Albert Morales and Benito Lopez put on a showstopper to open the UFC Fresno main card on Saturday.
With the UFC returning to California, fireworks were anticipated, and the main card opener did not disappoint. Benito Lopez was making his UFC debut at UFC Fresno on Saturday. Another product of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contenders Series, Lopez met the tough Albert Morales in Fresno. Morales, through four UFC fights, had a win, a draw, and two losses on his record.
Records, however, did little to prepare those watching in the arena and at home for what went down in this one. Right off the opening bell, Benito Lopez launched a high kick, showing no fear of his more experienced opponent. Albert Morales, meanwhile, answered back, with a jab that dropped Lopez. While Morales went in for the kill, Lopez launched a flying knee – one of three he would throw during the round. The only lull came during a brief guillotine attempt by Lopez, one-handed. Morales would escape, however. He’d catch Lopez again later in the round, which was answered with another flying knee. They slowed a little to finish the frame, but what a start.
A more measured pace started the third. Lopez landed a liver kick; the pair traded shots back and forth, and Morales chopped away at the lead leg of his opponent. Lopez threw a spinning back kick, then went high to the head with a kick, and threw a combination immediately after. That was followed by an uppercut that landed on Morales. Benito Lopez scored with another liver kick; those shots were bound to slow Morales eventually. Morales answered back with combos, pressing forward as Lopez covered up. Morales finished the round with a leg kick that had Lopez hoping, and they’d head to the third.
Opening where he left off, Morales attacked the legs of his opponent to start the third. Lopez, as he had throughout the fight, switched stances fluidly. Head kicks continued from Lopez; both fighters went to the body effectively. By the time the third came to an end, Morales was bloodied, both men were tired, and they were firing right to the end. Lopez would take a unanimous decision when the results were announced, and dedicated the bout to his grandma.
Benito Lopez def. Albert Morales by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
