UFC 203 results and highlights: Correia edges Eye; Lentz, Dober, Medeiros pick up stoppage wins

The UFC’s debut show in Cleveland lost three of its planned eight prelim matchups due to injury, illness, or visa issues. That left us with only five prelims and ten fights in total, almost as if it was the early 2000s all over again. Interest was at its highest for Ohio native Jessica Eye’s very important women’s bantamweight clash with former title challenger Bethe Correia, with both women looking to snap two-fight losing skids.

Here’s how Correia vs. Eye and the rest of the fights played out.

Bethe Correia def. Jessica Eye via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) – Women’s Bantamweights

Early right hand for Eye straight off the bat in this must-win for both of these women. Correia answered nicely with her own right. Eye was getting the better of the few exchanges that happened.

Correia connected strongly with a thudding right early in the 2nd. It was still mostly a waiting game between fighters content to counterpunch. A leg kick and a jab by Correia caught Eye. And then another jab by Bethe. Correia complained of an eye poke but was told to keep fighting. Eye took advantage of a sloppy right hand by Correia and dinged Bethe with a sneaky counter-right. Good body kick by Eye, who otherwise struggled with the jab of Correia.

Not too much offense initiated by either woman in the first 2 minutes of round 3, but Correia arguably landed the better punches. Eye caught Correia with a right hand. Quick exchange on the inside and Eye was worse off in the exchange. Decent jab by Eye. Very good right by Correia as Eye smiled with 90 seconds left in the 3rd. Eye didn’t throw a strike for another 40 seconds after that and ate a left hook. A clinch battle in the closing seconds with the crowd raising the volume levels. Both women celebrated as the horn sounded,

Brad Tavares def. Caio Magalhaes via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28) – Middleweights

The Hawaiian was the aggressor and …

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