A clean sweep across the board for @SemiTheJedi!
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#UFCVegas50 | Prelims are LIVE on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/Gs1hP4Ii9U— UFC (@ufc)
March 13, 2022
UFC Fight Night 203‘s featured prelim saw
Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight prospects Matthew
Semelsberger and A.J.
Fletcher battle for supremacy. Fletcher (9-1) managed to take the fight to the ground early with a
strong double leg takedown and then navigated his way to mount.
Semelsberger (10-3) would have more success in Round 2 and even
managed to get top position on Fletcher. Round 3 would mirror the
previous frame with Semelsberger riding out the round in top
position and landing solid punches. The judges all saw the fight
29-28 in the favor of Semelsberger.
With the win, “Semi the Jedi” improves to 4-1 inside the
Octagon.
Aldrich Handles Robertson
In the women’s flyweight division, J.J. Aldrich
took on fellow UFC mainstay Gillian
Robertson.
The first round was contested on the feet with Aldrich (11-4)
landing the cleaner blows, as the most damaging strike from “The
Savage” wound up being an inadvertent eye poke. Robertson (10-7)
made a concerted effort to get the ground to the ground during the
rest of the fight, but Aldrich mostly kept the fight standing and
managed to get top position when it did go to the ground. After 15
minutes, Aldrich took home a clear unanimous decision with scores
of 30-27 across the board.
Aldrich has now won three straight bouts inside the Octagon.
Basharat Outstrikes Jones
Undefeated bantamweight prospect Javid
Basharat passed his toughest test yet in Trevin
Jones.
It was Jones (13-8, 1 NC) that wanted to exchange strikes in the
middle of the cage and “The Snow Leopard” was happy to oblige.
While Jones focused on punches, Basharat (12-0) showed a varied
arsenal of strikes that included damaging knees and quick kicks. “5
Star” was never in much trouble of being finished, and was game
throughout all 15 minutes, but was typically a step behind on the
feet.
The judges awarded two 30-27 scorecards and one 29-28 verdict all
in the favor of Basharat.
Jackson Arm-Triangle Chokes Kirk
Kamuela
Kirk had no answer for how to get “The Leech” off of him.
After a feeling-out process, Damon
Jackson managed to hurt Kirk (12-5) on the feet and take the
fight to the ground, where he would end the round on top. The
second frame started off with Jackson (19-4-1, 1 NC) getting
another takedown and then securing an arm-triangle choke that
elicited the tap at the 4:42 mark.
Jackson improves to 3-1 inside the promotion with the win.
Maverick Outgrapples Mazo
Both Sabina Mazo
and Miranda
Maverick entered their women’s flyweight bout on two-fight
skids.
Maverick (10-4) showcased her wrestling ability early on as she
controlled the first round in top position while Mazo (9-4) had
little to offer from her back. Round 2 was more of the same,
although Maverick was able to get the back of the “Colombian Queen”
and then sink in a rear-naked choke. Unable to escape, Mazo tapped
at 2:15 of the second frame.
Maverick has now won six of her last eight fights and is 3-2 inside
the Octagon.
Brundage Guillotine Chokes Lungiambula
Dalcha
Lungiambula didn’t quite live up to his nickname of “Champion”
against fellow middleweight Cody
Brundage.
Lungiambula (11-4) damaged Brundage (7-2) with punches early in the
bout and went on full attack mode. However, throwing caution to the
wind would prove to be a mistake. After the South African went for
a sloppy takedown, Brundage was able to sink in a guillotine choke for the
submission win.
Lungiambula tapped out at 3:41 of Round 1.
Cannetti Pieces Apart Moutinho
Kris
Moutinho became known for his toughness after a brawl with
Sean
O’Malley, but Guido
Cannetti was able to wipe out the bantamweight in under a
round.
Both men came out swinging but it was Cannetti (9-6) that had a
clear edge in striking power. The Argentinian striker would keep
the pressure on Moutinho (9-6) and began teeing off while unable to
knock his opponent down. After
a series of unanswered strikes, the fight was waved off and “Ninja” was awarded the TKO victory at 2:07 of the first round.
The stoppage snaps a three-fight losing streak for Cannetti.
Murzakanov Flying Knees Nchukwi
UFC Fight Night 203 began with a battle between light heavyweight
prospects Tafon
Nchukwi and Azamat
Murzakanov.
While Murzakanov came into the bout undefeated, it was Nchukwi
(6-2) that fought confidently and was in control early on. However,
in Round 3, “The Professional” showed he was one to watch
by landing a gorgeous flying knee knockout for a comeback win.
The fight was officially waved off just 44 seconds into the third
and final frame.
Murzakanov advances to 11-0 with the victory.