Heavyweight action at UFC Vegas 115 saw Thomas Petersen and Guilherme Pat throw down on the night’s preliminary card.
Petersen had traded wins and losses since arriving in the UFC following his 2023 victory on Dana White’s Contender Series, while Pat was a perfect 6-0 as a pro and coming off a decision victory in his UFC debut.
Round 1 – Pat started on the front foot, eating a leg kick but throwing a fast head kick that was partially blocked. A rear body kick for Pat followed, but Petersen rushed in and closed the distance, getting Pat in a clinch on the cage. After an unsuccessful trip, Petersen maintained control with one hook in. Pat finally separated and landed a nice pair of leg kicks, but was very flat-footed. Petersen timed another blitz after a leg kick, landing a nice left hook on the way in. The two stayed in a clinch, where a sweep opened up a body knee for Petersen before the end of a very low volume first-round.
Round 2 – Petersen rushed in again for an early takedown, but still couldn’t manage to get the fight to the floor. Pat broke off and went on the front foot, but stayed too patient. Another head kick was blocked by Petersen, with both staring more than throwing. Petersen stepped into a jab, but Pat let him off the hook. A pair of jabs landed for Petersen as he advanced again, landing a nice body kick not long after. Pat countered with a left hook, finally opening up with a combination in the pocket, but nothing landed clean, and Petersen grabbed him against the cage once more. With double under hooks, Petersen still couldn’t find success getting Pat down. When at distance again, Pat landed a nice leg kick, but Petersen returned with a body knee.
Round 3 – Petersen opened Round 3 more aggressively, snatching the leg of Pat and dropping him with a short right hook against the cage. Pat ate an elbow while working back up, but was dropped again by an uppercut when he went to exchange. Petersen unloaded with elbows and punches from the top, causing a cut on Pat’s face. Petersen slowed down after a barrage of ground-and-pound, but still mixed in some clean elbows. Pat didn’t have any sense of urgency on his back, being quickly shut down on any get-up attempts. Petersen focused on controlling while mixing in some hammerfists, and stayed in top half guard until the bell sounded.
Come the scorecards, one judge had it a draw, but was overruled with the remaining two siding with Thomas Petersen.
Official Result: Thomas Petersen def. Guilherme Pat by Majority Decision (28-28, 29-27, 29-27)
