Bantamweights Frankie Saenz and Augusto Mendes electrified the Phoenix crowd as the two tore into each other for three gruelling rounds. Mendes rocked Saenz with a right to the head in the first and again early in the second, but “Tanquinho” was nearly knocked out moments late when a Saenz elbow dropped him.

However, the Brazilian was resilient and survived and barely edged his rival in the third round to earn a split decision. The final tallies favored Mendes 29-28 twice and 28-29 to award him what was the evening’s best fight up to that point.