Lightweight action was set as the UFC Vegas 108 co-main event on Saturday, as Scotland’s Chris Duncan took on Poland’s Mateusz Rebecki.
Both men had picked up wins last time out, with Duncan having won two straight opposite Bolaji Oki and Jordan Vucenic.
The added twist to the fight was that Duncan and Rebecki were teammates. Though if they were friendly in the gym, they sure didn’t fight like it. The lightweight co-main event at UFC Vegas 108 started out hot and heavy, but men throwing hard. Duncan would go down off a slip, Rebecki would later target the Scotsman’s lead leg. Duncan ripped the body with his own kick, while Rebecki more than once punched his way in. Duncan hit the mark with an elbow, but fanned on a high kick seconds later.
Duncan’s left hand, however, connected more than once in the opening frame, leading to some serious damage around Rebecki’s right eye. The Polish fighter opted to change things up late in the frame, landing a takedown. Duncan made it back up, but still had Rebecki on him.
Mateusz Rebecki continued to chop at the legs of Chris Duncan to start round two. That, while looking for a way in. Duncan, with the reach advantage, was doing ample damage catching Rebecki coming inside however. Ninety seconds or so in, Duncan had Rebecki rocked, and followed up with a head kick. Blocked partially or no, it landed with authority. Rebecki, under fire, opted to land a takedown, but once again, Duncan didn’t stay down. You can’t keep a good Scot down, apparently. Still, Rebecki went back to putting on forward pressure, apparently having found the recovery time he needed.
Lots of stand-up action took them to the end of the frame; Rebecki’s right eye appeared to have some swelling that hopefully wouldn’t become too much of an issue.
Chris Duncan turned up the heat to start round three, backing Rebecki up. Rebecki appeared to consider a takedown, but that was quickly shut down. Another attempt saw Duncan nearly reverse, and either way, he immediately scrambled out. Rebecki was showing damage on both sides of his face now. Duncan’s right hand was money. A step in elbow connected for Duncan. Rebecki was landing occasionally, still in the fight, but falling further and further behind. Duncab, however, ate a couple of shots as the round wore on, and suddenly his face was bloodied as well. Tagged once or twice in the back half, Duncan initiated a clinch along the fence.
The brawl continued to the final bell, Duncan’s cheek leaking blood, Rebecki’s eye not even visible under a pool of it.
Official Result: Chris Duncan def. Mateusz Rebecki by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
