UFC 302 results, highlights: Sean Strickland gets past Paulo Costa to stay in middleweight title picture

It wasn’t fairly, nor was it thrilling, however Sean Strickland received the job completed towards Paulo Costa within the UFC 302 co-main occasion. Strickland took a break up choice over Costa, although the combat appeared to obviously favor Strickland in most, if not each spherical.

Strickland used a kick-heavy sport from the opening moments, throwing a gradual weight loss plan of leg kicks and entrance kicks to the physique. These kicks disrupted Costa’s timing early, however some early Costa leg kicks had welted Strickland’s lead left leg.

After one spherical, each males had landed nearly no photographs to the top, as an alternative focusing to the physique and legs. Strickland scored an enormous second in Spherical 2, touchdown a stiff jab that briefly knocked Costa to the canvas. Whereas Costa shortly popped again to his ft, there was no erasing the second within the eyes of the cageside judges.

Whereas Costa had the early success with leg kicks, Strickland was the person whose leg kicks had the larger influence within the remaining spherical, leaving Costa visibly exhibiting harm from photographs to his calf. 

The combat principally slowed to a crawl within the remaining two rounds. Strickland scored one other knockdown within the remaining seconds of the combat, although the headkick he threw to attain it was principally blocked.

After 5 rounds of lifeless motion, Strickland took the win by scores of 46-49, 50-45, 49-46.

“It was a boring combat, sorry guys,” Strickland mentioned after the combat. “That Brazilian goes backward quick.”

Strickland went on to say that he wished a rematch with Driscus Du Plessis, although it is arduous to think about his efficiency towards Costa will get folks salivating for the winner of the rematch between Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya.