With the main event of UFC Vegas 70 being cancelled on short notice, Augusto Sakai vs Don’Tale Mayes was moved into the co-main event slot, as every fight on the card shifted slightly.
This match-up of heavyweights coincidentally included a former main eventer, as Augusto Sakai lost both of his five round UFC fights, against Alistair Overeem and Jair Rozenstruik. Sakai came in on a four-fight losing streak overall. On the other hand, Don’Tale Mayes was 2-2 (1NC) in the UFC after his last fight, a decision loss, was recently overturned to a No Contest after drug testing. Only one heavyweight could rebound strong in this battle.
Sakai opened with a massive leg kick that buckled Mayes’ leg. He responded strongly though, but Sakai’s leg kicks kept landing and hurting the legs of Don’Tale. Mayes landed some strikes in the clinch but Sakai broke free. Mayes tried to use awkward side and teep kicks to keep Sakai at distance. He then shot a takedown attempt 90 seconds in, which Sakai sprawled out to defend.
Mayes was able to get him to the fence in the clinch, though. Sakai locked up a front headlock and pulled Mayes’ head down, held him there, and blasted his head with knees. They largely could not land clean because of the position and Mayes’ hand, but he must have been feeling them despite choosing to not become a grounded fighter. He did land a few of the knees cleanly, but it was hard to tell how Mayes was feeling when he pulled his head free. Sakai immediately kicked out the leg of Mayes as he kicked and he fell to the floor, where Sakai jumped on top of him. He held him there for a bit until Don’Tale exploded up and got to the fence. Sakai wore him down, hanging on him for the end of the round until the final five seconds where he launched knees and until to the bell.
Mayes was clearly in a hole as round two started. Sakai rushed forward and hit him immediately, but when he got the clinch position Mayes reversed it. Sakai broke free with a knee though. Back at distance the Brazilian slammed low kicks and then pressed forward with boxing combinations every time he had space. He then clinched up as he was so far forward from his stance, literally running forward but also landing punches. Sakai landed knees in the clinch whenever they were there, at a variable pace in terms of how many he threw at any one time. Sometimes he pressed on Mayes, sometimes he worked to damage him as much as possible. With ninety seconds left in round two Mayes looked tired, after being on the back foot for the entire fight. Sakai was clinch controlling him then; he continued to do so for the rest of the round with only some damage.
Sakai opened the final round by stinging Mayes immediately and then clinching with him. The pattern of the fight in round two continued. Sakai landed some great knees two minutes into the round but that seemed to wake Mayes up as he opened up with volume and used footwork to stay safe for a bit. Unfortunately for Mayes, when he clinched up Sakai was able to force him into the same headlock position from round one where he could knee the head and body.
Mayes was pushed to the mat and kneed in the body a few times before he stood up with one minute left in a fight he was clearly losing. Sakai grabbed the collar tie and Mayes responded with clinch control. Sakai then went for his front headlock/guillotine position again and forced Mayes to the floor. The last ten seconds saw Sakai on top, punching as Mayes tried to stand up beneath him.
There was absolutely zero doubt as to who won the fight when the scorecards were read and Augusto Sakai broke his streak of losses and proved why he once had a number next to his name. He will surely now turn his attention to those numbers once again, and regaining his ranking.
Official Result: Augusto Sakai def. Don’Tale Mayes by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
