In a relatively uneventful fight at UFC 243, Dhiego Lima did enough to earn a decision victory over Luke Jumeau, though some eyebrows will no doubt be raised as the split nature of the verdict.
Round One:
Lima looking to stay at range and lands a couple of punches to the body. Leg kick for Jumeau.
Low leg kick for Lima. Now a glancing jab. Again to the low leg kick for Lima. He goes for it again as Jumeau tries to counter with punches.
Jumeau’s left calf is already red from repeated low kicks there. counter left hook from Jumeau there, but he caught Lima’s eye a bit in the process which forces a brief stoppage.
Now Lima back to the leg kick and Jumeau trying to land punches instead. Overhand right for Jumeau.
Body punch from Lima. Jumeau starting to get that lead leg out the way when Lima looks to land.
Jumeau tries for punches that bounce off the guard and Lima lands a counter.
Round Two:
Right hand for Jumeau. Low leg kick for Lima drops Jumeau for a moment. Back up on his feet Jumeau tries for a kick and it gets caught and leads to Lima bringing him down.
Ground and pound for Lima, but then Jumeau is able to get back to his feet. Overhand right for Jumeau.
Body kick attempt from Jumeau, but again Lima catches it and then works into the clinch against the cage. Knee strike from Lima to the leg and then Jumeau breaks free.
Leg kick and then a left hook from Lima. Jumeau trying to press the action now. He’s getting a little wild with his strikes though.
Another leg kick for Lima. Jumping right hook for Jumeau and then wading in with more offense as Lima also trades.
Jumeau continuing to apply pressure, but then Lima is able to go for a takedown and lands it. A few punches for Lima. Jumeau bursts back to his feet in the closing seconds of the round.
Round Three:
The leg kick from Lima lands again. Body kick for Lima and a punch too. Back to the leg kick and then eats a punch in return.
Jab for Lima. Right hand gets through now. Leg kick. Head kick attempt from Jumeau that comes off the shoulder. He lands a winging right hand.
Leg kick for Lima. Now he’s in on a takedown against the cage. Nothing doing for him on this occasion though and they separate.
Uppercut from Jumeau and then a hook from Lima that just grazes the target. Two right hands for Jumeau.
Takedown attempt from Lima, but Jumeau does well to stay upright there. Lima working for it again and still no success.
Leg kick for Jumeau now. Another leg kick for him. He ducks under punches from Lima as the round comes to an end.
Decision:
No doubt about the winner here with Lima’s leg kicks and occasional takedowns being the big difference between the two – though bizarrely one judge has the fight in Jumeau’s favor. Nevertheless, Lima wins by split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29).
