Kickboxer turned mixed martial artist Jhonata Diniz returned to action at UFC Rio, taking on Mario Pinto as part of Saturday’s main card.
Pinto was 1-0 after joining the UFC off the Contender Series in 2024; Diniz appeared on the show a year prior, and was 3-1 to date.
Pinto landed a double leg takedown just inside of a minute into the opening round of the heavyweight fight, but Diniz swiftly returned to his feet, back to the fence. Only to be dragged to the canvas once more. This time, Pinto was able to get on top, with his corner urging him to “stay heavy on the neck.” Diniz did make it back to the fence, just as Pinto passed guard. Diniz desperately, and successfully, worked to regain half guard; Pinto mounted again, but Diniz got him back to half guard a second time. Next time around, Pinto worked his way to side control, securing a crucifix and dropping elbows to the side of the head. An Americana attempt followed, which Diniz gutted out, but Pinto transitioned to an arm-bar, then a triangle.
Diniz was showing decent defense, Pinto was in full control, with several solid submission attempts and lots of dominant top time.
Pinto took the fight back down early in round two, clearly having found the ground game to be a potential path to victory. And as good as Diniz might have been at not being submitted, he was also dominated on the mat in the opening frame, where he’d failed to escape to his feet in the final few minutes. Diniz was no closer to escaping up in round two, instead clamping his hands together and trying to hold on to Pinto, hoping, practically praying for a stand-up by the ref. Diniz nearly reversed, but that was countered by Pinto, whose ground game was a step ahead of the Brazilian’s.
With two minutes still on the clock, it was back to mount for Mario Pinto. An elbow had split open Diniz, and he was gushing blood near one eyebrow. Pinto then unleashed the ground n’ pound from mount, with Diniz covering up and giving the ref every reason to stop the fight, which he did.
Official Result: Mario Pinto def. Jhonata Diniz by TKO, Round 2, 4:10
