Short uppercut by @Bryan_Barberena lands! #UFCRotterdam pic.twitter.com/h6SY4UR8Es
— #UFCRotterdam (@ufc) September 2, 2017
On Saturday, the UFC returned after a month hiatus with a UFC Fight Night event full of intriguing matchups and up-and-coming fighters.
The main card opened with an intriguing welterweight matchup featuring Leon Edwards and Bryan Barberena.
Both fighters were hesitant to engage in the beginning of the first round. Eventually, Barberena began attacking with leg kicks. Edwards landed some hard leg kicks of his own. Barberena threw a kick that was caught by Edwards. Barberena was then taken to the ground. Edwards took his opponent’s back. He then went for a rear-naked choke, but Barberna escaped.
Edwards went for a takedown at the start of the second round but failed to get the fight to the ground. Both fighters then traded dominant position against the cage. The fighters then separated and began trading strikes until Edwards got the fight to the ground. Edwards once again took Barberena’s back. Barberena managed to get back to his feet. Barberena then dropped Edwards with a punch and then smothered him on the grounds with strikes. The round ended with Barberena on top.
Both fighters came out swinging to the start the final round. After both fighters landed strikes, Edwards went for a takedown and got the fight to the ground. Edwards got Barberena’s back and locked in a rear-naked choke, but Barberena escaped. Edwards locked in the choke once again, but Barberna once again escaped. The fight ended with Barberna fighting his way back to his feet.
Official Results:
Leon Edwards def. Bryan Barberena by unanimous decision
