The light heavyweight bout was the UFC on ESPN+ 33 primary event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.
Rakic drilled Smith with a kick that took him off his feet. Rakic went to the canvas with him and consumed a few punches. When Smith threatened to take Rakics back on the feet Rakic dragged it back to the canvas and attempted to go to work on top. At the end of the round, Smith returned to his corner without any limp– possibly surprising offered the kicks he soaked up.
Rakic went right after the lead leg kicks once again, then went to the body. Just 20 seconds in, Smith landed a big best hand, however Rakic dragged him back down and kept him smothered and annoyed essentially the entire round.
Rakic opened the third with a heavy kick, and then again discovered himself put to the canvas. Smith couldnt discover his way back to his feet, and with Rakic curtained all over him needed to eat knees to the thighs, too.
Rakic opened with heavy leg kicks, and Smith answered back. Rakics were harder in the first minute, and more numerous. He continued to try to kick Smiths legs out of under him, and 75 seconds in he got it done.
Smith is DOWN. @Rakic_UFC with lightning fast leg kicks early ⚡ #UFCVegas 8 pic.twitter.com/DxwKYXW6kw
— UFC (@ufc) August 30, 2020
” Im delighted with my performance against a veteran and former title opposition,” Rakic said after the fight. “Everybody underestimates my wrestling and my grappling. … The focus was a great deal of pressure, make damage on the ground, (and) control.”
Rakic (13-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) worked over previous title opposition Anthony Smith (33-16 MMA, 8-6 UFC) with leg kicks when they were on the feet, then smothered him on the canvas en path to a consentaneous decision sweep of the scorecards, consisting of a 30-26.
Aleksandar Rakic had his quick increase in the UFCs light heavyweight department disrupted in December 2019, but now might find himself right back in the mix.
Present-day UFC on ESPN+ 33 outcomes include:
Aleksandar Rakic def. Anthony Smith via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27).
Neil Magny def. Robbie Lawler via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Alexa Grasso def. Ji Yeon Kim by means of consentaneous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Ricardo Lamas def. Costs Algeo through unanimous choice (29-27, 29-27, 29-27).
Impa Kasanganay def. Maki Pitolo through consentaneous choice (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Zak Cummings def. Alessio Di Chirico via consentaneous choice (29-28, 29-28, 30-27).
Alex Caceres def. Austin Springer by means of submission (rear-naked choke)– Round 1, 3:38.
Sean Brady def. Christian Aguilera through technical submission (guillotine choke)– Round 2, 1:47.
Polyana Viana def. Emily Whitmire through submission (armbar)– Round 1, 1:53.
Mallory Martin def. Hannah Cifers by means of submission (rear-naked choke)– Round 2, 1:33.
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” Im delighted with my efficiency versus a veteran and former title opposition,” Rakic said after the battle. Rakic opened with heavy leg kicks, and Smith answered back. Rakic drilled Smith with a kick that took him off his feet. Rakic went to the canvas with him and ate a couple of punches. When Smith threatened to take Rakics back on the feet Rakic dragged it back to the canvas and attempted to go to work on top.
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UFC on ESPN+ 33: Official scorecards from Las Vegas.
UFC on ESPN+ 33: Best images from Las Vegas.
