After a couple of bookings last year fell through, Vinicius Salvador finally got to make his promotional debut at UFC San Antonio on Saturday, where he took on Victor Altamirano in a flyweight match-up.
A 2022 Contender Series winner, Salvador had won four straight fights en route to his octagon debut. Altamirano, also a DWCS graduate, was coming off his first win in the promotion, opposite Daniel Da Silva.
As the fight started, Salvador was almost immediately attacking the legs. Being an unorthodox striker, he was also coming forward swinging wild. Altamirano eventually timed a good takedown planting Salvador. Altamirano was landing short punches in the guard but wasn’t trying to pass the guard. With a little over a minute to go in the round, Salvador used the cage to get back up. Salvador was throwing a lot of crazy capoeira kicks. It was Altamirano though that landed a wheel kick straight to the chin. The round ended on the feet with both having their moments.
Round two was a high-paced affair between two creative strikers/kickboxers. Altamirano shot in for a takedown and that time Salvador defended. He shot in for another one but Salvador was using the whizzer to stay upright. Salvador won every scramble before getting the separation. Salvador landed a clubbing left hook that did send Altamirano clinching up. Altamirano kept clinching up but had no chain wrestling ability. The pressure of Salvador was wearing on Altamirano. Altamirano did land a head kick at the end of the round but nothing he landed seemed to affect Salvador at all. A much better round two for Salvador as his pressure is starting to take over.
In the final round Altamirano did get a takedown quickly. Altamirano did land some ground and pound but let Salvador back to his feet. Altamirano grabbed a single leg and was able to complete a second takedown in round three. Again Salvador was able to get back to his feet as Altamirano didn’t have strong top position. More capoeira kicks came from Salvador but nothing was landing clean. In the final thirty seconds Salvador walked Altamirano down landing hooks to the body and ended the round in Altamirano’s guard.
It was Victor Alamirano, however, taking the decision on the scorecards.
Official Result: Victor Altamirano def. Vinicius Salvador by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
