Bantamweights You Su-Young and AJ Cunningham faced off on the UFC Vegas 104 preliminary card, with Cunningham looking for his first win in the promotion, and You his second.
A grappling-heavy opening round some saw spirited sequences on the mat, especially in the back half of the round. The South Korean was heavy yet fluid on top, with Cunningham trying time and again to escape out from bottom, only to find You still all over him. Late in the round, Cunningham would give up his back and end up eating several shots, though he would escape the round and go back to the drawing board.
Round two saw more of a standup battle, but again by the end of the frame, You had taken the fight down. With a full two rounds still on the clock, he was heavy on top, and Cunningham was looking tired and bloodied from earlier in the frame. Cunningham would however throw up a triangle off his back, allowing him to fire a few elbows to the top of You’s head before the Korean pulled free. You Su-Young would finish the frame on top once again, in a good spot heading to the third.
AJ Cunningham needed to find a way to get more offense going in the third, and keep the fight on the feet. You was taking some wild punches, but Cunningham was the slower fighter, and You was able to grab a leg and take a hopping AJ Cunningham down. Given his struggles to escape off his back, that was not where Cunningham wanted to be. You would finish another round on top en route to a clear cut unanimous decision victory.
A Road to UFC vet, You has now won four straight overall.
Official Result: You Su-Young def. AJ Cunningham by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
