Andre Muniz managed to outgrapple Jun Yong Park for significant periods tonight at UFC Fight night 233 to emerge with a split-decision victory.
Round One:
Inside low kick for Park to start the fight. Muniz with a head kick attempt that’s blocked. Inside kick to the thigh this time from Park. Low kick for Muniz now.
solid body kick for Muniz. Spinning back kick attempt from him and then now he’s driving into a takedown against the cage and is able to get it. Park on his knees and trying to stand, but Muniz spins around to his back and tries to keep him down.
Park does struggle to his feet with Muniz is still clinched to the back and drags him back down. Park up again and facing the cage as Muniz breaks his base again. Park stands straight back up but they continue to go back down, up again and then down to the canvas once again. This time Muniz manages to get his hooks in on the back to keep the action grounded.
Park rolls to his knees with Muniz still latched on. Muniz now trying for a triangle choke, but Park scrambles and ends up on top. He’s able to get into full mount and immediately starts blasting him with elbow strikes. Muniz gets him back to half-guard. Park drops down some more hard elbows before the round ends.
Round Two:
High kick from Muniz comes off the upper arm of Park. Muniz landing some nice punches down the pipe here. He lands a few more and then Park returns fire with a few of his own.
Muniz able to get on top on the mat again and then take Park’s back. Park rolling to his knees and Muniz is locked onto him and landing some ground-and-pound. Park starts to stand, but Muniz adjusts to keep him down.
Park continues to work hard to stand, but each time he does so he gets brought right back down again. Muniz landing some light ground-and-pound at times as they continue to go up and back down repeatedly. Park unable to get anything going this round and Muniz is happy to run out the remaining seconds in the round sticking to his back.
Round Three:
Body kick for Muniz. Park pressing forward and lands a nice body punch. He marches onwards with more punches, but then Muniz goes for the takedown and brings him down.
Muniz with lots of back control in this fight. Now he gets the body lock in. Half the round remaining and Park does well to turn into him and get on top. Park trying to get something going, but Muniz does well to sweep back on top and then they return to the feet.
Muniz immediately looking for the takedown, but this time Park stuffs it and secures top position. Park in Muniz’s guard here with over a minute to work.
Park lands a couple of punches and then light hammerfists. Another couple of punches, but nothing too meaningful. Now he changes things up with a few elbows. Muniz trying to tie him up in the final seconds of the fight. Park is able to lands a final few blows before the horn sounds.
Decision:
Muniz landed a lot of takedowns and had a good amount of control time, particularly in the second round, but Park made the most of his opportunities when he did get on top late in the 1st round and again mid-way through the third, landing the more significant offense, giving the judges something to think about.
In the end it’s a split-decision verdict and it’s Andre Muniz who gets the win (29-28 x2, 28-29).
