A. Nunes is the highest ranked Brazilian in the UFC women's bantamweight division. Photo Josh Hedges
The Brazilian Amanda nunes took an important step in her career this Saturday night (5), at the opening of the main card of UFC 196. The Bahian defeated the dangerous Valentina Shevchenko and got even closer to an opportunity to compete for the Ultimate women's bantamweight category belt.
Amanda had the upper hand in the first two-thirds of the fight. Cerebral, the Brazilian respected her rival's successful track record in Muay Thai, and avoided exposing herself at any cost. In the second round, the athlete took the fight to the ground and punished her severely with blows, including almost finishing with a choke.
See too
In the third round, however, the game changed. More tired, the Brazilian “Lioness” struggled against her opponent, who worked well on her feet and tried to attack. However, Amanda had already done enough to win, without any major scares, in the judges' decision.
The result put an end to an uncomfortable fast that had lasted since January: since then, Brazilians have lost ten times in a row in fights against foreigners in the UFC. After the announcement, Amanda asked the UFC president for a chance to fight for the title: “Dana White! Dana White! I want my chance to fight for the belt next! Please”, asked the Brazilian, applauded by her compatriots in the gym.
The first fights of UFC 196 saw the defeat of Erick silva by knockout and the triumph of Vitor miranda in an all-Brazilian duel against Marcelo Guimarães.
Erick Silva is knocked out by Canadian
E. Silva was knocked out by Taleb at UFC 196. Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
Even though he did everything to avoid the bad moment, including going to train with the renowned Rafael Cordeiro, Erick silva suffered a tough setback in the Octagon again. Visibly more strategic and cautious than usual, the man from Espírito Santo fell to Nordine Taleb in the second round.
The Brazilian avoided exposing himself and attacked without haste, especially with kicks to Taleb's thigh and body. The Canadian didn't let it go and he also kicked, in addition to precise counterattacks that hit the Brazilian in the face.
At one point, Erick cornered Taleb against the cage and tried a front kick to the body. However, his opponent was smart: he grabbed the Brazilian's leg and counterattacked with a direct blow to Erick's forehead, who fell knocked out.
Erick silva suffered his sixth defeat in the UFC, against six victories. Taleb is recovering from the setback suffered by the fellow Brazilian Warlley alves and reaches his four Ultimate triumphs.
Miranda knocks out in Brazilian duel
V. Miranda beat M. Guimarães by knockout. Photo: Disclosure/UFC
Runner-up of TUF Brazil 3, Vitor miranda did not give Marcelo “Magrão” Guimarães a chance in the Brazilian duel of the night. The Santa Catarina man managed to defend his rival's takedowns and masterfully applied his striking, obtaining the knockout in the second round.
Miranda had the upper hand from the start of the fight. A specialist in jiu-jitsu, Guimarães looked for clinches and takedowns, but his opponent didn't give him any chances. When the fight was on the feet, Vitor's superiority was clear, with good jabs and kicks.
In the second round, Marcelo grabbed Vitor's legs and tried to take the fight to the ground, but the Santa Catarina native took advantage of the position to deliver dangerous elbows to his rival's head. Guimarães felt the blows, and Miranda went at it with everything to define it: first with punches in the clinch, then with a powerful high kick, and one more punch to settle the score.
Nicknamed “Lex Luthor” due to his resemblance to Superman's great villain, Miranda scored his third consecutive victory in the UFC, the third by knockout. Guimarães, in turn, suffered his second defeat in four fights in the octagon.
TUF 1 champion makes a comeback
Sanchez beat Miller in a veteran duel. Photo: Disclosure/UFC
Winner of the first edition of the reality show The Ultimate Fighter, more than ten years ago, Diego Sanchez he was going through a terrible phase in the UFC, whether with defeats or controversial victories in the judges' decisions. However, the veteran rose from the ashes and got the better of Jim Miller.
Sanchez had the advantage at the end of the three rounds after obtaining an important takedown in the first round and showing more volume of strikes in the last. Miller was threatening, especially when he was more forceful on the feet in the second round, but he didn't do enough to win the decision.
Thus, Sanchez achieves his 26th victory in professional MMA, against eight setbacks. Miller is still in a bad moment after losing for the fourth time in the last five fights.
UFC 196 results:
Amanda nunes derrotou Valentina Shevchenko in the unanimous decision of the judges (double 29 to 27, 29 to 28)
Siyar Bahadurzada submitted Brandon thatch with a katagatame at 4min11s of R3
Nordine Taleb KO Erick silva with a punch at 1min34s of R3
Darren Elkins defeated Chas Skelly via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-27, 30-26)
Diego Sanchez derrotou Jim Miller in the unanimous decision of the judges (triple 29 to 28)
Jason Saggo defeated Justin Salas via TKO at 4:31 of R1
Teruto Ishihara knocked out julian erosa with punches at 34s of R2
Comments