UFC Fight Night Austin: Tsarukyan V. Dariush

The UFC went to Austin for the first time since June of 2022 and it was a card for the ages to say the least. With the main card having engaging fights that did not disappoint at all.

Stoltzfus rocking Soriano with a crushing right cross.

Our first fight of the Main Card was a Middleweight bout between Punahele Soriano and Dustin Stoltzfus. Both of these men are very confident in their standup and ground game, so we knew it was going to be a chess match. In round one, Soriano was controlling the center of the Octagon with the southpaw left hooks and crosses, which were connecting consistently and powerfully. Stoltzfus spent a lot of time trying to take Soriano down but was unsuccessful for the majority of the round. Just as the round is coming to an end, Stoltzfus lands a crushing right blow with five seconds left in the round most likely winning that round. Round two was all Stoltzfus as he was landing consistent lead body and leg kicks to keep Soriano at range and to tire him out. Around halfway through the round, Stoltzfus lands a right hook followed by a takedown where he remains on back control. Stoltzfus was keeping the pressure on and pushed for the rear naked choke, and got it locked on the chin and then finally under the chin, leading to the tap. Stoltzfus wins it at 4:10 via submission.

Next up, we have the UFC hall of famer, Clay Guida against Joaquim Silva. We all know how

Guida and Silva post fight.

Clay fights with his unrelenting pressure and wrestling expertise. While Joaquim is the patient counterpuncher with some outstanding takedown defense. As expected in the first round, Guida was pressuring Silva with his usual pressure and constant takedown shots. Guida lands the first big strike with a right overhead, Silva followed up with a massive counter left and lead to huge ground and pound which won the round in his favor. In the second round, Guida recovers and keeps up the momentum, yet Silva retaliated with a tight guillotine choke, which was expertly countered and pressure by Guida. Guida wins round two. Round three was more of the same with Guida's unrelenting pace, Silva was holding Guida down with his textbook takedown defense winning the round. Round three and the fight goes to Silva 29/28.

The third fight is a returning former Middleweight title challenger in Kelvin Gastellum against current contender Sean Brady. Both of these men started off exactly how we all thought they would, takedown shots with unrelenting ground pressure. Round one was all Sean Brady with crushing ground pressure winning the round. The second round was a repeat of the first round with unstoppable ground pressure. The third round was controlled on the ground and followed by a powerful and deep kimura lock leading to a tap.

Gastellum and Brady mid scramble.

The debut of Deiveson Figueiredo's bantamweight debut against Rob Font is up next. Not much happened in the first round as it was mostly just a feeling out process. Figueiredo landed a takedown with a takedown and some control. In the second round, Figueiredo had cage control then landed a questionable low blow that may have hit but was to close to

Figueiredo and Font in the chess match.

question so the referee made them stand up. Because of his control, he won the round. Early in the third, Figueiredo lands a knockdown strike which lead to him winning the round. Figueiredo wins the fight unanimously 30/27 and a great entrance for him at Bantamweight.

Jailin catches Bobby Green

The Co-Main Event was one for the ages as it was between two California natives in Bobby Green and Jalin Turner. Compared to the previous ones, this one was a flash. Just around the halfway point, Turner lands a shot right on the temple of Green wobbling him. Turner followed up with heavy ground and pound, which lead to a controversial late stoppage which is all the rage right now. Turner wins via Knockout and will most likely enter the top 10 contenders in the division.

Our main event was an exciting event, and we had a very anticipated match ahead of us. This was a huge fight in both of these fighter's careers. For Tsarukyan, it would launch him into title contender status. As for Dariush, it would reaffirm him as a true contender. The anticipation was getting to Tsarukyan, or so we thought. A clinch knee faint to a crushing right blow on the jaw, knocked down Dariush and followed up with some ground and pound knocked him out cold.

Defeated

This event was an amazing card to bring to Austin. Next week is Song Yadong V. Chris Gutierrez which looks incredible. Then the final card of 2023 is UFC 296 which may just be one of the best of all time. These fights will be one hell of a time for fight fans around the world.