At 8-2 under the UFC banner, Drakkar Klose entered UFC 301 on a three-fight win streak, with his last loss coming to Beneil Dariush in 2020- though opponent Joaquim Silva, off a win over Clay Guida, looked to change that.
The fight would begin with both fighters’ feeling each other out and Silva landing a teep to the body. Silva would go for another teep to the body on Klose, but instead, would land a groin strike triggering a momentary break in the action.
When the fight resumed, Drakkar would press the action probing with his jab feint and looking to land the leg kick. Silva swung in with a hook and was countered by Klose with a couple of strikes before momentarily pushing Silva against the cage. Back in space and Drakkar was advancing, looking for the calf kick and landing. Midway thru the round Silva had his back against the cage; Drakkar swung and clipped Silva with a right hand. Another leg kicks landed for Klose who then landed another combination up top. With a minute left in the round, Klose was landing some solid strikes against the cage, missing with a knee. Klose was throwing looping punches to get inside to the clinch before pushing his opponent up against the cage with less than 30 seconds left. At the end of the round Silva pushed off Klose and the two end the round in space.
To start the second round Silva landed a lead head kick to which, Klose immediately returned with multiple strikes upstairs. Klose closed the distance and initiated the clinch again, pushing the action to the cage. Silva momentarily reversed the position on the cage before Klose again regained his dominate position and began to land foot strikes. Klose was working for the takedown with Silva defending well and returning with knees and short punches to the body. Drakkar was battling for head position in the clinch and again looking for foot stomps. With two minutes left in the round, a looping flurry from Silva backed off Klose and another flurry saw Klose stunned from a shot. But Drakkar was able to successfully clinch and move his opponent towards the fence. The round would end with Drakkar in dominate control in the clinch against the cage once again.
To open the final round, Silva fired off a teep and a couple of leg kicks that landed solidly. Silva was landing more leg kicks and one minute into the round, he let his hands fly. A couple of looping hooks again found their mark against a retreating Klose’s chin. Silva was starting to pick it up here as he moved towards his opponent, who was now starting to use lateral movement and his jab to keep Silva away. After Klose was again hurt, with two minutes left in the round, Silva hopped on a mounted guillotine which miraculously Klose was able to escape from after exploding to his back. In the exchange after the two fighters returned to their feet; Klose was clipped with a punch and went to the ground. Silva again opted to go for a submission, and again Klose survived. The fight ended with the two fighters exhausted in the clinch against the cage.
Despite being in hostile territory, the judges saw it in favor of Drakkar Klose, with 29-28 scores across the board.
Official Result: Drakkar Klose def. Joaquim Silva by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
