Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
Canada’s own Tristan Connelly pulled off a huge upset earlier tonight (Sat., Sept. 14, 2019) at UFC Fight Night 158 live on ESPN+ from inside Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, when he outclassed hyped Brazilian striker Michel Pereira to the tune of a unanimous decision win.
While Pereira soared with flips, knees, and superman punches off the cage, it was Connelly who pushed the pace and turned the welterweight affair into a gritty dog fight. The short-notice replacement sapped Pereira’s energy at every turn while exchanging on the feet with uppercuts and short punches inside. Pereira would score some points in top control but Connelly turned the tides on the canvas as he landed heavy ground-and-pound in the third round to seal his memorable victory.
As expected, the MMA community weighed in on this massive derailment of Pereira and ended up producing some pretty funny commentary. Check out the Twitter reaction below:
Pereiera didn’t cut the extra weight so he could do the flying shit… Think of it as an investment, the money he paid for missing, people will be talking about the flips, and shit. #UFCVancouver
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) September 15, 2019
This low key hilarious! #UFCVancouver
— Dominick Reyes (@DomReyes) September 15, 2019
Unsurprisingly this dude is now exhausted. Little tip for any younger fighters. Don’t do multi backflips and breakdance if you don’t wanna gas out
— michael (@bisping) September 15, 2019
This is a real photo from a real UFC fight. pic.twitter.com/x0EAsB5adP
— UFC (@ufc) September 15, 2019
I like this pasty Canadian #TristanConnelly #UFCVancouver (sorry Danny rubes)
— Jessy Jess (@missjessyjess) September 15, 2019
Lol this mf is insane
— Luis Antonio Pena (@violentbobross) September 15, 2019
David bringing it to Goliath right now. #UFCVancouver
— Randy Brown (@TouchNgo_) September 15, 2019
Michel Pereira is the Ricky Bobby of MMA #UFCVancouver
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) September 15, 2019
That’s why me and stipe save all our dance moves for after the fight
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) September 15, 2019
I guess maybe don’t act like a dipshit when you are gonna gas out shortly after and lose a decision! https://t.co/k5g0Kpizcy
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) September 15, 2019
So Eddy Gordo from Tekken lost tonight?
— Mitch Clarke (@MitchClarkeMMA) September 15, 2019
Ayyyyy!!! Connelly’s a freaking beast!! Short notice. Home town. Up a weight division. Tough AF #UFCVancouver
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) September 15, 2019
For complete UFC Vancouver results and coverage click here.