Nearing seven years in the octagon, Gleison Tibau faced his riskiest professional situation at UFC on FX 8. A defeat would mean losses in three of his last four, and with the promotion’s overloaded lightweight roster, could have cost him his job. Competing in front of his home country fans, Tibau ensured that wouldn’t happen.
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The Brazilian veteran showed his experience by controlling the fight’s tempo before landing the big punch and finishing on the ground with a second-round rear naked choke at UFC on FX 8.
The end came at 2:34.
The fight-finishing sequence was set in motion with a straight left hand that rocked Cholish, who backpedaled to the fence. Tibau followed him there, and as Cholish attempted to shoot for a takedown, Tibau took his neck with an arm-in guillotine. It took him two tries to sink it, but as soon as he pulled Cholish down, it was over.
“John Cholish is a very good fighter,” he told the fans at Arena Jaraguá afterward. “He has great wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills. I made use of when he made a mistake, got him with my left hand and then used my jiu-jitsu.”
Tibau is now 27-9 in his career. The win was the 11th during his days in the octagon.
Cholish dropped his second straight, falling to 8-3.