Welterweights A.J. Fletcher and Ange Loosa were both looking to get back in the win column at UFC 278.
Both fighters were also in search of their first win inside the UFC octagon in Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday night.
The preliminary card scrap opened up with Fletcher holding center, both men exchanging. Fletcher was pressing, leaving Loosa circling on the outside. And while Loosa landed a counter, Fletcher connected with a standing elbow, and a check hook. Mixing things up, Fletcher was soon targeting the body, and showed all sorts of angles, keeping Loosa guessing. Later in the round, Loosa turned up the heat, landing a couple of right hands that certainly got Fletcher’s attention. A third followed, landing flush. Just prior to the bell, Loosa landed the takedown, finishing the round strong.
Plenty of trading awaited in round two, and Fletcher added a thudding kick to the body. That prompted Loosa to change levels for a takedown, landing it. Fletcher, however, scrambled out. He continued to fight in the pocket, but was starting to show some damage, with Loosa taking over. Fletcher, however, began teeing off on Loosa soon after, landing almost at will and rocking him several times! Somehow, Loosa managed to stay in it, and Fletcher shot in on a takedown, giving both a breather. Loosa actually stuffed the takedown and had the dominant position off the sprawl, but couldn’t seem to do anything with it with both fighters exhausted.
How much round two had taken out of Loosa and Fletcher was going to be a big question heading into the third. Fletcher answered that question, perhaps, by slipping off a kick and looking slow to get back up, though Loosa could not capitalize. Fletcher then ripped the body but shot a sloppy takedown, giving Loosa the upper hand. He controlled from the back, peppering Fletcher with shots. Fletcher rolled, and Loosa wound up in half guard dropping elbows.
While Loosa couldn’t finish the fight, it was a dominant round that saw Fletcher unable to get off his back. One judge awarded a 10-8 to Loosa in the third, and all three scored the fight in his favor.
Official Result: Ange Loosa def. A.J. Fletcher by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)
