Minner Wrangles Rosa For Dominant Decision

Charles Rosa and Darrick Minner faced off in a Featherweight clash tonight (Sat., Feb. 20, 2021) inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada at UFC Vegas 19.

No touch of gloves began this one! Minner chopped into two early calf kicks then landed a knee. Rosa dug a low kick of his own, prompting a serious flurry from Minner. Minner landed another wide swing. Heavy body kick connected for Rosa, but Minner turned it into a takedown. Rosa avoided a d’arce choke and started looking for his own submissions. Minner advanced passed the guard and landed some decent shots. Minner landed an elbow and attacked the arm triangle briefly. Rosa rolled up onto a leg attack, but he was unable to find a deep lock before the bell rang to end the opening frame.

Hard calf kick and left hook started the second round for Minner, and he immediately dropped Rosa with a huge counter right afterward! Minner jumped into back mount then an arm triangle attempt. Rosa escaped back to guard and inverted, searching for the legs again. Rosa gave up several opportunities to try to stand up to hunt for submissions, and he wound up back in bad positions as a result. Minner took the back standing then moved back into mount. Once again, Minner went for an arm triangle, but it didn’t materialize. Rosa came reasonably close to an armbar from his back in the final seconds, but the round ended.

Minner swung hard early in the third, prompting a terrible shot that turned into a guard pull from Rosa. Rosa countered a back take with a kimura attempt, but he remained stuck on bottom. Minner escaped another armbar attempt. Rosa finished the round throwing punches from a bad position — an appropriate symbolic moment for a frustrating fight.

Darrick Minner won a decision! This is a man very deep into his pro career and well-known for winning or losing quickly, but he managed to nevertheless hold it together for the win. Of course, it helped that Rosa brought in perhaps the worst game plan of all time.

Result: Darrick Minner defeats Charles Rosa via unanimous decision

For complete UFC Vegas 19: “Lewis vs. Blaydes” results and play-by-play, click HERE!