Victories for Raphael Assunção and Mutante mark the main portion of UFC Norfolk

Assunção shined with a knockout of Lopez (Photo: Reproduction/Instagram UFCBrasil)

If the Brazilians disappointed in the preliminary portion of the UFC Norfolk, held on Saturday night (11), in the state of Virginia, in the United States, the same cannot be said about the Brazilian representatives on the main card. With safe actions, Raphael Assunção and Cézar Mutante stood out: the bantamweight delivered a brutal knockout to Matthew Lopez, while the TUF Brasil 1 middleweight champion beat the experienced Nate Marquardt on points. After the triumph, Mutante took advantage of the moment to challenge Paulo borrachinha.

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Who also entered the octagon representing Brazil was heavyweight Junior Albini, who was unable to overcome the veteran Andrei Arlovski, being defeated in the unanimous decision of the judges. Another positive point was the victory of Clay guida, who knocked out Joe lauzon in just 67 seconds.

Arlovski beats Junior Albini on points and breaks losing streak 

Albini was no match for Arlovski's game (Photo: Reproduction/Instagram UFCBrasil)

In the clash of generations of heavyweights, the experience of Andrei Arlovski, who showed all his quality in the stand-up fight to defeat the young Junior Albini in a unanimous decision by the judges (30×27, 30×27, 29×28), breaking a streak of five consecutive defeats – his last victory had been in September 2015. The Brazilian, who debuted in Ultimate with a knockout victory in July this year, loses his first at home.

The fight began with open striking, with Arlovski landing a good right blow on the Brazilian. Albini, with a defensive posture, tried to respond with a left cross that went empty. The fight went to the clinch, with Albini pressing the European against the cage. Arlovski managed to get out of position and returned to the center of the octagon, connecting a good sequence of blows on the Brazilian, who responded with a good left cross, well absorbed by his rival. Junior still tried to press in the final seconds, without success.

The second stage started more cautiously, but Arlovski showed more volume, mixing blows to the head and waistline. Albini, once again, pressed his rival in the clinch against the fence. Ineffective, the two athletes were separated by the central referee. The scene repeated itself again, with the Brazilian fighting the duel on the fence. Arlovski managed to free himself and circled again, betting on good right crosses, which stopped in the guard.

Albini returned chasing the European around the octagon, but was unable to land a sequence of blows. Arlovski, in turn, continued to gain the upper hand on his feet, landing good jabs on the Brazilian's face, which began to bleed. The Brazilian, aware of the disadvantage, tried to start striking in the final minute, but was unable to surprise his veteran opponent, who managed to fight the duel on the fence until the end.

Cézar Mutante surpasses Marquardt and challenges Borrachinha 

Mutante greatly celebrated his victory over Marquardt (Photo: Reproduction/Instagram UFCBrasil)

It was close, but middleweight Cézar Mutante made amends with the victory. In a very balanced duel, the TUF Brasil 1 champion overcame Nate Marquardt by split decision from the judges (29×28, 28×29, 29×28) and recovered from the setback he suffered against Elias Theodorou, in February this year, reaching the fourth victory in the last five fights. Veteran Marquardt, in turn, lost his third in a row.

In the post-fight interview, still in the octagon, Mutante was harsh in his words when challenging his compatriot Paulo borrachinha. "Hey, Paulo borrachinha, you are very powerful. In the next UFC Brazil, I will break you completely. You can’t come into my house and disrespect everyone!” he said.

The fight began with both fighters cautious, with Marquardt taking the first initiative. The American cornered Mutante against the fence and unleashed a good sequence of blows, well absorbed by the Brazilian. Mutante continued without exposing himself much, but responded with good left kicks. The fight began to be studied even more until the gong sounded, with little action from the fighters, to the dissatisfaction of the audience present, who booed some.

Mutante returned for the second round with his nose badly injured, bleeding. The duel, as in the final half of the first round, continued with a lot of study and very little action, until Nate went for the legs to try for a takedown, but was unsuccessful. Afterwards, it was Mutante's turn to try to take the duel to the ground, also without success. Marquardt responded with two clean blows to Cézar's face, who responded with a straight left. In the final seconds, Marquardt landed a strong right blow on Mutante, who was knocked out. The Brazilian got up and entered into a frank exchange, being interrupted by the central referee after the final bell.

Aware of the disadvantage in the opening rounds, Mutante returned more aggressive and landed a good left blow on Nate, going down afterwards and falling into the American's guard. The Brazilian, however, was unable to work on top and let Nate get up. But for a little time. Mutante performed a nice lift, falling to the 100kg position. Cézar went to the north-south position, but let Marquartd sweep and finish the fight on top.

Raphael Assunção delivers a brutal knockout to Matthew Lopez

One of the biggest favorites on the card, the bantamweight Raphael Assunção he asserted all the trust placed in his name. With a confident performance from start to finish, the Brazilian, number 4 in the under-61kg division, didn't give Matthew Lopez a chance and knocked him out at 1:50 of the third round, with a beautiful and powerful right cross, which obliterated his rival. This was the tenth triumph in Assunção's last 11 fights, only stopped in the rematch against TJ Dillashaw, in July 2016. This year, it had already won aljamain sterling and the compatriot Marlon moraes. Lopez, in turn, who was coming off a victory over Johny Eduardo, lost his second in four fights in the organization.

In the first few seconds, Assunção landed a good left high kick, well absorbed by the American. The Brazilian started to 'hunt' Lopez around the Octagon, without giving his rival space to impose his game. More aggressive than usual, Raphael showed a greater arsenal of strikes, including a thrown high kick, while Lopez continued to worry more about defending himself and responding in the counterattack. In the final stretch of the first round, Matthew surprised by landing a good takedown on the Brazilian, who quickly got up, then landing a good right knee.

Assunção returned from the first break with the same attitude, proposing the game, this time investing in low kicks. Faster, the Brazilian had the better of the exchange against Lopez, who was quick to find the Brazilian in the Octagon. The duel became more cautious, until both tried a frank exchange, but did not follow through.

Raphael returned with the same strategy: hurting Lopez's right leg, already quite injured, with right kicks. The plan was working, until the Brazilian surprised him by feigning a flying knee, then throwing a strong right cross that caught Lopez, who fell, already unconscious. With his opponent down, Assunção still went up to finish the fight, but retreated and 'held' the blow when he realized that the North American was unresponsive, showing a beautiful act of fair play.

Clay Guida runs over Joe Lauzon and knocks him out in 67 seconds 

There wasn't even time to breathe. In the first duel on the main card, Clay guida ran over Joe lauzon in the duel of lightweight veterans and won by technical knockout in just 67 seconds, scoring his second victory in a row, after beating Erick Koch in June of this year. 'J-Lau', who was surpassed by Steven Ray last April, suffered his second setback in a row. In the interview still in the octagon, 'O Carpinteiro' revealed that this was the last fight of his contract with the organization, but he agreed to renew the contract.

UFC Norfolk results 

MAIN CARD 

Lightweight: Dustin poirier derrotou Anthony Pettis by technical knockout at 2:08 of R3

Welterweight: Matt Brown defeated Diego Sanchez by knockout to those in R1

Heavyweight: Andrei Arlovski derrotou Junior albini by unanimous decision of the judges (30×27, 30×27, 29×28)

Average weight: Cezar Mutant defeated Nate Marquardt via split decision (29×28, 28×29, 29×28)

Bantamweight: Raphael Assunção defeated Matthew Lopez by technical knockout at 1m50s of R3

Lightweight: Clay guida derrotou Joe lauzon by technical knockout at 1:07 of R1

PRELIMINARY CARD

Bantamweight: Marlon moraes derrotou John Dodson by split decision of the judges (27×30, 30×27, 30×27)

Straw weight: Tatiana Suarez placeholder image derrotou Viviane Sucuri by unanimous decision of the judges (30×27, 30×27, 30×26)

Lightweight: Sage Northcutt defeated Michel Quiñones by unanimous decision of the judges (30×27, 30×27, 30×27)

Straw weight: Nina ansaroff derrotou Angela Hill by unanimous decision of the judges (29×28, 29×28, 29×28)

Welterweight Weight: Sean Strickland derrotou Court mcgee by unanimous decision of the judges (30×27, 29×28, 29×28)

Light Heavyweight: Jake collier derrotou Marcel fortune by unanimous decision of the judges (30×27, 29×28, 29×28)

Average weight: Karl Robertson derrotou Darren stewart via submission (rear naked choke) at 3m41s of R1

Fatal change? Makhachev ignores warning and could end tragically at welterweight!