Dong Hyun Kim didn’t have it all his own way tonight at UFC 207 as he grinded his way to a split decision victory against the surprisingly tough to take down Tarec Saffiedine.
Round One:
Kim misses with a punch and Saffiedine responds with a short flurry of strikes. Kim moves into the clinch. Saffiedine attempts to spin to Kim’s back, but it doesn’t pay off.
However, soon after Saffiedine does land a takedown, which is something of a surprise from the striker. Kim back to his feet and lands a judo throw, but Saffiedine scrambles right back up.
The two fighters jockey for position against the cage and then Saffiedine finally moves away to get back to striking range.
Kim with a punch down to the pipe. He comes forward with some slightly reckless offense. Kim pressing the action as Saffiedine looks to work on the counter.
Brief clinch from Kim, but Saffiedine doesn’t seem phased by that. Back to striking range and Saffiedine coming up short with a few of his punches.
The clinch again and Saffiedine walks Kim to the cage, but then the South Korean reverses the position and starts working for the takedown. Nice takedown defense from Saffiedine to stay upright for now as we approach the final minute of the round.
Saffiedine gets away and soon after attempts a head kick, but it’s blocked. Kim into the clinch again and shoves his opponent up against the cage.
They break apart and Kim wades forward with wild strikes that don’t hit the target. Saffiedine with a trip, but Kim is right back up and that’s the end of the round.
Round Two:
Jim back to pressing forward. He lands a head kick, but is a bit off-balance afterwards. Winging punches from him. Saffiedine with a knee as they briefly clinch.
Saffiedine attempts a takedown, but it doesn’t work out. Kim trying to return to the favor, but he can’t get Saffiedine down. Kim is an extremely dominant grappler, so Saffiedine’s work in that department so far has been impressive.
Kim walking Saffiedine down. He lands a kick. Now a spinning elbow attempt. Kim into the clinch against the cage. He lands a knee and then a punch as they get back to striking range.
Kim wades forward and lands a right hand. Precious little thought of defense from Kim as he focuses on offense, which is dangerous against a striker of Saffiedine’s caliber.
Now Kim is back to clinching against the cage, but Saffiedine gets away in relatively short order. Leg kick from Saffiedine and a knee as Kim yet again works to the cage clinch. Kim looks for a single leg and almost gets it, but Saffiedine keeps his balance.
Saffiedine reverses the position. Knee to the body from Kim. Back to the center of the Octagon in teh final 30 seconds. Saffiedine with a head kick that’s brushed aside by Kim and that’s the final meaningful action of the round.
Round Three:
Kim with a series of punches that land as they trade in the center of the cage. Both men throwing caution to the wind. Kick from Saffiedine. He clinches up and lands an elbow.
Kim walks him to the cage. He’d love to get a takedown, but Saffiedine’s defense has been excellent tonight so far and again he battles well to stay on his feet.
Punch lands for Saffiedine as Kim moves in to press him against the cage yet again. He works a single leg and does finally get him down, but only for a split second before he’s back to his feet again.
Kim continues to clinch and tries for a a repeat performance of the single leg, but then abandons it. Saffiedine with an elbow as he gets free.
Kim clinches and works over to the cage. Single leg attempt, then utilizes a trip to bring Saffiedine down, but again isn’t able to keep him there.
90 seconds to go as another clinch position is abandoned. Solid mid-kick from Saffiedine. Saffiedine looking for a double-leg takedown, but Kim defends it well.
More clinch work in the final 30 seconds of the fight. Kim gets Saffiedine to the mat and keeps his opponent down this time when he attampts to scramble away, and that’s how the round ends.
Decision:
Not an exciting fight then, but credit to Saffiedine for shutting down a lot of Kim’s usually dominant clinch and takedown work. Nevertheless, it’s Kim’s relentless pressure that helps him secure a split decision victory (27-30, 29-28 x2).
