On Saturday, the UFC hosted one of its biggest events of the year as UFC 211 took place at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Two titles are set to be defended in the lone star state as UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic fights former champion Junior dos Santos and UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk fights Jessica Andrade.
The UFC 211 main card opened with a pivotal fight in the middleweight division as Krzysztof Jotko fights former World Series of Fighting middleweight and light heavyweight champion David Branch.
Branch was the first fighter to engage at the start of the fight. Branch continued to throw more strikes, but Jotko stayed calm and controlled the cage. Eventually, Branch landed a strong takedown. Branch then started to land ground-and-pound. Jotko kept Branch in his guard but could not get back to his feet. Jotko later pushed himself to the cage and used that to get to his feet. Branch kept Jotko up against the cage until Jotko took him down. Branch quickly got up, but Jotko pushed him towards the cage. Branch reversed position and finished the round pushing Jotko up against the fence.
The second round started the same as the first. Branch threw more shots, but Jotko controlled the cage. Jotko later pushed Branch towards the fence and threw a spinning elbow. Both fighters then began exchanging blows. Branch landed another takedown but Jotko immediately got to his feet. Branch got Jotko to the cage once again but Jotko talked the referee into separating the fighters. Jotko later attempted a spinning back kick but Branch dodged it and took him down. Jotko got back to his feet and the round ended with both fighters exchanging.
Branch landed a head kick to start the final round, but it didn’t appear to do much damage. Branch continued to throw large volumes of strikes while Jotko remained defensive. The two fighters then fought in the clinch with neither fighter producing much damage. The referee eventually separated the fighters. Branch then took Jotko down. Jotko worked his way back to his feet, but Branch once again controlled the clinch. However, the referee quickly separated them. The fight ended with Branch creating another clinch and putting Jotko up against the cage.
Official Result:
David Branch def. Krzysztof Jotko by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
