Viviane Araujo was able to get the better of Karine Silva tonight at UFC 309 to earn a unanimous decision victory.
Round One:
A couple of front kick attempts from Silva to start but not finding the target. Inside leg kick for her and Araujo tries to counter with punches.
Nice straight right from Araujo. Silva still trying to find her range as strikes come up short. Silva tries to close the distance and clinch, but Araujo moves away.
Half the round gone without either landing too mmuch. Right hand for Araujo. Both land a kick at the same time.
Silva shoots into a takedown attempt but Araujo darts away from that. Left hand counter lands for Araujo in a brief exchange.
Silva continually trying to pressure, but struggling to find the mark with her strikes. Right on cue though she lands two hard punches.
Araujo going backwards and bleeding now, but manages to land a counter. Silva trying to get a takedown in the final seconds, but there’s not enough time left.
Round Two:
Missed kicks from Silva and a punch gets through for Araujo. She lands another punch. Silva manages to close the distance and clinches up against the cage. Silva trying to find an opportunity for a takedown here, but Araujo escapes.
Right hand for Araujo. Front kick upstairs partially lands for Silva at last after missing with it many times throughout the fight.
Silva back to the clinch against the cage. She’s trying to get a takedown and finally gets it via a trip.
Araujo suddenly working on an armbar attempt. It’s starting to look dangerous, but Silva does well to work to a safer spot and escape that. Now she’s in side control with time remaining to work.
Now it’s Silva who is sinking in a d’arce choke attempt. Araujo staying calm though and manages to get out, ending up back on top. Araujo with a series of punches in the final seconds of the round.
Round Three:
Body kick for Silva and a jab for Araujo. Silva goes for a takedown and lands it, but Araujo is scrambling and almost getting on top. Araujo opts to stand rather than take advantage of that spot.
Low kick for Silva. She goes for a front kick to the body, but Araujo catches it and uses that to knock her off-balance to the mat.
Silva stays on her back until she’s told to stand back up. Body kick for Araujo and low kick for Silva. Low kick from Araujo. She lands an uppercut. Now a right hand.
Body kick for Silva. Right hook for Araujo. Silva falls to her back again after Araujo catches another kick.
Back on the feet. Silva coming forward but Araujo chipping away at her off the back foot. Silva kicks and goes into a sloppy takedown that fails miserably.
Silva gets back to her feet and presses forward again. She manages to get into the clinch against the cage. Araujo manages to get a head-and-arm choke late in the round.
Decision:
Not a great fight here, but Araujo dealt well with Silva’s constant pressure, tagging her with cleaner, more accurate strikes, often while working off the back foot. And that earns her a unanimous decision victory (29-28 x3).
