Valiev Survives Nasty Knockdown, Wins Decision

Raoni Barcelos and Timur Valiev faced off in a Bantamweight clash tonight (Sat., June 26, 2021) inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada at UFC Vegas 30. Following a back-and-forth battle, was named the victor.

To open the bout, Barcelos stalked his foe, but both men traded kicks at a fair rate. Barcelos scored with a clean counter right hand, the most significant punch of the opening couple minutes. Valiev was the more active man though, and he denied a takedown attempt at the midway point of the round. Valiev kept his jab active, while Barcelos looked for kick counters. Superman punch scored for the Dagestani athlete. Valiev ran into a single leg along the fence, but his shot was stuffed. All in all, the first was a close round that saw Barcelos land the harder shots, but Valiev threw much more.

Barcelos opened the second with a bit more volume, and he dug to the body early. Valiev stuck a stiff jab. Good 2-3 from the Brazilian, followed by a wide overhand land from Valiev. Barcelos stuffed a deep single leg. Barcelos worked a clean jab and low kick of his own, but Valiev landed another big overhand. Hard left hook backed Valiev off. Valiev caught a kick, but Barcelos scrambled away admirably. Big counter shot from Barcelos sits his foe down! Valiev worked to stand, but Barcelos put him right back down with another nasty shot! Valiev ate another brutal punch from his back, but somehow, he endured until the bell.

Valiev opened the final frame with an aggressive combination, but his takedown afterward was stuffed and saw him take another uppercut. Heavy low kick from Valiev. Another uppercut from the Brazilian. Barcelos ripped the calf well. Clean right hand snapped Barcelos’ jaw back. DEEP takedown attempt from Valiev, but Barcelos somehow denied him yet again. Big two-piece combination from the Brazilian. Spinning backfist from Valiev! Clean left hook from Barcelos lands to end a combination. Valiev landed some kicks, but Barcelos answered with a hard right. Similar to the first, another close round that pitted Valiev’s volume vs. Barcelos’ power.

Result: Timur Valiev defeats Raoni Barcelos via majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)

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