On paper, UFC on ESPN+ 25’s main-card opener between Yancy Medeiros and Lando Vannata seemed to be one of Saturday night’s best fights. The lightweight duo have the ability to put together “Fight of the Night” caliber brawls on any given evening.

Instead, a tactical affair broke out at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., largely because that was the pace Vannata (11-4-2 MMA, 3-4-2 UFC) dictated. The New Mexico resident used a smart counter-striking style to fluster his foe and earn a unanimous decision on a count of 30-27 across the board.

“I got a great team around me,” Vannata said. “I believe I’ve got world class talent, world class skill. I believe I’m still growing in this sport.”

There wasn’t much mystery to Vannata’s game plan as he moved at a fast pace, darted in and out, kept his hands down, and waited for Medeiros (15-7 MMA, 6-7 UFC) to strike.

Medeiros, for his part, liked to stay outside and land straight shots to set up the rest of his offense, but he never seemed to be able to adjust to his nimble foe, as Vannata always seemed to land counter combos and then scoot out to safety.

The Hawaiian Medeiros seemed a step off the entire fight, perhaps due to the high altitude, but Vannata never slowed. And while Medeiros tried to pick up the pace in the third and landed occasional nice shots, he was never able to unleash a sustained offensive streak.

Vannata is now 2-1-1 in his past four, with all except for his one loss in that run going the distance. Medeiros, who hasn’t won a fight since 2017, has lost three in a row after dropping a decision for just the second time in his career.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN+ 25 results include:

• Lando Vannata def. Yancy Medeiros via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Daniel Rodriguez def. Tim Means via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:37
• John Dodson def. Nathaniel Wood via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 0:16
• Scott Holtzman def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Devin Clark def. Dequan Townsend via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
• Merab Dvalishvili def. Casey Kenney via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 29-28)
• Macy Chiasson def. Shanna Young via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
• Raulian Paiva def. Mark De La Rosa via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 4:42