Santos TKOs Blachowicz in main event of UFC on ESPN+3

The main event of UFC on ESPN+3 featured a lightheavyweight bout between top contenders Thiago ‘Marreta’ Santos and Jan Blachowicz. Blachowiz was riding a four fight win streak and was ranked fourth in the division, but it was Santos who came out on top finishing Blachowicz in the third round. Santos, who was ranked sixth, extended his winning streak to four straight.

A longtime middleweight, Santos (21-6) entered Saturday’s main event encounter with Jan Blachowicz (23-8) at UFC Prague having finished his last two opponents at 205 pounds, and though it took him a couple of rounds to get locked in, when he did it was lights out for Blachowicz.

The first two rounds were a display of the fighters’ technical expertise, with both men making good use of low kicks and feints. Santos was active looking for counters and Blachowicz found success in round two going to the body, but the action was fairly even through 10 minutes.

Santos then connected with a powerful counter left-right early in round three that had Blachowicz badly hurt. On his back, Blachowicz could only turtle up as Santos landed unanswered hammer fists for almost 10 seconds before the referee stepped in for the save. The official time of the stoppage was :39 into the third round.

source: mmafighting.com

Official Result: Thiago Santos defeated Jan Blachowicz by TKO (Strikes, Round 3, 0:39)

MARRETA!!! Unbelievable!! #UFCPrague pic.twitter.com/j9lCC4t9BS

— UFC (@ufc) February 23, 2019

Play-By-Play

Round 1 – Feints from Santos, who rips the body with a kick early. They trade jabs, and Santos attacks the leg again. Front kick from Santos misses, and Blachowicz fires back with a body kick. He paws with a jab, and Santos resets. Another body kick from Blachowicz, and a knee stomp from Santos. Feints back him up. More lead leg attacks from Santos. Kicks exchanges low and to the body, and Blachowicz comes out charging, missing wide. Santos misses a lead elbow and slaps the leg again. Blachowicz high kick misses. Blachowicz slaps the leg, and Santos stomps it. Low kick nearly nets Santos a few counters. Santos counters well with an overhand right in close. Blachowicz attacks the leg again, and Santos spins without a kick. Feints from Blachowicz, and another stomp sets up a Santos right hand. More stomps and kicks from the Brazilian, and Blachowicz takes a body kick to drive for a takedown. Santos gets free and lands a right off the clinch. Follow up combo no good, and body kick blocked for Santos. But the leg kick is there all day. Blachowicz doing a good job of staying out of range at distance. But his leg is getting torn up, and time runs out. MMAjunkie scores the frame 10-9 for Santos.

Round 2 – Santos attacks the legs again and Blachowicz backs off. Blachowicz comes back with his own kicks, and he advances with a left as Santos misses on a counter. They trade jabs and reset. More stomps from Santos. Nice body kick from Blachowicz. Spin and no kick from Santos. Blachowicz kicks the calf. Santos comes charging with a right and is short. So far, both men are fighting very tactically, not really letting go. Nice leg kick from Blachowicz. Santos explodes in again, but Blachowicz moves before he can set. Blachowicz now tries his own approach and scores with a right hand and body kick. Santos leg kick is checked, and he lands another one. They trade leg attacks again, and a wheel attempt from Santos is short. Santos nearly picks off Blachowicz with a pair of left hooks coming in. Blachowicz pushes with a pair of jabs and takes a leg kick. Santos misses wide going upstairs, but he clips Blachowicz with a left hook. Less than one minute to go, and Santos and Blachowicz wind up. They trade punches in close, and Blachowicz kicks the body. Santos head kick blocked. Blachowicz head kick blocked, and Santos is short on a front kick. A leaping kick and punch from Santos end the frame. MMAjunkie scores the round 10-9 for Blachowicz, and it’s even at 19-19.

Round 3 – Santos stomps the lead leg again. Blachowicz inches in and takes another leg kick. Blachowicz charges in and fires a shot, and Santos drops him with a counter hook. Santos pounds away with hammerfists, and Herb Dean is slow to intervene as Blachowicz takes several unanswered shots.

source: mmajunkie.com

Social Timeline

"If it's Anthony Smith, I'll beat him again. if it's Jon Jones, I'll beat him too."@TMarretaMMA wants his title shot next. #UFCPrague pic.twitter.com/DcytgHLnfq

— UFC (@ufc) February 23, 2019

Brazilian Thor wants his title shot!#UFCPrague pic.twitter.com/etkH8zJboK

— UFC (@ufc) February 23, 2019

Who saw this one getting out of the first round?!

A: (nobody) #UFCPrague pic.twitter.com/7fUhuzpbh1

— UFC (@ufc) February 23, 2019

Here we go! #UFCPrague pic.twitter.com/aWMXyD5ems

— UFC (@ufc) February 23, 2019