Alexander Romanov won Juan Espino No. UFC Las Vegas 24 Photo: Instagram / @ufc_brasil
The fight that closed the preliminary card of the UFC Las Vegas 24, ended disappointingly. The duel between the heavyweights (up to 120,2kg) Alexander Romanov and Juan Espino, held this Saturday (17), was interrupted in the third round, after the Spaniard landed a knee on the Romanian's genitals, who was unable to return to the fight. With the low blow, the result went down to the judges who declared Romanov the winner by split decision.
With the result, Alexander maintained his unbeaten record in professional MMA. Now, the heavyweight boasts a record of 15 wins. Hired by Ultimate in 2020, the fighter recorded his third consecutive victory in the organization. The Romanian debuted by beating Roque Martinez and then defeated the Brazilian Marcos Foot.
Romanov's opponent, Juan Espino, suffered his first defeat in the UFC. The Spaniard was hired after participating in the twenty-eighth edition of the reality show 'The Ultimate Fighter'. His first fight in the organization was in September 2020, on Jeff Hughes, UFC 253. The fighter now boasts a record of 10 triumphs and two setbacks.
The fight
The duel began with the two athletes exchanging blows in the center of the octagon, however, Romanov quickly put Espino down and began to dominate the actions. The Romanian was better at striking and the Spaniard tried to defend himself from his opponent's strikes and submission attempts.
In the second half, the Spaniard started trying to take down Romanov, but without success. The two remained standing, exchanging blows in the clinch and the duel became more balanced. In the second half of the round, the Romanian knocked his opponent down again, but managed only a few ineffective blows. Both athletes ended the round looking very tired.
At the beginning of the third half, in an exchange of blows in the clinch, Romanov took a low blow to his genital region and fell in great pain. After the five minutes he is entitled to 'breathe', the Romanian claimed that he was in no condition to return to combat. After the referee declared the end of the fight, the judges' sheets were opened, giving Alexander the victory by split decision.
Jessica Penne ends Mexican's unbeaten record
J. Penne won Lupita Godinez Photo: Instagram/ @ufc
In the duel of experience against youth, whoever 'arrived first' won. Using a 'safe game', Jessica Penne derrotou Lupita Godinez using a lot of clinch play and grappling. The Mexican was a warrior, showed good striking and faced the veteran but lost her unbeaten record in the judges' split decision.
The triumph marked Jéssica's return to the octagon after four years. Her last fight was in April 2017, against Danielle Taylor. Before the fight against Godinez, the American faced a series of injuries and a doping suspension that left her inactive for a long time. The fighter now has a record of 13 victories and five setbacks.
Yes, Lupita Godinez, suffered his first defeat in professional MMA. Professional since 2018, the 27-year-old Mexican now boasts a record of five wins and one setback.
Meerschaert submits Fabinski and wins again in Ultimate
Gerald meerschaert finished Bartosz Fabinski in the UFC Las Vegas 24. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
The duel between two athletes who were coming from negative results was decided very quickly. the North American Gerald meerschaert There was no chance of bad luck and he submitted the Polish Bartosz Fabinski two minutes into the first round. The duel was valid for the middleweight division (83,9kg).
With the triumph, Gerald meerschaert wins again after two negative results in a row. Coming from a defeat to the trendy Khamzat Shimaev, the North American found his way back to victory. Fighting in the UFC since 2016, the fighter has 35 triumphs and 14 setbacks in his professional history.
Polish Bartosz Fabinski suffered his second defeat since returning to Ultimate. In his return fight, the 34-year-old fighter was defeated by Andre Muniz, in September 2020. The European athlete now boasts 15 wins and five losses in his professional record.
Austin Hubbard defeats Dakota Bush in judges' decision
A. Hubbard defeated Dakota Bush in the judges' decision PHOTO: Instagram / @ufc
In a fight that was balanced only in the first round, Austin Hubbard he knew how to take advantage of Dakota Bush's deterioration to win the judges' decision. The former LFA champion took advantage of the newcomer's fatigue from the second round onwards and abused his blows from mount. Without the strength to react, Bush was easy prey until the last bell sounded.
Seeking regularity in results, Austin won again in Ultimate. Hired in 2019, the former LFA lightweight champion (up to 70,3kg) has alternated victories and defeats since his debut in the organization. After the triumph over Bush, the fighter now has a record of 13 triumphs and five setbacks.
Making his debut with the organization on the wrong foot, Dakota Bush was defeated after two consecutive victories in his former organization, LFA. The 26-year-old athlete now boasts a record of eight wins and three losses.
In a busy duel, Gravely runs over Birchak
T. Gravely knocked out Anthony Birchak PHOTO: Instagram / @ufc
The duel that opened the night of fights started with great intensity. Tony Gravely and Anthony Birchak started the fight, exchanging punches and kicks from the first seconds. After a slightly superior first round, Gravely took advantage of the veteran's oversight and landed a cross that took him to the ground. The referee stopped the fight at the same moment as the final blow.
After debuting with defeat in Ultimate, Tony Gravely won the second fight in a row. The bantamweight (up to 61,2kg) debuted with a setback against Brett Jhons in January 2020. His first triumph came in November of the same year against Geraldo de Freitas. With the victory over Birchak, the American now has 21 victories and six setbacks on his record.
Veteran Anthony has yet to win since starting his second stint in Ultimate. The fighter returned to the event in November 2020, when he was submitted by Gustavo Lopez. With the setback for Gravely, the 34-year-old athlete now has a record of 15 wins and eight losses.
UFC Las Vegas 24 results
MAIN CARD
Average weight: Robert whittaker x Kelvin Gastelum
Lightweight: Jeremy Stephens x Drakkar Klose – Fight canceled
Heavyweight: Andrei Arlovski derrotou Chase sherman in the unanimous decision of the judges (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Average weight: Jacob Malkoun derrotou Abdul Razak Alhassan in the unanimous decision of the judges (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Fly weight: Tracy Cortez defeated Justine Kish via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27))
Lightweight: Luis Peña defeated Alexander Muñoz via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
PRELIMINARY CARD
Heavyweight: Alexander Romanov derrotou Juan Espino in split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Straw weight: Jessica penne derrotou Lupita Godinez in the judges' split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Average weight: Gerald meerschaert submitted Bartosz Fabinski with a guillotine 2m from R1
Lightweight: Austin Hubbard defeated Dakota Bush via unanimous judge decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Bantamweight: Tony Gravely defeated Anthony Birchak via TKO at 1m31s of R2
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