The potential for fireworks was high when welterweights Miguel Baeza and Andre Fialho clashed on the UFC Vegas 51 main card on Saturday night.
Fialho had made his UFC debut on short notice earlier this year, and was in search of his first win in the promotion after falling short against Michel Pereira.
Baeza would score the first serious blow on Saturday, firing a straight right hand that split the guard and tagged Fialho. That certainly got Fialho’s attention; he circled on the outside, before they came together, trading for a moment then breaking. Baeza mixed things up after that, going to the body, and opening his combos with a low kick. Fialho fired a low kick as well, but it wasn’t setting anything up.
Next, Baeza moved in, trapping Fialho and unloading! Lefts and rights hit home; Fialho fired an uppercut before escaping. Back at center, Fialho ate another right hand. But they clinched a moment later, and Fialho tagged Baeza with an uppercut! He was rocked, and went sprawling. Fialho followed up with a left, and Baeza went down— Fialho dropped a hammer fist, and in came the ref!
Miguel Baeza would protest the stoppage, but didn’t have much of an argument. For Baeza, that’s three straight losses, putting him in the danger zone. Fialho, meanwhile, gets UFC win number one in style.
After the win, Baeza addressed Dana White, saying he wanted to fight again in the next couple of weeks.
Official Result: Andre Fialho def. Miguel Baeza by TKO (strikes), Round 1, 4:39
