UFC's Fight Island time is over with a tactical battle between top mid-range rivals Robert Whitaker and Darren Teal |
UFC Fight Night results, spotlight: Robert Whitaker makes a decision on Darren Tale in a tactical relationship
UFC's Fight Island time is over with a tactical battle between top mid-range rivals Robert Whitaker and Darren Teal. Whitaker, who fights for the first time since losing the mid-weight championship to Israel Adizania, survived an early terror to achieve a unanimous victory over the decision and return to the winning column.
Early in the first round, Teal caught Whitaker swinging, breaking it with a short elbow and dropping the former hero onto the canvas. Till tried to go all the way to the end, but Whittaker recovered well and used the threat to avoid fatigue rights to prevent Till from squeezing the early advantage.
In the second round, Whitaker scored his own knockout, telling Bim Tired's right and planting him on fabric. Whitaker used the opportunity to land with some heavy shots and bullets, swelling Teal's face and drawing blood from his nose.
With both men recording knockouts, the fight settled in a style dominated by sheep and kicks from Whittaker. Both men were picking their positions to unleash the big shots, and extra hand rights from Whitaker, elbows, and left-wingers from Teal. Whitaker was the busiest fighter in the mid-rounds, as he made progress on the scorecards that would eventually be the deciding factor in the outcome.
After the fighting, Whitaker said, I tell you that that battle was not very exhausting. Frankly, I hope fans and everyone value him because that was, for me, one of my most artistic fights.
I really had to adapt on the go
He even ended the fight with a powerful fifth round, scoring the husband's most important hits. Whitaker was left badly traumatized on the side of his head in the round, the product of even another elbow counter. But the time was very little, and too late for the arrivals, as all three judges recorded the fight for Whitaker scores 48-47.
After the fight, he pressed if he wanted to return to work and return to the Adesania match for the middleweight title. "Frankly, I want to go home to my children and my wife," said Whitaker. He also said his main focus would be on helping his team mates prepare for their upcoming battles, a shift in focus for Whittaker, who admitted he was tired after losing his championship last October.
At the next event, Mauricio "Shogun" Roa continued victory over his old rival, Antonio Rogerio Noghera, with a unanimous victory over the decision. The two first met in 2005 under the slogan PRIDE as Rua also scored a victory in the decision. Rua used a powerful hit game paired with decent wrestling pieces to slow down 44-year-old Nogueira. In addition, Fabricio was halted and backfired Alexander Gustavson's heavyweight train by offering the first arm bar.
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UFC Fight Night card and results
Robert Whitaker was defeated. Darren unanimously decided (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
Mauricio Roa def. Antonio Rogerio Noguera via a piecemeal decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Fabricio Wdd def. Alexander Gustafson by presenting the first round (armbar)
Carla Esparza def. Marina Rodriguez via segmented resolution (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
Paul Craig def. Gadzhimurad Antigulov by presenting the first round (Throttle Triangle)
Alex Oliveira def. Peter Sopota unanimously decided (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Khums of Shimaev defeated. Reese McKee Via TKO First Round (Punches)
The goal of Francisco Trinaldo. Jay Herbert via TKO Round Three (Punches)
Jesse Ronson def. Nicholas Dalby by presenting the first round (naked suffocation)
Tom Aspinal Def. Jake Collier via TKO first round (punches)
Movsar Evloev def. Mike Grundy via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Tanner Boozer Def. Rafael Pessoa via TKO from the second round (punches)
Pannie Kianzad def. Bethe Correia by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Ramadan Ramadan Imif. Niklas Stoles by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Nathaniel Wood def. John Castaneda by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)