Arman Tsarukyan punishes Netto BJJ and wins UFC Las Vegas 75 co-main fight

A. Tsarukyan punished Neto BJJ at UFC Vegas 75 (Photo: Twitter/@ufc)

The mission was very difficult, Neto BJJ made life difficult for Armen Tsarukyan but it didn't work for the Brazilian. The Tupiniquim athlete was dominated by the Armenian, suffered from the grappling game of the number eight in the lightweight rankings (up to 70,3kg) and ended up being knocked out in the third round. The show took place at the Apex, in Las Vegas.

Tsarukyan continues his good form and should now secure his place in the top-5 of the division. With just one defeat in his last eight fights, the Armenian now has 20 triumphs and three setbacks in his professional record.

Going through a delicate moment, Neto BJJ has just one victory in his last four fights and is starting to see his job in the organization being threatened. The Brazilian fighter now boasts a record of 12 positive results and only four negative results in the sport.

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THE FIGHT

Tsarukyan started the duel by kicking high and taking the initiative and quickly got into Neto's legs and put him down. In ground and pound, the Armenian started using elbows to punish the Brazilian fighter, who was trying to stop his rival by the neck. Upon seeing Neto trying to get up, Tsarukyan reached behind him and backpacked the Brazilian athlete. Even without being able to come close to finishing, Armen continued to control the Brazilian on the ground until the final seconds of the round, with a barrage of blows in the final seconds.

Neto returned for the second round trying to be more aggressive, however, he soon came up against Tsarukyan's sharp striking that prevented him from getting closer with punches and kicks. Neto tried to shorten and attack, but the Armenian responded to all his blows. Armen landed a sequence of jabs, followed by an elbow to the Brazilian's face. Surprisingly, Neto landed a cross that made the Armenian wobble and almost go for a knockdown. The Brazilian tried to explode to take advantage of the good moment, but Tsarukyan showed experience and entered the Tupiniquim athlete's takedowns, putting him down and keeping him on the ground until the final seconds.

Willing to avoid bad luck, Tsarukyan returned for the last round, closing the distance and quickly clinging to Neto, quickly getting the takedown. On top with ground and pound, the Armenian used punches and elbows again, however, Neto showed resistance and quickly got back to his feet. In an unusual way, Tsarukyan managed a spectacular takedown that left the Brazilian dizzy and unable to defend himself. The Armenian punished Neto with an endless rain of punches and elbows for long seconds until the (late) interruption by referee Keith Peterson

UFC Las Vegas 75 results

MAIN CARD (23pm Brasília time)

Average weight (up to 83,9kg): Jared Cannonier derrotou Marvin vettori in the unanimous decision of the judges (49-45, 49-45, 48-46)

Light weight (up to 70,3kg.): Arman Tsarukyan derrotou Netto BJJ by technical knockout (punches) at 3:25 of R3

Average weight (up to 83,9kg): Armen petrosyan defeated Christian Leroy Duncan via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Featherweight (up to 65,7kg): pat sabatini derrotou Lucas Almeida via submission (katagatame) at 1m48s of R2

Lightweight (up to 70,3kg): Manuel Torres defeated Nikolas Mota by technical knockout (elbows) at 1m50s of R1

Welterweight (up to 77,1kg): Nicholas Dalby derrotou muslim salikhov in the unanimous decision of the judges (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

PRELIMINARY CARD (20pm Brasília time)

Flyweight (up to 56,7kg): Alexander Costa derrotou Jimmy Flick by technical knockout (elbows) at 1m03s of R2

Bantam weight (up to 61,2kg): Kyung Ho Kang derrotou Cristian Quiñonez via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2min25s of R1

Flyweight (up to 56,7kg): Carlos Hernandez defeated Denys Bondar by unanimous technical decision of the judges (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Flyweight (up to 56,7kg): Tereza Bledá defeated Gabriella Fernandes in the unanimous decision of the judges (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bantamweight (up to 61,2kg): Fight between Dan Argueta e Ronnie Lawrence ended without result after mistaken intervention by the referee at 2min52s of R1

Light heavyweight (up to 93kg): Modest Bukauskas derrotou Zac Pauga in the unanimous decision of the judges (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

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