Women’s flyweight Casey O’Neill made her return from injury at UFC Seattle, taking on Gabriella Fernandes on the preliminary card.
While O’Neill had been on the sidelines, she had retained her #12 ranking, while Fernandes sat at #14.
The pair stuck to center early in the bout, both popping off offense, O’Neill mixing in low kicks and Fernandes firing a high kick that missed. This turned into an active feeling out process, with both women attacking in bunches with trying to find range and rhythm.
When someone did find that range, it was O’Neill, and she caught Fernandes clean on the jaw. Fernandes’s head snapped to the side, and while she didn’t go down, she beat a hasty retreat, signaling she was compromised. Casey O’Neill read that loud and clear, moving in and firing punches until the Brazilian finally slumped over.
An emotional “King” Casey O’Neill told UFC broadcaster Daniel Cormier after the bout that “If I told you what it took to get me back here- year and a half layoff, crazy injury, my own surgeon told me I night never fight again.” She later added that while she forgot for a while, “all I needed was a platform to show how good I am.”
Official Result: Casey O’Neill def. Gabriella Fernandes by knockout (punches), Round 1, 3:11
