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Round 1
Strawweights kick things off from Dublin as Penco and Stiller
square off under the watchful eye of referee Bryan Miner. Both
women are in orthodox stance, exchanging tentative jabs. A minute
in, neither woman has landed much of consequence, and judoka
Stiller has yet to attempt a takedown in earnest. Penco lands a
right kick to the thigh of Stiller. Stiller rushes forward with a
trio of punches punctuated by a low kick. Stiller comes forward
with a front kick, which the Italian counters with a right hand.
Penco catches the incoming Stiller with a left, and stings her with
another leg kick. With 90 seconds left, Stiller comes forward
behind punches, perhaps looking to clinch, but Penco slides out and
refuses to be backed into the fence. Penco lands another outside
leg kick, and Stiller is starting to show their effect. The bell
sounds. 10-9 Penco.
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Round 2
Round 2 opens with Stiller again coming forward and Penco giving
ground, tagging her with a low kick. Stiller catches Penco against
the fence, clinches and dumps her to the canvas. She takes top
position at the base of the fence, and is promptly swept by Penco.
Stiller keeps things moving and rolls through to top position
again. Penco escapes, takes top position and stands up. Stiller
stays stuck to her, however, and uses a scarf hold throw to toss
her back to the ground. “Mack Judo” keeps the scarf hold and goes
to work from side control, wrapping up the near arm of Penco and
throwing punches to her unprotected face as she looks for a
possible submission hold. Under a minute and a half left in the
round and Stiller is in control, Penco surviving but not making any
headway towards improving her position. Stiller moves Penco away
from the fence and continues throwing short punches to the face.
The round ends. 10-9 Stiller.
Round 3
Stiller advances on Penco and attempts to clinch, but Penco shoves
her off and tries to stick and move. Penco lands a sharp low kick.
Stiller closes the distance with a couple of punches, clinches and
throws Penco with another scarf hold. Penco is able to escape the
hold, and Stiller sets up in her guard. Two minutes down and Penco
is throwing elbows from the bottom, then briefly essays an armbar
attempt, which Stiller brushes aside with ease. Stiller advances to
side control, then stands over Penco. She dives back into Penco’s
guard and is snared in a triangle choke. It looks tight for a
second or two, but Stiller quickly extracts her head. Penco tries
an omoplata, but Stiller calmly works her way out of danger.
Stiller passes to half guard and is heavy on top, chest to chest as
time expires. The bell sounds. 10-9 Stiller (29-28 Stiller).
The Official Result
Mackenzie Stiller def. Chiara Penco via Unanimous Decision (29-28,
29-28, 29-28)
Round 1
Scotland’s Ewen and Frenchman Gugnon stake their undefeated records
as Miner draws his second consecutive refereeing assignment. They
set up in matching southpaw stances, but both men shift easily
between stances in the opening moments. Ewen flicks out long jabs,
showing off his definitive advantages in height and reach as he
comes forward. Ewen lands a nice outside low kick, then a right
kick to the body. Gugnon throws a hard one-two that comes up short.
Ewen walks Gugnon to the fence, then lands a low kick to the cup
that resounds in the still-filling arena. Gugnon takes a breather
as Miner cautions his opponent. They go back to work a minute later
and Ewen lands a sharp body kick. Gugnon changes levels and plows
the taller man to the canvas with a double-leg. Gugnon is heavy on
top in Ewen’s full guard, shoving him into the center of the cage.
Ewen briefly throws his legs up for a triangle or armbar, but
Gugnon stands up out of his guard. Ewen backs him up with an
upkick, then stands. Ewen goes back to throwing kicks, including a
couple of hard push kicks to the leg and midsection. Ewen catches
Gugnon with a left hand that hurts him. Ewen is calm, continuing to
throw without overpursuing. Gugnon gets a takedown at the 10-second
clapper and is throwing punches from top position at the bell. 10-9
Ewen.
Round 2
Ewen is right back to throwing long front kicks and Gugnon looks to
counter with punches. Gugnon is the one coming forward, and walks
right into a kick that at least glances off his cup. Miner gives
him a moment to recover, but they are back to work almost
immediately. Gugnon once again advances, staying inside the taller
man’s kicking range. He clinches and shoves Ewen to the fence,
stomping on his feet a few times. Ewen has an overhook, and a
moment later breaks away from the fence. They reset in the center
of the cage with half the round left to go. Gugnon lands a right
hand but is countered by a harder one that clearly hurts him. Ewen
tries to follow up, but Gugnon shoots a double-leg. Ewen sprawls
beautifully and they return to the feet.
Ewen hurts Gugnon with a left hand. Gugnon stumbles back into the
fence and Ewen measures him for a salvo of right hands and standing
elbows that buckle his knees. Miner moves in for the
stoppage and it’s a technical knockout win for the still-undefeated
Scot.
The Official Result
Mark Ewen def. Noah Gugnon R2 3:51 via TKO (Punches and
Elbows)
Round 1
Undefeated featherweights O’Connor and Mokhonoana face off as Marc
Goddard draws his first refereeing assignment of the afternoon.
They collide in the center of the cage as both men throw punch
combinations. O’Connor drives Mokhonoana to the floor with a
double-leg takedown. Mokhonoana stays active on the bottom, looking
briefly for an armbar or triangle, but O’Connor is wise to it and
drives him to the base of the cage. Mokhonoana uses his long legs
to wrap the Welshman up in a modified rubber guard for a moment,
but gives it up as O’Connor starts to pass to side control. They
pop back up to their feet, with O’Connor still on Mokhonoana’s
back. Mokhonoana spins towards him, and O’Connor uses a body lock
to return him to the canvas. O’Connor is on top in Mokhonoana’s
loose half guard, throwing short strikes. He stands up out of
Mokhonoana’s guard, and just dodges a murderous upkick. Thirty
seconds left and O’Connor dives back on top, shucking Mokhonoana’s
legs out of the way and landing in mount. The bell sounds. 10-9
O’Connor.
Round 2
Mokhonoana is aggressive to open the second frame, marching forward
and throwing his jab and straight. O’Connor kicks low and
Mokhonoana changes levels for an easy takedown in the center of the
cage. He moves quickly to O’Connor’s back, wraps up a body triangle
and is working for a rear-naked choke immediately. O’Connor calmly
fights off the choke, escapes the body triangle and sweeps to top
position. O’Connor works from Mokhonoana’s half guard, avoiding an
armbar setup and staying busy on top. O’Connor appears to be
setting up an arm triangle, but Mokhonoana bucks and sweeps to top
position as O’Connor tries an armbar in transition. O’Connor
escapes and they return to their feet with just over a minute left.
O’Connor drops for a takedown, takes Mokhonoana’s back and works
for a rear-naked choke. Time is short, but Mokhonoana gets out of
the choke just after the 10-second clapper. The round ends. 10-9
O’Connor.
Round 3
Mokhonoana inches forward in southpaw, sticking his jab out into
the face of orthodox O’Connor. O’Connor drives him to the mat with
an effortless-looking takedown. He moves to side control instantly,
and begins to work for a topside choke. Mokhonoana turns and
O’Connor smoothly takes his back. Mokhonoana stands and O’Connor
drags him right back down. The Welshman is in total control in
Round 3, expending minimal effort to do so. O’Connor takes mount,
then takes back control as Mokhonoana turns away. O’Connor has a
body triangle and is working patiently for a choke, then bailing on
the attempt in favor of throwing punches to the head. With under
two minutes left, Mokhonoana goes belly-down, doing little more
than survive as O’Connor is all over him. O’Connor is in back mount
on the prone Mokhonoana, working slowly for a choke as Mokhonoana
fights his hands. The fight ends with O’Connor throwing punches
from back mount. The bell sounds on a ground fighting clinic by
Josh O’Connor. 10-8 O’Connor (30-26).
The Official Result
Josh O’Connor def. Kenny Mokhonoana via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-26, 30-26)
Round 1
Al-Faqih Hassan and Adjoudj go to work, with Miner in charge of
keeping things clean. Both featherweights are in orthodox stance,
exchanging long jabs and crosses, as well as some hard low kicks.
Al-Faqih Hassan lands a low kick that nearly takes Adjoudj off of
his feet, then clinches and runs him to the fence. Al-Faqih Hassan
throws knees up the middle and Adjoudj retaliates with a couple of
his own. Al-Faqih Hassan then changes levels, looking for a
takedown against the fence. He briefly drags his man down, but
can’t finish the takedown. They return to the middle of the cage
and Adjoudj catches Al-Faqih Hassan with a right hand that knocks
him down off-balance. Al-Faqih Hassan pops right back up, but
Adjoudj tags him with two more punches right away. Al-Faqih Hassan
backs off and Adjoudj follows him to the fence, where he scores
with a pair of punches to the body. Al-Faqih Hassan clinches and
spins Adjoudj into the fence. Adjoudj reverses the position and
presses the taller man into the cage, throwing some short elbows
inside. Al-Faqih Hassan briefly throws both legs up at the
10-second warning, but gives up on whatever he was about to do. The
bell sounds. 10-9 Adjoudj.