On to the UFC bantamweight division here in Newark, New Jersey at UFC on FOX 18. Iuri Alcatara, the heavy handed Brazilian takes on surging contender Jimmie Rivera who has made a habit of beating Brazilians lately and says he’ll finish Alcantara. Rivera is on a 17-fight streak, and is also the hometown fighter in this bout.
Round 1: Alcantara stalking, Rivera moving nicely, leg kick to a spinning backfist for Rivera to open the exchanges. They trade punches wildly, Alcantara staying calm. Rivera is being patient too but his striking is all looking for the KO. Nice right hand/left hook for Rivera wobbles Iuri, Jimmie lands a nice combo now, Alcantara might be hurt. Some big punches for Rivera and a huge double leg takedown finishes the round, 10-9 Rivera.
Round 2: More of the same here, but Alcantara looking more busy. Rivera has much slicker footwork here, bouncing nicely and lands a huge left hand, Iuri shakes it off. Low kick looks half hearted from IA, crowd getting restless as there’s a break in the action, nice rush combo by Rivera. They clinch now, short punches by Rivera, the crowd boos. Ref resets them, nice punch by Rivera. Kicks now by Iuri, punches in response by Jimmie. Straight left drops Rivera, but he responds with a massive takedown. Alcantara looks for a switch but loses his back, 2-0 Rivera with another 10-9.
Round 3: Rivera landng some more nice punches, Alcantara answers with kicks but it’s not happening for him here. Alcantara looks stiff and frozen tonight. Rivera with more pressure, he is just stomping forward, nice jab by by Iuri but he needs to chain his strikes here. Plodding jab by IA, the Brazilian looks flat as Rivera dances around him landing combos. An attempted choke at the end of the third was too little too late, I score it 30-27 for Rivera with another 10-9 in the third.
The judges call it 29-28 Rivera.
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