Lightweight has a new threat in @RafaelFiziev
#UFC256 pic.twitter.com/nET3H8zMu8— UFC (@ufc)
December 13, 2020
Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC 256 live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. Rafael
Fiziev throws the kind of heat that triggers nightmares. The Phuket Top Team standout continued his climb on the
Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight ladder, as he cut
down Renato
Carneiro with a blistering three-punch combination in the first
round of their
UFC 256 prelim on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Fiziev
(9-1, 3-1 UFC) drew the curtain 4:05 into Round 1.
Carneiro (14-4-1, 6-4 UFC) held his own initially, honing in on the
Kyrgyzstani police officer with penetrating jabs and overhand
rights. However, when his first pass at a takedown failed, the
American Top Team rep found himself trapped on the feet with one of
the most frightening strikers in the 155-pound weight class. Fiziev
stepped forward with a left hook to the body late in the first
round, followed with a right hook to the head and then closed the
show with a sweeping left hook upstairs that floored the Brazilian
and prompted referee Chris Tognoni to intervene.
Fiziev, 27, will enter his next assignment on the heels of three
straight wins.
Revitalized Swanson Fells Pineda
Cub
Swanson disposed of former Fury Fighting Championship
titleholder Daniel
Pineda with punches in the second round of their featherweight
clash. Swanson (27-11, 12-7 UFC) finished it 1:52 into Round 2 and
did so with some sizzle, netting his first knockout in more than
seven years.
Pineda (27-14, 4-5 UFC) had the World Extreme Cagefighting veteran
hobbling with leg kicks but grew overzealous in his success and
allowed his defenses to slip. Swanson turned the tide late in the
first round, where he dropped the Texan to his knees with a searing
right cross. Even with the one-minute respite between rounds,
Pineda was never the same. Swanson stuffed an attempted takedown
early in the middle stanza, backed into the fence, created some
space with a pair of uppercuts and connected with a crushing
overhand right. Pineda hit the deck in a dazed state and was in
no condition to guard against the diving right hand that
followed. Referee Mark Smith was on the scene soon after.
Swanson has recorded back-to-back victories for the first time
since 2017.
Tucker Slows Quarantillo Surge
Repeated takedowns, sharp boxing and straightforward commitment
carried former Extreme Cage Combat champion Gavin
Tucker to a unanimous decision over Billy
Quarantillo in a three-round featherweight affair. All three
cageside judges scored it 30-27 for Tucker (13-1, 4-1 UFC), who
extended his run of consecutive victories to three.
Quarantillo (15-3, 3-1 UFC) was in a state of retreat for much of
the match. Tucker cut loose with two-, three- and four-punch
volleys, stepping knees, a potent jab and punishing shots to the
body. All of it took a toll on Quarantillo, who seemed to grow more
frustrated by the minute. Tucker incorporated trips at close range
and traditional takedowns to keep the onetime King of the Cage
titleholder guessing and off-balance.
The setback was Quarantillo’s first since April 2016 and snapped
his eight-fight winning streak.
Dominant Torres Routs Hughes
“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 20 quarterfinalist Tecia
Torres was awarded a technical knockout over promotional
newcomer Sam Hughes
in between the first and second rounds of their women’s strawweight
tilt. A short-notice substitute for Angela
Hill, Hughes (5-2, 0-1 UFC) prompted the stoppage when
she informed her corner that she could not see out of her left
eye.
Torres (12-5, 8-5 UFC) was a whirling dervish of violence and
purpose. She unloaded on Hughes with accurate multi-strike
flurries, front kicks to the body, spinning backfists, Superman
punches, close-range knees and virtually every other weapon at her
disposal. Hughes tried and failed to close the distance, absorbed a
significant amount of punishment and even conceded a last-second
takedown to “The Tiny Tornado.”
Still just 31 years of age, Torres has posted back-to-back
victories.
Hooper Heel Hook Stuns Barrett
Chase
Hooper rebounded from a June 6 decision defeat to Alex
Caceres, as he rallied to submit Team Sityodtong export
Peter
Barrett with a heel hook in the third round of their undercard
pairing at 145 pounds. Likely in a two-rounds-to-none hole, Hooper
(10-1-1, 2-1 UFC) brought it to a dramatic close 3:02 into Round
3.
Barrett (11-5, 0-2 UFC) did everything right—up until the finish.
He hammered Hooper’s lead leg with kicks, countered effectively
with both hands and denied the Dana White’s Contender Series
graduate’s bids for takedowns. However, midway through the third
round, Hooper attacked the legs with an Imanari roll and pestered
the seated Barrett with punches and hammerfists before
working himself into position for the heel hook. It was a
stunning turnaround.
The 21-year-old Hooper has rattled off four wins in five
appearances.
