Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Francisco Trinaldo kept things rolling earlier tonight (Sat., July 25, 2020) at UFC on ESPN 14 live on ESPN/ESPN+ from inside Flash Forum on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as the Brazilian veteran finished English prospect Jai Herbert via third-round TKO (punches).
This was not an easy fight for Trinaldo by any stretch of the imagination. The lightweight veteran was able to land a few takedowns in the first round, but Herbert’s size and striking really gave him issues. The Octagon newcomer landed crisp jabs, knees in the clinch, and crushing right hands down the pipe that busted Trinaldo up.
Trinaldo entered the third round needing to really do some damage on the scorecards and did just that, landing a overhand counter left that struck Herbert on the top of the forehead. Herbert fell to the canvas and Trinaldo waited to land one final shot before referee Herb Dean finally stepped in.
Check out the finish above and the rest of the highlights below, both courtesy of UFC/ESPN.
Right down the middle! Jai Herbert is looking !#InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi | #UFCFightIsland3 pic.twitter.com/TKhTugW0Z5
— UFC (@ufc) July 25, 2020
With this performance, Trinaldo locks up his third-straight win after taking decisions over veterans John Makdessi and Bobby Green. Trinaldo did miss weight for this lightweight bout and will be moving up to welterweight his next time out, but his power should translate well to the 170-pound division.
For complete UFC on ESPN 14 results and coverage click here.