Roosevelt Roberts earned himself a unanimous decision victory over Thomas Gifford at UFC Fight Night 150 in Florida to keep his unbeaten record intact.
Round One:
Leg kick from Roberts to start. Roberts misses with a straight punch, but gets into the clinch off of it. Gifford breaks away though and goes back to striking range.
Roberts into the clinch again looking for a takedown, but Gifford stays upright. Gifford on the front foot now. Punches in close here and both men land.
Gifford throwing a fair amount offensively, but Roberts ducks underneath and brings him to the mat. Roberts in north south and then to side control.
There’s a scramble and Gifford has an awkward position here on bottom, but Roberts passes back to side control. Gifford throwing up an armbar attempt. Roberts changes position and Gifford tries for a kimura and then back to the armbar, but doesn’t get it and his opponent breaks free and ends up in north south position again.
Final 10 seconds and Roberts unloads a few ground and pound blows to punctuate the end of the round.
Round Two:
Straight right for Roberts to start the second. Now a flurry of punches from Roberts lands cleanly. Leg kick for Roberts, a punch in response from Gifford and then a hard three-punch combo in return from Roberts.
Another hard flurry for Roberts. He lands again and snaps Gifford’s head back. Gifford still coming forward, but at the moment not landing with the same power or accuracy of his opinion.
Roberts lands a gain and moves into the clinch against the cage. Roberts looking for a takedown and Gifford pulls guard working a guillotine choke attempt.
Roberts pops his head out though and settles in Gifford’s guard, pressing him uncomfortably against the cage.
Approaching the final minute of the round and Gifford starts wall walking. Roberts now in north south position with Gifford crunched up against the cage. They scramble late in the round and Gifford tries to set up a submission that doesn’t pay off before the bell.
Round Three:
Jab for Roberts. Now a leg kick and avoids Gifford’s return shots. Big one-two from ROberts. Another heavy blow lands. Into the clinch they go and Gifford presses Roberts to the cage looking for the takedown. It doesn’t pay off at the first attempt, but then he does adjust and bring his opponent down.
Gifford in half guard. Roberts able to get back to full guard and then kick off Gifford to find the space to stand back up.
Roberts with another big punch. Now he presses Gifford up against the cage and looks for a takedown. He lands it with 90 seconds of the fight remaining.
Roberts in half guard and landing a few elbows to the leg of Gifford. Gifford pulls him back into full guard. Ground and pound blows landing now.
There’s a lull in the action and then he goes back to his ground and pound in the final seconds of the round.
Decision:
Roberts controlled the action here and tagged Gifford with some hard shots at times on his way to a unanimous decision victory (30-27 x3).
