Pantoja (left) and Trator (right) win at UFC Buenos Aires. Photo: Reproduction / Facebook ufc
Brazil started in style at UFC Fight Night Buenos Aires, held this Saturday (17). On the preliminary card of the event, which marks the debut of Ultimate in Argentina, three Brazilians entered the octagon and two of them left the fighting area with significant victories.
Alexandre pantoja he needed just over two minutes to submit the Japanese Ulka Sasaki with a rear naked choke, while Michel Trator was even faster. The man from Pará landed a guillotine choke on Bartosz Fabinski and finished the Pole in 72 seconds. The only Brazilian setback in the opening program was for newcomer Anderson Berinja, who was surpassed by the Englishman Nad Narimani in the unanimous decision of the judges.
Tractor finishes polish in 72 sec.
Tractor (right) beats Fabinski (left). Photo: Reproduction / Facebook @ufc
Before UFC Buenos Aires, Michael Trator had already warned. He would try to win to ask to return to the lightweight category. After four failures to hit 70,3 kg. (lightweight limit), the Brazilian was forced to move up to the welterweight division (up to 77,1 kg.) and he did not disappoint. The man from Pará needed just over a minute to achieve victory over Bartosz Fabinski with a fair guillotine choke.
As soon as the dispute began, the Brazilian hit Fabinski with an overhand, who went to the ground. Without wasting time, Trator threw a few punches from above and quickly secured the choke. The Pole gave up the dispute, but the referee did not stop the duel. The Brazilian didn't release the blow either and Fabinski was forced to give up again 1m12s into the fight.
Pantoja submits Sasaki and scores fourth victory
Pantoja submits Sasaki at UFC Buenos Aires. Photo: Reproduction / Facebook @ufc
The Brazilian Alexandre pantoja and Japanese Ulka Sasaki entered the Octagon under pressure, even though they had won. With rumors that the flyweight division could be eliminated in the UFC, a setback could mean dismissal without the right to try his luck in another category. And the fighter from Arraial do Cabo, in Rio de Janeiro, didn't give in to bad luck and submitted his rival with a rear naked choke 2m18s into the duel.
Pantoja and Sasaki exchanged good blows at the beginning of the dispute. The Brazilian connected with a good shot, but Sasaki saved it and fell to the ground on top. Even from below, the Brazilian went on the attack. He attacked the arm and forced the Japanese to defend himself. In a beautiful reversal movement, Alexandre turned to his rival's back and gained control. The black belt quickly secured the rear naked choke and forced Ulka Sasaki to give up the fight.
Berinja loses on debut
The first Brazilian to enter the octagon, Anderson Berinja tried, but ended up being defeated by Nad Narimani in the unanimous decision of the judges in the opening fight of UFC Buenos Aires. The Brazilian, who accepted the duel with just a week in advance, played hard, but was surpassed by the English athlete.
The duel began with Narimani taking the initiative in the fight. The Englishman landed good punches on the Brazilian's face. Still under the pressure of his debut, Berinja took a while to get into the fight, but he tried to respond to the attacks in boxing, but without the same volume.
In the second round, Berinja almost surprised Narimani. He landed a kick straight into the Englishman's face. After the scare, the European fighter quickly attacked his legs and looked for the takedown. The Brazilian still avoided it at first, but a cross rocked him and he ended the partial on the ground below, suffering from punches from above.
Feeling that he was behind in the dispute, Anderson Berinja tried to call the Argentine fans to his side. He opened up the boxing game and even landed a good punch. But Narimani responded in kind and soon took the fight to the ground. The Brazilian risked a guillotine, but the Englishman freed himself from the choke. Back in the stand-up fight, Nad landed the best blows, but always looked for a takedown so as not to take risks with the São Paulo athlete's powerful punches. In the final minute, the Englishman took Anderson down and controlled the dispute to take the judges' unanimous decision (30×27, 30×27, 30×27).
UFC Buenos Aires results
Main Card
Welterweight: Santiago Ponzinnibio defeated Neil Magny by knockout at 2m36s of R4
Featherweight: Ricardo Lamas defeated Darren Elkins by TKO at 4:09 of R3
Light Heavyweight: Johnny Walker derrotou Khalil rountree by knockout at 1m57s of R1
Average weight: Ian Heinisch derrotou Cezar Mutant in the unanimous decision of the judges (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Bantamweight: Marlon Vera finished Guido cannetti with a rear naked choke at 1m31s of R2
Straw weight: Cynthia calvillo finished Poliana Botelho with a rear naked choke at 4m48s of R1
Preliminary Card
Welterweight Weight: Michel Tractor submitted Bartosz Fabinski with a guillotine 1m12s into R1
Fly weight: Alexandre pantoja submitted Ulka Sasaki with a rear naked choke at 2m18s of R1
Featherweight: Austin Arnett defeated Humberto Bandenay via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-27)
Welterweight Weight: Laureano Staropoli defeated Hector Aldana via unanimous decision (30×27, 30×27, 30×27).
Lightweight: Jesús Pinedo defeated Devin Powell via unanimous decision;
Feather weight: Nad Narimani derrotou Anderson Berinja in the unanimous decision of the judges (30×27, 30×27, 30×27).
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