The final preliminary bout of the UFC Fight Night 26 card was a battle of top UFC bantamweights as Michael McDonald stopped Brad Pickett by submission in the second round. 
In the opening round, McDonald would land multiple strikes early in the round and appeared moments away from a knockout victory. Pickett was able to scramble to keep himself in the fight. Nearly the entire round would be on the feet with McDonald continuing to score with his strikes on the feet.
They would continue to have a striking battle at the start of the second round before Pickett took the fight to the ground with a takedown. While on his back, McDonald began to look for submissions and initially went for an armbar. As Pickett was defending the armbar, he switched to a triangle choke and Pickett tapped out.
McDonald (16-2) has won five of his six fights in the UFC and could be in line for his third fight night bonus. Pickett (23-8) is now 3-2 in his last five fights and this is his first submission defeat since 2011.
UFC Fight Night 26 Results:
Michael McDonald def. Brad Pickett via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 3:43
Conor McGregor def. Max Holloway via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Steven Siler def. Mike Brown via KO (strikes) – Round 1, :50
Diego Brandao def. Daniel Pineda via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Manny Gamburyan def. Cole Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Ovince St-Preux def. Cody Donovan via KO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:07
James Vick def. Ramsey Nijem via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, :58