Rising Brazilian fighter Gabriel Bonfim put his name among the mix of title contenders in the UFC’s welterweight division this weekend by claiming a unanimous decision win over former champion Belal Muhammad in the main event at the Meta Apex in Nevada, USA.
After refusing to touch gloves at the start of the fight, Bonfim was the more progressive fighter in the first couple of rounds as he found a home for short punches while Muhammad replied with repeated kicks and takedown feints.
It was in the second-round where Bonfim gained crucial momentum as he bothered his opponent with stinging kicks before landing a swift combo that left Muhammad busted up.
Muhammad came out on the front foot at the start of the third round and attempted a takedown that was expertly defended. At this stage of the fight, Bonfim seemed to have been unfazed by Muhammad’s pressure as he continued to jab his opposite number with great success.
Bonfim closed the fight by picking Muhammad apart in the fourth and the fifth rounds, while he smiled at the ex-champion after being on the end of a kick to the body. With Muhammed slowing down, the 37-year-old often resorted to wild exchanges that yielded no success.
Nonetheless, the Brazilian convinced the judges of a clean sweep on the cards, particularly with crisp jabs and leg kicks as Muhammad constantly found himself on the back foot even when he attempted to attack.
Elsewhere, Iwo Baraniewski continued his rise in the light heavyweight division with a first-round knockout win over Junior Tafa.
Also, Bryce Mitchell made it two wins on the trot in the bantamweight division after he submitted Santiago Luna in the third round.
In the other results of UFC Night, Brendan Allen defeated Edmen Shahbazyan by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, and 29-28), while Tom Nolan defeated Farès Ziam by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, and 29-28).
