LOOPY GODINEZ PUT ON A CLINIC đ¤
#NocheUFC pic.twitter.com/m8FI57wq1Gâ ESPN MMA (@espnmma)
September 17, 2023
Lupita
Godinez has the potential to be a star in the strawweight
division if she can stay consistent. Her time in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship has been filled with ups and
downs but she could be in the midst of a serious winning streak
after securing her third straight against Elise
Reed.
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Godinez looked incredible from the start. She nearly shut Reedâs
lights off with a wicked left hook before following her to the mat
and securing a tight armbar attempt. Reedâs toughness and dexterity
shined through as she withstood several deadly submission attempts
to survive the round.
Godinez wouldnât let Reed off the hook, though. The beatdown
continued into Round 2 as Godinez pieced up Reed along the fence
before dumping her back onto the canvas. Goodinez put her final
stamp on the fight by taking Reedâs back and sinking in a
rear-naked choke (R2, 3:30) for her first finish since October of
2021.
Surging Kopylov Stops Fremd
Five-time world Sambo champion Roman
Kopylov (12-2) has his sights set on UFC gold and the Russian
middleweight is well on his way. After dropping his first two
fights in the Octagon, Kopylov has ran through his last four
opponents, including a second-round beatdown of Josh
Fremd.
Fremd on paper looked like a solid matchup for Kopylov. Successful
in his last two meetings and coming off a unanimous decision win
over Jaimee Pickett just five weeks ago, Fremd was confident he
could give Kopylov issues on the feet. He was wrong.
Kopylov toyed and pieced up the Pennsylvania native with punches
and kicks and had Fremd bloodied by the start of the second round.
Despite his success upstairs, Kopylov would ultimately end Fremdâs
night with a body shot at the 4:44 mark of the second round.
Tognoni Botches Guillotine Stoppage
The job of a referee can be tough. Just ask Chris Tognoni. While
overseeing the flyweight contest between Edgar
Chairez and Daniel da
Silva, Tognoni prematurely stopped the bout at 3:40 seconds of
the first round in favor of Chairez. Unfortunately for Da Silva,
who was in a tough position but certainly not out, the early call
wouldâve given him his fifth straight loss.
After minutes of pleading, the bout was reviewed and overturned as
a No Decision.
Cortez Returns in Style
Fresh off a 16-month layoff, fan-favorite Tracy
Cortez shook off the ring rust against the lanky Jasmine
Jasudavicius. It was evident early that Cortez was the faster
and harder puncher, and she often made Jasudavicius pay for her
weak jab.
Jasudavicius struggled to find her range in Round 1 but began to
connect in the second. Mixing in some takedowns and a high work
rate closed the gap in many eyes. Heading into the final round it
looked like it was anybodyâs fight to lose.
Cortez spent most of Round 3 countering Jasudavicius with check
hooks and overhand rights, but ate some leather for her trouble.
She definitely left an impression on the judges with two clear
stuffed takedown attempts and ended the bout slugging it out on her
feet. Despite the close fight Cortez, the UFCâs No. 14 ranked
flyweight, kept her 11-fight win streak intact with a unanimous
decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
Campbell Roughs Up Reyes
Charlie
Campbellâs first shot at UFC glory came to a crashing halt
after suffering a KO loss on Dana Whiteâs Contender Series 13
months ago. Campbell rebounded from that loss with a win in the
Cage Fury Fighting Championships, and was called up for another
shot against Alex Reyes â
the younger, smaller brother of former UFC light heavyweight
contender Dominick
Reyes.
âThe Cannibalâ (8-2, 1-0 UFC) made mincemeat of Reyes during their
lightweight clash on Saturday. Campbell sat behind a stiff jab and
consistent, punishing body work to pummel Reyes in a single round
(3:38). Campbell showed Reyes he could hurt him early but instead
of rushing in to potentially get clipped, he systemically walked
him down and took him out with precision.
Knutsson Overwhelms Mann
In a battle of UFC debuts, Josefine
Lindgren Knutsson proved she was more prepared for the big
stage than her strawweight foe Marnic
Mann. Knutsson had her way with Mann for the entirety of their
15-minute bout on the feet and the ground, en route to a wide
unanimous decision win (30-24, 30-25, 30-27).