The third UFC preliminary bout featured Brazilian Yuri Alcantara (27-3) going up against Japanese fighter Michihiro Omigawa (13-11-1) in a featherweight bout.
Both entered having come off victories in the Octagon, but Alcantara continued his success and won a unanimous decision after three solid rounds of action.
What We’ll Remember about This Fight
It appeared as if Omigawa tapped due to an armbar in the first round, but the bell rang right as Alcantara was applying it, and the ref jumped in to wave off the fight, only to realize the round had ended. Even if he didn’t tap, he was very close to doing so.
What We Learned about Yuri Alcantara
Alcantara looked to be slowing down in the third round, but after two busy rounds, it comes as no surprise.
He was impressive in dropping Omigawa several times throughout the bout, and she showed impressive BJJ skills in the first round.
What We Learned about Michihiro Omigawa
Omigawa showed his toughness and durability in surviving some big strikes and submission attempts, but that shouldn’t surprise anyone. Eight of his losses have been by decision, and he never goes out easy.
What’s Next for Alcantara
Now 2-0 in the UFC, Alcantara can continue his progress in the featherweight division and hope to fight on a main card of a future Fight Night event.
A fight versus another Brazilian in Diego Nunes (17-2), who recently defeated Manvel Gamburyan and is 1-1 in the UFC, could be an interesting fight.
What’s Next for Omigawa
Even though he won’t deserve it, Omigawa may find himself being cut from the UFC. The loss takes his Octagon record to 1-3, but with losses against Chad Mendes and Darren Elkins.
He should’ve been awarded the decision in the Elkins bout, and it might help him get another fight. If he does, it should come against another fighter coming off a loss. This could be against Manvel Gamburyan, who is 0-3 in his last three bouts, but has found himself on the losing end of some very close decisions.
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