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Round 1
Opening the card in Dublin, we have local Irish fighter Stephen
Costello facing Yusuf Nazokatov, with both making their pro debuts.
Costello was 4-3 as an amateur while Nazokatov hasn’t even had a
pro bout, so it’s anyone’s guess what will happen here. Referee
John English will see it all. Costello starts with a leg kick, but
Nazokatov pulls back in time. Nazokatov misses a right hand and
Costello just barely misses a counter. Costello partially misses a
leg kick but gets reckless for a takedown afterwards, eating a
short punch. They clinch against the cage now, with Nazokatov
pushing his Irish foe against the fence. They enter a stalemate,
with Costello using the whizzer to stay upright as Nazokatov pushes
him against the fence. Finally, Costello spins off and they return
to range. Not for long, as Nazokatov’s glove is open and referee
John English halts the action to get it taken care of. They do so
quickly, and action resumes. Nazokatov fires a 1-2 but he is far
out of range, not even coming close. Nazokatov does touch Costello
with a jab, though. As Nazokatov moves forward a little, Costello
neatly times a double-leg and gets the takedown. Costello is too
aggressive in advancing position, getting off Nazokatov too much,
allowing Nazokatov to stand back up. Costello soon tries another
double-leg, but it’s not nearly as well-timed, and Nazokatov
defends. However, against the cage, Costello muscles the double
through, with Nazokatov on his butt. As Nazokatov stands up against
the cage, Costello lands a nice knee to the head, his best connect
of the round. Nazokatov tries a few head kicks, both of which miss,
but Costello isn’t able to take advantage. Costello fires a punch
and uses it to come forward for a double-leg, and he gets it easily
against Nazokatov. Against the cage, Nazokatov looks for a possible
triangle, but he doesn’t have an arm traped. Costello seemingly
obliges, giving him the arm, and Nazokatov locks it on. However,
it’s too loose, and after rolling to the side, Costello gets out
and is in side control. Costello steps over to mount with 10
seconds left and lands a few hard punches and elbows to finish the
stanza. Plenty of action in the first. 10-9 Costello.
Round 2
Both men begin round 2 cautiously, for different reasons. Costello
reaches badly with a 1-2, but doesn’t get countered, though he
misses. Nazokatov lands a short right hand as Costello wades
forward. Costello shoots from very far distance and in a very
telegraphed fashion, being stuffed and eating a 1-2 on the break.
Costello tries again with a double and this is easily defended yet
again, though Nazokatov doesn’t punish him this time. Costello’s
punches are noticeably lacking any power now, though he continues
to throw. Nazokatov touches Costello with a left hand. Nazokatov
throws a spinning back-kick, which allows a tired Costello to take
him down successfully. No clue why he went for that attack given
that Costello’s main attack is the double-leg. Costello is again
fairly loose on top, and Nazokatov scrambles, but doesn’t get up.
Nazokatov goes for a heel hook, and Costello has no
idea how to counter the submission. Costello taps very quickly.
Nice turn-around for Nazokatov, and the hometown Irish crowd is
stunned in silence.
The Official Result
Yusuf Nazokatov def. Stephen Costello via Submission (Heel Hook) at
2:24 of Round 2
Round 1
In the card’s only female bout, undefeated Irishwoman Danni Neilan
(4-0) faces French journeywoman Audrey Kerouche (6-6). Neilan is
the biggest favorite on the card at -900. Referee Kevin MacDonald
will keep a close eye. Neilan fires off a left cross, and Kerouche
retreats out of range. Neilan decides to clinch, which Kerouche
defends poorly, not even battling for underhooks but trying to grab
around the back of the head. Eventually, Neilan takes advantage and
muscles her to the canvas. Neilan is in half-guard and throws a few
small left hands to her downed opponent. Kerouche tries for a
sweep, but Neilan stays heavy and in control. Kerouche does get
back to full-guard, however. Neilan soon steps over back into
half-guard again, but isn’t throwing much ground-and-pound as we
are almost halfway through the round. Neilan postures up a little
and throws and lands a couple of left hands, though nothing big.
Neilan postures up too much with her right arm extended when
landing another left hand, and Kerouche briefly tries an armbar.
It’s not a good one, though, and Neilan gets out and back into
half-guard. Neilan lands a short left forearm, not a true elbow.
Neilan pushes Kerouche off the fence, but is now in a closed full
guard. Kerouche angles for a possible armbar, but Neilan is wise to
it and doesn’t pull out. Kerouche soon bails on the attempt. Neilan
pushes Kerouche back into the fence and lands a few forearms. She
postures up more fully with 30 seconds left and lands her most
significant punches from the top of the round. Kerouche covers up
and Neilan gets to side control. With 10 seconds left, she gets
full mount and starts teeing off with right hands. The bell rings.
10-9 Neilan.
Round 2
Starting the round, Kerouche has a bizarre stance with both arms
extended fully outwards, and Neilan takes advantage, firing a left
cross that drops the Frenchwoman. Neilan follows her to the canvas,
but instantly gets tied up in a full guard. Neilan lands some solid
left hands, as Kerouche is likely still dazed. Neilan takes her
time, but eventually starts landing more solid left hands and she
soon adds a few rights. Still, her offense comes and goes in
spurts, nothing sustained enough to even come close to a stoppage.
With 3 minutes left, Neilan steps over into the half-guard, where
she continues with left hands. Kerouche soon regains full guard,
though. Halfway through the round, Neilan postures all the way up
to her feet, looking for strikes, but soon returns to the
half-guard, as Kerouche didn’t use the opportunity to get up.
Neilan has a possible arm-triangle choke locked on, but she is
blocked by the fence from stepping over. However, Neilan is
undeterred and gets Kerouche away from the cage. Neilan works to
get her legs loose, but is unsuccessful, and Kerouche is safe from
the submission. In half-guard, Neilan lands a few forearms, though
they’re not hard. Neilan tries to pass with 30 seconds left, but is
unsuccessful. Kerouche gets back to full guard with 20 seconds
left. Neilan stands up with 10 seconds left and tries to land a big
left and, but it misses. She lands a few follow-up lefts inside the
guard, though. 10-9 Neilan.
Round 3
Neilan lands a left cross to the body to begin the round. Kerouche
awkwardly backs up against the fence and Neilan throws more
straight punches, though none land. With Kerouche awkwardly
balancing on one leg, Neilan easily gets a takedown, though. Now in
the half-guard, she is more active, landing a steady diet of short
left hands. Neilan works hard to rotate and try to get
side-control, but Kerouche rotates with her and keeps her in
half-guard. Neilan lands a number of respectable left hands to the
body. Neilan postures up with 3 minutes left and lands her best
ground-and-pound of the round with punches and the occasional
forearm. She soon gets back to full guard. However, with Kerouche
having her head against the fence and not knowing how to wall-walk,
Neilan lands some solid forearms to Kerouche’s trapped head.
Kerouche gets her head off the cage and the pace slows. With 2
minutes left, Neilan postures up again and lands a nice series of
punches and hte occasional forearm. She postures up fully, but
again, is not able to do much with it. However, she now returns to
side-control, a new position. She quickly steps over to mount with
90 seconds left. Kerouche gives up the back and Neilan has her
fully flattened out. Kerouche goes back to mount but is now eating a
constant barrage of left hands, doing nothing but desperately
covering up. Kevin MacDonald warns her to move but she just lies
there. He has no choice to stop the contest. A nice win for
Neilan.
The Official Result
Danni Neilan def. Audrey Kerouche via TKO (Punches) at 3:58 of
Round 3
Round 1
Back at welterweight, Welshman Bobby Pallett (5-0) gets a stern
test from Italian Nicolo Solli (3-1). Referee Johnn English works
this bout. Pallett begins with a leg kick. He repeatedly feints,
but Solli isn’t biting. Solli lands a leg kick of his own, and
Pallett answers with another one. Solli goes upstairs with a head
kick, but it’s blocked. Solli tries a leg kick but Pallett dodges
it and lands one of his own. Solli lands a leg kick afterwards, not
discouraged. Solli explodes forward with a series of 1-2s,
non-stop, but none land and they end up clinching, with Pallett
pushing the Italian against the cage. They stay here for a while,
and keep changing positions, with Solli turning Pallett into the
cage, and the Welshman then returning the favor. Pallett drops
levels for a possible takedown but nothing is there. Solli tries an
uchi-mata, but neither man ends up on top and they get up off their
knees and back into a clinch against the fence. Solli lands a knee
low and we have a brief break in the action. They resume, but now
at distance. Solli goes for a spinning back-fist, misses by a mile,
and eats a very hard leg kick for his efforts. They both throw left
hooks, but each man manages to duck. Solli telegraphed another left
hook, and Pallett ducks down again, but this time he gets a
double-leg in the process. Solli works to get to his knees and
wall-walk, but Pallett is staying on him, blocking the attempt.
Solli tries to spin on a hip for a possible armbar, but there’s no
space, especially against the cage. Solli gets warned for putting
his toes into the cage. Solli seems to have wall-walked, but
Pallett neatly pulls him back down. Pallett does little from the
top, though. The round ends. Close, competitive round. 10-9
Pallett.
Round 2
Pallett begins with a left cross, but he is reaching and Solli is
well out of range. Solli lands a nice leg kick of his own. Pallett
lands a straight left to the body. Pallett tries a leg kick but
Solli checks it well. Once again, Solli fires punches just to
clinch, but Pallett stuffs him easily. Pallett turns Solli into the
cage and lands some knees to the thighs. Pallett changes levels,
but Solli is wise to it and pulls him back up. Now Solli turns
Pallett around and is grinding very hard for a takedown. He is
close, but Pallett gets an underhook and stays upright, now
changing positions again against the fence. They both throw knees,
though Pallett is more active. Solli again goes for a judo throw,
but again, both men crash to their knees and get up at the same
time. Pallett gets double underhooks in the clinch and he uses it
to get an inside trip, ending up on top with 2 minutes left. Solli
lands a nice elbow from the bottom. This opens up Pallett, who is
bleeding. Solli tries for an armbar, but Pallett turns the angle.
Solli continues landing the occasional hard elbow from his back as
Pallett is doing precious little from top position. Pallett lands a
few small right hands to the body as Solli is far more active
landing punches and elbows to Pallett, though referee John English
warns him about hitting the back of the head. Solli goes for an
armbar with 20 seconds left, Pallett defends, but Solli uses it to
sweep and get on top. 10-9 Solli.
Round 3
Pallett tries a left cross and just barely misses. Solli lunges
forward with more straight punches, now not as fast, but he gets
the clinch again and they’re back against the fence. Solli is now a
little more active kneeing to the thighs. Pallett lands a knee to
the body and breaks off, where he lands a straight left to the
stomach again. Solli lands a left hook, perhaps the best connect of
the fight, and adds a few more short punches with bad intentions
before inexplicably clinching again. Pallett turns him into the
fence soon after. Pallett lands a left hook to the body on the
break. Solli lands a nice jumping kick to the body, and Pallett
retaliates with a leg kick a short while later. Pallett dodges a
couple of 1-2s from the Italian. Pallett scores with a jab, his
first landed jab of the fight. Solli goes for a wild spinning
backfist that misses, but as Pallett continues covering up, Solli
lands a few nice hooks to the body. Pallett goes for a blast
double-leg shot, but Solli stuffs him and theare back to clinching
against the fence. Pallett gets a Thai plum and lands a knee to the
body. Solli turns Pallett around and lands a nice knee to the body
with a minute left. Solli lands some short, nuisance punches.
Pallett goes for a takedown but ends up on the bottom himself with
40 seconds left. Solli lands some nice short elbows in the
half-guard, and lands some nice right hands to go with it.
Suddenly, Solli opens up with some hard left elbows, forcing
Pallett to desperately move. Solli continues punishing Pallett with
lefts. He then goes back to the hard right elbows. He lands a right
hand as the fight ends. Close bout, but the Italian clearly won the
final stanza. 10-9 Solli (29-28 Solli)
The Official Result
Nicolo Solli def. Bobby Pallett via Split Decision (30-27, 28-29,
29-28)
Round 1
Moving down just slightly, highly experienced light heavyweight Lee
Chadwick (26-15-1) meets Arunas Andriuskevicus (15-4), who hasn’t
lost since 2009. Referee Bryan Miner will be the third man in the
cage. They begin cautiously, sizing each other up and getting a
sense of the distance. Andriuskevicus comes forward and Chadwick
throws a clumsy, straight-armed right overhand that misses.
Chadwick comes forward with a left overhand that misses and he eats
a solid knee to the body before clinching against his foe against
the cage. Chadwick lands a few nuisance punches to the head, but
they’re very light. Andriuskevicus is simply staying in place with
a whizzer, but he spins off with about 3:30 left in the round.
Chadwick goes for another wild overhand left which Andriuskevicus
retreats against. Andriuskevicus comes forward with his own
punches, which are more technical, but Chadwick ducks underneath a
left hook and clinchs again. Back to the fence they go.
Andriuskevicus is slightly more active now with short nuisance
punches and angling a knee to the body. Chadwick tries some
shoulder strikes. Chadwick eventually slips an underhook through
with just under 2 minutes left, and the crowd begins booing with
around 90 seconds left. Andriuskevicus lands another knee to the
body, but it’s not a big connect. He spins off the cage with 75
seconds left, but Chadwick stays with him this time and keeps
pushing him against the cage. Andriuskevicus lands a knee to the
body and then disengages. Andriuskevicus throws a jumping knee ot
the body that lands very flush against Chadwick, the best connect
of the round so far. Chadwick backs off now. His hands are down
late in the round. Andriuskevicus misses a right cross, but
Chadwick doesn’t counter. Chadwick tries another sloppy overhand
right and then an overhand left, but doesn’t land. 10-9
Andriuskevicus.
Round 2
Chadwick feints a double-leg and tries a wild left hook, but
Andriuskevicus is wise to it and ducks under. Chadwick lands
another jumping knee, though this isn’t as hard, and Chadwick
touches him with a left hook counter. Andriuskevicus goes for yet
another jumping knee which again lands, but barely this time. He
tries a spinning backfist which misses. Andriuskevicus paws a slow
jab, but it’s easily blocked. Chadwick comes forward, but
Andriuskevicus circles away. Andriuskevicus throws another jab,
this one touching Chadwick, but no more. Andriuskevicus is keeping
his head too far up and staying too close, and he gets touched by a
Chadwick overhand left. Chadwick misses a right cross, his first
such attempt of the bout. Chadwick throws a straight-armed overhand
left that is blocked. Andriuskevicus lands a nice front-kick to the
body. He comes forward with punches and partially connects with a
straight right. Chadwick looks tired again, with his hands almost
permanently down and struggling to throw punches. Andriuskevicus
comes forward with a punch that misses and follows with a head kick
that is barely blocked. Chadwick tries a left hook which is
blocked. Andriuskevicus tries yet another jumping knee and this one
doesn’t even land. Chadwick tries his overhands again, but Chadwick
easily retreats out of range. A fairly uneventful stanza. 10-9
Andriuskevicus.
Round 3
Andriuskevicus opens with yet another jumping knee, and this time
he pays for his predictability, with Chadwick, a little fresher
after the round’s rest, scoring a double-leg takedown. Chadwick
tries some shoulder strikes from the top. Andriuskevicus is holding
onto a closed full guard. Andriuskevicus is against the cage, but
doesn’t even try to wall-walk back up, content to keep Chadwick in
his closed full guard. Both men throw very light, insignificant
punches. Finally, with about half a round remaining, Andriuskevicus
tries to find a hip and goes for a kimura grip. He tries to wrench
it but Chadwick is heavy on top and he can’t budge the former
middleweight. Andriuskevicus lands an interesting knee from the
bottom to Chadwick’s side. Andriuskevicus gives up the lock and
tries to wall-walk slowly, but Chadwick drags him back down.
Chadwick is now in half-guard, but doing little in the position.
Andriuskevicus is throwing short little nuisance punches from his
back. Chadwick tries to pass, but isn’t able to do so. Another very
uneventful round is drawing to a close with 30 seconds left.
Andriuskevicus goes for another kimura grip. Nothing happens with
it as a very dull fight ends. 10-9 Chadwick (29-28
Andriuskevicus).
The Official Result
Lee Chadwick def. Arunas Andriuskevicus via Split Decision (28-29,
30-27, 29-28)
Round 1
In a lightweight scrap, Dutchman Brian Hooi (16-8) meets Italian
Daniele Scatizzi (10-5), with Hooi having a large 6.5″ reach
advantage. Referee Bryan Miner will keep them honest. Scatizzi
begins with a wild head kick, which Hooi calmly defends. Scatizzi
opens up with punches, which Hooi defends. Scatizzi does land with
an overhand and soon after, tries a double-leg, which Hooi stuffs.
Scatizzi now pushes Hooi against the fence, grinding for a
takedown. Scatizzi is working on the hips, but Hooi spreads his
base well. Scatizzi tries an outside trip and nearly gets it, but
Hooi’s balance holds up and he turns Scatizzi into the cage. Hooi
lands a knee to the thigh. They trade short nuisance punches in the
clinch. Scatizzi lands a solid short elbow afterwards, though.
Scatizzi turns Hooi back around into the cage. Scatizzi changes
levels again, but is unsuccessful on this attempt, too. Scatizzi
scores another short elbow on the break and then picks Hooi up and
marches him to the center of the cage. But Hooi is tough and
instantly stands after being put down. Scatizzi holds onto him and
gets Hooi to his posterior against the fence, but against Hooi
rises almost instantly. Scatizzi keeps a grip around the waist. He
very nearly gets a turning trip, but Hooi’s balance again keeps him
upright. They break off with a minute remaining. Scatizzi fires a
series of punches followed by a head kick, which partly gets
through. Hooi throws a few left hooks, and the one to the body
lands well. Hooi is now pushing Scatizzi against the cage and
landing a few short punches. Hooi lands a knee to the body as the
round ends. Scatizzi explodes with punches but nothing lands. Much
closer than it might have looked. 10-9 Scatizzi.
Round 2
Scatizzi tries a jumping knee, but it misses. Hooi comes forward
with left crosses, but Scatizzi circles off. Scatizzi continues
throwing combinations capped off with head kicks, and the head kick
partially gets through. Scatizzi fires a series of hooks and the
left hook gets through. Scatizzi tries a very low single and it
works, but Hooi gets up and lands nice elbows to the side of the
head. Hooi angles off with his headlock and eventually pushes the
Italian down, with Hooi on top. Hooi postures up to throw punches
and uses it to get to half-guard, landing a few left hands to the
head. Hooi gets his leg out but almost allows Scatizzi to get up in
the process. Hooi is now back in guard, with Scatizzi using
butterfly hooks. Hooi lands some solid elbows from the top. He
lands a punch to the body, but posturing up, allows Scatizzi to
push up and get back to his feet. They clinch along the fence.
Scatizzi gets away and they trade hooks at range. Scatizzi brawls
his way back into the clinch. Hooi spins off to get back into the
distance striking. Hooi lands a couple of hooks to the body but
gets touched by a counter from Scatizzi. Scatizzi throws a barrage
of punches, but they’re much slower now and Hooi dodges them
easily. Just as Hooi looks to be taking over, he drops his hands
right when Scatizzi throws a head kick, dropping him. Scatizzi
isn’t active in taking advantage and allows himself to be tied up.
Hooi soon rises and they break, with each man landing hard shots,
Scatizzi a right hook to the head and Hooi a couple of uppercuts.
Scatizzi now picks up Hooi and slams him down, although Hooi gets
back up. They continue trading punches at close range in a very
action-packed stanza. Scatizzi won the round with the head kick
knockdown. 10-9 Scatizzi.
Round 3
Hooi fires a left cross which misses. Scatizzi fires back and lands
a right hand flush. Scatizzi dives for a double-leg and gets
pancake sprawled easily, leaving Hooi on top. Hooi goes to work
with left hands to the body, operating in half-guard. Scatizzi
tries to posture on a hip, but Hooi is just heavy enough to stay
there. Hooi lands some elbows to the body. Hooi postures up and
lands some respectable left hands to the head. Hooi stands all the
way up, which Scatizzi tries to use to get up, but nothing doing,
as Hooi returns to the top. Scatizzi is attacking a heel hook,
though, and Hooi turns with him. Unlike in our opening bout, Hooi
nows how to defend. Scatizzi gives it up and Hooi is back on top in
the half-guard. Hooi chips away with more punches to the head. Hooi
lands some significant punches to the head and adds a few
hammerfists for good measure when Scatizzi tries to posture up. All
of Scatizzi’s crazy energy expenditure is coming back to haunt him
now. Scatizzi tries for a kimura grip but Hooi easily wrenches it
out. Hooi lands some hard punches and elbows to the top. Finally,
Scatizzi gets to his butt against the cage with a minute left,
although Hooi is on top of him, landing punches to the body.
Scatizzi gets up with 40 seconds left. Scatizzi lands a few nice
hooks through Hooi’s clinch and almost lands another head kick.
Hooi wrestles a tired Scatizzi down to the canvas. Scatizzi rises
with 10 seconds left and they throw a series of powerful hooks to
end the contest. Good, exciting battle. 10-9 Hooi (29-28
Scatizzi).
The Official Result
Daniele Scatizzi def. Brian Hooi via Unanimous Decision (29-28,
29-28, 29-28)
Round 1
In the final prelim of the card, undefeated Irish featherweight
Ciaran Clarke (3-0) fights experienced Englishman Jordan Barton
(6-1-1), which the oddsmakers have as a pure pick’em. Should be a
good one. Referee Bryan Miner again gets the call. Barton begins
with a leg kick. Clarke soon shoots in, and while Barton defends,
Clarke initially lifts Barton against the cage from the hips, a
rare sight. He isn’t able to get Barton down though, who puts his
weight on Clarke’s neck, who is trying to force a takedown through.
Clarke gets a very nice outside trip, downing Barton. Barton goes
for a Dagestani leg trap for a while. Barton tries to wall-walk
back up, but Clarke gets him back down. Another attempt to
wall-walk ends with Clarke grapevining the legs, but in the
process, ends up on the bottom himself. As Clarke now wall-walks,
it’s Barton taking his back in a backpack position. Clarke stays
calm and turns into him, with both men now clinching. They break
off with about 2 minutes remaining. Barton lands a series of sharp
jabs to the body. Clarke goes for a single and foot-sweeps the
other leg, getting Barton back down. Barton again wall-walks, but
Clark goes to the back, where he attempts to break Barton’s base.
Barton eventually stands back up against the cage, though. As
Clarke grinds for a takedown, Barton lands a few elbows to the
head, but Clarke eventually gets the takedown through. Barton
pushes Clarke’s hips off with his feet, but Clarke charges right
back before Barton can stand. Barton lands some nice short punches
off his back which are landing surprisingly flush. With 10 seconds
left, Barton lands a series of nice elbows to his back to boot.
10-9 Barton.
Round 2
Clarke begins trying for a single-leg, but can’t get it and eats
some hard right hooks on the break. He is covering up before a
suddenly furious Barton barrage and desperately clinches. He eats
more elbows to the side of the head. He briefly gets the takedown
but Barton immediately stands. Clarke is now bleeding according to
the commentators, little surprise given the elbows he has eaten.
Speaking of which, Barton continues landing elbows to the side of
the head. Clarke does eventually suck the hips out and gets the
takedown, and this time, Clarke keeps him down, standing in the
guard. Clarke postures up, but it’s a huge mistake, as he eats a
massive upkick right to the face and soon the second one. Clarke
drops back down into guard to recover. Clarke lands a right hand to
the body, perhaps his first significant groudn-and-pound of the
fight. Barton sits up and works for a possible switch with about 2
minutes remaining. Barton gets to his knees now, as Clarke keeps
pressing. Clarke tries to take the back but can’t, as Barton fully
stands. Barton gets double underhooks and spins off. Barton lands a
huge flying knee that hurts Clarke. Barton follows up with punches
and Clarke desperately clinches yet again. Barton pushes the head
down, but Clarke again sucks the hips out and gets the takedown.
Clarke lands a few small left hands to the head. Clarke tries to
step over and does manage to take the back very briefly, forcing
Barton to go fully to his back. Clarke lands some more small
punches, but it’s not early enough to make up for all the damage he
sustained that stanza. 10-9 Barton.
Round 3
Barton begins the round with a left hook to the body and Clarke
immediately shoots in for a snatch single. Barton defends and gets
his hips out nicely. Clarke drives forward against the fence but
Bartoon stays tough, putting his weight on Clarke’s neck yet again.
Clarke again muscles a takedown through, though. Barton sits up and
lands some nice elbows to the head. He also uses a switch and
sweeps Clarke, ending on top now. Clarke gives up the back and
Barton has the backpack again, fighting for a rear-naked choke.
Barton eventually slips off and Clarke, a tireless wrestler, takes
him down. Clarke now tries to take Barton’s back, and Clarke gets
Barton back to the canvas, with a body triangle. Clarke is working
towards a rear-naked choke with about half a round remaining.
Barton works to turn into Clarke, but Clarke is wise to it. Clarke
manages to lock the body triangle in even tighter. Clarke sneaks an
arm through, but Barton has his chin against his chest. Clarke tries hard again with a minute remaining,
and Barton turns his head away desperately. However, the
relentless, tireless Clarke will not be denied, and he squeezes,
eliciting a tap as the hometown Irish crowd goes wild.
Tremendous comeback and display of heart and toughness by
Clarke.
The Official Result
Ciaran Clarke def. Jordan Barton via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
at 4:11 of Round 3
Round 1
Beginning the main card, Moroccan Ilias Bulaid (2-0) battles
Frenchman Georges Sasu (5-1). Referee John English will be the
closest man to the action. Bulaid begins with a cracking leg kick
and soon adds a second and third one. Sasu is retreating, and
Bulaid adds a powerful body kick to boot. Bulaid’s laser kicks are
finding constant success, and Sasu clinches. They stay along the
fence for a while, but Bulaid spins off. Bulaid then lands a solid
right cross to a reaching Sasu. Bulaid throws a crisp, textbook 1-2
and lands the right cross to the body. Bulaid lands another
lightning-fast leg kick. Sasu comes forward with punches but Bulaid
dodges them. Bulaid advances forward and scores another leg kick.
Bulaid with yet another leg kick, this one partially checked by
Sasu. Sasu tries a right hook which Bulaid darts well out of reach
of. Sasu falls forward with punches but to no avail. Bulaid misses
an overhand right. Sasu lands a short right hand, his first solid
connect of the round, over 90 seconds left. Bulaid responds with
another stinging leg kick, altering Sasu’s balance. Bulaid scores
with another right cross to the body. Sasu goes for a takedown as
Bulaid comes forward, but Bulaid recovers just in time, with the
two men clinching against the cage. Sasu lands a knee to the body.
Sasu lands a right uppercut on the break, but Bulaid is out. The
round ends. 10-9 Bulaid.
Round 2
Bulaid tries head kicks this time, but they don’t find the target.
Bulaid throws straight punches but Sasu dodges under them well.
Sasu now clinches and pushes Bulaid back into the fence. Bulaid
frames off well and lands some powerful straights to the body once
out. Sasu goes for a double-leg, and while Bulaid initially stays
upright, Sasu keeps pushing and gets the kickboxing world champion
down. Bulaid is skilled though, and begins wall-walking as Sasu
tries to take the back. He doesn’t get his hooks in, and Bulaid
stands up. Bulaid almost gets taken down again but Bulaid turns
into him, showing nice balance. Bulaid pushes Sasu off and adds a
slapping leg kick in the process. Sasu soon responds with a nice
body kick of his own, perhaps his best connect of the fight.
Halfway through, this is a far more even round. Bulaid misses a 1-2
but connects with a follow-up left hook to the body. Sasu lands a
right uppercut but Bulaid lands another left hook to the body and
then a powerful right leg kick. Bulaid misses a hard left hook,
this one aimed at the head. He does, however, land another one to
the body as Sasu clinches. Bulaid breaks off and misses another
left hook to the body. Sasu hits him with a front kick to the body.
Sasu soon returns to the clinch. Bulaid spins off with 30 seconds
remaining. Bulaid partially gets a left hook to the head through.
Sasu lands a long left jab to the head as the round winds down.
Bulaid misses an overhand left as time expires. Much closer round.
10-9 Bulaid.
Round 3
Sasu misses a 1-2 and Bulaid misses the counter as well as the leg
kick he chained to the end, as both men are visibly slower. Bulaid
swings for the bleachers with a powerful overhead, but Sasu is out
of range. Sasu partially lands a knee to the head as Bulaid is
dipping down. Soon, Sasu shoots a double-leg and this time he gets
the takedown with far less resistance. Sasu gets to half-guard
easily enough. Sasu tries to get his leg out, but doesn’t quite
manage, as Bulaid stays in half-guard. Sasu chips away with a few
nuisance punches from the top, but nothing big. Bulaid tries to
post up, but Sasu is draped around his back. He doesn’t do anything
with it, though, and Bulaid stands up to his feet. Bulaid lands a
hard short elbow in the clinch. Sasu tries for a single-leg, but
isn’t able to muscle the kickboxing champion down. Bulaid
eventually gets an underhook and spins off with about 90 seconds
remaining. Sasu immediately shoots back in and tries for a
single-leg, but Bulaid’s balance holds up. Sasu is draped around
the waist, trying for another takedown and he gets one. Bulaid is
holding on to a kimura lock, but is giving up his back, a dangerous
position. Sasu breaks free and lands some short left hands to the
head, looking for a possible RNC. However, he doesn’t have a body
on Bulaid, who stands up agains the cage and is out, back at
distance in the striking. Both men throw tired strikes as the fight
ends. 10-9 Sasu (29-28 Bulaid)
The Official Result
Ilias Bulaid def. Georges Sasu via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29,
30-27)