The UFC traveled to Atlantic City this Saturday (30th) for another event from the world’s leading MMA organization.
The UFC traveled to Atlantic City this Saturday (30th) for another event from the world’s leading MMA organization. The main bout of the evening featured a crucial duel in the flyweight category between American Erin Blanchfield and Frenchwoman Manon Fiorot.
It wasn’t the best fight, but Fiorot was the one who set the pace and had the best moments. With the American unable to dictate her game, the Frenchwoman managed the fight and took home the victory.
Fight
The Frenchwoman started the fight on the front foot and took advantage of the first opportunity she had to defeat Blanchfield, who was fighting at home. The American, however, managed to find a space to look for a guillotine, without success. The first round was very competitive, with Fiorot managing to have more offensive action, although Blanchfield tried to fight more somehow to take him to the ground.
With better fitness and more strength than her rival, the Frenchwoman dictated the pace of the second round, using her counterattacks well and having more control over her opponent. Blanchfield moved well, but could barely reach Fiorot both on the feet and in takedown attempts, especially when entering the well-defended clinch.
The fight saw a very tepid third round, in which Fiorot continued to dominate and left little room for the American to react. Even with some boos in the arena. the Frenchwoman preferred to manage the round and also the beginning of the quarter until Blanchfield went on the attack and risked hitting hard, but without being able to be so energetic and thus leaving her rival to dictate the pace once again.
A high kick from Blanchfield roused the crowd again in the fifth round, which the Frenchwoman responded to. The two fighters had another moment of open combat, but the American again reduced the pace and let the Frenchwoman regain control of the fight. Not even a takedown attempt fazed Fiorot, who calmly maintained his pace to get the win and move closer to fighting for the UFC flyweight belt.
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The “footprints of controversy”
UFC Atlantic City also saw controversy erupt this Saturday, in a brawl involving a Brazilian. Bruno Blindado took on former middleweight champion Chris Weidman and the fight started off intense, with both fighters going head to head and sparing no effort in their striking. In the second round Blindado tried to fight on his feet, but was unable to put pressure on the American.
Weidman defended well at the start of the second half, but soon both were back to openly fighting. In the third round, the All-American remained on top and frustrated the Brazilian with his feet. And that’s when the controversial move of the night at UFC Atlantic City took place.
At one point, the American got up and knocked down the Brazilian, who soon became the victim of a massive “ground and pound” until the referee ended the bout. However, broadcast images of the event showed that Bruno Blindado had been hit several times in the eye, causing the fall that led to the former champion’s victory.
With the pictures, the New Jersey Athletic Commission decided that Weidman would indeed be the winner of the fight, but instead of a technical knockout, it turned into a victory by technical decision, as the American had the advantage on the side of judges scorecard and there was no way to start over or even retract the result. Thus, the “All-American” won his first fight since he returned from the serious leg injury.
Virna Jandiroba “saves” Brazil at UFC Atlantic City
Brazil still had three representatives in Saturday’s UFC and only one, Virna Jandiroba, won her fight. The strawweight took on Mexican Lupita Godinez and used all her jiu-jitsu strengths to complicate “Loopy.” The Bahian fought as hard as she could on the ground and didn’t let her rival breathe while she was on the ground, giving ‘Carcará’ her third consecutive victory.
Vicente Luque once again put his reputation as a “fighter” on the line when he took on Joaquin Buckley in the co-main event of the evening. After a very competitive first round and in which the game of both was surprising, in the second round, when Buckley dominated the fight, Luque attempted the takedown, but ended up falling under the American and took advantage of the ground, the pound and the notch’s third consecutive victory.
After just over a year away from fighting, Herbert Burns returned to the octagon to face Julio Arce. Gilbert Durinho’s brother started the fight well and went strong at Arce, but the Brazilian was deducted a point after hitting his opponent twice with blows below the waist. The position was repeated in the second round, but in the exchange Herbert ended up cornered by the American. Arce dominated the fight and had no problem winning.
UFC Atlantic City – Blanchfield x Fiorot Results
Main card
Manon Fiorot defeated Erin Blanchfield by unanimous decision of the judges
Joaquin Buckley defeats Vicente Luque by TKO (3:17 by R2)
Chris Weidman beat Bruno Blindado by technical decision (Blindado was hit in the eye before the third-round knockout)
Nursulton Ruziboev defeats Sedriques Dumas by TKO (3:18 by R1)
Kyle Nelson defeated Bill Algeo via TKO (4:00 by R1)
Chidi Njokuani defeated Rhys McKee by split decision
Preliminary paper
Nate Landwehr defeated Jamall Emmers by KO (4:43 of R1)
Virna Jandiroba beat Lupita Godinez by unanimous decision
Julio Arce defeats Herbert Burns by TKO (2:00 by R2)
Dennis Buzukja defeated Connor Matthews by TKO (0:22 of R3)
Ibo Arslan defeats Anton Turkalj by technical knockout (1:32 of R3)
Jacob Malkoun defeated Andre Petroski via TKO (0:39 by R2)
Caolan Loughran defeated Angel Pacheco by unanimous decision of the judges
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
