Featherweight Josh Emmett won a unanimous
decision over Shane Burgos in a thrilling joint performance during the
penultimate bout of the latest show from the fan-free UFC Apex gym in the
mixed martial arts promotion’s hometown.
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Las Vegas(Agencies): Curtis
Blaydes continued his winning streak in the UFC heavyweight division with
another win over number seven-ranked Alexander Volkov in the main-event on
Sunday. Blaydes used his superior wrestling skills to stifle Volkov early in
the first round. He continued to dominate the Russian on the mat for the next
three rounds. Volkov tried to even the match-up in the latter rounds but
Blaydes was able to hold off the towering Russian for an unanimous decision
victory.
Blaydes (14-2) took down Volkov
within the first 10 seconds and then dominating the first 3 1/2 rounds. Volkov
(31-8) landed his own takedown late in the fourth and nailed Blaydes with a few
strikes early in the fifth, but Blaydes pushed through and won by bending the
fight to his clear strengths on the ground.
“It’s always a good experience to know you can
go 25 minutes, and there’s things you need to work on, but you learn them in a
win,” Blaydes said.
“I need to work on my conditioning after the
third round, but I’m happy with the win. Volkov is legit, and I’m one step
closer to a title shot.”
The 6-foot-7 Volkov flew to the
U.S. with no clear idea how he will get home to Russia due to travel
restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic. He had won seven of his last eight
fights, but hadn’t competed since his one-sided victory over Greg Hardy in
Moscow last year.
Blaydes and Francis Ngannou are
the most likely contenders to get the next shot at the UFC heavyweight title
after champion Stipe Miocic completes his trilogy with former two-belt champ
Daniel Cormier at UFC 252 on Aug. 15. Ngannou is responsible for the only two
losses of Blaydes’ career, winning their bouts in 2016 and 2018.
Featherweight Josh Emmett won a
unanimous decision over Shane Burgos in a thrilling joint performance during
the penultimate bout of the latest show from the fan-free UFC Apex gym in the
mixed martial arts promotion’s hometown.
Emmett and Burgos put on the
performance of the night with a fascinating slugfest, with Emmett winning
29-28, 29-28 and 29-27. The 35-year-old Emmett (16-2) persevered through a knee
injury in the first round to land two knockdowns and a dominant third round,
but Burgos absorbed tremendous punishment and thought he had earned a decision.
“Dana, I told you, get that checkbook ready!”
Emmett shouted immediately after the fight in the direction of UFC President
Dana White, who hands out the promotion’s bonuses for outstanding performances.
The event was the fourth of five
consecutive UFC shows held over five weekends with no fans on its corporate
campus. After next week’s show headlined by Dustin Poirier’s meeting with Dan
Hooker, the UFC will move to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi for four shows in 14 days,
beginning with UFC 251 on July 12.
Veteran Jim Miller finished
Roosevelt Roberts with an armbar in the first round of his latest milestone
fight. The 36-year-old Miller (32-14) matched Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone’s record
35th appearance in a UFC cage, and his 21st UFC victory left him trailing only
Cerrone (23) and Demian Maia (22) in the promotion’s history.
Former bantamweight title
contender Raquel Pennington (11-8) earned only her second win since 2016 with a
clear decision over 42-year-old high school teacher Marion Reneau. Pennington’s
fiancée, Tecia Torres, snapped her four-fight skid since 2017 with a one-sided
decision over Brianna Van Buren on the early undercard.
Justin Jaynes had a storybook UFC
debut, stopping Frank Camacho with strikes in just 41 seconds. The 30-year-old
Jaynes accepted the fight only three days ago when Matt Frevola was pulled from
the Las Vegas card because of a teammate’s positive coronavirus test.
In two matchups pitting seasoned
veterans, Lauren Murphy won a unanimous decision over fellow veteran flyweight
Roxanne Modafferi, and Bobby Green controlled his win over Clay Guida.
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