Lightweight Roosevelt Roberts was looking for his first win in over a year when he stepped into the octagon at UFC Vegas 34 opposite Ignacio Bahamondes.
Were it not for a loss to Kevin Croom being overturned due to a drug test failure for marijuana, Roberts would be 0-2 in his last two outings. Still, a win was of the utmost importance for “The Predator,” whose opponent Bahamondes was a fellow Contender Series alum looking for his first UFC win.
The Chilean prospect had been given a tough out in his debut, stepping up against John Makdessi. He looked good in that fight; Saturday, he looked great.
Both fighters took the center of the octagon after a touch of gloves. After a couple of punches, both exchanged leg kicks. Roberts shot in and put Bahamondes against the fence. Bahamondes escaped. The Chilean landed a nice right hand and ate a jab in return. Bahamondes landed a leg kick that dropped Roberts. Roberts landed a 1-2 that backed Bahamondes up. Bahamondes missed a hook and ate another jab. Bahamondes attempted a spinning back fist but missed.
The referee halted the action from an eye poke, but it was actually a punch.
With just over two minutes left in the round, both fighters exchanged combinations. Roberts shot in for a takedown and put his opponent against the fence for 25 seconds or so. Bahamondes got off the fence and started walking down Roberts. Bahamondes landed a nasty combo-hook, straight right, body kick. With 30 seconds left, Roberts clinched with Bahamondes again.
The second round started with a Bahamondes leg kick. Bahamondes landed a combo that hurt Roberts. One minute into the round and Bahamondes teed off on Bahamondes. Both fighters exchanged leg kicks. Roberts’ jab was landing. A spinning body kick from Bahamondes landed; Bahmondes would execute several flashy spinning attacks throughout the fight.
Bahamondes landed several leg kicks throughout the three minutes remaining in the frame. Roberts shot for a takedown with about 90 seconds left and put Bahamondes against the fence. Bahamondes escaped; the round ended with Roberts eating a punch.
Another glove touch kicked off round three. A body kick by Roberts landed. Bahamondes landed a body shot that dropped Roberts. Roberts kept falling to his back, seemingly overwhelmed on the feet, but Bahamondes motioned for him to get up. Bahamondes landed a liver shot, and Roberts landed an uppercut. Bahamondes kept going to the body, which made Roberts cover up. Less than two minutes left, and Roberts dropped to his back again. 45 seconds left, and Roberts got a last-second wind. He turned up his output on the feet, but Bahamondes caught Roberts in a guillotine. After releasing it and firing an elbow, Bahamondes then then landed a stunning spinning wheel kick and put Roberts out.
OH MY GOODNESS!
[ #UFCVegas34 | Prelims are LIVE on ESPN2 & @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/eb31qfJ4bq
— UFC (@ufc) August 22, 2021
What a fight — and what a finish! As first UFC wins go, it’s one of the best in recent memory.
Official Result: Ignacio Bahamondes def. Roosevelt Roberts by knockout (spinning heel kick) Round 3, 4:55
