XFC 15 results: Reynolds outlasts Novaes; Newell remains unbeaten
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Dec 02

Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Jonatas Novaes (9-4) appeared well on his way to a first-round submission win over three-time Bellator Fighting Championships veteran Eric Reynolds (14-5).

The the wheels fell off.

Reynolds' gas tank failed him over the final 10 minutes of the fight, and "It's a Wrap" earned a hard-fought unanimous-decision win over Novaes in the featured contest on Friday night's "XFC 15: Tribute" event, which took place at St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla. The night's main card aired on HDNet.

Novaes wowed the crowd with an early high kick that seemed to land, but the real danger come shortly after when he mounted his opponent. From that point on, Novaes attacked the arm from every imaginable position, nearly scoring the armbar on multiple occasions. Yet each and every time Novaes looked as if he'd finish the fight, Reynolds scrambled free.

In the second, the tide began to turn, and Reynolds was able to dump his foe to the floor after missed takedown attempts. Novaes taunted his opponent from his back, pointing to his body after each strike to show where the blow should have been targeted. But it was obvious as Reynolds backed away Novaes was slowing. A few crisp punches on the feet wobbled Novaes, and he continued to fade.

In the third, Novaes scrambled and looked again for a few submission attempts, including an earnest arm-triangle attempt from half-mount, but Reynolds pulled free each time and earned enough damage to claim the round and the unanimous-decision result.

Reynolds improves to 3-2 in his past five fights. Novaes sees a four-fight win streak snapped.

In the night's female co-feature, the wrestler dominated the striker.

Carla Esparza (6-2) took Felice Herrig (5-4) to the ground in the opening seconds of their fight, and it was a position she'd find herself in throughout the night. Herrig did eventually scramble back to her feet, but Esparza quickly took her back to the floor and blasted away from the top, creating a huge hematoma on Herrig's forehead.

The second round was a little closer for Herrig, who was active from her back and did not absorb nearly as much damage. However, it was still Esparza who was in clear control of the action, riding out top position throughout the frame.

In the third, Esparza remained first to the punch, and it was Herrig who actually looked for the takedown. Instead, she would wind up bottom yet again. Herrig threatened with a slick armbar attempt that was nearly locked in place, but Esparza pulled free and went back to work. A creative triangle choke/armbar combination also threatened to score a come-from-behind win, but Esparza again pulled free and re-established her position, where she would stay until the final round.

Esparza improves to 3-1 in her past four fights. Herrig sees a four-fight win streak snapped.

Born with a left arm that stops just past the elbow due to condition called congenital amputation, inspirational combatant Nick Newell (6-0) proved he's well beyond the "just happy to be hear" stage. With a lightning quick submission win over Denis Hernandez (3-4), Newell proved he's a legitimate threat in the cage.

Newell survived an early onslaught of punches and worked the fight to the floor, immediately pounding away on his flattened opponent. As Hernandez looked to scramble and defend the punches, Newell dropped back and tucked his opponent's foot under his "handicapped" arm, quickly cranking a heel hook that immediately earned a pained submission. The whole process took just 71 seconds.

Newell has now earned six wins as a professional, and all six stoppages have come in the opening round. Hernandez has now dropped two-straight bouts via submission.

In a key welterweight contest, three-time UFC veteran Corey Hill (5-4) looked impressive in a first-round submission win over "The Ultimate Fighter 13" cast member Charlie Rader (16-5).

Hill took the fight to the floor with an early trip and dominated position as Rader struggled to return to his feet. Just as it looked as if Rader might make it off his back, Hill locked in a brabo choke and torqued the hold, eliciting a tap at the 3:58 mark of the opening round.

Hill improves to 2-1 in his past three outings. The loss snaps a six-fight win streak for Rader.

In a super-heavyweight contest, Brandon Sayles (2-0) took firm control of the center of the cage in the early moments of his bout with Imani Lee (2-4) and used the position to pepper his foe with stiff jabs. After tenderizing his opponent from the outside, Sayles took Imani to the floor, moved quickly to mount and pounded away with heavy leather. Most of the blows were blocked, but the onslaught led Lee to verbally submit at the 3:09 mark of the round.

Sayles has now earned victory in his first two bouts as a professional, while Lee falls to 1-3 in his past four outings.

In an early catchweight contest, UFC and Bellator Fighting Championships Ryan Thomas (13-7) earned an impressive submission victory over "The Ultimate Fighter 6" cast member John Kolosci (15-9). Thomas missed an initial attempt at a first-round rear-naked choke but quickly maneuvered himself into a triangle choke while on Kolosci's back. The tap came shortly after, as Kolosci struggled to find an escape.

In the evening's first main-card contest, three-time Shooto Brazil veteran Marlon Moraes (7-4-1) defeated American Top Team's Chris Manuel (8-4-2) via unanimous decision. Moraes snapped a two-fight skid with the result, while Manuel saw a two-fight win streak snapped.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Eric Reynolds def. Jonatas Novaes via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Carla Esparza def. Felice Herrig via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Nick Newell def. Denis Hernandez via submission (heel hook) - Round 1, 1:11
Corey Hill def. Charlie Rader via submission (brabo choke) - Round 1, 3:58
Brandon Sayles def. Imani Lee via verbal submission (punches) - Round 1, 3:09
Ryan Thomas def. John Kolosci via submission (reverse triangle choke) - Round 1, 4:46
Marlon Moraes def. Chris Manuel via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)