After a previously scheduled bout with Jessica-Rose Clark fell through, Andrea ‘KGB’ Lee returned to action at UFC Phoenix, a.k.a. UFC on ESPN 1.
Ashlee Evans-Smith comes into UFC Phoenix ranked 11th in the flyweight division with a UFC record of 3-3. After losing to Ketlan Vieira and Sarah Moras at strawweight, the 31-year-old made her flyweight debut the right way with a decision victory over Bec Rawlings in April. She is coming off an injury that kept her from fighting Antonina Shevchenko in November.
Andrea Lee has replaced Lauren Murphy on short notice after the latter pulled out of her scheduled bout with Evans-Smith. At 9-2 in her career, “KGB” was the LFA flyweight champion before defeating Veronica Macedo in her UFC debut in May. She is currently ranked 13th in the flyweight division and was unable to fight Jessica-Rose Clark in December due to her opponent’s weight cutting issues.
Key in round one of this flyweight battle was the jab game of Andrea Lee, and, of course, her kicks. Outside leg kicks, body kicks. Evans-Smith would attempt to answer with some of her own, but Lee had the edge, especially combinated with her hands. Ashlee Evans-Smith would manage to get Lee down with a trip, but couldn’t keep her down, and Lee easily took the first round.
In the second round, Ashlee Evans-Smith adjusted, and focused on her grappling game. A takedown attempt was fought off, but she would score on in the round. In the final ninety seconds, KGB Lee regained her feet, keeping in there, and would carry that into the final frame.
A lead uppercut broke throught the guard of Evans-Smith early in the third. She’d answer back, but Lee was driving forward, throwing combinations punctuated with leg kicks. That was forcing Evans-Smith onto her heels, eliminating or at least greatly lowering her chances of a takedown. Evans-Smith had he nose bloodied, and had slowed noticably; Lee was getting the better of the exchanges, and was soon imposing her will even on the grappling side, where Evans-Smith had the edge earlier in the fight. KGB Lee’s output throughout three rounds was the difference as the fight ended in a unanimous decision win for Lee.
Andrea Lee def. Ashlee Evans-Smith by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
