Bill Algeo got back to winning ways tonight at UFC On ESPN 18 with an assured performance against Spike Carlyle to win by unanimous decision.
Round One:
Carlyle with a quick low kick and throws a punch behind it. Another leg kick for him. Push kick from him too.
Algeo lands a punch that gets Carlyle’s attention. Now an inside leg kick for Algeo. Hard calf kick for Carlyle. Head kick attempt blocked.
Low inside leg kick from Algeo. Left hand for Carlyle. Another inside kick from Algeo. Carlyle is yelling at Algeo, trying to throw his opponent off his game.
High kick for Algeo comes off the shoulder. Leg kicks from Algeo and one in return from Carlyle. Spinning kick to the body for Algeo.
Three-piece combo from Algeo. Carlyle working for a takedown as Algeo works a knee to the body. Carlyle working hard for the takedown and finally lands it.
Algeo quickly standing up with Carlyle still holding his back. Carlyle briefly drags him down, but he stands right back up.
Carlyle with another takedown and Algeo was looking for a chance to switch there, but nothing doing. Fast pace here and they scramble from another takedown and Carlyle ends up working a guillotine choke attempt that seemed to catch his opponent off-guard and is in deep.
Carlyle trying to get an angle to finish this choke, but Algeo is hanging on in there and is eventually able to pop out and get on top. Both men scrambling to take top control in the final seconds of a busy round.
Round Two:
Head kick attempt from Algeo to start. Low kick for Carlyle. Carlyle tries to clinch up and work a takedown, but nothing doing.
Spinning elbow attempt from Carlyle. He is able to land a takedown, but Algeo is quickly back up and clinching Carlyle up against the cage.
Carlyle able to reverse the position. Algeo lands a knee to the body. Now it’s Algeo who works a takedown and takes Carlyle’s back.
Algeo gets the body triangle and starts to flatten Carlyle out. Algeo thinking about an arm triangle, but opts to just secure full mount.
Algeo takes Carlyle’s back. Carlyle turtling up now with two minutes remaining. Algeo takes his time and then starts to flatten him out. Carlyle turtles again.
They scramble and roll and now it’s Carlyle who manages to get on top. From his guard Algeo manages to land some elbows to his opponent.
Carlyle trying to pass and gets to half guard and lands a few punches in the little time he has remaining in the round.
Round Three:
Leg kick for Carlyle to start. Now a body kick. Right hand for Algeo and then a chopping elbow strike.
Head kick gets pretty close for Algeo. He’s trying to get a knee too. Left hand from Algeo.
Front kick attempt from Algeo. Carlyle lunges in awkwardly with a punch that misses. Algeo lands a body kick. Carlyle initiates a takedown and though he doesn’t get it straight away he is able to get around to his opponent’s back.
Carlyle tired but lifts Algeo into the air. He pauses for a few moments and then brings him down, but Algeo manages to scramble and get on top.
Back to the feet they go soon after. Algeo the fresher man but Carlyle is digging deep as he tries to swing this fight in his favor. He works for a takedown and gets it. Algeo on his knees and then slowly gets back upright. Carlyle working on another takedown attempt.
They work against the cage. Algeo gets some space, but then Carlyle is trying to come in for another takedown, just as Algeo lands a knee. Carlyle brings him down, but not really securing it and Algeo is up and they go back to the clinch work.
Both men tired now but still trying to swing for the fences. Carlyle driving in for another takedown. He’s running on fumes here, so credit to him for fighting through it. He likely needs a finish though and it’s not going to come as the round comes to an end.
Decision:
Good performance from Algeo then, remaining calm and calculating against Carlyle’s bursts of energetic action and it paid off for him, earning a clean sweep on the judges scorecards (30-27 x3).
