Strawweights Bruna Brasil and Alexia Thaiara faced off in a rematch to open the UFC Seattle preliminary card on Saturday, with the pair’s first encounter outside the UFC being the only blemish on Thaiara’s record.
There was no feeling out process in the opening fight of UFC Seattle, with Thainara coming out with her kicks and letting her hands go early. The pair circled at center, Thainara landing several leg kicks and briefly clinching up. A knee, more low kicks, and finally a brief takedown followed with Brasil scrambling up so quickly it may not even have registered. A second takedown moments later off an inside trip did land, however, with Thainara on top for a few seconds before Brasil escaped out.
As the round progressed, Thainara took a little damage to the forehead, with a small hematoma beginning to form. Still, Thainara wasn’t deterred, catching a kick then landing a takedown off a perfectly executed trip. Alexia would ride out the rest of the round on top, with Brasil flat on her back when the horn blared.
Another scrappy start arrived in round two, but Brasil soon found herself put on the fence by Thainara. Alexia dug the body with punches and hit the thighs of Brasil with knees before moving those up, targeting the bread basket as well.
Off the fence, Thainara showed off more of her power before landing a key takedown. Over a minute was still on the clock in round two, with Brasil closing her guard, miles away from the fence.
Early in round three, Bruna Brasil fired a head kick, but Thainara scouted it, blocked and dumped Brasil on her back. Brasil had her guard closed initially, away from the fence, with over four minutes on the clock. That was not inducive to a scramble or reversal; in a fight that Brasil was losing, she needed to find a way back to her feet.
Brasil would make it back up about a minute later, eating a few punches along the way. They’d go back-and-forth on the feet before Thainara landed another takedown, 90 seconds left in a fight that Alexia seemed to have in the bag.
Getting back to her feet, Bruna would fire a spinning elbow in the final minute, hurting Thainara. Still, the end result was Alexia Thainara cruising to victory to avenge the only loss on her professional record.
Official Result: Alexia Thainara def. Bruna Brasil by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
