The featured preliminary card bout at UFC Vegas 30 saw light heavyweights in action.
Kennedy Nzechukwu was hoping to make it three in a row on Saturday after knocking out City Kickboxing’s Carlos Ulberg in his last outing. Opponent Danilo Marques was also looking to make it three straight inside the octagon and improve his overall win streak to five.
Come the bellt, there was no glove touch, and Marques immediately took the center and shot for a takedown. Marques got him down, but Nzechukwu got to his feet; however, Marques jumped on his back. Marques locked upstanding body triangle. Three minutes into the fight and Marques was still on Nzechukwu’s back. Marques locked up a standing rear-naked choke, but Nzechukwu defended. With under a minute left in the fight, and Marques finally started to fall off Nzechukwu’s back. Marques jumped right back on however, and the round came to a close.
Almost four minutes of Marques on Nzechukwu’s back while standing. Crazy stuff.
Both men took the center of the octagon to start round two. Marques landed a nasty body kick, and Nzechukwu landed a very nice left hand. Marques shot for two takedowns, and Nzechukwu defended both times. A third attempt was blocked. Marques shot for the fourth takedown and got it. Marques went straight for Nzechukwu’s back and got it with a body triangle. Nzechukwu got to his feet with 90 seconds or so left. Once Nzechukwu got to his feet, he started swinging and landed a combo, making Marques shoot again. Marques put Nzechukwu against the fence. Nzechukwu landed a hook on Marques that hurt him to end the second round. Marques was saved by the bell.
Nzechukwu took the center in the third and immediately started firing combos on Marques. Nzechukwu did not stop with the combos, pouring on the offense, and the referee stepped in to save Marques.
What a comeback! 🤯
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— UFC (@ufc) June 26, 2021
On a night where several fighters mounted failed comebacks, Nzechukwu got the job done.
Official Result: Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Danilo Marques by TKO (punches) Round 3, 0:20
