Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
The matchup between Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa delivered on arrival last night (Sat., Aug. 17, 2019) at UFC 241 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., as the two middleweight contenders slugged it out for three bloody rounds. In the end, it was Costa who pulled away with the unanimous decision win.
Both fighters exploded out of the gate to land their own knockdowns early into the first round. Costa started to steal some momentum in the second and pressured Romero along the cage with heavy punches. Romero stood tall and absorbed all of the punches as he channeled his inner zombie and smiled to the crowd.
Romero came back in the third frame as he landed a hard left hand and uppercut in the early moments. The former UFC title challenger followed his efforts up with big combinations midway through the round, as well as a back fist that smacked Costa right in the face. Romero kept his pressure to the conclusion of the bout as Costa invited him in and countered with his own offense, all to the applause of the crowd.
Check out the first-round chaos above and the rest of the action below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:
That was only ONE. ROUND.#UFC241 pic.twitter.com/dooUv7j274
— UFC (@ufc) August 18, 2019
Paulo Costa is looking to erase Yoel Romero@BorrachinhaMMA #UFC241 pic.twitter.com/E3F0sbYr2B
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 18, 2019
@YoelRomeroMMA is a madman #UFC241 pic.twitter.com/pp3eLE7pNv
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 18, 2019
Yoel shoots, Yoel scores!#UFC241 pic.twitter.com/OGSCSabNRi
— UFC (@ufc) August 18, 2019
This fight is everything!#UFCf241 pic.twitter.com/BELkKIViCC
— UFC (@ufc) August 18, 2019
For complete UFC 241 results and coverage click here.