Flyweight prospects Iasmin Lucindo and Brogan Walker, a TUF 30 finalist at 115lbs, got a bit more of the spotlight on Saturday, situated on the UFC Vegas 71 main card.
Both fighters were looking to get back in the win column after losing their promotional debuts (with Walker’s coming in The Ultimate Fighter 30 finale against Julianna Miller).
Walker fired a leg kick earlier, which was answered over the top by Lucindo, making the move to 125lbs herself on Saturday. Lucindo, at the midway mark, landed a kick to the ribs and cracked Walker with a trailing punch in a picture-perfect combination. Those sort of attacks had Walker on the ready; she was fighting a more defensive fight, while looking to land single, albeit powerful, strikes.
With just over a minute left in the opening frame, Lucindo closed the distance and unloaded a flurry up top. Walker showed some stance switches and circled, but seemed to be a step behind and was nearly caught looking when the Brazilian fired a spinning back fist.
Round two was a slightly closer affair, with Lucindo showing another spinning back fist, and overall doing a better job with her combinations. She worked her jab to set up her power, while Walker circled and looked for openings, but was again behind on volume. Walker did add in a low kick, but late in the round found herself taken down, albeit it briefly, by Iasmin Lucindo. A second takedown followed; that time, Lucindo quickly moved to mount, though she didn’t have enough time to do much with the position.
The third has Walker looking to get back in the fight. When she did close the damage and land, she had her moments — but Walker was also running out of time, and steam. Soon she was being backed up, and showing damage to one eye, which was leaking a trail of blood down her face. Lucindo would catch a kick late in the fight, dumping Walker on her back. Walker would throw to the bell, or try to, instead being taken down one more time just before the horn.
Zero question as to the winner in Lucindo vs. Walker, with Brazil’s Iasmin Lucindo picking up her first win in the promotion.
Official Results: Iasmin Lucindo def. Brogan Walker by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
