Lineker (left) won battle against Dodson (right) at UFC Portland
The 'Brazilian zebra' appeared on the main card of UFC Portland, an event held in the early hours of this Sunday (02), in the United States. In the main fight of the night, John Lineker from Paraná fought a great battle against the favorite John Dodson and won the judges' split decision after five rounds (48×47, 47×48, 48×47). At the end of the dispute, the fighter from Paranaguá asked for the chance to challenge the champion Dominick Cruz, for the bantamweight division belt.
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In the second most important fight of the show, another 'underdog from Brazil' surprised. Alex Cowboy he took no notice of the American Will Brooks, former Bellator champion, who won by technical knockout in the third round and broke his rival's eight-fight winning streak.
The Brazilian show was not just limited to the main card. At the preliminary program four more triumphs went to the country's account: Luis Henrique Frankenstein submitted Joachim Christensen; Elizeu Capoeira defeated Keita Nakamura and Ketlen Scallop debuted in the octagon with a triumph against Kelly Faszholz. The only setback on the night was from Hacran Diaz. Your training companion José Aldo he was surpassed by the North American Andre Filli in the judges' decision.
John Lineker wins battle against Dodson and asks for title shot
A 25-minute battle with exchange of blows and alternation of control. This is how the fight between John Lineker and John Dodson. The fight between the bantamweights started intensely from the first second. The Brazilian took the initiative and walked forward, attacking with crosses and kicks to the waist. The North American, faster, dodged well and always counterattacked accurately. The balance marked the partial.
Dodson's speed once again caused difficulties for Lineker in the second round. The Brazilian had difficulty entering the range of action and every time he closed the distance, he was hit with a counterattack. After provocations from both sides, Lineker was hit by a kick in the genital region and needed a few minutes to recover. When the dispute resumed, Dodson went up, but the Brazilian landed good punches. The exchange of punches was intense with a slight advantage for Lineker.
In the third round, John Lineker came back better. The Brazilian seemed to have found the distance and was able to shorten, combine punches with power and punish Dodson. He landed a beautiful right punch that shook Dodson. The North American tried to respond with a kick to the head, but the Brazilian resisted well and continued walking forward.
John Dodson took control of the dispute again in the fourth round. He moved with the same speed as at the beginning of the fight and waited for Lineker's attacks to counterattack with good kicks and counter strikes. In turn, the Brazilian continued to move forward, even receiving some attacks, in search of the knockout.
With the fight completely balanced, the fifth round would be decisive in determining the winner. Dodson tried to repeat the tactic from the previous part, but Lineker managed to regain the distance and landed two good direct shots on his rival. In another frank exchange of punches, the Brazilian connected two good crosses on the North American. In the counterattack, the man from Paraná even bent his knee with a left blow, but quickly got up and continued hunting Dodson. In the final seconds, the North American still managed to reach the Brazilian's back, with no time to attack.
In the end, the tension was clear on both sides until the official announcement. And in a very close decision, John Lineker from Paraná came out on top (48×47, 47×48, 48×47).
“I'm a fighter, I'll face whoever the UFC wants, I'm here. I want the Dominick Cruz. I deserve it. I'm coming off four straight wins at bantamweight. There's nowhere for him to run. I’m here”, said the Brazilian still in the octagon.
Cowboy beats Brooks and achieves biggest victory of his career
A. Cowboy (left) defeated W. Brooks (right) at UFC Portland
Alex Cowboy scored the biggest win of his career at UFC Portland. The Brazilian, who on Friday was unable to make weight in the lightweight category (up to 70,3 kg.), left the previous day's problem behind, took no notice of the favorite Will Brooks and won by technical knockout in the third round .
Brooks started the fight not wanting to risk exchanging blows with the Brazilian and took the fight to the clinch. Cowboy, on the other hand, managed to hold the fight in a grappling match and maintain a dominant position at various times. When the North American managed to reverse his position he quickly fell. Will still managed to take him down again in the final seconds and the Brazilian tried to land a guillotine, but didn't have time to apply the choke at the end of the round.
In the second round, Brooks came back more determined to take down Alex and managed the takedown in the first few seconds. He quickly reached the mount and dominated Cowboy's back. The Brazilian got up and managed to get his rival off his back. Then it was the Tupiniquim athlete’s turn to take down. On top, the fighter from Três Rios landed good punches to his rival's head to take advantage. In the end, Brooks still managed to reach Alex's back, but without time to try the choke.
Before the start of the third round, Brooks complained of severe rib pain to his trainers. As soon as the bell sounded, the Brazilian went up in search of the comeback. Cowboy connected with a right bomb and got a knockdown. He then took the North American to the ground and the North American made an expression of pain. Alex struck from half guard with elbows and Will, unable to defend himself, was left alone until the referee interrupted.
At the end of the dispute, Alex provoked Brooks, who threw his mouthguard at the Brazilian and the referee had to intervene to avoid further confusion.
“The fight was very good. He and I had a great fight, he's ranked, I want to apologize about yesterday. He insulted me without me doing anything to him. You can see in the fight now, I never did that in my fights, I always respected my opponents; I have 49 fights in my career and I have always made weight. It was the first time it happened. He disrespected me and cursed my mother. Mother and child are things that don't move. Now I'm going to 77 kg (welterweight category), it's harder to beat, I'm much bigger, I've become stronger. Before you boo me, find out what happened yesterday. What he did yesterday was very disrespectful”, said Cowboy, who reached his 16th career victory. On the other hand, Brooks, who was on a nine-fight winning streak, suffered his second defeat as a professional.
UFC Portland results
MAIN CARD
Bantamweight: John lineker derrotou John Dodson in the judges' split decision (48×47, 47×48,48×47)
Lightweight: Alex Cowboy defeated Will Brooks via TKO 3:30 into R2
Welterweight: Zak Ottow defeated Josh Burkman via split decision (29×28, 28×29, 29×28)
Fly weight: Brandon Moreno finished Louis Smolka with a guillotine 2m23s from R1;
PRELIMINARY CARD
Light Heavyweight: Luis Henrique Frankenstein submitted Joachim Christensen with an armbar 4m43s into R2;
Feather weight:André Fili defeated Hacran Dias via unanimous decision by the judges (29×28, 29×28, 29×28)
Heavyweight: Shamil Abdurakhimov defeated Walt Harris in the judges' split decision (29z28, 28×29, 29×28)
Welterweight Weight: Elizeu Capoeira derrotou Keita Nakamura in the unanimous decision of the judges (29×28, 29×28, 29×28)
Middleweight: Nate Marquardt defeated Tamdan McCrory by knockout at 4:44 of R2
Light Heavyweight: Ion cutelaba defeated Jonathan Wilson via unanimous decision (30x27, 30x27, 30x27)
Heavyweight: Curtis blaydes defeated Cody East via technical knockout (elbows) at 2:02. from R2;
Bantamweight: Ketlen Scallop defeated Kelly Faszholz via split decision (29×28, 28×29, 29×28)
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