C. Sahdhagen (right) defeats R. Assunção (left) at UFC 241. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @ufc_brasil
The return to the Octagon was not the way it was supposed to be. Raphael Assunção expected. The Brazilian was unable to impose his strategy in the duel against Cory Sandhagen at UFC 241, held this Saturday (17), in Anaheim (USA), and ended up defeated in the penultimate fight of the preliminary card with a unanimous decision from the judges. The Pernambuco native was the first Tupiniquim athlete to appear on the card.
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The Recife native took to the octagon trying to erase the defeat he suffered against his compatriot Marlon moraes, in February this year, at UFC Fortaleza. The loss to Marlon put a pause on Raphael's dream of becoming a possible challenger for his division's title.
The Pernambuco native's opponent, Cory, entered the fight with a commitment to beating third in the rankings. Ninth in the rankings, the North American is considered one of the promises of Ultimate and took part in the duel coming off the back of six consecutive victories.
In combat, Cory's greater wingspan and speed were detrimental to the Brazilian's strategy, as he found it very difficult to connect his punches, in addition to not being able to carry out transitions when he managed to take down his opponent.
The defeat will probably cause Assunção to drop at least one position in the bantamweight rankings, which the North American currently has Henry Cejudo as champion. With the victory, Cory placed himself among the category's elite.
The fight
Raphael started the fight by taking the initiative by delivering a good low kick to Cory. The athlete received his opponent's counterattack with a high kick, but did not land the blow. Sandhagen managed to surprise the Brazilian with an uppercut, but the Pernambuco native didn't attack. Assunção was waiting for the North American's attacks to carry out his actions. Cory was very fast and had an advantage in combat. With difficulty finding the distance, the Brazilian threw punches that went by in vain. The American tried to trap the Recife native against the bars, which forced Raphael to move around the Octagon a lot. With just over a minute left in the round, Sandhagen tried to take the fight to the ground, but the Brazilian defended himself well. After receiving some low kicks, the inner part of Assunção's right thigh was already red. Assunção remained under pressure until the round ended.
The second round began with Raphael insisting on low kicks, but Cory responded with the same kicks, but with more efficiency. Sandhagen once again pressed Assunção against the fence and threw some blows, but the Brazilian managed to free himself and soon managed to get a takedown on the North American. The Pernambuco native fell underneath and tried to find a better position, but Cory managed to defend himself well. Sandhagen managed to get up, but was put down again by Raphael. The opponent from Recife was fast and made it difficult for Assunção to try to finish. Raphael managed to catch his opponent's right arm, but there was no space to perform the spin. There was no more time for the Pernambuco native to progress in the attack.
In the last stage, Cory, in the opening seconds, again delivered a good kick to Assunção's thigh. Very fast even in the last round, Sandhagen managed well the favorable result achieved in the previous stages. After two minutes, Raphael tried to take down his opponent again, but the American defended himself well against the bars. After another attempt, Raphael managed to take down his opponent, but Cory soon got up. In the final minute, Assunção managed to land a beautiful takedown on Sandhagen, but the North American was impressive in his physical preparation and defenses. In the end, the athletes started to exchange franks, raising the audience, but there was no time for anything else.
Cifers defeats Esquibel and suffers fourth consecutive defeat against its rival
H. Cifers in victory at UFC 241. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @shockwavecifers
UFC 241 marked another defeat for the American, Jodie Esquibel. The athlete, who has failed to win even one fight since debuting in Ultimate in 2017, suffered her fourth consecutive setback for the company. In a cold fight against Hannah Cifers, Esquibel was defeated by the judges' unanimous decision after three poorly contested rounds. After the negative result, Jodie finds herself in a difficult situation within the organization.
The duel began with Hanna taking the initiative by releasing two jabs to Jodie's face. The compatriot read Cifers' strategy and saved on blows. After two minutes, Esquibel risked reaching for her opponent's legs to try to take the fight to the ground, but the American defended herself well. Hannah tried low kicks and kicks to the waistline, but they had no effect. Jodie responded with a good kick at her opponent, who smiled as she suffered the attack. Cifers, despite launching more blows, was cautious to avoid falling into a trap made by Jodie. In the final minute, Esquibel began to loosen up and managed to connect a good sequence of kicks and punches on Cifers, the compatriot, however, absorbed it well. At the end of the stage, Jodie attempted a takedown again and almost succeeded, but Cifers managed to strengthen her base and remain standing until the horn sounded.
In the second round, the athletes remained without action. Without letting go of the game, the fighters remained slim and avoided direct contact. Jodie threw punches that went by in vain, while Hannah risked kicks without power at her opponent. Around three minutes in, Esquibel managed to get a good takedown on her opponent and started looking for a submission. On top, Jodie threw some blows, but without effectiveness, so the referee made the athletes return to the fight on their feet. Jodie, again, attempted a takedown, but landed in a worse position, leaving her arm free. Hannah almost took advantage of the situation and submitted her opponent, but Esquibel managed to get out of the situation. In the final seconds, the combatants began to loosen up with punches and kicks, but there was no more time.
The last round had a warm start again. The athletes were unable to find the distance and ended up not exchanging effective contact blows. Without exposing himself, Cifers connected jabs and kicks in order to score, however, Esquibel managed to take his opponent to the ground again. Once again without action, the referee once again asked the athletes to return to the standing fight. In the end, they entered into a frank exchange, but there was no more time.
In a technical fight, Kenney defeats Bermudez and takes away his opponent's unbeaten record
One of the best fights on the preliminary card was the meeting between compatriots Manny Bermudez and Casey kenney. The athletes showed great quality in the fight on the ground and, after three well-fought rounds, Kenney was declared the winner with a unanimous decision by the judges. The triumph marked Casey's second fight and victory in the UFC. Manny, in turn, suffered the first defeat of his career. The athlete entered the octagon with 14 fights and no defeats.
Kenney started the duel by launching a high kick, which passed dangerously close to Bermudez's face. The compatriot responded with a straight shot to his opponent's face. Casey, again, risked a high kick, exploding into Manny's guard. Bermudez managed to get a good takedown on his opponent and started working towards a submission. Casey managed to get up and immediately returned the fall to the American. The athlete tried to pass the guard to find a better position on the ground. Bermudez managed to defend himself well and got up. Standing up, Kenney was more aggressive and managed to land good punches on Manney's face, who smiled in response. The round then came to an end.
Back in the fight, Casey again started to be more aggressive, throwing two low kicks and one high kick. At a disadvantage, Bermudez managed to land another takedown on his opponent and once again began looking for the submission. On the ground, Kenney showed all his quality on the ground and managed a beautiful spin to get out of position. The fight was very technical on the ground and Casey had the advantage. Two minutes into the fight, Casey looked for a necklock, but couldn't get a good position to impose the necessary pressure. In an attempt to free himself from Kenney, Bermudez ended up turning his back on his opponent and ended up in a complicated situation, but his compatriot lost his position and the duel was once again fought standing up. Manny then tried to recover and started throwing good punches to his opponent's face. In the final minute, the athlete managed to take down his opponent, but Kenney managed to return to the half guard position. The round, however, ended.
In the last round, Bermudez showed better physical condition, but ended up being surprised by a left cross, but he was unfazed. More tired, Kenney began to accept some blows and show less breath. Aware of the disadvantage, Casey managed a good takedown, but Manny managed to reverse the situation after using the railing to gain momentum and achieve a spin. The fight, however, was without action and the referee warned the athletes. Bermudez was biding his time and alternating between seeking the submission and striking his opponent's face with punches, however, the round ended.
Drakkar Klose defeats Christos Giagos in exciting fight
D. Klose in victory for the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @drakkar_klose
Drakkar Klose e Christos Giagos They put on a real show on Saturday night. The athletes performed at a high level during three very busy rounds. At the end of the stages, Klose was announced the winner in a majority decision by the judges. The triumph represented the American's 11th victory in his career and his fifth in six fights in the UFC. His compatriot's setback ended a run of two victories for Giagos.
The fight started off busy with the fighters risking blows to the body. Klose took the initiative with a kick to the stomach area of Giagos, who soon responded, also with a kick. Aggressive Christos counterattacked his opponent's attacks until he took his opponent to the fence. The athletes threw knees in the stomach trying to sap each other's oxygen and Drakkar managed to free himself from the position. Despite delivering good blows, Drakkar was an easy victim of the grappling fight imposed by his compatriot, who, once again, pressed his opponent against the fence. Klose moved away and the fight was taken to the center of the Octagon. In the final seconds, Drakkar attacked his opponent with everything he could and threw two punches in a row, but the assault was ended.
In the second stage, the fighters attacked each other. When one attacked, the other defended, until Giagos managed to put the duel on the ground. Drakkar showed attention and quickly managed to get up, but Christos insisted on grappling. Once again Giagos managed to take down his compatriot and landed good punches on his opponent's face. Klose left his neck exposed and Giagos soon tried a rear naked choke, which was well defended by Drakkar. Klose's situation remained complicated, however, Giagos lost his position. After the bad moment, Drakkar began to attack his opponent and began to reverse the result in the round. More tired, Giagos was now taken to the ground and began to suffer hard blows to the face. Panting, Christos tried to defend himself, but his opponent's punches began to land from top to bottom, but there was no more time.
Before returning for the final stage, the UFC doctor entered the Octagon to assess Giagos' jaw after suspecting an injury. The athlete, however, stated that he was fine and the fight continued. Early on, Christos lost his balance after a low kick from Klose. In better physical condition, Drakar showed greater peace of mind in combat. Giagos, in turn, was visibly exhausted. Klose threw punches, but, despite being tired, Chistos responded. The combat was exciting, as the athletes threw blows without fear. In the final minute, Drakkar managed to lift Giagos and remained for a few seconds with his opponent's body on his shoulders, sending the audience into a frenzy. After the episode, the North American let go of his body and fell on top of his opponent. In the end, the athletes started to exchange franks, but there was no more time.
UFC 241 results
MAIN CARD
Heavy weight (up to 120,2kg): Stipe Miocic derrotou Daniel Cormier by knockout at 4m09s of R4 – title fight
Welterweight (up to 77kg): Nate diaz defeated Anthony Pettis in the unanimous decision of the judges (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Average weight (up to 83,9kg): Paulo borrachinha derrotou Yoel romero in the unanimous decision of the judges (29-28 29-28 29-28)
Featherweight (up to 65,7kg): Sodiq Yusuf defeated Gabriel Benítez by knockout at 4m14s of R1
Middleweight (up to 83,9kg): Derek Brunson derrotou Ian Heinisch in the unanimous decision of the judges (29-28 29-28 29-28)
PRELIMINARY CARD
Light weight (up to 70,3kg.): Khama Worthy derrotou Devonte Smith by knockout at 4m15s of R1
Bantam weight (up to 61,2kg): Cory Sandhagen derrotou Raphael Assunção in the unanimous decision of the judges (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Light weight (up to 70,3kg.): Drakkar Klose derrotou Christos Giagos in the unanimous decision of the judges (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Bantam weight (up to 61,2kg): Casey kenney defeated Manny Bermudez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Strawweight (up to 52,1kg): Hannah Cifers defeated Jodie Esquibel via unanimous decision (30-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Bantam weight (up to 61,2kg): Kyung Ho Kang derrotou Brandon davis in the judges' split decision (29-28 28-29 29-28)
Flyweight (up to 56,7kg): Sabina mazo defeated Shana Dobson via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-24, 30-25)
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