UFC Fight Night 114 went down Saturday night in Mexico City at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico. Better known as UFC Mexico City, the event was capped off by a headliner of flyweights Sergio Pettis and Brandon Moreno looking to see who would jump into title challenger status, potentially. Opening up the main card, meanwhile, was a bantamweight scrap between Alejandro Perez and Andre Soukhamthath.
With the crowd firmly behind Perez, the pair got things started with Soukhamthath launching a combo early in, and Perez throwing leg kicks and single strikes. Soukhamthath spent most of the opening part of the round pushing forward with Perez countering. Soukhamthath found a home for a left hook to the body, and landed a left that dropped Perez. Following the knockdown, however, Soukhamthath hung back, and Perez got back to his feet. While Perez survived, he would be dropped again close to the one minute mark, which sent him into takedown mode only to be stuffed.
In the second round, Perez worked his jab early while Soukhamthath walked him down. A flying knee attempt from Soukhamthath missed. Just under two minutes in, Soukhamthath scored his third knockdown in the fight, dropping Perez, who again was able to get back to his feet. Soukhamthath’s straight left was doing serious damage. Soukhamthath began taunting his foe, pointing to where he’d presumably attack next. However, moments later Perez would score a knockdown of his own (with Soukhamthath possibly slipping) that go the crowd roaring, and allowed Perez to move into guard. That sequence seemed to shift momentum, and the third had the possibility to get very interesting.
Perez would open the third round with a takedown attempt that was stuffed by Andre Soukhamthath. Seconds later, Soukhamthath connected again; Perez next tried a takedown with a single leg. No dice. A spinning back fist by Perez connected but did little damage, and with half the round gone it was still anyone’s fight. Soukhamthath connected with a right while Perez answered with a jab, then worked for a takedown against the fence that he was finally able to convert. He worked a number of short punches in with just ninety seconds left; Perez was looking to stay on top and ride out the round. Soukhamthath was able to make it back up, however, with just over a minute to go. Soukhamthath would press for the final minute trying to steal back the round, landing a body kick in the final seconds. Neither man was able to get the finish, and it went to the scorecards.
Two judges saw it in favor of Perez, giving him the come-from-behind split decision.
Alejandro Perez def. Andre Soukhamthath by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
