Maki Pitolo and Julian Marquez faced off in a Middleweight clash tonight (Sat., Feb. 13, 2021) inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada at UFC 258. Following a great fight, Marquez submitted his foe.
Pitolo opened up with an immediate series of successful strikes, digging kicks and punches at his seemingly surprised foe. Despite the early rush, Marquez managed to defend the following takedown. Pitolo smashed him with an elbow then scored the double! Pitolo really locked down half guard and landed some decent shots. Marquez returned to his feet with a couple minutes remaining, but he was still stuck in the clinch. Marquez briefly threatened a guillotine choke — his first offense of the round. Marquez landed a good shot when the finally broke apart in the final seconds of the round, but it was a rough returning five minutes for the “Contender Series” product.
Pitolo opened the second with a good check hook. Marquez pushed forward behind right hands. Marquez clubbed his foe with a right then slipped, allowing Pitolo to take top position. Marquez stood up, was dragged down, and repeat. Marquez used a tight guillotine to reverse a takedown and take top position. Pitolo escaped out the back door in a sloppy moment from Marquez, and this time he was able to take mount. He finished the round in dominant position, punching the body and securing a lead on the scorecards.
Marquez surged forward into the final frame, but both men landed. Pitolo knocked his foe down with a hard low kick. Marquez cracked his foe with a right then a combination along the fence. A knee to the body to spin elbow to guillotine attempt to more knees hurt Pitolo, but he recovered with a high-crotch takedown. Pitolo chased the back mount and rear naked choke. Marquez reversed him! Pitolo stood back up, and the two grappled back-and-forth in the clinch. Marquez hurt his foe again with a big knee in the clinch, and this time, Marquez attacked with the anaconda choke rather than guillotine. HE GETS IT!
WOW! This was a really great fight! Pitolo showed off a different aspect to his game, applying solid pressure and wrestling to take control. However, Marquez would not be denied, and he simply kept attacking to score the come-from-behind finish in the closing minute of the find round.
Result: Julian Marquez defeats Maki Pitolo via anaconda choke
For complete UFC 258: “Usman vs. Burns” results and play-by-play, click HERE!