Tyson Pedro showed some Jiu-jitsu prowess at UFC 221 on Saturday, using a Kimura sweep to finish off Saparbek Safarov.
Opening up the PPV portion of UFC 221 on Saturday was a light heavyweight battle between Tyson Pedro and Saparbek Safarov. Pedro entered the night off his first career loss, against Ilir Latifi. Safarov as well had recently had his perfect record tarnished, as Gian Villante served him up his first loss.
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Pedro opened with some leg kicks, but in a scramble, Safarov got the fight to the ground. There, he looked to pin Pedro down, but Pedro was able to use the cage to wall-walk up. Angling off the cage to escape, Pedro headed back to the middle, and went on the offensive. Safarov caught a leg kick, but failed to complete that takedown attempt. A pair of rights from Pedro as he came in on his opponent got the crowd on their feet, and the power of Pedro was on full display.
Safarov was backing out of range, looking to counter. Pedro continued to throw rights and knees in the clinch. Safarov then clinched, looking for the takedown. He’d complete it and look to take the back, though he landed a blow to the back of the head in the process. Pedro then latched onto an arm, sinking in a kimura and dragging Safarov down in a sweep. Still wrenching the arm, he got his leg positioned behind Safarov’s head, and earned the tap!
Tyson Pedro def. Saparbek Safarov by submission, Round 1, 3:54
