The UFC 262 prelims featured two competitors that have held marquee spots on several other Ultimate Fighting Championship main cards. However, their recent runs in the promotion have put them in precarious spots on Saturday’s ESPN and ESPN+ simulcast portion of the event. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Andrea Lee both needed wins heading into their Octagon returns. Would either get an all-important W, or would Andre Muniz and Antonina Shevchenko push both a step closer to possible pink slips? Keep it locked on this space, because following each of the four prelims bouts MixedMartialArts will be posting play-by-play thoughts and results.
UFC 262 Prelims open with Andrea Lee taking Antonina Shevchenko’s arm home
The core preliminary action kicked off with a women’s flyweight scrap between Andrea Lee and Antonina Shevchenko. Lee was the fighter putting on the pressure early, but the Kyrgyzstan talent responded with technical strikes right down the pipe. Midway through the round, Shevchenko locked in a Muay Thai plum and landed several thudding knees to the body as Lee had trouble separating from the clinch. But “KGB” showed she was going nowhere and landed a big left that seemed to hurt her opponent. She then followed that up with a takedown against the cage. It was a competitive first round that Shevchenko led much of but Lee’s strong finish made it quite close.
Early into the round, a wild spinning back fist by Lee led to a scramble that found Lee on top in a crucifix position. Eventually, she worked from there into a triangle choke. The hold was locked in for several minutes as the 32-year-old tried finding different angles to try and sink the hold in deeper. While not maneuvering around she landed a stream of elbows. Shevchenko endured throughout, until with eight seconds left the triangle was switched into a triangle-armbar that gave the Louisiana native a victory in a fight she really needed.
After losing her last three, the eleventh-ranked flyweight can breathe a sigh of relief. The victory over her twelfth-ranked opponent could move her back into the top-10 and gives her a 4-3 record in the UFC. “La Pantera” continues her run of alternating wins and losses in the UFC. After a TKO win in November, she falls short tonight and moves to 3-3 in the Octagon.
Jordan Wright blasts through Jamie Pickett with a first round TKO
Jordan Wright versus Jamie Pickett was a battle of two middleweight prospects with skills at ending fights early. And that is exactly what happened…for “The Beverly Hills Ninja.”
An early exchange led to a grappling battle against the cage as Pickett looked for a double-leg takedown. While defending, Wright landed a barrage of elbows that stunned “The Nightwolf.” Pickett was able to get separation and get to a standing position, but Wright was all over him with punches from all sorts of angles. Eventually, a knee in the clinch forced Pickett to the ground, and the technical knockout finish came soon after.
It was a big bounce-back win for the now 12-1 Wright, following a highlight-reel knockout loss to Joaquin Buckley in November. He has now won two of his first three bouts in the Octagon. For Pickett, he has lost two straight in the UFC, after finally earning a contract with the promotion in his third try on Dana Whites Contender Series in August of 2020.
Lando Vannata scores debut win at featherweight with outstanding takedown defense against Mike Grundy
The booking of Mike Grundy and Lando Vannata was a throwback matchup between a skilled grappler against a wildman of a striker. It was also Vannata’s debut at featherweight. A couple of minutes passed as Grundy looked for a chance to get a takedown and “Groovy” used footwork to stay out of range and land his offense. Twice, the Englishman was able to get a hold of his opponent and get his back, but both times the American defended and got separation.
The second round was more of the same as Vannata was able to stymie Grundy’s takedown advances at every turn and work his strikes to score points on his opponent. Although the 34-year-old could not get the takedown, he was not deterred and still looked for chances to land strikes of his own. Overall, through the first two, the fight was being fought in the style Vannata preferred.
In the third, Grundy was able to get his foe down temporarily, but it was short-lived as Vannata has showcased impressive wrestling defense throughout the fight. He hasn’t dominated Grundy on the feet but he is clearly the better striker. Displaying better footwork and variety.
After three rounds, Vannata’s efforts paid off, as he stuffed 17 of 20 takedown attempts and earned the split decision victory. It is an important bounce back win for the new featherweight, after falling short to Bobby Green at lightweight in August. He has now alternated wins, losses, and draws for the entirety of his 11-fight UFC run. Grundy has lost two straight, following a decision loss to Movsar Evloev in July.
Ronaldo Souza vs. Andre Muniz
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