Make that – in the UFC!@JoeSolecki
locks in the UD.
#UFCVegas23 pic.twitter.com/4DhdhzrIgr— UFC (@ufc)
April 10, 2021
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Joe Solecki
just added a significant name to his burgeoning mixed martial arts
resume at
UFC on ABC 2.
In a matchup of two grappling-based fighters, Joe Solecki
was able to neutralize Jim Miller
(32-16, 1 NC, 21-15, 1 NC UFC) for the better part of two rounds,
earning a unanimous decision against the 37-time Octagon veteran in
their lightweight clash at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday
afternoon. After 15 minutes, Solecki (11-2, 3-0) received
scorecards of 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 from the cageside judges.
Most of the bout was contested on the mat. Solecki appeared to be
quicker to the punch in the opening stages of Round 1, but Miller
was able to stuff a takedown and assume top position for the final
two minutes of the period. The bout took on a similar form for the
last two frames, only it was Solecki who dictated the action, as he
secured takedowns, stayed busy with moderate ground-and-pound and
neutralized Miller’s guard.
Miller has lost three of his last four fights.
Ex-KSW Champ Gamrot Stops Holtzman
Former
Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki champion Mateusz
Gamrot earned his first UFC triumph in emphatic fashion,
stopping Scott
Holtzman via technical knockout in their lightweight encounter.
The 30-year-old
American Top Team member brought the show to a close 1:22 into
the the second round, sending Holtzman to his second consecutive KO
defeat.
Gamrot (18-1, 1-1 UFC) frustrated his foe in Round 1 with
side-to-side movement, all while blending right hands and takedowns
together nicely when he went on the offensive. “Gamer” found his
opening early in the second period, when he dropped Holtzman (14-5, 7-5 UFC) to a knee with a
one-two combination. Gamrot then followed his man to the mat
and swarmed with approximately four to five more right hands before
the contest was halted.
Makdessi Wins Striking Duel Against Bahamondes
John
Makdessi’s wealth of UFC experience paid off against an Octagon
newcomer.
The
Roufusport veteran navigated a significant height and reach
disadvantage to earn a split decision triumph over Chilean fighter
Ignacio
Bahamondes in an entertaining lightweight affair. Sal D’Amato
scored the fight 29-28 for Makdessi and Dave Hagen
had it 30-27 for “The Bull,” while Derek Cleary submitted a 29-28
tally in favor of Bahamondes.
The rangy Bahamondes (11-4, 0-1 UFC) started quickly, switching
stances while landing a variety of long punches and low kicks
against his opponent. While that volume was impressive, Makdessi
(18-7, 11-7 UFC) turned the tide when he rocked his foe with a
counter right in Round 1. From there, he swarmed with punches near
the fence and stunned him again. Although Bahamondes survived,
Makdessi led the dance much of the rest of the way, controlling the
fight with pressure and crisp straight punches.
Returning Danho Wallops De Castro
Jarjis
Danho made a triumphant return to the Octagon after more than
four years away, as he scored a knockout of Yorgan De
Castro in a heavyweight encounter. The end came 3:02 into Round
1, sending De Castro to his third consecutive defeat within the Las
Vegas-based promotion.
Danho (6-1-1, 1-1-1 UFC) began with a measured approach, circling
on the outside and landing low kicks while De Castro (6-3, 1-3 UFC)
searched for a counters. As De Castro upped his aggression, that’s
when “Man Mountain” found his opening. Danho caught his adversary coming forward with a
short right hand to the side of the head, and De Castro fell
back awkwardly on his right leg. Danho landed one more follow-up
hammerfist before referee Mike Beltran was able to step in on De
Castro’s behalf.
Danho hadn’t competed since a majority draw against Cristian
Colombo at UFC Fight Night 93 on Sept. 3, 2016.
Shore Outgrinds Azure, Takes Split Verdict
Former
Cage Warriors Fighting Championship title holder Jack Shore
held off Hunter
Azure in a grueling bantamweight scrap, winning a competitive
split decision to remain undefeated. Two judges submitted 30-27
scorecards in favor of Shore (14-0, 3-0 UFC), while a third saw it
29-28 for Azure.
While Shore’s first two Octagon appearances ended in rear-naked
choke victories, he met far more resistance against Azure (9-2, 2-2
UFC), who battled him tooth-and-nail in the clinch and on the
canvas for the majority of the fight. The Welshman known as “Tank”
did his best work in Round 3, when he grounded Azure, briefly took
his back and controlled the majority of the frame to clinch his
victory.
Saldana Edges Griffin
Luis
Saldana took a hard-fought unanimous decision triumph over
Jordan
Griffin in a featherweight battle of Dana White’s Contender
Series alums. All three judges submitted 29-28 tallies in favor of
the 30-year-old
MMA Lab export.
Saldana set the tone in Round 1, when he landed multiple precision
straight rights and buckled Griffin with hard low kicks. Griffin
responded with a blistering pace, briefly overwhelming his foe with
pressure and takedowns while threatening with a tight rear-naked
choke at the end of the second stanza.
Saldana (15-6, 1-0 UFC) regained control in Round 3, winning the
battle of positioning and fending off another choke attempt from
Griffin (18-9, 1-4 UFC) down the stretch. Saldana went the distance
in victory for the first time in his professional tenure.
Jung Dominates Knight with Takedowns, Control
Da Un
Jung was in complete control against William
Knight, winning a unanimous decision behind repeated takedowns
and suffocating top control in a light heavyweight contest. All
three cageside judges submitted scorecards (30-26, 30-26, 30-27) in
favor of the
Korean Top Team representative, who is unbeaten in his last 14
professional outings.
Early on, Knight (9-2, 1-1 UFC) showcased an inability to defend
Jung’s takedowns from the clinch, and the South Korean grounded his
adversary on multiple occasions. By the end of Round 1, Knight was
bleeding from his mouth and clearly fatigued. It only got worse in
the second frame, when Jung (14-2-1, 3-0-1 UFC) was able to make
Knight carry his weight, take his back and hammer away with punches
and elbows to the head from back mount.
The American displayed a sense of urgency in Round 3, as he threw
multiple overhand rights as Jung attempted to close the distance.
However, Jung was able to execute a level change and plant Knight
on the canvas once more, where he was able to ride out the
fight.
Kasanganay Rebounds, Chokes Out Palatnikov
One bout removed from being on the receiving end of a viral
knockout loss against Joaquin
Buckley, Impa Kasanganya showed he has a short memory.
The
Dana White’s Contender Series alum was successful in his
welterweight debut, submitting Sasha
Palatnikov (6-3, 1-1 UFC) with a rear-naked choke 26 seconds
into Round 2 of the card’s opening bout. Kasanganay (9-1, 2-1 UFC)
buckled his adversary with a right hand early in the second frame
and then jumped on Palatnikov’s back during a scramble to
lock in the fight-ending maneuver. The
Sanford MMA product’s squeeze was tight enough that he didn’t
need to get his hooks in to elicit the tapout. 
