WOW! Siyar Bahadurzada hits an arm triangle choke in the last minute of the fight to finish Brandon Thatch! #UFC196 https://t.co/0sSRDNSNF6
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) March 6, 2016
Afghani welterweight Siyar Bahadurzada submitted Elevation Fight Team's Brandon Thatch in the UFC 196 FOX Sports 1 (FS1) preliminary undercard headliner tonight (Sat., March 5, 2016) inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"The Great" turned in a dominating performance against "Rukus," who has been stifled by the wrestling and top control of his past two opponents, Gunnar Nelson and Benson Henderson. Well, in this "Sin City" contest, Thatch would see more of the same.
Bahadurzada had success early with powerful shots in the clinch, but he also ate strikes as well. Round one would be the most competitive as both men connected with a fair amount of strikes in the clinch, but Thatch also kept the distance with leg kicks.
Rounds two through three were entirely different as Thatch was rocked multiple times from the haymakers Bahadurzada sent his way. In addition, the Coloradoan offered little resistance while on his back, but was helped by his lord and savior referee John McCarthy, who stood the pair up after inactivity on the part of Bahadurzada.
In the end, it was the Jackson-Wink MMA representative Bahadurzada who prevailed over an exhausted Thatch via an arm-triangle choke in round three.
Bahadurzada improved his overall record to 22-6-1 , while Thatch fell to 11-3.
For continuous coverage of the entire UFC 196 card, including live updates and play-by-play, click here and here.
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