Krzysztof Jotko’s superior clinch work helped him on his way to a narrow split decision win over Marc-Andre Barriault tonight at UFC 240.
Round One:
Jotko with an early body kick. Low leg kick for Barriault. Hook for Jotko. Now a leg kick. Barriault with a right hand. Jotko goes for the clinch against the cage.
Jotko with a few knees to the legs, but Barriault gradually manages to reverse the position. He lands a knee to the body and then Jotko reverses him.
Jotko with more knees to the thigh and then breaks away. Barriault with a leg kick. Left hand for Jotko. Another punch and then a front kick thhat misses. Barriault with a leg kick. Now a body kick. At close range Jotko lands a knee to the body.
Solid uppercut from Jotko and a punch behind it. Barriault gets Jotko over to the cage, but Jotko manages to get away quickly. Body punch from Barriault.
Elbow from Jotko as Barriault moves in. leg kick and a punch from Barriault. Now a solid elbow strike from the clinch against the cage.
Jotko reverses the clinch. Jotko with a takedown, but Barriault is on his knees and quickly stands. Barriault looks to return the favor by going for a takedown of his own and dumping Jotko to the mat, but Jotko scrambles on top almost immediately. Barriault gets back up before the end of the round.
Round Two:
Front kick attempt upstairs from Jotko to start the second. Right hand lands for Barriault. Barriault wades in with Jotko trying to catch him with short hook on the way. Barriault looks to clinch up but soon backs off.
Elbow attempt from Jotko. Good knee and a punch for Jotko. Barriault pressing forward, but Jotko lands a right hook. Barriault back into the clinch and lands a knee to the body.
Jotko reverses the position and lands a left hook and a right hand behind it before they go back to striking range. Another knee for Jotko and then working for a takedown against the cage.
Light knees to the inner thigh from Jotko. Body punches from Barriault. left hook for Jotko. Now an uppercut as he backs away.
Good right hand lands for Barriault. Straight left for Jotko. Hard uppercut from him. Barriault back to the clinch. They exchange punches and then Jotko reverses the clinch yet again.
Knee to the body for Jotko and now it’s Barriault who is trying for a takedown, but Jotko shrugs off that attempt and goes back to the clinch briefly, before returning to striking range.
Inside leg kick for Barriault. Barriault tries for a last gasp takedown, but as he does so Jotko manages to transition into full mount just as the round ends.
Left hand and a kick for Jotko. Jotko tries for an early takedown, but Barriault’s takedown defense serves him well and he has to settle for the clinch instead. Knees to the leg from Jotko and then a takedown attempt that doesn’t pay off. Jotko backs off. Barriault marching forward and goes straight back to the clinch. Jotko landing a knee. Barriault with a strike. They clinch again shortly afterwards and Barriault lands a good uppercut. Glancing right hook for Jotko and Barriault again is in clinch range and lands an elbow. Body kick for Jotko. Jotko trying for a takedown, but for now is just clinching against the cage. Back to the center and Jotko lands an elbow. Jotko clinching again and Barriault lands an elbow. Right hook for Jotko but he misses with a loaded uppercut. Barriault with a leg kick. Missed knee to the head from Jotko. left hand for Jotko and a tired uppercut. Barriault wading forward but Jotko throwing on the counter. Leg kick for Barriault. Nice elbow from the clinch lands for Barriault. Upwards elbow from Jotko and then a leg kick shortly afterwards. Right hand connects for Barriault. Missed spinning backfist from Jotko. Misses with an uppercut but Barriault has to block a head kick attempt. Jotko nicely times a takedown late in the round and keeps him there until the final horn. It’s a close fight overall and it ends in a split decision win for Jotko (29-28 x, 28-29)Decision:
