STILL UNDEFEATED! 🙌
❄️🐆 @JavidBasharat
moves to a shiny 14-0 to kick off 2023 in style for the Bash Bros!
#UFCVegas67 pic.twitter.com/e0yub9RE5H— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope)
January 14, 2023
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The
UFC Fight Night 217 featured prelim delivered as two undefeated
fighters in Javid
Basharat and Mateus
Mendonca clashed.
Mendonca (10-1) was able to show a varied attack by dragging
Basharat (14-0) to the floor and looking to grapple in the
back-and-forth opening round. As the fight went on, Basharat
emerged as the fresher fighter as he was able to survive the
submission threats and rain down some damaging punches while on
top. While Mendonca would have his moments, it wound up being too
little too late against “The Snow Leopard.”
After 15 minutes, the judges awarded the fight to Basharat with
scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.
Alhassan Crumbles Ribeiro
Middleweights Claudio
Ribeiro and Abdul
Razak Alhassan didn’t need 15 minutes for their preliminary
clash.
While both fighters looked comfortable on the feet, it was Alhassan
(12-5) that looked to initiate clinch exchanges and control the
fight from a close distance throughout the first round. The second
frame was much more action-packed as both came out swinging and
Alhassan clipped Ribeiro (10-3) with a right hand. “Judo Thunder”
kept the pressure on and unloaded until Ribeiro crumbled just 28
seconds into Round 2.
Alhassan has now won two of his last three inside the Octagon.
Rebecki Controls Fiore
The lone lightweight scrap saw Mateusz
Rebecki go up against the debuting Nick
Fiore.
The more experienced Rebecki (17-1) came out swinging and forced
Fiore (6-1) onto the defensive by keeping up the pressure and
throwing hard body kicks. “Chinczyk” would power through with a
takedown and open up a gash on Fiore’s head thanks to some slicing
elbows. An exhausted Rebecki would allow Fiore back into the fight
but still managed to get takedowns and control the action in the
second and third frames.
After three hard-fought rounds, the judges awarded a unanimous
decision victory to Rebecki with scores of 30-27 across the
board.
Nascimento Taps Hernandez
Allan
Nascimento battled Carlos
Hernandez in the second and final flyweight fight of the
night.
Coming out aggressive, Nascimento (20-6) was able to take the back
of Hernandez (8-2) and drag him down to the mat midway through the
first round. Employing a tight body triangle,
the Brazilian would lock in a rear-naked choke after Hernandez
stood up to try to get out of the position. Completely
trapped, the tap came at 3:16 of the first round.
“Puro Osso” has now won two straight inside the promotion.
Argueta Stains Aguiire’s Record
The first featherweight fight of the card saw Nick
Aguirre suffer his first career defeat against Dan
Argueta.
The promotional newcomer found himself in danger early on as
Argueta (9-1) looked for an armbar but Aguirre (7-1) was able to
reverse the position and take the back of his opponent. While “Slick” was unable to capitalize on the opportunity, it set the
tone of the fight, which was filled with each fighter creating
scrambles and looking for submissions. However, Argueta would gain
the edge in the exchanges, both grappling and on the feet, as the
fight went on with his experience proving to be simply too much for
the 26-year-old.
All three scorecards were 30-27 in favor of Argueta.
Johnson Batters Flick
Flyweights Charles
Johnson and Jimmy Flick
opened the card.
The first round saw Flick (16-6) manage to take the back of Johnson
(13-3) and look for a rear-naked choke, although “InnerG” was able
to reverse position and land some solid elbows on top.
The forehead of Flick would get cut and there was little defense as “The Brick” covered up and took punishment.
Eventually, the referee had seen enough and waved off the fight at
4:33 of Round 1.
Johnson has now won two fights in a row inside the Octagon.