Laureno Staropoli pushed a hard-hitting pace for the full three rounds tonight at UFC 237 against Thiago Alves to emerge with a unanimous decision victory.
Round One:
Jumping switch kick from Staropoli that’s blocked to start. Body kick for Staropoli . Now a jumping body kick that lands on the arms.
Alves with a flurry, but comes up short. Body kick for Staropoli and now a leg kick. Alves comes in with the leg kick, but eats a punch as he does so.
Head kick attempt from Staropoli is blocked. Nice combination from him afterwards. Staropoli with a spinning kick, but Alves had stepped in and that makes him miss.
Jumping front kick attempt from Staropoli. Body punch. Body kick for Alves. Leg kick for him as Staropoli fires off punches.
Body kick for Staropoli and then tries to continue the momentum with a spinning kick that misses. Counter hook from Alves as Staropoli throws one of his own.
Spinning body kick for Staropoli. Right hand for Staropoli. Leg kick for Alves. Staropoli presses forward and attempts a flying knee.
Body kick for Staropoli and one for Alves. Jumping kick for Staropoli doesn’t pay off as he eats a big punch in mid-air.
Round Two:
Leg kick for Alves. Body kick for Staropoli. Right hand for Alves after a flashy combination from Staropoli doesn’t find a home.
Leg kick for Alves again. Right hand lands for Staropoli and puts Alves down. He’s trying to get back up, but Staropoli tries to keep him down. Alves with his back against the cage and manages to stand and get away.
Alves pressing forward more aggressively, but misses punches. Left hand for Staropoli and a kick from Alves. Exchange of big hooks now.
Good left hook for Staropoli and another punch behind it. Straight right. Another hard left hook for him. Inside leg kick for Alves.
Another left hook followed by a straight right from Staropoli. Combination lands for Alves. Staropoli lands to the body now.
left hook again for Staropoli. Jab for Staropoli. Jabs and a hard right hand for Alves.
Round Three:
Jabs for Alves and Staropoli counters. Now they are exchanging big punches at close range. Good knee strike upstairs from Alves. Staropoli still battling forward, but then Alves lands an unexpected takedown.
However, Staropoli gets back up quickly. Leg kick for Alves and Staropoli lands a punch on the counter. Good body punch from Staropoli.
Jumping knee to the body for Staropoli. Leg kick for Alves. Another hard body shot for Staropoli and then a left hook lands for Alves.
Staropoli back on the offensive. He lands a right hand and Alves is bleeding from a cut to his eye. Alves looks for a takedown, but unable to bring Staropoli down and finds himself being pressed against the cage until they separate.
Staropoli lands to the body again. Body kick for Staropoli. Inside leg kick for Alves. He lands again. Spinning backfist for Staropoli.
Stepping upwards elbow from Staropoli. Body punches. Uppercut from Alves. Good right hand for Staropoli. Alves with the leg kick.
Right hand for Staropoli. Body kick for Alves. Punches from Staropoli, but big knee from Alves has him backing up. Good kick for Alves.
left hand for Staropoli. Leg kick for Alves. He lands a big knee, but stumbles and falls afterwards. Back to it they go and Alves blasts him again with punches, but Staropoli remains standing until the round ends to take this one ot the judges.
Decision:
The judges have reached a verdict and it’s Staropoli who emerges victorious via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28).
