2020 Contender Series winner Ignacio Bahamondes returned to action at UFC Vegas 49, and fans were hoping for a result similar to his last outing when he took on China’s Zhu Rong.
Both fighters were coming off single wins, but Bahamondes had turned heads with his wheel kick stoppage of Roosevelt Roberts.
In the end, Bahamondes would find the finish — but it wasn’t a knockout this time around.
Bahamondes worked his jab and kicks early in the first round, while Rong held center, looking to counter. Stance switches from Bahamondes kept things interesting, but Rong managed to find an opening for his left hand. Towards the end of the round, Rong looked for a takedown, but Bahamondes turned the tables, getting on top firing elbows and looking for a guillotine. Rong’s corner, meanwhile, screamed directions as he tried to work back to the feet — only to be greeted with a knee to the body at the buzzer.
Through the first five minutes, it was the volume of Ignacio Bahamondes that made all the difference.
Over 50 strikes landed in that second round for @JaulaBahamondes 😳 #UFCVegas49 pic.twitter.com/Y2tIIYfZRU
— UFC (@ufc) February 26, 2022
Rong Zhu put the pressure on early in round two, backing Bahamondes back up to the fence, finally letting his hands get going. Chile’s Bahamondes then fired a kick that split the guard and forced Rong to halt his forward momentum. In general, the second frame was a more active round for Rong, who began working the body with his right hand. He continued to back Bahamondes up later in the round, but it was Ignacio Bahamondes who had the edge in activity — while his stance switches and kicks continued to give Rong fits.
The third round found the pair going to the ground early, with Rong changing levels for the takedown only the be reversed — and once again, Rong Zhu was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Bahamondes got in control, as he had in the first, and this time, he locked up the choke.
Official Result: Ignacio Bahamondes def. Rong Zhu by submission (guillotine choke), Round 3, 1:40
