In a back and forth featherweight fight, Andre Fili would edge a decision over Charles Jourdain.
In what felt like a fight that could steal the show Saturday, featherweights Charles Jourdain and Andre Fili were set to trade leather. The main card bout at UFC on ESPN 10 felt like a can’t-miss affair. Jourdain’s last fight was a bonus-winning effort opposite Doo-Ho Choi, in enemy territory. Fili was another good test for the Canadian, and the Team Alpha Male fighter was always game.
Jourdain opened up the bout with a body kick followed by a 1-2. Jourdain landed a left hook, and Fili countered with one of his own followed by a head kick. Jourdain threw some winging shots that missed, and Fili looked for another head kick. Fili kept going to the well with that head kick, and Jourdain eventually threw one of his own that Fili ducked under — which prompted Fili to stick his tongue out at his opponent. Jourdain looked for a spinning back fist that missed and Fili landed a clean head kick. Jourdain kept slamming brutal kicks to Fili’s body, and arm, and it set up a big shot that dropped Fili with about a minute to go. Jourdain would let Fili up, and went right back to throwing brutal body kicks. Fili landed a big combination, then got a huge slam takedown to end round one.
𝑹𝑶𝑪𝑲𝑬𝑫! #UFCVegas2 pic.twitter.com/P6nUt1uDow
— UFC (@ufc) June 14, 2020
Jourdain started to go low with his kicks early in round two, and was landing them at will seemingly. Fili countered with some head kicks of his own, but Jourdain was doing a good job of blocking them. It seemed that Fili was having trouble landing good shots at range and that anytime Fili entered into range he would eat a big body or leg kick. Fili looked to land his jab and started landing effective shots with his right hand. Fili landed a nice left hand behind the ear that landed clean, but Jourdain ate the shot and landed a shot of his own downstairs. Jourdain had a big leg kick hit home, but right as it did, Fili dove in on a double leg and secured a takedown with seconds remaining in the round. Jourdain would make his way back to his feet but would end the round eating a big right from Fili.
Jourdain landed a hard leg kick to open the final frame, and Fili responded with a left of his own. Fili seemed to be pushing the pace and was throwing heavy shots early. Jourdain looked to take flight as he looked for a flying knee, but he would miss and ended up eating a right hand from Fili after returning to the ground. Fili would land a key takedown with about half the round remaining and would get his opponent’s back. However, Jourdain would work his way back up to the feet almost immediately. Fili would land a nice left, and Jourdain would counter with a 1-2 of his own and started putting on the pressure. Jourdain threw a left hook that missed and Fili dove in on a takedown, which he would land with 30 seconds remaining. Fili would take the back and ended the fight throwing big shots from the top. Great back and forth fight by both men.
In a bit of a toss-up, Fili took the fight on two of three scorecards. Post-fight, he said he wanted a big name next, proclaiming himself one of the best featherweights in the world.
BY SPLIT DECISION!
💪 @TouchyFili gets the close decision from #UFCVegas2. pic.twitter.com/vfv1qgHX2S
— UFC (@ufc) June 14, 2020
Official Result: Andre Fili def. Charles Jourdain by split-decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
