Marlon Vera got the better of an intense three round war with Davey Grant tonight at UFC On ESPN 25 to avenge on old loss against him.
Round One:
Leg kick for Grant to start. Exchange of jabs and then a push kick from Grant. Now a low kick from Grant. He lands a leaping side kick to the body as he gets off to s fast start.
Push kick from Vera and an oblique kick and then another another hard side kick to the body from Grant.
Nice body punch and one upstairs from Grant. Jab for Vera. Push kick to the body from Grant.
spinning head kick from Grant and it’s blocked by Vera. Push kicks for Vera. Grant just missing a hook. Jab for Vera.
Inside leg kick from Grant. One-two for Vera. Now a front kick to the body from Vera. Body kick for Grant. Leg kick from Vera as Grant’s throwing hooks.
Hard jab for Vera as Grant is also letting his hands go. Punch combo from Grant and Vera was staggered a little.
Vera able to land a takedown. Grant scrambling to his knees and Vera threatens with a possible guillotine as he’s standing. Knee to the head rom Vera seems to open up a little cut to Grant’s forehead.
Grant gets away to striking range though and starts landing his hard strikes again. Leg kick from Vera. Side kick to the leg from Grant and then a jumping spin kick that misses.
Vera with a jab. Grant hits to the head and works to the body too. Front kick to the body from Vera. He lands a leg kick. Grant with hooks as Vera blocks. Vera aims a head kick at the end of the round, but Grant circles away.
Round Two:
Inside leg kick for Grant. Calf kick for Vera. Body punch and a hook upstairs from Grant. Spinning kick attempt to the body from Grant.
Powerful calf kick from Vera that spins Grant around and then Vera drives into the clinch. Elbow strike from Vera on the way back out as Grant also landed a punch.
Hook lands for Grant. More ooks from him. Front kick to the body from Vera. Hard elbows in close from Vera. Good work and seemed to open up a nasty cut to the forehead.
Really hard pace here as both men let their strikes go. Grant with a spinning kick to the head that’s just blocked.
Vera seems to hurt Grant with a couple of strikes and then Grant is suddenly switching things up by landing a takedown.
Vera trying for a triangle choke from his back. Grant steers clear of that and gets to side control. Grant lands an elbow as blood from his own cut leaks onto the mat.
Vera scrambling to his knees and tries to stand, but Grant goes for a guillotine and rolls with it to keep him down.
Vera able to get on top late in the round and then starts landing some hard ground and pound. More punches rain down as the round ends.
Round Three:
Straight right for Grant. Now a left hook. Front kick to the body from Vera. Right hook for Grant. Kick attempted by Vera but Grant catches it and tries to bundle him to the mat.
Vera stuffs it and manages to get on top. He’s looking for a choke, but then switches to an arm-triangle attempt, then gives up on it entirely and goes back to the feet.
Both men are tiring here but still swinging for the fences and both are landing punishing blows here. Elbow for Vera and then a Big knee that seems to have Grant hurt, but fighting on regardless.
Vera able to land a takedown. He seems to have more left in the tank. A bit of ground and pound for Vera.
Vera lands an elbow that Grant didn’t like. Grant tries to break free, but not able to for now. Vera moves to half-guard. Grant trying for a kimura and gets to his knees. He goes for the submission, but Vera gets free and takes full mount.
Vera switches to Grant’s back and cranks a rear-naked choke attempt. Grant barely hanging on, but does survive and Vera gives up on the attempt and goes back to full mount just as the fight is drawing to a close.
Decision:
What a great fight that was with both men showing 110% commitment, but though Grant started aggressively, it was Vera who gradually started to get the better of the action, bloodying up his opponent on the feet and eventually controlling him on the mat in the final round to ensure the unanimous decision victory was going to go in his favor (29-27, 29-28, 30-26).
