Light heavyweight action kicked off the UFC 257 televised prelims on Saturday. Khalil Rountree Jr. had taken two attempts to make weight on Friday, but he did make it in the end. 2-2 in his past four fights, Rountree Jr. was a solid favorite against Poland’s Marcin Prachnio, who had lost all three of his UFC bouts to date.
Both men touched gloves to kick off the bout. Prachnio was the aggressor early, and attempted a high kick that didn’t land clean. Both men exchanged big bombs in the pocket that could have ended the fight if it landed clean. Rountree Jr landed a nice straight counter, whilst Prachnio was more kick heavy early. Rountree Jr landed his own body kick and followed with a straight left after it. Rountree Jr started to get into a rhythm a few minutes in, chaining the straight left alongside the body kick. Prachnio was targeting the leg of Rountree Jr bur Rountree saw it coming and checked it. Both men landed well in a competitive first round.
This was the first time in his four UFC bouts that Prachnio made it into the second round. Rountree Jr was aggressive to open the second, and once again found the powerful roundhouse kick to the body. Prachnio was holding his own though, landing his own low kicks and straights. Rountree Jr was swinging big hooks but missed and both men seemed to open up in the second within the pocket swinging for the home run. Prachnio landed a nice body hook as Rountree Jr retreated and Prachnio was the more active fighter towards the end of the second. Rountree Jr managesdto catch Prachnio with a massive check hook which dropped the Polishman, and landed a head kick but Prachnio survived to hear the bell. The biggest moment in the fight to that point was in the favor of Rountree Jr.
Just launching 🚀s in RD 2!
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— UFC (@ufc) January 24, 2021
Rountree Jr started strong in the third, aggressive but Prachnio remained game and swung with him in exchanges. Prachnio attempted a takedown in the third but Rountree Jr stayed on his feet. Prachnio attempted it again and was unsuccessful. Prachnio was the more active fighter in the third as Rountree Jr started to slow in the second half — but landed a nice uppercut counter which stung Prachnio. Prachnio continued to chip away down the stretch, where he landed his straight right at will. Competitive fight in a battle between power versus activity in a fight both men could’ve won, but Prachnio’s activity sealed the fight in his favour.
Welcome to the win column! 📈
📝 How did you score it?
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— UFC (@ufc) January 24, 2021
Official Result: Marcin Prachnio def. Khalil Rountree Jr by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
