Originally set to serve as the UFC Vegas 77 co-main event, a middleweight match-up featuring Albert Duraev and Jun-Yong Park had suffered a slight demotion with the arrival of Jack Della Maddalena on Saturday’s Fight Night card.
That said, Park vs. Duraev still carried with it explosive potential, with Duraev looking for his second straight win and third overall in the UFC. South Korea’s Park, meanwhile, had won three straight.
The first round started with Duraev landing a beautiful left hook and some nice rips to the body, leaving Park bleeding early. Park mixed it up early with some good low kicks. Duraev and Park both traded some clean left hooks in the middle of this round. Park seemed to be patient but took a lot of damage throughout the round. Duraev was loading up, using a lot of energy to land big shots. Park jumped the guillotine with about 30 seconds left in the round and had it tight, but Duraev was able to hang on to close out the round.
Duraev and Park quickly got back to action, with Duraev taking Park down at the start of round two. Park did a really good job of getting back to his feet fast, and both fighters went right back to work in the center of the octagon. Duraev and Park were both landing right hands behind their jabs throughout the round. Park started turning up the pace, overwhelming Duraev, and dropping him with an elbow. Park took the back of Duraev after he dropped him and was looking for the rear naked choke. It took him a minute to work the choke, but he eventually found it, finishing Duraev in round two.
This was a great fight from start to finish, starting with Duraev’s strong first round. The second round was different when Park completely took over the fight and turned up the pace a notch to find the finish in round two. This was a huge win for Jun Yong Park, and it’s even better that he got the finish. Park looks to continue to climb the ranks, winning his fourth fight in a row.
Official Result: Jun Yong Park def. Albert Duraev by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 4:45
