Lightweights Carlos Diego Ferreira and Anthony Pettis opened the UFC 246 main card, with Ferreira getting the surprise second-round submission.
Anthony Pettis was back down to the lightweight division to open the UFC 246 PPV card. Mixed results at welterweight — an emphatic win over Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson followed by a disheartening loss to Nate Diaz — resulted in Pettis giving 155lbs a second chance Saturday night.
The former champ was lined up with Brazil’s Carlos Diego Ferreira, winner of five straight to enter the night. Ferreira had not tasted defeat since 2015 and was looking to kick off 2020 with the biggest scalp of his career.
Ferreria immediately shot for a takedown up against the fence, then shrugged it off as Pettis landed a nice combination. Ferreria looked like he was trying to check kicks that haven’t even come yet, an interesting technique. Ferreria looked for a takedown up against the fence, and he got Pettis’s back and the takedown. Ferreria looked for the choke but Pettis spun out of it and got the fight back to the feet — but not for long. Ferreira shot for another takedown but was unable to get it. Ferreira would shoot again however and would get the takedown, and end the round on top.
Anthony Pettis went for a kick to open the second round, but it was caught by Ferreira who got the takedown and the back. Pettis was doing his best to fight off the choke, but Ferreira kept fighting for it. Keeping on it, he was eventually able to get his arm under the chin to get the tap by Pettis — and the biggest win of his career. This is the sixth win in a row for Diego Ferreira, and this win will surely put him in the rankings.
WOW! 😨
🇧🇷 @DiegoUFCTX makes a BIG statement and taps out Showtime in R2! #UFC246
Get the E+ PPV ➡️ https://t.co/elacTGWGXe #UFC246 pic.twitter.com/vPk1IoFIuV
— UFC (@ufc) January 19, 2020
Official Result: Carlos Diego Ferreira def. Anthony Pettis by submission (rear-naked Choke), Round 2, 1:46
