UFC Roundup: Ponzinibbio calls for shot at Tyron Woodley

A night to remember for the Argentinian welterweight and he wants a shot at the big time ...

By / UFC / 6 years ago

UFC Argentina: Ponzinibbio KOs Magny on home soil

Argentinian welterweight contender Santiago Ponzinibbio had a night to remember at UFC Fight Night in Buenos Aires as he scored a spectacular fourth-round knockout of Neil Magny in the night’s main event.

Ponzinibbio pushed the pace from the off, scoring with hard leg kicks and big punches. But Magny is as durable as they come, and he battled through the opening three rounds, perhaps hoping he could catch a tiring Ponzinibbio later in the fight.

But that chance never came, thanks to the Argentinian’s brilliant display. His leg kicks proved too hard to handle for Magny’s lead leg and, by the time the fourth round arrived, the American was struggling to stand as a result of the punishment he’d shipped in the first three rounds.

Ponzinibbio continued to hammer Magny’s lead leg with thumping kicks then, with the American backed up against the fence, the local hero struck the decisive blow.

A huge right hand connected perfectly on Magny’s chin, dropping him to the mat for an instant KO.

In his post-fight interview, Ponzinibbio called for a shot at UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. With wins like that one against Magny, he’s certainly not too far away.

LAMAS STOPS ELKINS

Chicago’s Ricardo Lamas knew he would be in for a long night the moment he was matched up against Darren Elkins, but “The Bully” was up to the task.

Lamas kept his composure to nullify the grappling threat of Elkins and punished him with strikes.

And after three rounds of largely one-way traffic Lamas landed the strikes that ended the contest as he finished “The Damage” with just 51 seconds left in the fight.

WALKER SMASHES ROUNTREE WITH CRUSHING KO

Six-foot-five light-heavyweight debutant Johnny Walker is one to watch. He stood in front of the heavy-handed Khalil Rountree Jr, laughed at the American’s leg kicks, then lit him up with a brutal combination of punches, knees and, eventually one massive elbow that separated Rountree from his senses.

It was a devastating finish and one that made a big statement. In a not-so-deep UFC light-heavyweight division, the English-trained Brazilian is coming for the division’s best.

VERA SILENCES CROWD WITH STUNNING COMEBACK

Everything seemed to be going Guido Cannetti’s way in his bantamweight bout with Marlon Vera. Fighting at home in front of his fellow countrymen, an inspired Cannetti had made a flying start in the opening round and appeared to be bossing the contest.

But after a half-time talking-to from his corner, Ecuador’s Vera came storming back in the second round and battered the Argentinian fighter before eventually submitting him via rear-naked choke.

The only person more shocked than Cannetti was the Buenos Aires crowd, who were left in stunned silence after Vera’s blistering second-round performance.

BAD WEIGHT CUT IS NO PROBLEM FOR CALVILLO

America’s Cynthia Calvillo had a bad day on Friday as she badly struggled to get on the scale and failed to make weight, coming in two pounds over the 116-pound strawweight limit.

It prompted some to express concern for her well-being heading into her bout with Brazil’s Poliana Botelho, but Calvillo made light of those concerns as she submitted her opponent with a first-round rear-naked choke.

“The mat is an ocean, and I’m a shark,” she declared.

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