The return of the Dream bantamweight champion to MMA action went as expected as Bibiano Fernandes earned a relatively easy unanimous decision win over Gustavo Falciroli at ONE FC 5. Scores for the bout were not announced.
Through the first two rounds, the bout looked more like a jiu-jitsu match with intermittent strikes than a full MMA fight. An initial knee tap takedown from Ferndnades put him in Falciroli’s deep half guard, which is where the majority of the round was spent. Falciroli was defensive enough to not allow Fernandes to get much of anything going save for occasional elbows to Falciroli’s thigh or small punches to his ribs. Still, the Australian surrendered borderline mount for the majority of the round.
At the start of the second, Fernandes drilled Falciroli with a hard, lunging right hand that sent him wobbling to the mat. Fernandes pounced and was able to land several hard punches, but again, Falciroli rolled through into another deep half guard position. Fernades tried to counter this time by moving into side control on which side Falciroli wasn’t defending, but the round was neary identical to the first.
By the time the third round began, both fighters – and especially Fernandes – appeared to be winded. Falcircoli shot in early, but Fernandes stuffed it and attempted a rear-naked choke, triangle and oma plata in consecutive order all of which were prevented. From there the round was a striking match with neither man able to land much, although Fernandes arguably did just enough to outstrike Falciroli in the final frame.
The win brings Fernandes professional MMA record to 12-3.