Marlon Vera was able to win out on the scorecards in a back-and-forth striking battle with Pedro Munhoz tonight at UFC 292.
Round One:
Inside leg kick for Munhoz and then one to the body. Another leg kick. Now a right hand. Outside leg kick. Vera throws a low kick at the same time as him. Then Vera manages to trip Munhoz to the mat and riskily swipes at him with a kick as his opponent is standing back up – though he didn’t connect.
Vera with a jab as Munhoz continues to stay aggressive. Both exchange front kicks to the midsection. Calf kick for Munhoz. Another front kick attempt from Vera. Munhoz punches and then lands a front kick to the body.
Calf kick for Vera and Munhoz responds with one of his own. Nice jab for Vera. Munhoz fires his out too. Calf kick for Vera.
Front kick to the body from Munhoz. Body punch for him too. Munhoz in on a takedown attempt, but Vera shuts that down. Nice jab for Vera.
One-two from Vera. Munhoz presses into close range firing off punches. One-two for Vera. solid jab for Vera. More straight punches from him.
A couple of left hands land for Munhoz. Now a right hand. Double-jab for Munhoz. Low kick for Vera. Body kick for Munhoz. Superman punch from Vera.
Jab for Vera and digs to the body nicely too soon after. Body kick for Munhoz. Low kick from him. Jab for Vera. Munhoz tries to fire back with punches. Vera threatens with a knee. Nicely timed hook for Vera as Munhoz was coming forward, but didn’t connect cleanly.
Round Two:
Immediately they go back to exchanging punches and kicks. Inside leg kick and a body kick from Munhoz and then has to block a head kick attempt from Vera.
Jabs exchanged. Another body kick for Munhoz. Grazing left hook for him. Body kick again. Calf kick for Vera. Outside leg kick from Munhoz. Push kick from Munhoz. Flurry of punches. Vera with a jab. Munhoz lands to the leg. Left hook for Munhoz.
calf kick from Vera and an inside leg kick in response from Munhoz. Jab for Vera and another from Munhoz. Right hand lands for Munhoz. Vera gets through with a right hand off a jab.
Punch and a leg kick behind it for Munhoz. Straight right for him. left hand for Vera. Leg kick from Munhoz. Solid body punch from Vera and tries a head kick behind it that’s blocked.
Nice straight left for Munhoz. Leg kick apiece. Vera connects with a right hand. Jab for Vera and Munhoz sticks his too.
Leg kick for Munhoz. One-two from Vera. Inside leg kick from Munhoz and tries to follow-up with punches. In close Munhoz gets a right hook through. Jab for Vera. Clipping right hand from Munhoz. Counter left from Vera as Munhoz was a little off-balance. Munhoz strikes into the clinch as the round ends.
Round Three:
Hard left hand for Munhoz. Calf kick from him. He lands that again. Body punch from Vera. Vera with a short series of straight punches down the pipe.
One-two vor Vera. Nice right hand from Munhoz. Low kick from Munhoz. Solid jab for Vera. He sticks it again.
Hard body punch and blow to the head too from Vera as he starts to pick up momentum in the final round.
Jab lands again for Vera. One-two for Vera as Munhoz connects with a punch of his own. Vera with the heavier punches toe-to-toe here.
Hard dig to the body from Vera. Double-jab for Vera. Solid leg kick for Munhoz. Thudding straight left from Vera.
Jab for Vera and Munhoz lands a couple of punches on the counter as his opponent backs off. Vera with a head kick attempt.
Munhoz reaches with a punch and Vera lands a counter. Jab for Vera and a leg kick from Munhoz. Right hand for Munhoz. he lands a jab too and a front kick to the body.
Final 30 seconds. Jab for Munhoz. Both miss with hooks. Right hand for Munhoz. Vera tries to spin but doesn’t connect. We’re headed to the scorecards.
Decision:
A very competitive fight then, with Munhoz pushing the pace with the more active, aggressive striking over the first 10 minutes, but Vera still managing to land the more damaging punches throughout and winning the striking battle in the final round on his way to a unanimous decision victory (30-27 x2, 29-28).
