Welterweights Randy Brown and Bryan Battle kicked off the televised prelims at UFC 310 on Saturday.
At least, it should have been a welterweight fight. TUF winner Battle, however, missed weight by four pounds, leading Brown to suggest promotions (and athletic commissions) get serious, and start issuing 50% fines.
In the first round Brown started off hot pushing back Battle with a lightning fast jab. Battle attempted a takedown around the three minute mark but was unsuccessful. Battle pressed forward but Brown seemed to have a significant speed advantage. Battle initiated a clinch against the cage but Brown expertly reversed him with a trip. After the first five minutes the betting underdog Brown was ahead in the contest.
Brown began the second round putting together leg kicks from the outside, but Battle reversed the momentum with big strikes in the clinch midway through the frame. Battle then forced Brown to the fence, landing knees to the body in the clinch. Closing out round two the fight could have been scored at one a piece.
In the third, Brown started firing hard hooks to the body and head of Battle. Battle forced the fight back to the clinch, but was again reversed and briefly taken down by Brown. With two minutes left both fighters exchanged in the center with Brown landing a solid right hand that stunned Battle. The fight then entered the clinch where both competitors took turns holding each other against the fence.
After a competitive and hard-fought fifteen minutes the fight went to the judges’ scorecards. Mike Bell scored the contest for Brown, while the other two judges cage side decided Bryan Battle had done enough to earn a decision win. The fans in attendance did not agree with the decision and started to boo Bryan Battle during his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. That led Battle to question who the “sick, twisted degenerates” in Las Vegas were really booing. Battle however apologized for his weight miss and said that it was due to a quick turnaround.
"Who are you booing?"
Bryan Battle with a message after his #UFC310 win 😅 pic.twitter.com/J3uL6IWRnG
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 8, 2024
Battle extended his winning streak to five in a row and will likely be moving up the UFC 170-pound division next week.
Official Result: Bryan Battle def. Randy Brown by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
