Though he pleaded his case for a return to the lightweight division following the bout, Michel Prazeres’ performance at UFC Argentina was a big statement showing that he can hang at 170lbs.
The UFC made its first visit to Argentina Saturday where the Estadio Mary Terán de Weiss in Buenos Aires played host to UFC Fight Night 140. There, the preliminary card was closed out by a welterweight contest between Michel Prazeres and Bartosz Fabinski, scheduled of course for three rounds. Both men entered the octagon riding high with with a string of recent wins. Prazeres had beaten Mads Burnell, Desmond Green and Zak Cummings over his last three fights while Fabinski was also victorious in his last three with decisions over Garreth McLellan, Hector Urbina and Emil Weber Meek.
As action got underway at UFC Argentina, Fabniski charged forward, and Prazeres backed him up, then landed a massive right hand that dropped Fabniski. Prazeres dove in and looked to finish as he dropped punches on a downed Fabniski. Somehow, Fabniski survived and tried to get back to his feet but Prazeres was one step ahead. He pulled guard to lock in the guillotine choke, and it was tight. Fabniski had no choice, the choke was deep and he had to tap, bringing an end to the fight.
MASSIVE SHOT!@MichelTrator #UFCArgentina pic.twitter.com/4FKGWVjPg9
— UFC (@ufc) November 18, 2018
After the fight, Prazeres called for Sean Shelby and Dana White to let him back into the UFC’s lightweight division. Yet after such a strong performance at 170lbs, and having struggled to make the 155lb limit, there’s a question of whether Prazeres really should try to drop down once again.
Michel Prazeres def. Bartosz Fabinski by Submission (Guillotine choke), Round 1, 1:02
