UFC FIGHT NIGHT: SANTOS vs. ANKALAEV aired live in Asia on Sunday, March 13 from UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The card was nonstop action from rankers and prospects alike, who showed excellent technique and delivered some amazing finishes.
Hard-hitting light heavyweight contenders #5 Thiago Santos and #6 Magomed Ankalaev respected the other's KO ability and executed their bout with measured, high level tactics. Nail-biting clashes peppered the action which played out across the full five rounds, and Ankalaev was awarded the unanimous decision victory via the scorecards. Ankalaev said:
"I wanted to fight all five rounds to test myself and see if I'm ready to go all the way to the top. I was expecting him to be more aggressive and grapple more, but he didn't. He was very careful. Of course it depends on UFC and what happens in the next title fight... I feel like I deserve a title fight."
China's very own "Kung Fu Monkey" Song Yadong, #14 ranked bantamweight contender, took a major step into the top ten with a walk-off, highlight reel-worthy KO of #10 Marlon Moraes. After the first round finish, Song said,
"I'm happy but I feel sorry for Marlon. He's a very good fighter and needed to win, but I need to win, too. Our first plan was defense, but when there was a chance (for the KO), I had to catch it. I want to fight Dominick Cruz. I respect him very much. When I was young, I watched him fight, now I want to fight with him. Let's go!"
When light heavyweights Khalil Rountree Jr. and Karl Roberson locked horns, it was violence from the very start. Khalil came out with a vengeance in the second round and ended the fight by TKO with a barrage of punches and a body kick on the ground.
Lightweights Drew Dober and Terrance McKinney made an exciting matchup with a knockdown from McKinney in the first round, then Dober rebounded for an early TKO at the very start of the second.
Cody Brundage shook off some adversity against Dalcha Lungiambula and finished his foe with a guillotine choke, ending their middleweight bout via first-round submission to earn his first UFC victory.
Azamat Murzakanov rescued victory from the jaws of defeat in the light heavyweight opener, as he scored a come from behind stoppage of Tafon Nchukwi with a flush knee to the head to keep his unbeaten record intact in his UFC debut. Below are the complete results from the event.
UFC Vegas 50 Results:
Performances of the Night:
MAIN EVENT
CO-MAIN EVENT
MAIN CARD
PRELIMS
What are your thoughts on the event? Let us know in the comments below.
0 Comments