After an injury to Rodrigo Sezinando delayed the fight last month, his TUF 33 welterweight final against Daniil Donchenko finally arrived at Noche UFC on Saturday.
A Brazilian training out of Canada, Sezinando had collected belts in Samourai MMA and BFL, two of the more notable promotions in the Great White North. Ukraine’s Donchenko had also earned a regional title, under the Naiza FC banner.
Round one started with a quick start from Donchenko. Dipping off to the side and throwing in blitzes. Sezinado though, landed a counter right and blasted through with a takedown attempt. Donchenko was able to defend the takedown and landed an elbow off the break. You can see the blood stream from the face of Sezinado from a nasty elbow he took early in the round.
Pushed by urgency, Sezinado pressed forward, but Donchenko kept timing him with counter elbows that continued to tear him up. Donchenko then hit a clean takedown and punished Sezinado with a heavy knee to the body as he tried to stand.
Battered but undeterred, Sezinado kept charging forward, forcing Donchenko into a sloppy shot. Sezinado looked for his own takedown, but Donchenko stuffed it and unleashed a brutal combination. Every punch landed, capped off by a crushing right hand that dropped Sezinado. Donchenko swarmed with ground-and-pound until the referee waved it off.
Official Result: Daniil Donchenko def. Rodrigo Sezinando by TKO, round 1, 4:27
