Shane Burgos got the better of a fast-paced and hard-hitting striking battle with Billy Quarantillo tonight at UFC 268.
Round One:
Quarantillo with a nice right hook to start. Now a low kick. He lands some more punches in close then chops to the leg again.
Burgos with a jab. Good uppercut for Quarantillo. Now he punches a couple of times to the body and attempts a flying knee to the body. Burgos lands a right hand counter.
Glancing jabs from Burgos and then into the clinch, driving Quarantillo over to the cage. Foot stomps from Burgos. Now a knee to the body.
Quarantillo with a knee to the body as they break. Burgos pressing forward now. Jabs for Burgos. Now a big right hand. Overhand left for Quarantillo.
A couple of low kicks for Burgos. Right hand from Burgos and an uppercut in reeturn from Quarantillo. Right hook for Burgos during a quick exchange.
Body punch for Burgos. Jab for Quarantillo and one on the counter from Burgos. Low kick from Burgos and jabs from Quarantillo.
More low kicks from Burgos and body punch from Quarantillo. Quarantillo with a knee to the body too. Quarantillo’s jabs have been bloodying up Burgos’ nose early in this fight.
Left and right hooks from Burgos get through. Quarantillo works into a takedown against the cage. Burgos defending for now and then turns into his opponent.
Quarantillo pushes him off and feels out with the jab. Calf kick for Burgos. Short right hook for Quarantillo. Burgos tags him with a couple of punches and Quarantillo stumbles to the mat for a moment then rights himself.
Burgos with a leg kick and Quarantillo continues to stay active with punches, then works into the clinch against the cage in the final seconds of the round.
Round Two:
Heavy three piece combo from Quarantillo as Burgos also lands. Spinning backfist grazes the target from Quarantillo.
One-two for Quarantillo, then a jab gets through in response from Burgos. Burgos working his jab more now. Overhand right for him.
Solid jab for Burgos. Now an inside low kick. One-two for Quarantillo. Low kick from Burgos knocks Quarantillo off-balance, but he then gets into range and tries for a single-leg takedown. he settles into the clinch now against the cage, but Burgos turns into him.
Body punches from Burgos as they break apart. Burgos pressing forward and lands a body kick. Burgos into the clinch against the cage now. Quarantillo circles and gets away, but then gets quickly back to striking.
Jabs and low kick from Burgos. Nice right gets through and another over the top. Big swing and a miss from Quarantillo. Burgos work is cleaner. He lands a leg kick too. Quarantillo attempts a takedown without success.
Quick punches and an elbow from Burgos. Jabs from Quarantillo, low kick for Burgos. Quarantillo back into the clinch, but not for long.
Jab from Quarantillo. Solid inside leg kick from Burgos. Then one to the outside. Quarantillo swings hard but misses. Two big punches from Quarantillo, but then BUrgos blasts him back and he wobbles backwards for a moment.
Quarantillo fighting back as best he can but it’s clear he’s hurt. Burgos hits to the body and then upstairs with real power. Quarantillo fires back, but is still in a weakened state right now.
Round Three:
Quarantillo with a big right hand as they restart. Both fighters trading big blows here.
Quarantillo with a jab. Right hand for Burgos. Then to the already beaten up leg of Quarantillo. He lands another leg kick and Quarantillo staggers to the mat. he gets back up, but that leg is clearly compromised. He goes into the clinch and works for a takedown. He sweeps out Burgos’s leg and tries to get something doing, but it ends up with the action still on the feet.
Leg kick for Burgos. They go into the clinch. Burgos with a good knee. He presses Quarantillo up against the cage. Body punches from Burgos. They break apart with Burgos landing an elbow and Quarantillo with a hook.
Elbow over the top from Quarantillo, but Burgos goes back into the clinch against the cage. Again they break free and both land a punch. Quarantillo lands again upstairs.
left hands for Quarantillo. Missed spinning backfist from Burgos. Quarantillo tries for a takedown and ends up clinching against the cage. He goes back down to the legs and does manufacture a takedown, but Burgos spins out of his clutches and back upright straight away.
Burgos with a jab and leg kick. More punches land for him and a nice right from Quarantillo. Big knees from Quarantillo. Now Quarantillo is into the clinch. Burgos lands shots in close though and then turns into him.
Quarantillo swings and misses in the final couple of seconds and we’re heading to the judges scorecards.
Decision:
Intense hard-fought action here then, but while Quarantillo pushed a hard pace it was Burgos who landed the heavier punches upstairs and punished his opponent’s legs with kicks too and that leads him to a unanimous decision victory (29-28 x3).