The lone heavyweight fight at UFC Vegas 31 kicked off Saturday’s card, with France’s Alan Baudot taking on Brazilian Rodrigo Nascimento.
Both fighters were coming off losses; for Nascimento, his last outing marked the first defeat of his professional mixed martial arts career.
Both heavyweights took the center of the octagon to open the affair, and Baudot was the first man to engage. The French fighter landed a low kick, jab, and left hook. Nascimento answered with a jab and 1-2. Baudo landed two left hooks that landed. Nascimento clinched, and Baudot put him against the fence. Nascimento reversed with just over three minutes left in the round. Baudot landed heavy elbows from Nascimento’s clinch, which made Nascimento pull guard. Baudot landed some ground and pound, and it looked like Nascimento went out, although in actuality he didn’t. Baudot landed another hook that hurt Nascimento, and the round ended with both men in the clinch. A very entertaining opening round, and a strong start from Alan Baudot.
The second round started, and Nascimento walked down Baudot throwing heavy punches. Nascimento landed a kick that hit Baudot below the belt, which halted the action. The action resumed a short time later, with Brazil’s Nascimento appearing to have found a second wind. Baudot landed a jab and hook. Nascimento landed an uppercut which hurt Baudot. Baudot turtled up against the cage, and Nascimento landed non-stop punches. The referee stepped in and saved Baudot.
FLIPPING THE SCRIPT 😤
🇧🇷 @ZeColmeiiia switched gears in the second! #UFCVegas31 pic.twitter.com/ugya0xlmVF
— UFC (@ufc) July 17, 2021
In the end, a great comeback win for Nascimento. Post-fight, he called out Chase Sherman, a realistic choice that could be an option down the line.
Official Result: Rodrigo Nascimento def. Alan Baudot by TKO (punches), Round 2, 1:39
