Bantamweights Nora Cornolle and Klaudia Sygula featured in the third fight in on the UFC Paris preliminary card on Saturday.
With two big finishes to follow up on, the pair wasted no time in getting going, and less than a minute in, Cornolle landed a throw to get Sygula on the mat. Sygula, however, locked up one of Cornolle’s legs and was threatening to slip out and take the back. That led Nora to wisely back off, moving to her feet and firing kicks to the legs of Sygula, who seemed unable or unwilling to scramble to her feet. Surprisingly, the ref chose to let this continue for about a minute, before Sygula finally looked to stand up, bringing in the ref to briefly halt the action.
Another clinch followed, with Cornolle getting Sygula down again, only for Sygula to hang on to an underhook and get back up immediately. Albeit with Nora Cornolle still pressing her up against the fence. When they went down a third time, it was Sygula threatening to take over on top, but Cornolle was able to get back up and avoid a potential guillotine, finishing the round clinching up against the fence.
The second frame opened with Cornolle firing kicks to the body, but she was knocked off-balance after throwing a spinning back fist moments later. The pair clinched up against the fence once again, with Cornolle firing an elbow over the top, then another. By the time they broke from the clinch, Sygula was leaking blood from a cut on the side of her left eye, care of a Cornolle elbow. It was Sygula clinching up after that, but Cornolle soon landed a knee to the thigh and reversed the position. Another trip to the ground followed, and Sygula would finish the round on her back, Cornolle looming over her, much as she had in part of round one.
Round three saw some back-and-forth action on the feet through the opening 90 seconds. Cornolle fired a spinning attack, but ate a counterpunch from Sygula. When the went to the ground moments later, it was Cornolle suddenly locking in an arm-triangle choke. She stepped over the body and was in a decent position, but was just a little too close to the fence, with Sygula able to gut it out. Sygula punched the body while still in the choke, until Cornolle stepped back into mount, and was then reversed by Sygula! A minute on the half on the clock, and Sygula stepped back then reengaged. Cornolle did get back to the feet, but ate a shot from Sygula for her troubles.
Sygula would charge forward in the final minute, throwing wildly, only for Cornolle to clinch up. The French fighter almost certainly had the decision in the bag, which was confirmed by the judges moments later. For Cornolle, who entered the fight having lost two-straight, a bit of breathing room had been earned.
Official Result: Nora Cornolle def. Klaudia Sygula by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
