Trey Waters controlled the striking action throughout against Josh Quinlan tonight at UFC Fight Night 223 to win b unanimous decision.
Round One:
Quinlan steps in and Waters lands an inside leg kick that knocks him off-balance to the mat. They go back up and Quinlan is clinched up and looking for a takedown. They go to the mat, but Waters almost gets on top before they move back up.
Quinlan stays in the clinch, but not for long. Back to striking range they go. calf kick for Quinlan. Quinlan misses a punch and Waters lands a counter. Again Quinlan reaches in and Waters counters with a punch.
Leg kick from Quinlan and Waters land a straight. Now a body kick from Waters. Grazing left hook from Waters.
Quinlan tries a superman punch off the cage, but it doesn’t land. Right hand for Waters. Quinlan having real trouble closing distance on the bigger man without getting caught here.
Right hand from Waters as Quinlan tried for a hook. A couple of straight rights from Waters. Quinlan closing the distance in the final 10 seconds and lands a takedown, but not enough time to get something going from the position.
Round Two:
Quinlan steps in and lands a big left hook. Inside leg kick from Waters. Jab from Waters lands a couple of times. He continues to send out that long jab to keep Quinlan at bay.
Now a one-two from Waters, then back to the jab. Low kick from Quinlan. Back to the jab for Waters. Quinlan attempts a takedown but it’s stuffed.
More lengthy jabs from Waters and Quinlan misses on the stepping left hook. Jab and a right hand for Waters. He goes for the right hand again. Another right hand connects.
Calf kick from Quinlan. Flurry from Waters but doesn’t find the mark. Missed punch from Quinlan and Waters responds with straight punches down the pipe.
Low kick from Quinlan and Waters looked a bit uncomfortable after that one. Quinlan with a roar as he launches a body kick. He’s trying to get aggressive, but Waters takes him down.
Round Three:
Hard leg kick for Waters. He chops at it again. And a third time for good measure. Now Quinlan tries for a takedown, but it fails.
Body punch from Quinlan. Waters starts to pop out that jab again. Quinlan with another leg kick. He tries to close distance, but eats a few punches for his troubles.
Quinlan misses with the hook. Back to the calf kick he goes instead. Jab for Waters. Now a right hand. Again Waters land a solid right hand. Crisp jab again.
Quinlan reaching for a punch and gets tagged by a counter. Body kick from Quinlan. Quinlan looks to punch and then tries for a takedown that doesn’t work out.
Heavy right hand from Waters stopped Quinlan in his tracks for a split-second. Waters doesn’t look to capitalize on that though.
Quinlan misses with a hook. One-two for Waters. Quinlan with a flurry. He lands a jab. Straight right for Waters.
Three-piece from Waters as Quinlan comes forward. Quinlan trying to close the distance and Waters diffuses his aggression by taking him down and keeping the action there in the remaining few seconds.
Decision:
No doubt about the winner here with Waters making great use of his reach and sharp counter-striking to continually get the better of Quinlan and win by unanimous decision (30-27 x3).
