Former Combate Americas fighter Desiree Yanez was supposed to have thrown down with Veta Artega last October, making her Bellator MMA debut in the process. But with a COVID-19 positive from Arteaga scrapping the fight, Yanez was forced to sit out even longer — with the pair finally rebooked for Bellator 257 on Friday.
That fight was second in on Friday night’s main card, and it proved to be a scrappy affair.
Yanez tied the action up early, pressing Arteaga into the fence. She couldn’t keep the action there, however. Instead, the pair moved back to center, with Arteaga slowly pressing forward, mixing in leg kicks with her combos. Yanez answered with a straight punch to the body, and landed a cobo of her own. Through the opening round, it was a close contest, with Arteaga showing her power from time to time.
That power showed itself early in round two, as Veta Arteaga dropped Yanez with a right hand. Arteaga quickly moved on top, working from half-guard, but Yanez scrambled free. That, however, allowed Arteaga to catch her with another punch before driving her into the fence and taking her down. From there, Arteaga took the back, looking for a choke. On the way up, however, an illegal knee on a downed Yanez halted the action. Two illegal knees, actually, which led to a point deduction. Yanez, luckily, was able to continue.
An early takedown by Yanez opened the third and final round between Desiree Yanez and Veta Arteaga on Friday. The point deduction in round two loomed large, as Arteaga had likely been winning the frame. On her back in round three, Arteaga threatened with an arm-bar; a scramble saw the pair move back to the feet. That put the fight right in Arteaga’s wheelhouse. Later in the round, Yanez would manage to tie things up along the fence, but she was unable to get the fight down. Instead, Arteaga turned her opponent before breaking free. They’d go the distance, with Arteaga, despite the point deduction, taking home the win.
Official Result: Veta Arteaga def. Desiree Yanez by majority decision (28-28, 29-27, 29-27)
