Jonathan Micallef showed up to UFC 325 with a chance to make a statement in front of a home crowd this Saturday night, when the Australian welterweight squared off with Oban Elliott in a matchup that pits local momentum against a fast-rising, well-rounded challenger looking to play spoiler in Sydney.
Micallef (8-1), a DWCS alumnus, picked up a decision win over Kevin Jousset in his UFC debut at UFC 312. He entered his bout with Elliott looking to extend a two-fight winning streak and firmly announce himself among the division’s rising welterweight prospects.
Elliot (12-3) stepped into enemy territory aiming to rebound from the first UFC loss of his career, a decision setback to Seok Hyeon Ko last June. Nicknamed “The Welsh Gangster,” he entered Saturday night determined to play spoiler and halt Micallef’s momentum.
Round 1 – Elliott came out aggressively, immediately putting pressure on Micallef by landing a sharp strike, catching a kick, and using it to secure an early takedown. Micallef worked his way back to his feet along the fence, but Elliott stayed glued to him, continuing to apply pressure.
Keeping his foot on the gas, Elliott looked to force Micallef into mistakes, peppering him with leg kicks and landing hooks upstairs. He later swung a massive overhand right that grazed Micallef but didn’t land flush, leading to a brief clinch along the fence before Elliott disengaged.
Micallef answered back with a clean shot that visibly rocked Elliott, forcing the Welshman to slow down and reset. Sensing an opening, Micallef pressed forward looking to steal the round, but Elliott recovered and tied him up again against the cage.
The round came to a close with Micallef bleeding from a cut near his right eye.
Round 2 – Micallef opened the round with increased aggression, mixing in front kicks, but Elliott stood his ground, patiently waiting for openings to unload his right hand. Micallef went to the body with kicks, prompting Elliott to circle out and retreat, only to bait Micallef into rushing forward, where Elliott fired off a sharp combination.
As the exchange continued, Micallef began finding success with his left hook, but Elliott responded with heavy shots upstairs. Micallef absorbed the strikes and immediately closed the distance, clinching up and pressing Elliott against the fence.
From there, Micallef secured a takedown, took Elliott’s back, and quickly went to work hunting the neck. He locked in the rear-naked choke with over 90 seconds remaining in the round, forcing Elliott to go to sleep.
A massive submission victory for the home country favorite, Jonathan Micallef.
Micallef called out Neil Magny in his post-fight interview.
Official Result: Jonathan Micallef def. Oban Elliot via R2 SUB (RNC), 3:31
