Combat Sports Catchup! 8/10/24
A busy weekend that included a Top Rank Boxing Event, UFC Fight Night, as well as a boxing event on DAZN left most combat sports fans on the edge of their seat and excited for what's next. Let us recap some of the shining moments from yesterdays fights!
Submission City to cap off UFC Fight Night
The UFC Apex hosted a fight night card consisting of only three finishes total; each of those three finishes being submissions with one of those submissions coming in the main event. The main event was a rematch from 2020 between ranked heavyweights Marcin Tybura and Sergei Spivac, which Tybura won by decision. The rematch was a different story with Spivac being the aggressor before finding himself on his back. Immediately, Spivac was threatening submissions and locked up a slick armbar before rolling Tybura onto his back and forcing the submission.
The other two submissions were courtesy of Youssef Zalal and Toshiomi Kazama. Kazama was knocked down by Charalampos Grigoriou early in the second round. Weathering the storm, Kazama locked Grigoriou in a triangle choke and forced the tap for a very impressive come-from-behind win. Youssef Zalal went in against Jarno Errens and executed his game plan to perfection. He knew the path of least resistance against a Dutch kickboxer was to mix in the grappling and he took the back of Errens and secured a late first-round rear naked choke. Spivac, Grigoriou, & Kazama all earned performance bonuses.
KO of the year!
Top Rank Boxing held a boxing event in Albuquerque, New Mexico with the undercard having impressive performances by undefeated prospects: Steven Navarro, Alan Garcia, Albert Gonzalez, & Vito Melnicki Jr. Angelo Leo challenged for the IBF Featherweight World Championship against champion Luis Alberto Lopez in the main event. ESPN boxing reporter Mark Kriegel phrased Lopez' as "arrogant", this being caused due to Lopez fighting in a manner that leaves himself open to be countered. As a massive underdog, Angelo Leo entered this fight knowing there would be a counter opportunity. Leo connected with a perfectly timed left hook in the 10th round and knocked Lopez out becoming the new IBF Featherweight World Champion AND producing the knockout of the year.
Ortiz & Bohacuk go to war!
Golden Boy Promotions held a boxing event at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, the main event was a WBC interim superwelterweight title bout between Vergil Ortiz Jr and Serhii Bohachuk. Ortiz, despite being knocked down in rounds 1 & 8 brought the fight to his adversary. Managing his way into the pocket & doing his best work, Ortiz was landing powerful shots. Bohachuk was not deterred bringing the fight right back to Ortiz and matching his energy in what slowly divulged into a war of attrition. Ortiz never stopped trying to get it back and fought valiantly through the championship rounds wobbling Bohachuk on more than one occasion earning a majority decision victory. Considering how close Ortiz vs Bohacuk was, a rematch does not seem far-fetched but Turki Alalshikh claimed he would like to see the winner of Ortiz vs Bohacuk face Terrence Crawford which certainly lit a fire under both competitors and produced a great scrap.
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