This week’s fight at the Ultimate Fighter was the second matchup between unbeaten boxers in the flyweight competition. Imanol Rodriguez was chosen by Daniel Cormier from his squad to play Arshiyan Memon of Team Sonnen.
The 25-year-old Rodriguez of Mexico, who has a perfect professional record, often trains with the Brazilian Warriors team with Diego Lopes, a recent contender for the featherweight crown.
This season, Memon, 29, from Mumbai, is becoming the first Indian contender in TUF history. He has seven finishes and a 7-0 professional record. Memon became a favorite among Team Sonnen members after rapidly winning over his TUF housemates with his amiable and amusing demeanor.
The fact that Memon was a southpaw and Rodriguez was an orthodox fighter led to an early foul in the first minute of Round 1 when Memon tried an inside low leg kick but it went straight to Rodriguez’s cup.
Memon was hit by a strong body kick from Rodriguez within a minute of the fight starting up again, and he fell to the ground. Memon eventually recovered and retaliated violently, backing up in a straight line while looping his left punches and kicking his own body.
Halfway through the round, Memon attempted a takedown, but Rodriguez was able to spin and block, stopping Memon’s attack. Memon was bucked off after Rodriguez flattened him out on the canvas and momentarily spun him into mount position.
Memon was the one who pushed forward forcefully after they were back on their feet.
UFC president Dana White was hyped during this fight seating cageside: “Damn this fight’s got me on the edge of my seat.”
Memon stood in front of Rodriguez with his hands by his sides in the last minute of the first round, and Rodriguez took advantage of this by throwing a forceful, straight right hand. Memon continued to stand, but before the referee ended the bout, he took another dozen unanswered strikes.
Rodriguez advanced to the 125-pound tournament semifinals by way of technical knockout, joining Joseph Morales of Team Sonnen.
“Damn, that was a badass fight,” White added. “Great fight. That’s one of the best fights I’ve seen in a minute. … I was impressed. Imanol looks like the kind of fighter we want in the flyweight division.”
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