Neil Magny earned himself a unanimous decision victory over Anthony Rocco Martin tonight at UFC 250.
Round One:
Martin takes the center of the Octagon to start. Martin with a couple of punches as he moves into the clinch against the cage, but Magny soon gets away.
Magny moving forward with the jab now, but gets caught with a counter punch. Martin able to close the distance and is able to clinch Magny’s back.
Martin trying to get Magny to the mat, but so far unable to. Magny able to turn back into Martin. Martin with a knee to the thigh and then backs up.
Right hand for Magny. Now a leg kick and again soon after. Jabs for Martin. jab for Magny now. Another jab for him and then ducks into a potential takedown attempt, but Martin reverses that position comfortably and presses Magny up against the cage.
Martin steps back into striking range. Low leg kick for Magny. Leg kick for Martin. Magny feels out with the jab and then lands the low leg kick.
Martin with an overhand as he closes the distance and gets back into this clinch against the cage. Magny reverses position and lands a few short punches as the round is coming to a close.
Round Two:
Jab and leg kick for Magny. Again he lands the jab. Body punch and then one upstairs lands for Martin. Front kick to the body from Magny.
Magny steps forward and Martin lands a hard right hand that forces his opponent to reset. However, Magny soon gets back to business, landing a front kick, a few punches and a leg kick.
However, Martin then moves in for a takedown attempt and hoists Magny up and brings him down. Magny looking to stand as Martin thinks about applying a choke. Magny does get up though and presses Martin into the cage.
Martin reversing the cage clinch here and then steps back to the center of the Octagon. Jabs for Magny and then that low leg kick.
Martin misses a hook and Magny clinches up. Again Martin is able to reverse it though. Magny landing hammerfists to the thigh. Now it’s Magny reversing the clinch, landing a knee and then trying for a takedown. Martin countered with a kimura submission attempt though and that forces Magny to abort the takedown.
Back to striking and Magny is pressing forward with more aggression here landing a solid right hand amongst a number of punches.
It’s not long before Martin goes back to the cage clinch though. Martin taking his time, but Magny is able to push out of it and looks to go back to work at striking range. Both men land low leg kicks. Magny with more offense as the horn sounds.
Round Three:
Two nice jabs for Martin. Magny with a kick. Magny pressing forward. Leg kick for Martin, punch for Magny. Front kick for Magny and then a leg kick behind it.
Martin into the clinch and drives him into the cage. Soon they go back to striking though and it’s Magny coming forward again.
Nice right hand from Magny and then into the clinch looking for a takedown while also landing some short punches.
Hook from Magny as they break from the clinch. Magny coming forward again and lands a right hand. Back into the clinch he goes. Martin wilting here under this pressure.
Magny pulling Martin’s head down and lands a knee. Martin gets away, but looks very tired. Right hand from Magny and then Martin clinches and tries for a takedown. He doesn’t have the gas for it though and Magny gets back to striking range and lands a few big punches.
Now it’s Magny into the clinch. He’s very fresh still and keeping busy in close. They move away briefly then back into this position with Magny landing a knee and elbow.
Right hand, left and then a better right from Magny. Martin lands a punch, one of his only of the third round. Magny connects again though and Martin goes back into the clinch in the final seconds of the fight.
Decision:
Martin had his moments early in the fight, but Magny stepped up the pace and pressure as time went by and it was one-way traffic towards the end as he earns himself a unanimous decision victory (30-27 x2, 29-28).
