Marina Rodriguez derailed Amanda Ribas’ hype train tonight at UFC 257 by handing the rising star her first loss in the promotion courtesy of a early second round TKO stoppage.
Round One:
Leg kick from Rodriguez to start as Ribas pressures her. A few punches thrown but nothing finding the mark cleanly yet.
Right hand for Rodriguez and then fires it out again. Inside leg kick from Ribas. Nice one-two for Rodriguez.
Ribas clinches up and lands a takedown. She landed a little awkwardly though so has to work to secure top control. It takes her a minute, but she does finally settle fully into full guard. Rodriguez trying to just lock her down and force a stand-up, but Ribas starts to get a little offense off to the head and body.
Rodriguez trying to get her legs up high, but Ribas maintains a strong posture and continues to work patiently on top. A right hand lands.
Rodriguez again works the high guard and lands a couple of hammerfists from her back and Ribas returns fire as the round ends.
Round Two:
Right hand for Rodriguez. Brief clinch and Rodriguez landed a knee to the body. They exchange on the feet and Rodriguez lands a right hand and Ribas is badly rocked from that, going down to one knee!
Rodriguez follows up with punches as Ribas desperately tries to cling on to her and buy some time to recover. Ribas in trouble under fire here and ref Herb Dean swoops in as if he’s going to stop the fight, just as Ribas is rising back up.
The ref was so close to the fighters that there’s some confusion as to whether he actually stopped the fight or not. Rodriguez walked up as is the fight was over, while Ribas is still on wobbly legs and looking at Herb Dean trying to establish if the fight is finished!
They quickly get the message that the fight is indeed still on and Rodriguez gets back to work, cracking Ribas with two right hands.
Ribas is unsteady on her feet and the ref decides enough is enough and waves off the fight, handing Rodriguez a TKO victory with 54 seconds of the second round gone.
That’s a big win for Rodriguez, who had come into the fight off of a draw and a loss, but has now not only notched up a big finish, but also brought an end to Ribas’ 4-0 UFC run too.
