Having picked up victories in his first two UFC bouts, Australia’s Jack Jenkins was looking to go 3-0 this year at UFC 293, after graduating to the promotion as part of the 2022 Contender Series. Fellow featherweight Chepe Mariscal, an LFA vet, might have something to say about that of course.
The crowd roared as the hometown kid entered the cage for the third time in his UFC career. Jenkins started out strong, landing a variety of kicks to the body before going up the ladder and effectively bloodying the eye of his opponent. Mariscal maintained, however, landing significant strikes of his own and never cowering away from the smoke.
It was Mariscal that got off to a hot start in the second frame, controlling Jenkins against the cage and breaking his opponent down with knees and body strikes for over half of the round. The fight would end abruptly as Mariscal looked to secure a variation of a hip toss takedown, one that would result in a dislocated elbow for Jenkins and a verbal submission victory for Mariscal, with Jenkins signalling he was unable to continue.
“Machine Gun” Mariscal extends his win streak to five as he continues to rise through the lightweight ranks.
Jenkins will leave Sydney with his first UFC defeat and a bitter taste in his mouth.
Official Result: Chepe Mariscal def. Jack Jenkins by verbal submission (injury), Round 2, 3:19
