Krause, Phillips, Cummings among winners on UFC on FOX Fight Pass prelims
James Krause def. Daron Cruickshank via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
Krause may have saved himself from a pink slip on Saturday.
Facing a three-fight losing streak, Krause turned in the best performance of his UFC career, needing just under a minute and a half to submit the incredibly dangerous Cruickshank.
After a couple heavy exchanges and quick takedowns, Krause grounded Cruickshank with a picture-perfect trip and immediately jumped on his back. Once there, it was academic, as "The James Krause" quickly secured an air-tight rear-naked choke, eliciting the tap at 1:27 of the opening stanza.
Wow. What a ridiculous sub for Krause. Cruickshank got put on his back and tapped in an instant. Weird fight. #UFCChicago
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) July 25, 2015
Andrew Holbrook def. Ramsey Nijem via split decision
This was a robbery, plain and simple.
It was 15 grueling minutes of slick grappling exchanges and excellent scrambles, as Holbrook threatened with multiple submissions, while Nijem, the more conditioned fighter, landed heavy shots on the feet and out-grappled Holbrook in the critical moments of Round 3.
In the end, it looked like a clear unanimous decision for Nijem, who likely should've taken the fight 29-28 after controlling two of three rounds.
Two of the judges didn't think so, somehow scoring it for Holbrook, and the fans, who couldn't believe what they were hearing, showered the decision with boos.
That’s complete BS. Nijem mouths “are you serious?” when he hears the decision. Yeah, my sentiments exactly.
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) July 25, 2015
Elizabeth Phillips def. Jessamyn Duke via unanimous decision
Phillips brought a 10-minute gas tank to a 15-minute fight. Luckily that's all she needed.
Phillips dominated Duke over the first two rounds, out-striking and out-grappling the "Four Horsewoman," even threatening to finish the bout with multiple flurries of ground-and-pound on the floor.
Tougher than leather, Duke somehow survived the 10-minute drubbing and turned the tides in the third round. Duke peppered a completely gassed Phillips with heavy combinations, and almost pulled off an armbar in the waning seconds of the fight.
Duke's third-round work wasn't enough, though, and an exhausted Phillips escaped with a unanimous decision victory.
Phillips is so tired that she can’t even keep her eyes open in the post-fight interview with Rogan.
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) July 25, 2015
Zak Cummings def. Dominique Steele via first-round TKO
Forty-one seconds doesn't seem like a long time, but it likely felt like an eternity for Steele.
Making his UFC debut, Steele lasted a mere 41 seconds against Cummings at UFC of FOX 16 on Saturday afternoon, falling victim to a first-round TKO.
Cummings floored Steele with a blistering left hand, and followed it up with a barrage of combinations until a battered Steele was saved along the cage by referee Otto Torreiro.