Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
On the UFC Vegas 8 main card, Ricardo Lamas took a gritty decision over Bill Algeo before hinting at retirement, and Neil Magny ran away with the scorecards against Robbie Lawler in the co-main event.
The UFC Vegas 8 co-main event was the setting where the promotion’s #14 ranked welterweight, Neil Magny, picked up a huge unanimous decision win over former welterweight champ, Robbie Lawler. Magny won in all areas of this fight. He won the grappling battle. He won the standup war. He was victorious in the clinch. Magny did his thing tonight against a legend of the sport, and is now riding a three-fight winning streak.
Before that, the UFC’s #14 ranked strawweight, Alexa Grasso, successfully moved up a weight class to defeat the promotion’s #14 ranked flyweight, Ji Yeon Kim, by unanimous decision. It was the boxing of Grasso that was the difference maker here. She built off of her jab and threw plenty of volume to sway the judges. Grasso’s boxing heavy style makes a fun addition to the UFC’s flyweight division, who should be ranked there come next week.
Opening up the main card, Ricardo Lamas and Bill Algeo went three hard rounds against one another. Lamas showed off his veteran savvy by showing up huge for a dominant final round to aid him in securing the decision victory. In his post-fight interview, Lamas hinted at possible retirement, but wants to discuss it with his family first. If this is the last time we see Lamas competing in a cage, then the former featherweight title challenger departs from the sport with a respectable record of 20-8.
**See complete results below
Main card:
Neil Magny def. Robbie Lawler by unanimous decision (30-27 x3): Welterweight
Lawler came out looking for a takedown, but Magny stuffed it and threatened with a D’arce. The former champ stood back to his feet, but Magny was hanging on his back. Lawler was able to score with a couple of punches in a scramble, but gave up a takedown in the process. Magny dropped a bunch of elbows to the back as Lawler hung around in the turtle position.
Magny used a head kick in the second round to disguise his entry into the clinch. From there he hit a takedown and quickly transitioned to the back. Magny even went for a twister at one point, but Lawler kept moving to avoid trouble. Lawler did finally make it back to his feet after giving up tons of control time, but in no way stole back the round.
Lawler opened up the third round with a haymaker, to which Magny responded by pulling guard and hanging on until the referee stood them up. Lawler started to bomb again but Magny was quick to clinch up. Several hard knees to the body landed for Magny before they split up again. Magny pumped his jab to keep Lawler at range and used his footwork to stay away from the power of his opponent.
Alexa Grasso def. Ji Yeon Kim by unanimous decision (30-27 x3): (W) Flyweight
The fighters met in the center and instantly started swinging punches with both women landing. Grasso mixed in a couple of leg kicks as Kim sat back looking to counter. Kim seemed to be getting the better of the exchanges, being the one landing with more authority. Towards the end of the round, Grasso started to work off of her jab, and then started finding a lot more success entering into the pocket.
Grasso got right back to her boxing combos in the second frame, staying behind her jab to effectively close the distance. Kim wasn’t having the same sort of success countering as she did in the first round. Grasso had much more command of the Octagon and seemed to be in control.
The final round saw more of the same. Grasso continued to be the better boxer out there. Kim pressured forward, but Grasso did a sound job of fighting backwards while staying defensively sound. They spent some time in the clinch, jockeying back and forth for position before Grasso snagged a takedown.
Superman punch ??? @AlexaGrasso is digging into her bag of tricks. #UFCVegas8 pic.twitter.com/Fjeljp8Cw3
— UFC (@ufc) August 30, 2020
Dominate @AlexaGrasso lo mejor de su trabajo! #UFCVegas8 pic.twitter.com/GEhmLtOwzP
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) August 30, 2020
Como siempre Alexa poniendo presión! #UFCVegas8 pic.twitter.com/FYYtGje7gw
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) August 30, 2020
Ricardo Lamas def. Bill Algeo by unanimous decision (29-27 x3): Featherweight
The featherweights went right to work, throwing kickboxing combos back and forth. Lamas started to get the better of the exchanges, seeming a bit more composed than Algeo. The cleaner technique was coming from Lamas, but Algeo started to unleash some volume. Towards the end fo the round, he had Lamas covering up with his back to the fence.
Lamas went to his grappling early int he second round. he clinched up and got himself a takedown, but wasn’t able to do anything with it before Algeo stood back top his feet. Algeo landed some clean strikes in open space before Lamas was able to clinch up. Lamas stalled out against the fence, and started bleeding from his face. Algeo clipped Lamas with a knee that sent him stumbling. Algeo then hit a takedown, but got reversed in a crazy sequence.
The fighters got right back to trading in the final round. Lamas switched gears and shot in for the takedown, and after a bit of a struggle was able to get Algeo down to the floor. Lamas dropped several damaging elbows as Algeo tried to scramble up to his feet. Algeo finally stood up, but Lamas went right back to the wrestling. He took the back again and scored a lifting takedown. Lamas controlled from the back and rained down elbows and punches until the bell.
“I’ve been kinda wrestling with the idea of hanging the gloves up, but that’s something that I want to talk to my family about first before I make a decision.”
After a bounceback win at #UFCVegas8, @RicardoLamasMMA reveals it may be the end of the road. pic.twitter.com/4nXtxbfbDf
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 30, 2020
Straight to the face @ElSenorPerfecto is sensing his moment! #UFCVegas8 pic.twitter.com/42Cu3UxkHO
— UFC (@ufc) August 30, 2020
A perfect combo from… ‘Senor Perfecto’ ?? #UFCVegas8 pic.twitter.com/eQxfSy8cDC
— UFC (@ufc) August 30, 2020
Un cierre intenso! #UFCVegas8 pic.twitter.com/qMI7gdyW6V
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) August 30, 2020