UFC on FOX 13: In an epic battle, Cigano defeats Miocic on his return to the octagon

Cigano (photo) returned to Ultimate with a victory over Miocic. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

It was suffered. Having his first fight in 14 months, Junior Gypsy went through difficult times in the initial rounds, but managed to turn the fight around and get the better of Stipe Miocic in the five-round battle that marked the main fight of UFC on FOX 13, held in the early hours of Sunday (14).

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The fight

In the first two rounds, Cigano even managed to land some good blows, but they were all well absorbed by Miocic, who also had the advantage when he managed to put the Brazilian with his back against the cage. However, the outlook of the fight changed when Junior dos Santos scored a knockdown for the first time, with a well-aimed left cross in the middle of the third round.

From then on, the Brazilian got the better of a true boxing duel and managed to land the most powerful punches. Junior dos Santos stopped being threatened by Miocic in the clinch and was able to develop his game efficiently, alternating the base and even applying a takedown at the end of the fourth round.

In the fifth and final round, already visibly tired, Cigano and Miocic alternated control of the octagon, but again with an advantage for the Brazilian. In the final stretch of the fight, the two started to engage in frank exchanges and ended the fight to a standing ovation from the audience at the US Airway Center, in Phoenix (USA).

At the end of the confrontation, all the judges gave the result in favor of the Brazilian – two of them by 49-46 and another by 48-47. Thus, Junior dos Santos was declared the winner by unanimous decision of the judges.

Now, Cigano has a professional record of 17 wins and three losses. Although there is no confirmation, the expectation is that now Junior dos Santos will face the winner of Cain Velazquez e Fabricio Werdum, who are dueling for the unification of the heavyweight belt in a fight scheduled for mid-2015.

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Check out all the results from UFC on FOX 13 below:

MAIN CARD

junior gypsy won Stipe Miocic by unanimous decision of the judges;

Rafael dos Anjos won Nate diaz by unanimous decision of the judges;

alistair overeem won Stefan struve by knockout in R1;

Matt Mitrione won Gabriel Napao by TKO in R1.

PRELIMINARY CARD

Joanna Jedrzejczyk derrotou Claudinha gadelha by split decision;

John Moraga submitted Willie Gates with a rear naked choke in R3;

Ben Saunders beat Joe Riggs by submission (injury) in R1;

Drew dober submitted Jamie Varner with a rear naked choke in R1;

Bryan Barbarena beat Joe Ellenberger via TKO in R3;

David Michaud beat Garrett Whiteley by unanimous decision;

Henry Cejudo beat Dustin Kimura by unanimous decision of the judges;

Ian Entwistle submitted Anthony Birchak with a heel hook in R1.