A hard-fought battle between strawweights opened up the main card of UFC Vegas 14 as Cory McKenna defeated Kay Hansen.
Young guns started the UFC Vegas 14 main card as 21-year-olds Kay Hansen and Cory McKenna battled. Hansen went 5-3 in Invicta FC with four finishes to earn a shot at the big stage against fellow Invicta veteran Jinh Yu Frey, who was an atomweight champion in the promotion. Hansen impressed against Frey, submitting her in the final round back in June.
McKenna, a Welsh fighter, stared her career in Cage Warriors and went 4-1 with three finishes. The performances were impressive enough to earn her a Contender Series appearance just three months ago, where she won by decision against LFA champion Vanessa Demopoulos.
Hansen started quickly with a three-punch combination. McKenna fired back, but Hansen unloaded another combination. The fight was off to a fiery pace, with McKenna landing a right hand and Hansen hit another combination that backed McKenna up. There was a brief clinch, but the young women got right back to work. Hansen connected again with her straight punch combination and McKenna went for a takedown against the cage. Hansen kept working, landing elbows then knees to the head, dropping McKenna and taking her back in the process. Hansen attempted to work for the choke with 30 seconds left, but ended up eating several punches from McKenna while Hansen’s arms were occupied.
Hansen landed a crisp straight right hand to start the second round then narrowly avoided a big right hand from McKenna. As McKenna came in, Hansen ducked under for a takedown, but the fight stayed on the feet. A body kick connected for Hansen followed by a combination. She exploded again and hit a knee to the head. McKenna countered a front kick with a combination, but the body kicks were adding up for Hansen. McKenna cracked Hansen with a right hand, who shot for a takedown and threw her opponent down. Hansen took the back quickly and had the arm under the chin, but had to bail on the submission and switch to an armbar, giving McKenna top position with a minute left in the round. She wasn’t able to generate much offense, but she was out of danger.
Shades of Khabib!?
🎙 @Bisping has high praise @KayHansenMMA's offense. #UFCVegas14 pic.twitter.com/ZDLrIdSsxK
— UFC (@ufc) November 15, 2020
A strong jab from McKenna started the final round followed by a swift body kick from Hansen. The strawweights traded blows twice, snapping each other’s heads back. A straight right found the target for Hansen, who then ducked under and scored a clean double-leg takedown into half guard. Hansen tried hard to pass to side control, but it was McKenna who was able to get back to full guard. She briefly gained separation, but Hansen jumped back on top. Hansen fought off a kimura, then tried an arm-triangle, which brought her to mount. She held onto the choke in mount, and McKenna spun her around to end the fight in top position, landing several punches in the process. After the fight came to an end, McKenna appeared to have an injured leg.
Cory McKenna def. Kay Hansen by Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3)
