UFC Vegas 17 took place Saturday, December 19, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card was headlined by a welterweight bout between Stephen Thompson and Geoff Neal.
Closing odds are courtesy of one of the most popular Las Vegas based sportsbooks Circa Sports. Here’s a quick recap of each of those fights.
Favorites that Won
In the co-main event of the evening, Jose Aldo outstruck Marlon Vera early, then latched onto Vera’s back to ride out the entire time in back control to earn a unanimous decision victory, his first as a bantamweight. Aldo was -125 while Vera was +105
Michel Pereira wasn’t quite as wild as he usually is, and a more-composed version of the Brazilian was able to outstrike Khaos Williams from distance to earn a unanimous decision. Pereira was -115 while Williams was -105
Alex Morono took advantage of a poorly timed jumping kick to win the first round, but Anthony Pettis outstruck Morono in rounds two and three, nearly finishing the fight with a spinning wheel kick in the closing seconds to earn a unanimous decision. Pettis was -185 while Morono was +160
Tafon Nchukwi outstruck Jamie Pickett on the feet and also dominated the fight on the ground to earn a one-sided unanimous decision. Nchukwi was -325, while Pickett was +270
Jimmy Flick aggressively attempted a flying triangle and was able to lock it in against Cody Durden, who tapped out in the first round. Flick was -165 while Durden was +145
In the opening bout of the evening, late replacement Christos Giagos was simply too much for Carlton Minus, easily earning a one-sided unanimous decision. Giagos was -325 while Minus was +270.
Underdogs that Won
Rob Font survived an early takedown from Marlon Moraes, then punished Moraes with a steady diet of heavy jabs, uppercuts and hooks to earn a first round TKO victory. Font was +150 while Moraes was -170
Greg Hardy landed heavy shots while outstriking Marcin Tybura in the first round, but Tybura took the fight to the floor in round two, then advanced position and punished Hardy with ground and pound, eventually scoring a ground and pound finish. Tybura was -105 while Hardy was -115
Sijara Eubanks scored a takedown in the first round, but Pannie Kianzad kept the fight upright from there, outworking Eubanks both in open space and in the clinch to win the final two frames and take a unanimous decision. Kianzad was +115 while Eubanks was -135
Deron Winn finally used his wrestling, taking Antonio Arroyo down in rounds two and three after losing the first round. He rode out top position long enough to earn a unanimous decision. Winn was +165 while Arroyo was -190
Taila Santos surprisingly beat Gilian Robertson at her own game, securing top position in all three rounds against the vaunted submission specialist to earn a unanimous decision. Santos was +100 while Robertson was -120
Pick ’em Fights
In the main event of the evening, Geoff Neal was unable to solve the riddle that is Stephen Thompson as Thompson picked him apart from distance with a steady diet of jabs, straight punches and kicks. Neal lost all five rounds as Thompson scored an impressive decision victory. Both fighters closed at -110 pick ’em.
