Miesha
Tate showed she still has some gas left in the tank at
UFC on ESPN 52.

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The former
Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s bantamweight champion
dominated in her first appearance in over a year, submitting
Julia
Avila by rear naked choke in the third round (1:15).

With the win, Tate (20-9, 7-6 UFC) picked up her 20th career
victory. It was a win that’s eluded her for years. Many thought
Tate was done after suffering back-to-back losses to Ketlen
Vieira and Lauren
Murphy, but Tate looked like her prime self early against
Avila.

Using her patented wrestle-heavy style, Tate quickly took Avila to
the mat and rode her for the entire five minutes. Tate peppered her
with shots and forced her to survive without breaking a sweat.
After two potential 10-8 rounds in Tate’s favor the only question
was if “Cupcake” could find her first finish since she won the
title from Holly Holm in
2016.

That question would be answered early in Round 3 as Tate yet again
took the Raging Panda’s (9-3, 3-2 UFC) back. The finish was
textbook for Tate as she’s done it eight times in her career
before.

She may be a “Cupcake,” but if fighters continue to underestimate
the 37-year-old former champ, they’ll be left with a bitter
aftertaste.



Drakkar
Klose (14-2-1 8-2 UFC) put his name in the running for knockout
of the year with one of the most savage finishes of 2023. After
getting caught in an armbar early against Joe Solecki
in their lightweight clash, Klose instinctively lifted Solecki
above his head and slammed him unconscious into the mat.

Solecki’s body went limp as soon as he hit the canvas and the bout
was stopped 1:41 into Round 1. Klose has won three straight since
being knocked out by UFC Austin headliner Beneil
Dariush in 2020.

Cody
Brundage saw how Klose finished his fight and thought to
himself, “that’s a good idea.”

Fresh off Klose’s knockout slam, Brundage did his best
impersonation after slamming Zach Reese
to sleep in the first round (1:41) of their middleweight clash.
Like Klose, Brundage (10-5, 4-4 UFC) was also caught in a potential
arm submission.

Slamming your way out of a submission is considered an amateur
mistake, but Brundage may have earned himself an extra $50,000 with
the second super slam of the night. The win gave Brundage his
second win in a row, while muddying Reese’s (6-1, 0-1 UFC) perfect
record.

Rodolfo
Bellato had an Octagon debut to remember after coming out of a
back-and-forth war against the heavy-handed Ihor
Potieria victorious. Bellato was on skates early in Round 2
before being dropped and nearly finished by the Ukrainian, but

Team Nogueira’s hottest light heavyweight prospect would
ultimately be celebrating.

Bellato (12-2, 1-0 UFC) closed the show at the 4:17 mark of the
second frame after shaking off a thunderous three-punch combo that
put him flat on his back. Potieria (19-5,1-3 UFC) looked poised to
pick up his first win since retiring Maurico Rua in January, but
couldn’t find the finish in mount.

As Poteira started to slow, Bellato surged. Rising to his feet,
Bellato sent the fight back to the mat with a trip. Sensing his
opportunity, Bellator broke through Potiera’s defense with heavy
elbows. Once Bellato shifted into full mount, there was nothing
Poteria could do to avoid punishment. Bellato reigned down punches
until the fight was stopped by referee Jacob Montalvo.

Down a round and on the cusp of a second straight loss, Jared
Gooden found his way back on track with a second-round
submission (1:11) over Wellington
Turman in welterweight action. Gooden’s right eye was swollen
shut after taking a five-minute butt-whuppin in Round 1 but the
X3
Sports prospect turned the odds with a right hand that
staggered Turman midway through the second stanza.

Gooden (24-9, 2-4) pounced on Turman, following him to the canvas.
Worried that referee Jeff
Rexroad was going to stop the bout, Turman fatally gave up his
back when trying to escape mount. Gooden snatched up Turman’s neck
moments later, handing him (18-8, 3-6 UFC) his third-straight
loss.

Veronica
Hardy opened the UFC Austin prelims with a split decision win
over former training partner Jamey-Lyn
Horth (28-29, 29-28, 29-28). Hardy’s lateral movement out of
her southpaw stance caused problems for Horth, as she was open to
flush left crosses all afternoon.

Hardy (8-4-1, 3-4 UFC) snapped the previously unbeaten Horth’s
(6-1, 1-1 UFC) six-fight win streak by keeping the fight on the
feet. Horth’s last finish came by way of rear-naked choke, but
Hardy’s movement forced Hardy to rely on her boxing. Hardy dropped
Horth multiple times by stepping in with the cross but nearly gave
the final round away by engaging in the clinch. Horth tightened the
scorecards late with her forward pressure, but Hardy’s bigger shots
won the hearts of the judges.

IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

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