Michel Prazeres edged past Zak Cummings in a close split decision at UFC Chile on Saturday, in the UFC’s debut in the nation.
Zak Cummings finally got a chance to get back in the cage when he took on Michel Prazeres at UFC Chile on Saturday. After the birth of his baby girl, Cummings understandably took some time off from the fight game. Not a lot, mind you. He’d expected to get back in the octagon in January, against Thiago Alves. Then, a freak accident forced Cummings from the fight.
So it was a long time coming when Cummings got back in the cage on Saturday, as the UFC made it’s debut in in the South American nation of Chile.
Plenty of grappling peppered the opening round of this one. Cummins led with a kick-heavy attack, chopping at the lead leg of Michel Prazeres and going to the body from time to time as well. Prazares worked his jab to set up some heavy hooks. He certainly had plenty of mustard behind his strikes, but wasn’t able to connect clean.
Round two saw more of a grappling approach employed by Cummings, but he was unable to set the stockier Prazeres down. Later in the round, he found himself tagged by a couple of heavy blows by Prazeres, who had bloodied the left eye of Cummings. He was able to connect with some overhands that continued to punish the American.
Ending the second with an EXCLAMATION MARK! #UFCChile pic.twitter.com/cjYpOX9DrU
— UFC (@ufc) May 20, 2018
The third round continued to be a close affair. Plenty of clinching, and body shots and overhand rights by Prazeres. Cummings came back towards the end of the frame but it was too little, too late. Prazares edged past him in a split decision.
Michel Prazeres def. Zak Cummings by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
