Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. While some fighters shrink in the spotlight, others thrive
in it. It seems clear that Marvin
Vettori falls in the latter category. Laser-guided left hands, stellar takedown defense and a willingness
to go to the end of his rope carried the ascendant Rafael Cordeiro
protégé to a unanimous decision over Jack
Hermansson in the
UFC on ESPN 19 headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las
Vegas. A short-notice substitution for Kevin
Holland, Vettori (16-4-1, 6-2-1 UFC) swept the scorecards with
49-46, 49-46 and 49-45 marks from the judges.
DROPPED HIM
@MarvinVettori
has Hermansson reeling early!
#UFCVegas16 pic.twitter.com/ltfBLyq1Jd— UFC (@ufc)
December 6, 2020
Hermansson (21-6, 8-4 UFC) ran into early difficulty, as Vettori
dropped him with a left hand in the first round and pursued a
finish on the ground with punches and elbows before his bid for a
guillotine choke failed. Drawing on his guile and experience, the
Swede battled back in the second and third rounds by moving forward
and uncorking combinations. A pep talk from Cordeiro after Round 3
appeared to breathe new life into Vettori. The Kings MMA product
fought through fatigue across the final 10 minutes, tearing into
Hermansson with one left cross after another to punctuate the most
important victory of his 21-fight career.
The 27-year-old Vettori will ride a four-fight winning streak into
his next assignment, almost certainly against another Top 10
contender at 185 pounds.
Hill Stops St. Preux, Moves to 8-0
Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Jamahal
Hill dismissed Ovince St.
Preux with punches in the second round of their light
heavyweight co-main event. St. Preux (25-15, 13-10 UFC) succumbed
to blows 3:37 into Round 2, suffering his first knockout loss since
2016.
Hill (8-0, 2-0 UFC) focused his initial efforts on the body, even
as he ate a number of leg kicks for his troubles. St. Preux
switched stances in both rounds but appeared far more vulnerable
when he fought orthodox. Hill backed him to the fence with punches
in the second round and unleashed with accurate hooks, uppercuts
and crosses, all while referee Jason Herzog hovered nearby. St.
Preux never left his feet, but once it became clear the Knoxville MMA mainstay had
no hope of recovering to defend himself, Herzog intervened.
St. Preux, 37, has lost four of his last six bouts.
Benitez Knee Freezes Jaynes
American Kickboxing Academy standout Gabriel
Benitez disposed of Justin
Jaynes with a brutal knee strike to the solar plexus and
follow-up punches in the first round of their featured lightweight
clash. His body no longer willing to comply with his commands,
Jaynes (16-6, 1-2 UFC) bowed out 4:06 into Round 1.
Benitez (22-8, 6-4 UFC) managed to withstand the Xtreme Couture
rep’s offensive flurries, gave him pause with searing leg kicks and
kept him at bay with slashing uppercuts at close range. “The
Ultimate Fighter Latin America” semifinalist floored Jaynes with a crushing knee to the
midsection late in the first round, trailed him to the canvas
and closed the deal with punches.
The victory closed the book on a two-fight losing streak for
Benitez.
Undefeated Dolidze Subdues Allan
Xtreme Couture’s Roman
Dolidze remained unbeaten in his sternest test to date, as the
former World Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder took a
split decision from John Allan
in a three-round light heavyweight showcase. Judges Dave Hagen and
Michael Bell scored it 30-27 and 29-28 for Dolidze, while Chris Lee
saw it 29-28 for Chute Boxe-trained Allan.
The verdict notwithstanding, the fight was not particularly
competitive. Allan (13-6, 0-1 UFC) enjoyed brief periods of success
on the feet but too often found himself pinned to the mat by the
relentless Georgian. Dolidze (8-0, 2-0 UFC) delivered takedowns in
all three rounds, paired them with suffocating control and applied
his ground-and-pound, all while fishing for heel hooks at various
times.
The setback was Allan’s first in more than two years.
Leavitt Slams Wiman Unconscious
Unbeaten Syndicate MMA prospect Jordan
Leavitt knocked out Matt Wiman
with a violent slam in the first round of their lightweight
feature. Wiman (16-10, 10-8 UFC) met his end just 22 seconds into
Round 1 and remains winless since Nov. 22, 2014.
Leavitt (8-0, 1-0 UFC) dipped in for a double-leg takedown, lifted
“The Ultimate Fighter 5” quarterfinalist off his feet and carried
him across the cage toward his corner. Wiman failed to disengage
his legs, maintained a closed guard and rendered himself
defenseless. Leavitt framed on the veteran’s neck with his left arm
and drove him downward, his head striking the canvas with devastating
force.
It was the 12th slam knockout in the 27-year history of the
UFC.
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Alberto Quinonez 
