D. Sarafian (photo) was defeated at UFC Pittsburgh. Photo: Disclosure/UFC
The UFC Fight Night Pittsburgh preliminary card will not leave good memories for Brazilians. With two representatives in the opening program of the show, which takes place this Sunday (21), in Pennsylvania, Leonardo Leleco and Daniel sarafian ended up defeated Anthony Smith and Oluwale Bamgbose respectively.
On the main card, Brazil will also have three representatives. Alex Cowboy, which does the main fight against Donald Cerrone; Roan Jucão faces Derek Brunson and Augusto Tanquinho measures strength against cody garbrandt
Sarafian loses again and gets complicated
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Finalist of TUF Brasil 1 – the UFC's reality show in the country -, in 2012, Daniel sarafian was one of the local hopes for renewal in Ultimate. But with four defeats in six fights and a record with several injuries, the São Paulo native is at risk of dismissal from the largest MMA organization in the world. On Sunday night, Sarafian was brutally knocked out by Nigerian-born American Oluwale Bamgbose.
As soon as the fight started, Sarafian kept his guard up, avoiding Bamgbose's powerful blows and waiting for the best moment to take the fight to the ground, where he would have a great technical advantage. But the Nigerian quickly put an end to the Brazilian's plan. With a high kick, which even though it was blocked, hit him squarely in the head, he took Daniel to the ground. Wasting no time, Oluwale landed several punches on the ground until the referee ended the contest.
Watch the kick that marked the defeat of Daniel sarafian
The kick that sets it up! #UFCPittsburgh @HolyWarAngelMMA pic.twitter.com/6fBFItRzxV
— #UFCPittsburgh (@ufc) February 22 2016
Leleco feels pressure and loses in his debut
Leonardo Leleco's debut in Ultimate did not go the way the Brazilian expected. In front of the North American Anthony Smith, the Brazilian seemed to feel the pressure of debuting at the biggest event in the world and did not show his potential.
Smith took advantage of the Brazilian's restlessness and used his greater reach to strike Leleco, who, in turn, just retreated without responding to the attacks he received throughout the first round.
In the second round, the Brazilian had the chance to change the fate of the fight. In the first few seconds he landed a direct blow on his rival, who felt it and flinched. But after a sequence of punches connected by Leonardo, Smith managed to take Leleco down and control the fight on the ground. The North American passed the guard, reached the back and almost finished the fight.
In the third round with a disadvantage on the judges' scorecards, Leleco opened the game and had his best moment. He hit Smith again in the stand-up fight, avoided being taken down and when he took the fight to the ground he landed several American punches. Even so, Anthony tried in every way to stop the dispute, but without success.
Despite dominating the last part from start to finish, Leleco was unable to come close to a knockout or submission and ended up defeated by unanimous decision from the judges (29×28, 29×28).
UFC Fight Night Pittsburgh preliminary card results
Oluwale Bamgbose defeated Daniel sarafian by knockout 1m from R1
Anthony Smith derrotou Leonardo Leleco in the unanimous decision of the judges (29×28, 29×28, 29×28)
Nathan Coy defeated Jonavin Webb via unanimous decision (29×28, 29×28, 29×28)
Ashlee Evans-Smith defeated Marion Reneau via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-27)
Lauren Murphy defeated Kelly Faszholz by technical knockout (punches) at 4:55 of R3;
Shamil Abdurakhimov defeated Anthony Hamilton via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
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