UFC welterweights Kevin Jousset and Bryan Battle put aside the talk of ‘boring’ fighters and threw down at UFC Paris on Saturday.
Jousset (10-2) brought his two-fight win streak into UFC Paris with wins over Kiefer Crosbie and Kenan Song. He scoffed at Battle calling him a ‘boring’ fighter saying they would see on Saturday who the boring fighter really was.
Battle (10-2) made sure you knew what he was saying with a 5-1-1 UFC record so far on this run. Wins over AJ Fletcher, Gabe Green, Takashi Sato and Tresean Gore set him up for a date with Duncan in France.
TUF winner Battle opened the fight holding center, then closing distance and tying up with Jousset, getting his opponent to the mat – only for him to pop right back up. From there, a clinch battle would play out, Battle often in control but Jousset’s takedown defense looking decent. Battle used head position and over/underhooks to maintain control, but Jousset finally broke free with about 2:15 left on the clock.
Despite the space the pair would lock up once more, another takedown turning into little more than a mat return with both men back to their feet in a heartbeat. Battle from there worked his jab, but Jousset had more success with his right hand, with a body shot mixed in for good measure.
Round two saw Jousset connect flush with a right hand in the opening seconds. Battle, who once fought as a heavyweight, ate that and fired back. But Jousset, training at City Kickboxing in New Zealand, demonstrated an improved stand-up game, connecting with uppercuts and short combos. Battle responded by taking the fight to the fence, working in shorts to the body and a jump knee that didn’t connect. After a few moments they moved back to center, Battle standing toe-to-toe and coming on strong, rocking Jousset! Jousset moved back to the fence, and his body language was not good, as he was turning and covering up just as Battle was unloading a deluge of left and rights. The volume of Bryan Battle was too much, and ref Herb Dean came in to wave things off!
The victory gives TUF 29 champ Battle his sixth in the UFC, with just a single loss and a No Contest in his last outing.
Official Result: Bryan Battle def. Kevin Jousset by TKO, Round 2, 3:47
