R. Whittaker (left) beat J. Cannonier (right) by points in the UFC 254. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
It's a shame there's no audience. In the co-main fight of UFC 254, held this Saturday (24), in Abu Dhabi, Robert whittaker e Jared Cannonier they left everything in the octagon. In a duel marked by technique and aggression, the former middleweight champion (up to 83,9kg) did well again and leaves the United Arab Emirates with a victory in the judges' unanimous decision.
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With the result, Whittaker remains intact in first place in the ranking led by his last tormentor, Israel adesanya. After the duel, the Australian avoided challenging the champion, but remains one of the strongest names in the category.
The setback ended up interrupting Cannonier's great phase. The North American, who had three consecutive victories, went into the duel with the affirmation that, if he achieved a positive result, he would face the current leader of the division. Now, the athlete is momentarily moving away from his dream of competing for the title.
The fight
Cannonier took the initiative in the duel with a low kick. Whittaker measured the distance and tried, little by little, to enter his rival's range of action. Jared managed to take Robert down with another low kick, but the former champion got up quickly and countered with a high kick. The North American continued to bet on attacks with his feet, which began to mark the Australian's left leg. Halfway through the round, Whittaker began to loosen up and attacked his rival with combinations of punches and kicks. Near the end of the round, the fighters exchanged attacks in the center of the Octagon, but there was no more time.
In the second stage, Cannonier continued to hurt the former champion's left leg. Whittaker, however, scored with jabs and kicks to the belt, but without much force. Halfway through the round, Jared almost surprised his opponent with a series of punches, but Robert stepped back and blocked him with his guard. With almost four minutes gone, the former champion risked a takedown, but the American defended well and managed to free himself from his opponent. In the final seconds, Whittaker connected a jab and a straight shot, which landed cleanly on Jared's face, but the timer ran to zero.
The last round began with Robert connecting, shaking Cannonier with a straight shot. Cannonier staggered and the former champion attacked with a combination of punches, which took his rival to the ground. The American refused to give up and Whittaker went to the ground with his opponent. The Australian continued to stifle his opponent, managed to get to his back and began attempting a submission. Jared showed a lot of courage and managed to get up. Pressing the former champion against the bars, Jared tried to recover the loss. Back in the fight, Cannonier threw a high kick, but the blow didn't shake the Australian. In the final seconds, Jared managed to rock Whittaker with a cross and attempted the knockout. With an exciting ending, the assault came to an end.
Volkov delivers a tough knockout to Walt Harris
Another victory for the extensive cartel of Alexander Volkov. In one of the last fights of the night, the Russian, who celebrated his birthday on the day of the card, asserted his favoritism and knocked out his rival in the second round, after an intense sequence of blows.
With the result, Alexander reaches his 32nd career victory and resumes his path towards his dream of fighting for the heavyweight belt (up to 120,2kg). In his last match, the Russian had lost to Curtis blaydes. After the clash, Alex challenged the former category champion, junior gypsy.
While Volkov celebrates, Harris continues to be unable to triumph after experiencing a personal tragedy last year, when he lost his stepdaughter. Now, the North American has two consecutive setbacks.
Phil Hawes runs over Jacob Malkoun in 18 seconds
P. Hawes defeated J. Malkoun with a knockout in 18 seconds of fights UFC 254. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
I couldn't even sweat. Candidate for one of the 'Performance of the Night' bonuses, Jacob Malkoun didn't write down the license plate phil hawes, who defeated his rival with a knockout in 18 seconds, on the preliminary card, in a fight valid in the middleweight division.
Hawes couldn't have had more reason to smile. The clash in UFC 254 It marked the American's debut in the organization. Phil got his contract with Ultimate while on 'Dana White's Contender Series'.
Malkoun, who was also making his debut in the organization, ended up experiencing defeat in the worst possible way. The athlete was undefeated in four MMA appearances.
Ankalaev wins reckoning with Cutelaba with new knockout
M. Ankalaev ran over I. Cutelaba in the UFC 254. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
After almost eight months, MMA fans were able to watch the reckoning between Magomed Ankalayev e Ion cutelaba, in the light heavyweight division (up to 93kg.). After a controversial result in February this year, this time, the script was written without leaving any doubts. With a brutal knockout, the Russian overcame his opponent at the end of the first round.
In the first meeting between the athletes, Ankalaev ended up leaving the octagon with a disputed victory, as an error by the referee, Kevin MacDdonald, caused Ion to be declared defeated by a knockout that did not exist.
Now, without leaving any doubt, Magomed confirms the good phase and reaches the fifth positive result in a row. Cutelaba, in turn, has the third setback in the last five appearances.
UFC 254 results
MAIN CARD
Lightweight: Khabib Nurmagomedov finished Justin gaethje with a triangle at 1m34s of R2 – Fight for the unification of the belts
Average weight: Robert whittaker derrotou Jared Cannonnier in the unanimous decision of the judges (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov derrotou Walt Harris by technical knockout at 1m15s of R2
Average weight: phil hawes derrotou Jacob Malkoun by knockout 18s into R1
Fly weight: Lauren Murphy finished Liliya Shakirova with a rear naked choke at 3m31s of R2
Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalayev derrotou Ion cutelaba by knockout at 4m19s of R1
PRELIMINARY CARD
Heavyweight: Tai tuivasa derrotou Stefan struve by knockout at 4m59s of R1
Married weight (up to 63,5kg): Casey kenney derrotou Nathaniel Wood in the unanimous decision of the judges (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Welterweight Weight: Shavkat Rakhmonov finished Alex Cowboy with a guillotine 4m40s from R1
Light Heavyweight: Sam alvey e Da Un Jung they tied in a split decision between the judges (29-28, 28-29, 28-28)
Fly weight: Miranda maverick derrotou Liana Jojua by technical knockout (medical interruption) 5m from R1
Lightweight: Joel alvarez finished Alexander Yakovlev with an armbar 3m from R1
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