If you actually looked at the numbers, Saturday’s UFC 256 card saw more fights cancelled than it actually moved forward with in the end. The 10-fight event had seen a full 11 bouts scratched in the lead-up to Saturday. One of those happened to be Tecia Torres’ rematch with Angela Hill, a victim of Hill testing positive for COVID-19.
Luckily, the promotion was able to book another bout for Torres — against UFC newcomer and LFA alum Sam Hughes.
Having competed for gold in LFA, Hughes had been in big fights before. How she would react to on the biggest stage of the sport remained a question mark, however. And at least early on, Hughes held her own, as both ladies got their hands going. Torres was a little more active, however, and soon pressed forward with a combination, landing multiple times. Hughes then locked things up, but couldn’t hold on to Torres for long. And out in the open, the “Tiny Tornado” had the clear speed advantage. It felt like every kick, every punch that Torres threw landed on Hughes. Torres hit home with a kick to the body, a superman punch, and more kicks. The ripped a couple of punches to the body, and while Hughes responded, Torres’ volume was much higher. Soon enough, Hughes was looking unsteady.
INTENSITY LEVEL: 💯@TeciaTorres turned it all on to close round one! #UFC256 pic.twitter.com/O8V2sN3OrX
— UFC (@ufc) December 13, 2020
By the end of the opening round, Torres was putting on a clinic. She ended the frame with an emphatic takedown. Entering the second, Hughes needed to hit the reset button. Except she never got there. Between rounds, Hughes stated that she was having trouble seeing. With possible damage to her orbital, that was enough for to doctor to call the fight. Giving Tecia Torres the TKO win, and her second straight victory.
Official Result: Tecia Torres def. Sam Hughes by TKO (doctor’s stoppage), Round 1, 5:00
