UFC Fight Night 36 results, photos: Ildemar Alcantara edges Albert Tumenov via split

JARAGUA DO SUL, Brazil – Brazilian Ildemar Alcantara initially struggled with the aggressive striking of Russian newcomer Albert Tumenov, but he evened out things with his grappling.

The younger and taller brother of UFC bantamweight Yuri Alcantara swayed two of three judges after three rounds and denied a second straight win for Russia’s representatives at UFC Fight Night 36.

The welterweight bout was part of the preliminary card of today’s UFC Fight Night 36 event at Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil. It streamed on UFC Fight Pass ahead of the main card on FOX Sports 1.

Tumenov might have been cut open early by an Alcantara punch, but he showered his Brazilian opponent with punches and plasma for much of the first round. Tumenov’s aggressiveness aided him as the two stood, but it also gave Alcantara the opportunity to take him down on two occasions, one of which ended with a stiff right hand as the opening frame concluded.

As the fight progressed, it became increasingly clear that Alcantara was far better prepared when the action hit the mat. Tumenov began to flag midway through the second frame, once giving up mount position, and gave up points on his back.

The protracted ground exchanges took much of the snap from Tumenov’s punches as he and Alcantara slugged it out in the final round. The Russian hung his head at the bell as Alcantara did a victory lap, and yet, one judge gave him two of three rounds, 29-28, while the remaining pair of judges awarded Alcantara the bout by scores of 29-28 and 30-27.

“I think my victory was very clear,” he said. “It shouldn’t have been a split decision. But the judges know what they’re doing, and I accept their opinion.

“The important thing is that I came out with the win. I think it was one of my best performances in the UFC so far. You’ve only seen 70 percent of what Ildemar is capable of.”

Alcantara (20-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC) gets back on the winning track after a decision loss against Igor Araujo at UFC Fight Night 29. Tumenov (12-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who followed Chechnyan Zubaira Tukhugov’s loss in the night’s opener, sees an eight-fight streak snapped in his octagon debut.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 36 results include:

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 36, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

John Morgan contributed to this report on-site in Brazil.