Paul Felder avenged a prior loss to Edson Barboza tonight by split decision in a very close fight in UFC 242’s co-main event.
Round One:
Spinning kick to start from Felder. Felder with a spinning backfist as Barboza throws a leg kick.
Another hard leg kick for Barboza. Grazing left hook from Felder. Punch lands for Barboza as Felder misses with his.
Felder moves into the clinch against the cage. Barboza able to break free. Felder already bleeding from the nose.
Both men trading hard strikes here. Solid calf kick for Felder. Punches from Felder as he wades into the clinch against the cage. Barboza gets way though.
Barboza lands a big kick and then Felder checks another one. Jab for Felder. Felder throws a few punches and then complains that he’s been hit by a headbutt. Referee seems ready to continue but then Barboza apologizes and that forces a stoppage. Felder bleeding from the forehead but doctor says he’s ok to continue.
Back to it they go and Barboza lands a solid left hook. Felder with a spinning kick that just misses.
Body punch for Felder. Huge body kick for Barboza. Right hand for Felder. Felder leading with an elbow, but comes up short.
High body kick for Barboza. Solid right hand for Felder. Nice left hand for Barboza now and then a kick. Felder steps in again with two punches.
Final 10 seconds and Felder loads up on a right hand that doesn’t pay off.
Round Two:
Fast kick from Barboza. Brutal spinning heel kick to the body from Barboza. Felder wears it well though. Low leg kick for Barboza. He lands another kick. Hook lands for Felder and then Barboza surprises with a takedown that lands successfully.
Barboza is bleeding from a cut to the face now and Felder is working elbows from his back to try to continue to tear him up.
Barboza working on top, but then Felder throws up a potential armbar attempt. it doesn’t look like it’s going to work and they scramble back up to their feet.
Low leg kick for Barboza. Body punch from Felder, but eats a counter hook in return. Low kick from Barboza again.
Felder into the clinch against the cage. They move away soon after and Barboza lands another brutal body kick.
Felder stepping in with an elbow and then tries to clinch, but Barboza circles out. Felder in on a takedown attempt now, but Barboza does well to stuff that. Felder gets him against the cage though and that’s where the round ends.
Round Three:
Body kick for Barboza. Exchanges of short punches inside. Nice right hand for Felder. Another right hand, this time to the body for Felder.
Body kick for Barboza. Jab for Felder and then a right too. Short right from Felder lands too now. Felder with the jab.
jab for Felder again, but this time Barboza connects with the hook counter. Body punch for Barboza. Felder with a punch to the body and one upstairs.
Spinning backfist from Barboza connects. Felder so tough though. Spinning heel kick to the body from Barboza just as Felder throws a spinning elbow that doesn’t connect.
Jabs from Felder and then hooks. They clinch and Barboza lands a knee and moves away. Barboza trying for a takedown, but it doesn’t pay off.
last gasp takedown from Barboza, though Felder gets straight back to his feet.
Decision:
Great fight then between these two tough competitors and the judges are split in their decision….and it’s Felder who gets the nod from two of the judges to win the fight! (27-30, 29-28 x2).
