The world’s most famous mixed martial arts promotion is hosting another exciting night of fights this Saturday, Dec. 9, for fans. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is in Fresno, Calif. for UFC Fight Night 123. Inside the Save Mart Center, featherweights Cub Swanson and Brian Ortega are throwing down for the Fresno crowd. That being said, there are a series of other exciting match ups that will be going down before the two featherweights get a chance to face off for division supremacy.
In the featured UFC Fight Pass prelim of the night, bantamweights Iuri Alcantara and Alejandro Perez are going toe-to-toe in a vicious battle.
The first round opened at a slower pace, as the two MMA warriors tested each other’s reach. With half a round left in the first round, Alcantara and Perez were not putting much power in their strikes. Rather, the fighters continued to test each other with light jabs.
With 30 seconds left in the round, the crowd began to boo as the two fighters had yet to enter a serious trade of any kind. Alcantara looked to score in the final seconds of the first round, as the fighter landed a flying knee to the body of Perez.
Perez managed to catch a kick from Alcantara early in the second round, tripping the fighter to the canvas. Back to their feet, Alcantara struck Perez with a strong head kick but Perez was able to block the strike.
With a minute left in the round, Perez snapped off a powerful leg kick but Alcantara retaliated with a bellowing right hand that put Perez on his back foot. Alcantara ended the round with a takedown attempt, but failed to get Perez to the canvas.
The final round opened at much of the same pace, as neither fighter appeared interested in pressuring their opponent. Perez landed a body kick, but Alcantara mostly kept outside the range of his opponent.
With a minute left in the round, Perez managed to pressure his opponent into the fence but was unable to capitalize on the moment as Alcantara escaped to the center of the octagon. Perez then retaliated with a knockdown strike on Alcantara, but the fighter immediately leaped back to his feet and earned a takedown just before the end of the final round.
UFC Results: Alejandro Perez def. Iuri Alcantara via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
