David Onama was able to earn a unanimous decision victory against Jonathan Pearce tonight at UFC On ESPN 55.
Round One:
Punch for Pearce. He misses on a front kick but lands a leg kick afterwards. Now a hook to the body from him. Onama lands a jab that snaps Pearce’s head back.
Inside leg kick for Pearce. Another fast jab lands for Onama. Front kick to the body from Pearce.
More front kicks to the body from Pearce. Leg kick from Onama checked. Body kick for Pearce. Right hand for Pearce as they throw at close range.
Pearce in on a takedown attempt against the cage, but Onama stays upright and separates.
Body kicks from Pearce and a counter punch lands from Onama. Jab lands for Onama. And again. And a third time, but then Pearce drives forward looking for a takedown and gets it.
Pearce able to get the back with the body triangle locked in, but Onama scrambles and does well to end up on top in Pearce’s guard.
Pearce stands and fends off Onama to get some space. Then he drives back into the takedown and drags Onama down. Onama explodes around though to get on top again as the round is coming to a close.
Round Two:
Pearce pressures forwards and lands a body punch. Now Pearce is into a takedown attempt and Onama tries for a guillotine choke as he drops to the mat. Pearce gets his head out quickly though and then is able to get around to Onama’s back and gets his body triangle in.
Pearce working for choke, but Onama again manages to explode around to get on top. Awkward north south position close to the cage, but Pearce scrambles to get on top and takes his back again.
Punches to the side of the head from Pearce. Now some elbows landing. Onama gets back to his feet, but Pearce is still smothering him and brings him back to the mat. Pearce has his back, but Onama turns into him to get on top. Pearce gets away though and then works to top control again. More scrambling and Onama shakes him off for a moment, but Pearce readjusts.
Pearce ends up taking the back again. Onama scrambles, but Pearce is in his guard. Onama back upright now.
leg kick for Pearce, but eats an Onama jab. Body kick for Pearce, but a couple of punches from Onama get through too.
Round Three:
Jab for Onama. Grazing body kick from Pearce. Again the Onama jab lands. And again. pearce has been eating that jab all night long.
Pearce ducks in or a takedown but doesn’t get it. Right hand from Pearce. Jab for Onama. He lands it again. He misses on an uppercut though.
Another jab for Onama. Punch from Pearce. Pearce works into the clinch against the cage. Onama able to spin free.
Onama starting to land in combination now with his punches as he continues to be considerably quicker than Pearce. Pearce able to clinch up against the cage again though and tries for the takedown, but Onama foils that and then takes him down. Pearce almost able to reverse, but then they go back to the feet.
Kick to the body from Pearce. Takedown attempt stuffed by Onama. Pearce goes for it again and this time manages to get him down and take the back. Onama yet again able to turn into him to get on top.
Only 80 seconds to go. Pearce tries to go for a kimura and then works to his feet.
They trade a few punches. Pearce fails on a takedown attempt. Right hand lands for Pearce. Jab for Onama. Knee attempt and punches from Pearce.
Final 10 seconds and they are taking a leaf out of Max Holloway’s book as they start swinging for the fences with big hooks. Pearce throwing more, but Onama landing the bigger punch of the bunch. Both men still standing though as the round ends, so we’re headed to the scorecards.
Decision:
A competitive fight then, but though Pearce was able to land multiple takedowns and take the back frequently, Onama did did an excellent job of getting on top, while his fast, hard jab was causing his opponent problems every time they engaged on the feet. And in the end that’s enough to earn Onama a unanimous decision victory (29-28 x3).
