Jason Herzog is the referee for this flyweight contest. Rodriguez
is doing a good job working his jab early and establishing
distance. Coria eats a right hand, and Rodriguez follows up with a
flurry of punches. Impressive hand speed is sticking out for
Rodriguez, who is the faster fighter. Coria is eating shots to the
body as the flurries of Rodriguez are proving effective. Rodriguez
lands
a beautifully placed teep kick that causes Coria to fall to his
back. Rodriguez follows up with punches, and this fight is waved
off in the first round
.
The Official Result
Imanol Rodriguez def. Alden Coria via TKO (Body Kick and Punches);
R1, 3:11.

Fresh off a win in his home city of Houston a few months ago, Coria
(12-3, 1 NC; 2-0 UFC) crosses the northern border of Texas to go to
its hat on top of Oklahoma. He draws Australia’s own Nicoll (8-3,
0-3 UFC), who can’t seem to buy a win let alone earn one in the
Octagon to date. Referee Kevin Nix will keep tabs on the flyweights
as they cruise at top speed, touching gloves before impact.
Nicoll bounces on his heels as he circles around the cage, with
chants of “USA” raining down against him right off the bat. Coria
takes to the center of the Octagon and flashes out a jab a few
times, still looking for his range and timing. He nails Nicoll with
a crisp uppercut nearly as solid as the one in the previous match,
and the Aussie tanks it and has to blink it out. Coria walks him
down and jacks him in the jaw with a right hand, and Nicoll turns
tail and runs so he can reset. Nicoll settles himself down and
jabs, but the moment he does, Coria counters with another uppercut
right on the button. Nicoll lunges behind a left hand, and Coria
shrugs it off completely before getting back into Nicoll’s face.
Nicoll’s head movement keeps him relatively safe, but Coria is
still scoring on him practically at will. Nicoll looks for a right
hand over the top, and Coria jams his foot in the stomach in
response.
Coria beats Nicoll to the punch with a jab, and Nicoll responds
with a takedown shot. Coria backs himself to the wall and defends
with a guillotine choke, so Nicoll wrenches him away from it and
drags him to the floor with a body lock. Coria fights his way back
to his feet without taking any damage, and he breaks off from a
clinch to corner his foe against the fencing. Nicoll punches his
way out and is met with a crisp right hand that gets his attention,
his left eye starting to swell. Nicoll bites down on his mouthpiece
and throws hands, spinning his way into a back kick that at least
partially grazes the cup. Nix looks to Coria, who does not seem
concerned. Nicoll blasts through the hips with a double-leg entry,
dragging the Houstonian to the mat. Coria wall-walks in short
order, and he hits a switch and turns Nicoll around before falling
off the back. They reset in kickboxing range, and Nicoll looks to
seal the round with one final takedown that he completes. Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Coria
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Coria
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Coria

Coria comes out of his corner jabbing away, rolling with a counter
overhand right while backing Nicoll away. Coria lets rip a front
kick that slams square into the cup, and Nix calls time as the fans
boo the Australian for some reason. Nicoll asks for 10 seconds, and
Nix of course obliges him as he has five minutes to recover if
needed. They clap hands to get back after it, and Coria kicks his
man in the front leg showing he will not blunt his kicking arsenal
because of the accidental foul. Nicoll meets him with a few low
kicks of his own and a front kick to end the short string of them,
his overhand right after going wide. Coria has his jab stuck in
Nicoll’s face, and he gets nailed with a calf kick and almost goes
down because of it. The Texan gathers himself and pecks away at his
opponent, with Nicoll shelling up awkwardly in the center of the
cage before shooting for a takedown that does not come. Coria has
his uppercut primed and ready, although his pace has diminished to
a degree two minutes in. Coria takes issue with this
characterization and lays it on Nicoll, punishing him with a flurry
of punches until Nicoll shoots for a takedown. Coria drops down and
intercepts a takedown to snatch up an anaconda choke, and Nicoll
turns out of it to attempt another shot from a different angle.
Nicoll clasps his hands around his opponent’s backside and lifts
him in the air like a Country Breakfast-fed Matt Hughes, slamming
him to the ground in the center of the cage with style points.
Nicoll wraps up a crucifix by hooking Coria’s right arm beneath his
legs with Coria on his knees, and he rolls him over to take Coria’s
back. As Coria twists and turns, Nicoll follows him with a bulldog
choke until Coria slips out of his grip. Coria whizzes around to
take Nicoll’s back and bully him to the fencing, with Nicoll
controlling his left arm for a potential kimura sweep as a huge
grin spreads across his face. That expression changes when Coria
gets him down from behind, riding out with back control as he slugs
Nicoll under his armpit. Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Coria
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Coria
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Coria

The 125ers high-five to open the last round, and Coria starts the
round like the first two by walking his man down and busting him in
the face with jabs and follow-up punches. Nicoll ducks down into a
head kick, and he wears it well but is still taking shots. The
Aussie throws back, but Coria does not seem to respect his power as
he steps in with a slick left hook around the guard. Nicoll sways
and dodges, and Coria sees this and times an uppercut as the
commentary team practically calls for the strike. As Coria loads
up, Nicoll times a double and drags the Texan to the mat. Nicoll is
solely concerned with control over submission or damage, and Coria
scoots his way back to the fence and tries to escape. Nicoll flirts
with an inverted triangle choke while Coria is scrambling, and the
two work back to their feet. Coria keeps right on him working the
head and body, and Nicoll’s movement is not keeping him as safe as
he wishes.
Coria lands again and again, and Nicoll tries to go for one home
run response. The swings are big but do not land as often, and his
takedown shot is met with a brabo choke as he rolls his man over
with the grip still locked in. Nicoll grits it out and explodes to
turn to his knees and free himself from the submission, with Coria
now trying to isolate Nicoll’s right arm for his own crucifix as if
to say “two can play that game.” Nicoll twists well enough to
pursue a single and push Coria to the fence, and Coria snatches up
a guillotine choke and jumps guard for it. Nicoll smoothly rolls
through it to stand back up, and upon another shot, this time,
Coria has the power guillotine tight as a drum. Nicoll slumps over
as Coria puts him down on his back, and the grip falls off as time
elapses. Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Coria (30-27 Coria)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Coria (30-27 Coria)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Coria (30-27 Coria)
The Official Result
Alden Coria def. Stewart Nicoll via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-27, 29-28)

Jeff Rexroad is the referee. Coria with an outside leg kick, and
Gurule answers with one of his own. Gurule is warned to close his
hands. Another leg kick for Coria. A right gets through for Coria.
A stiff jab connects for Coria. Coria lands another jab. Coria
counters Gurule with a nice combination. A quick left hand gets
through for Coria, and Gurule follows a combination by shoving his
man into the fence. Coria reverses position and lands a sneaky
shoulder strike and a knee before they separate. Coria lands a body
kick. Coria catches a kick and briefly dumps Gurule. Coria pumps
his jab. Gurule wings a counter combination but can’t connect.
Coria makes Gurule stumble with a calf kick. Coria knees the body
and avoids a Gurule flurry at the horn. Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Coria Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Coria Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Coria

Coria opens up with a lead hook and Gurule responds with a low
kick. Gurule catches a kick, lands a couple shots and looks for a
takedown. He lifts and slams Coria, but the Houston native is right
back to his feet. Coria hurts Gurule in an ensuing exchange. Coria
targets the lead leg and then lands a straightr right. Gurule has a
head kick blocked, and Coria connects with a counter left. Coria
with a front kick to the body. Coria steps in with an uppercut and
follows up with a straight right. They clinch and Coria lands a
knee before shoving his foe into the fence. A shoulder strike
follows. Coria breaks with a slashing elbow and keeps the pressure
on with straights. An uppercut by Coria snaps Gurule’s head back.
Coria is just picking Gurule apart. Coria connects with a head kick
and Gurule goes on the attack. He strings together a series of
punches before changing levels against the fence. Coria defends
well and they separate. Coria stabs his foe with a front kick, then
lands a knee in close. Another uppercut finds the mark for Coria.
Gurule ducks under a spinning attack and slams Coria to the mat.
However, Coria ends up on top in side control. Gurule goes to all
fours and Coria frames a choke to force his foe back to the floor.
Coria ends the round in side control. Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Coria Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Coria Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Coria

Coria lands a jab and then an outside low kick. Gurule wades
forward with power punches. He backs Coria into the fence and
attacks before clinching. Gurule with a short elbow on the break.
Coria lands a combination to back Gurule up. He works the body
nicely before going upstairs. Gurule is firing back this round,
however. Coria changes levels and gets a takedown in the center of
the Octagon. Gurule stands, but Coria maintains a rear body lock. A
quick mat return follows and then Coria shoves Gurule toward the
fence. The Houston fighter peppers his foe with a flurry of punches
on the release. Coria continues to find success with a uppercut.
Coria is heating up, landing punches, knees and kicks to the body.
Gurule wings punches but Coria slides out of reach. Coria catches a
kick. Gurule is swinging wildly before Coria releases the limb.
Coria lands a jab and then eludes an onrushing Gurule. Gurule wades
forward with punches and Coria just misses on a spinning attack.
Gurule falls after a kick and Coria kicks the body. Gurule goes on
the attack one more time, but Coria remains defensively sound until
the final horn. Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Coria (30-27 Coria) Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Coria (30-27 Coria) Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Coria (30-27 Coria)

Dan Miragliotta is the referee. Coria opens up with a leg kick and
Costa answers. coria with an inside leg kick. Costa kicks the body.
Coria is switching stances in the early going. A jab lands for the
Houston native. A slick 1-2 from Coria tags Costa, who sahkes it
off. Coria moves in and out with a jab, then blocks a high kick.
Costa finds an opening and alnds an overhand. coria continues to
work behind hhis jab. Costa whiffs on an overhand. Coria follows a
jab by just missing on a head kick. A counter left connects for
Coria, who follows with a leg kick. Costa is winging power punches,
and he lands a glancing overhand right. Coria attacks the lead leg
of his foe. Costa attacks the body with a kick. Costa catches Coria
with a combination. Coria lands a body kick and then a jab. Costa
blocks a head kick but it smacks off the forearms. Coria extends a
combo and lands multiple punches. Costa looks for a takedown late
in the round but Coria keeps his footing. Coria blocks a body kick. Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Coria Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Coria Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Coria

They trade jabs early. They crash into the clinch and Coria takes
his man down when Costa jumps into his arms. Coria is inside the
Brazilian’s guard. Costa is active from his back, throwing his legs
up and looking for submissions. Coria finds an opening and drops a
couple heavy elbows. Costa pushes off the fence with his legs and
Coria is forced to defend a leg lock. Costa scrambles to his feet
and Coria shoves him into the wire. Costa is threatening with a
kimura with his back to the fence. Coria lifts Costa and briefly
sets him down. Costa rolls and transitions to the back. Moments
later he suplexes the newcomer to the mat while maintaining back
control, secures a body triangle and looks to find openings for a
rear-naked choke. Costa is working on a neck crank now. Coria is
able to turn and scramble back into top position, where he drops an
elbow with a minute to go. Coria finds room for another elbow, then
stands over his opponent before diving back in with punches.
Another elbow lands from top position for Coria, who has recovered
to finish the round strong. Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Coria Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Coria Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Coria

The broadcast team reveals that Costa struggled to his corner
between rounds due to an apparent foot injury. Coria probes with
his jab. Coria backs Costa up and lands a right hand. Costa shoots
out of desperation and Coria sprawls relatively easily. Costa
doesn’t appear to have much left in the tank, and Coria tees off with a barrage of punches against the fence. Costa
slumps to the floor and Coria is able to connect with a few more
blows before Miragliotta shoves him away. An
impressive UFC debut for the Fury FC veteran. Costa, meanwhile,
seems to indicate that his injured pinkie toe hindered him down the
stretch. As it turns out, Costa’s corner was throwing in the towel
around the same time Miragliotta was calling off the bout.

Alden Coria

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