The featured preliminary card fight at UFC Vegas 96 on Saturday found lightweights Dennis Buzukja and Francis Marshall at odds.
Both men were 1-2 under the UFC banner, but concerningly for “Fire” Marshall, he had dropped back-to-back fights and was looking to avoid a third strike. Buzukja entered off a win over Connor Matthews.
To begin the fight, Marshall got right to the action, pressing forward and looking for the takedown. Marshall partially ate a body kick in the process but was able to get his hands locked around Buzukja against the cage. From here it would be a stalemate. Midway thru the round and Marshall was finally able to get his opponent down to a knee. Marshall had one hook in for the majority of the round and was able to land short strikes but wasn’t able to get the other hook in.
With about a minute left in the round Buzukja was able to get free and both fighters went back to space. Dennis landed several solid kicks to the body of his opponent. Marshall blitzed forward with about 20 seconds left and was able to corral his opponent to the cage yet again. As the two fighters got back to space, Marshall dropped Dennis with a shot. It wasn’t too bad and Buzukja was able to pop up and recover as the two exchanged and the round end.
To start the second round Marshall again surged forward and backed his opponent to the cage. Francis landed a massive highlight-reel, right hand and dropped his opponent before landing some strikes on top. Somehow Dennis survived and was miraculously able to return to his feet. Moments later and Buzukja landed a body kick. Marshall was able to come right back with a blitz and put his opponent against the cage before deciding to return to space. Halfway thru the round and Buzukja finally landed a big punch of his own on his opponent.
Marshall, sensing a change in momentum, shot for a takedown a few seconds later and Dennis was able to defend. Buzukja scored a couple of punches, slipped a shot, landed one of his own. The shot drew blood from his opponent’s nose. With seconds left in the round Buzukja was able to have some of his biggest moments of the fight as he outboxed his opponent against the cage. He also landed some big strikes that had his opponent looking worried.
To open the last round, Buzukja was able to again find a home for his hands off of the slip. Marshall was still coming back with strikes of his own, he just wasn’t able to land as flush and as hard as he did earlier on in the fight. Dennis was really swinging leather and keeping his hands high before halfway thru the round he looked for a shot. Francis was able to fend off the shot and when the fighters returned to space Dennis missed another halfhearted takedown. Seconds later and Dennis made Francis pay for another punch that was slightly off the mark with a slick counter.
With less than a minute left, Marshall began to pick up the volume. This forced Dennis to be even more defensively sound. With under 30 seconds left, Marshall looked for a single leg that found him running across the octagon. Though Marshall didn’t get the takedown, he was able to keep his opponent busy against the cage. That is how the two would end up as the final bell sounded.
Official Result: Francis Marshall def. Dennis Buzukja by Split Decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
