A pair of Contender Series veterans served as the featured fight at UFC Vegas 8. Maki Pitolo, a Hawaiian otherwise known as “Coconut Bombz,” was set to welcome Impa Kasanganay to the octagon at the event. Kasanganay had fought just weeks earlier on the Contender Series, his second appearance on the Dana White-powered fighting show.
Pitolo, meanwhile, was making a short turnaround as well. And both men were absolutely looking to make a statement.
Both fighters came out with a good start throwing hard strikes and kicks. Impa was stalking Pitolo early but Pitolo struck him with some combos while moving side to side. Pitolo’s boxing started to improve as the round went on, forcing Impa to tie up briefly. An overhand right from Kasanganay landed flush and Pitolo landed with a nice head kick. With a minute left in the frame, Kasanganay opened up with a barrage of strikes, landing multiple times busting up Pitolo a bit. To close the round it seemed that Impa Kasanganay had found his range.
Kasanganay started round two finding home more and more with his overhand right but Pitolo was still game. On a number of occasions both fighters were landing at the same time, with both showing a solid chin. Kasanganay did try again to get the fight to the mat but Pitolo defended well. Both athletes were going shot for shot. A highligh elbow landed from Impa Kasanganay followed by a one-two and Pitolo came back landing with a nice combo to end the round in a super close fight to that point.
WATCH OUT 🚧 @KingImpa showing no Octagon jitters in his debut. #UFCVegas8 pic.twitter.com/Z4HsaxG0Uo
— UFC (@ufc) August 30, 2020
Both Pitolo and Kasanganay came out firing right away in the third, picking up where they left off in the first two rounds. Both were having big success with their boxing. Kasanganay landed a nice one-two going to the body then head, which Pitolo just took with no issue. Pitolo was landing a good jab meanwhile. As Pitolo was just sticking Kasanganay, Impa was throwing in combinations. The fight ended on the feet with a great showing from both fighters.
Official Result: Impa Kasanganay def. Maki Pitolo by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
