UFC Vegas 38 rapid recap: Thiago Santos outpoints Johnny Walker in headliner

Jul 6, 2019; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Thiago Santos (blue gloves) before his fight against Jon Jones (not pictured) at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Thiago Santos defeated fellow Brazilian Johnny Walker by unanimous decision Saturday night in the main event of UFC Vegas 38 in Las Vegas, Nev.

The major moments at UFC Vegas 38

Santos won 48-47 across all three cards in the light heavyweight contest at the UFC APEX.

The fight was extremely close, as Walker landed 48 strikes to Santos’ 44.

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The night’s co-main event between middleweights Kevin Holland and Kyle Daukaus ended in a no-contest in the first round after an accidental clash of heads that were originally missed by referee Herb Dean. Holland dropped to the mat after Daukaus’ head smashed right into his chin. The fourteenth-ranked middleweight fought on but seemed compromised before he was submitted by his opponent minutes later.

However, when the accident headbutt occurred officials flagged the incident as worthy of review. After the fight ended, referees and officials conferred and ruled the fight a no-contest. Saying Holland was affected greatly by the headbutt.

In other bouts on the main card, Niko Price defeated Alex Oliveira via unanimous decision in their welterweight contest, Krzysztof Jotko defeated Misha Cirkunov by split decision in their middleweight bout, and Alexander Hernandez recorded a technical knockout of Mike Breeden in 80 seconds in the main card opening matchup.