UFC APEX – Two lightweights coming off losses hoped to get back into the win column as Trevor Peek and Yanal Ashmouz faced-off at UFC Vegas 97 on Saturday night.
Peek (9-2) began his UFC career following his win at Contender Series with a first round knockout of Erick Gonzalez in February 2023. Since then he’s gone 1-2 with losses to Chepe Mariscal and Charlie Campbell, but scoring a win over Mohammad Yahya at UFC 294.
Ashmouz (7-1) came out on fire with an impressive win over Sam Patterson via first round TKO at UFC 298, but then lost to Chris Duncan just 4 months later. Coming off a 13-month layoff he hoped to get back to winning against Peek.
Trevor Peek spent the first half of round number one trying to be calculated and calmer than the Peek the world is used to. Peek used his leg kicks well for the most part and landed a few good body shots. Ashmouz was able to capitalize and take Peek down off a punch peek loaded up on. Peek was able to get up but Ashmouz was able to control the clinch for the most part the rest of the round.
Heading into the second round it seemed Ashmouz was waiting for Peek to throw so he could counter with a punch or takedown. Peek started the first half of the round really good hurting Ashmouz a couple of times with stinging right hands. Peek started to work the body to open up the shots to the head but Ashmouz was able to capitalize on his wrestling again. Peek tried to use some of his offesnive wrestling in the second round but Ashmouz was able to defend and put Peek back on the ground slamming him for a 7th takedown to end the second round.
Peek was having a hard time finding Ashmouz there to be hit but he wasn’t going to go down without fight. In the third and final round Peek stepped on the gas and seemed to sting Ashmouz with a few more right hands and an uppercut. However it didn’t take long for Ashmouz to go back to the well with is wrestling that worked majority of this fight. Peek was not an easy task to keep down as he got out of the clinch and got into a brawling exchange with Ashmouz. Ashmouz was able to get Peek back up against the cage to end the round with another takedown.
The Red Fox had a very impressive performance against Trevor Peek who is not exactly the easiest fight to take the way he fights. Ashmouz stated after his dominant 30-27 victory “We know he’s an agressive guy so we just worked on timing the takedowns that was the plan”. Trevor Peek is now on a two fight skid following this loss and will need to get a huge win next time out.
Result: Yanal Ashmouz def. Trevor Peel via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28×2)
