC, #10 World)

265: Stefan Struve (29-11, 13-9 UFC, #27 World)  Sub2-Arm Triangle  Marcos Rogerio Lima (16-6-1, 5-4 UFC, #50 World)  –  Struve maybe retired

205: Michal Oleksiejczuk (13-2, 2-0 UFC, #59 World)  TKO1-Liver Punch  Gian Villante (17-11, 7-8 UFC, #34 World)

W125: Liz Carmouche (13-6, 5-4 UFC, #3 World)  UD3  Lucie Pudilova (8-4, 2-3 UFC, #11 World)

135: Petr Yan (12-1, 4-0 UFC, #15 World)  UD3  John Dodson (20-11, 9-6 UFC, #10 World)

205: Magomed Ankalaev (11-1, 2-1 UFC, #40 World)  UD3  Klidson Farias (14-3, 0-1 UFC, Brave CF champ, #33 World, missed weight by 3 lbs)

?  Prelims on ESPN2

170: Dwight Grant (9-2, 1-1 UFC, #207 World)  TKO1-Right Hand+  Carlo Pedersoli (11-3, 1-2 UFC, #157 World)

145: Chris Fishgold (18-2-1, 1-1 UFC, #167 World)  Sub2-RNC  Daniel Teymur (6-3, 0-3 UFC, #428 World)

W125: Gillian Robertson (6-3, 3-1 UFC, #28 World)  Sub2-RNC  Veronica Macedo (5-2-1, 0-3 UFC, #29 World)

155: Damir Hadzovic (13-4, 3-2 UFC, #62 World)  TKO2-GNP  Polo Reyes (8-5, 4-2 UFC, #167 World)

170: Ismail Naurdiev (17-2, 1-0 UFC, 3-1 ACB, #109 World)  UD3  Michel Prazeres (26-3, 10-3 UFC, #20 World)

155: Diego Ferreira (15-2, 6-2 UFC, #41 World, missed weight by 1 lb)  UD3  Rustam Khabilov (23-4, 9-3 UFC, #19 World)

155: Damir Ismagulov (18-1, 2-0 UFC, #75 World)  UD3  Joel Alvarez (15-2, 0-1 UFC, AFL Spain champ, #187 World)

Read More:

Interview: Gillian Robertson thinks Shevchenko is far ahead of the pack

Analysis:  Get to know UFC debutant Ismail “Austrian Wonderboy” Naurdiev

Kumite TV:  Dwight Grant’s Kung Fu Style

Kumite TV:  Petr Yan on the hunt for Dodson

Kumite TV:  Damir Ismagulov wants to be GGG for Kazakh MMA


Bellator 217

Bellator 217 RESULTS & CLIPS: Starring James Gallagher and an SBG Ireland cast & crew

Date: Saturday, Sat. 23
Time: 4 PM ET Tape Delayed Broadcast
Location: Dublin, Ireland
How to watch: DAZN

?  Main Card

135: James Gallagher (8-1, 5-1 Bellator, Conor protege, #422 World)  Sub1-RNC  Steven Graham (6-4, 0-1 Bellator, Kansas regional champ, #424 World)

155: Myles Price (11-7, 1-0 Bellator, #459 World)  SD3  Peter Queally (11-5-1, 0-1 Bellator, 2-1-1 FNG, #173 World)

170: Kiefer Crosbie (6-0, 2-0 Bellator, #576 World)  Sub1-RNC  Daniel Olejniczak (3-3-1)

145: Richie Smullen (4-1-1, 1-0 Bellator, TUF 27 alum)  UD3  Adam Gustab (3-4)

?  Notable Prelims

W145: Olga Rubin (6-0, 4-0 Bellator, #9 World W145)  UD3  Iony Razfiarison (6-2, 1-2 Bellator, #34 World W135)

155: Paul Redmond (15-7, 2-0 Bellator, 0-2 UFC, #325 World)  UD3  Charlie Leary (15-10-1, 1-1 Bellator, #287 World)

170: Walter Gahadza (18-3, 2-0 Bellator, #412 World)  TKO1-Head Kick  Ruben Crawford (16-4, #281 World 2.5 yrs inactive)  –  Head Kick Did It

163: Alfie Davis (11-3, 2-0 Bellator, ax kick master, #438 World)  UD3  Daniele Scatizzi (9-5, 1-1 Bellator, #529 World)

185: Charlie Ward (6-3, 2-0 Bellator, 0-2 UFC)  KO1-Left Hook  Jamie Stephenson (4-3, 0-1 Bellator)  –  Huge Left Hook

185: Will Fleury (5-1, 1-1 Bellator)  Sub2-RNC  Shaun Taylor (8-2, #373 World)


US Regionals – Notable Fights

FCOC 56 Recap & Clips: LFA alumni shine at Fight Club OC 56

Fight Club OC 56

Date: Thursday, Feb. 21
Time: 10 PM ET
Location: Costa Mesa, California, USA
How to Watch:  Facebook

145: Westin Wilson (7-3, 0-1 LFA, 1-0 Bellator prelims)  Sub1-Guillotine  Javier Garcia (4-3, 2-1 Combate)

185: Andre Walker (5-2, 0-1 LFA)  TKO1-Left Hand+  Chris Herrera (3-4-1, 1-1-1 Bellator, 0-1 LFA)


Ring of Combat 67

Results & Recap via MMASucka.com

Date: Friday, Feb. 22
Time: 8:30 PM ET
Location: Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
How to watch: FITE iPPV

? ROC Featherweight Championship

145: Bill Algeo (12-3, defending ROC champ, #94 World)  Sub2-RNC  John de Jesus (10-7, 1-0 LFA, 6-1 in last 7, #203 World)

? ROC Bantamweight Championship

135: Phil Caracappa (8-0, defending ROC champ, #203 World)  TKO3  John Sweeney (6-2, 2-0 LFA, #384 World)


King of the Cage: Combat Zone

Date: Saturday, Feb. 23
Location: Niagara Falls, New York, USA

145: Billy Quarantillo (11-2, TUF 22 alum, #166 World 155)  def.  Adrian Vilaca (9-5, #7 Canada, #257 World)

185: Erik Herbert (9-2, 6 win streak, #277 World)  def.  Jay Jackson (3-14)  –  Highlights


WFC 99

Date: Saturday, Feb. 23
Location: Northfield, Ohio, USA

205: Aleksa Camur (4-0, #1 Ohio, Stipe training partner, #250 World) vs. Tra’Von Butler (2-0)


Jackson’s MMA Series 27

Date: Saturday, Feb. 23
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

125: Jerome Rivera (8-2, 1-2 LFA, #211 World)  Sub2-Triangle Choke  Gene Perez (7-11)  –  Result via Caged Minds


Combat Games 62

Date: Saturday, Feb. 23
Location: Tulalip, Washington, USA

135: Benny Vinson (10-5-1, 0-1 Combate, #4 US Northwest)  Dec5  Joey Elzea (6-1, #2 US Northwest, #412 World) –  Friends After the Fight


Reign FC 23

Date: Saturday, Feb. 23
Location: Squahamish, Washington, USA

265: Dylan Potter (7-4, 7 finishes, #162 World)  TKO3-Body Kick  Sua Tuani (3-2, 3 finishes, #204 World)  –  Recap via the Promotion


World MMA – Notable Fights

Mega FC

Date: Friday, Feb. 22
Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil

205: Leonardo Silva (15-3, 0-1 Contenders, #146 World)  TKO  Marcelo Cruz (10-9)  –  Leonardo Celebrates


Wawan MMA 18

Date: Friday, Feb. 22
Location: Kuwait

170: JJ Ambrose (30-8, 0-3 Bellator, TUF 12 alum, #169 World)  Sub  Alaa Mansour (6-2, #14 Middle East)


Citadel: The Wheels of Osiris

Date: Saturday, Feb. 23
Location: Smolensk, Russia

W135: Ekaterina Makarova (4-1, #34 World W145) vs. Anna Emelyanenko (2-0)


Perviy Club Fight Show 29

Date: Saturday, Feb. 23
Location: Moscow, Russia

265: Alexandr Gladkov (10-3, 0-2 FNG, #190 World) vs. Aleksey Dutov (9-4)


We Love MMA 46

Date: Saturday, Feb. 23
Location: Munich, Germany


Diamondback FC 8

Results via FightNewsAustralia

Date: Sunday, Feb. 24
Location: North Adelaide, Australia

170: Tony Caruso (7-0, #13 Aus/NZ, #324 World)  Sub1-RNC  Tristan Murphy (6-6, #36 Aus/NZ)

185: Shane Mitchell (11-4, #4 Aus/NZ, #343 World)  TKO3  Paul Franchi (4-3, #47 Aus/NZ)


Mix Fight Events 40

Date: Sunday, Feb. 24
Location: Yerevan, Armenia

170: David Khachatryan (25-4, 8-2 FNG, #378 World)  def  Simone Botino (1-5)  –  Result via Armsport.am


ONE Hero Series February

RECAP & VIDEO:  Relive a finish-filled Monday MMA event from China

Date: Monday, Feb. 25
Location: Beijing, China

125: Hao Jie Li (7-3-1, 3-0 ONE, #80 World)  UD3  Fuchong Yang (1-2)

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