Lightweights Evan Dunham (11-2, 4-2 UFC) vs. Shamar Bailey (12-3, 1-0 UFC) meet on the preliminary card of UFC Fight Night 25: Shields vs. Ellenberger. The fight streams live on Facebook.
Dunham was one of the most highly touted prospects in the UFC a year ago. A controversial split decision loss to former champ Sean Sherk was followed by a battering at the hands of Melvin Guillard at UFC Fight for the Troops.
Bailey, a quarterfinalist on The Ultimate Fighter, is making a huge step up in competition in this fight.
Round 1: Dunham scoring quickly. Baiely shoots in, Dunham fends him off. Dunham with the double jab. Bailey with a front kick. Left hand from Dunham as Bailey circles into his power. Dunham busting up Bailey with lefts. Bailey with leg kicks. Dunham landing combinations. Bailey hurts him with a left. Dunham answers with a hard head kick. Another. Combination from Dunham. Another. Dunham lands a knee as Bailey shoots for a single. Bailey goes for a leaping knee, Dunham catches him. Buzzer rings. Dunham slams Bailey hard. Bailey is mad. Dunham apologizes. MMA Nation scores it 10-9 Dunham.
Round 2: They touch gloves. Inside leg kicks from Bailey. Dunham firing combinations again. Bailey lands a left. Bailey shoots, Dunham takes his back. Bailey escapes. High kick from Dunham. Leg kick from Bailey. Dunham lands a front kick to the face. Dunham landing hard combinations. Again and again. He hurts Bailey with another combo. Bailey clearly hurt and tired. Dunham eats a right hook, backs away. Dunham resets, fires a combination. Head kick from Dunham. Left head kick from Dunham. Bailey shoots, Dunham with a beautiful spinning sprawl. MMA Nation scores it 10-9 Dunham
Round 3: Bailey coming out aggressive. Landing punches but Dunham answers with more combinations. The pattern continues. Bailey lands now and again, continues coming forward but Dunham keeps landing combinations. Bailey is hurt but hanging in the fight. Dunham firing away but can't seem to finish Shamar Bailey. Multiple head kicks score. Bailey hurt and backing up. Dunham pouring it on. Bailey survives. Bailey tags Dunham! Dunham is hurt. Bailey lurching forward. The ref stops it for a missing mouthpiece. Bad timing. Dunham lands more punches. Bailey shoots and eats a knee, keeps driving for the take down. Dunham goes for a guillotine as the buzzer stops the fight.
Evan Dunham defeats Shamar Bailey by unanimous decision (30-27 x3) at UFC Fight Night 25: Shields vs. Ellenberger.