
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.
Were you not entertained…@SPonzinibbioMMA put on a show at #UFCArgentina. pic.twitter.com/M4KRZe33iB
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) November 18, 2018
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.
"I will take the belt for Argentina. 2019."
?? @SPonzinibbioMMA #UFCArgentina pic.twitter.com/JbmQmhLXBf
— UFC (@ufc) November 18, 2018
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.
My goodness, Ricardo Lamas ? pic.twitter.com/1ifOL2vCqz
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) November 18, 2018
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.
No nerves ?@JohnnyWalkerMMA #UFCArgentina pic.twitter.com/kpxbAryLhx
— UFC (@ufc) November 18, 2018
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.
With that performance, Johnny Walker just put the whole LHW division on notice! pic.twitter.com/xZkzwBfisN
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) November 18, 2018
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.
What a different a round makes, Marlon Vera gets the comeback win by submission. pic.twitter.com/Iid8OypRam
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) November 18, 2018
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.
Punch above your weight with latest MMA odds over at Paddypower.com"Cynthia Calvillo, welcome back." @cyn_calvillo gets the submission win in round one. pic.twitter.com/2FSn6jSnrZ
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) November 18, 2018
