Kevin Aguilar moves to 2-0 inside the UFC with a unanimous decision over the red-hot Enrique Barzola at UFC Philadelphia.
Kevin Aguilar was the LFA featherweight champion, defending his title three times before getting a shot on the Contender Series. He won by split decision, but that was enough for the UFC to have him in mind when Rick Glenn needed a short notice opponent in November. Aguilar took advantage of the opportunity, winning by unanimous decision in his promotional debut.
Enrique Barzola was the winner of TUF: Latin America 2 back in 2015. The Peruvian then dropped to featherweight and has gone 4-1, with the lone loss being a split decision to Kyle Bochniak, which was universally panned as a poor call by the judges. The grappler is riding a four-fight win streak into UFC Philadelphia, grinding all of those opponents to decision including Brandon Davis.
Enrique Barzola takes the center of the Octagon immediately. Aguilar opens the action with a low kick and then dodges a flying knee from Barzola. Aguilar then checks Barzola’s cup with a kick causing a brief pause in the action.
Aguilar kicks Barzola in the body with a hard shot and follows up with a right hand. The Peruvian responds with a leg kick. The former LFA champion counters with a 1-2 combo and then throw a high kick.
Aguilar goes to the body with a kick and a right hook, and Barzola counters with two partially blocked high kicks. Aguilar slides a right hand behind Barzola’s defense but then catches a low kick against his calf.
Aguilar tags Barzola with two clean right hands. Barzola shoots in on a takedown but can’t get Aguilar down. Aguilar opens up with a kick to the body and a big combo. He lands a few follow-ups and blocks a takedown and spinning wheel kick as the round comes to an end.
Cageside Press Scored the First Round 10-9 Aguilar
Barzola touches Aguilar with a jab and a check hook but eats a straight right hand. He follows with an uppercut and two more clean shots. Barzola shoots in deep on Aguilar’s hips, but can’t get the “Angel of Death” down. Barzola throws Aguilar down with a single but the former LFA champion pops up immediately.
Aguilar hits Barzola with three clean shots. Barzola slides into the pocket and gets touched by an uppercut. The Peruvian gets hit with two more shots. They exchange right hands and Barzola shoots in and can’t get Aguilar down again.
Aguilar pops Barzola with an uppercut and a short left. He is starting to pick him apart. Aguilar crushes the rib with a short right but gets hit with two shots. The Angle of Death backs Barzola up with a three punch combo. Barzola presses forward with a jab shoots in but can’t get Aguilar down as the round comes to an end.
Cageside Press Scored the Second Round 10-9 Aguilar
The action starts with Barzola landing a wild left hook. Aguilar responds with a low kick. They exchange hard shots and then Aguilar slips and rips a left uppercut. Aguilar is opening up with combinations. He pops Barzola with a jab and ducks out of the way of a right hand.
Barzola backs Aguilar up with two hard hooks and then shoots in for a takedown. He still can’t get Aguilar down. Barzola lands two more shots which are backing Aguilar up.
The Peruvian is pressing the action as they exchange to kicks. The DWTNCS alum responds with another combination of punches and a kick to the body. He follows it up with a hook to the body and slides away from an attack.
Barzola clips Aguilar with a left hook. He presses forward and hits Aguilar with a 1-2 combo and shoots in again. The former LFA champion defends another takedown. Back in the center, they exchange some hard shots then Barzola hits Aguilar with a flying knee as the fight comes to an end.
Cageside Press Scored the Third Round 10-9 Barzola (29-28 Aguilar)
Kevin Aguilar def. Enrique Barzola by Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3)
