Undefeated British prospect and former Cage Warriors star Christian Leroy Duncan entered his second UFC bout at UFC Vegas 75, paired up with dangerous striker Armen Petrosyan in a middleweight match-up.
Duncan’s first bout had ended early when Dusko Todorovic fell to injury.
Early on in Saturday’s firefight, Duncan displayed explosive, versatile attacks, flashing side kicks, jumping attack, and spinning kicks — though Petrosyan had more success early with a slightly more conventional approach. It was clear, however, that Duncan had come to entertain, as he continued to fire spinning kicks and attack at all different angles.
Near the midway mark, Petrosyan caught a kick and bullied Duncan to the fence, landing behind an ear before they broke. Still, Duncan employed stance switches and danced around the cage, He did land a low kick, and later caught a Petrosyan kick to the body, but as flashy as they were, many of Duncan’s attacks were missing the mark. Not to be outdone, however, Petrosyan fired and landed a spinning kick to the midsection.
Duncan finished the round dancing backwards, showboating, in a round that likely went to Petrosyan for utilizing more effective boxing, if the judges weren’t just dazzled by Christian Leeroy Duncan.
Petrosyan opened round two with a 1-2 and a number of kicks; Duncan shot in for a takedown from too far out, and nearly paid for it, just slipping a Petrosyan high kick. Petrosyan then caught Duncan with a body lock from the back off a spinning attack, but couldn’t hold on. Duncan then checked a low kick, which got a reaction — a pained one — from Armen Petrosyan.
The traditional, technical striking of Petrosyan continued to give him the edge, though Duncan would rock his opponent later in the round. That led to a clinch, with the ref warning Petrosyan to get busy.
Petrosyan had an argument to be up two rounds heading into the final five minutes, and opened the third landing several kicks inside of a minute. Duncan closed the distance about 90 seconds in, driving Petrosyan back to the fence, looking for a takedown and landing a few stomps to the foot. Petrosyan reversed, however — and the midway mark of the round arrived. Time was now becoming a factor, but they broke seconds later. Duncan pressed the action, slicing into Petrosyan with an elbow, but Petrosyan timed a takedown at a key moment, planting Duncan on his back to buy time to recover.
Duncan threw up a triangle/arm-bar attempt, using it to scramble back to his feet. The blood by Petrosyan’s eye was flowing freely, but it was a case of too little, too late for Duncan.
Official Result: Armen Petrosyan def. Christian Leroy Duncan by decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
