Jack Della Maddalena had to dig deep late in the third round to ensure victory against Gilbert Burns tonight at UFC 299, escaping from under his opponent on the mat and then punishing him with a big knee to the head when they got back upright to pave the way for a knockout victory.
Round One:
Missed low kick from Burns. Solid body kick for Burns and then a calf kick. He lands another body kick.
Again Burns lands the body kick and now he goes in for a single leg and brings Maddalena down in the center of the Octagon. Bit of a scramble and Burns already has his back. Maddalena does well to get back to his feet and now Burns is pressing him up against the cage while looking to bring him back down.
Maddalena defending nicely for now. Hip throw from Maddalena and then throws a knee upstairs as Burns rights himself.
Back to striking range they go. Maddalena feeling out with the jab. Body kick for Burns. Both come up short with punches.
Body kick again from Burns. Nice jabs and then a rip to the body from Maddalena. Missed punch from Burns and Burns lands again to the head and body.
Another body punch for Maddalena. Missed head kick attempt from Burns. Body kick for Burns. Burns in on a double-leg attempt and lands it. Only 10 seconds to go as he lands a few right hands.
Round Two:
Missed front kick to the body from Maddalena. He lands a punch to the body though. Burns with a straight right.
Right hand lands for Maddalena. Body kick from Burns. Burns snaps up a single-leg and works to get him down. Maddalena gets back up with Burns still working to bring him back down. Maddalena gets away though.
Good elbow inside from Burns. body kick from Burns and a couple of punches from Maddalena. Another punch upstairs lands for Maddalena.
Maddalena still investing in body shots. Winging right hand for Burns. Short flurry for Maddalena. Step-back left hand from him.
A couple of lefts from Maddalena. Good counter punch to the body for him. Light calf kick now. Heavy overhand right from Burns.
Now a good takedown from Burns in the center of the Octagon. Maddalena up to his knees and wants to stand, but Burns is threatening with a potential choke and that forces him back down. There’s a scramble, but Burns stays on top and takes his back.
Burns has the body triangle in but only 10 seconds left in the round and so he can’t get anything else going in that time.
Round Three:
Maddalena feeling out with the jab. Leg kick for him. Good right hand counter from Maddalena.
Head kick attempt from Burns is blocked and then Maddalena punishes him with a good counter. Burns might be hurt by that but doing his best not to show it as Maddalena looks for more offense.
Burns bleeding from the nose and works for a takedown now but he’s not getting it easily this time. He works against the cage for it and does manage to get Maddalena down to a sitting position. Maddalena making it awkward for Burns though as he tries to get back up.
Maddalena does stand, but Burns drags him back down and has his back with one hook in. Maddalena wall-walks very nicely to escape, gets up and then immediately lands a big step-in knee to the head and Burns slumps to the canvas hurt.
Maddalena right on him on the mat and starts landing big ground-and-pound. Rapid-fire elbows landing now and that’s it, a big KO victory for Maddalena at 3.43mins of the final round.
