Kicking off the UFC 295 main card on Saturday, at the fabled Madison Square Garden in New York City, was a featherweight showdown between former CFFC champ Pat Sabatini and Brazilian standout Diego Lopes.
Both men were coming off single wins, and looking to build some momentum on one of the biggest cards of the year.
In the first (and as it turned out only) round Pat Sabatini looked to land in the pocket and set up his wrestling. Diego Lopes was clipped early, but his body language showed he was still there and in control of his faculties. Lopes and Sabatini were trading in the pocket but Diego Lopes caught Sabatini with a right hand that stunned him. Lopes followed it up with a combination putting Pat Sabatini down. Lopes aggressively followed Sabatini to the ground to get the first round finish.
Diego Lopes took a short notice fight in his UFC debut and dropped a decision. Since then he has proven that he is here to stay with two finishes in his last three fights. The Brazilian has become a rising fan favorite and looks to continue his run in the future.
Official Result: Diego Lopes def. Pat Sabatini by KO (punches), Round 1, 1:30
