The featured bout of the UFC 164 preliminary card was a lightweight bout as Gleison Tibau scored a split decision win over Jamie Varner.
The opening round would be a striking battle for a majority of the round. Tibau was a counter puncher timing Varner’s lunging right hand and elected to take the fight to the ground in the last minute of the round. While on the ground, Tibau had the dominate position and would keep the fight on the ground until the bell sounded.
Varner opened the second round by landing a right hand and Tibau went for a takedown. As Tibau went for the takedown, Varner went for a guillotine choke but the submission was unsuccessful. Tibau would have top position and began to land strikes and looked for various submissions. He would get the back of Varner on two occasions in the round but was unable to get a finish before the round came to a conclusion.
As the third round opened, Varner came out throwing big punches and fought like a fighter that felt he was down two rounds. As Varner was throwing a punch, Tibau went for a takedown but Varner stopped the attempt. After an exchange of punches, Varner was able to get the fight to the ground and work his ground strikes. The remainder of the fight would remain with Varner in this position but he was unable to get a finish.
The fight would be decided by the scorecards and two of the three judges gave the fight to Tibau (28-9). He has won back to back fights for the first time since 2011 and two of his last three wins have come by decision.
UFC 164 Results:
Gleison Tibau def. Jamie Varner via split decision (29-28, 27-29, 29-28)
Tim Elliot def. Louis Gaudinot via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Hyun Gyu Lim def. Pascal Krauss via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 3:58
Chico Camus def. Kyung Ho Kang via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Soa Palelei def. Nikita Krylov via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 1:34
Al Iaquinta def. Ryan Couture via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Magnus Cedenblad def. Jared Hamman via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, :57