Tanquinho (left) beat Saenz at UFC Phoenix. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
It was difficult, but Brazilian Augusto Tanquinho won his first victory in the Octagon. The jiu-jitsu black belt showed progress in the stand-up fight and beat Frankie Saenz in a split decision from the judges. The fight was an attraction on the preliminary card of UFC Phoenix, an event held on Sunday night (15), in the United States.
Still in the preliminary program, Nina ansaroff, girlfriend of the Brazilian champion Amanda nunes, submitted Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger and managed to recover from two consecutive losses in Ultimate.
Tanquinho beats Saenz
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After losing for the first time in his career to the current champion cody garbrandt, in his UFC debut, Augusto Tanquinho promised that he deserved to be on the organization's list of athletes. And showing great progress in the stand-up fight, the Brazilian did what he said. The fight against Saenz was intense from beginning to end.
Tanquinho took the initiative in the stand-up fight and when the American tried to respond, he quickly took the fight to the ground. But Frankie managed to get up. In the stand-up fight, the Brazilian had another good moment with a right blow combined with a good uppercut.
In the second round, Tanquinho tried to maintain the pressure with good hand strikes. But Saenz landed an elbow, which rocked the Brazilian and ended up on top on the ground. When the stand-up fight resumed, Frankie hit the Tupiniquim black belt again, who felt the attacks.
The third would be decisive in defining the winner. Saenz started with combinations, but Tanquinho quickly recovered, landed counterattacks and pressed the American against the bars. The Brazilian tried some takedowns, but even without great effectiveness, he was more intense in the partial to guarantee the triumph in the judges' split decision (29×28, 28×29, 29×28).
I knew he was very tough, I've been watching him fight in the UFC, last time I only had five days notice, this time I had a much better camp. I was fine, I felt like he hurt me, but I get hurt a lot more when training at the gym, and I knew I would represent them well”, said Tanquinho,
Amanda Nunes' girlfriend submits with rear naked choke
Amanda celebrates victory with Nina.
Nina ansaroff entered the octagon under pressure. Coming from two serial losses, the American saw her girlfriend, Amanda nunes, saying that she would be the next strawweight champion. And with all these ingredients in action, she showed that she didn't feel the pressure, dominated Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger and managed to recover in the UFC.
Nina, in her first movements, found the distance and landed good hand strikes. Jones-Lybarger was still trying to connect some counterattacks, but Ansaroff took the fight to the ground halfway through the end and worked on top to secure the end.
Jones-Lybarger tried to recover in the second round and in the first few moves she risked a flying punch, but ended up being knocked off balance by a low kick from Ansaroff, who took the opportunity to jump on top and once again dominate on the ground. On top, Nina improved on the ground and secured a rear naked choke, but her rival managed to escape and defended herself. Ansaroff, even without submitting, maintained control on the ground with good punches from above. The girlfriend of Amanda nunes He still finished the partial on his rival's back, with no time to secure the choke.
Behind in the fight, Jones-Lybarger went for it all or nothing in the third round. She even managed to hurt her rival's nose. When Jocelyn seemed to grow in the fight, Ansaroff landed a good kick and the rival went to the ground. Nina quickly got to mount, took the back and applied the choke, forcing Jones-Lybarger to give up the fight.
“I just saw my girlfriend knock out Ronda Rousey. That motivated me,” said Nina, before hugging and kissing Amanda nunes.
UFC Phoenix preliminary card results
Bantamweight: Augusto Tanquinho defeated Frankie Saenz via split decision (29×28, 28×29, 29×28)
Heavyweight: Aleksei Oleinik submitted Viktor Pesta with a choke at 2m57s of R1;
Lightweight: Tony Martin defeated Alex White via unanimous decision (30×27, 30×27, 30×27)
Straw weight: Nina ansaroff submitted Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger with a rear naked choke at 3m39s of R3
Heavyweight: Walt Harris derrotou Chase sherman by knockout (punches) at 2m41s of R2
Lightweight: Joachim Christensen defeated Bojan Mihajlovic via TKO 2m5s into R3
Heavyweight: Cyril Asker defeated Dmitry Smolyakov via TKO at 2:41
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